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"You say you gotta go and find yourself/ You say that you're becoming someone else/ Don't recognize the face in the mirror looking back at you/ You say you're leaving as you look away/ I know there's really nothing left to say/ Just know I'm here. Whenever you need me, I'm here for you."- "Come Back to Me" by David Cook

It was harder to watch her leave than he had expected. After their conversation in the cemetery where he had stared at the fake gravestone and realized exactly how close he had come to losing her, she had returned to her home and promptly packed to leave. He was grateful that she had chosen to say goodbye to the team rather than leaving that less than pleasant conversation to him.

Parker had had the most violent reaction to the news.

"It'll be worse than when you were dead!"

Sophie had a small smile on her face. "Parker, I'm right here."

"You won't be tomorrow, though." Parker never cried, but she considered it for the guilt factor.

"I need to go, sweetie." Sophie was struggling to find the words to explain. "I'll be back before you know it."

"You won't be gone forever?"

"No. I couldn't stay away that long. I just need a little time. Time away from all this."

"Is this about Nate?"

Sophie paused, considering her answer carefully. "This is about me."

Parker tilted her head to the side and leaned in to sniff Sophie. Sophie let out a small laugh, barely able to hold back her tears; she pulled Parker into a hug, and for once, Parker didn't try to get free.

Nate had never been so frustrated with Parker after Sophie had left the offices. She had disappeared for the rest of the day, abandoning her shoes, which meant Hardison couldn't track her down. He was grateful that both the younger men had taken the news pretty well.

"Take care of him," Sophie murmured to Eliot as she hugged him.

"I always do," he replied gruffly.

Hardison managed to drudge up a small smile as Sophie hugged him as well. "This a permanent vacation?"

"No. I'll be back. I promise."

"We'll be holding you to that." Hardison patted her back.

Sophie bit her bottom lip and wiped away the tears that had started coursing down her cheeks. "Look after Parker. I don't want to hear about her getting into trouble."

Eliot let out a laugh, the sound rich and so real that Sophie couldn't help wincing. "She's always getting into trouble." At the look on Sophie's face, he schooled his features into a serious expression. "Don't worry. We'll be fine."

Nate hadn't gotten a technical goodbye. He had snuck up on her as she started to let herself out the door.

"Going to just sneak out without saying goodbye?"

She started, her eyes widening at the sight of him. "That wasn't exactly what I was trying to do."

"It looks like it."

"Nate…."

"You don't have to say anything. I understand." He was trying, anyway. "Just, um, well, just come back, okay?"

She paused, her hand lingering on the doorjamb as she studied him; he wondered at that moment if she might just stay. He considered dragging her back inside and locking her up until she promised she wasn't going anywhere. He stayed where he was standing, though.

Her lips quirked upward into the tiniest of smiles. "I will, Nate."

With that promise, she had walked out the door. It had taken everything he had not to chase after her; he had opted to retreat to his bedroom and proceeded to pace the floor. It was one of the first times in a long time that he had wanted a drink. He had physically ached for it. But he had resisted. She was coming back. And, that was enough to get him through.