A/N - There's another couple special heart scenes for you to enjoy...

PLEASE HAVE TISSUES!

Don't want those computers or phones to short out now would I?

I have hit a little writer's block as far as the direction to move next, but never fear, I will get there. I just might not get to post it until Friday... And don't I get you something good for Friday? Well, at least I try...

I hope you like it!

Enjoy!

Just before the respiratory evaluator left, he gave Mr. Lazar Ford a little bit of pain medication to relax him after the trauma of taking out the tube. Nate walked him out and talked to him in the hall…

"He might need more bronchodilators and medicines to keep his airways open because he will have some fluid in his lungs. So there is a risk of your nephew developing pneumonia."

"When will he go for the hyperbaric treatments?"

"Tomorrow at noon, I will come to get him and re-evaluate him then before his treatment."

"What are his chances for a full recovery?"

"I don't know about that. We'll need to see how he does after his first treatment. The important thing is that he can breathe without the aid of a machine."

"Yes. See you tomorrow then."

"Bye now."

Before Eliot faded off to sleep he grabbed onto the pen and the first thing he wrote was, "Where's Parker?"

Sophie took the dry erase board from Eliot as his hand went limp around the pen. She knew he was back to sleep because his heart rate slowed a little. She read what the hitter had written and now too, noticed that Parker wasn't in the room. She checked in the water closet and the thief wasn't in there either. So the grifter went out to the main hall and saw Nate standing there looking down toward the closed doors. She went up to him and touched his forearm.

"Where's Parker," she whispered into the mastermind's ear so that others couldn't be privy to their conversation.

"Don't know, she passed by me, she looked upset."

"It was a bit bloody rough. But I don't think that's it."

"What happened?"

"I wasn't going to mention it, but this morning, Eliot stopped her from letting her calm him down and pushed her away."

"Did you learn her reaction?"

"At first, she tried to hide it from me. But I wouldn't take no for an answer. She texted that she felt that he was mad at her and that she didn't know what she'd done to make him mad."

"I should go talk to her."

"I told her that I would set him straight and she said not to kill him because she'd healed him enough to make it here to the RICU."

"Well, yeah, that wouldn't be wise."

"I promise I won't. One of my, 'children,' needs to be, 'disciplined,' that's all."

"Sure you won't switch with me?"

"No dahling, you go on," she smiled with the knowledge that she got the easier of the two, 'kids.'

Parker had swiped Nate's keys when he'd given her a hug when they'd arrived before the respiratory guy came to look over Eliot. She'd gotten into his car and locked herself up inside it. Inside, she let the emotion of several months come over her. The thief had kept it all bottled inside because she was afraid to let Eliot see that she wasn't strong as she sat vigil over him; showing weakness wasn't an option. But now that he'd made it to the point where he'd be able to talk again… Everything couldn't stay buried anymore. She thought if she'd cried and washed all the emotion out of her, then she'd be able put walls up and to be strong for the next portion of Eliot's journey back to health. She was grateful that Nate had a box of tissues in his glove compartment. Parker was so busy filling tissues she didn't even notice when Nate had snuck up to her window and tapped on it. She startled a bit and then she cleaned her face up a little. She still wasn't letting him into his car. She wanted to be alone.

"Go away Nate, I'm fine."

"You're in my car, Parker, I can't go away…" He smiled.

"Oh rotten shiny tomato…" She said and then she unlocked the driver's side of the car.

Nate got in and locked them inside the car together.

"Now, I heard from a little birdy that Eliot wasn't nice to you this morning, is that right?"

"I didn't know little birds could talk."

"Doesn't matter, Parker, do I have my information correct?"

"Yeah," she sniffled as she looked down at the floor mat.

Nate pulled her over the center of the car and she willingly went. He put his arm around her like Archie used to from time to time when she had done a good job.

"I don't know the exact reason Eliot was being an ass, but Sophie will find out for me. But I can tell you, Eliot has his independence. He doesn't like having to depend on anyone to get him through the rough times because as I see it, he doesn't think he's worthy of the support. Because of all the bad he's done, he doesn't think he deserves people that want to take care of him. He fears that if they knew all the bad things he's done, they would turn away from him."

"You mean like what he did for Moreau?"

"Yeah, like that time he asked you not to ask what he's done in his past for Moreau. He was protecting us from the truth, because if we knew, he would have to leave a team he had grown to like."

"But we've all done bad things we regret."

"That's not the point. He sees it as a weakness to get sensitive in front of us. He sees his injuries as weakness he has to deal with on his own. It's from his military training."

"You mean like that thing in Monty Python where the guy said it was just a flesh wound even though he'd almost lost all his limbs?"

"Yeah, kinda," Nate chuckled.

"But the way he pushed me away… It felt like he was angry with me and I didn't know what I did. All I've done is tried to make him comfortable and keep him calm so that he could heal. What did I do wrong?"

Nate felt sorry for Parker. She was taking so much on with the oversight of Eliot's care and now she was blaming herself for Eliot's outburst. Maybe it was time for the rest of the team to step it up and help out? Well, except for Hardison.

"I don't think it was you, Parker. He could be upset that he's still stuck in the same bed for so long."

"You're supposed to say that. Thanks, but I feel it in here," she spoke as she pointed to her heart. "He's angry at me. I'll deal with it… I'll be fine, Nate."

He knew that there was no arguing with the thief. She had it set in her mind one way… He suspected nothing would change her mind, unless Eliot apologized as he groveled on his fully healed legs. And yet there was bigger news brewing. Nate didn't have the heart to tell her that Hardison had gone out and gotten married. Maybe they all could pretend that the hacker hadn't gotten married? So when Hardison got remarried, it would be like the first time. He let her go and she sat up straight in her seat.

"Would you like for me to take you home for a while? I'm sure Sophie can handle Eliot."

"I can't go. My stuff is in the room."

"Sophie can watch it for you."

"How? It's not where she could see it."

"Didn't you put it in the closet?"

"No. I don't trust housekeeping."

"The air vent?"

"I can neither confirm nor deny that."

'How very Parker…' Nate thought as he sat in the driver's seat.

"I just need a little more time to get the hee-bee gee-bees, willie-nillies, or whatever you call them out. Then I'll come back up to keep watch."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Well, let us know if you need anything else. Do you have your cell?"

"Yes… And thanks."

"No problem. I want my keys back though. Just push the automatic door lock when you get out."

Parker didn't want to give them up, but she relented. Nate got out of the car and she watched him leave from the rear view mirror. Nate was the kind of guy she'd hoped that would have taken her in if he'd been a foster father. She wasn't as close with Archie because he didn't have time for sharing emotions, or took any kind of whining from her. It was always the job with the pair. Now he was a totally different man when it came to them. He took the time for the important things like buying prom dresses and teaching his children how to drive. He was there for them if they had problems and emotions they needed to get off their chests. She hated that part about Archie Leach. Then she decided she didn't like the name Parker Leach, because that's what it would be if he adopted her. What if he wanted her to change her name? Then there might not be any more Parker…

Time seemed to fly and when she checked the clock on her cell, it was time to go back for lunch. Maybe Eliot would be awake…? He probably wouldn't allow her to feed him whatever they allowed him to have…