So, I'm back! This is going to be lots of stories together as the series progress, starting with the Boiler Room Job.

Title of this fic taken from songs by the Cinematic Orchestra and The Accidental (different songs, same title) which I am planning on integrating later on in the story

Please let me know what you think and let me know if you have any requests and if anyone wants to join in the in the creation of this story, let me know, I might be open to it. =)

Grifter

Nate cleared his throat and put his hand on Sophie's leg, urging her to stop "What she's trying to say," he cut in. "Is that it's not your fault."

"No but it is," the client began. "Most special needs schools are private and charge huge tuition's. Our school runs on grants and donations. We started the investment fund as a way to get out of the red. Bake sales just aren't cutting it these days. Without any money, our doors will close in three months. And those kids are gonna have nowhere to go."

"We won't let that happen," Nate assured the woman, just as Abby walked into the bar, grinning as she texted on her phone and, with Eliot-like spatial awareness, avoided every person and obstacle in her path, despite the fact that she did not look up from the device.
Sophie excused herself from the table and walked over to the teenager.

"Who's the boy?" the grifter enquired.

"What boy? There's no boy?" Abby replied in a manner which would have convinced anyone other than a seasoned grifter.

A seasoned grifter would have also been able to get out the name of said boy in a matter of seconds, but, realising that Abby was growing to be more like family and not a mark, she did not press; if Abby wanted to tell her she would tell her.

"No matter," Sophie dismissed. "Some people just don't understand the elegance of a con. How much work and satisfying a proper grift can be. Likening us to common criminals, honestly," she huffed. "I'll show her."

"What?" Abby said, genuinely confused.

"Nothing darling," she replied off-handedly and the two began their walk up to the apartment.

"Hey Soph?" Abby asked after a few moments of silence.

"Yeah."

"I get what you do," she began as the pair of them walked up the hallway and paused in front of Nate's apartment as Sophie rambled in her purse for the key. "But I don't get how you do it."

"Well," the grifter began, placing the key into the lock. "People, every person, has a desire, has a want; everyone has something you can exploit. You use that exploit to get what you need."

The pair of them pushed the door open, both dumping their bags on the kitchen bench.

"But how does it all come together?"

"That, well, that is Nate's department," Sophie replied. "Goodness knows what goes on in his head to make it all work."

Hitter

"Uh oh," Hardison declared sitting at the bench in Nate's apartment.

"What?" Eliot growled.

"What?" Sophie exclaimed simultaneously, more panic in her voice than Eliot's.

"Nate's comm went off-line," the hacker replied, worry in his voice. Abby looked up from her homework as Eliot straightened up and tensed slightly, then jumped into action.

"Check the camera's at his last known location and then track it," Eliot instructed. "Abby take your comms out."

"What?" she asked.

"Don't argue Abby," the hitter replied and the teenager did as she was told.

"Okay, okay," Hardison stammered then let out a breath. "Camera's show he was nabbed by Sherman and his driver. Location's on your phone."

"Make sure she's stays offline," the hitter said to Sophie as he left, shutting the door behind him.

"Got it man," Hardison replied for the grifter as Eliot shut the front door behind him.

"Nate's going to be fine yeah?" the teenager asked after several minutes had past and, though unbeknownst to her, as Eliot arrived at Nate's location.

"Of course he will," Sophie said.

"What? Yeah," Hardison replied simultaneously. "This guy is hardly dangerous and Eliot has never let anything happen to any of us."

"What do you know about dangerous guys Hardison?" the hitter asked as he walked into the building.

"The guy is named after a fish," Parker pointed out.

Hardison ignored both of the comments. "Don't worry," he reassured. "Nate is fine," he said convincingly as he heard the masterminds' groaning on the other end. "See what'd I tell you!"

The teenager gave him a questioning look.

"Nate just woke up," Sophie explained realising Hardison hadn't remembered the girl wasn't wearing an earbud. "Nate, Eliot's in position," she said to the mastermind.

"Then why did Eliot make me take my comm out?"

Sophie paused for a moment, making sure everything on the other end of the comms was alright, then redirected her attention to the teenager.

"He's just," she began then paused. "He knows that this job is harsh sweetie. He's trying to protect you from the things that we, that he, was exposed to. He's just trying to keep you from getting hurt," she finished.

"Because it's his job to protect us," Parker added innocently. "And because you're super special to him, he wants to protect your head as well as from getting physically hurt."

Sophie was about to query Parker's insight when she was distracted by a statement made by Sherman on the other side of the comms.

"That's funny, 'cause you're sleeping with her. I see it," the mark declared.

Parker and Hardison's eyes widened out of surprise as they gave Sophie an astonished look.

"What happened?" Abby enquired. "Can I have my comm back."

"Hell no!" Eliot stated firmly.

"It's in your body language when you're together," the Mako continued. "It's in your eyes when you look at her. You two have a carnal relationship."

"See, he's just trying to rattle Nate," Sophie stammered in an attempt to defend herself.

"You did say he reads people better than anyone you know," Parker pointed out; Sophie looked sheepish.

"Y'all nasty," Hardison declared.

"I'm so confused!" the teenager exclaimed.

"Oh, Nate and Sophie are having sex," Parker stated blatantly.

"Really Parker?" Eliot complained.

"A little finesse would be nice," Sophie stated under her breath.

TBC