Chapter 28

Romanov watched the van drive off then turned back to the plane. He re-boarded the plane and walked up to the cot holding the Nate.

"This is the one that caused the explosion on the boat?" He asked looking at his deputy.

"According to our information yes."

"Is he dying?"

"I can't say. It seems like he is in some difficulty and he is unconscious."

"Take him to the house."

"Do I get him a doctor?"

"No…if he survives good, then I can make him understand that costing me money does not go unpunished. If he dies…well then so be it."

"Do I put him with the others?"

Romanov looked at his man and then back down to Nate. Then he laughed as he turned to leave the plane. "No, put him in another room, he's not going to be a problem and I can tell them he's dead, I shall be interested to see their reaction."

A few hours later Nate came back to consciousness slowly. He opened his eyes to find himself on the floor of a small room. He was alone, that scared him. Where was Sophie, David, the others? He tried to sit up but moving was difficult. His heart felt like it was bursting out of his chest, his breath was wheezy and he could feel sweat starting to form on his forehead. He knew something was wrong, but he was not quite sure what. He had taken so much punishment it could be anything. He heard voices and lay back down closing his eyes. The footsteps entered the room and stopped next to him.

"He's still unconscious?"

"Yeah and I'm stuck here watching him…You know George has organized a game and I'm stuck here watching him."

"Well you could be watching those others then you wouldn't be able to get away."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well you could go to the game…I mean he isn't going anywhere and nobody will know."

Greg looked at his friend and smiled at the thought. But then shook his head ruefully, Romanov was not a forgiving man and if something happened and he was not at his post then there would be hell to pay.

"He isn't going to wake up and even if he did I don't think he is going to run away do you?" His friend said. "Come on man, it's going to be a good game."

Greg sighed and looked back down at Nate. "What the hell…it's only a few hours anyway." Greg said smiling and walking out with his friend.

Nate heard them walk away from him. He heard the door close but did not hear a key turn in the lock. Once he was sure they were gone he pushed himself up into a sitting position. Immediately the room started spinning and he leaned back against the wall for support. 'The others' he thought to himself. He said 'the others', he must be talking about Sophie and the rest. He had to get to them. Slowly he stood up leaning against the wall for support. His head was spinning, he felt as if he had run and marathon and he struggled to get his breathing under control. He inched his way around the room leaning on the wall the whole way to the door. Trying the handle he found the door unlocked. He opened it a crack and peered out. The corridor was empty so he moved slowly out the door staying against the wall and in the shadows. Hearing voices at the other end of the hall he inched his way in that direction. Peering around the corner he saw two armed guard sitting outside another room. They were playing cards and smoking, not paying any attention to what was happening around them. Well he thought, the direct approach had always worked for him so he pulled himself upright then walked out and straight towards the two guards.

"Hello…" He said taking them by surprise.

"Who are you…" The one said brining his gun to bear on Nate.

"Me…oh I'm a guest of…whatshisname…" Nate said nonchalantly not sure who it was that them exactly, he had missed that part. "He said I should come down here and try to talk some sense into the Americans…you know how they can be…" He said smiling disarmingly at them. He was gambling on the premise that these two knew nothing about him.

"Romanov sent you?" One of the guards asked unsure of what to make of this pale sick looking American whom he had never seen before.

"Yeah…" Nate looked down at the table and saw what he needed, a taser, just lying there on the table waiting to be grabbed up. "Hey what you game you two playing…?" He asked leaning over the table and palming the taser then turning back to the very confused guards.

"Well, I suppose I should do what I came here to do." He said moving towards the door. Guard number one moved to intercept him and Nate pulled the taser from behind his back jamming it into him. The other guard, taken by surprise took a second or so to react, then started to bring his gun around and Nate moved the taser sending a the voltage streaming through his body. "Yeah, I can really see how Parker likes these things." Nate said looking down at the two guards. Then he dropped the taser and took the keys from the table.

"Nate…" Sophie cried out pushing past Maggie to get to him. He kissed her lightly and placed his hand on his son's head before telling them they all had to go.

Nate was not sure how it happened exactly but he ended up being slung over Eliot's shoulder and carried out at speed. He felt himself being slung into the van and then he was aware of Eliot sitting with him. They had to get to the airport, he knew Eliot could fly and he was sure that Romanov had not moved the plane, or at least he hoped so. It was their way out. He said as much to Eliot and then the darkness claimed him again.

He came awake again in a hospital room with Sophie sitting beside his bed her hand wrapped around his. The others were scattered around the room with Eliot leaning against the doorpost watching him.

"Hey Nate…" Eliot said as he saw the Masterminds eyes open.

"Eliot…" He said hoarsely. "How long?"

"A week..."

"What?" Nate said in surprise. He had been out for a week?

"Yeah, you weren't in the best of shapes, apparently you got an infection which affected your heart and your lungs."

"How are they?" He asked casting his eyes over the others who were all asleep.

"Tired, worried…" Eliot said.

"Yeah...we weren't followed?"

"No. Nate I just wanted to say…"

"Don't Eliot, I would do it again. Let's just leave it at that." Nate said knowing that Eliot wanted to apologize for getting him into all of this.

"I won't…"

"Yes you will, 'cause if you don't you know I'm not going to be happy." Nate said again knowing exactly what Eliot was going to say. That next time he won't call Nate. "Look Eliot, I have a son, yes and a wife and a family. But I had that before, you, you, Parker, Hardison you are my family too and I will do whatever is necessary if the need arises, and she would agree with me, and you know it."

"Nate…Nate…" Sophie said coming awake to the sound of his voice. "Oh Nate you're awake." She said standing up and leaning over him to look him in the eye. Those perfect blue eyes that held so much love for her.

"Sophie…" He said but was cut off by her lips crashing into his. "I…I thought…I…Oh Nate…" She said throwing little kisses all over his face as she ran her hands down his cheeks.

"Hey…hey it's ok, I'm ok Sophie…" He said lifting his hand up to wipe away the tears that flowed down her face. "I'm ok." He said again just before she captured his lips again.

"Hey Nate…" Hardison said happily watching the scene between husband and wife. Parker grabbed his and smiling happily. They had both woken with the first 'Nate' that Sophie had got out.

"Hardison…Parker." He greeting them smiling.

"It's about time you woke up Mister." Maggie said taking his hand on the other side of the bed from Sophie.

"Maggie…I…"

"Don't say it." She said quickly. "I'm just glad it's over." She said leaning in and giving him a peck on the cheek.

"Where is my son?" Nate asked looking around the room.

"Right here…" Sophie said lifting the baby out of the cot that stood beside her chair.

"Hey there David…" Nate said taking him from Sophie and placing him on his chest. "Daddy is so happy to see you…" He said smiling from ear to ear. His family was here. All of them safe and well…

"So when do I go home?" He asked looking at Sophie.

"When the doctor says so and not a minute sooner." She smiled at him leaning in to kiss him again. "I am not taking any chances with you."

"I feel fine…"

"Nate, you have nearly died more times than I can count in the last few weeks and you're heart was down to working at less than fifty percent because of the infection and you have been unconscious for seven days and…

"Ok..ok…not until the doctor says so." He said holding up his one hand, the other still resting on his son. "Parker go get the doctor will you?" He said to the Thief mischievously.

"Nathan Ford…"

"Hey David, your mother is very bossy don't you think?" He said to the baby who gurgled happily lying on his fathers' chest.

"Well I'm going to get some food…you guys coming?" Eliot said knowing that Nate and Sophie needed some time alone now that he was awake and he was going to be fine and the danger was over.

"Yeah…" Hardison said pulling Parker along with him.

Maggie watched the three and smiled. Then looked back at Nate and Sophie who were both absorbed in each other and their son. "Wait up guys…" She said heading out the door and closing it behind her.

"I'm sorry Sophie…" Nate whispered as when they were alone.

"Nothing to be sorry for Nate…we went over that don't you remember." She said kissing him lightly.

"I love you Mrs. Ford." He said emotion welling up inside of him.

"I know Mr. Ford." She said smiling as he kissed her again.

David gurgled and kicked his feet, his little hands grabbing Nate's in the left and then Sophie's.

"He's strong isn't he…?" Nate said as David clasped his fingers.

"Just like his Dad." Sophie said. As she lay down beside Nate on the bed resting her head on his chest, her hand moving in unison with her child's. "You know Mr. Ford…except for the fact that we are in a hospital in Germany, I could stay like this forever." She said softly.

"So could I Sophie…so could I…" Nate said turning his head and kissing her on hers. "I love you both so very much…"

When the others returned an hour later they found them like that. David asleep on his father's stomach and Sophie asleep with her head resting on a sleeping Nate's chest.

"Never again Eliot…" Parker said looking at the three of them.

"Never again." Eliot agreed.

Well that is the end. I hope you all enjoyed the story. I enjoyed writing it very much. Thank you to all of you who have followed the story and left your reviews for me. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate them. To Sphinx, Stella, Carebear818, KendraBC, huttonfan, JustBecause2012, Leveragus, farrago42, msj12991, Ludy and everybody else thank you thank you thank you.