BA pulled the van into the Captain Belly Buster's lot and parked around the side, waiting for Hannibal to show up. BA lamented the fact that they couldn't use the drive-thru since it would be faster but it wasn't worth the risk of being caught in a line they couldn't easily get away from if they were spotted.
He looked at the clock on the dash. There was only about an hour left to call his momma before she left Mrs. Hines' house. He kneaded the steering wheel hard with both hands. At this point, he could probably make it to Culver City if Hannibal showed up in the next five minutes. Or if he left Face and Murdock in the parking lot, which he was seriously considering.
Face had been sitting in the back, next to Murdock, listening patiently to the pilot's story - ok, pretending to listen patiently, but actually reliving the dream with the triplets - when a soft growl from BA caught his attention. He looked up and noticed the tension radiating off of the man. Glancing back at Murdock, he figured he had about 30 seconds before BA ran out of patience.
"Hey, uh, Murdock?"
"Wait, Face, this is the part where the Chihuahua was telling me all about BA's sleeping habits. I didn't get to finish the story this morning either and I'm sure BA wants to hear it."
He looked to BA expectantly to affirm his interest in the story and was met with a growl, which he ignored.
"She's such a good, little dog. So concerned about others. I was thinkin' her and Billy-"
"That's great, Murdock but why don't you go in and order the food? Hannibal should be here any minute."
"You got it, Faceman. The usual?"
Face nodded and watched his friend head toward the restaurant.
"Everything ok, BA?"
Startled that Face had noticed anything - BA was always extra careful not to draw attention to himself on his special Tuesdays - he glared back into the rearview mirror.
"Hannibal better get here quick. That fool drivin' me crazy!"
Face opened his mouth to respond just as Hannibal pulled his non-descript car into the spot next to the open van door.
"Perfect timing, Colonel."
As Hannibal climbed into his usual seat in the front of the van, he took a quick assessment of its occupants.
"Murdock gettin' the food." BA answered before Hannibal could ask.
"Good, BA, but you guys are late. I circled around here for half an hour." Hannibal patted BA on the shoulder and slowly turned around to face his second-in-command. The stern look he shot towards him had Face squirming in his seat.
"Report, Lieutenant. Or would you like to wait until a more convenient time?"
Face's gulp was audible. "Colonel, I, uh - "
BA gripped the wheel a little harder. He didn't have time for this.
"Lynch had him when Murdock and me got there, Hannibal. The MPs had him handcuffed and was about to put him in the car and take him away. We got him out and everythin' ok now." BA interrupted. "We late 'cause I made sure no one was followin' us."
Hannibal and Face both looked at BA incredulously, for slightly different reasons. Neither were sure they'd heard BA use so many words at one time in a very long time, if ever.
Hannibal paused to light his cigar and studied BA carefully. Without looking away from his Sergeant, he asked, "What happened, Face?"
"I was in the condo when Lynch and his cronies busted down the door and took me into custody."
Hannibal sat quietly, contemplating his cigar. Face and BA both watched him anxiously.
"And what time was this, Lieutenant? Before or after you missed check-in?"
Face hemmed and hawed and stuttered a few times before he was saved by Murdock leaping into the van, his hands full of bags of food. "Hiya, Colonel! Got you your favorite. BA, they were out of vanilla shakes so I got you chocolate…" Murdock paused and looked around at the team as he sensed the tension in the van. "What's the up, guys?"
"Face was just telling me all about his run-in with Lynch this morning. Isn't that right, Lieutenant?"
"Oh, yeah!" Murdock crowed. "If we'd a gotten there any later, Lynch would'a carted him off to the stockade. Did you remember your lady friend's name yet, Face?"
Face groaned, BA growled and Hannibal glared.
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Twenty minutes later, Hannibal had finished Face's dressing down and they'd all finished their lunch. BA had counted the minutes in his head. He could still make it to at least Crenshaw with a few minutes to spare if he left right now.
"Face, take my car and drop Murdock off at the VA." Hannibal ordered, holding out the keys. "BA and I will swing by and see about your car, make sure the trail is cold."
Face opened his mouth to protest, quickly thought better of it and grabbed the keys.
"Let's go, Murdock."
"Hannibal, I got some stuff I gotta do." BA said quietly. Hannibal would have thought he looked anxious if he didn't know any better.
"Ok, Sergeant. Let's swing by the condo and see if Lynch impounded Face's car yet. You can either drop me off there or at my apartment."
BA sighed internally. Hannibal was obviously in no mood to be argued with after the debacle with Face. He'd have to settle for sending his momma a postcard this month.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
An hour later, BA and Hannibal had driven past the condo and found both the military and Face's car gone. Hannibal had donned a disguise and snuck back into the condo, where he retrieved Face's jacket and his lock picks and swept the place to make sure there wasn't anything left to tip Lynch off to the team's whereabouts.
BA sat in the van, waiting for Hannibal to return.
A short man, wearing tennis clothes and carrying a duffle bag walked around the corner of the building and stopped short when he saw BA in the van. He shot a nervous glance over his shoulder and then turned abruptly and ran back toward the building's entrance.
BA's head thumped back into the headrest in defeat. This was just not his day.
Five minutes later, when the Colonel finally appeared, BA tapped the horn and motioned for him to hurry.
Hannibal jogged the last few yards to the van, which looked ridiculous since he was disguised as an elderly cleaning woman, wearing a grey wig and a crisp white apron over a housecoat.
"What's going on, Sergeant?"
"Some dude saw me sittin' here and was actin' all nervous."
"Well then let's get outta here." Hannibal motioned toward the street.
"I need to fill up the tank, man."
"There's a gas station at the end of the block. Let's step on it, BA. That guy might've called the police."