Protection
A/N: This is a companion piece to "Faceman Is Gone" "Running Away" and "Failure of the Jazz". B.A.'s POV.
I ain't usually one to beat around the bush. If I want to say somethin' then I say somethin' but lately I been keepin' my mouth closed 'cuz I didn't think it was any of my business. Hannibal's our leader, usually when somethin's wrong he knows about it and is already workin' on a plan to fix it. But this time he's the problem, him and Face.
Face ain't usually much of a problem; the man goes out of his way to avoid getting into trouble. Unless him getting into trouble can help one of us out then he'll do anything he can to get into trouble. I know everyone thinks Faceman is a selfish little rich boy and I thought so too the first few weeks I knew him then I saved his hide and the next thing I knew, I was getting my mama's letters a week before everyone else did. That's when I changed my opinion of him and tried to be a little more open-minded. It's a good thing I decided that too otherwise I would have missed out on a real good friendship.
Back to the problem I already mentioned. For the last couple of months Faceman has been acting kind of down (and I'm usually not the person who knows when somebody's having emotional problems) and Hannibal didn't even seem to notice. Hannibal's a good leader 'cuz he knows when we need something and he knows how to remedy that problem. He knows when the fool needs to go back to the VA or when I need to go see my mama or when Faceman's feeling insecure and needs to be reassured of the fact that we still want and need him. Not that Face'll say anything.
You see, Face reminds me of a turtle. The second he senses danger (physical or emotional) he pulls himself into his shell and tries to protect hisself. Hannibal, he'll go after Face and try to coax him out of his shell; usually. But lately Hannibal's been kickin' Faceman when he's down and try to force him out which only makes Face withdraw even more.
It's not just Hannibal's fault it's all our faults really. I should have stopped Hannibal from hurtin' Face and Murdock should have been trying to get Face to come out again.
I'm the protector. I'm the one the others yell for when they're having trouble in a fight; I'm not usually the one they come to when they're having trouble on the inside. But even I should have tried to help Face out; I should have made him realize that he could tell me what was wrong and I would do my absolute best to help him out no matter what. I should've busted him and Hannibal's heads together and made 'em talk it out.
I should've protected Faceman better.