Rating: Teen
Genre: General/Friendship/Romance
Pairing: Eliot/Parker Hardison/OC
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with the show Leverage. All I own is this story.
Summary: Parker is unhappy in her relationship. Needing help to break up with Hardison, she looks to Eliot for help, only he doesn't want to. Next best thing, find the hacker a woman suitable for him. Parker convinces Eliot to help her find a female to help her understand Alec's interests. Things get out of hand slowly but pulls everyone into the web of crazy.

Tangled Webs

By: Gypsy Spirit
Chapter One

Nate sat comfortably at the table in the Leverage office. He watched as Hardison clicked away at his computer making sure Eliot and Parker got to where they needed in the building. His faith in the team had continued to grow, especially in Parker, her skills in grifting were getting better every time they did a job.

Sophie sighed from her position on the couch. Curled into a ball as she shivered into the throw blanket given to her just hours earlier. "I could have helped with the con." She grumbled.

Hardison chuckled. "I doubt that Soph, you look like you're about to drop at any second."

Nate nodded. "Parker's doing great anyways, so far so good."

Parker smiled at the young man at the third floor receptionist desk, Eliot right on her heels. "Hello, my partner and I are looking for Mr. Tanner's office?" She leaned over the counter slightly to touch the man's tie slightly.

He blushed, a weak smile tugging at his lips. "I.. well is Mr. Tanner expecting you?"

Eliot grumbled behind her, making her frown slightly. "He isn't, but don't call and tell him we're here. We want to surprise him with some great news."

"Oh, well I'll just check and see if he's in…" The man's voice faded out as he began clicking away at the computer. "It seems he's in a meeting for another hour, but-"

Eliot moved up next to Parker, tucking the petite blond into his side and giving an intimidating grin as he tried to shift the focus to him. "How about we come back in an hour and see him?"

The man nodded, confused and slightly scared at the sudden turn.

As Eliot moved to pull Parker away with him, he stopped at turned slightly to the man again. "Hey is it any trouble to ask for his office number now, so we don't have bother you later."

"Of course, it's 332." He said looking at the computer screen, he glanced up briefly to notice the nods, a smile and then they were gone.

Eliot steered them towards the elevator waiting until they were out of sight of both the receptionist and the two security guards he nodded at Parker. No words were needed as she nodded back and moved toward an empty office door and began to pick the lock quickly.

As she worked, Eliot pressed his index finger into his ear. "Nate we're in, we just need directions for a clear path."

Hardison cut in before Nate could talk. 'Hey bro, I've just hacked into their camera fed. I need a few more minutes to get into their security system. I don't know what's going on with their system, but it's all kinds of funky.'

Eliot growled, a mumbled; 'Damnit Hardison', was heard coming through the coms as Parker pulled him into the office and closed the door quickly.

Parker frowned as she shifted to the blinds and began closing them. "Just hurry Hardison, we have less than an hour to get what we need from the office before Tanner gets there."

'You got it mama, I'm working here.'

Eliot frowned, not bothering to comment as the thief moved away from the now closed blinds and moved next to where he was leaning against the desk. He crossed his arms against his chest as he moved away to sit on the desk facing the door. He felt Parker's eyes on him, it annoyed him. "What Parker?"

Reaching up she pointed at her com. "Nothing." She added with a shrug.

He furrowed his brow, confused and more than a little annoyed now. "What's wrong?" The question came out without him even thinking twice. Even with all the unspoken conversations they could have, there were times that the blonde could still confuse him.

Turning toward the door before looking back at him, she put her hand on the desk, lifting it to show the small earbud she'd taken out.

Eliot glanced down, noticing the com before reaching for his own. "What's wrong Parker?" His voice took on a gentle tone, one he reserved for the rare occasions.

Parker shrugged as she hopped up next to him on the desk. "Nothing bad, it's just I think that I shouldn't be with Hardison."

Eliot froze. "What?"

"We don't get each other. We make better friends than this boyfriend-girlfriend thing." She said shifting her body slightly towards him, her knee bumping his. "I've tried to tell him, but it's like he refuses to listen."

"Parker… I don't know what to tell you." Eliot said stiffly, there was no way he was giving one of the few important people in his life relationship advice.

She shook her head. "I don't want you to tell me anything Eliot. I want you to tell him something."

"Parker-"

"Eliot please? You know me better than anyone else on the team."

"Damnit Parker, don't play that card with me."

"You know Hardison got upset the other day because we basically know one another like the back of our own hands, but me and him… we don't have anything in common except for our job." Parker leaned into Eliot's person space to make sure he was looking into her eyes, seeing the truth there. "I need you to help me. Please Eliot."

Eliot stared at her, watching her face as she stared at him waiting. She'd grown so much over the last few years. There was no more stabbing when she tried her hand a grifting. There were very few panic attacks when she had to flirt with the mark. She was still straight forward, crazy as hell Parker. And Eliot could say she was one of his best friends. "I don't think this is my place Parker." He finally said.

Before she could answer him, he reached around her and picked up both coms. Handing her one, he moved to put his in. "Nate? Hardison?"

'I'm almost in guys. Just one more and… bam!' Hardison whooped loudly. 'Alright I'm sending the route to your phone E, you should be gettin' it about now.'

Eliot opened the link on his phone. "Got it, man." Glancing at Parker he patted her thigh before jumping off the desk and moving towards the door. "Parker, let's assume we got only twenty minutes to do all this."

Parker grinned at that. "Just twenty?" She peered over his shoulder to look at the screen. "Let's move Sparky." Pulling the door open they moved quickly in the direction they needed to go.

Nate played with the coin in his hand. His eyes moving between the hacker and the grifter. He was sure because he was close to this con that something was going to go wrong. If not now then more than likely tomorrow when they go in for the third part of the con.

He watched on the security fed Hardison pulled up that they were still heading in the right direction and all coasts were still clear for them. They had to take a back ways to the office so not to run into security. "Eliot I want you to stay on the lookout. Zimmer said Tanner usually has security everywhere when he's both in and out of the office."

Eliot grunted.

Parker laughed.

Nate frowned as he turned to look at Hardison. "I guess there was no point of even saying that, since they found out for themselves."

Parker smirked as she watched at the hitter. He had his back to her as he fought off the two men coming at them. "Eliot's got his hands full, what's my part Nate?" She said pressing her finger into her ear to hear the masterminds' response over the sound of grunts and flesh being beaten.

'I want you to find the safe, it's somewhere in that room Parker.' Nate said, she could hear him shuffling papers on his end before he continued. 'I need that file Parker.' His voice held a small note of desperation.

Parker's hands stalled briefly in her attempt to quickly pick the lock. "I know Nate." She said softly, concentrating at the task at hand, she tinkered a few seconds before hearing the distinctive pop and opened the door.

Slipping into the room, she began on at the furthest wall in the room, shuffling through the shelves of books before moving towards paintings on the other walls. "Nate, I'm not getting anything here."

'Keep looking Parker.' Nate's voice came sternly in her ear.

Nodding to herself, she continued her search.

'Babe, make sure you get all the files from the computer too.' Hardison's voice came a second later.

Parker frowned, "I don't have a flash drive."

'I gave it to Eliot.' He explained.

"Of course, that makes sense." Parker mumbled grumpily. Moving to the door she poked her head out and noticed Eliot fighting still. "Eliot!"

Punching one in the face and kicking the other towards the wall, Eliot moved his short hair outta his face to glance angrily at his partner. "What?"

"Flash drive!" She snapped pointedly. "Eliot watch out!"

Just then one of the guards slammed a nightstick against Eliot's back, making the hitter drop to his knees. Eliot glanced at Parker, sending her a quick look before swinging his leg back and kicking the guard in the kneecap. "Now Parker!"

Without saying much more, the blonde thief grinned manically and sprinted at the other guard. Pulling out a hidden taser she fired at the man, catching him in the crotch. Eliot winced as he caught sight out of the corner of his eye, but continued his fight until he was left standing.

"I didn't mean the taser." He grunted out as he leaned against the wall.

She grinned. "I know but it's so much funner to use when you disapprove of it."

'Guys!' Hardison's voice came through again as a reminder.

"I know, I know!" Parker mumbled as she helped pull the two guards into the office.

Eliot moved to set sitting up against the wall. Parker unwilling to wait much longer dipped her hands into the hitters' front pockets. Only to be pushed away when her hand came in contact with something clearly not being the flash drive.

"Damnit Parker! What do you think you're doing?!" Eliot snapped pulling her hands out of his pockets and turning to face her. His face clearly showing his embarrassment.

Parker's eyes went wide. "I was trying to get the flash drive, you were busy, and we're wasting time. I didn't think it'd be a problem if I got it."

Eliot reached into his jacket pocket and threw the flash drive at her. "It was in the jacket! Not my pants!"

"Well how was I to know?" She asked moving to get the computer. After she moved back to looking for the safe, not bothering to look at the hitter.

"You could have just asked!" He yelled in a whisper as he moved to the door to keep an eye out for any more unwelcomed visitors.

'Alright guys we got everything from the computer. He has copies of all the files on here.' He said as much for their benefit as well as the two teammates in the same room as him.

'Parker any luck with finding the safe?' Nate asked uneasily.

She sighed, throwing a glance at Eliot. "No, I don't think it'll be here Nate, I've swept the office and I haven't found it."

'It's probably at his home…' Sophie's raspy voice came through before being cut off by a fit of coughing.

'Yes, yes Parker, you and Eliot head to his house and check it out.' Nate began thoughtfully.

Eliot glanced at Parker. "Nate, I don't think that would be the smartest thing to do man."

'Eliot we need that file.' Nate snapped unevenly. 'Everything is riding on that folder.'

Sharing an annoyed glance between the two, Parker shrugged.

To Be Continued…