Thank you all who have read this story. As the end is rapidly approaching, aside from leaving a review, etc., I'd like you all to let me know if you'd like me to continue writing Leverage stories. It's one of my favorite shows, but why write what people don't want to read? Am I right? Anyways…you've all been great for reading this so far. That being said…here's the next chapter. Enjoy.
As Parker waited on roof of the adjacent building, watching Agent Williams go into the warehouse, her heart started to beat rapidly. Her hands began to shake, as beads of sweat began to drip down her face. This is the first time that she has ever been genuinely afraid to zip-line and break into a place. It's not some priceless antique or painting that she's stealing. Parker's rescuing the only people that have ever cared about her. Sure Nate and Sophie cared about her, but only when it came to work. Before her nerves took over, Agent Williams radioed in.
"You ready, Parker? We've only got one shot at this." Agent Williams said softly.
"Ye-yeah. I'm ready." Parker said as she took a deep sigh.
"Go now. Sterling, stay outside and be ready in case things go bad." Agent Williams continued softly.
"Fine…but don't be long, love." Sterling said.
Parker knew Sterling well enough to know he's doing his stupid grin that he always does. Taking another sigh, she grabbed her grappling gun, positioned her shot, and pulled the trigger. The metal hook glistened in the moon light as it flew across the way and latched onto one of the metal grates.
"Okay Parker…you've done this before. You've got this." She said as she hooked herself up to the line.
Standing on the edge, she could see a few guards patrolling the perimeter, armed with assault rifles and shotguns. All Parker had was a taser. She waited for the guards to turn the corner before making her move. The cool breeze felt good against her face as she zipped across. For a few seconds, she became happy…so much so that she forgot about the metal grate she was heading towards.
"Shit…shit…shit…" she said as she rammed into it.
Quickly unhooking herself, she ran over to the edge to see if the guards heard her. Sure enough, one of the guards was looking right at her.
"Code blue- we've got an intruder on the roof. I repeat, we've got an intruder on the roof." The guard screamed into his radio.
Within seconds, the patrolling guards began firing up at her. Instincts kicked in immediately for Parker as she sprinted towards the vents, but not before she tied the door to the roof shut. The longer she had to crawl through the vents, the better.
"Parker, what the fuck were you thinking?!" Agent Williams angrily murmured into the radio.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry." Parker said softly as she began to crawl through the maze of vents.
"Lucky for you, the guards are focusing on the roof. Hurry and get here." Agent Williams said softly.
Parker could hear the guards yelling below her. She couldn't stop now. She was so close. Parker would periodically check through the vent screens to get her bearings. The twists and turns of the vents would lose any rookie thief, but not Parker. Sneaking through vents was her sanctuary. After making one more turn, she finally made it on top of Agent Williams and the cell.
"Pssstt. Look up." Parker whispered.
Agent Williams looked left and right before giving her the signal to drop. Slowly lowering herself, she could hear a faint voice coming from behind her. Tears started to fall from her eyes as she turned to see Hardison smiling at her. His left eye was blackened and swollen; he had a cut on his right cheek, but he still managed to smile as he saw his girlfriend.
"Hurry and open the door." Parker said as she grasped the bars on the door.
"Make it quick. We've got to go. I'll get Eliot." Agent Williams said as he unlocked the door.
Parker could've unlocked the door herself. It was first nature for her, but her emotions quickly took over. She opened the door and nearly tackled Hardison out of his seat.
"Don't ever scare me like that again." Parker cried out as she wrapped her arms around him.
She quickly untied him and was greeted by a warm embrace. Hardison wanted to say something, but between the emotions and his injuries, all he could do was hold her tight and not let her go. The two were too busy embracing that Parker didn't notice Eliot standing right behind her.
"Should I come back?" He said softly, followed by an aggressive cough.
Parker quickly turned around and met her "brother" with a rare hug. Eliot wasn't the one to become emotional about anything, but with everything that he and Hardison have been through and being reconnected with Parker, he couldn't help but shed a tear.
"If either of you tell anyone about me crying, I will kill you both." Eliot said as he let go of Parker.
The three just stood there with smiles on their face, only to be broken up by Agent Williams yelling at them.
"We need to go now. Parker, remember…go through the window. You've got less than 3 minutes before the guards come back." Agent Williams said as he opened the door to the hallway.
"Thank you for everything." Parker said as she peaked out into the hallway.
"Don't thank me yet. Get these two out first." Agent Williams said as he pushed Eliot and Hardison out into the door.
"How do we know that you won't tell the other guards? You're the one captured us in the first place." Eliot said as he went into a fighting stance.
"I'm also the reason why you're still alive. Now shut up and follow Parker." Agent Williams said as he lifted his gun.
"Let's go, Eliot. I just want to get the Hell out of here already." Hardison said as he turned his friend.
Before Parker could lead them, guards emerged from the stairway facing them.
"Go. I'll hold them off." Agent Williams said as he cocked his gun and began to fire.
"We're not leaving you." Parker yelled as bullets began to fly.
"Parker, there's no time to argue. Get your friends and go." Agent Williams screamed as he dove into cover.
Parker wanted to run to his side and help but Eliot lifted her and carried her into the room, while Hardison closed the door and barricaded it with a file cabinet.
"No! We can't leave him there. They'll kill him." Parker said as she tried to push the obstacle.
"Parker, there's nothing we can do." Eliot said as the faint sound of gunfire continued to ring out.
"Let's go. We need to get out of here." Hardison said as he opened the window.
Taking a deep sigh, Parker agreed.
"Sterling, are you clear?" Parker asked over the radio.
"Sterling? You're working with Sterling?" Eliot asked angrily.
"He wasn't my first choice…and Nate asked him anyways. Sterling, come in." Parker said over the radio.
"I'm a little bit busy at the moment. Because of you, the welcoming committee is arriving." Sterling responded.
"We've got no choice. Let's go." Hardison said as he climbed out of the window and onto the ledge.
Parker and Eliot followed. The three of them scaled the ledge until they were over a dumpster.
"Oh Hell no…a dumpster? This isn't the movies, guys." Hardison said as he looked down at the two story drop.
"Just shut up and jump, Hardison." Eliot said angrily.
"You first…" Hardison said cowardly.
Before Eliot could protest, Parker took the leap. The cool breeze hit her face once again as she landed somewhat softly on a pile of cardboard and trash.
"Come on, wimps. It's not too bad." Parker said with a grin as she climbed out.
Eliot took the plunge next with ease. He was used to doing that sort of thing when he was in Spec Ops. Hardison stood on the ledge all alone, breathing heavily as he continued to look down.
"Come on babe. It's not that bad. We need to go." Parker said softly.
"Give me something to throw at him. That'll get him down." Eliot said as he began to look around.
"Fuck you, Eliot. I'm going to die…I'm going to die…I'm going to die." Hardison repeated as he took the plunge.
The trash consumed his body as he impacted. After a few awkward moments, he finally emerged.
"Woo! Did you see that shit?" Hardison said proudly as he looked up at the ledge.
"Awesome. Now get out of there." Eliot said as he rolled his eyes.
Hope you guys liked that chapter. Again, reviews are appreciated. Also, let me know if you guys want more Leverage after this story is finished. Thank you.