Chapter Seventy-Six
"Parker" Hardison chastised as she passed Becca a huge stick of cotton candy. "I think one would have been more than enough to share." He had only let them out of his sight for a second, but it had been long enough for her to get them each one of the sugary spun treats.
"They wanted different colors." Parker defended as she pinched both purple and blue from the kids to mix with her pink.
"Alright" Hardison relented, though he swore to put his foot down at any more sugary treats. He did not need a hyper Parker. "So, what do you all want to do next?" Three sets of big eyes told him he'd have to lay out the options. "We can go pick out pumpkins to carve or we can go-"
"Face painting!" Parker interrupted excitedly as she saw a little "kitten" go by.
"Really?" He was hoping someone would protest, but three excited nods had him saying, "Let's go" as he stretched out his hands. Becca grabbed one immediately, but it was surprisingly Parker's that was sticky to the touch. "Girl" He wrinkled his nose in disapproval, making sure she had hold of Brian, before starting their journey to the face painting tent.
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" 'ello" Nate nearly dropped his phone in his haste to answer it. The last thing he needed was to get caught snooping when he was supposed to be waiting back in the lobby. "I'm sorry, what was that?" He stopped rummaging through the drawer as he tried to focus on what was being said. "Oh yes! No, there was no mistake… right in the hospital parking lot. The space should say Sean Torlyn." He paused a moment to check his watch. "I've got to go now, but call me back when it's delivered." He hung up the phone and replaced it in his pocket before collecting the files he had taken pictures of and quickly putting them in the desk.
With a last look around the room to make sure everything was in place he headed to the door.
Only when he was positive that the coast was clear did he exit. He had a few more deliveries to confirm.
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"Don't even talk to me right now." Eliot dismissed with a wave of his hand.
"Are you even kidding me?" Aaron nearly laughed as he turned to Eliot. They were both in the back seat of Pete's car.
"No, how the hell can you possibly think that Star Wars is better than Star Trek!" He couldn't believe his brother.
"Dude, everyone thinks that Star Wars is better than Star Trek!"
"I actually don't like either one." Kyle tossed back his two cents from up front.
A mutual "WTF" stare was aimed at the back of Kyle's head before they continued on as if he'd never spoken.
"There's nothing to like about the whole damn series. It makes no sense at all unless you're already out of your damn mind." Eliot argued.
"What is wrong with you man! If anything, Star Trek is what's making no damn sense!" Aaron was amused at the fact that his brother was so heated over this.
"You're delusional." Eliot stated seriously.
"Name one good thing about Star Trek." Aaron challenged.
"Are you kidding me?" Eliot's face had duh written all over it as he answered, "The crew! Kirk, Spock, Picard, Archer!"
"Dude!" Aaron stared at Eliot blankly as he stated, "Princess Leia."
"That girl was average at best, gold bikini and all."
Aaron's sharp intake of breath was followed by Pete's joking, "Eliot, I'm pretty sure you're going to need the force to be with you after that." Kyle adding, "Or else he's not going to live long and prosper."
That made Aaron laugh long and hard to which Eliot cracked a smile as he stated, "Don't talk shit about my show."
"Wait a minute, there's a show too? I thought it was just movies."
"A show! A show?" Eliot couldn't help his look of complete disbelief. "I don't even know you right now." And once more Eliot dismissed Aaron and turned his gaze out the window. Pete driving them to their next destination with the others following behind.
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"Hey Catharine" Dr. Granacher looked up from her paperwork as the receptionist let herself into the office.
"Yes Sally?" She rubbed at her temple just knowing that whatever it was she wasn't going to like it.
"You just got a certified letter." Sally answered as she passed it over.
"Great" Catharine grumbled as she began opening the envelope.
"What do you think it is?" She couldn't help but wonder.
"With the way my luck has been running it's probably a malpractice suit." With the paper unfolded another fell from it and to her desk. She lifted it and was soon saying, "What in the…" Her eyes quickly skimming over the few words written as she breathed, "No way."
"What does it say?" Sally pried further.
"It says, "Thanking our lucky stars it isn't Lyme – The Elliott brothers"."
"I don't get it." Sally offered honestly.
Without pause Dr. Granacher held out the second piece of paper for Sally to clearly see as she announced, "It's a donation check for twenty-five thousand dollars."
Sally was still staring at the check with eyes wide as she breathed, "No way!"
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"Hey Babe," Nate answered the phone with ease. He had just ended his final confirmation call. "What's good?"
"Why can I hear the pep in your step?" Eliot could be heard smirking.
"Maybe because I'm walking." Nate offered a bit of sarcasm as he continued his journey to the truck.
"Where to?"
"Where from is the appropriate question but we'll get to that later. The better question is where are you guys?" Nate asked as he spotted Eliot's truck.
"At Alton's waiting for Dave to finish up his measurements. Pete and Aaron are on the phone with the girls now trying to convince them that our taste isn't in our ass and that we actually found something." Eliot spoke the last bit with irritation.
"I'm sure whatever you guys picked will be fine." Nate assured as he unlocked the truck.
"Hell yeah it will be. Especially after some of the suits I had to talk these dipshits out of."
Nate laughed aloud at that. "Someone's cheery today."
"I'm telling you man; these guys are something else."
Nate could almost see him shaking his head. "They can't be that bad." He switched the phone to speaker and set it down so that Eliot could be heard once he started driving.
"Naw, I just think I'm getting to be an old crank."
"Well then you're my old crank." Nate staked a verbal claim to which Eliot huffed in amusement. "How about you go hurry up that group of yours so that after dinner tonight we can go somewhere just me and you?" Nate suggested with just a hint of reservation.
"What did you have in mind?" Eliot's voice was unreadable from across the line.
"I was thinking you could take lead. I'm game for anything." Nate offered as he decided to go for broke.
"Sounds good to me. I'm tired of always being at the house."
That Nate knew to be true, but it wasn't quite the response he was looking for. "And her I thought it sounded good because you were getting to go out with me."
"That too I guess." Eliot clearly teased.
"Keep that up and you can entertain yourself tonight." Nate grumbled without any real malice.
"With your permission."
"Don't even go there." Nate was serious in that statement.
"I'm only following your lead." Eliot swore.
"Then it's time to find a new path." Nate suggested as he followed his usual one home.
"You know there's something about ya' when you're jealous."
Nate was about to answer but before he could he heard a distant, "I bet there is" followed by an angrily growled, "Boy."
"Tell Aaron I said hi" He offered instead.
"I'm going to tell him something alright." Annoyance was clear.
"Temper" Nate reminded unnecessarily.
"I'm just done with people interrupting us today."
That made Nate smile as he said simply, "Don't even worry about it. It'll be just you and me soon enough."
"Says you" Eliot was obviously unconvinced. "I've got to go though, they're waiting on me."
"Call me when you're close and I'll meet you at Sarah's." Nate requested as he pulled into their neighborhood.
"It's a two-hour drive." Eliot found the apparent need to state.
"So take a nap." Nate deadpanned.
"Don't I wish." They both knew he wasn't capable of purposely sleeping around strangers. "I'll call you when we get around Elgin."
"Be safe" and without another word Nate's phone signaled that the call had ended.
He sighed as he turned down their street. Two hours was a long wait and especially so with the surprise he had burning a hole in his pocket.
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"Elaine" Torlyn joined her at a picnic table outside of the hospital's cafeteria. "I've got a package for you."
"A package for me." She was perplexed by the idea.
"It came with this letter for me." He explained further as he passed the box over to her.
"I can't imagine who'd be sending me something here." Elaine fingered the silver wrapping quizzically.
"Well open it and find out." Sean urged.
"Well" She didn't need any coaxing as she pulled the paper from the box. "It's a jewelry box!" Or at least that's what the logo on the cardboard said. "I can't imagine." Soon she had a long velvet box slipping from the cardboard one.
"Look, there's a card." Sean passed her the paper peaking from the box.
"Something sweet for someone sweet." Her interest was even more peaked as she set down the card and lifted the box. "Oh my" One look inside had her caramel cheeks flushed.
"Well?" Sean once more pried.
"It's a gold bracelet" Elaine started as she turned the box for him to see. "With chocolate diamonds."
"Who did you rub elbows with and how can I meet 'em?"
That had Elaine lifting the card to read, "Spencer Elliott"
"Elliott?" Sean just had to make sure he had heard right.
"That's that sweet boy that is in here all the time with his brother, right?" She was good with faces but just awful with names.
"Yup, Spencer and his brother Nate." Sean offered absently. He just could see those two as the gift giving types. Especially not diamond gifts.
"Didn't you say your letter came with?" Elaine wondered as she admired her new piece of jewelry.
"You don't think…" He was soon glaring suspiciously at the envelope on the table. It seemed to have an odd lump in it.
"There's only one way to find out." Elaine offered as she glanced at her watch. Her lunch break was nearly over.
Torlyn was quick to tear the side off the envelope and shake the contents onto the table. There was a much smaller manila envelope and a piece of paper.
"Start with the note." Elaine immediately suggested.
Sean followed her advice and straightened out the piece of paper before beginning to read aloud, "A small token for meeting my stubbornness with determination and my anger with resolve. The gift you have given me has a value in which you are not in a position to understand, nonetheless I wish to pay it forward. Though it isn't an exact replica of the model on your desk I think you'll be satisfied with the one I've left for you outside – Nathan Ford"
"Ford?" Elaine questioned as Sean finished. "I thought his name was Elliott?"
Sean simply shrugged as he lifted the manila envelope and flipped the tab back.
"Do you know a different Nathan?" Elaine wondered even though she believed that would be just a bit too much of a coincidence.
"Not even a Nathaniel." Torlyn shook his head as he turned the envelope over, his other hand was already braced to catch what was inside.
"It's a key." Elaine stared dumbfoundedly at the shiny silver object.
"It's a…" Sean thumbed the object a few times before settling on an idea. "A car key."
"Honestly now?" She was so skeptical she was nearly chastising.
"He got me a car?" The idea just wasn't sinking in.
"Apparently just like the one on your desk." Elaine offered as she skimmed over his letter a second time. A part of her didn't want to believe it, but it was the same part that didn't believe in the very real diamonds sitting plain as day on the table next to her lunch.
"Wow" Torlyn ran a hand across his face. "If this is true do you know what's sitting in that parking lot right now?"
"No, but you're going to show me." Late from lunch or not she wasn't missing that.
"I don't…" He was still in disbelief, but excitement was quickly growing. "I mean, who does this!"
"They do, whoever they are." And she could honestly say she didn't know.
"Nathan Ford" It hadn't been too long ago that he had seen the man, but with this new name he was sure when he saw him again it would be as if he had a new face. "He" On second thought, he decided to switch the when to an if. These gestures seemed to be a farewell and he doubted very much if he'd be seeing the brothers again. "He's a…"
But before Sean could find the right word Elaine was offering one. "Saint. He's a saint."
"We went through hell together." Torlyn thumbed the key once more as he thought back over their experiences together. It had been quite the journey. "We really did."
"Lord bless 'em." And she really meant that. Those boys would be in her prayers tonight.
"Come on" Sean couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as he suggested, "Let's go check out that car!"
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"How you doing up there?" Hardison wondered as he readjusted his grip on Rebecca's calves.
"Okay" Came her meek voice from atop his shoulders. She was clearly tiring but not ready to throw in the towel just yet.
"Good" Hardison offered honestly. She was light enough, so he wasn't really bothered by carrying her; well except for when things got a bit wobbly and she decided to grip his forehead.
"Which way now?" Parker asked Brian who was holding the map that would lead them through the corn maze they were currently standing in.
"Left" He stated as a matter of fact.
"But we've already taken two lefts kid!" Parker half pleaded half whined.
"Left" Brian repeated with just a hint of second guessing.
"Then left it is." Hardison urged them in that direction as he gave Parker a look that clearly screamed, "No arguing with the children!" If there was one thing he didn't like it was pouty children.
"Look Hardison" Parker's voice turned suspicious which had him just as much so. "There they are again." She pointed out an older couple that was a few yards away. "I'm telling you, they're following us!"
"I don't know about all of that but they're definitely staring." Hardison noted. "Apparently their parents didn't educate them none. Over there acting like they've never seen a diverse family before!" His voice raised an octave as he turned to Parker and asked, "It's because I'm tall ain't it? Just because I can see over the corn doesn't mean we're cheating!" And just before they could cross paths with said couple Hardison ushered their little group right, making it more than known that, "We ain't raising our kids to be dishonest!"
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"What happened to meeting me here?" Eliot asked as Nate got out of the truck and he stood from the porch swing.
"I took my own advice." Nate offered as he climbed the porch stairs.
"I kind of figured when you didn't answer the phone." And if that wasn't hint enough, Nate's slightly wrinkled appearance confirmed it. "So how was the nap?"
"Much needed" Nate supplied as he reached the top of the stairs and gave Eliot a quick hello kiss.
"Nice hat" Eliot noted with sarcasm as he turned to the door and entered Sarah's house. "Real impressive."
"I thought so" Nate followed him in, making a show of adjusting the white straw fedora by its brim.
"Man" Eliot didn't think twice about snatching the hat from Nate's head and tossing it like a frisbee to a nearby chair.
"Happy now?" Nate was too amused to be irritated.
"Very" Eliot grinned as he sat on the couch.
"So where is everyone?" Nate figured the question to be a reasonable one seeing as the house was silent and there weren't any other cars in the yard.
"I got the guys to drop me off here. They're gonna meet up with the girls and bring back food."
"So are we staying here for dinner then?" Nate thought they had set all the dinner plans that morning but he supposed they could be changed.
"I don't know, but we can figure that out when Hardison and Parker get here." He honestly didn't care either way.
"That's fine by me." Nate took a seat beside Eliot as he asked, "So how was your day?"
"We got done what we set out to do." Eliot shrugged. The day hadn't been overly eventful.
"Well, at least you got to spend some time with your brother." Nate removed his suit's jacket in an attempt to get comfortable.
"Yeah" Eliot agreed. "It was nice just hanging out with Pete and Aaron for a change. I haven't done that in years."
"You'll have to change that." Nate spoke honestly. Eliot's family had become a big part of his everyday life and he'd like to try to keep it that way for everyone's benefit.
"What about you though?" Eliot asked as he thought over what Nate had planned for the day. "How'd recon go?"
"There was one bit where my phone rang when I really didn't need it to but other than that it was fine." There honestly wasn't anything worth reporting. Well at least not until they started working the mark.
"It wasn't me calling was it?" Eliot wondered. He knew the kind of trouble unwanted noise could cause and he didn't want to be the one putting Nate in possibly dangerous situations.
"No, it was a confirmation call for the delivery of a hotrod." Nate stated with the knowledge that he would have to explain further.
"You bought yourself a hotrod?" It wasn't that he minded; it just seemed like an odd time to do so.
"No, I bought Torlyn a hotrod." Nate corrected. "I figured after all the hell we gave him he deserved a little something."
"Look at you being all thoughtful and shit." Eliot smirked even as he said, "He's gonna think we're some shady criminals or something though."
Nate simply raised his brow as he stared at Eliot in amusement.
"Shut up" Eliot fought the urge to roll his eyes as he said, "You know what I mean."
"Yes I do, but I honestly don't care what he thinks about how we paid for it just as long as he enjoys it." Nate felt he owed the man that much.
"You really are something else. I never would have taken you for the kind of person to send out a thank you gift." He knew Nate had a soft spot, but he wasn't one to show it to strangers.
"Gifts. I sent a few to the people that really helped us out these last few months." It just felt like something he needed to do.
"I'm sure they'll appreciate it Nate." He honestly hadn't thought of doing anything for the medical staff that had been there for him, but he was glad Nate had.
"I also got another gift." Nate turned to face Eliot as he sat up straighter. He had planned to wait until later to tell Eliot about it but this opportunity was a good one so there was no point in putting it off. "One I hope you'll appreciate."
"Oh?" Eliot wouldn't even try pretending he was uninterested. Who didn't like gifts?
"Well, your birthday is coming up in a few weeks"
"Hold it right there" Eliot interrupted. "If it's a birthday present I don't want to know about it until my birthday."
"Let me finish" Nate urged, but it was with a hint of a smile. "With you on the mend we've got a lot coming up that we need to figure out. Do we still want to leave Oklahoma? If so, when do we want to leave? Where will we go? Are we going to relocate as a team? Are we headed back to Boston?"
"I've got it Nate. We've got a lot of shit to figure out." He didn't need a list because that wasn't going to help them make any better or quicker decisions.
"Which is why I think we should be at our best when making those decisions." He placed a hand across Eliot's leg.
"Are you intentionally dragging this out? Am I supposed to start guessing or something?" Eliot rubbed his thumb across his jawline in wonder.
"Well you know how the last few months we've been joking around about our vacation and wanting to be at the beach?"
"Yeah?" It was easy to see where this was going, but he wanted to hear it from Nate.
"How would you feel about spending your birthday week on a tropical island?"
"Better question" Eliot countered. "How would you feel if I spent the whole week layin' in the sun?"
"It'd be a hell of a view." Nate answered cheekily. The picture of a sun kissed Eliot was already painting itself in his mind.
"Well if the scenery is that good." Eliot smiled at the glint in Nate's eye. He could only imagine what was being dreamt up. "How can I say no?"
"You can't" Nate informed as he leaned in to offer Eliot a kiss, Eliot leaned back though.
With a playfully furrowed brow he teased, "Do you deserve a kiss?"
"I deserve at least a kiss." Nate stated firmly.
"Maybe you do" Eliot ghosted his lips over Nate's. "But then again…"
"Why are you always teasing me?" Nate chastised as he ran his hand over Eliot's thigh.
"Why do you like it so much." Eliot stated knowingly, to which Nate laughed in what might have been slight embarrassment. "That's all right" Eliot assured as he leaned in to whisper, "I like that you like it" before offering Nate another kiss.
Nate was quick to deepen it as he pushed Eliot back into the corner of the couch. He was more than content with the foreign yet oh so familiar hands that were beginning to roam, but too soon they were pushing at him to stop.
"Nate" Eliot huffed through their mingled breath.
"I've behaved Eliot." Nate sighed wantonly as he pressed slight kisses across a stubbled jaw. "Stayed patient and waited for you to feel better."
"Nate, this is my sister's couch." He'd be lying if he said he wasn't tempted to let himself be lost to Nate, but as it was he was trying his best to stay rational.
"I've minded my manners." Nate continued as he moved to the tiny section between Eliot's pulse point and adams apple.
"They're all supposed to be here anytime now." But Eliot was finding it harder to care as Nate continued nipping at his neck.
"I'm sure they have a guest room." Nate whispered, hot breath leaving a blazing trail.
"Nate," Firm fingers were placed enticingly into his hip but still he managed, "This is not the place."
"Babe, I've waited and I've behaved but" He pulled his self from Eliot's neck so that he could meet his gaze as he swore, "I don't think I can behave anymore?"
That was it.
Eliot couldn't help the growl that emitted as he pulled Nate in for a forceful kiss. After all he was just a man and his man was looking at him with so much need that he couldn't deny him any longer. He didn't want to. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt so completely wanted and it had his very core ablaze. "Nate" Eliot grabbed the hand that was trying to untuck the t-shirt under his plaid flannel. "We need to move this somewhere else."
"Where's the guest room?" He felt Nate question against his clavicle.
Eliot laughed at that. "Are you even listening to me Nate?"
"Mhmm" Nate hummed as he tried once more for Eliot's shirt.
"Babe" Eliot gently pressed against Nate's jaw until he had Nate's attention and gaze. "We are guests here! Hell, my brother, my sister; the whole damn family is gonna be here soon!"
"And" Nate shrugged as he offered Eliot a chaste kiss.
"And I'm not having sex in my sister's house!" He couldn't make it clearer than that.
"Alright" Nate couldn't help but laugh at Eliot's tone.
"Dude, you wouldn't be laughing if Sarah walked in on our asses." Eliot believed he was secure enough in himself to say he didn't embarrass easily, but if any of his family walked in on them he'd honestly be mortified.
"Does this mean we're heading somewhere else or are we just done sucking face?"
Eliot dipped his head as he pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt not to laugh; it wasn't working very well.
"I mean, I will accept an, 'I owe you' IF it's redeemable upon request."
"Whose sense of humor did you steal?" Eliot pushed some unruly hair back as he stared at Nate in amusement. Nate joked sure, but it wasn't usually like this.
"Would you believe I've been reading self-help books?" Nate tried his best for an honest expression as he pushed that same piece of unruly hair from Eliot's face.
"Honestly" Eliot laughed even as he announced, "This is why I love you."
Nate's smile was blinding and Eliot couldn't resist the urge to return it.
"You shouldn't say something like that if you're really trying to discourage me." He warned as he caressed Eliot's side. There was nothing better than hearing Eliot confirm what he himself felt.
"What's another kiss or two?" Eliot easily pulled Nate into a kiss that turned languid as they once more settled into the couch. The weight of Nate pressed against him brought a comfort that had been long missing and, if only for a moment, he was going to revel in it.
A moment later and Nate was keeping a multitude of slow and lazy kisses going as Eliot ghosted patterns across his torso, but suddenly they heard a door slam.
"Shit" Eliot breathed as Nate dropped his forehead to Eliot's and sighed disappointedly, but before they could separate the door was opened with shouts of, "Sarah who the hell ha-" but the phrase was cut short as a louder, angrier one took its place. "Get the fuck off of him!"
Nate was honestly surprised by the brutal grip that his arm was placed in as he was forcefully ripped from Eliot's side.
As for Eliot, he found himself caught in a moment of disbelief as he watched Nate nearly tumble from the couch. What he was seeing just didn't make sense to him. So instead of following his first instinct and going on defense he sat up and stared at the eldest man in confusion. "Dad?"
E/N: Cliffy anyone?
It's been a while since we've had any cliffhangers so I figured, why not? Plus it was getting a little longer than I thought, so it took a little longer than I thought. And clearly, I had to cut it off again.
So! Next chapter will pick up in this very spot, Nate still on the living room floor wondering wtf lol as Eliot works on getting his mind wrapped around what was clearly their biggest interruption of the day!
Thanks for reading!