A/N Written for a challenge in leverageland. The prompt was: Dance

The Dance competition job.

"Okay, Hardison" Nate sat on the chair. "Where is our mark now?"

"Well, according to his schedule, he and his wife are going to participate in a ballroom competition in Atlantic City this weekend"

"A dance competition?" Eliot asked from the kitchen.

"Yes" Hardison confirmed worried.

"It's not a problem guys." Nate assured them. "We'll just have to go there as contestants"

"Nate, I can groove, hip hop and swing my hips but I don't do ballroom dancing, polka or tango." Hardison protested "For these dances my knowledge goes as far as watching Dancing with the stars"

"How can you dance with the stars?" Parker asked perplexed.

"It's a reality show, Parker. The stars are famous people!"

"Eliot?" Sophie asked.

The hitter smirked. "Well, I did date a samba dance teacher once. She did teach me some moves! Hot moves!"

"And I imagine that Parker has never danced before, right?"

The thief shrugged.

"Well Nate. It's up to us. You remember the moves I taught you in Venice, don't you?"

Nate smiled embarrassed. "Well, it has been a long time I might be a little bit rusty."

Sophie sighed. "It seems I better get my dancing shoes ready!"

An hour later they had cleared all the tables down at McRory's and the band of thieves was getting ready for the first dance lesson.

"If we have decided that you and Nate are going as contestants, why must we all learn how to dance too?" Eliot grumbled.

"Because it will be better if we all had some practice in case of emergency." Sophie set up the music.

"Okay" She clapped her hands excitedly . "Let's start pairing up Nate and Parker here, Eliot and Hardison over there"

"You what?" they both protested.

"I'm not dancing with Hardison! No way!"

"Like I want to put my arms around you!"

"Oh, don't you be such big babies." She scolded them. "We will take turns. Now choose who's going to be the man between you"

They both raised their hands at the same time.

"Rock, paper or scissors?" Eliot suggested.

"Okay! One two three!" Eliot beat Hardison with rock. "No, man!"

"I told you; you've got a tell. Now let me lead you, Alexa!" He grinned.

"Not funny!"

"We will start with something easy, the fox-trot. It's two slow steps forward and two quick steps at the side"

So it began.

"Ouch, Hardison! I'm supposed to lead and you follow! You step on my foot again and I'm going to kick you so hard that you won't be able to walk for a week!"

"It's not my fault you're not leading very well!"

They continued to practice all afternoon. Rumba, Waltz, Swing, Merengue always exchanging partners and… well stepping on each other feet.

"That's good Parker" Sophie praised her. "You're a natural!"

"Of course. This is a lot easier that crawling into vents." She shrugged.

Nate and Sophie finally finished with a Tango.

"Wow guys, that was great" Hardison exclaimed "and hot… and awkward"

Nate was slightly out of breath. "Yes Sophie, take it easy please. We have to pass as contestants not win the all thing"

"Nate, don't you know by now that if I'm in a competition, I'm in it to win it"

"That was a great lesson. We still have tomorrow before leaving for Atlantic City. So be ready for another day of hard work." Sophie told the others. "Oh, and this evening we're going to have a dance movies marathon starting with Dirty Dancing, Take the lead with Antonio Banderas" She added dreamily "and Ballroom dancing.."

The others groaned in protest and followed her upstairs.

"Who picked this job out?" Eliot shouted.

THE END