Tranformation (A Leverage Fanfic) Chapter 3
Disclaimer: As usual I own absolutely nothing associate with the Leverage cast, characters, etc. There is no profit being made here.
This is Chapter 3. If you somehow missed the beginning you might want to take a quick glance at chapter 1 and 2 before proceeding.
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Pounding, pain, so tired.
The feeling of tender fingers pushing hair away from his forehead pulled Nathan Ford back into the world of awareness. Those same fingers trailed over his cheek. Something soft was settled beneath his body. It was a far cry from the cold tile floor he was expecting.
Safe. Secure. He felt at peace until images of his last moments of consciousness came flooding back. A startled gasp left his throat as his body jerked up, wild eyes scanning his surroundings. Where was Parker?
“Oh thank God,” a feminine voice choked seconds before gentle arms found their way around his shoulders.
Nate stiffened at the unexpected movement, pulling away from the bodily contact. He expected cold, dispassionate hands and unforgiving straps.
“Oh Nate, I'm so sorry! I just, I wasn't thinking,” was quietly said, the arms moving away. That voice…
The blurry world began to clear up as he stared, the dark figure taking shape and becoming a familiar person. “Sophie?” he asked confused. “What are you... Parker?”
Sophie smiled sadly, her voice shaky as she settled her hands in her lap.
“She's fine Nate. In fact last I saw she was using Eliot as a personal cushion,” It was a weak joke but did its job as Nate visibly relaxed at the news. She was alright. The others would keep her safe.
He was still confused though. “What happened? We were in a cell… the people with the white coats...” He shifted his eyes around the room. What if this was a dream or another one of their experiments?
Soft fingers touched his face and he turned his startled eyes back to Sophie, “You're safe Nate, at home. What they did to you in there, all the injuries you and Parker had, they're being taken care of. As soon as we realized you two were missing we put together a rescue. I'm just sorry it took so long.”
“The place?” He swallowed with doubt in his voice. His throat burned with the effort from lack of use. He couldn’t shake the slight slur that had been in his words since he started speaking.
Sophie gave him a sympathetic look, “A research center, top secret type. Hardison got some details but they have cleared out by now. Our biggest concern was getting you two out. You've been unconscious since we found you a couple of days ago.”
He was still unsure. If this was a trick it was one of the cruelest things the white coats had pulled but he wasn't ready to completely let his guard down just yet.
The fingers slipped from his face, instead settling on top of one of his hands. “You want me to say it again? You're safe. You're at home, in your room, in your apartment. The others are downstairs, just a raised voice away. We’re going to be here as long as you need us.”
Proof. He needed proof but didn't know how to ask it of her. He still felt so weak. Sitting up was more of a chore than it should be. She looked hurt. Were his thoughts that obvious to her?
“Sophie,” he sighed. Was she his Sophie? Either way it hurt to see the disappointment on her pretty face. He wasn't sure how they could fake her being here, if they were messing with his head but he needed to know for sure. He needed something no one else could assume. To anyone doing research his and Sophie's past wasn't a hard thing to discover.
A sad smile pulled across her face. “I understand Nate. Really, you don't have to explain to me. You've been through a lot. From what we know about that place it's only natural that you're skeptical. Just know we're all going to be here whenever you come around. I'll always be here.”
Her voice held a subtle flirtatious undertone he chose to overlook. She couldn't help how she felt anymore then he could help his changed feelings. What they could have been years ago was lost. They were both different people.
As he thought, her hand drifted up resting against the inside of his arm where he had pressed the needle in before.
“She told us what you did.” Her voice was softer this time, concerned and approving. “It was very noble of you.”
Nate pulled his arm from her grip, his own fingers wrapping over the bandaged area. “Not one of my best ideas but worth it,” he muttered as he examined his arm. They had yet to see the result of that stuff, whatever it was. He didn’t even know what to expect. Maybe nothing would happen. Maybe the dull ache that coursed through his entire body was all it would cause. A grimace pulled at his face. He had never been that lucky.
Hesitantly he looked up hoping to veil the fear he felt. Parker; he wanted to see her, needed to know that she was okay,“Can I see her? Parker I mean.”
Ever graceful Sophie nodded her head and cleared her face of any signs of negative emotion. If she read his thoughts on his features he had no way of knowing.
“Of course. The others will want to know you are awake,” She smiled faintly and offered a parting caress as she walked from his room making her way down stairs.
Nate watched her go. He had barely repressed a visible shudder before she made it out the door. He tried to stay alert, ready for whatever might come through the door. He still wasn’t confident in his situation yet and the racking pain wasn’t helping. It was taking all his willpower not to just slip back into oblivion.
Minutes passed and he had just about dosed off resting with his back against the headboard when he heard a ruckus on the stairs. His eyes were slower opening this time. He should have figured Parker wouldn't be sent in alone.
Nate barely had time to brace himself before Parker flung herself onto the bed, making quick work of arranging herself against his chest, squealing, “Stupid, stupid, stupid!”
He was knocked back from the impact but was too relieved to worry about the loss of breath. He stroked her hair instead of answering her muffled accusations, relieved at the sight of her, “There you are.”
She was okay. A sense of relief flooded his chest, allowing him to relax a little more. Maybe this was real. Parker pulled back with a frown.
“Was still a stupid thing to do.” She paused and her bright eyes softened. “But I'm glad you're okay. Silly Nate. Did you really think I was going to leave you? Even if you were mean.”
“Besides man,” another familiar voice chimed in. “you shoulda known the cavalry was on the way.”
Nate shifted his charge so she was settled beside him, head on his shoulder. Hardison's mug came into view. Eliot was leaning back against the wall not far from the hacker. Sophie had hung back and was watching from the doorway.
Hardison continued, talking with his hands as he explained, “Turns out you had gotten into private territory of the Military mind. It was some kind of undercover base. Don’t know why they targeted you and Parker. Though you would think if they were going to be running things under the table they'd have a really great security system, you know? Well except for a couple of rooms which were tight. I mean heck, compared to some stuff we pulled that thing was a cake walk. And when I say cake walk I mean...”
Nate furrowed his brow and interrupted. “Back up, military?”
The hacker nodded, continuing his ramble, “Oh yeah. We're talking unspoken ops here. I haven't had time to get into the specifics but...”
A large hand clamped over his mouth before anything else could be said.
“Not really what I'd call good timing,” Eliot pointed out. He suddenly jerked his hand back with a glare and a look of disgust.
“Uhm hm, that's what you get for grabbing a man like that. Do it again and I'm gonna do more then lick you. Speaking of which you ain't tasting too pretty. I dunno what you've been in but it's called soap. S-O-A-P. Soap.” Hardison admonished.
“Listen here geek boy. For one thing no one told you to be licking on folks to start with. For another do it again and it'll be the last thing you do because you aren’t gonna have a tongue. That'll shut even you up for a while.” Eliot growled, fixing him with a glare.
“Dude you don't even wanna know what I can say with these hands. Besides where do you get off telling me when to give information?” The hacker proudly waved his hands in the other’s face, refusing to back down.
“It's this little thing I like to call tact. Didn't your Nana teach you manners?” Eliot stepped closer, taking the challenge.
Hardison took a step back from the hitter but returned the glare. “Don't talk about a man's Nana like that. I'll tell you a thing or two about...”
Nate settled back with a relieved laugh successfully ending the banter. The actions hurt more then he would have liked but he wouldn’t take it back for anything in the world. God he hoped this was real.
Eliot and Hardison stopped at the sound, looking towards the team mastermind. Never one to miss an opportunity, Sophie smoothly slid between the two men while they were distracted.
“Really now boys, he should be relaxing, not be forced to listen to you two bicker like children. I swear you’re worse than real brothers,” She chided them. That got their attention back.
“At least I act my age,” Eliot muttered crossing his arms over his chest though his eyes never left Nate for more then a brief second to glare at his teammate.
Hardison snorted, “More like your IQ.”
“Don’t start,” Sophie warned with her gently commanding voice. “Not a word,” she insisted as both opened their mouths to blame each other, Hardison even raising a hand to point at Eliot.
Nate held back his open laughter at their faces but was forced to let it out when he heard Parker snorted her amusement and openly giggle beside him. It was too much and Nate caved with her. He laughed harder at their dumbfounded expressions to his reaction. The burn in his chest from the laughter was discarded for the sake of amusement. It was incredible how much he missed this in so few days.
Sophie looked at the boys, shrugging her shoulders helplessly as she tried a little more successfully to hold back her mirth. It was contagious. Eliot looked down so his hair hid his face though the shaking shoulders said plenty.
Hardison didn’t even try to hide it, shaking his head with a smile, “Man y'all just ain’t right. None of you.”
That only made it worse. As the laugher finally died down the three standing team members shared a relaxed look.
Parker stretched languidly at Nate’s side, curling into a ball and snuggling into him. He had settled to rest against the pillows and shifted one of his arms to further accommodate her when bright eyes sprung open and a Cheshire cat smile pulled on her lips.
She sat up eying their little make shift family. “Hey Hardison, you know that thing you were showing me before? The watcha ma do it with the thing a ma bob? I wanna see it now. I think I get how it works.”
Nate watched the way the way the hacker’s eyes lit up with her suggestion. His smile changed when he met the blue eyes of the now forgotten hitter.
“Sure girl, anything you want. I’ll even personalize it for you.” Hardison agreed without even taking the time to think.
Parker nodded with a satisfied look on her face that almost guaranteed other motives. “Mind if Sophie sees?”
“That’s alright Parker, I would rather…” Sophie started but never got a chance to finish her words.
“Please?” Parker asked again looking between them with imploring puppy dog eyes.
“I don’t mind,” Hardison shrugged. Anything to please Parker, especially after recent events. The girl was still too jittery and had only grown this excited when she learned that Nate had woken up. Getting her to stay in one place let alone still for the sake of healing her injuries was impossible.
“I don’t know Parker. I mean I would love to, really, but someone needs to sit with Nate.” Sophie offered with an apologetic note in her voice.
“It’s alright Soph. I can look after him. You’ve been up here most of the day anyways so a break will do you good.” Eliot volunteered with a shrug of his shoulders.
“Uhm…. Sure, why not.” Sophie bit back a sigh and forced a gentle smile. How would she refuse?
Since their recovery from that place the team had been taking turns watching their unconscious boss. It had been a precaution in case something went wrong and so he wouldn’t wake up alone. Eliot was right when he said she had spent most of the morning in the room.
“Let’s go then.” Parker chirped. She was too excited for someone going to look at a computer.
Nate watched the display in confusion as Parker sent him then Eliot a pleased look like she’d just done them a favor.
“Come on, come on,” Parker clapped her hands at having gotten her way, ushering the others before she moved to offer Nate a hug.
“Don’t sleep forever this time. Oh and I know something I’m not supposed to know,” she sing-sang into his ear.
Nate blinked even more bewildered but caught the wink she flashed towards Eliot before bounding out the door with entirely too much energy.
He carefully propped himself up on his elbows and was staring at the now closed door when Eliot spoke up, “I said it once and I’ll say it again. There’s something wrong with that girl.”
A light pink tint had covered Nate’s cheeks and across the bridge of his nose. “Do you think she knows?”
“Nah,” Eliot dismissed stealing the thief’s former spot. Nate shifted his gaze to the long haired man by his side, something almost anxious in his eyes.
A slow hand rose to rest on Nate’s cheek and he turned into the tender caress. His lips placed a hesitant kiss on Eliot’s rough palm. This had to be real. If it did turn out to be some twisted experiment… No. It couldn’t be. He wouldn’t mentally survive if this was some kind of screwed up game.
Seeming to sense his unease Eliot shifted again, the hand cupping his cheek slipping to gently lift his chin. Soft lips met Nate’s and the older man relaxed into it.
This was what he wanted, the kind of proof he had needed. No one knew about the couple, knew what had grown between them during their private moments.
A brief, chaste kiss against his lips and Eliot started to pull away. Nate caught his arm and pulled him closer again.
The strain of supporting all his weight on one arm left Nate shaking in his weakened state but he didn’t dare release the hold he had on Eliot, give up the feel and taste of him against his mouth.
Answering the unspoken need a strong arm wrapped around his waist, the other across his shoulders and pulled Nate closer.
Too soon he was panting for air and released the long hair he had tangled between his fingers. Eliot watched him through half lidded eyes, a content smile pulled across his lips, “You know, I thought I was the one supposed to pull those types of stunts.”
“Getting captured?” Nate asked as he settled back against the pillows.
“Playing hero to the team,” Eliot stated, getting comfortable alongside him.
“You saved us didn’t you?” Nate reminded him.
A sad look crossed Eliot’s eyes, “A little late.”
Nate let out a small smile, “We’re both alive. That’s all that matters.”
Eliot snorted and shook his head slowly. He leaned over placing a kiss on Nate’s brow, “Barely. Parker’s got some injuries I don’t even want to think about how they might’ve gotten there. You decided it was okay to take a two day nap and that’s not even considering your injuries.”
Nate pressed his eyes tight at the reminder. Despite not normally being a man for cuddling he couldn’t resist shifting and bury his face against Eliot’s broad chest.
“Pst, you missed you queue.” Eliot joked in an attempt to lighten the mood while he wrapped Nate tight in his arms. He could deal with his own issues over their late rescue attempt later. Nate raised his head a little but made no comment.
“This is the part where you say it’s all gonna to be okay now and start getting better. Of course you realize that you aren’t going to be allowed out of the bed for a while.” Eliot filled in. He used his hand to settle Nate back down, fingers gently stroking though tangled curls.
“I refuse to stay in bed.” Nate mumbled though his heart wasn’t in it.
Eliot suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, instead saying, “Right. Just don’t be surprised when no one listens to you.”
Nate did roll his eyes but didn’t bother to argue over the fact. For one thing it would be futile at this point seeing as he had no ambition of actually getting up and for another he frankly didn’t have the energy for it.
Instead he focused on the warmth of the body beneath him, the feel of the course fabric of Eliot’s shirt against his cheek. Under their own accord his fingers closed over some of the material. He could hear the soothing rhythm of his lover’s heart thumping under his ear. The reassuring sound put him at ease and he let his heavy eyelids slide shut without a fight. For the first time since he had woken up he felt completely safe.
Eliot’s talented fingers continued to work though his curls; ever so slowly they slipped to his neck and started to work the tense muscles there.
“You like that?” Eliot asked feeling the way Nate went slack under his administrations.
“Uh-hm,” was the sluggish reply. It wasn’t even a word so much as a muffled throat sound.
Suspicious, the hitter asked, “Nate, you’re not trying to fall back to sleep on me are ya?”
Another throat sound was his answer, this one just as listless only negative.
Eliot wavered for a minute on what to do. He knew from experience that unconsciousness didn’t necessarily exactly equate to getting rest but on the same note Nate had been out for two days. Unless he wanted medical equipment to be involved, which the hitter highly doubted after the military fiasco, he needed to actually get some nourishment into his system soon; preferably via food and water. He was just going to make himself sick otherwise.
Then again sleeping was the body’s natural method of healing and this level of fatigue might just be a sign Nate was recovering. It was highly possible that any sleep he got after this
point would be the most honest rest he had gotten for a majority of the week.
A sigh escaped Eliot’s lips. He was torn here but something had to be done, “Nate, you with me?”
A noise escaped the man curled against his chest but it honestly couldn’t be called a word.
Eliot pulled his hand away from the back of his partner’s neck. He gently pushed on a shoulder. “Come on buddy, you gotta wake up.”
A definite sound of protest was heard this time.
Eliot continued on, “Nate, come on now. I know you’re tired but you’ve gotta work with me here. I don’t think you want to be hooked to an IV anytime soon.”
That got his attention at least. Nate shifted from his comfortable position enough to glare.
Eliot met the sleep-blurred eyes apologetically. He felt guilty about what he had said but it was true. “You need to drink some water before you drift off, get something edible in you.”
Nate stubbornly shook his head at the suggestion. His stomach had tightened dangerously at the mention of food.
“Not now,” he argued. His words were still a little slurred, worse now that he was half asleep.
The other man pressed, “It’ll only take a minute. I can slip down to the kitchen and…”
Nate shook his head again. The fingers clenching at Eliot’s shirt tightened, “Don’t wanna be left alone. Others can’t come.”
Eliot didn’t know how to answer that. He couldn’t very well leave Nate sitting in the bed by himself after such a request, even just for the few minutes it would take to get a glass of water and a slice of bread. If he called the others up Nate couldn’t maintain the position he was in without questions being raised. The fact his sleep addled brain would let him think enough to comment on him not wanting the team meant he intended to still keep their relationship a secret. It also meant he didn’t want to give up the comfortable arrangement he had put himself in.
Those hazy eyes stared at him expectantly, clearly fighting to stay open and Eliot knew he couldn’t help but surrender.
“I’ll make a deal with you. I’m dead serious about it though Nathan.” Eliot used his entire name to make sure he understood that. “I’m gonna let you go back to sleep for a few hours. But you owe me. When you wake up, if I don’t wake you up myself, you’re going to drink some water and let me make you something easy on your stomach. Whatever I make you will eat. Got it?”
Nate smiled and nodded. Settling back down he reached for Eliot’s hand that had been working through his hair before and slipped his fingers between the other man’s. It only took him a couple of minutes to slip back into oblivion.
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Continue to Chapter 4
This is Chapter 3. If you somehow missed the beginning you might want to take a quick glance at chapter 1 and 2 before proceeding.
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Pounding, pain, so tired.
The feeling of tender fingers pushing hair away from his forehead pulled Nathan Ford back into the world of awareness. Those same fingers trailed over his cheek. Something soft was settled beneath his body. It was a far cry from the cold tile floor he was expecting.
Safe. Secure. He felt at peace until images of his last moments of consciousness came flooding back. A startled gasp left his throat as his body jerked up, wild eyes scanning his surroundings. Where was Parker?
“Oh thank God,” a feminine voice choked seconds before gentle arms found their way around his shoulders.
Nate stiffened at the unexpected movement, pulling away from the bodily contact. He expected cold, dispassionate hands and unforgiving straps.
“Oh Nate, I'm so sorry! I just, I wasn't thinking,” was quietly said, the arms moving away. That voice…
The blurry world began to clear up as he stared, the dark figure taking shape and becoming a familiar person. “Sophie?” he asked confused. “What are you... Parker?”
Sophie smiled sadly, her voice shaky as she settled her hands in her lap.
“She's fine Nate. In fact last I saw she was using Eliot as a personal cushion,” It was a weak joke but did its job as Nate visibly relaxed at the news. She was alright. The others would keep her safe.
He was still confused though. “What happened? We were in a cell… the people with the white coats...” He shifted his eyes around the room. What if this was a dream or another one of their experiments?
Soft fingers touched his face and he turned his startled eyes back to Sophie, “You're safe Nate, at home. What they did to you in there, all the injuries you and Parker had, they're being taken care of. As soon as we realized you two were missing we put together a rescue. I'm just sorry it took so long.”
“The place?” He swallowed with doubt in his voice. His throat burned with the effort from lack of use. He couldn’t shake the slight slur that had been in his words since he started speaking.
Sophie gave him a sympathetic look, “A research center, top secret type. Hardison got some details but they have cleared out by now. Our biggest concern was getting you two out. You've been unconscious since we found you a couple of days ago.”
He was still unsure. If this was a trick it was one of the cruelest things the white coats had pulled but he wasn't ready to completely let his guard down just yet.
The fingers slipped from his face, instead settling on top of one of his hands. “You want me to say it again? You're safe. You're at home, in your room, in your apartment. The others are downstairs, just a raised voice away. We’re going to be here as long as you need us.”
Proof. He needed proof but didn't know how to ask it of her. He still felt so weak. Sitting up was more of a chore than it should be. She looked hurt. Were his thoughts that obvious to her?
“Sophie,” he sighed. Was she his Sophie? Either way it hurt to see the disappointment on her pretty face. He wasn't sure how they could fake her being here, if they were messing with his head but he needed to know for sure. He needed something no one else could assume. To anyone doing research his and Sophie's past wasn't a hard thing to discover.
A sad smile pulled across her face. “I understand Nate. Really, you don't have to explain to me. You've been through a lot. From what we know about that place it's only natural that you're skeptical. Just know we're all going to be here whenever you come around. I'll always be here.”
Her voice held a subtle flirtatious undertone he chose to overlook. She couldn't help how she felt anymore then he could help his changed feelings. What they could have been years ago was lost. They were both different people.
As he thought, her hand drifted up resting against the inside of his arm where he had pressed the needle in before.
“She told us what you did.” Her voice was softer this time, concerned and approving. “It was very noble of you.”
Nate pulled his arm from her grip, his own fingers wrapping over the bandaged area. “Not one of my best ideas but worth it,” he muttered as he examined his arm. They had yet to see the result of that stuff, whatever it was. He didn’t even know what to expect. Maybe nothing would happen. Maybe the dull ache that coursed through his entire body was all it would cause. A grimace pulled at his face. He had never been that lucky.
Hesitantly he looked up hoping to veil the fear he felt. Parker; he wanted to see her, needed to know that she was okay,“Can I see her? Parker I mean.”
Ever graceful Sophie nodded her head and cleared her face of any signs of negative emotion. If she read his thoughts on his features he had no way of knowing.
“Of course. The others will want to know you are awake,” She smiled faintly and offered a parting caress as she walked from his room making her way down stairs.
Nate watched her go. He had barely repressed a visible shudder before she made it out the door. He tried to stay alert, ready for whatever might come through the door. He still wasn’t confident in his situation yet and the racking pain wasn’t helping. It was taking all his willpower not to just slip back into oblivion.
Minutes passed and he had just about dosed off resting with his back against the headboard when he heard a ruckus on the stairs. His eyes were slower opening this time. He should have figured Parker wouldn't be sent in alone.
Nate barely had time to brace himself before Parker flung herself onto the bed, making quick work of arranging herself against his chest, squealing, “Stupid, stupid, stupid!”
He was knocked back from the impact but was too relieved to worry about the loss of breath. He stroked her hair instead of answering her muffled accusations, relieved at the sight of her, “There you are.”
She was okay. A sense of relief flooded his chest, allowing him to relax a little more. Maybe this was real. Parker pulled back with a frown.
“Was still a stupid thing to do.” She paused and her bright eyes softened. “But I'm glad you're okay. Silly Nate. Did you really think I was going to leave you? Even if you were mean.”
“Besides man,” another familiar voice chimed in. “you shoulda known the cavalry was on the way.”
Nate shifted his charge so she was settled beside him, head on his shoulder. Hardison's mug came into view. Eliot was leaning back against the wall not far from the hacker. Sophie had hung back and was watching from the doorway.
Hardison continued, talking with his hands as he explained, “Turns out you had gotten into private territory of the Military mind. It was some kind of undercover base. Don’t know why they targeted you and Parker. Though you would think if they were going to be running things under the table they'd have a really great security system, you know? Well except for a couple of rooms which were tight. I mean heck, compared to some stuff we pulled that thing was a cake walk. And when I say cake walk I mean...”
Nate furrowed his brow and interrupted. “Back up, military?”
The hacker nodded, continuing his ramble, “Oh yeah. We're talking unspoken ops here. I haven't had time to get into the specifics but...”
A large hand clamped over his mouth before anything else could be said.
“Not really what I'd call good timing,” Eliot pointed out. He suddenly jerked his hand back with a glare and a look of disgust.
“Uhm hm, that's what you get for grabbing a man like that. Do it again and I'm gonna do more then lick you. Speaking of which you ain't tasting too pretty. I dunno what you've been in but it's called soap. S-O-A-P. Soap.” Hardison admonished.
“Listen here geek boy. For one thing no one told you to be licking on folks to start with. For another do it again and it'll be the last thing you do because you aren’t gonna have a tongue. That'll shut even you up for a while.” Eliot growled, fixing him with a glare.
“Dude you don't even wanna know what I can say with these hands. Besides where do you get off telling me when to give information?” The hacker proudly waved his hands in the other’s face, refusing to back down.
“It's this little thing I like to call tact. Didn't your Nana teach you manners?” Eliot stepped closer, taking the challenge.
Hardison took a step back from the hitter but returned the glare. “Don't talk about a man's Nana like that. I'll tell you a thing or two about...”
Nate settled back with a relieved laugh successfully ending the banter. The actions hurt more then he would have liked but he wouldn’t take it back for anything in the world. God he hoped this was real.
Eliot and Hardison stopped at the sound, looking towards the team mastermind. Never one to miss an opportunity, Sophie smoothly slid between the two men while they were distracted.
“Really now boys, he should be relaxing, not be forced to listen to you two bicker like children. I swear you’re worse than real brothers,” She chided them. That got their attention back.
“At least I act my age,” Eliot muttered crossing his arms over his chest though his eyes never left Nate for more then a brief second to glare at his teammate.
Hardison snorted, “More like your IQ.”
“Don’t start,” Sophie warned with her gently commanding voice. “Not a word,” she insisted as both opened their mouths to blame each other, Hardison even raising a hand to point at Eliot.
Nate held back his open laughter at their faces but was forced to let it out when he heard Parker snorted her amusement and openly giggle beside him. It was too much and Nate caved with her. He laughed harder at their dumbfounded expressions to his reaction. The burn in his chest from the laughter was discarded for the sake of amusement. It was incredible how much he missed this in so few days.
Sophie looked at the boys, shrugging her shoulders helplessly as she tried a little more successfully to hold back her mirth. It was contagious. Eliot looked down so his hair hid his face though the shaking shoulders said plenty.
Hardison didn’t even try to hide it, shaking his head with a smile, “Man y'all just ain’t right. None of you.”
That only made it worse. As the laugher finally died down the three standing team members shared a relaxed look.
Parker stretched languidly at Nate’s side, curling into a ball and snuggling into him. He had settled to rest against the pillows and shifted one of his arms to further accommodate her when bright eyes sprung open and a Cheshire cat smile pulled on her lips.
She sat up eying their little make shift family. “Hey Hardison, you know that thing you were showing me before? The watcha ma do it with the thing a ma bob? I wanna see it now. I think I get how it works.”
Nate watched the way the way the hacker’s eyes lit up with her suggestion. His smile changed when he met the blue eyes of the now forgotten hitter.
“Sure girl, anything you want. I’ll even personalize it for you.” Hardison agreed without even taking the time to think.
Parker nodded with a satisfied look on her face that almost guaranteed other motives. “Mind if Sophie sees?”
“That’s alright Parker, I would rather…” Sophie started but never got a chance to finish her words.
“Please?” Parker asked again looking between them with imploring puppy dog eyes.
“I don’t mind,” Hardison shrugged. Anything to please Parker, especially after recent events. The girl was still too jittery and had only grown this excited when she learned that Nate had woken up. Getting her to stay in one place let alone still for the sake of healing her injuries was impossible.
“I don’t know Parker. I mean I would love to, really, but someone needs to sit with Nate.” Sophie offered with an apologetic note in her voice.
“It’s alright Soph. I can look after him. You’ve been up here most of the day anyways so a break will do you good.” Eliot volunteered with a shrug of his shoulders.
“Uhm…. Sure, why not.” Sophie bit back a sigh and forced a gentle smile. How would she refuse?
Since their recovery from that place the team had been taking turns watching their unconscious boss. It had been a precaution in case something went wrong and so he wouldn’t wake up alone. Eliot was right when he said she had spent most of the morning in the room.
“Let’s go then.” Parker chirped. She was too excited for someone going to look at a computer.
Nate watched the display in confusion as Parker sent him then Eliot a pleased look like she’d just done them a favor.
“Come on, come on,” Parker clapped her hands at having gotten her way, ushering the others before she moved to offer Nate a hug.
“Don’t sleep forever this time. Oh and I know something I’m not supposed to know,” she sing-sang into his ear.
Nate blinked even more bewildered but caught the wink she flashed towards Eliot before bounding out the door with entirely too much energy.
He carefully propped himself up on his elbows and was staring at the now closed door when Eliot spoke up, “I said it once and I’ll say it again. There’s something wrong with that girl.”
A light pink tint had covered Nate’s cheeks and across the bridge of his nose. “Do you think she knows?”
“Nah,” Eliot dismissed stealing the thief’s former spot. Nate shifted his gaze to the long haired man by his side, something almost anxious in his eyes.
A slow hand rose to rest on Nate’s cheek and he turned into the tender caress. His lips placed a hesitant kiss on Eliot’s rough palm. This had to be real. If it did turn out to be some twisted experiment… No. It couldn’t be. He wouldn’t mentally survive if this was some kind of screwed up game.
Seeming to sense his unease Eliot shifted again, the hand cupping his cheek slipping to gently lift his chin. Soft lips met Nate’s and the older man relaxed into it.
This was what he wanted, the kind of proof he had needed. No one knew about the couple, knew what had grown between them during their private moments.
A brief, chaste kiss against his lips and Eliot started to pull away. Nate caught his arm and pulled him closer again.
The strain of supporting all his weight on one arm left Nate shaking in his weakened state but he didn’t dare release the hold he had on Eliot, give up the feel and taste of him against his mouth.
Answering the unspoken need a strong arm wrapped around his waist, the other across his shoulders and pulled Nate closer.
Too soon he was panting for air and released the long hair he had tangled between his fingers. Eliot watched him through half lidded eyes, a content smile pulled across his lips, “You know, I thought I was the one supposed to pull those types of stunts.”
“Getting captured?” Nate asked as he settled back against the pillows.
“Playing hero to the team,” Eliot stated, getting comfortable alongside him.
“You saved us didn’t you?” Nate reminded him.
A sad look crossed Eliot’s eyes, “A little late.”
Nate let out a small smile, “We’re both alive. That’s all that matters.”
Eliot snorted and shook his head slowly. He leaned over placing a kiss on Nate’s brow, “Barely. Parker’s got some injuries I don’t even want to think about how they might’ve gotten there. You decided it was okay to take a two day nap and that’s not even considering your injuries.”
Nate pressed his eyes tight at the reminder. Despite not normally being a man for cuddling he couldn’t resist shifting and bury his face against Eliot’s broad chest.
“Pst, you missed you queue.” Eliot joked in an attempt to lighten the mood while he wrapped Nate tight in his arms. He could deal with his own issues over their late rescue attempt later. Nate raised his head a little but made no comment.
“This is the part where you say it’s all gonna to be okay now and start getting better. Of course you realize that you aren’t going to be allowed out of the bed for a while.” Eliot filled in. He used his hand to settle Nate back down, fingers gently stroking though tangled curls.
“I refuse to stay in bed.” Nate mumbled though his heart wasn’t in it.
Eliot suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, instead saying, “Right. Just don’t be surprised when no one listens to you.”
Nate did roll his eyes but didn’t bother to argue over the fact. For one thing it would be futile at this point seeing as he had no ambition of actually getting up and for another he frankly didn’t have the energy for it.
Instead he focused on the warmth of the body beneath him, the feel of the course fabric of Eliot’s shirt against his cheek. Under their own accord his fingers closed over some of the material. He could hear the soothing rhythm of his lover’s heart thumping under his ear. The reassuring sound put him at ease and he let his heavy eyelids slide shut without a fight. For the first time since he had woken up he felt completely safe.
Eliot’s talented fingers continued to work though his curls; ever so slowly they slipped to his neck and started to work the tense muscles there.
“You like that?” Eliot asked feeling the way Nate went slack under his administrations.
“Uh-hm,” was the sluggish reply. It wasn’t even a word so much as a muffled throat sound.
Suspicious, the hitter asked, “Nate, you’re not trying to fall back to sleep on me are ya?”
Another throat sound was his answer, this one just as listless only negative.
Eliot wavered for a minute on what to do. He knew from experience that unconsciousness didn’t necessarily exactly equate to getting rest but on the same note Nate had been out for two days. Unless he wanted medical equipment to be involved, which the hitter highly doubted after the military fiasco, he needed to actually get some nourishment into his system soon; preferably via food and water. He was just going to make himself sick otherwise.
Then again sleeping was the body’s natural method of healing and this level of fatigue might just be a sign Nate was recovering. It was highly possible that any sleep he got after this
point would be the most honest rest he had gotten for a majority of the week.
A sigh escaped Eliot’s lips. He was torn here but something had to be done, “Nate, you with me?”
A noise escaped the man curled against his chest but it honestly couldn’t be called a word.
Eliot pulled his hand away from the back of his partner’s neck. He gently pushed on a shoulder. “Come on buddy, you gotta wake up.”
A definite sound of protest was heard this time.
Eliot continued on, “Nate, come on now. I know you’re tired but you’ve gotta work with me here. I don’t think you want to be hooked to an IV anytime soon.”
That got his attention at least. Nate shifted from his comfortable position enough to glare.
Eliot met the sleep-blurred eyes apologetically. He felt guilty about what he had said but it was true. “You need to drink some water before you drift off, get something edible in you.”
Nate stubbornly shook his head at the suggestion. His stomach had tightened dangerously at the mention of food.
“Not now,” he argued. His words were still a little slurred, worse now that he was half asleep.
The other man pressed, “It’ll only take a minute. I can slip down to the kitchen and…”
Nate shook his head again. The fingers clenching at Eliot’s shirt tightened, “Don’t wanna be left alone. Others can’t come.”
Eliot didn’t know how to answer that. He couldn’t very well leave Nate sitting in the bed by himself after such a request, even just for the few minutes it would take to get a glass of water and a slice of bread. If he called the others up Nate couldn’t maintain the position he was in without questions being raised. The fact his sleep addled brain would let him think enough to comment on him not wanting the team meant he intended to still keep their relationship a secret. It also meant he didn’t want to give up the comfortable arrangement he had put himself in.
Those hazy eyes stared at him expectantly, clearly fighting to stay open and Eliot knew he couldn’t help but surrender.
“I’ll make a deal with you. I’m dead serious about it though Nathan.” Eliot used his entire name to make sure he understood that. “I’m gonna let you go back to sleep for a few hours. But you owe me. When you wake up, if I don’t wake you up myself, you’re going to drink some water and let me make you something easy on your stomach. Whatever I make you will eat. Got it?”
Nate smiled and nodded. Settling back down he reached for Eliot’s hand that had been working through his hair before and slipped his fingers between the other man’s. It only took him a couple of minutes to slip back into oblivion.
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Continue to Chapter 4