Eliot plucks the beer out of the fridge and absentmindedly tosses it over his right shoulder towards Dean. Putting a potential weapon in the stranger's hands might not be the best idea, but Eliot desperately wants one himself. As such, not offering the same to the others would be impolite, and he's raised better than that.
The flask is already in the air when Eliot remembers the concussion and the broken ribs, but Dean catches it with ease none the less. Drinking alcohol with a head injury might be frowned on by the doctors but Eliot figures Dean is old enough to decide for himself whether to drink it or not. Knowing that his teammates' reactions to flying objects are to duck rather than to catch he slides theirs over the table.
Just a few minutes earlier the atmosphere had been relaxed, close to friendly for being a hostage situation, but that had changed the second Alec entered the house. Now the air feels sticky and Eliot wonders if they shouldn't just have ran. Chances are that this will escalate into something that destroys his calm in this house, and he will have to move anyway.
Both Hardison and Dean seem determined not to talk first, and Eliot won't be taking the lead on this. Finally it's Parker who breaks the silence.
"Didn't Eliot show you the picture?" Just like her, no sugar coating. She looks expectantly at Dean, head cocked to the side. It would seem innocent if not for the taser being back in her possession and resting in her hand.
"Proves nothing." Dean huffs. "Faking that is child's play. Why so eager to convince me anyway? Could have just left me knocked out on the road and disappeared into the twilight."
"And hope you wouldn't have come after me? Brilliant plan." Apparently the care-free attitude is provoking Hardison as well.
"Nah, you're right. I would have hunted you, probably still will unless you kill me." The last part is obviously directed at Eliot. He gets the feeling Dean honestly wouldn't mind that much, something he can relate to even if he's not there anymore himself.
It's a bit unsettling that Dean seems so able to read him, to recognize their resemblance the way Eliot does. Because Dean wouldn't have said it like that if he didn't know Eliot has killed before, and that he's trying not to any more.
"We could also hand you over to the police." Hardison raises his eyebrows and turn the computer screen around. As it passes Eliot he catch a glimpse of Dean's FBI file. "They seem very eager to meet you. Probably won't let you leave for quite a while."
Dean actually laughs at this, as much as anyone with broken ribs can. "That's just priceless. If you haven't turned me in yet I doubt you will. Not to mention how well detaining me has worked for them in the past."
"So what can we do?" Parker looks at Dean but it's clear he don't get the question. "To make you realize that Alec's not Jake." She clarifies.
"It doesn't really matter anymore Parker." Hardison forces her attention back to him.
"Why not?" Her innocence can still surprise Eliot.
"Why not?" Alec repeats the words in his dramatic manner. "That's why not!" He gestures at the computer. "He… he's…" For once even Hardison's speechless and Eliot finds Parker looking to him for an explanation. Someone beats him to it.
"What he's trying to say is he won't let me back out in the world even if I'm no danger to him." Dean's voice isn't loud but it carries clearly in the silence. "Haven't read that file in a couple of years but I'm guessing it hasn't become prettier."
"Did you really do all that?" Parker is unconvinced. "No one could do all that."
It's really just a split second that Dean looks over to meet Eliot's eyes. Yet they both know the meaning. Yes, someone could do all that, there are people who has. None of them say it out loud though, and Parker can keep her happy little illusion.
"Not all of it, but enough. Most of it's taken out of context though." Parker looks stunned.
"The spree?" Elliot can't help but ask. The rest he can sort of believe but not that.
"No." Dean confirms. "We were framed on that one."
You would think that having been around Eliot for so many years his team wouldn't be shocked by this man's history. Yet apparently they are. It makes the hitter realize how vague he's been about his past. Off course his friends are aware that he has killed, they have just never guessed the extent of it. They still believe he's only done it with his own life in the balance, or to protect the innocent. He hopes they never find out how often it has been those innocents that have been his targets.
Eliot realizes the rap sheet is actually a topic he wants to stay clear of, if only for a little longer. It reminds him too much of his past. As such he brings the conversation back towards Hardison.
"We can figure that part out later. Now, is there anything we can do to convince you it wasn't Hardison who killed your brother?"
"Maybe, but you won't like it." Dean senses he's expected to continue so he does. "I'd have to do some tests first. If you pass we'll take it from there."
Somehow Dean manages to make Parker and Hardison wait in the kitchen as he and Eliot goes to retrieve something from the Impala. Eliot can't help the uneasiness that washes over him as they leave. What is it that Dean is so eager to conceal from the others? Hopefully he doesn't have a disjointed corpse or something sitting in his garage.
Dean directs him to the trunk and Eliot carefully makes sure that the man is out of reach from any potential weapons. It hits him that the car could be rigged somehow, but he don't back down. He's walked across minefields; he can open a simple trunk.
Meeting Dean's eyes just before he swings the lid open he is somewhat appeased, as far as he can tell there's no hidden agenda. Nothing blows up in Eliot's face and he stares down at the lonely duffel bag laying there. Before Eliot can ask he catches Dean motioning towards his ear. The gesture couldn't be clearer, he won't talk in front of the others. There's probably a hidden compartment then.
It's not often that Eliot does stupid things - security wise - but he concedes with Dean now and turns the transmission off. Apparently Dean decides to be trusting as well and believes in his action. Then again he might just think Eliot will only have himself to blame if his friends find whatever is hidden in there.
When the false bottom springs up Eliot can't help but let out a small whistle. It's just as well the others aren't around to see this, the array of weapons would definitely make them skittish. They should only know how many knives he had stashed all over the pub.
"Honestly?" Eliot asks, holding out a crucifix in one hand and a crossbow in his other. Dean simply shrugs.
"They have their uses." He doesn't elaborate and Eliot refrains from pressing.
"What do we need?" Eliot asks instead.
"Those two knives and the water." The water turns out to be a plastic gallon container with a rosary in the bottom. Again, Eliot chooses not to ask.
.oOo.
The shot of water that Dean slides across the table to Eliot is regarded with caution. Sure, the man's just had some himself but there's enough poisons that you can build up a tolerance for. Yet allowing for one of the others to go first is worse than taking the risk himself.
Going down the liquid is stale with a clear taste of plastic and dust.
"Water." Eliot confirms and watches as Hardison and Parker drain their glasses as well. The thief does a catlike move afterwards, as if she's scraping the taste off her tongue against her teeth.
"Great, what a party!" The drinking has slightly placated Dean's hostility, but the carefree demeanor is as fake as ever.
"So," Dean continues looking at Eliot. "I'm guessing passing a wanted murderer a knife is out of the question?"
The grin directed at Eliot is what Parker would call a shark smile, all teeth and no joy. He bets it works wonders on normal people. Here every one of them see straight through it. Actually, Eliot's pretty sure he used to look like that a few years ago. Back when he was smiling to keep his façade in front of his team. They're still not allowed much insight in his life before Leverage, but at least he's stopped pretending to be happy when he's not.
"Okay, whatever." The silence must have been answer enough as Dean lays his left arm on the table, palm down. "Since you guys obviously have trust issues I'll go first. Cut me. Both blades, enough to draw blood."
It would be so incredibly easy for Eliot to kill Dean right in this moment. He's sure the other man knows it too. It's just a matter of quickly flipping the arm over and opening his veins. Even without broken ribs it's an attack that's virtually impossible to stop when you're stretched across the table like Dean is now. The carelessness (because surly it can't be a show of trust) stuns Eliot for a second, then he gets on with it.
Unsheathing the knives Eliot discovers they are made from what looks like silver and iron respectively. It's a weird choice for a weapon, not very practical compared to stainless steel. Then again this is from a guy who owns a crossbow, so maybe it shouldn't come as a surprise.
When blood is trickling lazily down his arm from two parallel cuts Dean retracts his limb and pulls his jacket over the lacerations. He then nods at Eliot.
"Hell no, I'm drawing the line." Hardison sounds panicked. "No one is slicing me up, I'm leaving." He's beginning to rise and Eliot can feel the tension rolling off Dean when the hacker tries to avoid the blades. For the life of him Eliot can't figure out the point of this ritual, but he knows it looks bad with Hardison trying to escape it.
"Please." Parker's voice stops Hardison in his tracks and he turns to look at her. "It's just blood you know. If you want you can close your eyes and I can cut you and Eliot will patch you up before you know it. For me?"
"Damn girl." All the fight has left Hardison. "Don't tell me you're enjoying this." Parker gives him a sly smile that Eliot prefers not to analyze. Hardison groans in answer.
The incisions take next to no time to carry out, even if Eliot is careful to clean the blades in between each one. Hardison makes a worried noise and try to withdraw his arm as the first cold metal touch his arm but Parker's grip on his hand holds him in place. To her defense she is quick and precise as she draws the knife edges across his arm, creating two thin cuts where a few drops of crimson appear.
"Girl, we're gonna have a long hard talk about this when we get home." Hardison peers down on his arm just before Eliot slaps a band aid on it. "Happy now? Did I pass?" The question is directed at Dean.
"Sort of, and yes, all of you passed. Now I make a phone call and then I might consider that you're really not Talley." The man pulls out his phone and dials a number from memory.
No more than three signals can have gone through before Hardison have their ear buds receive what Dean's hearing. Dean looks suspiciously on the smattering keyboard but then simply heaves a sight and rises. He doesn't go far, just to the living room window where he stands with his back to them. For a second Eliot thinks about the four knives he has hidden in various places in the room with Dean. Then whoever is being called picks up the phone and Eliot's musings is interrupted.
"Dean bloody Winchester!" The voice belongs to a girl who is somewhere in between annoyed and elated.
"Hiya Charlie, look…" Whatever Dean means to say he's cut off.
"Why aren't you guys answering? I've been emailing stuff for a community on hunting to Sam for months and he's just ignoring me. I mean he was all for it when I met you guys. What's going on?"
"Charlie!" Dean's voice is rough as he cut's the rant off. "People are listening, probably tracing the call." He throws Hardison a dirty look over his shoulder. "I'm sorry if I'm outing you but I could use some help."
For a second the line is dead silent.
"Dean, where's Sam?" The girl, Charlie, suddenly sound worried. Eliot can see Dean's body stiffening at the question and he can guess the answer already.
"Gone, okay? Turns out the last trial included the 'ultimate sacrifice'. I found out too late." The mix of guilt and anger in his voice makes Eliot glad Dean's standing with his back towards them.
"Oh…" Charlie is searching for words. "But you'll get him back though, won't you? You and Cas?"
"Charlie, Sam managed his trials, as did Cas. Those gates are closed for a long, long time."
"Jesus… Dean, that's… When?"
"May. Sorry I haven't called until now." Eliot feels dirty, listening in on this. It's not meant for his ears. Too late to take it back now though.
The realization that it doesn't add up slams into Eliot, and he almost interrupts the call to ask. Because in his file Dean only have one sibling, Sam. So if Talley killed his brother, that should have been Sam. But Dean just said Sam died a few months ago. On the other hand Eliot biologically only had a sister, yet he had gained several brothers in the army. Unfortunately he lost them when his life turned down its darker path. Settling for that explanation he returns to the conversation.
"I get it." Charlie's forgiveness sounds earnest. "So why are you calling now? What mess have you gotten yourself into that needs my expertise?" The room takes a collective breath as the thickness of guilt and bad news begins to ease with the switch of subject.
"I ran into Jake Talley." Dean sounds indifferent but Charlie destroys that notion in a heartbeat.
"The Jake Tally? As in the guy whose knife started the whole madness with you selling…" Unfortunately that's were Charlie remembers they are listening and cuts herself off. "But he was dead, Sam emptied a whole clip in him. I mean it left off with you at the car but you must have burnt his body? How could you run into Talley?"
"That's just creepy." Dean mutters. Somehow Eliot has the feeling that he isn't talking about the casual way the killing of that man is discussed. "How many times have you been reading that shit, memorizing stuff?" Obviously it's not the kill he's talking about.
"Eh…" Charlie squirms. "Only once? Scientific curiosity?"
"Right, and I'm standing in a field with unicorns. You're a crappy liar Charlie." Something close to a laugh escapes Dean before he gets them back on track. "But yes, of course we freaking burned him. What did you think?"
"I guess he could have gotten out before Sam shut the gates?" Charlie sounds doubting.
"Possible, but I don't know. Did some tests, with no reaction, so he might be a lookalike after all. I just need to be sure." To Eliot it almost sounds like they're talking in some kind of vague code. So much is left out.
"Um, no offence but did you take him? You said you run tests so you must have him. That will not end pretty if he's just a lookalike." It's weird, how the girl can take killing one man and burning his body in stride and then balk at the idea of kidnapping another.
"Don't fret, wouldn't wanna wrinkle your pretty face. They're the ones who kidnapped me." The sputtering that erupts on the other side of the line makes Dean let out a small laugh. He presses his left arm to his ribcage to keep them from being overly displaced.
"What? How? Didn't you say they were normal people? Can't you just break away?" Charlie does clearly not believe what she's told.
"Nice to know you still see me as invincible. They do however have a dude who is pretty badass, actually gave me a few broken ribs and a concussion." Eliot can admit he's not used to people being so flippant about his fighting skills. The handful of hitters that can allow themselves that he can easily name.
"So what? You've gotten out of worse." Charlie is clearly teasing but Eliot can tell there a grain of truth in the statement.
"They have a taser." Dean dramatically whispers. "Given your disturbing interest in my life you should know what happened last time I was electrocuted."
Charlie laughs freely at that, agreeing that it might be wise to keep his ticker in working condition.
"Now," Dean turns serious again. "Apparently their game is to convince me that this Alec Hardison dude is not Talley. I need you to look into it. You can dig far deeper than me, and since they've got a back door into FBI I bet they're good at creating identities as well."
"I'll see what I can do. So Alec Hardison, what about the others?" Fingers are already flying across a keyboard in the background.
"A chick called Parker, dunno if it's first or last name, and a guy named Eliot, he's the one who knocked me out."
"Okay, I'll get back to you in a couple of hours?" Charlie already sounds distanced, her focus clearly not on the conversation any more.
"Sure, thanks Charlie."
"Whatever." The line goes down and Hardison disconnects it from their ear buds.
.oOo.
AN: I'm sorry I killed Sam, I've been debating since the beginning whether to tell you or not in my very first AN (in the prologue). Should I change it to include more about what makes it AU or should I let it remain as it is? Help is much appreciated! /ThosePreciousWalls