"Miss Sherwood?"

"Huh? Oh sorry," Riley apologized, blushing.

"Is everything alright? You seem a bit distracted," Rosemary pointed out.

"Johnathon has an out of town business trip and I'm just worried. He was only supposed to be gone a few days and it's been a week," she answered. "I'm sorry, I'm just a worrier at heart."

"Aren't we all?" Rosemary smiled. "Well, I believe everything is all set now. We can settle the final payment next week."

"Of course," Riley smiled.

Riley paced back and forth across the Leverage HQ living room, chewing her lower lip as she held her laptop in her hands. Hardison occasionally looked up from his own laptop and shook his head.

"Find anything?" he asked her. "Hello? Earth to Riley."

Hardison picked up an eraser and tossed it at her. Nate rolled his eyes and sighed for the tenth time before standing up from his desk and walking over to her. It took her a few moments to realize he was blocking her pacing path.

"What's up?" she asked distractedly.

"You've been pacing the floor for about two hours now," Hardison pointed out. "And you're not even looking in Rosemary's account. What are you doing?"

"Nothing," she answered, closing the laptop and sitting on the couch. She picked up the remote and started flipping through the channels.

"Uh, Hardison, why don't you go check on Parker," Nate told him. "See if she needs anymore blueprints for the safe."

Hardison nodded and left the office, shooting Riley a we-need-to-talk glance before shutting the door.

"Is something going on?" he asked. "Something having to do with you and Eliot?"

"No...what makes you say that?" she asked, still flipping through the channels.

"You've been pacing for the past hour and mumbling under your breath," he pointed out, taking the remote from her and turning off the TV. "Not to mention you haven't once called Sophie to see how Sparky is. He's fine, by the way," he added, assuring her.

"Oh..." she mumbled, looking at her hands.

He sat on the couch and crossed his arms. "What's going on?" he asked her.

"Eliot took some job last week and he hasn't come back and he said it'd only take a few days and he promised you he wouldn't take anymore and now I'm freaking out because something's wrong and I'm worried about him," she answered in a rush. "And...and I've never worried about someone so much except about Alec and I just can't wrap my head around why and, and, and..."

"Breathe," Nate said as she began hyperventilating.

"Oh, God, I'm gonna be sick," she stated, getting to her feet and running to the bathroom.

Nate winced at the retching sound but went to the kitchen and grabbed a glass. He filled it with water and headed to the bathroom, where he found Riley washing her mouth out. He handed her the water, which she gladly accepted.

"I...I just don't know what to do..." she trailed off, finishing the water.

"Do you think that you could, I dunno...maybe be feeling something for Eliot?" Nate asked, leading her back to the couch.

Riley sat down and put the glass on the table. "I guess...I mean, he and I got into a small disagreement before he left and he said something and it...hurt a bit." She chewed her lower lip and shook her head. "But it's no big deal. It doesn't matter and I don't care. Eliot can handle himself, it's Eliot after all. I'm gonna go put this in the sink now."

Nate leaned back in his chair and watched as Riley quickly retreated into the kitchen. He waited a couple minutes before following after her. He sighed as he stood in the kitchen door and watched her stare at one of Eliot's skewing knives, the one Sophie had gotten him a few years back that had his initials carved into it.

"I...I think I love him, Nate," she whispered.

Eliot groaned as he stopped at the top of the stairs leading to Nate's apartment. He'd been shot at and kicked in the ribs; he'd broken his arm in two places and twisted his ankle. But he'd finished the job, keeping his end of the deal andleaving Luciano to do the same.

The entire time he'd been on the job, he couldn't stop thinking about Riley. When he had been getting checked out at the hospital, it was Riley he had wanted there with him; when he had been on the plane back, he had wished she was there sitting next to him. And as he sat in the cab on the ride over, it was Riley he wanted to greet him.

He took a deep breath before continuing, then coming to a stop outside of Nate's door. He pulled out his keys, found the one to Nate's apartment, and unlocked the door. He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him and looking over to where Sparky was lying in his dog bed in the corner.

Guess Riley's been crashing here, he thought.

He looked over to the couch and saw her asleep in one of his shirts and a pair of sweats. He couldn't help the smile that came across his face as he half-walked, half-limped over.

Eliot reached down and brushed a lock of hair out of her face, causing her to stir and blink a bit before focusing on him.

"Did I wake you?" he whispered.

She shook her head and sat up, motioning for Eliot to sit. He did, sucking in a sharp breath as his sore muscles protested.

"Eliot...I...we need to talk," she told him, looking at her hands.

His mind shot to full attention and he looked at her. "Everything okay?"

"When you were gone, I think I realized something," she started. "I...I think I've fallen in love with you."

Riley met his gaze, searching his face for any signs of emotion. Eliot just stared at her, blinking slowly. He wanted to jump for joy, he wanted to start belting out those words to that corny song that one boy who sounds like a girl sings.

"El-"

"I love you, too," he interrupted, smiling. "God, you have no idea how much I've wanted to say that."

Riley grinned, relieved, and leaned over to kiss him - only to have the lights turn on and find Hardsion standing in the doorway to the apartment. He did not look happy.

"You sonofabitch," Hardison scowled. "What the hell do you think you're doing with my little sister?"

"Erm...kissing" Riley stated matter-of-factly. I

"Just calm down man, I can explain," Eliot replied, getting up wincing. .

"I'm listening," Hardison said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Please explain why you were about to shove your tongue down my sister's throat."

"What on earth is going on here?" Sophie asked, coming downstairs.

"Eliot was just about to explain why he was going to kiss my sister," Hardison snapped.

"It's not a big deal," Riley shrugged. "It's not like we haven't kissed before."

Hardison blinked slowly. "What do you mean before?"

"You didn't know? Riley and Eliot have been going at it for a few weeks now," Parker chirped, seeming to appear out of no where.

"I. Am. Going. To Kill. You," Hardison seethed.

He picked up the closet thing he could reach - Nate's first edition on criminal history - and threw it at the hitter, hitting him square in the face.

Eliot scowled and rubbed his head, adding it to the list of aching body parts. "Would you calm down?"

"Calm down? I just found out my best friend is screwing my little sister!" Hardison yelled.

Riley made a move to stand but Hardison shot her a glare. "Don't you dare. You are as much a part of this as he is. I mean, what the hell were you thinking?! Eliot?!"

"He's attractive," Riley mumbled, squirming under her brother's harsh glare. "And what's wrong with Eliot?"

"I am sitting right here," Eliot spoke up.

Hardison threw his hands up, exasperated. "Don't... Just...I need some time to think," he said, his tone and demeanor suddenly calmer.

Riley slumped back onto the couch. "He'll get over it, right?" she asked Sophie.

"Of course. It's just a lot to take in," she assured. "Why don't you two go take the spare bedroom and get some sleep."

"I'll take the couch," Parker offered.

Good nights were exchanged, glances to the door were followed before everyone settled in for the night.