Chapter 5

Dean held out the shotgun to Eliot who shook his head. "I don't like guns."

"You don't like guns? What do you mean you don't like guns?"

"I…I don't like guns. I just don't." Eliot crossed his arms over his chest, daring Dean to say more.

Dean laughed, looking at his brother. "He doesn't like guns, Sammy." Turning back to Eliot, he dropped all humor from his expression and said, "Take the damn gun."

"What part of 'I don't like guns' don't you get? I. Don't. Like. Guns. There has to be another way."

Dean pushed the gun into Eliot's chest on the verge of shooting him himself. "How do you intend to do this? Throw a saltshaker in their direction? Or maybe you intend to use your charm to ask them nicely to back off. Take the fu…"

"Give me the gun. I like guns just fine." Hardison held out his hand impatiently. Dean and Eliot remained in their staring contest, and he asked Sam, "Got anything that'll kill an angel?"

"Listen guys, we said we'd show you how, but we can't make you listen to us. Either you want to learn, or you don't, but fighting us every step of the way isn't working." Sam ran his hands through his hair and sat down.

Bobby had been watching quietly from the side and finally pulled Dean away and stood before Eliot. Dean took a step back, shaking his head in disgust and throwing the gun on the table.

"Did your mother drop you on your head, Boy or are you just an idgit? We're trying to help you and you two are acting like a bunch of jackasses."

"I suggest you take a step back, old man. I'm not your damn boy," Eliot said slowly, his eyes cold and Hardison realized taking a step back might be a good idea for him, too.

"No, because my boy would have enough sense to realize if nothing, but a gun will work, then you use a damn gun. Now I suggest you take a walk and then come back when you find your brain. Meanwhile, we'll just hope the demons aren't on a deadline."

"Is there a problem?" Sophie stood leaning on the door frame like she'd been there long enough to know the answer already. "Eliot, I know you don't normally use a gun, but nothing about the situation is normal. And you two…" she moved her finger back and forth between Dean and Bobby. "Try to remember this is our first experience with demons and you're asking Eliot to go against everything he's learned over the years to trust in. Try to have some damn understanding considering all that we've been through in the last day. Remember what it was like when you first found out about demons. Was it that easy when you found out?"

"Considering that a yellow-eyed demon burned my mother on the ceiling above Sam's crib when I was a little kid, you can imagine that this is all I've known." Dean's jaw tightened as he watched Sophie, not willing to bend on this. "Whether you've known about demons a day or a week, I still know more than you ever want to know, so why don't you understand that we're trying to help you stay alive? We've got other places to go if you don't want our help."

Sophie glanced away from him for a moment before nodding slowly. "You're absolutely right. I have no idea what you've been through. But imagine if Eliot told you that you had to stop doing what you trusted and do things his way. Then you'll have a grasp of what he's feeling. And yes, he's stubborn and hardheaded. That's never been a point up for debate." Her eyes shot to Bobbie, and she glared, "But he's not stupid, so flippant remarks and trying to treat him like an errant child isn't the best way to get through to him. Try explaining things to him on a tactical level and you'll get much further. I know there's a lot of big male egos in here right now and honestly, I don't care about that. I'm just saying that this constant battle between you guys and us is only going to end badly for everyone. I don't want to have to watch someone I care about die because all of you…men…are so stubborn that you refuse to see things from the other side."

The room was quiet before Eliot growled under his breath and held out his hand for the rifle. Dean glanced at Eliot, then at Sophie, then back at Eliot in stunned silence before handing it over. When Sophie left the room, Dean finally asked, "Bobby, how come you never tried the logical approach with us? She honestly made me want to help him and you never had that effect. Well…she is prettier than you. That could be it."

Bobby shook his head, mumbled something under his breath, and walked away. Sam handed Hardison the other rifle. They were deep in discussion when Parker asked. "Can I learn too?"

"Parker!" Hardison pushed past Sam, almost knocking him over and grabbed Parker in a tight embrace, before holding her a few feet away while examining her. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine." Parker stepped away from him, well aware of everyone watching her and uneasy, being the center of attention. "Why are you freaking out?"

"He took you! He took you from here without saying or telling us anything," Hardison replied, his voice tinged with anger and bitterness. "I don't give a damn if he's an angel or a Powerpuff Girl. Just because he can do that doesn't mean he should."

"I asked him to," Parker answered in a small voice. Seeing the hurt on Hardison's face, she rushed to explain, "I just needed to think for a few minutes, and I knew you guys wouldn't let me leave on my own. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

Hardison nodded and looked away from her. Parker stepped closer and put her hand on his arm, saying nothing but watching him closely.

"Where's the angel?" Eliot asked, tossing the weapons down and walking towards the door. "I think I need to speak with him."

"He's gone. He healed Nate and left. I don't know where, just said he'd be back soon. Nate wanted to talk to you, though, Eliot."

Eliot stopped beside her, and said, "Don't do that again, Parker." Although he was furious that she asked the angel to help her leave, he was too grateful that she was okay to really sound intimidating. She barely glanced at him, still watching Hardison, but she nodded. He knew she was sorry she'd hurt the hacker but right now he couldn't deal with any emotional crap. Dean and Sam both pretended to be distracted by what they were doing, but he knew they listened and watched everything they did.

He left the room, walking through the house and running up the stairs to the bedrooms. Sophie stormed past him, muttering angrily under her breath but didn't give him a chance to ask her what was wrong. Eliot knocked once and heard Nate call out, "Not now, Sophie," as he opened the door.

"Oh, I thought you…well, you know. I can't deal with her questions anymore," Nate sat up on the side of the bed.

"You back in one piece now?" Eliot sat down in the chair and put his feet up on the bedside table. "The angel is good for one thing at least."

"I'm okay now. But I don't think he trusts me."

"Well…I don't think any of us trust any of them, so I'm not surprised. So, what's the plan?"

Nate wouldn't look him in the eyes, which usually led to Eliot having to do something he really didn't want to do. "I need you to run an errand for me. But you won't want to do it."

Eliot pulled down his feet and planted them on the floor in front of him, rubbing his face with both hands. "Man, I hate it when you start off like that. Just get to the point. What do you want me to do? Fight the angel? Kill Dean…well that wouldn't be too bad except the angel…"

"I need you to go find Maggie and bring her back here," Nate interrupted him, finally raising his eyes to meet Eliot's "Meg…the demon that had me…she…she said Maggie's new boyfriend has been possessed."

Eliot stood up and sighed. "No. I can't leave you guys. I'd love to help, you know if the circumstances were different I would but, I can't be in two places at one time."

"Please. We're safe here and whether you trust them or not, those demon hunters seem to be on our side or at least not on the demons' side. Eliot, she'll kill Maggie just for sport. Please do this for me," Shame written on his face, Nate's eyes begged him. "You're the only one I can trust to do this. And you know I wouldn't ask if I had any choice."

"What aren't you telling me Nate?" Eliot studied him and Nate visibly tried to look blank.

"Nothing! I just know that if anyone else finds out then they'll tell me not to try to help her or it would put us in danger. But Eliot, it's Maggie."

Even though he was hiding a lot from Eliot, Nate was desperate so he'd have to go help Maggie or...who knows what would happen to her. "Where is she? I'm not getting on a plane or going far."

"No, she's in Boston," Nate replied before grabbing a pen and pulling a pad from his jacket. "Here's the address. And don't let the others see you leave. I'll cover for you."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Eliot replied. When Nate stood up, Eliot pointed his finger at the other man's chest. "If whatever you're hiding from me, and don't insult my intelligence by denying it, blows up in my face or anyone gets hurt…well, do I need to finish the rest of this statement?"

xOxOx

Eliot was halfway to Maggie's work address when he sensed being followed. Slowing down, he turned to find an attractive dark-haired woman standing in the middle of the alley behind him. She smiled, strolling to him and walked around him in a circle, her finger trailing along his shoulders then down his chest. She whistled low, followed by a seductive laugh. Eliot didn't move, following her with his eyes. She raised her eyebrows and tilted her head. "I'd hoped he'd send you instead of the two morons."

"Meg, I assume."

"Aww, Nate told you about me? I'm so flattered. Or insulted that he told you about me, yet you still came to rescue his ex-wife. Maybe you didn't believe what he told you." Meg dragged a fingernail across his bottom lip. Eliot resisted the urge to step away from her.

"I wanted to meet you actually. I admire a woman who can take care of herself. But then…I guess calling you a 'woman' isn't entirely accurate now, is it?" He let a slight smile cross his lips.

Meg's eyes flashed with anger, but she didn't stop smiling. Both or her hands lowered so they were on his chest, slowly moving down. "Don't worry, I fuck like a woman."

"I'll take your word for it. Are we going to get to the part where you threaten me or something soon?" He bit back a moan and closed his eyes tightly when she grabbed his crotch hard. As soon as the pressure released from his balls, he stepped away, trying to remain calm and not assume the fetal positions and cry like a little girl. "Hey now, let's not start any inappropriate touching and just fight."

"Don't like being at the mercy of a woman I see." She laughed, grabbing a handful of his hair and jerking him forward. "Never give away your Achilles Heel so quickly. You take all the fun out of it." She slapped him hard across the face. If that was a slap and not a punch though, he was pretty much screwed.

Eliot relaxed for a moment, letting fear cross his face for a moment. As soon as she saw it, her grip on him loosened slightly. It was enough. He spun quickly out of her grasp, shoving her about ten feet before she crashed to the ground. "Having fun now?" he asled her, seriously pissed off at this point. He didn't like to hit women…any women…so he had to remind himself that it wasn't a woman, and she just tried to make him sing soprano by crushing his nuts into powder! That was not cool and proved that she was the epitome of evil.

"Yes! At last, someone who will fight back," Meg threw her head back and laughed. She rose slowly, watching him like she was assessing her prey. "But it's been a long time, baby. So, let's not rush things."

"I don't have much time so it's going to have to be a quickie." He moved to strike her face, but she caught his fist and shoved him hard enough that he stumbled backwards.

"What? No foreplay? Typical man." She rushed at him and the next thing Eliot knew he was flat on his back about twenty feet away and she was headed in his direction.

'Fuck. This isn't going to end well.'