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.
Author's Note: Hey guys, how've you all been? Hope you've been good. I'm so proud of myself for writing this chapter so fast. I am awesome. Just saying. You know who else is awesome? My beta. Seriously, she's a beast. And all my reviewers are beasts too. Cuz you guys rock my socks off. Lol. XD I hope you guys like this chapter! Thanks for reading!
The Backer
Six months later…
Someone hated him. Eliot wasn't a particularly religious or spiritual man, but he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that there was a higher power out there that hated his fucking guts. Not that he didn't deserve it, but still… Eliot ran his fingers through his hair, the rubbed his hands over his face. It had been six months since he'd left Ava behind; forced himself to do so. He had told himself that he would let her leave, and that he wouldn't try to find her. But he couldn't stop himself from keeping tabs on her. At least as much as he could. Since he'd left, she'd bounced around the globe faster and in more complicated patterns than a fucking bouncy ball.
She'd taken her mother and gone back to Ireland, as he thought in the beginning. And then, three weeks later, her mother had passed away. She'd buried her there, but had a memorial for her in New York, on her father's old estate. She'd torn the house down, and created a garden on the property. Eliot had been there three times in the past six months. He spent hours there on the odd day that he could get away, thinking, talking out loud to a dead woman. But he felt her there. And it comforted him to talk to her. Even when he couldn't see her.
Ava had stayed in Ireland for about a month, had apparently left Finn, the dog that looked more like a wolf, with a friend, and began flitting back and forth across the country. Then she'd flown to France, England, Italy, Greece, Spain, Romania, the UK, Germany. Touching all the major cities within, then moving on again. She'd gone to India for a while, then on to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Cairo, bounced back across the ocean, and gone to almost every country in South America. He lost track of her often, getting her locations out of order, and days, sometimes weeks late. But most of the time, he knew in general where she was. They were almost all places he'd been to at one time another, and could picture where she might be, what she might be doing. That was the only thing he didn't know, and couldn't get information on. He had absolutely no idea what she was doing, wherever she was. He knew that she wasn't there only as a tourist, but that was it.
Over the six months, Eliot had thrown himself bodily into work. He pushed, and pushed, and pushed himself, never stopping, never wanting to. Because if he did, that meant that he'd have too much time to think. Keeping an eye on her for his own peace of mind was one thing, so was going to visit her mother's memorial, who'd been a friend. But time to think meant time to grieve, and time to punish himself. If he did that, he'd break, and he might not be able to get back up again. There was a week about three months ago, when there'd been no job, and nothing for Eliot to do. He'd gotten shitfaced drunk, which was something that he almost never did, and gone home. Apparently he'd been so drunk that he hadn't noticed Parker tailing him.
She'd broken into his apartment just as he'd ploughed his fist into his wall. Parker had all but tackled him, and cuffed him to a chair so he couldn't hurt himself… or his furniture. After that, somehow the team always had a job to do, so that there was only ever a day, two at the most that Eliot had time to himself. It'd been tough, but the team had really saved him. They never once talked about Ava, but the silent support was more comforting then a thousand reassuring words. And slowly, very slowly, Eliot started to get his strength back. Slowly, so slowly he barely noticed, he started to heal. He might be left with one hell of a scar when it was all said and done, but at least it wouldn't be an open wound anymore.
Over the past week or two, Nate had been getting more and more distracted. Whenever someone on the team asked him what was going on, he'd just wave them off, and say that he'd tell them when he knew more. Then one day he called them all into the office to talk. When they were all at the table, Nate signaled Hardison to run the screens. "Okay guys, I think we have a problem." Nate said. The team exchanged looks.
"What kind of a problem?" Eliot asked.
"It seems there's another player in town." Nate said. Sophie raised a brow.
"Another player? Are you sure?" she asked.
"Positive."
"Is this what you've been so distracted about?" Parker asked.
"Yeah. I didn't want to say anything until I was sure. But someone's been running jobs here. No long cons, no team jobs, but this one is definitely a pro. Slickest son of bitch I've ever seen. They seem to be just starting up. Though it's hard to imagine that a novice is so damn good already. So far they're sticking to night clubs, and the night life there, getting a feel for the city." Nate nodded to Hardison, and he pulled up a few pictures. "So far, these are all the guys that have been hit." he said.
The team recognized most of them as both big and small time criminals, some were unknowns. "What's she running?" Eliot asked.
"A variety of things it looks like. I'm not entirely sure. We can't exactly asks the crooks what she did to them." Nate asked. The team nodded.
"So what's the plan of action? And why is this guy a problem? If they're taking down the bad guys, why is it a problem?" Hardison asked.
"Because, I'm worried that they're in over their head. Their moving way to far, way to fast. If they're not careful, they're going to get themselves killed." Nate said.
"So, what are we gonna do? Tutor them? Have a little con man study group?" Parker asked cheerfully. The sad thing was that she was probably completely serious. Nate gave her an odd look.
"Ah, yeah. Kind of. I'm not sure yet. I want to get eyes on this guy first. Get a feel for him." Nate said.
"Why are you all assuming that this is a man?" Sophie asked. Eliot, Hardison, and Nate all looked at each other.
"Ah, we're not. We're just ah… look, it takes too long to say he or she, okay?" Hardison said. Sophie gave him a dry look, but let it go.
"So do we know where h-" Eliot paused, and glanced at Sophie. "Ah, he or she, is?" he asked.
"We think that she sticking relatively close to one club in particular. It's called… ah, hmm…" Nate frowned at the name. "Ah, Hardison pull the name up please." he said.
"An Tua Nua." Sophie read. "It's Irish. It means New Beginning in Gaelic." she said.
"You speak Gaelic?" Parker asked.
"No. I've been to the club before." Sophie said.
"Oh."
"So, should we head there tonight?" Hardison asked.
"That's the plan." Nate said.
"Alright. Finally, a job at a dance club." Sophie said. "I've missed the night life." she said, smiling.
An hour later, the team was ready for a night in the club. Sophie had helped Parker, and put her in a little blue dress, and done something to her hair that made it soft and wavy. Sophie had curled her hair into soft cloud around her head, and put on a burgundy silk dress and a dark wool overcoat. Nate was in his usual casual suit, and Hardison and Eliot were both in their usual clothes, blending in just as they were. They were about to go inside, when Eliot glanced at the curb, and the froze. A Camero, midnight black, and new. "Eliot? You okay?" Sophie asked. Eliot shook off a feeling of déjà vu.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay." he said. They continued walking forward, and when they got inside, they were hit with the overwhelming power of the music. The beat blared out of the speakers, and vibrated through the floor, and through everyone's body.
The team had to admit, it was a great place. The lights were down low over the dance floor, with colored spot lights dancing over the crowd. The bar was on the lower level, with beautiful dark wood, and comfortable stools. There was an upper level with tables for those who wanted to eat, or just chill without the crowd on the floor or by the bar. Being Saturday night, the club was packed, and the body heat was astounding. Everyone was moving, bodies all but slithering against each other in the low light. "Wow." Parker said. The team nodded, and split up to look for the target.
The problem was that they didn't have a clue what they looked like, or whether it was a man or a woman. But, they knew the behavior that they were looking for, and that would help. The trick was spotting him before he spotted them. Nate headed to the bar, (big surprise), Sophie and Parker went upstairs to the privet seating area, and Eliot and Hardison headed to the dance floor. Eliot did his best to keep memories from the last time he was in a night club out of his mind, but it was difficult.
Hardison was all smiles, enjoying himself, and bouncing a little to the beat of the music. "Come on, Eliot. You gotta blend in. Move a little." Hardison said, clapping him on the back. Eliot tossed him a dirty look, and Hardison rolled his eyes. Eliot sighed, and closed his eyes as the memories over took him. A night club, not to different from this one. The same vibrating beat, a crowd much like this one, all moving seemingly together, as one. Ava… Her hair ramrod straight, wearing tight jeans, leather boots, and a black leather jacket. Singing her heart out, dancing until his blood turned to fire in his veins.
Eliot opened his eyes, and froze. What the hell? Was he hallucinating? He had to be. He had been thinking of Ava, and that was why… that was why he thought he saw her. Eliot shook his head. It was just some other redhead in a black leather jacket. She was pretty, Eliot mused. Her back was to him, dancing seductively with a shady looking guy who was clearly enjoying himself. Her hair was straight as rain, down to her waist, and a vivid red he'd seen before. Eliot sighed, and was about to continue the search for the target when the redhead turned around. Eliot froze as he stared into the glittering green depths of Ava O'Conner's eyes.
The air froze in his lungs, and his heart slammed into his throat. She stared right into his eyes, and began walking towards him. "Eliot, have you seen anything?" Nate asked over the com. Eliot couldn't speak. Couldn't open his mouth to speak. "Eliot?" Nate repeated. Ava walked directly up to him, and stopped just in front of him. She smiled sultrily, a tilt of full lips that said, "How do you like me now?"
"Hello, Eliot. How've you been?" she asked, sounding a little… smug. Eliot's eyes were wide, and there wasn't a clear thought in his head.
"A… Ava?" he breathed. Her laugh was throaty, and slid over his skin like silk.
"Yes, that would be me. Surprised?" she asked. Eliot still couldn't think.
"Did you just say Ava?" Nate asked over com. "Eliot, is Ava here?" he asked.
"Uh…" Eliot tried to think of a way to stall.
"Oh, is that the team?" she asked. She leaned forward until she was pressed against him. A slow song played over the speakers, and Ava wrapped her arms around him. Eliot shuddered, thinking that it had been way too damn long since he'd felt her wrapped around him. "Hold me." she whispered. Eliot's arms moved of their own accord, and wrapped around her tightly. He felt her tremble, and smiled a bit, thinking that at least he wasn't the only one affected. Ava leaned up on her toes, until her lips were right up against his ear. "Hello everyone. How've you been?" she asked.
"Ava? Ava, what are you doing here?" Sophie and Parker asked at once.
"I'm having a little fun while I'm here in Boston. After you all left, I did some thinking. I got bored. After all, I had never really had a real job. I needed something to do. And while you might have… not ruined, but downsized my life, I can't deny that your intentions were good. And all in all, this sort of job is well within my skill set." Ava said.
"Oh my god. You're the player in town." Eliot said. Ava grinned.
"Very good, Eliot." Ava looked over her shoulder at the man she'd been dancing with. He looked like smoke was about to come out of his ears. She smiled. "Do you remember the last time we were in a night club together?" Ava whispered.
"Yes."
"Do you remember what I told you?" she asked. Eliot thought for a moment.
"Which part?" he asked. Ava laughed again, and nipped at his ear. Eliot shuddered. Then she kissed him, and Eliot was yanked down under into a pool of pure lust, and immediately drowned. God, she tasted exactly like he remembered. Secrets, woman, sea, and sex. She pulled away on a moan, and smiled.
"Catch me if you can." she whispered. She gave Eliot a good solid shove, and distracted as he was, as staggered as he was, he was shoved a good two feet back. He recovered just in time to see her spin around, sending her hair flying, and then she was gone. Eliot scanned the crowd for her, but could only see a glimpse of that vivid red hair before even that glimpse disappeared. Eliot knew that it'd be useless to try and find her. If Ava didn't want to be found, then she wouldn't be.
"Eliot. Meet us outside." Nate said. Eliot made a sound that resembled a growl, and made his way through the crowd and out into the cool Boston night air.
The team was waiting for him in the parking lot. "What the hell happened?" Nate demanded.
"I, I don't know. I didn't even know she was back in the country. She was supposed to be in South America still." Eliot said.
"Wait, what do you mean she was supposed to be in South America? Have you been keeping tabs on her?" Hardison demanded. Eliot glared.
"Of course I've been keeping tabs on her. If you were in my place, wouldn't you?" Eliot asked. Hardison thought, then nodded.
"Yeah, I guess." he said.
"So, where has she been?" Sophie asked.
"Everywhere. She'd been all over the globe in the last six months." Eliot said.
"What's she been doing?" Parker asked.
"Hell if I know. No one I talked to could tell me." he replied.
"Shit. She was probably getting training." Nate said.
"Training?" Parker asked.
"Didn't you get training before you tried to steal anything?" Eliot asked.
"Not necessarily before, but I've had training." Parker said. The team shook their heads. That was Parker for you.
Sophie sighed. "What I don't understand is why? Why would she want this life? Especially after what we've put her through." she said.
"You heard her. She's never had a real job before. None of us have, either. She's a fighter. But the one thing she didn't have that she wanted more than anything was experience. Now that she's got it, this job would be one of her only options that made sense. She's clearly got some skill with lying and hacking, and I'm not sure what her skills in stealing were before this, but according to what you've been told, she's one of the best now." Eliot said. Nate nodded.
"Besides, it doesn't really matter why. What we need to know, is what now." Nate said. The team jumped slightly when Eliot's phone rang. He looked at the number, saw that it was blocked.
"Hello?"
"I need to talk to your team. Where should I meet you?" Eliot heard Ava's voice over the phone.
"Why not here?" he asked.
"Don't be an idiot, Eliot. You and I both know here's not exactly the safest place. Especially not after I just stole something from someone who's not going to be very happy when he discovers it gone." Ava sounded smug again.
"Fine. We have an office downtown." Eliot gave her the address. "Meet us there in thirty minutes." he said. He hung up the phone, and looked at the team. They nodded, and all got in their cars.
The drive was hell. Eliot's mind spun, and spun, like a speeding car on ice, but he couldn't get his head wrapped around it. Ava was here. In his city. Working! He couldn't believe. And she was good. Nate had told the team the few stories that he could find on the drive over to the club. And she was damn good. Eliot rubbed his hand over his mouth, remembering the way her mouth had fused to his, just like it had all the times he'd kissed her before. God, how could he have forgotten how good it was with her? How could have ever forgotten?
When he got to the office, everyone was already there, except for Ava. They went upstairs to wait for her. They waited for about ten minutes, and then she came waltzing through the door. They stared at her. "There's a coded lock on the door." Hardison said. Ava grinned.
"Cake." she said. He gave her a fairly insulted look, but said nothing. "So, it's a nice place you've got here. Although, I am wondering about the painting of the old guy that looks like Nate." she said. The team looked at each other, then at Parker. "Ah. That makes sense." she said.
Ava walked forward, and sat in a chair across from Eliot. "So, did you guys miss me?" she asked. Nate cleared his throat.
"Uh, well, we are wondering what it is exactly that you want." Nate said. Ava smiled. She reached into her coat pocket, and pulled out a large, glittering diamond necklace. She set it on the table. Parker's eyes widened.
"Oooooh!" she cried. She snatched it up, and examined it carefully. "A beautiful setting, and arrangement. Beautiful cut, color, quality. All and all adding up to about eighty carats." she said. Hardison whistled softly.
"Damn. Where'd you get that?" he asked.
"Conned it off a guy in An Tua Nua." she said, smirking.
"What'd you plan him for?" Sophie asked.
"What else? The Mistress con." she said.
"The Mistress con takes at least three weeks." Sophie said.
"I abbreviated it. The jerk off was married. He comes into the club every night to find himself a little playboy bunny to go to a hotel with. He's got buckets of money, which makes him think he's god. I'm not his usual type, but I gave him something he couldn't resist." She said. The team frowned, and glanced at each other.
"What's that?" Nate asked.
"A challenge. Girls would flock to him, beg to go home with him. I ignored him completely." she said.
"Let him come to you." Sophie said, smiling in appreciation. Ava nodded.
"Precisely. When Eliot showed up, it actually provided a perfect opportunity. I had let him convince me to dance. Then I pretended… well, not really pretended, but you know what I mean. I pretended that Eliot was my ex boyfriend, and that he wanted to get back together with me. The mark didn't like that. I told him he had to give me something that Eliot couldn't. Hence…" she gestured to the necklace.
"Damn. Pulling off the mistress job alone and in under three hours? You're good." Hardison said. Ava grinned.
"It gets better. The necklace belongs to his wife." she said, smirking. The team winced collectively.
"Ouch." Parker said. Ava laughed softly.
"Yes, it does. For him anyways." she said. She took the necklace back, and smiled at Parker's sad expression.
"I'm confused how this related to what you want with us." Nate said.
"I want a job." she said.
There was dead silence in the room for a moment. "What?" Eliot demanded, shooting to his feet. Ava regarded him coolly, her posture that of a jungle cat eying a particularly uncooperative piece of prey.
"You heard me just fine. I want to work with you." She said, meeting his furious gaze steadily. Eliot shook with rage. One of the two reasons that Eliot had left Ava, or rather let her get away, was because he hadn't wanted her to be a part of this life. Her working on her own was one thing. Chances of being a successful con artist, especially a new one, were about 40% on your own. With a team, those chances doubled.
"Why?" He demanded.
"Because the payoff and chances of success are doubled when you have a team. And I've already worked a job with you once. I know how you work, and now you know how I work. I know you're damn good, and you know that I am too. It's a win-win situation." Ava said.
"A standard, successful, crew is a five men and or women." Nate said, glancing at Sophie.
"You're forgetting one crucial person." Ava said.
"And who's that?" Nate asked.
"The backer." Ava said. Nate scoffed.
"The backer is practically a myth. An urban legend." He said.
"I'm sorry, for those of us who have no idea what you're talking about, could you explain?" Sophie asked.
"The backer is supposed to be a sixth member of a team. Someone who has moderate skills in all areas of the con. Someone who, if need be, could do the job of one of the other's on the team, nearly as well as that member. The backer is supposed to be a safe guard, for if something goes wrong, or if the team is spread too thin and needs more man power." Nate said. He looked back at Ava. "But the backer is a myth." he said.
"Really? Did you know that the team that stole the Connemara diamond had a backer? So did the team that broke into the federal bank in D.C." she said. Parker's eyes widened.
"The Connemara diamond is the biggest diamond besides the Hope." she said. Ava nodded, and smiled.
"Yes, I know." she said. Parker turned to Nate, who looked rather thoughtful.
"Nate, we could be better. I mean, we're really good, but we could be better. The best, like, ever. We could make more money." she said. Nate glanced at her. "And save more people too." Parker said sheepishly. Nate rolled his eyes. Ava smiled.
This was going rather nicely. The whole team was considering, except for Eliot. He was still staring her down, looking gorgeous, and furious. Ava smiled slightly, flashing back to the club. Damn but it had felt good to kiss him again. To see that look of pure shock and lust on his face. Ava stretched luxuriously. She might still be furious about what he did to her, but that didn't mean she didn't still think he was the finest specimen of male she'd ever seen in her life. She might not be over him, and it might have hurt a lot more than she thought it would just to sit in the same room with him, but that didn't mean she would let anyone else know just how much it hurt. She'd get through it. She'd move on. She was strong. She'd faced more than she'd ever faced in her life in the past six months. She was stronger now. And no matter how much her heart ached when she looked at him, she could get through this. She wanted this. She wanted this job. She wanted somewhere that she belonged. More than anything.
"I need the team's approval." Nate said. Ava nodded.
"I expected as much." she said. Nate looked at Sophie. She nodded. Hardison and Parker as well. Eliot didn't meet Nate's gaze, just stared at Ava.
"Eliot, I need your vote. If you're not okay with this, we won't do it." Nate said.
Eliot was silent for a moment. "I need to speak with you first." he said. Ava shrugged.
"Fine." she said. They walked out of the glass conference room together, and shut the door behind them. They rounded the corner so that they were out of sight, and stopped in the hallway. "So?" Ava asked.
"I'll vote yes on one condition." Eliot said, his husky, southern honey voice sending shivers down her spine. Jesus, after six months apart, he still affected her like she was some hormonal teenage girl with a crush on a rock star.
"Alright, name it." she said.
"Tell me why." he said. Ava considered a moment.
"Why not?" she countered.
"Don't bullshit me, Ava. Tell me why."
"I am telling you. I have the skills, I have newly acquired experience, I have the motivation, and you have the available spot." she said.
"But what is your motivation?" Eliot persisted. Ava sighed.
"I have nowhere else to go." she said. "You put my father away in prison, where he belongs. Most of the core team, who've I've more or less considered my family, are there too. I understand that they have to be there too, though thankfully not for as long. My mother is dead. I've accepted that too, as best I can. But now, I've got nothing. Nothing but my skills. And the only job I can get with those skills is a cop, or a con artist. And seeing as how I have so much difficulty with rules, law enforcement isn't really an option for me. So that leaves a con." she said.
Eliot saw the need in her eyes, and recognized it. That need to belong. He'd seen the look staring back at him in the mirror plenty of times over the years. It had been that need, that had not only had a hand in bringing the team together, but also in keeping together. They were people that had never fit in, in the regular world. Had never had a real job, or a real, solid relationship. They were connected through those shared holes in their lives, and they had helped each other fill them through the job, and through real, honest friendship.
Eliot sighed, and scooped his fingers through his hair. He couldn't say no. He wouldn't, couldn't deny her. Not when she looked at him like that. Eliot faced her again. "Alright. My vote is yes." he said quietly. Ava's eyes softened, and Eliot felt it like a kick to the chest.
"Thank you, Eliot. Don't make this anything more than it is, but thank you." she said. Eliot nodded, and Ava slipped past him, and went back into the conference room. Eliot followed close behind.
After he and Ava were seated again, Nate nodded. "So? What is your vote?" he asked.
"Yes." Eliot said. Just like that. Ava felt a pressure that had tightened over her heart lessen, just a little. Parker, Hardison, and Sophie smiled, and welcomed Ava warmed. Nate nodded, and there was a ghost of a smile around his mouth and eyes. For despite what he let the others think, he really did like Ava, and he knew that as soon as Eliot let her, Ava would be good for him. And unless he was mistaken, which he wasn't often; soon, very soon, they'd get things together. And then, they'd be a sight to see. There were some cons that worked very badly when they were involved romantically. And then there were some that were infinitely better. Nate had a feeling that Ava and Eliot would be the ones that were better.
Nate cleared his throat, and the tea refocused. "Come in tomorrow, we'll work out the kinks, and I'll try to get a small job together for us to take a test run with. To make sure we can really do this." he said. Ava nodded.
"Understood. Boss." she said, grinning. Nate smiled a little, and shook his head.
"Nate will do fine." he said. She smiled, and nodded. She tuned, and walked out. Nate looked at the team. "You guys, ah… Okay with this? Really?" he asked.
"I like Ava." Sophie said. "I think she'll make to be a damned good thief."
"I second that." Parker said. "She's cool. And she's good."
"And modest." Hardison mumbled. He was clearly still upset about his lock. Parker snickered, and Hardison glared at her.
"Eliot?" Nate asked. Eliot looked at him, unhappy but resigned.
"I don't have much of a choice." he said.
"There's always a choice." Sophie said, touching his hand lightly. Eliot shook his head.
"Not this time." he said. He stood, and walked out the door.
Sophie looked at Nate. "Are we making the right decision here? For the both of them?" she asked. Nate sighed.
"I hope so. We'll see how this plays out. Go from there." he said. Sophie nodded.
Across town, Ava walked into her apartment with the view overlooking the Boston harbor. It was a gorgeous place, all hardwood, old architecture, open space, lots of windows. Ava had been holding it together the entire drive home, but now she could fall apart in peace. She fell to her knees, and held her arm across her stomach, trying to physically hold herself together. She didn't weep, didn't cry out, just grit her teeth against the pain. She'd learned over her time spent traveling to control pain worse than this. She realized it felt similar to being shot, or perhaps stabbed, both of which she'd experienced. That sharp, white hot pain was like nothing else, but beneath that was a shock, a breathless surprise that made it all the worse. Ava had a lot of scars now, not just mental or emotional, but physical as well.
Breathe through it, Ava told herself. Just breathe through it. She took a few deep breath, and did her best to center herself. It was hard, but she did it. She slowly stood, and made her way into her bedroom… which was basically a mattress with sheets and a few pillows on it. Plus a suitcase full of bare essentials. That was really all she'd brought with her on her travels. The suitcase that is. She'd just bought the mattress and sheets yesterday. Everything else was in a storage unit in New York. Ava stripped off her clothes, and pulled on sweats and a tee shirt. It had been Eliot's. A family friend told her that there was only one way to try and get over him. You couldn't avoid the memories, or the pain that came with them. You had to embrace them, accept them, adapt to the pain, and then move on. So far it'd been working pretty good. Then she'd seen him, and all her hard work had almost crumbled. Almost.
Ava sighed, and padded in her bare feet over to the window. She had a gorgeous view of Boston at night, with the river shimmering in the city lights. It was a beautiful city. Not nearly as big as New York, but not small by any standards. It was a beautiful town with a lot to offer. And it was Eliot's city. Ava rubbed her cool cheeks with her hands. It was hard. She couldn't deny it. But she'd work through it. And it'd be okay. It would all be okay. She'd have a job, and she'd have a fresh start. And maybe, just maybe, she'd have friends.
Ava took one last look at the view, then went into the kitchen. She pulled what sparse food she had out of her fridge, and made herself a small snack. She wasn't particularly hungry, but she knew she'd get a headache if she didn't have something. She had half a glass of wine, and enjoyed the shimmering feeling of relaxation that it gave her. She turned off the lights, turned on the gas fireplace, and slipped into bed. The sheets were cool, the bed and pillows were soft, and the fire was warm, and the light was soft and gold. Ava snuggled down into the sheets, and sighed. All in all, today had been pretty successful. She'd stolen a necklace that would allow her to buy her apartment building – all of it – outright, and pay for all the bills for at least two months, and she got a job where the pay would be as good if not better than that necklace.
Money had never been much of an issue with her, and still wasn't. She had a nice, okay, very nice, trust fund from her mother, and she'd… 'inherited' let's say, all of her father's assets since he went to prison. She could retire and never work another day in her life. But she wasn't satisfied doing that. She needed work to do, a project, or even just something that kept her from killing herself out of boredom. In New York she'd had her charity work, and then when her mother had gotten ill, she'd taken care of her. And then of course there had been Eliot. Ava winced, but pushed that out of her mind.
In no time at all, Ava was drifting on the lovely cloud of between sleep and awake. The warmth of the fire made her groggy, the bed was sinfully soft, and she was alone in a new city, and had no idea what tomorrow would bring. Ava didn't want to have to admit it, but she hated lying to herself, so she had to admit that Eliot leaving had left a hole inside her. And now, even though they weren't together, just seeing him had begun to fill that hole. She should have been having a heart attack, stroke, something! She was still wounded, still healing. But somehow, she felt more hole than she had at any point in the last six months.
Ending Note: Hey guys! I hope you liked this chapter! Were you surprised that Ava came back to join the team? What do you guys think will happen on the test run; do you think they'll work good together? What do you think will happen between Ava and Eliot?
Anyways, hope you liked this chapter! Thanks again to everyone who has been reviewing, and reading, and all that awesome and amazing stuff. I seriously think that I am addicted to reviews. I need help. Do you think that there's such as thing as Review Addicts Anonymous? If so, I need to sign up. Lol. But please, FEED MY ADDICTION! Lol. Love you guys! :D