Disclaimer: Leverage and all recognizable characters belongs to the brilliant folks at TNT.

Author's note: This little scene just came to me, and although it takes place in the middle of things and brings up lots of questions, it really wanted to be written. This may eventually get fleshed out into a full story, but updates will likely be sporadic. The title may also change at some point as the story grows.

Characters: For now, Eliot and Hardison, eventually everyone else.

Rating: Equivalent of PG-13

Doubt

By Trekkieb

He burst through the door, unknowing and uncaring if the crumpled bodies behind him were alive or dead – only caring that they were neutralized. In the room were three of Connor's men, as yet unaware of their boss' failure and utter humiliation at the hands of Nathan Ford and team. Surprise and anger dawned on their faces at the intrusion, and two of the men surged forward, reaching for guns holstered on their hips. The third man already had a gun in his hand. Wrestling a dazed-looking Hardison in front of him, the goon pressed the gun against Hardison's temple and started to smile.

Eliot didn't like guns. Much preferred one-on-one, or hell even five-on-one fights where every move was spontaneous but efficient, damaging, and controlled. Those were fair fights – fair being a relative term, considering most people who went up against Eliot Spencer never got up again. What was fair about a bullet? No, Eliot didn't like guns. But he sure as hell knew how to use them, thank the U.S. government for that, and this situation sure as hell wasn't fair.

If there was a moment of doubt, it was fleeting. There and gone again in the beat of his adrenaline-fueled heart.

Before the two goons coming at him could clear leather, before the one holding Hardison could finish his smile, Eliot raised his right hand and fired the gun he'd only just confiscated from the most recent casualty in the hallway. Three shots. Three bodies fell.

Hardison stood frozen, wide-eyed and speechless. He blinked as Eliot suddenly moved into the room. "H-holy….Eliot, man, I can't believe, did you just…oh man…" And his mouth was off and running at warp speed – and why the hell did he know what warp speed was, Eliot demanded angrily of himself – in a tone only slightly less than hysterical.

Eliot tuned the words out as he moved, simultaneously scanning the room for additional threats and escape routes, cataloguing Hardison's injuries – bruises on the face, a left hand that seemed swollen and wrong – and suppressing the sudden surge of affection and relief that the hacker wasn't dead. "Are you all right, man?" he asked, not unkindly. When Hardison only continued his ramble – "somehow triggered a hidden alarm in their system, and man, don't ask me how but-" Eliot barked the question a little louder, a little harsher. "Hardison! Are you alright? Can you walk out of here?"

The flow of words suddenly stopped, and Hardison pulled his gaze from the bodies on the ground, each with a little bloodless hole drilled right between the eyes. He seemed to finally hear Eliot's question. His gaze turned inward as he took personal inventory of all his body parts. He grimaced a little as he wiggled the fingers of his left hand, but said, "Uh, yeah, I-I think so." He looked at Eliot like he was seeing him for the first time, and there was something uncomfortably close to awe in his expression.

Eliot was already in motion, herding him around the bodies and to the door, his thoughts now focused on getting them out of this building with minimal interference. As he paused at the door, scoping out the hallway, Hardison cleared his throat. Eliot glanced over his shoulder, then did a quick little double take.

One of Hardison's eyes was half swollen already, but the look in the other was serious and – sincere. "Eliot," he said, the briefest touch on Eliot's arm, there and gone. "Thanks, man. For coming to get me."

Eliot only shook his head and grumbled something indecipherable, but he hid a smile as he moved out into the hallway, motioning for Hardison to follow. "There was never any doubt, Hardison."