Chapter Ten
Merry Christmas!
Editing may be a bit rougher than normal. we're always open to any critiques, thoughts, or questions. Happy reading everyone!
XXXXX
1500 in the afternoon on a Monday and surprisingly enough, the bar was half empty. Apparently it was not prime drinking time for most of the free world. That was fine with Murdock. Mostly 'cause the not empty half consisted mainly of his team and people who weren't actively trying to kill him. It was a nice change of pace.
So was the air conditioning and nonexistent repressive humidity. Even the street clothes and lack of combat boots was something to appreciate and savor.
Face said something to the waitress that had her giggling as she set down the fresh round of drinks. There was an extra swing in her hips on her return trip to the bar. It was a nice view that all of the guys at the table enjoyed watching.
"To whatever Face said to make her walk that way," Murdock help up his glass. Not just any glass by the way. It was an honest to God clean, real glass beer mug. Filled with real, honest to God, ice cold beer. It was like a freezing cold slice of heaven, in a convenient glass.
Wearing a large smile, Face joined in the toast, raising his mug to the center of the group with the rest of the team. "I do have a gift." There was an appreciative sigh at the end of it.
Cruiser was resting his elbows on the table, bottle in hand. "Gift, my ass, man. Chicks clothes are still on." Clear and simple it wasn't going to count as anything until Face had sealed the deal, at least not in Cruiser's world.
Face shook his head and took a sip of beer. "You've got to enjoy the chase, Cruiser."
"You enjoy the chase, sucker." BA was snarling over his real honest to God cow, not Water Buffalo, not Goat, but Cow's milk. Murdock wasn't surprised, hell none of them were. BA was as locked down and strict as a Southern Baptist preacher at a prom. It was just how BA was wired. Near as Murdock could see, the guy never let go or smiled unless he had just built something or decked a particularly annoying officer. It was nice to see him have fun, just for once, but hey you couldn't expect miracles. Maybe that's why Murdock almost choked on his beer when BA grinned and added "I'd rather enjoy the ladies."
"The chase just makes enjoying them an even better payoff."
"Don't need no payoff to enjoy 'em." BA.. he.. Murdock's brain did a happy little skip. There was no doubt about it. BA was enjoying talking shit with them. Christmas came early.
"Now wait a second, hold up there, big guy." Murdock sat his beer down and cocked an eyebrow at BA. "Are you trying to tell your good ol' buddy Murdock that you've got better game than Face?" It was a direct dare, one that Murdock knew for sure Face would run with, and he hoped like hell BA would too.
"I would take that bet just to see the look on Face's face when he loses." Cruiser laughed at the whole idea.
"I got a twenty on the big guy." Murdock shrugged at Faces offended look. "Sorry Face. I got your six and all, but I gotta go with BA on this."
Face almost looked offended at that. "You know, if you're going to test my skills here, you should at least make it worth my time."
"What do you say, BA?" Cruiser was looking between the two of them, "Whoever lands the waitress first? You give Face a handicap preference with the head start." His smile turned wicked at the challenge.
"I ain't bettin' on that. BA Barracus don't kiss and tell" BA's growl was real. Looked like play time was over. "But I kin bet you that she leave here with me, not Face." BA reached into his pocket and dropped a twenty on the table
The shock alone had Murdock laughing out loud, for real. Like he hadn't laughed in a long time.
Face looked far too confident about the whole thing. And somehow the guy was suddenly just oozing sex as he lounged on the chair at the table. Funny considering he hadn't moved a muscle. "You want to bet on who she leaves with first?" Yup. dumbest bet. Ever.
Before anyone had a chance to reply, the door clanged open and in walked Hannibal. He didn't look at all surprised to see them there. "Gentlemen, I see you're starting R and R off right."
"Hannibal!" Murdock was up, clamping an arm on the bosses shoulder. "You got time to have a drink?" There was no reason to ask that, no reason to feel so damn happy at seeing Hannibal in a dive bar. Maybe it was the fact that Hannibal was the heart of the team, or maybe it was just things were always safer with him around. Not like any of that really mattered. There were rules that even Hannibal had to follow, and none of them allowed for having a drink with the guys who would kill and die for him, and vice versa.
Hannibal's normal shit eating grin beamed right back at him. "Damn right I do." Hannibal cackled, pulling out a cigar as the table shifted and room was made. "So," Hannibal started as he sat down, "What's going on?" The pile of money in the center of the table was more than enough of a clue.
Murdock's shock at Hannibal joining them disappeared into a smile that started in his boots. "BA was just about to educate Face in the fine art of picking up women." Murdock couldn't help it, he really couldn't. The opportunity to start trouble always had an irresistible magnetic appeal to him.
"Well that ought to be good."
Cruiser slid an empty beer mug across the table to Hannibal who easily caught it. "Who's the lucky lady?"
Face tipped his head towards the bar, towards a young lady who was straight out of a Hawaiian vacation pinup calendar, brightly colored lei and all. She was of course watching Face, her smile getting bigger at his attention. Seems BA would have his work cut out for him. That didn't seem to be stopping the big man from pushing it further.
"Sucker's got a lot to learn to 'bout the ladies."
"I haven't heard any of them complaining." Face was way too cocky about this. BA didn't make bets and he didn't throw down smack talk unless he knew he could back it up. No running your mouth no matter what was Cruiser's game. And Face wasn't taking that into account. Not like Murdock. "Everybody in?" Face was reaching for the pot like any of them would trust him to hold it.
BA's hand came out of nowhere, landing right on top of Face's, stopping him just a few inches short of the prize. "You wanna play you gotta pay."
BA's fierce growl was balanced by Murdock's barking laughter. "Big guy got you on that one, Face."
Face's smile just turned choir boy innocent, eyes wide like it had been an honest mistake. There wasn't a soul in all the world that would be able to call him a liar. Except the for people who knew him best who happened to be sitting around the table with him.
"Right, BA."
BA snarled out a warning before letting Face's hand up so he could pull his own twenty out and toss it on the pot. Smiling the whole time like nothing had happened. "See there big guy, all in." Funny how Face even then held open hands up for everyone to see… almost like he'd been accused of cheating before...
Keeping his eyes on Face's, BA scooped up the cash and dropped it in front of Hannibal. "Hannibal hold the dough." Wise choice all things considered. Things being Face's habit of causing mayhem.
"Happy to." Hannibal didn't miss a beat, straightening out the pile of cash and folding it up before slipping it into the breast pocket of his baby blue button down shirt for safe keeping.
BA didn't waste anytime. Without a word he looked at his watch and was up, moving to the bar with the grace of a Panther.
Lighting himself a smoke Murdock divided his time between watching BA and watching Face watch BA with studious and curious eyes. There wasn't a whole lot to watch, not at first. BA had spent a lot of time in bars thanks to the team, but they sure weren't his natural habitat. Nope, the big guy was most at ease in a room full of parts, not a room full of half lit (or completely lit in some cases) people. His discomfort was clear even across the room. It had Face beaming with unbearable smugness.
"You guys can go ahead and just give me the money now. Make things simple and less embarrassing for the challenger over there."
"You kidding me?" Cruiser chimed in and drained the rest of his beer before reaching for another bottle. "I paid for a show."
Face just shrugged, leaning back in the chair and watching, as smooth as Cool Hand Luke himself, like he didn't have a care in the world.
"Colonel, what's got you slummin'?"
"Change of plans, looks like I'll be staying with you guys." Hannibal was grinning. Not the usual 'I'm Laughing at you and the Entire World' grin either. This was different, this was his grade A, USDA Prime, 'The Plan Went off the Rails and I'm Going to Love Every Moment of it', smiles. Yes, Hannibal had oddly specific smiles. The trick was in knowing which was which.
"If things go right you can take BA's bed." Cruiser volunteered before cutting his antagonizing look over to Face. "Sorry Face, I think he's got her number."
Murdock howled in laughter, both at Face's shocked look and BA's skills. Damn, he loved the states!
XXXXX
For Face, it turned out the cure to relaxation was simple; booze, more booze, and some good old fashioned sins of the flesh. Alana smiled into the kiss, her hands on his ass, pulling him further against her. She felt good. Warm, and soft, and alive in a way that he had forgotten existed, and had never been able to get lost to. His hands slid underneath her shirt and up her back as she pushed his shirt off of his shoulders. He let her go long enough to let the shirt drop to the floor, catching a quick glance of Murdock and June in an equally tangled embrace.
They'd left the bar not too long after BA had won the pot and graced them with a nice I Told You So smile. It wasn't what Face expected, but it didn't really matter. There were plenty of women on the island and it didn't take long for them to run into Alana and June. It took even less time for them to decide they all wanted far more of each other than was allowed in public. June had a tiny apartment a few blocks from the beach that they'd all gone back to. And all of it was details that Face didn't feel like paying attention to. No, what he wanted Alana had, and she was just as eager to give it as Face was to receive it.
Wet kisses down his neck, the scraping of her teeth making his skin prick in response. "I want you." Her breath was warm in his ear, just for a second before she latched on to his neck, using her lips and tongue to imitate what she could do to other, more sensitive body parts. What had his attention was the unbroken English and oh so American accent.
He groaned his appreciation, hands running down her long back as he let his fingers slip inside her skirt and explore her ass. "And I want you." He punctuated the words with soft kisses, never pulling his lips away from her as he explored. Even pressed against him as tight as she was, it felt like she wasn't close enough to be real and truly there under his fingertips. "All night and all day and all different ways."
"Um, maybe then we could use something to help set the mood." While she was purring in his ear, Alana's hands slipped over his and together they pushed her skirt and panties off, exposing soft, white skin.
How long had it been since he'd seen true white skin... and pussy? Moist pink folds of tender flesh inviting him to sing her praises. That thought alone had him groaning in want and the blood pooling in his groin. "What'd you have in mind?"
Hanging on to one hand, Alana reached behind her, into the drawer of the small end table. Face's imagination went into overdrive at just what could be in that drawer. So many naughty options, and he was game for any of it. He wasn't expecting her to hold up a joint. "A little something to open the mind and heighten the mood." Joint still in hand, she wound her self back around him, her very naked, warm body molding to his again to share a deep probing kiss.
"Heighten the mood." He kept the taunt out of it with a charming smile that didn't waiver. In his experience it dulled the senses into a cottony pillow of tranquil.
"Sex without inhibitions is mind blowing."
Was the whole island high? He gave her a deep, probing kiss, showing her exactly how uninhibited he was. "Inhibition has never been my problem."
She just smiled back at him and found her lighter. Taking a deep breath Face looked over to Murdock. Maybe he was having better luck with June.
He wasn't, even though he should have been. June's dress was gone, along with the rest of her clothes. She was on her knees, hands running along Murdock's naked thighs. That wasn't what caught Face's attention. What had him plummeting back into memories of mud and burning flesh and screams, was the look on Murdock's face.
It was his eyes and the silent scream. Wide open and staring at Face, and in horror at a girl who was long dead. Every line of Murdock's body was locked tight and rigid with tension and terror, tightly wound and under a hair trigger that had Face moving. It was only a step across the whole apartment and Face's hand was on June's shoulder, hard enough to not be argued with as he guided her back up. A quick glance to Murdock let him know that simply removing June from the equation was not enough to make it all go back to where they couldn't see it again.
"Alana wanted to set a more… relaxed mood." He let a stupid smile float across his lips just in case there was any question as to what he was referencing. June got it, those two hadn't just met and getting high was always more fun in groups. She was smiling at him, hand floating across his groin as she passed him and went over to Alana to light up.
Face didn't say anything when he turned back to Murdock, just raised his brow in an unspoken question. Beads of sweat, not the good kind. Not the hot in the moment of passion and sex kind, no it was the cold, awful, stomach churning kind of sweat were running down Murdock's brow. It was several long quiet seconds before Murdock was looking at him. And God fucking damn it there it was again. Everything Face didn't want to think about, the bodies, the blood and mud, and the raw animal urge to kill - it was everything Murdock couldn't hide. In one fucking heartbeat it was all back and fighting to draw Face into the past.
Without talking or even unfucking curling the hands he had knotted into tight fist, Murdock said it all without one fucking word. Murdock was a man drowning in sickening pain and anger. Face knew what happened if the anger won. It was one thing to witness it deep in the jungles of 'Nam against sick fucks who didn't deserve to live. It was another monster entirely if it came out here. Where normal was as normal does.
He didn't think about it, they'd been through it before. A hand on either side of Murdock's head, Face made the pilot look at him. Deep tormented brown eyes met his, words too complicated to ever be formed flew between them. And in that moment time stood still, the girls not five feet away, inhaling that sweet aroma to a land far away, ceased to exist, and there wasn't a damn thing around except them. Murdock lost in the past and Face trying his damnedest to anchor him to the present and not fall to the past himself.
"Am I safe Facey?" It was a question that didn't get said out loud. Words couldn't convey what that meant. It was beyond the two men with unknown names, and it was part of them. It was something no normal man needed to connect with and was a reminder of how fucked up their normal was.
"Yes. You're safe and I'm here."
Murdock got the message in Face's look. Face knew even before Murdock's ice cold hands grabbed his and held them to Murdock's temples, like he needed something to hold on to. He did. Murdock could see for miles in the sky, but he got lost in the dark on the ground. Face's demons like to indulge in things that would kill him with pleasure - death by avarice. Murdock's demons tried to hold him down and lock him in, forever, tight in their nightmare grip.
Head slowly tilting forward, Face pulled Murdock's towards him until their foreheads met. It was several shaky breaths before Murdock managed to close his eyes and speak "Yeah, maybe ya'll best heighten the mood ladies. I'm just gonna.." Murdock let go of Face and jerked his thumb towards the bathroom door. "You know take a minute." Accent getting thicker by the second Murdock even worked up a small grin. "Enjoy darlin'. I'll be right back."
Heighten the senses and dull the world. Face watched him leave, closing the bathroom door behind him. If only it were that simple to get the image of Sunshine lying there lifeless in the mud, eyes wide open and staring at him, out of his Goddamned head.
Long smooth fingers on Face's back almost had him jumping. Keeping the surprise internal he turned to see Alana, eyes glossy and full of wonder. She drew herself up on her tiptoes, hand going to his neck, she pulled him in for a kiss, exhaling her smoke into his mouth. Why fight it? He could use some dulling right about now. Face sank into the kiss, his hand running along her arm until he found hers, he took the joint from her fingers. Keeping her naked body pressed tight against him, it didn't take long before he was taking a deep toke of the joint. The burning hot smoke hit his lungs and seeped into his head, turning things to that dull cottony feeling, honing down the edges, and making things like time and distance variable. And shoving those postcard flashes of a time he didn't want to remember back to the recesses of his mind. It let him forget and focus on the touch and feel of Alana and June.
XXXXX
He'd sobered up for this?
Cruiser was wandering around from store to store with BA trying to find gifts. Again. Well, he was, BA had made quick work of it once they'd gotten to the store he needed. Cruiser had tagged along on the premise that if he were in the store with BA, who was embracing the shopping experience that Cruiser dreaded, maybe some of it would sink into Cruiser - osmosis or something and Cruiser would be able to figure out what the hell to get for Katie.
She deserved something. Hell, she deserved everything and yet none of it seemed right. No matter what he wound up walking away from the store with, boxing up, and sending to her, she'd love it. BA was right, she loved drawing, but somehow sending her a box of pastels or graphite pencils seemed lame.
BA was carefully inspecting a deep red hat and coat. One that was heavy wool and out of place in Hawaii, but one that apparently his Momma would love through and through. And not one thing around seemed like something Cruiser's sister would like. "How do you know she's going to like that?"
"Cause it's the same that used ta make her smile even when she was dog tired from workin' three jobs.'" It was just as simple as that to him. BA's dark face split into a grin. "Don't know how Face did it."
Eyes narrowing at BA, Cruiser didn't bother to hide the skepticism. "The same one? Exact same?" Face was good, but that seemed ridiculous. Either that or something Face was wheeling and dealing and BA was buying up oceanfront property in Arizona.
"That it. Exact same one. Drew him a sketch, told him the store it was in and when, and dude make it appear. Too bad he a fool or he could have some serious game."
"Face don't need serious game. Higher the stakes the bigger the boss you're stealing from is."
"That's why he a fool. Smart man know his game limit. He don't." BA's growl was firmly in place, but it was hard not to notice the way he was looking at that coat and brilliant hat. Like he could see his Momma smiling at it.
Cruiser's game limit was zero. He'd watched Face and Murdock run wild with them though. Taking one end goal and arranging the whole caper twenty moves out. Adjusting things here and there when their master plan didn't didn't go quite right. In the end, they always seemed to come out on top. Even if it did wind up with Cruiser and BA busting some heads up while they slank out of the back doors.
That was a problem with running scams on a military base. You couldn't run far and everybody had guns. Friendly fire wasn't always an accident. Just like those SEALS they'd been squaring off against. Hannibal and Spider and made them all pay side by side in a way that Cruiser could still feel. But it had kept those two alive past the teams' next mission.
"Eventually someone will teach him." Cruiser flipped his fingers along a clothing rack, not really considering any of them for Katie. He didn't know her size or her style.
BA nodded and pulled out his wallet, settling up the tab. Packages in hand he turned and looked at the pastel and oil sets Cruiser had been eying up. "You should get that for yo' sister."
"You think?"
"Yeah, get her the oils, pastels, charcoals, and some paper. Put in a drawin' you do. Something just she would get. Somethin' special, that make it feel right."
"It's just a drawing." They did it all the time. Katie would send him a doodle and he'd send one back. If it was something that only she would get, it would be his fist clenched tightly around a gray cat's neck and it's cartoon eyes bulging out of its stupidly whiskered head. He knew that. Why it made it special was a different thing.
"Nah man, it something you do just for her and she does for you. You don't draw for no one else and what she draw, you keep. That's all it takes, man."
"It's all beyond me." Cruiser let the shopkeeper know what he wanted and a minute later, cash exchanged, he was holding a bag full of art supplies all nice and contained in a sleek Cedar box. "How'd you know I draw?"
BA shrugged his massive shoulders. It looked a little like watching a mudslide. "You do it when it quiet and you ain't reading."
Cruiser just watched BA for a moment. For a guy that was most well known for being nothing more than a grease monkey, he was more than a little observant. Cruiser didn't keep his down time hobbies to himself, but he didn't go out of his way to share what he was doing either. And the occasional doodle here and there when he had a moment of peace and quiet and gone unnoticed by everyone else. At least he thought.
"You know you're supposed to be a greasemonkey, not Freud."
"Who Freud?" It took Cruiser a few beats to figure out Bad Attitude Baracus was fucking with him. BA let him off the hook with another shrug. "Where I grew up, it payed to keep your mouth shut and your eyes open."
Cruiser didn't say anything else. He didn't need to.