The One With the Gun

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

And carparks made me jumpy, but I never stopped the dream for the growing need of speed and

novacaine.

So I worked across the country from end to end

Trying to find a place to settle down where my mixed up life could end.

From Khe Sahn by Jimmy Barnes

Chapter 10 Into the Witch's Den

I steal a peek at Face 'n' can tell he ain' gonna listen t' any more arguments.

I can' tell 'im why I don' wanna rest 'n' recuperate anywhere near that woman. My Spidey sense's been increased b'cause o' my experience with Gustav 'n' his boys.

'N' maybe that's good. One o' us oughta be on his toes 'n' watchin' for danger.

If I tol' Face my suspicions, he'd mark it up t' my paranoid d'lusions. After all, he's gotten a peek at my medical records 'n' he knows that diagnosis's there. Richter himself put it in there when I first came t' the VA all these years ago.

We walk 'n' even though the street noises are too . . . noisy . . . for my likin', the fresh air's relaxin'. I can' let my guard down though. Don' know what might happen.

That guy smokin' his cig 'n' glancin' at us? I'm sure his eyes're followin' us as we pass.

Don' look. Don' look at 'im. It'll force his hand 'n' b'cause all my buddy's thinkin' 'bout is blonde hair, a nice ass 'n' a pretty face, he'll never know what hit 'im 'til after it happens.

A loud thud close by 'n' then a squeakin' creakin' mechanical sound makes me stop dead in my tracks. I gotta know what that was b'fore I'll go further. We may be walkin' into a trap.

"Hey, Murdock. Calm down. See that alley ahead of us? It's just the garbage truck." Face grips my elbow and impatiently pulls me along. I look 'n' see he's right. The truck lowers the dumpster to the asphalt with 'nother thud 'n' then moves 'head t' the next.

He's eager t' get me t' our destination. 'N' if it weren't for the fact it'll give us some cover, I'm jus' as eager not t' get there.

At least from what he's said she won' be there. Not right 'way. It'll give me time t' make sure she's who she says she is.

'N' then we're there, standin' in front of a door with the number 403 above it. How'd we get here so fast? 'N' how come I don' r'member gettin' on any elevator? Last thing I r'member was that garbage truck. I've gotta be more careful if I'm gonna keep both of us outta danger.

My buddy's got one hand on my shoulder. Like I'm gonna run 'way given the chance. Maybe I would but that'd leave him here t' face her. With the other hand he shuffles through the keys on his key ring 'til he finds the one he wants.

Here's the moment o' truth. He swings the door open 'n' nudges me inside.

I blink at how plain 'n' simple her place seems t' be. Don' know what I was expectin'. Maybe a witch's cauldron in the kitchen 'n' a book o' spells on the coffee table?

Face's obviously been here a few times a'ready. That should make me feel more at ease but I'm not.

She's been too cold 'n' analytical whenever she's seen me in her office 'n' on the ward t' make me feel at ease. Now, here we are . . . where she lives.

Face closes the door b'hind us 'n' dead bolts it. Maybe he thinks that'd stop me from leavin'.

He drifts over t' the coffee table 'n' picks up a pale pink sheet o' stationery. Holdin' it t' his nose, sniffin' 'n' closin' his eyes. I shake my head but he doesn' notice.

He scans the note she's left 'n' chuckles at somethin' she's written.

Oh man, has he ever got it bad for her.

"So now what?" I ask b'cause he's still got that silly grin on 'is face 'n' my stomach's startin' t' knot up with the tension I can' get rid of. It's like he'd forgotten I was standin' here.

Yup, he's got it real bad.