Chapter 14
They arrived back at the house and Sophie immediately made her way to the nursery and her son. The nanny who had been taking care of the baby had met them at the door and told them that he was doing very well and that there had been no problem during the time they had been away. Sophie thanked her and then walked away. Eliot smiled at her and thanked her handing her a check for her services and then after she had left closed the door. He looked towards the nursery but decided not to disturb Sophie's reunion with her son.
Eliot was worried about the woman he was worried about all of them. It would be a hard time now he knew, trying to come to terms with Nate's death. He sighed as he walked to the kitchen and grabbed himself a beer and sat down heavily on the sofa.
"What do we do now?" Parker asked as she too took a seat with Hardison sitting down beside her.
"I don't know Parker." Eliot said and Hardison looked at him seeing the lines of grief on the man's face and knowing he was suffering as much as they were. "For now I think we all need to get some rest, it has been a long trip and none of us has slept for almost two days."
"What about Sophie?" Hardison asked looking towards the nursery.
"She…I don't know." Eliot said again not knowing what to say.
"He'll never know his father." Parker said softly as tears escaped her eyes. "He…he will never…"
"He will Parker." Hardison said pulling her towards him. "Through us he will know Nate."
"Yes he will." Sophie said walking into the room carrying her son. "He will know what a brave, what a loving, what a…what a…" Sophie stopped then and Eliot stood to help her to the sofa and sat her down. "How much he loved his son." She finished as she sat.
"Sophie I am going to stay here for a while ok?" Eliot said.
"We all are." Hardison added.
"Of course." Sophie said a weak smile on her face. These were her family and she needed them, she felt numb, she felt bereft and she knew they did too, they needed each other now more than ever. "Now I think I am going to put Michael to bed and then get some sleep myself and I suggest we all do the same."
She stood up and walked back to the nursery and they watched her go. Then Hardison pulled Parker up and steered her towards their suite while Eliot sat back on the sofa and closed his eyes fighting back the wave of emotion that washed over him.
The next few days passed slowly with Sophie spending most of her time in the nursery with Michael, Eliot noticed she slept there too on the daybed. He did not blame her not wanting to sleep in the room she had shared with Nate. Parker and Hardison spent their days sitting on the sofa watching endless movies and he spent his time making their food and making sure that Sophie was taken care off. One evening four days after their return as they all sat around the dinner table there was a knock at the door.
Eliot looked to Parker who stood and moved to Sophie's side as Eliot walked to the door. Hardison checked the monitors and saw a young man at the door alone, he did not look like a threat, so he nodded to Eliot.
Eliot opened the door and looked into the face of one Juan Morero.
"What do you want?" He almost growled at the young man.
"I…I would like to see Mrs Ford." Juan said looking into the eyes of the Hitter and seeing the sadness and the anger there. He understood of course and after hearing of Nate's death he had insisted to his father that he come to see her and bring her the letter that Nate had left for her.
"Come in." Sophie said before Eliot could say anything.
"Mrs Ford." Juan said as he stepped passed Eliot meeting Sophie in the middle of the room. "I…I am Juan Morero. Your husband saved my life." He stammered out. "I am so…I am so so sorry for your loss." He said and she could see the emotion on the young mans face.
"Sit." She said as she took a seat and Juan moved to sit opposite her.
"Mrs Ford…I didn't know him, not really, and I…I don't approve of what my father did, but I am grateful to him and…and I…" He stumbled to a halt not knowing how to express his sadness at the loss of the man.
"Your father was trying to save his family." Sophie said surprising all of them especially Parker. "Nate said it himself, a father will do anything for their child, for their family."
"Yes but…but his family lost him." Juan said. "He said he…he had a son."
"Yes Michael." Sophie said looking towards the nursery with an air of sadness enveloping her again.
"I am sorry Mrs Ford, so very sorry." Juan said. He felt like he need to leave now, he could not stay and look at her, at them. He stood and looked down at her. "Mr Ford, left this with my father in case he…in case..." He said handing Sophie the envelope Nate had left with Don Antonio before leaving for Russia.
Juan looked from Eliot to Parker and Hardison and then back to Sophie who held the envelope staring at it and the scrawled handwriting on it.
"I think I should go. Again Mrs Ford…"
"It was not your fault Juan, like Nate said." She said looking up at him and fighting back the tears. "I am glad you are alright."
Juan nodded not knowing what to say then walked to the door with Eliot following him. Eliot opened the door and almost pushed the man out of the house before closing the door and turning back to the rest of his family. He walked to the sofa and took a seat, all of them looking at Sophie who sat staring at the envelope that Juan had handed her.