The One Job Left Unfinished
Disclaimer: I own no part of Leverage, it all belongs to… whoever the hell it belongs to. Not making any money off this, blah, blah, blah, yackity shmackity.
Saying Goodbye
Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry this chapter took a while to get out. I've been crazy busy. X( Anways, thanks so much to all the amazing reviews, favs, etc. You guys rock. And a special thank you to Trapper Creek Kaniac, my awesome and amazing beta. You are a life saver! :D So, hope you like this chapter! XD
In the morning, Ava woke slowly. Her heart remembered the ache, and the pain, even before her mind cleared or her eyes were open. Her mind woke next, sighing, and praying it had all been a dream, even while she knew it couldn't have been. Her eyes were the last things to open to the reality in front of her. She was in his bed, his scent and her own, surrounding her, Finn lying down beside her, trying to offer her comfort. Her throat felt raw from sobbing, and the skin on her cheeks felt stiff and cool from the tears that had dried there. Ava sighed, and as she sat up, she pushed back the heavy weight of her hair. A shower was what she needed. She stroked Finn's silky fur in passing, and headed to the bathroom.
She stripped down to her skin, and turned on the hot spray of water, then stepped underneath it. Ava did her best to keep the memories from filling her mind, but flashes of them kept slipping in. She ignored them as best she could, but knew that she would never be able to stay in that house again. After her mother… well, after, and after this whole nightmare with her father was over, she'd go away. Far away. Maybe back home, to Ireland. Maybe there she could forget everything that happened. Maybe there, she could start to heal.
After scrubbing herself clean of the physical evidence of her grief, she got out of the shower to face the outside world. She went back into the main part of the guest house, and pulled out her care package from under the bed. She slipped into her jeans, and a plain black tank top. She dug around for what she'd packed to go over it, and came up with a blue flannel button up. Eliot's blue flannel button up. She closed her eyes against the swarm of memories and the pain that went with them. She held the flannel that was worn soft with age, to her face, and inhaled deeply. God, how could she do this? How could she go on, knowing what she knew? Ava sighed, and tried to get a grip. She could do this. She could do this.
In an irresistible flash of sentiment, she decided to wear the damn shirt. It was comfortable, practice, and damn it, she wanted him to see her in it. Wanted him to feel what she was feeling. That loss of what had been so good between them. She shrugged on the shirt that was at least three sizes too big. She rolled up the sleeves so that they came down to her elbows, and then tied the ends together so that it was tight around the waist. She then Pulled on a pair of leather boots and tucked her jeans into them. She wasn't going to let her grief show, and she sure as hell wasn't going to let herself become one of those people who completely lost themselves after a bad break up. She was lost all right… but she didn't have to let anyone see that she was.
After she was presentable, Ava considered going into the main house to warn Cal and her mother, but decided against it. She'd wait until the last minute to do that. Call her a coward, but she'd rather wait and deal with all the shit at the same time, in one great big punch. It'd be easier that way. That way she could gather her strength, save it for when she'd really need it. Ava got into Eliot's car, and peeled out of the driveway. It was early; a little after eight. Just early enough to get out without setting off alarms, but not early enough that anyone would be up to stop her. Since Eliot, everyone had assumed that Ava would stick around, because where Eliot was, Ava was sure to be. Ava's jaw clenched. Like a god damn puppy dog, she thought with disgust. She shook her head, and focused on the road.
She found her way back to the house that Eliot was sharing with the team easily enough. It was about ten miles from her house. She shook her head angrily. Damned convenient location. She pulled the car into the drive, and honked. She didn't particularly feel like socializing with the people who had been hired to con her murderer of a father. She saw Eliot at the second story window, and felt her heart contract painfully. God, how could she have forgotten how good he looked. All that wonderful, thick brown hair, those sharp, look-right-through-your-soul eyes, the hint of stubble around the tough take-a-punch jaw. And god, his shoulders. She had a major weak spot for those strong, broad shoulders. Ava shuddered, and struggled to get a grip on herself. Be cool, Ava. Be cool.
Eliot came out of the house at a brisk jog, and got into the passenger side of the car. His door was barely closed before Ava had taken off again. Eliot winced at the expression she wore. Anger, pure and simple. But instead of hot and passionate, it was cold and vague. Somehow that was worse. He did a double take when he saw what she was wearing. It was his favorite blue flannel shirt, the one he'd given her just last week. She'd slept in it one night, and he'd told her to keep it. And now she was wearing it. Ava glanced at him, caught him staring. "What?" she demanded. Eliot shook his head.
"Nothing." he murmured. He wondered if it had been sentiment, or desire to torture him that had driven her to wear the shirt. He guessed it didn't matter much either way. Both ways sucked for both of them.
Ava paused just outside the perimeter of the house. She was silent for a long while, so Eliot broke the silence first. "You clear on the plan?" he asked roughly.
"Yeah. My father left early this morning for New York. He'll be there all day in meetings. We get in, get the files, and then you and your team take them to the police. And then you disappear." she said. If Eliot noticed the way her voice wavered at the end, he didn't say so.
"Sounds about right." he said. Ava nodded, and then slowly pulled into the estate's drive. They both got out of the car, and went into the house. They paused at the threshold, and let the memories wash around them. They whispered through the air like ghosts, and Ava shivered.
"Let's get this over with." she murmured.
They began moving forward, when suddenly Eliot sensed a movement to their right. He moved, but just barely quickly enough to avoid getting a large fist in his face. Ava spun around, and saw Cal, the only father she'd ever known, his face contorted with rage, doing his best to break Eliot's nose. "Cal! Cal what on earth are you doing?" Ava demanded. Cal didn't respond, because he was a little busy with Eliot. Eliot was holding his own, but the problem was that Eliot didn't want to hurt Cal, and Cal obviously wanted to hurt him. Finally Eliot couldn't hold back any longer. He spun Cal around, and locked him into a loose choke hold, not putting on enough pressure to knock him out, but enough that he couldn't get out.
For a moment, Ava wasn't sure how to feel. She shook her head. She didn't have time for this. "Cal, what are you doing?" she asked again. Cal huffed with exertion and rage.
"Trying to protect you." he said.
"What are you talking about?" Ava asked.
"Don't you think that when you came home last night, I heard you talking to your father? I heard you lie to him. The Eliot I knew wouldn't have ever let you drive home alone. Not unless something was seriously wrong. So when you didn't go up to your room, I went looking for you at the guest house. I heard you crying." he said, his voice raw with emotion. At the mention of tears, Eliot looked at Ava, his eyes going soft with grief. Ava shook her head. She didn't want his pity.
"I heard your crying." Cal repeated. "You crying, Eliot not here… One plus one make two, sweetheart." he said. Eliot's grip loosened, until he let Cal go completely. Cal stared at him with pure hatred in his eyes. "You hurt her. You were supposed to protect her. And you broke her heart." he snarled. Eliot's eyes shown with shame, but he met Cal's gaze steadily.
"Yes. I did." he said simply. Ava blinked. That was one response she had not expected. Apparently Cal hadn't either, because he faltered. "I broke her heart. And I will have to live with that for the rest of my life. I'll have to live with the fact that I hurt the woman I love. And I will have to accept that nothing I can do will make for, or take away that hurt. That's on me. And I understand if you want to take a swing at me. But now's not the time." Eliot said. Cal regained his focus.
"Oh, and why's that?" he demanded. Ava decided it was time for her to intervene.
Ava stepped towards Cal, and laid her hands on his cheeks. His face softened, and his eyes asked her what to do. Ava smiled shakily. "Cal, you've worked for my father practically since I was born. You know him. You know what he is." she said. Cal's expression darkened, and she could see him try and draw back from that. "No, Cal, listen to me. I know what he is, too. I know." she whispered.
"Oh, Ava. I wanted so much to shield you from that world." he said. Ava smiled, and kissed his cheek lightly.
"I know it. That's why I never let on. But I've known. I've always known he was evil. But just last year I found just how evil. I want you to know, I know you're a good man." Cal winced. How did that girl know just what he feared most? "I know that you only stayed because you wanted to protect me. But now it has to end. This has to stop." Ava took a deep breath. "I know… I know that Eliot isn't who he said he was. I suspect you know something of that too." She said. Cal nodded. "But I also know that he's here to help make this stop. We're going to end him, Cal. He needs to be put away." she said. She kissed his cheeks, and smiled. "You will always be the man that I think of as Da." she murmured. His eyes filled with emotion.
"I will always think of you as my little girl." he said. Ava took a shaky breath.
"I love you, Cal."
"Love you too, angel." he said. He used to call her that when she was little, thinking it was funny, because her name was Avangeline, but she was such a troublesome child. Ava smiled.
"Keep a look out for me?" she asked. He nodded, then looked at Eliot.
"Anything happens to her because of you, so help me God, I will make sure that you can never do so again." Cal warned. Eliot nodded.
"I didn't expect anything different. And don't worry. You might not believe me, and I don't particularly care whether or not you do, but I'd give my life to protect Ava." he said. Cal looked at Eliot, and something important seemed to pass between the two of them. Some strange, unspoken male language that Ava had no hope of deciphering. But Cal relaxed, and nodded. Eliot nodded back, and Ava shook her head.
Ava and Eliot headed upstairs, and Ava paused at her mother's doorway. "I need to speak with her." Ava said quietly. Eliot nodded, and moved to lean against the way to wait for her. She moved inside, and prayed for strength. Her mother was lying in bed, reading a book, with traditional Irish music playing softly on the little CD player on the nightstand. Her mother's health had been slowly declining over the last month, until about a week ago, when she'd become too weak, and frail to do much of anything. She couldn't even get out of bed most mornings, so Ava had been spending at least three hours every day with her mother. Her mother had forbidden her to spend more than that inside her room. She kept insisting that Ava keep living her life, that even though soon she would be gone, Ava would still remain.
Helen smiled as Ava walked in the room. "Ava, darling. How are you?" she asked. Ava's eyes filled with tears.
"Not well. Not at all well." she whispered. Ava's strength failed her, and she crawled into bed with her mother, and let herself be held, and soothed. She didn't cry, but drew comfort and strength from her mother's silent support.
"What is it, my little Avangeline?" she asked. Ava sighed. And then told her everything. It all just spilled over, and poured out of her. Her mother listened carefully, and quietly until the end. "How do you know he never loved you?" she asked finally. Ava shook her head.
"I guess I don't. Not for sure anyways. But I don't want to believe that he did." she said.
"I see. And I guess I can understand that." she said. "But maybe you need to try and understand where Eliot's coming from." Helen said.
"I don't want to."Ava said. She knew she sounded like a sulky child, but couldn't help it. Helen sighed.
"What will happen after your father is sent away?" Helen asked. Ava was surprised that she was taking it so well.
"I want to take a vacation. We'll go home to Ireland." Ava said.
"And after I'm gone?" Helen asked. Ava winced.
"I'll probably stay there." Ava said. Helen nodded.
"A fresh start." she said. Ava nodded. "Alright. I understand why you're doing this. I wish you would have told me about your father sooner. I never would have stayed, if I had known." she said, her voice brisk and cool. Ava looked at her.
"I didn't want you to have to worry about that on top of everything else. And if you recall, I tried to make you leave." Ava said. Helen gave her a look, and Ava felt properly chastised.
"Go on, Ava. Do what you have to do. Make sure he can never destroy anyone's family again." she said. Ava got up, and nodded. "Oh, and Ava?" Ava turned. "Send him in." she said. Ava's eyes flashed. "Don't give me that look, girl. I want to speak with him." she said. Ava turned sharply, and went out.
There was Eliot, completely relaxed, and waiting patiently. "She wants to talk to you." Ava snarled. Eliot didn't respond, just turned and walked into the room. When he saw Helen lying there, frail and weak, but somehow still elegant and beautiful, he felt the guilt, shame, and grief threaten to over take him. Her red hair was limp and dull, but had been pulled back as always at the nape of her neck in a simple bun. The light was still in her pretty brown eyes, but had faded some. And she looked tired. Down to the bone tired. But she smiled at him when she saw him. And shamed him all the more.
He crouched beside her bed, and couldn't bring himself to look Helen in the eyes. "Eliot." she called gently, but firmly. He looked up at her. Helen's heart trembled, and sighed for him. He looked so lost, and ashamed. She touched his cheek gently. "I understand what you did." she said. His expression cleared a little. "I don't like it, but I understand it. I do wish that you had told her sooner. But maybe you weren't meant to. She's hurt, and angry. And she doesn't understand. She's going to need time. Time alone. If after that time, she can forgive you, she'll come back. But there's nothing more you can do for her. The choice must be hers." she said. Eliot nodded.
"I understand." he said. Helen nodded.
"Good. Now, go protect my little girl." Helen said regally. Eliot smiled.
"Yes ma'am." He stood, kissed her hand, making her smile, and then left.
Ava was standing outside, fairly shaking with outrage. Eliot said nothing, knowing that Helen had been right. There was nothing he could say that would reach her now. Instead, he pulled out two earbuds from his pocket. He put one in, and handed the other to Ava. "These are com units. The whole time will be able to hear us through them." Eliot said. Ava nodded, and stuck it into her ear. "Hello? Nate?" Eliot called.
"I'm here. We're all ready when you are." Nate said. Eliot looked at Ava, and she led the way.
They moved down the hall to O'Conner's office, walking cautiously, should one of the security team, besides Cal, find them somewhere they shouldn't be. Ava opened the door, ushered Eliot in, and then closed it softly behind them. She went straight to the south wall, behind his desk, and took a painting off of its hook on the wall. There, just as she said there would be, was a keypad. Eliot shook his head. He never would have taken O'Conner for a high tech kind of guy, but he supposed he probably should have. After all, one of the most dangerous things about O'Conner was that he could adapt quickly to anything, and apparently that extended to technology. Ava briskly typed in the code, and waited. Something clicked, and Ava looked at Eliot. "Help me with this." she said. She dug her fingers into a crease in the wall, and tugged. It moved back an inch to reveal a sliver of a door. Eliot moved forward, and gently moved her out of the way. With one good shove, he'd moved the wall back far enough to reveal the door. Ava stared at him for a moment, then opened the door.
"Did it work?" Nate asked.
"Of course it worked." Ava said indignantly. "I said it would."
"Just checking." Nate muttered.
Ava rolled her eyes, and walked inside. She then moved down the stairs that the door revealed, and Eliot followed. The stairs didn't go very long, down one flight, then another, to what Eliot thought must have originally been a basement. There was another door, with another key pad. Ava typed in a code there, and again, the door's lock clicked, and Ava opened it. They stepped inside, and there was a small room, with several file cabinets, a desk, and various other items. Eliot walked to the nearest file cabinet, and looked back at Ava, who was waiting at the door. "I'm not looking in those again." she said. She seemed suddenly small, her arms crossed over her chest, her face anxious. Eliot just nodded, understanding that while she could accept the fact that her father was a killer, there was a difference between believing and seeing.
Eliot sifted through the files, finding a couple that would be most important to the cops. "That's all you're taking?" Ava demanded when Eliot turned away from the cabinets.
"Nate." Eliot said, by way of asking him to explain.
"We can't take all of them. We turn these files into the cops; the cops get a search warrant for the rest of the files. Eliot, make sure you get one's that will get the cops attention. A pay off, a murder, and an arms deal would be best." Nate said. Ava winced, and Eliot sighed. They walked up the stairs together, and out into the office. There, they found O'Conner, with the entire core team. Eliot and Ava both froze. O'Conner's eyes were cold when he sized up Eliot, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes when he looked at Ava. Eliot wasn't sure if it was anger or pain.
"Hello, Eliot. Ava." he said coolly.
"Eliot what's going on?" Sophie asked, over the com.
"O'Conner." Eliot muttered.
"Oh shit." Hardison groaned.
"Where's Cal?" Ava asked. That was Ava. Her first thought was always for those she cared about.
"Downstairs. He's been detained." he said.
"You were supposed to be gone." Ava said. O'Conner smiled.
"Yes, well, plans change." he replied. "Especially when you discover that there is a traitor among you. A rival organization from New York has informed me of your extracurricular activities, Eliot. They tell me that you kidnapped Ava for them. And yet here she stands. So I'm a little confused." O'Conner said. Eliot's heart thundered in his chest, not out of fear for himself, but fear for Ava. He wasn't sure what O'Conner would do. But Ava's gaze was steely, and solidly calm.
"Yes, he did kidnap me. It was part of the plan to bring you down. He was hired by the daughter of the man that you killed." she said. O'Conner's eyes flashed with shock, and just a sliver of fear. "That's right Da. I know what you are. And after all the lies that Eliot's told me, he could never, ever be as cruel as you. I've known what you are for months. But I kept my mouth shut for my mother, your wife. But I can't anymore. It has to stop." Ava said.
"After everything that I've done for you? You betray me for some common crook?" O'Conner asked quietly. Ava's eyes flashed, and she walked forward. No, stalked was a better word. When they were toe to toe, Ava stared coldly into his eyes.
"After everything that that, common crook, as you put it, has done to me, I still trust him more than I could ever trust you." she whispered. Eliot felt a jolt of shock, but didn't have time to react further than that.
Ava's fist suddenly snapped forward, hitting her father square in the face. He staggered a moment, and then fell to the ground, unconscious. Eliot's experience told him he'd only stay that way for about ten minutes. The core team's eyes widened, and they stared at each other, unsure of what to do now that their boss was temporarily out of commission. "You have two options. You cooperate with me, you can cut a deal with the cops, and get out of prison before you die of old age. Or, you get the shit beaten out of you, and then you go to jail until you die, or you celebrate you one hundred and fiftieth birthday. Whichever comes first." she said. The team looked at each other, then picked up O'Conner, and shouldered his weight.
"Where do you want him?" they asked.
"Put him in the car out front." Ava said. They nodded, and left.
Ava faced Eliot, but didn't look at him. Eliot knew that she was hurting, and knew that if he tried to help it'd only make it worse. He walked forward, and paused when he was next to her. "I'm sorry, Ava." He said nothing more, but walked out of the room.
"Is Ava okay?" Eliot heard Parker ask over the com.
"I don't know. This job has had so many fuck ups, and she's been so much already. Now she's had to punch her own father in the face, in the process of helping us take him down. I'm not sure anyone can be excepted to be okay after that." Eliot said. He was met with silence, and he shook his head. God this sucked. He went downstairs, and saw the team putting O'Conner in the car. "Where's Cal?" he asked.
"O'Conner cuffed him to a chair in the kitchen." one of the replied. Eliot tossed them a pair of cuffs.
"Make sure he's wearing these before he wakes up." he said. The team nodded. Eliot turned sharply, and jogged into the kitchen. Sure enough, there was Cal, with a split lip and a black eye. "Jesus, Cal." he said. "Parker, basic cuffs. How do I pick it?" he asked. Parker walked him through it, and Cal was out of the restraints in no time.
"Thanks, Eliot. Jesus, that man is a piece of work. One of the core team overheard you, me, and Ava talking. O'Conner hadn't really left anyways, but it gave him another person to be pissed at. He gave me a couple of punches, and cuffed me to the chair, then went up to find you." he said, swiping his hand across his bleeding mouth. "I wish I could say that he punches like my sister, but I'd be lying." Eliot couldn't help but smile. He could ice out of the freezer, and gave it to Cal. "Thanks."
"Listen, I'm going to take O'Conner, and the files. We won't be coming back." He said after a pause.
"I imagine you're including yourself in that." Cal said. Eliot nodded. "And Ava?"
"She'll do whatever she wants to. If she can find it in her to forgive me, and come with me, then that will be a miracle. More than likely she'll choose to stay with her mother, take her somewhere that they can spend their last days together in peace." Eliot said. Cal sighed.
"Ava's always done exactly what she wanted to do." he said. Eliot nodded. Cal looked at Eliot carefully. "You're a good man, Eliot. I don't care what Ava says, or what she might think you've done to her. I've seen the way you look at her. You'd do anything to protect her. I know that, because a man doesn't look at a woman like that without being desperately in love with her. If you're ever in New York, don't hesitate to call." Cal said. Eliot grinned.
"I won't." he said. They shook hands firmly, and Eliot headed back out.
When Eliot got to the car, O'Conner was awake and sitting calmly and silently in the back seat of the car. "Well, Eliot." O'Conner said when he saw him. "You caught me. What's next?" he asked.
"You go away for the rest of your life." Eliot said coldly.
"Yes, I knew that. I've known that this day would come eventually, for decades. What I meant was, what's next for you?" he asked, tilting his head. Eliot's blood ran cold. Eliot could count on one hand the number of men that scared him, and O'Conner was one of them. He scared him because he was completely devoid of emotions, and more importantly, that cold blooded bastard, that murderer, had lived with Ava since she was a girl. It was a miracle that she turned out to be the amazing woman that she was.
"What are you talking about?" Eliot demanded.
"I'm talking about you, screwing my daughter. She clearly knows about what you've done to her, and isn't interested in letting you con her into your bed. So, what are you going to do?" he asked.
"I'm going to take you to the cops, and then I'm going to go back to doing my job." Eliot said. "The one I had before you."
O'Conner was silent for a moment, then smiled. "It's probably for the best, you know." he said. Eliot's eyes narrowed.
"And why's that?" he snarled.
"Eliot, don't let him get to you." Nate said. Eliot ignored him.
"You're a criminal, Eliot. A cold blooded con artist, trying to play at being the good guy. But that's all you're doing. Pretending. You were there, on that job I took you on. And you did nothing. You're no different than me, Eliot. You just pretend you are. You're not right for her. You'd hurt her." he said. Eliot's eyes flashed.
"I'd never."
"You say that. But you've got all that violence in you. And what would happen, I wonder, if one day you let your control on that violence… slip." he said. Eliot physically recoiled from the thought. He'd never… he'd never hurt Ava, not like that. He'd never lay a hand on a woman like that. Would he? "That's right, doubt yourself. You know you should. You can never be sure of yourself. Not men like us." he said.
"Eliot! He'd lying. You're ten times the man that he is. Don't you dare let him tell you different." Eliot heard Sophie's voice in his ear.
"Screw you, O'Conner." Eliot said. He slammed the door shut. He looked at one of the team members. "Take him to the police station. They'll be waiting for him." he said, handing him the files. He nodded, and got in the car. Eliot watched it disappear, and felt a little bit of the weight in his chest lessen. But at the same time, he knew that O'Conner's words had already done their damage. They'd already sowed that first little seed of doubt, and Eliot knew that it would fester.
Eliot turned, and saw Ava standing there, her arms crossed over her chest, watching him silently. Eliot couldn't read her expression, and after a moment gave up trying to guess. "I need to get back to the house. To help the team pack up." he said. Ava nodded.
"I want to go. I want to make sure he's really gone." she said. Eliot nodded. "We'll take my car." She opened the garage, and got into a beautiful black Camero. New. Eliot shook his head, and got in the passenger side.
When they got to the house, the team was already packing up most of the stuff. They all looked up at Eliot and Ava when they walked in. There was a moment of silence. "The police got O'Conner. They have the files. The man that drove him there made a full confession. Left us out of the story." Hardison said. Ava nodded, and hugged herself.
"It's hard to believe that it's really over. That we're really free of him." she whispered.
"It'll get better. You're young. You've got a lot of life ahead of you. A free life now." Sophie said, smiling reassuringly. Ava shrugged, unsure of how she felt. Ava went outside, and stood on the beach, staring out over the water. There were storm clouds blowing in over the water, and she watched as the menacing grey of them sneaked up towards the shore. The team left her alone for a while, finishing packing up. When the house was empty again, Eliot gathered his strength, and went to say his goodbye.
She was still standing there, that wonderful tumble of curls blowing in the wind that had picked up, the ivory of her cheeks touched with roses. She turned to face him when he walked out. They stared at each other a moment. "Finished?" The word came out a broken, and barely audible. Ava cleared her throat, and tried again. "Are you finished?" she asked. He nodded. Ava took a deep breath. "What happens now?" she asked.
"We leave. We go back to Boston. Where we… I, belong." he said.
"Boston." she murmured.
"Yeah." Eliot's heart fractured as he watched the tears slip silently down her cheeks. "Ava…"
"Don't." She sobbed. "Please don't. I couldn't bear it if you apologized." she said. "For the past two days, all I've heard is people telling me that I should look past this, see that you love me. I've seen that look on your face, all ashamed, and lost. But I can't stop thinking about the way that the restraints felt around my arms and legs when you tried to hand me over to the people that wanted me dead. Or the way that I felt when I found out that you'd betrayed me. I can't get those feelings to stop spinning through me." she said. She sobbed again. "But I can't stop loving you either!" she cried. "God! Why?" she screamed. "Why did you have to make me love you?" she demanded. Eliot squeezed his eyes shut.
"I didn't want to. I didn't… I never, ever wanted to hurt you like this." he said. "I wish I could say that I would go back, change it all. But I wouldn't. Because falling in love with you was the best memory I have ever, and probably will ever have. Even if that's all it can be now. A memory." he said. "It's probably better this way, anyways." he said.
"What?" Ava whispered.
"I'm not a good person, Ava. I'm a criminal. A con man. It doesn't matter what the motives are, or who I do the crimes for. I'm still a criminal. And I don't want you mixed up in that kind of life. You already saw too much of it when your father was around. You don't need that in your life. It's better that you hate me." he said roughly. He looked up briefly at the angry sky as a growl of thunder rolled over the waves.
Ava stared at him disbelievingly. "I love you, Ava. I will love you for the rest of my life, and never stop. But it's better this way." he repeated. He touched her cheek, and kissed her forehead, struggling ruthlessly against the waves of emotion swirling through him. She didn't flinch away from him, just stood perfectly still. Just as he turned to leave, the first drops of rain began to fall. By the time he got into the house, it was pouring.
The team stared at him as he walked in. "Let's go." he said.
"Eliot…" Sophie started.
"We're leaving. Now." he snarled. They all looked at each other, and reluctantly followed him outside to the cars. Just as Eliot was getting into his car, soaked to the bone, he saw Ava come running out of the house. She stood there for a moment, staring at him. Her hair curled in wild wet ropes, his shirt hanging limply around her, weighed down by rain. He looked at her one last time, trying to commit her face to memory. Then he got in the car, and started it up.
The team pulled out first, and he followed a few moments after. Ava jogged out to where the long drive met the actual driveway, so that Eliot could see her as he pulled away. And saw as she fell weakly to her knees. And felt as the last bit of strength, and feeling, inside him broke. He simply snapped, broken under the weight of that grief. He wondered vaguely if he'd ever be the same after he had left the woman he'd begun to think of as the last he'd ever love.
Ava watched him pull away, standing in the rain that chilled her to the bone, and trembled uncontrollably. There wasn't a thought in her mind, only an overwhelming feeling of wrong. It was wrong. He was leaving, and it was wrong. She couldn't explain it, couldn't even justify it. It was just, pure and simply wrong. Her heart shattered, splintered into a thousand tiny pieces after she'd just managed to piece the first broken pieces together. She fell to her knees with a desperate cry, and barely felt the harsh gravel that tore into the denim of her jeans, and then into her skin. Sobs tore free from her chest, and she leaned forward and held her head in her hands.
She didn't know how long she sat there, sobbing. But it was a long enough to have her frozen to the core from wet and rain. The storm raged around her, inside her, through her. Eventually she knew she had to get inside, or she'd get hypothermia. She somehow managed to heave herself to her feet, and stumbled inside the house. It was distressingly empty, barren of any and all life, and warmth. Ava collapsed in the middle of the room, and simply laid on the hardwood floor, weeping. At some point night fell, and sometime after that, she fell into a blissful oblivion of sleep. Her last coherent thought was that she would never be the same again. Never…
Ending Note: So, I hope you guys liked this chapter! And don't worry, this is most definately NOT the last chapter. So yeah. It's not the end. Hehehe. Reviews are always welcome! Love you guys! :D