Epilogue

One Year Later...

"Hey El, you ready?" The hacker called out into the open space, where his friend and colleague had been puttering around, preparing the last few touches for their latest job.

"Almost," Eliot then replied, his voice slightly subdued as his mind got lost in thought.

He was thinking about just how much his life had changed over the past few years, from joining the team and abandoning his lone wolf status, to breaking free of his past, and then eventually buying the brewpub and becoming its head chef. Then came his accident and having to learn how to function again, all of it a long journey, leading to here and now.

Because things had progressed quickly during the last twelve months, with the team and their hitter choosing to adapt to each change. The biggest adjustment being Eliot's new role as recruiter.

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Eliot started his new position just a few weeks after his conversation with Nate. His first task, finding his replacement as the team's hitter.

And his goal was to get this done as quickly as possible, so his colleagues could continue working without him, while he focused on other business. Besides, with a hitter that was actually capable of hitting someone, the team could take on larger jobs with targets who pose real threats.

It was a good idea, proceeded by a solid plan of action, however, nothing could prepare Eliot for just how challenging this task would be.

…

Initially, the recruiter began with a list of names of people he knew were still active in his line of work, people he was certain had some semblance of morals and could operate alongside the team. And although the list wasn't particularly lengthy to begin with, it became shorter after he removed a few undesirable possibilities as well as those that wouldn't fit within the team's budget.

Nevertheless, there should have been at least a few good options to choose from, that's if the team hadn't become so damn picky all the sudden.

If he didn't know any better, Eliot would be sure that his friends were purposely making things difficult for him, just to keep him around for longer. However, they assured him, they just wanted someone that felt right to them, and no one that their recruiter had suggested to them quelled that particular itch, so he needed to keep looking.

Well, no one until the next candidate.

Now technically, the next guy Eliot met with wasn't actually someone he was interviewing for the position, he was just an old buddy visiting town. But after a long chat over coffee, wherein he spoke about wanting a new challenge in life, one that kept stateside more often than not. Shelly accepted the invitation to become Leverage and co's new hitter and security expert, although not before scolding his pal for not informing him of his accident sooner.

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So, with that all sorted, and his time freed up, it was time for Eliot could finally get down to business and start building Leverage International to all its glory.

If only life was that simple.

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Before the recruiter could start making good on his plans, he fell ill with a severely sore throat that soon developed into a bacterial infection. And, just like before, the normally common disease hit Eliot hard, resulting in yet another episode of dizziness and high fevers, before he collapsed into the soft embrace of the apartment's sofa.

He probably lay there for half a day before his team finally found him, his brow growing slick with sweat as his body trembled and quaked. If left for much longer, the infection could have turned pretty nasty, however, unlike his last infection, this time his crew knew exactly what to do, with Hardison calling his friend's doctor as soon as he noticed his temperature changing. And after discussing the recruiter's symptoms and deciding that a brief stay in a ward was necessary, the team transported him there immediately so he could rest and recover in peace and comfort.

It was what Eliot needed and he knew that deep down, but that didn't change how annoyed he felt with himself, for delaying his plans even further.

And as if that hadn't slowed Eliot down enough, after his release from the hospital and subsequent recovery, there followed complication after complication, a lot of them caused by the recruiter's continued health issues and lifestyle changes. Because, despite working hard in his therapy sessions and regaining much of his lost strength and dexterity, Eliot never entirely recovered from his accident.

…

After several months of extremely hard work in his physio sessions, Eliot had gradually improved, needing his chair less and less every week, until finally, he didn't need it at all except for those rare bad days. And he even managed to trade his crutches for the cane Nate gifted to him, just a few months after that.

Nevertheless, the limp was still there, always affecting his gate a little, as was the ache in his arm, wrist, and fingers. And this made even the simplest of activities more challenging for the recruiter, whether that be getting to the top floor of a building with no elevator access or convincing other criminals to take him seriously and believe him when he listed his credentials. Even just travelling across the county was a struggle with the large range of pills he still had to take, requiring all sorts of documentation just to board a plane.

And talking about his medication, that was yet another problem. Though only a small one that got solved quickly, after changing his prescription a few times until his side effects were more acceptable to Eliot.

...

In the end, the recruiter managed to work past every bump in the road and made a good number of teams and allies all over the world for Leverage International. And with Eliot taking on an even bigger role in running the company, it wasn't so much a surprise when he ran into an old face during a job.

…

"Well, I guess the rumours were true, although I still don't quite believe it." The blonde hitter was leaning against a wall cleaning his weapon as he spoke. His long curly hair tied back in a low ponytail just like the last time Eliot had seen him.

"Quinn... I see not much has changed with you," the recruiter replied, his cane shifting slightly to better support his weight.

And it was after that comment, that Quinn finally took a good look at his old friend and once enemy, taking in all the changes that appeared before him. It wasn't all that noticeable to start with, but now that he really concentrated the hitter could see quite a few differences other than the obvious limp, and shorter hair. The most subtle change, came in the weight that Eliot had put on during his recovery, just a little extra pudge that had long since plateaued, now sitting comfortably on the recruiter's thighs, stomach, and hips.

"I would say the same, but..."

"What are you doing here Quinn? I don't believe that this is just a happy coincidence."

"It's not." The hitter shrugged, shacking off his jacket before he draped it over his shoulder in a relaxed fashion. "I'd been looking for you for quite a while now, but you're a hard man find. Always jumping from country to country, it's hard to keep up with you."

"Yeah, been busy," Eliot responded with a slight tilt to his head. "That still doesn't explain what you're doing here, and I'm losing patience, Quinn."

He then went to turn away, when... "I want to join you," the hitter stopped him in his tracks.

And Eliot didn't respond, just squinted his eyes, to show his disbelief.

"I thought it might be fun. I kinda' liked working with you guys the last time, and I've heard a lot of good things over the past couple of months."

It was a shock, to say the least, what Eliot was hearing. Still, he considered it for a moment.

"You know we run by some pretty strict rules. Those guns would have to go away." The recruiter nodded his head to wear Quinn's two pistols were poking out of his harness, their sleek black design only complimenting his outfit further, like an accessory.

However, that didn't seem to faze the other man, just offering a quick smirk as he replied, "I can do that."

And with that, it seemed team leverage had itself another new recruit.

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The crew, together with their two new hitters, sat impatiently in their headquarters behind the Bridgeport Brewpub, ready for their latest job to begin. And they were especially eager about this one, because it was the first time in a long time that Eliot would be actively involved, playing the starring role, as Sophie would put it, and that had all of them, even Quinn, itching with anticipation.

Still, they remained quiet, not wanting to rush their friend and colleague, they knew that things like this were a struggle for him, so a little patience was always necessary.

"I'm almost done, I swear."

"Don't worry, El. Just take your time."

And the man in question would indeed take his time, as he looked down at his shoes, deciding which pair would best suit his character.

"Hey El," Shelly called up to his friend. A sly grin plastered across his face, signalling no end of trouble for the recruiter, especially where his old army buddy was concerned. "You got any plans with Benny this week? Any candlelit dinners, or smoochin' in the park?"

It was a commonly asked question these days, as were many involving his new relationship with his ex-physio therapist, and the recruiter was happy to ignore it, but Sophie then added "Coming up to your three-month anniversary, isn't it? Now that's exciting." Her eyes going starry at the thought of true romance.

She had always loved their story, called it a beautiful tale of love overcoming hardships. But Eliot didn't really see it that way, he just knew he liked the guy, and hoped it would last this time.

"Yeah, I guess... I'm just glad he took the whole, 'I'm actually a criminal, and my name's not Krane it's Spencer' talk all so well."

And it had gone well, remarkably well in fact which is why he was taking the man to Sorrento for their anniversary, a fact that he was happy to tell his friends, if only to stop the constant ribbing.

After that the team split off into a number of different conversations, leaving Eliot to get ready on his own.

...

He'd finally chosen a pair of shoes that he felt would be suitable for the con, and was now attempting to tie his laces, something that he could normally do with very little difficulty, that is when his hands weren't shaking like a leaf.

And he couldn't understand why he was so nervous about this particular job, just knew that something was scaring him, about making a mistake and ruining everything for everyone.

"Hey, El." The mastermind reached down and gripped his shoulder. His firm grasp drawing Eliot away from his tumbling thoughts. "Why don't I help you with those?"

It wasn't the first time Nate had helped Eliot with things like this since his accident, and despite all the progress his friend had made, he knew it wouldn't be the last. And that didn't matter, because he would always be there to help, even if the recruiter hadn't found the words to ask for it.

"Thanks."

And before the mastermind bent down to tie his friends' shoelaces, he subtly signalled for the others to leave, telling them confidently to get in position ready for the con.

…

"You ok, El?" Nate asked gently, as his fingers created a loop with the laces, before threading the end through to create a knot. "You seem a bit anxious. Is there something wrong with the plan?"

"No, no. The plan is fine. I just..." and the recruiter huffed, not sure exactly, how to finish that sentence, but determined to try. "I guess I'm just scared that I might make a mistake is all. I haven't done something like this in so long, I don't know if I'm still capable."

The recruiter then sighed again, this time with more resignation than frustration, as he watched Nate tie his second shoe in place, pulling the lace taught so it wouldn't fall undone later. It was after that they sat in silence for a few moments, Eliot wondering nervously about what his boss was thinking.

And luckily, he didn't have to wait for long with his ponderings.

"El... I'm really proud of you, you know that right? Of everything you've accomplished over the past year, despite all the hardships you've faced. Because you can do anything you put your mind to, Eliot, truly anything. And I know if I was in your shoes, I wouldn't have come anywhere near to where you are today, not a chance. What you've created here, with all the teams all over the world, that's amazing, and you should be very proud of yourself as well... So, if you're worried about screwing this up, don't be, because I have complete and utter faith in you. We all do."

And with all that said, the mastermind turned from his friend, ignoring the small tear rolling from his eye as he softly smiled and patted his knee.

"Now come on, we have a concert to steal and only one country singer on our team."

So that's the end of this story.

... Or is it?