"Just give me the key card and this'll all be through "
Sterling kicked Nate's limp form and the mastermind recoiled.
"Uhhh." He groaned at the pain in his chest.
"Where is it, Nate?" Sterling figured if he broke Nate just the right amount then he'd comply and give him the key card and he'd be able to get The Golden Dagger and sell it on the black market.
"Can't...tell you..." Nate sputtered as he fought for each breath he took.
That's it, Nate! He told himself. Eliot and the team are on their way! This'll be over in a second. Just keeping selling your act.
Sterling gave a rueful sigh. "Oh, Nate. Don't look so confident. You think your team is gonna come to your rescue?"
Nate sputtered blood out of his mouth.
"I'll tell you something..." Sterling pulled a gun out of his waistband.
"I don't think your team..." He sat on a wobbly chair that he got from the corner of the warehouse.
"...will wanna take you back home with you all banged up like this..."
Nate knew that Sterling was toying with his mind. He wasn't going to let him. But a tiny thought did reel him off his balance.
What if Sophie doesn't love me. What if she was just using me? No! They were a team and they were a family.
"W-We're a t-team..." He sputtered.
Sterling sighed before getting up and kicking Nate in the same ribs.
Nate coughed raggedly, trying to catch his breath. He groaned at the pain. Clutching his ribs tightly he spoke.
"W-We're a...f-family..."
Sterling shook his head ruefully as he sat back down.
"No, Nate. They're not. They're thieves, okay! They don't care about you...or your life. They steal. That's what they do for a living...They don't love you...Now, give me the key card..."
Do they really love me? We're supposed to be a family. Were they lying to me all of this time?!
His heart ached from the pressure. "Th-They don't?" Nate tried desperately not to fall into Sterling's trap, but it hurt too much to think that his team- his family were pretending to love him all this time.
"No, Nate! They're corrupt! They're thieves! How could they ever love you. They lie, steal, and cheat for a living!"
Sterling waved the gun angrily in his hand.
"But w-why would they...w-why would th-they lie...a-all this t-time?" Nate thought out loud.
Do they actually love me? Hardison? Parker? Eliot? Sophie? Do they love me?
He felt like breaking down and drowning his sorrows.
"Nate. They haven't been loving you and won't ever. Give me the key card." Sterling raised his voice at the end, impatiently.
"How c-could they h-have..."
"I've had enough of this! Where's the damn key card?!" Sterling pointed his gun.
"I-I...The key card?" Nate looked confused.
"Yes! The damn key card!!" Sterling shouted. His voice and the bang from the gun echoing off the walls of the warehouse.
Nate's breathing hitched and he writhed on the ground.
He gritted his teeth and forced his breathing steady.
"I'm going to ask you one more time!! Where is the key card?!!"
Nate didn't answer. He couldn't. Foremost, cause of the pain. And because it was getting increasingly hard to breath with his blood lodged in throat.
Sterling aimed his gun at Nate's leg and fired.
At the same time the wooden doors to the warehouse burst open to reveal Eliot and Parker!
They both jumped into action. Eliot taking out Sterling and Parker at Nate's side, checking for major complications.
It was only a matter of time until Sterling was dead with a bullet lodged into between his eyes. Eliot quickly made his way over to Nate's deathly pale body.
"Y-you guys c-came?" The question startled Eliot and Parker. Why wouldn't they have come?
"Of course..." Parker gave a slightly rueful smile while Eliot masked his awe. Parker really was getting better at social skills.
Eliot ripped a piece of his shirt off and tied it around Nate's abdomen where the first bullet was lodged and another piece of his shirt where the second bullet was. Any closer to his knee cap and Nate would've never walked again.
Nate grimaced. "W-Why...?" He began but couldn't continue. Parker shushed. She knew that he had to save his strength.
"All ya' need to know is that we're gonna get ya' back home." Eliot was determined as he picked Nate's prone body up. And he usually accomplished whatever he needed to when he was determined.
Parker and Eliot jogged until they were outside the warehouse. Eliot, careful not to jostle Nate's body too much.
"Where's the chopper?" Parker asked as they both turned in 360s to try and find it.
"Wait, I hear it!" Parker shouts and runs towards the direction of the noise Eliot on her heels.