The not-so lonely walk home
It was a freezing, dark night. The dull streetlights would flicker occasionally. "Lazy electricians", the man grumbled as he walked down the unfamiliar street. Every hushed noise had him step with caution. His guards were higher than usual- he would be ready in case anyone was to spring up on him. He would be well prepared; after all, fighting was what he did for a living, and who would be crazy enough to attack someone of his build?
Still, he hated having to walk home; the journey was long enough by car, and walking made him feel vulnerable to attacks. If only his truck's engine hadn't blown, then he wouldn't have been left with the bitterness of having to walk home at 3 am. He looked at his watch, not surprisingly; he had been walking for 40 minutes.
"Great! Only 23 blocks to go" he said with sarcastic enthusiasm. His Husky, Southern accent echoed down the empty street. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small electronic device, he switched it on and placed it in his right ear. Immediately the familiar voices of his team flooded into his head. Their voices sounded panicky.
"I have no idea where he could have gotten off to, Nate, I'm sorry! I really have no idea where he is!"
"Hardison, FIND HIM!" that stern and respectful voice that had replied could have only been Nate. He recognized the superiority. He was about to inform them that he was there, when the unmistakable voice of Parker cut in.
"He's done this before right? Run off? That means he'll come back, yeah. He's going to come back". He could tell that she was trying to convince herself as well as the others, and as it seems, it wasn't working. "What if he's hurt... or dead, he could be dead!" Parker said. The concern was evident in her voice.
"Parker, please! Calm down, he couldn't have gotten far". The last voice was the comforting, motherly voice of Sophie.
Hardison cut in again "well there's been no movement from any of his aliases or credit cards which means he's still here... Sophie what did you find in his apartment?" there was some rustling over the coms, Sophie could be heard moving objects around " hmm? Oh nothing really, cooking books, sporting magazines, just typical stuff, no signs of a struggle. But I did notice that his wallet and car keys are gone, the windows are locked, same with the doo-"she stopped speaking when a husky, southern accent interrupted.
"Sophie I prefer people not going through my stuff, and how the HELL did you get into my apartment? Wait...how did you even find my apartment?
Four sighs of relief were heard over the coms. "Eliot man, what happened to you? Did you think it was a good ol' laugh to disappear off the face of the earth for 48 hours? Ha yeah real funny man...ha. Did you hear that...that make it all worthwhile? HMMMM? YOU COULD HAVE BEEN LAYING IN A DITCH SOMEWHERE MAN! JEEZE" Hardison said, his voice raising several octaves. He hadn't taken a single breath throughout his 'angry speech' so he could now be heard in the background taking enormous breaths in-between muttering curses at Eliot, things like 'nah uh man', 'nope I wouldn't have cared' and 'screw him' were repeated several times before Nate spoke " Eliot, where are you? And do you need medical assistance?" Eliot shook his head but then realised that they could not see him " no I'm fine but my damn engine's blown, so now, I gotta walk home and I'm not entirely trustin' these streets."
He could almost hear Nate thinking, "How long do you have left to go, time wise?" Nate asked. "Uh a little under half an hour at least" replied Eliot. "Hardison have you tracked his position?" Nate asked the young hacker. "Done, and that happened while I was choking too". Hardison said rather smugly. "Good" Nate said looking out of their headquarters' window. "Now go get him".
Hardison looked at Nate with utter disbelief "What? He's the retrieval specialist!" "HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO RETRIVE MYSELF HARDISON?" Eliot yelled into his com. "but...I'm already in my pyjamas" Hardison said defensively standing from his position on the couch. He walked over to Nate to collect the car keys. Hardison's eyes were pleading to Nate, but he just held out the keys "GO" he said sternly.
Hardison grabbed them and strode over to the door where Parker was leaning. She looked at Hardison and tilted her head to the side "They're your pyjamas? I always wondered what they looked like" he shook his head and rolled his eyes. She could her him mumbling her name as he descended down to the exit.
Nate turned back to the window as Sophie entered the room. "Ok Eliot, Hardison's coming to get you, so stay put alright...Eliot? Eliot are you there?..." He heard Eliot's out-of breath and heavy breathing response –"Nate, I... I need...I...trouble..." Eliot's com cut in and out and eventually the only thing that the rest of the team could hear was static.
Nate gripped the window sill and listened intently "...ELIOT?..." he looked back at Sophie; panic flushed her face as she too, heard the situation. Parker walked over to the two of them and gripped Sophie's arm. Nate wiped the new beads of sweat off his forehead and looked at the two women, "Hardison, HURRY!"
That was the second time they had feared for Eliot's life- both in the same night. But this was different, this time they had proof that he was in danger. That his long journey home, might get a hell of a lot longer.