A/n: I'm afraid to say this will be the last installment to this little piece. To everyone who reviewed Thank you. To everyone who read, hope you enjoyed it. To everyone who also enjoys Eliot whumpage, let me know if you have a couple recommendations.

And just so you appreciate this properly you should know: I put off finishing season three to write this.

It was night when he surfaced again. Or at least it felt like night. He couldn't know for sure but he felt like he was alone in the room. Eliot didn't give a sign that he'd woken up, not wanting to start the rounds again, not able to deal with that. At least he was breathing with relative ease at the moment, the pain had gone down to dull agony that was almost bearable.

Darkness and undisturbed silence stretched on and Eliot tried to take that peace into himself. He was vulnerable and exposed and at any moment the pain might start again but it was a little moment of quiet. It was something to hold onto and ground himself in.

He didn't know how much time had passed, or if the others were okay, or if they'd come for him again after Parker…

Parker.

It hurt to think about her in ways Eliot didn't like to admit. He had worked alone so he wouldn't risk losing someone he cared about and now he'd lost… He mentally took a slow breath to pull himself away from that. He had to focus on surviving until the others rescued him.

He fought back the bitter laugh when he realized he'd thought "until" instead of "in case". He still believed they wouldn't leave him here to die. He was a fool, but it gave him something warm and light even as his world narrowed into endless dark and silence.

"No nightmares this time?" Nate asked late that morning. He had come in to check on Eliot only to find that in the hour or so since he had decided Eliot should be alright alone the long haired man had woken up.

Eliot was sitting at the moment, sipping the cold tea from the night before and looking more like himself for the night's sleep. He took a moment to answer, slowly and deliberately putting the empty mug down first. "All quiet." He turned to look toward Nate and it was a sign of just how weird this little family was that the mildly annoyed look on Eliot's face made Nate feel a little better. "You done playing nursemaid or can a guy get some food first?" Seemed like Eliot was getting back to normal. He held up the mug. "Tea to."

"I guess I could get you something." Nate said with a dry grin. "Though I'm guessing you'd be able to make it to the kitchen if you weren't being lazy."

Eliot cocked an eyebrow. "I know you're a con Nate. Have to try a little harder than that."

Nate crossed to the table, retrieving the mug and shrugging. "If you can make it to the kitchen Sophie brought some food when she came in this morning."

Eliot stood, bracing himself on the couch as he climbed to his feet. Nate instinctively tried to support him but Eliot jerked away. Nate took a step back and let him have his way, watching him walk out toward the office kitchen.

While sitting down Eliot had easily covered most of the signs of how badly hurt he still was. Seeing him walk though, that easy controlled danger and grace he usually had was gone. It almost hurt to see his broken limping efforts to fight the pain induced stiffness. But Eliot was off the matt now and Nate knew he had become what he was because he could do just what he's doing now.

Nate followed him into the kitchen, refilling the mug with water and popping it in the microwave before finding the Styrofoam containers of soup Sophie had picked up. "Chicken and Rice or Cream of Tomato?" Nate asked over his shoulder.

"Chicken and Rice." Eliot answered, a tiny hint of inside humor on his voice for just a second before he let out a breath. "How long did they have me?"

Nate let out a breath as he poured some of the soup into a bowl and stuck it in the microwave, retrieving the mug. "Four days." He said as he pinged in the numbers and found Eliot's tea stash, trying to sound casual without sounding careless. Eliot was hard to read on a good day and there was no telling his mental state right now.

"The rescue?" He didn't sound that upset, though there was a tired sigh in the silence before that comment.

"The Tibetan Terracotta Scam, only with you instead of fake relics." He didn't need to see Eliot to know a little grin had crossed his face. Eliot always liked new versions of old cons. "After we cleared you out we brought the feds down on them and Hardison gave them a 'virus that makes Twenty-Eight Days Later look like a kindergarten class in cold and flu season' your guess to what that means is as good as mine but he seemed pleased with himself." The microwave dinged and Nate slid the bowl and a spoon across the table to Eliot. He opened his mouth to ask the important question then closed it. He'd let Eliot eat in peace.

"Didn't talk Nate." Eliot said as casually as you could before carefully maneuvering a spoonful of the soup into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, letting out a slow sigh like it was grommet or something. Considering it was his first real meal in going on six days Nate marveled a little at Eliot's self control. He hadn't even had to caution the man that eating quickly would only make him sick.

"Didn't think you would." Nate said after Eliot seemed to recover a little. "Did you say anything?"

"I can curse in eighteen languages." Nate suppressed a small grin at those words and gave Eliot a steady look. If they were going to have this conversation he needed serious answers.

Eliot sighed. "I don't know. I was drugged and in bad shape. A lot of time I can't remember much. I mighta said somthin'. I know I didn't tell 'em what they wanted but I'm not sure what else I said." As he'd been talking his hands had started shaking. He hissed as the tremors caused the bowl to jolt and splash. Letting the spoon fall Eliot clenched his hands into fists drawing his arms around his abused body to try to ride out the aftershock.

Nate cleaned up the spill, knowing Eliot well enough not to touch him right then. After what he'd been put through Nate wasn't sure what to expect but he hoped this was just a step in healing. "We've got Hardison doing follow up to make sure nothing raised flags." He assured once Eliot had recover slightly.

The man didn't look like he wanted to talk anymore.

Nate moved the brewing mug of tea to sit by Eliot and on a whim put a hand on his shoulder. He tensed a second then relaxed, turning slowly to look up at Nate. No words were said but understanding and patience was offered and thanks was given.

Nate slipped out without another word, ready for a real drink to drive this nightmare out of his head for awhile. He just had to check with Hardison first.

After eating Eliot felt a little more solid. He was recovering quickly and tonight he planned on returning home. It would be a long time before he was back to his usual self but he was functional, mostly. That was good enough for now.

He was walking to his office when he saw the blinds were drawn in Hardison's office, something he couldn't remember seeing before. Hardison's computer was still in Eliot's office, another little mystery. He didn't have anything better to do with his time right now and somehow those four days protecting his team the only way he could had left a different mark. Eliot wasn't entirely sure he was happy about it but there was something new there, an instinct, or impulse really. He'd gone through hell to protect his team and it seemed to be becoming second nature to make sure they were okay.

Without really considering his officemate's privacy, they were thieves after all and tended to get into each other's space here, Eliot opened the door and stepped into the dark office. It took him a moment to locate Hardison in the darkness.

"Hardison!" He said, his voice a little more alarmed than he liked. Shutting the door behind him he went over to the figure sitting hunched over and curled up on the couch. Eliot winced internally as he moved faster than was probably best to get to the younger man's side, relived to find he wasn't injured. He might have been taking a nap if it weren't for the mild shaking and muted muttering.

Nightmares?Strange how hard it was for Eliot to imagine that. He'd been seen Hardison watch a marathon of "The top five scariest movies" when they were holed up in a motel on a job and he'd slept fine that night.

Eliot almost left him be. This new protective nature kind of weirding his old lone wolf nature out. He really needed to find a happy medium here and possibly address underlying psychological damage. Eliot was, if to no one else, honest with himself and he knew the last four days had probably done plenty. But that was a big can of worms for another time.

"Hardison." Eliot said, shaking the man's shoulder to wake him up. "Hardison." If nothing else Eliot needed to sit down sooner rather than later and didn't feel like fielding joking innuendo Hardison was likely to submit him to.

It was what Hardison muttered that made him pause, not sure how to react. "Stop! Don't hurt him!" Anger, fear, and something not too far from hysteria lacing his voice. A string of curses ended with Hardison jolting awake and it was only instinct it seemed even near death by torture couldn't kill that Eliot avoided the punch.

As Hardison half stood, half sat on the couch, panting for breath, an honest to god dangerously angry look in eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep Eliot glimpsed a side of Hardison he didn't think even existed before. It took the man a moment to catch up with the waking world and even as he did so the look faded. He relaxed a little, breathing normally as he looked curiously over at Eliot. "Eliot? What?"

"I'm gonna turn on a light, sit down, and you're gonna tell me why you look like death warmed over." Hardison was either still groggy or having trouble with Eliot's uncharacteristic concern or both because it wasn't until Eliot had turned a light on and sat back down before Hardison managed to put a sentence together.

"What's up with you man? Should you even be walkin' around yet? What are you doing in my office?" Eliot shrugged and wished he hadn't, it was a little painful. "See man, can't even shrug your shoulders without wincing. Go lay back down." Eliot realized what it was that was bothering him. Well, other than the obvious.

Hardison hadn't looked him in the eyes since he'd woken up.

Nightmares, the fact he looked like he hasn't slept in days and that comment Nate had made, about Hardison checking… "Hardison was there a security camera?"

Now Hardison wasn't even looking at him.

"Sophie found it." Hardison said quietly. "We wanted to make sure we'd got them all and they hadn't done something to you we didn't know." There was fear and guilt on his voice.

And pity.

Eliot clenched his jaw at that. He hated pity. It made it hard to remember there was nothing to be ashamed of. It was weird, some sick freak had made you scream and he was fine with that. He could ignore it. He could deal. He could add it to a long list of things he wouldn't think about ever again. But knowing someone you knew had heard you scream and whimper and beg by the end of it. Standing there as they looked at you with pity? Mr. Spencer if you could only…

His hands clenched into fists anger flaring to cover the shame and suddenly he really needed to just…

"Eliot?" Hardison said, concern on his voice.

"Can it." Hardison turned to give him a confused look. "Delete it." He clarified, feeling his heartbeat and breathing spike a little. He could feel it, anger and violence he had to keep under control slipping out. He took a long breath, trying to reign it in. He'd done this before. He just had to forget, move forward, lose that version of himself for awhile.

"You okay man?"

"I'm fine!" He said his voice raising a little. You can't forget when reminders are all around you. He thought shivering as he realized how cold the room was suddenly. It bothered him more than he liked which just added to his annoyance. He got to his feet too quickly, stumbling and bracing himself on the wall.

"Sit down before you fall!" Hardison said standing up, grabbing Eliot's arm to force him to lie still so they coul-

Hardison all but flew back to crash into his desk, a hand going to cover the side of his face, his nose bleeding like someone had struck him.

It took Eliot a second to realize what he'd just done.

Hardison regathered himself, apparently saved from major injury by Eliot's weakened body. "No dude. You're nowhere near fine."

For a long time neither moved, looking at eachother but not saying or even not verbally saying anything. It may have been hours if Eliot's body hadn't given out of him and he'd sat on the couch before he collapsed.

The moment broken Hardison came to sit next to him and Eliot braced his arms on his knees, not caring how much it hurt his shoulders. Pain cleared his head a little.

"I know you're really into the strong silent thing you've got going on." Hardison said softly, not joking for once. "And I don't know what you did before but I don't think it'll work this time. You're not running solo anymore, we got your back if you'll let us."

Eliot gave him a sidelong look, not bothering to tell him he was getting a little to Lifetime special. "You think you can fix me?"

"No." He said something bitter in that smile. "You're not broken, just a little beat up. I'm just trying to return a favor." Eliot's confusion must of shown. "You protected us. Least I can do is try to make sure you come out ok. Sides, what's family for?" When it was clear Eliot didn't know what to say to that Hardison laughed, breaking the tension. "Dude we just totally had a Good Will Hunting moment."

Eliot didn't even bother glaring as Hardison helped him to his feet. When Hardison offered to drive him home Eliot agreed. He had to push himself, he had to get better fast so he could get back to his job protecting the team.

But at the moment maybe he could let the team protect him.

He couldn't breath. He couldn't breath.

He gagged and struggled but he couldn't shake the pressure over his nose and mouth smothering him through the hood. Bright lights exploded across his closed eye. His lungs felt like they were on fire and his mind was beginning to give over to Oblivion.

Suddenly, feather light fingers brushed down his left arm and lifted it. Something soft and furry was placed against his side and his arm returned.

Suddenly he stopped screaming, though he hadn't been screaming before. He could breath again. It was quiet. The irony of that wasn't lost on him.

Then the feather light fingers were back, different, comforting. Through his clouded mind he recognized the touch but he didn't know from where. Other gentle hands were on his, releasing his limbs from the bindings that had held them for so long.

He wavered on the edge of consciousness, crying out in pain as someone moved his arms to his sides. Hands touched the hood that felt like it was part of his skin now. A moment later the rough material gave way and someone slid it off his head.

He shouted again, the sudden assault of light and sound overloading his senses for a long moment before he was able to distinguish voices. "Can we kill them?" "Careful" "The morphine quick." "Eliot, it's going to be okay. We have you."

A needle pricked his arm as he struggled to focus his eyes. Just as sweet painlessness pulled him under he finally saw Parker.

He didn't know if he was safe or dead but it was over.

And at the moment that was all that mattered.

When Eliot woke up the first thing he noticed was the soft presence against his side had never left. He opened his eyes and looked down only to find a battered old stuffed bunny nestled between the crook of his arm and his side.

It was then that he realized he wasn't alone.

Parker sat in a chair in the corner of the room, watching him silently with a little bit of an uncomfortable look on her face. "Hey Parker." Was all he said. In this situation he figured there wasn't really much else you could say.

"It's been two days since we rescued you." She said simply. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"You know most people would be a little disturbed if they woke up to someone inside their bedroom they didn't invite."

"If I watched from outside the window the neighbors would of called the cops. Besides, it's not as easy as with your office. Sorry if I woke you up."

Eliot looked down at the bunny against his side. "Yours?"

Parker looked down biting her lip once before answering. "Eight years ago I got caught doing something stupid and it took me two weeks to escape and I was pretty badly hurt and I didn't like waking up alone at night. Having an animal shaped pillow helped when I was little so I retrieved my old one and it helped. I would have had it to you sooner but I had to get it mailed from Rome."

Eliot didn't know what exactly to say to that, not something new with things Parker said but this was one time he wanted to say something right in response. "I felt it in my dreams." He said softly. "I started dreamin 'bout being rescued 'stead of…" He trailed off.

"You thought I was dead when we saved you." Parker said softly. "Hardison told me what they did to trick you." She got up and sat by him on the bed, touching his face with fingers that were feather light. "See, I'm alive. You protected us, like you always do. So don't be sad okay? Just get better."

Eliot reached up to take that little hand in his. It wasn't romantic, this wasn't about that. He just…

He was honest with himself, it would be a long time before he was back to his usual self, but that was okay. Healing was always slow. But… having this one little reassurance. Parker was alive, he'd done his job, everything would be okay.

His family would be okay.

And when you lived the life he lived, at the end of the day that was the only thing that really mattered.