The episode referenced in this one-shot is Season 2, Episode 12: The Zanzibar Marketplace Job.

Just a note, there are direct word quotes from the episode. A big thanks to the Leverage, Seriously, website, who had posted the pretty accurate transcripts from the entire original series. You can find it at leverage.

The legalities. I do not own any of the Leverage franchise (characters, places, and objects especially) and this is mostly au.Rated M just to be on the safe side.

Also, please don't be afraid to write reviews. I would love to hear from you all!

Hope you enjoy!

Prompt: "You're the Crown Prince of collateral damage."

"I don't have a good feeling about this, El. We haven't heard a thing from Nate since before Parker got the egg."

Alec looked up at where Pru was pacing in the IYS offices that Sterling had commandeered as soon as they'd landed in Ukraine. Eliot was carefully watching her like he was expecting her to explode. The hacker really didn't blame the hitter as he sighed and spoke up now. "I have to agree with her. This isn't good. I can't get him on the cell or the comm."

Sterling just didn't seem to care. "Case is closed, people. The egg is back. I'm sure that Nate is breaking it to Maggie about her continued poor choices in men."

Pru quickly turned, glaring daggers at the insurance investigator, which actually caused the man to take a step back. "Of course, you would act all blasé about this, because you got what you wanted and that's all that matters to you. Something is seriously wrong, but you couldn't care less. Because you are the crown prince of collateral damage!"

Eliot had stood about halfway through her rand and kept himself between her and Sterling, ready to grab her just in case she decided to lung at the insurance investigator. All further conversation was halted, however, when Alec's phone rang. "It's Nate's cell."

Everyone turned to face him as the hacker put it on speaker and a distorted voice started to speak. "We have your people. No police. Await further instructions." And they hung up.

"What are you doing?" Pru turned to see Eliot staring at Sterling, who was dialing on his phone.

"Calling the police. They don't get to dictate to…"

Eliot quickly grabbed the phone out of his hand. "We're not calling the cops. Two hostages means that they can kill one to make a point." He now turned back to the team. "Alright, listen. There are three types of calls we can get next. One, amateur. Cash and a dump site. Number two, professional. That's wire transfers and multiple location drop-offs. And three, targeted."

Alec furrowed his brow. "Targeted toward us?"

The manager sighed before crossing her arms. "No, towards a specific ransom demand. Not cash." She and Eliot both looked over at the case that held the Faberge egg and Sterling finally put two and two together.

"You are not risking a nine-million-dollar artifact…"

"It might be the only way."

"…on a hunch! Let me run this. We track the calls, find out whoever it is, have the police surround…"

Pru sighed as she and Eliot went around the table to stand near the team. The hitter spoke up again. "Sterling, I'm the retrieval specialist. That's my job."

Sterling just sneered at them. "Your friends' lives hang in the balance, and you're going to take your cues off a punch-up artist instead of me? Call me when you need me, because you will need me."

As the insurance investigator left with the case, Pru sighed again. This job had just gone from bad to worse. But there was no time for that now. Now, however, they needed to bring Nate and Maggie home.