AN: short, I know, but this is just a wrap-up of the events of the episode. there's more to come!
After 28 hours of driving (he'd pulled over to sleep a couple of times, but he didn't need too much), Eliot stopped at the gas station on the oustskirts of his hometown. He filled up the truck and picked up a six-pack of his dad's favorite. As he climbed back into the truck, he smiled to himself. The closer he got, the more he realized he was really looking forward to spending some time with his dad. They had a lot of catching up to do.
He drove slowly down the long, winding driveway. Ahead, he could see the ranch-style house getting nearer and nearer. He started to wonder how his dad would react when he opened the door to see Eliot standing on the stoop. He was sure the old man would have quite a few things to say. Eliot parked in front of the garage doors, walked around the front of the truck, and grabbed the six-pack from the passenger seat through the open window. As he approached the door, he noticed that everything looked exactly the same as the last time he'd seen it, right down to the windchime. He smiled. Home at last. He hesitated at the door for just a moment before knocking. He waited, then knocked again.
"Dad?"
When there was no answer, Eliot put the six-pack down on the stoop and turned around to look out over the yard for what he knew would be the last time. Obviously, it hadn't been long enough for his dad to forgive and forget. He felt himself choke up as he thought of all the years he'd spent running around that lawn. He'd really hoped to have more time there. For what felt like the millionth time, he wished things were different, that he could change the past. No, he reminded himself, as he took a deep breath, he couldn't change what had happened, he could only go forward. He still had a family waiting for him in Portland. They were his future. Nate, Sophie, Hardison, and her. Parker. It was time to go home, he decided. And with that thought, he turned and walked back down the sidewalk, got back into his truck, and turned back toward Oregon.