Lose a little, win a lot
(Don't own it!)
It started when Faceman didn't come for breakfast.
No-one really thought much of it, after all they were a group of bachelors, mavericks and men. They ate when they wanted to, sometimes alone, sometimes together. Soon Face's absence at the small table at their camp became a regular occurrence, Hannibal would sometimes see the boy munching on an apple and holding it in his mouth while he wiped his greasy hands on his pants when messing around with an engine with B.A. It went on for awhile and Hannibal noticed when his lieutenant started slowing down in his routine. On a particularly hot day, Hannibal noticed Face taking his shirt off and he barked at the soldier, "Face! You sick or something?"
Face looked down at his perfectly flat stomach, back at the boss and down again. He didn't seem to see what Hannibal saw. The V by his hips were prominent and there was a faint outline of his lower ribs. While Hannibal agreed Faceman didn't look sick, the weight loss was noticeable.
"I'm fine boss."
Hannibal gave a small nod, thinking and said, "you're having dinner with me tonight"
Face chuckled, "not planning on seducing me are you?"
Hannibal looked at Face's torso again and didn't smile an turned and went back into the tent.
At dinner Face ate his meal and joked with his teammates and smiled good naturedly at Hannibal now and then. His mouth filled with potato and corn and meat and swigging it all back with a can of beer.
Days turned into another couple of weeks and Hannibal saw it happening. His arms looked thinner, marks under his eyes, a far less sunny smile. He didn't want to speak to the other men about it and Face seemed skittish around him these days, he barely had the man alone. Yet Face did seem more confident, just as cocky, just as funny. Hannibal had an inkling but wasn't sure. Looking good and fit is exactly what Face's speciality required and the pressure was there. His mind was made up when Murdock came to him and cap in hand, said, "Face might be sick. I've heard him being sick just about every night this week. He ain't been looking like Face lately either."
Hannibal thanked Murdock and made a phone call to the army doctor, a friend of his who had set bones and stitched him a number of times in the early days. The doctor came around that evening and led Hannibal and Face to Face's bunk bed. He did a thorough check-up without saying much. Hannibal noted Face didn't object and continued being charming and polite. When the visit was done, the doctor was making a note in his book and looked at Face. "Son, you can't lose anymore weight. You have a thin enough frame as it is. Losing more could be dangerous. Eat balanced meals and get some rest, no strenuous exercise. I'm giving you two weeks to put on at least four pounds, if not, I'm going to have to take this further."
Face nodded and made a couple of jokes but Hannibal noticed the confused look when the doctor had said, "take this further" and the almost panic on his face when the doctor had said "four pounds".
Hannibal left it at that, it was up to his lieutenant now to do what he had to do and if not, then he would just have to step in. A week past and Hannibal noticed no change. He was angry but left it, two days before the doctor was due to come back he called Face. He motioned to the scale and Face gingerly stepped on. Hannibal looked at the huge smile radiating from his face and he gave a small grin. Face must have passed the test to be so happy. His gaze dropped to the numbers on the scale and his stomach clenched. Face had LOST five pounds more.
He stared at Face who was trying to sober his expression and realized he had a real problem in his camp.