Chapter 3: Mixed emotions
The team were twitching with frustration at not being able to help Kami. BA was punching his fist into his hand, his eyes glaring angrily at the two men. Murdock's face was etched with concerned emotion as he saw Kami lying hurt on the floor. Even Face, who was usually the most even-mannered member of the team, was inwardly furious. His blue-grey eyes glistened with contempt and disgust as he watched Sykes running out of the room, still brandishing the kitchen knife.
Travis fired off another couple of warning shots and then bolted out of the house after Sykes. BA and Hannibal were immediately after them in hot pursuit. Sykes was already in the car with the engine revved up ready to go. Travis ran towards the passenger seat, but before he got in he shot the front tyre out on the van.
BA shouted curses at him angrily as he came bounding out of the house. Travis pointed the gun at him and pulled the trigger. Fortunately for BA, Travis had used up all the bullets and so he threw the gun away in frustration as he jumped into the car. Sykes drove off at high speed, sparks exploding from the wheels as he skidded dangerously down the drive.
BA picked up the gun and handed it to Hannibal. There was nothing they could do as they couldn't chase the men without BA's ride. Hannibal stood staring at the disappearing car for a moment, a foreboding look darkening his piecing blue eyes. BA had seen that look before and he felt sure that Hannibal would have shown Sykes no mercy if they had caught up with him.
They went back into the house to find Face by Kami's side. He gently rolled her onto her back and felt sickened when he saw how badly her pretty face was bloodied and bruised. Murdock, who was looking over Face's shoulder, also gasped in horror.
Kami started to stir from her unconscious state, muttering to herself under her breath. She suddenly lashed out at Face in self-defence, not realising it was him.
"No, no!" she screamed in distress. "Leave me alone, leave me alone."
Face caught her fists, as she pummelled them against his chest.
"It's okay, Kami," he said softly, "It's me, Face – I won't hurt you."
"Face?" questioned Kami, looking slightly confused for a second.
"That's right, honey," Face replied. "We're all here – see." He pointed to the other members of the A-Team and a look of recognition finally registered across Kami's face.
"Thank God!" she whispered, clasping Face's hand gratefully. He squeezed her hand reassuredly. She smiled back at him but then grimaced in pain, the effort making her pass out again.
Face looked up at Hannibal anxiously. Hannibal knelt down beside her and examined the knife wound. There didn't seem to be too much blood seeping out from the wound, but he knew she would be in a lot of pain.
"Get me the First Aid kit, Face," he ordered. "I need to cut away the fabric from the wound before infection sets in." Face hesitated for a moment, not wanting to leave Kami's side. Hannibal glared at him.
"Quickly, Lieutenant!" he snapped. Face leapt up instinctively at the sound of the Colonel's command, rushing into the kitchen to get the kit. He returned almost as soon as he was gone and passed it to Hannibal.
Hannibal put on a pair of disposable rubber gloves and then carefully cut away the sleeve of her blouse with the scissors, leaving her shoulder exposed. He then meticulously picked out as much of the remaining strands of fabric as he could and covered the wound with antiseptic cream. Face pulled out a large bandage from the box and helped Hannibal wrap it round Kami's shoulder for extra support.
"What now, Hannibal?" asked BA, his voice unusually soft and caring. Kami's eyes fluttered open at the sound of his voice.
"We need to get her to hospital - she may need some stitches," replied Hannibal. "It looks like it could just be a flesh wound but she'll also need an x-ray to make sure there is no tendon damage."
Kami started to protest. "No, Hannibal," she said weakly. "Too risky … might get recognised …".
Hannibal patted her arm gently to keep her calm. He looked at Murdock, thinking he was probably the best person to take her as he wasn't as easily recognisable as the rest of the team.
"Murdock," take Kami's car and get her to hospital as quick as you can," he said. "We don't want to draw any unnecessary attention by bringing any one up to the house."
"Er, wait a minute, Hannibal," said Face, jumping up immediately from his crouched position next to Kami. "I'm not sure Murdock is the right person to deal with this."
"Why not?" asked Murdock.
"Well, no offence, buddy, but you're not the best person in the world to deal with an emotional crisis," replied Face.
"Offence taken," retorted Murdock, in a hurt voice. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Face."
"Oh, come on Murdock, you know what I mean," continued Face. "You say one wrong word at the hospital and we could all end up in very hot water. "I can handle these situations better than you."
Hannibal looked at Face, slightly bemused by his bullish attitude. "I'm sure Murdock knows the drill, Face," he said. "Besides, out of the four of us, he is less likely to be recognised as a member of the A-Team."
Face huffed in annoyance. "I do know how to be discreet, Hannibal," he said, in a stand-offish manner. "After all, I have spent most of the last 15 years breaking Murdock out of the VA hospital."
"That's enough Face," said Hannibal in a warning voice. "Stand down."
"But Hannibal …" insisted Face, not ready to give up the argument just yet.
"I said stand down, Lieutenant!" Hannibal repeated again firmly, using Face's army rank in the hope that he would let it go. He hadn't seen Face this riled up since he had first met him as a stroppy teenager during their tour in Vietnam.
Face looked defiantly at Hannibal for a few seconds. It wasn't very often that he went against the Colonel's orders. He would whine about his elaborate plans every now and then and might even offer constructive advice, but he always followed his leader into battle in the end.
However, Face knew he wouldn't get anywhere with Hannibal if he pushed too hard. He sighed in mock submission and turned to Hannibal with an imploring look on his handsome face.
"I owe her, Hannibal," he said in a humble voice. "She covered my back once, remember?"
Hannibal couldn't help admiring Face for pulling the "blackmail" card out of the bag. He knew he was referring to the time during the Wilson case when Kami had saved him from nearly getting his head blown off.
"Okay, Face," said Hannibal, finally giving in to his request. "I guess Murdock can't drive and look after Kami at the same time. But if you notice anything suspicious at the hospital you get back here quick."
"Yes, Colonel," replied Face.
"BA, we'll stay here and get the wheel fixed on the van," continued Hannibal. "We need to get it out of sight as soon as possible in case the cops start buzzing round. Murdock, get Kami's keys and get going."
Murdock looked slightly miffed at Hannibal's decision, but he didn't question it. He knelt down beside Kami, and asked her where the car keys were. She pointed towards her handbag, which was lying on the floor nearby, next to her suitcase. She had only just arrived back from Florida when the two men had crashed in on her. Murdock gave her hand a quick squeeze before rising back up, found the keys and marched out of the house towards the garage.
BA gently picked Kami up and carried her out to the car, with Face and Hannibal walking behind. Murdock parked the car as near to the house as he could and Face jumped in to the back seat. BA lowered Kami to the ground and she climbed into the car next to Face. He put his arm round her and she rested wearily against him, her head dropping on to his shoulder.
"Keep her arm bent at the elbow, Face," said Hannibal. "And check her pulse is steady. Try and keep her conscious." He banged on the top of the car.
"Get going, Captain," he ordered.
Murdock nodded to Hannibal with a sulky look on his face and drove off.
"What the hell was all that about?" the burly Sergeant remarked, as bemused as Hannibal was about the two men's behaviour.
"I think I have a good idea," replied Hannibal, a wistful expression on his face. "Let's just say it will be interesting finding out how it all ends up!" BA nodded in agreement.