Author's note: This follows the last chapter.

Saides- Thanks and I hope all is well with you too (forgot to answer in the last chapter sorry!)

Socialoutcastwinneroftheyear- Thanks! :D

And thanks to those who have added me to their favourites/alerts. That makes me really happy. :)

Last of all, I do not own anything from Leverage except for my characters like Leola.

Without further ado, ENJOY!

Chapter 14: Evening

She got up and put the kettle on, finally calming down from the whirl of chaos. The entire day seemed like a dream but was entirely too real.

She went to the living to get her tea that she had set earlier when she first got home and looked out the window as the sun was beginning to set. She remembered the time when she first went with Zack pick pocketing and nearly got caught. They both laughed and afterwards, she had lectured him on bad behaviour, and all the while, Zack couldn't help but point out that she was a contradicting herself. She grumbled. "Only want you to do your best."

She began to smile as she remembered Zack had picked up a wooden ball out of a shopping cart and hid it underneath his coat, giving it to her as a present when they headed back to the home. It was a wooden ball with a printed sun design etched all around it. It was around here somewhere. Still holding her tea, she began looking for it. Throwing things up from off the floor and throwing clothes in a corner. Her hand closed on a shirt, soft and worn out and her breath hitched. It was Eliot's. Her smile disappeared and she gulped her tea, forgetting it had gone cold. She gagged as the cold bitter taste of the tea hit her tongue and she swallowed in distaste. She shuddered and dumped the rest out and put the kettle on for more. She took a drink of water to rinse out the unpleasant aftertaste it left in her mouth. She felt sadness creep on her again, and she tried to brush it away. She grabbed the shirt, throwing it in the hamper. She could deal with it later, after the initial shock period has passed.

A knock came on the door and Leola lit up. Just maybe it was Eliot and this whole thing truly had been a dream. She opened the door and her happiness faded, leaving curiosity in its wake; to see none other than Sophie Deveruaux.

"Hey Leola! Didn't think I'd leave without saying goodbye did you?"

Leola chuckled and scratched her head. "I don't exactly know what to expect today." She answered truthfully. "It's been one heck of a not so good day."

Sophie came in, her smile disappearing as she studied Leola's expression. "Eliot left didn't he." Sophie said, but it sounded like a statement rather than question.

Leola nodded, feeling horrible; as if a piece of her heart was missing. "Yeah, I spoke to him a couple hours ago." She scrunched her face up as if in thought. "I tried tracking him but he was already gone." She looked back at Sophie and cleared her throat. "I tried tracking you guys too but nothing so I figured you all must have left already."

Sophie smiled. "No that's Hardison's doing. He scrapped anything that would leave a trail and disconnected our phones and gave us new ones. He is extremely thorough."

Leola's heart sank once again knowing that Hardison and Parker most likely left before Eliot. She ignored it and agreed. "Yeah I saw the leverage office. Love what you guys have done with the place." She said sarcastically.

Sophie laughed. "Yeah, the new decor was to throw Sterling off."

"Yes Jim Sterling." Leola spoke, like she was eating something sour. Leola smiled meekly though and offered Sophie some tea, which she gratefully accepted. They sat down on the couch and drank their tea in silence.

Sophie felt horrible, as if she should have stopped Nate from speaking to Eliot. She didn't know if it would have made a difference but Eliot would have come up with a decision on his own. One that probably would have been better than the one he chose. Knowing Leola, she would have had a hard time with the decision.

"So how are you doing?" Sophie asked quietly.

Leola didn't answer at first, trying to sort out her feelings. "You know...sad, angry, betrayed, happy sort of, because you guys got out and are safe but...confused a bit. And angry." She gave Sophie a sad smile. Sophie patted her hand sympathetically.

"What happened?" She asked taking another sip of her tea.

"Well, he told me he was leaving, and keeping me here so that I'm safe...on the phone."

Sophie winced. "Ouch. I would have been mad."

Leola nodded, giving an embarassed chuckle, her cheeks turning red again. "Well I was. I sort of swore at him. And then asked him to come and see me so we could figure it out. But his mind was made up." Leola sighed, feeling her eyes beginning to well up again. In order to keep herself calm she took a sip of her tea. "I just wished he trusted me enough." Leola smiled sadly and looked away.

Sophie took a deep breath. It sounded like she wasn't just talking about the phone call. Eliot did have trust issues but Sophie wouldn't dare interfere. She saw what damage it has caused. Instead she decided to help smooth things.

"Yes, but you two are unique." Leola looked back at Sophie as she explained. "I don't think Eliot has ever had stable relationship like yours too often. And he is, Eliot after all. There is bound to be a few problems." Sophie chuckled and Leola smiled genuinely.

"true." Her smile disappeared again. "But it doesn't make it hurt any less."

Sophie agreed, taking a sip of her tea. "I know. But...he does love you."

This caught Leola's attention. Sophie smiled, propping her elbow on the back of the couch. 'What you think he didn't? Jeez he's a ladies' man; I've seen him on a few of our jobs before he met you. And now he's well, pretty much the same but calmer or happier. Not so grouchy. Well something is always irking Eliot but since he's met you he's happier." Sophie laughed. Leola just pondered this, running a hand through her long curly hair. "The fact that he left proves that he really cares for you. If he didn't care for you then he wouldn't have followed through... right?"

Leola grumbled. "I suppose so."

Sophie smiled. "And he did. Ok, just give Eliot the chance. I know it may seem like he doesn't deserve one but his actions will become clear one day. They always do in every relationship."

Leola looked at her sharply before adverting her eyes elsewhere. "I will take it into consideration. I told him I would let him know where we stood after he got back."

This brought Sophie's spirits back up. There was hope after all. "That's good."

Sophie finished her tea and walked over to the kitchen. Leola did the same, her eyes downcast. "I do love him. I never told him but I do." Leola confessed, emptying her cup and washing it.

Sophie's heart swelled and she walked over giving Leola a big hug. "Then you two can make it work." She whispered comfortingly. Leola was good for Eliot and he was for her. Truth be told, Sophie really wanted things to work out between them.

Leola nodded, blinking the tears back before they had a chance to fall. "Sounds good."

"I have go." Sophie relied, not too happy with that. Leola nodded again. "Yes that's fine. Thanks Sophie. For everything and be safe."

Sophie gave her another hug and said goodbye. Leola's apartment was empty once again. Leola's heart didn't feel as heavy though and she felt a little better, knowing that Sophie believed in Eliot and yet understood where Leola was coming from. She was more than thankful nobody asked what happened with Nate. She felt ashamed but angry at Nate at the same time. But anger overpowered her shame. She looked around her apartment, her spirits rising and set to cleaning. She could do things to fill up her time. She could always go back to working as a nurse, she needed to work at the boy's home, and she had seen a couple jobs she wanted to pull. Leola began to hum, looking forward to being busy. Lifting the blankets off the back of the couch, one of them slid behind. She dropped the other blankets down on the floor a little frustrated and pulled the couch out. Leaning over, she stretched her hand down, patting the floor for the missing blanket. Something thudded against the wall as her hand closed on something hard and round. Mystified, she pulled it up, the blanket forgotten. It was the wooden ball Zack had given her. Slowly but surely, a genuine smile grew on her lips. She could get through this.

Hoped you enjoyed it and don't forget to review! I would love to hear from you.

Also, the next chapter should be up in about a week :)