Not Mine, Nope. Underlined passages indicates dialogue taken directly from Haven S1 E9.

The smell of sugar and rain compounded by the cacophony of panicked voices brought him back to the present. Thoughts were reeling inside Nathan's head and the only still place left in the room was the back of his eyelids. Probably concussed again. He and Parker were on Carpenter's Knot for her surprise birthday with a hand full of friends and...acquaintances. They had found the skin of a Chameleon and had tried to use the birthday presents to determine who had been murdered and replaced.

Awareness came slowly and muddled, but sarcasm was an old friend that allowed bitter words to replace a groan as he took in his position tied to a chair in front of everyone. "That was manly." Anger slipped easily into his tone at the realization that his father, the Chief of Police, had pistol whipped him unconscious over a scarf.

Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and faced a room of angry, frightened , lovely in dark teal velvet held his gaze with bewildered yet hopeful eyes that implored him to set the record straight.

First thing first, "I'm not the damned chameleon."

In his ears the rabble of voices pounded his concentration and he tried to carefully explain the mistake of Jess Minon changing the gift he asked her to pick up for Parker. All this over a switched sweater; Jess probably thought it was too personal.

He strove for calm, control. "Ask me anything." Nathan tried to meet their eyes with little success. Shutting him out, more voices joined in the argument, ignoring him - dehumanizing him.

Then, vanilla washed over him as high heels entered his gaze. When had he turned his head down? Looking up he found Parker using her level head to command the room's growing tension as she moved to his back to untie him from the chair. Finally, someone he could trust.

Beautiful warmth trickled into his brain as blazing fire flared bright against his hands; those slight touches had his fingers flinching away from the pain before he could stop himself. The warmth withdrew and she came around his side to face him with stony blue eyes, an inscrutable look on her face.

"Well, I for one want to continue searching the house." The Chief strode off without even a look his way. Figured.

Breaking away from his gaze, Audrey again addressed the room. "Everyone get back in groups of three if you're going to search."

"What about you?" Duke pipped up.

Nathan's request to be untied was left unanswered, and his partner's tone left a phantom hole in his gut he'd rather not consider. "I'm going to stay here and watch Nathan, just in case."

With a crash of thunder the room plunged into darkness. Struggling against his bonds, Nathan felt Audrey's warm presence beside him and a pressure on his shoulder as she kneeled at his side - guarding or helping him? He couldn't be sure. Pandemonium reigned as the other party guests scrambled out of the room like a flock of sheep before a wolf.

"Dang it" The words came from his side. Outside the storm raged on.

Eyes adjusting to the now flickering candles courtesy of Duke's lighter, he tried to work the ropes free.

"Stop - just, calm down!" That steely tone had him abort his motions, looking up to see hurt and sadness wavering in the candle light across her beautiful face.

"Parker."

She reeled back, shaking her head in denial of his familiarity.

"Audrey, what's going on?" Duke's voice from the corner drew his gaze momentarily before it alighted back on hers, squinting as the overhead lights returned.

"Where's Nathan." She demanded.

He was pretty sure all three of them heard his throat click in the ensuing silence. "It's me, Parker. Just let me explain."

Audrey's mouth set in a grim line, her words shaky but determined. "What's there to explain? Just tell me where he is."

Leaning against his bonds he tried to close the distance. "Parker! I'm right here -"

Casting words over her should he saw the sadness on her face deepen as she answered the other man's question. "He reacted when I started to untie him."

Fury dawned over his childhood friend-turned-nemesis' face as Duke took a menacing step towards him.

Knowing his time was limited he continued, cursing himself for waiting to tell her. "Audrey! I don't know how or why but I can feel you - just you!"

Hurt slipped through him at her disbelief.

"I'm still me, Parker! I-" Words stuck in his throat, but he pushed on, laying himself bare before her and his last choice of an interloper. "I didn't know how to tell you - or if it would even stay - so I hid it."

Watery blue gazed back at him, jaw firm with her accusation. "No. Nathan would have told me."

He ignored Duke's long strides in his direction but Audrey flung out an arm to hold the other man back. Azure to grey-blue stares locked together, unshed tears gathering in hers at his silence. With a tremor, she continued her line of inquiry. "Is he even alive?"

"Listen to me!" She retreated at his plead, reigniting his attempts to get loose and Duke broke through her block." The first time we ever touched was after Jess left. Do you remember?"

He ducked Duke's first swing, trying to reach her all the while with frantic eyes. "Haven't you noticed I've been acting like a teenager - demanding high fives and handshakes?" The next fist glanced off his chin but he rolled with the motion and barreled on. "The brushes? My more-than-normally awkward behavior?"

Searching her face he found a glimmer of confusion; relief was short lived as Crocker landed a fist squarely in his gut allowing him to contemplate his shoes around ragged breaths.

Her voice rang in his ears."Duke, Stop!"

Nathan's view was tossed to the ceiling as the other man's uppercut landed squarely on his chin with an audible smack. A thwack reverberated in his ears, probably from his head hitting the chair back.

Rolling his head to the side he peered through the black spots swarming his vision. Small hands had come to rest on the shaggy smuggler's shoulders, halting his beating.

"What? No, Audrey, he doesn't even…feel it…" Fist still raised to punch him, Crocker comically turned back with a poleaxed expression to face Nathan.

Rage was another old friend. "Thanks, Duke. I better have all of my teeth." Turning aside, he spat blood on the floor; something told him the inn wouldn't be reopening for a long time.

Straightening, he found Audrey's face right before him eyes transfixed on his own as she cataloged his reaction. Behind her Duke was backing away with a slightly stricken expression on his face.

"Nathan?" Bright blue eyes studied him, vulnerable and hesitant.

He met her gaze steadily, "I'm right here, Parker. I'm Ok." Utterly sincere he continued. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

Shakily, her small hand cupped his jaw, igniting welcome agony across it. At his words a goofy smile spread across her face, only to be halted at his tight inhale.

Concern tinged her brow. "What..?" She removed her hand even though he tried to follow it. Reading his face, understanding flooded her eyes. "That hurt you, oh crap. I'm sorry-"

"No, don't apologize. I'll be fine." Already the pain had faded. It seems she was always apologizing to him when no one else ever bothered. Working his jaw he remembered his predicament. "So…any chance I can get up now?"

Duke's voice rang out, stilling Audrey's movement to comply. "He still hasn't proven it to me."

Nathan rolled his eyes. "This morning you emailed me a malware attachment while yet again contesting another parking ticket for blocking a forty year old fire hydrant. I think that's your fifth one this year - find another parking space."

"Oh." At Parker's gesture of 'are you satisfied' Duke caved. "I think that works."

Nathan chose to give Crocker his best suspicious police stare when a hiss at his back landed on his neck sending a shiver down it.

"Oh crap, Nathan, your hands."

Soft touches were drowned out by screaming nerves up both arms. Feeling lightheaded he automatically jerked away. His voice came out strangled. "That doesn't seem good."

Resting his head against the chair back, he tried to breathe through the pain as sensation faded.

"Duke?" Audrey called over his shoulder.

Anger twisted inside him at the other man's approach. Crocker's sharp inhale and muttered curse gave him a pretty clear picture. "Uh, Nathan, your hands are purple."

"Figured as much. "Rolling his neck he pinned the other man with a glare. "Table. Scissors."

Seconds later Nathan was still seated but now staring at his abused appendages with bemused detachment. Duke had backed off, shaking his head and muttering about finding some ice.

Audrey stood clasping and unclasping her hands, afraid to touch him; at her concern he broke the silence. "I'll be fine, Parker. Don't worry."

She wouldn't meet his eyes, "Nathan, I am so sorry. I should have just trusted you."

Head shaking automatically, he assuaged her guilt while working his hands one at a time. "I could have told you, I just…"

"What, Nathan?"

Floundering for words he attempted to answer. "I needed to understand. Then, I was worried it would go away."

Arms crossed before her, Audrey regarded him with ire and ill concealed relief. "You could have told me. We could have figured it out together."

He nodded, then chose to drop it. "We need to gather everyone, before this gets worse."

Nathan started to stand but found Audrey before him again, hands pressing down on his shoulders, pain flaming to life in the strained muscles. "Just because you can't feel it doesn't mean you're not hurt." Her eyes looked him over again and he wondered how bad it really was; she answered his unasked question. "He worked you over pretty good."

"I'll be fine."

"No." Her command took him aback, reminding him of her previous position as an FBI Agent. She plowed ahead, gears turning almost audibly. "Duke and I can … wait you're injured. Duke can stay with you while I -"

"Nope." Breezing through the door, the man in question plopped a makeshift ice pack in each of Nathan's swollen hands.

In light of her indecision, Nathan took command, "We go together - group of three." Standing, he waved off their hands with one of his icepack laden ones while the other was plastered to his face. He turned to leave, then stopped and faced the other man with narrowed eyes. "What was the prank you pulled on me in March of 1984?"

Crocker looked away, eyes turned to the floor in a rare display of discomfort. "Thumbtacks."

Nathan nodded. "Ok then." Both ignoring Audrey's confused expression, they headed towards the door then turned to see her behind them waiting.

"What about me?" Her eyes darted between them, trying to read this new dynamic.

"Pretty sure I'd not immune to the Chameleon, Parker." He sent her a wry smile to ease the tension.

"Hey," the smuggler raised his hands in mock surrender, "works for me."

Together the three of them left the drawing room to rescue and help the other guests of what would later be named "The Worst Birthday Party Ever."

Hours later Julia's body was found shoved in an old steamer trunk in the basement; the chameleon long gone, leaving more unanswered questions and awkward reveals in its wake.

The end