Work Text:
cover art by Venbeth
Author: MimiHylea
Reader: Venbeth
Length: 09:23
Downloads: Mediafire (mp3)
Listen: Soundcloud
Music and sound effects are from The Team by Joseph LoDuca, from the Leverage soundtrack.
1 new voicemail
Alec
“Hi Nana, hope everything’s good. I just wanted to call and say I love you. I feel like it’s been a while, and I don’t say it enough, and, well, yeah. I was just thinking that if anything happened and I hadn’t said it in a while I’d be…it’d be a little sad. Not that I’m expecting anything to happen! Things are great! Just was thinking about you. Love you, Nana!”
1 new voicemail
Nana
“Hi Alec, I love you too, and I’m always happy to hear from you! Everything’s going well. Breanna’s still here and misses you, and we’ve got two new long-term placements since you last visited. But Alec, are you sure you’re okay? I know you’re not really allowed to talk about your job much, but if it’s getting to you, you can always come home, you know that right? I know part of why you do it is that the money’s good, but no money’s worth your life or your peace of mind. We’d make it work. And if you need to talk about whatever it is…well, I’m here for you, and I won’t tell a soul. And your job must have people, right? A therapist with security clearance, or at least one of your colleagues you can talk to about whatever it is? I just hate to see you hurting alone, sweetie. Call me soon. Love you.”
1 new voicemail
Alec
“Hi Nana, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you! I’m fine. It’s been, well, work was a little stressful for a while, but like, I’m fine, I’m alive, everything’s fine. And I have people to talk to. You don’t have to worry about me. Love you.”
1 new voicemail
Unknown number
“Hello, I’m sorry to bother you; I know you don’t know me and I don’t really know who you are, but my daughter said she could tell that your phone spends a lot of time around Alec’s and I was hoping you could check in on him for me. I know something happened with work that’s gotten him a little shaken up, and I know he’s not really allowed to talk about it, but he…well, I just want to make sure he’s being looked after. And I hope you’re being looked after, too, if whatever it was was rough on you, too. Love you, dearie.”
2 new voicemails
Alec
“Oh my god, Nana! You did not have to call in the cavalry! Yes, Eliot literally calls himself the cavalry sometimes, and no, he is never going to let me live this down. I promise you I’m fine. We’re fine. I am being so safe. Love you! Please don’t tattle on me to Eliot again.”
Alec’s friend(?)
“Hi, uh, Mrs. Hardison? Ma’am? Hardison—er, Alec—told me he still wasn’t going to tell you anything except that he’s fine, so I just wanted to let you know that he’s…well he’s not fine, but he’s getting there. We kind of got ourselves into a mess and a gang buried him alive for a bit, which, uh, I know sounds bad. And it was pretty bad. But we got him out, and he’s just having a hard time with it. Nightmares, mostly, and some of his comfort movies have bits that make him claustrophobic and panicky now so we’ve been troubleshooting that, but we’re…his team’s looking out for him. You don’t have to worry.”
1 new voicemail
Nana Hardison
“Hi dear, thank you so much for letting me know. I know I shouldn’t ask questions and I’m sure it was for some heroic cause but goodness me, I’m so sorry you boys had to go through something like that. I can’t imagine that was easy on you, either. I’m here for you, too, if you want to talk about it. I know I don’t have fancy government clearances but I’m used to keeping my kids’ confidence. Let me know if you need anything, or if you think Alec does. I know it’s probably a tiny thing at a time like this but I still remember what foods always made him feel better after a bad day, if you wanted some recipes. Or better yet, you two should come for dinner sometime and I’ll make them myself. Love you. Oh, and you can just call me Nana, dear.”
1 new voicemail
Eliot - Alec’s (boy?)friend
“Hi, Mrs. Har—er, Nana. I’ll never say no to family recipes, if you’ve got ‘em. And I’ve been having more trouble than usual getting any food into him that isn’t hot pockets and orange soda—[Ask for chocolate!] Parker! [Hardison likes chocolate too!]—so we’ll take any suggestions. Thanks ma’am.”
1 new voicemail
Unknown number
“Hey, Nana said my big bro’s dealing with some claustrophobia and movies weren’t helping. I did some editing on some of his favorites, and I’m pretty sure I caught everything that might set it off. I either edited scenes out or spliced it with other footage that takes place in a more open space. Anyway attaching the files now. Give ‘em a try. Hopefully this helps.”
1 new voicemail
Alec’s definitely boyfriend
“Hey, sorry to bother you. Thanks for giving the movie edits a try. I’m sure they’ll help, but, um, how do I get them out of my phone?”
1 new voicemail
Hardison’s sister
“Oh my god, do I have to, like, burn those onto a disc and mail them to you? I do, don’t I. [sigh] Fine, fine. Give me, like, three days. Two if you want to text me an address and save me having to figure it out from y’all’s GPS data.”
1 new voicemail
Alec
“Hi Nana. I—you really didn’t have to keep calling the cavalry but…thanks. Eliot made your chicken pot pie last night, and we watched New Hope without the trash compactor scene and I even forgot it was supposed to be there until we were long past it, and Parker figured out something with lasers to wake me up right away if I start having a nightmare, and…I’m sorry I told you not to worry, but thanks for worrying anyway. I am…some days are better than others, but we’re slowly getting more of the better ones. And…it’s good to have people helping. So thanks. Love you. And maybe…maybe I’ll see you for Sunday dinner sometime soon. I’ve got a couple of people I want you to meet.”