Chap. 15

Hardison watched as Eliot slowly came awake. Reluctant to open his eyes too much, the hitter turned toward the sound of breathing. The smell told him he was in a hospital, he didn't need the IV in his arm for that.

"Hardison, why am I in a hospital?"

"How the hell did you know it was me?"

"Your breathing, y'all all breathe different."

"It's just fucked up that you feel like you have to know that, but to answer your question, your headache got worse after you saw your dad and your eyes rolled back in your head BAM you were out."

"I thought I dreamed that."

"Your dad?

"Yeah. Where is everyone?"

"Nate, Allen, Sophie, and John are right outside with the doctor. Parker is probably skulking around air ducts by now."

Eliot heard the door open and smelled that light florally smell he associated with Parker.

"Actually, Alec, I was getting coffee. I did steal extra sugar packets though."

Glancing at Eliot, she smiled.

"Lame I know, but I had to do something! I was going crazy. You never get sick, I was scared."

Eliot felt horrible for scarring her. Upsetting Parker was something he didn't like doing. She was so easily heartbroken, sometimes anything could set her back.

"It's just a migraine, Parker. It's nothing."

Hardison grabbed his coffee and snorted.

"It's not nothing, you're in a hospital. We worry, deal with it."

Before Eliot could say anything to contradict that statement the door opened again. Nate and John were the first to grab the coffee and sit beside the bed. This couldn't be good.

"It's good to see you awake. How's the head?"

Eliot wanted to tell Nate that his head was fine, that he was fine, instead closed his eyes against the dull light coming through the window and sighed. They weren't supposed to worry over him. No one was, damn it!

"It's getting better. I should be fine to get out of here."

Allen placed his big hand on Eliot's leg and glared.

"You even think about signing yourself out and I'll tie you to the damn bed. Give yourself time to heal before you go charging off to save the world."

John watched as Eliot calmed a little with Allen's touch. He also listened to the older man and remained where he was in the bed. Interesting. Allen's fondness for Eliot didn't surprise him, people had always been drawn to Eliot like moths to a flame, but Eliot, even as a small child had rarely trusted anyone outside of family. It was good to see that other people had been watching out for his son in the years since they last spoke. Maybe Eliot wasn't as alone as he thought he was.

Once Eliot was asleep again, Allen turned to John and assessed the man. He looked like an older, taller version of Eliot. The same, blue eyes, the same facial structure, hell even their hands were the same. Those hands were itching to touch Eliot right now. Allen couldn't imagine being this close to his child and not being able to touch him after so many years apart. Making up his mind, he scooted another chair up beside his and motioned for John to have a seat.

"I don't want to upset him again. For all I know he doesn't even want me here."

"Please just have a seat. If he didn't want you here, you'd be gone. If any one of us thought you might hurt Eliot you'd be gone."

John sat in the uncomfortable chair and place his hand on Eliot's arm. This time was no flinch to get away. Completely unguarded, Eliot felt safe here, with these people. His boy had found a little solace in a world gone mad.

"You raised a great kid. He's smart, loyal to a fault, kind, and generous. The only problem is getting him to see that."

"I know. Eliot and tangled quite a few times about that."

"I can imagine. He's stubborn."

"He's had to be."

"Eliot told me some about his mother and step father, not a lot, but enough to make me want to dig them up and kill them all over again."

John was surprised by that revelation. The Eliot he knew didn't trust many people with his past. Allen must have really made an impression for Eliot to open up like that.

"I think I reminded him of you. There are many similarities. At first he tried to steer clear of me, but eventually I wore him down. He feels safe with me because of you. Give him some time to process all this. He's spent years hiding it from everyone, including himself. Just don't leave him now."

John wrapped his hands around Eliot's and rubbed circles in the palm with his thumbs. He finally had his son back. Years of searching had culminated in this right here. He was in this for the long haul.

"I'm not going anywhere."