Lost The Plot? Part 10
By Angievette
Amy's funeral was held two days later. It was a small, quiet affair, with only the team, Molly, Susie and Jessica and a few colleagues from the Courier present. The team had taken her body back to LA and Molly and the girls had accompanied them. Amy was buried alongside her parents in a nearby cemetery. Amy's death had caused a few ripples of interest amongst the Military Police and consequently, Decker had appeared at the paper's offices, asking questions. Following an accidental slip by someone at the paper, Decker had learnt that someone called Smith had phoned Amy at the paper, just before she left to go on vacation. It was all Decker had needed to jump back onto the A-Team's trail and so Hannibal decided it was better for them to head back to Cliff Face Creek and stay there again. Hannibal had expected an argument from the rest of the team, Face especially but not one of team had said a word. So, this was the reason they all found themselves inside the van, heading down a deserted interstate at 3am, making their way towards Cliff Face Creek. Jessica was asleep in Molly's lap. Susie had her eyes closed, her head resting against Murdock's shoulder. Murdock was drifting in and out of sleep, with his arm wrapped round Susie. BA was driving and Hannibal was reading a newspaper, sneaking glances at the rest of the team, just making sure they were okay. Face was his main cause for concern. Since Amy's disappearance and death, Face had hardly spoken to any of them. Amy's death had hit him hard, understandably but he had turned away from the rest of them. Hannibal knew how hard Face was trying to come to terms with his loss but Hannibal was yet to see him show any kind of emotion. He hadn't cried once, not even at the funeral and Hannibal was worried in case he suddenly let it all go at once, which could have disastrous consequences. He looked up and caught Molly watching him.
"What?"
"I know you're worried about him," said Molly, quietly.
Hannibal sighed and put the paper down. Molly shuffled nearer to him carefully, trying not to wake Jessica. He twisted round to face her and winced. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a couple of painkillers and handed them to him.
"Here," she said. "This'll help."
Hannibal started to protest but she glared at him. He took them and swallowed them then looked at Molly. She smiled at him and patted his arm.
"It won't help anyone if you're out of action, Hannibal."
"I just feel I should have been able to prevent this," said Hannibal. "If I hadn't been laid up, then she might still be here."
"Then again, she might not," said Molly. "Don't go blaming yourself for this. It's time you all started thinking like a team, instead of fighting over who's to blame for each thing that happens."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're not to blame for what happened to Amy, anymore than Murdock's to blame over what happened to you."
"I don't blame Murdock for what happened to me," said Hannibal.
"No, I know you don't. And no-one blames you for this either."
Hannibal glanced over at Face, who had stopped staring out of the window and had fallen asleep.
"Least of all, Face," said Molly. "He doesn't blame you."
"You think?"
"I know," said Molly. "He's upset, Hannibal. He doesn't know what to think other than how he's going to cope. His first and only thought in the morning is how he's going to get through the day without her."
"What makes you think that?"
"Isn't that how you felt?"
Hannibal looked at Molly. Her eyes were filled with concern. He reached out and took Jessica from her. Very carefully, he placed her between Susie and Murdock. Instinctively, Murdock brought his round Jessica protectively. Hannibal pulled Molly towards him. She moved into his embrace and rested her head against his chest.
"I forgot you've been through this with Eric," said Hannibal. "You know, more than the rest of us, how Face is feeling."
"I wasn't thinking of Eric, more about Cathy," said Molly and felt Hannibal suck his breath in. She looked up at him. "You've never really let go of Cathy, never accepted she's gone, have you?"
"What makes you think that?"
"The way you act whenever her name is mentioned. You tense up, you change the subject, and you walk away. You never talk about her unless forced to and when you do, you always refer to her as though she's still here."
"Is that such a bad thing? It's how I deal with it. To me, she'll always be here."
Molly sighed and looked back down at the floor of the van, trying to prevent her tears from falling. Hannibal stroked her hair softly but Molly pulled away from him.
"Molly, what is it? What's getting to you? It's not just Amy's death that's affecting you, this started before that. Why won't you talk to me?"
Molly shook her head.
"Not here, Hannibal."
"Then when?" asked Hannibal.
"Soon," said Molly. "We'll talk about it, I promise but just not here."
"We're here, man," said BA and brought the van to a standstill. Everybody started to stir and stretch. Hannibal picked Jessica up and carried her into the pharmacy, beckoning Molly to follow him. She followed him up the stairs and she boiled the kettle while Hannibal put Jessica to bed. When he came out of the kitchen, Molly handed him a cup of coffee. He took it and sat down.
"Are you ready to tell me what's wrong?" he asked, looking at her. Molly sighed and sat down.
"This really isn't the right time, what with what's just happened to Amy."
""We can't go on like this, Molly. Something's wrong and I need to know what it is. You've been miserable since we got here. Is it Jessie? Is it too much for you, bringing her up?"
"No!" said Molly. "I love having her, she's fantastic. I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Then what?" Hannibal put down his coffee and took Molly's hand. She pulled away. Hannibal looked at her but she avoided his gaze. "Molly, look at me."
Hannibal took hold of her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. She was close to tears again.
"Molly, why do I make you cry? What is it?"
"Hannibal, please, I really don't think you need to know about this."
"Molly, if you're unhappy with me, I need to know. Is it to do with Cathy?"
"In a way."
"Tell me," he urged. "Molly, what have I done to upset you?"
"My sister is dead and I'm still jealous of her," sobbed Molly. Hannibal pulled Molly against him but she pushed away. "Don't you get it? You still love her, you always will, she will never hurt you or anger you or infuriate you. She's always gonna be perfect in your eyes. I can't compete with that."
"Molly, what do mean? You can't compete? For what?"
"For you," cried Molly. "Everyone else can see it, why can't you? I love you, Hannibal."
Molly jumped up but Hannibal pulled her back down again.
"Don't you do that," he said. "Don't you drop this on me then run away from me again."
"Haven't you humiliated me enough," said Molly, crying. "You know now, leave me alone."
"Molly, we can't go on like this. You used to be able to talk to me, what's changed this time?"
"Did you not hear what I said?"
"Molly, are you seriously trying to tell me this has happened only when I arrived in town a few weeks ago. Now, I don't think it's being bigheaded to assume this has been at the back of your mind for a tiny bit longer."
Molly choked back a sob. Then she calmed herself and looked Hannibal squarely in the eye.
"No, you're right. I fell in love with you since your van broke down all those years ago and I've been in love with you ever since."
"Why didn't you say something back then?"
"You fell in love with Cathy, I couldn't tell you then."
"Why not?"
"And have my heart broken in public? Not likely."
"Molly, please."
"What? You're gonna tell me not necessarily? I'm not stupid, Hannibal. You loved Cathy from the moment you saw her, everyone could see that. There was no way I was going to tell you, no way on earth. And had you not forced it out of me, I still wouldn't have told you tonight."
"So, how come you've been more sensitive this time round?"
"I guess, seeing Face and Amy together and Susie with Murdock, it's brought it home to me just how much I miss having a man around, that man in particular being you."
"Oh, Molly."
Hannibal gathered Molly in his arms and held her tightly while she sobbed. She held onto him, as if frightened he might vanish. He stroked her hair softly and comforted her whilst she let all her grief go. Everything she'd been bottling up for years came out. When she'd calmed down, she wiped her eyes and got up from the table.
"Hannibal, please don't tell the others about this. They already know how I feel, they've all guessed, just don't tell them I made a fool of myself in front of you."
"Molly."
"Hannibal, you don't have to say anything. Just leave it. I'll do my best to get things back to normal, just don't make this into a big deal."
"Molly, stop it. This won't go away over night. We can't just leave it at this."
"If I can, I'm sure you can."
"Molly!"
"Hannibal, just leave it. I don't want to talk about this anymore. Just go back to the motel for the night, and I'll see you in the morning. I'm tired and I want to go to bed. Oh, and send Susie back over here, when you see her."
Hannibal stood up.
"Okay, Molly. Have it your way for now. Good night."
"Good night, Hannibal."
Hannibal went back over towards the motel. He entered the room he was sharing with Murdock and promptly dispatched Susie back over to the pharmacy. After seeing her safely back, he knocked on the door of Face's room, to let him know he was back. His new rule was that they all checked in every thirty minutes, he wasn't taking any chances with the rest of them. It was bad enough he had Amy's death on his conscience without another one. He knocked again on the door, Face wouldn't be asleep until he checked in. There was no answer. Hannibal opened the door, it wasn't locked. There was no sign of Face, it didn't look like he had been back to the room since they arrived back in Cliff Face Creek. Hannibal ran next door and knocked on BA's door. A rather grumpy looking BA answered the door.
"Whatcha want, man? I was tryin' to get some sleep."
"Where's Face?"
"In his room, ain't he?"
"No, he's not been there all night from the looks of it."
"He said he was going for a walk, he said he wouldn't be long and would check in with you or Murdock when he got back."
"I've been over at Molly's so I've not seen him. I'll go and see if Murdock's seen him."
Hannibal raced into see Murdock.
"has Face been in here tonight?"
"No while I'm around," repiled Murdock.
"Which means he's gone missing." Hannibal slammed his hand against the wall. BA came in, fully dressed and much more alert.
"Faceman not here?"
"No," said Hannibal. "There's picking us off one by one. I don't like this. Murdock, go and stay on the sofa at the pharmacy, I don't want the girls on their own tonight."
"Hannibal, I don't think they've taken him," said BA.
"Really, Sergeant? So, what do you think's happened?"
"I think Face has gone after them himself. He wants them to pay for what they did to lil' Amy."
"Then we need to find him before he finds them," said Hannibal. "If he finds them first, the mood he's in, he's in trouble. Let's go."
TBC
Author's note.
P.S In response to a review I got about the last part, I write everything for a reason, I don't kill characters for no reason. Everything I write has a part to play in the overall story, all will be revealed.
Please continue to review this story.
By Angievette
Amy's funeral was held two days later. It was a small, quiet affair, with only the team, Molly, Susie and Jessica and a few colleagues from the Courier present. The team had taken her body back to LA and Molly and the girls had accompanied them. Amy was buried alongside her parents in a nearby cemetery. Amy's death had caused a few ripples of interest amongst the Military Police and consequently, Decker had appeared at the paper's offices, asking questions. Following an accidental slip by someone at the paper, Decker had learnt that someone called Smith had phoned Amy at the paper, just before she left to go on vacation. It was all Decker had needed to jump back onto the A-Team's trail and so Hannibal decided it was better for them to head back to Cliff Face Creek and stay there again. Hannibal had expected an argument from the rest of the team, Face especially but not one of team had said a word. So, this was the reason they all found themselves inside the van, heading down a deserted interstate at 3am, making their way towards Cliff Face Creek. Jessica was asleep in Molly's lap. Susie had her eyes closed, her head resting against Murdock's shoulder. Murdock was drifting in and out of sleep, with his arm wrapped round Susie. BA was driving and Hannibal was reading a newspaper, sneaking glances at the rest of the team, just making sure they were okay. Face was his main cause for concern. Since Amy's disappearance and death, Face had hardly spoken to any of them. Amy's death had hit him hard, understandably but he had turned away from the rest of them. Hannibal knew how hard Face was trying to come to terms with his loss but Hannibal was yet to see him show any kind of emotion. He hadn't cried once, not even at the funeral and Hannibal was worried in case he suddenly let it all go at once, which could have disastrous consequences. He looked up and caught Molly watching him.
"What?"
"I know you're worried about him," said Molly, quietly.
Hannibal sighed and put the paper down. Molly shuffled nearer to him carefully, trying not to wake Jessica. He twisted round to face her and winced. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a couple of painkillers and handed them to him.
"Here," she said. "This'll help."
Hannibal started to protest but she glared at him. He took them and swallowed them then looked at Molly. She smiled at him and patted his arm.
"It won't help anyone if you're out of action, Hannibal."
"I just feel I should have been able to prevent this," said Hannibal. "If I hadn't been laid up, then she might still be here."
"Then again, she might not," said Molly. "Don't go blaming yourself for this. It's time you all started thinking like a team, instead of fighting over who's to blame for each thing that happens."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're not to blame for what happened to Amy, anymore than Murdock's to blame over what happened to you."
"I don't blame Murdock for what happened to me," said Hannibal.
"No, I know you don't. And no-one blames you for this either."
Hannibal glanced over at Face, who had stopped staring out of the window and had fallen asleep.
"Least of all, Face," said Molly. "He doesn't blame you."
"You think?"
"I know," said Molly. "He's upset, Hannibal. He doesn't know what to think other than how he's going to cope. His first and only thought in the morning is how he's going to get through the day without her."
"What makes you think that?"
"Isn't that how you felt?"
Hannibal looked at Molly. Her eyes were filled with concern. He reached out and took Jessica from her. Very carefully, he placed her between Susie and Murdock. Instinctively, Murdock brought his round Jessica protectively. Hannibal pulled Molly towards him. She moved into his embrace and rested her head against his chest.
"I forgot you've been through this with Eric," said Hannibal. "You know, more than the rest of us, how Face is feeling."
"I wasn't thinking of Eric, more about Cathy," said Molly and felt Hannibal suck his breath in. She looked up at him. "You've never really let go of Cathy, never accepted she's gone, have you?"
"What makes you think that?"
"The way you act whenever her name is mentioned. You tense up, you change the subject, and you walk away. You never talk about her unless forced to and when you do, you always refer to her as though she's still here."
"Is that such a bad thing? It's how I deal with it. To me, she'll always be here."
Molly sighed and looked back down at the floor of the van, trying to prevent her tears from falling. Hannibal stroked her hair softly but Molly pulled away from him.
"Molly, what is it? What's getting to you? It's not just Amy's death that's affecting you, this started before that. Why won't you talk to me?"
Molly shook her head.
"Not here, Hannibal."
"Then when?" asked Hannibal.
"Soon," said Molly. "We'll talk about it, I promise but just not here."
"We're here, man," said BA and brought the van to a standstill. Everybody started to stir and stretch. Hannibal picked Jessica up and carried her into the pharmacy, beckoning Molly to follow him. She followed him up the stairs and she boiled the kettle while Hannibal put Jessica to bed. When he came out of the kitchen, Molly handed him a cup of coffee. He took it and sat down.
"Are you ready to tell me what's wrong?" he asked, looking at her. Molly sighed and sat down.
"This really isn't the right time, what with what's just happened to Amy."
""We can't go on like this, Molly. Something's wrong and I need to know what it is. You've been miserable since we got here. Is it Jessie? Is it too much for you, bringing her up?"
"No!" said Molly. "I love having her, she's fantastic. I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Then what?" Hannibal put down his coffee and took Molly's hand. She pulled away. Hannibal looked at her but she avoided his gaze. "Molly, look at me."
Hannibal took hold of her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. She was close to tears again.
"Molly, why do I make you cry? What is it?"
"Hannibal, please, I really don't think you need to know about this."
"Molly, if you're unhappy with me, I need to know. Is it to do with Cathy?"
"In a way."
"Tell me," he urged. "Molly, what have I done to upset you?"
"My sister is dead and I'm still jealous of her," sobbed Molly. Hannibal pulled Molly against him but she pushed away. "Don't you get it? You still love her, you always will, she will never hurt you or anger you or infuriate you. She's always gonna be perfect in your eyes. I can't compete with that."
"Molly, what do mean? You can't compete? For what?"
"For you," cried Molly. "Everyone else can see it, why can't you? I love you, Hannibal."
Molly jumped up but Hannibal pulled her back down again.
"Don't you do that," he said. "Don't you drop this on me then run away from me again."
"Haven't you humiliated me enough," said Molly, crying. "You know now, leave me alone."
"Molly, we can't go on like this. You used to be able to talk to me, what's changed this time?"
"Did you not hear what I said?"
"Molly, are you seriously trying to tell me this has happened only when I arrived in town a few weeks ago. Now, I don't think it's being bigheaded to assume this has been at the back of your mind for a tiny bit longer."
Molly choked back a sob. Then she calmed herself and looked Hannibal squarely in the eye.
"No, you're right. I fell in love with you since your van broke down all those years ago and I've been in love with you ever since."
"Why didn't you say something back then?"
"You fell in love with Cathy, I couldn't tell you then."
"Why not?"
"And have my heart broken in public? Not likely."
"Molly, please."
"What? You're gonna tell me not necessarily? I'm not stupid, Hannibal. You loved Cathy from the moment you saw her, everyone could see that. There was no way I was going to tell you, no way on earth. And had you not forced it out of me, I still wouldn't have told you tonight."
"So, how come you've been more sensitive this time round?"
"I guess, seeing Face and Amy together and Susie with Murdock, it's brought it home to me just how much I miss having a man around, that man in particular being you."
"Oh, Molly."
Hannibal gathered Molly in his arms and held her tightly while she sobbed. She held onto him, as if frightened he might vanish. He stroked her hair softly and comforted her whilst she let all her grief go. Everything she'd been bottling up for years came out. When she'd calmed down, she wiped her eyes and got up from the table.
"Hannibal, please don't tell the others about this. They already know how I feel, they've all guessed, just don't tell them I made a fool of myself in front of you."
"Molly."
"Hannibal, you don't have to say anything. Just leave it. I'll do my best to get things back to normal, just don't make this into a big deal."
"Molly, stop it. This won't go away over night. We can't just leave it at this."
"If I can, I'm sure you can."
"Molly!"
"Hannibal, just leave it. I don't want to talk about this anymore. Just go back to the motel for the night, and I'll see you in the morning. I'm tired and I want to go to bed. Oh, and send Susie back over here, when you see her."
Hannibal stood up.
"Okay, Molly. Have it your way for now. Good night."
"Good night, Hannibal."
Hannibal went back over towards the motel. He entered the room he was sharing with Murdock and promptly dispatched Susie back over to the pharmacy. After seeing her safely back, he knocked on the door of Face's room, to let him know he was back. His new rule was that they all checked in every thirty minutes, he wasn't taking any chances with the rest of them. It was bad enough he had Amy's death on his conscience without another one. He knocked again on the door, Face wouldn't be asleep until he checked in. There was no answer. Hannibal opened the door, it wasn't locked. There was no sign of Face, it didn't look like he had been back to the room since they arrived back in Cliff Face Creek. Hannibal ran next door and knocked on BA's door. A rather grumpy looking BA answered the door.
"Whatcha want, man? I was tryin' to get some sleep."
"Where's Face?"
"In his room, ain't he?"
"No, he's not been there all night from the looks of it."
"He said he was going for a walk, he said he wouldn't be long and would check in with you or Murdock when he got back."
"I've been over at Molly's so I've not seen him. I'll go and see if Murdock's seen him."
Hannibal raced into see Murdock.
"has Face been in here tonight?"
"No while I'm around," repiled Murdock.
"Which means he's gone missing." Hannibal slammed his hand against the wall. BA came in, fully dressed and much more alert.
"Faceman not here?"
"No," said Hannibal. "There's picking us off one by one. I don't like this. Murdock, go and stay on the sofa at the pharmacy, I don't want the girls on their own tonight."
"Hannibal, I don't think they've taken him," said BA.
"Really, Sergeant? So, what do you think's happened?"
"I think Face has gone after them himself. He wants them to pay for what they did to lil' Amy."
"Then we need to find him before he finds them," said Hannibal. "If he finds them first, the mood he's in, he's in trouble. Let's go."
TBC
Author's note.
P.S In response to a review I got about the last part, I write everything for a reason, I don't kill characters for no reason. Everything I write has a part to play in the overall story, all will be revealed.
Please continue to review this story.