Authors Note: Thanks for the reviews everyone! I'm so sorry it too so long to update, I recently just started a new job and everything has been a little hectic with that and the unpacking of everything from the move. However without further ado, here's the fifth chapter. I hope y'all like the chapter. Happy Readings! :) …And I'll try to get back to my usual updating habits!
Chapter Five
Hardison's face fell briefly as he watched the trace he was receiving from both his best friend and his girlfriend. Eliot and Parker's trackers were pinging off at hitter's address. Fear, distrust and anger began to build in young hackers gut. Quickly sending them another set of texts, telling them to just go straight to the marks office instead of his home for more evidence.
"Hardison?" Sophie questioned softly from his left. Her voice sounded concerned.
Turning Hardison caught her eyes briefly, before turning his head back towards the screen. "Yeah, Soph?"
"Are you okay, dear?"
"I don't know." He muttered before pushing away from the desk and moving to the back bedroom. "I'm gonna catch a nap, wake me if something goes wrong." He tossed over his shoulder as he left the room.
Sophie frowned softly as she watched the hacker leave with slumped shoulders and a dejected look on his young face. 'Poor Dear, I wonder what happened to upset him.'
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Parker laughed as she ate her breakfast in front of the television. "Are you watching this?" She asked around the hash browns in her mouth.
Eliot shook his head without answering and finished his breakfast at the island, ignoring her, he moved over to the sink to clean his plate. "I'm going to change. Clean your plate when you're done."
She waved her hand over her head in agreement. "You still have that duffle bag I left here?" She called out from the couch.
Before Eliot moved to close the bathroom door, he squinted his eyes in thought. "Yeah, it should be in the coat closet." With that, he shut the door and turned on the shower.
Parker listened to the water of the shower and briefly thought of what the hitter would think if she went in there for a sneak attack. With a wicked grin pulling at the petite thief's lips, she shook her head and giggled. She could already picture the wet muscle man, freaking out and yelling at her that she was crazy and something was wrong with her.
However, she couldn't help but like the feeling of wonder and excitement at the thought of doing that, or the sudden nervous pull that started in her stomach. Instead she ate the last bite of her eggs and moved off the couch to drop her plate in the sink.
Turning the water on, she dropped a little soap onto the scrubber and wet it before taking it to the plate. Once she was finished cleaning both the plate and fork, she set them in the drying rack and moved to the closet for her duffle bag.
It had been left there over a month ago when she and Eliot had to run a con together were they had to have more than one set of extra clothes on hand. She'd actually left it in the hitters' truck, but he'd brought it, along with everything else out and into his place. Eliot hated having things in his tuck that didn't belong there.
Spotting the bag on the floor, tucked into a corner, Parker crouched down and pulled it out. Grinning to herself, she shut the door and moved to the couch with the bag. "Dusty." She muttered around a frown. There was a light coating of dust on just the top and one side.
Unzipping the bag she pulled out a white t-shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans.
"Found it?" Eliot questioned from the hallway.
Parker glanced over her shoulder and spotted him fully clothed and a towel in one hand rubbing at his hair. "Yeah, but I'm wondering why-"
He raised a brow at her as he moved closer and caught a look at the clothes. "You don't have your black clothes in there 'cause you changed into them so we could repel of that damn building."
She frowned trying to remember.
"You were wearing that, I was dressed as security, and we got caught halfway to the roof. You started complaining because you couldn't properly repel with that, so you changed once we got to the roof and –"
She interrupted his explanation. "Oh! I remember, well this is disappointing." She muttered grabbing the clothes and moving towards the shower. "I'll be quick."
"Have you checked you're phone?" Eliot asked as he began cleaning up the living room.
"No, I think it's on silent, check it for me." She said then clicked the door shut.
Eliot frowned at the hallway. He wasn't her lackey. Turning he spotted her phone on the upper corner of the rectangular coffee table. There was a distinctive light flashing on the phone. Reaching for the phone he hit the home button and waited seconds for the before he saw a text from Hardison.
"Shit." He muttered dropping the phone on the couch and moving to his room to grab his cell and see if there was the same texts waiting for him to read. Hitting the button he saw two new texts just like Parker's. Only the second text was curt compared to the one Parker had received. "Damnit Parker."
"What's wrong?" The thief called from just behind him.
He contained the urge to spin and pin her up against the wall with a chokehold. "He bugged our phones."
She looked confused at first. "He-?" Looking down at the phone in Eliot's slacking grip she moved to take the phone from him and frowned. "Bet you a grand he thinks the worst."
He frowned. "I know that, let's just get this day over with so that we can clear the air with Hardison later."
Parker cocked a blonde brow at him. "You. Not we. I'm still pissed about last night."
"No you're not." Eliot said drily.
She grinned manically. "He doesn't know that though." With that she turned and walked out of the bedroom and to the front door where she stood waiting for him. "Hurry it up Sparky."
Eliot groaned quietly to himself, grabbing a light leather jacket he moved to the front door that Parker was standing at impatiently. "Let's move." He put his hand on the small of her back moving her out the door as he moved ushered them out and closed the door behind them.
"So the marks office?" She pulled open the pickups door. "Are we even dressed appropriately?"
Turning on the truck he shook his head. "How we're dressed is fine. We told the receptionist that we had a surprise to tell him, not that we were looking for a business opportunity."
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Nate frowned into his cup of coffee. "Sophie just sit down."
The grifter shook her head, tugging the blanket closer around her shoulders. "I'm telling you Nate, something is wrong with those two and I know that Parker is going about it wrong. The poor dear still doesn't really understand the give and take of how a relationship works." Moving towards the mastermind, she took a seat on the sofa next to him, turning her body completely towards him.
Shooting a glance at the hallway, he looked back at her. "Soph, I don't think that this is anyone, but their business." He raised a quick hand to stall her next set of complaints. "There's too many possibilities that could be in play when it comes just to Parker. Now, if or when Parker asks for any help, you're more than welcome to help, other than that you need to stay out of it. Otherwise there might be more harm than good coming from it."
She slumped against the cushions. "She already voiced some doubts to Eliot."
Nate didn't seem surprised. "And…?"
"You don't find anything bizarre about that?"
"Why would I?" He asked with a shrug.
"The fact that she turned to Eliot before me doesn't say anything to you?"
Nate turned to look at her at this, he heard the underlying tone of hurt in her whispered question. "Sophie, none of this is shocking to me. Parker and Eliot have a connection that none of us can really have with either of them no matter how hard we try. They understand one another because they've been through similar obstacles and came out the winner or loser to the point that they know when to spot someone just like them." He smiled slightly at her. "Why do you think they always have the others back or is pushing one to do better?"
Sophie smiled softly. "I guess I never thought of it like that before."
He nodded then turned to look back at the television. "But Hardison, this is his and Parker's business. I just don't want it interfering with the con or with the team for that matter." Reaching out blinding he grabbed her bent knee and patted it. "Everything will pan out great, trust me."
She studied the secret smile with ease. She trusted Nate's judgment, especially lately. He still drank, of course, but not as heavily. "Of course." She whispered moving to lean into him.
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Alec woke form his nap feeling sluggish. His dream was the first thing that came back to him, making him groan into his pillow. His thoughts were on Parker and Eliot before falling asleep, and it made his dreams revolve around the two also.
The dream was set in Eliot's place, Alec seemed to have front row seats to the entire setup of the place, he was stuck in the kitchen, his feet almost glued to the floor. He could see the back of Eliot's head from where he stood, some sports game on the television.
The door automatically opened without any sound, Alec frowned when he watched Dream Eliot move just his head, a flirty smile clearly visible. 'Hey.' His voice more gravely than it usually was.
Alec turned to see who he greeted and was not shocked to see his Parker!
'Hey you.' She said kicking off her shoes and moving to stand in front of the hitter. 'You missed me?'
Dream Eliot reached up and placed his hands on Dream Parker's hips pulling her down until she was straddling him. 'What do you think?'
'It feels like you did.' A sex crazed smile shaped her lips.
Alec felt his stomach turn at the sight. He tried moving his feet, he tried yelling at them, but nothing happened no matter how hard he tried. He was vaguely aware that it was a dream; that this wasn't real, but when the hitter and thief began removing clothes and fondling one another it was hard to distinguish what was real anymore.
'You fix everything?' Dream Eliot's labored and gravely question pulled Alec's attention back to the couple nearly having sex on the couch.
Dream Parker scoffed. 'I've been trying! It'd be so much easier if he just wasn't in the picture anymore.'
'Darlin'.' Came the southern warning.
'I'm tired of sneaking around Eliot.' Parker's face scrunched up into the picture of annoyance.
Alec hyperventilated slightly at the conversation. His thoughts running a mile a minute. They were sneaking around behind his back, how could they do that to him? They were his family! He thought of Eliot like the bossy older brother he never had, Parker his girl, why would they do this to him.
Alec was ripped from his nightmare. Finding himself staring at the ceiling in his room. He didn't know what to think anymore. He knew that deep down Eliot wouldn't do that to him, he wouldn't jeopardize anything when it comes to the team. Parker, she wouldn't intentionally jeopardize the team, maybe he should talk to her about this.
His mind was playing tricks on him with that dream. He knew this, but he didn't want to think that they were sneaking around behind his back and thinking of ways to get him outta the picture.
Alec shook his head. 'Eliot is not that kinda man! I know him, I'll just talk to him.'
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Parker frowned as the two of them walked back out of the office and she had without thought, picked the wallet of a passing businessman that bumped into her on his way in. Looking down she grimaced. "Eliot…?"
Eliot casted her a brief glance and zeroed in on the wallet she held. "Parker, what the hell?"
She shrugged, turning to face him as they made a small circle to close them in while taking a look at the wallet for identification. "I can't think of what made me do-"
Eliot shook his head as he starred at her. "It doesn't matter, let's just make sure we get it back to him before he notices it's missing and calls the police."
Parker nodded, showing him the picture before they began scanning the building for the owner. They found him without much trouble and she was able to quickly slip the wallet back into his inside jacket pocket before moving back to the hitter and leaving the building completely.
Eliot huffed to himself as he let her into the truck. "Where's your head been today?"
Looking out the passenger window she shrugged. "I don't know. I've been thinking about everything I just-"
He reached over and flicked her in the arm. "No thinking if you're gonna start picking pockets Parker."
She turned to look at him and caught his concerned smile. Giving him a small one in return she shook her head. "No promises." Sighing she shifted in her seat as he started towards the Leverage apartment. "I don't wanna talk to Hardison if it means I'm not gonna get my point across."
Eliot stayed quiet, patiently waiting for her to continue.
Minutes passed before she finally snapped. "I just don't want to do this anymore." She groaned as the street the apartment was on came into view. "You think there's any chance he's not there?"
Eliot smirked as he pulled up in front of the building. "Doubt it."
"Ready or not." Parker muttered to herself.
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Eliot scowled as Hardison starred him down. He didn't appreciate being thought the worst of when it came to the situation. He never did anything considerably wrong that would make the hacker get all shifty with him. The situation was between Hardison and Parker, not him, Hardison and Parker.
'I swear to-' Eliot's thoughts were cut short when he finally snapped out. "Hardison a minute."
Hardison blinked, almost owlishly, before standing up and following the hitter out of the living room and into one of the multiple offices.
Eliot closed the door behind them, then crossed his arms over his chest. "What the hell is going on with the staring?"
Hardison scowled and took the same stance. "Are you sleeping with my girl?"
The hitter's eye twitched and his jaw tightened. "Excuse me?"
Hardison knew he crossed the line, but he couldn't help it. "I just need to hear it."
"No I'm not!" He growled out angrily. "What makes you think I'd do something like that? Especially to you?!"
Hardison dropped his stance and his shoulders slumped forward. "I know man, I'm sorry I even asked, but I had to." He backed himself up against the desk and sat down on it hard. "I just know that she wants something else."
Eliot laughed, it was closer to a bark. "You think what she wants is me?"
The hacker scrubbed his face with his hands. "I don't know. You guys always had an understanding."
"So do you two." Eliot added as he dropped his stance and turned to open the door.
"Hey E?"
"Yeah?"
"It hurts that y'all have a better connection than me and her."
He turned back to the younger man, he could understand that hurt. "Just hear her out Hardison, she needs to get a lot off her chest about you guys and you not listening is making it harder to want to be in a relationship for her."
Hardison nodded. "Thanks man."
Eliot nodded back. "Just listen." He bit back an oath when Hardison stared at him with questioning eyes. "What else?" He barked out gruffly.
"I just really love her." Hardison looked away, slightly uncomfortable.
"Then listen to her."
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To Be Continued…