"He claims what?" Sophie asked incredulously.

"Marvin Johnston claims he is a healer." Nate turned away from his presentation to answer his Grifters question.

"Yeah, run that by me again." Hardison lent forward from his seat next to Parker.

"It's a good scam. Despicable but effective. Johnston travels from place to place changing his identity. Mostly small towns. He performs 'faith healing' on a small scale basis, asking for admission. Then once word of his talents spread he pin points a wealthy sick client, takes their money and then vanishes."

Eliot looked confused. "How hasn't this been debunked yet?"

Nate tapped the screen. "Johnston and his wife constantly move, they're media shy and they change their alias' in every new place."

"We only know who he really is from a cell shot our client took," Hardison said. 'Took a while to get a hit in the facial recognition scanner the quality was so dodgy."

Parker raised her hand. "Who is our client?"

Nate visibly paused. "Vivian Westwood. She used her entire life savings to get Johnston to save her son."

"What happened?" Parker pressed.

"Johnston took the money and disappeared. The son died." Nate said this with a blank face.

Sophie leaned back. "Oh Nate." These kinds of cases were always bad for the emotional response it elicited. Jobs never ran as smoothly when they were emotionally involved.

Nate purposefully ignored the apprehensive looks of the team.

Parker was still puzzled. Her understanding of faith healing was fuzzy at best but the guy on screen didn't look like a preacher, he looked like a cowboy.

"How have people not noticed that it doesn't work at his group shows?" Sophie asked.

"He has scouts in the audience. He picks small maladies and helps them. You'd be surprised at the power of the mind when they've had a good suggestion." Nate sat down on the couch next to Sophie. He cast a discreet glance towards the bottle of scotch on the counter. It was a look filled with longing but he didn't get up to get any.

The new office was a similar set up to the last. Nate lived on site and the other four lived close by in their own individual apartments, though Sophie was a regular fixture at Nate's.

As far as Parker could tell things were going well for them. They were never overt about their relationship but they seemed comfortable with that speed.

Parker and Hardison were still progressing. Probably slower than Hardison would have liked and she got the feeling that sometimes he was repressing a little bit of frustration at her reticence but he kept those feelings to himself.

Parker had slotted Eliot comfortably into a friend role. They were hanging out more now that they had moved. He was trying to teach her the fundamentals of cooking and would sometimes invite her to a local farmers market for ingredients. Eliot would rather die than admit it but Parker got the sense that he was lonely in this new city. He didn't have the same military friends close by.

These meetings weren't exactly a secret, she had told Hardison she hung out with Eliot, but she didn't quite tell him how frequent those meetings had been while they were settling in and the jobs had been few and far between. Nate had need a bit of rest and relaxation after the strain of the last job.

Parker enjoyed her time with Eliot. The more time she had spent with him, the less she felt like she was going to jump out of her skin every time Eliot looked at her a little too lingeringly. Parker still felt attracted to him but she was also a lot more comfortable in his presence and she hadn't had another one of those dreams.

Either way, Hardison hadn't been suspicious at all. Eliot was his buddy and Parker was romantically awkward. A very unlikely candidate to have an affair, she had to admit to herself. Parker almost giggled at the absurd idea of two guys vying for her affection. Especially Eliot. The man hooked up with super models, for Pete's sake. What would he see in her? Eliot was softer outside of the office. He still scolded her and snapped at her when they were on the job and her odd behaviour drove him nuts but outside the office Eliot was much more tolerant of Parker's quirks, quicker to smile.

This Johnston character was the first substantial case they had in a while. Just looking at him made Parker's skin crawl. She had never preyed on the weakest, most desperate portion of people.

Nate cleared his throat. "He uses the money he makes to invest in oil and other similar companies. He also persuades people to invest in him under the table. In fact his credit activity has him in Houston, Texas. I think he's there to wine and dine potential clients.

"Eliot, you'll be masquerading as a wealthy tycoon looking investment to start up a company. You'll tell him you have a sure fire way to find a new oil supply. Lure him in, and take him for all his worth. If we can expose him as a fraud too, that's a bonus."

"Why can't Sophie lead on this grift?" Eliot asked.

"Because Johnston is a traditional member of the old boys club. He'll respond to you. Southern gentleman to southern gentleman." Nate grinned at Eliot's obvious dissatisfaction.

"Southern criminal to southern criminal you mean," Eliot grumbled.

"Beside's you'll look better in a cowboy hat," Sophie quipped. "Parker, you'll play Eliot's trophy wife."

Parker's head shot up. "Trophy what?"

"Pretty little things on the arms of the wealthy," Sophie said. She didn't say it with disdain, it was a viable career choice. Sort of a long term, mutually beneficial business arrangement. "You'll be perfect, Parker. Petite, gorgeous and blond."

"We'll get you a fancy cover suite. Johnston likes to play a little high stakes poker when he's back home. Hardison will wrangle you up an invite. Eliot, you'll introduce yourself." Nate was smiling viciously.

Eliot nodded. "And then?"

"And then we destroy the son of a bitch."

"Parker, stop fidgeting," Sophie's voice drifted through the coms. "I can hear you fidgeting!"

Parker gritted her teeth. "I can't help it. The underwear has gone up my butt!"

Eliot was standing next to her in the elevator and shot her a sidelong glance.

Sophie let out a sigh. "That's because you're wearing a thong."

Eliot visibly started. Parker raised an eyebrow at his reaction. Eliot was usually unshakable and Parker didn't mind that it was a mention of her underwear that had thrown him.

Parker let out a sigh to match Sophie's. She didn't like tight, restricting clothes and the dress she was wearing stuck to her skin in every place. Not to mention how short it was. Parker knew Hardison had appreciated her outfit. It helped that Sophie was there to dress her.

Nate had assured her that she wouldn't need to pull any elaborate tricks in this con. She was mostly there to look good.

Eliot and Parker were staying in the hotel section of the casino and apparently checking into the presidential suite got you an invite to the high rollers level... it also came with a large king bed, which Parker had avoided. In fact they had both studiously ignored the looming bed in the room. She wasn't sure what the sleeping arrangements were. Maintaining the facade as a married couple meant that Eliot and Parker had to book into a room together.

Apart from the brief conversation with Sophie, the elevator ride was in silent and incredibly long. Or it felt like that to Parker. She was acutely aware of all her bare skin. She was also aware of how good Eliot looked dressed up.

Almost as good as he had when he'd gotten out of the shower this afternoon. Eliot had walked out of the bathroom just wearing jeans, his hair still wet from the shower. He was looking for a shirt and seemed completely unaware of Parker curled up on the couch, fiddling with a padlock.

Parker had been fascinated by his solid, muscular body, the splay of scars on his torso and his back.

That image had been flashing through her mind ever since.

With one more floor to go, Eliot moved closer to Parker and put a hand on her lower back. His palm was warm against her skin. Instead of making her jumpy, it was comforting. Parker found it really reassuring having him next to her. They made eye contact and Eliot grinned. Parker couldn't help but smiling in response. He hadn't yet assumed the mask of his character and the glint in his eye was a tiny bit mischievous.

Parker let out a deep breath, lifted her chin and shook out her hair. The elevator doors slid open and Parker and Eliot moved into action. As previously decided Parker headed towards the bar and Eliot targeted the mark.

Parker ordered a glass of champagne and watched Eliot settle at the table in the reflection. Eliot might specialise in hitting people but when he turned on the charm he was a force to be reckoned with.

Parker took a sip and was pleasantly surprised. It was delicious and sweet. Obviously this expensive stuff was the way to go. Parker found it hard to focus on the game; she didn't understand the absorption with poker. Imagine giving away money?

Parker tried not to yawn. She looked into the mirror to make sure they hadn't disappeared in the interim. Eliot caught her gaze in the reflection and winked. Ducking her head down Parker tried to stifle another smile. She was playing the disgruntled wife at this stage.

Eliot lost some money in a good natured way and tolerated Johnston slapping him on the back in a gloating way. Parker watched them approach. She took another large swallow of bubbly and assumed a cold expression.

Parker stood to meet them halfway. She had barely got her feet under her when Eliot enveloped her. Parker knew he was acting a little bit tipsy but that didn't dilute the effect of being embraced. He smelt good and warm. Parker had to restrain herself from throwing her arms around his neck.

Parker squirmed out of his arms.

"Let me introduce my wife Melody." Eliot pulled her back in close. "She's a little disenchanted with me right now." He was laying on the southern accent a bit thick.

Parker glared at him. "It's nice to meet you..."

"Johnston. Marvin Johnston."

'Mr Johnston." Parker extended her hand. "Apologies, my rude husband doesn't perform introductions properly."

"Pleasure," Johnston said. "Peter, your wife is stunning."

"She's bored." Eliot scoffed. "She keeps complaining that I don't take her out to any where nice or romantic."

Parker rolled her eyes but Johnston just laughed. "My wife Carol can be just the same if she's deprived of romance.

"Gambling isn't my thing," Parker pointed out frostily.

"Oh Darlin', don't be like that." Eliot leaned into kiss Parker and she deftly avoided it with a tilt of her head. His lips brushed her jaw. Parker felt herself tense and Eliot's eyes flicked up and met Parkers. The intensity of his gaze was all Eliot and not Peter.

"I think I have a solution for you two love birds. My wife Carol has organised a charity gala for... oh something to do with children. It's a black tie event. A perfect night for romance." Johnston waggled his eyebrows in a suggestive way.

Parker let herself look a little bit hopeful.

Eliot chuckled. "I think you've sold her, Mr Johnston."

"Glad to assist. And if the opportunity arises to talk a little business well then so be it."

"I knew there was a catch," Parker grumbled.

Johnston smiled charmingly. "Don't worry, there'll be plenty of time for dancing and dresses too. Now you two kids, kiss and make up."

"Excuse me?" Eliot leaned forward. His voice slipped from character.

"C'mon man, your gal's feeling neglected." Johnston didn't seem like he was planning on moving until he got what he wanted. Parker found that a little creepy and meddlesome but it wasn't like she could stab him with a fork this time.

Eliot took control of the situation, trying to capture some of Pete's drunken bravado. He grabbed Parker's hand and pulled her against his body. Her hands rested automatically on his shoulders. Eliot bought his own up to cup her face. His thumb brushed a stray bit of blond hair off her face. He very gently lifted her chin up so her mouth was hovering under his.

Eliot paused there a second as if he was inhaling her, sharing Parkers breath before leaning in to close the gap. He softly pressed his lips to hers. Parker felt a rush flood her body. It was a tender, lingering kiss and Parker's lips yielded under his.

When he pulled back, Parker's world narrowed to include his face and his face only. Whatever Johnston was saying didn't matter. Eliot swallowed visibly and took a step back. Parker took a deep shaky breath in.

It had been so much better than any dream. That was a memorable first kiss.

AN: Sorry this wasn't posted on Monday as I would have preferred due to Internet issues. This is where my hypothetical season 5 would have started. In response to one of my guest reviewers, this a Parker pov story and therefore does not know that Eliot got his kill on earlier in the series.

And yes, I am getting to the smut – but as realistically as possible. Bear with me wonderful Reviewers!

MD666