Why we do, what we do
Because of his reckless driving, Hardison arrived in less than 14 minutes flat.
He jumped out of his van- not even bothering to close the door and sprinted up the street, searching for any sign of his best friend.
He started to panic; searching shrubs and parked cars for any indication that Eliot Spencer had been there...there was nothing
He turned on his heels and jogged back to the van. He sat in front of one of his many computer screens, searching for Eliot's Com signal, again, like so many times that night, there was nothing.
He reached up to his own ear piece and spoke to the desperate receivers on the other end.
"Guys... He's, he's gone". Hardison's voice was shaky and he tried to forcefully hold back tears. There was silence whilst the team comprehended what the hacker had said.
Each member had their own way of dealing with this new information. Nate could be heard slamming a shot glass down against a flat surface (presumably the counter top), cursing as he did so. Sophie could be heard sobbing softly and Parker remained silent as she stormed out the door, slamming it behind her.
Nate was the next to speak "alright Hardison, come back, we'll think of a plan and Parker...I know the first thing you want to do at a time like this is to jump off something dangerous, but that doesn't help Eliot, we need you in one piece. Everyone, we need to regroup and rediscover why we do, what we do".
Half an hour later, the team (minus Eliot) was assembled on the couch, Parker, sitting in between Sophie and Hardison whilst Nate paced in front of them, his bourbon in hand. He would stop occasionally to look at Sophie who was eyeing the drink with disgust.
He ignored her disapproving stare and turned back towards the many TV screens behind him. Pictures of suspicious felons and mafia groups flooded the screens.
"Hardison, you're sure this is all the organisations that have a bounty on Eliot's head?"
Hardison looked up from his laptop from which he was recently tapping away at. "Yeah Nate, all the organisations that we know of, but, knowing Eliot, there may be thousands more out there, but I know for a fact, that these guys have the highest prices on his head, definitely."
"Can we please STOP talking about Eliot's head! Unless it's here, attached to the rest of his body, I'm NOT INTERESTED..."
Everyone looked at Parker. That outburst was the first time she had spoken since Eliot had been taken and by the tone of her voice, she wasn't taking it very well.
It had been 49 hours since they had last seen Eliot in person, they hadn't realised how much they had grown as a team until they were separated.
And everyone was feeling it, the harsh and tormenting feeling of fear for their Eliot Spencer...
Nate looked at the team; his team "remember when I told you all, that you could leave if you wanted to, if it was getting too much, you're all still here aren't you? We all do our jobs, so we can help those people, who can't help themselves.
Eliot specifically told us that he'll leave, when HE wants to, that nobody can make him leave. Sure, I admit, we took him for granted; and we didn't know what we had until we lost it. But he stuck with this job, the same reason all of you did: to fix the corrupted world and to help the meek who need us. And if asked, I know Eliot would do it all again.
The sacrifices we make – for example, making powerful enemies, is worth it in the end isn't it? Isn't just seeing the victims faces light up after each win WORTH IT?
Just remember, Eliot is the muscle and the shield of this team, if anyone can take the punishment, it's him, he can handle it"
The team felt more motivated after Nate's speech, it opened their eyes a little bit, understanding that each member had their own strength, and that Eliot's 'strength' wasn't just his actual strength alone, but perhaps the strength of his family. Their aggression to attack anyone who fights their family tree, is greater than all else.
The family who fuels Eliot's fire, and the strength of that flame.