Chapter 7:
Murdock is sitting on some tarp covered crates in a forgotten corner of the base, smoking a cigarette. After being debriefed, aka chewed out by almost every single senior officer within a one mile radius, he was finally left to his own devices.'Grounded for a week…'Murdock scoffs and exhales a lungful of smoke. 'Could be worse. Hell, I should be in the brig right now for assaulting a senior officer!' He knows he probably has Hannibal to thank for swaying Colonel Scott's decision. Instead of being punished for hitting Hannibal, they tried to pin everything else on him. From blowing up a perfectly 'salvageable' bird to the freaking weather. He barks out a mirthless laugh and reaches down between his legs for the bottle of booze on the ground. A whole week without any significant sleep, finally made him resort to trying to drink himself into oblivion. He unscrews the cap and looks at the dubiously colored liquid. Shrugging he puts the bottle to his lips and swallows a mouthful of the stuff. He ends up coughing until his eyes water. "Ah, that's the stuff…" he croaks out between coughs. He had tried to see Face on more than one occasion, but kept being brushed off by either Young or Olsen. He never felt the gap between their unit's more than he did now. Murdock mournfully stares into the distance.
B.A. had been patiently waiting for him outside Scott's office. The big guy had taken him to a secluded spot and told him the rest of the story. About the bouncing Betty and how Face had sacrificed himself for another soldier, a team mate. 'A mine… After surviving all that, he stepped on a freaking mine!'Murdock's glad that at least B.A.'s opinion of him had stayed the same. He smiles sadly. 'Ever the fool…' He'd been dead tired when his unit finally met up with the team. A few days with little sleep and a stressful jungle hike will do that do a man... The pilot had been scanning the tired faces around him while listening to B.A.'s recounting of the damned mission. When it finally hit him who was missing. He'd jumped to the wrong conclusion before B.A. could finish the story. 'Damn, I owe Hannibal an apology…'The thought makes him take another swig from the bottle, before settling it down between his feet. The whole mission had been a setup by the VC contact. Apparently, this Colonel Quyet had been in it to further his own position within the Vietcong. Colonel Morrison had been livid and had been looking for someone to blame for this whole mess. Something tells him, that this probably isn't the last time they hear from the guy.
The captain sighs and pulls out a wrinkled envelope. He unfolds the paper. 'Dear Captain Murdock, we regret to inform you…' The words become blurry and the pilot angrily wipes his eyes. He'd gotten the letter after the fact. They didn't even care enough to contact the red cross and have him sent home in time to say goodbye. Murdock leans his elbows on his knees and puts his weary head in his hand. His face hidden by his army issue baseball cap.
"Hey."
Murdock is startled from his dark thoughts by a welcome voice. He unsteadily rises to his feet and envelops the blond lieutenant in a bear hug. "Ah ow ow… Murdock, watch out for the leg!" Murdock releases his friend instantly, sheepishly raking his fingers through the short hair at the back of his neck.
"Sorry... So… yer nannies finally let you go then?"
Face laughs and gingerly sets himself down on one of the crates.
"I escaped." He says merrily. Which actually was more like conning the nurse into letting him go outside when Young's back was turned. Not his best work mind you. He'd even had to break out the poor orphan card to get past her. Sure, he'd been grateful for all the attention he had been receiving, but enough is enough. The hospital is making him feel smothered enough without someone watching his every move to make sure doesn't escape. Face shivers at the thought of needle wielding nurses, no matter how cute they are. With their fine blonde curls and their lush pink lips… 'Aaah Nurse Sandra…'
Murdock sighs and lets his lanky frame drop down next to Face, startling the lieutenant from his pleasant thoughts. He reaches for his pack of cigarettes only to find it empty. With a growl, he throws it to the ground, glaring at it as if it's the source of all his problems. Face reaches for his own pack and shakes out a cigarette, offering it to the pilot.
"Thanks Faceman." He murmurs before lighting it.
Face lights up his own cigarette and nods at the half empty bottle of hard liquor sitting innocently on the floor. "Wanna talk about it?" Face looks at the letter, still clutched in his friend's hand. Murdock inhales deeply and sighs again.
"My mom was only 17 years old when she had me and died when I were five years old." He swallows. "Nobody would have me so my gramma raised me instead." He folds the paper, reverently puts it back into its envelope and in his breast pocket over his heart. The two friends sit side by side for a while. Murdock feels that, whatever booze is in that bottle, is making him loosen up. "She's had a massive stroke." He takes of the cap and rubs his eyes. "She didn't even remember me. I couldn't…" Murdock's voice breaks and he masks it by quickly taking another drink. Face takes the bottle from his hand and screws the lid back on. Another one of Face's cigarettes bites the dust and he offers the pack instead. Murdock flashes a small smile at his friend and lights up another one.
Face waits for Murdock to sort through his thoughts. He already has a clear picture of what the letter is about, but he knows the pilot needs to say it. He had noticed the fluctuating mood of the pilot and his incredibly short fuse, but the mission had been his first priority. When the words finally do come, they are spoken so softly, he almost misses them. He watches Murdock run a shaking hand down his face and stifle a sob. Face had been orphaned at a very young age and despite having some memories of his mother, he can't remember losing her. After that came the orphanage and even though they were very loving and caring, he'd never had anyone to call his own. Face has no idea what it is like to lose a mother figure, like Murdock just did. He slowly moves closer to the distraught pilot until their legs are touching and puts a hand on his friend's shoulder. That small touch was all that was needed for the other man to hide his face in his hands and let out a real sob. Face feels his heart bleed for his strong willed, wildly funny, and loyal friend and he wraps one arm around the grieving pilot's shoulders. He presses his forehead against Murdock's, who turns his face into the lieutenant's shirt and simply let's go. Face feels his throat close up and his eyes burn, but remains strong for Murdock's sake. They remain seated like that for some time, until the pilot calms down.
Rubbing his eyes dry, Murdock barks out a sorrowful laugh. "Some soldier I am." He sadly shakes his head and yawns. Face takes in his weary expression and the bags underneath his eyes.
"How long has it been since you slept?" Face asks the pilot. Murdock stares into the distance in deep thought for a while, the booze making his hundred miles an hour brain slow down to a snail's pace. He woozily starts counting his fingers.
"Two, three days... a week?"
"You're asking me?"
Murdock smiles crookedly and lays back against the canvas. He looks up at the star speckled sky. The same one he looked up at in his home town of Beaumont Texas over two months ago. He stifles another yawn. That night he had decided to come back to Vietnam early. There ain't nothing left for him back home anyway. He'd packed his stuff and left. Murdock looks up at Face. The lieutenant is looking pale, but otherwise healthy.
"Ya think we still gonna be friends in 'nother 10 years?"
Face tries to hide his startled reaction, by casually running his hand through his hair. He lights up another cigarette. The red glow is illuminating his handsome face as he thinks about it. In 10 years… He would probably have his white picket fence experience. A beautiful wife, 2.5 children and a golden retriever. Does the pilot fit in that perfect picture? He looks at Murdock to see his eyes finally closed in sleep, snoring softly. He sighs and shakes his head, smiling wistfully. He gingerly moves himself further up onto the crate and settles in for a long night of standing guard over his friend. Could they still be friends in 10 years...? Face looks at his friend, sleeping soundly beside him.
Yes... Yes, they would...
Story notes and research:
When an immediate family member was in a life threatening situation, the family would be able to contact the Red Cross. The Red Cross contacted the military and a soldier would be sent home, jungle fatigues and all. Straight out of the field to anywhere in the world. Emergency leave could be up to 30 days. They didn't do that in Murdock's case. He got the letter after the funeral. He never got to say goodbye...
