Falling All Around...(Eli)

[SA Daphne Woodreaux]

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Saturdays. Daphne usually LIKED Saturdays. It was the first of two days that she had some free time all to herself. But today was different. She'd had to go into the office to finish some work. She hated working on Saturdays, and leaving poor Max alone with her father. She wanted to spend time with her son-he was growing SO fast, and she was afraid of the day that he would decide he hated her for leaving him fatherless and so, her guilt usually caused her to do some slightly dumb things. Like this lunch.

She had gone to the grocery store and gotten Max and her father all their favorite stuff. Now, the three people sat in her father's kitchen, eating Twinkies and fried chicken and cola, and Daphne had a stomachache...not just from the poor food, but also from the shame. She should not let her guilt make her feed her family so badly.

She sighed and sipped her Coke. Her father's one bedroom home was too small. She was trying to get him to move in with her, or else her older brother Jason, because he was starting to have bad health. He was too stubborn to hear it, though. She just hoped that she wasn't overtaxing him, leaving a five year old alone with him. He couldn't chase kids around anymore. But at least Max was mostly calm.

Finally, the family had finished their lunch, and went to the living room to finish a movie that the boys had started before Daphne got off work. She had asked her father before if he needed to go out and shop, and she'd been a bit surprised when he informed her that he was having dinner guests-former colleagues and Army friends, for hot dogs and beer and soda and the Texas A&M football game. Of course. She'd forgotten that the game was on, and though Max had BEGGED to be allowed to stay and watch it, she had to take him home. She needed her mom time, and since he didn't have a father, she felt double the pressure.

But as they piled onto the couch and chairs, she heard odd noises coming from the garage. She got up, turning to the boy and the man.

Both of you, stay HERE. She got her gun out of her tote, along with her badge, and slipped into the garage.

Hello? She called out, cautiously.

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TAGS . . . Eli
OUTFIT . . . here
NOTES . . . Not my best, but...I think it will get better as we go.
CREDITS . . . lyrics credit to Attic Attack, template made by Megaru @ Caution 2.0

[Eli Gilligan]

"You're not going."

Mike's uncompromising stance told Eli that he would not win this arguement no matter how many reasons he came up with, no matter how much he pestered the man--he wasn't going to win. That didn't hinder him from trying to, though. "It's just a lit--"

"You're still limping, it's still painful, you're not going." interrupted the team medic, Nick. He finished packing his kit and straightened. "Besides, I want you to keep an eye on Pops; he's already trying to do to much...and if he doesn't have someone watching him 24/7, he'll work himself right into having another heartattack. Lucky for him the last one wasn't too bad."

"So you're saying that not only do I have to stay behind while you guys go off and have fun, but I have to babysit Pops too?"

Mike shouldered his pack and scowled at Eli. "We won't be off 'having fun', as you put it."

"So swap places with me--I'd be more than happy to take your pl--"

"No!" It was a five-voice choir that answered him.

"You're staying here, healing up, and watching Pops--get used to it!" Mike continued. The ferocity in his gaze quelled Eli's response. "Fine." he muttered.

The team turned away, heading for the van that woud take them to the airstrip. "Behave." Mike added over his shoulder.

"What? You want good behavior, too?" as the others glanced back at him, he declared, "I am making no promises!"

The team left amid threats of retribution should he not behave and laughter, and soon, Eli was alone. With a sigh he hopped down from his perch on the table and walked to his truck. He might as well pay a visit to Pops.

He pulled up in front of the house and eyed the small house thoughtfully. No one would ever believe that the owner of the place was actually a powerful figure in some circles of the political and military world. The humble dwelling was hardly a display of influence...or affluence. But it was that reason that attracted Eli--the man was approachable, unlike so many of his status.

Movement and a bright flare caught Eli's attention. He caught a brief glimpse of a shadowy figure darting away from the house, and heard a single sharp report of someone in the garage firing a gun, probably at the fleeing figure. He was out of the truck in a heartbeat, moving to pursue the shadow now racing through the neighbor's yard, and had taken about five steps in that direction when he remembered the flare of light coming from the garage. His steps faltered for a moment, and then he turned from his pursuit, abandoning it for a more immediate problem. He had seen those flares before, the sparking as the flame raced down the cord to the blast that awaited at the end.

"Pops, get out of there!" he yelled, running as fast as he could toward the figure still standing silhoetted against the light from the kitchen. "It's gunna blow! RUN!"

[SA Daphne Woodreaux]

Daphne raised her gun. She took a deep, quick inhale, and looked around. Her hand felt steady against the cool metal of the sidearm. She was a decent shot, but she hated it. She saw a figure, deep in the dark shadows of the Elm tree that hung over the Colonel's garage. She fired one shot. The noise resonated in her ears, and she shut her eyes against the kickback. She didn't notice the open wiring that hung from an abanoded lamp over her father's woodworking table. She yelled out into the hazy late afternoon air.

Law Enforcement. STOP. No avail. The intruder was making time heading across a neighbor's yard. Damn. She spotted a figure leaving a truck at a high rate of speed to follow the intruder. She raised her gun once more. She proceeded forward-this man didn't SEEM like an intruder-he was better dressed, and had an air of law enforcement about him, also. But she couldn't afford to be careless since Max was inside.

She cocked her head as the man yelled out.

Pops, get out of there!...It's gunna blow! RUN! Gottabejoking. Pops?! She raised her face, and her eyes flashed with a combination of mirth and annoyance.

Who are you? Speak now, or I will shoot...did Allen put you up to this?! I swear to God, I'll kill him next. Her idiot brother pulled pranks sometimes, but this one was NOT funny. You better have a really GOOD reason for this... She realized he was serious, and lowered her gun a bit.

Seriously. Who are you?

[Eli Gilligan]

"Who are you? Speak now, or I will shoot...did Allen put you up to this?! I swear to God, I'll kill him next."

The figure standing in the doorway was not Pops. Too...girlish...sounding. Besides, if the figure pointing the gun in his direction had been Pops, Pops would have shot him by now. Or at least started running.

"You better have a really GOOD reason for this...Seriously. Who are you?" The woman had lowered the gun slightly off line from a killing shot by the time he'd reached her, but she was still standing still and still asking insane questions, like she didn't realize that less than eleven feet away from her a fuse was running out on a bomb intended to rip the house apart at the seams.

Eli reached the woman and almost without thinking snapped the gun out of her hand. His gaze was as sharp as his voice as he snapped, "No time--RUN!" Grabbing her wrist, he yanked her into motion, shoving her toward the outside. "Don't stop 'til you get to th' ditch--GO!" He wasted no time in seeing if she obeyed him--there wasn't time too. He plunged inside the house, yelling with all the power and breath in his lungs."POPS! RUN!"

A moment later, the surrounding neighborhood felt the tremors; heard the blast. Some even saw the flash in the evening sky. And four people were far closer to it than they wanted to be.

In the aftermath, Eli slowly crawled his way out of the ditch, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings. "Some party, Pops. You were supposed to be taking it easy, not holdin' a marshmellow roast."

"I'll try to keep that in mind for next time, Eli."

Eli's mind was already on to other matters. "Yeah. We need to get outta here. There's no way to tell if the guy who planted that noise-maker has left or if he's hanging around out here somewhere to ensure his mission was successful." he jerked his head towrd his truck, which had whethered the blast--with the addition of a few new small dents and scratches. "Get in the truck 'n let's get outta here."

[SA Daphne Woodreaux]

Daphne stood her ground. She HAD to. Max was inside. Her father was FULLY capable of taking care of himself, but Max was just a kid. He was innocent, and she would NOT allow him to be harmed. The target was still advancing. Some kind of moron, obviously.

The man approached, faster this time. He took her gun, and spoke harshly.

No time--RUN! He grabbed her wrist. She tried to pull away, but this mystery man was STRONG. Don't stop 'til you get to th' ditch--GO! She shook her head; she couldn't go. She yelled...DADDY! THe man shoved her towards the ditch that was on the far end of her father's property. A few moments later, Max was behind her-she could tell by his quiet cries. As they ducked into the ditch, she covered her son, and then the man and her father ducked in behind them.

The ground shook. The sound was deafening, and her father's house went up in flames. CRAP. Her purse was in there...and good thing she'd put his cat out. She shut her eyes for a moment, her arms still wrapped tightly around Max. She realized that this was NOT a prank from her brother, and that Mystery Man was surely from her father's past.

Four people crawled out of the ditch, and Daphne worried now that she was dirty. The strange man spoke.

Some party, Pops. You were supposed to be taking it easy, not holdin' a marshmellow roast. Her father answered. [color-red]I'll try to keep that in mind for next time, Eli.[/color] Eli. She didn't recognize the name. She raised an eyebrow and stepped between the men.

Someone had better explain what is going on. RIGHT NOW. Because my kid was almost killed. And so was my father... But her protests fell on deaf ears.

"Yeah. We need to get outta here. There's no way to tell if the guy who planted that noise-maker has left or if he's hanging around out here somewhere to ensure his mission was successful... "Yeah. We need to get outta here. There's no way to tell if the guy who planted that noise-maker has left or if he's hanging around out here somewhere to ensure his mission was successful. She was going to protest...but realized that they were stuck. Her purse had been in the house, with her keys in it. GREAT. With a great sigh, she climbed into the truck, helping Max in, too, and settled in.

Daddy. Eli, was it?? Speak now...Or I WILL kil you both.

[Eli Gilligan]

Eli held the doors open, keeping watch as the other three scrambled inside, then hustled around to the driver's side and clambered in. The woman spoke again, demanding once more to know what was going on.Daddy. Eli, was it?? Speak now...Or I WILL kill you both.

Eli revved the engine with a scant glance at her. "Three words--cute, dirty, and violent. If I knew what was goin' on, we wouldn't be running for our lives right now." He floored the accelerator and pulled away from the curb. "So since we're askin' questions, Pops, do you you what's goin' on?"

In the back, Pops shook his head. "If I knew, we wouldn't be running away, period. Let's head for the safe house."

Eli chose his route with care, picking backroads where he could easily spot someone following them. By his estimation, it took them close to three hours to arrive at the safe house. Upon first glance, anyone who didn't know the property would have thought that the old rundown barn was the only sign of habitation on the land. But right behind the ramshakle building was a camoflaged trapdoor, with steps leading down to a large underground bunker complex. Up to twenty people could live there if neccessary, comfortably, for a year, without ever showing their heads above ground.

Eli hid the truck in the barn, under the stablest portion he could find, as Pops opened the bunker. "Oh, Eli? Remember to send the code, will you?"

Eli was blank for an instant before remembering the emergency code that would go out to the others in the team--in the event that it was used, the remainder--but hopefully all--would head directly for the bunker. From there, they would regroup and work out what to do next. In theory--the emergency code had never been used.

Eli sent out the code via pager--hopefully at least one of the others would be able to get their hands on it, and after a final glance around, followed the others into the bunker, securing the door after them.

Leaning against the counter in the kitchen area of the safe house, Eli let out a deep breath. "Now, time to figure out what's going on, and what to do about it."

"Sit down, first, Eli. You're looking whiped."

"I'm fine."

"No you're not. You're limping so bad right now, it looks like your trying to plow up the concrete with your foot. Sit." he commanded, pionting a stern finger at the chair opposite him.

Eli held up both hands in surrender and sat. "I'm supposed to be baby-sitting you--not the other way around."

"Do I look like I need two baby-sitters?" Pops gestured at their surroundings with a finger. Eli copied him. "Seein' as how your experiment with the chemical set went bust, I'd say you need an army of baby-sitters. You're not supposed to play with explosives when Mom and Dad aren't home."

Pops scowled at him, but left it alone. "A'right, what possibilities look good to us right now?"

Eli started ticking off possibilities. "One; they're after you. Two; they're after you're nieghbors. Three; they're after your daughter. Four, someone found out something and they're after the team."

[SA Daphne Woodreaux]

Daphne felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins. NOW she was pumped, and ready for action. She'd managed to retrieve her gun from were this Eli had plucked it away from her, and now, she felt the cold, hard steel pressing against her shoulder every time that he took a pothole head on. Apparently, he'd had Agency driver's training, too. She fought back a chuckle as she checked on Max. He had fallen asleep in the midst of all the chaos.

Eli finally spoke...he must have realized that, like her father, she was actually serious when she said she'd kill him. She would, if it meant protecting Max. Her father was capable of taking care of himself, but Max was just an innocent bystander. BUT she was his mother, and it was her job.

"Three words--cute, dirty, and violent. If I knew what was goin' on, we wouldn't be running for our lives right now She snorted a bit.

Well, the dirty part is true. You need to change...so do I. SO now what? I work for the CIA, perhaps I can help. BUT you have to TELL me what is going on. Is Max in danger? Because if he is, I am probably the best weapon you're ever going to have. It was true-she was a Mama Grizzly at times.

The two grown boys discussed a code-likely an SOS. She was a bit amused...two big, burly men, obviously schooled in clandestine ops putting out an SOS. But actually, she was grateful-though she'd never say so, she could maybe just go home soon. She needed a shower and a change of clothes. And maybe some wine. She didn't drink a lot, but...this situation warranted a bit of it, she figured.

They arrived at a large, concrete building. She knew what this was-a safehouse. She'd experienced a few of them during her training. She woke Max up, and led him carefully into the bunker. She looked around-it was actually a bit more "homey" than most safehouses, but could DEFINITELY use a woman's touch. Like...Pine Sol.

The four gathered in the kitchen, and Daphne made herself busy making tea and a snack for Max. She found some books in the large great room, and handed one to Max. It was Sherlock Holmes. Oh, well, it would have to do. She sent him to sit on a chair in the large room with his snack, and kept her ears tuned to the conversation going on between Eli and her father.

A'right, what possibilities look good to us right now?[/i] She sighed. She'd like to know. She placed a tray of tea and three random mugs on the table, helping herself to some.

Drink it, Daddy. The look on her face was very no-nonsense, and she nodded once as the old man picked up a mug and sniffed it. It was green tea, high in antioxidents and better for his heart. Especially given the lunch they'd had.

Eli spoke then.

One; they're after you. Two; they're after you're nieghbors. Three; they're after your daughter. Four, someone found out something and they're after the team. Daphne considered the possibilites. All of the sounded quite unappealing.

ME? My work is HIGHLY sensitive-the only way they'd want me is if the Agency put out a burn. ANd those guys-they don't miss their target. I am pretty secure in my job, so... But maybe it WAS her.

(sorry if this is sort of random. I am trying to do Farmville and watch Mary Poppins at the same time...I have my cousins in town for Easter)

[Eli Gilligan]

ME? My work is HIGHLY sensitive-the only way they'd want me is if the Agency put out a burn. ANd those guys-they don't miss their target. I am pretty secure in my job, so...

"A'right, so scratch that one. Now for the next unlikely; the neighbors."

"Not likely--I know what they do for a living, and not one of 'em has a carreer that's that cutthroat."

"Scratch. That leaves us with two possiblities that I don't like. Pops--have you been up to anything...secretive?"

Pops snorted and Eli smirked. "Not anything out of the ordinary."

Eli frowned. "Pops.....Not quite the answer I was hoping to hear."

Pops hesitated and scratched his head. "W-ell...there IS one thing....Kinda forgot about it..."

Eli folded his arms on the table and leaned forward. "And it is..."

Pops shifted a little and glanced at Daphne. "I ah...managed to tick off someone...um...doing some...ah... research."

Eli raised an eyebrow. "What were you researching?"

"Ah...it's kinda a sinsitive topic....But I...was...um...researching a few...individuals. They're extremely high-profile, and I recon they're...um...collegues...are a tad touchy about...having certain...things...revealed about them."

"Who?"

"Various...government officials."

"Including but not limited too...?"

Pops sighed heavily. "The Vice President."

Eli sat stunned. "The vice President." he spoke flatly.

"Yes."

"And you managed to... 'forget'... about it?"

Pops face flushed the slightest shade of red. "Well, with all the excitement and such.....yes."

Eli stared at Pops for a long moment. Finally he spoke. "Wow."




(Sorry there's not a whole lot to respond too...but I'm thinking Pops get's left behind when they go...digging around for.... info....?)

[SA Daphne Woodreaux]

(I know. Sorry. I am feeling a bit more intelligent this evening. LOL.)

Daphne listened quietly. She was unhappy with the turn of events. It meant that her father had lied to her-he PROMISED that he wasn't going to do any more work, official or not, after his heart attack.

After Eli and Daddy went back and forth for a minute, she heard something that made her set her jaw, and tense.

W-ell...there IS one thing....Kinda forgot about it...I ah...managed to tick off someone...um...doing some...ah... research. THIS would be interesting. Daphne really SHOULD have stayed at work today. Ah...it's kinda a sinsitive topic....But I...was...um...researching a few...individuals. They're extremely high-profile, and I recon they're...um...collegues...are a tad touchy about...having certain...things...revealed about them...Various...government officials. The Vice President. He forgot about a project, which he'd EXPLICITLY promised her he'd NOT do, about the Vice President. Her boss. Lovely.

DADDY, you PROMISED me that you wouldn't work anymore. Have you been exposing MAX to this? His silence confirmed it for her. Fantastic. You're fired from babysitting. She turned to Eli.

Now what? I think we should go to my office. See what I can do. She sighed. They might as well get to work if they were going to figure this out. Especially because I am tired, and I need a shower.

[Eli Gilligan]

"DADDY, you PROMISED me that you wouldn't work anymore. Have you been exposing MAX to this?" His silence confirmed it for her. "Fantastic. You're fired from babysitting."

She turned to Eli, who was trying to hide a grin.

"Now what? I think we should go to my office. See what I can do. Especially because I am tired, and I need a shower."

"And you can get one at your office?" The words popped out of his mouth before he could stop them. But before he could think of trying to make ammends, he thought of something else. "But if we go to your office...who's gunna babysit Max? Pops or me?" he grinned sweetly at her.

Pops let out a groan. "Trust me, Daphne, you do NOT want Eli to babysit your son--trust me!"

Eli laughed. "Well, that leaves Pops--unless YOU want to stay here."

[SA Daphne Woodreaux]

Daphne was really NOT in a mood for this. She looked from her father to the man called Eli. He was hiding-not WELL-a grin.

And you can get one at your office? Actually, there WAS a gym at Langley. But she just gave him a LOOK.

Not that YOU'LL ever know. Max, come here. She called the boy to her. She informed him that she'd be going back to work for a little bit, and that he wasn't to be a nuisance. She heard Eli's voice once more.

But if we go to your office...who's gunna babysit Max? Pops or me? She made another face. Trust me, Daphne, you do NOT want Eli to babysit your son--trust me! Well, of COURSE she wouldn't. She'd only JUST met the man. How was she to know he wasn't some serial killer or something?!

Well, that leaves Pops--unless YOU want to stay here. She sighed.

Daddy. Watch Max. NO sheninagins. I MEAN it. You, she pointed to Eli. Let's go. Call whomever you need to on the way. She ran her fingers through her hair, and at least she had her ID on her.

Are you ready? She got her badge, and her gun, still pressed into her shoulder holster was still there, ready for use. Hopefully she wouldn't have to. She kissed Max quickly as they left.

How do you know my father?

[Eli Gilligan]

"Daddy. Watch Max. NO sheninagins. I MEAN it. You, she pointed to Eli. Let's go. Call whomever you need to on the way. Are you ready?"

Eli gave a shrug. "Sure. Always ready." He gave a grin and stood following her out of the bunker.

It didn't take her long once they were on the road back to DC to start asking more questions.

"How do you know my father?"

He'd been waiting for that one--"Through work." he gave another careless shrug. "We kinda hit it off, you could say." When pressed for more details, he wove her a wild story--truthful, embellished with LOTS of details. So many, that it sounded made-up. Which it was. It lasted the entire trip--Eli made certain of it.


(And I can't think of anything else, so this is kinda...bleh, I know.)

[SA Daphne Woodreaux]

(No worries)

Daphne let out a yawn. Her day had been nuts, and that didn't include the past hour or so. The full force of what had happened was just beginning to hit her, so she was glad to get to work to take her mind off of it.

Sure...always ready. She just nodded. Good. That would be helpful. But for what? She wasn't too sure yet. She knew that the Colonel and Max would be fine in the Bunker-they'd both probably jus nap. And she realized that she would probably have to move her father in with her and Max now. She wasn't sure how to feel about that.

They made it to a pickup, and Daphne smiled. She had learned to drive in a truck like this-and she could handle the stick shift. She climbed in, feeling like she should be wearing jeans and boots instead of her now-dirty suit. Good thing she kept an extra at the office.

As they drove towards Langley, she inquired how Eli knew her father.

Through work....We kinda hit it off, you could say. Figures. Daddy, like she, tended to connect with the broken and hopeless, as if they were kittens needing rescuing. She was glad to let him take the conversation as she drove. She was exhausted.

She listened as Eli wove a tale....she knew that most of it was made up. She had lie radar, a gift given to women when they became mothers. She simply nodded, though.

Well. That sounds like an interesting job....like something Homeland does, actually. Or those private contract security firms, which, for the record, I hate because they mess up MY intel. Now, when we get inside, they will ask you a bunch of questions and want to see your ID. Just stick with me, but please answer truthfully. I really don't feel like dealing with federal prison today. She parked the truck expertly and turned to Eli, making sure he understood she was serious.

And...thanks for saving Daddy. And Max...

[Eli Gilligan]

"Well. That sounds like an interesting job....like something Homeland does, actually. Or those private contract security firms, which, for the record, I hate because they mess up MY intel. Now, when we get inside, they will ask you a bunch of questions and want to see your ID. Just stick with me, but please answer truthfully. I really don't feel like dealing with federal prison today."

It was clear that she didn't believe one word of what he said...good. She parked the truck and looked over at him and Eli felt the mood shift ever so slightly.

"And...thanks for saving Daddy. And Max..."

Eli knew that she was being serious, but he also knew that this type of mood in people made him feel awkward. So instead of a polite "it's no big deal", Eli gave a dramatic sigh. "That settles it: I am simply too awesome for words. Everyone will have to admit it now."

Her laughter didn't bother him. He heard it all the time from the rest of the team. He climbed out of the truck and let her lead the way inside the building.

As she had said, they did indeed have to show thier IDs. Eli handed over his white card. Blank plastic; you swiped it, it simply said either access granted or access denied--it didn't say who the bearer of the card was. Access was granted; the guard handed the card back with a look on his face that was obviously asking, 'Who are you?'. Eli merely gave the man a close-mouthed smile: being the son of an influential senator gave certain advantages in life--like an inclination for rebelling at every possible opportunity and a penchant for boredom with his "normal" studies. Of course, a good portion of the time, Eli made his own opportunities....

Eli followed Daphne to her office before asking his first question. "So, what--exactly--are we going to be doing, here?"

[SA Daphne Woodreaux]

Daphne was a bit impatient as they waited for the Guard to buzz them through. She was a bit on edge still, and, frankly, had needed to just leave the Bunker. She had laughed at him when Eli had sassed her back...hat settles it: I am simply too awesome for words. Everyone will have to admit it now. She wondered how true that was, actually.

She watched, her interest piqued when Eli passed the guard a blank card. Of course she'd noticed it, she was a spy, and if she hadn't, the world had best look out because she wasn't a very GOOD spy...

So, what--exactly--are we going to be doing, here? She led the way down the hall to the bank of elevators that would take them to the third flloor. She shrugged in reply.

Daddy put some files on my laptop. Maybe you can garner something from them... Daphne knew what was in those files. She had looked. But she wasn't about to say anything-both because of her professional limitations, and because she didn't need to worry about him after all. PLUS he was her father, and just as skilled as she in the Clandestine game.

Finally, they arrived at her office, and she unlocked it, opening it with a flourish.

Here we are. My home away from home... She glanced around. The office was sparse but she'd switched out the standard issue, metal, dinged up desk and chair for her own, and added a wingback for visitors. She also had pictures of her family and her degrees, framed, along one wall with a bookshelf.

Ignore the Rubix cube clock. Max thought he was funny giving me that last year... She settled down, and opened her computer, indicating that he should sit, too.

Water?

Daph's office