Lost The Plot Part 4?
By Angievette
"Gimme some more," said Murdock, trying to snatch the popcorn away from Face. Face held it at arms length.
"Murdock, you've eaten most of it already, you can't possibly want any more."
"Can't get enough," he replied. Face grinned and handed the popcorn over. "We need more popcorn in here, guys," he shouted to the kitchen. Amy stuck her head round the door.
"You've eaten that already? Face, you'll get fat if you carry on like that."
Face started to protest.
"It was Murdock who ate it all, not me," he cried. Amy looked at him then looked at Murdock who was sitting with an innocent grin on his face.
"It wasn't me," said Murdock.
"It's okay, Murdock," said Amy. "Honestly, Face. Trying to blame Murdock. You're terrible."
Face just stared open mouthed at Amy as she disappeared back into the kitchen, then he turned on Murdock.
"Of all the low down, dirty, double crossing things to do. Blaming me."
"If you can't stand the heat," said Murdock.
"But it was a blatant lie," said Face. "Now Amy not only thinks I've eaten the popcorn but that I'm a liar too."
Murdock shrugged.
"Female of the species," he said. "Suspicious minds."
Face laughed.
"I guess you're right," he said. "But I'm hungry."
"We want the same thing," said Murdock.
"What?"
"Popcorn," said Murdock. Just at that moment, Suzie and Amy came back into the lounge and a large bowl of popcorn was placed on the table.
"There you go, greedy boys," said Suzie, sitting on the floor. Murdock stared at her. "Don't give me that look, you," she said. "I can tell a guilty face when I see one, it was you who ate all that popcorn."
Face started to smirk.
"I told you so," he said to Amy.
"Goody two shoes," muttered Murdock under his breath. Suzie pressed the play button on the video remote control and they started to watch the movie.
"I love Saturday," said Murdock. Suzie lay her head against his chest.
"Why's that?" she asked.
"Don't ask," said Face, half-knowing what was coming next and dreading the answer.
"Saturday night at the movies," said Murdock, simply. Face groaned.
"I knew it. Please, Murdock, just watch the movie and shut up for a couple of hours."
"What movie did you get anyway," Amy asked Suzie.
"St Elmos Fire," replied Murdock.
Face groaned again.
"Chick flick," he whined. "Couldn't you have got something a tiny bit interesting?"
"Like what," asked Suzie. "Hellraiser? Nightmare On Elm Street? Silence Of The Lambs? Or perhaps something with slightly less blood, guts and gore?"
Face glared at her.
"I don't need blood and gore to make a good movie," he said, sulkily.
"But it helps," said Amy, squeezing his arm. "Give it a chance, Face."
"I suppose so," said Face and he wrapped his arm round her and pulled her closer.
"Kissing in the back row of the movies," said Murdock. Face kicked him and Murdock elbowed Face's leg. Suzie shook her head and started to watch the movie.
"We're back, guys," said Hannibal as he and Molly came into the apartment.
"Ssshh," said Face, turning round for a brief second before switching his attention back to the television.
"Interrupted something important, did I?" asked Hannibal. Molly grinned and went through to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.
"No, I meant you'll wake the others up," said Face, still keeping his eyes glued to the screen.
Hannibal looked and saw Amy curled up next to Face on the sofa, fast asleep. He also saw Murdock lying on the floor, snoring softly and next to him, with her head on his chest and his arm draped over her back, Suzie was also oblivious to anyone and anything. Hannibal smiled.
"It was a good movie then," he said, chuckling.
"Hannibal, shut up, I'm trying to watch the end of this," said Face, irritably. Hannibal grinned and went to find Molly. A thought suddenly struck him.
"Face, where's BA?"
Face sighed, clearly annoyed at being disturbed again.
"He's back at the motel, Hannibal. And before you ask, Jessie's in bed and hasn't made a sound all night."
Hannibal disappeared into the kitchen.
"I think I've upset him," he said to Molly. She laughed softly and handed him a cup of coffee.
"Do I dare ask him if he wants a coffee?" she said.
"I wouldn't if I were you," said Hannibal. "I'd just put it on the table in front of him."
Molly headed for the lounge.
"Quietly," he added and she laughed again. She placed the cup in front of Face and got a grunt of thanks from him. She headed back into the kitchen. Hannibal was just coming out of Jessica's room.
"She's fast asleep," he said, sitting down at the table. "Face said she hasn't made a sound all night."
"It's lovely to have a night off," said Molly. "Not that I mind," she added hurriedly as Hannibal looked up at her.
"You don't deserve this," said Hannibal.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"You shouldn't have to bring up someone else's child. It's not fair."
"But it isn't just someone else's child," said Molly, sitting down next to him. "She's my niece. She's my sister's child. Besides," she said but then stopped.
"Besides what," said Hannibal.
"Nothing," said Molly.
"Tell me," said Hannibal. "You can talk to me."
"It doesn't matter," said Molly and she started to get up from the table but Hannibal pulled her back down. "Let me go, Hannibal."
"Not until you tell me. You're obviously unhappy about something in this arrangement. So, you tell me or I'll keep you pinned in that chair until sunrise."
Molly tried to laugh but it came out as a choked sob. Hannibal got off his chair and knelt in front of her.
"Molly, please tell me. I don't want you to do anything you're not happy with."
"It's not that, I love Jessie being here. I don't mind at all. I'm perfectly happy with the situation. It's just that…."
She stopped and sniffled. Her tears fell onto Hannibal's arm and his eyes filled with concern.
"Molly."
"Hannibal, please don't make me do this."
"I just want to help you, like you helped me last night. Remember? You saw a side of me that no one else has ever seen. I trust you more than anybody else I know. Trust me, let me help you."
"You can't help me," said Molly.
"Why not?" asked Hannibal.
"Because you…"
"That was an incredible movie," said Face, walking into the kitchen. Hannibal was taken by surprise when Face walked in and loosened his grip on Molly. She took advantage of this and fled into her bedroom. Hannibal cursed under his breath.
"Sorry, Hannibal," said Face. "I didn't realise."
"It was a good movie then, was it?" said Hannibal, changing subject, quickly. He didn't want Face to start asking questions about Molly, not only to protect her privacy but also because he didn't have the answers. Face noticed the change in topic but didn't comment.
"Yeah, it was excellent."
Face refilled his cup with coffee and wandered back through to the lounge where Amy and Murdock were starting to stir.
"Oh, welcome back, you two," said Face. "I told you the movie was crap, so crap you two fell asleep after the first fifteen minutes."
"OK, Face, you win," said Amy. "Next time you can choose the movie. I'm sorry we made you sit through it, especially when we fell asleep."
"I should think so too," said Face. Hannibal wandered into the lounge and sat down on the chair by the fire.
"I take it you turned it off then," said Suzie, opening her eyes and sitting up. "I was miles away then."
"Land of make believe," said Murdock.
"Eh?" said Suzie, confused.
"Dreams," said Murdock and Suzie smiled.
"All about you," she said and he put his arms round her. "So, what did you watch instead then, Face?"
"Erm, well, I," said Face.
"I'll tell you," said Hannibal. "When we came in, he was glued to that movie and we couldn't even speak without getting our heads bitten off or glared at."
The other three stared at Face who muttered a string of unmentionable words under his breath at Hannibal.
"After the fuss you made about watching the film," said Suzie.
"What was it you called it?" said Amy. "Oh that was it, "chick flick", wasn't it?"
"Okay, okay," said Face. "So, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.""
"Come off it, Face. If you'd got any closer to the screen, your nose would've been pressed against the glass," said Hannibal.
"We'll make a romantic out of you yet," said Amy."
"There's still hope," agreed Suzie.
"Let's hear it for the boy," said Murdock.
"Lay off," said Face.
"Where's Mum?" asked Suzie, noticing Molly wasn't around.
"She's gone to bed," said Hannibal, quickly. "She wasn't feeling too well."
"Did you poison her or something?" said Suzie, laughing. "What did you do to her?"
"She just wasn't feeling well," said Hannibal. "That's all."
He stood up.
"I'm heading back to the motel, I'll see you all tomorrow."
"It's about time we all headed back," said Amy and pulled Face to his feet. Murdock picked himself off the floor and stretched, then offered his hand to Suzie and helped her up.
"I don't want you to go," she told him. Face and Amy discreetly left the room.
"Move closer," he said. Suzie wrapped her arms round Murdock and he held her tightly.
"If only I could be with you," he said, kissing the top of her head.
"Why can't you?" asked Suzie.
"Respect," replied Murdock.
"For me or for Mum and Hannibal?"
"Only you," said Murdock, smiling. He held her close and she sighed.
"You'd better go before I plead with you to stay."
Murdock let her go.
"Night, Murdock."
"Goodnight girl," he said. "Sweet dreams."
Suzie smiled and headed towards her bedroom. Murdock quietly let himself out. When he got back to the room he was sharing with Hannibal, Hannibal was still awake, staring at the ceiling.
"Okay, Captain?"
Murdock nodded.
"Don't worry," he said, noting Hannibal's worried expression.
"I'm fine, Murdock. Just thinking."
Murdock climbed into bed and promptly fell fast asleep. Hannibal lay awake, thinking and staring at the ceiling. Across the road, above the pharmacy, Molly lay awake, thinking and staring at the ceiling.
TBC
By Angievette
"Gimme some more," said Murdock, trying to snatch the popcorn away from Face. Face held it at arms length.
"Murdock, you've eaten most of it already, you can't possibly want any more."
"Can't get enough," he replied. Face grinned and handed the popcorn over. "We need more popcorn in here, guys," he shouted to the kitchen. Amy stuck her head round the door.
"You've eaten that already? Face, you'll get fat if you carry on like that."
Face started to protest.
"It was Murdock who ate it all, not me," he cried. Amy looked at him then looked at Murdock who was sitting with an innocent grin on his face.
"It wasn't me," said Murdock.
"It's okay, Murdock," said Amy. "Honestly, Face. Trying to blame Murdock. You're terrible."
Face just stared open mouthed at Amy as she disappeared back into the kitchen, then he turned on Murdock.
"Of all the low down, dirty, double crossing things to do. Blaming me."
"If you can't stand the heat," said Murdock.
"But it was a blatant lie," said Face. "Now Amy not only thinks I've eaten the popcorn but that I'm a liar too."
Murdock shrugged.
"Female of the species," he said. "Suspicious minds."
Face laughed.
"I guess you're right," he said. "But I'm hungry."
"We want the same thing," said Murdock.
"What?"
"Popcorn," said Murdock. Just at that moment, Suzie and Amy came back into the lounge and a large bowl of popcorn was placed on the table.
"There you go, greedy boys," said Suzie, sitting on the floor. Murdock stared at her. "Don't give me that look, you," she said. "I can tell a guilty face when I see one, it was you who ate all that popcorn."
Face started to smirk.
"I told you so," he said to Amy.
"Goody two shoes," muttered Murdock under his breath. Suzie pressed the play button on the video remote control and they started to watch the movie.
"I love Saturday," said Murdock. Suzie lay her head against his chest.
"Why's that?" she asked.
"Don't ask," said Face, half-knowing what was coming next and dreading the answer.
"Saturday night at the movies," said Murdock, simply. Face groaned.
"I knew it. Please, Murdock, just watch the movie and shut up for a couple of hours."
"What movie did you get anyway," Amy asked Suzie.
"St Elmos Fire," replied Murdock.
Face groaned again.
"Chick flick," he whined. "Couldn't you have got something a tiny bit interesting?"
"Like what," asked Suzie. "Hellraiser? Nightmare On Elm Street? Silence Of The Lambs? Or perhaps something with slightly less blood, guts and gore?"
Face glared at her.
"I don't need blood and gore to make a good movie," he said, sulkily.
"But it helps," said Amy, squeezing his arm. "Give it a chance, Face."
"I suppose so," said Face and he wrapped his arm round her and pulled her closer.
"Kissing in the back row of the movies," said Murdock. Face kicked him and Murdock elbowed Face's leg. Suzie shook her head and started to watch the movie.
"We're back, guys," said Hannibal as he and Molly came into the apartment.
"Ssshh," said Face, turning round for a brief second before switching his attention back to the television.
"Interrupted something important, did I?" asked Hannibal. Molly grinned and went through to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.
"No, I meant you'll wake the others up," said Face, still keeping his eyes glued to the screen.
Hannibal looked and saw Amy curled up next to Face on the sofa, fast asleep. He also saw Murdock lying on the floor, snoring softly and next to him, with her head on his chest and his arm draped over her back, Suzie was also oblivious to anyone and anything. Hannibal smiled.
"It was a good movie then," he said, chuckling.
"Hannibal, shut up, I'm trying to watch the end of this," said Face, irritably. Hannibal grinned and went to find Molly. A thought suddenly struck him.
"Face, where's BA?"
Face sighed, clearly annoyed at being disturbed again.
"He's back at the motel, Hannibal. And before you ask, Jessie's in bed and hasn't made a sound all night."
Hannibal disappeared into the kitchen.
"I think I've upset him," he said to Molly. She laughed softly and handed him a cup of coffee.
"Do I dare ask him if he wants a coffee?" she said.
"I wouldn't if I were you," said Hannibal. "I'd just put it on the table in front of him."
Molly headed for the lounge.
"Quietly," he added and she laughed again. She placed the cup in front of Face and got a grunt of thanks from him. She headed back into the kitchen. Hannibal was just coming out of Jessica's room.
"She's fast asleep," he said, sitting down at the table. "Face said she hasn't made a sound all night."
"It's lovely to have a night off," said Molly. "Not that I mind," she added hurriedly as Hannibal looked up at her.
"You don't deserve this," said Hannibal.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"You shouldn't have to bring up someone else's child. It's not fair."
"But it isn't just someone else's child," said Molly, sitting down next to him. "She's my niece. She's my sister's child. Besides," she said but then stopped.
"Besides what," said Hannibal.
"Nothing," said Molly.
"Tell me," said Hannibal. "You can talk to me."
"It doesn't matter," said Molly and she started to get up from the table but Hannibal pulled her back down. "Let me go, Hannibal."
"Not until you tell me. You're obviously unhappy about something in this arrangement. So, you tell me or I'll keep you pinned in that chair until sunrise."
Molly tried to laugh but it came out as a choked sob. Hannibal got off his chair and knelt in front of her.
"Molly, please tell me. I don't want you to do anything you're not happy with."
"It's not that, I love Jessie being here. I don't mind at all. I'm perfectly happy with the situation. It's just that…."
She stopped and sniffled. Her tears fell onto Hannibal's arm and his eyes filled with concern.
"Molly."
"Hannibal, please don't make me do this."
"I just want to help you, like you helped me last night. Remember? You saw a side of me that no one else has ever seen. I trust you more than anybody else I know. Trust me, let me help you."
"You can't help me," said Molly.
"Why not?" asked Hannibal.
"Because you…"
"That was an incredible movie," said Face, walking into the kitchen. Hannibal was taken by surprise when Face walked in and loosened his grip on Molly. She took advantage of this and fled into her bedroom. Hannibal cursed under his breath.
"Sorry, Hannibal," said Face. "I didn't realise."
"It was a good movie then, was it?" said Hannibal, changing subject, quickly. He didn't want Face to start asking questions about Molly, not only to protect her privacy but also because he didn't have the answers. Face noticed the change in topic but didn't comment.
"Yeah, it was excellent."
Face refilled his cup with coffee and wandered back through to the lounge where Amy and Murdock were starting to stir.
"Oh, welcome back, you two," said Face. "I told you the movie was crap, so crap you two fell asleep after the first fifteen minutes."
"OK, Face, you win," said Amy. "Next time you can choose the movie. I'm sorry we made you sit through it, especially when we fell asleep."
"I should think so too," said Face. Hannibal wandered into the lounge and sat down on the chair by the fire.
"I take it you turned it off then," said Suzie, opening her eyes and sitting up. "I was miles away then."
"Land of make believe," said Murdock.
"Eh?" said Suzie, confused.
"Dreams," said Murdock and Suzie smiled.
"All about you," she said and he put his arms round her. "So, what did you watch instead then, Face?"
"Erm, well, I," said Face.
"I'll tell you," said Hannibal. "When we came in, he was glued to that movie and we couldn't even speak without getting our heads bitten off or glared at."
The other three stared at Face who muttered a string of unmentionable words under his breath at Hannibal.
"After the fuss you made about watching the film," said Suzie.
"What was it you called it?" said Amy. "Oh that was it, "chick flick", wasn't it?"
"Okay, okay," said Face. "So, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.""
"Come off it, Face. If you'd got any closer to the screen, your nose would've been pressed against the glass," said Hannibal.
"We'll make a romantic out of you yet," said Amy."
"There's still hope," agreed Suzie.
"Let's hear it for the boy," said Murdock.
"Lay off," said Face.
"Where's Mum?" asked Suzie, noticing Molly wasn't around.
"She's gone to bed," said Hannibal, quickly. "She wasn't feeling too well."
"Did you poison her or something?" said Suzie, laughing. "What did you do to her?"
"She just wasn't feeling well," said Hannibal. "That's all."
He stood up.
"I'm heading back to the motel, I'll see you all tomorrow."
"It's about time we all headed back," said Amy and pulled Face to his feet. Murdock picked himself off the floor and stretched, then offered his hand to Suzie and helped her up.
"I don't want you to go," she told him. Face and Amy discreetly left the room.
"Move closer," he said. Suzie wrapped her arms round Murdock and he held her tightly.
"If only I could be with you," he said, kissing the top of her head.
"Why can't you?" asked Suzie.
"Respect," replied Murdock.
"For me or for Mum and Hannibal?"
"Only you," said Murdock, smiling. He held her close and she sighed.
"You'd better go before I plead with you to stay."
Murdock let her go.
"Night, Murdock."
"Goodnight girl," he said. "Sweet dreams."
Suzie smiled and headed towards her bedroom. Murdock quietly let himself out. When he got back to the room he was sharing with Hannibal, Hannibal was still awake, staring at the ceiling.
"Okay, Captain?"
Murdock nodded.
"Don't worry," he said, noting Hannibal's worried expression.
"I'm fine, Murdock. Just thinking."
Murdock climbed into bed and promptly fell fast asleep. Hannibal lay awake, thinking and staring at the ceiling. Across the road, above the pharmacy, Molly lay awake, thinking and staring at the ceiling.
TBC