Chapter 2

It was the afternoon of day four of their break and Sophie was bored. She had been to the spa and done a lot of shopping, but she missed Nate and she missed the team. She found herself in Nate's apartment which doubled as their HQ she remembered that Hardison had given Nate and Eliot earbuds that worked out wherever they were, and she had a feeling that she needed to speak to the Mastermind, she knew it was silly, he was safe of course, Eliot would never let anything happen to Nate, but she just feel she needed to speak to him herself.

"Hey Sophie…" Hardison said as she walked in.

"Hardison what are you doing here?"

"Oh you know checking out possible new clients for when Nate gets back." Hardison said.

"Sophie…"

"Parker." Sophie smiled at her as she came bouncing down the stairs, she was not sure what the woman had been doing in Nate's living quarters but knew better than to ask.

"You heard from them?" She asked as she walked over to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine.

"Na you?"

"No." Sophie said. "Do your gadgets work?"

"Woman you didn't just ask that did you?" Hardison said, he was always amazed when they did not trust his gadgets, he spent a lot of time and effort to make sure they worked and that they were reliable.

"Sorry." Sophie said smiling at him. "Can I use one?"

"You want to speak to them…do you think something is wrong?" Parker asked suddenly worried that Sophie was wanting to interfere in Eliot and Nate's trip and see if they were alright, why would she think they were not alright?

"No Parker, I just want to talk to Nate and find out when they will be back that's all." Sophie said and Parker smiled and nodded.

"Well the earbuds aren't active." Hardison said as he looked at his screen. "You can try the phone."

"Yes I think I will do that." Sophie said accepting the slip of paper with the number on it.

The phone rang three times before it was picked up.

"Hardison what are you doing calling us man…we are on a break." Eliot said as he answered. He did not want to answer but they might be in trouble and he could not take a chance of not answering.

"Hello to you too Eliot." Sophie said. "Sorry for the interruption I just wanted to speak to Nate."

"Something wrong?"

"No Eliot nothing I just, well I just want to speak to him."

"Ok well just hold on a minute." Eliot said and then she heard him call out for Nate. A few minutes past and then she heard his voice.

"Sophie."

"Nate, how are you enjoying the wild outdoors?"

"Fine Sophie just fine." Nate said. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"No, no I just wanted to see if you were…enjoying yourself."

"Don't worry Sophie Eliot is looking after me." He said with a slight hint of mirth in his voice.

"I'm not worried." Sophie said using her most indignant voice. "I just…well I just wanted to know when you are coming back?"

"We said a week, so by my estimation that will be Monday." Nate said. He knew she wanted to say something different and know something different, but their relationship was not quite there yet which was as much his fault as hers. They had not discussed the kiss he had laid on her or the phone call he was not even sure she had heard. "Anyway let me put your mind at ease, I have spent my time reading and sleeping, it's been good. Tomorrow we are taking a hike up the mountain and then we will be coming home OK?"

"A hike up a mountain?" Sophie asked.

"Don't worry Sophie Eliot tells me it is an easy walk and no overnighting ok?"

"I'm not worried Nate." Sophie said although she knew he knew she was. She was not sure why she was worried, but something was telling her that Nate was in danger and she could not shake the feeling.

"Good, well enjoy the rest of the break and see you on Monday." Nate said then hung up the phone.

"What's going on, why is she worried about you?"

"Don't know Eliot, you know what she is like."

"Yeah especially when it comes to you." Eliot said and then smiled seeing the embarrassment on Nate's face, when was the man going to accept that he was in love with the woman and she with him.

"You ready for the hike tomorrow."

"Yes." Nate said. "You know I am not an old fragile man I can hike with the best of them."

"I know but…"

"Eliot really I am fine to hike ok, don't let Sophie's paranoia affect you."

"It's not." Eliot said. "Well I am going to make us some dinner and then I think an early night."

"Fine." Nate said smiling to himself. They were like wet hens around him he knew, always worrying about him, what he was doing, how he was feeling, what his emotional state was. It had not got better after his stunt on the Falcon, but he tolerated it. He would do anything to protect them and he knew the feeling was reciprocal from all of them and it was not going to change.

"Did I hear you say he was going to hike up a mountain?" Hardison asked as Sophie put the phone down.

"Yes he and Eliot are going to hike up a damn mountain." Sophie said. "Don't ask me why."

"Nate doesn't climb mountains." Parker said.

"No normal person does." Hardison added brining a smile to Sophies face.

"Well he is." Sophie said sighing as she sat back and sipped her wine.

"You are worried?" Parker asked.

"No, no not worried Parker. We all know Eliot will make sure Nate is fine its just…well a feeling is all."

"Well they have the earbuds and the phone so if they do get into trouble they can call." Hardison said trying to reassure her.

"Yes of course they can." Sophie smiled at him. "Well I am going to go home, see you guys tomorrow?" It was more of a statement than a question and they both nodded in response.

"He'll be fine you know." Parker said.

"I know Parker, I'm just being silly is all." She said as she walked out the door closing it behind her. She was being silly she thought, but she could still not shake the feeling that something was about to happen, and she was afraid of what it might be.