Chap. 8
Parker crouched down behind the barrel and prayed Eliot would be there soon. There were several big, hairy guys planting bombs all over the ranch. She could probably disarm the bombs, but there was no way she could take on several Bigfoot look alikes. Her only option was Eliot. The two of them could disarm the bombs in no time, after Eliot took out the apes planting them of course.
"Eliot, I'm stuck behind the barn. They're planting bombs! They're going to blow up all the baby animals! You gotta hurry!"
Eliot slammed his fist down into his opponents face and took off in search of Parker. Sophie and Nate were safe with Hardison and Allen, he knew. He didn't have to worry about them. Parker always managed to get herself into these messes, though. What did it say about him that he was usually with her?
"Parker, I gotta deal with the goons by the house first, can you get somewhere safe and out of sight?"
"I think I can get to the roof."
"Do it! Nate, she needs a distraction and I'm busy."
Eliot fought his way to the house and disarmed the bombs placed there. Next was the barn and the offices. How the hell was he supposed to save the day when everything kept going against them?
"Parker can you release all the animals?"
"No, I can't get there!"
"Hardison, can you override the codes on the gates? Let 'em all go."
"I think so. Give me a minute, man."
"We don't have a minute! Just do it!"
"Alright! Dayum, hold your horses."
"Really, Hardison, really?"
The next few minutes were a blur for Eliot. The pain in his head spiked as the stress of saving the ranch increased. The animals were running free now giving him and Parker ample time to disarm and dismantle the bombs. If they didn't finish soon Parker might have to go it alone. His head was spinning. The pain brought him to his knees. This wasn't not going to end well. The blackness was creeping in on him, now.
"Parker, you have to finish this."
Eliot sounded funny. She would say weak, but Eliot didn't do weak.
"Eliot? Are you ok? Eliot!"
"I'm fine Parker, I just need to take a minute. Just finish with the bombs before the cops show up."
Eliot took the com out of his ear and leaned against the wall. This was going to be bad. He hadn't been in this much pain in years.
Parker finished with the bomb and moved to the next one.
"Nate, something's wrong. Eliot isn't acting like Eliot."
"I heard, Parker. We're on the way. Just sight tight for a few minutes."
"Hurry, please. I think he might really be hurt."
Allen exchanged worried glances with Nathan as he gunned the engine. He had known this would happen. Eliot was in no shape to fight off anyone, yet he had done it. At what costs to himself, Allen would likely never know. The man played his cards to close to the vest for anyone to truly know him. Praying the damage wasn't too great, Allen set his mind to helping Eliot. He could do that. He could give something back to the kid who had risked his life for the ranch.