A/N - Howdy, wasn't that fun?

This chapter is brought to you by Escala's Palladio, and Robert Miles' Dreamland Album. Especially the song Children; you'll see why later.

Eliot and the team prepare to go to battle...

Pretty please don't forget to REVIEW! And I will see you all tomorrow for your UN-BIRTHDAY PRESENT!


A little after dawn, Eliot opened his eyes slowly. He'd made it through another night. He felt better after having had some rest. Then he looked down and saw Parker's Bunny.

'Guess you held up your end,' he thought as he lay there and recalled what Parker said the stuffed animal could do for him.

He put Bunny on his bedside table and turned on the sunlight as the sky still had to illuminate the room fully. He used his good arm to push himself up to a sitting position. Eliot tossed back the covers and then pushed one leg at a time off the bed. At least he still had muscle control to stop them before each one fully hit the floor. He managed to get himself into the chair and to the dresser to get his under clothing for the day out. He knew he needed help from Parker to get his black suit out of the closet once she got up; he could do it himself but he didn't want to have to add the cost of a new hanger for the room if he yanked too hard or tailor services to fix it if he ripped it. There were really no words that he could come up with to talk with her about what she'd done last night. He tried to apologize and try to explain why he was out of sorts… And, and she just cut through all the crap, drugged him, and quickly, quietly put him to bed with her Bunny.

'How does she do it? How does she take me on, with all my crap, and still reach through to me in friendship when I've fucked things up?' Eliot thought.

The hitter didn't yet know the answer to that question, but he'd have to put off seeking the answer until after the business of dealing with his father was over. He changed his t-shirt to another t-shirt to go under his dress shirt. He'd managed to get that far on his own as well as changing his underwear after he took care of using the can. Then he rolled out to where Parker was still sleeping. Her hair was splayed all over the pillows under her head and he guess she slept peacefully; she had a wickedly big smile on her face and he wondered what that was all about. It was probably the time she stole the British crown jewels with Sophie so they could play dress up one afternoon for tea. The thief was a princess of some kind and the grifter was the Queen Sophie for a day. Regardless, it was time to get up and help him finish getting dressed.

"Parker, wake up. It's time for breakfast," and her eyes flew open…


Parker recognized Eliot and buried her face into her pillow. How long had he been watching her? She hoped she hadn't been making silly noises while she was dreaming…

'How embarrassing would that be? Well, he looks almost dressed. I better get up…' She thought as she sat up.

"Good morning," Parker said softly.

"I don't know what kind of morning it is yet. We have to go meet my dad's lawyer today for the will."

"Right… And your evil step-mother will be there too… I'll take a rain check and ask again later," Parker stood and folded up the bed.

"Yeah, thanks. I need my suit from the closet and I can handle things from here."

"Just a minute, Sparky, my bladder is a watermelon about to bust," she said as she definitely had to go…

When she came out her hair was all braided, coiled, and pinned to the back of her head. She looked like Heidi stepped out of the movie into real life. Then she rushed to the closet, got his suit down, and her 'little black dress,' Sophie had picked out for her in preparation for the trip. She disappeared back into the bathroom with both. She slipped into the black dress; it was a finely knitted form fitting dress. The weave of the knit was so tight you couldn't see the black slip sewn into the inside. The neck cowled down but not so far that her breasts were visible. The arms could be pushed up and stay gathered mid-forearm if she needed to cool off. Parker rushed back out with Eliot's jacket a few minutes later. She'd had it hanging on the shower curtain rod over a steaming shower to get rid of any wrinkles as she did up her face. Then she didn't have to iron them out. She grabbed the jacket and helped Eliot get it on over his soft cast. A quick trip back and she had the slacks.

Once Eliot was dressed, Parker took up pushing Eliot in his chair to the elevator; he didn't even object and fight to do it himself. The team was to meet up in the lobby after breakfast to go to the law offices of Sheraton, Pope, and Stevens for the will videos to be viewed and the backup official will to be read if the videos were to be challenged. They all wanted to support Eliot because there was only one of two rough days left that he had to go through that they knew of, and the other would be the day of the funeral. Beretta, Colt, and Lorena would be coming in their rental vehicle to the location. Breakfast with Hardison had been interesting to say the least. Then, it didn't take long after that for the team to load into the Suburban waiting in the front entrance curb. Once again, Parker worried that Eliot was quiet and stoic as he stared out the window. She wanted to just reach across the seat and take his hand but she held back. She broke it up and allowed Hardison to sit next to Eliot this time; she wasn't sure what made her hold back. Maybe it was a residual fear of rejection… What if she reached out to take his hand and hold it in support, to only have him flinch away? That would hurt… But then she'd build up another wall to block out the pain; which was what she could see him doing as she watched him from the back seat.


'Dammit Parker,' he thought as he caught first sight of her in that, 'little black dress.'

It stopped just above her knees and it still showed plenty of leg… And dammit if he was getting feelings in places he shouldn't have been right then. Heaven help him when she turned around and she flashed him that tiny little butt of hers as she was busy getting the both of them ready. And then they were down at the hotel's restaurant and shared a table with Hardison.

"Whoo mama, you lookin' hot," Hardison commented as he spotted Parker pushing Eliot up to the table.

"Hey! Eyes off, orange soda freak. You're attached to someone else," Eliot teased.

"Hey, I get it. I's just givin' the Crazy One props on her choice of attire. You're not so bad lookin' either, man," Hardison said as he pushed in the chair behind Parker.

"Thanks, I think."

"Mom and Dad are upstairs having breakfast in suite. They'll be down in a bit."

"How late were you up last night?" Parker asked.

"Late? You mean how early. Got about four hours sleep after your text. How'd you two sleep? We had some damn full clouds last night take a huge dump so that four hours wasn't the best."

Eliot shared a look with Parker and she looked down to break contact.

"Okay, what was that look?" Hardison spoke up, "Did yawl get some last night? Was it good?"

"Not too bad. Didn't hear a thing," he replied and then he processed what Hardison asked… "No, no, no! Dammit Hardison! I went to sleep alone. Parker went to sleep alone. End of story!"

Was that a blush she was trying to hide under the hand that came up to cover her mouth?

"Bunny watched over me, had good dreams," she lied.

Eliot let go of the breath he'd been holding until she'd answered the hacker.

"Did you get that information on Beretta and Colt that I needed?"

"Yeah, looks pretty bad man. They're barely stayin' afloat after the kids. Mr. W was downsized and became Mr. Mom and Mrs. W. found work not too long after the last kid was born. The work seems stable for her for now. But there's always tons-ah risk doing so much traveling."

"They need money from my dad's estate then…" Eliot uttered as he looked over the papers that Hardison passed across the table.

"But it's a worthy cause, ain't it?" Parker asked.

"They're not blood but they're the only family I have left."

"Hey, what are we, chopped liver?" Hardison objected.

Eliot smirked, "Present company excluded."

"I'll take it… And remember that when you get stuck on a job and need a way out."

"I'll keep that in mind when all your golden digits get broken into several pieces," Eliot grinned. "After I make it out on my own…"


"Now, children, play nice," Sophie teased as she came up behind Parker. "It's too early in the morning for knit-picking, darlings."

She had on dark sunglasses and looked tired, but impeccably dressed for the job they had coming up. Nate came in a couple minutes behind her and looked just as tired, and with sunglasses. At least he'd managed to comb his hair before he'd left the room. Of course it was obvious to the team as to what the reason for their haggard look was all about. Hardison's question more applied to them than Eliot and Parker but they hadn't overheard Alec messing around.

"What's the plan, Eliot?" Nate wanted to know as he pulled up a chair and Hardison scooted over closer to Sophie.

"Meeting at Sheraton, Pope, and Stevens. Will gets watched and when Lorena puts up a fit, I'll have to go through the reading of the paper back-up copy. Then when that's all done we'll get to setting up for the funeral and how to deal with Lorena afterward."

"Sounds good. You all stay here and eat. I'll go get the Suburban and we'll get going. Rain's gonna be off and on all day. Supposed to be clear for Saturday and Sunday… But weather people aren't perfect."

"I'll have another cup of coffee, myself," Sophie added. "I'll get yours to go, darling."


Soon they arrived at the offices of Sheraton, Pope, and Stevens; it was only about five blocks from the hotel. It was a two story office building with little stores under it; mainly fashion boutiques and a few tax preparers. God, he didn't want to have to be there. Eliot figured the hardest part of the rest of the trip was going to be the military funeral on Saturday. On Sunday, he and Beretta had planned to have a small memorial service for the public that had grown to love the other side of his father. Most people didn't know that Franklin Spencer had a double life; two personalities in one. Eliot sat up a little straighter in the wheelchair as they rolled out of the elevator and headed for the ornately decorated mahogany colored doors. Nate opened the door and Parker did the honors of pushing him up to the low secretary's desk. She was a pretty young thing but she didn't look like she was overly interested in him. Most women her age were usually climbing over themselves to go out with him because of the palpable amounts of bad boy personality he had in the air around him. He noticed she didn't have a ring… Hmm, he wondered if maybe she played for the other team…

"Welcome to Sheraton, Pope, and Stevens, how may I help you?"

"Eliot Spencer to see Jack Sheraton; I made an appointment earlier with his service this morning," Eliot had while he was waiting for Parker to steam his suit in the shower.

"I'll go let him know you're here," she said with a kind smile.