Chap. 7
Nate Ford watched as Hardison worked hastily at the computer, trying to find a way to take down the bad guys. Time was ticking away. Sophie and Parker were in town "interviewing" Burt Nettles about his mall, trying to find anything that might bring him down. Where the hell was Allen? What was he doing to help them?
Allen Cummings sat on the bed beside Eliot and smoothed his thumb over the younger man's forehead. The moan that escaped the kid told him how much pain Eliot was still feeling. He wondered if he needed to call Dr. Brighten. The migraines had him concerned. One sure, but not several like this. Well, they did find migraine meds in his bag, maybe this was an ongoing problem.
"I know you're awake. You're breathing changed."
"I need to get ready for tonight. What time is it?"
"Just after four in the afternoon. How's the head?"
Eliot thought about telling the man he was fine, but decided the guy deserved the truth.
"My head is killing me. But I've had worse, so I need to get ready."
"How long have you had the headaches?"
"Since I was a child. They get worse with stress."
"You have them every time you guys work a case?"
"No. This one just hits a little too close to home. You ask me all this stuff, stuff I never tell anybody. And I tell you. That bothers me. Why do I feel so comfortable with you?"
Allen had his own theories about that. Now wasn't the time to get into them though. After Eliot and the team saved the ranch, Allen would offer his ideas on a lot of things concerning Eliot.
"When everything gets sorted out, I think you and I need to have a conversation."
Eliot didn't tell the man that he had no intentions of having a "conversation" with him. He just wanted to get home and lick his wounds in peace. When he was away from Allen, he could start pulling himself back together and burying the past again.
"Can you get Nate for me? We need to plan for anything unexpected, like me passing out in the middle of the fight. I won't let any of you get hurt because I can't keep it together."
Allen left in search of Nate. Eliot just didn't get it. This wasn't all his responsibility. He had a team for a reason. Why did he insist on taking it all on his shoulders?
"Nathan, are you in here?"
"In the kitchen!"
"Eliot wants to see you. He wants to make a backup plan for the backup plans. He's afraid he'll pass out and leave you guys in a bind. I really think you should find a way to work this without him. He's still in a great deal of pain."
"He can handle it. He always has"
"Damnit, Nathan, he shouldn't have to handle this!"
"It's just one night, then he can curl up and sleep it off."
"Three hours. That's all you get. He can't handle much more than that."
Nate found Eliot lacing up his boots. His hair was falling in his pale face.
"Are you up for this? You look like shit."
"Says the man with the perpetual hangover."
The glare he received made him chuckle.
"I'm fine. It's just a headache. I've dealt with much worse."
"If this becomes too much, you have to let me know."
"I know. If I can't focus, it could put the others in danger. Trust me to know how these things work. I've got a good five hours before it gets to that, curl up in the fetal position, cry like a little girl, and beg for death point. Just let me do what you brought me here to do."
Nate watched as Eliot stubbornly walked away. Good, he needed stubborn right now. Eliot would need that stubborn to get him through the night.
"Why can't we just work this around him? We've worked around the rest of us several times."
"Sophie, Eliot has usually been able to cover for us when we need him to. None of us can do what he does. If there was a way believe me I would find it, but there isn't."
"I don't like this, Nate. It doesn't feel right. Parker said the same thing earlier. Hardison is even more jumpy than usual, that has to tell you something."
"Yeah, he's had too much orange soda."
"Nate, this is serious. I've never seen Eliot like this."
"None of us have. He hides everything so damn well. We just have to get through tonight."
Sophie watched as their leader strolled away. Eliot might say he was fine, but she knew he wasn't. Nate's plan did have Eliot in the background. They would all just have to make sure he stayed there.