AN: Thank you all for you kind reviews and gracious patience with this story.
I am really happy that my first story has attracted so much interest and I'm grateful to all of you who have taken time to read and review. I must make a special mention to PDLJMPR6 who took time out from her hectic writing schedule to set me straight on a few things I needed guidance on, it was incredibly kind of her and should you notice any improvements in these final chapters then know that I had excellent guidance – thanks to PJ.
I apologise for the delay with these last few chapters, regrettably due to an unscheduled spell in hospital. The only good news culminated from this is that I have 4 more stories completed in pencil format, ready to type up shortly. Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy the end of this particular journey and look forward to the others which will be coming soon.
On any other occasion Nathan Ford might have laughed at the irony of him standing vigil over Eliot Spencer, protecting the protector, that night however just wasn't such the occasion. He had waited until the hitter fell into one of those deep slumbers your body craves once you've bared your heart and soul, before shedding a silent tear of his own. He had been mortified to hear Eliot's childhood tale, feeling deeply disturbed at the length some people could go to inflict cruelty and harm upon those in their care, this left Nate feeling sickened. A tale from before Sam got sick came to Nate's mind, it was something that would always follow him; The then happy Ford family had gone to the dog pound to rescue a dog and after filling in a raft of paperwork the lady had handed Maggie a card so that she could ring and make an appointment with the "Home Visit Team". This team, it transpired, were legally obliged to visit your home prior to you rescuing an animal from the shelter, to ensure your house had a suitable size garden for the dog and an interview followed to ask all sorts of questions about who'd walk, feed and care for the dog and which veterinarian would they use and the like. When they'd got home that night, and Sam was tucked up safely in bed, Nate had talked with Maggie about how the world could get the process correct and well controlled with animals. However, why was there no control or process over those who bore their own children and how they were raised?
Who had fed and clothed little Spencer as he grew up, who'd taken care of his bruises and made the pains go away, before his Uncle and Aunt came to take what was left of his battered family away with them. He'd lost his childhood the night his baby brother came home from the hospital, because from that night he'd appointed himself Baby Eliot's bodyguard and even up until his untimely demise by his father's hands, Spencer had fought to protect him. A duty that turned him from being himself into the make-believe existence and memory of his baby brother, a life far more sheltered even though it had been much too short. Nate didn't possibly think he'd felt this sad since Sam had died.
"N..ate," a voice croaked from the bed, "water…. please?" the voice shook Nate from his reverie.
"Sure thing," Nate got up from his chair, stretching his aching body, he noticed it wasn't quite light outside yet, "have you been awake long?" he asked Eliot on his way to the water dispenser.
"Few minutes," Eliot said as Nate placed a jug of water back on his tray table. Filling up the cup he held it to Eliot's lips and his other hand cradling his neck, "There, is that better?" Nate enquired of his patient.
"Yeah, better thanks," Eliot looked up as Nate moved back towards the window, the sun was beginning to rise and soon the others would be here to visit. "What's keepin' you up man?" deciding it was now or never to ask.
After a few moments silence, Nate turned to look at Eliot and replied, "I'd be lying if I said nothing. I thought some about what you told me last night and it got me to thinking about Sam a little too, the differences in your childhoods, things like that. Pretty macabre stuff really."
"Sorry man, I shouldn't a told you that stuff," Eliot's face was sullen as he looked away from Nate. "I know you've got your own shit to deal with."
"Hey Eliot, there's no problem. Christ I'm glad one of us finally knows why you only sleep for 90 minutes each day and never around us. I hopefully am at least beginning to understand. I can't pretend to empathise with you because I don't know what it was like to be brought up in an environment like that," Nate shook his head trying to help the words out, "but I want to try help you with your nightmares, no one else needs know about it, but I want you to think about letting me get you some help, please."
Eliot didn't know whether to be angry that Nate had brought his past back up again today, after promising not to mention it again, or the fact he was going to try help him survive his past. He'd thought still being alive meant he'd already survived his past and sitting around in a circle applauding each others accomplishments wasn't going to make him feel a whole heap better. After all he was living out the life he'd promised his mom he would. He made a deal with her so she could go to heaven and look after baby Eliot and he'd look after all the weaker or helpless people that he could.
"I'll think 'bout it, but you don't get to tell anyone else, deal?" Eliot knew deep in his heart that Nate was only trying to help and Jesus what if he did hit Parker when and if she stayed over one night. So compromise was the best deal at the moment.
"Okay, no one else. I'll put a lid on Hardison and it's up to you if you decide to tell your wife." Nate smiled at that last bit. "I didn't get to say much yesterday but I'm really pleased for you and Parker, sounds like you both deserve a better life than you've had before. You're a good man Eliot Spencer and I know you'll be good for Parker."
"She's six parts crazy Nate and I've never known anyone like her, so fearless yet petrified of everythin' if you understand me," Eliot's face burst into this huge smile that brought his watery eyes alive. "I usually couldn't wait to see her pretty face each mornin' at work these last few weeks, she's amazin' and now I guess this house is goin' to be good for us all."
Before Nate could do anything but smile and chuckle at the laid-up hitter, having taken time to deliberate over whether it would be prudent to mock Eliot's current state of disrepair and how much movement he didn't have at this time. Whereas Nate was going back to meet Sophie later that very morning.
Eliot must have been reading his mind because next he was asking Nate about Sophie.
"Sorry that you ended up here with me last night, especially when you could of had your first night with Sophie at the house," Eliot was sullen again, "but thanks man, I appreciate you stayin' around for me."
"No thanks necessary, you'd do the same for me, and don't think I've forgotten all the things you've done for me in the last year." Nate paused when he saw Eliot's quizzical look. "Like sewing me up in Juan, all the drinking mess and dealing with the backlash from it all, that can't have been easy to watch considering all…well all you went through when you were younger. I'm grateful that's all, just wanted you to know."
"Thanks man," said Eliot, humbled by all the praise Nate had poured on him.
Just then a small fracas could be heard from outside the room, looks between the hitter and mastermind saw their senses heightened, despite Eliot's lack of movement currently. Nate was at the door and turning the handle to peek outside when a shock of blond hair practically swooped into his face. Parker was early.
"Hey Parker, up a little early aren't you?" Nate turned back from the door to see Eliot smiling and Parker looking like she'd just found the Hope Diamond laying on the bed.
"Couldn't sleep, thought I'd let you get back to Sophie earlier than planned." Parker took her eyes off Eliot for a brief second to send a cheeky smirk in Nate's direction.
"Okay then, that looks like my cue to leave you pair of love birds alone, where's the car parked?" Nate enquired with a large grin on his face.
"Your Tesla is parked in bay 61 on second floor," watching as Nate's jaw dropped at the news of his precious car being driven by the craziest driver on the team, "What! I was real careful with her." Parker finished by handing over his keys and with a flurish she her concentration was back on Eliot.
Eliot was laughing at the exchange between the pair when Nate finally gave in and left, throwing his goodbyes over his shoulder.
Alone at last:
"Mornin' beautiful," Eliot said to Parker, who smiled with glee at her nickname. "How'd you sleep?"
"Would have been better if I knew you were better and not hurting." She said clasping his hand between hers and looking at the bags of fluid still attached to her husband's wrist. Leaning forward with a mischievous smile on face, the one Eliot often referred to as being her expensive face, normally whatever crazy stunt she pulled next was likely to cost them plenty, instead she dipped her head and delivered a lingering kiss upon Eliot's mouth. Hmm, he might have to think of a new name for that face. He so wanted to lift his arms and grab her towards him so he could angle her, thereby taking more of her tongue in his mouth and more access to those luscious lips of hers. That was just gonna have to wait Eliot thought. When he returned from his thoughts he noticed that Parker was staring once again at his wounded chest.
Hoping to distract her he licked his lips and smiled up at her, "I'm sorry 'bout the way it looks sweetheart, I don't like it either." Spotting a lighter smile on her face he continued, "So tell me, do I get another kiss, after all I am wounded?" It was another 20 minutes or so before they got around to conversation, Eliot was getting tired from kissing of all the things! What the hell was the matter with him he thought Must be the damn medication they got me on, best get off that stuff quick he silently noted his renewed plan to get well soon and out of the hospital.
Noting Parker's strange look towards him, not sure he'd said any of the aforementioned plan out loud he decided to change direction slightly. "So tell me Beautiful what's your room in the house like?"
"Oh, it's so pretty, it's a lemony colour with soft wood furnishings and chocolate brown curtains. I've got a big bed with brown and lemon linens and I've brought all my stuff over already." Replied a clearly delighted Parker. Her cheeks were flushed from the excitement of telling Eliot what she had been doing during her absence from his bedside.
"That sounds pretty, did you pick those colours or did Sophie help you?" Eliot asked hoping to secretly find out what Sophie might have done to his own room.
"Hah, you know Sophie likes to help with these things." Parker let out such a loud 'hah' at the beginning that Eliot couldn't help but join in with her laughter. "I knew what colours I wanted but she helped to put them together so they looked nice." They talked about the shopping trip they'd been on the evening before and how much fun they had playing hide and go seek in the evening, and just how bad Hardison and Tara were at the game.
"So, you're happy with it then?" Eliot joined in with the excited Parker, sometimes she reminded him of an excited child and it made him sad inside to know that she didn't have this sort of fun when she was younger.
"Yeah, yes it's wonderful, I've never picked out my own colours before. I always just rented somewhere out of the way before and just left the place how it was. You never know when you're going to move on now, do you?" Parker bubbling energy seemed to deflate ever so slightly as she spoke of life before the team got together.
Eliot was suddenly extremely grateful for the idea to live together until he was better, it was an inspired idea and he could hug whoever had come up with it right now, well as long as it hadn't been Hardison.
"What 'bout my room, were y'all waitin' on me to wake up so I could pick from the colour wheel?" asked Eliot with no heat in his voice and trying to keep a straight face.
"Well," Parker spoke hesitantly to begin with, "Sophie told me that while they had the painters at the house, they just went for a nice shade of country cream for your room with a sage green for your en-suite. The suite is white ceramic and she's picked up a few things to get you settled." Looking back to Eliot's horrified face Parker couldn't help but smile, he really might never get used to having people around him. He was so stuck in his singular lifestyle. "They really look nice all together. I'm sure you'll like it once you've seen it."
"O-kaayyy," Eliot replied, half scared to see his room and half teasing the beauty sitting across from him.
Smiling at Eliot as if she had kept the biggest secret in the World. "Don't worry silly, Sophie told me last night that you seemed like the kinda guy who kept his house nice and neat, didn't clutter and had eloquent taste in furnishings." Pausing to hold a cup of water to Eliot's lips, she continued. "She chose you a couple sets of linen, 100 % Egyptian cotton, one set blue and the other green, both in that chequer pattern you like on you shirts." Parker began grinning at the memory of Sophie telling her the night prior, secretly hoping that Parker would relay the news to the fussy and occasionally stubborn hitter.
"Sounds like it'll do nicely, I might even keep it like that once I'm up and about." Eliot shrugged his head and indicated for Parker to come closer so he could kiss her some more. Parker was only too happy to oblige and the pair spent several minutes so close to each other, smiling, kissing and giggling that they didn't even notice the nurse pop her head around the door to check on the patient.
Nurse Matilda shut the door quietly and smiled as she walked back to the nurse's station. Doctor Meyer arrived shortly after she returned and heard her telling the other nurse about what she'd just seen. "Ah I see Mr and Mrs Carmichael have some quiet time alone." Smiling he continued, "It's a shame I've got to check on him as well, have they had long alone?"
"About an hour now Dr Meyer," Nurse Matilda reported.
"Okay, I'll only be inside for a few minutes," grabbing Eliot's chart from the shelf he noticed Matilda making another pot of coffee, "oh, that might even be ready for when I get out." He hinted subtly to the smiling nurse. Winking to Matilda he went across the corridor.
Knocking gently before entering the room, "Good morning Mr and Mrs Carmichael, I trust you both slept well last night?" Dr Meyer spoke as he swept into the room.
"Yes thanks," Eliot replied holding Parker's hand and smiling to his wife, "when can I get out of here Doctor?"
"Ah, succinct and to the point, let me just check you over and we can take it from there." Dr Meyer had thought about Mr Carmichael last evening, he had suspected from his childhood and past careers that he might be a stubborn man who in all likelihood had a severe dislike of hospitals.
"Mrs Carmichael, do you mind if I move you over to this chair while I get closer and check over your husband's chest."
"Of course," Parker agreed giving Eliot's hand a quick squeeze before moving.
"I imagine you got a good nights sleep last night too Mrs Carmichael, after all these chairs haven't been comfortable for you this week." Dr Meyer spoke while settling his stethoscope onto his ears.
"Yes thanks, I did." Parker looked anywhere but at Eliot, she knew she was playing a role as his wife, but she didn't want to leave his side in any case. She wasn't sure what Eliot might have thought at this.
"Did you stay here every night Parker?" Eliot was a little surprised by this, even though she was playing the part of his significant other, after a week of sitting by his bedside night and day she might have swapped out with one of the others, but inevitably hadn't. He smiled and looked over at his wife, "Thank you sweetheart."
Blushing slightly at the wink and heartfelt thanks that Eliot had just bestowed on her, Parker found herself looking down at her wringing hands. "Perhaps I should get a drink?" Parker leapt to her feet and headed for the door.
"I saw the nurses filling a pot of coffe before I came in, go see them for some if you like, we won't be long." Dr Meyer spoke over his shoulder while checking Eliot's blood pressure.
Eliot watched the door as Parker left the room sighing after it closed, Dr Meyer commented, "You have a lovely devoted wife there Mr Carmichael."
"She's wonderful ain't she, I'm a lucky guy that's for sure."
"Okay Eliot, now I'm going to have a look under these bandages to see how you're healing up."
"Thanks Doc, it would be good to sit up and move my arms 'bout some time soon." Eliot spoke while looking up at the ceiling as Dr Meyer removed the bandages from his chest.
"Well looking at the wounds, and given your solid muscular structure, I rather think the physiotherapist can come up later today to start getting you moving around again, slowly and gently though Eliot. If that goes well then I would say perhaps another week in the hospital and then out patient physiotherapy for probably about 3 months. You're going to have to take it easy, no stunt jobs for at least 6 months though."
"That ain't as bad as I was thinkin' it might be, thanks Doc." Eliot was secretly pleased that the time in hospital wouldn't be as long as it could have been and once he was out of the hospital then he could do his own training sessions alongside the physio too.
"First things first, lets try shaking hands to see how your grip is?" Dr Meyer offered his right hand to Eliot, who reciprocated with his right hand. The grip was then tested on the left. "Excellent, the muscles on your arms seem not to have lost too much strength. Of course your chest will be a different matter to begin with. So lets lift this bed up to support your back in a seated position and I'll get the nurse to come back in to replace the dressings." Dr Meyer popped his head out the door and called for one of the nurses, spotting Parker standing outside too he called her back in. The electrical whir finishing in time to have Eliot's bed raised into the sitting position.
"Ah, Mrs Carmichael I'm just finishing up, do you want to join us?"
"Yes, okay. Will he be alright Doctor?" Parker asked nervously.
"Of course, he's just going to have to take it easy for a while, he's got physiotherapy to attend and he should be out of hospital in about a week." Dr Meyer smiled as he told Mrs Carmichael. The young blond lady seemed so shy and quiet. He was glad her husband was going to be fine; it was touch and go there at one point in surgery, He recalled.
Parker and one of the other nurses walked into Eliot's room, the nurse began laying out the implements she would require to redress the wounds. Parker stared at Eliot's bare chest, a little taken aback at the stitches where the bullets had penetrated his body. She was suddenly scared once more, reminded of the shooting, seeing all the blood leaking from Eliot's body, then the room started to become too small for her and she couldn't breathe properly.
Eliot noticed all this happening over the nurses shoulder, "Parker, Parker, come here darlin'. Excuse me nurse, could I have a moment with my wife please."
Before the nurse could nod and head for the door, Parker had thrown herself towards Eliot; she stopped next to his bed almost seeking his approval to move forward and touch him. Eliot raised one of his arms and pulled her forwards gently, soon she had both of her hands in his hair and was kissing him with a rabid passion. She couldn't get close enough to him after spending all that time thinking she had lost him. The smell of the ointment under the bandages, the surgical iodine that cleaned the wounds before and after surgery: That was the scent that had knocked her off her balance. Now she needed physical contact with her handsome and muscular 'husband' and she couldn't get enough of his kisses. She felt like melting in his arms and she couldn't believe how amazing those butterflies in her stomach felt while he held her, one hand on her face. Parker couldn't wait until they could be alone together.
As for Eliot, he had seen Parker's face pale even more than normal within minutes of being back in the room. He couldn't work out why but he found himself needing her closer to him so he could check on her, keep her safe, keep her close to him always. His arm pulled her closer once the nurse had left and Parker didn't need to be encouraged at all, she flew to his arms, put her hands in his hair. He had yet to tell her how horny that made him feel. He could barely control his urges once the passionate kiss began, he needed her closer, as one with him and if he could be sure that they would not be interrupted then he would have stripped her bare and had her right there and then.
Thankfully the nurse knocked before she came back in. "Sorry Mr and Mrs Carmichael but I really need to replace the dressings to prevent infection. I won't be long, I promise." She smiled at the couple when she came back into the room. Mr Carmichael's hair was all over the place and Mrs Carmichael had the rosiest cheeks she'd ever seen on the pretty blond lady all week. Catching a cheeky wink between the pair made her smile widen, oh she had so much to tell the nurses back out at the station when she was finished.
Finally the pair were alone once again and Parker pulled a chair closer, feeling considerably better now the smell of iodine was covered up on Eliot's chest. The smell would be one that would always remind her of this week and bring back the horrors she felt. They chatted idly between kissing gently for a short while longer before another knock at the door brought the rest of the team, all of whom were ecstatic at the sight of Eliot sitting up in bed and with better movement in his arms.
"Dr Meyer says I can get out next week. I'm startin' physiotherapy on my arms and chest this afternoon," Eliot reported to the team with a broad smile on his face.
"Great news Eliot," Sophie moved forward to kiss the hitter on the cheek, "we're all so pleased that you are feeling much better now."
Nate trailed just behind Sophie, keeping his hand on the small of her back, "Here here, excellent news Eliot, look forward to having you back." Looking very much like the cat that got the cream that morning.
Hardison had been teasing Parker about her rosie cheeks while the others spoke with Eliot and now it was his turn to speak to their downed team mate he moved over to the bed side, "Thank God man, thought we were gonna lose you there for a while. You had us worried sick, seriously man glad you going be okay." Hardison put his fist out to knock it with Eliot's newly mobile arms.
Tara was a little more shy about moving her turn to chat with the hitter, still feeling responsible for his injuries, "Hey Eliot, I'm glad you're feeling better now, I'm still sorry that you got hit in the first place."
"Tara, stop right there, none of this was your fault, ain't nobody been thinkin' that either." Eliot spoke directly to the grifter, making sure she understood this time. "I ain't tellin' you again, stop worryin' over me, I'm better now and will be back up to speed in a few weeks time, 'kay?" he finished, "This is just one of the risks with this job."
"Alright thank you Eliot. You know I gotta tell you Spencer, I heard you were a real nasty piece of work before I joined up with this team and I have to say, you are one of the nicest gentleman I've ever met." Tara was genuinely surprised by the hitter's sentiment. "You're a good man and I mean that."
"Thanks Tara, just don't let that get out or you might ruin my rep." Eliot said as they all laughed.
Sophie produced a bag of fresh pastries she had collected on her way to the hospital, it seems no one on the team was ready to step into Eliot's shoes in the kitchen and breakfast had been pretty awful again that morning. They washed them down with a litre of orange juice in the plastic cups she'd brought along, providing a nice way for the team to celebrate being together once again. Sophie was thinking of arranging a house warming party on the night Eliot got out of hospital too, hoping that he wouldn't mind.
Nate noticed Sophie smiling and leaned across to kiss her cheek, they couldn't help but think back to earlier that morning. Nate had raced back from the hospital having been relieved early. Sophie was still asleep when he snuck into her room, after a brief visit to his for a shower and change into shorts and his well-worn tee. Lifting the luxurious quilt he slid between the pure cotton sheets and the lilac linens and just took a moment to watch his beau sleep. She was beautiful, he had always thought that, but would never cheat on his wife. Even though their fifteen years of flirting while playing cat and mouse across the World had essentially been the beginning of this new relationship. It was always at work and nothing ever came from it, aside from the bullet wound each in Tuscany a few years before. While he lay there in thought, he hadn't noticed that Sophie was awake and too looking at him.
"You look tired sweetie, did you get any sleep last night?" Sophie's soft purring voice was the second voice this morning to shake him from his thoughts and whilst there was nothing wrong with Eliot, he actually preferred this voice shaking him awake.
"Some, but it was a long night. He's doing better physically but I can't guarantee that mentally he'll ever get the chance to start over." Nate sighed as he told Sophie.
"Is there anything I can help with?" Sophie offered.
"Nothing at the moment, but thank you I'm grateful of the offer, but lets keep it between you and me at the moment, I've promised not to talk about his past to anyone."
"I understand entirely, after all it's the only piece of ourselves we've all got left. You just look after him Nate, he seems lost at times and I sometimes worry about him."
"We'll do just that, but in the meanwhile," Nate spoke quietly as he pulled Sophie closer to him, enjoying the scent and expensive silk pyjamas she had chosen for bed that night. With his hand on her cheek and the other in her hair, he pulled her lips closer and began a gentle exploration of her mouth, teasing her lips with his teeth in between their passionate kisses. Pausing in their embrace Nate brushed Sophie's hair from across her face while holding her soft skinned face with his other hand, he looked straight into her dark brown eyes and whispered "I love you Sophie," and as the quilt was pulled over their heads a whispered giggle could be heard before the response from Sophie "Oh Nate, I love you too,".
Both had clearly been busy revelling in their early morning start when they realised the rest of the team had stopped talking between themselves and were now staring at them both.
"What?" said Nate defensively after a short cough came from his throat, "what are you all staring at?"
All that could be heard at the nurse's station was laughter and teasing between the extended family the staff had all slowly become to know over the week. Dr Meyer had told the staff that these people had enquired about paying for a new children's ward and while they all cherished the thought given by these people, they obviously didn't know what a children's ward would cost to set up. Then again, when Eliot had secretly made the offer to Dr Meyer, he had asked the doctor to find out the costs for him and promised to talk plans with him and the hospital director during the week. Eliot had thought this would help to bury some of his nightmares and perhaps once he had told Parker, and maybe Nate, that it might help more than just him.
One more to go, out of hospital and back to the house. More Parker and Eliot, this time alone, more from Hardison and Tara, and of course Nate and Sophie. Please let me know what you thought and if there are any requests for the last chapter, please tell me and I'll see if I can work them into the plot.