Bonds
Our bodies have five senses: touch, smell, taste, sight, hearing. But not to be overlooked are the senses of our souls… ~C. JoyBell C.
~~o0o~~
Wolves are animals which live in social groups referred to as packs and are known for forming affiliative bonds with others in their packs.
~~o0o~~
Hardison cracked an eye and groaned at the early morning light. The next thing to register for him was that he was in his own room in his own bed. He smiled as he stretched. This was the third time he'd made it through the night without having to go to Eliot to sooth his wolf. He knew that in werewolf terms he wasn't quite a month old but he was headed for thirty-two years old and that was far too old to not be able to sleep on his own like an adult.
He could feel the hum of excitement in the pack bonds. It was like having an energy drink on top of his orange soda. It was fizzy, and jittery, and it made him happy as he rushed through his shower. He dressed quickly and gave Parker's toes a pat as he headed out of the room.
He could hear Eliot chopping something in the kitchen. With a quick sniff he caught the scent of onion. It wasn't strong enough to be a regular onion so he wasn't surprised to see green onions on the cutting board as Eliot's knife moved in a blur across them. Hardison had always been a little fascinated when it came to watching Eliot chop up produce at speed and even though Hardison's own reflexes were now much faster he still couldn't figure out how Eliot did it.
"Omelets?"
Eliot nodded.
Hardison pressed his fingers to a spot just above his heart. "What's going on? Parker's barely even awake yet so this… whatever this is. Is coming from you."
Eliot smiled but didn't take his eyes off the cutting board as he worked his way through several other vegetables. "Full moon is tonight. Nate and Sophie should be in this afternoon and then we can head to the cabin."
Hardison frowned. "Okay. But we knew all this yesterday too."
Eliot set his knife to the side and took a deep breath with his eyes closed. "Some of it is you." A smile twitched across his face. "Most of it is the moon though." With a breath and a shudder he opened his eyes. "We aren't working a job. Nobody is hurt or in trouble. I've been looking forward to this hunt for… well since before I ever thought I'd have a pack of my own."
"Maybe I somehow missed it but you didn't seem this excited at the last full moon." He popped a chunk of bell pepper into his mouth before Eliot could stop him.
Eliot stilled for a second in front of the fridge as he pulled out a flat of eggs. "Last time it had only been a couple of days since I'd been forced to kill my best friend in an attempt to save his life." He turned and brought the eggs to the counter. "And we had the threat of Hawthorn hanging over us. And while I knew that Nate and Sophie were safe with Nati they weren't here with us; with me."
Hardison felt the possessiveness that Eliot felt toward all of them in the bonds even if it wasn't evident in his voice. "You're right a lot has changed in a month."
Parker came down the stairs looking a little grumpy.
"What's wrong babe?" Hardison held a hand out to her.
"You are both too loud."
"I'm sorry. I hadn't thought we were making that much noise." Hardison tugged a chair out for her.
She pointed at her chest and then his before she slumped into her seat with her head on the counter.
"Sorry darlin', but you made me promise not to mess with the bonds. If you've changed your mind let me know." Eliot poured the eggs he'd beaten with cream into the waiting skillet. Eliot knew it was the excitement in the bonds that had woken Parker. Unless he closed down their connection she was going to continue to feel it, and she had made him promise that he wouldn't cut her off from the bonds like that.
Hardison gave her a brief smile before he slid from his seat and went to fix her a cup of coffee.
"I thought we could all go for a run and then Hardison and I could head over to Treyson's gym afterward. Maybe that will quiet things down a little." With a smirk Eliot ruffled Parker's hair as he reached for a spatula. She swatted at his hand but didn't connect.
~~o0o~~
They'd traveled about three miles at Parker's pace and while Eliot could feel his own wolf starting to settle things were not going as hoped for with Parker and Hardison. Eliot hadn't really thought it was possible to stomp and run at the same time. At least not for that long but Parker was doing her best to make it to the end of the run possibly more annoyed than she'd started.
"Parker?" Eliot waited a couple of strides but there was no response. "Parker? Stop."
She turned a frown on him but didn't stop.
"Come on Parker."
She slowed to a jog. Hardison nearly tripped over her when she slowed because he'd been staying so close to her for the entire run.
"umph." Parker gave Hardison a shove and they could all feel the flare of hurt feelings from Hardison and regret from Parker.
By then they'd slowed to a stop. Eliot wiped his face in his t-shirt and looked at his pack while he slowed his breathing. "What's going on with you Parker?"
"Doesn't matter." She put her hands on her hips with her head back while she worked at bringing her breathing under control.
"Of course it matters." Eliot tried not to growl.
"I'm sorry I bumped into you." Hardison held a hand out toward her but didn't try to touch her.
She took his hand and stepped into his embrace for a moment. They could all feel in the bonds that the physical contact right now was verging on too much for her, so Hardison stepped back with a squeeze to her shoulder before he let her go.
"I… we, woke you up early and the moon is pretty loud in the bonds but I really thought a run would help." Eliot started to walk and used the bonds to invite them to follow. "Instead it seems to be making things worse but unless you tell me I don't know how to fix it." Usually body language and the bonds were enough to constitute a good conversation between him and Parker but today the moon really was loud in his veins and all he was getting from Parker was a tangle.
"It's like flowery garbage bags." Parker wrapped her arms around herself and started to walk ahead.
Eliot looked confused for a second but had a feeling he knew what was coming. He was about to ask but at the shake of Hardison's head he shut his mouth and dropped back a step.
"You mean like those scented bags where it's supposed to smell like flowers but really it's just because they're too cheap or too mean to give you a real bag to put your things in?" Hardison asked quietly. He stayed a pace behind Parker.
Parker nodded.
Eliot hadn't quite understood all of that but he'd gotten the gist. Parker had mentioned garbage bags before when she was feeling unwanted. He knew, mostly from Parker and Hardison, that a lot of foster kids were given trash bags to put their things in when they were moved from one home to another.
Eliot tried to tamp down his temper because he didn't want them to think he was mad at Parker. He was angry that anyone had ever made her feel unwanted but right now the culprit was himself. Instead he let a wave of possessiveness roll through the bonds. "Ain't nobody gonna feel like garbage bags around here. I don't understand what the scent of the bag has to do with anything, but we just aren't going there."
Parker gave him a half smile and Eliot tugged her in for a very brief hug and a kiss to the top of her head.
"Parker, we've talk before about how important you are to us. I know it's not fair that you can't participate in the full moon night the same way but it really won't be the same if you aren't there."
"You wouldn't even know."
"We noticed the last time you went missing. Or do you not remember that?" Hardison put an arm around her shoulders and she settled into his side.
"Parker, have I told you what I have in mind for tonight?"
"A hunt."
Eliot nodded. "Yes that's part of it but… I'm going to have all of you there and we'll have a lot of food and hopefully everyone will have a good time. And then yes Hardison and I will go for a hunt. But that won't take all night and when we're done we'll come back to you." For a moment he let himself think about what it would be like if Nate and Sophie had wanted nothing to do with them anymore and what it would be like if Parker wasn't there. He let that feeling seep into the bonds. "Do you know what it would be like to come back to the cabin without you?"
Hardison's wolf whined at the thought.
"I'm sure now, that someday, all three of us will hunt together under the full moon. But for now I'm looking forward to the hunt and coming home to my pack. For years I couldn't do that. Full moon nights were something that had to be endured and hidden not something I could enjoy or celebrate." He reached out to cup the side of Parker's face in his Palm while he ran a thumb across her cheek.
She nodded.
"Do you want us to come back to the pub with you?" They'd come to a stop at the intersection where they could either go back to the pub together or split up so that Eliot and Hardison could get in another workout at Treyson's gym. Eliot waited for Parker to decide.
"You guys go on. I'll head back and get bags packed."
"Thanks babe. I've got my phone and an earbud if you need us." Hardison kissed her cheek.
Eliot kissed her temple and then tilted his head at Hardison to get him moving in the right direction.
~~o0o~~
They were following the rail lines near SE Tilikum Way when Hardison nudged Eliot's shoulder with his own. "So you are planning on turning Parker… someday?"
"It's what she wants. She's your mate and my second." Eliot slowed them just a little so that talking would be easier. "Frankly it still scares me. I don't know how…" Flashes of memory from his attack on Hardison floated in front of him. At the remembered sound of Hardison's screams he shuddered.
"But you aren't against it like you were before?"
"Yes and no." He'd known this talk would come up but he still didn't have the right words for it. "I don't know why you survived. Your heart stopped. You were dead and you shoulda stayed dead. Even Nati said that without some sort of dark arts and a witch, once your heart stopped that should have been it. Julio thinks it's a miracle." Eliot shrugged as they continued to run. "I'll take the miracle, but I don't know if I can count on that for a second time."
"But you'll do it?"
Eliot nodded. "But not right away. Not unless I have to. I'm still having nightmares about turning you. I'm hoping that those will settle in time."
"I've noticed that Parker hasn't asked you to turn her since before you turned me."
"How much do you remember from that night?"
"I remember pain and fear and I was sure I was dying. Mostly it's just fragments. There's not much really."
"I'm glad you don't remember most of it because it was awful. That would have been the worst night of my life but you made it. If you hadn't lived… I don't know." They ran a little farther. "Parker said she felt the whole thing through the bonds. What I was feeling, what you were. It was a mess."
Hardison tried to pay close attention to what he was feeling in the bonds. He didn't feel like Eliot was lying to him…. After a moment or two he realized that it was more likely that Eliot was down playing things.
"I think that's why Parker hasn't asked directly. She knows how horrible that was." Eliot frowned.
Hardison thought about what Eliot said but sped back up to their earlier pace. There were about three miles left between them and the gym. Eliot had said the moon was singing loudly and maybe that was what had them all off balance this morning but he could feel the contentment of his wolf as his arm brushed Eliot's. Parker was back at the pub and still feeling a little growly but the anticipation of the upcoming full moon seemed to be rubbing off on her. Hardison settled into the feel of the bonds and the rhythm of the run as he followed Eliot.
Hardison's nose wrinkled when they were about a block out from the gym. "Seriously. You want to go inside where the stink is going to be stronger?"
Eliot slowed them nearly to walking. "That's the smell of hard work."
"That's the smell of B.O. Ain't noboby hearda deodorant?" Hardison griped but kept pace.
Eliot led the way into the gym and the little bell above the door jingled. Eliot walked past the boxing ring that took up the center of the gym as he headed for the desk. Charlie was at the desk but when she saw Eliot she frowned. He slowed at her expression and then followed her glance across the room. A middle aged blonde woman was working with two tiny hand weights near the rack of free weights. Her hair was teased into a style reminiscent of the eighties and her hot pink sports bra was clearly seen through the thin material of her white tank top. Eliot recognized her immediately. "Frick." He muttered as he approached the desk.
"She's spotted you, but I think you can still make it to the door before she gets here." Charlie said without looking up from her paperwork.
"One of these days she'll give up and move on to someone else." He signed the clipboard and slid money across the counter. "I want to start a membership for Alec Hardison."
"I can pay for that." Hardison reached for the band on his arm where his wallet and phone were.
"Your money is no good here." Treyson came out of a back room carrying two large water containers.
Hardison hurried over and took one from him.
"Just set it next to the fountain right there." Trey followed Hardison and set his jug down on the opposite side of the fountain. "Eliot teaches the women's self-defense class and that has brought in a whole new clientele. Least I can do is a free membership." Trey patted Hardison on the back before he held out a hand to shake. "I'm Trey."
"Hardison."
Eliot pushed the money at Charlie who rolled her eyes. "Just 'cause I help you out during class doesn't mean I work for you."
The blonde leaned against the desk next to Eliot and ran a finger along his arm. "When is the next class?"
"Denise." He gently pushed her hand to the side. "I'm sure Trey will post a signup sheet like he normally does. If you'll excuse us." He turned toward Hardison. "Let me grab a few things from my locker and we'll get started. Trey or Charlie will show you where you can start warming up at."
"Thanks babe." Hardison raised an eyebrow at Denise while he put a hand on Eliot's shoulder.
Eliot rolled his eyes since his back was to Denise and Hardison could feel Eliot's annoyance through the bonds. With a shake of his head Eliot headed for the men's locker rooms.
Trey had a slightly stunned look on his face as he led Hardison to an open area near the ring. Hardison could smell Trey's embarrassment. "You know Eliot doesn't swing this way right?" He spoke quietly so that Denise wouldn't overhear.
Trey raised an eyebrow. "It's really none of my business."
"I just figured that if… Denise?"
Trey nodded.
"if Denise thought he was taken or didn't swing that way then maybe she'd give him a rest." Hardison spoke quietly while he started stretching arms and shoulders.
Trey chuckled. "I was pretty sure, from what Eliot has said, that you had a girl. But then I coulda misremembered."
Eliot hurried back from the locker room and handed Hardison a pair of lightly padded gloves and a mouth guard. "Alright babe. Hurry up and get in the ring."
Hardison could feel the humor and annoyance in the bonds and smiled.
Trey smiled at Eliot. "You never said your friend was funny."
"That's 'cause he's not." Eliot snugged the wrist wraps on his gloves and followed Hardison into the ring.
Hardison bounced on his toes and waited. Eliot took one of Hardison's hands under the pretext of fixing the wrist strap. He whispered so quietly that Hardison's enhanced hearing was barely able to pick it up. "You will stay within human range for speed and strength." Hardison felt the bonds clamp down on his wolf for a moment and he swallowed hard. Eliot patted him on the shoulder. "Alright. This'll be fun." Eliot popped his mouth guard in and walked to the middle of the ring.
Hardison followed him and they started in on a familiar pattern that Eliot had been using as a warm up for years. When Eliot felt like Hardison was ready he threw a feint with his left followed by an upper cut with his right. Hardison blocked it away.
"Don't block so wide. You're leaving yourself open." Trey coached from the side of the ring.
"He's right." Eliot said with a smirk. He mirrored his earlier move, throwing a feint with his right and an upper cut with his left.
Hardison blocked again but his block was still too wide and Eliot followed through with a jab from his right. The jab tapped Hardison in the belly but had no force behind it.
"Like this." Trey climbed in the ring. "If you're going to block up like you're doing follow through on your other side with a strike. Like this." He moved through it slowly with Eliot so that Hardison could see each step. "Better if you block down though." Trey demonstrated what to do if Hardison blocked in the other direction. "Okay, try again." He stepped to the side leaning against the ropes.
"Practice both ways and then we'll go again." Eliot told him as he stepped slowly into the same sequence.
They resumed sparring and Trey continued coaching Hardison from the side of the ring. After a few minutes they'd developed a rhythm and things where staying at a stale mate. Eliot threw a wide punch and Hardison blocked it while he stepped through with a jab. The jab rocked Eliot's head back and it took him a couple of steps to recover his balance.
Hardison's eyes were round with shocked surprise.
When Eliot caught his balance he smiled. "Well done man!" He walked over and patted Hardison on the back. "That was perfect."
Hardison could feel that Eliot really was proud of him as the emotion swept through the bonds.
"Bought time someone gave 'im a run for his money; besides me of course." Trey jeered.
Hardison knew that Eliot had been taking it very easy on him but he also felt like he was improving so he couldn't help the smile.
"Okay, let's go again." Eliot called Hardison back to the exercise.
They'd just started to settle into the next round when they both felt the sizzle of annoyance zip through the bonds. A moment later Hardison's phone rang.
Eliot stepped back and tilted his chin at Hardison's phone laying just outside the ring. "Better check that. It could be important."
Hardison grabbed his phone. "Hey babe, what's…" He frowned as he listened. "Okay. Yah we'll be back soon."
Eliot had heard both sides of the conversation and was already unwinding the wraps from his wrists. "Looks like we'll have to come back later." He patted Trey on the shoulder as he ducked between the ropes.
"Anytime." Trey smiled.
Eliot collected the gloves and mouth guard from Hardison and hurried toward the locker room. Just as he got to the door Denise stepped in front of him. "Denise." He started to move past her but she blocked his way.
"I don't appreciate being made a fool of." She scowled.
Eliot couldn't help the flash of irritation. "I've never tried to make a fool of you. If you'll excuse me." He leaned forward to go past her but she refused to move.
"I don't believe you're really with that guy." She crossed her arms.
"My personal life is none of your business." He tried hard not to growl. He could feel Hardison's anxiousness and Parkers irritation in the bonds and his own patience was just about at an end. "I really need to get going."
"I don't see why…"
She didn't get to finish her sentence before firm hands grasped her shoulders and turned her to the side so that Eliot could pass. "Denise, do I need to revisit the gym's policy on harassment?" Charlie's voice growled from just behind Denise's right ear.
Charlie gave Eliot a wink on his way past as she continued to hold Denise to the side.
When Eliot came out of the locker room he could see that Denise was now complaining to Trey about him and Charlie.
Charlie whispered as he walked past the desk, "I told you that you should have run earlier."
Eliot snorted and saw Trey roll his eyes. A moment later Denise's pitch and volume both rose as well and Eliot was thrilled to be leaving the gym before Denise redirected her ire at him.
Back on the street Hardison started walking quickly and Eliot moved their speed up to a run. Eliot knew that eight, to eight and a half, miles an hour was a normal speed for a physically fit human man out on a run. He pushed their speed to something that he gauged as closer to nine miles an hour, figuring that the average person that saw them run by wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
"Parker said that Gavin and Sarah quit, or are they just not coming in today?" Eliot asked as they moved from Tibbetts St to 75th Ave.
"She said they left messages on the answering machine saying they quit. She wasn't clear on why but she was clear that we're short staffed."
Eliot glanced at his watch. "We can't go much faster than this without attracting attention." He glared at the quiet suburban neighborhood. "It's gonna take us about forty-five minutes to get back."
Hardison kept pace with Eliot because he knew that on his own he wouldn't be able to gauge the speed and he'd end up running too fast. The last thing he needed was to end up on some 'keeping Portland weird conspiracy site.'
There wasn't much talk as they made their way back to the pub. Hardison could feel Parker's annoyance and Eliot's worry through the bonds. He still wasn't very good at controlling or communicating through the bonds but he tried to send soothing feelings to his packmates.
Eliot took them a block farther than he needed to as they neared the pub so that they could take the back entrance. He slowed them to a jog as they turned into the alley.
Parker stepped onto the loading dock and was waiting for them. She didn't wait for them to get to the loading dock before she started talking. "Brian was already out sick, and with Gavin and Sarah out too I think we need to close." She sounded particularly grumpy.
"Okay." Hardison's breathing was still ragged.
"I'll catch a shower and get the kitchen sorted out." Eliot gave Parker's arm a squeeze as he passed her by on his way into the backdoor.
"Let me get showered too and then you and I will straighten out whatever is going on with why our employees quit." Hardison kissed her temple as he passed.
Eliot hurried to the pub kitchen after his shower to assess what needed to be done. He needed another line cook and a waitress if they were going to keep the doors open. He gave directions to Joshua and Kimmie as he passed them but otherwise headed straight for Hardison's office. He looked over the schedule to see who had worked closing last night and who might be game for an extra shift. He pulled out his phone and dialed Rodger.
Hardison was in his office a few minutes later checking the voicemail. Gavin's message didn't have much detail but it was clear that he wasn't interested in coming back. Sarah's message was much more cheerful as she happily announced her elopement but it was also clear that she wouldn't be coming back either.
Eliot had started putting things in order in the kitchen but came back into the office to check with Hardison.
"Rodger can't come in and neither can Janel." Eliot slid his phone back in his pocket.
"And Kathy is out of town, Brian is sick, Robert isn't answering his phone, and Amy has some school thing." Hardison stared bleakly at his dwindling list of employees.
"Patrick said he could be here in an hour." Eliot checked the text message that had just come in.
"That would get us through the morning and the afternoon if you stay in the kitchen but we'll need someone else for later in the day." Hardison checked his watch. "We need to leave here no later than four to get to the cabin. Unless you wanna risk changing in the van on the side of the road or whatever." Hardison knew moonrise was just before six and the pub didn't usually close until nine at night.
Eliot tapped his phone against his lip a couple of times.
Hardison saw the spark of an idea light Eliot's eyes and he could feel the thrill of inspiration in the bonds.
Eliot tapped at his phone before he held it to his ear. "Julio!"
Hardison smiled as he leaned back in his office chair. He remembered Julio telling them about a restaurant he'd worked in a few years ago. They might not have to close early if Julio would agree to work the afternoon shift.
~~o0o~~
Nate and Sophie had spent an uncomfortable flight from Boston to Seattle and they'd been just as uncomfortable on their flight from Seattle to Portland. A man, that Nate strongly suspected was a werewolf, had been glaring at them from the moment they'd first taken their seats in Boston. The air of hostility had been so bad that the flight attendant had offered to move them.
Now they were standing in the busy hall that led to the baggage claim for Portland International Airport. Nate looked at the man standing on the opposite side of the hallway and pulled out his cell phone. "Hardison, if I send you a picture can you show it to Eliot? I think this guy might be a wolf but I'm not sure."
Hardison pulled up Nate's location and accessed his phone camera. "Just hold the phone camera toward him. I'm already in your phone." A moment later the image of a bald man in a leather jacket came into focus on Hardison's screen. "Got it. Can you get to the pub or do you think that guy will give you trouble?"
"First find out if he's a wolf and then we'll decide." Nate hung up.
~~o0o~~
Hardison ran the image against the database he'd acquired from Terebessy. While it was running he took the picture to Eliot. Eliot was working the grill and barking orders at the staff in his typical chef persona.
"Eliot, do you recognize this guy?" Hardison held his phone up.
"Uhm… No I don't think so. Why?" He flipped over two steaks and wiped his hands on his apron as he stepped away from the grill. "Kimmie, come take over the grill. Let Pat handle the garnish for a bit."
Eliot followed Hardison into his office and closed the door. "What's going on?" Eliot patted at his chest where he felt his connection to the pack.
"Nate wanted to know if you recognized this guy as a wolf. I'm not completely sure what's going on."
Eliot pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to reign in his temper.
Hardison felt Eliot's frustration through the bonds and the spike of anger had him tilting his head to expose his neck in submission. That was something that still felt weird, but especially when the need to submit hit him by surprise, there was little he could do to stop it.
"Please don't do that." Eliot sighed. "I'm sorry. None of this is your fault." Eliot held his hand out for Hardison's phone as he sat in the other chair. "All I wanted was a relaxed day followed by a moon hunt. At this rate we're going to spend the night at the pub." The last part was grumbled as he looked at the picture of the bald man again. He tossed the phone back to Hardison and pulled out his own phone.
"Nate." Eliot could hear the crowd surrounding Nate and knew he was still in the airport. "What makes you think this guy is a werewolf?"
"Well he just smiled at me when you said that and…"
Sophie cut in "He's got a gold earring but no silver jewelry of any kind."
"Has he approached you?"
"No. Just trying to be intimidating mostly." Nate's voice was calm but Eliot could feel his concern in the bonds.
"Alright. Stay public and I'll be there in thirty minutes or so." Eliot glanced at the door listening to the chaos of the kitchen trying to deal with a lunch rush. "We should probably close. None of these guys are experienced enough to handle lunch rush when we're this short staffed." He pinched the bridge of his nose again. A knock sounded on the door and Eliot gave Hardison an I-told-you-so-smile. "Come in."
"Barking an order like that." Julio shook his head as he opened the door. "Makes it real clear you were in the army." He smiled and Chrissa leaned around his shoulder with a smile of her own.
"Julio said you guys were needing help?" Chrissa gave a small wave to Hardison.
"I wasn't expecting you for another three hours." Eliot stood and shook Julio's hand.
"I told you I worked in a restaurant before. I know when you say you need help you need it yesterday."
"And you probably need twice as much as you asked for." Chrissa pulled Eliot into a quick hug and walked around the end of the desk to hug Hardison as well.
"So where do you need us?" Julio stuffed his hands in his pockets and took a glance at the chaos in the kitchen.
"Your timing is perfect. Let me get you set up." Eliot started to usher them out into the kitchen.
"God's timing is perfect." Chrissa patted his arm. "I doubt we had anything to do with it."
Eliot got Chrissa set up to wait tables and Julio set himself up at one of the prep counters and started in on the next order.
Eliot observed the kitchen for just a moment before he hung his apron on its hook and headed for the door.
~~o0o~~
Parker was standing on the dock with the keys to his truck in her hand. She saw the look on his face and tossed him the keys.
"Where have you been?" Eliot smiled as he followed her down the stairs to the truck.
"Hardison had me working on stuff for tonight since you were both busy in the kitchen. He said you might want back up to go to the airport." She shrugged as she got in the passenger side.
"Working on stuff? What stuff?" Eliot asked as he put the truck in gear.
"Just stuff. Stuff he usually does." Parker shrugged.
"You know I appreciate all that right? I know, I don't really understand all the things he does, but I appreciate it. And today has been…" Eliot thought about all the little frustrations of the day. "kinda a wreck." He reached over and gave her hand a squeeze.
~~o0o~~
Eliot hopped out of the truck in the pick-up, drop-off, zone and Parker slid over into the driver's seat and pulled away. He tapped his earbud on and could hear the music from his truck radio and the chaos of voices from the brew pub's kitchen. What he didn't hear was any indication of Nate or Sophie on the line. "Hardison? Where are they?"
Hardison guided Eliot through the morass of people until Eliot spotted Nate and Sophie. Nate was talking with Sophie and if he hadn't known them so well he would think that they were just killing time between flights without a care for who was around them. Although Eliot noticed the way that Nate held Sophie to his side so that it would only take a step to shield her behind him. He also noticed the way that Sophie was playing with a plastic comb that he'd given her for Christmas a few years ago. The top of the comb could be pulled off unsheathing a long thin point of plastic that was reminiscent of a prison shiv. So while they looked relaxed they were most definitely ready for trouble.
Eliot felt the skin on his neck prickle and he knew in his wolf form his hackles would be up. He wasn't sure why Nate and Sophie hadn't just left and gone straight to the pub. But if his pack wanted a pick up from the airport and someone to stare down an asshole he was happy to provide that. He looked around and it didn't take him long to identify the bald guy from the earlier picture. With the mass of people and the industrial ventilation system in the airport Eliot couldn't scent the man but he agreed with Nate there was just something about him that practically screamed werewolf.
Eliot kept an eye on the other werewolf as he approached Nate and Sophie. "Do we need to collect your luggage?" Eliot asked Nate as he accepted a brief hug from Sophie.
"Yes." Nate scanned the area.
Sophie used their hug to whisper into his ear. "Every time we start to move so does he and there's no exit in the baggage claim."
"Okay." He gave Sophie's arm a gentle squeeze. "You two go and collect your things and head out for the pick-up area. Parker's in my truck and she's watching for you."
"What are you going to do?" Nate glanced at the bald man.
"Just have a little chat."
"Don't get arrested if you can avoid it." Nate smirked as he ushered Sophie toward their bags.
Eliot had lost sight of the bald man for a moment as a new wave of people crowded for the baggage claim. As the crowd started to thin a little Eliot made his way to the last place he'd seen the bald man. The man was gone but the scent of werewolf was very clear on the support column he'd been leaning against. Eliot pulled a tissue out of his pocket and wiped it over the scent. When he was sure the scent had been rubbed into the tissue he folded the tissue and put it back in his pocket.
He hurried to catch up with Nate and Sophie and escorted them to the pick-up area. He didn't see or scent anything on their way out but he didn't relax until the luggage was loaded up and they had all driven away.
"Did the guy say why he was watching us?" Nate asked as they drove away.
"I lost him in the crowd. I've got his scent though, so I'll know him if he turns up again." Eliot watched out the window from the back seat as Parker turned south. "Where are we going?"
"Since we're already out here with your truck I figured we'd pick up the trailer now."
"The trailer? What trailer?"
"You'll see Sparky."
~~o0o~~
As they pulled away from the rental place Eliot had to admit to himself that Parker and Hardison had a good point. The narrow bed in the cabin was probably not the most comfortable and the camper certainly looked more modern and would be more comfortable for Nate and Sophie.
"So what's this cabin of yours like?" Nate looked at the side of the airstream trailer in the side mirror.
"It's pretty rustic. It was a forest service cabin way back and not much about it has changed since then." Eliot shrugged as he took a wide corner to accommodate for the trailer.
"There's not really indoor plumbing. Just a hand pump for water and there's no electricity and just the one bed. But Eliot put in a zip line for me and there's lots of room for hiking and werewolf games." Parker sounded very happy as she shared the details.
"No plumbing? No electricity? Just what sort of place are you taking us Eliot Spencer?" Sophie teased.
"It'll only be for tonight and Hardison and Parker got you guys the rollin' tin palace here."
Sophie snorted at his description.
"Is this what you do every full moon?" Nate waved at a kid in a passing car.
"Not every time. Sometimes we stay in for movies and sometimes its just been me at the cabin."
"But now that Hardison is a wolfy things are a little different. This is kinda his first full moon night since the last one was all tangled up with… that guy." Parker looked out the window.
Nate nodded.
~~o0o~~
They had to leave the trailer and the truck in a parking lot a few blocks over since there was no place to park the rig at the pub. Eliot kept an eye out as they walked back. In the world of the werewolves the pub was no secret. If the wolf they'd seen at the airport was looking for them this would be the first place he'd go to.
Eliot and Parker both paused for a moment as they were walking.
"What is it?" Nate asked and he and Sophie looked around to see if they could spot anything.
Eliot rubbed a spot high on his chest. "Hardison was surprised by something."
Parker smiled. "A happy kind of surprised." She added. "Not like the 'oh no I just found a bomb in my cereal' kind of surprised."
"There's somethin' wrong with you." Eliot growled as he stalked toward the pub.
~~o0o~~
Eliot could hear Julio barking orders before he even got to the top of the loading dock. With a smile he walked into the chaos that is a restaurant kitchen at full swing. "By the way you're barking orders someone might think you're in the army."
"Or they might think they are." Chrissa smiled at Eliot as she hurried past with a tray of food.
They hurried through the kitchen and into the front of the restaurant where they spotted Hardison and Tyrel in the corner booth.
"A month! And you didn't tell me!" Tyrel rolled his eyes at Eliot.
"We been busy." Eliot growled good naturedly.
"I was in town and I thought I'd see what these two were doing tonight." He gave Hardison's arm a playful shove. "But now I know he's going to be busy."
"Why don't you join us tonight?" Eliot smiled. "I'm dragging everyone else to my cabin and there'll be room for you too."
Tyrel looked around at the happy faces that were gathered around the table. "Yah? Okay, I think I will!"
"Good." Eliot stepped back from the group. "I'm gonna see if I can help out in the kitchen for a bit before we head out."
Tyrel stood and pulled Eliot and then Hardison into a quick hug. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks." Eliot patted Hardison on the back and then tilted his head so that Hardison would follow him.
When the two of them were away from the others Eliot fished a tissue out of his pocket. "I want you to stay up front where you can catch the scent of folks comin' in." He handed the tissue to Hardison. "That's the scent of the guy from the airport. If he comes in let me know right away. If anyone else comes in that smells kinda like that I need to know that too."
Hardison nodded and after scenting the tissue he headed back to the group.
Eliot went to the kitchen and tied on his apron and bandana. He paused by Julio's station to see where he would be of the most use. "Where do you need the most help?"
Julio got Eliot caught up on where they were at and they both settled into the rhythm of the kitchen.
~~o0o~~
By three the last of the customer's had left and the staff breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey, don't get lazy now. Kimmie I need you on dishes. Pat take out the trash and wipe down counters. Josh I need the grill cleaned and ready to go." Eliot gave orders while he reset his station.
"What do you want me doing?" Julio asked.
"Tables. I'll be out to help wipe down and sweep in a minute." Eliot heard the backdoor open and close. The breeze from the outside brought a familiar scent. "Robert, what's going on?" Eliot turned to face Robert with smile.
"Heard you needed an extra hand boss." Robert tied his apron on and went to the sink to help Kimmie. "I was fishing with my nephew this morning and my phone was in the truck."
"You sure you don't mind coming in on your day off?" Eliot grabbed a fresh rag to wipe down tables with.
"It's no problem." Robert shrugged. "Sorry I didn't make it in in time for the lunch rush."
"You can make up for it by working the dinner rush." Eliot hustled out to get the front reset.
Eliot glanced at his pack that was still holding court in the corner. He checked his watch and had to tamp down the urge to clean the tables at wolf speed but he didn't want to risk being caught by the staff.
Chrissa patted Eliot's shoulder and held out her hand for the wash rag. "Give me that. Hardison said something about leaving no later than four. You should take off now before the next rush."
He handed her the rag. "Thanks." Eliot started to walk to his pack but he stopped and looked at Julio and Chrissa who were wiping down tables and chairs. Friends that had shown up when he'd asked with no questions about pay or compensation. Eliot turned and headed quickly for the kitchen.
"Robert, do you think you guys can handle dinner rush on your own?" Patrick had come in earlier and now that Robert was here the four regular staff members should be able to handle the last part of the day. He saw nods from everyone, and new Hardison would give them a little bonus on their next check.
Robert looked around at the others and shrugged. "Sure boss. Thursdays ain't usually a big deal."
"Okay. I'm gonna leave you guys to it and the rest of us will get outa the way." Eliot smiled as he headed back to the front.
~~o0o~~
In no time Eliot had everyone organized. He drove the truck and trailer, with Hardison and Parker riding with him. Nate, Sophie, and Tyrel followed along in Tyrel's jeep, and Julio and Chrissa followed in their car.
Eliot fidgeted in his seat as they turned off the highway in Kalama. "Parker, I'll help you get things set up but you'll probably have to have Julio and Tyrel cook. The whole thing today took longer than I planned."
"Okay. Is there anything special?"
"No it's all easy stuff. You just show everyone where things are."
"You're not going to go wolfy right away are you?"
Hardison patted Parker's leg when he felt her anxiety through the bonds. "We got about an hour, after we get there, before moonrise."
Eliot let his confidence in Parker roll through the bonds. "It'll be fine darlin'. You're just camping with friends"
Eliot told Parker what he had in mind for the meal and what coolers he had things in and he couldn't help the happy feeling that was zinging through the bonds as they got closer to the cabin. When they finally pulled into the clearing in front of the cabin it didn't take long for things to turn into a cheerful pandemonium.
Hardison was carrying a cooler to the side of a fire pit that he and Eliot had dug last week, when Sophie put a hand on his shoulder. The sudden touch startled him and fur sprang up along the back of his neck and arms.
"Oh my," Sophie smiled into his yellow eyes. "I didn't mean to startle you."
"Sorry." Hardison set the cooler down and when he turned back the fur was gone but his eyes were still yellow.
"My fault entirely. Eliot asked me to tell you that you can shift in the cabin or in the glade where you shifted the first time. He did seem to imply that you should hurry." She tried not to stare as the fur made another appearance.
"I know." He shrugged his shoulders like his shirt was too tight. "If the moon calls any louder the rest of you might hear it."
"Off with you then." She smiled in earnest this time and watched as he moved with wolf speed for the front of the cabin.
Eliot spun toward him as Hardison entered the cabin and Hardison couldn't help noticing that Eliot's smile had a little more fang to it than humanly possible. "Better hurry if you want to change on your own and not have the moon force it."
Hardison nodded and hurried to the bed were Parker was sitting. "Love you babe." He kissed her temple and brushed a feather light kiss across her lips.
She smiled at him. "Pretzels."
Parker watched as Hardison melted into his great grey and black wolf. She slid off the bed and hugged him. She pressed a kiss between his ears and held the door as he and Eliot headed out into the early evening.
In their wolf forms Eliot and Hardison drug large logs up the hill and helped position them near the fire pit as make-shift seating since they had more people than they'd originally planned for. When Eliot saw Julio digging through a cooler without finding what he was looking for he nudged his leg.
"Parker said there were bratwursts and steaks but all I'm finding is steaks. Are you sure you packed them?"
Eliot trotted to one of the other coolers and yipped at Julio.
"Perfect!" Julio dug out the package and went back to the table where he was prepping things for dinner.
Parker fidgeted on one of the logs near the pit. "Eliot, you two should go now."
"Why?" Chrissa asked. She'd been quietly amused watching Hardison try to keep his large wolf head on Parker's lap no matter which way she turned.
"The bonds are too buzzy and the moon is too loud with them this close." Parker answered Chrissa but focused in on Eliot. "We've got everything under control here."
Eliot nuzzled against Parker and Hardison pushed in closer to lick her face. With a whoop Parker slid backwards off the log and the boys followed her over.
"Stop! Stop!" She giggled as she batted at them. "Go hunt something already!"
With a brief howl from Eliot and a yip from Hardison they both sprinted down the hill crashing through the underbrush as they went.
The humans eventually settled in around the campfire sharing food and stories and generally having a good time.
Nate cut into one of the steaks and savored the taste for a moment. "Eliot said you served together but I know he didn't learn to cook until later. When did you learn?"
"My abuela, mostly." Julio settled in on a log next to Chrissa. "The restaurant thing came later though."
"When you were working your way through seminary right?" Chrissa patted his leg.
"Yep. But that was mostly dishes."
"Is that why this sausage tastes like soap?" Chrissa gave him a nudge and he nudged her back.
Julio took a bite of his brat but spoke around it. "Cooking in the restaurant came later."
"Where did you attend seminary?" Nate asked.
"Portland actually."
"Uh oh, are we going to have some kind of east-coast west-coast rivalry over the best seminary?" Sophie gave Nate a nudge with her elbow.
"You're a preacher?" Julio frowned. He was pretty sure that was something Eliot would have mentioned.
"I didn't finish. I went into insurance."
Tyrel had been enjoying the by-play but had been watching Parker. He noticed when she stopped with a forkful of food half way to her mouth. She was staring into the middle distance with a small smile. With a little shake she went back to eating. "Parker? What just happened?"
"The boys just found something to hunt." Parker smiled
A few minutes later, off in the distance, they could hear a wolf howl. Parker set her plate to the side and cupped her hands around her mouth and gave her best impression of a wolf howl. For a moment everyone around the fire stilled. Then Tyrel threw his head back and howled and in no time everyone else joined in.
~~o0o~~
The moon had been singing so loudly in the bonds all day that Eliot had to admit it was a relief when Parker insisted that they go and hunt something. As they hurried down the hill Eliot gave Hardison's shoulder a nip and raced ahead of him into the underbrush. It required cunning on his part to stay ahead of Hardison. Eliot was able to keep ahead of Hardison on the longer runs or in their human forms but over short distances or in quick maneuvers Hardison was much faster. A game of chase like this was fun for both of them since Eliot was the better tactician and Hardison was faster.
Eliot dodged around a tree and Hardison went to the other side of it. Eliot sprinted ahead and barely made it around the next tree before Hardison could catch him. He knew Hardison was seconds away from catching him as he jumped over a bush near a deer trail. He knew that there was an open space on the other side of the bush and the hill had a hidden slope that couldn't be seen from the direction they'd been coming.
Hardison leapt after his Alpha but the sudden change in terrain caught him off guard and he tumbled halfway down the slope. By the time he came to a stop Eliot had turned the tables and Hardison felt the gentle pressure of Eliot's fangs against his throat.
They stopped to drink from a creek and Hardison picked up a scent that intrigued him. He snuffled along the other side of the creek until the scent became a trail he could follow. As the scent became more concentrated he focused in with his other senses. He could feel the brush of Eliot's fur against his own. He could feel his connections to his pack but especially Eliot's anticipation and pride as he let Hardison take the lead in this hunt. He saw a flicker of movement ahead and he felt his muscles tense in anticipation of the chase. He heard the frantic beating of a small heart and for a moment that stopped him.
Eliot brushed against Hardison's neck, in something like a nuzzle to steady and encourage him. Eliot pushed his wolf to the fore and let that feeling roll through the bonds.
Hardison felt his own wolf respond to Eliot's and with the encouragement from Parker he took another step down the trail. The scent caught his attention again and he could almost taste it on his tongue. Another step and there was a sudden thrashing in the bushes that startled him for a second. Eliot gave him a nudge and suddenly something small darted from the underbrush.
With a blur of speed the rabbit took off and Hardison's wolf was consumed with the thrill of the chase. The rabbit darted side to side and zipped under a fallen tree. For a second Hardison thought the rabbit had lost him as he leapt over the tree the rabbit had gone under. But he realized that his leap had put him ahead of the rabbit.
Eliot threw his head back to howl in victory when Hardison caught his rabbit. Faintly in the distance they heard an answering cry and the bonds told him that it was Parker celebrating with them. A moment later a cacophony of cries joined Parker's.
Hardison's bonds were thrumming with a happy contentment and after sharing his rabbit with Eliot he turned to face the way they'd come.
~~o0o~~
The fire was nearly out by the time Hardison and Eliot made it back to the cabin. Julio Nate and Tyrel were sitting next to each other facing out into the woods and Eliot was happy to see his friends keeping a look-out. Their return seemed to signal the end of things and Nate stood while he retrieved a bucket of water and Julio helped stir the ashes as Nate slopped water over everything.
Hardison followed his mate bond into the cabin and found that Parker had already spread the couch cushions over the floor in front of the fireplace where she'd started a small fire to warm the cabin. Hardison collapsed on one of the cushions with his head on her lap. Her slim hands sank into his fur scratching down his neck.
Eliot stood next to Parker for a moment and she turned to brush her face against his in their own version of a wolf nuzzle.
Sophie and Nate came in and Nate closed the door behind them. Sophie eyed the narrow bed skeptically but didn't say anything about it.
"There weren't enough beds for everyone to sleep comfortably in the trailer so we thought we'd join you guys in here." Nate set a couple of bags behind the couch.
"There's extra blankets in the chest at the foot of the bed." Parker offered without getting up.
"Do you need one dear?" Sophie asked as she pulled blankets from the giant bag in the chest.
"No." Parker smiled into the little fire while she ran her hands through Hardison's fur.
Eliot watched as Nate and Sophie settled in and Parker and Hardison scooted around until Parker was curled into Hardison's side. As they all started to drift toward sleep Eliot curled himself around Parker and Hardison so that Parker's feet would stay warm and Hardison would be surrounded by the scent of pack.
Eliot let contentment carry him over the edge of sleep.
~~The End~~
Until next time…
