A/N: So I started writing this right after seeing the season finale, only just getting around to finishing it though, lol. This is a 'what happens next' basically, for the end of season four. Follows straight on from 'The Last Dam Job'.

SPOILERS obviously!


Say Goodbye to the Old Ways

...

"Can't believe you got yourself shot again," Sophie muttered as she worked, removing the make-shift pressure bandage they'd applied to Nate's shoulder earlier, and replacing it with a clean dressing.

They were back at the so-called Bat Cave for now, just to collect themselves and pack up their things. Not that any of them knew where they were headed next - except perhaps for Nate, with his professed 'big plans'.

"Again," she stressed as she reached for the tape.

"Just grazed me," Nate said.

She applied just a tad more pressure to his shoulder.

"Flesh wound," he amended with a wince, and flapped her hands away and took over taping down the dressing himself, rather ineptly. Finished, he pulled his shirt gingerly back up over his shoulder, then shifted round so his side was pressed against hers on the over-turned crate they were currently sitting on. Side-by-side, they watched the activity as the others moved around the cavernous room.

Eventually, Nate waved a hand vaguely. "Anyway, aren't women supposed to... you know, scars on a guy are sexy, and all that, right?"

She snorted. "If all I wanted was scars - and sexy - I'd be sleeping with Eliot."

He blinked, and then turned to frown at her. "Eliot. Really. Eliot's sexy now?"

The hitter in question happened to be near enough at that moment to overhear the exchange, and contributed, "Hey, I been in more wars than I can count, an' I've only been shot twice." Eliot paused. "Twice that counted."

Sophie nodded, glad to be supported on this. "Right? I'm saying, it's like he walks around with a target painted on his chest."

Nate had stopped glaring at her and was now glaring at Eliot. Clearly he wouldn't be forgetting the 'sexy' comment any time soon. Sophie had to take his chin and draw his face back around to focus on her.

"Don't start," she said. "You can't even get a little job done without being riddled with bullets."

Of course what had happened today was so much more than that. It just seemed to be what he needed right now, keeping things light, so she focused on what didn't matter, teased and bantered and didn't push.

His response was equally flippant. "Hey, if there's a trend forming here, who started it? You know, I never got shot before I met you."

"Ugh, that was years ago." She poked his chest. "You can't live in the past, Nate."

He caught her hand and held it against his chest. "I don't intend to." He was smiling as he pulled her into a kiss - he kept doing that. She did not mind at all.

Except after a moment there were voices talking in the background, difficult to ignore.

"Oh, look, they're kissing again. Is this what they do now?"

"Shut up, Parker," Eliot rumbled.

"I mean do they want us to watch? What?"

With a disgruntled sound Nate pulled away from her, turning to glare. "Yeah, that's what I want, you three standing there gawking while we are having a private moment here. Come on."

"'Kay, no need to get snippy," Hardison said. "This is a public space, y'all PDA-ing all over the Bat Cave, I'm just saying."

"Go load up the van," Nate said.

"Snippy," Hardison said as they turned away.

"Man gets cranky when he's shot," Eliot said.

"I don't mind watching, it's like when people kiss in a movie," Parker could be heard saying as she trailed after the other two. "Only you can't just check the rating to see if it's going to get dirty or not."

Nate looked at Sophie, disturbed.

"I'll talk to her," she said quickly.

"Yeah."

He squeezed her hand and smiled at her once they were alone.

She smiled back and decided just a little prodding couldn't hurt. "So is this what we do now? Those big plans you mentioned - I'm assuming they involve more than just, you know," she leaned forward and pressed her lips briefly to his once more, "That. Not that it's a bad one, as plans go."

He chuckled a little, and replied, "Actually, there's a lot more of that in the plans. It's a good plan."

"Good plan."

His expression sobered after a moment, and his hand pulled away from hers to rub tiredly over his face. "First I - I have to go back to the bar. One last time." He sighed. "I have to bury my father."