Caring takes Courage (10 of 10)

Fandom – Leverage

Rating – pg13

Pairing – Gen

Warnings – typical violence

Disclaimer – I do not own anything but the copy right to this story.

Summary – Nate has been kidnapped while injured and sick; the team requires the help of others to help them steal Nate back.

A/N – All I have to say is that this is fast. I thought it'd take another couple weeks to finish this story. But I was on a roll. The Pacing probably sucks and it probably ends too fast but for right now I am happy with it. Also, I am sorry for the lack of reveals. Nothing seemed to come together that way so I didn't bother. Also, chapter 10 turned out to be the Epilogue but it works out evenly enough I guess. I thank everyone who's reviewed this story and has stuck with me. I hope ya'll have enjoyed taking the ride with me. Also, this story is totally a pre-slash for Eliot/Nate. I toyed with it being Eliot/Nate the entire time, but Sophie got in there and I had to do something with her. But in the end, it just seemed like I focused a lot on Eliot/Nate and I figure that if I ever do another story they'd be the main pairing. And this A/N is long enough. Love ya'll, Asher.

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Chapter 10

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His leg hurt like hell. Walking on it is not a good idea but he really didn't have a choice. It needed to be seen too, it felt as if the stitches had come loose and the bandages felt wrong. Nate really wished he could have had a peaceful rest to be able to heal. Even if he'd been annoyed at the time with his team being mother hens, he would have traded for that early situation instead for the one he is in now.

"All right, time to finish this." Rebecca muttered. Nate watched her carefully, but she didn't pull the gun. Instead she pulled out her phone.

"What do you think people would pay for you?" she asked. "Ten million or twenty?"

Nate muttered something but the words didn't form thanks to the gag in his mouth.

"Forty? All right, that sounds good." She grinned.

Nate rolled his eyes. Of course there were plenty of people with money who'd buy him just for the chance to kill him. He can only hope that his team is alerted to it. They all have contacts one way or another and somehow they all get pertinent information. Even so, this is one horrible place to be.

Nate took a look around as Rebecca turned away from him tapping on her phone. The shack can't even be called a shack.

There are boards missing, half the roof collapsed into the one, main room, and it was drafty. He's mostly dressed in sweats; his slippers had been grabbed but he's without a hoodie or coat and he's cold.

His chest rattles and forces him to couch. He doubles over and coughs for what seems like ages. When he's done he's trying to gasp air through his nose and he really wished he wasn't gagged.

It makes it hard to breath, thanks to a stuffed up nose. Somehow he's able too, but he'd much rather have his mouth free.

Nate really wished to be in bed. Anywhere.

"All right, it's all set up, in a few minutes we'll find out who the highest bidder is." Rebecca twirled to face him. He glanced up at her. His eyes are blood shot and he really wishes for his team right about then, or an ear bud. Anyone telling him things are in their control, and not to worry, right about now would bolster his confidence.

"I was going to use you to make the business better, but then I decided that I'd be far better off selling you to the highest bidder." Rebecca monologue. Nate blinked at her. He didn't even have to get her to talk, nice.

"And don't worry about your team. I have something special planned for them." She laughed.

There was a knocking on the door; Rebecca blinked. This is odd. She turned and went to see who it was. There was a woman on the door step, grinning widely.

"Hello, we're here for Mr. Ford," she said, "is he around?"

"What?" Rebecca asked but is not able to say anything else before the woman cold cocks her. She falls backwards. Nate watches from the chair. Then the woman stands aside and Eliot rushes in.

"Nate!" he's quick to get Nate free of the gag and cuffs.

"You let her punch McCormick?" Nate asked. Wheezing a bit as he did so; Eliot helped him to stand.

"We thought it was less sexist if she did it." Eliot replied, his voice some what soft because Nate isn't fighting him. He hisses as he tries to put weight on his leg. Nate curses.

"Let's get you to the van. I'll look your leg over and see if we have to take you to the hospital." Eliot nodded at Quinn who came over to help. Between the two of them they were able to get Nate to the van. Then they retrieved the unconscious McCormick.

Mandy drove. And Nate relaxed.

TBC