Part 2/3 of wolfprowl's request. Please enjoy

Takes place during the Cross My Heart Job

"Are you grumpy because of the spear gun, shipwreck thing or are you grumpy because of something else?" Parker asked innocently as Eliot and she fiddled with their makeshift comms. The hitter pointed angrily at the clock; it read quarter past nine.

"Play starts in fifteen minutes Parker," Eliot stated, without looking up from his current task. "We're not going to make it."

"Just call her and tell her why," the thief suggested.

"No, really? I didn't think of that," the hitter replied sarcastically.

"Well go on then," the thief replied, shooing him away and clearly not picking up on the sarcasm. "Go and call."

"I did, she's not picking up because phones have to be silent backstage," he explained, trying to stay as calm as possible.

"Oh," Parker replied sadly. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"There's two kids' life at stake here and, as much as I hate it, that takes precedence," he explained, this time more softly.

"Then why are you upset? If saving two kids' lives are more important that missing one kids' play, why worry?" she queried; apparently she still didn't quite understand the idea of family in its entirety and the commitment which came with it.

"Parker, when you have kids," he began, placing down his tools and hoping that the day never came when Parker had to raise a child. "You'll understand. They'll always be the most important thing; their achievements, like a school play, are just as important too. But what's important isn't always best for everyone or right, so you have to make sacrifices."

"Will she understand?" she asked meekly in response.

"She's gonna be pissed as hell," he replied; Parker gave him a quizzical look. "I've missed out on half her life; half of her school plays and recitals and while I understand, and so does she, neither of us like it and it's not fair on her to have to expect me not to be there." He explained and, out of the corner of his ear, heard Hardison speaking to Nate.

"Nobody's asking Eliot to fight a guy with a Nerf Sword," the hacker exclaimed.

"Damascus, 2002," he replied smugly, happy at the change of conversation, as he fondly remembered a fine summer evening, prince's palace and an unprecedented amount of blood for a fight with a foam weapon

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Abby fixed up the small smudge of makeup beneath her eye and adjusted, for the fiftieth time, her costume. She didn't understand how women wore corsets every day.

"Half an hour 'till curtain every one," one of the stage hands announced and there was a hushed moment of panic as people questioned whether they had forgotten their lines, where their props were, did their hair and makeup look fine. Abby's mind was only on the question of where her family was. "AJ," the stage hand yelled out. "There's someone here for you," he said excitedly and pointed towards the stage door.

Abby jumped up from her chair and ran to the door, opening it up eagerly and stepping outside into the night. "You made it!" she exclaimed before she saw who it was.

"Course I made it," Kyle exclaimed, slightly confused. "I told you I was coming; you ordered the tickets."

"Sorry, yeah. I thought you were Eliot," she confessed then looked down at the bouquet of flowers he was holding in his arms. "You bought me flowers?"

"Yeah, well, every leading lady should have flowers," he replied as he handed her the dozen red tulips. Abby took them in awe.

"They're beautiful Kyle," she thanked as she sniffed them; they were fragrant and calming. Then, as the teenage boy in front of her swayed awkwardly, she leant forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Is your dad nearby?" she asked before he could say anything.

"No, uh, he just left. Why?" the boy enquired, though he was clearly distracted.

"Just need to talk to him is all," she replied. "Anyway, I should get back inside." She smiled and waved to her friend as he walked around to the entrance before she went back inside, pulling her phone out of her bra and dialling the detective's number.

"Abigail," the man greeted. "Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

"Umm, I'm pretty much ready now," she replied.

"What can I do for you?"

"Have you heard from Eliot or the others?" she questioned and she could almost sense the detective leaning forward attentively in his chair.

"No," he replied simply.

"'Cause they were meant to get back this afternoon from a job in.."

"… unless it's way outta my jurisdiction don't want to know," he interrupted.

"The Caribbean," she continued knowing that was about four states and an ocean out of his authority. "But I can't get a hold of them on comms or cells and they weren't on the flight back…"

"I'll look into it," he said quickly. "But I wouldn't worry; they're good at what they do."

"Yeah okay," she replied, though unconvinced.

"Break a leg okay?" he encouraged.

"Sure thing," she stated as she hung up the phone.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Hardison," Parker said softly as she walked up to the hacker, sitting at the desktop.

"Yeah girl?" he replied.

"Can you stall Abby's play? Delay it 'till tomorrow night? When we're back?" she pleaded.

The hacker stared at her for a moment. "Uh, yeah, girl; sure. I didn't think you were that into theatre?"

"I'm not but Eliot should be there," she replied simply. Hardison smiled at her; he loved this side of Parker, even if it showed itself less often than a yeti in Hawaii.

"I'll see what I can do but I might need…." he began as Sophie rolled into the restaurant on her newly acquired wheelchair. "Sophie's help," he finished.

"What now?" Sophie asked, standing up out of the chair and shaking out her hair.

"Parker here wants to delay Abby's play so…."

"So he can do his job for Abby," Parker finished.

"That's really nice Parker," Sophie smiled before she walked over to beside the others at the computer. "Pass me the phone please?" She requested and Hardison handed over their client's cell. "And the number for the Drama co-ordinator," she stated. The hacker took a few moments longer than usual to find the number online (the computer was prehistoric) but he found it nevertheless. Sophie keyed the number and pressed call. Hardison looked at his watch.

"I should go before Eliot chews my head off about being late," the hacker exclaimed, standing up and excusing himself from the restaurant.

"Hi," Sophie said into the device in one of her best New York accents. "My name is Jenna O'Donnell, I'm calling on behalf of Mr. Clooney," she began then gave a panicked look to the thief. She tapped on her watch and mouthed 'you have to go get Eliot.' She made a steering motion with her hands. 'Drive the buggy,' she mouthed.

Parker checked the clock on the wall; she was late. Her eyes widened in panic and she ran off out the door. Sophie, meanwhile, turned her attention back to the call.

"I'm sorry, I don't…" a male voice came over the phone.

"Is this Mr Marigold, head of the drama department of Quincy High School?" Sophie continued, interrupting the man.

"Uh yes. Sorry who is this?" he asked confusedly.

"I represent Mr Clooney," Sophie repeated quickly. "Now, he's heard about the rendition you're doing of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and was very much keen on attending."

"Mr Clooney? Like the actor?" he queried, growing more and more flustered.

"You've heard of him?" Sophie clarified.

"Yes, yes, of course. He's coming to the show?"

"Well, that depends on you. You see, Mr Clooney has unfortunately been delayed and won't be arriving in Boston until tomorrow."

"Tonight is our closing night," Marigold replied in a panicky manner.

"It doesn't have to be," Sophie suggested. "Mr Clooney was hoping you'd be able to delay tonight's show until he's available tomorrow evening."

"Well, I don't know," the man replied; Sophie could tell he was right on the edge of saying yes.

"What's that Mr Clooney?" Sophie yelled out as though she was talking to someone on her side of the phone. "Of course I'll tell him," she stated, then turned back to talk to the drama teacher. "He also said he'd be most interested in meeting the director…"

"Consider the show delayed," the man said quickly. "And I'll set the best seat aside for Mr Clooney."

"Five seats," Sophie instructed, smiling smugly; she loved it when she got her way. "Mr Clooney thanks you for your co-operation."

Next chapter up thur/fri ish =)

Thanks for reading and reviews are ALWAYS welcome, hint hint =P

ta