A/N – Oooook. So this is the story that would not end. But hey look, it ended. Now, funny story: I started this story back in February, thinking it would be a funny AU if Nate and Sophie had gone to same high school. And our characters never became who they are. So then the other night, what do you know, Leverage has a High School reunion episode! No spoilers, dont worry.
Anyway, I realized, hey, I should probably finish this damn story. And then I realized people are going to think I took the idea from the episode, which I did not. I took it from every cheesey television movie ever, lol. I started posting this way before that ep was aired. Just sayin.
Ok, that was really rambly. Sorry about that. Anyway, this is the end. I do hope you enjoy it, as it took me forever. Thanks for reading, :D
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"Interpol!" Nate very nearly shrieked. In a manly way, of course.
Sophie shrugged, "Every actor has a day job, Nate."
"But... I mean, Interpol, Sophie? How did that even happen?"
Sophie ignored him as she noticed the expression on Eliot's face and the suddenly defensive posture to his stance.
"Eliot... I didn't know how to tell you. And I couldn't, not while I was here on a job."
"You knew about this whole thing?" Parker asked, staring disbelievingly at Sophie.
"No," Sophie shook her head, "I'm in town for another job. A double agent, nasty bugger called Sterling. But I've run into Cindy before. Took me a while to recognize her without the black hair and fake accent, but it finally occurred to me as we were running up the stairs. Cindy here has been the bait for dozens of 'baddies' for the past 20 years. She's made quite a life out of it, actually."
"Sure didn't see that in the choice of Major options at college," Hardison mumbled mostly to himself, smiling slightly when Parker chuckled.
"Hate to interrupt... whatever this all is..." Eliot interrupted, "But shouldn't we be stopping an assassination?"
"I think I can handle one woman," Sophie shrugged nonchalantly, "But you're welcome to come along if you'd like, Eliot."
Eliot gave a small nod and followed Sophie to the door.
"You can keep control of her for a while, I trust?" Sophie looked over her shoulder at Nate, who merely nodded.
"How will you know where to find them?" Hardison asked.
Sophie cast Cindy a glance and the other woman sighed heavily.
"She'll be wearing a blonde wig. Last I saw, Conley was headed for his office. She'll be wherever he is."
Sophie nodded and turned again.
"I hope you find him in time," Cindy whispered almost silently, "He was always really good to me."
But Sophie and Eliot were already gone.
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"My question is," Nate mused, "How did you get 911 to be busy?"
"Pfft, It's a simple squelch," Hardison replied for her, waving his hand dismissively.
"Aren't you a DJ?" Parker asked, looking at him curiously.
He grinned, "Generally."
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Nate knelt back down in front of Cindy, regarding her seriously.
"You know that you're going to prison for a very long time, right?"
Cindy nodded, "I know. Truth is, I'm so tired of this life, but I can't escape. All I know is how to be somebody else's pawn."
He looked into her tear-reddened eyes and nearly flinched at what he saw. Complete and utter hopelessness. He knew it well.
"I want to believe you," Nate told her quietly, "And for what it's worth; I wish I could save you."
Cindy choked off a coughing sob and gave Nate a small, sad smile.
"Crazy thing is, you probably did save me. Amina would have killed me eventually, I know way too much."
Nate saw the flash of pain in her eyes and suddenly he understood.
"I was wondering why she hadn't already killed you," he said, "It does seem like a liability to leave you alive."
"What? What'd we miss?" Hardison asked.
"I love Amina, and she loves me," Cindy answered quietly, biting her lip to stop the tears.
"Wow," Parker exhaled, "This is like a soap opera! Well, a Telanovella. Those are always much more dramatic."
Hardison sighed, "Girl, we need to have a talk about 'time and place'"
"What'd I do?" Parker asked, confused.
Hardison just groaned.
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Twenty minutes later Nate got a text from Eliot saying 'get back to main room, cops on way.' Nate led the group, discreetly passing Cindy off to Sophie along the way to the room. The remaining four took their seats again just as the lights turned on, and the room erupted in cheers and whistles.
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"Well, it's about damn time!" The meathead whose name Nate still couldn't remember called out loudly.
"If he only knew," Eliot murmured to the others, causing three knowing smiles in return.
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An hour later and various police work that always looked more interesting on television, they were all free to go. Yet they lingered until they were the only people left, dawn to each other through this strange experience.
Nate found himself in a circle with the others in the school parking lot. Sophie stood on one side of him and Hardison on the other. Parker stood next to Hardison and Eliot stood next to her, on Sophie's other side, competing the circle.
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"I don't even know where to start," Nate addressed the group, "It's been an interesting night, to say the least."
Parker shrugged, "Don't know about you, but I'm going home," she turned to look at Hardison, "You wanna give me a ride?"
"Sure," Hardison nodded, "But how'd you get here?"
Parker smirked, "I drove."
Hardison gulped.
Parker spun and headed toward the few cars left, picking out Hardison's big black van easily.
Hardison managed a quick fist pump to a smirking Eliot before jogging after the blonde.
"It was...an adventure!" he called out to the remaining three as he climbed into the van.
The others waved him off and watched as he and Parker drove away, crunching gravel loudly in the quiet night.
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The three shifted so they were all facing each other, Sophie more or less in the middle.
"So," she began, not sure who to look at first.
"I'm gonna get going," Eliot decided for her, "You two obviously need to talk."
Sophie wrapped him a quick hug, "I'll call you when I get home."
Eliot just nodded before making his way to his car and driving off, leaving Nate and Sophie the last ones standing.
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"This isn't how I hoped to see you again," Sophie looked at Nate earnestly.
Nate smiled despite himself, "You hoped to see me again?"
"I've never forgotten you," Sophie admitted, "I still wonder what would have happened if I stayed, or if you had come with me. What if..."
"There are too many 'what if's" Nate replied, taking one her hands in his own. "I've spent the last five years of my life wondering what I could have done differently. About everything. Me and you. Me and Maggie. But mostly about Sam."
"How..." Sophie trailed.
"Sudden Infant Death Syndrome," Nate's voice came out hoarse as he fought familiar tears.
"Oh, Nate," Sophie sighed, moving closer and resting a hand on his arm, "There's nothing you could have done."
Nate nodded, "I know that. But I'll never stop thinking that I could have saved him. He's my son."
Sophie didn't respond, she just pulled Nate in for a long hug, holding him tightly.
When they finally separated, Nate was smiling down at her fondly.
"What is it?" Sophie asked, feeling scrutinized.
"You always did know how to make me feel better, Soph," Nate replied, dropping his hand to hold hers again.
Sophie beamed, "I hope it doesn't take another reunion to see you again."
Nate looked at her thoughtfully, years of pain and love flashing through his mind.
I'm Sophie
We'll be together forever, Soph, just wait.
The day after graduation.
I love you.
Will you come with me?
Maggie, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?
I do.
Till death do you part.
Sam! Sam! Sammy!
We'll get through this.
Another Irish, neat.
One more, just one more drink Mickey. Don't you tell me when I've had enough.
'I'm worried about you, Nate.' "You lost that right when you left me, Maggie!'
"He was my son, too!"
'God, I miss you Sammy. I hope you can hear this.'
One more, Mickey, just one more. Don't worry, I'm not driving.
Sophie.
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Nate gave her a crooked smile, "It won't take a reunion. Just a phone call."
"Are you OK?" Sophie asked, not oblivious to how long it had taken him to answer her question.
"No," Nate replied honestly, "I'm an unemployed, washed up, broken drunk. But I'm working on it."
Sophie laughed dryly, squeezing his hand, "It's a start."
Nate did smile then, genuinely and the sight made Sophie want to cry. It had been far too long since she'd seen that smile.
They rode home in comfortable silence, Sophie giving him a quick kiss on the cheek as he dropped her off at her apartment.
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When Nate got home at last, he sighed in relief. It had been a long and strange night and he wanted nothing more than a stiff drink and a soft bed.
He paused in the kitchen doorway, contemplating. For everything about the night that had gone horribly wrong, it had also brought him Sophie.
Pushing away from the doorway, Nate decided that maybe all he needed this particular night was the bed.
Laying in bed, he knew that everything was going to change now. He could feel it. But for once, it felt like the good kind of change.
He slept better than he had in years.
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THE END
A/N – thanks again for anyone who started this way back in feb. and stayed with it till the end. :D Also, thanks to anyone who read at all.