Ninety Miles to Cuba (Part 3 of 3)

[fleurlb]

A/N: Written to try to satisfy lovesrogue36 ‘s prompt at leveragekink : ‘Nate/Sophie, fugitives on the run.’  Part three of three. Read part one here  and part two here. 

 

Disclaimer: I own nothing here and am just doing this for fun and to pass the time until Season 3. 

 

------------------------------------

 

The next morning, Sophie invites him to have breakfast with her, a peace offering that he nearly feels churlish enough to refuse. But something about the way she asks through the door, tentative and uneasy, her feet making uncharacteristic shuffling noises, causes him to agree. 

 

 

After he’s cleaned up and dressed, he leaves his room and crosses the small landing to her door, which is open. Her room has an exit to the outside and she graciously welcomes him out onto her “veranda”, a rather grand word for what is essentially a small wooden deck with a round table, sun umbrella, and two chairs. 

 

The view more than makes up for it, since the house backs right out to the gulf. Nate can see the dock with a couple of speedboats and then nothing but blue, the water and sky meeting at an indeterminate point on the horizon. 

 

“Yes, Gerard definitely prefers you. If I had any doubt, this,” he says, gesturing across the deck to the water, “would certainly settle the matter.”

 

“Oh Nate, don’t be ridiculous,” replies Sophie as she pours him a cup of coffee and hands him the sports section of the newspaper. Nate accepts both with a small smile.

 

Breakfast consists of fruit salad and bagels, but neither of them eats very much. Nate hides behind the newspaper, stealing glances at Sophie. She appears to be absorbed in a glossy gossip magazine, but he can’t help noticing that she hasn’t turned a single page in twenty minutes.

 

He lays the paper down on the table and takes a deep breath. “Soph, I’m sorry about yesterday.”

 

She looks up, startled, and tries to wave the apology away with an airy laugh. “Nothing to apologize for.”

 

“It was nice to get outside, but it wasn’t so nice to be alone. Please come with me tonight.”

 

Sophie puts her hand on her neck, like she’s trying to work out a stiff muscle, and looks down. She’s silent for several seconds and before she speaks, she lifts just her eyes to look at him through her hair. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. You’re a fugitive, after all.”

 

Now it’s Nate’s turn for a breezy wave and dismissive laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous. Who’s going to see me? And even if people do see me, who’s going to recognize me with this fabulous haircut?”

 

“I might have an idea that will work. But I’m going to have to talk to Gerard first.”

 

“Just to be clear, Soph, I don’t want to hang out with Gerard.”

 

She laughs a bit longer than the joke really warrants. “I’ll take that under advisement. Meet me in my room this evening, around eight.”

 

---//---

 

Nate steps into the boat uneasily. It feels like a child’s bath toy and he’s just grateful that the wind is light and the water is glassy calm. Sophie pilots the boat out around the edge of the island. In the gathering darkness, Nate can still make out the hulking buoy that marks that southernmost point in the United States.

 

“Ninety miles to Cuba,” he says.

 

Sophie’s eyes light up. “You want to go? I’ve got a couple of British passports in my purse.”

 

Nate shakes his head, eyes wide at the thought of skipping along the open ocean in flimsy fiberglass. “No. I’m going to take a raincheck on that one.”

 

Her voice takes on a tone that’s equal parts comforting and teasing. “You’re not comfortable in boats.”

 

“No, not really. My father had several unsavory... associates. About the worst thing they could invite you on would’ve been a boat ride around Boston Harbor.”

 

“And yet here you are.”

 

“Here I am,” he confirms, holding his arms out.

 

“We’ll stay close to land, then. You can swim, right?”

 

Nate smiles and nods as Sophie keeps the throttle low and guides the boat gently around the curve of the island. She finds a quiet spot, which he’s pretty sure is just off of the beach he visited the night before. She turns off the engine and then walks to the middle of the boat, sitting down gracefully on the side. As he moves with considerably less grace to the back of the boat, Nate admires her comfort level.

 

He sits down on the back bench, near enough to Sophie to reach out and touch her, but far enough away that he doesn’t feel like he’s crowding her. He watches her as she looks out over the water. The silence stretches between them, more wall than blanket.

 

“What happened to us, Sophie?" he finally asks, his voice a whisper that nearly gets lost in the wind. She leans toward him, like she’s trying to catch his words before they float away. 

 

“I don’t know, Nate. Was there ever even an us?”

 

A spike of anger shoots through him, and he takes a deep breath to steady himself. He’s not going to fall into one of her traps. He’s not going to let her avoid the issues. 

 

“We're friends, Sophie. Always. So it doesn’t make sense why everything is so strained between us now.”

 

She gives a bitter laugh. “We’re stranded here, living out of two rooms. You’re caged like a tiger at the zoo. The strain, the problems, they make perfect sense.”

 

“No. It’s more than that, and you know it. C’mon, Sophie. Talk to me. Please?”

 

She sighs and runs her fingers through her hair. A breeze blows, ruffling the loose skirt of her floral-print sundress. She wraps her arms around herself and turns away.

 

Nate has long since learned that how Sophie says something is as important as what she says. So he closes his eyes and waits, the rocking of the boat and absolute darkness behind his eyelids combine to create the odd sensation that he’s floating in space.

 

When Sophie finally speaks, it takes him by surprise. Her voice is open and nearly raw, a quality he’s never heard before. Whatever her “real” name is, Nate has no doubt that she’s giving him the first glimpse of her true self.

 

“Right before I left, I felt so... lost and vulnerable. And there you were, my friend, offering your support. But you still had this giant hole in your heart, this great aching need. The pull of it, Nate, it was like a giant bloody black hole. There was no way I would’ve been able to resist. It would’ve been too easy to climb in there and lose myself.” 

 

“Except for the losing yourself part, it doesn’t sound so bad,” says Nate, reaching out to put a gentle hand on the small of her back, as if he could guide her through this conversation.

 

“It would’ve been a disaster. You weren’t ready for that kind of relationship.”

 

“And now?”

 

“Now? I’m still trying to figure that out. Which is difficult when you’re so close all day.”

 

“I can... we can figure something out, some other arrangement.”

 

She shakes her head. “Oh no, I’m not dealing with the wrath of Eliot. His instructions were crystal clear.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

She nods. “It’s not space that I’m looking for, Nate. It’s more like... patience.”

 

“Then you’ve got it,” he says, sitting back and folding his arms behind his head, looking much more relaxed than he actually feels. “Just, you know, don’t take too long.”

 

She manages a weak smile, and he knows he hasn’t pulled off the line with the same flirty, carefree manner that she would have managed.

 

---//---

 

For two weeks, Nate and Sophie move around each other carefully, even as the atmosphere between them warms. It’s comfortable, at least, and Nate no longer feels like he’s handling cut glass when he’s dealing with her. 

 

One rainy afternoon, they raid Gerard’s hall closet, carrying away a box of classic DVDs and another box of old board games. They fall into an easy routine of afternoons playing board games and evenings watching old movies. Nate catches himself feeling like he’s part of a couple and he has to remind himself that nothing’s been decided yet. By either of them.

 

---//---

 

They’re playing Scrabble on Sophie’s veranda when her phone rings. She answers with a frown, relaxing slightly when the caller starts talking.

 

“Parker,” Sophie says after several seconds. “I can’t talk to you until you’re calm.”


She sets the phone on the table, and Nate can hear a non-stop stream of words that sounds tinny and indignant. He doubts that Parker is even managing to breathe and wonders what’s got her so wound up. 

 

Sophie smiles wickedly and lays down her word, kumquats, earning 119 points. Nate winces a little as he watches his thin lead evaporate in a triple-word-score puff of smoke. The game is nearly over, only a few tiles rattling around in the bottom of the purple velvet bag. 

 

“Nicely played,” he says as Sophie adds up the score. 

 

Sophie picks up the phone. “Parker? Are you ready to listen? Parker... Eliot is not going to run off and settle down and have kids with Mikel Diane. How do I know? Because it’s Eliot. that’s how I know.”

 

Nate smiles as he watches a disconcerted look flit across Sophie’s face. “Parker, I thought we talked about privacy. Just because you can pick a lock, doesn’t mean that you should.”

 

He hides his grin behind his hand and busies himself, making a show of arranging the letters on his stand. It’s a meager allotment, really, but he co-opts a word already on the board to create archtypical, which manages to put a dent in her lead, but the damage is probably already done. 

 

Sophie ends the conversation and then puts the phone down on the table. When she looks up from her letters, Nate asks, “Parker?”

 

“Is insane,” finishes Sophie. “Same as always.”

 

“I miss them,” says Nate, surprising himself when the sentiment slips out so naturally. It’s a fact, plain and bold, and admitting it takes nothing out of him. 

 

“So do I,” says Sophie, matching his smile. For better or worse, as fucked up as they sometimes could, the team truly is his family. And Nate finds that he’s just fine with that. More than fine, in fact.

 

---//---

 

Another week passes, and Nate finds himself growing impatient. He knows Sophie only asked for patience, but he keeps waiting for something, anything to indicate that she’s made up her mind. But all he gets are lingering looks and light touches, which are nice when they’re happening but are gone so fast, they seem more like wishful thinking than actual events. 

 

Worse, Nate can sense that Sophie is growing bored and edgy. He hopes that it’s just a reaction to the situation, but he fears it’s a reaction to being with him. When she snaps at him to take his turn during a game of Risk, Nate knows that something’s going to have to change. 

 

“You know, Sophie, you don’t seem very... happy... these days. Maybe you want to go to Miami, shop for shoes or something,” he says, just before he launches an attack on Spain.

 

Sophie nods slowly with a look he can’t quite decipher. “Or something. That might not be such a bad idea.”

 

---//---

 

The next afternoon, Nate knocks on Sophie’s door, looking forward to a game of Monopoly. She shouts to him that the door is open, so he turns the handle and pushes, tentatively stepping into the room. He knows something is up, even before he sees her. Something in her tone tells him that he’s about to be made unhappy.

 

Sophie is in the bathroom, putting in a pair of small gold hoop earrings. She shakes her hair out, smiling in satisfaction as it falls exactly as she intended, then she starts touching up her makeup. Nate leans against the doorframe, momentarily admiring her turquoise dress with a kicky knee-length skirt, detailed embroidery at the waist, and a haltertie neck. 

 

He finds his fingers itching, wanting to pull loose the black ribbon, feel the rough cotton of the dress and then the smooth silk of her skin. It takes him a few seconds to realize that Sophie is talking to him.

 

“You didn’t hear a word I just said,” she accuses, then puts on lipstick. Like that’s going to help with his distraction level.

 

Nate shakes his head and looks down, trying to focus. He looks up and catches her eye in the mirror. “You look great.”

 

“Thank you. So we’ll be gone for the rest of the day, might even end up staying there, depending on how things go,” says Sophie. She drops a small hairbrush in her purse and then leaves the bathroom, pushing gently past Nate as he stares dumbly after her.

 

“I’m sorry. We?”

 

“Yes, Nate, I told you,” she replies, irritated. “Gerard’s taking me dancing in Cuba. For old-time’s sake.” 

 

“Oh.”

 

“I have my mobile with me, you have the number in that pre-paid phone I got you last week. I’m also leaving you the team mobile, but only use it if there’s some kind of emergency. Hardison is really touchy because we can only use each SIM card once. I’ve already put their number in it, just hit redial,” says Sophie, moving through the room as she prepares to leave. Her efficient tone reminds him of how Maggie used to give instructions to the babysitter before she and Nate went out. 

 

Nate puts a hand on the wall to steady himself, trying to figure out if there’s anything he can say to keep her from leaving. She’s at the door, his mind is blank, and then she’s gone before he can even formulate a plan A. 

 

---//---

 

Nate sits on the edge of Sophie’s bed, staring at the team phone like it might burst into flames. He picks it up, moving the small piece of plastic through his fingers like a poker chip. Sighing, he presses the redial key and waits.

 

Eliot answers on the fourth ring, a gruff “Go” that makes Nate smile.

 

“I see your phone manners haven’t improved any.”

 

“Nope. What do you need, Nate?”

 

“Are you busy?”

 

“Sort of, but I have a few minutes. Probably. Hang on a sec.... Mikel, darlin’, there’s still one behind you.”

 

“Never mind, Eliot, you’re clearly busy. It was nothing.”

 

“Which means it’s something. Did something happen during one of your walks?”

 

“Sophie told you about the walks?”

 

Eliot laughs. “Sophie tells me shit. I know you both. You can’t stand being cooped up, and she can’t stand to see you unhappy.”

 

“No, nothing happened. Nothing like that.”

 

“Then what is it?” asks Eliot, managing, just barely, to make it sound like an invitation instead of a rebuke.

 

“Sophie... It’s just everything. I don’t know, Eliot. It’s not like I thought it would be.”

 

“Oh man, when Hardison finds out that you just burned a SIM card to get dating advice, he’s gonna be pissed.”

 

Nate can hear Hardison in the background. “Hell yeah, I’m pissed. Just sleep with the woman already,” and then he can hear Parker chiming in her agreement.

 

“There’s some advice for you, Nate, now if you could excuse me,” says Eliot.

 

“Actually, Eliot, if you have another minute.”

 

Eliot hesitates and then Nate can hear Hardison, insisting that’s why God invented bluetooth headsets. A few rustles and beeps later, Eliot’s back on the phone.

 

“OK, I’m back,” Eliot says. Then Nate hears a low growl and a thud that he can only assume is Eliot punching someone. “So what’s the problem? I know you don’t have a policy about dating co-workers.”

 

“How do you know that?”

 

“Maggie. Isn’t that where you met?”

 

Nate tries not to let the background noises distract him, but it’s difficult. Especially the last one, which sounded eerily like a lead pipe hitting flesh and bone. “I just... I guess... We could. It’s just... what does it mean and then what happens next?”

 

“I don’t know Nate,” replies Eliot, the words coming in short bursts. “That’s something you and Sophie would have to figure out.”

 

“Yeah. Of course, of course,” says Nate, like it’s obvious even though it’s anything but. “She asked for patience, while she figures things out.”

 

“Typical,” says Eliot, punctuating the word with a punch.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I mean, that she’s rigged the rules. Kept the ball in her court, so she can’t get hurt. You’re going to have to make the first move here.”

 

“But she said she needs time.”

 

“How much time you got, Nate? Because she’ll take all of it and then some,” says Eliot. His words are followed by a cracking noise and then a girly scream.

 

“That wasn’t Mikel Diane, was it?”

 

“No it was not,” replies Eliot, a trace of a smirk in his words. “Look, Nate, she’s just as scared as you are, if that’s any comfort.” 

 

“Did she tell you that?”

 

“Not in so many words, but you two don’t hold the patent for reading people. Hang on... What, Parker? Oh, there you go. She told Parker that she’s scared.”

 

“Interesting choice for a confidante.”

 

“You’re telling me. There’s still something wrong with that girl. And she hates Mikel. It’s getting to be a nightmare, trying to keep them apart. Yeah, Parker, I don’t care if you can still hear me. I cannot wait until this job is done.”

 

“Yeah, about that,” says Nate.”

 

“I’m saying nothing else about it. You take care of your to-do list. I’ll take care of mine. Should be soon though, so... you know... don’t take too long,” says Eliot before he disconnects the call.

 

“Yeah, I’ve been hearing that a lot lately,” says Nate to the dead line.

 

---//---

 

Nate is laying on Sophie’s bed when he hears a boat pull into the dock. He glances at his watch and sees that it’s nearly 5 am. The birds have been chattering for the last hour, but the sky is only beginning to lighten. Inside the room, it’s dim, nearly gloomy, as Nate’s had far too much time to stew in his own resentful thoughts. 

 

Sophie opens the door with a giggle, tripping a little when her heel catches on the threshold. 

 

“Did you have a nice time?” asks Nate as he sits up slowly, feeling a childish thrill when Sophie startles.

 

“Nate! I didn’t see you there. You nearly gave me a heart attack,” she replies, kicking off her shoes. She reaches out to turn on the bedside lamp, but he catches her wrist to stop her. 

 

There’s an edge, almost a menace, to how he’s feeling, all these months and years of tension and frustration finally blowing to a full boil. He struggles to rein it in because he doesn’t want to frighten her. One look in her eyes lets him know that so far, he’s on the right side of that line. 

 

Nate stands up and Sophie takes a step back toward the open door. Dim light filters in behind her and Nate’s struck again by how beautiful she is, and how that bit of uncertainty in her eyes makes her all the more attractive.

 

“Are you okay, Nate?” she asks.

 

“Is it unfair to tell you that my patience is gone?”

 

“Is this because you’re jealous of me going out with Gerard?” she asks with an incredulous laugh. “He’s gay, you know. I’m not sure how you missed that detail; he practically shouts it from the rooftops.”

 

Nate feels caught out, but he reminds himself that it’s just another trap. Just another distraction. If they’re talking about Gerard, then they’re not talking about what’s really important. 

 

“No, this has nothing to do with Gerard or Cuba or dancing or anything else. This just has to do with you and me.... with the us we could be, if you let us,” says Nate as he steps toward her, backing her up against the doorframe. He stops inches away from her, leaving just enough space for her to turn and shoulder him out of the way. 

 

“Oh Nate, it’s not going to work,” says Sophie with a sigh, looking away.

 

“Why not?”

 

“Because... you’re always going to be Nate Ford, honest man. And I’m always going to be a grifter.”

 

“It’s in your nature. As unalterable as your eye color or your blood type.”

 

“Exactly.”

 

“But can’t you see, Sophie? The last two years, it’s like we’ve met in the middle. It’s not just what’s in your nature, it’s how you use it. Make enough different choices, and one day, you wake up and find that you’re a different person.”

 

“I don’t think it works that way, Nate.”

 

“It does. It did for me. And I think it has for you too. Because you’re not just a grifter. You’ve never been just a grifter.”

 

He shifts his weight forward now, leaning into her. He can smell the sea air on her skin and something else, an enticing mixture of pine and mint. Nate brushes his thumb along her jaw, slides his hand down her neck, and then gently traces the line of her collarbone. He keeps his eyes on her lips, watching as they twist and move, like she’s having an entire conversation with herself.

 

He waits, a sudden reserve of patience appearing like rain in the desert. He can hear every breath and can nearly imagine her thoughts, hear her talking herself into it, then out of it, her indecision nearly making him dizzy.

 

His lips brush her cheek then come to rest near her ear. When he speaks, his words are a gruff whisper, all need and longing. “You can trust this, we’ll figure it out together.”

 

And then she falls into him, finally making her decision.

 

---//---

 

Nate wakes up hours later, tangled in the bed sheets. He’s tempted to think that it was just a dream, but he can feel Sophie next to him, her skin soft and radiating heat.  Her head is on his pillow and her hair tickles his chin when he shifts to look at her. 

 

The team phone buzzes on the bedside table and he grabs it before it can disturb Sophie. It turns out to be a text from Eliot. Job done. Meet in Boston, 2 days, 4 debrief. 

 

Yesterday, he would have been relieved, ecstatic even, to know that his time on the run had come to an end. Now though, with Sophie’s arm wrapped tight around him, he wouldn’t mind being a fugitive for at least a few more days. 

 

/fin 

 

 

Comments

[lovesrogue36.livejournal.com]

Oh this has been utterly fabulous. You've got them down pat, really, and you're writing is simply phenomenal. I love Nate taking control, too. I've always felt like Sophie really holds the reins in their relationship so to see him pushing her boundaries for once is a lot of fun. Great job!!

[fleurlb.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I very much enjoyed writing it.

[fleurlb.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm glad that you liked it. I couldn't resist a chance to involve the rest of the team. :)

[whimoffate.livejournal.com]

Okay. I was ridiculously busy yesterday getting ready for a last-minute trip I have to take today, but I am thrilled that you posted this last chapter. I would have been nuts if I had to wait until Sunday. My fangirl brain has been trying to figure out how this was going to play out the last couple of days. A whole weekend of that? I would have been useless! lol

This is lovely, really. You have created a fine balance between hope and tension that I think is clearly evident in their interactions. The scene where he confronts her after dancing in Cuba is particularly moving for me. I think that there will always be an aggressive vibe to Nate when he is being truly himself. He is not a nice man. He isn't a soft man. That isn't to say that he isn't deeply loving and loyal, but there should be an edge to him when he is vunerable.

The idea of a man of action being told to be patient is brutal. It is is the perfect little revenge on Sophie's part. I applaud you for using that in this story.

Yeah, so I mostly applaud you. Thank you, once again, for writing something I want to read. Lucky for you I will be too busy to beg for more until at least Sunday. Enjoy your reprieve. Ha.

[fleurlb.livejournal.com]

Yay. So very glad that you liked it and were able to read it before your trip.

Nate is such an awesome mixture of conflicting attributes, it's fun to play with that. (And I'm guessing from 'conversations' we've had before that you also listen to the DVD commentaries, where John Rogers never misses a chance to reinforce the point that Nate is not a standard-issue 'nice guy'.) You've hit on all the things I was trying hard to do, so that makes me happy. (Although I hadn't seen the patience thing as possible revenge from Sophie, interesting read on that.)

This morning, I did the hairball draft of my first story in a five-part series. With any luck, that should be waiting for you on Sunday. Safe journey and enjoy your trip!

[whimoffate.livejournal.com]

Huh, so I gave Sophie more credit than I was supposed to? I am not terribly surprised. I have a way at looking at EVERYthing she does as calculated and though-out. As much as Nate is the open chess player, I think Sophie is, as well, and I tend to have that idea color everything I see/read her do.

Yes, I have watched the commentaries, although, it was a bit depressing to know that they have let go of the idea of Sophie/Nate in season one. I am hoping that the commentaries for season two offer more hope for my shipper heart. Well, and season three is ripe with possibilities. :)

Ooh~ I might be coming home to fic? Excellent! I am going to the Land of Kane (Oklahoma) for the first time. I hope that it makes up for the fact that I can't be glued to my computer this weekend for ConCon streaming. I am really bummed about that. I think my husband is relieved, though. He was seriously dreading the girlie screaming and running from the office to tell him what he was missing because I know that he would have been in the living room playing video games. Ha.

[fleurlb.livejournal.com]

Huh, so I gave Sophie more credit than I was supposed to?

Heh. I'm not sure I'd put it like that. One of the things I struggled with in the middle chapter was whether or not I'd switch between points of view. That had been my plan, and then I got stuck on Sophie's POV. It just seemed more natural and dramatic to stick to one POV and I'd already committed to Nate.

So maybe Sophie was being all nefarious, but "Nate" couldn't see it and neither could I. :) POV is something I've become obsessive about, to stick with just one character at a time. It's too easy to fall willy-nilly through people's heads and thoughts.

Yes, I have watched the commentaries, although, it was a bit depressing to know that they have let go of the idea of Sophie/Nate in season one.

Did I miss the one where they say that specifically? Or is this your impression/informed opinion? :)

Have fun in Oklahoma. I think the 7hr time difference will probably make it difficult for me to watch any live-streaming, not without taking large amount of teasing from my husband. :) (Whom I'm dragging through Leverage, kicking and screaming. He refused to watch 202 this afternoon, one of my favorites because of my ridiculous Eliot crush.)

new to leverage

[maggiesheridan.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to say that this is amazing. You've caught the nuances of the speech patterns of the entire team perfectly. I'm new to Leverage. Watched the entire two seasons in 3 days and now re-watching :). Absolutely, utterly smitten with the entire thing. Can't wait for the 20th of this month!! Hoping to become active in the leverage communities here.

Thanks again - makes waiting for Season 3 more bearable!!

Re: new to leverage

[fleurlb.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I'm lucky enough to have an ear for dialogue and voices, but I love practicing with this group. :) Hope you're enjoying the new season!

[foreverwriting9.livejournal.com]

Ooooooh, I loved this :). I love the idea of Nate and Sophie sitting around and playing board games, and that Scrabble scene just made my life :D