Disclaimer: Don't own anything. But I'd love to own Christian Kane for a bit… :p
Rating: I'd say T, but just to be sure. Language and violence for sure. Maybe a little smut in the future episodes, but we'll see.
Pairings: none to be seen in the near future
Summary: Back in the first days of Leverage Consulting and Associates, Eliot made a list of people to call in case someone gets him and he can't help them. Nate has to call the first one so they can get Eliot back from some Mobsters.
It should be a 5 chapters story and I already have 3 of them ready. So hopefully It shouldn't take me long to post the whole story.
Here we go, hope you enjoy it…
Chapter 1
The Leathered Notebook
Nate stared at the little black leathered notebook in his hands: it seemed like it had been a life ago that Eliot gave it to him. Well, not exactly that, because the original one was in the office when the bomb went off in there. But still…
He had been sipping yet another glass of whiskey when the southern man came into his office, his face dead serious.
«This thing it's just in case something happens to me and you need another hitman to help you out of your mess or even to help you getting me back. The first name in that list is especially if you want to get me back. She'll do anything to do so. Any other name written there, I trust those people with my life and, well, yours. But the first name, she's by far the safest.»
Back then he had been so utterly drunken he had probably dismissed that act and those words with just a mumbling sound and a wave of his free hand (the other one never leaving his glass).
Now that Eliot was missing, held prisoner and probably being tortured by several members of the Russian Mob, well, he was sending a silent thank you to God for Eliot's insight. He briefly thought back at the job in New York went south: it wasn't supposed to be one of their most dangerous cons, but there was no way they could have guessed the Russian Mob would have something to do with it. As it was, their mark's daughter was paying back her debits prostituting for Taylor, her money-lender, who revealed himself to be a real loan shark when he offered her services to Garkof, the local Russian Mob boss, and the latter man had developed a sort of sick affection for the young woman. The last part, of course, had been discovered when it was too late to step back. Namely when Parker posing as a prostitute herself (after Sophie had a lot of convincing to do) had found herself in a building with a Russian Mob boss breathing down her neck and no way out to be seen.
The thing was that when Garkof tried to make his not too subtle move on the thief she felt forced to react: with no fork to stab him within hand's reach, the only smart thing she came up with was kneeing him in the groin and then punching him in the face as Eliot had shown her how to do. That got him really mad and started slapping the other girl, the client's daughter, cause she seemed to be the most subdued.
That was why Eliot had to come in and try to get to the two girls, or at least give Parker time and distraction enough for her to find a way out. She actually did, dragging the other girl with herself through a very small air vent she had been eyeing the whole time. She didn't know where it would have taken her, but an air shaft, even if barely big enough for them to move, was definitely better than a crappy room with that Russian man. She hoped she could find a way out or at least a way to get as close to Eliot as possible. Both plan worked: the hitman was able to distract the men at the entrance and a couple of others that came from God knew where and Parker was able to find a way out of the building, memorizing the series of turns she did on her way out and where from the vent she could see cameras. You know, just in case they needed to get back in there.
The only problem was that even thought Eliot was great at his job, probably even the best, there was just so much he could do when facing 12 heavily built and armed Russian men. At first there were just 7 of them and he easily took out 4 or 5 of them in a matter of a couple of minutes, but then the others called for help and so he had to deal with a dozen of angry and nasty men and even he had his limits and was knocked unconscious after one hell of a fight.
That had been 6 hours ago during which they'd tried to come up with a plan to rescue Eliot, but the more they tryed the more they'd gotten angry at each other for not being able to do so. So Nate had flight back from New York to Boston to retrieve the little notebook, cursing himself for the entire length of the flight for not taking with himself every time they had a job outside Boston.
He knew who he needed to call: the first name, the woman who'd do anything to get Eliot back. But he also had to let the other members of his team know about it, cause their lives were at stake too. So he took the earpiece out of his pocket, put it in its place and spoke, silently thanking Hardison for the last upgrade of the receiving range of those damn things.
«Guys, are you there?» he asked in the empty sitting room that lately served as their conference room.
«Yeah, man» Hardison answered.
«Yes, Nathan» Sophie acknowledged him.
«Yup» Parker simply said.
«I just got back at the office for that thing I needed» he sighed. «It could be useful to get Eliot back but it can also be dangerous for us.»
They just waited for him to go on and that told him they were really worried for Eliot.
«When we decided to work together as a team, Eliot came to me and gave me a list of people to contact if we ever needed someone else with his expertise, whether it was to get him back or find a replacement for him. These are people he trusted, but he also strongly recommended one name in the eventuality we wanted him back. It's the first one and he said she'd do anything to get him back. I thought if there is someone willing to come up against the Russian Mob for us and Eliot, well that is her. Obviously, that particular notebook was lost in the explosion of our old office, but Eliot just handed me another one, without saying anything» he explained, waiting for questions or such.
«Were we supposed to make a list too? No one told me I had to make a list. I would have made a list, but I don't really have one…» Parker said worried.
«No, sweety, you didn't have to. Eliot probably just thought it would be safer since he's the one responsible for our safety, he's the one who protects us from harm» Sophie explained her, with a pang of sadness.
«Exactly» Nate agreed.
«Well, what you're waiting man? Make the call!» Hardison said.
«Yes, these were my intentions, but I needed your approval first. From all of you.»
«Of course we approve» Sophie hurried to say.
«We need Eliot back. Do what you have to» Parker said in an unusually clear way.
«Go on, man. It's a no-brainer. Make the call» Hardison said.
«Here we go» Nate whispered opening the little notebook.
«Nora» he read out, dialing the number written next to the name.
«No last name?» Sophie asked.
«None» Nate answered briefly.
«Am I the only one to think she's his girlfriend? You know, with the all "doing everything to get him back" thing» Hardison wondered.
«Maybe. Or maybe she's just a friend, like us» Sophie said, not really in the best mood for gossip.
«Shhh. It's ringing» Nate hurried them.
«Yeah» a low female voice asked from the other end, when the woman answered. Almost growled was another way to describe it.
«Hi. My name is Nathan Ford, from Boston. A common friend gave me your number in case I needed help. I hope you don't mind me calling you» he said politely.
«Listen, pal» the woman on the phone really growled this time (much like they heard Eliot do in the past so many times). «Don't know who you are, nor care. I'm finally getting a little shut eye after 72 hours of no sleeping. So this better not be some stupid prank or I swear I'll track you down and find in your ass the new place to toss my dirty boots» she threatened.
Nate could hear Hardison laughing in his ear.
«This is all very charming. But I can guarantee you this is not a prank and we are on a tight schedule. The members of the Russian Mob aren't known for their patience and we…» he started to explain only to be rudely cut off.
«Look, pal. I'm sorry. More so if you have to deal with Russians. They're no piece of cake. But I can't help you. And even if I was fool enough to want to come to your rescue and have a little funny chat with those fine men, which I don't, I couldn't help you anyway. I'm camped out in Iraq and there's no chance I can get back to the States. Sorry» she said, ready to hang up.
«Eliot said you'd do anything for him» Nate tried to argue, hoping that spilling his name would do the charm.
«Eliot? As in Eliot Spencer?» she asked, worry heavy in her tone. Apparently it had indeed done the charm.
«Yes, he's the one who gave me your name and number in case of emergency. He's being held by the Russians. They took him 6 hours ago» Nate said, hoping now that it was all on the plate she would agree.
5 long seconds of complete silence could be heard on the other end.
«I'll be in Boston in 8 hours» she coldly said at the end.
Nate was stunned. That went easily.
When she said she was in Iraq he thought it would have taken her at least a day or two to get to New York.
«Actually, he and the rest of my team are in New York right now. The job was there. I'm heading back there myself. Someone is booking me a ticket right as we speak» he said, knowing that would be enough to make Hardison start doing his magic. «May I take care of your reservations too?» he asked.
«No need. I have my own means» she said, her voice steely. «You'll pick me up at JFK Airport: I'll have the plane land there.»
For a second they all wondered what she meant with that, but they thought she'd probably take a private jet or something.
«I'll call you as soon as I'm positive about my landing time» she said, ending the call without waiting an answer or saying goodbye.
«No wonder Eliot likes her! That was like talking to him!» Hardison grinned, despite his concern.
«The moment she lands I want you to ran a check on her. Take a picture and do your magic» Nate said gloomily.
«Nathan, I don't like it as much as you do, but if Eliot trusts her the most, he must have his reasons» Sophie said, thinking the hitman had find himself a really special woman. «I trust him so I'll trust her.»
Nate was going to answer her but his phone beeping cut him short, signaling him he'd just got a new text message.
"Landing at 16.00. Your time zone. Any change I'll let you know. You do the same." The message read.
He looked at his watch: it was 9:14 AM.
He read out loud the message for the other to hear.
«Yup, totally Eliot's type. She speaks all military…» Hardison noted.
«What got me impressed, instead, is that it will only take her less than 7 hours. She really is worried» Nate answered.
«Yeah, man. You really should go to the airport or she'll land before you do. 11.00 US Airways flight from BOS to La Guardia. There was a Delta Air Lines flight at 10.30 but I didn't know if you'd be able to make it. Traffic and all. Ticket's under your John Levin's alias. Be sure you have the ID with you or I'll need to change the reservation…» Hardison told him.
Nate quickly stood up and went to check in his fake IDs drawer, searching for the one he needed. He found it after a few seconds.
«Here it is. Mr. John Alan Levin. I'm on my way to Logan.»
«See you in a couple of hours, man» Hardison said.
And with that Nate took his earpiece out, needing a little time to think.
Please R&R...