And…Go! We're off again.

Eliot slid his hair behind his ear and pressed his ear against the office door. What were they saying in there? Was it about him? No. Ocean tides? Carnival rides? Oatmeal pies? Eliot's lies? What lies?

"Eliot!"

He did not squeal like a little girl and he most certainly did not nearly jump out of his skin. It was just Hardison.

"Damnit Hardison! What are you doing here!?"

"Um…I'm staying here, just like you are. What are you doing here? Eves dropping? That's not nice, man."

"Get your finger outta my face. Move, I'm busy."

"Busy being nosey. Move over."

"The door isn't big enough for both of us. Move your shoulder."

"Look, Sir-Grumps-Alot…"

"Shhh!"

Eliot grabbed Hardison by the arm and shoved them both into a linen closet just as the heavy office door opened.

"Will you stop movin'?"

"My head is in your armpit, Hardison!"

Allen glanced at John and Nate before shrugging his shoulders. Why would Eliot's head be in Alec's armpit? What the hell was going on here? And more importantly, why were Alec and Eliot hiding in the closet?

Clearing his throat, John chuckled before he tapped on the door.

"Y'all can come out of the closet now."

Unable to hold his laughter any longer, Nate lost his composure and doubled over, grabbing his knees. If John only knew how fitting that one sentence was for those two dingle berries. Wiping his eyes, Nate saw the door jolt open and Eliot and Hardison come barreling out, all arms, legs, and elbows. Both yammering about how NEITHER of them was coming out of the damn closet.

"That wasn't even remotely funny."

Eliot glared at his father.

"Yeah, that was just wrong, man. I mean, I don't have a problem with anybody, to each his or her, own, but what would Parker say if she heard that?"

Poking her head around the corner, Parker grinned at John.

"Parker thinks it's freaking hilarious."

"Of course, you do, woman."

Allen threw his arms around both of them and sighed.

"What were you two doing in the closet, anyway?

Hardison shook his head and stalked down the stairs toward the front porch muttering something about needing some serious space after this experience while Eliot tried his best to explain that he'd lurking without actually telling anyone he had been lurking.

"You were being nosey."

"Yes, Nate, I was being nosey. What am I supposed to think when the three of you are in there plotting God knows what about me?"

Allen opened his mouth to intervene when John shook his head and stepped forward.

"First of all, yes, we were discussing you. What can I say, El? You're a hot topic lately. Secondly, I don't care how upset you are about that fact. You're my son, Eliot, there are things I should know about you."

"Then ask me!"

"I tried. You won't tell me anything."

"Look, what I do usually doesn't allow me to get all soft and mushy with people."

"I'm not people Eliot, I'm your Daddy."

Eliot turned his back on the group and took a deep breath.

"I'm not accustomed to having that in my life anymore."

Allen motioned for Nate and Parker to follow him down the stairs and give John and Eliot some privacy.

"It's ok to let someone care about you, Sparky."

With those words, Parker planted a kiss on her friend's forehead and hugged him tightly before darting down the stairs yelling for Sophie. John rolled his eyes at her antics and addressed his son.

"You and I need to have a conversation. We're going to take a day, just us, and we're going to talk about all of this."

"I'm not good at talking."

"Well, you better work on that. I'm not going away, son. I want you to be alright and I know you're not. The headaches, the moodiness, the sleeplessness…the nightmares. You shouldn't have to deal with any of that, kiddo."

Eliot slid down the wall and pulled his knees to his chest. His heart was racing, his breath was coming in quick short gasps, his vision was blurring. He was having an anxiety attack. The trembling was starting now, too.

"Da…Dad…Daddy?"

"Allen!"

Eliot glanced at his feet as Hardison looked at the ceiling. Neither wanted to admit they had been nosey.

"Y'all weren't eves dropping on our conversation, were you? Because you both know how rude and disrespectful that is."

"Daddy! I wouldn't have to eves drop on anyone's conversation if you'd just tell me what y'all were talking about."

John wrapped his arm around his boy's shoulders and squeezed him close.

"If you must know, we were discussing you. I've missed almost half of your life, son. Nate was catching me up as much as he could. Allen was offering some insight as to what my next step with you might be. I don't want to mess this up, son."

Eliot closed his shiny blue eyes and breathed in deeply. How could John make him feel so guilty after all this time? Was it a parent thing? Or was it a John thing?

"