Title: Stalking Face

Rating: PG 13

Summary: A nemesis from the past comes back for a little revenge.

Warning: Spoilers for The Bell's of St. Mary's. And perhaps a bit corny and unrealistic at times…just the way I like it! :)

Face drove down the highway feeling better than he had in days. The bruises from the previous week's mugging were almost gone, as were the feelings of violation that he had been carrying around. He suspected Rhonda had something to do with that. Face was pleasantly surprised to run into the stunner again earlier in the day and they decided to have lunch together. By the end of the meal, he was able to put her number into his new wallet. This time he vowed not to lose it.

Face pulled into the parking spot and started to get out of his car when the dizziness first hit him. He leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. The feeling passed as quickly as it arrived.

'That was weird,' he thought. 'Must be an after effect from that blow to my head.' Face had suffered enough concussions over the years to know that it could take a while to feel quite right again.

That, or maybe the champagne he had with Rhonda had hit him; he always was a light weight. 'But it was only one glass,' he thought, 'even I'm not that pathetic."

Realizing that he was close to being late for the meeting, he dismissed the dizziness a as fluke and continued on toward Hannibal's apartment.

They were busy hashing out the details for their next mission when Face began to feel nauseous. Unsure if he was actually going to be sick or not, he decided to play it safe and headed for the bathroom.

He had his hand on the doorknob when he was he was hit by a sharp stomach pain. Face gasped and doubled over. He fell to his knees and crawled over to the toilet...and the eruption began.

In the other room, Hannibal, Murdock and B.A. sat waiting for Face to return.

"Faceman sure been gone a long time," B.A. grumbled. "probably primpin' in front of the mirror."

"Even Face isn't vain enough to be gone this long," Hannibal smiled in an attempt to conceal his worry.

"I'll go check on him," Murdock volunteered.

As he made his way down the hall he could hear Face retching. He pushed the ajar door open slightly and saw his friend clutching onto the side of the bowl. Unsure what to do and not wanting to invade the ill man's privacy, he let the door close and hung back. When there was nothing but silence coming from inside, he knocked lightly.

"Face...you okay?" Murdock asked, knowing full well that he wasn't. When he didn't get a reply, he pushed the door open again to find Face propped up against the wall. He was shaking and sweating and breathing hard.

Murdock knelt down next to Face and said soothingly, "Hey buddy, you think you're okay to make it to a bed."

Face nodded but made no attempt to get up; he was far too weak to even move.

Murdock doubted that Face would be able to walk, even with his help. "Just stay put...I'm going to go get B.A."

Normally Face would have protested that idea; he hated it when B.A. had to carry him. But now he felt too sick too even care.

"Well, we might as well start calling him 'Ralph'…because that's what he's been doing," Murdock informed the guys as he reentered the living room.

"Ralph?" B.A. asked looking confused.

"Yes, ralph…you know...like puke." Murdock suddenly looked very serious. "He's real sick. Man, how does somebody get so sick so fast?"

Hannibal put out his cigar and rolled up his sleeves. "I don't know, Captain. But if there is one thing that I have learned from Face over the years, is to expect the unexpected."

And Hannibal surely did not expect to see what he saw upon entering the bathroom.

"Jesus, kid," he said, kneeling down next to Face who was now lying on the floor.

He had his hands wrapped around his midsection and was moaning and writhing in pain. All of a sudden Face turned white and lurched for the toilet again. Hannibal held the younger man's shoulders while he did his business and then supported him as he collapsed backwards.

"Thanks," Face gasped. "Sorry."

"S'okay, kid. Just take it easy," Hannibal said gently. "B.A., go get some towels. Murdock, get a pillow. I think Face may be best off staying right where he is for a bit."

"Right. Let's go fool!" B.A. said grabbing Murdock's arm and pulling him out of the room.

Face's head rested on Hannibal's lap. He ran a trembling hand through his hair. "I don't feel so good," he moaned.

"I know you don't, but I'm sure you'll be feeling better soon," Hannibal soothed. He just prayed that he was right.

Hannibal's prayers were answered, but not until several hours later. The guys took turns holding Face as he was violently sick through the course of the night. Finally, he passed out from exhaustion and B.A. was able to move him to a bed.

Face woke up to Murdock fixing the sheets around him. Still disoriented, he swatted his hands away and mumbled, "Go away."

"We really have to stop meeting like this, Face-guy," Murdock teased.

"Sorry Murdock…I'm just not awake yet." The way he was feeling, he wasn't sure that being awake was such a good idea anyway. Sleep sounded much more appealing.

"How're you feeling, Face?" Hannibal asked from across the room.

"Like my insides have been ripped out," he answered honestly.

Hannibal frowned. If Face wasn't putting up a front, that meant he really was feeling bad. "You're not too far off the mark…food poisoning," he stated.

"Huh?" Face questioned.

"I spoke with Maggie, and she said that you probably had a case of severe food poisoning."

"Yeah man…you was up ralphing all night," B.A. said and then regretted it as soon a Murdock gave him a thumbs up. "Aw man…I should know better than ta encourage you fool!"

"Ralphing?" Face questioned again. "I must still be delirious, because you guys aren't making much sense."

"Maggie said to make sure you drink lots of fluids to replace what you…um…lost." Hannibal cleared his throat and tried to clear his mind of the previous night. "But, I do have some news that'll cheer you up Face…once you are feeling better we are all going to hit the road."

Murdock started to jump up and down. "Can we go to Disneyland? Can we, can we, can we?" He looked so childlike and excited that even B.A. had to smile at his antics.

"Sorry Murdock…but we might encounter some mice where we are going too. It's time we got a little training session in…dontcha' think?"

Hannibal and Murdock answered with a definite "no" while Face just groaned, "I think I feel a relapse coming on."

"I'd say things are progressing nicely! Yes, nicely indeed!
Phase 3...a personal favorite of mine!

Let's see if I can get them to see red...shall we?