After "When you comin' back range rider"
Chapter 1
Hannibal, BA, Murdock, Face and the beautiful niece of the thug they just put away were on the way to Phoenix airport in Amy's car. It was late afternoon and they were in good spirits. For one of them that changed when they reached the airport.
"You can't mean it."
"I do sucker, sit back down."
Upon reaching the airport BA and Hannibal had given Face an insight of their travel plans from thereon. Much to his dismay it didn't include a plane.
"It will take ages to reach LA."
"Just about six hours drive Face."
"I hate to interrupt but I have a plane to catch. Nice knowing you guys." With that the girl left and Face's mood dropped even more. He opened the door a fraction.
"I'll see you guys in LA."
Before he could get out BA had him by the front of his shirt. "We are going by car, sucker."
"Ah…as I said, nothing better than a long ride in a cabrio."
"See it as team bounding exercise Face. We'll stop somewhere for the night and all share a bed, how does that sound?"
Face hated it when Hannibal directed this smug smile on him. "Just great."
After stopping for some food he got in the back with Murdock. It was already getting dark outside and he didn't feel like sitting in the car at all. Murdock got bored with guessing number plates after thirty minutes and turned to asking Face questions.
"Face, what's your favorite color?"
"Green."
"Is that why you put that color on your features so often?" BA chimed in and sniggered but Murdock just went on.
"What music do you like."
"Any."
"Do you like the ocean?"
"Sure." Face had his eyes closed and had not opened them for once while answering Murdock's questions without any interest in the game.
"Do you like animals?"
"Depends."
"Will you marry me?"
"I'm tired."
"That doesn't answer the….hey Face look, what a beauty." Murdock had spotted a helicopter somewhere. "Face you are not looking."
Since he didn't get a response he grabbed Face's left forearm to get his attention.
"Ouch." Face pulled away and cradled his arm close for just a split second before he had control again and quickly moved it back to lay in his lap. Now that his eyes were open and he saw Murdock's look he tried to defuse the situation.
"Where's that beauty you were talking about?"
"What's wrong with your arm?"
"Nothing." That went well. Why did Murdock have to catch on so fast. "You startled me."
"No, you are in pain."
"I'm not. Look, you are bored. Why don't we play 'I can see something and you can't'? I can see something yellow."
"Sure. And I can see a Faceman trying to scam me. Hannibal, Face is hurt."
"I'm not."
"Find us a place with enough light and stop BA." Hannibal had been following the conversation ever since he heard the 'ouch' from Face."
"No, we can go on. This is ridiculous. Nothing is wrong."
"Murdock?"
"I grabbed his forearm and it caused pain it shouldn't have."
"I'm here Hannibal, why don't you ask me instead of Murdock."
"Because I want the truth."
BA had found a filling station and pulled over right under a lamp. Now he too turned to Face who felt uneasy having all eyes on him.
"Your cheeks look red, kid."
"It's hot."
"We are in a cabrio in the night. Try again."
"Maybe he just tries out colors. He was rather green when we were on the horses the first day."
"Murdock's right. I'm a chameleon."
"You have to teach me how to do it."
"Murdock, knock it off. Face, stop stalling."
"Stalling what?"
"Don't play innocent and let's see your arm."
"Why, there is nothing wrong with my arm."
"Then just show it and we'll be on our way."
"Fine." Face started to roll up his right sleeve with lots of drama to show all was well.
"Nice try Face, the other arm, Murdock is sitting to your left."
"Look, can't we just…."
"Move it or I'll have BA rip out the sleeve."
Face knew he had lost and he carefully started to unbutton the sleeve revealing a swollen and red forearm with a white bandage on the underside of the arm.
"What's under the bandage?"
"Just a scratch. Got infected."
"What happened and when?"
"Ah…I got a scratch while in the train with BA."
"I never saw you getting scratched and your arm would not be this infected from something that happened just this afternoon. Spill it man."
In the meantime Hannibal had traded places whit Murdock and was now holding Face's arm in his hand. As soon as he had it his other hand went to Face's forehead.
"Your arm is burning and you run a fever. I want the truth and now, Lieutenant!"
"Ouch, stop." But Hannibal removed the bandage revealing an angry looking wound that wasn't deep but definitely more than just a scratch.
"I'm listening Face."
"Look, he couldn't have known, I mean, it wasn't his fault…"
"Face, I'm getting impatient. What the hell happened."