Ménerbes


Disclaimer: I neither own nor am associated with Leverage – the Show or the Physics applications. The song Distantly in Love is property of the king of the Parrotheads, Jimmy Buffett.

Summary: I love you, but I've got to love myself more. This is a short story composed of three snippets (Fall, Sound, Distance) I've written previously with a hit of Jimmy Buffett's Distantly in Love.

This is dedicated to Morralls, who suggested the idea as well as blackmailed me into writing it. So here it is, now where's more of the Renshaw Job?!?!


Chapter One: Fall

They stood in silence on the tarmac. Italian oxfords on concrete the last sound to face into lament. Sophie stood, sounds of silence pressing in on her already crowded senses. What was she doing? She dared not turn around and see the team, this question had to be answered with her head, not her heart. Logic had been so easy, once upon a time, it had made her the grifter she was. Goal, plan, success. No emotions. And then Nate.

Of all the theatres in all the world he walked into hers that autumn night. Walked in and offered to play her game. And she began to fall.

But he's a drunk, a closed off drunk. She knew he cared for her, she could see it in the moments before the Scotch dulled his eyes and senses.

He shut them out, self destructing before their eyes. She wanted to love him, help him – save him. But he wouldn't let her. After all they shared these last few months she was still just a criminal.

And that made her persona non grata to his heart. A single tear worked its way past her defenses. It was never going to work. She could try but he would never work.

Anger soon replaced sorrow. It wasn't her bloody fault – it was him! She'd done everything in whatever it was between them. She'd given more than a mile; she'd given 5661 – the distance between here and her Paris, here and her freedom.

Fuck it. She decided, resolute, head taking over her life, heart certainly hadn't gotten her anywhere.

She turned. Nate was giving her that smile. Her heart turned inside out but her head stayed strong. He thought he had her.

Fuck you, emotionally unavailable guy. Her mind screamed.

I love you her heart whimpered, but her head knew, You've got to love yourself more.

Sophie was last to turn but she did eventually, returning to her spot in the circle abandoned moments before. Nate smiled at her; he'd known she'd return. Sophie Devereaux was the stubbornest pushover he knew.

"Are you in?" He asked. Sophie licked her lips slowly.

"No."