Family reunion

Chapter 1

Hannibal and his A-team had just came back to the base from their last mission and, tired and filthy, they were so ready to take a shower and hit the sack when a young, slim and short soldier stopped their march to their tent. The Colonel froze in place and stopped abruptly his pace, disbelief clearly displayed on his strong features. Face turned to look at him, so did Murdock and BA, not understanding what was going on with their CO. Hannibal didn't seem to acknowledge that all eyes were on him and continued to stare at the lonely figure approaching them. Suddenly and without a word the soldier started to run towards them and before they could react, Hannibal caught him in his arms when he launched on him, almost making him fall to the ground. The "John!" the soft voice, tinged with emotion, whispered in the colonel's ear and the way the soldier was now holding on to the older man, arms around his neck and legs encircling his waist, was enough for Face to understand they had been wrong. When the Colonel called the bundle in his arms "Jenny!"and hugged her even tighter, a warm smile on his lips as he said her "Oh, baby, how I missed you!", Face cleared his throat and forced the other two men to leave them alone.

"Come on, Murdock. Don't stare at them! Let Hannibal have some privacy! Come on, let's go!" he urged his companions.

"But Face, who is she? Is she what I think she is? I can't believe Hannibal didn't tell us… but she is, wow!..."

The pilot was clearly excited and BA had to drag him in the tent. Face was amused by the situation, he didn't know about Hannibal being in a relationship and with such an attractive woman. BA seemed shocked, as if he hadn't ever thought his boss could be anything else than his colonel and not a simple man to love a woman.

Outside the tent, Hannibal and Jenny were now walking side by side, quietly talking.

"I didn't know you were coming. Russ didn't tell me. When did you arrive?"

"This morning. I didn't know you were on a mission. Are you alright?"

"Of course, I am, sweetheart! We're Ranger, being on mission is just routine for us! Besides, the guys are the best team I've ever had. They are friends too and… family, in a certain way!"

Jenny smiled and caressed the older man's cheek.

"Did you miss your family, dad?"

"I missed you very much… and I love it when you call me dad! You should avoid the "John" in front of the guys, they'll think we are in a relationship!"

"But we actually ARE in one! And it means a lot to me…" the young woman stated, laughing at first but then becoming suddenly serious. Hannibal frowned seeing her daughter in distress. Gently cupping her face in his hand, he forced her to look at him.

"What's going on, Jen? I know that look! Talk to me, baby?" he asked gently but firmly.

"Mum died last week. On Friday night. I was away, I was supposed to come back home the next month but… I came back just in time for her funeral and…" she took a deep breath and Hannibal saw the strain in her beautiful eyes and sadness and fear. "They didn't even want me to read my last letter to her in church, they said I had no rights because I left her alone at home to follow your path in the Army, despite she begged me not to. They decided what to write on her grave and what to serve at the funeral party like I wasn't there. It was… horrible! Dad, you should have seen their faces, they were… I felt like a hussy, a stranger in my own home… And the things they said about you, I think I will never forget them! I… I just wanted to run away but didn't want to give them the satisfaction to win so I stayed for five days in her house and…"

Hannibal couldn't quite understand her last words, because despite her best efforts not to cry – she was a brave and good soldier! – she was now sobbing and trembling like a leaf. The Colonel took her in his arms again, make her sit on his knees like she was a child and tried his best to calm her, even if he himself felt on the verge of tears for what the poor girl had endured.

"I'm sorry, Jenny, I didn't know. Your mum and I separated many years ago, she never accepted my choice and cut me off of her life. If I had known… if I had come with you maybe..."

"D-Don't, John, please! I didn't mean to hurt you nor to make you feel guilty, I'm just so sad… L-Like I've lost everything…" she managed to say in a broken voice.

"You still have me, honey! And I won't leave you, never Jenny!"

It took her some minutes and eventually she calmed down but still looked so very sad that Hannibal felt his heart break in a million pieces.

"Do you have a place to stay, tonight?" he asked.

"No, I'm sorry. I suppose I have to ask General Morrison where to…" she started but couldn't finished the sentence.

"You're staying with me then, no arguments here!"

"But… Can I? I mean, don't you have rules about men and women sleeping together here? We're not on camping, you know… it's not appropriate!"

The Colonel felt the beginning of a smile creep on his face, because he was so proud of his daughter. No wonder her superiors had such good words about her.

"Jen, you need to stay with your family and with your friends now, not among strangers. I'd really like you to stay with me… with us, tonight, if that's ok for you? Then, if you feel more comfortable to follow the rules, tomorrow I'll ask the General to find you a proper accommodation. Just, please, let me be a father tonight and… stay with me?"

The woman sighed and nodded her agreement. Still feeling a little shaky, she leaned in the comforting arms of his father and let him slide his right arm around her waist while walking towards their accommodation, grateful for the physical and psychological support. When they finally arrived at their destination, she stopped, suddenly afraid.

"Do they know about me?" she asked earnestly.

"No, I didn't tell them. Don't take it personally, I love you with all my heart and I didn't mean to reject you… in a certain way, I wanted to protect you and in another… I didn't want to share you with anybody, I wanted you to be just mine! Is… is that understandable?"

Finally a smile touched Jenny's lips and she raised on tiptoe to plant a soft kiss on Hannibal's nose.

"I love you too, dad! No explanations necessary. Just… I can't go in like that, do you have a tissue or something?"

Relieved that his girl was worried about her appearance, he gave her what she needed.

"So, how do I look?" she asked, finally.

"Honestly? Your eyes are a little puffy and your nose is a bit redden… You're beautiful, Jenny! Don't worry about it, besides we are all in need of a good shower!"

"Are you going to tell them about mum too?"

"If you don't feel up to, I won't. But you'll see, they are really ok guys, I think it would be better to tell them the truth once and for all."

"Fine! Let's go inside before I change my mind."

When Hannibal entered the tent with the young lady soldier, the three men fell silent, their gaze locked on the slim figure beside their Colonel.

"Boys, let me introduce you Jenny, my daughter. Jenny, this is my Team!"

Face was the first to recover from the shock of the declaration and quickly covered the distance between them, smiling broadly to the new entry and holding her small hand.

"Nice to meet you, Jenny. I'm Templeton Peck, but everybody call me Face."

"So is it Lieutenant Face or Lieutenant Peck, then?" she asked, seriously.

Face's face fell and Jenny started laughing at the astonished expression of the man in front of her.

"Sorry, Face. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings!" she added and the whole tent resounded of their laughs.

"Man, she is really something!" Murdock exclaimed. "I'm Captain H. M. Murdock! Welcome to our place, my lady!" and he revered her with a theatrical bow.

"Don't mind him, he is crazy! My name is B.A. Baracus, Sergeant Baracus. It's a pleasure to meet you!" BA added.

"I've asked Jenny to stay with us tonight, guys. So please, try to behave as good boys, for once." Hannibal explained them. The startled look on the men's faces made Jenny uncomfortable.

"John… Dad… Maybe it's not a good idea… I'll ask General Morrison to find me another place for the night!" she declared quietly, turning towards her father who looked genuinely displeased.

"Jenny, please, you must forgive us!" Face hurried to say. "We didn't know about you, Hannibal never mentioned to have a daughter and I guess we were just… surprised. But we would really like to have you here for the night. Just let us have a shower and change in clean clothes and you'll see we're not so bad. Trust me!"

Feeling a little calmer, Jenny smiled at them warmly. She was already feeling better.

"Well, so, I… I'd like to stay then. Thank you!" she blurted, blushing slightly.

Hannibal was so happy to have his daughter and his boys reunited that he felt himself blushing too.

"I'm going out for a while, call me if you need anything, Jen!" he announced and giving a soft squeeze to the woman on her shoulder he moved out of the tent.

"He's still smoking those horrible cigars?" she asked.

Murdock took her by the arm and gently guided her to his cot, where they sat together and the pilot talked to her for half an hour. When BA and Face returned from their shower, they were still nattering.

TBC

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