Chapter 28

It had been a week since Sophie had forced the doctor to place Nate on life support. Nothing had changed, Nate was not getting worse but he was also no better. There was always somebody with Nate, and most of the time they drifted in and out of the hospital during the day and night. None of them ready to leave the Mastermind alone.

That afternoon they were all at the hospital. The three youngest members of the team had gone out to lunch together while Sophie sat with Nate and they had just returned to the hospital. Eliot saw a tall lanky man who looked very much like an executive or a lawyer make his way to the nurse's station of the ICU. He focused on him, noticing he had a file with him and suddenly Eliot realised who it could be. The man that Nate had told him about, the one that held Nate's medical proxy. He took a deep breath and looked towards Sophie who had not noticed, or taken no notice of the man. The man spoke briefly to the nurse and then nodded before turning and heading towards Nate's room.

When the man stopped at the window looking into Nate's room Sophie finally focused on him taking her eyes from the still form of Nate, as did the two younger members of the team.

"Good afternoon." The man said looking from Nate to Sophie and then the rest of them. "You must be Sophie Devereaux." He said holding his hand out to the Grifter. "My name is Jonathan Jones, I am an old friend of Nathan's and his attorney."

Sophie took his hand and her eyes narrowed at his introduction. Jonathan then shook the hands of the rest of the crew, knowing them all by name. They were curious as to who this man was despite his introduction, how he knew them, and more importantly what he was doing here. All except for Eliot who knew exactly what he was doing here and his stomach knotted at the thought.

"The doctor called me to inform me of the situation, unfortunately I was caught up in another matter and could only get here now." Jonathan said softly. "As you may or may not be aware I hold Nate's medical proxy."

Just then the doctor made his appearance. Brining any further conversation between Jonathan and the team to an end.

"Mr Jones I presume?" The doctor said stepping forward and taking the man's hand.

"Yes doctor, thank you for calling me and sorry I could only get here now." Jonathan replied. "Here are the documents detailing my designation as Mr Ford's medical proxy." Jonathan added handing the file over to the doctor who flipped through and nodded.

"I am afraid as I said on the phone, Mr Ford's wife forced me to place him on life-support despite his signing a DNR order before the procedure."

Jonathan looked at the doctor and a confused look came over his face briefly, then he smiled at the doctor. He understood, he assumed that Sophie had introduced herself as Nate's wife to get information on him when they had brought him into the hospital. Nate had told him all about his team, about Sophie and how he felt about her and the rest of them. They were his family and he loved her, although Nate had confessed he had never told her that to her face. Jonathan and Nate went back many years in fact as far back as their childhood. Nate was Godfather to his first born. Nate's father and his were partners of a kind, they had grown up together and had kept in touch with each other, at least until the time that Sam had died. Nate had come to see Jonathan about six months ago and explained the entire situation to him, including everything about his family. They had caught up over dinner and Jonathan had realised that Nate needed to speak to somebody about his feelings about his family and Jonathan had allowed him to do just that. Jonathan had admonished him at his foolishness after hearing the whole story. He had gone through everything with Nate including losing his son and knew his life had spiralled out of control after that, he advised Nate to swallow his pride and go back to the people who cared for him, to take the second chance he was offered but Nate just laughed and said he could not.

About three weeks previously Nate had given him another call and informed him that something had gone wrong with the team that had put them in danger. He had come to see him signing a medical proxy form, saying he did not want the team to make any decisions they may regret. Jonathan had been alarmed at the fact that Nate thought he may get into that much trouble that he ended up hurt in a hospital and that it may come down to putting him on life-support or something, but did not question it. He agreed to Nate's request. Nate had also left some notes for him to distribute to his team should the worst happen and of course Jonathan was in possession of Nate's will and instructions on what his last wishes were.

"I see, well there is little I can do about that now and I am sure Nate would not want any charges pressed Doctor." Jonathan said, he knew the doctor was very angry about the situation and wanted Sophie charged with assault for going against Nates wishes, he had made that clear on the phone. Jonathan was however sure that Nate would haunt him for the rest of his life if he allowed that to happen.

"What are your instructions sir?" The doctor asked then expecting the man to immediately instruct him to arrange for the life support to be disconnected. He believed that Nate was already dead, there was very little indication that he was not. He was not in the business of taking lives, but he wanted to honour his patients' wishes and it was not his wish to be alive simply because machines were keeping him so.

"Yes, well I think I would like to talk to these ladies and gentlemen first. I will let your nurse know when I am ready for you." Jonathan said politely. He did not like the doctor, not for any other reason than his attitude towards Sophie. This is the woman that Nate loved and she had only done what she thought was right, trying to save the man's life, even if it had not been his wish. "Perhaps we could talk in one of the visitors' rooms?" Jonathan suggested not wanting a public conversation on this particular topic.

Sophie looked at Nate through the window then at the others. She sighed heavily and nodded then followed the man into one of the visitors' room. They all took a seat and waited for Jonathan to take the lead. They all knew what was coming now and none of them knew how they would react. Eliot was worried about Sophie and what he was going to do if she refused to allow Jonathan to carry out Nate's wishes. He knew the other two would back her to the hilt, they would even resort to violence if that is what Sophie wanted.

"First I understand what you did, although, it was against Nate's express wishes." Jonathan started. "I hold his medical proxy and he has instructed that he should under no circumstances be kept alive by artificial means." He said immediately laying his cards on the table.

"You want to kill him!" Parker said and there was a hard edge to her voice belaying her sad eyes.

"No young lady not at all. Nate and I have been friends since, well since before you were born. I wish the situation was different. But Nate trusted me to carry out his last wishes and that is what I am here to do." Jonathan said talking directly to Parker. Nate had told him about her, about how she struggled with emotions and how she might react if this situation might arise.

"But you want to switch off the machines and that will kill him." Hardison said.

Jonathan looked from the Hacker to the Thief to the Hitter and then at Sophie. Nate was a lucky man to have these people in his life he thought. After all he had been through, to have had a second chance and to have formed a family with these people who would in probability be willing to kill, and die for him.

"When did he sign… sign that proxy?" Sophie asked. It must be before he had something to live for, something to fight for. After his son, when his life was spiralling and he was only waiting for death to take him to end his suffering. "Because things have changed, his life has changed…"

Jonathan held up his hand and smiled a sad smile. Then he decided to tell them exactly what had happened so that they could understand.

"Nate came to me six months ago. He told me everything about all of you." He looked at them and saw the surprise in their eyes, Nate had disclosed their secrets to a man they did not know without their permission. "Understand, just from his perspective and how he felt about all of you. As I said we are very old friends." Jonathan continued allaying their fears.

"Six months ago?" Hardison repeated, that was when Nate had left them.

"Yes." Jonathan confirmed. "He told me all about you and the life he had built with you. I must say you did have some adventures. He also told me about his decision to leave your little team." He paused for a minute then corrected himself. "Family. I told him he was a fool for what he was doing after what he told me and how he felt about all of you, cared deeply for all of you, and that he loved you Sophie very much, but Nate was a stubborn man, even when we were kids, he did what he thought was right no matter what it cost him."

"Is…IS a stubborn man." Sophie correct him, this man was talking about Nate as if he was already dead.

"Anyway, he said that he needed to get his affairs in order in case something happened, I had a feeling he was lost without you, and was back where he was after Sam, and I know he wanted to leave something for each of you as well, which is what we did. Then about three weeks ago Nate contacted me again and requested I draw up papers for me to be his medical proxy."

"Three weeks ago?" Eliot asked looking at the man intently.

"Yes, he said he had something he had to do and that it could go wrong and he did not want to leave anybody in a position where they would have to do something that would…hurt them." Jonathan said. Nate had not wanted any one of them to make this decision and after what had happened with the DNR order he understood why.

"He thought this might happen, that he may get very hurt…that he could die?" Parker said realising what that meant. Nate had known that to get them out of danger he would be putting himself at great risk. She had known that but Jonathans words just brought it home to her. Nate had once told Archie he would die for Parker, Archie had told her that. Now he was going to do just that.

"Anyway, that is what we did. Nate's instructions were clear I am afraid." Jonathan said letting the meaning of his words sink in and allowing them to understand that he was going to do what his friend and client had instructed him to do.

"You can't, please…" Sophie almost sobbed. This man was going to take any chance of Nate coming back to her away and she couldn't bear the thought. "Please Nate is a fighter he just needs time, he needs time please." Sophie begged him.

"Ms Devereaux I understand I truly do. But I have never broken a promise to Nate, and never gone against my clients' wishes, any client. This is what he wanted. I have no option but to carry out his wishes if I want to honour him and our friendship."

Eliot stayed quiet. This was Nate's wishes and he was not happy about it but it is what the Mastermind wanted. He had not stopped Sophie from doing what she did before, but now, she had to realise that they had to honour Nate, they had to give him the peace he sought. He did not say anything though, he waited to see how things played out.

"I, I need…"

"To say goodbye." Jonathan said softly. "I understand. Take your time and when you are ready let me know." He said knowing what she was asking. "I would also like a time with him before you go in to see him."

They looked and him and then nodded. Jonathan stood up leaving to go and see Nate. Entering Nate's room he walked up to the bed, he knew he should not be in there but they were about to end the man's life and he needed to say his goodbyes.

"Nate it is Jon, I see you are not in the best of shapes. I don't know what happened but obviously you fulfilled your mission, your family are all safe and unharmed." Jonathan said softly. "You gave me a very hard task my friend. That woman is fierce, and protective of you. You really were a fool to walk away all those months ago. They love you all of them, you can see it and now I am telling them that they have to say goodbye to you, and not just for a short while like before. Parker thinks I am killing you so does Hardison. God knows what Eliot is thinking and Sophie, well I think she would gladly kill me with her own hands. Couldn't you just wake up and make this decision pointless?" He finished then stood for a few minutes just watching the rise and fall of Nate's chest hoping the man would wake up and take this burden off of him. "Well I will carry out your wishes my friend." He said sadly. "Rest well Nate you earned it."

Jonathan left the room and saw 'the four members of Leverage waiting outside. He nodded to them and told them to take their time. This was goodbye forever and he would give them the time they needed, Nate owed them that he thought.