The Enforcement Job **On Hold**

V

We ran into the bar as fast as possible and slammed and locked the doors. We sat there panting for air as we had just ran a good two miles to get away from the hitman. Eliot peeked out the blinds to make sure we had lost any tails that may have still been behind us.

"All clear," he stated. I let out a sigh of relief and picked up my bag from the ground. Eliot, whom of which was still giving me the cold shoulder, went ahead and started walking upstairs, and I followed.

With a startlingly loud slam of the door once we had walked in, Eliot made his presence well known to everyone in the room, also causing Sophie to drop her popcorn everywhere. Even I myself jumped a bit at his sudden burst of anger.

"Well? How did it go?" Hardison asked rather sarcastically.

"She nearly got us killed!" Eliot hissed.

"Hardison, how is the research going?" Nate asked, walking in.

"Aw, Eliot finally get his butt whooped? And quite well actually," Hardison replied. "Hey has anyone seen Parker today?"

"She had the day off," Nate replied.

"Yeah, a day off with the Emerson Art Exibit in town," Sophie snorted.

"You're really asking for it, Hardison," Eliot threatened, daring him to continue with what he was saying.

Hardison gave Eliot a smug look from the threat, but decided against continuing after calculating the chance that Eliot would actually follow through with it.

"Um.. I'll just be back later then.." Sophie said in her British accent before grabbing her pirse and scurrying out the door.

"It wasn't my fault we nearly got killed Eliot-"

"Don't give me that load of bull, Natalie! I don't know exactly who you are, but i know that you are by far, the shittiest person i have ever met, and apparently you bring bad luck upon anyone you come across! You fight anything that moves, you kill people, you commit a ton of unforgivable crimes! You're a no good lowlife! You have worked for some of the worst people in the world and killed countless people! That is why I don't like you!" Eliot exploded. He left the team standing there with a shocked and somewhat scared expression, while he himself looked like steam was about to leak out through is nostrils. I on the other hand though, i stood there with the straightest face in the world. Others may be deeply hurt by his insults, but i remained unfazed.

I stood there, looking him dead in the eye, thinking about his sudden outburst of rage. Slowly, a smirk appeared on my face.

"Eliot Spencer. The man used to kill to live and live to kill. Military combat training. No guns? Because why not make them suffer, right? You have worked for just as many horrible people as I, and killed many, if not more. Just as many unforgivable crimes. But you see here Eliot," my smirk has disappeared by now. I look down a bit, suddenly interested in the light brown hardwood flooring. "We're no different. We do anything to protect our selves and the people we're close to. Trust me, if i could take it all back, i would. I never wanted to be the monster that I have become."

With that, I brushed past him and went back to my temporary room. I slowly closed the door and sat down on the bed, the black silky mattress, sinking down as i sit. I take in my surroundings. white walls, the same light brown hardwood floor, a queen sized bed, 8 of the fluffiest pillows i have ever seen in my life, a small, walk in closet, a tall wooden bookcase by the door, two glass bedside tables on either side of my bed, a fan above my head on the ceiling, and a glass lamp with a dark red lampshade on the left side of my bed.

"What did I get myself into with these people....?" I said quietly to myself. I shook my head and reached for the remote, flipping on the television. There was a reporter on, holding a news paper with the Emerson art exibit plastered on the front. I decided on just watching the news since it was late.

NATE'S POV

Eliot stood there with his fists clenched at that remark from Nat, but his well delayed comeback was cut short by the loud opening of the front door and the well known click-clack sound of Sophie's heels. As she rounded the corner towards the table with a newspaper in hand, Sophie had a smile on that just radiated 'I told you so'.

"Why are you so smug?" I said in a voice I was trying to make sound irritated. I really wanted to avoid the inevitable release of whatever information that made Sophie smile at me like that.

"Oh, i am?" Sophie asked in a coy manner.
"Why, I don't know, i just ran into town and grabbed the newspaper. Haven't you all read the newspaper yet?" When all of us shook our heads Sophie seemed to completely burst with the pleasure of knowing something they didn't.
"Oh my!" Sophie continued, keeping with her suave demeanor as she stepped closer to the table. "I thought you three of all people would have been the first to hear. I can't believe-"

"Just tell us what the dang newspaper says Sophie!" Eliot spat, obviously having enough of her overzealous acting.

Sophie frowned and gave out an exasperated breath after having her stage time cut short by Eliot. "Read for yourself," she said as she threw the newspaper onto the table. A smile returning to her face as she realized the 'I told you so' moment was still to come.

Hardison had the quickest fingers and grabbed the newspaper before the other two. An astonished expression appeared on his face after only looking at the picture of the article.

I began to get out a bottle of whiskey for whatever I was about to hear.
"Read it, Hardison."

"Alright, it says:"

"The Emerson Art Exhibit had a big surprise this morning when they opened their doors. According to eye-witnesses from before police shut down the area for public viewing, many pieces in the art exhibit appeared to have been drastically moved and rearranged during the night. The scene of the crime now can only be described as chaotic.

"Exhibit officials have refused to give any statements about the break-in or answer any questions about the effectiveness of their so called "invincible" security system. The only police reports released so far state that nothing was actually stolen. One worker at the art exhibit describes the whole situation as "completely unbelievable and sheer wackiness." It seems that whoever got into the Emerson Exhibit last night, just wanted to make the art smile." Hardison finished with a laugh.

"Oh Parker..." I said shaking my head, there was a tad bit of a smile dancing across my lips though. Our little thief never ceases to amaze us.

"I told you sooo..." Sophie sang. My smile disappeared when she took my whiskey and poured it down the drain.

"Well, I think we should all call it a night and go to sleep. See you all tomorrow," i said, before walking to my room. I heard the faint voices of all of them saying their goodbyes and withdrawing to their rooms as well. Wow, what a long day.