"Sophie, how many bags do you have?" Eliot asks in annoyance
"Just two," she replies innocently.
"What are those other two then?" Parkers asks pointing across the room.
"That is my purse and my carry on," Sophie defends. "Is that all you're taking?" she motions toward Eliot's single duffel bag.
"I don't need anything that's going to slow me down or hinder my range of motion."
"You know she just wants you to carry her bags for her," Parker muses.
"It would be the gentlemanly thing to do," Sophie pouts after giving the girl a harsh look.
"I'm not your pack horse!"
"Fine," she concedes. "But, I bet I don't have to lug these bags more than twenty feet."
"Ten bucks?"
"You're on."
"Hardison, lend me ten bucks. I want in," Parker says, but he's too nervous to hear her.
"Hmmm? What?" he mumbles snapping out of it.
This is the beginning of the launch sequence for him and the engagement ring. The start of this trip starts the clock. He has two weeks the work up the courage to ask her to marry him.
"Eliot, I wouldn't take that bet," cautions Nate. He notices Hardison's distractedness and pats his bag to assure the ring's safety.
Nate's assumption is correct. Eliot should not have bet Sophie. He's reaching for his wallet before they even enter the terminal.
They check in without issue, but Nate gets pulled aside as they make their way through security. They all tense up, none more than Hardison, as their mastermind is led behind a clear glass partition.
"Mr. Baker, we noticed an abnormality in the scan of your bag," the surly looking airport security woman is saying as she pulls on a pair of latex gloves. "If there is anything you'd like to declare, now is the time," she drones on, having repeated this speech countless times.
"No, ma'am. Nothing." While the officer is at least ten years older than Nate, she still scowls at his use of 'ma'am'.
"Did you pack this bag yourself?" she asks unzipping said bag.
"Yes,…officer?" he ventures tentatively.
"Doreen," she supplies.
"Yes, Doreen," he says with his most charming smile, but with little effect.
"And, did you leave it unattended at anytime?"
"Not that I recall."
"Would you care to explain why there is a diamond ring hidden in a hollowed out book? Because that's kind of suspicious."
I can explain that!" he says tightly, motioning for her to keep her voice down. "It's an engagement ring and it needs to stay hidden for the time being." Nate glances nervously back at the team and gives Doreen a hopeful grin.
"For the brunette? She's a lucky woman," she says with an appraising look at the ring.
"The blonde actually."
"A little young for you, isn't she?" Doreen eyes him with suspicious disapproval.
"Oh, no! I'm not the one proposing," he explains quickly. "The guy next to her, he's the boyfriend."
"The one who's blinking rapidly and -twitching?"
"That's the one."
"Well, good luck to him," she says, smiling for the first time. "You can replace your items in your bag and be on your way."
He thanks her graciously and shoves everything haphazardly back into his bag.
"Merry Christmas!"
With one hurdle cleared, Hardison relaxes a fraction. The flight to Minneapolis is uneventful, aside from the fact that it is packed to capacity, with at least two babies on board. Other than Eliot being more irritable than usual, they reach Minnesota safe and sound. By early afternoon they are in a rental car headed toward Eliot's cabin.
"This is your safe house?" Nate asks from the passenger seat. It's a lot nicer than he expected.
"Not all safe houses are tin sheds with a mattress on the floor," Eliot says, his mood easily read in the way he jams the SUV into park.
"It's so cute!" Sophie gushes, but changes her tune when she sees him scowling. "I mean rugged and manly."
"It looks like a gingerbread house," says Parker with a grin as they start to unload. She's not entirely off base. It's a good sized cabin, sided with wide wooden planks, white trim and a big red door; absolutely adorable. And, to Parker's delight, it is covered with snow.
"You didn't want a house someplace nice and warm?" Hardison asks, teeth chattering. "Why here?"
"I've never lived or worked here. I don't know anyone who's lived or worked here," Eliot rattles off as they trudge through over a foot of snow to get to the door. "It's out of the way and people mind their own business." He pauses at the door, checking his pockets for the keys. "Parker!"
"Sorry!" she exclaims, handing them over. "I'm so excited. I can't help it!"
"Plus, there's good fishing," Eliot adds thrusting the door open. "I gotta turn on the power and water. Nate, give me a hand?"
With a dubious look, Nate follows him out to the utility shed. Meanwhile, the others bring the bags inside and start opening shades.
"Ring," Eliot states simply once they are out of sight. He points Nate toward the breakers then gets down to business. He pulls a dusty tarp off a woodpile, and starts shifting a few logs on the end. The two return a few minutes later just as the furnace kicks on. Eliot lights a fire while the rest explore the house and pick rooms.
"Are you all unpacked?" Hardison asks Nate as soon as he could slip away from Parker. "Everything," he continues pointedly," in its place?"
"Yeah, Eliot helped me," he replies, catching on easily.
"And, you're sure it's safe?" he asks under is breath.
"Yes."
"Positive?"
"Yes!" When Hardison doesn't seem satisfied, Nate continues, "Trust me." He glances around to make sure Parker hasn't snuck up on them. "It's in a hole in the ground under a pile of wood in an unlocked shed. I think it's safe for the moment."
The younger man nods in approval, but still looks nervous. Hardison nearly jumps out of his skin when Parker's voice interrupts them.
"Are you ready?" she asks, appearing behind him. "Haven't scared you in a while," she giggles at his reaction. "I still got it."
"I was just checking if Nate wanted to come along," Hardison lies quickly.
"Thanks, but I'm going to pass." Although Nate doesn't know the activity, he decides that opting out is the safest bet. When he finds out they are going Christmas tree shopping, he's glad he did.
just a little exposition, it's all coming together. more on the way soon!