Oh goodness! I didn't realize that this chapter doubles the longest one so far in size! What a turnout! Anyways sorry it is so late, but here is the next chapter!

I must confess that I feel like a monster.

Eliot woke up to the sound of beeping. Hospital. It attacked his ears and he tried to turn from the noise, but a shooting pain in his shoulder told him otherwise. Letting out an irritated and pained growl, the hitter opened his eyes but immediately shut them at the attacking bright light that penetrated and invaded his sight. A loud but suppressed whisper greeted his ears next.

"HE'S AWAKE!"

Scuffling sounded in the room as four pairs of feet entered his area. Slowly opening his eyes this time, Eliot squinted at his team. Parker had a name tag that said visitor and held a stuffed brown wolf with a tied green fluffy bow. Hardison also had a visitor name tag and held "get well soon" balloons. Nate was dressed as a nurse while Sophie looked like she could pass as a lawyer. Well that's one way of breaking visitation rules. He looked down at himself and found that only his bottom half was covered. He wasn't sure how the team convinced the hospital to let him stay in normal clothing, but the hitter was thankful for the pants. However his bare torso revealed the bandages weaving under his right arm coming around to cover his left shoulder heavily. There was also bandages on his back but that didn't seem to bother him as much. Sophie was the first to speak.

"How are you feeling?"

Eliot sent her a glare that explained itself. Grunting, he tried to sit up and finally succeeded after Hardison took pity and found that switch that raises the angle of the bed. Eliot nodded his thanks and made eye contact with Nate. His voice came out in a gruff, gravely, and unused sound.

"How long was I out?"

Nate sighed and looked down at a clipboard he held on the hitter.

"Three days. They thought you were in a coma but then you had a high temperature and started to thrash and...they wanted to put you in restraints but Sophie convinced them otherwise."

A small pause.

"What happened out there Eliot?"

The hitter didn't feel like even he knew. How do you explain what you saw when even you can't understand it yourself? Eliot knew he was going to get mocked by Parker so he withheld part/most of the truth.

"Wild animal attacked me in the woods."

Nate shared a glance with Sophie and then prodded more.

"Yeah figured that. Why were you out in the middle of a forest alone?"

This left Eliot scrambling for an excuse but Parker already chimed in for him.

"Oh that's because he's a werewolf. Or was pretending to be."

This got some puzzling looks from Nate and Sophie. The grifter opened her mouth a few times and finally formed words.

"Eliot, why were you really out there?"

The hitter was relieved that Sophie didn't believe Parker's silly accusation that was mostly true. Parker looked hurt at the blow off of her accusation but then bounced over closer to Eliot. She then took the stuffed wolf and set it right on the hitters lap. Eliot looked down at the doll in shock and anger. Is this some kind of a joke? Did Parker know he was attacked by a wolf? Is this part of a game? Eliot composed himself as he shot an occasional glare in Parker's direction.

"Eliot?"

The hitter was drawn out if his glares by the British, soothing voice. He looked over at Sophie and she held an expectant but also sympathetic gaze.

"Look. If it wasn't anyone out for you, then rest, but if it was than we need to know."

Eliot shook his head in response but remembered he could also speak.

"Uh no. Wasn't a hit."

Not unless someone has a crazy huge wolf as a pet. Sophie and Nate nodded in response after sharing a few hushed words with each other, visibly relaxing, and started for the door. Once they were gone, Hardison coughed out of an awkward moment and set the balloons next to the hitters bed. Backing away a few feet, the hacker started to spill the beans.

"Uh it was Parker's idea to get the wolf."

The thief beamed and piped in herself.

"Yes it was."

Looking down at the stuffed animal in his lap, Eliot huffed and glared at the two. -