OK. So I had a little interest in this story. I'm going to do a series anyway. My cousin liked that idea. So for those who gave feedback thanks a bunch.
Now as always you guys know I don't own these characters. If I did I would be a happy happy happy girl.
Eliot sipped his tea as he flipped the page. He was glad Sophie had recommended this particular read. Not many people knew of his love for reading, but Sophie seemed to pick up on it fairly quickly. He was pretty sure Parker and Hardison had figured it out at some point. There always seemed to be ample reading materiel on jobs now and it was generally a selection he enjoyed. How did these people know him so well? Was he that transparent? He had spent years cultivating this persona and now his team, no, his friends had cracked him open and pulled him out of his shell. They actually seemed to care about him and his interests. That was something he hadn't experienced in quite a while. He would either have to pack up and take off or stand his ground and let them into his ever secret life.
Finishing his cup of "sleepy time" as Parker liked to call it, tea, Eliot closed his book and left it on the side table. Hopefully tonight would yield just a little rest. After two days of Allen Cummings, he needed it. Why was the man so damned nosy? And why did his probing bring up so many bad memories? More importantly, why couldn't he just brush them off and go on with his life? He would have to get himself under control before the shit hit the fan or this case was dead in the water before it ever started. And wouldn't Nate just love that?
Turning down the bed, Eliot climbed beneath the cool silk sheets and made himself comfortable. He had tried all manner of things over the years to help himself sleep, but so far nothing worked to well. The sheets and the custom bed and mattress set, both designed especially to fit his needs seemed to aid in his quest a little, but nothing completely took away the sleeplessness. There were too many memories and too much time to think when one was alone at night.
The ringing of the phone interrupted his musings. Glancing at the caller ID he saw it to be Parker. At two in the morning, a phone call from Parker was never a good thing.
"What Parker?"
"Eliot?"
"No, the Queen of England, yes Parker it's me. Why are you calling me this early?"
"Nate told me to. He said for you and Sophie to be on the first plane you could get. These guys are here now trying to bully Allen off his land. We need you!"
"Calm down Parker, I'm on my way."
"Hardison is booking your flights now. Just hurry!"
Eliot cursed and started pulling on clothes. He dialed Sophie's number, gave her the rundown, and headed out the door. Sleep was overrated anyway.
Sophie covertly watched her team mate as he tried to get comfortable on the plane. Small movements kept catching her attention. Was he hurting?
"Eliot, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Is that why you can't sit still? Because you're fine?"
"It's nothing, Soph, just drop it. I'm sorry I'm botherin you."
With that Eliot Spencer slipped back into his book, leaving Sophie to wonder about his state of mind. Had this job and Allen Cummings really thrown the hitter so far off his game? What was it about the man that disturbed Eliot so much? Allen seemed like a nice enough man. And Parker was quite taken with him. Nate had known him since childhood. As much as she despised the drinking, Nate would never put them in any more danger than necessary. Something had to be wrong for Eliot Spencer to be so skittish of him. Sophie realized she would have to dig deeper into this situation.
"Quit thinking so hard. You're making my head hurt."
"What is it about Allen that has you so spooked?"
Eliot sighed and closed his book. How much did he tell her?
"He just reminds me of someone I used to know and that brings up some old memories. Its fine, I'm dealin with 'em. It won't affect the job. I won't let it."
Well that was cryptic! That left Sophie with even more questions. Were the old memories bad memories? And who did Allen remind him of? Maybe Parker could get Eliot to talk. Sometimes he talked to Parker without even realizing it. The two seemed especially close. Maybe similar pasts brought them close? It was likely she would never know what prompted the bond between the perky thief and the grumbly hitter, but she could wonder. And she could pick Allen's brain about the entire situation when they landed.