A-Team: Mr. Brightside

AN: Hello, this is my first A-Team fanfic. This story was inspired by watching all five seasons and the movie plus mp3 overload at work. (I consider only seasons 1-4 canon). Since I hate songfics (mostly) and get irritated when people mention a song but don't include the lyrics, I was reluctant to attempt this. But I see this as more of a suggested playlist. The title for each section is the song title. I will include the lyrics to the songs at the end of each chapter. Hopefully this will work out… Uncharted territory. Anyway, have fun reading, muchachos!

P.S. No, the romantic interest is NOT a teenager. You'll see…

"God, the sky is big and my plane is really cruddy, please don't let me crash!" – Murdock, Season 4

Chapter 1

You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You

"You scratch my van, Sucka, and you'll meet Mr. Fist," B.A.'s gravelly voice echoed off the brick walls as the four men approached the red-striped vehicle.

Murdock laughed maniacally, "Mon Frere! You do not understand the wondrousness that is the Great Murdockini!"

Face shook his head as he slid open the black van door, taking his usual seat. Murdock managed to elbow him in the gut and get his checkered 'magician's cape' caught around the armrest before finally falling into his chair.

Hannibal chomped on his cigar, smiling slightly at his men's antics.

"Alright, guys," Hannibal said as B.A. pulled out, tires squealing, "Decker's getting a little too close lately. This job…"

Gunshots interrupted him and Face jumped as a bullet pinged against the door. There was a squeak of fear behind him and Face turned to glare at Murdock.

"Tell me you didn't sneak a rabbit in here!" Face said.

"If you got an animal in my van, I'm gonna kill you, Fool!" B.A. shouted as they tore around a corner, the gangsters they were fighting this week keeping up with the red-trimmed van.

"I didn't!" Murdock whined, yanking off his top hat and pulling out the stuffed bunny, "See, Viper's right here!"

"You named your stuffed rabbit Viper?" Face asked incredulously.

"More to the point," Hannibal interrupted, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the shadows behind the men's chairs, "If there's no animal in here, what made that sound?"

Face and Murdock shared an apprehensive glance as they slowly turned to the area behind them, pistols appearing in their hands as if by magic.

Another whimper of fear emanated from the darkness and then a small voice.

"P…Please," a girl stuttered softly, "I'm sorry… I… I didn't mean to get in your way. I won't say anything, promise. P…Please don't shoot me."

The van slowed as B.A. lost their pursuers. Hannibal turned his seat, his silver pistol gleaming in the early morning sunlight.

"Come out where we can see you. Slowly," he commanded.

There was a long moment of silence and then movement. They all relaxed slightly as the form appeared from the darkness.

It was no wonder they hadn't seen her. The girl was small and dirty, her face streaked and her clothing so covered in dirt that the original color was lost to a dingy black. The hood of her thin sweatshirt covered most of her darkly matted hair and her tattered pants were at least two sizes too big. The straps of a well-worn backpack dangled from her shoulders as if they had been sewn to her clothing. Her tennis shoes were threadbare and the soles worn nearly through.

Hannibal estimated her age to be around 16 or 17. The van pulled up in an empty parking lot behind a supercenter and stopped. B.A. pulled the parking brake and turned around with a scowl.

"How'd you get in my van?" he growled before he turned. His face immediately softened. She was just a kid.

She wiped her face ineffectively, spreading the dirt around as her tears liquefied it. She wasn't openly sobbing, but tears escaped her eyes at steady intervals.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, "I was just looking for somewhere dry to sleep. The door was unlocked. I thought I could just stay the night and leave before anybody knew I was here." Her eyes flicked from one gun to another and she swallowed. "Please don't kill me."

In concert they lowered their weapons and Murdock grinned as he spun his gun around before tucking it into the back of his pants.

"We won't hurt you," B.A. grumbled.

"That's right," Hannibal said, grinning cockily around his cigar, "We're the good guys!"

The girl eyed them doubtfully, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.

"What's your name?" B.A. asked gently; the others automatically deferring to him when it came to kids. He had a way with them.

"Angie," she said after a moment's pause.

"Well, Angie, welcome! We're the A-Team!" Hannibal said, "He's Face," Hannibal introduced, gesturing to the handsome blonde to her right, "The magician for the day there is Murdock," Murdock doffed his hat and wiggled his eyebrows, drawing a giggle from her, "This is B.A." B.A. smiled crookedly, "And I'm Hannibal." Hannibal finished the introductions and leaned forward, looking at her seriously, "Now, what's a pretty little thing like you doing sleeping on the streets?"

Angie flinched at his words and seemed to shrink into herself. Her eyes darted towards the sliding door as if trying to estimate her odds of escape. Face reached out and touched her arm, trying to reassure her.

"Don't touch me!" she growled, crouching as she jerked away.

Face raised his hands non-threateningly and looked over at Hannibal in surprise.

"Just let me go," she said lowly.

The men stared at her, surprised at the sudden change in attitude. Her breath came in quick, short pants and her fists were raised slightly at her sides. She was ready to fight them.

"Okay!" Murdock chirped, startling everyone as he spoke, "Where do you want to go? Personally, I like the zoo, ooh, or maybe the beach! The beach is good. Lots of room to run! Maybe we can get a kite! Can we get a kite, Colonel?" Murdock grinned widely, "I love to fly."

Angie's eyes glared in Hannibal's direction when she heard his rank, but otherwise she didn't move.

"Can I go, Colonel?" she asked, her voice almost acidic.

Hannibal nodded at Face. Face opened the door and stepped out, backing away a few feet so she wouldn't feel trapped. She slid from the van, backing away slowly as the rest of the men got out of the vehicle and came around to Face's side. They all stayed in her view so she wouldn't feel threatened.

"You don't have to go," Hannibal said, "Like I said, we are the good guys. And you look like you could use some help."

"Honest," Murdock said gently, "Whatever has happened to you, you don't have to worry about it with us."

"We won't let nobody hurt you!" B.A. said, punching his palm.

Face smiled his most charming and innocent smile.

Angie looked down, her blackened fingers twisting the hem of her ratty hoodie. Her stomach growled loudly.

"Could… Would you just give me a couple of dollars?" she asked softly, without looking up, "I haven't really eaten in a while."

Hannibal's expression was drawn as he nodded at Face. Face pulled out his wallet and started counting through their petty cash. He pulled out a twenty and raised his eyebrow at Hannibal. B.A. shook his head and Face rolled his eyes as he pulled out another couple of bills.

"Here you go," Face said, forcing a smile as he handed over a hundred bucks.

Angie looked up in surprise as she hesitantly took the money from him. She counted it quietly and then looked up at them, tears brimming in her eyes.

"A hundred dollars?" she said weakly, "You're just giving me a hundred dollars?"

"If it is the only way you'll let us help you…" Hannibal said with a shrug.

"Thank you," she whispered fervently.

Angie turned and walked away slowly, her shoulders hunched under the weight of her faded purple backpack. Hannibal sighed and shook his head.

"Poor kid," B.A. muttered, "She's not going to make it much longer on her own."

"Probably going to blow the money on drugs or booze," Face said jadedly.

Murdock glared at him, "You don't know that." Face just shrugged.

"Guys," Hannibal interrupted, taking a step forward.

Angie had stopped at the corner of the building, just before she would have been out of their sight. Straightening her shoulders, she turned back towards them and one side of her face twitched up slightly in a half-smile.

With long, strong strides she came back to them, stopping just before Hannibal. She held out the money, her small, soft hand briefly covering his as she handed the cash to him.

"So, can we stop for food before we hit the beach?" she asked.

You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You
Michael Buble

You're nobody 'til somebody loves you

You're nobody 'til somebody cares

You may be king, you may possess the world and its gold

But gold won't bring you happiness when you're growing old

The world still is the same, you'll never change it

As sure as the star shines above

You're nobody 'til somebody loves you

So find yourself somebody to love

The world still is the same, you'll never change it

As sure as the star shines above

You're nobody 'til somebody loves you

So find yourself somebody to love

So find yourself somebody to love