Chapter 7

Sophie, despite herself had to admire the way Nate manipulated Bryan Jackson into calling off the hit and agreeing to a meeting with him. At the beginning of the conversation she was sure the man was not going to agree, it seemed all he wanted was Nate to pay for his step brothers' death but Nate somehow convinced him otherwise. Of course it helped that Nate intimated that he could have both, and the pleasure of killing him himself to boot. The thought appealed and Bryan agreed to Nate's terms in the end.

"Ok guys we are going to need a few things. Hardison you need to secure the area of the meet, cameras and gadgets, the usual. Sterling, you can get a team out there?"

"Done…" Sterling said as he pulled out his phone to start making the arrangements.

"Eliot, we are going to need a wheelchair for me, I don't think I am going to manage walking." Nate instructed the Hitter.

"I don't like this Nate. You have put the idea into his head that he could get his money and get his revenge on you at the same time."

"Well yes Sophie. He want's revenge…so I gave him an alternative to the hit. Isn't that what we agreed we'd do?"

"No Nate, I agreed to none of this." Sophie replied. Nate sighed heavily and took a sip of the drink Sterling had supplied to him. That was another thing she was not happy about, Nate drinking, especially now. She said nothing though as she watched the others get to work.

"How do we know if the hit has been called off?" Parker asked.

"Well that is why the meet is only going to take place in three days, to give him time to do that and to make sure that the message is out before we go anywhere. Hardison will monitor and make sure it is called off." Nate explained.

An hour later Hardison, Eliot and Parker were ready to leave. They had to get to the site of the meet and set up the surveillance and Eliot needed to procure a wheelchair for Nate to use.

"Sterling…"

"Don't worry Spencer I'll make sure they are still here when you get back." Sterling told him. Eliot just growled and then he and the other three left.

Sterling watched them leave and then looked from Nate who still lay on the Sofa sipping his latest glass of whiskey to Sophie who stood at the foot of the sofa watching him. He shook his head slightly to turned to Sophie.

"I'm going to go and check the house, make sure everything is still locked up tight. Neither one of the two answered him, and so he nodded to Sophie and then left to do his sweep leaving the two of them alone.

"Nate…"

"Sophie please, you know this is the only way."

"No it's not. You could let Eliot deal with this." Sophie said sitting down beside Nate. "But it's your way isn't it. You can't do this Nate. What if you get an…what if you have a…"

Nate sighed heavily reaching for her. She grabbed his hand and wrapped hers around it.

"Sophie. The only way Eliot could deal with this is to kill Bryan and I can't let him do that." Nate said softly. "I don't know what is going to happen, but I trust them to get me out of it. I know you trust them too."

"I do but…but you are not in any condition to do this. I don't care what you say. If something happens, if something goes wrong…"

"Sophie…" Nate said pulling her forward until her face was right in front of his and then lifting his hand to her face. He could feel the wetness on her cheeks and wiped his thumb over them drying the stray tears that she was trying so desperately to keep at bay. "Nothing is going to go wrong…" He said softly. "And if it does…well I have Eliot and Parker and Hardison and Sterling to get me out of there. And I have you…" He said lifting his head up slightly searching for her lips. She bent down and placed hers on his. "I love you Sophie and I am not in any hurry to leave you…" He said before kissing her again.

"I love you too Nate…even though you are a stubborn, insufferable…bloody fool." She said leaning in again placing a kiss on his forehead and wrapping her arms around him. "Just promise me…promise me that you will try to be careful. Let Eliot look after you and don't pull your normal stupid stunt of making yourself the target."

"I never make myself the target Sophie…" Nate smiled. "I always duck…"

"Don't even start Nate…"

"Ok…I won't and I won't pretend that something might not go wrong, that is why I am asking you…" He said lying back again. "I need to know you will stay in the van with Hardison."

"Nate…"

"Not negotiable Sophie. You know there is nothing you could do if something did go wrong and I don't want Eliot distracted from getting me out of there in one piece..." He said. "Promise me…"

"I promise." Sophie said softly running her hand down his cheek. "Now if you are going to go off playing hero, you need to rest and eat and take your medicines…" Sophie said getting up. "You need to be as strong and alert as possible and we only have three days."

"That's my girl…bossy as always…" Nate smiled.

The next days were spent in preparation for the meet. Hardison had confirmed that the hit had been called off. Of Course that did not mean it had got through to all the hitters out there so Nate was moved into his little office which had not windows and no access except through the door. He spent most of the time sleeping with Sophie making sure he took his medicines and got some food into his system. She noticed he had some episodes but he did not talk about them and she did not push him to.

It was the morning of the meet and Sterling had gone ahead to organize his team and so had Sophie, Hardison and Parker. They would make sure that the site was covered and that there were no surprises for Eliot and Nate when they arrived.

"Eliot…" Nate said as they drove towards the meeting place. "I need you to promise me that Sophie, Parker and Hardison make it out of here in one piece. If it comes down to them or me…"

"Nate…"

"Eliot I want your word." Nate said stopping the Hitter from saying anything.

"You have it." Eliot growled out between clenched teeth.

"Good." Nate said and settled back into his seat while Eliot drove on in silence.

The arrived at the meet to find Bryan was not there yet. Eliot helped Nate out of the car and into his chair and then they waited. They did not have to wait long before a car pulled up. Five men climbed out and walked towards them. A tall, well-dressed young man was leading them and Eliot surmised this was Bryan Jackson. He quickly noted that all of them were armed, each of them carrying at least one concealed gun on them.

"Mr Ford…" Bryan Jackson said looking at Nate and noting the man was completely incapacitated with his one arm in a cast and his leg stretched out in front of him in a cast. He also noticed that Nate did not look directed at him until he spoke.

"Mr Jackson…" Nate said looking towards the area the man's voice had come from.

Ok another cliff hanger…I will try not to keep you hanging for too long. Thanks for all the reviews they are as always very very greatly appreciated.