Jungle Fever

I do not own the rights to the A-Team and am not receiving any money from this story.

Enjoy and let me know what you think. Thanks.

Chapter 1 – The Job

Hannibal hung up the phone. This could be a pretty good job and they're going to get paid, not to mention it will get them out of the country for a while and away from Decker. He certainly is persistent in his goal to capture them, but not very effective. Plus, the corporation is going to let them use their jet. Not a bad deal all in all. Next, call Face. He dials the number to the car phone in the Vette. Face answers on the second ring.

"Hello, High Tone Fashions."

"Hey Face, Hannibal, I need you to spring Murdock and meet me at the fountain at Webster Park. We've got a job in Mexico and need our pilot. We also need B.A.'s bedtime snack, so think of something."

"Me! Why do I have to do it? You know he'll figure out who gave it to him and then he'll kill me!"

"Come on Lieutenant, you know B.A. would never hurt you, seriously. Just meet me there in two hours. We need to take off by three so we can get to our destination before nightfall. Got it?"

"Right, but you know I had a date tonight. You might ask me once in a while before just jumping out there with the jobs. She had great potential."

"Don't worry Face. She'll wait for you to get back. Just tell her you have a sick aunt and need to leave town for a couple of days."

"Right. Thanks for the advice on women, Colonel."

"Anytime. Now get going. We're on a tight schedule."

Hannibal hangs up and dials B.A.'s number. Hopefully he is close to the phone and not out playing baseball with the kids. We really need to get a move on here. He gets lucky. B.A. answers on the third ring.

"Yeah."

"B.A., Hannibal, meet me at the fountain in Webster Park in two hours. We have a case, so bring all the "toys" for a "party" out of town."

"Sure, Hannibal, I'd be happy to, but No Flyin'! Got it?"

"Whatever you say, B.A. Just be on time."

"Right." See you there."

All the players are now in motion, so time to get going. Hannibal is the head of the A-Team. They were a Special Forces unit in Viet Nam, and were accused of a crime that they didn't commit. They were just following orders, but their commanding officer, who sent them on the mission, was killed in a bombing that same night after issuing the orders. They were put on trial, but escaped and now live in Los Angeles, California. The team consists of Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith, Lieutenant Templeton "Faceman" Peck, Sargent B.A. "Bad Attitude" Baracus, and although not accused of the crime, but still a part of the team, Captain H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock, the team's pilot. Murdock lives in the Veteran's Hospital in L.A., because he has been found insane. So whenever the team needs him to help out, Face has to scam him out of the hospital. That's where Face is headed now.

"Gee, Cindy is not happy about breaking off this date. If only the Colonel would give me a little more heads up on these missions, things would be a lot easier. Oh well, I still have her number and can call her when I get back, as long as she'll take my call, and if not, se la guire." There's always another woman just around the corner. He just hasn't met her yet.

Face pulls up to the V.A. and parks in Dr. Martin's spot. This guy never seems to be here and it's a good start to his pretending to be a doctor. He climbs out, and with white coat and stethoscope heads toward the building. He takes the elevator to the second floor. He walks up to the nurse's station on Murdock's wing and waits for the right opportunity to sneak out Murdock's chart. With chart in hand, he locates the nurse on duty and approaches her in an "all business" manner. He quickly picks up her name from her name tag and starts his con.

"Nurse White? I need to see Captain Murdock right away. His test came back positive for hepatitis and we need to quarantine him in the hospital wing to prevent any further contamination of this wing."

"What? When did they run these tests? I've been here since six this morning and no one took him for tests today."

"You're right about that because they called me in last night. I've been here since eleven, and it has been a long night for me, let me tell you!" He pauses. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just a little tired. We ran out of petri dishes to incubate the culture and it's been just one problem after another down in the lab, but the test did come back positive and we need to move him pronto, so if you'll just get me that wheelchair and open the door, I'll get him over to the hospital wing and then I can go home." Face uses his best "I am really tired and upset attitude", which elicits a heartfelt response from Nurse White.

"Certainly doctor, let me get that for you."

"Thank you, Nurse White. I'm sorry for my attitude back there. I'm usually not this cranky. I guess I'm just worried we might be too late to turn this around."

She unlocks the door and Murdock is lying in his bed looking pale and moaning with every breath.

"Oh brother, it looks like he's moving into stage two. Better get him up and into this wheelchair quickly."

More moaning and light resistance from Murdock. He doesn't help much at all as they get him up and into the chair. Face turns to Nurse White and pats her on the shoulder.

"Thank you for all your help and understanding. Hopefully, we have caught this in time. He'll probably be gone for close to a week. Keep your fingers crossed that we can help him before too much liver damage has been done."

Murdock practically falls forward out of the chair, acting limp and moaning even more. Face heads out of the room and to the elevator where Nurse White pushes the button to go down.

"Please doctor, help him get through this and bring him back to us, and go home and get some rest. You deserve it."

"Right, and thank you, I will." The door shuts as the two head down to the lobby and out the door. Moving quickly, Murdock heads to Face's Vette with no sign of his illness now. Face puts the car in gear and they drive out of the parking lot and on to Webster Park to meet with Hannibal and B.A.

B.A. shows up first, followed by Face and Murdock. B.A. growls and glares when he spots Murdock, but Murdock just ignores him and sits down on the fountain's edge and says, "How's it going big guy? Did you miss me?"

"No! I didn't. I miss you like I miss the plague."

"Not the plague this time, hepatitis."

"Grrrr."

Face jumps into the conversation. "Hey B.A., I picked up one of your favorite candy bars. Want it?"

"I'da know, I'm tryn' to cut down."

"It's your favorite, nuts, caramel, and chocolate. Come on, I got it just for you."

"Okay. I guess I am kinda hungry."

Murdock looks over at Face and asks, "Where's mine? How come you didn't get me one? I like that kind, too."

"Murdock, B.A. needs to keep up his strength and you don't, so maybe next time."

He tries to give him a knowing look, but Murdock is not taking the hint.

"Gee, Face, I thought we were friends, too and if you buy one friend a candy bar, you should buy the other one."

B.A. is trying not to laugh too hard, but he is enjoying his candy bar way too much right now, making yummy noises and everything, as he eats it in front of Murdock. About that time Hannibal shows up.

"Okay guys, here is what we've got going. Westen Oil has a drilling operation in Santa Marta, Mexico. They've been having a lot of trouble with bandits in the area, who are keeping the drilling crew from going out to the field without having to worry about getting shot. Now the oil rigs will be a big boost for the local economy, but the bandits only want what's good for them."

"That sounds like some people who need ta be taught a lesson, Hannibal."

"Right B.A. We need to go down there and take them to school. Now, did you get all our supplies?"

"Of course, the van is gassed up and ready ta go, but it's gonna take us a long time ta drive down there."

"Well, that's the best part. Westen is loaning us their corporate jet to fly down there."

"You know I don't fly, so I guess I'm not goin'."

"Well suit yourself, B.A. We'll see you in about a week." Murdock just doesn't understand why B.A. won't fly.

"Or not." Face chimes in as B.A. slumps over and is out.

"Wow! Was it in the candy bar? I'm glad you didn't get me one after all. Yours are too weird, even for me."

"Okay. Let's get him to the van. We need to be at the airport in less than an hour." Hannibal takes charge. They grab B.A. and half carry half drag him to the van.

Murdock climbs in the driver's seat and they head to the airport. They park the van in the private plane parking lot and find the Westen jet that is parked on the tarmac, gassed and ready to go. Murdock grabs a duffle bag full of ammunition and gets on board. He stows the bag and moves up front to the pilot's seat. Placing the headset on, he flips two switches and fires up the engine. Hannibal and Face manage to get B.A. aboard and strapped in, then gather the rest of the weapons and supplies. Murdock gets clearance from the tower and starts taxiing the plane out to the runway.

"Oh man, they got me behind a 757. They always cause such turbulence." Over the intercom he says, "Time to buckle up boys and girls, we're next in line for take-off and we have a jumbo in front of us. This will be a bouncy ride and you better make sure the big guy's straps are tight."

"Did he have to say that? I would rather just be out like B.A. if it is any worse than his normal take-offs." Face is thinking, maybe he should quit flying.

"Ah cheer up Lieutenant, your insurance is up to date and Murdock won't let anything happen to any of us, so buckle up and hang on."

The jet starts rolling down the runway, picking up speed. As the wheels leave the ground, they get to hear the Murdock version of a rebel yell and they relax back into their seats. So far so good, then the turbulence hits and they bounce around for a few minutes until Murdock gets the jet turned and heading south away from the 757's stream. They are on their way to Santa Marta and the jungles of Mexico.