Author's Note: Sincerest apologies for the ridiculous lapse in posting, dear readers. My laptop went rogue and had to be sent away for repairs. When she came back, I realized I was writing some complex plot points that I was still tinkering with, and had to hold off on posting because as I went along, I'd realize I needed to go back and change details or add things in. As an added bonus though, you get not one but two exciting chapters! Hooray!
I'd also like to throw out a special, gigantic thank you to KennaC for her on-going support and encouragement. Plus, every time I read a new chapter from her, I'm instantly motivated to get back to work on my own stuff, in that her fabulous writing makes me so happy, I figure I oughta at least try to throw the same back out to the universe. If you're not reading her latest story, Fatal Recall, get the hell over there and do it right now. Er, wait... read my two new chapters, then get the hell over there. ;)
Read! Enjoy! Review! -C.A.
"I think Charlie's on the jazz."
Hannibal looked up from a blueprint in response to Face's observation. He glanced at the Lieutenant, then shifted his attention to Charlie, who had a very familiar look of excitement on her face.
Now returned from their very productive recon outing, Charlie and the team were once again gathered around the kitchen table that had become their make-shift war room. The blueprint Hannibal was studying had been provided courtesy of Face: armed with the confirmed address of the warehouse, the consummate conman had parlayed his real estate agent act into getting a set of blueprints from an accommodating, dowdy woman with thick glasses working in an equally dowdy city surveyor's office.
B.A. sat next to Hannibal, his Mohawk flattened in the middle by a set of headphones. Using a small transmitter he'd rigged up, he was listening intently for any noise being picked up by the small bug on the clipboard Face had intentionally left at the warehouse.
Charlie, meanwhile, was seated between Murdock and Face, and had been observing the men as they talked strategy. She tossed Face a slightly guilty smile in response to his observation. "Oh, come on, this stuff is kind of exciting!" she returned. "Sitting here, pouring over maps, talking weapons and strategy… it's like a movie, or something. Like The Great Escape."
"Or Dr. Strangelove," Face added dryly.
Hannibal chomped on his cigar and grinned at Charlie. "Hey, you're preaching to the choir here, honey." He turned back to his study of the blueprints. Pointing at a spot on the plans, Hannibal looked up at Murdock, and asked, "Think you could land a chopper here?"
Before Murdock could answer, B.A. held up a hand to silence the group. "Clipboard's picking something up," he explained as he pulled off his headphones and tugged their cord from the tape player's jack. Without headphones, the sound emanated from the player's single speaker, and five pairs of ears listened intently to the crackly conversation being transmitted from the hidden bug.
"…. came in here, blabbing about this place belonging to his company."
"And does it?"
"Don't know. Don't care. I scared 'em off; they won't be back." Hannibal and Face recognized the voice of Garth.
"You figure they were who they said they were?" asked the other unidentified voice.
"Seemed to be. I can tell you there's no way them two were cops."
"You check 'em for wires?" The unfamiliar voice held a distinctly accusatory note.
"Didn't need to," replied Garth. "Made sure I didn't say nothin' that would incriminate us."
There were a few seconds of silence as the unknown man considered Garth's words, then spoke again. "You don't think Rick's bitch coulda had anything to do with them two men showin' up, do you?"
Four sets of eyes flashed over to Murdock. His expression was stony, and a muscle ticked in his jaw. One hand clenched into a tight fist.
"Nah," Garth replied. "Not even she would be that stupid. She'd get her father killed. Don't worry man, she ain't sayin' nothin' at that trial."
"Yeah, well, she better not." The stranger punctuated his sentence with a snicker. "You believe that bitch turnin' on Rick? Fuck man, she's causin' us so much trouble, she better have at least been a good lay."
Garth snorted. "You see the body on her, man? You don't even wanna know the shit I woulda done to her if she wasn't Rick's girl."
Charlie squirmed in her seat, somewhere between rage and humiliation as she listened to Rick's henchmen and the repulsive turn their conversation had taken. Murdock placed a hand between her shoulder blades and moved it in small, soothing circles intended to offer Charlie at least a little comfort. Between Murdock's caring gesture and the four identical expressions of pity staring back at her, the room suddenly felt stifling. She stood. "I can't…" Her voice cracked a little as she struggled to keep her composure. She cleared her throat, shook her head, and took a deep breath. "Can you guys give me a call when this portion of the planning is over?" she finally managed to ask.
Murdock spoke before anyone else had the opportunity to. "Of course, sweetheart," he said, tamping down anger to speak gently as he stood. Seeing how hurt she was verged on being unbearable for the pilot. He reached out and gave her shoulder a squeeze; he knew the gesture wouldn't do much to ease her obvious pain, but he didn't know what else to do. "Hang in there, darlin'," he said reassuringly.
She offered a weak smile and nodded. "Just gimme a heads-up when we're back to planning," she told the four men, all of whom nodded immediately. "Thanks," she murmured, then walked down the hall to the master bedroom, stepping in and closing the door behind her.
Murdock resisted the urge to run after her, to take her in his arms and reassure her everything would be okay. He blew out a long breath and returned to his seat at the table.
After a few more minutes of lewd exchanges, the two unwitting men finally reverted back to a conversation of use to the team.
"So, you figure we should let Rick know about those two chumps showing up?" the unknown man asked.
Face stiffened, looking indignant. "Chumps?!" he squeaked.
Murdock snickered; Hannibal shushed them both with a finger to his lips and a pointed glare.
"I'm tempted to say 'no', you know, so we don't have to put up with Rick spazzing out," Garth answered. "But if he checks the tapes and sees those two clowns, he'll know we didn't tell him and we'll be out of a job."
"Good point," returned the other man. "You wanna call him, or should I?"
"Nah, he's comin' tomorrow, so we'll just tell him then. Said he's got an appointment with his lawyer, so he's gonna come by after that. He figured he'd be here around 3 p.m."
"Alright, I guess it'll keep 'til –" The man stopped abruptly, and there were a few seconds of silence. "You hear that?"
"Hear what?" asked a bewildered Garth.
Again there was a brief period of silence, followed by the man saying, "I think I heard a crash back there."
"I didn't hear nothin'. You sure?"
"Pretty sure. The old man better pray it wasn't him makin' that noise."
"I dunno, I wouldn't mind an excuse to knock him around some," Garth admitted. "It'd gimme a chance to brush up on my skills. I'm tryin' to get back to my fighting weight, you know."
A snort was heard from the other man. "Your fighting weight?" he scoffed. "You sure it ain't your 'fighting-to-get-my-weight-into-pants-that-aren't-from-a- Big n' Tall-shop' weight?"
Face and Murdock both giggled in spite of themselves.
Garth was quick to respond, his tone defensive. "Hey, fuck you, man! I don't get my pants from no from no friggin' Big n' Tall shop! You know goddamned well I've been workin' out some, and I…"
The voices of both men trailed off as they walked away, presumably to the back of the building. Their footsteps grew fainter as they moved, the sound fading into silence.
Hannibal leaned back in his chair and lit a cigar. "These guys are making this too easy," he said between smoke plumes.
*****
Dinner that evening was an even more rambunctious event than usual. Humming with anticipation for tomorrow's rescue, Charlie watched the men wolf down more food than human biology would suggest possible, hassling one another with noisy enthusiasm between bites. She had to admit that the excitement was not only infectious, but fairly reassuring too. Not a single team member showed any trace of doubt about the success of tomorrow's operation.
Charlie herself had mixed feelings about the next day's rescue. Distant as he was, she still loved her father, and she knew springing him from Rick's clutches would bring her tremendous relief, and a much needed jolt of happiness. Her thoughts got muddier though when she considered what a successful mission would mean for herself and Murdock.
Sitting on the porch after an early dinner, Charlie sipped at a soothing cup of tea, allowing the comforting warmth of the mug to seep into her hands. Her thoughts were of Murdock, as they had been almost exclusively over the last few days. She knew she would miss him desperately once he returned to the V.A. without her. Her whole world was better with him around. When he was nearby, colors were brighter, the air seemed sweeter. The thought of never again feeling the way she felt when she was with Murdock was devastating.
Her quiet contemplation was mercifully cut short by Murdock poking his head out the front door. He bore a mischievous grin that made Charlie's stomach do flip-flops.
"Come with me, young lady," he announced. "I've got a little last-minute business for you and I to attend to."
Charlie raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing with suspicion even as a faint smile played about her lips. "What kind of business?"
"You'll see," Murdock replied with a wink.
"Can you at least tell me where we're going?"
"Just a short ways into the woods, so you might want to put on some pants." Murdock lowered his voice slightly, ensuring his next words were for Charlie's ears only. "Although, I gotta say, it seems almost sacrilegious to cover up a pair of legs as sexy as yours."
Charlie's cheeks reddened slightly at the compliment. She cleared her throat. "Yeah, speaking of that, do you really think it's a good idea for you and I to go into the woods alone?"
"Are you telling me you don't think it worked out well last time?" Murdock asked teasingly. "'Cause I gotta tell you, sweetheart-"
"Murdock." Charlie was quick to cut the Captain off, even as a warmth spread through her, flashes of their most recent evening together sliding through her mind like a miniature movie.
His face transformed into an amiable grin, and he threw up his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, take it easy. Don't worry, B.A.'s coming with us. The man is a human cold shower."
Charlie looked at Murdock askew, scrunching up her face as she tried to figure out what in God's name he was up to.
Murdock rolled his eyes in response. "Oh for Pete's sake, just go get changed. If you keep sitting there, crinkling your nose and looking adorable, I won't be held responsible for what I do."
To emphasize his point, he stretched his arms out in a style more befitting of Frankenstein, making grabbing motions with his hands as he lunged forward. "Yaaaargggh…" he growled.
Charlie jumped to her feet, laughing, surprised to hear herself emit a girlie squeal as she leapt out of range of his hands and skirted around him with startling speed before darting into the cabin.
She quickly swapped out her shorts for a pair of jeans, and returned to the cabin porch, finding it now empty. She furrowed her brow and scanned the area, until her eyes fell on Murdock standing near the edge of the woods, gesturing for her to join him.
She strode towards him, looking suspicious. "Where's B.A.?" she asked, glancing around.
"I swear, he's already there," the Captain insisted.
Charlie appraised him carefully, and decided he looked sincere. "He'd better be," she muttered.
Murdock pointed at his head. "Look at this face, darlin'. Would this face lie to you?" He grinned broadly as he spoke, then grabbed for her hand. He allowed himself the small luxury of interlacing his fingers with hers, then headed into the woods, tugging at her arm as he pulled her along behind him.
*****
Charlie and Murdock emerged from the dense brush after a twenty-minute hike. They stepped into a clearing bordered on the far end by an old, rotting fence constructed of thick, fallen cedar trees, the structure likely the remnants of some ancient property border. B.A. was standing near the fence, mountains of gold flashing in the sun, making Charlie feel like she'd just stumbled onto some hidden cache of treasure.
"'Bout time you got here!" he hollered as the couple approached. He noted that although the couple came into view holding hands, they both dropped one another's hands almost simultaneously at the sound of his voice, like each of them had just realized they were holding a hot poker between them.
Murdock shrugged out of his leather jacket as he neared B.A., and tossed it on a section of fence. "Oh, you know women, B.A.," he drawled, rolling his eyes. "They take forever to get ready." He drew his words out melodramatically, clearly enjoying his own hammy performance.
Charlie scowled and punched Murdock in the shoulder. "Jackass," she growled, then turned to B.A. "He wouldn't actually tell me where we were going." She jerked her thumb at Murdock. "Would you go anywhere with this guy if he wouldn't tell you where?"
B.A. snorted. "I try not to go anywhere with this fool when I know where we're going."
Murdock adopted a petulant pout. "I'm feeling distinctly outnumbered here," he complained.
Charlie smiled triumphantly. For the first time, she took a look around, and noticed a line of bottles and cans arranged along the top of the fence. She turned to both men, confusion etched on her face. "Uh… what are we doing here?" she asked apprehensively.
B.A. stepped to one side and revealed a sizeable steel lock-box. Murdock leaned down and popped it open, gleefully producing a small hand gun. He stood and held the gun out to Charlie, cradling it on his flat, up-turned palm. "Before we throw down tomorrow, we wanna make sure you know your way around a gun. We don't expect you'll need to use it, but we like to be prepared." He made a wide sweeping gesture across the clearing. "Welcome to the firing range, sweetheart," he declared.
Charlie threw up her hands and took a step back from Murdock's outstretched hand. "Oh no," she blurted, sounding panicked. "No, no, no, no. Murdock, I don't believe in guns."
He rolled his eyes and looked over to B.A. "And they call me crazy," he quipped, then turned his attention back to Charlie. "Darlin', how can you not believe in them? Look at my hand! That's a gun right there! It's not like not believing in Santa Claus, where there's a choice because you can't see him. You gotta believe in guns!" He emphatically looked down at his hand again. "Look! This is a gun!"
Charlie frowned, irritated, though mildly amused. "You know damn well that is not what I meant," she growled. "I mean, I don't believe in using them, so I'm sure as hell not gonna learn to shoot one." She crossed her arms, tilting her chin at a defiant angle. She flashed Murdock a look that dared him to challenge her.
The pilot sighed. "Honey, that's a lovely belief. It really is. Problem is, Rick does believe in guns."
"And so do all them dudes who work for him," B.A. added.
Charlie remained silent, though Murdock could sense her insistent refusal to learn how to shoot was wavering ever so slightly. He seized upon that slight waver and decided to try a different tact. "Okay, how about this," he began. "If the team is worried about your safety during the rescue, we'll be distracted, and that's dangerous. If we know you're armed and ready to defend yourself, we can focus on the mission."
Charlie's expression turned plaintive. "Oh come on, that's not fair, Murdock."
Murdock raised his hands and shrugged. "Fair or not, it's the truth," he told her. "Look, after tomorrow, you can live the rest of your life without ever touching a gun again. But being armed and ready tomorrow is the best way to ensure you have a 'rest of your life'."
Both men watched as Charlie scrutinized them, long, silent moments ticking by as she appeared to contemplate Murdock's argument. Finally, she blew out an exasperated breath and muttered, "Alright, alright. Let's do this."
"Hooray!" whooped Murdock.
"Crazy fool," B.A. grunted.
"We'll start here," the Captain said, walking to a spot about twenty feet from the fence, beckoning for Charlie to follow.
She sighed and moved to join him. B.A. opted to hang back and survey the scene with great interest.
When Charlie stood next to him, Murdock held the gun out to her, butt first. "Alright, this is a Smith and Wesson M59," he told her. Charlie recoiled and looked at the weapon like it was a poisonous viper being offered. Murdock groaned with frustration and grabbed her hand, pressing the gun into her palm. "Safety's on," he assured her.
Charlie looked down at the silver-plated piece she held, turning it over several times, feeling the cool metal against her skin.
Murdock reached out and put a hand on each of her shoulders, turning her towards the fence and stepping behind her. "Okay," he began. "Bring it up in front of you, and level it at your target."
Charlie's hands were shaking slightly as she raised the gun, and tried to line it up with a bottle.
Smiling, Murdock called out to B.A. "Uh, Big Guy? You might wanna move some."
B.A. nodded and took a few very generous steps away from his post at the fence.
Murdock reached around Charlie with both arms and clasped both her hands in his, steadying them. He immediately questioned the wisdom behind the move as the strawberry scent of her shampoo filled his nostrils, the heady aroma lifting him instantly from the clearing, and depositing him squarely into the room he and Charlie had shared in Face's purloined apartment.
Suddenly, Charlie looked back over her shoulder with a smirk. "Happy to see me, Captain?" she asked quietly, clearly trying to hold back laughter.
Returning to his senses, Murdock realized the evidence of his arousal was blatantly poking Charlie in the small of her back. "Oh my God," he muttered with mild embarrassment, bending slightly to pull his pelvis away from her. Dipping his head, he murmured in her ear, "See what you do to me, darlin'?"
Charlie snorted. "Just remember I'm holding a gun," she retorted without turning her head, even as she tried to ignore her own arousal.
"Hey!" hollered B.A. "Are we doing this, or what?"
Murdock released his grasp on one of Charlie's hands, and held his hand up to B.A., smiling apologetically. "Sorry, Big Guy. Here we go."
He covered Charlie's hand with his own again, guiding her arms upwards and steadying them. "Okay, don't lock your elbows," he instructed her. When she complied, he reached for the gun and released the safety, then continued. "Now, you're gonna feel a little recoil when you fire; the gun'll jump up and back a little."
Focusing her stare on a bottle, Charlie nodded.
"You wanna look straight down the barrel," Murdock continued, his breath warm on her neck. "Line it up directly with the target."
Charlie nodded and followed the directions.
Her tongue poked out from the corner of her mouth as she concentrated. God, she's perfect, Murdock thought, his chest feeling tight as he grinned at the endearing tic. He shook his head in an attempt to refocus. "Now, just squeeze the trigger, and fire," he told her.
Charlie looked hesitantly over her shoulder at Murdock, and he nodded. She took a deep breath. Slowly, nervously, she crooked her index finger and began to pull the trigger, curling her finger towards herself in tiny increments as her body tensed in anticipation.
Suddenly, a sharp, loud crack pierced the air and the gun jumped. Charlie simultaneously let out a surprised, "oh!" Across the clearing, a bottle exploded on the top of the fence.
Murdock stepped back and placed a hand on top of his baseball hat, his mouth open in surprise. "Oh my God, you hit it!" he exclaimed, a note of pride in his voice.
Looking every bit as surprised as Murdock was, Charlie's mouth turned up at the corners as she allowed the gun to drop to her side. "Um… I was aiming for that one," she confessed, pointing with her free hand at a bottle two targets to the right of the one she had hit.
Murdock's impressed look dissolved into one of amusement as he began to snicker. "Still, 'A' for effort," he declared between chuckles.
"How'd it feel, Charlie?" B.A. called, his smile a clear sign that he was thoroughly enjoying watching Charlie's indoctrination into the world of guns.
Looking sheepish, Charlie responded, "Um, I hate to say this, but I suppose it was just a little bit thrilling." Glancing at Murdock and sensing she was about to get hit with an 'I-told-you-so' from him, she hollered over to B.A. in the sweetest voice she could muster, "Sergeant, you're so handsome when you smile! You really should do it more often!"
She couldn't say for sure, but Charlie thought she might have seen a hint of pink on the Sergeant's dark features.
Murdock, conversely, looked entirely annoyed, even feeling an irrational tug of jealousy. "Aw, c'mon, Charlie. You see how big that head is?" he asked, jutting his chin in B.A.'s direction. "Don't make it swell any bigger. The man already has to buy his hats custom-made."
B.A.'s smile disappeared. "Don't lie to the lady, Crazy Man!" he snapped. He switched his gaze to Charlie. "That ain't true, Mama."
Charlie laughed while the two men glared at one another. "Gentlemen, gentlemen," she soothed. "I believe I still need some training here?"
Murdock and B.A. continued grimacing at one another until B.A. finally put an end to the standoff. "Teach the lady to shoot, fool," he grumbled.
Murdock's posture relaxed and his lips curved slowly into the smile that made Charlie's stomach do funny things every time she saw it. The pilot turned to her and spread both arms wide in an invitation for her to join him. "Assume the position?" he prompted, a slight darkening of his eyes hinting at the double entendre in his words.
Charlie moved in front of him again and raised the gun towards a spot along the top of the fence. Murdock laid his hands on Charlie's hips and rotated them so that she was squared with her with her next target, then indulgently left his hands where they rested, crooking his fingers slightly to turn the contact of his hands with her hips into a subtle caress.
Before pulling the trigger again, Charlie turned her head slightly and in a low voice, tossed over her shoulder, "I'll say it again, flyboy: don't forget who has the gun here." Then she smiled a devious smile and let a bullet rip.
*****
The sun was just disappearing over distant tree tops when Murdock, B.A., and Charlie returned from their makeshift target practice. Though Charlie wouldn't qualify as an expert marksman any time soon, both Murdock and B.A. were satisfied that she would at least know what to do with a gun if the time came when she needed to use one.
As the trio piled into the house, Murdock and B.A. both flopped into empty seats at the kitchen table with Hannibal and Face. Charlie, on the other hand, moved to the opposite side of the room and plucked her purse from an end table. "Would it be alright if I used the phone in the van?" she asked Hannibal. "I've gotta call Viv, and make sure she knows what to do if…" her voice trailed off for a moment, and she swallowed hard. "You know, if anything goes wrong tomorrow."
Hannibal held Charlie in a steady gaze and took a long haul off the cigar he was smoking, thoughtfully savouring the rich, smoky taste in his mouth. He finally exhaled, and said confidently, "Sweetheart, nothing's gonna go wrong tomorrow. But you're more than welcome to call her. I'm sure you have lots of…" his eyes swung to Murdock pointedly, then returned to Charlie. "Lots of things to discuss." The Colonel smiled knowingly, while Charlie blushed and Face rolled his eyes.
"Er, thanks," Charlie managed before hurrying from the room.
*****
"So, what's it gonna be, young lady?"
Charlie sighed into the phone receiver at her friend's query. Though she had called Vivian for practical purposes, Vivian was refusing to listen to any of Charlie's instructions until Charlie updated her on the situation with Murdock. "Alright, alright," Charlie finally conceded. "What is it you want to know?"
On her end of the phone, Vivian smiled and lit a cigarette. "Well, for starters, have you got any more action to report?"
"Viv, you do realize we're all up here planning a rescue, right?" Charlie asked evasively.
"Oh, so there has been more of the good stuff!" Vivian exclaimed. "Okay, let's go. Out with it." Her tone left little room for argument.
Charlie grimaced and grumbled, "Jerk," though she smiled even as she said it. She took a deep breath and tried to give Vivian the most basic account she could of her encounter with Murdock on the evening of the test flight. Vivian, however, was not satisfied with vague descriptions and euphemisms, and managed to wrangle a very detailed, descriptive retelling from Charlie.
When her friend had finished her story, Vivian let out a low whistle. "So, let me get this straight," she began. "You had sex you weren't supposed to be having, in what was more or less a public place, while standing up? That's like the fucking trifecta of hot sex!" The lilt in Viv's voice told Charlie that her friend was clearly enjoying herself. Taking a long pull on her cigarette, Vivian continued. "I gotta tell you Charlie, I wouldn't have guessed the boy had it in him."
Charlie laughed. "And why wouldn't he?" she queried.
"I don't know, he's just so sweet and goofy and silly," Vivian responded, with a shrug. "I mean, running around in those high-top Cons like a big kid, drawing moustaches on people… I just never woulda seen it coming!" Vivian finished.
Charlie couldn't help grinning, Vivian's description highlighting characteristics of Murdock that Charlie found thoroughly charming and endearing. "You know, I was with Rick for so long, but I had no idea sex could be so…" Charlie paused, searching for an adequate descriptor for the bliss she had found with Murdock. "… so incredible, until now," she finished.
Viv snorted. "Yeah, that fucker pretty much sucked in all categories. I bet it was like having sex with a selfish jackrabbit."
"When did you put a camera in Rick's bedroom?" Charlie teased, snickering.
Charlie heard Vivian giggle and take another drag on her cigarette. "And did you tell Murdock yet?" she wanted to know.
Charlie furrowed her brow. "Tell him what?" she asked, thoroughly confused.
"That you're in love with him," Vivian returned matter-of-factly.
There was a moment of stunned silence, Charlie caught completely off guard by Vivian's blunt question. "Who says I'm in love with him?" she finally replied, sounding almost guilty.
Vivian rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, Charlie," Vivian sighed with exasperation. "Even a blind man could see you're nuts about this guy. Do you realize your voice completely changes when you even mention his name?"
"It does not!" Charlie exclaimed defensively.
"Oh it does so, you dink," Vivian asserted with finality. "Honey, just think about it. Way down inside, you know you're in love with the man."
Charlie mulled over Vivian's words for a few moments, allowing herself to consider feelings she had tried desperately to ignore. At last, she blew out a long breath. "Oh my God… I think I might be," she conceded, sounding a little awestruck.
.Her voice rife with sarcasm, Vivian responded, "No kidding."
"Shit," Charlie muttered.
"'Shit'?" echoed Viv. "How does being in love with Murdock merit a 'shit'? 'Shit' is what you say when you wake up one day and realize you have feelings for a jackass like Rick Torres." She took a long pull on her cigarette before continuing. "Charlie, honey, I know you've been out of the dating pool for a long time, but guys like Murdock simply do not exist in that pool. Sweet, supportive, considerate men who will gladly put aside their dicks to focus on your happiness are pretty much non-existent in the dating world. In fact, he may be the only one."
Charlie chuckled. "Viv, I think you might be exaggerating just a little."
"Don't I wish," Vivian returned with a sigh.
"At any rate, I believe I ran down all the reasons why Murdock and I can't work when you were out here."
"And I believe I told you that if you two crazy kids are in love, you'll find a way to make it work," Viv promptly reminded her friend.
"And I still can't figure out how we could ever do that," Charlie said wearily.
"Hey, don't get all hopeless on me," Vivian chided. "We can figure this out, hon." Viv puffed away on her cigarette for a moment. "In fact, as a testament to my ability to figure things out, I know why Murdock lives in the V.A.," she announced. "He's Hamlet."
Charlie frowned. "He's Hamlet?"
"Yeah!" confirmed Viv. "In Hamlet, Hamlet's dad is murdered, so Hamlet decides to act crazy, because when people think you're crazy, you can get way more shit done. You know, so Hamlet can stalk his prime suspect all over the castle, he can ask questions without raising suspicion, people tell him all kinds of stuff that they wouldn't normally tell him because they figure it's pretty safe to tell a crazy guy your secret, given that if he blabs, people will just dismiss it as a crazy guy being crazy… Plus, it makes people naturally uncomfortable around him, so they don't ask questions; they pretty much avoid him, and let him do what he wants. Therefore," Viv declared, sounding very proud of herself, "Murdock is totally Hamlet, Charlie!"
On her end of the phone, Charlie smiled. Only Vivian could use the phrase 'get more shit done' in a summary of one of the greatest works in English literature, and have it sound scholarly. "Alright, I'm pretty impressed," she conceded. "But, um… doesn't Hamlet's girlfriend kill herself in the play?"
"Well, yes, but…" Vivian grimaced as she cast about for a rebuttal, but found none. "Damnit, the analogy still stands," she finally huffed.
Charlie laughed. "Although," she began, her tone thoughtful, "it does seem like a plausible reason for why Murdock opted to put down roots in the V.A. I mean, the man sneaks out of there on a regular basis and runs around with fugitives, and somehow manages to avoid all suspicion for the most part." Charlie's mind drifted back to her conversations with Murdock during the long drive to Montana, a trip that now seemed like it had happened a lifetime ago. She remembered Murdock's recountings of visits from Army MPs. "The few times anyone has showed up to question him, all he has to do is ramp up the crazy, and the questioners bolt."
Vivian lit another cigarette, nodding into the receiver. "It's a solid strategy," she remarked. "I mean, even if a dude commits murder, he can plead insanity and be off the hook."
"I'll make sure to tell Murdock about your theory, Viv," Charlie said, giggling. "So, now can we get to the instructions portion of this phone call?"
Vivian blew out a long, melodramatic sigh. "Fine," she said, finally giving in.
"Good," Charlie declared. "Okay, so tomorrow's gonna be a dangerous day for us. And just in case something happens to me-"
Charlie was immediately cut off. "'If something happens to you,'?!" Viv blurted, panic edging into her voice. "What do you mean, 'if something happens to you'? Charlie, are you telling me by tomorrow night, I could be out a best friend?"
"Incredibly unlikely," Charlie quickly soothed.
Charlie's lack of complete certainty about her safety only served to frighten the other woman more. "But it is possible?" Viv demanded to know.
Charlie exhaled a long breath. "Of course it's possible," she said, trying to keep her voice calm. "But it's also possible I could get hit by a car tomorrow. Either way, I need to make sure I've got my affairs in order, and that's where you come in."
"Goddamn it, Charlie," Vivian muttered. The anxiety she felt was completely foreign to her, and she bit her lower lip and tried to keep the worry from her voice. "Alright, if you think we need to do this, then go on."
A feeling of guilt bubbled to the surface for Charlie, recognizing how terrifying the worst-case scenario preparations must be for Vivian. But guilt or no guilt, Charlie had no choice but to enlist Vivian's help. She took a deep breath, asked Viv to get pen and paper, and began to outline what was essentially an impromptu will.
Charlie started by giving Vivian the last known phone number she had for her mother. "On the off chance anything goes wrong, just phone the number and let her know," she said to Vivian, her tone flat and apathetic. "If it's not her number anymore, don't worry about it. If Hell freezes over someday and she decides to actually check in with one of her children, she can figure out what's happened to me on her own." For years, Charlie had made every effort to be forgiving about her mother's short-comings and poor decisions, but her mother's continued absence and complete severing of ties with her children had wiped away Charlie's determination to be understanding, leaving her bitter and angry towards the woman who had given birth to her.
The next order of business concerned Fenlon's now-empty house. She was more than happy to leave it to Viv, and Charlie informed her that she could sell it, keep it, rent it out, or do whatever else she might want to do with it. "If you rent it or sell it, the money's all yours, Viv."
Vivian sighed. "You don't want to let someone in your family have the money?" she asked.
"Oh God, no," came Charlie's immediate reply. "Besides Viv, you're more family to me than anyone I share blood with, now that Fenlon's gone."
Viv blinked back tears. Desperate to add some levity to the situation, she said, "That reminds me of something I've been meaning to ask you. If anything ever happens to me, I need you to come clean out my stash of porn and toys before anyone in my family cleans out my apartment. I keep it all in a box on the floor of my bedroom closet. Oh, and help yourself," she added as an afterthought.
Charlie laughed a deep, throaty laugh, grateful for the diversion from the heavy conversation taking place. "It would be my pleasure," Charlie informed her friend through chuckles.
When her giggling finally subsided, Charlie reluctantly returned to the remainder of her instructions, providing Viv with bank information so Charlie's meagre savings could be transferred to Vivian. She also gave Viv Jake's phone number, wanting him to be aware should the worst happen, knowing that if she didn't make it to court to testify, an uninformed Jake would make it his life's work to find out what had happened.
With the last of her requests finally relayed, Charlie took a deep breath and said, "Okay, that's it."
There was silence for a few moments, the gravity and danger of tomorrow's rescue mission weighing heavily on the consciences of both women. Charlie thought she heard sniffling on the other end. "Viv?" she asked softly, after a time.
"Yeah. Charlie, I-" Vivian's voice cracked, and she cleared her throat before speaking again. "Charlie, I love you," she finally managed to get out. "And you better fucking call me the exact second you succeed at springing your dad. Tell Murdock I will personally kick his ass if anything happens to you."
Charlie smiled. "I have no doubt you will," she said wryly. "And I love you too, Viv."
Neither woman spoke for a few beats, then Charlie and Vivian quietly said their goodbyes. "I'll talk to you tomorrow when you're back safe and sound," Vivian declared, hoping she sounded more assured than she felt.
"Yes, you definitely will, Vivian," Charlie returned, and both women reluctantly hung up.
*****
Charlie woke the next morning long before her alarm clock went off. She sat up and rubbed at her eyes, which felt scratchy and dry from a lack of sleep, while her nervous stomach did queasy cartwheels. The combination reminded her why she hated mornings so much. She rose and trudged to the kitchen, starting a pot of coffee. As she listened to the familiar drip-drip of coffee brewing, she glanced out the window over the kitchen sink, and saw that the morning outside looked almost as miserable as she felt. The sky was bleak and gray, and drizzling rain fell on trees; the accumulating water was causing the trees to droop, making them look as though they too were in a foul mood.
Once the smell of coffee began to permeate the cabin, it wasn't long before the men began to wander in one by one for a cup. As the coffee machine's carafe began to slowly fill with aromatic brown liquid, Charlie busied herself making breakfast. She cracked a full carton of eggs and cooked up enough sausage to make a whole new pig. She made a plate for each team member, and though each plate was piled high with food, all four men had picked clean their dishes before Charlie even sat down to eat hers.
Hannibal waited patiently for Charlie to finish her breakfast; the moment she swallowed her last bite, the Colonel stacked all the empty plates on top of one another, pushed the column of dishes to the end of the table, and reached into a knapsack he had left on the floor, next to his chair. He withdrew from the bag the building plans for the warehouse they were infiltrating today, and unfurled them on the table. "Okay guys, one more quick run-through of the plan before we go," he announced.
The adrenaline around the table was nearly palpable as all five of them recited and clarified from memory their respective roles in the pending operation.
Once Hannibal was satisfied that everyone was clear on the details of the plan, he sat back and folded his arms across his chest. "Remember to establish radio contact at least once every thirty minutes." Then, with his cigar clamped tightly between his teeth, he declared, "All right guys, let's do this."
As everyone stood and prepared to leave, Charlie noted that even in their basic movements to get ready and head out, all four men worked as one cohesive unit. No communication was necessary as each man grabbed a duffle bag, turned his walkie-talkie to the designated channel, and selected firearms and grenades from a strong box residing next to the couch. They moved with a startling synchronicity, no man ever getting in the way of another, and Charlie was briefly reminded of synchronized swimmers performing in the Olympics. A mental image of B.A. in a bathing cap adorned with huge rubber flowers popped into her head and she bit back a smile.
Outside, B.A. and Face walked toward the van; Charlie and Murdock paused on the porch. Murdock turned to look at Charlie. "You ready?" he asked, his concern obvious.
Charlie nodded. "Think so," she replied.
"Got your gun?" Murdock asked. Charlie thought she heard a hint of smugness in the question.
She rolled her eyes. "Yes," she sighed.
The cabin door opened and shut behind them as Hannibal walked out of the house. "Thirty seconds, Captain," he informed the pair as he walked past, his face momentarily revealing a brief second or two of sympathy.
Murdock bobbed his head to indicate his understanding. He then returned his gaze to Charlie, searching her eyes with his. They stood face-to-face.
Feeling the intimacy of the moment weighing heavily on her, Charlie sought to lighten the moment, saying, "By the way, Viv says if anything happens to me, she'll kick your ass."
Murdock laughed, looking a little relieved by the levity himself. "Ouch. And that girl could totally take me in a fight too," he remarked without a hint of sarcasm. He took a deep breath, raised his hand, and placed it on Charlie's shoulder, using a slight squeeze to offer comfort. "Everything will go fine today, Charlie." His voice was hushed. "It'll all be okay."
Charlie watched his eyes intently as he spoke, the conviction in his tone as plain as day. "I know," she told him.
He took his hand from her shoulder and laid it gently, almost reverently, along her cheek, feeling the eyes of his team mates in the van on him as he did so. Charlie thought he looked nervous. "Charlie, I…" His voice caught in his throat, and his tongue seemed glued to the roof of his mouth. He cleared his throat. "I…" Again he found that though he knew what he wanted to say, the words simply would not come.
Charlie brought her hand to her cheek and covered his hand with her own. "What is it, Murdock?" she prodded gently.
A warmth began to seep through Murdock, beginning where her smaller hand covered his. A loud honk came from the van. The pilot sighed and allowed his hand to drop to his side. "You'd better go," he murmured. "I'll see you tonight, honey." He turned and walked to the helicopter as Charlie watched.
Charlie spared herself one last longing look at Murdock's retreating form, then began moving towards the van. She had only gone a few feet when she heard the distinct sound of footsteps behind her. She looked back over her shoulder.
Murdock was striding towards her purposefully, his long legs carrying him briskly towards her at an accelerated pace. His determination was blatant, even from a distance.
Knitting her brows together as he drew near, Charlie opened her mouth to ask what he'd forgotten.
She was silenced before she could speak. Murdock grabbed her hand and yanked her to him, covering her lips with his own in a passionate, hungry kiss. He encircled her with his arms, tightening his hold until she was flush against him. Caught off guard, she clung to him, and after a brief moment of surprise, she responded with equal fervour.
In deference to the time restraint they were under, he had no choice but to end the kiss after fifteen seconds or so, leaving Charlie breathless. He reached up and cradled Charlie's head in his hands, tilting her face so that they were staring directly into one another's eyes. Speaking with a sincerity and an intensity that made time stand still, Murdock said softly, "I love you, Charlotte Burchell."
He then kissed her tenderly on the forehead, and before Charlie could respond, he turned and walked back in the direction of the helicopter, leaving behind a stunned Charlie.
*****
"Face, have I lost my ability to be threatening with the team?"
Watching his friend head off in the direction of the helicopter, a surprised Face looked over at the Colonel, who was puffing away on a cigar, his face drawn into a frown. "What?" the Lieutenant asked, confused. He glanced back out the front window, staring curiously at Charlie, who had yet to move, and stood momentarily frozen in surprise.
Hannibal chomped at his cigar thoughtfully. "I told Murdock he needed to keep things neutral with Charlie until the mission was over. Now I could be wrong, but I think I just saw him tell her he loved her. And we all just saw him plant that kiss on her."
B.A. giggled his peculiar high-pitched giggle. "Didn't know Crazy Man had it in 'im," he remarked.
Face rolled his eyes. "Now Hannibal, don't get all pouty. I still feel threatened by you," he reassured him. "And maybe he didn't say 'I love you'. Maybe he said…" He paused thoughtfully, racking his brain for a suitable alternative. "Maybe he said 'elephant shoe'," he finally suggested lamely.
"Elephant shoe?!" B.A. exclaimed in disbelief, before giving in to laughter. "Why would he come back to say 'elephant shoe'?!"
"Olive juice?" Face offered, clearly amused and deliberately ignoring Hannibal's scowl.
"Hall of Fuel?" B.A. managed through snickers.
"Damnit, I really am less threatening," Hannibal grumbled as the two other men in the van doubled over laughing.
*****
Charlie felt almost grateful when the van finally pulled up - strategically arriving long before Rick was scheduled to - in front of the warehouse, knowing it would provide her with a welcome respite from the smirks she'd been subjected to throughout the entire drive. She knew all three men had played witness to the fiery kiss she'd shared with Murdock, but there hadn't been a single mention of it during the trip to the building they were targeting. Instead, Hannibal, Face, and B.A. had opted to hassle her on a psychological level using knowing looks and suggestive grins.
Murdock's declaration of love had sparked an overwhelming glut of emotions in Charlie. She wanted desperately to embrace his love, to wrap herself in it and immerse herself in the wonderful promises of happiness inherent to love. Still, she struggled to ignore her feelings, continually reminding herself of the impossibility of a relationship with Murdock. A small part of her even felt a spark of anger towards the pilot: he knew just as well as she that they had no future together, and his confession of love would make the unavoidable goodbye infinitely more painful.
She was eventually snapped from her reverie by B.A. as he slipped the van into park. Hannibal twisted in the front passenger seat so that he was facing Charlie. "Know what you're doing, kiddo?" he asked, surrounded by smoke from his ever-present cigar.
Charlie nodded. "I'm the wheelman," she confirmed. "You think the catwalk you saw inside leads to the roof, where you can be picked up by Murdock, but in case it doesn't, you'll return to the van with my father so we can all split."
Hannibal smiled broadly. "You're a quick study, kid," he told her. "Ever think about going into the soldier of fortune business?"
"Sure, but my high school guidance counsellor advised me not to," Charlie replied smoothly.
Hannibal chuckled. "Too bad," he commented. "If we can get to the chopper, and I suspect we will, we'll radio to tell you, and we'll all meet back at the cabin. Got it?"
"Got it," Charlie confirmed quickly. She looked around the van, meeting each man's eyes. "Good luck, gentlemen."
Hannibal smiled with blatant excitement. "Thanks kiddo, but we don't need luck." He cracked a window and heard the thundering rumble of helicopter rotors slicing through the air high above. "That's our cue, guys," he announced, his blue eyes sparkling.
Face nodded and slid open the side panel door while Hannibal and B.A. jumped out of the front seats. Charlie squeezed between the front seats and slid into B.A.'s recently vacated seat behind the wheel. Hannibal turned back once and called, "See ya soon!"
Charlie closed her eyes and said a silent prayer that Hannibal was right about his parting words.