A/N: Sorry everyone that it has been taking me awhile to update. This has been a busy summer. I will try my best to update sooner. Thanks for reading and for the reviews. I do not own Leverage.
When Sophie and Audrey sat back down, Nate knew that something was wrong. He noticed that Sophie would not let go of her daughter's hand. Nate tried to make eye contact with Sophie, but she wouldn't take her eyes off of Audrey. Sophie remained like that through the rest of the funeral. On the drive from the church to the graveyard Nate tried asking what was going on but the only thing that Sophie said was ''later.'' At the graveyard Sophie kept Audrey close and wouldn't let anyone get near her except Laura and Nate. Riding back to the hotel no one spoke but when they finally got up to their suite Nate saw a side of Sophie that he had never saw before.
''That bastard did it! If he honestly thinks he is going to get away with it, he has another thing coming. Hardison! Eliot! Get out here right now!''
Nate approached Sophie. He tried to get her to calm down and tell him what was going on but she just waved him off. Then Eliot and Hardison came into the living room, followed by Parker. Sophie was in front of them in seconds and they all took a step back when they saw the fury in her eyes.
''Hardison I need you to look deeper into David James and his father. I need you to really dig and find everything you can. There has to be a way to take him down.''
Hardison was too scared to argue or to check if it was okay with Nate, he went straight to his computer and did what Sophie had told him. Then Sophie turned to the rest of the team.
''Eliot, are you positive that the coroner's report was accurate? Did you… did you get the chance to see the body yourself?''
''The report seemed like it was accurate, no obvious forgeries after the fact… but no, I didn't get the chance to take a look at Bella's body.''
''It is too late now; we need to get our hands on the coroner's report to take a closer look and we need to find out who examined the body. Hardison?''
''Already on it.''
Sophie then approached Parker.
''Parker I need you to look through the Abbot's house again. Focus on David's room and home office. No one should be there until later this evening because Mrs. Abbot and David will be at the funeral reception.''
Sophie was pacing in circles and about to go towards Audrey when Nate grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look at him.
''Sophie, what is going on?''
Nate didn't mean to shout but he was really worried and he needed to know what had happened. Nate knew that the rest of the team was watching them.
''David James looked straight into Audrey's eyes and told her that he killed Bella and that he wanted her to never forget. He said he is going to get away with it. We cannot let that happen. We have to take him down.''
Sophie looked to her daughter. For days she had seen nothing but sadness in her eyes, but now there was something else as well, fear. Sophie herself felt that fear. When Sophie turned back at Nate she looked straight into his eyes and lowered her voice so only he could hear what she was about to say.
''There was something in the way that David looked at Audrey and the way that he gloated. If he thinks he is getting away with killing Bella… what stops him from thinking he could get away with it again. If he sees Audrey as a threat…''
Sophie didn't come right out and say the words but Nate knew what she meant. She was truly fearful for her daughter's life. Sophie Devereaux didn't rattle easily, which made Nate become fearful as well. He dreaded the possibility of David going after Audrey. He knew that if something were to happen to her, there was a good chance he would lose Sophie as well. Just the thought of anything happening to Audrey… No. Nate couldn't think like that. He would make sure that nothing happened to Audrey or Sophie. Nate would protect them no matter what. David James had to be taken down and one way or another Nate would make that happen. The mastermind then looked at Eliot, Parker and Hardison who were waiting on word of what to do next.
''Okay gang, you heard Sophie. Let's get to work.''
The three younger members did as they were told. Nate then turned back to Sophie. He looked into her eyes for a moment before taking her into his arms and whispering into her ear. He quietly promised that nothing would happen to Audrey. Then Nate looked at Audrey and held out his arm so she could join them in the hug. Audrey went to Nate and her mother and they both put their arms around her. They stood like that for a while, and then Nate kissed the top of Sophie head followed by Audrey's. After the quiet family moment, Audrey finally spoke.
''I want to say a proper goodbye to Bella. Will you both come with me?''
Sophie looked at her daughter and took her face in her hands.
''Of course we will, here for you every step of the way.''
Audrey looked to her mother and then to Nate, who proved that he was in agreement with her mother by giving Audrey a small smile. Audrey took them by the hands and the three of them made their way to the cemetery so Audrey could say goodbye to her best friend.
When they arrived Audrey kneeled in front of Bella's headstone while Sophie and Nate stood a respectful distance behind her. Audrey spoke some words that Sophie and Nate couldn't quite make out before her body began to shake and sobs escaped. Sophie was kneeling beside her daughter in seconds, taking Audrey in her arms. She soothed her daughter by rubbing her back and whispering in her ear.
''Just let it all out.''
Soon Nate joined Sophie and Audrey and he put his arms around them. They sat like that for what seem like forever. Then they all got up and drove back to the hotel in silence. When they got back to the room, Hardison was hard at work on his computer in the living room. Eliot and Parker seemed to have been missing. Hardison didn't seem to notice that anyone had arrived until Sophie touched his shoulder.
''Oh hey. I think I found something. The coroner who examined Bella's body, Peter Strader, seems to be a straight up guy. He's a family man, got a squeaky-clean record, the whole deal. Here's where it gets a little hinky, two days ago he was swimming in debt but now there is a half a million dollars just sitting in his account. Eliot is talking to Peter now trying to get some answers and Parker is at David's place trying to see what she can dig up.''
Nate patted the young hacker's shoulder.
"Good work, Hardison."
A few moments later Parker appeared, and like always it seemed like she materialized out of nowhere. They were all used to it by now.
Nate quickly questioned her.
''Parker, did you find anything?''
The thief smiled and pulled a manila file out of her jacket. She handed it over to Nate.
''He had that hidden in his safe. If you could call it a safe, ha.''
Nate sat down next to Sophie and Audrey on the couch and began glancing through the file.
''This is a private investigators report. It seems David hired a PI to look into Peter Strader. He found the same information that Hardison found, that the good doc was in debt. The PI also found that the Peter's son…''
Nate couldn't go on any further. Sophie noticed the change in Nate and took the file from him to read what he just read. Sophie looked at Nate for a moment and then told to the others what the report said.
''Peter's son is sick. That's the reason why he was in so much debt; he was trying to keep up with the medical bills. His son needs surgery. David must have gone to Peter with what he found out and offered him money. The poor doctor must felt he had no other option but to cover for David. He faked the report about a young girls death in order to save his own son's life.''
''Sophie is right.''
They all turned around and Eliot was standing there.
''I just had a talk with Peter Strader. He seemed desperate. He just wanted to get the medical care his son needed. He admitted that David offered to pay for his son's medical bills and for his son's surgery if he filed a report claiming that Bella committed suicide.''
Nate looked at Audrey, who was crying quietly besides her mother. Audrey head was on Sophie's shoulder and she was holding her hand. She wouldn't look at anyone; she just stared into the distance. Sophie tried to soothe her daughter. Nate couldn't stand seeing Audrey in pain but he was glad she was finally dealing with her feelings and letting them out. Nate then looked back at the others.
''Okay. We have to get…''
Nate was cut short when Sophie and Audrey rose. Sophie, who had her arms around her daughter, looked at Nate while Audrey buried her face into her mother's shoulder.
''I am going to get her to bed.''
Nate walked over to them. He kissed Audrey on the top of the head, looked into Sophie eyes for a moment, and then nodded. He watched as they walked to Audrey's room and then the door shut. Nate stood there for a moment staring at the door, then he turned back to face the others.
''What was I saying… Oh yes. We have to convince Peter to testify that David paid him to alter the report. If we can do that then we'll be once step closer to proving that David murdered Bella."
He paused for a moment.
"Perhaps we can discuss this more tomorrow.''
Eliot and Hardison, even Parker, could tell that Nate wasn't himself. The pain that Audrey was in and the direction that this case was going was taking a toll on him. They knew he was torn between trying to find proof to take David James down, and going to be with Sophie and Audrey. So Eliot answered for him.
''Hardison, Parker and I will keep looking into this. Why don't you go be with Sophie and Audrey.''
Nate looked at them for a moment then nodded. He went to Audrey's door and knocked quietly. Sophie gave him permission to enter and when he did, he saw Sophie and Audrey lying on the bed. Audrey was clinging onto her mother crying and Sophie was rubbing her back. Sophie met Nate's eyes and then he went to join them. He sat on the other side of Audrey and he put his arms around them. They stayed like that the entire night. Audrey eventually fell asleep but Nate and Sophie couldn't sleep at all. They just laid there holding Audrey and each other.
A few weeks later they were sitting in the courtroom waiting for David James trial to begin. Peter Strader had agreed to testify against David after Nate said that the team would pay off his son's medical bills and surgery and bring him out of debt. Peter felt terrible over what he had done and offered to do whatever it took to make it right. He was eternally thankful that Nate and the team were helping him and his son. They also made sure that David and his father couldn't get to Peter's family. The fact that Peter agreed to testify to was something the law couldn't ignore so David had been charged and was brought to court. The investigation appeared to have been handled well, and Nate thought they should have no trouble proving that David killed Bella. Audrey's uncle, Laura's brother, was the lead prosecutor in David's trial. He was one of the best layers in New York, and he was doing his best to win the case, but The James family had their own team of the best lawyers that money could buy, and it was becoming difficult to prove that David did actually kill Bella. The trial went on for two weeks and it seemed like all that could be proven was that David had paid to alter the report. Tying him to her death seemed impossible. David was called to the stand to testify, the final witness in his own trial. He swore under oath that he had nothing to do with Bella's death, but that was all he was able to say before his father suddenly rose from the middle of the crowded courtroom and looked straight at his son.
''David James, you look at me.''
David did as he was told. The judge was about to stop this from going any further but decided against to let it play out after seeing the look in the senior Mr. James' face.
''Did you kill that girl?''
''Pop, how could you ask me that? This isn't the time for…''
''Son, I am going to ask you one more time and you better not lie to me boy! Did you kill Isabella?''
The two men stared each other down for a few moments. Everyone in the courtroom sat there in silence, holding their collective breaths, waiting for the answer.
Ever the dutiful son, David hung his head and answered softy.
''Yes I did.''
There were sounds of shock coming from the courtroom but Mr. James ignored them and kept talking to his son speaking over everyone else.
''You did what? I want you to say what you did! Be a man for once in your life. Own your mistake!.''
''I killed Bella… I killed Isabella Abbot."
In that moment, it was as if the father and son had tuned out the rest of the courtroom. They were engaged in a private battle.
''I have never been so ashamed of you son. This where I draw the line; you are on your own. You will face the consequences of your actions.''
David James was about to protest but then handcuffs were slapped on his wrists and he was taken out of the courtroom. Soon after, everyone started filing out of the courtroom until the only people left were the team, Laura and Trisha Abbot. They all sat there in silence until Trisha finally spoke.
''I can't believe this. This can't be true. David is a good man, he would never do something like this.''
Audrey rose to her feet and faced her best friend's mother.
''What? How can you sit there and say that! David James was not a good man. We all know he was far from it. He killed your daughter! He sat right over there and said so himself. What more will it take for you to see the light with this guy? He hurt you and your daughter for years! You should have protected Bella. If you couldn't manage to while she was alive, you should at least protect her memory in death!''
''How dare you say those things to me…''
Trisha rose and began advancing towards Audrey, but both Sophie and Laura stepped between them. Then Trisha addressed Laura.
''Laura, how can you allow your daughter to speak to me that way?''
''She is right Trisha. You should have gotten rid of David sooner. You should have prevented him from harming Bella. You're her mother, you should have protected her.''
Trisha scoffed at Laura.
''You don't understand because you are not really a mother. You couldn't even have a child of your own so you had to raise someone else's.''
Audrey managed to get on the other side of Sophie and she was once again face to face with Trisha.
''She is a mother! Do you hear me? She is my mother. She may have not given birth to me but she loves me and she protects me. That is more than I can say for you.''
Trisha was about to protest further but thought better of it. She gathered her things and stormed out of the courtroom. Audrey embraced Laura and then after they let go they all left the courtroom went to dinner together. Audrey spent the entire next day with Laura before heading back to Portland with her mother and the team. Audrey was glad that Bella finally had justice, and that the man that took her best friend from her would be put away for life. She knew that it would take a long time to get through the loss of her best friend but she also knew how lucky she was to have her mother, Nate and the team to help her through it.