"I like the new look, Squirt," Hardison smiled, looking up from his computer.
"It's temporary," Ale sighed, letting Eliot take her jacket off. "I am battling a slight bout of allergies and my eyes are not agreeing with contacts."
"You wear glasses?" Nate asked, walking down the stairs.
"No," Eliot answered. "She walks around blindly most of the time."
"It was one time," Ale laughed, sniffling a bit.
"Are you sick?" Nate asked, the team sighing.
"You already missed all of this, Nate," Parker whined, plopping down on the couch next to Ale, handing her a tissue. "Now, let's get one with this. Ale probably wants to go home."
"Parker, I'm really fine," Ale whispered.
"I want to go home so that I can finish working on the new harness system that I am creating. If you fake sick we can get out of here," Parker whispered back, practically pleading with Ale.
"Do you really feel that badly?" Sophie cooed, looking over at Ale.
"Apparently I do," Ale nodded, Parker breathing a sigh of relief.
"Well then let's make this quick," Nate nodded, Hardison turning on the monitor.
"There is a church down in Georgia where the congregation leader was just arrested for selling drugs."
"I don't see how that's our problem," Eliot grumbled, handing Ale a cup of tea. "Drink that."
"You aren't supposed to interrupt," Parker warned, wanting to get the show on the road.
"Thank you, Parker," Nate nodded, continuing. "One of the members of the congregation called and they are suspicious about the way things are being handled there. And they want us to investigate. It's not a huge lead, but a lead nonetheless," Nate shrugged.
"And why are we going if there isn't anyone to con?" Sophie asked patiently, Nate sighing.
"There are still a lot of drugs being sold around the area, despite the fact that the apparent drug dealer is behind bars. The person who contacted me is also claiming that the reverend is innocent."
"Who contacted you?" Ale asked, sniffling again. Parker handed her another Kleenex, Sophie smiling at the two of them.
"Mrs. Greenfield. The reverend's mother," Nate winced.
"So we are going to go all the way to Georgia because a man's mother believes he's innocent."
"Yes," Nate nodded. "We don't have any other jobs, and this one will be pretty simple."
"It's never simple when there are drugs involved, Nate. You know that," Eliot sighed.
"Well, it will be. Be ready to go by seven tonight, alright? Sophie has your covers and will help you with your packing."
Nate went upstairs, Sophie handing out a piece of paper to the remaining team members. Ale read hers over, sighing.
"Why am I playing a kid? Again?" Ale sighed.
"People trust parents more. Plus, if Nate is playing the new reverend, then he needs the perfect family to seal the deal. Or in this case, the perfect daughter. Single dads are even more trustworthy," Sophie shrugged.
"Fine," Ale sighed. "I have a lot of packing to do. Are you ready, Eliot?"
"Did you finish your tea?"
"Not yet," Ale sighed again.
"Then we aren't leaving."
"Can I at least go?" Parker asked, moving over to the door.
"Yes, Parker, you can go," Eliot laughed.
"See ya later Ale! Thank you!" Parker called, running out the door.
After Ale finished her tea she and Eliot went back to the apartment, Eliot packing quickly. Once he was done he went into Ale's room to see her surrounded by clothes, her phone pressed to her ear.
"Sophie, can you just trust me on this. Please?" Ale begged, stepping over a pair of shoes. Ale hung up the phone, turning to see Eliot.
"What are you doing?" Eliot asked, Ale sighing.
"I had certain ideas about what to pack and then Sophie called me with her ideas and so I was making piles and now I just have a mess."
"Want some help?"
"You want to help me pick out clothes?" Ale asked, raising her eyebrows.
"I am from the south, darlin', and I might have an idea of how a good girl should dress."
"I didn't think you knew what a good girl was," Ale teased, sitting down on her bed.
"I'm not having this conversation," Eliot growled, starting to root through Ale's clothes around the room. As he turned around to ask her a question Eliot quickly saw that Ale was asleep, curled on a ball on top of her sheets. Eliot laughed, pulling a blanket over her. As he finished packing he made sure to stay quiet, not wanting to wake Ale.
When her phone rang, he went over to the nightstand to silence it. He noticed that the number was unknown so he ignored it and let it go to voicemail, the coward not leaving a message. Eliot erased the call from the cell phone's history, not wanting Ale to be upset by it.
After that he finished packing, turning off Ale's night after placing a kiss on her head.
He was so, so happy that Ale was back with the team. It just seemed right that way.
LIFE GOES ON
"You honestly look amazing," Sophie smiled, opening her arms for Ale.
"Thanks. I had some help," Ale smiled, looking over at Eliot. He was currently taking all of the luggage out of the truck, to load it into the airport.
Ale was adorned in a yellow dress, the top tight and a cap sleeve, the bottom flaring out in a bell shape. Ale had high heels on and her hair was perfectly blown out.
"I didn't help with anything except picking out the dress. You did the hair and makeup. I don't do that," Eliot growled. Ale laughed, taking a couple suitcases in her hands.
The rest of the team showed up then, Hardison passing out new comms—apparently they were better.
"Let's get this show on the road," Nate said, clapping his hands together. Ale couldn't help but laugh, his priest's outfit looking very…professional.
"Wow, Dad, you look great," Ale laughed. Together the pair looked perfect, like they were made for a congregation down south.
"I hope this works. This collar is very restricting," Nate complained, Ale laughing again.
"This was your idea. No complaining."
Nate smiled, glad that Ale was part of the team. It just seemed right that way.