Pretty please read and review. This is the first fic I've ever been brave enough to post so this is a bit nerve-racking. Any and all reviews are welcome and appreciated
Disclaimer: I don't own the team but I love them and had to play with them for a bit. The rest of the characters are all mine :)
Parker smiled her secretive half-smile as she exited the air duct and stepped onto the roof. She quickly checked her harness, knowing that she needed to get back to headquarters before they came looking for her. There wasn't necessarily a firm rule, but she knew that Nate looked down on them taking side jobs. But knowing that the Millennium Sapphire was at the Fillmore Museum made Parker practically itch with desire to steal it, a desire that she couldn't ignore. It wasn't even that she wanted to keep the Millennium Sapphire; in fact, she was just borrowing it for a few days and fully planned to return it. Mostly, she just needed to prove to herself that she could still run a job on her own.
With one last check that the jewel case was attached to her belt, Parker leapt from the edge of the building with a joyful cry. She still relished in the feeling of flying, the elation not dimming no matter how many times she did it. Suddenly her joy turned to terror when she tried to slow her descent only to find that the hand breaks weren't working. She gripped the rope with her leather gloved hands and her feet, using all her strength to try to slow her descent. She felt the rope tear away the palms of her gloves and begin to burn her hands but she didn't let go. Parker took the pain, knowing that if she let go, she'd die. Parker hit the ground hard and heard her leg snap. She stayed conscious just long enough to crawl into the alley before blacking out, the pain overwhelming her.
"Let's get this show on the road." Nate said, sitting down at the table, ready to see the presentation that Hardison had been working on all afternoon.. This meeting was a bit later than they normally were, it was nearly eleven but this case had piqued their interest and frankly they were bored. Sophie and Eliot walked into the room, Sophie with a steaming cup of tea and Eliot carrying two mugs of coffee with one of Hardison's favorite orange sodas. He set one of the mugs in front of Nate, slid Hardison's soda to him then took his seat.
"Where's Parker?" Sophie asked, from her place beside Nate.
"She said she was going out to get something about an hour ago." Eliot said with a shrug. Parker was always pretty quiet about where she's going.
"Hardison," Nate began but trailed off when he saw Hardison's fingers flying across his keyboard.
"I'm tracking her cell." Hardison said, "She's outside the Fillmore Museum. Looks like she's in the back alley."
"That's where they're showing the Millennium Sapphire." Sophie said, and then shrugged at the look Nate gave her.
"Can you get eyes down there?" Nate asked and in a moment Hardison had all the security and traffic cams up on the plasmas. There was a collective gasp as they saw the crumpled form of Parker. They all sprung into action at the same time, each going to do their part.
Sophie hurried to the cupboard and grabbed the fully stocked first aid kit while Eliot ran to get the van started. Hardison hacked into police scanners and cancelled calls to the Fillmore. Nate walked out to the van, clearly stunned by the sight and looking upset. They made it downtown in record time, taking only about fifteen minutes on the normally thirty minute drive. They were out of the van in a flash, all hurrying to Parker's unconscious form.
Eliot took the first aid kit from Sophie and began to check her for injuries. Sophie knelt by Parker's head and smiled as Parker woke up. "It's alright, we're here." Sophie reassured the thief.
"Hurts." Parker whimpered and each of the team felt their heart break a little.
"I know sweetie, but we're going to get you help." Sophie reassured her and looked up at Eliot.
"I think it's safe to move her. But I'm not sure where we're going to take her." Eliot said quietly. He turned to Hardison who was on the phone. "Who the hell are you calling?" He growled then shook his head and gently lifted Parker into his arms.
"She's got at least a broken leg, probably a concussion." Hardison said into the phone. "Yeah, forty-five minutes about." Hardison paused then said quietly. "I know, I know, I owe you, big time." Hardison hung up and headed for the van. "I've got somewhere we can take her, not a hospital, totally off the grid." Hardison watched Eliot, Nate and Sophie load Parker into the back of the van, Sophie and Nate sitting in the back with Parker and Eliot up front. Sophie had Parker's head cradled on her legs, continuing to stroke the hair out of the younger woman's eyes. Sophie found the whole thing absolutely heartbreaking. She wasn't used to feeling this way about anyone, especially someone as odd as Parker, but the younger woman had become like a younger sister, or maybe even like a daughter. Sophie looked around the van as they rode, noticing the moods of the rest of the group.
Nate was staring at Parker with a look of mingled horror and guilt, running his fingers through his hair and looking as though he desperately needed a drink. Eliot was sitting in the passenger seat with fists clenched, clearly wanting nothing more than to go and punch someone, but unfortunately it didn't look as though there was anyone to blame. Hardison was focused on the road, making sure to avoid the worst of the potholes and bumps, though he was clearly preoccupied and it looked to the grifter like he was afraid of where they were going. He winced every time he wasn't quick enough to miss a bump and Parker gasped in pain or whimpered. Sophie made a mental note to talk to the young hacker when she got a chance.