AN: disclaimer-please don't text and drive. only superhuman, hyper aware/dexterous, fictional characters can pull it off. be safe out there, friends!
He'd been thinking about his dad so much during the Value More job, about growing up in Oklahoma, about the night he left. And after his conversation with Hardison, he'd decided that maybe it was time to go back. Maybe enough time had passed to forgive old injuries, to let sleeping dogs lie, as the saying went. If he was completely honest with himself, Eliot had been thinking about going home for a year or so now. This last job, meeting Martin…it was just the push he'd needed. So he'd told Nate there was something he needed to take care of and he'd be gone for a week. Nate gave him the time off without a word, just a nod.
So Eliot had packed up his old truck and taken off for Sooner country. Somewhere in Idaho (or was it Utah?), his phone buzzed.
Text from Parker: You're not here. I brought cookies.
Eliot sighed, but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto his face. He was about to reply when a second text came in.
Text from Parker: Nate says you won't be back for a week. I'll miss you.
Parker sat in the hallway of Eliot's apartment building with her back against his door, a bag of cut-and-bake chocolate chip cookies beside her, her phone in her hand. She knew Eliot had been especially bothered by their last job and cookies always made her feel better. So she'd brought some over. It was also an excuse to spend some alone time with Eliot. Plus she knew he'd share the cookies with her. But he was gone and he wasn't coming back for seven whole days. When she'd heard that, she'd plopped down onto the floor, as close as she could get to being inside without actually climbing in a window, which she considered. Normally, she wouldn't have gone to the door, but with his mind on other things, she didn't want to surprise Eliot. Turned out it didn't matter. And now she was just sitting there thinking. And eating the cookie dough. Couldn't let them go to waste.
Text from Eliot: Parker...
She smiled. She could just hear him growling at her now. "Don't touch that, Parker." "Please, Parker, you're going to burn down my apartment." "For the love of God, woman, hold still!" She pictured his glowing blue eyes piercing into hers: in anger, in guilt, in sadness, in regret, in pride, in frustration (that one was almost constant between them), and every once in a while shining with something she couldn't quite place, but it was always accompanied by the smile he reserved only for her. That smile was one of her favorite sights in the world. She loved it almost as much as the Cairo Museum floor plan. She pondered that for a moment. The museum might be second.
Text from Eliot: I'll be back before you know it, darlin'.
She popped another square of cookie dough into her mouth as her smile widened. She loved the way he said "darlin'."
Text from Eliot: Just please don't use the stove. Or the oven. Or the microwave. And don't touch my knives.
Parker giggled at that last message. And then she tore off another chunk of cookie dough and let out a sigh. She missed him already.
Text from Eliot: I mean it, Parker!
At that, she outright laughed out loud. The guy waiting for the elevator at the end of the hall turned and looked at her warily. She ignored him. She got that look a lot.
Text from Parker: Alright! I promise. Now stop texting and driving!
Eliot scoffed at this as he sped across the plains. (Maybe it was Wyoming? It didn't really matter. He knew where he was going.) There was nothing even remotely near him: no cars, no towns, no houses, not even cattle. He was pretty sure he wasn't going to hit anything. Besides, the thought that he wasn't completely aware of his surroundings at all times was ridiculous. Nevertheless, he took her advice and put the phone back in the cupholder beside him. A few minutes passed, but the scenery didn't change. Another buzz.
Text from Parker: Eliot?
Text from Eliot: Yes, Parker?
Text from Parker: Did you crash?
Text from Eliot: No, Parker. Everything's fine.
Text from Parker: Oh. Ok good.
Text from Parker: Have a good time.
Text from Parker: Come back safe.
Text from Parker: And soon.
Parker stood up, brushed her hands across her jeans, picked up the now empty bag and started to put her phone into her jacket pocket when it buzzed one more time.
Text from Eliot: Always.