First Person POV (Kaira)
The day started out like any other day. I got up, and I did my normal routine. Except today wasn't any other day. Yeah, it was nice waking up to a kiss from Eliot, and it still felt the same as the first time we kissed. Except I felt more guilty. Guilty about how I felt when Parker was in danger. But I kept that all to myself. Because this was only an issue for me to deal with. And it didn't help that I knew Hardison was pining for her. But my thoughts were interrupted by Eliot coming into the bathroom, telling me that Nate had a new job for us. I smiled and quickly changed and gathered myself.
We walked into the briefing room and sat at the table. I sat in between Eliot and Sophie, and Nate was in the kitchen. Hardison and Parker were nowhere to be found, though Nate explained there were at our the target, John Connell's house. Nate went on to explain the mission, including the chip that got stolen from our client, Geoffrey, by his employer John Connell. Geoffrey went to sue Connell, saying the chip was his, which apparently he didn't think John would do.
"He lied. No, he lied. His story is that Geoffrey attacked him after being passed over on a promotion. Now, in his version, there is no chip." Nate explained, coming down to the table with a coffee cup in hand.
"Hmm. Well, it makes sense. Why would he admit to stealing it?" Sophie pointed out.
"Well, because it's the basis for the legal claim. Denying it ever happened forfeits any rights Fluid Dyn would have on the design." Nate explained, standing on the other side of the table.
"Why would he do that?" Sophie asked.
"Because he didn't steal it for Fluid Dyn. He stole it for himself." Nate explained.
"It's black market." Eliot explained.
"Well, that explains Connell's trips to Russia over the last three months." Sophie pointed out.
"Hardison?" Nate got his attention.
A feed of the house came on the screen. "There's your live feed from Connell's house, brought to you by Lucille. So now what she sees, you all see." Hardison said.
I looked at the two-story green house.
"Ooh, nice house for a V.P of Sales." Sophie pointed out.
"Yes, indeed." I added, wondering how he got the money for the house.
"Yeah, well, he - a couple years ago, he spent a fortune on renovations. This guy is up to his hairline in debt." Nate explained.
"That explains him wanting to sell the chip." I pointed out. I saw Connell come down his house steps with another man.
"Who's that guy?" Eliot asked.
"He's a contractor." Hardison explained.
"Hey, yo, yo, Hardison, what's up with the audio? Let's get some audio in here." Nate told Hardison.
"Okay. Hit that button right there." Hardison told Parker.
"But it says audio." Parker said, and I smile a bit.
Parker must've pushed the button because the conversation that Connell and the contractor was having was an argument about the house and the code. Just then a little girl came down, and she called Connell dad, so I assume it's his daughter, asked him if she could use her laptop.
"That's his daughter, Molly." Hardison explained.
The contractor refused to lie about the code violations. Molly snipped and asked if she could use Connell's computer. And when I hear that spunk in her voice, I immediately see Kasey. And I realize she would've been 17 years old already. I would be teaching her about life, guiding her way through school. Probably answering the phone at 7 pm helping her with her Algebra homework, teaching her about boys and relationships, scaring away anyone that screws with her, getting her ready for all her dances, escorted by the poor sap that had to get past me.
Kasey would probably be up my ass about becoming an aunt. She would love Eliot as a brother-in-law. I would probably be yelling at Hardison for teaching her how to hack into things and Parker for teaching her how to pick a lock.
God every freaking day I wish it didn't end the way it did. But it's an odd bittersweetness, because losing Kasey led me to Eliot, Parker, Hardison, Nate, and Sophie. I left my old life behind in New York, but started a new life in California. And now here I was, back in Boston, where I grew up mostly. Before I had to move back when mom and dad couldn't pay the bills. Before I had to go back to my old High School. Before Brian- Goddammit, Kaira, focus!
I feel a hand touch my thigh, and I know it's Eliot. I grab his hand and give it a squeeze to calm both of us down. I realize I was in my head and calm down. I look up to see on the feed Molly stomping her way in after being ignored by her dad.
Then I see myself back in New York, after Kasey died. My dad and mom would be strung out, and I'd beg to get them to help with my homework, but they couldn't. I feel a squeeze on my thigh again as refocus.
"Where's the mom in all this?" Eliot asked.
"According to..." Hardison was about to explain when Nate cut him off.
"Dead." Nate answered.
"Yeah, uh, she died a year ago. How did you-" Hardison answered, and I feel so bad for both Molly and Connell.
"It's the way he looks at Molly. He loves her, but also, she reminds him of something that he's lost." Nate explained, and I think Nate's also talking about himself with Sam.
Then it hits me like a goddamn freight train why what happened to my parents happened. I refocus again and listen to the conversation.
"Well, that explains his focus on the house. He's compensating for his loss by exerting power over his world." Sophie pointed out.
"Hardison, can you bring up the blueprint on the house?" Nate asked, coming beside me and Sophie.
"So, you're saying that being a million dollars in debt - that's a lot of control?" Eliot questioned.
"Well, it probably doesn't even register. I mean, that's not greed we're looking at. It's grief." Sophie explained.
"I thought we were supposed to hate the guys that we take down." Eliot said.
"Not a requirement - A perk... usually." Nate pointed out.
I refrain from commenting on how much I want to see Connell go down. Just because he's grieving, it doesn't mean he has a pass to ignore his daughter, who is also grieving. I once again reel myself back in and focus on the blueprints on the screen.
"Okay, so, we are here to get Geoffrey's chip back. Now, I have no doubt it's in that house somewhere. I just - I don't know where." Nate said.
"Look for a room or a door that doesn't go with the rest of the house." Parker pointed out.
"What's the play, Nate?" I asked Nate.
"Oh, I thought we'd just, you know, wait for an invitation." Nate said.
Nate and Sophie leave to set up their covers as contractors, and Parker switched the blueprint designs to legitimize Nate and Sophie's covers.
The plan worked, and soon we went off to get into the house to find the chip. Hardison was undercover for tech, and Parker as an assistant. Me and Eliot were undercover for security to watch Molly while the others found the safe. Eliot rung the doorbell and Connell answered, walking about the door.
"Hi. Eliot, Kaira, with, uh, Hancock Security." Eliot introduced us.
"Uh, yeah, you're late. Where's Jack?" Connell asked us.
"Jack had to fill in on another job, so they sent us." I explained.
"Okay, well, go find Molly, all right?" Connell told us.
"Sure thing." I said, knowing Molly was the daughter.
"Look - I don't have time to keep tabs on her." Connell said, and I refrain from commenting as he walked back inside.
"Can't watch his own daughter." Eliot muttered.
"Can't argue with that, babe." I muttered as well.
As much as I feel bad that Connell lost his wife, but Molly lost her mom too. Eliot and I searched for Molly. We found her across the street, sitting by a tree, looking at a carnival that was below us.
"Hey, Molly. I'm Eliot. This is Kaira. We're supposed to..." Eliot said before looking out at the carnival.
"It's got to be pretty cool living next to a carnival though, huh?" Eliot tried to make small talk.
Molly scoffed at him. "It's got to be pretty cool being the security guy." Molly mocked, sounding a bit like Eliot.
"Wh-" Eliot questioned, and I can't help but smile about it.
"M-my j-" Eliot stuttered, trying to recover.
"Clearly you've never been to one. Every game is rigged." Molly said.
Obviously, she has her issues.
"Not all of them. Where I grew up, there was always these hometown carnivals. Used to drag my little sister to them." I smile a bit at the memory of little me and Kasey, running to the games to win prizes. I sat down next to Molly.
"It's a waste of time unless you cheat." Molly said.
Yep, definitely a Debbie Downer, not that I blame her.
"Well, if you cheat, there's no satisfaction in winning." Eliot pointed out.
"Cheating's the only way to get anything in life." Molly explained.
"Uh-huh. Aren't you a little bag of sunshine?" Eliot muttered.
Molly scoffed again. "It's my dad's philosophy." Molly revealed, and Eliot and I are both stunned. "He believes that all of life is rigged - probably some twisted reaction to my mom dying. Too much, too soon? Sorry. Don't have many people to talk to these days." Molly said.
"I wonder why." Eliot muttered, and I smack his leg.
"Other than Daria." Molly said.
"Who's that?" Eliot asked.
"She's our Eastern European housekeeper. Talking to her is like... talking to an Eastern European housekeeper." Molly said.
"I get it. That sister I mentioned earlier? She died when I was 17. I lost both my parents a year later. I get the attitude. I get the defensiveness. I was raised by my uncle, so I know what that's like." I try to open up, hoping to get Molly to like me better.
"You don't have any friends?" Eliot asked.
"My dad's been all wonky lately, not letting me go anywhere or have anyone over. He's all obsessed with this reconstruction thingy. My mom started it. It's like a shrine to her or something. Anyway, the blogs say he's grieving." Molly said.
"What do you think?" I asked Molly.
"I don't know." Molly answered.
"I think your dad does love you Molly, but I think the reason he's acting the way he is, is because it's his way of making sure he doesn't lose you too." I explained, still trying to build report. I let Molly process what I said.
Eliot kneeled down. "You know, I know a way to beat these, uh - these games you think are rigged." Eliot told Molly.
She scoffed. "Yeah?" Molly questioned.
"Yeah." Eliot repeated.
"What?" Molly asked.
"What do you think it is?" Eliot asked. Molly laughed. "Hard work." Eliot said.
Molly laughed more. "Was Rudy on cable last night?" Molly asked.
Eliot stumbled as I chuckled. Eliot and I watched Rudy last night, actually. "Don't lie, Eliot, it was." I teased a bit.
"Yeah." Eliot admitted.
We sit there for a minute, looking at the skyline.
Third Person POV
Hardison was at the base now, playing with a green robot. "Nate, we're good to go. I hacked his med records and copied his prescription exactly. He'll never know." Hardison reported.
He turned to his robot, seeing Parker on the screen, waiting to make the switch, looking at the paint strips in her hand.
"Parker... tell me how you're feeling right now." Hardison said.
"Um... wait. Huh?" Parker questioned.
"Hmm? Uh, nothing. Never mind. He's coming towards you." Hardison said.
Parker backed up into Connell, knocking his glasses on the ground. Parker switched out the glasses and put them on Connell.
"Ah, there we go." Hardison started chuckling. He looked at Parker on the screen with heart eyes, smiling a bit. He watched as Connell got on the phone and got into the room. But then Connell took off his glasses and placed them on the safe, so Hardison couldn't get a combination, which he wasn't happy about.
Nate, Sophie, and Parker all went back to the office later that day. Hardison showed the footage to Nate.
"No retina scan, voice, print, no facial recognition, nothing. He doesn't even touch the keypad." Hardison reported.
"Bring up the audio." Nate said, starting to walk in front of the table.
"There's nothing to bring up. He doesn't say anything." Hardison argued.
"No, no, just - just bring up the audio all the way." Nate said, walking closer to the screen.
"He's -" Hardison tried to speak, but Nate shushed him.
They heard Connell breathing into the system.
"Breath lock." Hardison realized.
"We're gonna have to get his DNA from his breath." Nate said.
"We're gonna have to get him to take a breathalyzer." Hardison said.
"He said that only he and Molly have access to that room. Eliot, Kaira, I got something for you." Nate said on comms.
Just then, Parker burst in, holding the green robot. "What, you think I wouldn't notice?!" Parker slammed the robot on the table.
"Oh, hey! Hey, girl, this thing is hypersensitive." Hardison said, upset.
"I'm hypersensitive when people are building robots to replace me!" Parker yelled at Hardison.
"It's not a robot." Hardison explained.
"I'm not stupid, Hardison, okay? I know how smart you are and how capable you are of doing things. Parker 2000?" Parker said.
"No. What - No, see, like - um, okay. Yeah, I used your name, right? But it's not - it's not what you think, at all. It's an ASCD, an automated safe-cracking device." Hardison explained.
"I'm a safe cracking device." Parker pointed to herself. She then gestured that she was watching Hardison, then tapped him on the chest, leaving, slamming the door.
"Told you not to call it Parker." Nate told Hardison.
He left as well as Hardison inspected the robot.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Eliot and I had been hanging around Molly most of the evening. I felt like we were both building a decent report with her. Nate needed Molly's breath for the breath lock, so we had Molly blow up a bunch of balloons and Eliot was gonna teach her the dart game, having brought a board and darts. Molly blew up the last balloon we needed. I'm not gonna lie, this was a nice chance to escape my mind for a little while.
"All right, you've blown up enough balloons. Come over here. I want to show you something." Molly came over as Eliot placed a red balloon on the board.
"Now, let me see your balloon." Eliot said. Molly handed the balloon over and Eliot tied it. "Can you tie it?" Eliot asked her.
Molly hummed she really couldn't.
"All right. Now the mistake that most people make is throwing at the balloon, all right?" Eliot grabbed the darts.
"The way these darts are weighted, they don't generate enough energy and momentum to go through the balloon." Eliot explained. He threw the dart at the balloon, and the dart bounced off. "Boom." Eliot said.
"Rigged?" Molly questioned.
"No, think of it as a house advantage. Good thing is, there's always a way to beat the house at their own game. You just got to play for long enough. For example, if you throw the dart in an arc..." I grabbed the dart from Eliot and threw the dart in an arc, popping the balloon. "Gravity becomes your friend, allowing you to get the energy and momentum you need." I explained.
"You try." Eliot handed the dart to Molly.
She missed it. "You forgot to mention the need for talent." Molly argued.
"You go - no, hard work beats talent every time. You're not putting an arc on it." Eliot explained, demonstrating the arc.
"Do you subscribe to some motivational website or something?" Molly snipped at Eliot.
"Try again." Eliot said, holding the dart.
Molly grabbed it and threw the dart, popping the balloon. I smile a bit at the sight.
"And there you have it." Eliot said, proud. Eliot went to grab the mirror behind us.
"Practice and hard work and one of these days - hold this right there..." Eliot had Molly hold the mirror. I chuckle, knowing what Eliot was gonna do.
"Serious, Eliot, with the bar tricks?" I chuckle, amused a bit, and Eliot just smirks at me.
He positioned himself where he was looking at the mirror. "You'll be able to do this." Eliot said. He threw the dart behind him, popping the balloon.
"Aw, sweet!" Molly was impressed.
"That's right. Go over there and try it yourself." Eliot said, handing Molly a dart.
"Use the mirror." Eliot told Molly.
He held it as I watched Parker grab one of the balloons Molly blew up. Molly was uncomfortable standing in front of the mirror, so she moved away so she couldn't see herself.
"Mirrors and I aren't exactly on speaking terms." Molly told us.
I flashback to my own childhood, where I used to hate looking in the mirror. Even when I got older, looking in the mirror meant looking at a woman with too much red in her ledger. I used to hate the sight. In fact, I still do to this day. I refocus once again.
"What's the problem?" Eliot asked Molly.
"I just don't like what I see." Molly said.
I then hear Daria's European accent. "Molly, come! Time for carnival!" Daria yelled.
Molly scoffed. "God." She muttered as she sat on the floor. "No, thank you!" Molly yelled.
"Your father wants us out of way." Daria came in through the hallway.
"Then Eliot and Kaira can come." Molly said.
I smiled as Eliot stumbled a but.
"No, no, h-he must stay." Daria tried to say as I see Nate coming.
"Uh, no, I got to - yeah." Eliot tried to get out of it.
"Now, come on." Daria coaxed Molly. Daria went up and kneeled next to Molly. "It will be fun. I promise. I'll buy you cotton candy. Last year you loved the carnival so much." Daria said.
"Problem?" Nate asked.
"Can Eliot and Kaira come?" Molly asked.
Daria's cellphone went off. "Oh, wait. Wait. Your father's calling. He said we must go now or we'll be late." Daria said, looking at her phone.
"If I have to go to some lame carnival, then why can't Eliot come?" Molly asked.
"Why not? I mean, it'll be fun. We'll be out of the way, we can teach you how to beat the carnival games, cotton candy, funnel cake, it'll be great." I smile, knowing I'm getting Eliot's bitch face.
"Okay, okay, that's fine. Let's go. Carnival yay!" Daria said.
Molly's eyes light up and we leave the house.
"Clock starts now, people." Nate warned us.
We arrive at the carnival, and as we're playing games, I hear Nate warning Hardison and Parker to stand by while him and Sophie buy time for Parker to crack the safe, which involved Sophie smacking Nate. Parker was not happy about Parker 2000. Eliot, Molly, Daria, and I were at the water pistol game, the one where you have to aim the water gun at the clown mouth and ring a bell at the top. Well, Molly was firing straight at the clown, but not doing anything.
"See? It's not working." Molly said. "That's because you got to find the tell, all right? So, the way these guns are built, the barrel is aimed down and to the left. So you want to aim up and to-" Eliot explained.
"The right." Molly said.
She aimed the gun right like how Eliot said, and got a toy panda, and shoved it at Eliot's chest. I kept smiling. We walked over to the next game Molly wanted to play.
Hardison once again refused to use the robot to crack the safe, though time was running out.
Eliot and I stood guard as Molly went over to the balloon game and got a giraffe. "That's awesome, Molly!" I smile at her, then turn, annoyed at Parker and Hardison.
"Come on, Parker." Eliot muttered.
"Parker, please. Just do it." I muttered.
Daria went to answer her phone as Molly came over with her giraffe.
"Sweet." Eliot said.
"So, is Parker a code name? I mean, either you're talking on a secret radio or your schitzophrenic." Molly said.
I chuckled a bit. "We're security." Eliot said as we both tapped our ears implying our comms.
"Can I try?" Molly asked.
"No." Eliot and I both said.
"Come on. Just let me try. I-I-I won't say anything. I'll just listen." Molly argued.
I smile as Eliot pulled out an extra comm. He handed it to her.
"Don't put it in your ear. Put it in your pocket - not until I tell you." Eliot said.
"I'll be Botasky, and you be Perky." Molly said as she put the comm in her pocket.
"Who?" Eliot asked.
"Don't you ever read?" Molly scoffed at Eliot. I chuckle slightly. Molly walked away.
Once again, I hear Hardison and Parker arguing. We were over by the roller coaster. Daria called Molly over for cotton candy as Eliot and I stayed behind. Molly asked if we wanted us, and I declined for the both of us. Hardison was still trying to convince Parker to attach the robot to the safe wall.
"Just do it, Parker!" Eliot exclaimed, and I have to cover for the guy in front of us, pointing to the patch on my coat that said we were security. Parker gave in and was impressed. Eliot and I saw the giraffe going through the crowd. Parker got the chip, causing Eliot and me to look away from Molly. We then looked back up and didn't see the giraffe. We walked over to where we thought Molly was. The giraffe was on the ground, and I panic.
Then Daria came over, screaming and crying. "They took her! They took Molly!" Daria exclaimed.
"What?!" I exclaimed, knowing this was not good. I tried to get Daria calmed down so she could speak to us.
Eliot and I grabbed Daria and took her to the side. "Listen to me. Who took her? What did you see?" Eliot asked Daria, kind of aggressively.
"I don't - I don't know-" Daria tried to speak, but she was shaken up.
"Daria, what did you see?!" I may have raised my voice a little. I feel bad about it, but I need to get Molly back, and I know Eliot did too.
"She - god. She was here, and then men were there, and I tried to hold her -" Daria explained.
"How many men? How many men were there? Remember. It's very important you remember how many men!" Eliot exclaimed.
"Three." Daria answered.
Eliot and I looked at each other, knowing our plan. "Okay, Daria, go back to the house, all right? Go back to the house. Got it? Now, go!" I ordered Daria and she left.
Third Person POV
Nate and Sophie both looked out at the carnival. Parker was still at the safe, Hardison was still inside the van, and Eliot and Kaira were still by the game, thinking. This was a sudden change of plan that no one could've predicted.
"Nate." Sophie got Nate's attention.
"No, this can't be an abduction. This is k&r. The Russian buyers - they want the chip. We are on a reset. Our main objective is the girl. We find her, bring her back safe. We lose the chip if we have to. We burn Connell if we have to. Anyone have a problem, speak now." Nate said.
Everyone was silent.
"Hardison, the carnival is covered in cameras. I'll need a map." Nate said.
"I'm on it." Hardison said, starting to get a map for Nate.
"Eliot, Kaira, we're gonna need to know if anyone has left the carnival." Nate said.
Eliot and Kaira were already moving, trying to find where these men took Molly. "40 seconds from the main entrance. Nate, if we're engaged..." Eliot questioned.
"Do your worst." Nate said. He went to go back in the house with Sophie.
"Copy that." Kaira said.
Nate and Sophie walked into the house and got the chip from Parker. They walked into the dining room, where plans were laid out, and Connell was leaned over, looking at them. Nate pulled out the chip.
"This is a goodwill gesture. What I want for it in return is your undivided attention and the benefit of the doubt." Nate put the chip in front of Connell and started circling the table. "My name is Nate Ford. In just a few seconds that phone is going to ri-" As if right on cue, the phone rang. "I'll make this brief. The Russians that you lined up to buy that chip - well, they've decided they don't like your price anymore. Now, you need to listen to me very carefully. They have your daughter. They have Molly. Now, do you understand what I mean by that?" Nate stopped in front of Connell.
Connell went to grab Nate, but he grabbed his wrists, obviously upset at the development. "If you hurt my child, I will end you." Connell threatened Nate.
"We are not the Russians. Thorne." Nate said, calming Connell down.
"Geoffrey?" Connell questioned, putting his arms down.
"The guy that you stole the chip from has hired us to steal it back - do you understand?" Nate asked.
"If you're not working for them, how did you know that they'd call?" Connell asked Nate.
"Cause I'm very good at what I do. Now, if you want to get your daughter back, you'll let me do the talking." Nate told Connell. Nate picked up the phone. "Yeah?" Nate answered the phone.
"Connell?" A man with a Russian accent answered.
"No, uh, you're not gonna be dealing with Connell anymore. You're gonna be dealing with me." Nate said. The man hung up the phone.
"What happened?" Connell asked Nate.
"They hung up." Nate said.
"I'm calling the police." Connell said, grabbing the phone.
"No, no, no, no, wait. Just give it a few moments. They'll call back." Nate said.
At the carnival, Kaira and Eliot were at a standstill, just standing there. "We've got no intel here, guys. Tell me you have something." Eliot said.
"Eliot? Kaira?" Molly whispered in the comm.
Kaira sighed in relief. "Molly?" Eliot said.
"We're here. Where are you?" Kaira asked Molly.
"I don't know. It's dark. I can't see anything." Molly was breathing heavy. "Eliot, Kaira, I'm scared." Molly said.
Kaira and Eliot looked at each other, knowing Molly was scared. "All right, listen - you're gonna be fine, okay? This is - this is just a drill." Eliot said, hoping that would calm her down.
"Like a fire drill, you have a school, okay sweetheart." Kaira tried to calm Molly down, trying to hide the fear in her voice.
"If I promise not to cry, will you just tell me the truth?" Molly asked them.
Kaira and Eliot looked at each other, silently telling each other to tell the truth. "All right, this is not a drill. These guys are very bad guys, the guys that took you, okay?" Eliot said.
"We're coming for you, Molly. We are. We're gonna get you home, okay? Does that sound like that truth?" Kaira said, a fire in her eyes now.
"Yeah." Molly said.
"Okay, good. Kaira and I are gonna need your help." Eliot said.
"What do I have to do?" Molly asked.
"Molly, hun, I need you to listen harder than you've listened before. I need you to use those ears, okay? Tell us what you hear." Kaira told Molly.
"Music... and the sound from the spider ride." Molly said.
"You're doing good, Molly. We got you." Kaira said.
Back at the house, the phone rang again. Connell handed the phone to Nate and answered it.
"Yeah?" Nate said.
"At the carnival, in one hour. If you bring the chip, you'll get the girl. If you don't bring the chip..." The same voice said.
The phone hung up once again. "What did they say?" Connell asked Nate.
"Doesn't matter." Nate said.
"What do you mean, "it doesn't matter?" We're negotiating for my daughter." Connell argued.
"No, no, no. No, we're not. They're testing us." Nate calmed Connell down.
"Wait. I don't understand. Testing for what?" Connell asked Nate.
"Testing us to see if they even need to negotiate. Now just be quiet." Nate told Connell. "Hardison, I need you to clear out the carnival, and fast." Nate ordered as he walked around to Sophie at the table.
"Okay, now, Eliot, Kaira, I need you to find the janitor's closet, where they keep the supplies." Hardison ordered the couple.
"I know where it is." Eliot said.
"Okay, good. Here's what I need you to get." Hardison told the couple what they needed.
"Based on what Molly hears and the location of the spider, she is here." Sophie said, pointing to the spot. "Eliot, Kaira, northeast corner." Sophie reported.
"Got it." Eliot said.
"Copy." Kaira said.
"Okay, that's where the meet will be." Nate said.
"Nate, I'm only saying this cause they're Russian - Ferris wheel." Sophie said.
"Maybe they got a bird's eye view of the entire carnival." Nate said.
"What does that mean?" Connell asked from behind Nate.
"It means they can post a sniper." Nate said.
They left to get to the carnival.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Eliot and I found the things from the janitor closet that Hardison said to grab. "All right, I got it, Hardison. Now what?" Eliot asked.
"Okay, lovebirds, find the hottest liquid that's not water, mix, and run like hell." Hardison said.
"Got it." I said.
Eliot and I found a concession stand and some fryers. "Oil, perfect." I commented as Eliot and I poured everything in. "Mix, run like hell." I reminded us both.
Except Eliot didn't want to run and there might have been a small explosion, and the room filled with smoke. We got out of there quickly.
"Damn it, Hardison. A little warning next time." Eliot growled.
"Well, what you think "run like hell" meant?" Hardison quipped.
"He did warn us, babe." I commented.
Everyone started getting out of the carnival, as smoke filled the area. We made sure everyone was heading out, and we made our way to the northeast corner.
We met up with the rest of the gang, walking through the smoke, looking quite badass I might add. (A/N Seriously, it's one of my favorite shots!)
"We're coming for you, Molly. Stay small and quiet, and if we say run, you run." Eliot told Molly.
"Okay." Molly whispered.
"We got you." I reminded Molly.
Hardison left to go to the security shed, and Parker was in position to deal with the sniper, and Nate and I went to the meet, Sophie stayed behind with Connell, and Eliot went to search for Molly.
After a bit, Hardison was the first to check in. "Hey, guys, I got the security shed. Okay, Eliot, heads-up, man. You got a little trouble ahead." Hardison said before I heard some well-placed punches. "You - what? Damn. What the hell was that?" Hardison questioned, causing me to chuckle.
"It was a little trouble." Eliot quipped.
Eliot went after the goons on the ride, cause I could hear the punching in my comm. Then I heard a loud bang, like metal hitting Eliot, and my heart sinks to my stomach.
"Eliot?" I hear Molly on my comm. "You okay?" Molly asked.
Eliot didn't respond. "Eliot? Come on, please answer me." I muttered.
Nate nodded at me, seeing my worry, and I ran to where I thought he was. I trusted Parker to back Nate up if he needed it. I found Eliot, knocked out on the pavement. I ignore Nate talking to the guy. It was revealed then that Daria was the one who set up the kidnapping. I can't think about that at the moment. I run up to Eliot, and I see the ride must've gotten turned on and it hit Eliot upside the head. I try shaking him.
"Babe? Babe, come on, please!" Tears start forming in my eyes.
I try to shake Eliot, but he doesn't budge. I fear the worst, and I check that Eliot was in fact still alive, just out hard. I still hear Molly on the comm, asking if Eliot was okay, which only adds to my increasing fear of Eliot not waking up.
"Molly, my name's Sophie. I'm looking out for you. Everything's gonna be fine, Molly. Molly, can you hear-" Sophie came on the comms.
I hear Connell wanting to talk to Molly. I told Sophie to let him, and Connell calmed down Molly. After Hardison called for Eliot a few more times, and with me rubbing his cheek with my fingers, he started waking up.
"Are you at the storage shed?" Hardison asked.
"Eliot!" I exclaim, holding him.
"Take it easy, okay." I warn him, smiling in relief he was okay.
"Eliot, did you find Molly?" Hardison asked.
Blood cakes Eliot's lip, and he nods he's good to get up, so I help him up.
We ran to the storage shed, Eliot breathing heavily. We look and see Molly isn't there. "Shit! They moved her!" I yell in anger.
Daria assured Nate that she didn't hurt Molly. My brains running through scenarios of where they'd take Molly.
"You're gonna be in big trouble when they find me." Molly came on comm.
"I said shut up." A Russian voice warned Molly.
"Molly. Molly?" Eliot tried to get her attention.
"You're gonna regret this." Molly once again said.
"Shut up." The Russian repeated.
"We're here, Botasky. Give us a clue." Eliot said.
"I don't like what I see." Molly blurted out.
Eliot and I both realize she's at the House of Mirrors. "We're coming, Molly." I assured her, a new fire in my eyes.
Eliot and I left. We took off our jackets and headed to the House of Mirrors.
"Nate, I know where she's at. I'm gonna go get her." Eliot told Nate.
"I got the back, babe." I told Eliot, determined to get Molly back.
"No, Eliot, Kaira, Daria's got the chip. We just got to wai-" Nate tried to stop us.
"We don't wait." Eliot hissed. "I'm coming for you, Molly." Eliot said.
Third Person POV
Eliot walked into the House of Mirrors as Kaira tried to find a way through an emergency exit to get to the back. Eliot was breathing heavily as he walked slowly, getting his bearings. He turned and thought he saw Molly being held by someone. Someone Eliot recognized.
"Roper." Eliot growled.
Just then, Roper came from behind and knocked Eliot down. Molly was calling for Eliot. Roper laughed hauntingly. With all the mirrors around, Eliot could focus. After hearing Molly say she was scared, Eliot punched a mirror. He then saw the guy in the mirror left, but then he appeared beside Eliot, headbutting him. He once again recovered. We walked over to another part of the House of mirrors.
Eliot was still dazed and disoriented from the mirrors. Eliot then saw a line of himself in the mirror, then Roper. He realized Roper was behind him, so he went to elbow Roper. Roper dodged it, and Elot kept blocking blows, but Roper got lucky with a gut punch, then face combo. Eliot went down again. His face was bruised and bloodied. Blood was coming from his lips and nose, and his eye was split, and blood was on his shirt and face.
Eliot got up and went to kick Roper in the chest, but Roper grabbed his foot and pulled him in to punch him, sending Eliot down once again. And once again, with the fire still in his eyes, Eliot got up. He went to kick Roper again, who absorbed the kick and elbowed Eliot, sending him down again.
Kaira was sneaking her way through the back and kept panicking, hearing all the punches Eliot took. But she remained focused. She did find Molly. She was being held by some guy. But she needed to wait for a distraction.
Eliot was on the ground still, trying to recover. "The great Eliot Spencer." Roper taunted by laughing as Eliot struggled to get up.
"It's dark. I can't see anything. Eliot, I'm scared." Eliot heard Molly.
"Babe, get up. You always keep fighting, no matter what." Eliot heard Kaira say.
Eliot faced away from Roper, trying to center himself again. "I don't like what I see. I'm scared." He heard Molly again.
He then flashed back to a night a few days after they took down Moreau. Kaira and him were laying in bed in a hotel room in a small town in Pennsylvania where no one would find them. In a moment of self-doubt, while Kaira was cuddled and wrapped around his bare chest, he asked Kaira, "Am I a good person?" To which Kaira smiled at him, looking him in the eye.
"You're... you. It's not a bad thing. You love with your whole heart, and you fight with everything you've got. Yes, you have red in your ledger. But you're still the best guy I know, and there's no one I would rather be married too." Eliot remembered the warmth he felt when Kaira kissed his lips.
That feeling and the repeating of Kaira's words of encouragement allowed him to get back up. He faced Roper, this time his eyes were closed as he recentered himself. Roper went to punch him, but Eliot dodged the punches. Roper went again, still dodging the punches. Eliot finally opened his eyes, his fire relit. Roper went to jump punch Eliot, but Eliot nailed him in the stomach. Eliot then grabbed Roper and swung him into the mirror behind him, then threw him on the floor.
The glass shattered, allowing Kaira to sneak behind, yell for Molly to get down, then choke the hell out of the guy, using herself as an anchor to hold him down. Eliot grabbed Molly and hugged her, and once Kaira got up, she hugged them both, feeling the relief that he was okay, but upset he was so hurt. Molly was crying, and Kaira started to cry too.
"It's okay. I got you." Kaira whispered.
First Person POV (Kaira)
God, did I ever feel so relieved a job was over. Hugging Eliot and seeing he was so hurt about killed me inside. But seeing him hug Molly reminded me why I fell in love with Eliot in the first place. Once we were all done hugging, I put Eliot's arm around my neck, and Molly did the same. We both walked out of the House of Mirrors.
We actually made it to the entrance, where Molly's dad was waiting. "Molly!" I heard Connell yell, and saw him running towards us.
Molly kept looking at us, almost waiting for our okay to leave. I smile at her and nodded my head towards Connell, telling her to go.
"I got him. Go." I smiled at Molly.
She lit up again and ran towards her dad, where they hugged as I kept walking with Eliot.
"Nice work, Perky." Molly said.
"You too, Botasky." Eliot said, though he was tired.
We all met up at the parking lot, where it so happened that Daria had some car trouble. We all went over to the car. See, Hardison put his little controller things that would've remote-controlled everything in Connell's house into Daria's car, then just turned the car off. Hardison went to the passenger side of the car as Daria was yelling at us, with Nate taunting her. Hardison grabbed the chip by rolling the window down, then rolled it back up. We all left as the police came.
Third Person POV
Later that night, Nate called Geoffrey to let him know they got his chip. Nate, standing by Sophie, handed him the chip, and he was at the door.
"I can't thank you enough. This is my life. And it sounds like Connell's turned over a new leaf." Geoffrey said, grateful.
"Well, I wouldn't say "turned over a new leaf" so much as -" Sophie tried to explain.
"Oh, you know, sometimes when you lose something that's important, something that centers you, something that you feel you can't live without, you lose how to live." Nate explained.
"Like my chip." Geoffrey said, oblivious. He left the bar.
Hardison, Eliot, and Parker were sitting at a bar, with Eliot and Parker on one side, Hardison across from them, Eliot partially patched up thanks to Kaira, well his hand was bandaged up.
"Well, it sounds like Molly and her dad are doing okay." Hardison said.
"They're making up for lost time." Eliot said.
"Hey, man, you really should have let us get you to a hospital." Hardison said, seeing how badly Eliot was hurt.
"I hired a nurse." Eliot said.
"Ah, thataboy. A little chicken noodle soup, a little grandmotherly love." Parker punched Eliot's arm, which obviously didn't feel good.
"Stop." Eliot told Parker off.
Kaira walked into the bar, smiling at Eliot. "Come on, Mr. Grumpypants." Kaira teased as Eliot walked up to her, grabbing her waist.
He turned back to face Hardison and Parker. "This is Nurse Kaira." Eliot said as Kaira lightly, okay not so lightly, pinched Eliot's ass to tease him as they left.
"I don't think she's registered." Hardison joked, knowing Eliot and Kaira could hear him.
Nate and Sophie were sitting at a table across from Parker and Hardison. "You doing okay?" Sophie asked Nate.
"Always." Nate answered. Nate thought a moment and turned to face Parker and Hardison. "How you two doing with your little mini-Parker?" Nate asked.
Hardison gave Nate a look like "Why'd you bring that up" as Parker immediately got on Hardison's case.
"I can't believe you brought her here, by the way." Parker told Hardison.
"Okay, you know what, Parker? Look." Hardison sat the robot on the table. "You know why I made it green?" Hardison asked Parker, who hummed yes. "Because your favorite color is green. You want to know why I named her after you? It's because she's based off of you. Parker, that's why I was always asking you, "What are you thinking? How are you feeling?" Everything she knows, she learned off of you. I didn't make her to replace you. I'd never want to replace you. She's - she's for you." Hardison explained.
Parker moved the robot a bit and then started smiling. "I love it." Parker said, chuckling. She grabbed the robot and pulled it to her chest, giving it a hug.
"Really?" Hardison questioned Parker.
"Yeah. I'm gonna call her Hardy." Parker said, enjoying the gift.
"Okay. No. Um, it's Parker 2000. It says so right there in the fine print." Hardison said, glad Parker liked her gift.
"It used to be." Parker said.
"Okay, no. That's - that's not gonna work. That's -" Hardison tried to explain.
"Hardy it is." Parker said.
"But it's Parker 2000. It's like -" Hardison tried to argue.
"Yeah, but you said it's mine, so I can name it whatever I want. She shall be called Hardy. You like that name, don't you?" Parker asked the robot. "Yes." Parker used a higher pitch voice. "Yes." Parker said normally.
"Right, but when I invented it, I registered the name as Parker 2000." Hardison tried to explain.
The rest of the night was spent arguing about the robot, and Nate and Sophie just watching them.
First Person POV (Kaira)
After we left the bar, I took Eliot up to our apartment and got him in the bathroom. He had just put a jacket over his bloody shirt, so I helped him take it off and put it in the laundry. I put some hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball and wiped the huge scratches on his face. He winced when I touched the cotton ball to his wound.
"I'm sorry." I apologized.
"It's okay, sweetheart." Eliot smiled at me.
After I put some ointment on his cuts, I changed his hand bandage and redid it properly, as before I just made sure the glass wasn't in his cuts, cleaned it, and wrapped it. After I redid his bandages, I took Eliot to the bed, where I got him an ice pack for his face and shoulder, helping him lay back. I looked at him lying there. "You know I could all of this myself, Princess." Eliot said.
I chuckled a bit. "Eliot, do I need to remind you that it's my job to take care of your grumpy ass?" I teased slightly as I went to get on the bed, where I added some pillows to elevate him up, and lay next to him. I snuggled into Eliot as he chuckled.
"I'm not that grumpy." Eliot said.
I just looked at Eliot, surprised he said that. "You - seriously? I had to beg you to let me clean you up so you weren't bleeding all over Hardison's van." I point out.
"You're right. I'm sorry." Eliot said apologetically.
"It's okay." I said. I leaned in and placed a kiss on Eliot's lips. "Get some rest, okay." I said.
Eliot lightly smiled at me as he closed his eyes. I think about how badly Eliot was hurt and how I felt. Seeing Eliot knocked out on the pavement felt almost the same as when Parker was escaping the burn room. I regret thinking about it, but it's something I needed to think about in order to calm myself. I was so distracted during this job, and I hated it. Because in my line of work, you get distracted, that's when you get hurt. So, if me being uncomfortable for a few moments now means I can refocus during the next job, I have to do it.
When I first had those thoughts of Parker, I panicked because I well, I thought I cared for Parker more than friends, and I'm married. Who wouldn't panic? But the feeling I felt when Eliot was knocked down was similar, yet different to how I felt during those few seconds. How do I explain that? My thoughts are interrupted by Eliot's voice.
"You gonna go to sleep, sweetheart?" Eliot whispered, his eyes still closed.
"Yeah, go back to sleep, babe." I half-assed a smile.
"What's wrong?" Eliot asked me, and I knew I was busted.
"Eliot, I have a lot on my mind, okay? And I just need some time to work through it. I know you're gonna ask to help me, but this is something I gotta do on my own, okay?" I told Eliot.
He just nodded in acknowledgment. "All right." Was all Eliot said before falling back asleep.
I decide to not waste any time and start thinking about how I felt about Parker. I loved Parker, sure. She's my friend after all. But was it the same kind of love I feel for Eliot? I honestly have no idea. And I'm not sure I could even ask Parker how she felt because I don't think she understands feelings entirely. For the sake of my own sanity, and to make it easier, I chalk what I felt to a random adrenaline burst messing with my mind and overthinking. I fell asleep soon after I make up my mind, hoping it never happened again. Because if I did, then I don't know what the Hell I'd do.