Gift for caitriona_3
Title: Thing That Bring Us Closer
Author: fangirl2323
Written for: caitriona_3, for the 2011 Leverage Secret Santa
Rating: G
Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Humor
Characters: Eliot and Parker, with Nate, Sophie and Hardison.
Note: I don’t own the characters they are the property of Dean Devlin and TNT. Just using them for fun. The fic is not beta’d, so any errors are completely mine.
Summary: What happens when a con goes bad and both Parker and Eliot are hurt?
Word Count: 3,061
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go down, Nate thought as he and Hardison watched flames engulf the building they had just exited. Firefighters were setting up to begin fighting the fire. Cops and ambulances were waiting out front, where Sophie was spinning a cover story for them.
“Nate, any sign of Eliot and Parker?” Sophie asked.
Nate stared at the monitors in the Hardison's van, eagerly hoping to see the hitter and thief coming out of the building. “No, nothing yet, Sophie.”
Fifteen minutes later, the ambulance was ready to leave. Sophie grabbed one of the medics. “You can’t go yet, there are … my friends are still in there.” She pleaded.
Looking at the burning building, then back at Sophie, the medic replied. “Ma’am if they are still in there, I don’t an ambulance will help.”
Sophie gasped. “No, no … you’re wrong. You’ll see.” She stammered.
“Hey!” someone yelled.
The medic turned his head towards the voice, “Yeah?”
“Got some movement over here, bring the gear!”
The medic left Sophie’s presence, his partner already unloading a cart, boards and supplies from the ambulance.
“Nate?” Sophie asked her voice shaky.
“Yes. It’s them. I can barely see Eliot for all the smoke. It appears he’s carrying Parker.”
“Thank God!” Sophie whispers.
+++++
The blonde’s head resting on his shoulder, her breaths against his throat was the only way Eliot knew that she still alive. His whole body wracked with pain, head pounding and barely breathing, he made it a few steps out of the building, then his knees gave out.
Medics appeared quickly, putting oxygen masks on both the hitter and the thief. With help from two firefighters Parker and Eliot were put onto a gurney. Dean was cleaning the blood off of Eliot when he moaned.
“Can you hear me?” He asked gently.
Eliot nodded as he blinked, trying to clear his vision.
“Can you tell me what happened?” The medic asked.
Eliot licked his dry lips and immediately a straw was pressed against them, he sipped water for a minute before speaking, his voice hoarse.
“Parker fell and got her leg trapped. I was working to get her out, when there was an explosion. Parts of the building came down on us. Took me a while to dig myself out, then a bit longer to find her and get her out.” Eliot explained.
“That’s fine. You don’t need to say anymore. She’s fine. Lost quite a bit of blood, some smoke inhalation and she broke that leg.” Dean told Eliot.
Eliot nodded, his own eyes getting heavy.
“Sir, you have smoke inhalation, some nasty gashes that will require stitches and your ribs are damaged. We are taking you both to Boston Medical. “
Eliot growled.
“I’m going with Eliot, Nate. I’ve told them that they are Alice and Eliot Ford.”
“Okay Sophie, we are a few minutes behind you.”
Nate and Hardison watched from the monitors in the van as the medics loaded Parker and Eliot into the ambulances and drove away.
++++
Sophie greeted them at the ER entrance to the hospital. “They had to take Eliot into surgery. Internal bleeding.” She told them as she handed Nate a cup of coffee.
“What about Parker?” Hardison asked.
“She’s fine. They moved across the hall where Eliot will be eventually.
They put a removable, Velcro cast on her leg. She has a nasty bump on her head, but only a slight concussion. The doctor told me that they want to keep her at least twenty-four hours.”
“Okay, okay. What can we do?”
“Not much, just wait for now.” Sophie replied.
Taking in Hardison’s pained expression, Nate turned and said, “Why don’t you tidy up the loose ends, then go grab some clothes for both of them. Maybe get a book or something from Eliot’s place for him since he’s going to be here a while.”
“You’ll call if there’s any change?” Hardison asked before leaving.
“We will. Call us when you’re headed back this way.”
++++
Two hours later they wheeled Eliot into a private room. Nate and Sophie watched quietly as a nurse hooked up an IV drip in his right arm, while another nurse hooked him up to a heart monitor. He had a bandage on his forehead and his right hand was bandaged.
“He should be coming around anytime now. He did well in surgery. The bleeding was stopped, but the doctor noticed some fluid in his lungs, so we’ve given him some antibiotics to help fight the infection. His leg will be sore from that bad gash, which was stitched. Once he is awake and able to move around, we want him to off of it as much as possible, which means trips to the bathroom only. That will help it heal faster. I’ve left a pitcher of ice for when he wakes. Would you have a couple of cots brought up?”
Looking at Nate, Sophie squeezed his arm reassuringly, “Yes, we would appreciate that. Can you tell me how Alice is doing?”
“She’s fine. Her vital signs are healthy and her breathing has improved. She is sleeping right now, but it’s been approved so that you can sleep there with her, if you would like to?”
When Sophie nodded, the nurse replied, “Good, I’ll have a cot brought to her room too.”
“How long is the doctor going to keep her?”
“He’ll probably release her late tomorrow. I’m not sure about Eliot though.” The nurse replied.
“Thank you for all of your help.” Sophie told the young lady.
“They shouldn’t have gotten hurt, Soph.” Nate said regretfully.
“Nate, it’s not your fault. Parker’s okay and Eliot will be just fine. No one will blame you. It was an accident, you know that, right?”
Nate sighed, “Yeah, I know. I also know that Eliot will blame himself and Parker is so worried about Eliot, which makes me uneasy.”
“She’ll be fine, once she knows that Eliot is on the mend. You sit here with Eliot and I’ll go sit with Parker, but first I’m going to get us something to eat. Why don’t have Hardison bring one of him games with him. That will keep Parker occupied.
++++
An hour and a half later, Hardison was playing on his Portable PlayStation when Parker woke up.
“Eliot, Eliot!” Parker cried out.
“Dang girl, don’t do that!” Hardison snapped as he almost jumped out of the chair, thus killing his character in the video game.
“You’re in the hospital. Eliot got you out of the building.” He tells Parker slowly.
Frowning, Parker snaps, “I know that! What about Eliot?”
“He’s gonna be okay, girl. Relax. Doctor checked on him about a half an hour ago. He said things were good. He’s stable and the antibiotics are working on his lung infection. He’s asleep.”
“I have to see him, Alec.” Parker said firmly as she sat up and began to get out of the bed.
Dropping his PlayStation on the bed, Hardison got up and went around the bed, “Wait, wait, you can’t, you are not supposed to get out of the bed except to go to the bathroom.” He insists.
Eyeing the crutches leaning up against the table next to her bed, Parker glares at Hardison, “If you don’t help me get out of this bed and to Eliot’s room, I am going to whack you my crutch!” She tells him hotly, tears threatening to run down her face.
“Aw. Don’t, don’t do that. Don’t cry.” Hardison sighs as helps her stand up and get her crutches under her arms. He follows her closely, opening the hospital room door and guiding her to Eliot’s room.
Nate’s eyes snapped opened upon hearing the door to Eliot’s room open. When he saw Hardison and Parker on crutches ambling inside, he frowned, tilting his head and quirking an eyebrow at the hacker who was motioning behind Parker that he had no choice. Nate nodded and got up out to the chair.
Once she was standing at the end of Eliot’s bed, Parker gasped. “Oh, God!” Her voice shaking, she looked over accusingly at Hardison. “You said he was okay. The, the tubes and all, he doesn’t look okay to me.”
“Parker, Eliot’s going to be back to normal soon. He just has to take it easy for at least four to six weeks.” Nate told her as he rubbed her back.
“He has an infection? That what Alec told me.” She asks quietly.
“Yes. When they went in to stop the internal bleeding they discovered fluid in his lungs. The doctor said that it was most likely due to the fact that his body was tired and worn down. It’s just a chest infection, Parker. His ribs are bruised, but that’s all. They wrapped his chest to help him heal faster.” Nate explained.
“Surgery!” Parker gasped loudly, glaring at Hardison. “You didn’t say anything about surgery.”
Both Nate and Parker turned to look at the hacker, just as an older nurse walked inside.
“Is everything alright in here? She asked. Seeing Parker standing at the end of the bed, the nurse frowned, “What are you doing in here? You’re not supposed to be out of the bed.” She admonished Parker.
“I had to see him. He’s my friend.” Parker explained.
“I understand dear, but he needs his rest and so do you. Trust me, the best thing you can do for him is to take care of yourself first. He’s going to have a bit of a recovery spell and he’ll need his friends to occupy him. Now, let’s get you back to your room, okay?”
Reluctantly Parker let the nurse take her back to her room and help her into bed. Before leaving, the nurse turned back to look at Parker. “This isn’t going to be a reoccurring thing is it?”
“What?” Parker asked.
“You sneaking into your friend’s room?” The nurse asked letting her mother tone come through.
Hardison groaned, hoping that Parker would say the right thing.
“Um, I don’t know. How long am I going to be here?” She asked the nurse.
“Most likely you will go home late tomorrow.”
“What about Eliot?”
“He’s going to be here for a bit, honey.” The nurse tells her.
“Then I’m staying too.” Parker says firmly.
The nurse shakes her head and closes the door behind her.
+++++
It was four o’clock by the time Dr. Willis entered Eliot’s room.
“Mr. Ford, everything looks good. I’m going to release Alice today. I want to see her back her in three weeks to check on that leg. Until then, I don’t want you walking around you’ve ripped the tendons and ligaments in your ankle. If you stay off of it and keep it elevated, you should recover in about six weeks. If you don’t follow orders it could take up to a year. Do you understand me?
Parker nodded her head. “Yes. How long is Eliot going to have to stay here?”
“The young man that was with you when you were admitted?”
Parker nodded her head again.
“He will be here at least another three days. We have to give the antibiotics time to work.” Dr. Willis replied.
Crossing her arm across her chest, Parker replied “I’m not leaving until Eliot is released.”
Nate and Hardison groaned. Stepping forward, Nate got into Parker’s space. Lowering his voice to the one he used to use on Sam. “Parker, you’re well. You can’t stay here, you have to go home. Now are going to go without a fuss or do we have to do this the hard way?”
“But, Nate … “Parker objected.
“No. You’re going home. Hardison will take you.” Nate said sternly
Not happy with the outcome, Parker mumbled, “Okay, dad.”
Hardison nodded in agreement. “Cheer up, girl. We can visit Eliot once he is not sleeping so much, right Nate?”
Nate started to say no, but instead he found himself agreeing. After signing the forms for Parker’s release and handing prescriptions to Hardison, Nate sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he watched Parker being wheeled to the exit.
“Is she always like that?” A nurse asked with a chuckle.
“I feel like I am in charge of a zoo sometimes, I swear.” Nate replied before heading back to Eliot’s room to relieve Sophie.
++++
Eliot glared at Parker. This was the third day in a row that he had woken up to find her in his room. It was not that he minded having visitors, but listening to Parker read to him was not his idea of a good time. He had tried growling and threatening her, but she cheerfully ignored him and kept reading to him from the book he had been reading. Sighing, he slid down deeper into the bed, praying for sleep to take him.
A chuckle from the doorway made him pop one eye open.
“It ain’t funny Nate.” Eliot growled.
Nate replied, “Of course not, Eliot.” However he was still grinning and damn if that didn’t irritate Eliot too.
“Where’s Hardison?” Eliot asked, having decided he would rather play video games with the hacker than have Parker hovering over him like a hen.
“He and Sophie are running some errands, so I thought I would keep you company until the doctor comes by.” Nate replied cheerfully.
“Don’t gotta be so cheerful.” Eliot grumbled. Although he perked up when Nate turned the TV to ESPN and told Parker to go get something to eat.
“She’s driving me nuts, Nate.” Eliot whined.
Looking at Eliot, Nate had to stifle the grin that threatened to break out on his face. “She’s just trying to help.”
Eliot narrowed his eyes, but before he could say anything, Dr. Willis entered the room. She was looking over Eliot’s chart.
“Everything looks good. How are you feeling, Mr. Ford?”
“I’m fine.” Eliot replied.
“No headaches?”
Eliot shook his head.
“Your lungs appear to have cleared up, but I am going to give you a prescription for another of antibiotics. I want you to finish the prescription. Now, how is your leg? Not still in a lot of pain?”
“Nah, just a bit now and then.” Eliot replied.
“Okay. Well it looks like you’ll be going home today.” Looking over at Nate, she said, “I want him to stay off of that leg as much as possible. The cut was deep and it went into some muscle tissue. I have an order her for crutches, as I don’t want him putting weight on that leg for three weeks. I’ve already set up a follow-up visit. He’s not going to be staying alone is he?”
“No, I’ll make sure that someone is with him.” Nate told her.
“Good. Take care, Eliot.”
After the doctor had left the room, Eliot turned to Nate, “You’re not seriously gonna … “
Nate looked straight at the hitter, “Yes I am and you are going to follow the doctors’ orders, even if it kills you.”
Eliot opened and closed his mouth, before anything came out. “That sounded like you were talking to a kid. I ain’t your son, Nate.”
Nate snorted, “I know that, but you’ve been acting like child for the last three days.”
“Have not dad.” Eliot grumbled.
++++
Nate wheeled Eliot to the car and helped him into the seat and fastened his seatbelt for him. “Okay, Sophie’s going to take you to your place and stay with you until I come over. We’ve set everything up so that you can stay in the downstairs bedroom for now. No stairs for you.”
Eliot growled, “Nate.”
“I want to stay with him. I’ll be quiet, I promise.” Parker added.
“No!” Eliot growled.
“Aw, isn’t he adorable when he’s cranky?” Hardison said before he could stop himself.
“Oh, I’ll show you adorable!” Eliot threatened.
“Boys!” Sophie snapped.
Nate looked at the two men, “Am I going to have trouble with you two?”
Both men shook their heads. “No,dad. Eliot muttered with a smirk.
Nate growled, “I’m not … Sophie, it’s not funny.”
“Of course not, dear. Now, shoo so I can get him home.” She ordered.
“Home sweet home” Eliot grumbled as Sophie got him settled on this sofa and then handed him the remote.
“Elevate your leg on the ottoman, Eliot.” She instructed as she headed towards the kitchen.
Eliot grumbled but did it anyway. He had found a game on TV and was peacefully watching the game, when the rest of the crew entered the house making all kinds of noise.
“We got pizza!” Parker said with glee.
“I brought sodas.” Hardison chimed in, then looking at Eliot added, “No alcohol for you, son.”
Eliot glared at the hacker.
“I’ve got the table set and the salad is ready” Sophie told Nate. “Why don’t you help Eliot to the table?”
“Uh, I think we’ll all eat in here Sophie.” Nate told her as he winked at Eliot.
Two hours later, all the pizza boxes were empty, Parker and Sophie had fallen asleep on the couch. Hardsion, Parker and Eliot were playing some sort of video game, which Eliot was apparently winning. Smiling at his family, Nate got up and picked up all the empty cartons and tossed them in the trash before gather up all the glasses.
“Anyone want refills?” He asked.
“Nah, we’re good. Thanks” Hardison chimed. “Wait, no, no! How can, you did not just kill me!” He squeaked.
Eliot chuckled evilly.
Nate came back into the room a few minutes later carrying blankets which he covered Parker and Sophie up with. As he headed for the bedroom upstairs, he said. “Lights out at midnight guys. Don’t make me have to come down here.”
Hardison and Eliot groaned in unison at Nate’s orders. Parker chuckled, “I think he likes playing the dad.”
Eliot shook his head, “You’re enjoying this too much, Nate!” He sang in reply. A smile on his face for the first time almost a week as Nate’s chuckle could be heard from upstairs.
Author: fangirl2323
Written for: caitriona_3, for the 2011 Leverage Secret Santa
Rating: G
Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Humor
Characters: Eliot and Parker, with Nate, Sophie and Hardison.
Note: I don’t own the characters they are the property of Dean Devlin and TNT. Just using them for fun. The fic is not beta’d, so any errors are completely mine.
Summary: What happens when a con goes bad and both Parker and Eliot are hurt?
Word Count: 3,061
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go down, Nate thought as he and Hardison watched flames engulf the building they had just exited. Firefighters were setting up to begin fighting the fire. Cops and ambulances were waiting out front, where Sophie was spinning a cover story for them.
“Nate, any sign of Eliot and Parker?” Sophie asked.
Nate stared at the monitors in the Hardison's van, eagerly hoping to see the hitter and thief coming out of the building. “No, nothing yet, Sophie.”
Fifteen minutes later, the ambulance was ready to leave. Sophie grabbed one of the medics. “You can’t go yet, there are … my friends are still in there.” She pleaded.
Looking at the burning building, then back at Sophie, the medic replied. “Ma’am if they are still in there, I don’t an ambulance will help.”
Sophie gasped. “No, no … you’re wrong. You’ll see.” She stammered.
“Hey!” someone yelled.
The medic turned his head towards the voice, “Yeah?”
“Got some movement over here, bring the gear!”
The medic left Sophie’s presence, his partner already unloading a cart, boards and supplies from the ambulance.
“Nate?” Sophie asked her voice shaky.
“Yes. It’s them. I can barely see Eliot for all the smoke. It appears he’s carrying Parker.”
“Thank God!” Sophie whispers.
+++++
The blonde’s head resting on his shoulder, her breaths against his throat was the only way Eliot knew that she still alive. His whole body wracked with pain, head pounding and barely breathing, he made it a few steps out of the building, then his knees gave out.
Medics appeared quickly, putting oxygen masks on both the hitter and the thief. With help from two firefighters Parker and Eliot were put onto a gurney. Dean was cleaning the blood off of Eliot when he moaned.
“Can you hear me?” He asked gently.
Eliot nodded as he blinked, trying to clear his vision.
“Can you tell me what happened?” The medic asked.
Eliot licked his dry lips and immediately a straw was pressed against them, he sipped water for a minute before speaking, his voice hoarse.
“Parker fell and got her leg trapped. I was working to get her out, when there was an explosion. Parts of the building came down on us. Took me a while to dig myself out, then a bit longer to find her and get her out.” Eliot explained.
“That’s fine. You don’t need to say anymore. She’s fine. Lost quite a bit of blood, some smoke inhalation and she broke that leg.” Dean told Eliot.
Eliot nodded, his own eyes getting heavy.
“Sir, you have smoke inhalation, some nasty gashes that will require stitches and your ribs are damaged. We are taking you both to Boston Medical. “
Eliot growled.
“I’m going with Eliot, Nate. I’ve told them that they are Alice and Eliot Ford.”
“Okay Sophie, we are a few minutes behind you.”
Nate and Hardison watched from the monitors in the van as the medics loaded Parker and Eliot into the ambulances and drove away.
++++
Sophie greeted them at the ER entrance to the hospital. “They had to take Eliot into surgery. Internal bleeding.” She told them as she handed Nate a cup of coffee.
“What about Parker?” Hardison asked.
“She’s fine. They moved across the hall where Eliot will be eventually.
They put a removable, Velcro cast on her leg. She has a nasty bump on her head, but only a slight concussion. The doctor told me that they want to keep her at least twenty-four hours.”
“Okay, okay. What can we do?”
“Not much, just wait for now.” Sophie replied.
Taking in Hardison’s pained expression, Nate turned and said, “Why don’t you tidy up the loose ends, then go grab some clothes for both of them. Maybe get a book or something from Eliot’s place for him since he’s going to be here a while.”
“You’ll call if there’s any change?” Hardison asked before leaving.
“We will. Call us when you’re headed back this way.”
++++
Two hours later they wheeled Eliot into a private room. Nate and Sophie watched quietly as a nurse hooked up an IV drip in his right arm, while another nurse hooked him up to a heart monitor. He had a bandage on his forehead and his right hand was bandaged.
“He should be coming around anytime now. He did well in surgery. The bleeding was stopped, but the doctor noticed some fluid in his lungs, so we’ve given him some antibiotics to help fight the infection. His leg will be sore from that bad gash, which was stitched. Once he is awake and able to move around, we want him to off of it as much as possible, which means trips to the bathroom only. That will help it heal faster. I’ve left a pitcher of ice for when he wakes. Would you have a couple of cots brought up?”
Looking at Nate, Sophie squeezed his arm reassuringly, “Yes, we would appreciate that. Can you tell me how Alice is doing?”
“She’s fine. Her vital signs are healthy and her breathing has improved. She is sleeping right now, but it’s been approved so that you can sleep there with her, if you would like to?”
When Sophie nodded, the nurse replied, “Good, I’ll have a cot brought to her room too.”
“How long is the doctor going to keep her?”
“He’ll probably release her late tomorrow. I’m not sure about Eliot though.” The nurse replied.
“Thank you for all of your help.” Sophie told the young lady.
“They shouldn’t have gotten hurt, Soph.” Nate said regretfully.
“Nate, it’s not your fault. Parker’s okay and Eliot will be just fine. No one will blame you. It was an accident, you know that, right?”
Nate sighed, “Yeah, I know. I also know that Eliot will blame himself and Parker is so worried about Eliot, which makes me uneasy.”
“She’ll be fine, once she knows that Eliot is on the mend. You sit here with Eliot and I’ll go sit with Parker, but first I’m going to get us something to eat. Why don’t have Hardison bring one of him games with him. That will keep Parker occupied.
++++
An hour and a half later, Hardison was playing on his Portable PlayStation when Parker woke up.
“Eliot, Eliot!” Parker cried out.
“Dang girl, don’t do that!” Hardison snapped as he almost jumped out of the chair, thus killing his character in the video game.
“You’re in the hospital. Eliot got you out of the building.” He tells Parker slowly.
Frowning, Parker snaps, “I know that! What about Eliot?”
“He’s gonna be okay, girl. Relax. Doctor checked on him about a half an hour ago. He said things were good. He’s stable and the antibiotics are working on his lung infection. He’s asleep.”
“I have to see him, Alec.” Parker said firmly as she sat up and began to get out of the bed.
Dropping his PlayStation on the bed, Hardison got up and went around the bed, “Wait, wait, you can’t, you are not supposed to get out of the bed except to go to the bathroom.” He insists.
Eyeing the crutches leaning up against the table next to her bed, Parker glares at Hardison, “If you don’t help me get out of this bed and to Eliot’s room, I am going to whack you my crutch!” She tells him hotly, tears threatening to run down her face.
“Aw. Don’t, don’t do that. Don’t cry.” Hardison sighs as helps her stand up and get her crutches under her arms. He follows her closely, opening the hospital room door and guiding her to Eliot’s room.
Nate’s eyes snapped opened upon hearing the door to Eliot’s room open. When he saw Hardison and Parker on crutches ambling inside, he frowned, tilting his head and quirking an eyebrow at the hacker who was motioning behind Parker that he had no choice. Nate nodded and got up out to the chair.
Once she was standing at the end of Eliot’s bed, Parker gasped. “Oh, God!” Her voice shaking, she looked over accusingly at Hardison. “You said he was okay. The, the tubes and all, he doesn’t look okay to me.”
“Parker, Eliot’s going to be back to normal soon. He just has to take it easy for at least four to six weeks.” Nate told her as he rubbed her back.
“He has an infection? That what Alec told me.” She asks quietly.
“Yes. When they went in to stop the internal bleeding they discovered fluid in his lungs. The doctor said that it was most likely due to the fact that his body was tired and worn down. It’s just a chest infection, Parker. His ribs are bruised, but that’s all. They wrapped his chest to help him heal faster.” Nate explained.
“Surgery!” Parker gasped loudly, glaring at Hardison. “You didn’t say anything about surgery.”
Both Nate and Parker turned to look at the hacker, just as an older nurse walked inside.
“Is everything alright in here? She asked. Seeing Parker standing at the end of the bed, the nurse frowned, “What are you doing in here? You’re not supposed to be out of the bed.” She admonished Parker.
“I had to see him. He’s my friend.” Parker explained.
“I understand dear, but he needs his rest and so do you. Trust me, the best thing you can do for him is to take care of yourself first. He’s going to have a bit of a recovery spell and he’ll need his friends to occupy him. Now, let’s get you back to your room, okay?”
Reluctantly Parker let the nurse take her back to her room and help her into bed. Before leaving, the nurse turned back to look at Parker. “This isn’t going to be a reoccurring thing is it?”
“What?” Parker asked.
“You sneaking into your friend’s room?” The nurse asked letting her mother tone come through.
Hardison groaned, hoping that Parker would say the right thing.
“Um, I don’t know. How long am I going to be here?” She asked the nurse.
“Most likely you will go home late tomorrow.”
“What about Eliot?”
“He’s going to be here for a bit, honey.” The nurse tells her.
“Then I’m staying too.” Parker says firmly.
The nurse shakes her head and closes the door behind her.
+++++
It was four o’clock by the time Dr. Willis entered Eliot’s room.
“Mr. Ford, everything looks good. I’m going to release Alice today. I want to see her back her in three weeks to check on that leg. Until then, I don’t want you walking around you’ve ripped the tendons and ligaments in your ankle. If you stay off of it and keep it elevated, you should recover in about six weeks. If you don’t follow orders it could take up to a year. Do you understand me?
Parker nodded her head. “Yes. How long is Eliot going to have to stay here?”
“The young man that was with you when you were admitted?”
Parker nodded her head again.
“He will be here at least another three days. We have to give the antibiotics time to work.” Dr. Willis replied.
Crossing her arm across her chest, Parker replied “I’m not leaving until Eliot is released.”
Nate and Hardison groaned. Stepping forward, Nate got into Parker’s space. Lowering his voice to the one he used to use on Sam. “Parker, you’re well. You can’t stay here, you have to go home. Now are going to go without a fuss or do we have to do this the hard way?”
“But, Nate … “Parker objected.
“No. You’re going home. Hardison will take you.” Nate said sternly
Not happy with the outcome, Parker mumbled, “Okay, dad.”
Hardison nodded in agreement. “Cheer up, girl. We can visit Eliot once he is not sleeping so much, right Nate?”
Nate started to say no, but instead he found himself agreeing. After signing the forms for Parker’s release and handing prescriptions to Hardison, Nate sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he watched Parker being wheeled to the exit.
“Is she always like that?” A nurse asked with a chuckle.
“I feel like I am in charge of a zoo sometimes, I swear.” Nate replied before heading back to Eliot’s room to relieve Sophie.
++++
Eliot glared at Parker. This was the third day in a row that he had woken up to find her in his room. It was not that he minded having visitors, but listening to Parker read to him was not his idea of a good time. He had tried growling and threatening her, but she cheerfully ignored him and kept reading to him from the book he had been reading. Sighing, he slid down deeper into the bed, praying for sleep to take him.
A chuckle from the doorway made him pop one eye open.
“It ain’t funny Nate.” Eliot growled.
Nate replied, “Of course not, Eliot.” However he was still grinning and damn if that didn’t irritate Eliot too.
“Where’s Hardison?” Eliot asked, having decided he would rather play video games with the hacker than have Parker hovering over him like a hen.
“He and Sophie are running some errands, so I thought I would keep you company until the doctor comes by.” Nate replied cheerfully.
“Don’t gotta be so cheerful.” Eliot grumbled. Although he perked up when Nate turned the TV to ESPN and told Parker to go get something to eat.
“She’s driving me nuts, Nate.” Eliot whined.
Looking at Eliot, Nate had to stifle the grin that threatened to break out on his face. “She’s just trying to help.”
Eliot narrowed his eyes, but before he could say anything, Dr. Willis entered the room. She was looking over Eliot’s chart.
“Everything looks good. How are you feeling, Mr. Ford?”
“I’m fine.” Eliot replied.
“No headaches?”
Eliot shook his head.
“Your lungs appear to have cleared up, but I am going to give you a prescription for another of antibiotics. I want you to finish the prescription. Now, how is your leg? Not still in a lot of pain?”
“Nah, just a bit now and then.” Eliot replied.
“Okay. Well it looks like you’ll be going home today.” Looking over at Nate, she said, “I want him to stay off of that leg as much as possible. The cut was deep and it went into some muscle tissue. I have an order her for crutches, as I don’t want him putting weight on that leg for three weeks. I’ve already set up a follow-up visit. He’s not going to be staying alone is he?”
“No, I’ll make sure that someone is with him.” Nate told her.
“Good. Take care, Eliot.”
After the doctor had left the room, Eliot turned to Nate, “You’re not seriously gonna … “
Nate looked straight at the hitter, “Yes I am and you are going to follow the doctors’ orders, even if it kills you.”
Eliot opened and closed his mouth, before anything came out. “That sounded like you were talking to a kid. I ain’t your son, Nate.”
Nate snorted, “I know that, but you’ve been acting like child for the last three days.”
“Have not dad.” Eliot grumbled.
++++
Nate wheeled Eliot to the car and helped him into the seat and fastened his seatbelt for him. “Okay, Sophie’s going to take you to your place and stay with you until I come over. We’ve set everything up so that you can stay in the downstairs bedroom for now. No stairs for you.”
Eliot growled, “Nate.”
“I want to stay with him. I’ll be quiet, I promise.” Parker added.
“No!” Eliot growled.
“Aw, isn’t he adorable when he’s cranky?” Hardison said before he could stop himself.
“Oh, I’ll show you adorable!” Eliot threatened.
“Boys!” Sophie snapped.
Nate looked at the two men, “Am I going to have trouble with you two?”
Both men shook their heads. “No,dad. Eliot muttered with a smirk.
Nate growled, “I’m not … Sophie, it’s not funny.”
“Of course not, dear. Now, shoo so I can get him home.” She ordered.
“Home sweet home” Eliot grumbled as Sophie got him settled on this sofa and then handed him the remote.
“Elevate your leg on the ottoman, Eliot.” She instructed as she headed towards the kitchen.
Eliot grumbled but did it anyway. He had found a game on TV and was peacefully watching the game, when the rest of the crew entered the house making all kinds of noise.
“We got pizza!” Parker said with glee.
“I brought sodas.” Hardison chimed in, then looking at Eliot added, “No alcohol for you, son.”
Eliot glared at the hacker.
“I’ve got the table set and the salad is ready” Sophie told Nate. “Why don’t you help Eliot to the table?”
“Uh, I think we’ll all eat in here Sophie.” Nate told her as he winked at Eliot.
Two hours later, all the pizza boxes were empty, Parker and Sophie had fallen asleep on the couch. Hardsion, Parker and Eliot were playing some sort of video game, which Eliot was apparently winning. Smiling at his family, Nate got up and picked up all the empty cartons and tossed them in the trash before gather up all the glasses.
“Anyone want refills?” He asked.
“Nah, we’re good. Thanks” Hardison chimed. “Wait, no, no! How can, you did not just kill me!” He squeaked.
Eliot chuckled evilly.
Nate came back into the room a few minutes later carrying blankets which he covered Parker and Sophie up with. As he headed for the bedroom upstairs, he said. “Lights out at midnight guys. Don’t make me have to come down here.”
Hardison and Eliot groaned in unison at Nate’s orders. Parker chuckled, “I think he likes playing the dad.”
Eliot shook his head, “You’re enjoying this too much, Nate!” He sang in reply. A smile on his face for the first time almost a week as Nate’s chuckle could be heard from upstairs.