AN: I still don't own Eliot..'cough'..uhm, the show, yeah, the show.
Sorry it's late, life sucker punched me and threw me one obstacle after another.
Enjoy! =)
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Chapter 5
"Victoria? Do you have a copy of the figures from last month? I need them if I want to finish this in time to eat lunch!" Ally called.
"You mean these?" a familiar voice stated as a sheets of paper were placed on the desk in front of her.
Startled, Ally jumped, before a smile adorned her face. "Parker! Are all of you back?"
"Got back last night," Hardison answered as Parker hopped up on the corner of Ally's desk.
"What are you two doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you, but…"
"Three," Eliot interrupted. "We're here to take you to lunch."
"Hi Eliot," she greeted with a warm smile. "I thought there was someone else in the room, but I couldn't be sure. I'm guessing that the job went well?"
"What makes you ask?" he replied.
"You sound like you're in a good mood. From what Alec and Parker has told me, I didn't think that was possible," she teased. Large grins appeared on the hacker's and thief's faces.
"It's not often, but it does happen. And yeah, the job went very well," he smirked.
"Good. I'm glad he won't be able to hurt anyone else." Hardison and Parker's eyes widened slightly at the knowledge that he must have told her who they were after.
"What are all the numbers for?" Parker asked suddenly, leaning down to squint at the papers.
"These," Ally began, gesturing to the mess in front of her, "are the bills and money the school has spent in the last three months. I'm trying to find money for the physical therapy department. They need some new equipment. Not to mention the animal therapy company that I want to visit…and then prom in May." She rubbed her temples briefly before releasing a breath.
"You know, if you're short on money, we'd be glad to make a donation," Hardison offered with a grin.
"No!"
Startled by the sharpness of her tone, the three teammates glanced at one another.
"Please forgive me," she hastily added. "That was very rude. It's not that I don't appreciate the offer, but I don't like handouts. The money's there, I just have to find it," she assured them. "And I still have a fundraiser or two before the end of the year. You know, I think I'll take you up on lunch. I seem to be in need of a break." Parker got off the desk to allow her to reach her coat. "I just need to tell Victoria…"
"She already knows, we caught her on the way in. She agreed you need a break," Eliot told her.
"Of course she did," Ally replied with a smile. "Okay, so where are we going?" she asked, walking up to Eliot and easily finding his elbow to gently grasp it.
A wide grin appeared on Hardison's face as he watched Eliot's mild surprise at the action. "It's a surprise," the hacker announced.
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After lunch a lunch of hamburgers, fajitas and chicken ceasar salad, they walked up a set of stairs to the second floor, where the sound of balls hitting pins and people shouting startled Ally.
"Are we in a bowling alley?" she asked in surprise, her brows furrowing as if bothered by something. A look that Eliot did not miss.
"Yeah!" Parker exclaimed excitedly as Eliot gently pulled away from Alley to go get them a lane.
"I think your idea of a surprise and mine are completely different Alec."
"You don't like bowling?" he asked incredulously. "How could you not like bowling?"
"It's not that I don't like it, it's just…I don't know…I've never actually been…bowling before," she finally admitted.
"How have you never been bowling before?"
"I just never got around to trying it. It's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal? Not a big deal?!" If Ally could have seen Alec's face, she would have laughed at the comically astonished expression.
"We're on lane one, two and three," Eliot announced, when he returned moments later. "Ally I guessed a size seven for shoe size. You two can get your own…what's wrong with Hardison?"
"Ally's never bowled before," Parker informed him.
"Okay, so we teach her," he replied simply as if it should have been obvious. "Go get your shoes and bowling balls. Ally and I will set up," he declared, gently taking her elbow and leading her away.
"Eliot, I don't think this is a good idea," she began nervously.
"Why not?"
"Really? Hello, blind girl here. I honestly don't think a game that requires me to throw a heavy ball is a good idea," she chuckled a bit forcefully.
"Why do you think I rented three lanes?" he retorted, smirking at the look of indignation that crossed her face. "Anyway, you should try new things, you might even like it. I'll go get our bowling balls. Go ahead and put your shoes on. The seats are a step to your left. I'll be right back."
By the time he returned, Ally had her shoes on and Parker and Hardison had returned, shoes and bowling balls in tow. "These shoes are horribly uncomfortable," she commented, making an irritated face.
"They're made more for function," Eliot answered, sitting down to get his own pair on.
"No Alec, you push this button to put our names on the scoring tv thing," Parker insisted.
"Mama, I got this," the hacker told her, slapping her hand away.
"But you need to…"
Drowning them out, Eliot turned to Ally. "Okay," he began, gently taking her right hand. "This is the scoring computer. One step forward, there is a three inch ledge." Placing a hand lightly on her lower back, he watched her move forward cautiously and stepped up. Taking her hand yet again, he placed it on a bowling ball. "This is the ball return. Feel the three holes?" At her nod, he continued, "Your middle two fingers go in the top two, your thumb in the bottom. Hold it in the palm of your hand and cradle it with your left. Get used to the weight for a moment."
"I'm bored. I wanna play," Parker stated suddenly.
"Well then play," Eliot retorted. "Use the third lane."
'Use the third lane,' she mimicked silently, sticking her tongue out before turning back to Hardison who was shaking his head, but smiling all the same.
Eliot shook his head at her antics, before turning back to Ally. "Now, two steps forward is the line you start from. Hold the ball in your left hand for a minute and reach out to the side with your right hand and touch the ball return. This will give you an orientation of where to stand."
A ball striking pins two lanes over startled Ally, and she would have dropped the ball had Eliot not steadied her hand. "Yes! I got a strike Alec!" Parker screamed excitedly.
"Relax. Block out all other sounds except my voice," Eliot instructed softly. "You're going to take a total of four steps forward." Standing behind her, he placed his hands over hers. "At the end of the second step and during the third, you're gonna bring the ball back like this." Guiding her hand, he showed her the movement. "And as you take the last step, you'll bring it forward and release," he explained, again showing her the movement.
"Okay, I think I have it," she replied, a little nervously.
Taking a few steps back, he watched as she mentally psyched herself up. "Take your time," he offered helpfully. "There's no rush."
Taking a deep breath, she made her first attempt…only to release the ball too soon and have it go straight into the gutter.
"I told you this was a bad idea guys. There's no way I'm going to be able to do this."
"Not with that attitude," Eliot snapped. "Try again. This time, wait a little longer before releasing and throw it a little harder."
After retrieving her ball, she stepped back up to the line to try again. And taking Eliot's advice to heart, she threw the ball with more power…only to have it jump into the next lane.
Hardison cried out, making Ally stumble back in surprise, only to be saved from hitting the ground by being caught in Eliot's arms.
"So that's why you got three lanes," Parker mused with a grin.
"That's it…I can't do this. The next one I throw is going to end up injuring someone!" Ally exclaimed, her face flushed with obvious embarrassment.
"Yes you can. Now try again," Eliot told her, releasing his hold. "This time, when you release the ball, don't twist your wrist, keep it straight."
Sighing in resignation, she picked up her ball and stepped back up to the line. Taking care not to twist her wrist like Eliot had told her, she released the ball and was rewarded by the sound of the ball hitting pins, in her own lane. "I did it!" she squealed, turning and lunging into Eliot's arms. He froze for a moment before returning the hug with a smile.
"Told ya you could do it."
"She only hit four pins," Parker observed.
"That's not the point mama," Hardison told her.
"I would have been happy to hit one," Ally added with her beaming grin. "Let's play an actual game. Eliot and I against you two."
"You're on," Hardison replied. "But be warned, I'm a master bowler," he boasted with a grin.
Eliot held back a snort. "We'll see about that," Ally answered in challenge.
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"No pressure now Eliot, don't break concentration or anything," Hardison taunted.
The hitter looked at him with an amused expression. "Seriously?"
"What? Can't handle a little…pressure. Can't handle the competition?"
Ally chuckled. "That coming from the man who has yet to get a strike?" Eliot didn't bother to hide his smirk.
"Big talk comin' from someone who's rolled seven gutters and skipped the lane twice," he retorted playfully.
"That maybe so, but I have rolled a strike," she smiled sweetly. Eliot's eyes conveyed his enjoyment of the situation. It seemed that around them at least, she could give as well as she got.
Parker let out a quick laugh and Hardison jerked his gaze to her with a betrayed expression. "Et tu brute?"
"Et tu…what?" she asked in confusion, but Hardison ignored her to defend himself.
"That was a lucky shot and you know it!"
"That's the argument you're going with? I'm blind and it's my first time bowling…ever. What's your excuse again?"
"I…well it…you see…"
"Hardison shut up so I can take my turn," Eliot ordered with a hint of teasing in his voice.
"What? She's the one that…" at the hitter's glare, he finally shut up.
Eliot took his last turn…and rolled a strike, but not to anyone's surprise. "HA! Take that!" Ally cried out happily, holding up her hand in Eliot's direction for him to high five. Chuckling quietly, he did, enjoying this side of her. This was how a twenty four year old should act.
"Well I think that three games is enough bowling for one day," the hacker announced. "And I'm proud to claim my victory."
"You won one game Alec," Ally teased. "And that's only because Eliot was your partner."
"Well I still won a game," he replied, before walking off to return his and Parker's shoes.
"Did he just walk off pouting?" Ally asked, trying her best not to laugh.
"Oh he'll be fine, he's just being a baby," Parker replied, rushing ahead to catch up with him.
"Glad you had fun," Eliot told her as he picked up their shoes and paused for her to take his elbow.
"I have to admit, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Thanks for being a great teacher."
"Not that hard to teach the basics, but you're welcome. You should have fun more often…let loose. Doesn't seem like you do that a lot around Josh, Kieran or your father."
"Yeah, well, it's just that, I hear so many news stories of businessmen's children embarrassing them and ruining their name. I don't want to do anything that can harm daddy's business. I also don't want to harm Josh's chances at a promotion."
"I'm not talkin' about gettin' drunk and dancing half nude on a bar," Eliot replied, enjoying the blush that lit her face. "Just try somethin' new every once in a while." He placed their shoes on the checkout counter and closed their lane.
"Don't really get that opportunity often. With my work…and Olive has her own things to do. I can't ask her to constantly take me out to try new things."
"I have a feelin' that Hardison and Parker will take care of the fun part. And you have Sophie for shopping. You get tired of them, there's always Nate or I if you need less drama," he smirked.
"Now you're offering to take me out to do fun things? That doesn't sound like something you'd normally do from what Alec and Parker have told me."
"What can I say, you're growin' on me," he teased.
She stopped and turned to him. "If this is your version of a continued apology or because you feel sorry for me…"
The light tone in his voice disappeared. "I don't spend time with people I don't like. And it doesn't make a difference to me if you're blind or not, so pity has nothing to do with it." In a softer tone, "The fact is…your easy to be around. You're not demanding and I find that…relieving. Okay?"
Ally was speechless for a moment. "Okay," she agreed softly, reaching out to take his elbow again.
"Let's go find Hardison and Parker. I have a feelin' I know where he is."
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The hacker was exactly where Eliot thought he would be…the arcade.
The noise was almost unbearable. People talking loudly over one another, hundreds of game sound effects mixing together in a cacophony of bells, whistles, clangs, gunfire and racing engines. He could already feel the headache forming. And that didn't even include the multitude of bodies in such a small area, bumping into each other, sending his alertness level into overdrive. And if the way Ally was pressed into his side was any indication, she sure as hell wasn't enjoying it either.
"Hey guys!" Hardison yelled out in greeting as he walked up to them. "Parker and I are gonna play the new shooter game they have. Been wanting to try it out for a month now. I got some tokens if you guys wanna play anything."
"How would Ally play any of the games Alec? She can't see." Parker was honestly confused.
The player at the game next to them must have achieved a high score due to the siren effect that sounded. Ally's grip on his arm tightened almost painfully, and he could feel not only her muscles tense, but also the panic pouring off her.
"We'll be at the bar, don't be long."
"Fifteen minutes…half an hour tops," the hacker promised excitedly.
"I mean it Hardison, I will come find you," Eliot threatened.
"Yeah, yeah. Go get a beer or something," he replied, walking off with his arm around Parker's shoulder.
Eliot found them seats at a small table near the bar, and once they were seated, she let out a relieved sigh.
"I don't like noisy crowds either," Eliot told her, signaling a waitress over.
"Crowds just tend to make me feel nervous," she admitted. "The loud noises don't help."
"There was a reason I got three lanes near the back wall," he admitted.
"Oh, you mean it wasn't in preparation for my horrible aim?" she smiled.
"There was that," he retorted, only to have her shove him playfully.
The waitress took their drink order with a smile, batting her lashes at Eliot and adding a little more sway to her hips as she walked off. He briefly appreciated the view.
"Thank you," Ally murmured softly.
"No problem." He knew what she was talking about.
A few moments passed, both enjoying a moment of silence and the satisfying feeling of words not needing to be spoken to enjoy another's company. Eliot was honestly surprised. Most people in their early twenties, especially young women, loved to talk. But not Ally. It was…refreshing as well as soothing. The waitress came back with their drink orders a couple of minutes later, slipping Eliot her number on his napkin.
"So tell me something about yourself," she requested, taking a sip of her Bailey's.
"What do you wanna know?"
"I don't know…what do you like to do in your free time? What's your favorite movie? Your favorite food? How did you get into cooking?"
Eliot chuckled. "That's a lot of questions."
She smiled. "I was just giving you a few options. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to."
"I don't own a TV, so I can't say I have a favorite movie," he offered. "I occasionally watch sports at Nate's and Hardison's though."
"Do you like music then?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that. I play the guitar. And sing a little," he admitted.
"Really?" her expression lit up. "Maybe one day I can hear you. I tried singing lessons once, but it seems that I'm not vocally inclined," she chuckled.
"That bad huh?"
"Let's just say that my tutor told my father that I'd be better suited in an art form that didn't include me putting anyone that might be listening through emotional torture."
"Ouch," he replied with a smirk.
"Yes, well, she wasn't a very nice woman. I kept waiting for her to rap me over the knuckles with a ruler like they do in the movies," she chuckled.
"Well you seem to be competent in the kitchen at least," he offered.
"Oh, I love to cook," she replied, a grin lighting her face. "When I'm in the kitchen, I can drown everything out. I put myself into what I cook and when someone enjoys it, it's like I'm…sharing a part of myself with them." At that, Eliot looked up from his beer at her and froze. "I know it must sound strange, but, it's like I'm…"
"Letting them in your head," he finished.
"Exactly," she replied with that blinding smile of hers.
"That's how I feel," he murmured, surprised that her sentiments on the subject mirrored his own.
"How long have you been cooking?"
"Since I was twenty six. After I graduated high school, I was recruited into the military. There was a time where I was…in a dark place. Then I met Toby and…he showed me a way to create with my hands instead of destroy. Been cookin' ever since."
"I wish I could see some of your artwork," she murmured, warming him at her understand of his skill.
"I cook quite a bit for the team. You'll get to taste plenty of it…don't worry."
When her phone rang moments later, she answered it quickly with a silent apology. "Hello?...Hey Olive!...What's wrong?...No, that's fine, I understand…Tomorrow's good….Okay sweetie, I'll talk to you later."
"Everything okay?" he asked as she put her phone away.
"Nothing horrible. Olive was going to go grocery shopping with me tonight, but she had to cancel."
Eliot was confused. "What happened to your personal shopper?"
Ally looked equally confused for a moment before she broke out in laughter. "That's just a nickname I tease Olive with," she explained.
"So she's the one that takes you shopping and helps you with things?"
Her eyes widened in realization. "Oh no…you didn't think…you thought I actually had a personal assistant that did my shopping for me?"
"Well…"
"No wonder you thought I was spoiled," she chortled.
"Obviously a big mistake on my part. A lot of things I thought are clearer now."
"How do you mean?"
"At the coffee shop Olive explained how your dad and brother are…overprotective. Which is the main reason you stay at home with him."
"She would say that. My dad just worries for me ever since the…accident. I'll admit, it made getting out and trying new things difficult, but I love him and don't want to worry him. So I stay close to home. My school and other ventures keep me busy."
"Doesn't leave time for much fun though. Someone your age? You should still be going out to clubs."
"Don't like large, loud crowds…remember?" she smiled.
"There is that."
"But I did get to try bowling today," she said. "And it was great fun. I hope I get the chance to do it again."
"I'm sure today won't be the last day Hardison and Parker drag me along for one of their 'fun' days. I'll just make sure you get dragged along with me," he smirked.
"I would really like that," she admitted quietly.
Eliot saw a familiar face making his way through the bar towards their table. "You have a visitor," he told Ally. But she didn't have time to question it, before Josh grabbed her arm somewhat roughly…Eliot had his wrist in a vice grip instantly.
"Release me immediately," the younger man ordered.
"Josh?" Ally questioned, relaxing just the slightest.
"You first," Eliot countered, his voice low with threat.
The blonde; being smarter than Eliot would ever give him credit for, did so immediately, so he released his grip. "Allyson, I've been trying to reach you for the last three hours."
"How did you even know I would be here?" Confusion was plastered all over her face as she took out her cell phone to check it.
"That's beside the point. I had a short window of opportunity to have lunch with you and you weren't at the office. And then I had to search for you…"
"I'm goin' to go get us a refill at the bar," Eliot quietly announced, allowing them a bit of privacy while still being able to keep an eye on the younger man. He still didn't trust him. So while he waited for their drinks, he casually listened in.
"You didn't have to come searching for me Josh," Ally began. " I didn't mean to make you worry, but my mobile says there are no messages from you."
"Then there must be something wrong with it. Do you think I'm lying?"
"No, of course not."
Eliot thought it sounded more like the situation was an inconvenience for the blonde than actually being worried for his girlfriend.
"What are you doing here anyway? At an…arcade? This is a place for children Allyson, not a young woman. Shouldn't you be volunteering at that…school right now? And you know how your father and I feel about you drinking."
"But yet you and he find nothing wrong with sharing a glass of Midleton regularly," she retorted. And I was at the school, until Alec, Parker and Eliot kidnapped me for the day. And this place is geared more towards adults Josh…not just kids."
"I'm trying to progress within your father's company, but it makes it difficult to do so when the woman I'm dating acts like a teenager. I'll have to make up the time I spent searching for you at work now, which means that I have to cancel dinner with you tonight I'm afraid."
"What? Josh, we haven't had a night out together in over a month. I'm sorry you couldn't reach me, but…"
"Well maybe you'll think of that next time you decide to be inconsiderate of others," he defended, obviously ignoring the disappointed expression on his girlfriend's face. "Now, if you gather your belongings, I have time to take you back to the school."
At that point Eliot decided he had been patient enough. Returning to the table with the drinks, Josh made to stop him, "Allyson will be leaving now. I'll cover her tab," he began, pulling out his wallet.
"Don't bother," Eliot all but growled, watching the affronted expression on the younger man's face.
"Well then…come along Allyson," he began, reaching out to take her arm.
Ally gently pulled her arm away from him. "I'm going to stay here and finish my drink and my conversation with Eliot. The school knows I won't be back in today."
Josh look at her as if she had lost her mind. "Is this your way of getting back at me for cancelling tonight? That's hardly a mature attitude Allyson. I…"
At this point, Eliot really wanted to punch him. He kept waiting Ally to stand up for herself, to tell him off like she had him multiple times. To show him a little bit of the sass that he had seen hints of, but it never came. "Josh, it would hardly be polite to walk out on friends that so kindly brought me out to relax now would it." Putting her hand on his shoulder, she leaned in to give him a kiss, only to have him pull back.
"Fine. I'll see you tomorrow then," he announced stiffly, turning from her to walk out, leaving her sitting there with a stricken expression on her face.
"He usually like that?" Eliot asked casually as he took a drink of his beer.
"Oh no, he's usually very sweet. He's just been really stressed out at work the last couple of weeks. He's been working a lot of late nights and hasn't been getting any sleep."
Eliot seriously doubted that was the reason, but he remained silent.
"So, besides cooking, what else do you do in your free time?" she asked, continuing their interrupted conversation.
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Nightmares….
They had been the bane of Eliot's existence for so many years now, that he honestly couldn't remember a time when he didn't have them. But sometimes…he truly believed that he didn't deserve a peaceful night's sleep for all the horrible things he had done.
So he didn't sleep. Well, he did, but not very much, and when he did, it was never for long. Tonight was one of those nights that he just knew sleep would not happen quickly…or easily.
And for the second time in as many weeks, Eliot found himself at her door. Given, it wasn't as late as last time, but it was still past what most would consider an acceptable visitation hour. However, this time when she opened the door, he was met with a grin.
"This is going to become a regular thing, isn't it?" He would have thought she was annoyed, if not for the amused expression on her face.
"You still need to go grocery shopping?" he asked before he thought better of it.
"At eleven o'clock at night?"
"There's a twenty four hour organic market I go to." Then the thought occurred to him that her confused tone might be because of the hour of night. Why was he here again? "But if it's too late…"
"I'll admit, it is later than what most would consider a good time to shop, but I wasn't asleep and I've never gone shopping this late at night…so why not," she grinned, stepping back. "Come in…let me get ready," she told him.
To his surprise, it took her less than five minutes to do so. He watched her put her shoes and coat on, and then retrieve her cane and purse, before pausing to put her hair up in a quick pony tail and then wrap a scarf around her neck and place a beanie on her head. She didn't even put on any makeup. While it was a refreshing surprise, it made him wonder yet again, why she seemed so different when not around Josh or her father and brother.
"You need to leave a note for your dad or anything?" he wondered as she locked the door.
"Daddy's in Dublin for the next few days and Josh isn't over tonight," she answered.
Eliot found himself placing his hand on her lower back as they made their way across the ice covered sidewalk to his truck. It quickly became apparent to him that she was not the most graceful creature on ice after watching her loose her footing no less than three times, and having to grasp her waist to keep her from falling.
"Seems you missed the day they gave out balance," he joked, earning an incensed expression. Eliot immediately realized however, from her change in demeanor, that it upset her. "Sorry, I was just jokin'," he added as he opened the door and helped her in.
"No, I should be the one to apologize," she said when he got in the truck. "I'm a little…sensitive about it. My sight wasn't the only thing I lost in the accident," she quietly admitted.
"There's therapy that can help with that."
"Trust me, I know. After I recovered, that was part of my therapy while learning to get around with a cane and learn spatial orientation," she explained. "It helped dramatically, but I still sometimes lose my footing. The ice doesn't help." He kept silent, as he had nothing to add.
When they reached the supermarket ten minutes later, Ally quickly came to the conclusion that she liked shopping at the late hour. "It's so quiet in here," she commented with a content smile. "It's usually a little crowded when I go. This is a nice change."
It quickly became apparent to him why Parker had been so fascinated with Ally's shopping. For obvious reasons, the red head was very sensory oriented. In the meat department, she actually smelled the packages, occasionally asking him about the meat's color. Canned goods and boxed or bagged items were a matter of her telling him what she needed and him finding it on the shelf for her. But in the fruits and vegetables, it was a whole other story. She was very tactile. Gently running her hand over the divided sections, finding what she needed almost as easily had she had full sight. The way she smelled the food item or felt it, was almost…hypnotic, in the fact that she took such obvious joy and care from selecting just the right one. It almost reminded him of how picky and selective he was when shopping for his own food. But watching her, it just seemed…different, like he was intruding.
"Do you like pad thai?" she asked suddenly, as she chose a few peppers and put them into a bag.
"Yeah, why?"
"I wanted to invite all of you over for dinner this weekend and was thinking of doing that."
"Sounds good," he agreed, watching her place several granny smith apples in a bag. "What kind of pastry are you makin'?"
"Hmm?" she asked distractedly as she smelled a cantaloupe and put it back.
"The apples, flour and butter. They seemed out of place with everything else."
She smiled. "You're a very observant person. I like that," she stated before turning to the bean sprouts. "Kieran is coming over for lunch tomorrow. I promised I'd make him my apple and whiskey tarts."
"You'll have to give me the recipe."
"I don't give up my recipes that easily sir. You'll have to prove you're worthy," she teased.
"You like chocolate?"
Her face took on an expression of adoration. "My love affair with chocolate goes way beyond like," she answered seriously.
He chuckled. There was one thing she shared with Parker. "Maybe I'll talk you into trading for my chocolate velvet pie recipe."
She jerked her gaze back in his direction, then looked back at the carrots. "We may be able to work something out," she replied in a bland tone. He smirked at her attempt to play it cool.
They checked out and made their way to his truck with her bags, as the snow began falling. It seemed the temperature had dropped another few degrees as well. He turned the heater on as soon as he got in the cab to reduce the shivering he could see her trying to hide, and they were off. By the time they made it back to her apartment building, the snow was coming down pretty hard. Eliot had already had to drive under the speed limit, but now visibility was near zero.
"Feels like the snows gotten worse," she commented as they walked through the front doors.
"Yeah, it's not gonna be fun driving home in it."
"I have a guest room," she suggested, pushing the elevator button for her floor.
"No, I'm good. I've driven in worse," he assured her.
"No!" she exclaimed, surprising him by the force of it. "I mean, it wouldn't be a problem at all. And I'd feel…I mean….You'll have your own bathroom and Olive assures me that the bed is quite comfortable."
The outburst had surprised him, but when he actually studied her face, he could easily see that the idea of him driving in the mini blizzard outside truly upset her. Maybe it was tied to her accident as a child.
"You know, maybe it would be a good idea. If you're sure it's okay."
He could visibly see the tension leave her body. "Oh, not at all," she replied a little eagerly, unlocking her door and ushering him inside.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
A terrified scream echoed through the apartment, sending Eliot out of the comfortable bed and into the hallway within seconds. When he rushed through Ally's bedroom door, he found her thrashing in her bed, crying out in terror.
It was in that moment that he finally knew why she didn't sleep. And it seemed as if they had one more thing in common besides a love of cooking.
"Mama…" she whimpered, tears streaming down her face, her hair stuck to her forehead by a light sheen of perspiration. "Please…it's so dark…"
Eliot sat on the edge of the bed and turned on her bedside lamp before gently shaking her shoulder. "Ally…wake up, you're only dreamin'."
She jerked upwards, making a sound between a gasp and a sob, before scuttling backwards into the headboard, pressing into it as much as possible.
"It's Eliot Ally, you're okay sweetheart, it was only a dream," he tried to assure her, knowing from experience the terror of waking up from all too real nightmares.
The fear slowly left her face as she became more aware of her surroundings. And then without warning, she lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face into his chest. He tensed momentarily, before relaxing and running his right hand down her back in a soothing gesture, as the other held her close. He didn't even stop to wonder why it was so easy for him to do so, as he normally wasn't good at this type of thing. She didn't cry, just held the back of his shirt in a vice grip as she tried to calm her ragged gasps.
It must have taken ten minutes, but finally, her breathing slowed and her hold on him softened. "I'm sorry I woke you," she whispered.
"It's not a problem," he assured her, a feeling of protectiveness filling him for the young woman in his arms. She pulled back and ran her hands over her face. "I know all about nightmares," he told her.
She looked up at him. "Is that why you don't sleep much?"
"Yeah. Do you wanna talk about it?"
"Not really," she murmured wearily. "What time is it?"
"Four oh five," he answered after looking at her clock.
"I might as well get up. I had my alarm set for seven and I honestly don't see myself getting back to sleep." He watched as she slipped on a pair of fuzzy socks with polka dots, and put her hair back in a sloppy bun. "You should try and get back to sleep. I feel bad that I woke you."
"Don't worry about it. Have any action movies?"
Seeing it as the offer for company that it was, she smiled. "I just rented one with John Cusack in it. It's called 2012…have you heard of it?" she asked, making her way down the hall toward the kitchen.
"End of the world kind of thing?"
"That's the one," she chuckled. "Coffee or Tea?"
"You have green tea?"
" I'm Irish, of course I do," she quipped.
"I'll take that then. Where's the movie, I'll get it started."
"It's on the entertainment center next to the telly. Eliot?" she called, stopping him before he left the kitchen.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you…for…"
"Don't mention it. We all have somethin' that haunts us. I know that better than anyone," he told her, before turning and walking away.
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AN: I hope you liked it. =)
Jen
