Title: What I Do

Author: Trowa B

Rating: FRA

Notes: For havenward over on comment_fic

Summary: It's what he does.

*****

Abby huffs in annoyance as she drags Eliot off her doorstep and into her kitchenette. "Damnit, Eliot! How many times?!" she protests as she shoves his unresisting form into a chair, steeling herself to ignore his wince as what is evidently at least a set of bruised ribs impacts the wood. "You know we worry about you getting all beat up like this!"

Actions belying her harsh tone, she retrieves an exceptionally well stocked first aid kit and, with a resigned sigh, begins to tend his split knuckles "Surely you can find something else to do?" she asks, tone sad.

"Abby..." He covers her hands with the one she wasn't tending "This is what I do."

She sniffs tearfully. "I know," she tells him mournfully. "But you can cook and you're at least as smart as Lindsey – don't you deny it! I saw your SATs scores! – and – and-" She pulls up another chair next to him, wrapping her arms carefully around him. "I don't want you to die like Kate did," she says, voice thick, and his arms wrap round her almost of their own volition as he realises.

"Oh, darlin'," he murmurs, "Ain't gonna happen. Just ain't gonna happen."

*****

It's three weeks later practically to the day that Dubenich gets in touch with him to offer him a job and he meets Nathan Ford from the same side of the battlefield for the first time. He can't help but wonder how much his hacker cousin had a hand in Dubenich picking him out of all the retrieval specialists.