DISCLAIMER: I do not own the A-Team in any way, shape or form. And while this story may be bizarre and twisted, it should be said this storyline was developed while under the influence of Ny-Quil.
Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith was a very careful and cautious man by nature. This particular nature was the reason he led each person looking to hire the A-Team on a wild goose chase. It gave him and the rest of the team time enough to make sure their story and background checked out. But in this particular case, their next possible client wasn't seeking help for herself or her family, but for a co-worker at a local club,Yari's Place. After making sure she wasn't working for or with the military police, Hannibal and the team met with her to discuss the issue at hand.
"She checks out, Hannibal," Sergeant B.A. Baracas confirmed in his usual gruff tone.
"Ms. Barrone; why are you willing to hire us for your co-worker?" Hannibal asked, taking a cigar from his shirt pocket.
"Because I don't know what else to do. I've been keeping an eye on her as best I can, but I'm moving to the other side of town after tomorrow. My co-worker, Daniella Sanford, is a great gal. She looks out for everyone. She was kidnapped as a child, but managed to escape a few years later. Word is out that her kidnapper Randy Hill escaped from prison and is looking to get her back. He traumatized her pretty badly. I can't stand it if she were to be his victim again, after all these years. I don't think she would survive, either," Kristy explained.
"Aw, Hannibal; we're just getting hired to be some nightclub act's bodyguards?" Lieutenant Templeton "Face" Peck whined. "I mean, come on!"
Hannibal held up his hand to silence him. "So this kidnapper escaped from prison and wants her back. Do you think he may have a sick attachment to her or is it to get revenge?"
Kristy looked at Hannibal sadly. "He wants revenge. He loved being able to control her. He messed with her head pretty bad. She said he brainwashed her and that he was some sort of magician. Guys, please. I can pay you from the money my uncle left to me in his will. She's just been such a great friend to me. I'd feel terrible if I didn't do all I can."
B.A. smashed his fist into his open palm, his massive amount of gold jewerly jangling. "I say we find this fool and make him disappear...for good!"
Hannibal turned to him and smiled before looking back to Kristy. "So would I. Congratulations, Ms. Barrone. You've just hired the A-Team." He then turned to Face. "Face, I need you to go spring Murdock. Then we'll head to the club tonight and see what we can find out from there."
"You got it," Face replied, flashing Kristy a thousand-watt smile before leaving.
A few hours later, Face pulled his Corvette into a parking spot near the club and met the guys inside. "Whew! At least it's not a strip club or anything!" he chuckled nervously.
"If it is, you'd better shut your eyes, Faceman!" Captain H.M. Murdock cried out, putting his hands over the Lieutenant's eyes.
"Murdock, will you cut that out?" Face barked, pulling Murdock's hands away from his face.
"Yeah, fool. You better start actin' right or I'm gonna shut you up for life!" B.A. threatened.
"Guys," Hannibal cut in. "There's Kristy. Come on." As the gang followed Hannibal, Face made sure to make eye contact with as many females as possible. So many beautiful women, so little time, he thought to himself as he wedged into the crowd at the front of the stage.
"Guys, I'm glad you could make it. While I was getting out of my dressing room, I overheard a conversation between a waiter named Robert Maniloe and some other guy. They were talking about Mr. Hill coming back to get Dani. I couldn't make out everything, but I heard that much," Kristy relayed.
"Good to know," Hannibal replied, lighting his cigar.
"Is Ms. Sanford performing tonight?" Face asked.
Kristy nodded. "She's up next. I have to leave, but I wanted to stay and tell you about what I heard. Please...just take care of her. She's tough as nails but when it comes to Hill, she's very fragile."
"Thanks. We'll do our best. We'll find this Hill guy and make sure he leaves Ms. Sanford alone," Hannibal promised.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for Daniella Sanford!" The emcee announced. Face took notice as a shadow appeared onstage. A nice, curvy shadow. As the spotlight appeared, however, Face was slightly disappointed. She was still beautiful, but her hair was cut short and dyed Barbie pink. Her dress was tight and short, but the black and white striped pattern did little to flatter her. At least when she started to sing, she had a nice voice. She was no Judy Garland or Nancy Sinatra, but she wasn't bad.
"Hey, Faceman?"
"What is it, Murdock?"
"You ever see somebody for the first time but feel like you've known 'em forever?"
Face looked over at Murdock and noticed he was staring intensely at Daniella. Great, he thought. Murdock's got a case of love at first sight! "Yeah, but don't read too much into it; trust me."
"Her dress kinda makes me think she might've at one time been a part-time zebra smuggler."
"Zebra smuggler?" Face repeated, giving Murdock his 'you cannot be serious' look.
A couple minutes later, the song was over and Daniella quickly ran offstage.
"She's on the move, guys. Let's go," Hannibal instructed and the four of them quickly weaved through the crowd and towards the right side of the stage.
"Nice song, Dani!" one of the waiters called out as she ran towards her dressing room.
Dani ignored him as she entered her room and sighed. She wasn't sure who those guys Kristy was talking to, but they creeped her out. One of them looked too preppy to be at a club like this, while another looked like a big bear with an obession for gold. The older man seemed to be making love to his cigar and the final guy looked the most human of them all. She knew Kristy had questionable taste in men, but not that questionable. She quickly looked for a place to hide, but soon decided another-somewhat crazier-plan would work just fine. She wasn't sure what they wanted, but she wasn't really in the mood for visitors. At least not ones who looked more like comic book characters than humans.
"Attention, K-Mart shoppers! We have a lady on the loose and we believe she has stolen the last box of Fruit Loops!" Murdock yelled as they made their way past the crowd.
B.A. gave him a firm shove. "You crazy fool! Only fruit loop in here is you! Now move!"
As they made their way down the hallway where the dressing rooms were, Hannibal stopped about midway, causing Murdock to have to halt abruptly to keep from knocking the Colonel down.
"Daniella Sanford; this is it," Hannibal pointed out, seeing her name on the door. "Excuse me, Ms. Sanford?" he knocked. "My name is Hannibal Smith and my friends and I were hoping to talk to you."
A minute later, Hannibal slowly opened the door a crack. "We're coming in now, Ms. Sanford. We're friends of Ms. Barrone."
Murdock cautiously peeked inside and saw she was sitting in a chair, asleep. "Wow! She must be the fastest sleeper in the West!"
"Well, Murdock, wake her up!" Face hissed. "We need to talk to her!"
"Okay, okay. Uh, ma'am, we're terribly sorry but we're gonna need those Fruit Loops back, pronto," he whispered, shaking her arm gently.
After a few seconds, B.A. shook his head. "Try again fool. And enough about the Fruit Loops."
Murdock grabbed her again by the shoulder and shook her more firmly. "Ms. Sanford? Any chance you can open your eyes and give us a big smile?"
Face looked at Hannibal. "Either she sleeps extremely hard, or she's-"
Before the last few words could escape his lips, Murdock felt two firm hands on his wrist and within a second, he was flung across the room.
B.A. looked at Murdock, who was slumped against the wall and then back to Daniella, who was standing, her pink wig in the floor and a scared look on her face. "Good night! She overpowered Murdock! I like her already!"