"Dammit Hardison!" Eliot grunted into the com as he managed to overcome the first thug only to be met with two more coming down the tunnel he needed to get through. "Oh come on!" Eliot gritted. "Man, do you have any idea how old this sewage line is? This map hasn't been updated since 8-tracks were invented!" The hacker complained. "Dead-end. Now what?" Eliot demanded. Boom! "What the hell?" Standing in front of him was Parker. "What?" She smirked.
Later back at HQ Eliot walked into the main area towel-drying his hair after his third shower. He looked around and found that the rest of the team seemed to have retired for the evening; all except for Parker. He spied her in the kitchen on top of the counter, her brow furrowed in frustration as she fumbled through the first-aid kit looking for something with no success.
"Troubles?" he smirked.
"I can't find any bandages." She answerd.
He opened a drawer finding band-aids and handed them to her.
"Umm…thanks" She said not moving.
"Now what?" He huffed.
"Nothing, it's just…" She trailed.
He' was just about to ask for further explanation when he heard a dripping noise. He looked around attempting to locate the source and once he spotted it realizing quickly that it's blood. He looked back at her alarmed.
"Parker! What the hell happened?" He demanded.
She looked at him with what can only be described as a frighten child; a child awaiting punishment after their parents received their child's less than pleasing report card.
"Don't be mad. I didn't mean to…" She murmured.
And instantly he felt guilty. His features softened and as he reached for her reassuringly he noticed regretfully that she flinched away.
"Parker, sweetheart, I'm not mad at you." He promised silently chastising himself for making her so upset.
She stared at him questioningly.
"Can I take a look?" He asked softly.
She nodded at him meekly. Carefully he rolled up her right pant leg up to her knee to reveal a gash on her leg- Silently scolding himself for not noticing earlier.
"Wait here." He instructed.
She nodded as he disappeard into his office returning quickly with his medical bag. He reached for her ankle holding it gingerly.
"Parker?" He questioned softly. "Do you trust me?"
She gulped nodding at him.
"Alright darlin', let Eliot take care of you."
He cleaned her wound as gently as possible and then bandaged it.
"There, perfect." He smiled up at her.
He looked only to see her head is bowed. He instantly became worried.
"Parker, did I hurt you?"
"No…" she mumbled still not meeting his worried gaze.
Gingerly he lifted her chin so that she was looking at him.
"Then talk to me darlin'. Why ya cryin'?" He asked softly.
"No one's ever said that to me before." Sensing his confusion she elaborated. "'I'm going to take care of you.' At least, not how you meant it."
He instantly felt a pain in his heart. She darted her gaze away looking anywhere but at the piercing blue concern-filled orbs staring at her. He looked at her intently, swiping the tears from her face with his thumbs. He decided in that moment that it is his self-appointed mission to treat her how she deserves to be treated. To show her what it's like to be loved. 'Loved'- where did that come from? he wondered to himself deciding he'd sort that out later. For now his focus iwas on showing his thei- Parker, what it's like to be taken care of.