Mind Games.
A/N: Thanks to my reviewers so far, you make my day! Please leave me a review and let me know what you think.
Warning: Swearing.
Chapter 4.
Face followed Hannibal uncertainly, watching his boss's eyes wildly searching the place.
"What did you see Hannibal?" Face asked cautiously, "Should we leave?"
Hannibal was still for a few moments, his eyes flickering as he searched desperately through the parked cars. It had been her, he was sure. Then he shook his head, "No, we're fine." He muttered, "Sorry." And he headed back into the building, Face trailed behind.
"Hannibal?" Face tried to question him as he selected sandwiches for lunch, "What was that back there?"
Hannibal smiled reassuringly, "Nothing Face."
"Hannibal that wasn't nothing. Just tell me what's going on."
Hannibal didn't answer, a smile still fixed on his face, it was starting to make Face uneasy.
"Hannibal, come on tell me what's happening. If you don't tell me you're being a bit of a hypocrite considering the situation with Murd..."
Hannibal swung round quickly at that, fixing Face with a hard glare, "I said it was nothing Lieutenant," His voice was commanding, and if Face hadn't known Hannibal for so long he would have stopped questioning right then.
"Hannibal you're all riled up. What did you see?"
"Nothing Lieutenant, I think you're being paranoid." His words were clipped, "I'll see you back at the car."
"Ha..."
"I'll see you at the car Lieutenant."
Face made to speak again, but decided against it. Instead he turned on his heel and headed to the car. As he saw Murdock through the window anger suddenly flared up as he remembered what the Colonel had told him. He bit his tongue, he needed to stay quiet about this for now, as Hannibal had said, before he himself had acted the complete opposite; he needed to wait until he'd calmed down.
XXXX
Hannibal brought five sandwiches back, along with drinks and a mars bar for Murdock. He shared a quick glance with Face before averting his gaze. They finished lunch in the car, in total silence, before leaving and heading to a B and B where they planned to stay the night.
About half an hour later Murdock piped up, "Hannibal, Billy needs to go, if you know what I mean, can we pull over quickly."
Hannibal was about to ask BA to pull over, in no mood to try and deal with Murdock's delusions, when Face snapped, "Murdock there is no bloody dog."
"Facey you'll hurt Billy's feelings, look at him." Murdock pointed to the foot well below him, his face downcast. Face didn't look, too resentful to humour him.
"There's nothing there!" Face hissed.
Murdock recoiled, patting the imaginary dog carefully, before quietly turning to look out of the window.
Hannibal sent Face a look in the mirror that clearly said, 'Oh well done.'
Face just glared back at him, still holding a grudge from earlier, it seemed nobody would confide in him.
XXXX
They got a suite, they still had to share rooms within it but with more space to stretch out. Face, BA and Hannibal were in the living room, while Murdock had retreated to his bedroom. Face took a deep breath and stood up, earning glares from his team mates.
"Don't be harsh on him," BA told him, with raised eyebrows which questioned his ability to do so.
"I have to say something," Face tried to justify his actions, Hannibal remained silent, his lips pursed. Face made his way to his and Murdock's shared room without another word.
He pushed the door open dramatically, and Murdock looked up from the book he was reading instantly, eyes alarmed.
"You alright Facey?" His voice shook, and he placed the book down on the table.
Face shut the door behind him with a bang, instantly regretting it as it slammed shut, "I just thought we should talk," It was quiet, anticlimactic, but Murdock still looked petrified.
"A...A...About what?"
"Oh, nothing much. Just I something I heard from BA and Hannibal. They said you don't trust me?" His voice is deceptively calm, but it's obvious that there's a storm brewing below the surface.
Murdock stood, unsurprised that his friend had sound out. His hands began to sweat, "Face, you've got to understand, I've tried, I've really tried."
"Well obviously you've not tried hard enough," Face hissed angrily, frustration boiling over.
Murdock said nothing in reply, having no answer.
"I'm an idiot," Face let out a slightly hysterical laugh, "I'm a fucking idiot! Thinking that a paranoid mental case like you could ever manage a normal relationship with someone who isn't imaginary! You need medical help!" Face yells.
Murdock's eyes suddenly lit up with fire, and he stood, "I can't help it! The nightmares, the thoughts. If you think that little of me then may be you should just leave."
"This is my room!"
"I don't care," Murdock's voice was low and venomous, a tone Face hasn't heard from the pilot before, "Get out."
Face doesn't protest again, he just leaves. Entering the living room Hannibal has a look that says 'What have you done now?' Neither of them speaks to him, so he collapsed on the couch with a groan.
XXXX
Face had become acutely aware of noises in the night over the past few weeks. Not noises that might signal an intruder, he'd learned that from the army. Now he woke at the slightest mumbling or groaning, it signalled a nightmare and therefore usually pre-empted Murdock's screaming and yelling.
So that night when he heard mumbling he was awake instantly, jumping up and quickly crossing to Murdock's bed, the earlier argument put aside for now. He was surprised when he saw Murdock sleeping peacefully, and his mind suddenly turned on red alert. He crept quickly from the room, heading in the direction of the noises source. He followed the sound to the entrance of Hannibal and BAs room. Confused and curious, with a niggling feeling in the back of his head telling him to turn around and go back to bed, he took a deep breath and pushed the door open a crack.
Through the small gap he could see BAs bed, he expected to see the Sergeant tossing and turning, may be a nightmare related to his religious crisis. But BA was still, so he peered round the door so he could see Hannibal. The Colonels sheets were tangled, and Hannibal tossed as he continued to mumble incoherently.
'Hannibal's having a nightmare?' Face thought, slightly uncomprehending.
He continued to stare, finding it strange to see his boss looking so vulnerable, so out of control.
He was interrupted by a familiar, spine tingling sound. Murdock's scream ripped through the silence of the suite. BA and Hannibal were awake in an instant, but Face got away before they could see him, gathering Murdock in his arms as the pilot shook like a leaf.
"F...F...Face?" The pilot stammered, watching him wearily.
"It's not true Murdock," Face told him sternly, rubbing circles on his back, "It's me and I'm never going to hurt you like that. I'm so sorry for what I said."
Murdock nodded, but the slightest glimmer of doubt remained in his eyes.
"I...I...Face I...I think...I think I might...I think I might need some help."
Face raised his eyebrows at the sudden attitude change, "You sure?"
Murdock nodded, leaning into Face as tears began to stream down his cheeks onto Face's shoulder.
Face said nothing, he was glad Murdock was trying to trust him when he was this vulnerable. He would find Murdock a doctor, things would get better.