Sorry for neglecting this story and it's readers. I've been on a break of sorts. I'm sorry this is so short. Thank y'all for reading.
Eliot awoke to unfamiliar sounds and a sharp pain in his chest. His eyes opened slowly and he moaned. He didn't recognize his surroundings and then his memory came back to him. He had been shot. He was in the hospital? He found the call button on the rail of his bed and pushed it. A tall redhead appeared in the doorway.
"Mr. Carter. It's good to see you awake." She smiled down at him as she took his pulse.
"Where….are….." He rasped.
His throat was dry and he tried to swallow. She noticed this and pulled the small tray toward him, brining the straw of a cup to his mouth. He drank a sip.
"Better?" She asked.
He nodded and opened his mouth to speak again.
"Your family? I'll get them." She said, laying a hand on his arm.
He closed his eyes.
"Is he awake?"
He heard Sophie's voice ask a few minutes later. He opened his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm awake." He whispered.
Sophie's face brightened and he looked over to see Nate standing at the foot of the bed.
"Welcome back." Nate said.
Eliot nodded. "How bad?"
"You'll be fine. They got the bullet out. You just need some rest." Sophie answered.
Eliot nodded again and closed his eyes.
"Hurts like hell." He took a deep breath as another stab of pain rushed through him.
"Do we need to get someone?" Sophie asked.
He heard panic in Sophie's voice and opened his eyes.
"I've had worse." He assured her and smiled.
She took his hand and patted it.
Another memory flew into his mind.
"Parker!" He said, struggling to sit up.
"No…no. Eliot, relax. You'll tear your stitches." Nate came forward, his hand on his shoulder.
"He took Parker." Eliot winced as the pain continued.
"We're working on that." Nate told him.
"You haven't found her?"
Sophie shook her head.
"Damn it." Eliot cursed.
"We will." Nate promised.
The door came open and the redheaded nurse came in. She smiled at them.
"Mr. Carter needs his rest." She informed them.
Nate nodded and Sophie hesitated before letting go of his hand.
"We'll be back." She said, kissing his cheek.
He nodded, feeling helpless and watched them leave.
* * *
Hardison heard the chirp of his computer and hurried from the kitchen. Looking down at the computer, he saw that Conway had logged onto his site.
"New pictures to come." Hardison read aloud.
He went to work typing. He was trying to locate the man's ISP address. Before he could get a hit, he saw Conway broke the connection.
"Damn!" Hardison yelled at the empty room.
He looked up at the blank TV screen, thinking. He shook his head as he realized he was back to waiting for Conway to mess up.