Chapter Sixty-Seven
Two Days Later
"Mama, do you realize what time it is?" Hardison questioned as he sat down across from her with a soda.
"Lunch twyme?" Parker let out past a bite of, very visible, turkey sandwich.
"My point exactly! And ain't nobody even up!"
"We're not up?" Parker questioned that with wide eyes. She knew her sandwich was too good to be true.
"You know what I mean Parker." The look in her eyes said things were clearly gonna get psychedelic on him.
"What? Those two?" Parker waved in the general direction of Nate and Eliot's room with a chip.
'Yes, those two." As if she didn't know. "I did some research and that blow up of his last night is to be expected apparently."
"Wait a minute," Parker stopped mid drink to question. "He gets mad and automatically you think it's something to research?"
"First off," Obviously he needed to explain because she was looking at him like he was nuts. "There was absolutely no reason for him to be mad last night. I mean one minute he's watching TV and the next he's screaming at the top of his lungs over things that don't even make sense."
"I thought they made sense." Parker barely voiced.
"Secondly," Even acknowledging her comment would kill his point so he simply didn't. "After the last few months it's near guaranteed that if it involves Eliot it needs to be researched."
"Rude much" To him her opinion was always known.
"Not if it's true." Hardison defended. "Cuz apparently the man's a walking talking mood swing right now."
"He's not the only one." Parker remarked as she snatched up her pickle.
"Seriously woman, we haven't heard anything for hours now. I bet you Nate rolled over and bumped Eliot in his sleep and Eliot killed him. Or Nate got fed up with his screaming and snapped, waited til Eliot went to bed and smothered him. or..."
"Hardison!"
"I'm telling you, someone is dead in there!"
Parker couldn't help it, she began to laugh.
"It ain't funny!"
"Hardison" No it wasn't funny, it was hilarious. "Just once can't you say, Oh hey I'm worried. Lets go check on them?"
"That's exactly what I just said girl!" Had she not been listening?
"And my names Parker." She remarked sarcastically as she stood from her seat at the table.
"Exa- wait, what?" Hardison near demanded.
"Just come on already!" She called, well on her way out of the kitchen.
"Parker, wait a minute. Wha-" But he stopped himself as he saw her turning the door's handle. "Hey now, woah! Aren't you gonna knock?"
"Psshhh" Parker all but laughed as she pushed the door open.
"Parker you can't just-" but the point was mute within seconds for they were both standing in the bedroom. "We shouldn't be in here." He said instead.
"You're the one that wanted to check in on them." Parker reminded as she stared at Nate who was hanging half off the right side of the bed.
"Check in on them, not WALK in on them!"
"Sh'up Hardison" It was barely heard but it was clearly Eliot.
"Yo El," What to say, what to say? "Sorry for interrupting your sleep bu-"
"Go 'way"
"I..." He looked to Parker for help but she had moved over to Nate.
"Hey Nate, Hardison wants to know if Eliot killed you?"
"The hell man!" It wasn't long before Eliot was sitting up and murderously glaring at Hardison.
"Parker!" You knew you were in trouble if a man looked that pissed while sitting in his underwear.
"Hardison!"
"Nate..." Alec near pleaded.
"Rgghhh" Nate grumbled as he forced himself into wakefulness.
"Dammit Hardison!" Eliot cursed as he pelted the man with his pillow. "why you sayin' shit like that?"
"I..."
"I say you kill him." Nate complained as he propped his now lifted head against the headboard.
"Parker" Suddenly he hadn't a clue of what to say or do.
"They're alive." Parker stated simply as she turned to leave. There was the remains of a very yummy sandwich waiting for her return.
"I'm just gonna..." Hardison pointed to the door to which Nate replied, "Good idea".
"Wait a minute now," Eliot demanded. "You can't just come in here accusing me of murderin' a man and then decide to take off!"
"El I didn-"
"Hardison, just go" Nate interrupted.
"With another look, mostly at a pillow that had packed a surprising punch, Hardison turned to leave with a simple, "Sorry man"
"What the hell Nate?" Eliot questioned as he got up and shut the door.
"He's been crazier than Parker lately." Nate shrugged with a yawn.
"You can say that again." Eliot agreed as he sat in the chair next to the bed. A palm soon rubbing it's way across his face as he sighed, "There's something wrong with him."
"Nothing that a little time and a lot of distance won't fix." Nate supplied as he stood.
"When are we getting out of this place anyway?" Eliot wondered as he watched Nate move to the closet.
"I don't know. I'm starting to like it here." Nate joked as he pulled a t-shirt from a hanger.
"Yeah, cuz it's just great to have people barging in on ya' and wakin' ya' up whenever the hell they feel like it." Of course Nate didn't care. He was nearly presentable in his pajamas, he wasn't nearly naked and made out to be the laughing stock with ridiculous accusations.
"Don't worry," Nate assured as he moved into the bathroom. "I'm working on it."
"We'll I wish you'd hurry." Eliot barely mumbled as he stood to find clothes of his own.
Immediately his interest went to grabbing a flannel but it shifted when he saw something on the shelf next to them. "Hey Nate," He was going to ask what was in the box but he decided just to look instead. A few things he recognized immediately, others not so much, but one in particular caught his eye. With the slight wonder of who had gone back to Boston he set the box on the floor, pulling out the present he had long ago set in his night stands' drawer.
For a long moment he simply fingered the bow, not moving to sit on the bed until after he heard the shower start. He wasn't sure why he hadn't opened it, probably because presents usually left him feeling awkward, but why shouldn't he open it now? Without much thought he ripped a piece of tape and began to remove silver paper. A small box within was opened and its contents dumped, revealing a small tissue wrapped item and a folded paper.
His inner ten year old (And yes he did have one) wanted to reach for the gift immediately but the bigger more self controlled part had him reaching for the paper. It didn't take long for him to unfold it and it took even less to recognize that cursive as Nate's.
'Eliot,
As you know we're not on the best of terms right now. That's partly... Well mainly my fault and for that I am truly sorry.
It's been a month since we've spoken and in that time I've thought a lot...
Mainly of how I've come to miss you- more than I had originally imagined- but also of what we might be capable of.
Greatness is clearly between us and I firmly believe we can achieve it if we try but that's not something I'm so sure you're willing to do anymore. I'd say we need but you've never needed a thing so I'll humble myself and say simply instead -I NEED YOU.
You've become vital and this gift is my vainly foolish attempt at beginning to amend my mistakes,
Sincerely yours
He couldn't think, his mind was absolutely blown as he reached out deftly for the tissue wrapped item.
Suddenly he wasn't sure if he wanted to open it, but there was no sense in doing things only half way. He took his time unwrapping this one; pausing on the last fold for a few seconds before he finally lifted it to reveal a small silver... bridge.
It shouldn't of made sense. Heck it wouldn't have to most people, but he understood immediately.
"Eliot?" He would have figured Eliot would have gone to the living room or kitchen by now. "Eliot?"
The way Eliot was staring at him was disturbing. "You alri-" But he didn't get the chance to finish as Eliot lunged toward him.
For a very long yet short second he thought he was going to get punched but surprisingly he was met with a bone crushing hug instead. "Babe" It was safe to say he was nervous about returning the embrace. "Everything okay?"
"Damn Nate," Eliot pulled back much to Nate's confusion. "Don't write shit like that."
"Like..." But Eliot had snuck around him and into the bathroom before he could even get the 'what' out.
With a freshly found wonder he took a glance around the room.
It wasn't long before he spotted what was out of place and what had clearly caused Eliot's odd outburst.
With a few steps he was sitting on the bed and retrieving a note he had long ago written.
It brought back a lot of memories, even more than the little bitty bridge he had packaged with it. And if they hadn't built quite a few since then.
He flipped the souvenir between his fingers with a small smile as he turned his attention to the bathroom door. Suddenly things were very clear. "I love you too."
A/N: Happy Halloween to all! It isn't much but I figured you'd enjoy it anyway, Let me know what you think... and feel free to share all of your creative costume ideas :)