Sophie finished the book she was reading, looking at her phone for the first time she cracked open the novel.

She had five texts from Ale and one missed call. She also realized that it had been three hours since Ale and Eliot left. Ale threw something at Nate, who was asleep on the couch.

"What, Sophie?"

"It's been more than three hours since Ale and Eliot left," Sophie hissed. "And I have multiple messages from Ale to turn on the coms and get a surveillance on them. Something is not right."

With that Nate sprang off the couch, going upstairs to get Hardison's attention. He was lost in his video game world, barely noticing when Sophie and Nate entered the room.

"Check your phone," Sophie said, starting to panic.

"What, Soph?" Hardison asked, not looking away from his computer monitor.

"Check. Your. Bloody. Phone. Ale tried to contact you when she and Eliot got abducted," Sophie said, Hardison immediately pausing the game.

"What are you talking about?" he said, assuming Sophie was going crazy. When he reached for his phone, however, he saw how many texts he had, asking to turn on the coms, put a trace on Ale and Eliot, and to gather the team.

None of which he did.

"I'm sorry," Hardison whispered, immediately pulling up the coms. As Nate and Sophie pulled up some chairs that were in Hardison's room Parker came bounding into the room, holding up her phone.

"While I was exploring Ale texted me. You're supposed to put on the coms."

"Thanks, Parker," Nate scoffed, Hardison typing something into his computer.

"Well, they're on a road, near where Ale was earlier," Hardison explained. "And the coms are now on."

"So, do we have a deal?" Ale asked, Bo standing up from his spot. It was clear that he was still a little surprised by the kiss.

"We have a deal," Bo nodded, holding out his hand. Ale took it, shaking.

"Good. Now, next time you need to get a hold of me, try calling. Even a nice knock on my door. Men with guns really is cliché."

Ale winked at Bo, turning on her heels and going over to Eliot. The man next to him took off his restraints, Eliot nodding at him, as well as everyone else in the room.

"Do you need a ride?" Bo asked, Ale laughing.

"No. We're good," Eliot said lowly, guiding Ale out of the warehouse by the small of her back.

Once they were out of the warehouse Ale laughed a bit, shaking her head.

"I cannot believe that worked," she whispered, Eliot shaking his head as well.

"I have to hand it to you," Eliot smiled. "You certainly knew how to handle him."

"I figured any dirt bag would enjoy a little strip tease and a kiss," Ale shrugged, shivering a bit. Her hair was still wet, and it had cooled off a bit.

Eliot laughed, slipping off his jacket.

"I'm not cold," Ale said indignantly. At that exact instant goose bumps rose on her arms, Eliot raising his eyebrows at her.

"Sure," Eliot nodded, about to take the jacket back. Instead, Ale snatched it from his hands, slipping it on.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Can we promise to maybe forget that the little show back there ever happened?" Ale asked, looking at Eliot with raised eyebrows. She was absolutely mortified that he had been witness to it, even though it had saved their butts.

"You got it," Eliot nodded. As they walked back to the car they talked about the upcoming wedding, any recent books that they both read, as well as Zoe, Eliot's niece. Just as they got back to the van Hardison came over the coms, asking if they were okay.

"Damnit, Hardison. Where were you three hours ago?" Eliot growled.

"We are fine thanks for asking. We'll be home soon. As you were," Ale sighed, not wanting Eliot to get angry with anyone on the coms. She switched off her com as well as Eliot's. Two seconds later she got a text on her phone, from Sophie, double checking that they were fine.

Ale said they would be home in twenty minutes, and that they would fill them in on what happened.

Sure enough, twenty minutes later Ale and Eliot came through the door, Ale handing a pie to Sophie.

"What the hell happened?" Nate asked, looking at Eliot and Ale as they sat down on the couch. Parker and Hardison were also in there, waiting to hear about their night.

"Well, we were followed by Bo's men, they shot at us, took us to the warehouse, and we made a deal with him. I am now setting Alex up to take the fall on a huge drug ring that I am starting here. With Bo as my main supplier," Ale shrugged. "Why didn't you guys answer us?"

"We thought we were having a night off," Parker shrugged.

"Nate, you have never taken a night off. When we are on a job, we are always supposed to be on high alert," Eliot said.

While he hadn't been angry at the time, the fact that the team hadn't known that they were gone for three hours and they weren't in contact was a little unsettling, despite the fact that they didn't have a specific con that night.

What if they hadn't have been okay? How would they have gotten help?

Ale could see that Eliot was a little upset, and he was worried he was going to get angry with the team. Instead, he told everyone he was going to bed, stomping up the stairs.

"What happened in that warehouse?" Sophie asked, Ale shrugging.

"Nothing. We handled it. We were all good, really. It's just been a long day. Now, how about some pie?" Ale asked, the team all looking at each other with a bit of disbelief.

They were all dying to know what had exactly happened in the warehouse. It seemed too simple. Instead, they decided to talk about a possible new plan while sharing pie.

Once they had finished they decided that Ale would tell Alex about the new drug plan at the end of the week (after spending a bit more time with him) and then when Alex went to pick up the supplies the team would tip off the police, Bo and his crew ending up in jail. Hardison would make it look like Ale was in deep cover, as well as Eliot and Nate, and they would also make a press release that took all blame away from Greenfield.

"Ale, we are really sorry," Sophie eventually said as they finished eating. "We just…this con seemed to be going so well that we didn't even feel we needed to be on alert. Still, we are sorry. There's no excuse."

Ale shrugged, looking at the people around the table.

"It's all good. We handled it and we weren't in too much danger."

"You were shot at," Parker said, taking another piece of chocolate pie.

"But after that…let's just say we had them wrapped around our fingers. Just…I don't know. I wasn't afraid because I knew you had our backs. It let me do what I needed to do to get out of there safely. Eliot felt the same way…until you weren't there. Plus, with the fact that he wanted us all to go to cover for him at that wedding…you said we had is back, but then you weren't there tonight. He doesn't open up often, and then when he did, it was immediately after that we couldn't count on you. Ya know?" Ale said, all of the team looking at each other.

"It's no one's fault. Let's just all make sure we can be reached at all times."

Ale grabbed a piece of pie, as well as a fork, going upstairs.

LEVERAGE

Once they got back to the house Eliot went upstairs. He was a little upset with the team, and he was also still pretty surprised with how the evening had turned out.

After he took a shower he called his family, as well as his friend who was getting married, letting them know that they were for sure coming and that his friends would be there. He was on the phone with Jeff, the guy getting married, when there was a knock on his door, Ale peeking her head in.

"Oh, sorry to bother you," Ale whispered, about to slip back out.

"It's alright, darlin'," Eliot laughed, waving her in.

"Is that the girl?" Jeff asked, Eliot chuckling to himself.

"Yeah."

"Let me talk to her," Jeff said.

"No," Eliot growled, Ale raising her eyebrows.

"Getting in an argument, cowboy?" she asked, handing him the piece of pie.

"Come on, Eliot. I am one of your only friends. We saw things together. We are connected. If there is a hot girl in your room who you are in love with I should get to talk to her. I promise I won't say anything embarrassing."

"Fine," Eliot growled, handing the phone to Ale.

"It's Jeff. The guy getting married. He and his brother are my two best friends. He wants to talk to you. Just ignore whatever he says," Eliot said, sighing. Ale laughed, sitting down next to Eliot on the bed.

"Hello?" Ale said, shoving Eliot away as he tried to hear what Jeff was saying.

"You sound just about as pretty as Eliot said."

"Well thanks," Ale smiled. "Getting excited for your big day?"

"Well, I mean, as excited as you can get with an impending doom of commitment over your head. You ever been married, or close to married, Ale?" Jeff asked, Ale laughing.

"Never close. And never married. But I know some people who were. It didn't seem to bad. I heard there was lots of beer at the wedding so that is a plus."

"You are a smart girl. You are keeping our boy in line over there in Boston, right?"

"Oh yeah. It's a job in itself, but I manage."

"Good. Well, I can't wait to meet you. See if everything Eliot has said about you is true."

"Oh, so Eliot has been talking about me has he?" Ale asked, nudging Eliot with her shoulder. Eliot growled a bit.

"Well, he has talked about all of you. But since you live with him, I definitely get to hear about the wonderful Alessandra Mossetti more than anyone else."

"Naturally," Ale laughed. "Well, Jeff, I tell you what. You and I will have to make sure to trade stories about Eliot when we see you this weekend. Deal?"

"Deal," Jeff laughed, Ale handing the phone back to Eliot.

They said their goodbyes, Eliot looked over at Ale, a big smile on her face.

"You talk about us. You like us," Ale smiled, Eliot taking a bite of his pie.

"What else am I supposed to talk about if we spend all of our time together?"

"I don't know. Does Jeff know the truth about what we do?"

"Yes. He does. And I was thinking about telling my family this weekend. I don't know why they can't know anymore. It's not the same as when I was in my other job. I just…I didn't think that it would work out. The team, that is. I also didn't know how safe my family would be. But it has been nothing but good."

"Then I think you should tell them. Other than Hardison, you are the only one who really has true family left. Don't let us pull you away from them," Ale smiled, stealing a bite of his pie before she slipped out the door of his room, wishing him sweet dreams.

That night, with Ale on his mind, he most definitely had sweet dreams.