Part 2 In The 'A Beautiful Lie' Series

Title: A White Lie

Author: Billy

Summary: Amy tries to help Face as he comes to terms with his past. Set just after The Only Church In Town. Sequel to A Beautiful Lie

Ratings: PG-13

Disclaimer: I don't own the A Team and I've not made a penny from this; I just do it for the jazz!

May 2008

Chapter 1

Amy closed her journal, tucked it into her bag and sat up on the lounge chair she'd been sunbathing on. Okay, so it was going to take a lot longer by boat to get back to LA, but she needed the holiday, and this 'boat', as BA had put it, turned out to be a cruise liner. Not the most luxurious, but it would do. It was on its way back up the South American coast, stopping next at Mexico then Los Angeles.

Trying to explain her absence to Eldridge was interesting, but he'd bought it. And bought the idea she was taking a vacation. As long as her office promptly received the story of the outlaws hiding at the Santa Maria's orphanage, and the A-Team coming to its rescue, her editor would be happy.

Once they'd got to the port, BA admitted, that the trading of the car hadn't quite covered the bill. It had been more like a deposit. As Face had insisted he be considered as the client, as he'd dragged them down to Ecuador, BA figured he could pay the rest. Face had instantly complained, and there had been some irate words swapped between Face and BA, but Face had quickly conceded, reluctantly agreeing. BA looked surprised at the lack of battle but Face seemed too wrapped up in his own world to want to argue the fact. Wanted the easy way out, by the looks of it. Arguing with BA was like head butting a brick wall at times. And maybe Face had resigned himself to the fact, as if his heart wasn't in it to scam a plane. So Amy had insisted she'd pay her own way, and produced her credit card. It hadn't seemed right to make Face pay, especially as she'd convinced herself she needed a vacation.

"Murdock, where's Face?" Amy asked, joining him at the rail where he was watching the ocean.

"He's there," Murdock replied, pointing.

Amy nodded, spotting Face a deck below further along the ship, leaning against a rail looking out to the ocean around them. Since the ship had left port three days ago, Face had put some distance between himself and the rest of the team. He wasn't his flamboyant confident self, not flirting with any pretty girl that gave him attention. No, he certainly didn't seem himself, and didn't seem to be getting any better either. His facade had been fading. He was hurting. Thinking too much about Leslie. Dwelling on the past, maybe?

After they'd left the orphanage, Face saying his good-byes to Leslie, she'd noticed how quiet he'd been on the way to the port. Amy had chosen to leave him, wait for an opportunity before trying to talk to him. Since then she'd watched him, not mentioning it to the guys, although she knew they too had noticed Face's behaviour. She hoped now might be the right time. It seemed none of the guys were going to try to talk to him. Men and their ways. And maybe, with their weekend away nearly a month ago, he might be receptive to her. On a boat this size, it was easier for them to have space from the rest of the team. So, would he let her in?

"I might try to talk to him, see if I can get him to open up."

"Do you think he will? Face likes to keep things close to the vest."

"I don't know, maybe. He started telling me about Leslie," Amy replied. "Look, do me a favour. Make sure Hannibal or BA doesn't come looking for us. And don't you, either."

Murdock raised an eyebrow.

"If he does start to open up, I don't want him to then clam up because of one of you interrupting us."

"I don't know, Amy. Maybe I should go talk to him?" Murdock stood away from the rail, as if ready to walk off.

"No, no, I think it's best if I do. This isn't something guys talk about. And he started opening up on the plane down here. Just try to give me an hour or so, okay? We'll meet you guys at dinner."

Murdock frowned, glancing at Face below. Finally he nodded. "Okay, okay, you could be right. A little heart to heart, huh?"

"Thanks, Murdock." Amy gently patted his arm and left him, heading towards Face on the outer deck below.

As Amy approached, she watched two pretty girls in swimsuits pass by him. One was certainly offering him an invite, but he just smiled at her and then went back to leaning against the rail. Boy, he has got it bad. Any other day, he'd have been following that blonde bombshell. The woman had looked a little disappointed to Amy, but had waved a hopeful goodbye to him all the same.

"Well, Face, I never thought I'd see that," Amy teased as she got closer to him. "She was practically offering herself to you on a plate."

"Ah, her? Nah," Face waved it off. "Besides, I doubt I'd make great company at the moment."

Amy nodded. "Look, you can tell me to go away, but I thought you might want to talk." He glanced at her as she stood next to him, so she gave him a smile. He gave a weak smile back, and then went back to staring out at the ocean, in his own world. She leaned on the rail, looking out towards the ocean, too.

"Did you get to say goodbye to Leslie?"

No answer.

"Did you get to say everything you wanted to say?"

"Amy, you've got your story. What more is there to say?" Face snapped bitterly, glancing at her coldly. "I'm not giving you any more information about Leslie and me."

"Face!" Amy said, astounded, her eyes wide. "I didn't come here to get more details for the story." Her tone was sharp as she met his eyes. "I have to go back to my editor with a story. You have to understand that. But I'm not going to mention a thing about your relationship with Leslie. I won't even mention her name. If I have to use a name, it will be as Sister Teresa. There won't even be a hint that you were romantically involved with this woman. I've already penned it as just another case for the A-Team, another call for help, nothing more."

Amy angrily turned away from him. That hurt, really hurt. He doesn't trust me, she thought.

When she turned back to look at him, he was staring at her.

"Is that what you think of me? I'm your friend." She placed a hand on his arm, trying to reassure him and then removed it. It reminded her of his physical strength; she hadn't felt his touch for a few weeks now. "You can trust me."

"I'm sorry," he said, looking down into the water below. "I shouldn't have said that. I know you won't write anything like that." She could see the tension in his face. His unhappiness. He was finding it hard to hide behind his usual charm and persona.

"You helped me a few weeks back at the wedding, with Jeremy and everything. I don't know what I would have done without you. I want to return the favour." She moved in closer, her voice low. She placed her hand back on his arm. "Let me in, Face. Talk to me."

Still silence from him, so she decided to continue.

"It hurts doesn't it? Having faced her again. The past being brought back up, reminding you. Bringing the pain to the surface again."

Face nodded. Still not catching her eye.

"She's a very courageous woman. She's everything you said she was. I can see why you loved her."

He still wouldn't look at her, just stared out at the ocean.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth in New York? I asked if you'd ever loved before, and you'd said no."

"I'd put it behind me, long ago, to forget it all."

"But all that stuff you said, I just thought... But you were actually talking from experience." She still held her hand on his arm, gently rubbing it. Unable to tear herself away, touching him, but unable to be braver, to try to hug him. "At least you know the truth. She didn't really run off with another man."

"And what good does that do me now? It's too late!" he snapped. She quickly removed her hand from his tensed arm as he turned to face her. He ran a hand through his hair, his expression remaining tense, scowling.

She tried meeting his eye, searching for answers. Too late for what? Then she realised. Had he joined the army to escape his pain, and now a fugitive on the run, there was nothing he could change about that?

"Face, you're a good man. You do a lot of good things. You should be proud of yourself." She realised, they were standing closer now, both had edged forward, towards one another, but neither touching.

She turned so that her back leaned against the rail. She felt the sun's warmth on her face and could feel the presence of Face next to her. Face still watched the ocean, but this way he could glance at her, catch her eye, as she intended. But out of the corner of her eye, she spied Murdock, still on the deck above, watching them. She glared at him, making sure he knew she wasn't happy. Damn him. Face spots him and it's all over. She'd never get him to open up. She kept her anger in check and took Face's arm.

"Shall we go for a walk?"

"Er, yeah, sure," Face replied, hesitantly walking with her.

She hoped she was helping. He seemed to at least be allowing her to stay with him. She hated the thought of him hurting. Geez, Amy, get a grip, she told herself. This is Face; he'll be over this in another day or so.

As they walked to the back of the ship, away from Murdock's prying eyes, past bathers and meanders like themselves, Face slowly started to relax in Amy's company. At first, Amy was doing most of the talking, but they were soon chatting and laughing, about nothing really. BA waking from his drugged state to find them all on top of him. Murdock in his habit. The silly things that somehow the team seemed to get away with.

"Has Courtney asked about that date with Murdock?" Face asked, chuckling.

Amy pinched him. "No, luckily. You know that guy she was dragging around the dance floor at the end?"

Face raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, well, she hooked up with him. She's still seeing him. So you're off the hook." She nudged him. Face laughed again. "But if it ends, we might need Murdock."

"What about us? What have you told them?"

Amy glanced away, out to sea.

"Amy?"

"I haven't said anything. I can't bring myself to end it. I'll only get sympathy that I don't deserve. And I can't quite think how I want to end the lie. So I try not to say much, and if asked, I give a very quick answer and change the subject." When it came to the crunch, then she'd deal with that lie, but for the time being, while she was getting away with it, she liked her friends and family believing she was happy with Sam.

Face nodded.

They stood silently for a while, watching the wake of the ship, the white surf creating a large V behind them. It was noisier with the water breaking, and windier, but there were fewer people about, giving them more privacy. Amy knew Face needed this privacy, this solace place.

"You know, that weekend... the wedding, and everything." Amy leaned heavily against the rail. "I know it was all one big lie, but I..." dare she say it? "I miss it. We had fun."

He leaned too, placing his hand next to hers, so that it was touching hers. So subtle, as if not even meant. She missed his touch. She missed a lot of things about that weekend. It seemed so long ago now. But she at least thought they'd become closer friends.

"I've missed you," she whispered softly, not able to meet his eye. Part of her hoped that he didn't hear her confession.

Face smiled, gently brushing her hair off of her face. "I've missed it, too," he said softly. He brought his forehead to hers, their noses almost touching.

Her heart pounded inside of her chest. She closed her eyes for a moment. She so desperately wanted to feel his kiss, but knew it shouldn't, mustn't happen. She wanted friendship because that's what he wanted, too. He needs to know he can trust me. Start becoming needy, he'll run so far, friends will be the farthest thing from his mind.

"I said we'd meet the others for dinner. Are you ready to go?" she asked, reluctantly pulling away from his hold.

He nodded and they made their way to the dining hall.