The Madison Job Chapter 6: Timing, a leverage fanfic

A/N – Plot! No, really. Stuff not relating to schmoopiness happens. May be good stuff, may be bad. Read to find out, :D Sort of a short chapter, but its 2AM and I need to be up in 5 hours. More tomorrow, lol.

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Early the next morning, the fifth day Maddy was with them, she stopped being afraid of Parker. The thief had avoided the girl as much as possible, careful not to startle her again. So she was surprised to wake up in the middle of the night to a prodding finger on her cheek. Instantly awake, Parker realized it was Maddy poking her and she asked her what was wrong. "Hardison's on the computer," was her sleepy answer. Parker continued to stare at the girl, unsure what she was expecting. Maddy pulled at the covers and Parker took the hint, tucking the girl in beside her, wrapping an arm around her protectively. Batting at the poof of hair suddenly in her face, she whispered to Maddy they would need to do something about the crazy hair in the morning, but she was already asleep. Smiling to herself, Parker followed.

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Around that same time, Sophie, in her full doctor gear, approached Eliot, in his security guard uniform, inconspicuously, and asked him if he wouldn't mind escorting her to her car; she didn't feel comfortable walking alone so late at night. Eliot cast her a quick, questioning glance, but did as she asked. His sleepy guard mate paid him no mind, not even noticing as he left. They stayed silent until they reached Sophie's car, where she beckoned him to get in. So he did.

"What's going on?" Eliot was beginning to feel alarmed at the strange expression on Sophie's face.

"I think I found Amanda," she replied, but her voice sounded unsure, unwilling.

"Where?"

Sophie sighed, "In the morgue. Listed as a Jane Doe. Overdose."

"Fuck."

"Not quite what I would say, but yes, that's about right."

"Guess we should call Nate." Sophie rolled her eyes.

"I suppose so. He won't appreciate being woken up this early, I'm sure."

"Reckon he hasn't gone to bed yet," Eliot countered.

Sophie nodded in weary agreement as she reached for her phone.

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Six AM was far too early for just about everything, but especially for emergency meetings at Hardison's apartment to discuss the suspicious death of their client's daughter. They understood the need to discuss options before Maddy woke up, but it still hurt. Nate had been asleep, but only for a few hours, and was indeed annoyed at being woken up before the sun. Eliot and Sophie were tired from their overnight shift, and Hardison hadn't gone to bed yet. Parker had slept, but unwilling left the warmth of Maddy's cuddling to attend the meeting. Sophie filled Hardison and Parker in on what she had learned. Hardison cursed softly and dropped his head to his knees, suddenly wishing he had gotten some sleep after all. Parker remained stoic, nodding at appropriate breaks in Sophie's account.

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"We need to find Mr. Smith." Nate interrupted Sophie's speech, noticing Parker's non-reaction. He knew a silent Parker was more dangerous than a screaming Parker. Too many variables. He continued.

"At this point, it doesn't matter what's going on at the hospital. Our main goal needs to be finding Mr. Smith. If we manage to take down some shady dealings while we're at it, great. But that can't be our focus. Eliot, tonight you go back to the hospital and do what it is you do, find out where Bill went. Somebody knows something, and you need to find out what that is." Eliot nodded, not happy at the prospect. He hoped they would at least fight back. Playing bully was just so high school.

"Sophie," Nate paused to consider. "Sophie, you stay at the desk, chat up the nurses some more, but do not go wandering. I repeat, do not wander. I don't want you in any danger."

"I can take care of myself, Nate," Sophie protested, "Or have you forgotten your battle wounds already?"

Nate sighed, "I know that. Just, please. Soph, just please. We can't afford to lose you."

The unspoken "I can't afford to lose you" hung in the air, but nothing more was said. Sophie nodded her consent, finding herself suddenly choked up. Just when she thought he had no hope, he surprised her. She should've known; Nate always did have a unique sense of timing.

"What do we tell Maddy?" Parker broke in, expression blank.

Nate rubbed his temples, "Nothing yet. Not until we find her father. And then, well, that's really a family thing. Her grandmother will want to tell her I suppose."

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Eliot left to get some sleep, pausing briefly to squeeze Parker's hand, the others be damned. Her face remained blank, but she squeezed back, holding on a second longer than necessary. Sophie was too wound up to sleep, but left with Nate and his offer of buying her a coffee. Hardison collapsed on the couch next to Parker, exhausted but also not ready to sleep.

"You alright?" he asked, knowing it was dumb but not sure what else to say.

Parker nodded, frowning, "Yeah, I'm ok. I just feel bad for her."

"Yeah, poor kid," Hardison agreed. But Parker shook her head.

"No, not Maddy. I mean, I do feel bad for her. But I was talking about Amanda. Even if she was bad, now she'll never get the chance to be good."

"You have a strange way of looking at things, girl. But you're not wrong." He nudged her shoulder gently.

She looked at him suddenly. "Do you like me?"

Hardison was flustered, "What do you.. what does that have to do with.. not really the time or place for this… yeah. Yeah, I guess I do." He trailed off, embarrassed. Girl had the strangest timing.

"I don't like you. Not like that. I like being your friend, or at least your coworker, we have fun together, but I don't want to be with you. Not like that." She paused. "I'm sorry." And he saw that she really was.

"I figured," Hardison confessed, "It's alright, you're still my girl. In a strictly friends only meaning, of course." He smiled at the last part, glad when she smiled back softly.

"Besides," Hardison continued, "I know you're into Eliot, and I want no part of being in the middle of that. Dude could kill me with his highlights." Parker giggled, but stopped suddenly.

"How do you know?"

"About the highlights?" Hardison teased, "It's just a feeling." At her confused look, he continued.

"Kidding! About you and El? I wasn't sure, but the video helped clear things up. You were there when I installed it, to watch Maddy. That was some show you two put on." He grinned mischievously at her.

Parker looked stunned, "I forgot about the camera."

"That's not like you."

"No," she agreed. "This case has been…"

"Rough?"

"Yeah."

"I wanted to be angry," Hardison confessed. "But I mostly just want you to be happy, cheesy as that sounds. And El's a good guy, crazy as that sounds. You two are probably made for each other. Who am I to mess with fate?"

Parker rolled her eyes, "He wants to talk. After this is over. Like, a relationship talk. We haven't even had sex yet!"

"Whoa whoa whoa, now! Just cuz I'm not all pissed about you and Eliot, don't mean I want to be hearing about your sex life! Or, soon to be sex life. Whatever. The thought of Eliot having a 'where is this relationship going' talk is funny though. Not so tough after all, is he?"

Parker laughed, "That's what I said! Promised I wouldn't tell anybody though." She frowned, wondering if she'd broken the promise. Hardison answered her thought.

"Hey. I guessed it. You didn't say anything. No broken promises."

"You're good at reading my mind. It's creepy. But also ok. Just don't do it when I'm in the shower. Or in bed."

"I can't actually read your mind! I'm not a superhero! But damn, that would be cool. Can you imagine it? Wouldn't even need to do a con… I could just tell you what they were all thinking!"

Parker laughed, "Yeah, but then Sophie would be out of a job. Don't think she'd be very happy."

"Maybe, maybe not. Either way, I would know." He grinned widely.

"I'm glad you're still my friend." She said it quickly and softly, but seriously.

"Of course," Hardison nodded. "Just please, don't have sex at the office! There are some things a man can't un-hear."

"What about on the roof?"

Hardison groaned.

TBC

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Yeah, so that's not what I had planned for this chapter. But I felt like Parker and Hardison needed to have a talk. Hardison's a good guy, I don't think he'd turn into an ass just because Parker chose Eliot, so I'm sticking to it! Lol. Also.. I did not intend to kill off Amanda.. it just sort of happened. Tune in to see what happens(or happened) to Bill!