Danger!

[zee_zeemagee]

----

Finding a place to stay proved to be the most difficult challenge of Parker’s mission. Most of the buildings abandoned were abandoned because the roof had caved in. The unsound structures had collapsed, forcing people to locate a new place to stay. Which in turn forced Parker to release more of her money on the world. She was not very pleased about that.

“I will be stealing that later,” she told the teller.

He just laughed at her and counted the precious bills. He didn’t believe her. He actually thought she was joking. Boy was he going to be surprised when she returned to her own time. She was going to have Hardison track down every single one of those. He knew how to. She knew it because she checked.

The place she bought wasn’t worth the money either. It was a shack compared to some of the places she owned. There was a bathroom and a bedroom. There was even a decent sized kitchen for such a medium economic country. It was even open to the living room. It was more of a cabin for vacations really. But it was exactly what she needed for a quick getaway. It was secluded and far enough away from everything where nobody would bother her.

Now all I need are the medical supplies and a plan, she thought.

The medical supplies were easy. She remembered a contact of Eliot’s having business in Jordan. He was easier to find this time around. He even looked a little angry that she was able to find him at all. But she used her money to do the talking. He was quite pleased with that and his mood changed. He was his regular self and Parker only felt a little upset over the loss of her money.

Eliot will pay me back later, she thought, whether he knew it or not.

She decided to hash out her plan at the coffee shop in Al Qatranah. There was something about the spot that was calling to her. She was fiddling with her plans, drawing out all the possible scenarios. She could almost see Eliot being beaten in that cage. She needed to get how out pronto.

I just need to do some observation on his guards, she thought, then I’ll know when and how to get him home.

“Is this seat taken?”

Parker jumped. She was so observed in her drawings and plans that she didn’t even notice the man approach. She smiled politely at him and shook her head, just like Sophie taught her to. Then she quickly cleared off the schematics and tried to act normal. She was pretty sure she was failing.

“What were you working on?” The man asked.

Parker shrugged and replied with the first answer she could come up with. “I’m an architect,” she said.

“Really?” The man said, “Wow, that’s interesting. It looked like you were drawing blueprints to me.”

Parker didn’t like the tone to his voice. He sounded suspicious and even a little too interested in her work. She decided to pay more attention to him. He was probably working with the people who killed Eliot. Except he wasn’t.

Oh, Parker thought.

She even gave an audible gasp as she stared at the man before her. His dark hair was slicked back and to the side. It was short and cut close to his scalp so Parker was impressed the hair could be slicked back at all. The suit was rather modest compared to others in the area. It showed his pay grade was wealthy enough to afford to wear a suit everyday but not wealthy enough to have it tailored properly or be silk. The tie was slightly askew because the man obviously didn’t know how to tie it straight. But it was the eyes that gave everything away. She’d recognize those blue eyes anywhere.

“Nate Ford,” the man said.

“P… Penelope,” Parker replied.

She took the proffered hand and shook it roughly. She couldn’t help the nerves in her system. This was Nathan Ford, the Nathan Ford. This was the man who chased Sophie all around the world. Hell, this was the man who almost caught her at least twice maybe more. This man was so much younger than she expected.

“Nice to meet you, Penelope,” Nate said, “Now tell me. Do you always sit in cafes planning cons? Or is this a new career path for you?”

“Planning cons?” She asked.

She wasn’t sure how he came to that conclusion. But it was Nate and he knew everything. Even if he was younger, he still knew more than she did. Plus she hadn’t fully ruled out the possibility that he could read minds. Of course, if he could read minds than he already knew who she was and what was going on. Maybe he would even help her.

“Those were schematics you were drawing,” Nate explained, “Now, I’m no expert but schematics usually point towards some ill-will of some kind. So I’ll ask you nicely. Planning a heist?”

Parker didn’t respond. Not because she didn’t want to. She wanted to tell Nate everything that happened and have him fix it. But that wasn’t going to happen, not this time. This wasn’t her Nate, just like the man she was saving wasn’t her Eliot. This Nate caught thieves for a living. He abhorred thieves and the crimes they committed. He made money chasing them around the world and stealing their stolen goods back. This Nate was a father and a husband.

“No,” Parker said, “No, I’m just trying to figure out the blueprint to a house I’m designing.”

“Alright,” Nate said, “Two can play this game. The Desert Castles might still hold some antiquity jewels or something of that nature. Amman has plenty of wealthy businessmen who visit from time to time. What exactly are you looking for per say?”

“I’m not a thief,” Parker lied.

“Right,” Nate grinned, “This is only a hobby.”

“Does your wife know you spend your days harassing innocent women on the streets?” Parker growled.

She couldn’t help it. It hurt to hear the suspicion in Nate’s voice. She hated this. She liked him better when they were a team. He was a better thief. Sophie told her that several times. He used to be as bad as Sterling she had explained. Parker hadn’t believed her before. Now she knew the truth and it was disheartening at best.

“How did you know I was married?” He asked.

She guessed.

“The tie,” she said, “It’s askew. If you knew how to tie it, it would be perfect. Clearly you’re used to somebody else doing the job for you. And before you ask your suit is too nice for you not to wear suits every day. Now if you’ll excuse me, Mr. Ford. I have a new building to create.”

She tried leaving in a huff. She remembered a story Nate told how that annoyed him more than anything else in the world. It was something Sophie did to him often. They all learned it from her. Eliot often times slammed stuff on his way out. Hardison just took his computer and would storm off. Parker never realized until now why the running was so necessary. It kept you from getting your feelings hurt more than they already were.

She knew he was following. She could hear his hurried footsteps in the distance. She didn’t even realize she was walking that fast. She didn’t used to do that. She used to know everything about herself. Then Nate turned them into a real team and ruined her forever. She never realized how bad that was before. How much it hurt.

“Guards,” he said.

She turned around and frowned. He was smiling at her. She kind of liked it when he smiled. The smile even went to his eyes and made him look twenty years younger than he already was. She finally saw the appeal Sophie kept talking about. Nate used to be nice to look at. But she still preferred Hardison.

“You mentioned guards while you were drawing,” he explained, “You don’t do that unless you’re planning a heist. So, what’s the plan?”

“Why do you care?” Parker hissed.

“Because I might have a job opportunity for you,” he replied.

Okay now she was confused. Nathan Ford, the white knight honest version, was asking her to do a job. She wasn’t quite sure how to take that. She kind of wanted to. She missed working with her team and she could maybe stand this new Nate. But helping him would put a dent in her plans with helping Eliot. And Eliot needed her more at the moment.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “I have plans.”

“If it’s a concern about money, I can get you that,” he said.

She really wanted to accept the offer. He was Nate. He knew how much she liked non-sequential bills. And she did need more money. Her supply was starting to dwindle because she had to spend so much of it on Eliot. But she wasn’t sure how much time she had. Eliot’s injuries needed major attention. She just couldn’t do it.

“I don’t do it for the money,” she admitted softly. She figured telling a half=truth would be better than the lie. Plus Nate would appreciate it more. “I do it because it’s right.”

He looked as though he wanted to say more. She stopped him with a raised hand and the shake of her head.

“Whatever your offer is,” she said, “It’s not enough.”

She boarded her motorbike and sped off before he could reply. She was grateful for that. She didn’t know what she would do if Nate decided to step in front of her. She couldn’t hit him even though she really wanted to. He was still Nate and that would never change. His feelings towards thieves did but not who he was. Plus, she couldn’t be mad at him after everything they’ve been through. It wasn’t fair.

Once again she didn’t notice her surroundings until it was almost too late. Her body made the movements and she wasn’t even aware. So now she was staking out Eliot’s holding cell, paying careful mind to any mistakes. It didn’t really take her long to understand the layout of business.

The five men she followed didn’t work on a shift. One would go out and talk to Eliot. The rest would hangout upstairs and act as if nothing was unusual. The guy who went to the cellar came back covered in blood. He would mop himself up and head upstairs to take a shower. Then another would go down. The sun would still be shining when the second guy returned.

Parker returned the next day to see if there was a pattern to the way the bad guys worked. She wasn’t surprised that there was. Everybody worked under a familiar pattern whether they knew that or not. It didn’t take her long to discover that the morning shift was different from the afternoon one.

They would wake at eight o’clock every day. It didn’t matter how late they stayed up the night before. It didn’t even matter how old they were or what rank. They all woke up together at eight on the dot. They would clack around in the kitchen and get their breakfast going. One of them would even go down to give Eliot breakfast.

At least they’re feeding him, Parker thought scornfully.

Then, like clockwork, they would be gone. At ten o’clock every morning they would head to their van and leave. Parker wasn’t sure why. She had to fight herself to make certain of their pattern though. She couldn’t allow her eagerness to get in the way. So she ignored her natural compulsion to visit Eliot and get him out now. She waited to see how long they would be gone and when they would arrive.

It wasn’t until the end of the week when she became certain of her rescue mission’s success. Eliot’s guards always left at ten. They always awoke at eight. And they didn’t return until half past noon exactly. Two hours. That was going to be her window of opportunity. She planned the extra half hour as getaway time. It would allow her to adjust the plan based on Eliot’s condition.

She packed a bag of emergency supplies. She would leave the major antibiotics behind and only give Eliot enough medicine to keep him up and ready. She wanted to be out of the danger zone long before eleven o’clock struck home. But she was a cautious thief by nature. Eliot needed his leg reset before they could even hope to get out of there. So, a small medical kit was the only solution to the problem. Two hours was a cake walk if you were alone. It was less so when you were rescuing a friend.

----

Parker waited in the bushes outside the house. It was nine thirty-five. She had just enough time to prep before Eliot’s guards were gone. She watched as they chattered away with each other, completely unaware of her presence. Their appearances were only slightly cleaner than usual. One of them was wearing a tie. But other than that it was business as usual.

They left a minute before ten.

The thief sprang to life as soon as the dust cloud disappeared. She tucked and rolled her way towards the building without missing a beat. She looked to her left and her right before entering. The screen door flew open faster than she expected but she compensated effortlessly. Her feet didn’t even make a sound as she inspected the house to make certain nobody was left behind.

“Hey Eliot,” she said.

She already had her lock pic out and ready to go. She was just getting her back of medicine together before she sprung him from his cage. She wanted him to be in as little pain as possible. So she took a syringe and pulled out a proper serving of pain medicine. It wouldn’t make him completely numb but it would make it so he wouldn’t scream when she reset his leg.

“You’re back,” he said, “What are you doing?”

“We’re going to have to reset your leg before we get out of here,” she explained, “I got this from a friend of yours. I promise that I’m only trying to help you. Now stick out your arm so I can stick it in.”

He gave her a look. She returned it evenly. Then his nose scrunched up in that familiar snarl she didn’t even realize she missed. It took a few more precious minutes before she finally won the staring contest. He stuck out his arm obediently. The red smears of blood almost made it impossible to find his vein, but Parker was used to that. She used the trick Eliot taught her and had the medicine in in seconds flat.

“Where did you learn that?” He asked. He sounded amazed.

“A friend of a friend,” she replied.

She was kind of busy after that. This lock was actually a challenge. One of its rollers was broken and the others compensated for it beautifully. Still it was no match for the thief. She had it opened and ready to go before Eliot could even blink. She grinned at the shock on his face. There were some things she did miss from the old days. That look was number one on the list.

“Let’s go,” she purred.

Eliot just gave her a look. He folded his arms against his chest and glared. Parker pointed her head in the direction of the door. She was pretty certain he’d forgotten this was an escape plan. The hitter didn’t even miss a beat though. He just pointed his head towards his left leg and coughed.

“Oh right,” Parker laughed, “I was so excited I almost forgot.”

Eliot decided to entertain her while she set his leg.

“Is this your first time busting somebody out?” He asked.

“No,” she said, “I’ve done this a hundred times. This is the first time I’ve done this alone though.”

“Great,” Eliot growled, “That’s exactly what the person you’re busting out wants to hear.”

“But this is a cake walk compared to all my other jobs,” she said, “I mean this isn’t even a maximum security prison. Even the fortress in San Lorenzo was more fun. Sorry Eliot but rescuing you is kind of boring.”

Eliot balked. “San Lorenzo,” he asked, “You’ve been in the Catacombs of San Lorenzo.”

“Catacombs,” Parker nodded, “Right. I knew it was something old sounding like that. Oh well. Your leg’s set. Let’s go.”

The hitter didn’t look too thrilled to be going. Parker rolled her eyes at his petulant gaze. She wrapped his arm around her shoulders and started walking. She knew Eliot and that was to her advantage not his. He merely complained about the absolute unfairness that his savior was some crazy lady he’d never met before. For Parker it was business as usual.

Apparently business as usual meant the plan didn’t go smoothly too. Because just as Parker and Eliot had successfully made it out of the cellar, the sounds of two car engines roared. The thief looked out and saw two dust clouds in the distance. She looked towards the tree line and growled. They were too far away to make it there before anyone could see them.

Plan B it is, she thought.

She pulled the hitter into the house just in time. The cars pulled up to a stop. She could vaguely make out the sounds of car doors slamming shut. Whoever their new friends was, they were taking their time in talking. Parker looked to her watch again just to be safe.

It’s eleven in the morning what are they doing back here already? She could have cursed. This is supposed to be my time!

“Got any steroids or amphetamines in that bag?” Eliot asked, “I could have this place cleared in seconds.”

Parker knew he could. That wasn’t the problem at all. Eliot hated taking the stuff. It hurt him in the long run and usually made him sicker than a dog. She remembered Nate and Sophie constantly having conversations about avoiding those plans. Eliot seemed grateful because he really didn’t like the pain. One time he told her it was worse than when she poked his bruises.

“No,” Parker said. She held up Plan B and smiled at the fear in his eyes. “I’ve got explosives instead.”

Eliot made quick work of making himself as small as possible. Parker silently thanked him for that. He was making her job easier. She rolled across the floor just in time for the front door to swing open. It was the goon with the tie. He kept pushing his hair back and patting his chest. He was holding the door open for someone, his employer maybe. Parker ignored him and set the first bomb on directly under the stairs.

“We would have cleaned if we knew you were coming in today?” The goon said. He turned his back for just a second and Parker took the advantage.

“Yes, well I can see why.”

Parker froze. Her arms were frozen with the bomb in her hands. She was seconds from planting the bomb and getting herself and Eliot to safety. But that voice… she knew it. It made her heart stop and her blood run cold. It made her mind fog with fear and confusion. Plus that British voice made her eyes water.

“It’s not what it looks like, Ms. Kroy,” One of the guards explained.

“Hey,” Eliot whispered, “You okay?”

She nodded her head and shrugged her shoulders. This was not the time to get sentimental. They had a limited time frame. They needed to get out now and fast. She only set the first bomb to go off in ten minutes. She placed the second one directly behind the kitchen counter. Then she signaled to Eliot to follow her lead. He nodded in reply.

“I can see that,” Sophie huffed.

Annie Kroy had always been a favorite alias of Parker’s. She enjoyed the way Sophie changed with the character. It made her understand why Nate was so afraid of her. Even in the past this character was no exception. Sophie walked into the living room without missing a beat. Her back was turned towards the side door as she took in her surroundings. Her outfit lacked the usual color Sophie wore. There was just a long black coat that fell to her ankles. A hat on her head matched it completely. Leather seemed the only thing Kroy owned.

“Now where is my merchandise?” She asked.

Parker’s heart grew cold at the matter of fact way Sophie spoke. She was talking about Eliot, their Eliot, like a piece of paper. That alone forced the thief into action. She pushed Eliot out the door as softly as she could. Then she followed him threw just as Sophie turned towards them. Her black eyes fell on Parker’s and they both shared a silent exchange.

“Oh,” Sophie said, “It appears to be leaving.”

The goons went into action right on cue. They were stumbling over themselves to get to her. Parker grinned as she slammed the door on them. She already thought of crazy gluing the door. She pulled Eliot with her and almost hissed when two goons came towards her.

“You really want to do this?” She demanded.

They looked at her as if she was crazy. Then they looked to each other just to see if they were seeing the same thing. Parker used the mistake to her advantage. She pulled out two tasers and shocked them into unconsciousness. She enjoyed the way they screamed.

“Two more to your right,” Eliot called.

Parker bent with the warning. A fist appeared right where she had been seconds before. She used that to pull the goon forward. Then she twisted into a roundhouse and took out his partner. She used the force of the kick to bicycle into the new goon. He dodged and Parker used the goon she held in her grasp against him. They both looked shocked when she pushed them to the ground with her hands. Handcuffs were always useful during a fight.

She grabbed Eliot and whisked him towards the trees. She was using the goons’ advantage against them. She knew it would upset them enough to come after her but it was all she had. Besides, her motorbike could outmaneuver them any day of the week. Hardison told her once she was a menace on two wheels.

“Helmet,” Parker ordered once they made it to her bike. She looked at her watch and counted the seconds. The house would explode before they got to the street. That was too much time for the goons to catch up. “This is going to be a bumpy ride.”

She jumped onto the bike and put her helmet on simultaneously. The pressure of Eliot at her back was reassuring. She grinned at the confusion she imagined on his face. They were driving towards the house she put explosives in. Then she turned and had their vehicles in sight. She pulled out the knife Eliot gave her for Christmas one year. Their tires didn’t stand a chance.

Gunfire accompanied their retreat. Parker could just make out Sophie’s orders in the distance. Then she revved the engine and urged it to go faster. The explosion happened just as they got to the road sign. They were free.

----

Eliot didn’t complain about the long trip. He seemed quite complacent with it actually. Parker would have apologized if they had time. She just wanted to make certain nobody could follow. So she took the scenic route through Al Qatranah. Then she decided to do a quick speed through of some of the back cities. It was two hours before they made it to the hideout.

The medicine was already wearing off. Eliot had beads of sweat decorating every inch of his forehead. His eyes were squinting heavily, which implied a concussion or something equally worse. It was a struggle just to get him inside. Parker even had to knock him out to get him to cooperate. He started fighting her when she brought in the I.V. Now she was able to see the damage and it was not pretty.

“How could Sophie do something like this?” She growled.

She knew they all used to be bad guys. She even understood that they were some of the worst criminals Nate ever hunted. She just didn’t understand the context with which he spoke. Sophie was the bad guy. She couldn’t even remember the last time the grifter wasn’t affected by somebody’s pain. And yet she used to be the one who caused it? It didn’t make any sense.

She sat down and tried to digest the news. Nate used to be exactly like Sterling and Sophie used to be like… well, a little like Moreau actually. She had never been that different. She was sure of it. Parker was always crazy. She always jumped from buildings and she always enjoyed stealing. Then her eyes landed on Eliot.

The hitter was sleeping peacefully. His body was covered in fresh bruises and blood. He didn’t have as many muscles as he would later on. His hair wasn’t even growing out yet. It was short, on the edge of being bald. Yet he couldn’t have changed that much either. Her Eliot was always fighting, always bruising. So how come the others were so different?

The realization hit three hours later. She was thinking about her past, the dark one she never told the others about. She thought about how everybody told her how crazy she was when her brother died. Those remarks shaped her in ways she never expected. She used those comments to justify everything she’d ever stolen. She didn’t just steal from rich men either. She stole wallets and shiny things from people who didn’t have the money to really own such pretty things. She stole from nice old ladies who collected stuff for the grandchildren. She even stole from people who offered her a warm place to stay for free. She never once considered how it affected other people.

Maybe that’s what Sophie did too, Parker thought.

She didn’t have time to think over this newest revelation. She could feel his eyes on her. Eliot was awake and studying her profile. His steady gaze was the only normal thing about this day. Well, that and kicking some bad guys’ butts.

“You’re awake,” Parker grinned. She hoped he couldn’t notice the tears in her eyes. She didn’t want to explain why she was so miserable all of a sudden.

“Hey,” he said, “How long was I out?”

“A while,” she said, “But that’s okay. It gave me time to think. How are you feeling?”

“Better,” he replied, “I’m not getting punched in the face anymore. Can’t exactly complain about that.”

Parker laughed. She had a feeling that was Eliot’s attention. She couldn’t understand it. Eliot seemed fine. He was joking with her and acting as if this happened every day. For her it wasn’t really any different but for him it was. He hadn’t met her yet.

“So,” Parker said, “Why’d they take you?”

“Shouldn’t you have asked that before rescuing me?” He asked.

Parker shrugged. At the time she only cared about his safety. Plus she thought that was why she was sent back in time. She couldn’t exactly tell him that. His head would explode. And her head was already exploding so one of them needed to be sane.

“Alright,” he huffed, “They weren’t real thrilled with my boss. I don’t understand it really. He told me to tell them their work wasn’t very satisfactory. They didn’t take it well. I don’t know why they had to blame it on me.”

Parker accepted that for what it was; the truth. She liked this Eliot. He was just as honest as her Eliot. He even smiled like her Eliot. Only this Eliot didn’t look quite as haunted. It was nice to see some of the wonder in his eyes. He actually looked as though he enjoyed being alive. That was much better than her Eliot. Her Eliot liked to be all mopey and frowny-faced.

“Are you hungry?” She asked.

He nodded. He even looked a little eager for some food. Parker giggled at that. She’d never seen Eliot so excited over a grilled cheese sandwich in her life. She was going to have to remember that. She would tease about when she returned to her time. Maybe he would even remember this and smile with her.

“Who’s your boss?” She asked.

The cheese was just starting to melt. The stove wasn’t as good as the one at the pub but it did the job. Plus here Parker didn’t have to worry about getting yelled at. Electric stoves didn’t have an open flame. Parker loved open flames.

She didn’t notice him walk behind her. She didn’t even notice he had the knife. She was just making him a wonderful sandwich and then she was being choked. The knife was at her throat and Eliot’s rough voice was whispering in her ear.

“Who sent you?” He asked.

She gulped. “No one,” she said.

“You’re lying,” he said, “Nobody goes through all that trouble just for the sake of helping someone. So I’m gonna ask ya again. Who sent you?”

“Nobody,” she repeated, “I just saw you in trouble and reacted. I’m not going to hurt you, Eliot.”

“Right,” he huffed. The doubt was thick in his voice. “And how do you know my name again?”

Alright, he had her there. She hadn’t thought of that. Her only plans involved rescuing Eliot. She didn’t have a failsafe. She didn’t even have a clue he would do this. She only thought about saving her friend. She forgot the most important rule of time travel. Your friends weren’t your friends quite yet.

“Answer me!” He growled.

And she did with the only thing she had left; the truth.

“I work for Nathan Ford,” she said.

“Ford?” Eliot scowled, “What would he want with me?”

Parker shrugged. “That’s not exactly my job. I’m just the messenger.”

He believed her. She could tell because his grip was loosening. It was a mistake, one he wouldn’t make if he wasn’t so injured. But he had an advantage he didn’t know about. He was her friend and as such she wouldn’t take the initiative. Eliot taught her that.

“If you’re the messenger,” he said, “then why did you rescue me. You could have just left me there to die. Why did you save me?”

“Because I was told to?” She asked.

If he noticed it was a question, he didn’t lead on. He just unleashed his lethal weapon and pushed her forward. He was aware enough to be mindful of the stove too. He caught her before she could burn her face. He twirled her around and pulled her mere inches away from his face.

“If you’re lyin,” he said, “I’ll kill ya.”

He promptly passed out after that.

Part III