Duty Is Color Blind
Disclaimer: I do not own The A Team movie or television series or any of the delightful characters found on The A Team.
Chapter 14 A Team Decision
Hannibal's original plan was simple. They would plant the boxes of illegal merchandise with one of the pinatas opened up to reveal its contents somewhere outside Whitman's office. Bart would call in an anonymous tip about the shipment while Hannibal called Whitman offering to sell him back his cargo. They would meet at the office. It would have to be timed just right but he was confident the team could pin Whitman and his men down until the police arrived. The police would discover the boxes clearly labeled Tesoro de Mexicana Imports and all containing whatever illegal content Whitman was so anxious to possess. Simple.
Hannibal rubbed his eyes with one hand and tried to think. Three things competed for his immediate attention. All three were obstacles to the completion of the plan. All three were important.
Jermaine was in withdrawal from a powerful drug and refused to tell any of them what he had been using. Hannibal speculated it might be heroin. He had seen his share of soldiers in Nam who had descended into that dragon's hell hole of addiction.
The kid was unpredictable and had to be carefully watched or he would run away. Bartholomew might have to place his son in a drug rehabilitation program eventually but in the meantime, withdrawal was not going to be pretty. The kid had to have medical attention for the stump that remained from his severed finger. It could become infected.
There was an ugly dynamic to the relationship between Jermaine and his father. The Colonel guessed Bart had been so busy building his tour and rental business and fueling his bitterness from whatever happened during the war that he had neglected the needs of his own offspring. It happened way too often. Someone would have to help the man understand what was going on with his son.
Most pressing on Hannibal's mind was Murdock's mental and physical condition. He was injured badly. He still had not regained consciousness long enough to identify the people around him. When asked simple questions like "What's your name?" or "Do you know where you are?" his answers were slurred and barely understandable.
Hannibal knew the pilot should not be moved but he could not remain where he was. He required more medical attention than any of them could provide, and that was just to care for his physical needs. The Colonel didn't want to guess what kind of mental trauma resulted from Bart's conversation with Murdock and what would have to be done to heal him internally.
There was a big problem with enlisting the aid of medical personnel to take care of Murdock. If the pilot should become conscious enough to regain his speech would he be aware enough of his surroundings to remain silent about the rest of the team? The last thing they wanted was to dodge Decker or the local police while waiting for Murdock to heal.
Hannibal had never had to struggle with a decision so much in his life. He was a man who always established a course of action quickly and stayed the course despite the odds. But this decision involved Murdock's life.
"Face, I have to lay something out for you and I want your input." The Colonel knelt on the other side from where the Lieutenant was tending the pilot's wounds. "After I ask you, I'll ask B. A. For now, I want him to keep an eye on our client and his son."
"What is it, Colonel?" Hannibal couldn't help but notice the stress in Face's voice.
"Murdock needs the care a trauma center can provide. We aren't equipped to handle severe brain injury." Hannibal heard the Lieutenant's sharp intake of breath as he said the last three words but continued. "I thought we could call in his location and get a paramedic team out here to stabilize him and get him into the hospital."
"He's my best friend. I can't just leave him out here, hoping they find him and can do something for him. I can and will see him through this. He'd do the same for me." Face narrowed his eyes at the Colonel and set his mouth in a determined line. "Besides, he could talk about us to the wrong people without fully knowing he's doing it."
"I thought you'd say that. So your answer is to wait it out and see if his condition improves?"
Face gave Hannibal a quick nod and turned his attention back to his friend.
I've got to give him credit for his loyalty. I wouldn't have expected anything less from him.
Hannibal stood and walked over to where B. A. towered over Jermaine, preventing him from scrambling back down the trail.
"B. A., I'll pose the same question to you that I asked Face. A trauma center is prepared to treat head injuries like Murdock has. We aren't. All we can do is keep him still and watch him to be sure his condition doesn't worsen." Hannibal noted B. A.'s scowl and balled up fists. He knew what the Sergeant would say even before he posed the question. "We can direct the paramedics to this location through an anonymous call and have them give him the medical help he needs. It would require us to leave him here alone until they get here."
"Can't do that, Colonel. Crazy man wouldn't leave any of us to fend for ourselves 'n' you know it. Needs his family with him when he comes 'round."
"Alright, B. A." Hannibal put a gloved hand on his shoulder and nodded his understanding of the deeper emotion the black man disguised with his gruff tone.
"Face, we're going to leave you and Murdock here for a few minutes while we remove the cargo from the helicopter and pack it in the van." The Colonel turned to Bartholomew. "Once we get the merchandise in the van, we will be trying to move Captain Murdock to the chopper. If you can think of some way to do that without causing further injury, I'd appreciate it."
The client squinted in the direction of Face and Murdock. In a hushed voice, he asked, "Do you think he'll be alright, Colonel? I need to tell him something when he's able to hear it."
Hannibal looked back at the pilot and the Lieutenant before answering. "I hope so, Mr. Bartholomew."