"I can't do this anymore," Quinn sighed.

Ale looked over at Sophie, shaking her head.

"I have seriously only been gone for two weeks," Ale laughed, Sophie holding up another bottle of nail polish for Ale to choose from. Ale was calling Quinn for their nightly chat, Sophie sitting on the end of the bed, Ale's feet in her lap as she gave her a pedicure.

'Repayment' she had said 'for you having to deal with Jerk Jason, Terrible Tonnie, and Awkward Eliot'.

"Quinn, Ale is a tremendous asset to our team. We might be stealing her away from you more often," Sophie said, Ale and Quinn both laughing.

"Why can Sophie hear everything I'm saying?" Quinn asked, the smile evident in his voice.

"I hurt my shoulder today and it's just easier to have the phone on my lap on speaker and she is polishing my toenails. My other hand is holding a bag of ice on said hurt shoulder," Ale said, shrugging. "I can have Sophie wait to do my nails until after, if you want. She just happened to be in here when I answered the phone."

"It's okay. I don't mind. Tell me more about your shoulder? Are you okay?"

Ale retold the whole story, Quinn wincing as she told it.

"I wish I was there to take care of you," he said lowly. "Are you going back to dance tomorrow?"

"Yeah. It should only be for a little longer."

"How's the knee?" Quinn asked, Sophie looking at Ale with raised eyebrows.

"It's…"

"Don't lie," he laughed.

"It's really, really sore. Would you mind scheduling the appointment we talked about?" Ale asked, her voice coming out a lot softer than she was expecting.

"Yes. I will," Quinn answered back. "We will go as soon as you get home. I'm sorry, by the way, that it's not better."

"It's okay. Not your fault," Ale smiled.

Sophie couldn't help but smile at Quinn and Ale. They already had a perfect rhythm, and it was clear that Quinn cared about her, but not in a smothering way. She told him things and she was honest because she knew he wouldn't freak out or baby her. Instead, he was supportive and caring, as well as concerned. He didn't lock her in a tower, though.

Eliot could take some cues from him.

Sophie did want to know more about this knee problem though. The accident had been a while back, and she should be better by now. The doctors had told her so. If they were wrong, she had some serious business to attend to.

Sophie didn't know what it was about Ale, but she went into full mothering mode with her, almost like she did with Parker. She couldn't help it. Whether Sophie liked it or not, the team was a family and she was the mother hen.

She did like it, though, so it really wasn't a problem.

"It kind of is my fault," Quinn said guiltily. Ale sighed, Quinn laughing. "I know, we aren't supposed to talk about it. Sorry. But really…I am sorry that you aren't better. I know you are probably frustrated."

"I'll be okay," Ale smiled. "Oh, and by the way, Jerk Jason has really taken a liking to me. So watch out. I might come home with a new man."

"You wouldn't dare," Quinn laughed.

"I might. Depends on what body part he decides to bust out of place next. I have a thing for guys who step on girl's toes or accidentally elbow them in the nose. It's irresistible."

"Goodnight, Ale," Quinn sang.

"Goodnight, Quinn," Ale said back, biting back a smile. "I love you," she said softly, Quinn whispering it back.

And boy, he really did.

"Ale, can we talk to you?" Nate asked, he and Sophie standing in the door to her room. She had just gotten ready for the morning, wrapping her knee with kinesio tape and setting some out for her shoulder.

"Am I in trouble?" Ale asked, wincing as she tried to French braid her hair.

"No," Nate laughed, Sophie walking over to Ale and beginning to braid her hair.

"We just wanted to tell you how impressed we are with how you have been doing at this job," Sophie said, Nate nodding.

"I have just been dancing," Ale shrugged, Nate leaning on her dresser.

"Ale, you have been doing more than that. You got Jason to basically turn against his mother. You think on your feet. You help the rest of us do our jobs better. Everyone is happier when they work. Everyone respects each other more. You are just…amazing. And we wanted to let you know how much we appreciate you being a part of this con," Nate said.

"But…" Ale said, raising her eyebrows.

"What do you mean, dear?" Sophie asked, her fingers freezing in Ale's hair.

"You are saying a bunch of nice things but your tones are really serious. I am used to that. There is always a but at the end of a string of compliments. Great dancer, but you are too short. Great thief, but you shouldn't steal your brother's toys. You did a great job taking care of your mom, but she still died. You wait long enough and the other shoe will drop," Ale shrugged.

"There is not but. Ale, I'm sure it's no surprise to you, but our team doesn't let people in very often. But we, well, we trust you. We love you. We wanted to tell you how much we appreciate you because we don't want you, for one second, to think that the only reason we called you in on this job is just because you can dance. We have been waiting to have you join the Leverage family ever since we saw you take down Buchamp. We don't want you to think that you are just a job to us. Yes, that is how we met, but since the first time we worked with Lio, we knew that you were someone special, and you found a place in all of our hearts. You are as much a part of this team as you want to be. We understand if you don't want to work with us full time quite yet, or if you don't want to work with us at all. We would love it if you would, though. Most importantly, Ale, we want you to know that if you don't end up working with us on any other job, you are still a part of this family," Nate said, Ale just staring at him.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her biggest fear was that the Leverage team was just nice to her because they felt obligated—Nate felt responsible, Eliot felt guilty, and Sophie felt sorry. Now, however, she knew that she had been accepted into something she wanted so badly to be a part of.

The only problem was, any family she had been a part of ended up broken.

"Ale, are you okay?" Sophie said softly, Ale nodding.

"I just, um, I have to meet Jason at the studio. I can't be late. Tomorrow is the big day, after all," Ale smiled standing and grabbing her dance bag and rushing out of the room, as well as the hotel suite.

"What just happened?" Nate asked, looking at Sophie.

"I think life scared her away," Sophie shrugged.

"Where in the hell is that little girl going so quickly?" Hardison asked, coming into Ale's room.

"I would assume the studio. She shouldn't be going alone, though. Grab the rest of the team and meet in the van. If Ale is walking today we will follow behind," Nate said calmly, Sophie not being able to speak.

She felt horrible that they had upset Ale. She should have known that this would happen. The family thing was probably too much, as was the offering her a lifetime job in crime and thievery. Those kinds of things take time, and Nate and Sophie had just sprung it upon her.

The team piled into the car quickly, Eliot rushing everyone. He was worried about Ale walking the streets alone.

They found her quickly, watching as she walked to the studio, her pace quicker than it usually was.

Eliot, Hardison, and Parker didn't know what had made Ale so upset, but Nate and Sophie knew, and they had a feeling that it was going to follow her all day—after all, an entire family's worth of ghosts will eventually make a lot of noise.

When Quinn got out of the shower he realized he had a missed call, a voicemail from Ale waiting on his phone.

He played it back immediately, surprised to hear sniffling on the other end.

"Sorry I called," she said quickly, trying to catch her breath. "I just…I needed to just…never mind. I wish I could figure out how to delete this damn message," Ale sighed, a soft sob escaping her lips. "I'm fine, I'm sorry I called. I hope you are enjoying your day. Love you. Talk to you later."

Quinn stood frozen in his spot, looking down at the phone. Ale hadn't been that upset around him ever. She had cried a little bit after the accident when Eliot made the comment about her family, but even that was an angry rant. This just sounded like pure sadness. It was the first time that she needed him, emotionally, and he hadn't been there—granted, he didn't know that would be happening today, but still.

Quinn immediately started packing a bag, calling the airport and getting himself a ticket on the next flight to California.

Ale needed him, and he wasn't going to let her down.

Just as Ale reached the studio the van pulled up next to her, Sophie, Nate, and Eliot getting out. They would all be at the studio today, seeing as it was the run through for the show Tonnie was having the kids put on the next night. They had been working on it for a while and had been learning the dances she was being added in and the new ones Tonnie wanted created for her all week. All of the family members were there today to help with costume changes and get assignments for the day, whether it was setting up, taking tickets, or selling concessions. Apparently, these shows were the talk of the town.

Since Sophie and Tonnie were so close, though, Tonnie wants Sophie watching the whole show so that she can tell Tonnie if lighting is off or something needs to be fixed. Sophie was actually pretty excited…she was looking forward to seeing Ale dance on stage. She had been watching a lot, but Tonnie had also pulled her away for long lunch dates and business conversations.

Ale seemed excited too. She had told Sophie that she hadn't been in a dance show since her mom died.

The rest of the team was anxious for the show, as well. Not only did they get to see what Ale had been working on, but they also were excited for the con to be done. There was a lot of setup work for this one, but it was going to be a good reveal.

It had to be, or else Ale's two weeks of hell would have been for nothing, and the team couldn't handle that if it were true.

Ale didn't want to be so afraid if the team...she was thrilled that Nate and Sophie, as well as the rest of the team, wanted her to be with them.

But the fear she had...it was like her nightmares. As much as she told herself that it wasn't real, and that she wasn't being sensible, it was still there.

Today rehearsals had been tough, bur good. Ale was loving all if the group pieces she was a part of. Her solos were also beautiful, although difficult. Her partner dances were coming together, too. She had the most dances out of anyone in the studio, but she didn't mind. As long as it was helping the con, she would do it.

After Ale had finished running all of her dances Tonnie walked up to her as she iced her knee and shoulder, sitting with Eliot in silence.

"How's my star?" Tonnie asked exictedly.

"I'm good. In getting excited. Mom and dad just went to get something to eat. They'll be right back," Ale smiled.

"Oh good. I need your mothers opinion in what I should wear tomorrow. Your dances look wonderful, by the way. But I have one more I want you to learn. The idea came to me a few nights ago after I read this book about a girl who lost all of her family in a car accident. Great book but horribly sad. I gathered together some of the older cast, and one youngen, to be in the dance with you. You are going to be alone separated by a wall of people, it in your case dark angel men who can catch you, trying to get to your mom, dad, and little brother. Its going to be beautiful and the perfect closer before the actual finale. Don't you think so?" Tonnie smiled.

'No,' Ale thought. 'Its not wonderful. Its going to be the worst dance ever, because I know that book, and I also understand everything that girl went through.'

"I cannot wait to get working," Ale smiled, biting back the fear and sadness that was still growing within her.

She had to do this. She could do this. She would do this.

There was no other way.

Eliot called Sophie, knowing that she and Nate had taken out their comms to have a small break from the team.

Sophie was expecting some kind of call from the younger team members, but she wasn't expecting it to be from Eliot. Her first guess would have been Ale, who would call to complain about Tonnie or Eliot. Her second guess would have been Parker, who would have been complaining about Eliot in Ale's defense. Either way, she was sure that Eliot had himself pulled together enough to not need to call her.

"Who is it?" Nate asked, putting his fork down and leaning on his elbows.

Instead of answering him Sophie put the phone on speaker, Nate's eyebrows raising when he heard Eliot's voice come over the line.

"I know you guys wanted a break," Eliot started, his voice low.

"But..." Sophie prompted, her heart beating in her chest. Nate was nervous too and took her hand across the table. After all, if Eliot was calling, it couldn't be good.

"But Tonnie is having Ale learn a new dance. Before tomorrow."

Nate and Sophie looked at each other, sighing. That girl was already having a bad day. She did not need to be worked all day and night on top of that.

"We can handle that," Nate said calmly.

"I'm not done. The dance is about a girl losing her whole family and deciding if she wants to go with them or stay on Earth. Its basically Ale's life put on the stage," Eliot sighing, "but she didn't get to choose if she went with them."

Sophie sighed, looking at Nate. She had noticed a change in him ever since Ale had been with them. He was a little more easy going and he definitely didn't go rogue, anymore. He was more worried about the team, in a good way. He was very protective over Ale, though.

This con had made Nate tired, although he would never had admitted it. Ale had been through the ringer, and he was hoping that the con would have helped her realize the team was there for her. With what happened this morning, however, he was so nervous that Ale would be broken all over again. Sophie could see it in his eyes.

"She could have chosen," Nate sighed. "She still can."

"What are we going to do?" Eliot asked, the concern evident in his voice.

"We are going to help her though it best we can and try and understand what she is going through. We can't corner her into anything, though, and if she needs space we will give it to her. This job has been a lot more difficult for her than we had planned."

"Can't we just get her out of there?" Eliot grunted. He could see the panic on Ale's face when Tonnie had described the dance. She looked miserable, not to mention how sore and tired she was.

"She needs to do this," Sophie said quietly. "She needs to feel something. She can't run away forever."

If it were up to the team, however, they would help Ale hide forever.

"Are you sure you're okay?" one of the guys asked, holding out his hand to help Ale up from the ground.

"I'm fine," Ale sighed, looking over to the viewing room.

Since there were so many people in the dance, Tonnie had moved the group into one of the big rooms. The kids had been working since that afternoon. It was now after dinner and they hadn't gotten a break. One of the younger boys was Ale's little brother, and her mom and dad were played by two of the teachers. Eight of the guys, including Jason, who were in the competitive teams acted as the barrier between Ale and her family. They barely moved from the center of the stage, and her family only danced once and a while. Ale was the main attraction, being thrown, lifted, and twirled all around. The dance was physically, and emotionally, exhausting.