Title: It's The End Of The World (As We Know It)
Author: Kyra
Disclaimer: I don't own them; if I did I wouldn't be writing fanfiction.
Summary: Everything changes when the bomb Parker and Hardison went after turns out to be a fake…And the real one goes off. In the aftermath of the Pulse, things only get more complicated when the Leverage team takes in a stray with secrets of his own.
Pairings: Very light Nate/Sophie and Hardison/Parker
Spoilers: Up through most of 'The Big Bang Job' for Leverage, goes AU on the train, and all of Dark Angel is fair game.
Warnings: None that I can think of.
A/N: Sorry this is almost a week late, FFN was being stupid and wouldn't let me in to the fic to update it... :-(
Chapter 6: Manticore Blows
"Someone blew up a Manticore facility," Ben stated a few months later as he walked into the living room where everyone else was going over files for a new case.
"What?" The question came from all five of the room's occupants.
Ben nodded as he sat down. "It's being covered up as terrorists blowing up a VA hospital, but it was a Manticore facility."
"So it's probably time to reevaluate our plans to head out west," Sophie said as she looked around at the others.
"No," Eliot stated immediately.
"Why not?" Hardison asked, looking at the hitter.
"If any transgenics escaped before the place blew, it's going to be a witch hunt out there," Eliot replied. "The military is going to be trying to either round them up or kill them, and they'll probably go for anyone or anything with a barcode on its neck. No way is Ben going anywhere near that."
Parker scooted closer to Ben on the couch and wrapped her arms around him. "They can't have him," she stated firmly. "He's ours."
"I agree," Nate said, nodding. "For now we stay here. Hardison, see if you can get in contact with Eyes Only. Maybe he can give us a better idea of what's going on over there."
"And when he asks why I want to know?" Hardison asked, knowing that the other man wouldn't just give out the information they wanted.
"Tell them we have a personal interest in the situation and in taking down Manticore," Nate replied. "That should let him know we're on his side in this, or at least, not on Manticore's side, and it hints at the fact that we know a transgenic without confirming it. At the very least, it will get him curious."
Hardison nodded before standing and heading back to his computer room to try and contact Eyes Only.
"If things get much worse, I may have to go out there anyway," Ben said, looking at the others. "I won't just stand back and hide if the situation gets bad."
Parker made a little sound of disapproval and tightened her hold on Ben.
Nate nodded, though. "We know that," he said.
"And we'll be right there with you," Eliot stated, Parker, Nate, and Sophie nodding in agreement.
"Didn't think you'd be anywhere else," Ben acknowledged.
Again, sorry for the late update. Stupid FFN... Next chapter will be up tomorrow, though, as long as FFN doesn't decide to be stupid again.
Only two more chapters to go…
~ Kyra