His hazel eyes opened to the darkness that surrounded him. He stared at the ceiling for what seemed like hours,he knew that any movement at all would bring him great pain to his ribs. Although it was many years ago it felt like just yesterday that he was at a polo match watching William with this new brunette that seemed to show up out of no where. He'd never seen her before but he could do nothing about it,his friend was already smitten over this woman. He watched them flirt for a while before the polo match continued. He remembers various things well. Getting up with hitched breath he moved to the bathroom staring at himself in the mirror for a long time,wondering when this would all end,when he would get his revenge for the death of his best friend.
The train reached the station of Paris at three in the morning. After the got off they were ushered into a waiting Interpol vehicle and driven to their house where four black SUV's now lined the street keeping watch. Sterling made sure to clear the house before allowing them in. Nate turned on all the lights for Sophie and made sure to turn the Christmas lights on. Taking the ultra sound he sat it in a picture frame and placed it on the mantel of their fire place. Once everyone was settled in they sat in the living room staring at the tree.
"Everything is beautiful Nate,thank you." Sophie said keeping her eyes on the tree. She was exhausted and knew she needed to go to bed.
"Anytime Sophie. Darling you're tired,let's head upstairs and get into bed."
"Go ahead,we will be keeping watch down here." Eliot said with a nod.
"We will have this place secured and covered by the time you wake up." Hardison agreed,everyone could see how tired she was and with her injuries and the baby she needed to rest.
"Okay…." She said quietly as she stood and with Nate by her side heading for upstairs.
"Nate the picture,bring it please." She said stopping looking at the ultra sound.
Eliot had handed it to Nate and watched as the two disappeared up the stairs for the rest they both needed. He waited until he heard the door closing before turning to the others. "Look we need to get a move on with everything,he will want to heal before he makes a move and if his habits keep up,he's not that far away."
"We should be fine for the night,we have the street and outside the house covered." Sterling said looking to Hardison.
"Don't worry man,Parker and I will have this place wired in the next two hours." The hacker replied as he stood to get to work.
"To the roof." Parker said grabbing a camera and making her way outside.
Alastair was quick to notice the new activity surrounding the Ford home. They have returned and he quickly set to work setting up his own cameras but being sure to keep his new location dark and working within the shadows when he was outside. He knew the SUV's were all agents so he had to play his game right. If they saw him it would mean trouble and he couldn't have his plans ruined again,not this time. He watched the blonde thief cross the roof of the home and he took note of the light in the second floor window,he figured it was their room,he would have to keep and eye on the rooms and figure out the floor plan of their home,maybe a trip to the archives and find the blueprints in case he needed to get inside their home.
Upstairs in their room,Nate helped Sophie get changed since she was still very sore when it came to her arm. Once they were both changed he turned out the lights after setting the picture frame near her side of the bed. Bringing his arms around her he watched as she stared at the picture frame with a smile perfectly displayed on her lips.
"You're suppose to be resting." He said quietly watching her move so she was facing him.
"I know,I just can't help it. Think about it Nate,we have Abby,right here with us,right now." she said.
He could feel her hand move to her stomach even if the blankets were covering her. " I know,but she needs her rest just as much as you do."
When she looked back up to him,the love he saw in her brown eyes made him fall in love with her all over again.
"You're right." She said quietly moving closer to him taking in a deep breath and his scent. He always made her feel protected even if it was just in his arms. she knew he would keep her and their daughter safe no matter what it took. "Don't leave." she whispered barely audible.
"I won't." He said trying to figure out what she meant.
"Promise me you won't leave." She said.
By the sound of her voice he knew she was already half asleep. "I promise,I won't leave,ever." He said quietly listening to the steady sound of her breathing as she finally let sleep take over her. He stayed quiet listening to her and the talking that was coming from downstairs,all he wanted was for this to be over so they could go on with their lives,so they could raise their daughter and not have to deal with this psycho after them,so they could be happy and not have to constantly look over their shoulders and make sure they are not being watched.
Downstairs once five in the morning hit,their were more camera's in and out of the house then anyone had ever scene,everything the front or back door opened the person would be hit with a facial recognition software and if anything where to go wrong an alarm would sound. The windows all had pressure sensors on them and the house would always have four Interpol agents inside at all times. Everyone had taken the time to grab some sleep by the time Nate had come down the stairs,Sterling was in the kitchen making coffee for everyone.
"How is she,Nate?" He asked watching the mastermind take a seat at the table.
"Still asleep,but happy enough nonetheless." He yawned rubbing his eyes still exhausted. "How did everything work out?" He asked looking over to the other man.
"Took a good two hours but nothing is getting in or out of this place without us knowing about it. You two are not to go anywhere alone,especially her." He said looking back at Nate.
"I know,I don't want her alone at all." Nate said standing up after hearing Sophie calling him in a tone he didn't like.
"Nate! Nathan!" She called from upstairs.
Nate quickly ran up the stairs with Sterling right behind him,opening the door to their room he found her with the phone in her hand. "Sophie,what's wrong?" He wasted know time going to her side of the bed taking the phone from her. After reading the text he gathered her in his arms seeing the tears running down her face. "Shh,it's okay Soph,Alastair can't hurt you,no matter what he says."
"Nate,what's wrong?" Sterling asked as Nate tossed him the phone while he tried to comfort his wife the best he could.
"Welcome home duchess,I look forward to watching your blood run through my fingers as I reach in and grab that baby of yours,oh I can't wait to see what it looks like,to watch the life drain from your eyes and laugh as I make your husband watch me do everything to you,I will make him watch your blood drain from your body. Until next time."
"Oh…." Sterling said at a loss for words. Hearing the commotion upstairs Eliot stopped at the door way to analyze the scene in front of him.
"What happened?" He growled looking to Sterling who tossed him the phone with the message on it. "Dammit,he's closer then we think he is." He said handing the phone back to Nate.
Sterling motioned for the two of them to leave the room leaving husband and wife alone once again"Shh,Sophie,I"m right here okay?" He said quietly trying to comfort her.
"He's coming." She said quietly.
Moving so he was next to her he laid back down pulling her into his arms and covering her with the blankets. "He won't hurt you anymore,we are safe love. Just close your eyes and get some more rest,two hours is not enough for the two of you."
Sighing she tightened her grip around him and nodded slowly. "I know,I will try though,for Abby." She said quietly. It was about another hour before her grip on him loosened and she was back in a state of sleep. Sighing quietly he ran his fingers through her hair,he didn't like that he was sending messages like that to her. Slowly he unwrapped his arms from around her getting out of bed,he made sure she was covered and took her phone along with his out the room to avoid another wake up call. Leaving the room he closed the door over and headed back down stairs where he found everyone sitting in the living room.
"She gonna be okay man?" Hardison asked letting a yawn take over.
Laying both phones on the table he sighed sitting down."Yeah,she's asleep right now but,that little message put her on edge especially since it was about Abby."
"Uh,who is Abby?" Parker asked confused.
The corner of Nate's lips twitched into a smile. "Abigail Paige Ford,or Abby for short."
"You picked a name." Sterling said patting his old friend on the shoulder.
"Yeah,we did but he's playing games right now." Nate said looking to the others.
"He's closer then we think,we know that he knows now,you are both home meaning he is some where close by. Sterling your agents need to keep an eye out for anything that looks off." Eliot said.
"Look man,I got this place wired down tighter then anything you have ever seen before." Hardison said turning a computer monitor around showing all the camera angels.
"Good we keep watch and pre-" Sterling began but was interrupted by Sophie's phone vibrating on the table.
Picking up the phone Nate found another text from Alastair.
"Did I forget to mention that I will be making my appearance soon? Don't worry though duchess that precious little one will be safe for now,when I get done with you,there will be no place safe enough for any of you."
Nate sighed setting the phone back down."He's not going to let her relax. He won't let he enjoy herself or be happy with the news of Abby,he is going to stress her out,he won't let her be."
"Don't worry,I promise I will not let anything happen to her,Nate."Sterling said placing his hand on the mastermind's shoulder who nodded slowly knowing he had to trust them if he wanted everything to turn out alright.
Alastair was having to much fun,but he didn't get the rise he wanted with the texts,he could only figure that Nate had taken control over the situation. This was proving to be a complicated job now. Nate was a stronger man then he thought and the longer he waited the longer it would take to for them to realize just where he was. Looking out the window he counted four black Interpol SUV's lining the street. The early morning sun shined off them like a shiny reminder that he was behind the enemy lines and any wrong move would get him caught. He needed to heal quickly so he could make his move,so he can take care of them once and for all. He wanted blood and the wait was driving him even more mad,he didn't know how long he was going to be able to wait for it.
[A/N:Okay,not a long chapter but everything is building up to the action part of it all. What do you think Alastair will do to get his revenge? Will Sophie become over stressed again? Thank you all for the reviews!]