Hello again! Sorry for the wait. I've been getting ready for the thing called...SCHOOL. Hopefully I'll be able to quickly update this story to the end, but you never know how hard school will slap me in the face. This, folks, is my last day of freedom, and I intend to use it writing!

Disclaimer: SERENITY IS MINE! The A-Team, not so much.

The rain pattered on the windows of the music room, and the drops sent the bent light scattering across the walls. The soft, scratchy drawl of an old record sang down the empty halls. Most people were out on holiday. She would be out too. For good. A stray tear slipped out of her eye. Footsteps littered the once quiet halls, though Serenity didn't hear them. "It ought to be a crime, pretty lady like you cryin' on Christmas eve." Serenity jumped, but then relaxed.

"Oh, hey, HM. I thought you were out with Billy." She suspected her voice was a little harder than it needed to be.

He ambled closer. Something was bothering his little lady. She always seemed to have something on her mind. "Well, I was, but then I figured there was one pretty lady who shouldn't be left all alone here on Christmas."

Despite herself, Serenity smiled. "Thanks, HM." She sighed. "But you shouldn't have come back."

That line dug itself into the pilot's chest like a round of led. "W-Why not, Renny." She winced at the hurt in his voice.

She turned her eyes on him. A knowing but sad smile inched across her face. "It would have made it easier to leave." The pilot stared, stunned. She was leaving?

"I'm sane, Murdock. At least, on paper...as long as I take my meds." She sighed, looking out of the window. "My Papa is coming to pick me up soon."

Murdock's happiness had all drained away. "Oh." Was all he could get out. Serenity stood up and turned to face him, but stopped in her tracks as soon as she laid eyes on him. His tall form was drooping like he was a cartoon character, with his bony shoulders hunched and head hung. The hand that had been behind his back was now hanging down, a bundle of maroon tipped carnations clutched in it's grip. She bit her lip. She remembered telling him those were her favorite flowers...but that had been so long ago. Her hand covered her trembling lips.

"Oh, HM..." She breathed. "They're beautiful."

He looked up at her, still mostly hunched. "Really? You mean you still want em?" She swallowed a sob and smiled.

"Of course I do, HM." She hurried over to him and grabbed his hanging hand bringing up the carnations. She breathed in their soft scent, a real smile on her face now. She looked up at the pilot, who looked equal parts crestfallen and confused. She took the flowers from him and brushed a lock of stringy black hair from her face. "I don't wanna leave, you know." Murdock just blinked. Didn't want to leave? This place was awful! He thought she would be glad to be rid of it, to be rid of him.

"Why not?" Serenity smiled shakily and placed the flowers on a nearby table. The song that was playing now was Summertime. She loved that song.

"Because you're here, Murdock." The light in his chocolate brown eyes was immediately rekindled, and he smiled a lopsided grin.

"You mean that?" He couldn't believe his ears! She was sayin' that to him? A run down, crazy ol' pilot from Nam?

She grinned. "More than most things I say, HM." He loved her spunky side. He didn't get to see it often, as it only emerged when she was completely in control of the voices. "You just gonna stand there, or are you gonna ask me to dance?" Instantly, he grabbed her hands and twirled her around and into the deepest dip she thought had ever been done; her hair was touching the ground! He whipped her back up and winked at her.

"Never thought you'd mention it, sweetheart." She giggled and slid closer to him, looking up into his brown orbs. She stood up on her tippie toes and gave him a real kiss, not just one on the cheek. He seemed stunned for a moment, before adopting a wistful smile. Serenity just leaned closer, and they swayed to the music as the day drew to a close.

"Renny?"

"Hmmm?"

"I really like you."

A pause, and a soft laugh. "I love you too, HM."

Nurse Leslie blinked back tears as she listened to the exchange, sad that she had to break it apart. Mr. Wilds had come at a bad time...


The dark enveloped Serenity once more. The knife in her hand trembled dangerously. What would HM say? She couldn't do this...for his sake. After her Daddy had picked her up, they had moved. He was nervous, and she had thought he was running from someone. He never let her out, not even to visit Murdock. Then, she had gotten angry, slipped away, but when she had heard the news, she couldn't believe her ears. Her Papa, dead. Killed in a drive by. She thought she knew who it was. She went to Papa's office and looked at the papers, and hid when the men came in and burned the files. A man called Wilson Blake. But there was nothing she could do against that man...

In her flight, she had forgotten to take her pills. So now, she was huddled in her newly acquired trashy apartment, about to kill herself, and fighting the voices that had come back with a vengeance.

She snapped up a quick prayer, but just when she thought she couldn't stand it anymore, a bright little idea hit her smack in the face. What was that group her father had talked about? They helped people who needed them...they were in the military, she thought. They could take down Blake. What were they called again. Ah, yes...the A-Team.


Serenity sighed as she checked her watch again, forcing back the encroaching voices. They were supposed to be here an hour ago. She was supposed to go to the corner of Garber street and wait till she met with someone.

An elderly man, well dressed, stepped forward, and for a moment, she was relieved, but that feeling went away as soon as it came.

"Ma'am would you care to hear about Jesus Christ?" He was holding many pamphlets in his hand, and one out to her. She smiled. She was always impressed with people who were faithful enough to go out and face ridicule from others.

"No, thank you sir."

He looked startled. "But you must, surely. The end times are upon us!"

Serenity gave a rather terse smile, the voices had just risen a few notches. "Believe you me, if anyone knows that, it would be me, sir." She sighed. "But I'll take one, anyway if it makes you feel any better." She took the proffered pamphlet, and the man smiled, but didn't go away.

"Aren't you going to read it?" Serenity almost growled. The voices were now a fever pitch and she had no patience. She didn't however. Instead, she stiffly opened the pamphlet, gasping when she read the words. You have found the A-Team. When she looked back up at the man, he looked different, his mustache was gone and a cigar was now in his mouth. He just smirked at her.

"Well, kid, if you want our help, follow me." She did, and he led her to an alleyway with a black van parked right in the middle. She gulped. Well, if they killed her, at least she'd be put out of her misery. The older man opened the sliding door and gestured for her to get in. She did and he followed her in, closing the door. "I'm Hannibal Smith. That's B.A." Serenity shook the older man's hand and then looked to her right. She blinked. A black man with a mohawk and about a ton of gold was staring at her from the front. She swallowed hard.

"Um, hi?" She winced at how timid her voice was.

"We ain't gonna hurt you, mama." Said B.A. She nodded a thanks, but then drew a sharp breath and covered her ears instinctively. The voices had just screamed out of nowhere, but she shoveled them down.

"Are you alright, Miss Wilds?" Serenity glanced up at Hannibal, who was looking at her with concern. He didn't need his client to go dropping like a fly.

She smiled shakily. "I'm fine. You wouldn't happen to have any Chlorpromazine laying around would you?"

Hannibal froze. "Why would you need an Anti-psychotic, Miss Wilds?" She gave a frustrated sigh.

"So I can set it up on a pedestal and worship it's side effects." She bit her lip and let out a pained gasp as the voices rose higher again. "What do you think, Colonel? I can't much focus with all these voices firing off in my head!"

"Hannibal, we can't have two crazy fools with us!" Grunted B.A. Serenity glared.

"Relax, B.A." He turned his attention to Serenity. "I'm sorry, Miss, but we wont be able to get you some. Maybe, if you'd mentioned your condition sooner."

Serenity winced. "I didn't think so anyway, Colonel." She furrowed her brow. "I thought there were more of you?"

Hannibal smirked around his cigar and swiveled the chair around so it faced the front. "There are, Miss Wilds. One of our men had to go get the other. They should be here soon." A banging on the door made the Colonel chuckle. "What'd I tell ya? Come in boys." The door slid open, and Serenity blinked at the sudden light. "Miss Wilds, the short handsome one is Face, and the other is-"

"HM!" Serenity screeched, jumping out of the van and nearly choking him in a bear hug. "My goodness, I missed you! What are you doing here?"

"Renny?" Gasped the pilot in surprise. "What are YOU doing here?"

"She's the client, Murdock." Stated a curious Hannibal.

"Are we, uh, missing something here?" Asked Face.

Serenity ignored them. "I'm so sorry I didn't visit. Papa wouldn't let me." Her eyes were fixed on his, as if the only thing she needed right now was his forgiveness.

Murdock frowned slightly. Maybe she hadn't been able to come, but...he winced as he remembered the nights where he cried out for her, and the times when he would hug the little stuffed dog she had given him, crying himself to sleep over her absence. He didn't think he could just forgive her all whippy snappy. Suddenly she cried out and fell to her knees.

"SHUT UP!" She cried in desperation, now a ball on the pavement. Face and Hannibal exchanged worried glances. Murdock, though, knew what to do. He instantly fell down next to her, grabbing her chin in his hand.

"Look at me. Renny, Look at me." She made a whimpering sound, but did as he said. She looked into his big brown eyes like a lost child. He had long since figured out that the voices were stronger when she was upset. He sighed. "I forgive you, sweetheart." She blinked for a moment and let a tear slide down her face. Forcing a limp smile to her face, she tried to say thank you, but Murdock shushed her. "I know." He helped her up and placed her in a seat. Her pale face burned pink with embarrassment, and she avoided the other gazes.

"Care to explain, Murdock?" Asked Hannibal gently. The Captain gave him a look that clearly said 'later'. The Colonel nodded, and turned to B.A. "Take us back to Face's place." The driver nodded, and soon they had started down the road. The car was full of a fitful silence that Murdock guessed Serenity wasn't hearing. She was staring into a whole different world. It stayed like that until they got to Face's scammed apartment. Murdock stayed close to Serenity, one arm around her protectively. As soon they got to the place, Murdock turned to Hannibal.

"Colonel?" The older man sighed, and then nodded his head.

"Go ahead, Captain." Murdock guided Serenity to Face's room and shut the door behind them. In the living room, the three other men exchanged glances.

Finally, B.A. spoke up. "I knew any girl he ended up with would be a crazy fool like him." The mechanic's voice was soft.

The end! Not of everything, just this chappie:) Probably only two or three chapters left. Tell me whatcha think!