A/N: I've recently watched the episode "Without reservations" and this story is based on that particular episode. I'm a big fan of that episode as it has the right amount of drama in it, but also shows the wonderful friendship between Murdock and Face. Some fantastic acting by both actors I must add ! I kept on hoping that Face would pull through somehow (being a huge Face fan). I did think the end of the episode was somewhat rushed. They talk about getting Face to DC General but what happens there? It had me wondering and that's why I decided to write this FF story. I hope you'll enjoy it! Please review.

I do not owe any of the characters of the A-Team and this story is entirely fictional. The OC character has been created by me

CHAPTER 1

The unthinkable had happened. All Murdock wanted to do was to prevent his boss from getting mugged and robbed at his restaurant. He hadn't been working as a waiter at Villa Cucina that long, but he was fond of the owner and his lovely daughter. Now he sat beside his best friend on the cold kitchen floor thinking what on Earth had possessed him to urge Face to take these guys out. Off course he hadn't refused to help out being Murdock's buddy and his plan had actually worked out up until a certain point. None of them had noticed there was a third party involved in the matter and his presence was only revealed after he pulled the trigger and shot Face.

When he closed his eyes, Murdock could still see the look of terror in his friend's eyes as he fell down and hit the ground hard. The abdominal wound was bleeding profusely and pain was etched on Face's now pale features. To make matters worse all calls for help had been denied, despite the fact that Murdock pointed out how injured Face really was. They were instead forced to drag their badly injured team mate to the kitchen and lay him down on the cold, hard kitchen floor.

All Murdock could think of – despite feeling guilty as hell for what had happened – was how to save Face's life. He knew it would be best to elevate Face's legs to try and limit the bleeding and they would also have to apply direct pressure to the abdominal wound to control the bleeding somehow. Murdock softly checked his pulse and held his best friend's hand to reassure him some more as he knew it was of vital importance to keep him as calm as he possibly could.

"How bad is it?"

As if he didn't know? Face was a very clever guy and he knew he was bleeding badly. Nevertheless he seemed to believe Frankie when he told him that he had seen worse accidents happen on the set. It was a lie and they all knew it. The situation was bad! Really bad! Life threatening even.

"I am so cold. So c-c-cold."

His voice sounded so desperate. Murdock so badly wanted to punch these guys in the face and get his buddy to DC General, but he couldn't do it all by himself. He quickly realized shock had set in as Face complained about being cold. The poor guy was shivering and trembling all over, while beads of sweat were cascading down his handsome face dampening his blond locks. Murdock didn't say a word, but softly began to unbutton Face's crisp white dress shirt. He also undid his belt buckle and the button of his jeans. Face was shivering even more if that was possible.

"What are you doin', man?" Frankie asked him clearly not understanding what Murdock was doing.

"I'm loosening up constricting clothing," Murdock said as he lightly tried to cover up his friend's trembling frame with a table cloth. "Could you please keep wiping away the sweat?"

Face had his eyes closed and pain was etched on his pale, sweaty looking features. His breathing was very superficial.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" He asked Frankie.

"What do I do?" The owner's daughter asked. She was seated next to Face and kept applying pressure bandages to the abdominal wound with one hand despite his cries of pain and holding onto his other hand for support.

"Keep applying pressure at all time," Murdock said. "I know it hurts, but unfortunately it is necessary to keep doing just that. We need to try and stop the bleeding as much as we can. And just be there for him."

"What is going on? How is he holdin' on?" Frankie asked.

"He has done better. Much better," Murdock stated simply. "He is losing a lot of blood and we can't seem to get it to stop. I've also noticed that shock has set in already. That explains his violent shivering and shuddering. We need to get him professional help."

The gangsters came back into the kitchen right at that moment. They forced Murdock back inside the restaurant to resume his waiter's job and Frankie was to sit back down at his table. Both of them had to leave Face alone on the cold kitchen floor with only an unknown young lady to hold his hand and care for him the best she could. Murdock knew just how much Face hated to be left alone in times like this, but he had no choice but to obey the gangsters.

"Hang in there, pall," he said softly while softly squeezing his best friend's shoulder. "I'll try to get us out of this mess as soon as I can. I promise. Just keep breathing for me, okay?"

He couldn't have been more relieved when B.A. walked in asking for a specific kind of pizza. He had to pass a message to his team mates to help him out. So he risked everything! He only knew they had gotten the message when the Colonel rang. Despite a firearm being pushed into his side, Murdock managed to keep a cool head and was able to send an encoded message to Hannibal stating there was a setup to assassinate the Attorney General, the number of gangsters present and the fact that his second-in-command was down.

As he checked his friend's condition a little while later, he squeezed his arm reassuringly gently trying to notify him that help was on the way. But Face was too far out to notice! He was barely conscious and sweating profusely. The bleeding still hadn't stopped and Murdock knew they had little time to get him proper medical care.

When Hannibal and B.A. made their way into the restaurant's kitchen by misleading the bad guys, they didn't have that much trouble taking out two of the gangsters straight away. Now all that was left was taking out the third guy, but what they didn't know was that the local police officer was involved in the whole dirty matter. Murdock was about to lose all hope in saving Face. But then again the A-team never gave up.

So while waiting for Liebster to arrive, Hannibal managed to distract the gangsters and the team could easily knock them out. Murdock released all of his pent up anger on the guy that shot his best friend and kept punching him repeatedly until Frankie made him stop by effectively grabbing both of his arms. Meanwhile Hannibal knelt beside his badly wounded Lieutenant and took of his black gloves. He softly and soothingly placed his hand underneath Face's shirt and on his chest to check his heart rate. The poor guy was unconscious, sweat soaked, breathing with great difficulty and it sounded very superficial. To reassure his Lieutenant who was like a son to him, he gently ran his hand through his dampened blond hair and kept on doing just that.

"He's weak but we can move him. Get the van, B.A. We need to get him to DC General straight away."

That's what Murdock heard Hannibal say to B.A. in a serious voice while the latter sprinted out the door to get the van ready. Meanwhile, the Attorney General and his wife had walked into the restaurant and saw what had happened. The whole restaurant was a mess. He demanded to know what had been happening and was briefed by the owner of the restaurant. He was shocked to find out what those gangsters were up to.

"You should know that you owe this brave man your life," Murdock said as Hannibal lifted his unconscious Lieutenant from the ground to carry him to the van. "He risked his own life to save everyone else's."

"That's right," Mrs. Dorian said as she sat at the table within the far corner with her husband holding onto one another for dear life. They had witnessed the whole thing. "He truly is a hero. They started to fight and that man pulled out a gun. He tried to disarm the man and got shot by another. It was terrible. There was just so much blood and he fell down on the floor. I just hope the poor thing will live through this. He is still so young and he doesn't deserve to die this way. Nobody does."

All eyes were on Face as he was cradled in Hannibal's strong arms. His head rolled to the side and everyone could clearly see that he was unconscious and very pale looking. The poor boy's shirt was blood soaked and his beautiful blond locks were sweat soaked.

"Are you guys the famous A-team?" The Attorney General asked carefully as he seemed to recognize the pale, unconscious young Lieutenant in Hannibal's arms from his military picture.

Damn Face's good looks, Hannibal cursed inwardly. Everyone always recognized him instantly.

"That's right," he replied to the Attorney General in a calm voice. "But right now, we can't stand around here and chat with you about the good old times. We have a badly injured team member to attend to and he needs immediate medical care. We need to be in DC General in less than 5 minutes."

"I can be of some assistance. I can arrange for a police escort to get you to the hospital quick and safe," Liebster said. "After all, I owe you guys my life. I could also get in touch with the hospital and make sure their best surgeon is on the case."

"Thanks," Hannibal answered. "We would appreciate the escort in order to quickly get him to DC, but they already have their best surgeon standing-by for us as we speak."

Murdock frowned.

"Stockwell pulled a few strings and the finest surgeon on staff at DC will operate on Face. Now we really have to get going if we want to save his life," Hannibal explained.

He made his way over to the van as quickly as possible carrying his still bleeding Lieutenant followed closely by Murdock. B.A. put the car in gear before they even had a chance to shut the sliding door. Face was lying on the floor with his head in Hannibal's lap while Hannibal was gently stroking his dampened blond hair from his face and Murdock sat by his side holding onto his hand for dear life.

"It's alright, Facey. You're safe now! We're taking you to the hospital. You'll be fine. You know, you really truly are a hero now. You've saved not only the Attorney General's life but also everyone else's at the restaurant. I'm so sorry for getting you into this mess, buddy. I can't lose you. You're my best friend in the whole wide world. I need you, man. I'd go crazy again if I lost you. So hang in there, muchacho. You just fight a little while longer and we'll be here for you. All of us! We're a unit, remember. We don't leave anyone behind and we'll never leave you. I promise."