I'm back with another chapter y'all. Thanks for the great following. It's wonderful.

Chap. 11

The horse hooves pounded the ground as streaks of black, brown, and white ran through the pasture. Sophie watched as Allen tried to explain the allure of country living to Hardison. As usual, the young hacker wasn't swayed by the argument. For every one of them but Eliot, this was roughing it. The grifter had to admit that they all seemed more relaxed now. Maybe it was the time off that did it or just maybe for some of them this place was magical.

Eliot placed the pitchfork on the hook in the barn and swiped a hand across his sweaty forehead. The hard work gave his body an outlet for all of his pent up nervous energy. It also gave his mind time to think. Thinking led to overthinking. If he could get his brain to turn off, he'd be great. He'd gone years without analyzing his past and now he couldn't keep from doing just that. Damn Allen and his big heart. The man cared too much. And now that freaking concern had Eliot in knots.

"You know, taking a break might be a good idea. You've been going all morning."

"I'm fine."

"You can push yourself all you want, it won't stop the awful things running through you head. I tried that."

"Parker!"

"Have you talked to Allen? He's a great listener."

"I don't need to talk to anyone Parker. I just need to get my head outta my ass."

"He cares, you know? Allen, I mean. He actually wants people to feel better about themselves. He wants to help people, Eliot. How many people do you know that genuinely want to do that?"

"Counting you, Sophie, Hardison, and Nate? Five and no, one of them isn't me or Allen."

"Eliot do you trust me?"

"With what?"

"Everything?"

"I trust you do your job. I can't trust anyone with some things Parker. It hurts too much when the people you trust betray you. You of all people should know that."

"Sometimes you just have to go on faith, Sparky."

With that, the pert thief disappeared around the barn. Glancing back Eliot saw the raccoon that lived in the barn.

"What are you looking at Bandit?"

The chattering sounded like a raccoon ass chewing to Eliot. Once the little critter had said his peace he grabbed the berries he had been chomping and scampered off.

"Great. Even the raccoon has an opinion!"

Nate chuckled as he tossed a bottled water at his hitter. Eliot seemed to be getting back on track, which for Nate was both a blessing and a curse. He needed Eliot for jobs, but he also needed a healthy hitter. That included mental health.

"Parker and Bandit are right."

"About what, exactly?"

"Everything."

"Well, that's specific!"

"Eliot, you protect us from every kind of threat imaginable. Let us protect you while you work through this."

"It's not pretty. No one should have to hear it. No one else should have to deal with it."

"You shouldn't have to do it alone. You have people that want to help you, Eliot. Let them."

"They can't know, Nate. They can't! They trust me to keep them safe. Once they find out, they won't be able to trust me anymore."

"Eliot what is so bad about you that would cause us to completely change our opinion of you? We know you, we know you, Eliot."

"No you don't! None of you do. I can't let you!"

"Why not? What do imagine happening if we find out you're human?"

Eliot ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. These people, his friends, couldn't imagine the things he kept hidden. None of them save for Parker maybe had ever had to even contemplate the nightmares he kept buried. How could rehashing them be at all helpful? He had gotten this far in life without reopening that particular Pandora's Box, he didn't want to take a chance on it now.

"Just please drop this Nate. I don't know if I can do this with y'all."

Nathan Ford watched as his tough, no nonsense hitter scurried away like a frightened animal. As much as Eliot didn't want to talk, he needed to do just that. Maybe he needed to have another conversation with Allen. Clearly this wasn't working.