Chapter 15

Nate sat alone in the living room of the house, it was quiet and he was enjoying the solitude, everybody even Eliot was asleep. They had heard nothing from Moreau but then again he did not expect to hear anything. He was being watched like a hawk and this was the first time he was alone, well at least semi-alone, he was sure however if he tried to leave there would be alarms and who knows what going off, Hardison would have made sure of that. He was going to have to do this thing that he had to do with the teams help, with Sophie's help. He sat back in the sofa and sipped his whiskey. He was feeling a lot better than he had in a while, the medication was working despite the drinking, although he had kept that to a minimum.

He was not sure what he was going to do with Moreau. He knew the man would have lots of help and he also knew that even with his team this was going to be extremely dangerous. He did not want Sophie involved and it scared him, it scared him because it could end badly for all of them and he had removed them from all of this for that very reason.

"Penny for your thoughts." A voice brought him out of his reverie.

"Sterling." Nate said without looking up.

"Nate." Sterling replied pouring himself a drink and taking a seat opposite him.

"What are you thinking Nate?" Sterling asked again.

"I need to get this done Jim. I need to do it without…"

"Sophie or any of them getting killed." Sterling finished for him.

Nate smiled and looked up at his friend. Sterling knew him well. They had been good friends, the best of friends at one time. The friendship had ended when Sam died. It was not Sterling's fault he knew, it was his fault, he had pulled away and he had blamed Sterling for not backing him when it came to Sam's treatment, he had imagined Sterling had wanted his life, his job and he was willing to let his child die to do that. He knew it was not true but at the time, well he was not thinking straight then. He had pushed everything and everybody away trying to allot blame for Sam's death. He looked at Sterling and smiled, the man was here, he did not need to be and he was in a difficult position knowing what he intended to do when he eventually got to Moreau but he was here, and to be honest he had saved their bacon on a few occasions despite the fact that he knew Sterling disapproved of the lifestyle he now chose to live. Sterling was good, exceptionally good, he was a great investigator as good as he was and perhaps he could give him a place to start, an idea he could build on because heaven knew he was out of ideas. He needed something that kept his family alive while taking down Moreau and getting justice for Elysia and her father.

"Any ideas?"

"Nothing that comes to mind, but I don't know him like you do."

"He knows me Sterling, he knows how I think. More importantly he knows them. Eliot worked for him and Hardison, well Hardison is the one that brought him down."

"He will be ready for you. He will be ready for Nathan Ford."

"But not for Jim Sterling." Nate said looking up at the man his eyes locking with his.

"I see." Sterling smiled at him.

"So any ideas?"

"He will not expect you to go straight at him Nate." Sterling said. "He will expect you to play games, he thinks you are alone, but you are not, that is an advantage. He thinks you will try to trick him into something, considering you have already, you have laid the foundations, now you need to rip those foundations out from under him."

"So I take it to him head on?"

"No Nate, you play games and we take him head on. You have your team and you have me, use us."

Nate said nothing he just sipped his whiskey. Sterling was right, he had to use them it was the only way he was going to get this done. He did not want to, but he would have to if he wanted to beat Moreau again.

"Anyway I am going back to bed." Sterling said standing up and placing his glass on the table. "I suggest you do too, you are still recovering and you are going to need to be at your best to get this done Nate, to get it done and get all of us out safely on the other side."

"Thanks Jim."

Sterling smiled and nodded then departed for his room. He knew he had got through to the man, he would use them to bring Moreau down. He was sure that Nate was still planning on killing the man but that was a bridge they would cross at a later stage.

Nate watched him leave and then drained his glass before making his way back to his own room. He quietly slipped into the bed and cuddled up to Sophie who stirred slightly as he put his arm around her.

"I love you so goddam much Sophie." He whispered to her kissing her softly on her head before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

Nate woke the next morning to an empty bed and an empty room. He reached out and checked the time on his watch, it was nine am. He stretched and then climbed out of bed heading for the bathroom. He could hear Sophie and the others outside and could smell the breakfast that Eliot was preparing. He quickly showered and dressed, and a half hour later joined them in the living area.

"Morning darling." Sophie said as he walked into the room and moved to his side kissing him lightly.

"Morning." Nate smiled at her and then took his seat at the table. "Eliot that smells delicious and I am starving."

Eliot smiled at the man as he deposited a cup of steaming coffee in front of him before returning to the stove to finish up the cooking. The meal was served and taken in relative silence. Once they were done they all looked at Nate.

"So I am going to contact Moreau and arrange a meeting." Nate said and immediately saw opposition on their faces. "In a public place of course." He said softly. "Hardison still can't find him and we can't move until we know where he is. I need you lot to make sure that happens."

Sophie just looked at him and smiled. He was going to use them, but this might be the same tactic he had used in Portland to get away from them, tell them he would let them help, use them and then use the opportunity to get away from them.

"I know what you are thinking darling and I promise you I am not going anywhere. I need you all, I need you all to help me." Nate said placing his hand on hers.

"Ok so what is the plan Nate?" Eliot asked looking intently at the Mastermind.