Disclaimer: I do not own nor did I create any of the A-team characters (main or support) nor do I own nor did I create any of the episodes. That credit is due to Stephen J. Cannell and his associates.

Nurse Katrina Jones is mine - a creation of my imagination

Spoiler Alert: None the piece/plot is all my creation.

Author's Notes/Summary: The team sets out to Katrina's hometown to kick over some slugs.

A Blast from the Past - Installment Four by: LAGC

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Part Ten - two days later in a town called Hattersville.

The team drove all night. Finally they arrived in Hattersville and went to the address Kat had given them. As the van rolled along Main Street they noticed the details. Hattersville was a quaint little town in a semi urban setting. It was about fifty miles from the nearest strip mall or big box store. It was the type of fringe urban town that was on the cusp of a financial boom but the townsfolk still knew each other by name.

Murdock commented, "Looks like a Norman Rockwell painting that they showed us in my art therapy retreat last week. The instructors wanted us to create art like it to foster a sense of serenity and security within our psyches."

B. A. quickly jumped down his throat growling,"Shut up FOOL! You weren't at no art retreat last week. That was Faceman's scam. And you sure weren't fostering no sense of serenity or security when that thug was dangling you out that tenth stotry window!"

Murdock opened his mouth to further discuss his art retreat but Hannibal cut him off, "Not now, Captain! We've got to focus on the mission."

"Look. There's the shop. And I assume that is Mr. Jones sweeping the stoop" interrupted Face.

"Ready to meet the clients, Colonel?" He added flashing his trademark grin. B. A. pulled the van to stop right in front of the store.

Mr. Jones jumped when the opening sliding door startled him. Faceman apologized and then inquired,"Are you Mr. Jones?"

"Who's asking?" the man suspiciously responded.

"I'm Templeton Peck and these are my associates H. M. Murdock, B. A. Baracas, and our colonel, John Smith. Katrina is our friend and we're here to help."

"Oh, Katrina phoned to say you were coming. You'd better park that flashy van in the garage behind the store. I'll meet you in back," replied Mr. Jones.

Mr. Jones met the four men at the back door of the shop and ushered them into a break room. Mrs. Jones came in from the sales floor to join then. Hannibal jumped right in relaying all the information that Kat had given the team. Face, who Hannibal had instructed to gather intel on the target, then added his two cents.

"Keith is definitely a thug. He has quite the colorful rap sheet. Lots of arrests but no serious convictions. A few fines but no incarcerations. Heads up a small independent little mob. Styles himself to be the godfather of this here, little slice of America. His head honcho is that guy Garrett Wilson. The one who hurt Kat. Seems Keith and Wilson were classmates in the local high school. Graduated in '67. Not surprisingly neither were college bound. Keith was rejected for military service, Wilson enlisted in the army but was discharged after an injury in boot camp. Seems the Mensa scholar shot himself in the foot and the ricochet of that shot grazed the drill sergeant's shin bone. So then the wonder twins rejoined forces in L. A. by working in Tillis Industries. Seems they brought the skills they learned there home. Now they've launched a start up business in Hattersville." Face checked his notes on a little pocket pad to make sure he hadn't left anything out.

"Tillis Industries, well there's a blast from the past." chuckled Hannibal. "Don't recall a Wilson or a Keith among the vermin we expelled that time," he added.

"Neither do I, Colonel" confirmed Faceman.

Murdock noticed the perplexed looks on Mr. and Mrs. Jones' faces so he explained that Tillis Industries was just a front for the gangster Tommy Tillis aka "Crazy Tommy T". The team had defeated and captured the crime king a while back. Tillis had been terrorizing a construction company in an effort to hide a murder he had committed. The couple was a bit shocked to hear that the team had experience taking on gangsters and were not at all hesitant to do so again.

The team and the couple were just about to discuss the nitty gritty of their current situation when the bell over the shop door chimed. Mrs. Jones got up to tend to the customer. The team followed her a few seconds later. They did not like what they saw.

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Part 11 - Kicking the Slug to See How Big It Is.

Mrs. Jones was clearly frightened. This was understandable because she was cornered by two grim looking goons. Directly in front of her was a slimeball, in an ill fitting over priced suit. He was waving papers at the lady and because he was so close the edges of the paper were striking her chin. Rage was oozing off B. A. in dangerous tidal waves. Hannibal placed a commanding hand on his arm, indicating that the Big Guy needed to control himself for now.

The overdressed sleeze was yelling at poor Mrs. Jones. "Listen old woman! You have no choice but to sign this store over to me. I want these papers signed or next time Wilson sees dear dear Katrina, he won't stop at just bruising her fine neck". The goon on the left of Mrs. Jones smiled menacingly and gleefully at this statement. The team concluded he was Wilson. Poor Mrs. Jones went even paler at this threat and seemed about to faint.

Hannibal stepped forward and made a throat clearing sound as he wiggled on his black leather gloves. When the goon patrol turned to look at him he said, "Hi there. Got to break some news to you Buster-boy. Neither Mrs. Jones nor Mr. Jones will be signing anything over to a scuzzball like you."

The man who was obviously Harvey Keith sneered at Hannibal and said,"Oh yeah buddy? Who the hell are you to be saying that to me?" He swaggered dangerously over to Hannibal.

By this point Face and B. A. had come forward to flank the Colonel and Murdock was making his way over to the terrified Mrs. Jones.

Hannibal snarkily answered,"Me? I'm the new owner of this here grocery store. So if you and your fellow earthworms would kindly scurry back into your mud holes, I have to train my staff."

Hannibal then proceeded to ignite his match by scratching it over Keith's gaudy tie tac and lit up his cigar. By the time Hannibal shook out the match, the enraged thug was swinging at him.

Hannibal ducked away from the blow and quickly followed it up with a right hook to Keith's chin.

Mayhem ensued. Murdock gracefully guided Mrs. Jones over to her husband and told them to lock themselves in the back room. Face was trading blows with the yet unidentified henchman. Hannibal was still embroiled in fisticuffs with Keith. B. A. was taking on the ape they believed to be Wilson.

B. A. made quick work of Wilson. Two piston like blows to his chin and Wilson was down. B. A. easily lifted the limp thug and threw him to the curb like the sack of garbage he was. Murdock rushed to Face's side and the duo double teamed their thug. They synchronized their punches to his stomach and followed that up with tandem right hooks to his chin. Then B. A. scooped him up and treated him to the same exit as Wilson.

Meanwhile Hannibal had been beating on Keith pretty much like a well nourished house cat plays with a mouse. After all the Colonel wanted this lowlife conscious for his send off speech.

A few more well placed blows by Hannibal had the rat stumbling backwards out the shop door. His momentum pushed him right into the pile of his dazed comrades and Keith tumbled on top of them.

The team had come out of the shop and assembled. Hannibal casually leaned onto Face's shoulder and relit his cigar. "Like I said, pal, I'm the new owner and this here is my staff. We don't want you coming 'round our shop anymore. Understand? And while we're at it. We don't want you coming around the neighborhood at all. Your little "insurance company" is closed down. Now leave while the getting is good". B. A. backed up the Colonel's order with one of his snake scaring scowls. They all watched as the beaten bad guys scrambled into their vehicle and sped off. I

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Part 12: Later that night.

The Jones' lived in a small apartment above the shop. There was a studio apartment in the garage where the van was parked. Hannibal decided that the team would post guards in the shop because he felt that Keith would be back. So they took shifts at the duty in two man teams. One team would patrol the shop while the other team took light rest in the studio apartment. Face and Murdock pulled first duty since B. A. had done all the driving the night before.

"Okay Lieutenant, B. A. and I will relieve you at 0100." Hannibal told Face as he set off for the studio. "Stay sharp fellas" he added over his shoulder.

"Yes Colonel" they responded automatically.

Face took the first position over by the counter. This provided him a vantage point which covered the store as well as the entire Main Street. Murdock wandered around the isles.

"Hey lookey here Faceman! They stock Billy's favorite doggie biscuits. I'll have to make sure to buy some before we leave".

"Great Murdock, just don't let B. A. see you do it. Or find them in his van either." placated Face.

Murdock continued his shopping until he hit the children's aisle. Once he was there he let out a gleeful whoop. This startled Face who slide off the stool he was perched on.

'What now, Murdock!" he asked. His tone clearly indicating he was perturbed with his buddy.

'You do realize we're on guard duty here? Not doing an early Christmas shopping."

"Yeah, yeah, Faceman I've got it covered. It's just that I've found the doodle pads and watercolor paint sets. I can continue my art therapy techniques! Isn't that super? I can replace the piece that was sacrificed for my escape." Face was looking at him with a mix of disbelief and wonderment.

Murdock continued dramatically,"After all, Facey, that was my favorite piece I had to destroy. I had spent so much time painting it. And it revealed so much of my inner turmoil".

"Murdock, that was the painting we bought from that eight year old kid in the park." Face reminded the imaginative pilot. Then he waxed on, "The little conman talked me up to five bucks for it. A few more years and I might take him on as my apprentice."

Their conversation was stopped abruptly when both heard a car coming down Main Street. It was very suspicious because it was running without its headlights on. The two men took up positions close to the front windows. Their weapons ready. Face radioed Hannibal to report the suspicious development. " Roger that Lieutenant. Big Guy and I are on the way from the rear".

As soon as Face clicked off the walkie-talkie, the plate glass window was shattered by a brick wrapped in a flaming rag. Alarmingly the flaming bundle landed in the newspaper display shelf. The papers instantly ignited. Murdock quickly grabbed the fire extinguisher and snuffed out the fiery threat. Face fired off a volley of bullets at the unlit car as it sped off. B. A. and Hannibal came running in from the back. They looked at Murdock who was stomping out the last smoldering newspapers. Then they looked at Face and all three gasped.

"FACE!" They all hollered. "Oh oh " was his response.

The window was original to the building so it wasn't safety glass. When the brick shattered it, large sharp dangerous wedges were formed. One of those ominous shards was protruding from Face's left leg. He was bleeding badly.

They rushed to his side. Hannibal ordered him to lie down and stretch out his leg. Murdock ran to the first aid isle and B. A. grabbed some towels from the seasonal beach display. Hannibal used his pocket knife to tear up Face's pant leg to access the wound. Face complained about losing yet another pair of designer slacks. With Murdock applying pressure above the wound Hannibal removed the glass dagger. Face yelped but fought hard to control himself. Hannibal told Murdock to lighten up a bit on the pressure. He wanted to see how bad the bleeding was to assess if the artery had been hit. Thankfully the blood flow did not indicate that. They wrapped his leg tightly with a bandage from the shelf. Hannibal said he'd treat the injury properly in the apartment not in the damaged store. B. A. scooped up Face to carry him to the studio. Hannibal gathered up the medical supplies and ordered Murdock to keep watch.

Murdock was clearly distressed by this because he wanted to stay with Face. B. A. looked at him and said, "Stay put for now, Crazy man. I'll come back and relieve you as soon as I get Face settled. You'll be more useful as a nurse than I'd be anyway."

Mr. Jones had come down to see what all the commotion was. He groaned when he saw Face's injury and the damaged store. Even though he was in pain, Face flashed him a mega watt smile and tried to reassure the older man that all was well. Then Hannibal instructed him to go back into his apartment and stay there with Mrs. Jones until one of the team came to get them.

Hannibal told B. A. to put Face on the kitchen floor. That way he'd have plenty of good light to tend to the wounded man. The Big Guy did as instructed but he also grabbed a throw pillow for Face's head. As promised, he left to trade places with Murdock. Hannibal placed a towel under the injured leg and got to work cleaning the wound. The Captain came in just in time to hold Face still so Hannibal could probe the wound to check for glass scraps. Finding none he looked up at Face.

Face was pale and sweaty from his ordeal but very alert. "Okay Kid, the bleeding is slowing. Thankfully no major blood vessels were hit. You need stitches. I can do that for you here or we can find a hospital. Your choice."

"No hospital, Colonel. Too complicated, and I'm not up to running a solid scam right now. Besides we can't leave the Joneses unprotected. I trust you." Face insisted through clenched teeth.

"Okay Kid. All I have is a local analgesic spray. This won't be comfortable." Hannibal warned.

" I know Colonel. Just do it. Sorry to be such a hassle" said Face. "You're not a hassle, Kid".

"Do not let him move his leg Captain. I don't want to cause him any more pain than I have to."

"You have my word Colonel". Murdock stoically replied.

Twenty miserable minutes later Hannibal was done. He rewrapped the leg securely with a new bandage. He also gave Face a dose of antibiotics as a precaution but Face refused anything stronger than OTC extra strength ibuprofen for the pain.

He explained get didn't want to be high and useless if Keith's men returned.

Hannibal, wouldn't say it out loud, but he was proud of how Face had dealt with this ordeal. The con man could whine but when the chips were down he always puts every one else's needs in front of his own. What Hannibal did do was make sure his Lieutenant was placed comfortably in the recliner with his leg elevated. He also gave Face a fatherly hair rustle and ordered him to stay put and rest. The Colonel went to asses the damages in the store but indicated that Murdock was to stay with the patient.

PS

Author Notes: a Tommy Tillis is a character from the A-team series. In the episode titled, "Steel" season 2 episode 11