He hadn't slept in several nights when he returned home, but he wasn't tired. Sleeping was something he couldn't do on such a dangerous job as who protected the team when he was asleep? As he entered the door Abby gave him his first hug since they had reunited; it felt good. "Geeze darlin'," he said; her sudden compassion shocked him.

"So its.." she began to ask.

"It's all over. He is in a prison which he ain't ever getting out of," he said with a welcome interruption.

"That's good."

"So I was thinking we go out to dinner and celebrate. And talk."

"You're sure, you look tired."

"Just a little jet-lagged is all, I'm sure."

"Yeah, I'd like that."

The restaurant they went to was small and homely. Eliot clearly knew the owners as he greeted them with a smile, a handshake and in their native tongue of Japanese.

"You speak Japanese?" she asked surprised.

"I speak many languages. Speaking of which, how's your languages going?"

"Good!" she said in Spanish "My Spanish is still pretty fluent. Italian's pretty good. Russian and Hebrew are so, so," she said and Eliot nodded. He had made an effort from a young age to teach Abby as many languages as he could; he believed it was important for people to be worldy. Spanish was first, as that was his most fluent, then Italian as it was an easy step. Russian and Hebrew were the ones that Abby had picked when she was 8. "They sound cool," was the reason she gave and despite the fact that Eliot believed they'd have no practical value for her, he taught her anyway.

"So," she said, switching back to English in an attempt to change the conversation back to the one they were having before his departure to San Lorenzo.

"Go ahead," he gestured.

"So ma died because of this Moreau guy," she began uncomfortably. "And you worked for him for four years. But why'd you leave? I still don't quite understand that."

"Moreau said three years and I'd be done working for him. Now it'd been over that and I just wanted out; I'd done a lotta bad things for that man and he knew I was thinking about leavin'. If idda stayed and he thought for a second I was leaving or, if idda left and he could find you, well, like I said, people prey on the things that you love. And I have no doubt that he would have..." he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "made good on his threat. I hated working for that man but in order to stop, you'd to be out of the picture so he couldn't get to you."

"And Australia is pretty far out of the picture," she finished for him and he nodded as the waitress placd their food and drinks down on the table. "Did you first start going after him about seven months ago?" she asked, breaking the silence that had ensued while they were eating.

"Yeah, why'd you ask?"

"'Cause that's when you stopped writing. You wrote, not a lot, but you still wrote up until then."

"When we took the job going after Moreau, I knew there was a chance I'd get on his radar again and he'd well, try his old tricks. So I broke contact."

"You should have told me."

"I couldn't risk it."

"Where you ever going to come back?" she asked as she played with her cutlery, not able to make eye contact.
"I wanted to, but I could never had gone anywhere near you unless Moreau was outta the picture. And I honestly didn't think that would happen," he paused, not knowing what to say and took a sip of his beer. "But this gig I got now, and with Moreau gone, means I can be there for you."

"Yeah, I think that'd be good," she replied simply, smiling, as she glanced up at him.

"How 'bout you?" he asked, quickly changing the subject. "How'd you get all the way here?"

"The Dane's were fantastic you know; caring, supportive, just good people. But I got worried when I didn't hear from you; you're the only thing I have left," she paused and took a deep breath. "You remember the house in Sydney yeah?" He nodded. "And you know it gets rented out?" He nodded again; since he had left Abby he realised he could never use that particular safe house as it wouldn't actually be safe. Instead, he had organised a real-estate agent to rent it out, the money from which would go to the Danes for taking care of Abby. "Well, I kinda took money from that," she said as she paused, waiting for Eliot's reaction. Any other day he would have been angry; he didn't raise her to be a thief like him but, instead he took a deep breath.

"Go on," he said, deciding he would deal with this later.

"I flew to back to our home, the one from when ma died. Hoping to find anything as to where you were. And I've always been good at talking to people so I found out about the guy in Miami. Asked him for his help but.." she trailed off.

"But what darlin'?"

"You ain't gonna like it."

"Try me," he said.

"He needed help on another job."

"What kind of job?" he asked, his voice stiff.

"Some social worker was getting some of the kids he was working with to steal stuff. Some of the kids, who were actually not bad people, were getting caught. This guy was taking advantage of them, so we stopped him. I'm actually kinda glad I got to help out I mean, now they actually stand a chance at doing well in life."

Although Eliot was upset that she had the things she had done in order to try and find him, he liked the person she'd grown into. She was a lot like her mother in that she was strong and really, truly cared for others.

"So anyway, I got to Boston and I realised I wouldn't know what to say or even if I wanted to see you, so I got a job and a room in a crappy motel just to stall I suppose."

"I'm sorry you know?" He said softly, trying to reassure her that he didn't abandon her.

"I know and I don't blame you either. I mean I'm angry and upset at you for leaving and whatever, but that's my problem and I'll get over it."

Eliot nodded in response, glad he knew where the girl stood in their relationship.

"So that spy guy in Miami, that's kinda like what we do actually," he said trying to lighten the mood as the waitress placed another round of food on the table.

"How much food did you order?" she asked smiling " And I think that's really cool. They good people? The people you work with?"

"Ya know, I don't like to admit to them, but they are," he chuckled.

"Can I meet them sometime?" she asked and Eliot let out a smile at the notion which meant she had decided to stay.

"Don't see why not," he said. "We're on a break after this Moreau business though; safer to keep a low profile after such a big job." She nodded. " And you know kid, if we're going to do this, you gotta go to school, you gotta get good grades and stay outta trouble you hear? You gotta be honest with me and gotta know that I can trust you 'cause while this is a good gig, its still risky."

"Sounds fair. But you have to be honest with me too, I mean, its a two way street right?"

"You can always trust me kid,"

"I know," she interuppted.

"but I told your ma I'd keep you safe. Now I won't lie to you but, sometimes I probably won't tell you the whole truth because my job is to keep you safe and the best way for me to do that will be to keep somethin' from you sometimes. You reckon' you can trust me to do that?"

"As long as you don't leave, I think we have a deal," she said smiling.

"Deal," he said back.

"So can I work with you?"

"On a job? No."

They decided to go on a road trip for his time off to get reacquainted. The first place they visited was her mother's grave. It read Hayley Claire Spencer. Daughter, Sister, Mother and loved by all who met her.

"She'd be proud of you sweetheart," Eliot said with his arm around Abby.

"I think she'd be proud of you too."

"Oh?"

"I don't think she liked what you did, or rather who you did it for. And now you're helping people. So yeah, I think she'd be proud."

Eliot's phone rang. "Nate," he said angrily as he answered.

"Eliot, meet me at Mt. Kibari and bring your climbing gear. We have a job." There was a beep as Nate hung ip the phone. Dammit Nate! He thought.

"Duty calls?" Abby asked and he nodded.

"Time to get back home."

AN- Again, really sorry about the update delay (in fact, from now on, just assume I'm sorry about being so slow on the updating). We were having internet trouble and the only access I really had was on my phone.

Only two, maybe three chapters left.

Please continue to review, its how I get better, plus it makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

Ta.