Falling for Finch

Laying the Bait

Sammi's POV---

It was just like it was the first time I came crawling into my Uncle Nate's life only this time, I was more put together and I had Parker by my side. She led me up the stairs behind the bar to my Uncle Nate's flat where we walked in slowly. Parker went in first and things seemed normal, but when I walked in Eliot, Hardison and Sophie jumped up and came running to hug me.

"What are you doing here" Eliot asked.

"It's been way too long girl," Hardison said.

"It's good to see you darling, I'm glad you came," Sophie finished.

After they all settled down I turned to see my Uncle Nate behind the counter with a scotch in his hand. "I see some things don't change," I said as I walked toward him. My Uncle Nate cracked a smile and laughed as he wrapped his arms around me and, to be honest, it felt so good.

"I missed you, kiddo," he whispered into my ear with his cracked and worn out voice.

"I missed you too Uncle Nate," I said trying not to cry. It was as if, for a moment, nothing else mattered and I was back where I belonged. Brian slipped out of my mind for a fraction of a second as I embraced my uncle smiling.

For the next few hour we all just sat around the living room and talked as if we had never been apart. I told them all about my music and they told me about some of their adventures, but no one mentioned the new job. When 4 p.m. rolled around my phone began to ring just as Brian and I had planned. I looked down at it, smiled and picked up.

"Hey," I said casually into the other line.

"Hey, how's it going" Brian asked about our little mission.

"Really great," I said being honest and then added the part that would catch my uncle's attention. "I wish you were here, how was work?" This was the beginning of laying the bait so my uncle would begin to fish for information. "That's good," I told Brian and he rambled. "Listen, I'll be home for dinner, I promise." I could see them all eavesdropping from where I stood and added in one last hit before hanging up, "ok babe, I love you too."

Nate's POV---

She strolled over to the couch as if she had never left and, as soon as she sat down, Eliot teased. "Awwww Sammi has a boyfriend!" She simply smirked and hit Eliot on his arm gently as she turned to me. "Uncle Nate, I was hoping you could meet him...Maybe over dinner tonight?"

I smiled and nodded my head because I was so happy to be a part of her life again. Choosing my job over Sammi has haunted me every day, but I knew it was the better choice for her. Her leaving was the only was to protect her and keep her out of trouble-even if it meant I could no longer see her.

After a while we all began to wind down and Sammi said, "are you ready to go?"

I smiled softly and said yes as she stood up to get her coat and I followed in pursuit.