"You look good enough to eat. When are you going to leave that old man," Shelly said, grabbing Katie in a big hug.
"The twelve of never," Eliot said walking behind her. "You need to keep one of the ones you keep throwing back."
"Nice. Making women sound like fish," Katie said, tapping him on the ass with her foot.
"But this one is probably eager to upgrade before the warranty runs out on the current model." Shelly laughed. Eliot was shaking hands with some of the guys that Shelly brought with him. She felt better that he knew them. Shelly was watching her and when she glanced at him, he asked quietly, "Are you guys okay? No immediate threat? Who's the guy with the splint?"
"For now. They're just trying to get Sophie back. That's Quinn. He kidnapped me from the airport but then rescued Eliot from a fire. Well…then Eliot rescued him. It's very confusing who rescued who. I think he might be a good guy, but who knows at this point? He just had a beef with Eliot, so he was willing to work for the other guy."
Shelly laughed and shook his head. "Does he ever do anything the easy way? Wait…who is the blonde?"
"You already know Parker and Hardison, don't you?" Katie asked, turning. When Shelly almost knocked her down to approach Tara, Katie just rolled her eyes.
"Tara, this is Shelly," she said with a chuckle. He had already taken Tara's hand and brought it to his lips.
"Shelly, for fuck's sake," Eliot said with a smile, as he walked up. "She's part of the crew so she knows enough to not fall for your cheesy moves. I didn't invite you for a double date or to fix you up."
"I can do two things at once, unlike some people," he couldn't keep his eyes off Tara. It's a good thing he didn't see her in the outfit she had on before. Katie and her were still dressed for dinner before they got on the jet. Tara's dress had been very short, clingy, and low cut. Now she was dressed down. Katie knew Tara was very hot, so she wasn't surprised at Shelly's reaction. She used to watch Eliot every time Tara came around looking for anything to worry about. Tara seemed to respect Eliot quite a bit professionally but that's all she picked up on. She hoped Eliot couldn't fool her that easily, but the grifter could have masked any attraction for him quite easily. Katie couldn't read her at all. She quickly realized that she had to believe them or not since they conned people better at catching lies than she was.
"So, anyway, hopefully, we can pick this up later, Tara," Shelly grinned before turning back to Eliot. "I have a friend who works at the airport. He's getting us some uniforms for baggage. Me and the guys can hang out close to where your jet is supposed to land. He's also going to make sure there are full baggage tugs in the area so we can shrink the area where Blackpoole's people will be."
"Good. They'll be armed," Eliot said, and Shelly showed his bulletproof vest.
"Yours is in the van and I wasn't sure who was going to be out there with us, so I brought some extras. And since Katie usually gets shot, I brought her one," he replied with a smile in her direction. "No, seriously I brought enough for everyone just in case. If your arm is broken and his leg is broken, who's going to meet with the guy."
"I will," Tara said, and when Eliot started to argue she added, "You and Quinn aren't going to do anything, but get yourselves shot. Especially since he will consider both of you as threats. You can come with me. I know he knows you as the muscle and he clearly considers you in charge since Nate is gone, but if you won't promise to not fight, I'll tie your arm to your side."
Katie bit back a chuckle. Shelly didn't bother trying to smother his. "Man, I like her already."
"Tara, if I'm in charge, why are you making up the play?" Eliot glared at her.
Katie wondered how big this argument was going to get. She walked over to where Hardison and Parker were sitting. Eventually, she tuned them out. A couple of the guys came over and offered them input on which would work better, and what was safer.
"Can you guys wake me up with they're finished," she said. She started feeling sick again. It wasn't morning, why was she sick? Well, technically it was morning but just barely. "On second thought, I need food or I'm going to puke. You guys hungry?"
"Always," Parker replied with a smile. "Should we tell Eliot?"
"Yeah, I'll just ask one of these guys to drive us to get some food. I doubt anything is open inside now. It's the middle of the night. She looked around for Quinn and saw him in the passenger side of a van, apparently asleep.
"Eliot," Hardison said into the coms. "We're going to get some food. Katie is coming with us. Can I get a key to the van Quinn's in?"
Eliot said a few things to the guys over there and came over to bring the keys. As Hardison and Parker began walking to the van, she pulled him close, removing the com from his ear. "Please be more careful than normal. I need you. We need you."
"I know," he whispered, kissing her softly. "Are you okay? You look a bit pale."
"I think I just realized morning sickness happens whenever it wants. I'll be fine. Hopefully, food will help. Are you hungry?"
"Yes, but I have a job to do. You're going to have to wait, you nympho," he laughed at her expression. "Yeah, get me something. I'm sure at some point I can manage to eat it. Tara is kind of picky, but Hardison probably knows what she wants. Be careful. I don't think there is any danger here but I'm still not sure about Quinn. Wait, I'll have one of the guys go with you just in case."
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you too." She put the com back in his ear with a smile.
He came back in a few minutes with a guy. "Katie, David. Apparently, all the guys are hungry so get enough food to feed an army."
When he jogged away, she looked at David as they were walking, "Are you guys building an army for this?"
"Not a whole army. Just a battalion or two." He grinned. "I'm from around here if you want me to drive."
She nodded then feeling suddenly emotional she said, "I know he's good at what he does, I mean better than good but just don't let anything happen to him. He's fearless and that scares the shit out of me."
"We'll watch his back. Don't worry," David said with a smile. "Shelly's already told me what happened the time you got shot and Eliot took on like twenty men. I already know how stubborn he is. But this time, he's not protecting you so it shouldn't be as personal."
"Yes, it is personal. All this started due to Blackpoole wanting revenge. Plus, Eliot's protecting Sophie who is important to him. And if Tara or either of the other two are out there with him, he'll protect them too…." Katie trailed off. "I'm sorry. It's been a long day."
David nodded to her like it was no big deal, but she knew she needed to stop being so emotional with complete strangers. It's bad enough when it's someone she knows. The fact that Shelly told them about her getting shot means they probably know what led to all of that. She hated feeling like everyone around her looked at her like she was a naïve child. She also didn't know how much of this emotional crap was due to the baby. She hoped all of it was the baby. She worried she embarrassed Eliot. She already knew that Quinn and Tara thought she was naive. Hell, she knew she was. It's not something she can get over that easily. And she's going to be a mother. She was probably the most unprepared person.
xOxOx
"What's wrong?" Eliot scooted closer to her in the van. When she shook her head, he pulled her chin up to look at her. "I said what's wrong?"
"I heard you. It's nothing," she said and almost instantly felt tears burning her eyes. Eliot shifted them both in the seat so no one else could see her or hear them talking. She closed her eyes for a moment. "I'm just afraid for you and so overly emotional. I can't help it. I don't know what's going on."
"It's been a long day with a lot of built-up adrenaline too. Plus, you're pregnant," he whispered, kissing her lightly. "You're going to be overly emotional and probably bitchy or any other emotion."
She could not help but laugh. "I don't think bitchy is an emotion. I think it's considered an attitude. But you're probably right. I just can't stop thinking of all the things that could go wrong tonight. I know you have to do this to get Sophie back, but I'm just scared. Considering you almost died in a fire a few hours ago, I don't think my being afraid is an overreaction."
"I will be fine. I know you have a hard time believing it after some of the things we have dealt with when you and I were both on a job, but I do know what I'm doing. And I have an extra backup. Shelly would jump on a grenade to protect one of his friends. Besides, I have extra incentive to get out of this unscathed." He ran his hand through her hair and pulled her into a loving kiss. Katie returned it eagerly, pulling some sense of comfort from his kiss. Releasing her lips he smiled at her. "You know in a short period; you have become everything to me. I don't think you realize how unlike me this is."
"I do know. And you are everything to me."
"Then marry me," he whispered. "And not because of the baby. Marry me because we love each other. It doesn't have to be tomorrow, but I want to marry you." He didn't give her a chance to answer as he kissed her a few times.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. She felt the tears running down her face, but they were happy tears. When he pulled away, he just waited. and she realized she didn't say 'yes' out loud and started chuckling. "Yes. I will marry you. Tomorrow, next week, next year, I don't care when."
"The airport is five minutes away. Everyone get ready," Tara said.
Fear tied Katie's stomach in knots. She checked Eliot's vest and watched the other guys loading bullets into guns and getting the rest of their gear ready. They pulled into a building near the runways so they could get the uniforms for the guys. Eliot and Shelly would stay with Tara and meet with Blackpool. Hardison was going to be in a baggage tug monitoring communication. Quinn offered to stay with Katie, but Eliot didn't trust him enough yet, so he was staying in the other van. He knew that Quinn could easily disappear with her and demand the painting in exchange. So, he was going in the van with Eliot, but he was staying in the van out of Blackpoole's sight.
After the guys were in their baggage uniform a few of them got the baggage tugs and soon it was just the ones meeting with Blackpoole and Michael, the guy Eliot left behind with her and Parker. She argued about not being able to go, in the van at least, but he remembered in Kentucky her attempting to jump out of the van too many times. He couldn't worry about her risking her safety or someone else's if she saw Eliot get hurt.
Katie tried not to cry when she was saying goodbye but apparently, she was incapable of it right now.
"Please be careful. Protect the others but also protect yourself," she whispered in his ear as he gave her a tight hug.
"I'll be fine. I promise," he replied then he gave her a long kiss. "Just think about our celebration after this is over. Oh, the painting is in your luggage."
"Wait, what?" she said and started to pull away, but he held her tightly, whispering in her ear. "Tara and Shelly switched out the paintings. Tara had brought a fake to Vegas, and they swapped the canvases while you guys were getting food. Only the four of us know but make sure you keep an eye on your bag."
"Okay," she nodded. She had two hundred and fifty million dollars worth of stolen art in her luggage. Nothing to be nervous about. She kissed him again then let him go. She hugged Shelly and Tara too. Shelly promised he'd protect him.
They couldn't see anything from here, but she heard the jet land. Apparently, Blackpoole and his men were waiting on them. It was hard to tell what was going on over the coms due to the sound of the jet since Eliot and Tara were very close to it. Katie heard shots and thought her heart would explode. She heard Shelly tell Tara and Sophie to get down. She wasn't sure if the gunfire drew the police but soon the area was flooded with cop cars.
Next thing she knew, Hardison was driving the baggage tug as fast as it would go, which wasn't very fast, into the building where they were waiting. When he stopped Eliot pushed luggage off himself and rolled off the cart followed by Shelly. The two of them were laughing as they helped Tara and Sophie off the cart. Katie ran up to Eliot and jumped into his arms.
"You're not even bleeding," she said with a laugh. "I'm so proud of you." She kissed him a few times. Then, putting her feet back on the ground, she went and hugged Shelly and then Tara. She had to wait for Sophie because Hardison and Parker were holding onto her.
The other four guys and Quinn came up in the two vans. "We have about ten minutes to get away from here before my friend said the police are shutting down the area. It seems there was a shootout," David said with a laugh.
"We can celebrate later because I think some of you guys need to go to the hospital. Eliot, here's the painting," Tara said with a smirk handing him the wooden box the painting had been in. She whispered to Katie, "The frame is still the original."
"Sophie, why don't you come with us," Eliot said. He threw his keys to Shelly. "You guys can hang out at the brownstone while we're at the hospital if you want."
Katie finally hugged Sophie. "Was it terrible?"
"The rescue was amazing. Always fun being rescued by a lot of men. Blackpoole got shot in the shoulder by one of his men. Nothing fatal, sadly. The time spent with Blackpoole was not much fun. Why are we taking Quinn with us? Did Eliot break his leg?"
Laughing Katie shook her head. "No, but Eliot only threw him off a building. Quinn broke his leg in the fire. That's how Eliot broke his arm. But Quinn did go in there to rescue him, although Eliot ended up rescuing him. There were lots of manly rescues. Quinn might not be that bad now if he tries, I'm not sure."
"Sounds exciting. Are you okay? Parker, did you get hurt too?" Sophie asked.
"I'm mostly okay. Mainly just a headache but Eliot doesn't think it's a concussion." Parker said quietly. "Mainly, I'm just tired and jet-lagged.
Katie explained the whole night's events and Sophie told her about Tara and Eliot's brilliant rescue. The police were always part of the plan. David had friends on the force. Blackpoole was in police custody now as were his men.
"I'm just glad I didn't get shot this time," Katie said with a laugh. "Maybe everyone will stop with the 'Katie always gets shot' jokes.'
They pulled into the hospital and split up, so it looked less suspicious. Katie was amused that Quinn ended up with Sophie. Katie hoped she would give him an earful. In between the exam, X-rays, and the cast, Eliot kept pulling her into the hospital bed with him. After the cast, he told the nurse that Katie needed to be examined.
"You're in luck. We have an OBGYN on duty tonight." When she left the room, Katie started feeling nervous. What if she wasn't pregnant and got excited over nothing but the stomach flu or something? The nurse came back and took Katie to another room and gave her a gown. Eliot came into the room after she was in the gown, and she saw the excitement in his eyes.
"Stop worrying," he told her with a smile. "You're going to stress out the baby."
"But what if I'm not pregnant?" she asked. "And if I am, I drank alcohol recently and…"
"Stop," he said laughing. "If you're not then we both know we need to work on it some more. Now that we both know we want a baby."
The doctor came in and Katie let Eliot introduce them because she totally forgot her fake name. The doctor asked her a lot of questions while the sonogram tech was setting things up. She asked Katie to follow up with her regular doctor unless there appeared to be a problem with the sonogram.
Eliot held her hand as they waited for the tech to find the right spot. Katie heard the heartbeat but thought it was just her own at first until the doctor said that their baby had a strong heartbeat.
"Oh, you're further along than eight weeks like you thought." The tech pointed out the baby's features on the screen. "Can't tell the gender but it looks like a perfectly healthy fourteen-week-old fetus." Katie glanced at Eliot, and he was watching the screen, completely engrossed. He finally looked at her and gave her a long kiss.
Turning to the doctor, he asked about the scars she had and if that was going to be a problem.
"Since her doctor knows ahead of time, it should be fine. She might need a C-section but maybe not."
After the doctor left, the tech was getting ready to print off the picture of the scan and make a video for them and Katie asked her to put Eliot and Katie as the names. "We have these silly nicknames for each other," she explained. The woman didn't act like it was too odd. After she left Eliot was studying the scan as she was getting dressed. He looked so cute she couldn't help but smile.
"Do you realize that based on the fourteen-week estimate, I've been pregnant half the time I've been in Boston?" She walked over and he grabbed her around the waist and kissed her stomach. "It was nearly impossible for me to get pregnant, plus I was on the pill when I got pregnant. You have some very ambitious sperm."
"I try," he said with a smile. "Let's go find the others. I want to go home and sex you up."
He waited until they got in the van and handing Sophie the sonogram, he said, "Sophie, you need to see this new piece of art I picked up."
Sophie looked at it for a minute before she realized what it was. "Oh my…I thought you couldn't get pregnant Katie."
'She just told me that to trap me," Eliot said avoiding her pinching him.
"So, you're happy? You're both happy?" Sophie said slowly and when they assured her that they were she reached over the seat to hug them both. "Then I'm thrilled for you."
"Wait…what is going on back there," Hardison said. "Did I hear…who's pregnant?"
"Not me," Quinn laughed. "And despite our recent honeymoon, that is not my baby."
"Tomorrow night or the next, you guys come over and we'll celebrate it. And discuss another small bit of business." When everyone looked confused, Eliot laughed. "You guys forgot the painting, didn't you?"
"I thought Blackpoole got it," Sophie said, excited. "Where is it?"
"I thought Tara had it," Quinn said confused.
"No. Katie had it all this time. Shelly and Tara swapped the canvases and put the original in Katie's bag. But we got the original frame back now too. We'll need to figure out the cut because Shelly and his guys deserve something. They didn't even know how much the painting was worth. They were just helping us out. But I think we can manage a split that is still more money than we can spend in our lifetime," Eliot said, then wrapped his arms around Katie. "Well, most of us. Hardison and Sophie have expensive tastes, her with her clothing and shoes and Hardison with his electronics."
"I must replace all that I had before that the FBI got. So yeah. I might spend a bit," Hardison admitted.
"I'm getting rid of that car of yours and buying you a mini-van," Katie warned Eliot.
"Not gonna happen."
This is not the end.