A Rock and A Hard Place
CH. 7
--
Templeton Peck, sat on his bed for what seemed liked hours just staring straight ahead. He had sat down hours before; just to take his socks off, but didn't even get that far. He couldn't get past the last picture he had of the Colonel, he couldn't get past the sacrifice the he was willing to make. His head started to shake at a moments thought of Hannibal's blood on BA's clothes. As he reached to finally take off his socks, his eyes stared at the ground for a moment. It had been a while since he had hit his knees.
God, please don't let him die…and if you take him…please let us be there.
That was all he got out before he heard something coming from the room beside him.
--
BA had been flipping television channels most of the night. He was trying to think of anything other than the blood soaked clothes that lay on the chair a few feet away from him. The shower he took had helped get the blood off his neck and arms, but it felt like it was still there. And he knew that if the Colonel died, the blood that washed off would be a constant reminder of the closeness he felt to Hannibal as he carried him.
He finally turned off the TV, and tried to close his eyes…but heard something coming from the room beside him.
-
BA and Face opened their doors almost simultaneously and they looked at the door knob in between them both.
"You think we should knock?" Face asked solemnly.
BA shook his head. "No, crazy man needs help, and we're gonna give it whether he likes it or not."
BA took the handle. As the two entered, the sound they feared became a reality.
The two exchanged glances and walked slowly towards their friend who was sobbing into his pillow. Face sat down on the edge of the bed, and put his hand on Murdock's back, while BA went around to the other side. Face could feel the sweat on his shirt, crying had really taken a lot out of him.
"We're here Murdock…both of us…we're here." Face said reassuringly.
Murdock took a deep breath, "But the Colonel isn't." He managed before burying his face in the pillow again.
BA looked over at Face, hoping he knew what to say.
"No…no he isn't…" it was simple and Face knew it. There wasn't much left to say. And both men knew it didn't matter, they knew the sobbing would continue until he fell asleep from exhaustion…and so it did.
--
Next Morning
Face was startled by the alarm clock, and quickly grabbed the kink in his neck from sleeping in the chair in Murdock's room all night. BA had gotten his pillow and covers from his room and camped out on the floor, and didn't move an inch at the sound of the alarm clock.
He rubbed his eyes and quickly stood up to turn the alarm clock off. He peered over to see why Murdock hadn't gotten up either. "Murdock, pal, wake up." He moved the covers away to find pillows.
"Damn…BA! Wake up… Murdock's gone…"
BA stood up and stretched. "I always knew he was gone face man, you mean gone like gone?"
"Yes, gone like gone to see Hannibal…here read this." Murdock had left a note under the cover.
"I gotta see him guys. My heart is broken into pieces…I just have to…I don't care if they put me in a straight coat for the rest of my life…I gotta see him…I'm sorry Faceman, maybe I should've listened to ya, but I want to be there to hold his hand…you can join me if you'd like…but I know before BA gets done reading this letter, he's gonna start screaming because I took the van…"
"He took the Van!!!!"
-
END CH. 7