CH.4 – Goodbyes?

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"Colonel, Oh God, Thank you…" Face smiled slightly.

Murdock leaned down quickly. "Colonel, we're in quite a dilemma here…we need you."

"I…Can't…move…" He said between short breaths.

"We're working on that Colonel, just hang on."

"Decker?" He asked.

"How'd you know?" Face replied.

"Cant…Leave…"

"I know but we'll get out of here, BA is looking for a way out right now."

"Go!" He uttered.

Face and Murdock looked up at each other. "No way Colonel, we can't leave you here. You're as good as dead if Decker gets a hold of you." Face replied now shaking his head vigorously.

"GO!" he said with all his strength, letting out a long sigh. "THAT'S AN ORDER LT."

"Then I will have to disregard, we're not leaving you…Murdock, look out for Decker until BA gets back."

Face looked down intently at the Colonel. "Hang on Hannibal…please…" He pleaded.

He took a quick breath. "It's over kid…I can't move…my legs are severed…I can feel it…I can barely breathe…my ribs are crushed…as soon as they lift it off I'll bleed to death…so let me go kid…get away…lead the team…"

Face now had tears reforming in his eyes. His voice cracking he replied. "I could never lead like you…the team isn't a team without you…legs or not…please Colonel don't make us leave you here."

"The needs of the team come first always, that's all you need to know…you have it in you, I know you do…I'm proud of the man you've become Lt…I know you won't let me down."

Face was now crying outwardly, not being able to handle what the Colonel was telling him. He tried to compose himself.

"Its okay to cry kid, it's gonna hurt when I'm not here…you'll miss me…but I hope I've left something inside you…you're a good soldier…"

"Hannibal please don't die…please…we'll turn ourselves into Decker…at least then we'll be over together…"

"Listen to yourself…that is NOT what I would want…so I now give you the A-Team, Lt. Do with it what you think is rights…it's all I ever had…take care of it…"

"Aw Colonel, I…" He stopped himself and took in the sight before him. He could now see the blood that started soak his Colonels clothes and all he wanted to do was take his place. As he saw his hero fading before his eyes he realized his responsibility to his friends.

"Yes sir." He said simply. Putting his hand in his Colonels. The Colonel squeezed it with all the strength he had.

"Let me see the Captain." Hannibal asked softly.

Face stood up and walked over to Murdock. "Murdock, Colonel wants to talk to you."

Murdock read his friends face. "About what?"

Face sighed. "To say goodbye."

Murdock's mouth fell open as tears began to well up in his eyes. "Face, I can't…"

"Its not for you Murdock, its for him, he has to know his team will be okay."

Murdock nodded and slowly made his way over.

"Captain."

"Yes Colonel."

"Thanks for taking the kid out…could always count on you…Listen, I'm not gonna make it…Face is gonna lead the team now…stay true and loyal to each other…don't make me come back and harass you!"

Murdock smiled through his tears. "I almost wish you would…I never sleep anyway…" He smirked but then it turned quickly to a frown. "I don't want you to die." He started to weep and his head fell to the ground next to his Colonel. Hannibal reached his hand up to cradle the back of Murdock's neck as he wept. Face looked on quietly

Minutes passed and no words were spoken.

BA walked in quietly and simply shook his head at Face to express he had found no other way out. He knelt next to Murdock, a hand on his shoulder as he took in the situation. Face shook his head back at BA as if to say that Hannibal wasn't going to make it. This causing BA to show a side of him none of them had ever seen.

"BA…take special care of the Captain…I want you to look out for both of them…and don't do anything I wouldn't do…I'm trusting you BA…I always have…"

BA started to get choked up. "I will Hannibal…I will."

Murdock continued to weep as Face motioned for BA to come over.

END CH 4

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-TLH †