AN: The characters from Leverage belong to Dean Devlin. I own the rights to my imagination only.
Caught up in a myriad of thoughts, Parker had failed to notice that all other conversation around the table had ceased and all eyes were on her. Truth be known, they all felt a little confused over the relatively new feelings they were discovering in light of the days events. Not to mention how hurt they all felt for Parker in the moments after her revelation, hell strangers in the studio had felt for the young girl. However, it was today that Parker decided she was never more grateful to be part of a team, not just for the comfort they silently offered her after her run in with the fraudster. Instead of thinking her as simple, despite her tendency to appear somewhat aloof, they had not judged her upon finding out the guilt she had carried throughout her short life, nor were they judgemental about Parker being actually duped, they just sat her down and talked cautiously through each minute facial expression that had given her away without even speaking. There was no evading the personal stupidity that Parker herself felt, Rand had got to her so easily and in two simple minutes he'd revealed her first guilty secret. She'd held it inside for so many years that her reaction was more emotional than any of the team had expected. Something she assured herself could not happen again.
Now instead of sitting around the table talking strategy, she needed to be on her lines soaring rapidly down the side of some utterly enormous building. Somewhere out from under the watchful eyes of her friends. Wait, had she just called them friends? This was a new experience, not the pain, just having someone to talk things through with after the wounds were inflicted. It felt different and somehow Parker started to feel at home being a member of this rag tag team. Finally, Parker pushed back her chair and stretched herself, ironing out those kinks that had crept in during this horrid day; she looked longingly towards the front door.
"Are you heading out Parker?" asked Hardison, pre-empting her possible bolting from the headquarters. He looked quizzically at the thief as though he had expected her to want company this evening. Parker wasn't used to people being so kind to her, yet again Parker wasn't used to feeling so fragile either. Yep, she desperately needed to get out on that roof.
"Thought I might head home, tired now" Parker explained almost naturally to the concerned group.
"Do you need me to drive you?" Hardison stood up to get his keys. Eliot watched this exchange with great interest. He too wanted to ensure that Parker went home and didn't decide to try a new rip line kit for the first time on the tallest building in the city. He had already made sure Parker had eaten a healthy meal and while a good nights sleep wouldn't fix the obvious ache in her heart, it might help her to get ready to inflict some pleasant revenge on Dalton Rand. Eliot knew he was looking forward to bringing this SOB down.
"I just fancy a walk, clear my head, you know…" Parker said hesitantly "…stretch my legs. Thanks all the same".
Finally turning to leave she said "thank you… all of you, erm…see you tomorrow" with a slight blush and a little wave she was gone. The front door closed leaving the rest of the team staring at each other across the table.
Hardison looked between the now closed door and Nate who interjected "Just give her some time, it's been a hard day. Get some rest, all of you, we need to make sure this one is good, for the client and pay back for Parker too"
Eliot and Tara started to clear away the dinner dishes, Eliot knew that Hardison was going to try and track her when he spotted him move towards his discarded laptop. Fingers scurried across the keys and when a few minutes later Hardison bid his farewell it was Eliot's turn to look at Nate and found the mastermind shaking his head.
He suspected Hardison had thought there was more to the kiss they had shared on an earlier con while there was no way in hell to tell what Parker thought. He just didn't want either of them to get hurt. He knew that they had more in common than the others, as they both grew up in the system. Silently hoping they didn't clash over Hardison's well intended help, he found himself worrying again. This situation was exactly what had started the cogs turning in his mind, what was the first clue; Parker wasn't just the lunatic that leapt from tall buildings any longer and Hardison wasn't just a nerdy geek. They were team mates and rapidly in danger of becoming friends.
The final dishes loaded inside Tara switched on the dishwasher while Nate dried the last pan that Eliot had carefully hand washed. It was Tara who left next "time for some sleep, what's first on the agenda for tomorrow?" she asked the room in general, hoping to shake the two men from their reverie. What on earth had Sophie gotten her involved in; this was a very strange team dynamic. All loners gathered together by a former Insurance Agent pulling cons and giving away the loot and packing the bad men off towards the FBI and other LEOs. As a Grifter she was always up for a good con, so it hadn't bothered her too much when Sophie had called her and asked for a favour, she was rapidly deciding that Sophie needed to come back now to help with this team, it was now or never.
"Lets see what Rand's financial checks bring up and take it from there" explained Nate, knowing that Hardison was running a programme to gather all the required information on their target.
"See ya" Eliot threw over his shoulder as he brewed a cup of herbal tea. Offering a cup to Nate who declined as the front door closed once again. Eliot stood still staring off into space, wondering what he could do to help Parker. Perhaps he should call Sophie.
"So, what's troubling you Eliot?" Nate stared straight at the Hitter, who was pouring honey into his tea.
"We needed Sophie today Nate, not for the con, Tara's doin' fine" he explained softly "we needed her for Parker today, she trusts Sophie and it might not have been so hard on her"
Nate looked shocked at the insightful comments made by the gruff hitter, he thought about how to reply before speaking.
"Duly noted Eliot" said Nate "I'll give her a call later tonight"
"Thanks Nate, I'd do it myself but it ain't me she's stayin' away from" Eliot added. Taking his tea towards the screens that supplied ESPN and various sports channels. "So do you wanna catch the game?"
"Who's playing?" "Who cares, it's sport!" replied Eliot as Nate opened the bottle of Jack and helped himself to a generous portion. It had been a difficult day after all.
Meanwhile across town in her penthouse apartment, Parker had changed shoes and was about to give Hardison the slip. She knew he meant well, but wanted some time to herself, to shore herself back up and to make damn sure she didn't let those guards down again. Taking a service lift onto the roof, she revealed the hidden stash of kit she had prepared for any emergency departure from this life she may have needed. It felt wrong opening up this kit, she hadn't thought of it for some weeks and whilst it was undoubtedly her easiest escape route, she was kind of upset to be using it. Maybe she was getting too used to having the others around her – maybe that wasn't a good thing, what if they let her down, what if they went away like Sophie had. Her thoughts went to her absent friend, knowing she needed space of her own Parker had refrained from phoning her about today – well that and the time difference between the US and UK. Parker had always worked alone for this reason, don't get too close to people as they'll only disappoint you, and definitely no men they'd just break her heart. She had watched Sophie and Nate dance around the past. Nothing good could come from it.
Now standing on the edge of her building, Parker felt the wind blow through her, cleansing her aura, cleaning her soul and refreshing her thoughts. There was nothing else like it. Of that she was sure.
Rappelling down the side of the building was a truly immense rush, the sensation of a controlled fall was not on the top of any sane persons hobby list, then again Parker was pretty sure 'there was something wrong with her' as Eliot repeatedly told her. Just at that moment she pondered as to how he'd been so unnaturally quiet today. There was such an intensive stare in his deep blue eyes that gave away just how angry he was, never mind his true tell, which was clenching his fists constantly. He had always told Parker that eyes were the windows to a persons soul, great for his line of work, not so good for her when it was her private life on display. She really hoped it was towards Rand and not her for screwing up the recce. Thinking back he had sat next to her when they came back to the flat, actually sat very close to her, almost touching. He'd then headed for the kitchen, which she knew was his favourite venting method. Chopping away at vegetables, risking losing a finger just to make a stir fry that Parker had initially complained about but ended up loving some weeks before. Had he remembered that fact? Had he made it especially for her? As weird as it felt Parker began to smile genuinely for the first time that day. She needed to phone Sophie, but that would have to wait until she'd scratched the itch she had for a tall building with her name on it!