Chapter 20

"I still don't see why we couldn't go back in." Parker huffed out.

They had been sitting in the waiting room for nearly three hours and she was not happy. Eliot was awake yet here they were still playing the waiting game.

"I already told you that he asked to be alone Parker." Nate offered as he checked his watch yet again. He had about forty minutes before he could go back in there without seeming too eager.

"He's been through alot Parker. I think if he asked for it the least we can do is give him some space." Hardison had been left in charge of making sure she didn't sneak off and so far it had been a difficult task.

"From Nate, not us. He never told me to leave him alone."

"He didn't..."

"Parker," Sophie paused in the texted conversation she had going with Stan to throw some dirt on that spark before it turned into a wild fire. "sometimes when things are personal it takes longer to process them and it's usually best to do that alone. He'll sort things for himself and when he's ready then and only then is he going to want to see any of us." She only wished he'd hurry it up. She was stiff from too many hours of sitting in worry and no offence to him but Oklahoma or at least this part was a real drab.

"Since when do we do the whole respecting boundaries thing? We're sitting in the middle of a friggin' hospital allowing Eliot to push us away and not doing a thing about it! Am I the only one who actually cares that it's very likely he might not even be in his right mind right now?" The outburst was unexpected but her near tears were even more so.

"Did you ever think that maybe we need some time ourselves? It ain't easy to see him like that, to have thought he could've... to watch him lieing to you about bein' fine. To have read the worst, to have thought I'd lose another brother, just maybe I want a minute too Parker! Do you think you can respect that?" Now that was even more shocking as Nate watched Hardison storm away and Parker turn in on herself.

Obviously emotions were still high.

He was about to go after the other man, not sure what he'd say but feeling like he should say something to help ease the hurt Hardison had clearly held back when he saw a familiar face. "Aaron"

I know I said I'd be here first thing but I got held up at Sarahs. I tried but she refuses to listen right now, I doubt it she'll show around here." Aaron quickly explained so he could get an update of his own.

"Eliot's pretty upset himself." Sophie could see the strain forming in their team and she knew Eliot held the key to fixing it but he was nowhere near close to working on it so maybe Aaron could put him on the right path and help change that.

"He's awake?" Aaron asked staring at Nate accusingly as he allowed Parker past him and to the exit. He had specifically told him to call if anything changed before he got there.

"Yeah, and I think you should talk to him about our discussion from yesterday. I told him about it and he isn't taking it well at all, he thinks he's been condemned." Nate watched the other man with mostly trust but a little accusation. He didn't believe Aaron to be that kind of man but then again sometimes entrusting someone with belief was a devious mistake.

"Alright" He didn't really have anything else to say as he left for Eliot's room.

They seemed to be shaping up as decent people but he didn't know them that well and he still made sure to keep himself guarded having learned long ago not to hand over trust so easily.

He hadn't really given too much attention to Eliot before, maybe it was finally having some of the mystery removed or maybe it was just because this was the first time he was seeing him actually sleep in years but he somehow looked different.

Sitting down on the left side of the bed where Eliot had curled to slightly Aaron wasn't startled when blue eyes quickly opened to meet his, his brother had always been a light sleeper. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"S'alright, I was up." Though the sleep in his eyes said differently.

"How you doin'?" He really shouldn't be uncomfortable but he was.

"I'm doin'." After that it was quiet as Aaron tried to decide what to say and Eliot just studied the ceiling. "I'm sorry."

Aaron hadn't been expecting that. "For what?"

"Everything. The lies, the disappointment. I tried to be as honest as possible but it didn't always work out that way." His eyes never left the ceiling, he didn't want to see Aaron's face.

"It's cool."

"What do you mean it's cool? I just disappear on ya'. There ain't nothin' cool about that."

"My God you're as bad as Sarah! You sound like you've condemned yourself."

"Why are you acting as if everything's okay? I'm a lier and a fuckin' criminal, you shouldn't want anything to do with me!" Eliot turned to yell at his brother, he was expecting anger and found himself getting angry that he wasn't receiving any.

"So what have you lied to me about so far this visit?" Aaron moved from the chair to the bed where Eliot would have to give him attention. When he received no answer he started prodding. "You didn't really work for an agriculture company?"

"That one's difficult, there was this girl that needed help with a project she did for school. They stole her potato and we got it back for her."

Aaron was confused but he just nodded and moved on. "Having a girlfriend that works for an insurance company?"

"I never said I had a girlfriend you just assumed as much and Nate did work insurance, well he still does sort of." He defended though halfheartedly.

"You don't really approve of Ashlee?"

"I never said I... wait why would I lie about liking Ashlee?"

"You're the one saying that I shouldn't believe a word that comes from your mouth. From what you've said so far it sounds like you're punishing yourself over half fibbs that you've already managed to clear up if not justify." Aaron was working on convincing him that he didn't feel cheated or betrayed.

"What I'm doing doesn't bother you? You can honestly say that you're not at all mad at me?"

"For not calling? Yeah. For barely showing your face? It pisses me off but for helping the helpless? It might take some getting used to Eliot but I'm not heartless." He play slapped a hand over his chest glad to see Eliot let a smile appear.

"Just like that?" Sure he was doing good now but he could never be cleared of what he had done and that would always make him a no good liar.

"I was told you're doing good, helping others, and as long as that's true that's all the truth I need."

This silence was more comfortable as Eliot shifted around carefully to try and ease the pressure off his back without jostling any of his other wounds.

"Can I ask you something?" When Eliot gave a quiet nod he continued. "The whole gay thing, is this a new revelation or were all the girls in high school like a way to feed your denial or something? I'm not judging or anything just curious." He added not wanting to be misinterpreted.

"Really? That's your question?" Eliot was in disbelief. His brother had just recently learned of him being a criminal yet here he was more interested in his gender of choice. Seeing the genuine wonder he relented. "If you're classifying things I guess technically I'd be considered bisexual but it's just ... there's something about him that was really quick to pull me in." The complete interest Aaron was showing had his ears tinging red.

"So you're saying he's the only boyfriend you've had." That was something he would definitely be teasing him about just as soon as he could.

"Aaron" The warning was clear but it lost most of its affect from the coloring on his face that was of course from a slight fever and utter exhaustion. In no way, shape, or form was it from embarassment.

"I'm just saying that he must be something special to ya' if you up and switched the team you we're playing for, especially since you just got done sayin' it was for him and him alone."

"Shut up" Eliot groaned as he pulled the pillow over his head. It took all his will power not to suffocate himself when Aaron started talking about what states had legalized gay marriage. Sure he had wanted his support but he didn't know if he could handle this much.

"I'm just messin'." Aaron pulled the pillow away from his brother as he started laughing. He had kept a straight face through most of his teasing but once he mentioned a double wedding and Eliot let out a muffled sob he couldn't hold back any longer.

"Jerk" Eliot threw his other pillow though he couldn't put much force behind it and it missed his target falling to the floor instead. "Seriously though," Eliot waited for Aaron to stop laughing before he continued, "we're good?"

"We're good." Aaron assured as he stood patting his brothers leg. "I've got to go make some calls, do you need anything while I'm gone?" Even if Sarah was mad he would still let her know that Eliot was awake and though he hadn't said as much he was pretty sure he was willing to talk.

"For you to go home, there's no need for you to be wastin' your time here when there's nothing to be done."

"Eliot you just.."

"I'm sorry for worrying you but there really isn't anything you can do." Though it was more like he had never allowed his brother to see him vulnerable before and he didn't know how much longer he could keep his mask from slipping and showing all the hurt and pain he was trying so desperately to hide.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow but don't think you'll get rid of the others so easily." Aaron relented as he moved to leave but stopped when he was grabbed by the hand.

"Will you ask Nate if he'll come here for a minute?" For a moment he had forgotten about the others and that left him feeling extremely guilty.

"Sure" He didn't question why Eliot sounded unsure of Nate fulfilling that request.

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"Are you still mad?" She had found him in the outdoor garden but had decided against bothering him until it looked like he had calmed some.

Moving over so Parker could sit next to him on the cemented bench he continued to stare at the blooming flowers infront of him as he shook his head.

"I was scared of losing him too." She scooted closer interlocking their arms. She felt bad but she didn't think her actions mereted an apology.

"It's just, yesterday he's out and people are worried about brain damage and today he's up and lookin' broken as hell but claimin' to be fine. How do we go from scared to carefree in a mere ten minute visit?" The mood shift had been unexpected and had brought up a lot more than he wanted to deal with at the moment. " Do we just move on and be done or what?"

"I think we should." She tried to explain herself better when Hardison gave her a disagreeing look. "Eliot's a private person, all of us have those secrets we keep for a reason and unintentionally or not we just dragged quite a few of his out. All I want right now is to make sure he's okay and if pretending that everything's fine will help him do that then I will."

"Lets go do damage control." Eliot's world had been split for everyone to peer into and he knew how he'd feel if it was happening to him so right now he'd push his problems to the side and help his brother by any means necessary.

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Aaron had said Eliot had asked for him but he was still unsure when he entered the room. On his part he knew what was behind their arguing but Eliot was clearly holding something back as well. Sure he had messed up with his siblings but he had a feeling it went deeper than that.

Lifting a pillow off the floor Nate just waited knowing Eliot was awake despite the closed eyes.

"How bad was it?" He was feeling loopy and was almost positive he'd lost some time somewhere but he was still trying to keep focused and to the point.

"It was a waiting game." Nate shrugged as he decided to add the pillow to the one already under Eliot's knee being careful not to cause anymore pain. He didn't think it necessary to make Eliot feel bad for something that he had no control over.

"Are they okay."

"They were worried Eliot." He was the one laying in a hospital bed yet he of course was asking about everyone elses well being.

"And you?" Nate was keeping a distance and he found it unsettling.

"Of course I was worried." And if that wasn't an understatement, he was still reluctant to close his eyes.

"I heard how you got a front row seat to me being a crash dummie of sorts."

"That's not funny Eliot!" He turned sharply from where he had been looking out the window. He didn't really think it was meant to be a joke but still.

"Trust me, I'm not seeing the humor either. You shouldn't have had to see that though and I just wanted to let you know that I'll listen." It didn't take much more than a pleading look and an offered hand to have Nate moving closer and eventually joining him on the bed. "I'm here."

He refused to bring up those memories trying instead to bury them someplace he'd never have to see but Eliot's reassuring him that he was indeed still there, that he hadn't lost him was a great comfort. A weapon he knew would come in handy when the nightmares appeared. "Yes, .. you are." Nothing else would be acceptable because they'd yet to scratch the surface of what was to come.

A/N: Gotta love Aaron :)

A double wedding, I was laughing too hard. Sorry for those of you who'd like to see it but I wont ever be writing a Neliot wedding, I just can't see it.

Although I can tell you right now that the fourth and what I believe to be final installment of my crazyness will be Ashlee and Aaron's wedding.