The Case of Kinnegal's Banshee

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 In Stitches

Mrs. Baracus insisted Murdock go with her to the emergency room when she saw how deeply the beer bottle had slashed the back of his hand.

The injured man protested. "Now, Momma, Hannibal's taken care of stuff like this before. No need for me to see a doc. Heck, he's taken bullets outta us when we're on the run." He immediately wished he had kept quiet. A shadow of deep worry flickered across her face.

"Only happened once or twice, Momma. Nothin' to fret 'bout." B. A. put an arm around his mother's shoulders and glared a warning at the pilot.

"He's right, Momma. Nothin' got damaged that the Colonel couldn't fix. Itty bitty puncture wounds. Not worth mentionin' even." Murdock knew he was babbling. He just wanted to erase the anxious thoughts he stirred up in her mind. With another glare from the muscular Sergeant, he clamped his mouth shut.

"If Murdock goes to the emergency room, there may be more questions than you're able to answer. He's right. We've handled more serious wounds than this, and in less sterile conditions." Hannibal placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "We don't want Colonel Decker or the local police ruining the rest of our time with you."

Tears in her eyes, Mrs. Baracus nodded her understanding. "What can I do to help?"

An hour later Murdock rested on the couch, a dose of acetaminophen with codeine keeping the pain down. A gauze bandage hid a jagged row of twelve stitches across his hand.

"This Brendan is a real piece of work, Faceman. Gotta watch out for him tonight. I was stupid to go checkin' things out alone. I know better'n that." The pilot laid his head back on the sofa pillow and closed his eyes.

B. A. frowned. "This Brendan got a last name? Wouldn't be McClonough, would it?"

"Don't know. After he left Keelin didn't want to talk 'bout him, except to warn me 'bout him and his friends. Guess they do this for fun to anyone who stands up to them."

"How many were there?" The Colonel's voice was quiet.

Hearing the telltale sign of anger in Hannibal's tone, Murdock opened his eyes and glanced at him. "Three others but he could have more buddies. I don't think they ever tried to work over a Nam vet before." He laughed. "Don't know if I coulda held my ground for long if you guys hadn't showed up. But I wouldn'ta gone down without a fight."

Mrs. Baracus murmured something to herself and sat down in a chair. She looked frightened.

Hannibal hesitated before asking his next question. "When we were there last night, you acted a little strange. Want to talk about it?"

B. A. snorted. "Strange is what the crazy-man does, Hannibal. You know that."

His mother gazed at him and raised her eyebrow. "Scooter, be nice."

"Sorry, Momma." She pursed her lips and cocked her head to one side. B. A. looked down at the floor, then cast remorseful eyes at the pilot. "Okay. Sorry, Murdock."

"It's alright, Big Guy. Call it the way you see it." Murdock closed his eyes again and frowned. "Thing is, when I'm away from . . . home . . . I have to adjust to things, like goin' without some of my meds. I don't always know if . . . things . . . are how I see 'em."

"Did you see something last night when we were there?" Face posed the question but the Colonel scrutinized Murdock's expression when it was asked. He saw the facial twitch as the pilot remembered the moment.

"I thought I was seein' things. You know, the power of suggestion sort of thing. But when Keelin and I were talkin' she hinted she saw the same thing at the same time. She didn't say she absolutely positively saw it but I'm pretty sure she did. Some sort of white misty vapor over in the corner. Soon as I moved toward it, it disappeared."

"Face, there's going to be a change of plans. We're going to double the guard." Hannibal glanced at each of the men. When Murdock began to sit up, the Colonel shook his head. "Not you, Captain. You take a leave of absence and rest up tonight."

B. A. scowled at the pilot. "You heard the man, fool. Stay put." Murdock glared back at B. A. and settled himself back onto the couch. The muscular black man glanced at Hannibal. "If you don' mind, Colonel, I'd like to go wit' Face tonight. Say hello to Keelin. Get reacquainted with folks." He clenched his fists.

The older man grinned and clapped the Sergeant on the shoulder. "I thought you might feel that way."

Mrs. B. made Murdock stay on the couch all day except for trips to the bathroom. She brought a tray out to him with his meals so he would not have to move to the dining table and had B. A. buy several new issues of his favorite comic books to enjoy.

When the Sergeant delivered them, Murdock grabbed his arm before he could leave. "B. A., you know I love your Momma but it's drivin' me crazy, all this rest. Can't you talk to her?"

"I never been able to tell Momma I was feelin' better 'fore she said I was. You just gonna have to live with it. 'N' you already crazy, man." B. A. turned away, hiding a satisfied smile. The Captain folded his arms across his chest in disgust and pouted.

After dinner, while Mrs. B. and Face were washing dishes, Murdock gestured for Hannibal to sit near him. He whispered, "Colonel, I don't know if I can take much more laying around like this. Can't I go with B. A. and Face tonight? My hand doesn't hurt near as bad as it did."

Hannibal considered the request for a minute. The younger man displayed his most beseeching look. The Colonel chuckled. "I guess I'd feel the same way. It isn't like you were shot and out of commission for weeks. You're sure you're rested up for this?"

Murdock nodded eagerly. "More than enough rest."

"I'll try to convince Mrs. Baracus you're well enough to go and supervise Face and B. A while they work." Hannibal patted the pilot on the shoulder and went to the kitchen to argue Murdock's case.

By the time Face and B. A. were ready to drive to The Thirsty Dog, Murdock had his bomber jacket and baseball cap on and was jiggling his legs up and down nervously. He jumped to his feet when they went to the door.

"The only reason I'm letting you go, young man, is because Hannibal said Scooter would look out for you and make sure you didn't work hard." Murdock stared sheepishly down at his feet and mumbled his thanks. "Now you boys be careful." Mrs. Baracus hugged each of them in turn as they left the apartment.