Title: Counting On It
Author: emily64cooper
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairing: Parker/Hardison
Summary: "Just stay, Parker. We can go anywhere in the world. Together."
Prompt: 17: Wish I didn't love you.
"Why do you do this Parker?" He asks, desperation staining his voice.
Her step faulters, but she continues without a word. A tear winds its way down her cheek, which she swipes at quickly. She steals herself off, though it's much harder now than it used to be.
"Just stay, Parker. We can go anywhere in the world. Together. Except maybe Iceland."
She stops and he takes the chance to pin her against the wall. He knows she could overpower him in a second, so he's grateful when she makes no move to escape.
"Parker," he takes her head in his hands and turns it toward him, her ghastly pallor a stark contrast to his deep brown. "Parker, I love you. I don't want to... I can't lose you again, girl."
"Why is it so much harder? God!" she explodes, the reaction a bit more violent than he'd expected. But it's a reaction nonetheless, which is a sign of progress.
She paces for a moment, then leans on the wall across from him. "You know, sometimes Hardison, I wish... I wish I didn't... love you. It would all be so much easier."
That's the first time she's ever said she loves him, and he's momentarily taken aback. Wits gathered, he takes two steps to reach her and kisses her fiercely.
"You're right," he says, leaning his forehead against hers. "It's not gonna be easy; it's gonna be really hard and we're gonna have to work on it all the time. But isn't it worth trying for?"
She looks away, and he sighs, releasing his grip on her. "Fine, go to New York without me. But don't you dare think I'm not gonna look for you."
She looks up at him, smiling. "I'm counting on it."