More than a face:
Summary: Hannibal thinks about Face. Takes place during "Where Is The Monster When You Need Him?"
" I like that friend of yours Face...How'd he get that name?" Jerry asked as he helped his friend colonel John "Hannibal" Smith pack up his Gatoralla costume.
Hannibal looked at Jerry and laughed.
"That's a long story Jer..Well the short version is, with that face of his, it seems everybody believes whatever he says, it's a gift...He's an absolutely stupendous liar."
Jerry laughed then looked a little concerned as he thought about all the thigs that Face has told him over the years. Hannibal smirked behind his cigar as he watched Jerry head to the car shaking his head.
Hannibal sat down and thought about what he had just old Jerry. Yes Face was all those things, but he was so much more. He couldn't really explain to someone on the outside what Face meant to him, it was too complicated. Sure he loved B.A and Murdock, they were brothers to him, but Face, he was like everyone's son.
He smiled as he thought of all the times their older female clients would mother Face to the point that he didn't want to leave. He had to admit, the kid deserved all the attention he got. Kicked to the curb by his parents, then Leslie, and then his own government. No one deserved to be mothered more than Face.
Hell he stopped counting a long time ago the times that he, Murdock and B.A would let Face slide on punishments, or give in to something he wanted...Who could say no?
He knew Face used his good look and charm to wiggle his way out of situations, and yes he knew that Face constantly conned the team. That's just the way Face was, and no one could fault him for it. You either liked him, or you didn't. Fortunately most everyone loved him. If you didn't, no big deal, he wouldn't sweat it.
He wasn't the type of person to go looking for a fight. Sure he found more than his share, but the team was always there to cover his back.
So he told Jerry the reason Face got his name was because of his scamming and lying. While that was why the majority of people called him Face, it wasn't Hannibal's reason. If you were to see his face 20 years ago, when he was barely...hell who knows how old for sure, you would've seen pure innocence. Those eyes that could make any female fall to their knees and hyperventilate, were a lot brighter than they are now. In the hell that is war, you look for anything to get you through the day. He was the light at the end of the tunnel. With all the screaming, bombing, gunfire and death, his face was innocent, and Hannibal would never forget that.
Hannibal never told anyone that he almost didn't put Face on the team. He knew of his reputation, everyone did,but reputations didn't matter to him. B. and Murdock were proof of that. No, it was his face, that was the reason. Hannibal didn't think he could stand to see that innocence taken away. As he went to give the kid the news that he wouldn't be on his team, Face approached him first. It took only a minute of Face's charm to reverse Hannibal's decision, and against his better judgement, Hannibal put that innocence in the team and prayed it would remain intact.
Hannibal was brought out of his thoughts by Jerry returning.
"Johnny, you ready? You said Face would have everyone at the airport waiting."
"Huh? Yeah I'm ready, let's go"
"So, Johnny, about the pilot..."
"Murdock?"
"Yeah...Murdock...is he really crazy?"
"Oh Jerry, that's an even longer story..."
The End...