Chapter Two: Familiar Means Real

Parker tried to remain in control. She was determined not to flinch at the tensing of Lana, the fake Lana. It was just so hard; she looked so much like her; it was like they cloned her, like in one of Hardison's weird movies, Star something. She tried to keep from reaching out to hold the fake Lana— the Lana look-alike— to her as she moved to leave, head down and her eyes hidden by her red bangs. Parker couldn't help the wince that she gave when the Lana look-alike spoke.

"No one," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Just some lady," she sneered, in Parker's face now. "I'm no one now? No one, huh? Is that what I am, Goldie? Huh? Is that what I am Goldie?"

Parker looked up then; obviously this lady was waiting on an answer. The blonde had to quickly look away; the look in her eyes, the eyes that looked so much like hers. Her eyes looked like Sophie's when Nate would drink that smelly stuff in his cup; those green eyes looked like Hardison's when the van blew up and Eliot's that day at the horse track. Before Parker could speak, the Lana look-alike gave a laugh, the one Nate gives whenever he speaks about IYS; you never wanted to laugh with them.

"I guess I am no one, huh Goldie," she gave that empty laugh again. "Well, then again you're not Goldie are you, Parker?" And then she turned to walk away, red hair swinging wildly with the sudden movement.

Parker didn't even remember telling her traitorous hand to reach out and grab hold of the fake Lana's wrist. She didn't recall telling her voice to speak and say "Don't go. Don't leave me again. Please." She didn't even know she was crying as she held the redhead to her in a tight embrace that was so familiar in the way that the woman seemed to melt into her and Parker's face automatically inhaled the shampoo the woman used. Parker didn't even dwell on how she knew that it would smell like strawberries.

They held each other in silence until Parker's phone rang, disrupting their peace. The blonde thief sighed before answering, one arm still wrapped around Lana.

"Parker, where the hell are you?" It was Eliot and of course he was going to yell at her.

"At the Park. Parker's at the park," she giggled.

"Well, get your ass down here. We do have another client or did you forget about that thing we do called a job, you know the one that you and the team does, the one that you're not here for?!"

"No. Okay, okay. We'll be there."

"We? What the hell do you mean we—" Parker hung up, smiling down at the woman snuggled up to her.

"Hey." Parker ran her fingers through the woman's hair; it was soft and fluffy like Lana's. "Let's um…. Uh, you wanna go to work with me?"

Lana's clone only hmmed in response, thoroughly enjoying the petting Parker was giving her. Parker grinned before standing, pulling fake Lana up with her. One arm snaked around Parker's waist and Parker automatically reciprocated. It was like a routine, like they did this all the time; it was familiar.

"So Goldie, I mean uh Parker; what is it that you do?"

Parker paused, briefly considering whether to tell Lana's clone that she stole things for money she rarely spent. Why not, it was like a test to see if the clone was really a clone or not. "I'm a thief," she remarked casually.

"A thief? Huh. That's not surprising; it's what you did, er do. No big. I'm a thief too… among other things."

"You are? Huh. I guess that's not too surprising either, Lana." The blonde glanced at the other woman when she stopped. "What?"

"It's just that," she swallowed. "It's so great to hear you say my name especially since I haven't gone by that name since…." She trailed off when she noticed Parker just staring with a blank look, obviously billions of miles away.

"I called you Lana," Parker stated suddenly, as if it was wrong to do so. "I called you Lana, but…."

"But…?" Lana prompted with a confused smile.

"You're, you're not her. You're notLana." Surprising Parker, the other woman gave an indulgent smile.

"If I'm not Lana then who am I?"

"Her clone." Parker declared as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Lana only gave a laugh and Parker's breath hitched in her throat. She had her laugh too?

"Oh, Goldie, I mean Parker. You're Parker now." She shook her head slowly, the sun shining brightly on it making it appear as fire, still smiling a soft smile that reached her eyes and made them bright like they were before, and Parker had a hard time breathing then. That was Lana; this was Lana, her Lana.

"I may be Parker," she said, a slow smile making its way onto her face and lightening her brown eyes. "But you're Lana, my Lana."

Lana grinned widely, eyes large and shining, "Yours am I," she purred. She paused as if thinking, emerald eyes glinting with mischief. "I don't know…." Parker tensed, a frown marring her face. Lana hastily spoke. "Well, I guess I can belong to Parker." Her eyes narrowed on Parker's, piercing as they searched the blonde's. "Can Parker belong to Lana?"

The blonde bit her lip and hid a smile when she saw how Lana's eyes followed the action. This was her Lana alright. She continued to think, ignoring the way Lana's gaze drilled holes into her with their intensity. Could she belong to her? What if she left again? What if she disappeared like before? What if she decided she didn't want her anymore? What if Eliot and the team couldn't fix her if she broke again, if she broke even more? Would she do it? Could she?

"Yes," Parker smiled, her grin growing when she saw how the other woman relaxed like the team did when they got back from a job well done. Darn it, the team! She grabbed hold of Lana's arm in a firm grip and took off for the bar; Eliot was gonna yell at her for sure.

They made it there in no time, Lana's heels not slowing her down at all, even Sophie couldn't run like that in heels. As soon as they strolled in, they bypassed all the patrons and headed straight upstairs, Parker leading Lana by the hand, her blonde ponytail swinging wildly with her speed.

Every head in the Leverage headquarters went up as they heard the click of heels. Parker didn't wear heels unless she had to, and Sophie was already present. Eliot stood quickly, making his way to the door as the quick clicks became louder, closer. The door was thrown open and standing there was Parker, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling, her hand holding onto a woman he knew.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it; I apologize if Parker seems very ooc. I understand she has trust issues, so if you all think that its ooc for Parker to suddenly take to a woman she was uncertain of then please let me know before I continue on in the same way. Thanks you guys and please review; I'd like to know what you all think and how I'm doing. Thnx again ;)