Chap. 12

What had woken him? He looked around the darkened bedroom and saw nothing. Listening brought him no answers, either. Had he been dreaming? There it was again, a moan? Eliot! Launching himself out of bed, Allen padded across the floor to his bedroom door. Jerking it open he heard soft crying. Glancing up, he saw Parker sitting against the door to the bedroom Eliot was currently inhabiting. Fat tears were rolling down her cheeks.

"Eliot doesn't cry. He just doesn't!"

Dealing with Eliot would be enough to keep him busy, adding Parker to the mix was just too much. She needed a job to do. Kneeling down, Allen kissed the thief's forehead before brushing her tears away.

"Why don't you go make some tea? Chamomile would be great. It might help him relax enough to get back to sleep."

"K. Be right back."

Once Parker was dispatched, Allen slowly crept into the bedroom. Eliot's moans had quitted, but the silent tears hadn't stopped. Sitting on the side of the bed, Allen called Eliot's name several times, not getting a response. Touching the young man was out. Eliot was highly trained in many areas. He had seen the kid fight, he was partial to keeping all his limbs and appendages.

Leaning closer, Allen called to Eliot yet again. The crying didn't stop. And now thrashing had replaced the moaning. Taking a chance, Allen brushed the dark hair out of Eliot's face. He expected the hitter to come awake with a start, ready to defend himself, not for the younger man to curl into himself and whimper.

"Eliot, it's alright, you're safe, son. Nothing can hurt you here."

"No! Don't!"

Allen was ready when Eliot shot up like he was on fire, looking around the room with wild eyes.

"Eliot, Eliot, son look at me. Right here, son. You're ok."

The ragged breathing was starting to calm. The watery blue eyes were now focusing again. The silent tears were still falling from those blue eyes.

"Allen?"

Eliot's voice and body were trembling now.

"I'm right here. You're safe. It was just a dream."

Eliot brought his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. He had no clue what to do now. Usually when he woke from a nightmare, he was alone. How could he explain this to anyone? They would all think he was off his rocker. He was a hitter for fucks sake! He was supposed to protect people.

"Want to tell me what this was about?"

"No. It's nothing."

"Eliot when I touched you, you whimpered. That isn't nothing."

Sighing when Eliot still refused to budge, Allen scooted closer to the hitter.

"You should know that Parker heard you. She was sitting outside the door crying when I woke up. I sent her to make some tea."

Eliot nodded. He had upset Parker. He was so dead! Parker was fragile enough without his issues disturbing her.

"She's worried about you. We all are. You're not alright. Let us help you get there."

Before Eliot could answer Parker came in with the tea. She breezed right to his side and sat.

"You scared me."

"I'm sorry, Parker. I would never do that intentionally."

"I know. Now you need to fix it."

"I don't know how."

"Let us help you."

"I don't know how to do that either."

"Then we'll show you, Sparky."

Eliot let himself be drawn into her slim arms as she slid beside him on the bed. Once Parker was beside him, arms wrapped around him, Allen poured the tea.

"At least have a few sips. It will help you rest. It's not drugged. I would never do that to you."

Eliot let himself trust the man who had him tied in knots. Parker trusted him, Nate trusted him, hell the entire team trusted him. He supposed he could as well.

"What was the dream about? What scares you that much, Eliot?"

Eliot sipped the tea and pondered the answer to Parker's questions. How could he tell the fragile thief that some aspects of his life still frightened even him? How could he tell her or Allen about the horrors that encompassed his childhood and still to this day haunted his entire being?

"It's nothing. It's in the past so just forget it, Parker."

"It hurts you even now. I don't like that something hurts you. It isn't right. You protect us from all the hurt, but you have no one to protect you."

"I don't need protecting Parker. I've managed just fine so far."

Parker leaned her head down on his shoulder. She was always safe with Eliot, she knew that without a doubt, but who made Eliot feel safe?

"You could tell me anything, I would always trust you."

"What if I told you that something happened and I was too weak and scared to stop it? Would you trust me then?"

"Yes."

Parker placed her hand on Eliot's chest, just above his heart.

"Because I know your heart."

Allen watched fascinated, as the tough as nails hitter leaned into the soft touch of the slender thief. He had worked with many siblings throughout his career, but he'd never come across the closeness that these two shared. Their bond was forged from hurt and fear, pain and loneliness. Both were afraid to let anyone see their true colors. Now, thanks to Eliot's constant presence, Parker was working through her issues. Eliot was still pushing his down deep where no one would ever find them. They would have to change.