CHAPTER 3
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Eliot ran his hands over Hardison's arms, Hardison's unmarked arms. Eliot's eyes flew open, and he looked over Hardison in the glow from the security light. He could see through the ragged holes in Hardison's clothing and while there was still blood and gore smeared across his skin Eliot couldn't see any of the gaping wounds left by his fangs. He pushed the shreds of Hardison's shirt aside and saw smooth brown skin where ugly red tears had been. Eliot bent tightly over Hardison's still form, nearly pressing an ear to Hardison's chest. He could just make out the first quiet beat and then the second slightly louder beat. Hardison's heart started beating at a slow even rate as though he were only sleeping.
Eliot moved stiffly at first. He'd been cradling Hardison's head in his lap and his knees and ankles had gotten stiff with the cold and the lack of movement for so long. Crouching next to him he scooped Hardison up like a child. He turned to use the door that would let him into the back of the meeting room, but he couldn't manage the handle and he thought he was going to have to set Hardison down. Then the smallest tendril of warm air drifted across his chilled skin, and he looked to the side to see that Parker had left the backdoor to the kitchen partially open. He was able to use his foot to swing it open enough that he could get them both through the door.
Hardison hadn't woken when Eliot carried him through the restaurant and up the stairs, or when Eliot had set him in the floor of the shower. Even after Eliot rinsed the blood and gore off of him Hardison still didn't wake. Eliot laid Hardison on the bed and covered him with several blankets. He made sure that Parker's pillow was close, so that there would be a familiar welcome scent nearby when Hardison woke.
Eliot still had nightmares about the first time he'd woken up. He and the others that had been attacked by werewolves in that barn in France, had been hauled out and dumped in the manure pile. He'd woken to the chewed-on-face of one of his men stuck to his own. The smell of blood, death and manure had been all around him. He didn't know how much of the attack Hardison would remember but at least he would wake up to clean sheets and familiar surroundings.
Eliot went to his own room and pulled on clean clothes. He'd rinsed the blood and grime off when he'd cleaned up Hardison, but he still wanted to wash again. There wasn't time for a long shower right now, so he'd have to make do with the clean clothes. He'd pulled on everything but his socks and boots and stood staring at his closet for a moment before he remembered that he'd pulled his boots off before he'd started his change out on the dock. Padding down the stairs he couldn't help noticing the gruesome bloody footprints that marked the path he'd taken when he'd carried Hardison in. He couldn't seem to help himself as he followed the footprints all the way out the backdoor of the kitchen instead of taking the shorter path out the backdoor of their meeting room. He stood there for a moment and looked at the quickly freezing pool of blood and he couldn't believe just how bad it really looked. With a sigh he went to the cleaning closet and grabbed a bucket and a scrub brush.
With the bucket full of hot water, he went to the far end of the dock and knelt down to start cleaning. He didn't want Parker or Hardison to see how bad it was. As the warm water melted the blood it released the scent. Not only could he smell the blood itself but the terror and the pain of that moment. The memory of earlier that night came flooding back and Eliot felt like he was living it again. He couldn't help the sob as he lived again the moment, he realized that Hardison's heart was no longer beating. Eliot scrubbed hard at the blood, but he didn't seem to be making much progress. He knew that Hardison had asked to be changed but understanding that he had to be attacked by a werewolf was a lot different than living through the attack…or dying because of it. Eliot wondered how this would change things between him and Hardison, and everyone else. Another sob tried to claw it's way free, but Eliot suppressed it with a grunt and kept scrubbing.
Suddenly the sound of snow crunching under someone's feet slammed his attention back to the present. He'd been so lost in his thoughts that he'd let someone walk almost all the way up to the loading dock before he'd noticed them. He'd spun on his knees at the sound and mid motion he realized that his eyes were still the yellow of his wolf. He suppressed the yellow color as fast as possible and when he finished turning toward the sound of the stranger, he was nearly eye to eye with Julio.
"What are you doing here, man?" Eliot's voice was gravelly and angry as it cut through the cold dark night.
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Parker lay back on the bed in her warehouse and smiled. Hardison was alive! His connection to their odd little pack felt strange and like he wasn't quite there yet but Parker knew he was alive and that was all that mattered. She could feel that Eliot was still working through some things, and she imagined that that would be an ongoing condition for a while, but he seemed to be doing better especially in the last half hour. She hoped that the priest had gone to the pub to help Eliot. She frowned for a moment and tried to remember exactly what she'd told him when she'd called. She had been so sure that Hardison was dead that she couldn't remember exactly what she said. She assured herself that she was still feeling Hardison in the Pack bonds and wriggled into a more comfortable position. With the trauma of the night fading away Parker fell asleep.
There's something moving in the dark and at first, I'm afraid but I've been hiding in the dark most of my life. I pull up the black hood that will hide my hair and most of my face. I'm sitting near a lighted area but it's not safe in the light. They can see you there. I slide back further into the dark. I can tell that whatever was moving is still there, but I still haven't seen it. Sliding back, I bump into something solid. I reach back and feel fur. It doesn't move so I turn a little and I can just make out tan-colored fur-covered legs. Really big legs. I look up, and up. At least fifteen feet above me is Sparky's face. I've always thought Eliot's wolf was pretty, but I don't think he'd like being called pretty. I'm leaning against one of his forelegs and we just stare at each other for a little while. The something out there is still moving but I don't mind because I'm safe with Sparky.
Eventually Sparky looks away from me back toward the light. I look too. Another big wolf steps into the light. He's grey and black and I think he's the prettiest wolf I've ever seen. His face and chest are grey, and the grey darkens to black on his legs. His ears are black and there's something like a black fringe of fur that helps to frame his face. He comes closer and I can see that his sides are grey as well but the black on the back of his legs comes up higher on his body as though someone had tried to outline where his legs are. His tail swishes back and forth as he comes closer and I can see that it's big, bushy, and grey with a funny black tip. As he gets closer to us, I can see that he's not quite as big as Sparky but he's still so much bigger than any wolf could be, even a werewolf. I look up at Sparky for a moment to see what he thinks of this new wolf.
Something warm and heavy is on my lap and I look down to see that it's the new wolf resting his head in my lap. He's much smaller now, closer to the size of a real werewolf, not that werewolves are ever small but he's tiny compared to the giant Sparky still at my back. From this angle I can see that the black on his ears flows into a trail of black fur that tapers to a point in the grey fur of his back just past the ruff of his neck. I can't seem to help it and I start running my fingers through the thick, soft fur.
After petting this new wolf for a little while I feel Sparky move behind me. I turn to see what's happening and I can see that Sparky is now the size I'm used to seeing him. He's curled himself around me so that he's almost nose-to-nose with the new wolf. I'm completely surrounded by two monstrous wolves, and I've never felt so safe… so content.
Parker lay with her eyes closed trying to remember the dream she'd just had but already the memory was disappearing like the money in a Ponzi scheme. She rolled to the side to see if Hardison was still sleeping but her searching arm encountered nothing but cool blankets. Parker sat up and looking around realized she was in her warehouse, and she remembered why. Checking the time, she was surprised to see that she hadn't slept that long. She rolled off the side of the bed and hurried to the door. Surely by now it would be okay if she went home. Parker hurried to the door but found that she still couldn't make herself grab the handle to get out. Checking her connection to the bonds in her pack she felt like things had calmed down so why wasn't Eliot letting her come home?
Parker hoped that by now Eliot would have his phone somewhere nearby. After a couple of rings, he finally picked up. "Sparky, can I come home now…please?"
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Eliot locked the door behind Julio and went upstairs to be nearer to Hardison. He was surprised that Parker had sent Julio instead of coming herself. As a matter of fact, he couldn't believe she'd stayed away this long. He checked the bonds and was sure that Parker was in the middle of a good dream. A small smile curled across his face when he felt Parker's contentment. He couldn't have slept right now, even knowing it had been more than twenty-four hours since he'd last slept. But Parker was different and if she could sleep peacefully right now, he wouldn't begrudge her the rest. After checking on Hardison Eliot remembered the bloody footprints coming up the stairs from the meeting room and through their living space. He went downstairs to retrieve his cleaning bucket and a sponge.
As he entered the kitchen, he remembered that the staff would be coming in to work soon. Pulling his phone from his pocket Eliot scrolled until he found Brian's number. "Brian, can you call the rest of the staff and let them know we're going to be closed at least a week?"
"Sure boss. Everything okay?"
"There's just some stuff going on and it'll be best if everyone steers clear." Eliot thought Brian sounded awfully chipper for not quite six in the morning.
"Freaky side of life?"
"Mostly. But…"
"But don't tell the staff? I could just picture their faces if I tried to tell them that if they come to work, they might get eaten by a werewolf." Brian chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll tell them you guys are having some maintenance done."
"That'd be great. Thanks Brian." Eliot hung up. As he walked into the storeroom his phone rang. Parker's face came up on his screen.
Parker was speaking before Eliot had a chance to reassure her that Hardison would be okay. "Sparky, can I come home now…please?" She sounded like she was on the verge of tears.
"Parker? Are you okay?" Eliot could feel her distress in the pack bonds.
"Please Eliot? I just want to come home." Parker tried not to cry.
"Of course, you can come home! What's wrong?" Eliot didn't understand what he was getting from the pack bonds. He could tell that Parker was upset and beginning to feel rejected and she was sure that it was his fault.
"You made me go to my warehouse and I can't leave!" Now she sounded angry.
"I what?" Eliot tried to make sense of what she was telling him. "I…oh! Oh Parker, I'm sorry! Yes please come home!" Eliot felt something loosen in the pack bonds. He must have given Parker orders as her Alpha instead of just instructions.
"Dumb wolfy." Parker muttered as she hung up.
Eliot stared at his phone for another second before he slid it back in his pocket and went to get his bucket. Using werewolf speed and strength to clean up the rest of the footprints meant that he was able to finish just before Parker got back to the pub. He'd just put the bucket back in the storage cupboard when Parker pulled up to the loading dock in his truck. Eliot walked out to meet her, and Parker practically flew from the truck.
As soon as she was close to him, she started yelling at him. She punctuated each word with a thump of her fist to his chest. "You!" thump "Made" thump "Me" thump "Stay away!" thump Then she threw herself around his neck and he held her close. "Is he really going to be okay?" She whispered her question into his neck.
"I'm sorry I made you stay away. I really didn't mean to." Eliot hugged her tightly for just a second before leaning her back so she could see his face. "He's really going to be okay."
"Can I see him?" Parker examined Eliot's face as though it were a safe to be cracked. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Let's go upstairs and you can see him for a minute." Eliot waited for Parker to enter the building first and he locked the door behind them.
"What do you mean 'for a minute'?" Parker asked as they headed for the stairs.
"He hasn't woken up yet and wolves can be a little unpredictable when they wake for the first time."
"You think he might hurt me?" Parker couldn't imagine Hardison ever hurting her.
"Not on purpose. But when he wakes up it won't be exactly like waking up from a nap." Eliot didn't know how to explain the sudden rush of emotion and memory that flooded the senses on first waking as a wolf.
Parker nodded. "Okay. But I can see him for a minute?"
Eliot pulled her to his side and kissed her temple. "Yes, you can see him."
They walked up together, and Eliot could feel Parker's emotions shifting and sliding as they got closer to her and Hardison's room. "It'll be okay." He whispered.
Parker nodded and pushed the door open.
Hardison was still asleep when Parker came into the room. His face was peaceful, and he hadn't moved from where Eliot had placed him. Parker stopped next to the bed and clenched and unclenched her fists.
Eliot could feel the emotions zinging around in the bonds. "You can touch him. He's not ready to wake up yet." Eliot put a hand on her shoulder in encouragement. He wasn't sure how he knew that Hardison wasn't ready to wake up but he'd trust his instincts and the pack bonds.
Parker sat gently on the side of the bed and cupped Hardison's cheek in her hand. "He's really warm." She frowned a little as she ran her hand over his face and neck.
"Werewolves run pretty warm unless they control it. He won't seem much warmer than normal, probably, at least in a few days." Eliot stood nearby in case he was needed but tried not to interfere.
Parker nodded. "He looks perfect." She looked over her shoulder at Eliot. "Thank you. I know it was bad but you saved him." She turned back to Hardison and bent far enough to kiss his forehead. She stepped back and leaned into Eliot's side while she stared at Hardison. "Thank you."
"Life wouldn't be right without 'im." Eliot wrapped an arm around her shoulders, rubbing a hand over her arm.
"I'm gonna tell him you said that." She teased.
He snorted. "He'll never believe it." They stood there for another moment. "Come on. There's food to make." Eliot ushered her out of the room and down the stairs to the kitchen.
Parker walked with Eliot down the stairs to the kitchen instead of sliding down one of her ropes. "So, what are we cooking, Sparky?" Parker skipped into the kitchen.
"We aren't cooking. I'm cooking. You are packing up whatever techno gadgets that Hardison might want especially whatever he might need to figure out who it was that stabbed him and why. We're going to the cabin for at least a week maybe longer."
Parker stared at him for a moment before she nodded. "Okay. Nate and Sophie, do we tell them?"
"Yes. I'll tell them everything but food first." Eliot took out four steaks and set them on the table to thaw. He started moving quickly through prep for waffles, scrambled eggs, and bacon as well.
"What about clothes?" Parker asked while she started moving things toward the door at the top of the stairs in preparation for leaving.
"I'll let you pack a couple bags after Hardiso…" Eliot stopped mid-sentence and hurried for the stairs. He called over his shoulder. "Don't let the food burn."
Eliot rushed to the bedroom door but pushed it open gently. His new connection to Hardison was much stronger than before and he could feel the turmoil of Hardison's first waking. "It's okay. You're safe." Eliot spoke softly and closed the door gently behind him.
Hardison looked like he was asleep and in the middle of a nightmare and it felt just like that in the bonds. Eliot sat on the bed and gave Hardison's shoulder a gentle shake.
Hardison threw an arm out and batted Eliot's hand away. His eye's opened wide and his breathing was fast and shallow. His eyes focused on Eliot, and he lunged forward throwing himself at Eliot.