Good evening. This is my first A-Team fic. Please be kind…

Chapter 1-Discoveries and Disappointments

The ambience around him felt relaxing. Typically the type of place he'd take a woman to if she were special, and to him…well, all women were special. It was small, cozy and quiet, with soothing instrumental music perfect enough to hold conversations.

On a normal night, Templeton Peck would have ordered a bottle of the best champagne the restaurant offered, paid a musician to play for his date and given the perfect performance resulting in a night full of bliss. Or in the least, a second date that would result in a night full of bliss.

Tonight, however, the game plan changed. The Faceman, the "Ladies' Man", was as nervous as an innocent man on death row. Nothing that he usually tried would impress the woman he was meeting tonight. Not that it should. He had no choice but to be himself. His true self. And he wasn't sure he could be that. He hadn't been that in years. But, if he was to have a significant relationship with this woman, he'd have to be just that-himself.

Sitting by a table close to one of the windows of the establishment, the Face kept his gaze at the parking lot where cars drove in and out. His attention must have been so engrossed on the lot that the look of surprise when he saw the woman standing in front of him stunned her.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you," the woman lightly gasped, a concerned look showed in her eyes.

"No, no," Face shook his head, trying to downplay his reaction. "I'm sorry, my mind was somewhere else. Please, sit."

She did as told and sat opposite of him, "Lately, my mind drifts as well. It's been a hectic two weeks. A lot to take in."

"I understand," Face nodded. "Thank you for meeting me Ellen."

There was an awkward silence for a moment. After learning that AJ Bancroft was his biological father during their time in Florida, Face approached Ellen and told her that he was her half-brother. He asked Murdock to share with them what AJ confessed to him prior to his death. Face heard the story at the same time his sister did, neither knew how to take the information they found.

When Murdock finished, he gave the pair some privacy. At that time, Face took the opportunity to speak to Ellen and ask her if she'd be willing to get to know him better. To give him the opportunity to build a foundation for a sibling relationship. Excited to learn he finally had someone in his life related to him, Face had every intention to make sure his sister remained in his life. He wanted to know her. He wanted to know what it felt like to have a family.

The reception of the message was lukewarm, at best. Ellen said she needed time to think. There was so much that she had to process and understand before wrapping her mind into accepting the idea she had an older brother. Turn in their father's diary at the hearing in two weeks to the government was her first priority and she made sure to tell him.

Those two weeks for Face felt painful. The team left Ellen in St. Augustine where she decided to stay for a few days before heading home to Jacksonville and then to Washington for the hearing. Face went back to Virginia. Stockwell decided not to put the team on further missions until after the case closed and Ellen was completely safe, a decision that Face appreciated, in silence.

When everyone learned that Face was Ellen's older brother, they were beyond shocked. They wanted answers to questions that were impossible to know. More importantly, they wanted to know what Face felt with the sudden news. But, they respectfully kept their distance and opinions to themselves, unless Face approached them. They knew he needed time to think and wait for Ellen's decision.

The two weeks were very stressful to the lieutenant who prayed that Ellen would be willing to at least stay in touch with him after the ordeal was over. Appropriately, Hannibal listened to what Face offered and stepped back when he needed to. BA, voiced his support and a lending ear when Face needed it. Frankie did his best to keep the mood lively and positive. Murdock watched his friend, observing closely for anything that would require him to offer his support. For his part, Face keep himself as witty and charming as he could, but the team saw right through it. Too many years together, they knew him better than he realized.

Two weeks felt like a long time for Face. Until he sat across from his sister who looked just as uncomfortable as he was feeling.

"You don't need to thank me," she finally replied with a nervous tone. "I did tell you I'd speak to you after the briefing."

"How did that go, by the way?" Face asked. He knew the outcome, but hoped that they could ease on to the real purpose of their meeting as dinner progressed.

"Nerve wracking," Ellen sighed. "The reporters hounded me for answers that I just cannot provide them with. The Committee Chairman wants to meet and ask me more questions that I don't know the answers to nor care to. And, I'm just tired of living a life that belongs mostly to AJ, not me." She sounded frustrated. Perhaps Face shouldn't have asked.

"Well, maybe we should skip that conversation and just…make tonight a…a night with friends," he answered with a smile, before looking around the establishment. "I've never been to this place particularly, but I heard it has great reviews."

"A night with friends?" Ellen suddenly said curiously as she looked at her brother. "Is that what you think this is?"

Sighing, Face's smile faded as his facial expression formed into a serious look, "Truthfully, I'd like to see tonight as an evening with my sister."

Ellen looked down at the table, her eyes not wanting to meet Face's, "Templeton, I understand why you would want to have some sort of relationship with me. But, why do you want to live in the past? AJ left both you and me. We have our own lives. Why change what we have already have?"

Face didn't know what to say for a moment, but looked at the woman with surprise, "Ellen, what are you trying to tell me?"

Suddenly the waiter came to bring them their menus and asked for their drink orders. Quickly giving them so that he left, the pair began their conversation again. Ellen asked, "Did you find out what happened to your mother?"

Face noticed that she avoided answering his question, but he let it go for the moment, "Stockwell had Carla found out what happened to her. Apparently, Samantha Bancroft died a few years after leaving me in the orphanage. Car accident."

"I'm sorry," Ellen replied with a genuine sad tone.

"It's alright," he answered with a shrugged. "She left me at that orphanage when I was five years old. I don't remember much of her. And, there's nothing I can do about that. Just like there's nothing I could do about AJ, who he was and what he did. All I can do is work at what I can control and that is building a relationship with my sister."

Ellen looked down again, "Templeton, I…I don't want that."

The short statement left him speechless and Ellen took advantage and continued, "Before my mother died, she warned me to stay away from my father. That he'd bring nothing but trouble. And, although, I'm happy I got to see him before he died, my mother was correct. He did bring trouble. I had a life that was peaceful and consistent. Now, everyone hounds me and wants to know things I have no idea about. Templeton, I want the life I had before AJ Bancroft came back to distort it. I want to live in peace. I don't want to be running from murderers. I don't want to live in constant fear. I know you are nothing like AJ, but your lives parallel so much, it's uncanny. I cannot relive his life through you and if we remain in contact, that's exactly how I'll live."

"Ellen, I would never put you in harm's way," Face tried to explain. "And, I know the life I lead is not the safest that this moment, but I've been promised–"

"Then, you'll understand how I feel," she interrupted him with a firm tone. "Templeton, I know that you didn't do what the military says you did. I know you are all innocent. But, I'm sure that all of you have made a number of enemies along the way and I'm not ready to encounter them like you might be. I don't want to be a pawn to your problems and issues."

He tried reasoning with her, "There's' no way–"

"But there is," Ellen's eyes widened. "You know this! Our father just wanted to talk and he knew the risks. What makes you think the same thing won't happen again if anyone finds out we're related?"

"Ellen, no one would know," Face replied. "The only people who know would be the team and Stockwell and they won't talk. I'm not even filing for my legal name. As far as any is concerned you are Ellen Bancroft and I'm Templeton Peck. No relation. Ellen, I have no family and your immediate family is not close to you. You told me that yourself. We only have each other."

"No," she shook her head, "I only have myself." At this Ellen picked up her purse and held it tightly in one of her hands. "I'm sorry. Please, just let me be. If you really say you care about me, just let me live my life in peace."

Face's heart felt like if it was about to explode. He never imagined the meeting would end like this. To have a blood related relative in his life had been surreal. He really believed that Helen felt the same way, but she didn't. And he wouldn't force her.

Resigned, the lieutenant looked at her. A sad smile curled on his lips as he took her hand, "I wish you happiness. I'm sorry I can't be the brother you need in your life."

With tears in her eyes, Ellen squeezed her brother's hand before nodding. She then stood up and walked out of the restaurant and Face's life.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Five Months Later…

"Face!"

"Face!"

He had been more shocked about the sudden sound of the gun than actually feeling the bullet enter him. Then, the agonizing pain on his left side made him pay more attention. Within seconds, the pain became so unbearable that he could no longer stand and Face collapsed on the floor. He closed his eyes to control the pain, but he forced them opened when he felt his friends around him.

"Oh man!" He thought he heard Frankie say.

"You're gonna be okay! You're gonna be okay!" Murdock's voice boomed in his ears.

What happened? What is happening? Face tried saying, but the words would just not come out. All he could do was groan in pain. He heard voices. They were Murdock's and the goons that he tried stopping from holding up the restaurant.

He was able to finally open his eyes just enough to see the man that had shot him loom over him.

"Drag this hero back to the kitchen!"

Suddenly he felt himself being picked up and the pain, somewhat controlled, came back with a vengeance.

"It's okay Face, just breathe," he heard Frankie whisper to him.

They had taken him to the kitchen and laid him down in a corner. Face thought he head Murdock ask for tablecloths. He wasn't sure, but maybe because he saw Murdock and Frankie loom over him, or because he felt his own blood in his hands, or because the he was able to somehow control the pain, did he finally gather the strength to ask, "How bad is it?"

"I've seen worse on the set," Frankie answered.

Okay, maybe it isn't so bad, Face thought for a moment. But why is it getting harder to breathe?

He heard Murdock say, "Keep pressure on the wound at all times." Then, more words before he felt a hand pushing in on where he had been shot. He almost screamed in pain.

"Face, breathe," Frankie suddenly ordered him, "Just keep breathing…that's it."

"I didn't see…that guy," he answered Frankie as he tried to focus on something, anything around him, "I didn't see him."

"Neither did we, Face," his friend replied. "But right now, that's not important. I need you to save your strength. Don't say anything else. Just breathe."

Face did what Frankie told him. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on controlling his breathing, but it was getting harder and harder to do so. He felt himself breaking into a cold sweat before darkness overtook him.