Kayla Logan came to slowly. She was still in her formal gown with no shoes. Her hands and ankles were bound very securely and very tightly with duct tape. So tight, in fact, that she couldn't feel her toes and fingers. As she looked around, she realized where she was and she screamed loudly, kicking at the wall, "Eliot Spencer! You asshole!"

They were on the private plane that Eliot had discovered was Kayla's way out of La Paz. At the sound of her shouts and kicking, Sophie spoke, "I believe your prisoner is awake."

"You think?" Eliot said sarcastically. Standing, he headed towards the back, "I've got this."

"Not without backup," Nate responded standing and following Eliot.

"I can handle her," Spencer corrected and then flinched as he heard Kayla let out another string of expletives.

Hardison said, "Naw, man, I'd take the backup."

Eliot gave Alec a glare and then went to the back where his prisoner was still making a fuss. The rest of the team followed discreetly behind. This was going to be a show no one wanted to miss. When Kayla saw her former partner, she said again, "Eliot, you asshole."

He grabbed her wrists and pulled her forward, "Out of those restraints yet?"

"You know damn good and well I'm not." She struggled to sit up, "And you shot me."

"Is it sore?" He poked at the area where he had landed his rounds.

Kayla hollered as Spencer helped her sit up, "Ouch! Ass…"

"Yeah, asshole, I got it," Eliot was sarcastic.

She glared at him, "And you stole my plane? My personal airplane?"

He shrugged, "You're a creature of habit, darling."

Kayla growled in frustration, "Remind me to fire Pete."

"No, you're not going to fire Peter," he corrected.

And, then it dawned on Kayla as she looked at Nathan Ford, "Dominguez is on this plane, too. Isn't he?" When neither man answered, she said with venom, "This isn't over." And she fought against the restraints.

"Yes, it is." Nate Ford spoke firmly and succinctly. In the last few years that Spencer had worked with the Boss, he'd only heard this tone on a few occasions: when Nate was really pissed with one of the team or when he had a mark that really got under his skin. This was his game-set-match voice. "You're done. You've lost, Kayla. Now it comes down to how you want to finish. See, I'm not above keeping you sedated for the rest of this little trip. At a minimum, you're going to stay restrained, which given the way you're dressed, can't be comfortable. And, if you continue to make a fuss, I'll have Eliot gag you." She glared at the team leader. Nate took a breath, "But there is one other option."

Kayla's face was mutinous. She cut a look from Nate to Eliot and then back to Nate as he went on, "In spite of everything that's gone on, everything you've done, Eliot still trusts you. And, me? I trust Eliot. So, he says if you give me your word that you're done and Dominguez is safe then I can believe it. I'll cut you lose; you can change clothes and join us up front. A much more comfortable ride than this," and he motioned to the holding area where Kayla was presently installed.

Kayla looked at Eliot, her tone defeated, "You told him that?"

Eliot nodded, "With everything we've done, with all that's happened, you have never lied to me, Kayla. Your word has always been your bond."

She sighed heavily, dropping her chin to her chest. Sucking on her bottom lip, she considered her options. "Damn it, Eliot." Kayla struggled with the decision. Everything within her said fight. Yet, she was smart enough to know when she was beaten. As much as she hated it, she gave in. Logan huffed, "Fine. My reputation is shot to shit anyway. And, this will probably mean a contract on my head."

Spencer smiled, "What's one more?"

Kayla couldn't help but smile back, "Well, you've got a point." She offered up her wrists, "Cut me loose, damn it."

"Whoa," Nate interjected, throwing up his hand, "I haven't heard you agree to anything yet."

Looking at Ford, Kayla said, shaking her head in disgust, "Eliot's right. If you'll take it, if you're willing to trust me, then I give you my word that I'm done. You win and Dominguez is safe."

The Mastermind smiled and nodded, "Cut her loose."

And Eliot pulled out a knife but paused, "Do I have to?"

"Eliot," Nate and Kayla said at the same time.

"C'mon, Nate. Can we get her to say it once more? It's not often in my career with Kayla that I've heard her admit I'm right and she's wrong," Spencer teased as he freed her from the tape and then tossed her a change of clothes. "It'd be like Sophie admitting you were correct."

Ford chuckled, "You've got a point." Behind him, he heard a very indelicate snort.

She rubbed her wrists trying to restore the feeling, "What's a Sophie?"

"I asked the very same thing," Eliot exclaimed.

"Not a 'what' but a 'who' and you've actually already met her," Nate responded, looking behind him and motioning her through, making the introduction. "Kayla Logan? Meet Sophie Devereaux."

The attractive brunette whose gown Kayla had ruined joined the room. "Oh hell," Kayla said under her breath and then, where she could be heard, "I really am sorry about the dress."

Sophie smiled and said sincerely, "It's alright. It happens. It's something I consider an occupational hazard."

Logan nodded her acceptance as she added, "I wondered how you pulled it off? No offense but given what you had to do? It seemed like more than just a two-man operation."

Eliot continued, "Yeah, more like a five-man job." Nate gave him a nod to introduce the rest of the group. "This is Alec Hardison, computer geek extraordinaire. He's the reason you couldn't get out of the hotel room and the one who found your other."

She smiled as the tall black man joined them, "Impressive dossier."

"Thanks," Kayla said, "I think."

"And finally, this is Parker," Eliot finished.

As the thief bounced in, Kayla looked up into another familiar face. The young woman spoke, "Hey, I know you."

Kayla smiled, "Yes, you do."

Parker turned to Eliot, "But I didn't know she was your wife."

Spencer hesitated, stuttering his reply, "Parker, she's not my…never mind."

Logan spoke absently, unfolding her shirt, "What keeps me from turning all of you in out of spite? To get even?"

Eliot's demeanor changed mercurially. He looked to Nate, "Give us the room."

But, it was Parker who spoke, "No." Eliot looked up sharply.

"We're a team, man," Hardison nodded.

Sophie added, "We're in this together."

Kayla watched the by-play between Ford's team. She saw Eliot look to his boss and when Nate gave him a quick nod, Spencer turned back to the woman who was his former boss and he leaned in very close. She shivered involuntarily at the intensity of Spencer's glare. His voice was deadly calm as he spoke, "Kayla Logan, these people are my friends; closer to me than family. If I think or can even remotely link you to any information that would put them in danger, there will be no place on this earth that you can hide from me." Logan swallowed but didn't speak, "Let's not forget, Kayla, I did shoot you. Granted, it was with a tranquilizer gun but I shot you. Next time, well, you might not be so lucky." And he poked again at her chest for emphasis knowing it was still sore.

She hissed in response to the pain. Kayla knew this team, his team, was tight. She sensed it the moment they all got together. She also knew they were all waiting for her response. Logan took a breath and quickly answered, "Eliot, I would never…I mean, they're you're friends." She looked to Nate again and then back to Eliot, "If my word was good enough for Dominguez, I hope…"

But Eliot didn't let her finish the sentence. He let her off the hook, "We're good."

The others in the group smiled as Kayla let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Leaning back against the wall, she asked, "So, where are you taking my plane? And, my mark, for that fact?"

Nate interlocked his fingers across his stomach and leaned back in the chair, "London."

"London?" Kayla countered. Thinking for a moment, she said, "Interpol?"

"We have a," Nate looked at Alec, "what's the term?"

"Frenemy," he supplied.

Nate nodded, "Yeah, frenemy, James Sterling, who works there. Unfortunately, we owe him. So, in exchange for Dominguez, he gives us a pass on some charges hanging over our heads. Allows us to do what we do without him on our heels."

"Wonder what we could get for you?" Hardison said with a pointed stare at Kayla.

She gave him an understanding look, "You've seen my dossier, Mr. Hardison. I'm sure you can supply the answer to that question."

"You know, that might be your way out," Sophie chimed in. "We all have contacts that we can leak it to that you had no choice. You had to deal with Interpol. It was either give up Dominguez or you go down."

"No." Eliot's statement was succinct, to the point and with emotion. He bit his lip, and shook his head in disgust, as he continued, "Look, I'm not 100% sure how I feel about Kayla but I damn sure know how I feel about Sterling." He gave her a meaningful stare, "No way do I hand you over, or for that fact, even let him know about you. Not him. Not for any reason or any amount of money."

Kayla looked at her former partner. He had no reason to defend her – none whatsoever. She had threatened him, drugged him, hit him, and, in spite of it all, he had still come to her support. She was more grateful than she could ever communicate. Eliot read her face – read her expression. He immediately contradicted her, "Stop looking at me like that."

She smiled innocently, "Like what?"

"Like I'm some kind of hero or knight. We both know I am nothing like that," Eliot responded.

As the team looked on, Logan looked slightly embarrassed but mostly pleased. Her tone was still sweetly innocent, "Of course."

Nate gave Spencer the graceful out, "So we should let Kayla change." He stood and motioned for the others to leave. Parker and Hardison were first out followed by Sophie. Nate stood and with a grand gesture was going to allow Eliot to exit first.

Kayla's request halted them both. "Wait." The men looked to where she still sat, "Eliot, could you stay a minute?"

Once again Nate and Eliot exchanged glances and the Mastermind finally left his Hitter alone with the Mechanic for the first time since they got on the plane. Kayla leaned over and reached for a drawer in the wall. She suddenly found her wrist in Eliot's painful grasp. Logan sputtered, "It's nothing. I'm not trying to do anything. You open it."

Eliot gave her a disgruntled look and then opened the drawer Kayla had reached for. Inside he found a letter sized manila envelope that he removed and handed to Logan. "Keep it. It's for you anyway."

"What is it?" He opened the envelope and slid out the top page that read Divorce Decree at the top. Eliot looked at Kayla, "Thought we weren't really married."

Kayla shrugged, "Who the hell really knows? But, better safe than sorry. I've had it for a while. Figured our paths would cross sooner or later and we would want to get married. I mean, not married to each other. I mean, you know…"

Eliot let her twist a bit longer before he said, "Yeah, Kayla, I know."

She glared at him, "Anyway, all you've got to do is sign the papers and file them. You keep your stuff, I keep mine." Kayla snapped her fingers, "and just like that, no more wife."

He looked around the plane, "I don't know, Kayla." Eliot had a mischievous glint, "I might want something more. You seem to be doing quite well."

Logan grinned, "Well, I suppose I can arrange some alimony or in your case," she paused for effect, "it would be child support."

Eliot's grin matched Kayla's, "No, I'm good. Flush for the first time in a really long time. Just giving you grief because I can." She gave him a playful glare as he added, "Get dressed. Join us up front when you're ready." He looked at the papers again and then at Kayla and he left the room.