Eliot was arriving home from his latest trip abroad. He had quit the service after his ordeal in the Congo; not only had they left him for dead but they'd sent him on a mission that involved putting innocent people in harm's way and he couldn't stand that. Instead, and had spent the past year doing freelance jobs for whoever would pay him. He didn't mind the work; it meant he no longer had to deal with any politics and despite what people believed, his duties were no more questionable then when he had worked for the government. At least, most of them weren't.

"How was your trip?" Hayley asked him as he walked inside.

"Fine."

"And the plane ride?"

"Yup."

"And the wicked witch and the flying monkeys?" she asked, believing he wasn't truly listening.

"Melted and flown away."

For the most part, Hayley understood what Eliot did for a living. She didn't know what he did specifically, but she understood it meant difficult choices and being a different person. Out in the field he was a warrior who had a job to do. After all, he had trained with samurai's, ninja's and some of the best fighters in the world. But she wouldn't, however, stand having that person in their home. She had the rule that Eliot didn't bring work home with him; that the man he was on a mission, however angry or brutal, had to stay outside and that was how he liked it. The idea of being able to put the aside the harsh realities of his career, if only for a little while, and seek comfort in the idea of family was a pleasant one. For the most part, he was good a compartmentalising, so it was easy for Hayley to tell when something was amiss. "El, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing!"

"Eliot?" she asked again, her voice more commanding.

"Nothing," he replied sternly and walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge.

"Eliot?" she pressed and he slammed the fridge closed.

"Why is there no god damn beer Hayley?" he yelled and continued to scrounge around the kitchen.

"Eliot Spencer," she said as she grabbed his shoulder, "what happened?"

"Don't touch me Hayley!" he yelled again as he lightly pushed her away.

"I can't help you Eliot if you don't talk to me," she said calmly. He sat down at the kitchen bench and rubbed his face. "I haven't seen you this bad since you got back from the Congo." A partial lie; she had noticed a subtle change in Eliot since his ordeal was beginning to worry for him.

"I know you think you know what I do sweetheart, but you have no idea. Some of the things I've done," he paused. "Things they want me to do."

"What El? You don't have to do everything they say. That's why you don't work for the government any more, remember. So you can choose your jobs." Eliot was silent. "Shit Eliot!" she said realising what was really wrong. "You said no to them. Twice. What exactly do they want from you?"

"They know I'm the best at what I do."

"It doesn't matter. You do not have to work for those people you hear?"

"Well I may not have a choice Hayley." He said to her as she opened up a cupboard and grabbed two bottles of beer. She slid it across the bench to him.

"There's always a choice Eliot."

The pair sat in silence for a few minutes, drinking their beers when Eliot noticed a letter from Abby's school sitting on the bench. Casually he picked it up and read it.

"Were you gonna tell me about this?" he asked as waved the letter, directing Hayley's attention towards it.

"Was gonna, but then you went all commando, Mr T on me."

"You talked to her?" He asked and she shook her head.

"Figured you should be the one to do that."

"How'd you figure that Hales?"

"You're the one that taught her to fight. She looks up to you and considering what you do as a career I think its a bit more appropriate coming from you," she replied bitterly.

"First of all, I taught her how to protect herself, not fight. Second, since when have you ever had a problem with my job?"

"I've always had a problem with it Eliot! I was never sure when you or even if you were coming home but it was always okay because I knew you were doing good," she stood up aggressively.

"Then why are you so angry?"

"I understand why you quit the service Eliot, I really do. But to quit and then go work for people like him? That's not you El!" He stood up and walked out of the room. "Where are you going?"

"To talk to Abby, Hales. Like you asked!"

He walked into the girl room; she was sitting in bed reading a picture book.

"When did you get home?" she asked, her eyes bright with happiness.

"Few minutes ago," he said as he walked over and sat on the bed beside her. "Was just having a conversation with your Mama about school," he began and Abby looked sheepish. "You hit someone? Bobby somethin' or other?"

"Yes, but..."

"Did he hit you first?"

"No."

"Then I don't want to hear excuses."

"You hit people!"

"Only to help people darlin'. And I never hit unless them unless they hit me first," he lied.

"But I was helping someone too!" She said desperately.

"How's that?"

"Bobby was being mean to another kid. He was pushing him and shoving him so I shoved Bobby."

"'Ts not what it says in the letter."

"People don't tell on people! I tried to tell, but the teacher but wouldn't didn't listen."

"Are you lying to me?" he asked and she shook her head

"Never." Eliot sighed and kissed her on the forehead.

"Did you say sorry to Bobby?"

"Yup!"

"Okay then."

"I'm not in trouble?"

"Not today, but next time I want you to go get a teacher before you hit somebody okay?"

"Okay."

"Did you at least hit him good?" He asked.

"Yup. Right in the shoulder." she replied and Eliot grinned with pride.

"That's my girl," he stood up, kissed her on the forehead and walked out. "Night darlin'" he said as he shut the door.

"You're too soft on her El," Hayley said.

"You should have told me," Eliot said ignoring her comment.

"Told you what?"

"How you felt about my job. I could have done something else you know," he replied and she laughed and hugged him.

"No you couldn't have. You're too good of a soldier for that." She said as they rocked from side to side and, eventually, they began to dance, Eliot humming along to the song.

"Them that's got shall get
Them that's not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own"

Again, sorry it took so long, been so swamped with study etc. but enough excuses from me

How are you guys enjoying it? Anything you'd like to see?

Review please

Ta