Author Notes: I decided I would write another story. I'm glad I have readers to write for. That is the greatest thing for a writer. I do hope that my readers will give me more ideas in what they would like to see. And on that note I would like to try to continue the twist and turns that I left in the last story to put a little more complications into the team's life. (Hey this is almost like writing a season j/k, I could never write the wit and brilliance that the writers of the show do. I am but a humble fan and applauded all the writers do to make such a wonderful series.) Without further ado: another story…go figure right?

Chapter I

Nate swirled a drink around as he stared out the window of his apartment. It was no surprise that he'd have to renovate everything now that there was an office for the team. It was expected when the constant drilling and hammering was done with. The equipment was all moved around and ready to be transferred to the office. Nate glanced down at the amber liquid and took a sip of it. There was a certain sadness about not having the team meet at his place anymore, but at the same time it was a nice idea that there would be a comfortable place for clients that came to them.

Then there was an issue at hand that still bugged him.

"Then there was his slip up in London. He got sloppy and called you by your name. He didn't address you in a professional manner. So, why are you doing this, Jim? Grooming him to be a spy for you so you know what we are up too?"

"The same reason I always do things, Nate."

"That would be?"

"To keep you in line."

"Right, because you are a just man, Jim."

Nate took a swig of the drink. He shook his head at the very thought that Jim Sterling tried to pull a fast one. He'd do anything to screw up what he built. And how was he supposed to tell the team that Agent Grant McCoy was just a mole for Sterling to keep tabs on them. The very thought made him cringe, but he couldn't ignore the fact that Grant was trying to break away from the entanglement that Sterling had started. He did see a little independence from the young agent.

"Nate," Sophie's voice came from behind.

He turned as he took another swig.

"It's nearly one in the morning," Sophie said as she walked towards him.

"But not yet one," Nate replied.

She reached for the shallow glass and took it from him. She took a sip of it and sat it on the table nearby.

"You have been acting weird lately."

Nate rolled his shoulder and cracked his neck.

"Just a little stress. Moving does that to me," Nate remarked.

"Come to bed, please." Sophie grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the stairs.

Nate gave into the idea that sleep would be good.

The New Leverage HQ

The next day

Eliot and Hardison put into the place the multi-monitor screen on the wall.

"To the left," Parker said. "My left, Eliot."

"Damn it Parker!" Eliot shouted.

"What?" she asked.

"Come on, Eliot," Hardison said.

Eliot lifted the screen up and Parker tilted her head. He looked at her as she stepped back.

"Alright, now it looks like it's off centered," Parker said.

"Parker!" Hardison and Eliot grumbled.

Nate and Sophie walked in carrying lunch for the group. "Looks kind off centered."

"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Eliot remarked.

Nate looked over at Parker and she shrugged. Sophie stepped around the table and looked at the six large screens.

"No, I think it's alright." Sophie tilted her head. "Oh, I see now. Yes, you boys need o scoot the screens to the left. Parker, why didn't you see that before?"

"Because they only had one up when I came in."

"And you didn't think to tell us when we had more than one up?" Eliot asked. "Hardison, put it down. We're going to have to redo it anyway."

"Why don't you all sit down and have something to eat and we'll fix it afterwards," Sophie said. "We've brought something worth munching on."

Nate took a seat at the head of the table and looked at the team.

"So, are we going to let word of mouth know we have a new office or are we going advertise?" Hardison asked.

"Word of mouth," Nate said. "Don't want to hint to the wrong people."

Eliot pulled out his phone and looked at the time.

"Hillary and McCoy should be due in," Eliot said.

"I thought they were in New York," Nate remarked.

"Yeah, Hillary said that McCoy had an assignment that he figured would be done by the end of the week."

"What kind of assignment?" Nate asked as he became curious.

"I don't know she said some family heirloom was recovered in a case McCoy was working on months ago. There was a tip from the daughter," Eliot said. "Why?"

"No reason," Nate said reaching for a sandwich in the bag.

Sophie looked at him as he covered his curiosity with a simple reply of 'no reason.' It was a typical Nate response when he didn't want anyone to become suspicious. She looked at the office conference room.

"Well, I think this office will need a little touch up of paint. But other than that it's a fine set up," Sophie said with a smile. "Despite how much we have been screwed over on this, we do have one person to thank for."

"He who shall remain nameless," Nate chimed in.

Sophie looked at him and he looked at her.

"Don't give me that look," Nate said. "It was a joke."

"I like it," Eliot said.

"Eliot," Sophie said.

"What? He's screwed us over so many times that he doesn't deserve a name," Eliot said.

She rolled her eyes at him. She looked at Nate amused by the joke he made.

"Perhaps with him married now, it will change him," Sophie remarked. "I mean he did pay us for what we've done. And even though it took sometime here we are again. A new office and when we do get more funding we'll add more to it."

"Hopefully we won't have to blow this one up," Hardison muttered. "In memory of the old place may it rest in peace."

"Here, here," Sophie said.

"To new beginnings," Parker said.

"And strong family ties," a soft feminine voice came into the room.

They turned around and Eliot stood up. He walked over and hugged her. He looked at the team.

"Strong family ties," Nate said.

"Where's McCoy?"

"He's on his way. Had to send his report to the home office," Hillary said. "Look at this place, its amazing! You all really knew how to spend Ster…"

Eliot covered her mouth before she could finish saying Sterling's name.

"What?" She said pulling Eliot's hand from over her mouth.

"We don't say his name?"

"You're kidding?" She looked at the team and they shook their heads. "If you hate him that much how come you work with him when he has a case?"

"We get paid off the books by his boss, but the contract always is with him and his better half."

"Coleen, is a nice person," Hillary said.

Nate looked at Hillary and Eliot cocked his head to the side.

"What I say?"

"She's a nice person, huh?" Eliot questioned.

Nate stood up and walked over to Eliot and Hillary. Eliot looked at Nate and he stepped back.

"Can I have a word in private?" Nate asked Hillary.

"Sure."

Nate walked her out the room and down stairs. She looked at him and wrinkled her brow.

"That case, Agent McCoy was on in New York, what was it?"

"An heirloom recovery."

"You may be able to fool the team, but not me, Hillary." Nate looked at her dead in the eyes. "You were in New York with Agent McCoy for about three months now. One week was a lead that took you a week to find out it was a dead end. And the last few months were other cases that lead to this family heirloom.

"Mr. Ford, I don't know what you are talking about?"

"You and agent McCoy were up in New York for an event, one you didn't want to tell Eliot about because it dealt with a certain Interpol agent. Tell me I'm wrong, Hillary."

Hillary became anxious and looked at Nate.

"Please, Mr. Ford, don't tell Eliot," Hillary pleaded.

Nate rubbed his head and shook his head.

"Please," she said.

Nate looked up at her and grabbed her shoulder. "Hillary, he can't be trusted. You have to understand that. You saw that with the DeVille case."

"Mr. Ford, if you saw what I saw it was a different side. I went to be Grant's support."

"Why?"

"Because Grant went against everything his mother told him to do."

"There is a reason for that," Nate said.

"No, you don't know Grant like I do. He looks up to his uncle."

"You realize that he's grooming him? He's using Agent McCoy to spy on us?" Nate looked at her.

"No, he's not." Hillary looked down at her hands. "He's telling him what not to do."

The door opened and Nate looked up to see Grant walk in. It sent shivers down his spine seeing his silhouette. Grant shut the door and glanced around the lobby area where they were.

"It's a nice place," Grant said.

Nate looked at Hillary and she pressed her lips tightly together. She walked to Grant and wrapped her arm around him.

"Agent McCoy." Nate looked at the young man.

"Mr. Ford," Grant said staring at Nate.

It was uncanny how much he realized all his movements, speech, style was an exact replica of Sterling. He hated the idea of keeping the knowledge of Grant's relationship to Sterling a secret from his team. But the pleading eyes of Hillary made him rethink.

"Your secret is safe with me, Hillary, but I can't promise that it will be for very long," Nate said. "Let's go join the others upstairs.

Nate turned on his heels feeling the urge to have a drink. It was the only way to keep Pandora's box closed. He glanced over as Hillary looked up at Grant. He gaze snapped over to Nate.

"Mr. Ford," Grant said.

"Don't worry, Agent McCoy, you are still just a man of the law to me. Anything beyond that is your business." Nate pushed open the glass door.

He looked at the team as they glanced up.

"Agent McCoy is here," Nate said forcing a fake smile on his face.

But there was one person he could never fool and she knew very well something nagged at his very thoughts, words, and anxious movements. She was his better half.