I apologize for taking a while to get this up, but this is my final week before I start back to college, and it's a little crazy. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Although, some parts of it, I'm not too thrilled with.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME!
Remember to review at the end! :)
The team had been compromised. Latimer knew almost every move they made, or he seemed too. They all knew the truth. Dubenich was helping him, and he knew them.
Eliot worried about Parker, when she was in Latimer's office, and they made her. He felt a fear he hardly recognized when the announcement was made. He knew Parker would make it out. She always did, but still…
When Hardison pulled Lucille up, and wondered about Parker, Eliot knew when he heard a small thumb on the roof.
"Just go, Hardison!" He shouted, pointing to the road.
Hardison sent him a look, which spoke volumes, until Parker leaned her head down in Eliot's window.
"Yeah, let's go, Hardison." She stated, with a goofy smile on her face. She glanced at Eliot, and he only smiled as his head shook.
He knew better than to worry about his little crazy thief.
~X~
They needed recruits, people who Dubenich would never suspect or know. Eliot knew just the person.
As he packed a few things that would fit into a small bag, he felt eyes drilling into the back of his skull. He straightened as he zipped his bag up, and turned around to find Parker leaning against the doorframe with a worried look on her face.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" She asked, her voice pleading.
Eliot sighed as he approached her. He touched her face with his right hand, and gazed into her eyes. "We need help, Parker." He whispered, searching her eyes.
She nodded subtly. "I know that, but Quinn!" She shouted, stepping back from him only to walk past him towards the window of his bedroom. "This is the man who beat you up, and left you with broken ribs, and nearly…" She trailed off feeling the tears build up in her eyes.
Eliot sighed, and approached her carefully. "Quinn was hired to do that, Parker." He whispered, in her ear, wrapping his arms around her waist. "He had a job to do. Besides, he can help us." He stated, kissing the top of her head.
Parker rolled her eyes. "Yeah, for a price." She stated, folding her arms over her chest. "I don't trust him, Eliot." She stated, with a huff.
He smiled and kissed her head once more. "But you trust me, don't you?" He asked, though he already knew the answer to that.
She smiled and dipped her head. "You know I do." She replied, finally turning in his arms. "Maybe I should go with you." She added, after a moment, placing her hands on his chest.
Eliot shook his head. "No, it's too risky where I'm going. Hardison finally tracked him down, and where he's at is dangerous." He stated, gruffly. "I can't get him to agree if I have to worry about you." He whispered, tightening his hold on her waist.
She sighed, and shook her head. She opened her mouth to speak, but Eliot silenced her with his lips. He pulled back, and she sent him a playful glare.
"Besides, you have to get Archie." He whispered, with a hint of dislike in his voice.
Parker smiled at the tone in his voice. "Just be careful." She whispered, clutching his shirt in the balls of her hands. "Come back to me."
Eliot sighed, and smiled at the worry on her face and voice. "Always, Parker." He whispered, closing the distance between them.
They kissed until they needed air between them, and as they slowly pulled apart, they knew it was time.
Eliot's hands were underneath her shirt, and his was halfway unbuttoned. "Parker…" He trailed off when her lips touched his.
"It's a little incentive to come back to me." She stated, with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
He chuckled, and proceeded to pull her shirt over her head, smiling as she finished up the buttons on his shirt.
They made it to the bed, and fell on top of the covers. As the day continued on, Eliot and Parker had completed their love in more ways than one.
She awoke a few hours later, and sat up with a sheet clutched to her chest. Her eyes drifted to the space next to her, and her eyes widened. Eliot was gone.
She hurried out of bed, but didn't think to put some clothes on, as she wrapped the sheet around her naked body. She stopped outside of the bedroom, and sighed in relief when she saw Eliot setting his bag next to the door. She noticed he had put his clothes back on, jeans and a red shirt.
She bit her bottom lip, when he turned around, and smiled at her.
"I don't think I've ever seen a woman as sexy as you." He remarked stepping towards her, taking in her appearance with a white sheet wrapped around her and her hair slightly mushed, and her lips slightly swollen from the kisses he gave her.
She blushed, but didn't dip her head. "I thought you left." She whispered, when he stopped a foot away from her.
"I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, Parker. You know that, especially after what we did." He stated, touching her face lightly with his right hand.
She smiled, and leaned her face into his hand. "That wasn't just sex was it?" She asked, wanting to know.
He shook his head. "No, darlin, it wasn't." He whispered, kissing her lips with tenderness.
She sighed when he pulled back. "I've never made love before." She whispered, lifting her gaze shyly to his.
He smiled, and shook his head. "Neither have I, not like that, anyway." He whispered, in return.
She smiled, and leaned forward. Gently she kissed his lips, and groaned when he pulled back. He chuckled at the look of disappointment on her face.
"I gotta go, Parker, but I'll be back before you know it." He whispered, kissing her forehead tenderly.
She nodded, and watched with sad eyes as he picked up his bag, and opened the door.
"I love you." She practically shouted, tears forming in her eyes.
He turned his head, and smiled. "I love you." He stated, simply in return. Walking through the door, and softly closing it, leaving Parker in the silence.
"He'll come back." She whispered, to herself, and nodded firmly, turning on her heel, and prepared to get ready for the day.
~X~
Her phone rang the next day, and she clamored to get it in time. She smiled at the number, and excused herself from Archie, who had agreed to come with her for the job.
She walked outside the building and held the phone to her ear. "Took you long enough." She scolded, though she was smiling.
He chuckled, and she could just see him smiling. "I'm sorry, Parker, but Quinn is a hard man to track down." He replied, on the other end.
She sighed, and leaned against the brick wall. "I miss you." She whispered, leaning her head back.
He sighed on the other end. "Me too, darlin." He whispered, on his end.
"You're on your way?" She asked, with hope in her tone.
"We are." He answered, and Parker bit her tongue.
"Nate's moving out. I'll be meeting you at the airport." She replied, with an attempted business tone.
"I look forward to seeing you." He returned.
She smiled and shook her head. "Love you." She replied, quickly, knowing they couldn't stay on the phone for too long.
"Love you." He returned, knowing why the rushed conversation.
She ended the call, and dropped her arm to her side. Her Eliot was coming home, and she couldn't wait.
~X~
She shifted nervously on her feet as she waited at the airport for him to make an appearance. She bit her bottom lip, and her eyes searched every face that came out of the plane.
She brightened when she finally saw him. Running through the mass of people, knocking a few off balance, she made it to him.
She threw her arms around him, and sighed, at the feeling of completion filled her soul.
Eliot wrapped his arms around her waist, and held her tight against him. "I missed you too." He whispered, knowing she wasn't going to say a word.
She smiled, and let out a small giggle, pulling back only to kiss his lips passionately. They were so absorbed in each other; they forgot the people around them, until a throat cleared beside them.
Eliot pulled back and laughed lightly, glancing at the man standing a few feet away from them. "Parker, this is Quinn. Quinn, Parker." He replied, making the introduction.
Parker nodded to the man, but didn't say a word.
Quinn smiled at her, and glanced at Eliot. "I see what you mean." He replied, in a dignified tone.
Eliot smiled, and held Parker close to his side. "Yeah." He said, glancing at the woman next to him. "Has Nate moved?" He asked her.
She nodded. "Yeah, he didn't want to text you the coordinates, because he didn't know if the phones were secure. That's why I met you here." She replied, though she knew Eliot knew it wasn't the only reason.
"Well, then, let's go." Eliot stated, glancing at Quinn, who nodded in confirmation.
Parker nodded, and started through the airport, though she refused to let go Eliot's waist as they walked.
~X~
"Mr. Spencer, I wonder if I might have a word." Archie whispered, while Hardison and Chaos were fixing up everything.
Eliot glanced at the older man, and gave a curt nod. He followed Archie down a portion of the cave, and stopped when Archie stopped.
"I know you may not think much about me, Mr. Spencer." Archie began, watching the hitter carefully. "But I can see the way you feel about my Parker is genuine." He added, placing his cane in front of him on the ground to lean on it.
Eliot nodded, and folded his arms over his chest.
"I spent years trying to get her feel something, but she wouldn't let me in." Archie replied, with a twinge of regret.
"She did, Archie." Eliot replied, after a moment. "She thinks of you as a father figure, and trusts you." He added, lowering his gaze for a moment.
Archie smiled, and bowed his head. "Do you love her?" He asked, lifting his head once more.
"Completely."
Archie smiled, and nodded. "Then let's get this straight, Mr. Spencer," He began, stepping closer to the hitter. "If you hurt her, I will personally destroy you." He threatened with a cold tone.
Eliot nodded, but his face remained stoic.
Archie smiled. "Well, then, we should return to the rest. We have a job to do." He replied, walking past Eliot towards the room they just left.
"You could have told him, Eliot."
Eliot smiled, as he looked up the wall to a small notch. He chuckled as he saw a flash of blonde drop in front of him. "Told him what?" He asked, watching her straighten up in front of him.
"That you would never hurt me." She stated, with a smile on her face.
Eliot shook his head, and reached for her. "I would try not to, Parker, but it might happen." He stated, pulling her to him for a moment.
She smiled, and tilted her head to the side. "Just as I could hurt you, though I would never try to either." She whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He smiled, and quickly kissed her lips before pulling back. "We should hurry back, before they worry." He whispered, grabbing her right hand with his left.
They walked back to the group, and dropped their hands to their sides. If anyone noticed, they didn't say a word, though Quinn gave Eliot a knowing look when Eliot sat down beside him.
"Can I hit him?" Quinn asked after a moment, staring at the two hackers.
Eliot smiled and turned to him. "Which one?" He asked, gruffly.
Quinn shrugged his shoulders. "Either one." He stated, glancing at Eliot, who smiled as his head shook.
Eliot turned to Sophie, and pointed to Quinn. "You see, it's not just me." He stated, moving his eyes to Parker, who was trying not to laugh. Eliot smiled and sent her a knowing smile.
~X~
Parker waited nervously for Eliot and the rest to return from the Bellington Dam. She rocked on her feet; her eyes fixed on the doorway. She sighed in relief when Eliot entered the door, dressed in a blue shirt and dark blue dress pants. She shivered and relief flooded her being at the sight of him.
She walked casually towards him, and noticed the rest of them walking past her.
"Did it work?" She asked, wrapping her arms around him.
He sighed, and nodded. "Yeah, it did." He whispered, holding her tight.
She sighed, and held him close to her. "Did he do good?" She asked, her eyes moving upwards.
He chuckled and pulled back. "Yeah, he did." He replied, knowing she was talking about Quinn.
She smiled and kissed his cheek. "Well, at least you came back." She whispered, gleefully.
He chuckled and shook his head. Yeah, he did.
~X~
As the night for the heist came, Eliot and Quinn stayed back as the others went into their positions.
"She'll be fine, Eliot." Quinn remarked lowly.
Eliot nodded. "I know." He whispered, huskily.
Quinn smiled. "I never would have imagined you falling for anyone, until now." He replied, turning his gaze for a moment. "You're a lucky man." He added, sincerely.
Eliot nodded and smiled. "Thanks, man." He said in gratitude.
Quinn nodded, and shrugged his shoulders. Some men got all the luck, and he didn't seem to be one of them, but Eliot was, and it was enough to get him to hope.
Maybe there was someone out there for him. Maybe…
~X~
Parker was worried. She had watched Nate disappear down into a section of the tunnels, and knew what he planned to do. She also knew that someone had to stop him.
She caught Eliot standing with Quinn, discussing something about strategy and weapons, but she didn't really care. The only one who could get through to Nate would be Eliot. She walked up to Eliot, and touched his arm lightly.
"Eliot," She whispered, with fear in her voice.
Eliot nodded to Quinn, who knew it was a private discussion. He stepped back, and left the two lovers by themselves.
"What is it, Parker?" He asked, with concern.
Parker nodded to the tunnel Nate had disappeared into a few moments before. "Nate," She whispered, quietly.
"What about him?" Eliot asked, shrugging his shoulders.
"Talk to him, please, Eliot." She whispered, with a plead in her voice.
Eliot sighed and nodded. "Alright." He smiled at her, and sighed once more before going down the tunnel Nate went.
He sighed as he saw a gun in Nate's hands, and bottles set up a few feet away. He knew exactly what Nate was thinking about, and what he was going to do.
"You know a lot of things, Nate. You don't know how this is going to change you." He began, folding his arms over his chest.
Nate sighed, and lifted his arms up with the gun in his hands. "You handled it." He stated, firing the gun.
Eliot shook his head. "Well, you have no idea who I was before all this…started. That guy…kid…he had God in his heart and he had a flag on his shoulder, clean hands, and I ain't seen him in the mirror in over 10 years." He stated, with a sorrowful tone.
Nate dropped his arms and sighed.
"And believe me, I get up every morning looking for him." Eliot continued, and averted his gaze. "So you can trust me when I tell you, you pull that trigger. Two men die, the man you kill and the man you use to be."
Parker leaned against the wall next to the entrance. She listened to the conversation and sighed as she leaned her head back against the wall. She never knew about Eliot's past, but she knew enough to know that it still haunted him.
She blocked out the rest of the conversation, and sighed, when she heard someone next to her. She turned her head, and smiled at Eliot.
"I don't know if it worked, but I tried." He whispered, sadly.
Parker nodded, and moved to lean against him. "It was worth a try." She whispered, leaning against him. "Eliot, when this is over, we need to talk." She replied, softly.
Eliot inhaled, and he nodded. "We will." He promised, wrapping his arm around her.
She sighed as they walked out together.
~X~
Eliot and Quinn arrived back in the tunnels after saving Sophie, and placing Latimer in the small hut for the later deal.
Eliot went straight for Parker. "We need to talk." He whispered, pulling into the darkness of a tunnel for a moment.
She jumped slightly, and leaned against the wall. "What is it?" She asked, watching him run his fingers through his hair.
"I was so close. I was an inch away from ending all of this." He stated, slightly ranting, pacing back and forth.
Parker folded her arms over her chest, and watched him. "What happened?" She asked, watching him stop, but his body was turned away from her.
"I almost killed Dubenich." He stated, turning his head towards her.
Parker's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't say a word as she nodded. "What stopped you?" She asked, in a low tone.
Eliot shook his head, and ran his hands over his face. "At first, I wasn't sure. I wanted to kill him for everything he did to us, but…" He trailed off, his arms still in the air, his eyes lifting to hers. "All I could see was your face, and all I could hear was your voice, telling me not to do it." He stated, stepping closer to her.
She remained still for a moment, and finally nodded in understanding. "So you didn't kill him?" She asked, closing the distance between them.
Eliot shook his head. "As much as I wanted to, I couldn't." He stated, watching her carefully.
Parker nodded, and dropped her arms to her sides. "Eliot, no matter what happens, nothing will ever change the way I feel about you." She whispered, somehow knowing that he needed to hear it.
Eliot nodded. "If I had gone through with it, what would you have done?" He asked, watching her carefully.
She smiled, and touched his face. "I would love you through it." She whispered, smiling brighter.
He sighed, and gathered her up in his arms. "Oh, God, I love you." He whispered, holding her tight.
She smiled, and held him in return. "I love you." She whispered, knowing he needed this. He had almost killed today, and she knew how much he hated killing. He always avoided the kill, and if he had done it, she wasn't sure if he would survive it.
He was not a killer. Not anymore. At least, not to her.
~X~
The money had been transferred to their accounts, and Parker smiled with delight as she walked with Archie.
"I know it may not matter much, but I approve of your young man, very much." He replied, as they walked out of the tunnels.
She smiled, and nodded. "It does matter." She replied, with a soft tone.
"How do you feel about that?" Archie asked, with a shocked look in his eyes.
She smiled, and glanced towards Eliot, who was talking with Quinn. "It felt weird to begin with, but now I can't imagine not feeling." She stated, folding her arms over her chest.
"You must care about him, very much then." Archie replied, softly.
Parker smiled. "I love him." She replied, with a slight blush.
Archie smiled. "Well, then, hold onto him, Parker, because it takes a special person to love us despite our faults, and our past." He replied, touching her arm lightly.
Parker nodded, and wrapped her arms around him in a slight hug for a moment before pulling away. "Thank you, Archie." She whispered, tears filling her eyes.
Archie nodded. "Anytime, Parker." He remarked, before walking away.
Quinn sighed as he walked with Eliot out. "I said it before, Eliot, you are a lucky man." He replied, with a smile. "I mean, I don't envy you working with a team, but I do see the advantages, and to have a woman like that who cares for you…" He trailed off, his eyes glancing towards Parker.
Eliot nodded. "I am lucky, Quinn." He replied, smiling. "Who knows, maybe you'll find someone." He replied, lightly.
Quinn chuckled, and shook his head. "I have more blood on my hands than you could know, Eliot. No woman would ever accept me because of it." He replied, quietly.
Eliot shook his head. "I used to feel that way, Quinn, and then I met Parker. You'll find someone, Quinn." He stated, firmly.
Quinn averted his gaze for a moment. "Well, I better be going. I'll see you around, Eliot." He replied, holding out his right hand.
"See you, Quinn." Eliot returned, shaking his hand.
He watched his new found friend go, and sighed. Maybe someday, Quinn would find someone. Maybe, because nobody deserved to be alone.
~X~
The team watched from a distance as Nate moved the gun back and forth from one man to another, and Parker moved next to Eliot, reaching for his hand.
She held on tight as Nate finally dropped the gun and began to walk away from Latimer and Dubenich. She sighed in relief, and turned her head when Sophie began to run down the ramp towards Nate.
Hardison nodded to them, and smiled as he clasped Eliot on the shoulder, and hugged Parker quickly before following Sophie.
She turned to Eliot and smiled. "Is it over?" She asked, searching his eyes.
He smiled, and nodded. "Yeah, it's over, Parker." He answered, touching her face with his right hand.
She sighed, and kissed his lips quickly before leaning against his side as they walked towards the rest of the team.
They watched from a distance, as Nate and Sophie finally gave into their feelings, and bickered slightly with Hardison about keeping the cave.
As they walked over the rocks, Nate stopped and looked at Eliot and Parker with a gleam in his eyes.
"It's about time." He stated, motioning towards their joined hands.
Sophie smiled brightly and held onto Nate's arm as they walked on.
Eliot glanced at Parker, and smiled "Well, then, it's not a secret anymore." He replied, kissing her forehead.
Parker smiled, and shook her head. "I think it was the fact that you couldn't keep your hands off me." She stated, with a wiggle of her brows.
He shook his head, and rolled his eyes. "I think it was you who couldn't keep your hands off me, Parker." He stated, laughter shining in his eyes.
Parker smiled, and bit her bottom lip. "Can we go home now?" She asked, after a moment.
He nodded, and pulled her close. "Yeah, we can go home." He whispered, kissing her once more.
Later, as they lay in their bed with their legs tangled and a sheet covering their lower bodies, they were content.
Parker smiled as she kissed Eliot's bare chest, and propped her chin up on his chest to look at him. "What do we do now?" She asked, feeling Eliot's right hand moving over her bare back, and his left pushing her blonde hair from her face.
Eliot smiled and rolled them over. "Now, we love the night and day away." He whispered, lowering his head to kiss her lips once more.
"Mmm, I like the sound of that." She whispered, before her mind and voice left her.
And they did.
What did you think? PLEASE NO HARSH COMMENTS!
Well, there is one more chapter left to write, although I think I said two after this one, but...Anywho, I want to wrap this story up, and focus on the other one.
It should be up soon.
Until Next Time...