Eliot Spencer walked into the mid-town diner around noon. He scanned the room exits there and there, he thought to himself, before walking over to a table near the wall where he sat down, face to the door. It was easier to see what was coming this way; no surprises.

'Remember Eliot,' Nate's voice said in his ear. 'We only need to make him suspicious of them. Just point him in the right direction.'

'Ya know Nate, I still don't understand why I'm here, dressed in this monkey suit, and not you?'

'Because, I once investigated him for insurance fraud back in my IYS days. He'll recognise me.'

'You were in a room with the man for two minutes!'

'I don't even want to know how you know that Eliot.' Nate retorted.

'He's here,' Eliot stated, just as the mark walked in. 'Lionel,' Eliot acknowledged, though mostly for the teams benefit.

'Mr. Smith, shall we get down to business?' the mark said, referring to Eliot by one of his many aliases.

'That's what we're here for.' He replied as he gestured to the man to sit.

'Now tell me,' Lionel began,' why should I use your services and not anyone else's? I am perfectly comfortable in my current situation.'

'Well Lionel, we deal in a lucrative business and sources have told me that your, ah, business partners haven't been as forthcoming with you as you'd believe.'

At that moment a young female waitress walked by, carrying a coffee jug and some mugs, which she proceeded to place in front of them. Eliot halted his talking, for fear of being overheard. 'Coffee gentlemen?' She asked, with an unusual accent; A mix between Australian and American he thought to himself,it was, after all, a very distinctive accent.
"Thank you darlin'" he replied. She poured Lionel's first and then, as she moved to fill his cup, he saw it. The necklace, dangling from her neck; an army dog tag and a metal heart shaped pendant. Then, he looked at her face.

Wavy brown hair cut just at her shoulders, olive skin and a beautiful smile which almost hurt him to see. Then, as their eyes met, he could almost see the colour drain from her face. Her shock must have been greater than his as she dropped the coffee mug, sending shards of glass and hot liquid everywhere.

'You..' She stammered. Tears were welling in her eyes as Eliot stood up. Dammit. Dammit, Dammit DAMMIT! He screamed at himself. Why here in front of this particular bastard of a mark.

'Eliot.' The others must have realised something was wrong. 'Eliot what's happening man?' Hardison queried, but before he could say anything the girl ran towards the kitchen, tearing her apron off in the process. Think Eliot, make a decision.

'I'm sorry Lionel, we're going to have to reschedule.' He said, already halfway to the door where the girl had disappeared.

'WHAT!' Four voices screamed simultaneously in his ear. 'What the hell are you doing man! You know how long...' He pulled the earbud out of his ear and placed it in his pocket. He didn't need to deal with Hardison and the others, not just yet.

He ran into the kitchen and towards the girl, who was now carrying a bag, sobbing, heading out a door into the street. As soon as they'd cleared the sight of the kitchen, he lightly grabbed her shoulder.

'Don't you dare!' she screamed as she pulled away from him.

'What? Don't I dare what?'

'Don't you dare try and give me excuses and reasons. Don't you dare try and make everything better and don't you dare think that you have the right to have anything to do with me. You lost that right when you left and never looked back!' She continued walking, her pace quickening.

"You think I wanted to leave? You think I enjoyed walking away from you?" She turned to face him now, tears running down her face

"Whether you wanted to or not, you still left!" she screamed and turned to continue walking away. "And I don't blame you for leaving; I blame you for not coming back"

"Hey, don't walk away from me!"

"I'm walking away because you walked"

"Look kid, I would not have run off but…" he trailed off.

"But what?" He didn't reply and she scoffed.

'Why are you even here?" He asked, in a desperate attempt to switch the subject.

'Shit happens.'

'Hey, you watch your mouth!" They were on the main street now, and the team's van was only a few feet away. He didn't need them to know about this. 'I mean why are you here?'

"Because I deserved more! I at least deserved the respect of a goodbye! But don't worry. I'm not about to expect something more." A bus pulled up and she quickly got on, paid the driver and sat down.

"I shouldn't have been so lost to you and I'm sorry, but I had my reasons." He said as he ran on after her.

'Excuse me!' the bus driver yelled. 'You gotta pay' Eliot did nothing and just stood there, staring.

"Sir. Sir, SIR are you going to pay or are we gonna have a problem?' He stood there for a few more seconds, still staring and the girl, before angrily turning around and walking off the bus. It almost killed him to see it drive away.