Monster

Disclaimer: I do not own The A-Team movie or television series or any of the delightful characters found on The A-Team.

Chapter 7

The nurse examined the chart in front of her at her desk and frowned.

Seeing Rick the night orderly, she motioned for him to come closer.

"What's up, Sharon?" He leaned with his elbows on the counter, smiling down at the pretty brunette.

"Have you checked on Mister Murdock since you clocked in?"

He glanced down the hallway at the pilot's door. His smile had faded when she mentioned the patient's name. "No. But I heard he gave Vic a black eye. That ain't like him. Wonder why he snapped like that?" The orderly shook his head. "I saw Vic's eye. He's pretty mad. He swears he's gonna watch Murdock a little more carefully from now on."

"His chart says he's to be kept sedated tonight. I suppose they want him to be well-rested for his shock therapy session. I guess they'll be doing that in the morning." She paused, her frown deepening. "These orders don't show a scheduled time. I wonder . . . Doctor Richter doesn't usually order ECT for his patients. Not like Doctor Graham."

"And Mister Murdock hasn't been given ECT for a long time. At least I haven't had to bring him down to ECT for better than a year." The orderly shrugged. "But if the doctor ordered it . . . why, what's wrong?"

"Something just doesn't seem right about it, that's all. His chart doesn't show any recent violent behaviors. This episode with Vic was the first since last year around this time." Nurse Sharon continued to read through the pilot's chart.

"Well, this time of year brings out a bit of the crazy in a lot of people. And where else would ya expect to find it than on a psych ward? Do you want me to look in on him to make sure he's asleep?" Rick pushed himself away from the desk.

The night nurse nodded slightly, still lost in thought. "Wonder why Doctor Richter wants to try ECT on Mister Murdock? Of all our patients, I would think he was the last one the doctor thought would need it."

"Don't know. It ain't my job to question why. I'll let you know if he's looking like he's coming out of sedation." With that, Rick walked down the hall to Murdock's room and peeked in through the window before entering, leaving Nurse Sharon still perplexed over Richter's choice of treatment for his least combative patient.

oooooo

The three A-team members remained silent throughout the half hour drive except for an occasional growl from B. A. when another vehicle cut in front of him on the freeway.

The orderly slowed in front of a residence on Mammoth Avenue. Slowly the garage door opened, the interior light turning on, and he drove his station wagon in. Just as slowly, the garage door closed behind him but not before Hannibal caught a glimpse of Stein unfolding himself from the driver's seat and standing up.

"So what now, Colonel?" Face leaned forward to peer at the single level house and garage.

Before he could speak, the walkie talkie crackled to life. "Amy here."

"Yes, Miss Allen?" Hannibal answered, his gaze calmly scrutinizing the possible entry points to the house.

"I just left the VA hospital." She hesitated.

"Let me talk to Murdock," the Colonel said.

"I can't." She took a deep breath, one they all heard. "He isn't here with me."

"She didn't get him out of there?" When Amy didn't answer immediately, the con man surged forward and tried to take the walkie talkie from the Colonel's hand. "Why didn't you get Murdock out of there?"

Amy's voice quavered as she spoke. "I couldn't. He was in no condition . . . "

Hannibal waved Face away and asked the question for all of them. "What did Stein do to Murdock?"

The reporter regained her composure and her next words reflected her anger. "It isn't just Murdock Stein's attacking. And Murdock has this idea he has to try to protect all the others by being Stein's favorite punching bag."

"How bad is it?" Face demanded, staring at the walkie talkie.

Amy sighed. "He's been treated for a dislocated shoulder. When I left him, he had been given some pretty heavy sedatives."

B. A. glared toward the orderly's house and released the steering wheel. His hand clenching the door handle, he was about to get out of the van when Hannibal stopped him. "We have to have a plan."

"I got a plan. My plan's ta give 'im a taste of his own medicine," the Sergeant growled, refusing to look at either Hannibal or Face.

"We will. But first . . . " Hannibal smiled coldly. " . . . we'll give him an opportunity to buy some health insurance. Maybe we won't need to give him his medicine at all if we do this right."

"How are you going to convince him to leave Murdock and the others alone?" Amy asked, her voice hinting she wasn't sure she would approve of the plan.

"How fast can you get to 1900 Mammoth Avenue?" The Colonel smiled again and gazed with satisfaction at the orderly's house.

"I'll see what I can do. Amy out." The walkie talkie went dead after that, leaving the three men in silence.

"Still like my plan better," B. A. grumbled but he released the door handle and agreed to wait for the reporter.