Title: When Blood Isn't Thicker (Family Reunion Revisited)

Rating: PG

Author: smiles78

Summary: My version of what happened after the episode "Family Reunion".

Warnings: Spoilers for "Family Reunion".

"Earth to Face...hello...anybody home?" Hannibal asked.

"Huh...what?" Face asked, not hearing anything Hannibal had been saying to him.

Something wrong, Lieutenant?" Hannibal asked, turning around in his seat, cigar perched between his lips.

"Everything is wrong,' Face thought, but shook his head 'no'.

"You ain't been actin' right, Faceman," B.A. said. "Normally we can't get you to shut-up and now you ain't said a word since we left the cabin."

Face sighed and looked out the window. "I'm just tired."

"No, you're just mad that Ellen Bancroft chick blew you off," Frankie joked.

Murdock shot Frankie a look and mouthed the word "don't".

"What? It's the truth...she practically ran out of the room each time Face entered."

Face just sighed again and continued to look out the window.

Hannibal narrowed his eyes and leaned forward. "Okay, what gives?"

"Nothing 'gives', Hannibal. I told you...I'm just tired."

"Look at me when I'm talking to you, kid."

Face complied looking irritated. "First of all, I'm not your kid, so stop telling me what to do. You're not my father."

"Oh no," Murdock groaned softly.

"If you had a father, he might have taught you some manners."

All eyes in the van stared at Hannibal in shock that he would say such a thing. "Oh God, Face...I didn't mean that."

"Stop the van." Face said stiffly.

B.A. kept driving, unsure of what to do.

"B.A., I said stop the van. I mean it...I'll jump out if I have to." To prove he was serious, he slid open the door.

B.A. started to pull over. "Geez Face...okay, man...I'll stop the van."

Murdock grabbed Face's shoulder. "Don't run away from this, Face."

Face shook him off and stepped out of the van. "Must be in my blood, right?" He directed the statement at Murdock, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Face..." Hannibal started, but stopped as Face held up his hand.

"Don't," he said, before turning his back and walking away.