Chapter 11
Face opened his eyes when the cramp let up a little in between. 'Murdock? Murdock came back again, please don't leave me alone again, please.' He reached out with his arm and managed to close his fist into Murdock's T-Shirt before the cramp got so intense again that he screwed his eyes shut. Slowly the cramp subsided and his body relaxed but his dead grip on Murdock's T-Shirt remained.
"Hey buddy, you can let go now, your hand will hurt."
His eyes turned to Murdock and if possible the fist tightened a little more.
"Was it like this last time doc?" Murdock took Face's fist into his hand and started to massage it while talking.
"No, last time it was rather his arms and legs and facial muscles that cramped. Seems that maybe the drug attacks the parts of the body that are weak already. The infection to his intestines caused cramps and the drug picked it from there. I only hope his lungs won't get affected."
"Hey there, let go, I'm here for you, don't worry, I won't leave you again, promised."
Face was not convinced he kept his grip but his hand hurt and he knew he would not be able to hold out much longer. Damn drug. He needed Murdock to stay. He couldn't go through this alone.
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"Why is nobody picking, Murdock should be there by now."
"Maybe they are outside the room. Let me take you back to the bed before you collapse on us, come on Hannibal. I'll ring Murdock later."
Hannibal didn't want to, he wanted answers. But he knew he would fall off the chair any time soon and therefore allowed Hulk to assist him back to his room. He was asleep by the time he laid down.
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"Come on Face, your hand is going to cramp up, leave my T-Shirt, I'm not going away, promised."
Face still wasn't convinced, he gave it all he had and the pain in his hand was so bad. Murdock talked to him and stroked his own fingers over Face's hand as Face whimpered in pain and confusion. Finally Murdock had enough, he pried Face's hand away, not that it was difficult, he had almost no strength left, with the plan to climb on the bed and hold him close. The look of betrayal that he saw as soon as he had freed his shirt from Face's hand gave him the final decision. He needed to take Face out of the VA, come hell or high water.
He moved on the bed and, being careful of all the injuries and bruises, wrapped his own body as close to Face's as possible. Face was so confused. Did they want him or not or was Murdock just feeling bad but they still had no place for him on the team? Sure not, not in his condition. Why couldn't they just leave him alone, it would be better than giving him hope only to take it away again, or was he wrong? It was all too much on him and the whimpers turned into sobs.
"Shh boy I'm here for you, always, shh, go to sleep, you need to rest. Doc he's warm again."
"It's the stress coupled with his weak condition. The antibiotic is working well, some of the bacteria has left his system. If his temperature climbs more we can give him something but I think he'll be okay."
After a while Face drifted off to sleep, he was too exhausted.
"Doc? Tell me whatever you can about his care, I'll take him home tomorrow."
"Murdock you can't care for him, what if his lungs go into arrest, you don't have the means to care for him at home."
"He'll never get better here, he needs his team around more than any high tech hospital stuff, after all he has been released from the hospital to the VA."
Richter knew he would not be able to convince Murdock. While the VA was the better option for his physical wellbeing he also understood that his mental wellbeing was at risk. "Okay, I'll forge the transport papers but you need to find a vehicle and convincing looking stuff to it."
"No problem."
"Okay. Besides the obvious he has to increase his physical therapy as much as his condition allows. It is important with this type of drugs to train as early as possible. The same goes for his speech. He has lost a lot of time due to his general condition. Make sure he trains even if it is frustrating for him. Improvement may be much slower than last time since it was a second dose, he was much weaker and some time has passed before his training started. Watch his breathing, listen to his lungs at a regular basis, make sure he drinks and eats so he can get off the IV, monitor his intake as well as his output, the way the drug is causing stomach cramps I'm afraid for his kidneys. Always check his temperature, never let him get too warm or too cold, his temperature regulation is still out of whack. Damn Murdock this is all nonsense, he needs a doctor."
"He needs…"
"I know I know, I'm getting too old for this, guess I need some time off. I may probably regret this, I'll sign in for some leave and join you within a day or two."
"Great idea doc, thanks, we owe you."
Murdock crept out of bed and got on the phone to call Hulk. "Hey Hulk I need you here tomorrow morning with an ambulance car with Washington plates and dressed like an orderly, don't ask."
"Murdock?"
"We are taking Face home."
"Hannibal wanted to talk to him but is asleep now."
"Face is sleeping too."
Face slept up to the evening and was so hungry when he woke up. The growling of his empty stomach was the only sound in the room.
"Hungry Lieutenant?"
"Yyyyyssss" He answered the doc's question but his eyes stayed glued at Murdock, following him through the room. It was the first thing he did when he opened his eyes, checking if Murdock was there, and he never let him out of sight ever since. He deliberately hung back and moved around in the room a little to see if Face will eventually show some sign's of being convinced but it didn't happen. After a few minutes he went over to the bed and took his hands.
"Sorry kid, you won't be alone again, promised."
"Here comes supper." Face startled at Richter's words who was just coming back to the room. He had been so concentrated at watching Murdock that he hadn't even noticed the doctor had left the room.
"Looks delicious Face, 'whatever-it-was-before-it-hit-the-blender' specialty of the house." Murdock pressed some buttons to raise the bed and get Face into a position that is good for eating.
"Wait a minute Murdock, Face ready to eat?"
Face nodded.
"Can you say it? Try."
"Yyyyyssss"
"Yes, try again."
"yyysss….yyyyye….yyyesss"
"Great." He placed the spoon in Face's lap on top of the bedcover. "Pick up the spoon."
Face aimed for it but it was hard to concentrate. He was hungry and his head hurt from all the confusion and concentration. He needed several tries to convince his fingers to close around the spoon but finally made it.
"Well done, pass it to me so we can get started." Richter held out his hand and Face moved his arm toward it. Richter was glad to see that his motoric functions were improving but his speech lacked behind compared to last time. But training was only possible with awake patients and Face was wiped out most of the time. Maybe it was a good idea to take him to the house so he could stop worrying and start working on getting better.
"Open up, food on the way." He planned to just start the feeding to see how he was coping and then hand over to Murdock but the ringing phone drove Murdock away, if only a few meters. Face's features changed and he choked on some of the mush.
"Easy Face, concentrate on swallowing, Murdock is here, he is just at the other side of the room, you can still see him. Ready for the next spoon?" 'I'm convinced now, you need your team more than any medical assistance.'
Face swallowed hard and then forced himself to look at Richter. "Yyyess"
"Good, come on then, here you go."
The call was from BA wanting to find out if the ambulance needed a special paint job.
"Washington plates are important, the rest doesn't matter much. How is the Colonel big guy?"
Face instantly lost the fight with his mouth full of mush. "Bbb….BbbbA"
"Yes Face, BA is on the phone."
"Let me talk to Face then I'll go see if Hannibal is up."
Murdock unwrapped the cable from some furniture and held the receiver to Face's ear. "You can speak now big guy."
"Hey Faceman how are you doing?"
"B….A"
"Yes Faceman, I'm here. Concentrate on getting better Faceman, and eat up, you hear?"
"Yyyyess."
"Okay, remember I'll find out from the fool if you don't finish your food. See you soon Faceman."
"kkkk….kk." He wanted to say 'okay' but it just didn't come out.
"Stop struggling Face, eat and then sleep, you need energy to heal."
Murdock took the phone back and the feeding continued. "I'll go see if the colonel is up."
"Let him sleep, just tell him we'll meet tomorrow. From the look of things Face will sleep right after eating."
"Okay, take care of the Faceman."
Murdock was right. Before the bowl was empty Face was out and slept right through until a nightmare ended his sleep somewhere around three in the morning. Murdock was there to bring him out of it but it took a while and then he was too upset to sleep again. And he was hungry but Murdock had fallen back to sleep and he didn't want to wake him up. The last time he glanced at the clock before falling asleep again it was five thirty in the morning. When Rose came he was still fast asleep. Rose was told about the Washington VA coming to pick him up this morning and wasn't too thrilled. She liked this patient and the thought of him getting more visitors in Washington than here, while the lack thereof had been the reason to bring him here in the first place, did nothing to cheer her up.
"He's not fit enough for such a long journey."
"He's okay Rose, he needs his family to give some support."
"Why not let the drug run its course first?"
"There's no medical reason to not transfer him and his family has arranged for everything, we can't keep him here. Please make sure he's ready to leave at ten."
"Okay"
She let him sleep more but woke him at nine to get washed and fed before his pick up would arrive. Face was groggy, he needed more sleep. Eating breakfast took long and he threatened to fall asleep in between. She had just finished cleaning him after eating when the door opened and Richter together with Hulk dressed as an orderly came in. Face who had been half asleep startled. He didn't recognize Hulk in his disguise.
"Ready to go John? Your car to Washington is here. I'm sure you'll be glad to be reunited with your family"
'Washington? Car? What's going on?' His eyes darted to Murdock who smiled at him and came over.
"Let me help to get you on the stretcher, the faster we work the faster you'll be on your way to see your family." Murdock and the unknown orderly took him and started the transfer to the gurney.
'Move? See my family in Washington? Why does he want me gone? Did BA pawn me off to Murdock and Murdock is using my own scam to get rid of me? No, no this can't be happening. ' His mind was slow and by the time those thoughts had run through his mind they were just lowering him on the gurney. His arms shot out in the general direction of Murdock and his fists grabbed whatever they could get. One fist was holding Murdock's t-shirt, the other his ear.
"Nnnooo, nooo, noooo, ahhh, noo." He used his legs to kick out and his fists to hold on while trashing his body and trying to escape the faith of being send off to Washington and never seeing his team again. The fact that Murdock too had begun to curse and tried to get Face's hand off his ear didn't help matters any. Richter and Rose had to help to keep him on the gurney.
"Back on the bed with him, on three." Murdock was unable to help since Face's dead grip on his ear was rendering him useless. It was all he could do to climb off the bed, the bed he had gotten onto to prevent his ear from being ripped off, to enable the others to transfer Face. Rose raised the rails as soon as he was back on the bed and Richter pried away his hand from Murdock's ear. While his energy wayswaning Richter noticed with how much force he held on.
"I can't take him along like that, how am I supposed to drive while he wrecks havoc in the back?"
"You mean you are here alone, two orderlies are needed for every transport, how are you doing your work over there? Doc we can't…"
"Calm down Rose. You need to bring another orderly or this patient stays here."
"Ah man, he called in sick. I'm going to pick up his replacement on the way but it's an hour drive from here."
"Then go get him and come back." Rose was not taking no for an answer and Richter smiled.
"That's a good idea Rose."
"No man, I'll lose too much time, need to make it to the Airport in time."
"Sorry, you saw him. No way can you handle this patient on your own."
"Maybe I can go with him? See if he settles well and all, after all he's my best friend." Murdock was holding a tissue to his bleeding ear.
"Murdock you are not a trained orderly, he just tried to rip off your ear, but it's a good idea anyway, doc? Can this be arranged?"
"I'll see what I can do. You go get your other colleague and come back here. By then the patient should be more calm."
Hulk left muttering something about losing time to stay in character. Rose was send off to get some band aid for Murdock's ear and Richter turned to Murdock as soon as the door closed behind her.
"Have you by any chance forgotten to inform your friend Face about the transfer?"
"Damn, I have talked to BA and Hulk and you at length, it never occurred to me that he was sleeping all the time."
"You do deserve the bleeding ear….and much more, Face, Face look at me, shh, you are going home, to the Colonel and BA. Rose can't know that's why we said Washington."
"Face didn't you recognize the orderly? That was Hulk. Calm down. He's going to send you to the safe house. BA and Hannibal are waiting for you. I was going to use my fake art course as an excuse to leave right after you but now you have given me the excuse to come with you."
'Hulk? Fake art course? BA and Hannibal waiting for me?' His head was spinning and he had developed the mother of all headaches. He screwed his eyes shut to try and get things under control again. He just noticed that his body was still moving around on the bed and tried to stay calm.
"Calm down, what's it? Does your head hurt?"
"Yyyysss."
"Murdock draw the blinds, get the room a little darker."
The light was reduced and in addition he felt a wet washcloth at his forehead. When he opened his eyes he saw it was Murdock. 'Why? He wants to get rid of me and now he's helping? Or is it true? Is the team taking me back? But it can't be, I'm useless.'
"Rest some more, it will be a while until he comes back and then Murdock will join you to the house. I'll also join you there later on, when my shift ends. Try to sleep some."
Two hours later Hulk was back together with a friend who had been there to help free Face. Face was transferred on the gurney. He wiled himself to stay calm but was shaking anyway. He didn't know what was happening. Was it true? Was he being taken to the house? The one guy did look a bit like Hulk but it could also be somebody similar. And if it wasn't true, if Murdock was just trying to get rid of him? After all he hadn't come back for him. He tried to convince himself that there was nothing he could do anyway.
He was being pushed into the ambulance and Murdock climbed inside right along, never leaving his side. He pulled another blanket over the shaking man as Rose said her goodbye.
"I'll keep you informed Rose."
"Thanks Murdock, take care of him for me, don't cover him too much he'll overheat."
"I will take good care, he'll miss you."
The doors closed and the vehicle started moving. Murdock took Face's hand and smiled at him. "You got a serious trust issue buddy, calm down, we are not headed for Washington but it's an hour drive to the house. If you keep it up you'll be a nervous wreck by the time we arrive. Calm down, I'm here for you, I'll never again leave you behind, promised."
Face tried hard to believe those words but it didn't really work. The car was moving through city traffic, that much he could tell. The typical stop and go that was caused by traffic lights and the usual city traffic. But soon the traffic seemed to lighten up. He tried to calculate the way from the VA to the safe house in his head and the time they had been on the road. If they were headed there the traffic should become thicker, not let up. He got more nervous again and it showed.
"Calm down Face, don't you trust me? Ah, you are right, why should you. I'm sorry it took us so long to get you back, okay? I would never do something bad for you on purpose."
"Trouble back there Murdock, should we stop for a bit?"
"No, keep going, the faster we are there the better."
"Shh Face, calm down buddy, you are shaking all over."
It didn't take long before the car pulled off the road, from the sound of it into a building, and then stopped. 'This can never be the safe house, it was way too fast, or my senses are totally off.'
"Time for our transfer kid, we are changing vehicles here."
'What? Why, no, I don't want to be send anywhere, please.' Face was unable to speak, too many things run through his mind. The backdoors opened and he saw he was in a kind off garage. He heard Hulk talking to someone.
"Thanks pal, I owe you. You can change it back to whatever color it had before. Thanks for the help."
"We equipped your van with a stretcher on springs so he can travel on with some comfort, want us to help you transfer him?"
"That would be great thanks."
He was being removed from the ambulance into the garage full of car parts and paint.
"Wow, Face, look at this."
'I would if only I knew where I have to look.' His eyes wandered around and finally fell on the van, back doors opened and a kind of stretcher on rails standing out of it, waiting to take the patient and be pushed into the van.
Face's first thought was 'the van, it's the van, it's true, they are taking me back. Smells like the sea is close, we are at the harbor, that's why the traffic changed.' closely followed by 'they tinkered with the van, BA will kill all of us.'
It had all been too much. Face tried to stay conscious during the rest of the journey but didn't succeed. By the time the van pulled into the garage of the safe house he was dead to the world. He didn't also stir when he was carried inside, when BA took his hand and even when he was being transferred to his bed in one of the upstairs bedrooms.
Downstairs Hannibal was asleep too. Due to the delay Face had arrived well past noon and after all Hannibal had not been informed of his arrival. He was blissfully asleep, resting after lunch.
"It ain't right, the kid is here now but still separated from his team. He's upstairs and neither me or Hannibal can get there."
"I thought of it too BA but Murdock is right. All the rooms down are occupied and not exactly big. He's not up to sleeping on the couch and no room has space for an extra bed, besides he needs his peace and quiet to rest and heal. And, most important, should there be a reason to run I can quickly carry him down but not you or Hannibal. He weighs close to nothing."
"I know, I know, it's still not right."
"Hulk?"
"Yeah Murdock?"
"I wanna sit with Face for a bit. Can you get me when Hannibal wakes up? Guess I have some explaining to do."
"Sure thing."
"What you doing down here fool, he could wake up."
"Take it easy BA, I just came for a glass of water and will be back up in a flash. I don't think he will wake up anytime soon."
With that Murdock returned to a sleeping Face's side. He stayed asleep for another thirty minutes before he started to mumble. Murdock tried to calm him but it didn't work. He tossed and the mumbling got louder until it developed into something close to 'no' and then turned into screams.
Murdock did his best to wake Face and keep him from screaming out his lungs but it wasn't working.
Hulk run from BA's room who followed him but had to stop at the bottom of the stairs. Just a moment later Hannibal came swaying out of his room.
"Face? That`s Face, what happened, where is he?"
"Upstairs, sit down already, Hulk and Murdock are with him, probably a nightmare."
The screaming subsided and so Hannibal complied and sat down. The screams had woke him up and he was drowsy and dizzy.
"BA, what happened, when did Face come here and why wasn't I informed?"
"He came here today and you were asleep. Murdock will give you the full story as soon as Face is taken care of."
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"Face, calm down Face, come on, just a dream, shhh, just a dream, that's it, calm down." Finally he had gotten through to him. Face was panting and covered in sweat. His eyes were darting around the room trying to find out where he was.
"You are at the safe house Face, shh, calm down."
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"I want answers BA, why does Face need to be taken care of? He has been quiet for a while now, what is happening here?"
"Uhm, ask the fool."
"MURDOCK! DOWN HERE, NOW!"
"Uhm okay, I meant when he comes down."
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Face visibly jumped at the hollered command.
"Uh oh."
"Uh oh what? What did you expect? Get going." Hulk turned to Face. "There's somebody downstairs who wants to see you, how about I carry you down to the rest of your team?"
"yyyyyssss" Face had a smile on his features. It looked out of place on the man who just screamed out in a nightmare and was one more proof to Hulk that he belonged closer to his team than he was.
"Okay, let's see. The broken rib is on your right side, the left side is bruised. Raise your left arm, can you do that for me? Then you put it around my neck so I can carry you without causing too much pain." Face concentrated and managed to do as being told. "I'll try to be as gentle as possible."
It hurt like hell but Face was determined to keep it to himself as good as possible. If Hulk noticed he would put him back to bed and he would not see his team. Obviously Hannibal wasn't able to come up or he wouldn't have hollered. Besides knowing they were so close gave him some extra strength.
Of course Hulk noticed but he knew he was doing the right thing. He tried to be as careful as possible when he walked down the stairs and towards the arguing trio.
"Outa my way!"
"Face, oh my god. What happened, how bad are you injured."
"Let Hulk pass, Kyle happened and he looks worse than he is. The drug is the problem."
"Kyle? How did Kyle get to him in the VA?"
"He didn't." The trio followed Hulk into Hannibal's bedroom where Face was lowered into Hannibal's bed. Murdock pulled the bedcover over Face's shoulders and made sure he's warm while telling the story.
Face had his eyes closed. Partly because he tried to get the pain under control, partly because he just savored Hannibal's body warmth that was still lingering in the bed and the fact, that for the first time in a far too long time he had all his team around. He didn't listen to the words, just to the voices. He had lived it, no need to hear it. He started zoning back in when strange sounds mixed with the voices. He opened his eyes and saw Hulk fidgeting with the wardrobe in the room, he also listened to the words again just in time to hear Murdock saying Kyle had injected him.
"Hulk, what are you doing there?"
"Nnnno"
"Face? What is it? Do you need anything?"
"Nnnnnnooo"
"What are you trying to say buddy?"
"Kkkkk…Kkkkk…."
"Kyle?"
"No need to be afraid of him anymore Face, we are here for you."
"Let him finish Hannibal, did you want to say Kyle?"
"Yyyyyyyysss."
"Okay, Kyle and then what"
"Nnnnooo …iiiiiin…iiiiinnn"
"Injection?"
Face was panting, it was hard work to speak but he had to let them know. "Yyyyyssss"
"Kyle no injection? Kyle didn't inject you?"
"Yyyyssss. Riiii…..Riii….ddddddoodoo…"
"Dr. Richter? You still hold a grudge against him? Richter didn't inject you, Kyle did."
"Nnnono"
"It's true Face, he injected you in the leg as I pulled you through the hole, you didn't notice. I took the container along so Richter could get the drug analyzed."
Richter did not inject him? Kyle did? Kyle had threatened him, why should BA lie? Could Richter be trusted after all? Face was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear Hannibal talking to him. His mind was too foggy to do two things at a time.
"Why doesn't he respond? Face? Face, come on kid."
"It's the drug Hannibal, he's tired too after the transport and being carried around and then the effort of talking, it's just too much."
"Hulk, what are you fidgeting?"
"I'm not fidgeting, I'm removing the thing."
"Why?"
"To make space for Face's bed."
"Finally someone has a plan."
Face had drifted off and wasn't aware of the building works going on around him. It was his stomach that woke him when his bed was about to get ready.
"Hey there, you are back with us. Time to get to your bed and give Hannibal a chance to lay down in his, what do you say to the new arrangement?"
He didn't say anything, he was groggy and hungry and ached.
"Come on, last transfer for the day, let me get you over there and then the two of you can get some proper rest."
'I'm hungry, I don't need rest but food, how do I make you understand?'
Before he could think of a way to express himself he was lifted up. He wasn't prepared and jumped, causing his ribs to scream in protest which again resulted in a scream from him. Hulk was about to put him back down when Murdock protested.
"No, put him to his bed, it won't get better on the second try and he needs to be in his bed where the rails can be raised."
"Why?"
"So he won't fall, Hannibal, he can't control much of his body, I told you."
"This is ridiculous, how could you have let him get in touch with Kyle? Murdock, we don't…"
"Stop arguing you two, won't do the Faceman any good. Now let's all get some rest, you can talk when you have cooled down, both." BA maneuvered his wheelchair between the two beds and ordered Hannibal to bed and the rest out.
"Since when have you taken over….ah, what the hell." Hannibal was too tired to argue and got back into his bed.
'No no no, I'm hungry, please.'
"Nnnnooo"
"Shh Faceman, sleep some."
"Nnnnooooo hhhh….hhhh" he tried but 'hungry' just didn't come out of his mouth.
"Don't struggle Face, rest some and then we have supper together, you need to get your strength back."
'Exactly that, my stomach hurts from hunger, I need food damnit.' "Aaaagghhh" It wasn't 'hungry' or 'food' but at least he could let out some build up frustration.
"What is it kid, where do you hurt?"
'I just want food, Now I'm close to my team, Hannibal even seems concerned, and I can't…that's it, thanks Colonel' He moved his hand to his stomach.
"Your belly hurts?"
"Nnnnooo" 'You are close Colonel' He moved his hand up and down as good as he could, trying to rub his belly.
"Cramps?"
'Almost there BA, damnit, why did his stomach not churn like it always did when it was least appreciated.'
"Nnnooo" He opened and closed his mouth to show what he wanted, this was so humiliating.
"Hungry?"
'BA you are a genius.' "Yyyyyssss'
"FOOL!" Face jumped at the shouted word.
"Sorry Faceman, Murdock!"
"Stop hollering, I'm here."
"Face is hungry, get him something."
"Hungry? Oh damn." Murdock turned.
"Damn what?"
"He didn't get lunch at the VA, forgot."
"You what? Just what is wrong with this team?"
"Not now Hannibal." BA had one look at Face and could tell how uneasy he was. Here he was back with his friends and they were fighting. "Murdock will get you something in no time."
Murdock was fast and soon returned with a steaming bowl of oatmeal. "Here you go Face, say 'I am hung-ry, say it."
Murdock put the bowl on the night table in the room and with BA's help raised Face with some cushions. "say it Face."
"I….I…I…aaa…" It didn't work and he was hungry and frustrated and ached.
"Say it Face, say 'I am hung-ry', try again."
"Nnnnoooo"
"Face, if you want the food try to say it: 'I am hung-ry'"
"Quit it fool and give him the food already."
"No BA, that's how they did it at the VA, he needs to train and it's important he does it fast, he has lost a lot of time already."
"He needs to eat is all he needs."
"You don't understand, doc said it's crucial he uses the first days if he wants to get a hundred percent recovery, we are losing time here."
"Training can wait until he is satisfied."
"He will fall asleep right after eating, I have been there, not you. I am responsible for him."
Face was so frustrated, he was right there, he was hungry, so very hungry, the food was right there and he could do nothing. His team was arguing because of him, if he continued kicking and screaming, which seemed the only thing he was capable of, they would send him back to the VA. Tears of frustration run down his cheeks.
Hannibal made to get up as Hulk came back inside. "What's up here? How are they supposed to rest?"
"Hulk gimme that bowl over there."
Hannibal lowered himself down again, BA had taken control of the situation, he could rest.
"Come on Faceman, open up, what he needs right now is something in the belly Murdock, if his speech doesn't come back hundred percent then that is it, no need to starve him over this, what matters is that he's back with us, he usually talks to much anyway." The last part was added with a wink as the third spoon made its way inside.
"Slow, there's more for you, take your time."
When the immediate hunger was stilled Face did slow down some and took the time to look around. Murdock had left the room, Hannibal had not moved from his spot on the bed nor had he said anything while Murdock and BA had been arguing. BA had stood by him, BA had also rescued him from Kyle without the help of Hannibal or Murdock. Was he here only because BA wanted it? Was he useless to Hannibal now? He was so bone tired that thinking was difficult. BA placed one spoon after the next in his mouth and he swallowed, that was all he could do, all he was capable of. Before the bowl was completely empty he drifted off.
