I should mention that if you haven't seen the Queen's Gambit, this may feel a little jumpy.

If you don't have access to it, you can read the transcript at whendarknessfalls (or just google leverage transcript)

Also, I own nothing... sad but true.

"You too," Abby smiled politely. She watched momentarily as the girl was marched away, then turned in the opposite direction and pulled her com out of her pocket.

"Now all we need to do is break into the vault, and steal the weight," she heard Parker conclude as she placed the device in her ear.

"Uh, guys," Abby interrupted.

"Hmm?" Nate questioned.

"I, think, uh," she began then took a slight pause to collect her words. "You know that girl Olivia?"

"What about her?" Eliot asked, minutely concerned she was getting involved.

"I think she's related to Sterling," she informed them. Back in the main event hall, Nate paused his walking and pondered for a moment.

…

"Step Daughter"

…

That's what Sterling had corrected, they certainly had similar features, and it would make sense as to why Sterling was so motivated with this case.

"You're sure?" the mastermind questioned.

Despite the fact she knew they couldn't see her, she nodded. "Mhm. She said something about her father having a less than sterling reputation. That kinda sounds like him, plus, I don't think that's a thing."

"Okay, he must be trying to get her back," Nate said matter of factly. "Eliot, stay close to Sterling, but don't let him know."

"Why wouldn't he just tell us? And why don't we just tell him that we know?" Parker enquired.

"For the same reason Eliot didn't tell us and for the same reason we didn't tell Eliot that we knew," the mastermind replied.

"What reason is that again?" the thief asked.

"Trust, Parker," Sophie reminded her. Back in the car Eliot shook his head.

He had still hated that they hadn't told him that they knew. Sure, trust was important, but it would have made everything darned less complicated if they'd just let him know. But he let it slide; until Nate's plan's started to go haywire (or unless it was unbelievably stupid), he found it best to trust Nate's plan. Mostly.

"Oh, right. Trust."

"Good job Abby," Nate praised as an afterthought. "Eliot, make sure the Kazakhstani's don't come back here. Keep an eye on them."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Look on the bright side," Sterling exclaimed, passing Eliot some coffee. "I think this'll give us an opportunity to spend some real quality time together, Spencer."

"Oh and Eliot," Nate began, Sterling's unique demeanour reminding him of something important he had to tell Eliot. "Try not to kill Sterling; we may need him later."

"I can't promise that!" Eliot exclaimed and Abby burst out laughing.

"What was that?" Sterling asked; Eliot just rolled his eyes, stared down the coffee and took a large sip.

He knew there was something wrong instantly and, out of frustration, his hands tightened, forming fists just waiting to be reunited with Sterling's face.

Sterling had drugged him. He was desperate, he had drugged him and Eliot was furious but, it was already too late.

The taste of the drug had been strong and intensely bitter. Sterling was, as much as Eliot hated to admit it, smart, so he'd probably gone overboard with the dosage meaning there was enough in there to knock him out for approximately a few hours.

In that one sip? Judging on the intensity and experience, Eliot guessed he'd be out for a good twenty minutes.

How long until the drug kicked in, he wasn't sure. What he was sure about was that, no matter what his intentions, Sterling was going to get a painful punch to the face when he woke up.

And, until then, he was going to annoy the hell out of him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Parker, are you in position?"

"In position," the thief huffed.

"Okay, start your clock when I start mine, I can guarantee you five minutes, hopefully more," he instructed as he walked purposefully towards the match. "Abby, I want you to stay on Olivia, okay?" he continued, ignoring Parker's complaining in his ear.

"Okay," Abby, standing next to Sophie, nodded and waited for a protest from Eliot; curiously, there was none.

Hardison noticed the discrepancy too and quickly checked the hitter's comm; it was offline.

"Nate, when's the last time you checked in with Eliot?" he questioned.

"Uh, why?" he asked, glancing quickly and concernedly over at Abby.

"Because his com dropped off the grid about nine minutes ago," the hacker informed. "No pings, no system statuses, no nothing."

"Possible causes?"

"Lots of things; damage, water-"

"If something went wrong though we would have heard it, right?" Abby questioned, hope and worry in her voice.

Hardison sighed. "I muted his comms because of all the yammering with Sterling," he confessed.

"What about Sterling?" Nate asked as the lights in the room began to dim.

"With Eliot, as of nine minutes ago."

"Okay, so, whatever he's got planned he's putting in motion now," he concluded. "Hardison and Parker, stick to the plan. Abby, odds are things are going to get interesting so stick on Olivia only if it is safe to do so." He was sure to emphasise those last instructions.

"Okay," she agreed quietly.

"And Abby," Nate added as he walked towards the table. "Sterling may be a pain and a bastard and a myriad of other things, but he's not dangerous. Eliot is fine. Get it?"

"Got it."

"Good," Nate smiled. "Okay Parker, get ready."

Don't think this is my best work but... oh well.

And, mysticaljayne, many thanks for the honest review =)