Okay this chapter gave me a little bit of trouble in coming together. I must have scrapped it twice and I'm still not completely satisfied with it . . . but it will go with what I have outlined to happen (because anyone who reads my other stories knows how strict I am about staying to my outlines . . . yeah nobody comment). And by the way, I am in no way bashing anyone, it just seems like the way they'd respond to someone questioning their masculinity. So, on with the show.
Of Interludes and Explanations
Chaosia had always prided herself on being able to handle just about anything. Hell, it was one of the reasons that when Mikhail and her Dad had started squawking about her going to school and finding a legal profession to defer to when she was older that she'd chosen to do psychology. She could literally handle and process most of what people had to throw her way . . . but for the life of her, walking outside to find her brother's burly new friend and the guy she'd been blushing crimson over locked in a tight embrace with the waterworks only seconds away had left her speechless.
She shook her head, trying to see if she was just hallucinating or if this was really happening to her.
Unfortunately, it was.
Finally, she had enough and stepped a little closer, clearing her throat to catch their attention.
As soon as she was noticed, both men shot apart and to different ends of her tiny patio. And if it hadn't been for the fact that they were now both covered in paint and Murdock's clothes were currently doing the tango in her washer, then she would've fallen over laughing. They both looked like they'd been caught with a hand in the cookie jar. Especially BA.
What in the world was going on around here?
She sighed, putting her hands on her hips; BA's change of clothes still clutched within them, and turned to Murdock. When he blushed and started to shuffle his feet, she raised a brow and started tapping her foot. She knew she was channeling her mother, but damnation this was ridiculous. First the paint wars downstairs then she almost get flattened and now she finds the two of them practically . . .
"Don't even try that look with me, James HM Murdock. I know it all too well and I am not Nurse Burns. Now, are you going to explain how in five minutes you're both covered in paint and groping one another on my back porch? Or do I need to guess?"
Murdock's head ducked a little further as BA registered just what she'd said and jumped into action defending them.
"Whoa, Chaos. Ain't nothin' like that goin' on here. We're old friends and . . . Well, I hadn't seen him in a while and-"
Murdock seemed to latch on to the though, jumping in to try and save some of their dignity and cover. He stepped closer, reaching out to place a hand on her arm as he looked at her beseechingly.
"We didn't know that the other was in town and to find him here was just-"
Chaos looked between the two of them before rolling her eyes. Did they honestly think that this was going to work? For real they thought she was that damn dumb? She pulled away from Murdock, going to lean against the railing and look at the two of them. She gathered herself and leveled her best deadpan look on them. Oh her father would be so proud for what she was about to do . . .
"So you're what? Like ex-boyfriends or something? Because I gotta tell you boys, walking out and to that just doesn't scream old friendly reunion. I mean, Murdock I was kind of starting to wonder about you . . . but you BA? I never would've guessed you were . . . . "
"A what? NO!"
"What do you mean you were- you think I'm? I'm not . . . Damn it I like girls okay?"
Chaosia, however just nodded despite their outbursts, reaching out to hand BA the clothes and towel. She would either get the truth or they would have to come up with something a lot better than "old friends". Plus, this would be fun to watch. Her oldest brother was right; she should still check and see if the CIA needs anymore psychological warfare experts. Because these poor idiots had no clue what was hitting them.
"Sure, sure guys. If you're gay it's cool. I don't care either way. Hell, I'll even introduce you to Paul, one of you two will get along with him great . . . and he definitely needs another boyfriend than the loser he's got . . .Too bad though, Murdock."
They both continued to try and argue their case as she pushed away from the railing and started back into her house. As she was almost through the doors, she turned back and smiled over her shoulder at them. Murdock looked terrified and BA just looked torn between laughing and screaming. At least neither one of them was crying anymore. Murdock looked at her pleadingly, asking, "Too bad what, Chaosia?"
She shrugged, winking as she walked back in, calling out, "You'll never know, Ace."
The groans she heard assured her, as she went to check on their food, that she would have her answers quick. She pushed down the little streak of regret and doubt at her tactics. She might not enjoy mind games but she was the fucking master at them when she had to be.
And they were just about to learn it.
Murdock turned to BA, mouth opening and closing as he stared at his friend hopelessly.
She thought he was gay? She thought HE was GAY? That was as bad as calling Hannibal stupid or Face ugly . . . . because it was so wrong. He loved women. Loved them so damn much he usually put as much distance between himself and the opposite sex as possible. Not out of fear, mind you, but for their own protection. Because very few women could deal with the way he was even before he was crazy.
But to hear Chaos say those words, to hint that maybe she might've wanted to see if she could handle all of his damage and his issues, and that now she wouldn't because she thought he was GAY! And with Bosco?
BA seemed to snap out of it long enough to see some sort of humor in this whole situation because his damn shoulders were shaking with the force of his laughter. Murdock turned and glared at him, not finding a damn thing about this funny at all.
"Damn it Bosco! Stop laughing or I'll throw your ass out of another 'copter as soon as I get my hands on one!"
BA however just laughed even harder, doubling over as he held his sides.
"Damnation, you crazy fool; you sure picked one this time."
All of Murdock's anger left him in a rush as he stared at BA like he was crazy.
"Excuse me? What do you mean I picked one?"
BA straightened, smirking as he started to remove the paint drenched shirt. Murdock turned, trying to give the man as much privacy as possible . . . and to dissuade any of Chaosia's ponderings if she was looking.
"You like her. But I'd make a move before Face finds her. Sosa lingering in the background or not, Face has never been able to let a pretty blond slip away. Especially with her attitude. So, who is she to you anyway?"
Murdock sighed, looking down at his now ruined tee shirt. Who was Chaosia to him? Or, more to the matter, what was she to him? She wasn't his therapist-not legally anyway- and while he wanted to call her a friend, his gut was telling him that the word wasn't enough. That she was more than a friend . . . he just didn't know how . . .
"I-Well, we-She's my friend, Bosco. She helped me a lot at Camarillo. She was my Doc . . . well, one of them anyway. And her old man set up the deal I've got. Apparently, before I met ya'll I knew him. And barrel rolled one of his friends just to do it."
BA snorted, pulling the almost-too-tight tee shirt on over his head. The sweats Chaos had given him just barely hit the top of his feet and the towel he'd used to blot off paint was now almost completely soaked. At least he liked the color . . .
"And he wanted to help you? Sounds as crazy as you . . ."
Murdock nodded, not disagreeing as he took the towel BA held out and using the last clean corner to wipe the paint off of his face. He sighed, looking down at the towel. Chaosia had done a nice job of picking a color he would like . . . He glanced up at BA, hesitating slightly before he asked what was running through his mind.
"Why do you think I like her, Bosco? I mean, I don't even know . . ."
BA just shrugged, rubbing the back of his head as he glanced back at the apartment.
"The way you were holding her before, you fool. If you don't you're damn close . . . And the only reason you don't know it is because you're crazy, Murdock. Or have been for a long time. Tell me this, when was the last time you even looked at girl as something other than a girl?"
Murdock felt his cheeks flame and he turned, grumbling as stalked back into the apartment. He didn't care if he was covered in paint or not, he was going to talk to her. And he was getting away from Bosco and all of his "you like her" nonsense. Because seriously, why would someone like her want anything to do with a fruitcake like him?
As the patio door opened, Chaosia looked up and rolled her eyes before grabbing the very frustrated Murdock and leading him to her bathroom. He was about her height and she knew she had a pair of Paul's sweats stashed somewhere that she wore when they had movie night . . . so she'd just sacrifice them and a wife beater for the cause. These guys were killing her stash of comfy clothes and quick.
She reached out, starting the water and adjusting the setting before turning to leave. She would grab him the clothes and a towel and all would be fine. She looked up to find him looking at her and felt her world do that shifty thing again. Seriously, what was it about the way he looked at her when they were alone that made her knees want to go weak? She frowned to herself, not in the mood to deal with anything emotional or confusing. She just wanted to get him clean, in fresh clothes and eat. Then survey the damage the idiots had down downstairs . . . Keeping that in the forefront of her mind, she stepped closer, going to move around him. Never in a million years expecting him to step back in her way.
She stopped, looking him square in the eye with a brow raised. Murdock never wanted to face any form of confrontation emotionally. Battle and flying were one thing. He was safe there because instinct took over and protected a mind that had literally been battered and abused since he was a small child. This was new . . . and she couldn't honestly say that part of the tingling her tummy wasn't from the fear of how this might go . . .
"Bosco is not my ex, Chaosia."
She let out a breath she wasn't aware she'd even been holding, thankful it sounded like an exasperated sigh and not one of relief. She shrugged, continuing to glare up at him and she stood on tiptoe and matched his serious tone. The look on his face made slipping into the old habit so worth it.
"Why, Murdock, I don't care one bit if he's your damned lovechild. I was caught off guard. It's not every day you walk outside and see two Army Rangers practically groping each other."
His eyes narrowed and he growled, making her even tempted to giggle at the now evident frustration she was causing him. It would be so much easier if he'd just tell her the truth . . .
"I am not-Bosco isn't my-" suddenly something clicked into place behind those moss green eyes and his eyes narrowed dangerously as he took a step forward, closing the tiny space between them. He no longer looked frustrated just cautious and oh-so-serious about protecting himself and his friend. Chaosia rolled her eyes. Seriously? What was she going to do? She was a freaking criminal herself (though not to the same extent) and she was his damn therapist! Anything he told her was privileged information and protected by the damn law. So long as he didn't plan to kill anyone.
"How do you know Bosco's a Ranger?"
Chaosia sighed, shoulders sagging as she pushed her now damp bangs out of her face. The steam from the shower was building in the same bathroom and making it increasingly hard to think straight. Well, that and the fact that she and Murdock were now flush against one another. She looked up at him, a deadpan look stretched across her features as she rolled her eyes at him.
"The same way I know that his last name isn't Lang, its Baracus. You practically jumped him when you saw him, HM. And I doubt that there are a lot of people you'd do that to. And before you start, I don't care. This is Long Beach, Murdock. Illegal is a way of life. As long as he doesn't do anything to hurt you or my brother and our family then I have no problem turning a blind eye to it. I knew that when you were released your buddies would probably scamper from the woodwork. And so long as no one else notices them doing it, I think it'll be fine for you to see them. Bring you some closure and all."
She smirked, crossing her arms as she preened up at his now dumbfounded expression. She was going to have to let both of them in on what happened with Otto's and the crew if they were really around for the long haul. Less chance of an accidental discovery that way. But she could do that over dinner, with everyone else to help is she had to. Right now, she was not going to let this wonderful opportunity go to waste . . .
"I still think you're exes, though."
Murdock stared down at her, mouth wide open like a slack jawed idiot as what she'd said registered. She knew Bosco was a Ranger, and a part of the A-Team and she didn't care? And why in the hell would their presence cause harm to her family? Something was going on with these people. Something big. When he found Hannibal, he'd have him scour his contacts to find all of the information he could about this. They couldn't afford to go in blind.
With that laid to rest, his steam addled brain finally picked up on her last little taunt. She still thought he was? Oh for the love of . . . He would show her!
BA walked into the apartment quietly, looking around at the home of Murdock's new friend. Face and Hannibal would both die if they found out that Murdock was already set up and pretty much stable. Which meant all of the preparations Face had been making in the room he'd claimed as Murdock's were definitely going to waste.
AS the timer went off on whatever was on the stove, he reached out and turned it off, removing what smelled dangerously close to his coconut curry from the heat before it could burn. This was just weird. Where were they?
He sighed, listening to see where either of the two loons was. What surprised him was hearing the water running.
What in the hell?
As he made his way down the small hallway, he saw steam pouring from beneath one of the doors. He weighed his options before shrugging and pushing the door open slightly. If he walked in on anybody he could claim the paint in his ears was blocking sound. Yeah, that could work.
But what he found was not what he was expecting at all.
Murdock had Chaosia backed against the vanity and was staring down at her intensely as she glared up at him. Finally, Murdock shook his head and turned, shedding his shirt and going for his jeans as he muttered and she shook her head. Finally, she turned and grabbed a towel, tossing it at his head as she chuckled.
He turned and glared at her, a very dark blush tainting his cheeks.
"I really don't like you right now, Doc."
She laughed throatily as she walked over and planted a small kiss on his cheek, making the blush darken even more.
"That's fine, HM. I like you enough for the two of us for now. Take your shower and come eat and we'll watch the Battle of Britain . . . after the others go home, okay?"
He nodded, turning to finish undressing as BA realized Chaosia was turning to leave.
BA blinked, and then rubbed a hand over his eyes. This was not happening. Not with Murdock. He'd been half-joking when he'd told the man to make a move . . .
He backed slowly out of the room and closed the door, refusing to be involved in whatever was happening with them. Chaosia seemed like a nice girl and had plenty of big brother figures to dish out whatever they needed to keep the crazy pilot in check . . . which meant that he'd better call Face and warn them. Long Beach was where they were staying for the foreseeable future.
Because there was no way in hell he was going to deny Murdock a chance at happiness.
Even he wasn't that heartless.
Okay it wasn't too bad . . . see. Yeah . . .
