Disclaimer: I do not own Leverage or this amazing team. I simply began writing at a friend's encouragement for fun and to explore what could have happened off screen. I am making no money off of this and no copy-write infringement is intended. My only form of payment are reviews :)

A/N: Thank you everyone who is reading the story and especially those who reviewed. I want to send out a special thank you to Valawenel and musingmidge77 for being my betas and support system. They are lovely women and wonderful writers themselves.

Chapter 4

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Sterling loathed hospitals. The white walls around him and steady beeping of Nate's heart rate monitor was driving him mad. The mechanical humming of the other machinery he could tolerate, however that infernal beeping had grated his last nerve. He quickly stood and crossed the room in five steps; two more and he entered the hallway. Nodding to the agent posted outside Nate's room, he sidestepped a nurse on his way through the over-sized entrance/exit doors into the main hospital. Finally Sterling couldn't hear the beeping any longer.

He ambled down the hall towards the main lobby, taking his time and watching the foot traffic passing by him. He made it one more step before a blond head appeared in front of him. Nevins, FBI agent. He bared his teeth in a snarl that the woman provoked just by breathing the same air as him.

"What are you doing out here?" she said, and his snarl transformed into a low growl as she continued talking. "I was on my way to inform Agent Rollins that I cleared Ford to be transferred to a single room down the hall. The doctor said Ford needed to stay in this wing but since I filed the request he would transfer him. A single room will be much easier to work from."

Sterling felt a headache developing behind his forehead. This was the stupidest woman he'd ever had the displeasure of meeting, let alone supervising. "They aren't moving Ford, so there is no need to tell Rollins anything. Nate is staying in SICU as long as he can so you need to go find whichever doctor you spoke with and withdraw your request."

"Protocol states that when possible subjects under arrest should be placed in a single room to enhance control of the situation." Nevins placed a hand on each hip and had the nerve to frown at him. "That's what I'm doing. Maybe you should review your own protocols."

She was completely infuriating. "I don't need to review anything," he said. "Transferring Nate out of SICU will only make things easier for the rest of Nate's team to help him escape, not for Interpol to make sure he is still here to stand trial in a few months."

"Interpol and FBI, this is a joint case between ou-"

Sterling ignored her and continued to explain. "More people around Nate make it harder for his team to try anything without being observed by someone – even if it's the nurses and not one of your agents. The glass walls in SICU mean anyone near the nurse's desk or even just walking by can see everything happening inside the room-"

"The tiny room!"

Hearing her whine increased his headache exponentially. "Clearly the room is cramped when more than one person is in there; that's why I put your agent outside the door. Now, interrupt me one more time and I will shoot you."

Sterling would bet his car that Nevins wasn't even aware enough to notice he had changed out the lobby security guards to some of his own agents. They hated the rent-a-cop uniforms but at least his agents knew how to obey orders. He couldn't fathom how she was still an FBI agent, much less alive, with her sour attitude and general lack of knowledge.

He noticed her anger building at having to wait for his words; she balled up her fist and her eyes flashed with impatience. He kept his voice even and the order clear. "Listen carefully, Nevins. I know all about protocols and room sizes and your issues, but it would do well for you to remember that Nate isn't a regular witness. He's already destroyed two years of your evidence and only I know what else he's capable of. Now run along and withdraw your transfer request before you ruin this entire case again."

For a long moment, she just stood there looking at him. He would rather deal with any other blonde on the planet – even Parker – than to be in the same city block as this so-called agent. As she finally started walking back from the way she came, Sterling wondered if maybe he could get her transferred somewhere else instead.