Chapter 4

London: The Next Day

The Queen's Hotel

The loud knocking woke Sterling from his sleep. He opened his eyes and stared at the small bottles resting comfortably on the nightstand in his room. He moaned and rubbed his eyes and the amplified knocking made him wish he hadn't been drinking again. He stumbled out of bed and opened the door.

"What is it?" He snapped.

"Well, you are a mess aren't you, Sterling?" Eleanor spoke bluntly.

"Good morning to you too, Eleanor. What do I owe the pleasure of Interpol's finest?" Sterling staggered towards the mini bar.

Eleanor glanced around the hotel room and looked at the three bottles of hard liquor that had obviously been consumed by him. She sighed and began to pick up and tossing the mess away. He sat down and opened a bottle, but before he could drink it she grabbed it.

"I refuse to pay your bar tab, Jim. And I refuse to let my daughter marry a self medicated man," Eleanor snapped. "Now, you are going to get your act together and clean up. I want you to shave and actually look presentable. I don't care that Coleen likes that stubble on your face. You are an Interpol agent and you will look presentable as you represent this organization. If you do not get your act together I will have you contained for suspicion of munity. And before you say I can't do that, I am Interpol. Don't cross me, Jim Sterling."

Eleanor took a sip of the small bottle and looked at him. Sterling stared at the older woman who kept her cool as she ripped him a new one. She was just as good as he was if not more experienced. The seventy-something year old woman took nothing from anyone, especially him.

"What are you waiting for?" Eleanor asked. "Get moving now?"

"I'm waiting for you to leave so I can," Sterling said.

She shook her head and walked to the closet and pulled out the light grey suit. She laid it out and pulled the light purple tie and white shirt beside it. She turned and looked at him.

"I believe this was the same suit you wore on your mission in Dubai." Eleanor folded her arms. "Shower, Sterling. Do I need to pull you by the ear and throw you into the shower myself? I may be an old woman, but I am much stronger than I look."

Sterling stood up and walked towards her. He slightly narrowed his eyes at the older woman like a spoiled child before he went into the bathroom to shower. Eleanor smiled and took a seat to wait for him to come out. She wasn't going to let him pull a fast one.

After a good long shower Sterling walked out and looked at Eleanor as she sat there.

"Do you mind?" Sterling remarked.

"I have seen more naked bodies in my time then you have in yours," Eleanor said. "Go on, get dressed."

Sterling grumbled about something and grabbed his suit. He went back into the bathroom and shut the door.

"Don't be long, Jim, I have to brief you about your mission." Eleanor smiled.

She stood up and rummaged through his things. He kept things neatly placed and everything had a spot.

"Alright, Mr. Ford, you may retrieve my daughter. She is at the tea room," Eleanor said. "I can handle Jim."

"On our way," Nate replied.

The Tea Room: 10:30

Sophie and Nate walked in and was greeted by the hostess.

"We are full this morning," she said.

"Oh, we're here to meet, Ms. Graham, she's sitting in her usual spot." Sophie smiled.

The hostess nodded and stepped to the side.

"We're in."

Sophie looked around and saw Coleen. She grabbed Nate's hand and headed in Coleen's direction. She was looking over some files as they approached her table. It was another sight of familiarity to Nate and Sophie.

"Nate, do you notice something different about Agent Graham," she whispered.

Nate looked at the young agent and looked at Sophie.

"Her hair?" Nate said.

"No, there's something about her that I don't think she wants to talk about, but I can see it." Sophie stared at her.

"Soph, let's get her and go," Nate whispered.

She nodded and they stood in front of her. She glanced up at the sight of two people standing by her table. Her eyes slightly showed shock at the sight of them. She sat her cup down and sighed.

"Jim sent you?" she replied.

"Yes, he did," Nate said. "In fact he hired us for a case of his own."

Coleen shook her head and flipped through the file.

"Where is he?" she asked as she looked around.

"He's not here. We came alone." Sophie took a seat and looked at Coleen. "Agent Graham, what has you so scared?"

"Why does everyone believe I'm scared?" Coleen asked. "I hardly am scared. I just know that Jim and I cannot be more than partners. I don't want him worrying about me and I don't want to be worried about him."

"But that is what partnership is all about. It's worrying about the other person. If we don't have someone to protect then life is pointless." Sophie looked at Coleen. "Agent Graham, are you well?"

Coleen looked at her and nodded. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Sophie looked at the lighter color tea and she looked at Nate. "Nate, could you give Agent Graham and me a moment?"

Nate nodded and walked away from the table.

"Your eyes are slightly glazed. You're drinking a lighter color tea with no sugar because there's still a whole plate. And you look a little flushed."

Coleen looked at her. "What are you hinting at?"

Sophie smiled and grabbed her hands.

"How long have you known?"

"Known what?" Coleen asked looking at Sophie still with shallow breaths.

"That you're pregnant," Sophie said.

Coleen shook her head and lifted her cup of tea. Sophie looked at the salted crackers instead of crumpets or a pastry.

"The smell of sweets makes you nauseated. At first you thought it was a stomach virus. And I bet that's what you told Sterling too. You hoped it was and when you kept feeling ill you finally gave into the notion that maybe it was something else."

"How is it that you know this?" Coleen asked.

"So, how far along are you, Agent Graham?"

Coleen looked down at the files and sighed. She shook her head and shrugged.

"At least two months, not far along." Coleen sighed. "Jim and I never talked about children. And I have my mother's genes that I won't show until closer to my due date."

"And you ran because you thought he wouldn't be happy about this? Thought he might run if he found out he was going to be a father again?" Sophie looked at the scared look in Coleen's eyes.

"Yes, I tried to hide being sick every morning and sometimes in the evening. And I became distant so I didn't have to tell him. I started getting restless and constantly checking up on Olivia."

"What did he say?"

"He just thought maybe it was PTSD from the last case we had. And some of it might have been because I get tense when he comes up from behind and wraps his arms around me."

"And what about what DeVille had said that night?"

Coleen bit her lower lip and stared down at the tea cup.

"I was pregnant. Three months exactly that night, but I lost the baby." Coleen's lower lip quivered. "I never told him."

"Agent Graham, tell him. He needs to know. He's going crazy about you leaving. He doesn't have a clue what happened."

Coleen shook her head and Sophie saw tears drip down her face. Sophie gave her hand a squeeze and Coleen dabbed the tears away. She glanced over at Nate as he sat at another table.

"This throws everything into a whirl," Nate said.

Sophie stood up and walked over to Coleen. She wrapped her arms around the scared agent. She was confused and unsure of what to do.

"Sterling is here, Agent Graham. He thinks there is a case here that your mother had flagged as important. He's staying at The Queen's Hotel. Go and tell him. And we'll deal with the outcome later." Sophie looked over at Nate.

"Alright, Eleanor, she's on her way," Nate said.

"I'll have Jim down there," Eleanor said.

Nate got up and walked over to Sophie and Coleen. He lifted the cloth napkin and handed it to Sophie.

"Let's dry those eyes and make you look real good." Sophie smiled as she dabbed Coleen's eyes.

The Queen's Hotel: 11:30

Sterling and Eleanor walked down to the restaurant where she had told him she'd brief him. Of course he didn't know what kind of briefing he was going to get from the head of Interpol.

"Now, you listen to me, Jim," Eleanor started.

"I'm probably not going to like what I'm about to hear if it starts with that." Sterling straightened his tie.

"You are a smart ass." Eleanor smirked. "No wonder my daughter is madly in love with you."

Sterling looked at her and sighed.

"Your daughter left me, not quite at the altar, but three days. Now I have explain to my daughter why her father didn't go after the woman he loves."
"You shouldn't keep things from your children. As a parent I have learned that the hard way and you have time to right those wrongs, Jim. Now back to business. I have cut the guest list down again. Half these people Coleen has never met in her life. Their family, but never met so why should I pay for people who she's never met? Your side is a little light,"

"You are talking like there is still a wedding." Sterling lifted the menu.

Eleanor took the menu from him and he looked at her.

"You love my daughter and went to Nathan Ford for help. That takes a lot coming from someone who screws people over daily. And if you ask me, which you didn't, I believe you haven't given up hope that my daughter will come back in time for her to walk down the aisle. You aren't as bad ass as you think you are, Jim Sterling."

Sterling reached for the glass of water and took a sip of it. He looked at Eleanor as she didn't hold back on how she thought he felt. He was trying to move away from the subject of him and Coleen.

"Eleanor, we're here," Nate said.

Eleanor looked towards the entranced of the restaurant. She stood up and with one good flip of her hand slapped the back of Sterling's head. He glanced up at her with narrowed eyes and she pointed to the entrance. He turned and looked to see Coleen standing there with Nate and Sophie. He buttoned the middle button of his suit and stepped around the table. Coleen stepped further into the restaurant to meet him half way.

"Jim, we need to talk," Coleen said.

"Yes, of course," Sterling said guiding her towards the table.

Eleanor walked off and looked at Nate and Sophie. She gave a nod as she walked to another table.

Sterling looked at Coleen and she grabbed his hand. "I'm sorry, Jim. I'm sorry I just took off like that. I was scared."

"Why? You had nothing to fear?"

"I was afraid that you might not be accepting to this."

Coleen looked over at Sophie and Nate. Sophie nodded and Coleen turned back to Sterling.

"We never touched the subject about children. I didn't know how you would feel about maybe having a baby together."

"Is that what made you run?" Sterling asked.

Coleen's eyes were soft and she nodded.

"How could you think I wouldn't want to have children with you?" Sterling reached out his hand stroking her cheek. "Darling, you and I are about to start a life together. And what would be more promising to a secure future than having a baby?"

"But I thought you haven't had time to spend a lot of time with Olivia and adding another child would take away that time away."

Sterling shook his head and leaned forward and kissed her head.

"You have no reason to think that."

Nate and Sophie watched as Sterling and Coleen talked. Sophie looked at Nate and grabbed his hand.

"A baby is such a good add on to their story," Sophie remarked.

"It still is a shock to me that Sterling even had a daughter in the first place."

"I think we all were shocked about that. But he had his reasons why he never told you about his wife and daughter." Sophie stroked his cheek.

Nate grabbed her hand and kissed it. Sophie leaned her head on his shoulder as they watched Coleen tell Sterling that she was pregnant. She saw shock on his face, but he pulled her into his arms.

"Do you think she's going to tell him about the other one?" Nate asked.

"She might, it's up to her, but sooner or later it will come up."

"What about you, Nate?"

"What about me?" He looked down at Sophie.

"If you had another chance be a father again would you?" Sophie asked kissing his chin.

Nate looked at Sophie and looked at her.

"Soph?"

"No, don't worry, I'm not pregnant," Sophie said with a smile. "But would it be so bad if I were?"

Nate leaned forward and kissed her.

"The jury is out on that one." Nate smiled.

The Queen's Hotel: Later that day

The team sat at the restaurant and ordered drinks to celebrate another victory even though they probably wouldn't get paid for it.

"So, she ran because she was pregnant?" Eliot remarked. "She took a risk just flying home."

"She was scared, you don't always think when you are scared, Eliot. Agent Graham was thinking about the relationship being ruined with the possibility that Sterling didn't want any more children."

"Still," Eliot said.

"So, what about you two?" Parker asked. "Any deep secrets you two are keeping from us?"

"Parker, they wouldn't be secrets if we told you," Nate said. "And to answer your question no."

"Damn," Parker remarked.

"Who knew though Sterling actually had a heart? I mean he's always putting on this bad ass attitude in front of us that it took a woman to show that other side."

"Two women, Hardison," Sophie said.

"Yeah, don't forget the reason we went to Dubai," Eliot remarked.

"So, there's going to be another little Sterling?" Parker remarked.

"Yup, looks that way, Parker. Hopefully one that won't be a pain." Nate lifted up his drink.

"So, case closed, right?" Eliot said.

"Yup, I hope so," Nate said.

Sophie stood up and placed her hand on Nate's shoulder.

"I'm going to go up to the room. I'm feeling beat after today." Sophie leaned forward and kissed Nate's cheek.

"I'll be up in a little while. I'm going to finish this." Nate lifted his drink.

"Good night," she said.

"Night, Soph," the others said.

She walked off and Eliot looked at Nate.

"Really, Nate!" Eliot said. "Someone needs to help you when it comes to romance."

"Yeah, Nate, that was sure sign she didn't want to go up a lone," Hardison remarked.

Nate looked at them.

"Like you two are experts on romance." Nate smirked.

"Maybe you should take pointers from Sterling," Eliot used Nate's words against him.

Nate gave Eliot a look and sat the glass down and stood up. "Don't use my words against me, Eliot. That's war if you do."

Eliot smirked and leaned back into the chair. "Have fun."

Nate shot him a glare as he walked off.

"I think I'm going to my room. It has been a long day after all," Hillary said.

She kissed Eliot's cheek.

"Check out is for noon, Hillary. Don't make me drag your ass out of bed like the last time," Eliot said.

"Don't worry; I don't want my big brother to make a scene in another country again." Hillary stood just behind Grant.

Her hand lightly touched his shoulder and he glanced over at her. He gave a smile as she let her hand drop and walked off.

"I think I'm going to head up," Grant said as he started to stand.

Eliot grabbed and pushed him back down in his seat. Grant looked at him as he kept a strong hold on his shoulder.

"Hey, you two mind, I'd like to have a word with McCoy?" Eliot looked at Hardison and Parker.

"Nah, not at all we were just leaving," Hardison said.

"Be nice, Eliot," Parker said.

He smirked a little and looked at Grant. Grant gave a nervous chuckle and his eyes screamed 'help'. Eliot's hand released Grant's shoulder he looked at him.

"So, how have you and my sister really been knocking boots?" Eliot asked.

"What are you talking about?" Grant asked.

"Don't play stupid, McCoy. I know that touch on the shoulder crap." Eliot looked at him and Grant sighed.

"Since DeVille made me keep an eye on her."

"Didn't think I'd find out did you?"

"Eventually, maybe." Grant smiled. "What do you want me to say, Eliot?"

Eliot stood up and gave Grant's shoulder a hard pat.

"If she gets hurt in anyway, I'll castrate you. Believe me I've been instructed in that art," Eliot said low enough in Grant's ear. "Have a nice night, McCoy."

"You too, Eliot," Grant remarked.