Chapter 4

"Hannibal…."

"Is everyone okay? The big guy and I saw Styles leave and he wasn't happy." Murdock said as he and BA entered carrying groceries. It had been their turn to pick up the groceries for the team. They had already deposited the goods for themselves and were now bringing Face's and Hannibal's to them.

"We're fine but Face isn't happy. He's tired of not being allowed to go out."

"What happened?"

"Styles brought a case worker to make the decision on Face's case and a cop to enforce her findings only she couldn't find the scar that Styles said was there and pronounced that it was only a case of mistaken identity." Hannibal explained in a nutshell. "Styles didn't take it well and threatened our lieutenant with a beating."

"But that doesn't matter since Mrs. Bennett found that I am not Alvin. I'm free to resume my life and for me that means that I'm going out. I've been cooped up here for too long. I'm going to call Carla and see if she wants to go to the movies." Face moved towards the front door twirling his car keys.

"Face you can't go, weren't you listening to me earlier?"

Face turned an innocent look towards his colonel and said, "I thought you were kidding. I can look after myself. I have been trained by the best."

"Styles is the same size as BA and if he brings his friends to help, you won't be able to protect yourself from them. My decision stands. You are not to leave this compound!"

Face turned to BA and Murdock for support only to have them side with the colonel. "Facey, I agree with Hannibal and BA. We all knew that you were younger than the eighteen that is in your records. We didn't know just how much younger you were until a few days ago, but we vowed that we would protect you as much we could in 'Nam and that hasn't changed since we were freed. We love you kid, and want you around and not in the hands of that sadistic foster father of yours. Until Hannibal adopts you and makes you his legal son and heir you aren't safe."

"I love you guys, too. You're the family I was never fortunate to have and trust me I don't want to be in Max's hands ever again but I'm bored."

"I rather you be bored than hurt…so if you plan on disobeying me I'm sure we can come up with enough chores to keep you too busy and tire to do something stupid."

Face's shoulders slumped and nodded. He walked away without any more complaints which alerted the others that something was up.

"He gave up to easy…he's up to something. We need to keep an eye on him."

BA stated their thoughts as they watched him walk upstairs.

Face's first attempt at escape came two days later. He had waited until his friends were busy and jumped quickly into his car and hotwired it. Hannibal had taken both sets of his car keys and this was the only way he could start it. He would have gotten away except that BA returned sooner than Face thought and blocked the drive. As soon as he saw Face BA jumped from the van and pushed him over and drove the car back. "HANNIBAL!" he bellowed and waited for the colonel to appeared.

As soon as Hannibal saw the 'vette and Face in the passenger side he put two and two together and scowled at the younger man. "So you decided to disobey me…okay. You just learned yourself some hard work. You will mow the yards of the three apartments and bag the trimmings. You will also trim the bushes so get to work lieutenant."

"Can I first change my clothes?"

"You have five minutes or you will be running laps as well!" Hannibal was mad.

Face was back with seconds to spare and started towards the shed housing the lawnmowers only to be told. "You will be doing this chore with the push mower!"

"But that will take all day!"

"You should have considered that the punishment might be harsh if you disobeyed me…now get to work!"

Each of the three apartments had yards in the front and back that were usually taken care by each man but because Face had chosen to disobey Hannibal's orders his punishment was to take care of each yard. It took him the majority of the day to do as he was ordered and by the time he was finished he could hardly put one foot in front of the other as he walked into the apartment he shared with Hannibal and up to his room. Hannibal found him there on his bed asleep when he came up to call him for supper.

"Face…come on kid. You need to shower first…it will make you feel better," he said as he patted Face lightly on the face to wake him.

Face just looked at him with sleepy eyes as he tried to go back to sleeping.

"Come on kid, let me help you," Hannibal pulled the exhausted kid into the bathroom. He helped him undress before putting him under the warm water of the shower, which woke him enough to finish the job. He emerged dressed in the pajamas Hannibal had left him.

"Are you hungry?"

Face shook his head. He was too tired to eat…he just wanted to sleep and climbed under the covers and was asleep before Hannibal had time to pull the sheet up. He tiptoed out turning the lights off before closing the door.

The next morning Hannibal let Face sleep in and about ten o'clock he made an appearance catching the team in the office talking. "How do you feel?"

"Tired…and hungry."

"I left you some bacon and pancakes in a warm oven. Why don't you eat and then come back here? We have something to discuss with you."

Face nodded and soon was back carrying the food to a nearby desk where he sat to eat. BA got up a moment later returning with a glass of milk which he sat in front of the kid.

The team waited until Face had finished before Hannibal spoke. "While you were sleeping last night I reviewed what happened yesterday when Styles was here. He said something that I didn't remembered until last night. He told Mrs. Bennett how you got your scar."

Face nodded. "I remembered him asking me about the scar when he and his wife first met me."

"You got that scar while at the orphanage?"

"Yeah, they were working on the building and had rolls of wire that were fun to jump on. I was pushed off one and my thigh made contact with the end and tore a jagged scar on my thigh. They took me to the hospital for stitches. I was about eight."

"So if anyone went asking the priests and nuns would collaborate it?"

"I guess so…why?"

"Face…if Styles thinks about it that could be evidence he needs to identify you. We need to get you away from here…someplace where Styles won't think to look…at least until the adoption is legalized. Then it won't matter, you will be legally my son."

"Any ideas in where Face can hide?" Hannibal surveyed the room.

"Summer camp?"

"He's too old, unless he is a counselor?" Hannibal looked at Face for an answer.

"No way am I going to nursemaid little kids!"

"Boarding School?"

Face shook his head.

"How about sending him on the road as a helper. I have a friend who ships fruit across country. He can always use the help," suggested BA.

"You're kidding…right? No!"

"Lieutenant we are running out of ideas. Do you have any suggestions?"

"How about someplace where I don't have to work and have a good time?"

"FACE!"

Hannibal thought for a moment…."I know where we can send him…to Maggie's at Bad Rock. I'll just give her a call."

"Hannibal…"

"Nope, you are going…so go pack and be sure to pack enough for at least a week. If he can't find you during that time he might just leave you alone."

Face looked around and knew that he wasn't going to be able to convince them that this was a bad idea and slowly went to his room to pack.

"Murdock while Face is packing I want you to dress like him and take his car for a spin. Be sure to get Styles to follow you, While you are away we can drop Face off at Bad Rock with Maggie." Hannibal went to make his call and came back about the same time that Face returned carrying his suitcase.

"I'm ready…how are we going to get past Styles?" Face was twirling his car keys on his finger while he waited.

"We are going to send a decoy and then when the bait is taken we are going to take you to Maggie's. She said that she would be delighted to have you, and by the way kid, she says that she has her niece visiting."

"Niece, hmmm…that sounds like a plan. This may not be such a bad idea after all. I can drive her around in my 'vette."

"No you can't."

"Why not?"

"Because Murdock is going to be driving it…he's going to be the decoy."

"Not my 'vette…Hannibal…"

"Sorry, kid…now hand over those keys." Hannibal held his hand out and reluctantly Face dropped them into it.