Chapter 2:

When Face sunk to his knees Hannibal was at his side in three quick strides. He was still semi-conscious but too far out to control himself. Hannibal knelt down in front of Face and held him close, partly to stop him from hitting the floor as he lost his fight with unconsciousness and partly because he realized that the kid needed reassurance. As he touched Face he felt how hot he was, definitely running a fever. It took only moments until Face went slack in his arms and he gently lowered his lieutenant to the ground. His face was wet with tears and with a pang of guilt Hannibal noticed just how much his teasing had hurt Face.

Anyway, there was time to think about his feelings later on. Right now Hannibal had to find out what was wrong with the kid. Had he caught some tropical disease? After all they had not have had the time to prepare for the trip. Was it something contagious, then the others could have it too. He first had to get Face to a more comfortable position. There was no way he could carry him alone unless a fireman's carry. Hannibal opted for putting a pile of blankets on the living room floor and dragging Face the short distance over to it. After that he stripped him out of his clothes and covered him with a light blanket. That way he could cool his body down with wet washcloths. After he made sure Face was as comfortable as possible he reached for the phone.

"Murdock, how are you doing?"

"Fine, feel totally nuts just as usual."

"Face came over here and…"

"Face came to you? Does he not know the number one rule for clients?"

"I hate to ask, what does it say?"

"Never contact the team after the case is done for the military may follow you."

"Great Murdock, somehow I got the feeling that's the last thing Face needs to hear right now." Funny how he had been teasing him just minutes ago and now felt protective.

"Face collapsed. He is running a fever, pale and covered in cold sweat. Might be some souvenir from Ecuador. If you get any symptoms make sure you get help."

Murdock sobered instantly. "How is he? Do you need me to come over?"

"Not just now, I'll keep you informed. He is out of it and I want to wait and see. I don't want to take the risk of involving a doctor just now."

"Okay, keep me updated and tell him to get well from me."

"Alright."

Hannibal repeated the same call to BA and told him to stand by in case they needed to transport Face to a doctor. He then settled in beside his patient to cool him down and wait.

Face could see her in front of him sitting by the pond. She looked so beautiful…just as he remembered her all those years ago. She lifted her head to meet his eyes and a smile lit up her face and filled his heart. He walked over and took her soft hand into his and got down on one knee. He looked down for a moment to retrieve the ring from his jacket pocket. Looking back up, the ring fell from his fingers as the woman he loved now sat before him clothed as a nun.

There was a clap of thunder and the sky darkened as rain began to fall. "I never loved anybody…never let myself love anybody…until I met you," he said as the rain slid down his cheeks.

Leslie disappeared and left him alone once again. "No…don't leave me, Leslie…no." Face felt something cold and wet against his cheek and then his forehead. He heard a voice, but it sounded muffled and far away. The voice kept talking soothingly; gradually coming in louder and clearer bringing him back to consciousness.

Face's eyes fluttered open and there Hannibal was sitting next to him, concern etched on his features. He tried to push himself up, but was too weak to even lift his head. "Hannibal ," he muttered. "What happened?"

Hannibal watched as Face begun to twitch and moan, obviously in the clutches of a dream. As he came around he started to mumble something. All Hannibal could make out was the word love but as he came closer to awareness his speech became louder and more clear. "No…don't leave me, Leslie…no."

"No one's leaving you, kid, just a dream. Come on wake up. I'm here for you. I'm not leaving you. Come on, open your eyes for me, just a dream, kid." Hannibal tried to sooth him and bring him out of his dream faster while running a cool wet washcloth over his face. Face's eyelids fluttered and Hannibal continued talking, "That's it Face, open your eyes, it's just a dream, yeah that's a good boy."

Face had confusion written all over his face. "Hannibal , what happened?"

Was that the same man he had been angry with just a few hours ago? Hannibal regretted all his harsh words. The kid seemed so weak and vulnerable right now. "Don't try to move just now. You collapsed in my hall, remember?"

It took a while before Face gave a little nod. "Good. You are running quite a fever here. How do you feel?"

Face looked as if he was going to answer when he paled even more before deciding on a change of decoration and turning to a shade of green. Hannibal knew what was coming and brought the bowl he had used to rinse the washcloth closer. Just as the heaving started he turned him on his side and held him over the bowl. His whole body jerked with each heave but only a little bile came out. When he was done Hannibal gently placed the now trembling Face back down and continued to wipe the new formed sweat off his body.

When Face's heavy breathing stopped and he seemed to have gained a little composure Hannibal frowned down at him, "When did you start feeling sick and just when was the last time you ate or drank something?"

"Started feeling really tired and achy on the plane ride back,"Face said wrapping his arms around himself to quell the tremors. He could never understand how it was possible to be so hot and so cold at the same time. "Haven't eaten since then." The truth was he hadn't had much of an appetite for anything since Father O'Malley showed up at his doorstep with his old fraternity pin.

He wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole; he hated showing weakness. But if there was one thing he hated more, it was showing weakness in front of the colonel. "I'm okay, "he slurred rolling slightly to one side in an effort to get up. Hannibal put a gentle hand on his shoulder and stopped him from being successful. He eased him back down and gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. No words were needed, the worried look in his eyes was enough to convince Face to stay down.

Face was overwhelmed. One minute he felt as if nobody cared…not Leslie, not the team…not Hannibal. But now he didn't know what to think. It was all too much for him to handle. He closed his eyes as the darkness overtook him yet again.

"Yeah, you are okay and ready to go. I can see that. At least we can rule out food poisoning, what's not inside cannot cause trouble. When will you ever learn to talk to one of us when you're not fine? Probably when we start listening and reading your actions rather than your words." Hannibal patted his unconscious patient on the shoulder and proceeded to slide a thermometer under his tongue.

When he removed the thermometer it still read 104 degrees, all the cooling had done nothing to reduce the temperature but only stopped it from going up. Hannibal decided to call Maggie.

"Hi Maggie. It's John."

"John, who is it this time?"

"Why, you think I only call you when one of us is down?"

"I don't think…I know."

"Okay, it's Face. We went to Ecuador and now he has a high fever, is pale, sweating, collapsed in my hall about 3 hours ago and vomited when he came around."

"Did you take malaria precautions?"

"No. There was no time."

"Okay, food poisoning?"

"He hasn't taken in anything in over 24 hours."

"He what?"

"I just found out."

"You need to get liquids into him. Is he responsive?"

"He's been unconscious most of the time since he collapsed and he's as weak as a kitten."

"Can I talk to him?"

"He's out of it right now. Anyway, he would tell you he's fine."

"True. How high is his temperature?"

"104 for the past 3 hours. I striped him to his boxers, covered him with a light blanket and I'm cooling him with wet washcloths but the temperature won't drop."

"Can you bring him here?"

"It's quite some way and I don't want to tip of the military of our safe hold doctor. We'll come to you only as our last resort."

"Okay, first thing you need to get liquids into him. Do you know how to start an IV line?"

"Not done it in years, but it will be alright."

"You need to keep him on it if he can't drink or hold the water down. When he starts drinking get him an oral rehydration solution. How did you take his temperature?"

"Oral."

"That's quite high then. You might want to change to rectal whiles he is unconscious or irresponsive. As soon as the fever spikes to 105 you have to medicate him and you will not get an accurate read when he breathes through the mouth. Do you have fever medication ready?"

"I have Tylenol, but only tablets."

"You need to get injections that go in his bottom or suppositories and get them now to be prepared."

"He'll hate me for the rest of his life."

"He can hate you all he wants once he is fine. Do you know how to draw blood?"

"Ah Maggie, you know how he hates needles. Yeah, I know how to do it."

"Right now I don't care whether he hates needles. Get a kit, draw a good amount and get it to a lab. Tell them to run a complete scan including tropical disease. I need the results ASAP. It might be malaria. If so then his fever should drop after some hours to rise again after 24 or 48 hours, depending on the type, but the unconsciousness is uncharacteristic. It might as well be the flu or anything else. Make sure you keep a close tab on his temperature and continue sponging him. Which pharmacy should I call to get the prescription ready?"

Hannibal gave her the phone number and then made another call, "BA, I need you to pick something from the pharmacy and come over."

Hannibal felt drained. He hated opponents that could not be fought with plans and guns. Eying the thermometer and the pale complexion of Face he took a decision. Rolling him on his side he mumbled "Sorry, kid."

After a very short time BA showed up with a big bag of meds and supplies. He had hurried as fast as he could, knowing that one of his family members was sick. To Hannibal it still seemed like ages now that he knew what to do but had to sit by watching helplessly as Face fought with an unknown illness.

"How is he, man?"

"Out of it. Fever is still high and I can't get him cooled."

"No wonder, it's hot in here."

"Help me move him to the bed room. There is more ventilation and he'll be more comfortable."

BA was the one of them who could pick Face up and carry him on his own. "Man he is hot. No joking."

"Take him to the master bed room." Hannibal was rummaging through the bag BA had brought, taking the liquid meds to the fridge. Ah great, Maggie had thought of everything. In the bag were IV ports with double access. That way he could leave the IV on and get meds into him without having to pierce him with a needle every time. The blood kit also fit to the port so all he had to do was get it in his arm. 'Can't be too difficult.'

"BA, hold him still, just in case. I need to get that port in." Face had never been a fan of needles that were directed his way, or any medicine at all for that matter. But since the camps he had developed a phobia against them. He had never told them why but they had a fairly good idea. They usually needed to trick him and hold him down when it was time for vaccinations and avoided syringes as much as they could. This time, no chance though. Hannibal decided for a good spot and got busy. He had the needle inside but nothing was flowing. He sighed and tried again.

"He'll wine forever about the bruises the way you are rummaging around in his arm."

"You are a big help. Anyway, good thing he is out of it." It took three tries to get it set correctly and Hannibal carefully fixed it with pads, bandages and gauze. He proceeded to draw the blood and then connected the IV line. At last he wrapped the port in more bandages and gauze so Face could not rip it out easily.

"BA, get the blood and this prescription to a lab and tell them to scan it in record time. Maggie will call us as soon as the lab gives her the data."

BA squeezed Face's shoulder reassuringly and was out of the door and on his way in seconds.

Hannibal settled in to wait. Face had not even stirred during the whole ordeal and his concern grew. BA called in that he was going back to the kid's center. He had some things to finish so he would be free to stay with Hannibal and Face for the next days.

Evening came and nothing had changed. Hannibal had replaced the IV bag several times and tended to Face's fever without the slightest stir from the kid. He was really worried now. When the phone rang he thought it must be Maggie and hurried to answer it.

"Hannibal, I know I shouldn't call but I'm worried. You didn't give me an update since this morning. How is he doing?"

"Sorry captain but I have no news. We are still waiting for the results of the blood test, his fever hasn't broken and he is still out of it. We have him on an IV. Can you believe the stupid kid did not eat or drink anything since we left Ecuador?"

"No telling what he ate in Ecuador. I mean we pretty much avoided his company. He was with the nuns most of the time and the few times he joined us for meals he did not eat much. Colonel, I feel so guilty. This Leslie must have really meant something to him and we teased him bad."

"You have less reason than BA and me to feel guilty. At least you noticed. Look, can you spring yourself and get over here, we might need to go to Maggie and I think it's good for him to have you around. I need to go back. He is in the master bed room and the phone is in the hall. I don't want him to wake up alone, especially not with an IV in his arm."

"Yeah you better keep an eye on him. I'll be there as soon as I can."

The next time Face woke up he was lying in an unfamiliar bed wearing next to nothing. Confused, he looked around the room trying to remember where he was and what had happened. He thought about trying to get up, but there was an IV in his arm that was attached to the bed post. Not to mention that the room was tilting from side to side and he doubted his limbs would cooperate.

He felt helpless…and very alone. He thought he remembered Hannibal saying that he was there for him and that he wouldn't leave him. 'Guess I imagined it,' he thought. 'Must be the fever.' The window was open to let in the cool air and he was practically naked, but he was still burning up. Face swallowed hard past the lump that had formed in his throat. The guys really didn't care after all; they only kept him around to get things for them.

Adding to his misery was that he hurt everywhere. Even his hair seemed to ache if that was possible. But he was especially surprised at a deep throbbing sensation coming from his right foot. He tried to lift his leg to get a look, but the slightest movement was excruciating and made him see stars before his eyes. 'I don't remember hurting my foot,' he thought. Then again, his mind wasn't exactly clear at the moment…everything was fuzzy.

He attempted to lift his foot one more time, and this time was a bit more successful. He gritted his teeth against the pain as he reached out with his free arm and took hold of his ankle. There in his line of still bleary vision was what appeared to be a deeply inflamed puncture wound. 'I should probably tell somebody about this,' he thought. But where was everybody?

He released his limb and slowly lowered it back down to the bed. As soon as the foot made contact with the mattress, the pain was too much. Once again, Face's world faded to black.