Chapter 14

Eliot entered the waiting area to find the three of them waiting anxiously for word of Nate's condition. Sophie looked a question at him and he shook his head slightly. He had not killed Joseph Kentakov, he just hoped he would not live to regret that decision. Sophie nodded slightly and then turned her head back towards the doors the doctor would emerge from. Parker sat beside her holding her hand in support and comfort, both for herself and Sophie. Hardison stood behind them. Eliot caught the Hackers eye and indicated they should step away. Hardison moved to the side and Eliot came to stand next to him.

"We need to keep an eye on Sophie at all times." Eliot whispered to him.

"What are you thinking…?" Hardison asked softly.

"I'm thinking Jacob Fletcher is not about to let her get Nate back and go on living happily ever after."

"Yeah…I was thinking the same." Hardison said. "What about Kentakov?"

"I don't know…" Eliot said hesitantly. He was not sure if the man would try again, but if he did he wanted to be ready for him.

"So both of them…Facial recognition on all camera's around the hospital, around the pub…" Hardison said making a mental list of what he needed to do.

His thoughts though were interrupted as a doctor came through the doors and walked towards them. Hardison's stomach knotted as he looked at the face of the doctor and saw bad news coming.

"Mrs Ford…?" The doctor said approaching Sophie who had stood up when the doctor walked through the doors.

"Yes…" Sophie said hesitantly. She could read faces, expressions and body language better than anybody, she knew that she was not about to get good news and she tried to brace herself for whatever the doctor was about to tell her.

"I am Dr Porter and I treated your husband when he was brought in." The doctor said softly. "Let's have a seat over here shall we." The doctor said indicating the seats they had just vacated. He took a seat beside Sophie turning toward her.

"Doctor…is…"

"No Mr Ford is still alive. I am afraid however that there is nothing more we can do for him."

Sophie gasped and grabbed Parkers hand squeezing it tightly and waited for the rest of the story.

"Your husband has not sustained any physical injury, however he has been administered a drug or a combination of drugs. We are not sure what the drug or drugs were, we are trying to isolate them now. However, the damage it has done is quite extensive and I am afraid to say it is causing his organs to shut down one by one. I am afraid that if we do not isolate the drug or drugs in order to counteract it there is nothing we can do." The doctor said then paused to allow that information to sink in.

"He's…there is nothing you can do?" Sophie asked her voice heavy with emotion.

"Not until we can identify the drug or drugs, and I must warn you Mrs Ford, even if we are able to give him something to counteract the effects, it may be too late for him."

"But if we get the drug, if we can identify it, there is still a chance?" Eliot asked.

"Yes, there is a chance. But as I said there has been extensive damage done already. Mr…"

"Eliot."

"Eliot, I am afraid if we are going to be realistic, then we must accept that the possibility of Mr Ford surviving this is very slim. I do not wish to be harsh, however I believe that being realistic is better for everybody concerned."

"Nate is going to die." Parker said almost to herself. She was trying to get her mind around that concept. How could Nate die now, after they had found him and rescued him, he couldn't die now.

"That is the most likely outcome. I am sorry." The doctor confirmed. "They are taking him to his room now. The nurse will come and get you. Again, I am very sorry."

"Thank you doctor." Eliot said not knowing what to say. His mind was racing. Nate was dying. There was nothing they could do. Nate was going to die, his mind kept screaming at him.

Sophie did not say anything. Parker sat down beside her and pulled her into a hug. Sophie allowed herself to be pulled forward but she was numb. She was going to lose Nate and it was her fault. She had killed the man she loved. Maybe not her directly but her past, he was paying the price for her mistakes. Parker looked up at Hardison over Sophie shoulder as she held her. Her eyes swimming in unshed tears.

Eliot looked at the three of them. His heart racing as he tried to suppress the anger and the frustration raging inside him. Then he turned to Hardison.

"Take care of Sophie." He said softly. "Remember what I said. Make sure she is safe."

"Where are you going?" Hardison asked as the Hitter turned away.

"Jacob Fletcher knows what drug he gave to Nate. He is going to tell me." Eliot said his voice hard and cold. He could not just wait around waiting as Nate slipped away. The doctor had said that even if they found the drug it was more than likely Nate would die anyway, but he was damned if he was not going to try, he would not give up, not until they pronounced the man dead, until then there was still a chance.

"I'll go with you." Parker said moving Sophie back into the chair.

"No Parker. You stay here, take care of her…If…" Eliot took a deep breath. "If I don't succeed or if…she's going to need you."

"Hardison…" Eliot said turning towards the Hacker.

"Go. I'll make sure they are taken care of." Hardison told the Hitter.

Eliot nodded and then looked down at Sophie who had not so much as looked at him or any of the others. She sat immobilised, her face streaked with tears. He moved over to her and sank to his haunches in front of her pulling her eyes to his.

"It's not over yet Sophie." He said softly. Sophie blinked away tears and nodded imperceptibly. Eliot laid his hand on her knee and smiled softly at her. "He's one hell of a stubborn man and it's not over yet."

"Go…" Sophie whispered.

Eliot nodded and stood up. He turned and made his way out of the hospital quickly. He had to get to Jacob Fletcher and he had to get the information he needed no matter what it took, no matter what he had to do, Fletcher was going to tell him what he wanted to know. Time was running out for Nate and there was no time to be subtle about his approach, Fletcher was going to find out just what type of a monster Eliot Spencer could become if he did not give Eliot the information he needed. Eliot drove at breakneck speed to the hotel they had met Fletcher in before. He hoped that the man would still be there. Once there he went straight to the penthouse suite, taking care of the two guards easily and entering. Once inside he took care of the three body guards who were in the sitting area of the suite. The doors to the bedroom were closed and Eliot knew Fletcher would be inside. As the last of the guards dropped Eliot burst through the bedroom doors. He halted at the sight that met him. Fletcher was laid out in the bed, his eyes closed. He had a drip attached to him pumping him full of medicine; he was as white as the sheets he lay on.

A nurse looked up as she heard the doors burst open. She did not look at all frightened, in fact she looked as if this happened to her all the time. Eliot determined she was no threat and made his way to the side of Fletchers bed.

"Is he conscious?" Eliot asked.

"My name is Vanessa Rich." She said softly in response holding out her hand to Eliot. "I don't know who you are or what you want but I do not want to get involved."

Eliot looked at her and smiled sweetly. "Eliot Spencer." He said by way of introduction before continuing. "I don't want you involved darlin' I just want to know his condition."

"Well I am afraid that Mr Fletcher slipped into a coma a few hours ago."

"I need to talk to him." Eliot growled out.

"Well unless you are going to hold a séance that is not going to be possible." The nurse said looking down at the sick man. "He will not last out the hour."

Eliot turned to look at the nurse trying to supress the wave of despair that washed over him at her words. She did not seem at all phased by the fact that he had burst in here and that there were bodies lying in the other room. He narrowed his eyes and gave her his full attention.

"Did you…attend to another man? Tall, black hair, name of Nathan Ford?"

"No." The nurse said without hesitation. "But maybe Doctor Bertrum did."

"Who's he?"

"Mr Fletchers personal physician and my employer." She said and Eliot could tell she had no love of the good doctor by the tone of her voice.

"Where can I find him?"

"I don't know, but I have to call him once Mr Fletcher has passed, so that he can certify the death certificate." She said.

"Call him now."

She looked at him and then smiled pulling out her cell phone. She dialled a number and waited as the phone rang putting it on speaker phone so that Eliot would be able to hear the conversation.

"Bertrum." The curt voice of the doctor answered.

"Dr Bertrum. Mr Fletcher has expired." Vanessa told him.

"I am on my way. I will be there in thirty minutes." The doctor said and then dropped the call. Then she cast her eyes into the next room. "You know he is going to be a little suspicious when he sees the scattering of bodies out there." She told Eliot raising her eyebrow at him. "I am sure there are at least two more at the entrance…am I right?"

"I'll meet the good doctor downstairs." Eliot said smiling at this nurse who seemed completely at ease and not least bit phased by what was happening. "You my darlin' will have to go into the bathroom and stay there for the duration if you don't mind."

Vanessa smiled back at Eliot and then moved back to Fletchers side. She looked at the man and then checked his pulse.

"Well at least I didn't lie to my employer." She said softly.

"He's dead?"

"Yes."

Eliot looked at the man and watched as she turned off the machines and pulled out the IV needle. Then she pulled the sheet up over him covering his body.

"I would appreciate it if you did not injure my employer…it's not the best job in the world but it pays well." Vanessa said once she was finished.

"I ain't making any promises." Eliot said indicating that she moved to the bathroom. "You have been very helpful, please don't try to get out or warn the good doctor…I would hate to have to…involve you in all of this." Eliot told her, his tone belaying the casual way he spoke. Then he closed and locked the door before making his way back out and down to the lobby.

Twenty minutes later Dr Bertrum walked through the door.

"Just keep moving." Eliot said as he slid in behind the doctor steering him towards the elevator.

"What are you doing?" The doctor asked in alarm but not turning around the face the threat. "Do you know where you are? I think you will find you have made terrible mistake, you picked the wrong man to rob." Bertrum said with confidence. He fully expected Fletchers security to rush out and take out the man trying to rob him.

"I know where I am and who you are. Mr Fletchers bodyguards are not going to come to your rescue so I would suggest you just do as I say."

Bertrum stiffened slightly at that but hustled to the elevator and climbed in with Eliot behind him. Eliot pressed the button for the penthouse and then turned the doctor around to face him.

"Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way." Eliot told him mildly. "I don't mind either way."

"What is it that you want?" Bertrum asked. He looked the young, solidly built man in front of him over. He noticed that he was not armed, but decided that that did not make him any less dangerous, especially if he had disposed of the five guards that Fletcher had with him.

"You gave a drug to somebody, somebody Fletcher was holding. I want to know what you gave him and how to counteract it."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Bertrum said easily. The elevator reached its end point and the doors opened. Bertrum did not even see Eliot's fist before it landed sending him reeling into the living area. He stumbled and then tripped over one of the unconscious figures on the floor, sending him crashing down.

"The hard way it is." Eliot said softly as he followed the downed man.

"Wait…wait…" Bertrum said holding his hands up in front of him. "He told me to do it."

"I don't care about Fletcher, or you for that matter, just tell me what you gave Nate and how to stop the effects of the drug." Eliot growled.

"There is no way…" Bertrum started to say then looked into the glacial eyes of Eliot and swallowed hard. "There is no specific treatment." He corrected himself.

"The name…" Eliot said menacingly.

"I…it was a cocktail of drugs…" Bertrum stammered out.

"Write them down…" Eliot instructed him. "All of them and in what doses."

Bertrum took a pen and paper out of his bag and started to write.

"If he is in a hospital, they will know what to do." Bertrum said handing him the piece of paper.

"Good." Eliot said moving to stand towering above the man. "If I see you again…" Eliot said softly not even bothering to complete the threat. He could see that the doctor understood the threat clearly. He smiled at him and then slammed his fist into his face breaking the doctors nose and rendering him unconscious. "That is for Nate." He said turning away and walking into the bedroom.

"You are free to go." Eliot said opening the door and smiling at Vanessa. "Your boss is going to have a bit of a headache, but that's all." He said as they walked out into the living area to find the doctor lying prone on the floor with blood covering his face. "Tell him I meant what I said and I don't make idle threats."

"I hope your friend is ok." Vanessa called out as Eliot walked out the door.

"So do I…" Eliot breathed "So do I…"

Eliot listed the drugs the doctor had to Hardison who wrote them down and then handed them to the nurse telling her to get it to the doctor.

"Now all we can do is wait and hope." Hardison said as he watched the nurse scurry away.

"Yeah…I'll be there in a while. Fletcher is dead so all you have to worry about is Kentakov."

"Don't worry Eliot, I got us covered, just get here ok. It's not looking good at all man." Hardison said.

He knew that if Nate were to die, Eliot would want to be there with him and although Eliot now had the names of the drugs that Nate had been given, Hardison had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that they were too late. Eliot did not reply he simply sped through the streets towards the hospital.

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