Chapter Twelve
"I'm gonna have to call Aaron tomorrow and see how everything went. Knowing him he lost his nerve and I'll have to go down there to kick some sense into him. Sarah was always the one to set goals and actually see them through, but I think he'll manage with this one, Ashlee means alot to him.
I think they'll be good together, maybe I'll even go to the wedding. I missed Sarahs. Don't want to be bringin' them trouble though, try to limit the visits to three or four times a year with calls and letters in between. No need for my past to be their punishment." Eliot had been rambling about bits and pieces since they left his sisters but he stopped figuring he had bored Nate who was staring out the window with unnervingly empty eyes.
In his attempt to pull Nate out of whatever funk he had fallen into he changed topic knowing for a fact Nate would show interest. "Where did you want to go? I probably messed up your other plans but I'm sure you got back up. Right? You pick the spot I'm there." When the vacation Nate had been talking about for nearly two weeks didn't even stir him Eliot knew he must be in trouble.
"If this is about Colorado I swear I'm not moving Nate. I don't announce what we do to everyone and a friend just let me know about a few jobs that were going around. Sure my fingers get a little itchy sometimes but don't listen to Pete he's got a mouth he never knows when to shut." Receiving nothing but silence Eliot found himself growing annoyed, he could receive a snippy reply at least.
"Do you honestly think I wouldn't talk to you first, that I would just up and leave?" Still receiving no response he angrily swerved into the first available spot and parked his truck, turning his full attention on Nate. "It can't even be about Colorado though because things were fine between us right before we left Sarahs. What did I do in the last 25 minutes that was so bad you wont even talk to me?" The only things to be heard were the outside traffic and their mingled breathing.
"What the hell Nate, are you honestly giving me the silent treatment?" It wasn't only words though, he wasn't even receiving any of Nates attention.
"You know what," He breathed deeply as he reeled in the anger that was beginning to show, he and Nate couldn't be fighting constantly if they planned on lasting long term. "I'm going for a walk. The hotels a few blocks straight ahead and when I get there you and me are going to have a talk, one with actual friggin' words." The added time and fresh air would give him a chance to collect himself and maybe even figure out what was up with Nate.
Hearing the door slam Nate shook himself out of a mix of memories and nightmares confused to what had happened, he hadn't heard a word said. He had been trying to stay a-float in a sea of sadness and his own depressing thoughts. Grabbing the keys from the ignition he quickly undid his seatbelt with the intent on finding out what had happened and why Eliot had just abandoned him in the truck.
"Eliot!" The man had already made it up a block and he really didn't know how it was possible to be so quick. "Eliot, wait!" He kept on going showing no signs of having heard.
"ELIOT! ! !" Stopping Eliot slowly began to turn, of course Nate would nearly demand his attention after ignoring him completely but if Nate wanted to talk then he was at least going to come to him.
The last shout had been a warning, one Eliot obviously did not receive as he turned around. Eyes widening in shock and disbelief Nate took off on a full speed run, panick settling heavy in his chest. This couldn't happen to him not again.
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10 p.m. Boston, Nates appartment
"I'm bored." Parker whined as yet another movie ended. She had come by around lunch to bother Nate only to find him gone.
"Well I'm out of ideas Parker." Hardison sighed as he flipped off the big screen. Parker had called him around one saying it was an emergency and to get to Nates fast, when he arrived he received the same declaration of boredom and was ordered to do something about it. They had played video games, talked about past cons, both theirs and the ones of others and what they would have done differently. He had even hacked her some highly secure blue prints to study and ended all that with a three hour movie marathon and she still wasn't content.
"Where do you think he is?" Parker switched topic abruptly.
"Who?" Hardison was trying to follow but he was exhausted after eight full hours of Parker.
"Nate" Parker rolled her eyes at how oblivious Hardison could be.
"He's probably with Eliot." Hardison shrugged, not really worried.
"Why would he be with Eliot?"
"Why wouldn't he be," Sophie joined the conversation with a bowl of popcorn. "He gave us all time off so why wouldn't he spend his with his boyfriend? Only the two of you would spend your vacation time at your boss' house."
"Really Sophie, Are you not standing in Nates living room right now?" Hardison was nearly rolling in sarcasm. Sophie had joined them for a late dinner and had stayed for the movies.
"I'm waiting for Stan to call." She shrugged off his accusation as she sat next to Parker, passing the bowl. "He said he'd call at eight but he tends to forget about time zones so it'll probably be more like eleven."
"What does that have to do with you being here?" He wasn't mad just trying to get his point across. She was nagging them while sitting in the same exact boat. "Let me guess, this is the only place his calls connect. Right?"
"But what if he's not? Eliot left over a week ago and Nate just disappears, no one's seen him since Friday. How do we know something didn't happen to him?" Parker interrupted the squabble she knew was about to start as she shared the worry that had been keeping her from relaxing.
"Parker don't worry, it's not very shocking for Nate to keep us out of the loop. I'm sure he's just being his usual inconsiderate self." Sophie was slightly surprised that Parker was the one to be showing discomfort at their leaders absence.
"What's shocking is how they're acting." Hardison came back from the kitchen, his own snack and soda in hand.
"How so?" Her interest was peeked.
"When Eliot told me about their relationship you know it was weird, but I was going to be supportive so I started preparing myself for the changes that were sure to come. Where are they?"
"What were you expecting?" Parker had been drawn away from her thoughts and into their conversation.
"I don't even know, some kind of change though. I was watching them the other day and I just dont see it, if I didn't know and one of you told me I'd never believe you." Hardison was glad to see Sophie nodding in agreement, apparently he wasn't alone in his feelings. "Almost like a prank in bad taste."
"But the real question," Sophie spoke with clarity automatically gaining her friends' undivided attention. "is that how they really interact with one another or is it a show for our benefit, and if so how do we let them know they're free to express themselves as they wish without fear of judgement on our parts?"
"I don't think you guys are looking right. It would actually be worse if I saw them hugging and hand holding, now that would be creepy." Parker shuddered at the thought. She didn't know why they were complaining about things not changing.
"How aren't we looking right?"
"It's like when you're hacking Hardison, there's got to be a certain code and you've got to know what you're looking for."
"So what aren't we looking for Parker?" Sophie was feeling her skills take a bit of a blow, she made her living on reading people yet Parker was claiming to have seen something she missed.
"Well not all of us show affection so easily, but if you really watch you can see it. I doubt either of them realise the changes they've made and that's why you haven't either. Like when Eliot would end up in a fight, Nate would tune it out and keep on going with whichever part of the job he had been working, but now he actually listens. Concentrates on every little noise made, just waiting for one misplaced breath to drop everything and come to Eliots aide.
He actually accepts more of our ideas now and his drinking has beyond lessoned, it's his own personal way to tell Eliot he's trying. Eliot does the same. He isn't as obvious but now he's actually around, he doesn't take off right after the jobs done, he sticks around and that's how he lets Nate know he cares. That Nate is important enough to him that he doesn't mind giving him his free time." Maybe they'd yet to notice because she had seen most of this before they even knew but it was still visible even now. Looking at the stunned faces of her friends and co-workers Parker found herself becoming self conscience. "What?"
"That was deep." It was probably rude but Hardison didn't think Parker had that in her, she really did deserve more credit than she was usually given.
"Well I'm not an idiot."
"No you're not." Sophie agreed not wanting Parker to feel insulted. "You didn't read their emotions or body language, you read their characterization. That can take months of observation and is a hard skill to master, I'm impressed." Sophie found herself smiling like a proud mother, she hadn't bothered delving to deep with any of the team trying to respect boundaries and not really interested since there'd be no reward but she was glad Parker had picked up one of her tricks.
"I can relent to what you said, it's probably true but I still think somebody should talk to them about expression. The only thing I've seen them show one another is anger and that can't be healthy." Hardison moved on trying to avoid the boasting he knew would be coming from Parker.
"I've seen them expressing themselves and it sure didn't look like anyone was angry to me." Parker smirked, that would teach Hardison to act as if she was a twit.
A phone ringing stopped Sophie from sating her curiousity which Hardison was thankful for. "It's not me." Sophie was clearly disappointed by that.
"It's Nate." Hardison read the caller I.d., a bit creeped out that their main topic was calling.
"Well answer."
"Hey Nate we were just... they're right here, I'll put it on speaker... ... ... Alright." Seeing the amusement slowly fade from the Hackers face and him making no move to make the call heard for all, the girls stopped with their whispered gossip focusing completely on Hardison.
"Man what's wrong? ... Nate what happened? ... Ok, we're on our way." Hardison hung up in complete disbelief, only Eliot and Nate could possibly find so much trouble.
"On our way where?" Parker asked Hardison who had obviously forgotten about them, currently lost in some activity on his phone.
"We got an hour to get to the airport." Hardison finally let out as he secured them seats for the next available flight.
"He didn't honestly find a job to pull while on vacation did he?" Sophie offered hoping it would turn out to be so, she didn't like the weight of emotion that had appeared in Hardisons eyes.
"Naw Sophie," Hardison sighed, he had been left with the task of bearer of bad news. "I wish he had but he didn't. We're going to Oklahoma, I'll explain on the plane." He hurriedly added as Parker began with questions. He needed time for things to sink in, he didn't know if that would make it better or worse when it came time to explain but that was what he needed.
E/N: So neither of those were cliffies, just scene cuts :) Really. No Really. (Sighs) Okay don't believe me :( Next, what's up with Hardison? I thought he had things all worked out last story. I guess he didn't absorb anything or maybe he was just looking without seeing. Aw well, I'll fix him.
So I was going back through SC to make sure I'm holding strong on my back story and I just had to laugh. Some of the mistakes I made back there were hilarious and I'm proud that you've all stuck by this series. I'll be first to admit those mistakes and even point them out and though I'm still no where near perfect I'm proud to say I've felt myself improving as a writer and will continue to do so by doing no other than giving you more of this story. Hope you enjoyed!
