Number 06 │ A Leverage Fanfiction

The Big Bang Job

D.O.D. Off-Campus Research Lab, Langley, VA

Dressed head to toe in black with ski masks pulled tight over our faces, Parker, Hardison, Eliot, and I slipped silently through the sterile corridors of the Department of Defense's off-campus research lab. Nate's Italian friend had given him a tip, and now we were here to see what secrets this place held.

The elevator dinged as it slid open to Level 3. "This way," Hardison whispered, already moving.

When we reached the target lab, Eliot stepped forward without hesitation and drove his boot into the door. It burst open with a satisfying crunch.

Inside, we split off like clockwork. Hardison went straight for the computers, while Eliot and Parker peeled off toward the filing cabinets and metal drawers, rifling through layers of old-school classified paperwork.

I scanned the room, then froze. My eyes landed on a faint red blink beneath one of the tables.

A bug? No... a bomb.

My stomach tightened. "Hardison," I hissed. "Bomb."

"Wait, I'm almost done copying these files—"

I grit my teeth, lunged across the room, and smacked him upside the head—not gently.

"Hardison, look!"

I grabbed Hardison by the collar and yanked him down, forcing his gaze to the ticking device tucked neatly under the desk.

The color drained from his face.

I exhaled sharply and reached for my comms. "Nate, what kind of lab did you say this was again? Because I just found a bomb."

Nate's voice crackled through. "Bomb? Hardison, can you defuse it?"

"No, no, no," Hardison whispered, as he examined the contraption. "We don't have enough time."

A soft rustle caught Eliot's attention. Eliot stiffened. His head turned, eyes narrowing as he caught movement near the back of the lab.

"We've got company," he muttered. "Looks like one of the researchers is still here."

I clenched my jaw. "Probably who the bomb was meant for."

Nate's order came quick and sharp. "Get em out of there."

Eliot nodded once and moved to capture the researcher.

In seconds, he had the researcher restrained, one hand clamped around her mouth as he guided her out with firm but careful force.

Outside the building

"That is D.O.D. property! This is a federal crime! You guys are in deep—"

She kicked, struggled, practically foaming at the mouth with outrage as we dragged her away from the facility.

Then—

BOOM.

The lab behind us erupted in a fireball of smoke and metal. The woman froze mid-sentence, eyes wide in horror.

"Oh my god. What's happening? Oh my god, what's happening?!"

We stopped in the empty dusted lot, the red-orange glow from the burning lab flickering in our eyes. One by one, we pulled off our ski masks.

Eliot turned to her, "We're saving your life."

<>

McRory's Bar – Back Room

Yasmin sat stiffly at a small corner table, fingers wrapped tightly around a glass of water.

Nate approached, setting a plate of food down in front of her with a soft clink.