"If it helps any, I offered to trade her all the laptops and electronics in the house for leads on fencin' the cellphones she stole," Hardison said, shaking his head. "I wonder how many were ours an' how many she lifted off folks on the island."

And then he turned and abruptly strode over to Eliot, wrapping his arms around him and resting his head against his chest. "Don't argue'," he said, holding Eliot tight. "I just--I need this okay? I can need a hug from my boyfriend even if he's the reason I need a hug right now anyway."