A/N - More awesomeness!

We're gonna get Eliot Muse out of the hospital soon I think. But he needs more reviews to gain more energy...

I hope you all enjoy your weekend!

WARNING: Language... And TISSUES!

TTFN!

"I fucked it up again with Parker, didn't I?" Eliot said as Nate's backside slid into the resin and fiberglass chair.

Nate's eyebrow arched a bit in surprise. He was good at putting puzzles together and he'd guessed that's what might have gotten to Parker… Eliot could talk.

"You might say that but I wouldn't certify that until Sophie gets to the heart of the matter," the brains of the team crossed his arms across his chest as he leaned back into the seat.

He noticed that Eliot was holding up a pink and white oval shaped stone and he was staring at it as he held it between his thumb and index fingers on his left hand. Then he let it fall into the palm of his hand and then he watched as the hitter then closed his fingers tightly around it; not in anger, but as if he held it dear.

"How much longer do I have to be in here?"

"On the outside, two weeks. They'll need to monitor you since you've had a few more procedures, for infection. The stuff they have in these disease growing petri dish buildings they call hospitals these days can kill if we're all not careful enough. Then I don't see why you can't break out of this joint."

"I hear ya man, but I'm ready to go now. I just need a cane."

"No. I'm puttin' my foot down. I know what I said about disease in here, but you're going to need help. If you had both arms I'd give you a shot, but no. I'll compromise and give you this week. Once you're ready for a regular room, and I think you're ready, we'll break you out."

"And who gave you the right?"

"Because there's a thief out there that has been through hell with you almost every day since you came in here in August. Some of it your hell and some of it came from Hardison. Regardless… She deserves to see you make it out of here in one piece," Nate's voice was low and firm to get his point across; not loud enough to get him in trouble with the nurses.

Hopefully with his speech he got through to the hitter. He had a feeling that Parker couldn't take much more before she shut down, cutting off her emotions, and possibly leaving the team. And she could do it because the retrieval specialist wouldn't be able to retrieve her with his legs out of commission. Sophie alone would put him through her degree of hell for mistreating Parker. If Hardison got involved, the man couldn't show his face anywhere. And to be honest he could add his own brand of revenge as well…

"Fine. I'll stay put," Eliot relented when he thought about what happened that day things went to hell and he ended up in a hospital bed for two months.

It didn't seem like it though; it felt like five months at least. He wasn't sure what it was but it was obvious that something was helping him heal faster. He was sorry to have put Parker through so much, but a part of him still thought that it wasn't his fault because he hadn't asked her to take on his care since he'd been there. He hadn't asked any of them… But through their somewhat solid teamwork over a long time, their friendship was what made them stay. To some degree if he wanted to go there, they gave him something to live for. He owed them quite a bit when he got out of the hospital…

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad and you're not one to execute much patience, but you're going to have to take it easy… With your health and the team. I can't have you back if you're not one hundred percent."

Nate gave him the truth; some of it he didn't want to hear and other things he needed to hear. He was right; he needed to be at the top of his game and he couldn't do that if he was still on the injured list.

"I know. I don't like being down this long. Do me a favor… Do what you can to keep Parker from breaking into my apartment."

"I can't guarantee that… You know how she is."

"Yeah, I do, but I thought I'd at least try to ask anyway."

"I'll see if Sophie can talk to her."

"Thanks."

Meanwhile, Sophie was still trying to get to the heart of the issue that had Parker so upset.

"What if he won't let me touch him anymore? Now that he's awake, I mean. You know, when this in here is all over. I don't want to make him angry," and there Sophie had another glimpse of the little girl trapped inside Parker.

"Oh gingersnaps…" The grifter hugged her close. "Just take one day at a time, love. Like the old song says, you can't hurry love. You just have to wait."

Sophie waited a few minutes while she hoped Parker tried to process what she said. When Parker didn't say anything she decided to go on.

"And since when are you worried about making Eliot angry? You've been pestering him like a cheeky little sister with your poking of his bruises or stealing his favorite shirts… Or how you break into his apartment when he's not home. Yeah I know about that too darling; Nate's not the only one Eliot talks to… So, what has changed?"

"Oh that…"

"Yeah, that."

"I was just showing him how I care. Boys pull hair, hit girls, and steal things from girls they like don't they?"

"Yes, maybe if we were talking about school children here, but we're talking about two grown up adults."

'Why couldn't she see?' Parker thought. 'Why couldn't any of them see?'

"People miss the little things about those they love right, when they're gone?"

"Well, yes, I suppose they do, but what has…" Sophie left her out loud thought to hang.

"I wanted Eliot to remember me when I'm gone someday… And I thought he might miss the little ways I cared for him," fresh tear tracks replaced the ones left a bit before. "I wanted you all to remember me too and the ways I care for you all…"

"Oh Parker, darling," Sophie had tears in her eyes before she hugged her. "How could we forget probably, THE best thief the world has ever had?"

"I don't know. You would eventually. Someone younger and craftier would take my place."

"No one could take your place, love. Ever."

And then suddenly Sophie got it… She remembered the conversation they had before about Parker and the loss of her brother. He was suddenly gone and she was probably missing little things about her late sibling. The grifter's heart grew three times larger when it came to the thief.

"Sometimes I make little things disappear that you wouldn't miss so that I don't forget my family. 'Cause you are my family right?"

"Yes, God help us. We are a little bit dysfunctional I think, but we try to make it work."

"That's what a normal family does right?"

"In deed."

Then after an hour or the orderly team from the SICU came and transferred him to his new living quarters for the next week. Hardison managed to get him into a private room so that the team could still keep an eye on Eliot. Parker went home to her farm instead of going back to Eliot. Hardison hadn't texted a picture in a while and she was getting nervous about the new barn that was to become her office. Sophie offered to stay with Eliot to put her at ease considering what they'd discussed earlier. Nate had gone back to the Bridgeport to check on the business. The grifter moved into the room and took up her space in a chair a foot from the hospital bed on the left.

"Where's Parker?" He looked disappointed.

"She went home." Then Eliot frowned.

"I swear. I only apologized again for getting mad at her from before."

"Relax, it wasn't all you. She had something to take care of at home."

"So she'll be back later tonight, right? No offense."

"None taken. No, not at least for tonight, love."

"You got to talk to her… What's goin' on with her?"

"I'll have to tell you another time. I'm still trying to comprehend it myself. You know, Parker Logic."

"I'll take a rain check. Parker Logic can be tough to figure out. Some might say it can drive you to drink."

"That's not the part I'm having trouble with Eliot. What she said earlier actually kind of made sense; that's what I'm processing."

'Parker made sense? That could be interesting or be a disaster…' Eliot thought.

"That's a scary thought. What do tell did she have to say that was so enlightening?"

"Well if I explained it to you then it wouldn't be fun watching how you two behave around each other, now would it? I have to get my jollies off somewhere."

'They are all goin' to drive me insane someday…' Eliot thought, 'It'll be a bright and sunny day and BAM!'

"Dammit Sophie! Help me out here. Can't you see I'm a man down on his health?"

"Yes, yes I can see that and no I can't help," she giggled.

Eliot sighed as he gave up. It was pointless to argue with the grifter.

"Fine but don't cackle if you're not gonna lay, darlin'."

He couldn't wait to get out of the bed and get to moving a bit because that brought him one step closer to getting home where he could get real rest… Because he certainly wasn't getting it in the hospital!