Merry Christmas… Yes, I am trying to finish the story. I am so very very sorry for the long delay.

Disclaimer: I own nothing just showing my love of a wonderful show.

Sophie stood beside Eliot, and fidgeted, as he pawed through the sack of clothing that she had placed on the top of the dresser. Eliot had started talking about taking a shower the moment he returned from his involuntary bathroom break. . Sophie was hoping that the distraction of looking through the clothing would last long enough for him to admit to the exhaustion she could see in his body language and expression. She understood that he wanted to get the smell of Hospital off of his body but she had seen him shivering in the overly warm room. It was the fever she was sure. This only made her desire to see him dressed warmly and resting stronger.

Each item of clothing was freshly laundered and new but by the distressed look of the cloth you would have thought Eliot had owned them for years. There were flannel shirts, cotton t-shirts, hoodies, and sweats. Sophie has chosen each item with a few guidelines in mind. Ease of dressing was the first but the other was the comfort that the clothing provided.

"Sophie, these are great, but really you didn't have to do this, what I brought would have been enough." Eliot said, feeling a little uncomfortable that Sophie had gone to so much trouble for him.

"Eliot, two pair of Jeans and a couple of t-shirts are hardly enough to last a day." Sophie waved him away from the clothing. "Besides the jeans would have been uncomfortable, these.." she pulled out a set of navy blue sweat pants, a t-shirt, and a matching navy hoodie with its faded AE emblem across the chest. "will be warmer and comfortable to sleep in. Here.." Sophie held out the garments for Eliot to take, but Eliot's attention was on Parker who was inching closer to his new black and grey flannel shirt.

"Parker, touch my stuff and I'll break your fingers." Eliot threatened the blond thief. Parker tilted her head and gave Eliot a shy smile before turning slowly and sitting back on the bed. "I don't need to steal yours, I stole some of my own."

"You were out stealing stuff while I was in the hospital?" Eliot asked in disbelief as he took a seat on the bed beside Parker.

"Oh relax Sparkie, I did it at night while you were sleeping, and besides, you didn't miss anything fun. They practically left the door open for me. You would think that they wanted me to break in. Like they didn't know 'state of the art' was only good for the first hour of a new system." Parker rolled her eyes at the stupidity of some people.

When Eliot heard state of the art, his mind quickly jumped to computers and Hardison. He felt a little let down, the way Parker had been acting at the hospital, well it was childish, but he'd kinda thought Parker was on his side, not out playing with Alec like everything was normal. No! Stop.. he had to stop thinking like that. Thinking there were 'sides' would only allow him the pretend someone else could be at fault.. But that wasn't the case here. This whole mess was his own doing. If he had just remembered who he was… what he was..

Sophie shook the clothes to get Eliot's attention when the younger man appeared to be lost in thought. She waited until he had accepted the items before she spoke. "Why don't you get changed and you can have some lunch before taking a nap."

"Sophie, I don't want or need a nap. All I really need or want is a shower…a nice warm shower." Eliot argued.

Sophie looked at Parker. "Parker, go see when Nancy and Millie think lunch will be ready."

Parker looked from Sophie to Eliot, when he nodded she leaned over and gently bumper her shoulder against his before standing and practically skipping out of the room, having Eliot 'home' reassuring her that all was right in the world.

Once the thief had left the room Sophie tried again. "Eliot, can your honestly tell me that you feel up to taking a shower right now? I know you want one, believe me I understand, but wouldn't it be better to rest a bit first."

In all honesty it felt so good just sitting down that Eliot wasn't sure he had the energy to get back up. But, his pride wouldn't let him back down. "Sophie, it's not gonna hurt me to get a shower."

Sophie stepped closer to the bed and placed her hand on Eliot's shoulder. "Eliot, I can tell you're Tired." She squeezed his shoulder as she said tired. "I really think it would be best if you got some Rest." Again she squeezed his shoulder.

"Stop with your little mind games Sophie." Eliot said in frustration as he removed Sophie's hand from his Shoulder. "It's bad enough that the sisters are hovering.. I don't need you doing it to."

Eliot saw a flash of something in Sophie's eyes. "We'll, see what Nate thinks." She huffed, before turning quickly and retreating from the room.

"I'm not a kid Sophie...I'm not looking for permission." Eliot hollered out at Sophie's retreating form. Eliot sat there for a moment before looking over at the pillows, all fluffy and waiting. He really did want that nap, but if he gave in now it would only encourage Sophie, and the ladies, to continue with their hovering.

Leverage Leverage Leverage

The kitchen was a hub of activity when Parker entered. Millie and Nancy seemed to be worked in harmony as they moved around each other. "Sophie wanted me to see when lunch would be ready." Parker said as she made a bee line to the cobbler cooling on the counter. Nana swatted the young thief's had away when Parker attempted to poke the center of the dessert. Shaking her head at the blonde girl's antics Nancy continued sprinkling the top of the cobbler with a sugar cinnamon mixture.

"Yours is on the table and I've got Eliot's lunch right here." Millie said as she finished pouring a glass of cranberry juice. Turning toward the table Parker spotted Alec, the hacker met her gaze for just a moment then went back to playing with his computer.

They could hear the sound of heels clicking across the hardwood floor and knew Sophie was angry before she entered the room. "Where's Nate." She more demanded than asked.

"He hasn't made it back from the store." Nancy answered.

"Why do men have to be so pig headed." Sophie huffed.

"It's just in their nature dear." Millie said as she walked past Sophie, Eliot's lunch tray firmly in hand."

Leverage Leverage Leverage

Eliot stared down at the plate in his lap, the remains of over half a sandwich and fruit mocking him. The meal looked like something you would prepare for a kid. The crusts had been removed and the sandwich cut diagonally into triangles. There were peeled apple wedges and some thin carrot slices. The first few bites had tasted amazing, it was funny how good a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich could taste. The apple was a Granny Smith, it was tart and cold, just the way he liked it. Then again anything would taste amazing after a week in the hospital on a restricted diet.

The problem it seemed was that after three bites of the sandwich and two apple slices he felt stuffed. Sitting the plate aside on the night stand Eliot resigned himself to a lecture when Millie returned to retrieve the plate. Against his will Eliot found himself yawning, his eyes watered and his jaw popped, rubbing his hands over his face he tried to convince himself to stand up.

Snowflakes were still melting from the shoulders of Nate's coat when he paused at the doorway of 'Eliot's' room. Sophie had ambushed him before he could even close the apartment door. He'd only been gone long enough to pick up Eliot's med's and some needed supplies, but clearly 40 minutes was long enough for the grifter to fell an intervention was in order.. Or, that Nate needed to go deal with 'his' hitter. The tone of her voice so much like Maggie's when…

Shaking those thoughts from his head Nate stood in the doorway and watched Eliot for a moment before announcing his presence. Nate had witnessed the yawn and felt confident he could convince the younger man that Sophie was right. He needed rest before he tackled that shower. Nate knocked on the door frame before he stepped into the room and placed a plastic bag on the dresser, in the free space, next to the clothing Sophie had purchased. Pulling out two smaller paper pharmacy bags Nate removed the antibiotics and pain medications. "Sophie said you were asking to take a shower before you got some rest."

"I wasn't asking Nate." Eliot stated, allowing the frustration he'd been feeling the last few days to surface in his voice. Eliot looked up and met Nate's eyes in the mirror.

"I didn't think you were." Nate said, keeping his own voice natural as he started unloading the larger plastic bag. Gauze, tape, scissors, antibacterial soap, and various other items were lined up on the dresser. "Look, I understand your frustration Eliot, really I do, but try to see it from our side. The only reason you were allowed out of the hospital is because we agreed to ensure you didn't overdo it and that you got plenty of rest." Turning toward Eliot, Nate dropped a paperback western and a magazine on the bedside table.

Eliot glanced at the items. "Are you trying to distract me now too, you're as bad as Sophie, trying to use her mind thing and get me to do what she wants…." Eliot's words died as his anger caused him to stand too quickly. He went white as pain shot thru him and his knees threatened to buckle. Nate rushed forward and grabbed Eliot before he hit the ground.

"Don't tell Sophie." Eliot huffed as Nate eased him down to sit on the bed. The hitters head leaning forward resting on Nate's Shoulder as he held onto his side and tried to breathe through the pain.

"Take it easy and follow orders and there will be nothing to tell…do you think you reopened one on the wounds?" Nate asked.

"No, just hurts." Eliot huffed knowing that Nate was asking if he needed to go back to the hospital.

"Okay, I'll take your word but I think Sophie has won this round. I'm going to help you lay back okay?" Nate felt Eliot nod slightly and relax allowing Nate to do the work of easing him backwards so he wouldn't have to use his stomach muscles for support. By the time Nate had the blankets settled Eliot's pain level had dropped somewhat and his eyelids were drooping.

Eliot felt Nate rest his hand against his forehead but didn't try to shake him off. Instead he admitted defeat and allowed himself to fall asleep.

TBC