Chapter Fourteen: Smile

In the misty darkness, a mermaid drifted by. Mesmerized, Murdock watched the finned silhouette disappear into the bleakness surrounding him. Was this real? He drew in a shaky breath. No, it had to be a dream. Damn, if only he had only filled his prescription back in the states. How long had he been off his meds? He didn't like these vivid dreams; his muddled mind had a hard enough time sorting fantasy from reality without this added confusion.

"TELL ME WHO YOU ARE WORKING FOR…"

Anger poured out in the words, but who was speaking? Patches of Murdock's memory seemed scattered, replaced by bits of dreamy illusion. This voice…he knew this voice, but he couldn't remember. He tried to open his eyes but his swollen lids couldn't draw themselves back any longer. The aches and pains of his battered body slowly resurfaced as he edged further into consciousness.

"TELL ME…"

A flare of pain burst across his face. He groaned. Dirty pennies…to the Captain, blood always tasted like dirty pennies.

"…WHO…"

More pain came. This time he could discern what was happening. He could feel the impact of a hard fist striking his cheek. Where were Hannibal, Face and BA? He needed them…

"…YOU ARE…"

Murdock's head tilted to the left as the next punch landed. Down his bruised chin a warm stream of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He could feel his thoughts drifting, his mind pulling away from reality.

"…WORKING FOR."

Murdock wandered back into slumber, letting the angry voice fade away, the pain gradually ease. Asleep, he found himself in the cold watery depths of the ocean. He stared up at the shimmering surface, watching his mermaid swim in the sunny waters above.

BA crept to the backside of the warehouse. He had already dealt with the explosives. He smiled; Hannibal's plan was actually working. While the goons were preparing for the swap, the team had been starting their raid on the warehouse.

Hannibal wasn't a fool; he knew the thugs wouldn't honor a straight across trade. They'd have something planned. So, before the deadline for the meeting came, he planned on springing the hostages, including Murdock.

That fool, getting himself caught…BA rounded a corner and took out two guards with a few forceful punches. When they got Murdock back, BA would make him a good soup; he'd make him his Mama's soup. Yeah, then the crazy man could see what…

Static sounded followed by Face's voice. "I've found the hostages. I'm sending them out the back, toward you, BA."

The Sergeant raised his radio. "What about Murdock?"

The pause was too long—BA knew the answer before Face gave it. "Nothing yet, but I think there's another small room in the back…"

Murdock woke, his coherent state snapping forth a little too quickly. He squirmed, fighting back the nausea as pain swelled through his body. Controlling his breathing proved to be challenging as well. The raspy breaths he produced hitched and faltered with each new flare of pain edging across him. He lay still, giving his strained lungs a moment to regain some strength.

Against his skin, he felt a soft cotton material. The salt encrusted suit was gone. Gingerly, he twitched his left leg. Sweatpants…it felt like he was wearing sweatpants and a tee-shirt.

A gentle scuff of movement beside him made him flinch.

"It's ok now…" The sweet voice was soft, low. "He's gone."

Ignoring the searing pain, he forced his swollen eyelids to rise. Unfocused at first, his gaze fell on the slender figure beside his bed. Slowly, the image cleared and he smiled. It was his mermaid.

But her stunning visage was marred by a tense frown. Stare shifting between Murdock and the door off to the right, her eyes reflected fear, urgency.

"You have to tell me about your team." Her demand was tender yet firm. "He won't hurt you anymore if you do."

Murdock studied her face, disappointed with what he saw. She was pushing for answers, answers he was sure she would be paid for. Still, he couldn't bring himself to blame her. She was a wild animal in a cage; he'd stuck his hand in and gotten it bitten—that was his fault.

Her frown grew. "He'll be back soon…"

It was pitiful to see her without a smile. He couldn't tell her anything about the team; that would never be an option, but maybe he could do something else for her. Swallowing down what little salvia his mouth could produce, he wet his dry throat. It was Nat King Cole to the rescue.

"Smile though your heart is aching…" He wished he didn't sound so hoarse, but it was the best he could do. Hopefully, she'd like it.

Her green eyes widened as she stared down at him, surprise clearly adorning her face.

"Smile even though it's breaking…" The melody was hard to control, but he somehow managed.

She leaned in a little closer, looking as if she might hush him, but she didn't.

"When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by…"

Her hand settled on his shoulder and he watched her lower lip tremble before she bit it down.

"If you smile through your fear and sorrow…" Murdock drew in a deep breath, fighting off the weariness creeping over him. He hadn't meant for the song to sadden her.

She squeezed his shoulder slightly, a hint of encouragement in her firm grasp.

"Smile and maybe tomorrow…"

A single tear ran down her cheek.

"You'll see the sun come shining through for you…" The song trailed off into a whisper. That was all; he couldn't go on.

He stared up at her, distressed by her sadness. This wasn't what he had wanted. She sniffed loudly, wiping away the tears forming in her eyes, but then, she glanced down at him and smiled. Finally feeling some semblance of satisfaction, Murdock grinned back. Desperately, he tried to memorize every detail of her beaming face as he slowly drifted back into his dreary dream world.

Natalie fumed. She had been stupid for coming back to Manuel. Thinking he would pay her the money he owed her for this last hostage had been idiotic, but what choice had she had? Flat broke, there was no way she could flee from his grasp. She needed a nest egg before she could escape him.

Striking the new deal with the old man had been easy. All she had to do was get information out of the hostage, good information, and Manuel would pay her half of what he should have owed her. That would be enough to get her back home to Canada, well out of his reach.

But, she was not some petty thug, and she refused to reenter the room until they had cleaned the hostage up. Sweat, blood and vomit she could simply not deal with.

Eventually, when the filth had thoroughly been washed away, she returned to the room where she had witnessed Manuel beating the lanky man. Dressed in oversized sweatpants and a black tee-shirt, the injured man gave a soft, fevered whimper.

She pulled a chair up beside his bed and watched him tense up at the soft scraping sound.

"It's ok now…" She tried to keep her voice calm; she tried to make the lie sound convincing. "He's gone."

He shifted slightly; his puffy, red-rimmed eyes slowly opening. Clearly having trouble focusing his gaze, he stared blankly at her for a moment. Then, a wide, happy grin spread across his face; that surprised her. His glazed brown eyes sparkled with an odd joy.

"You have to tell me about your team." Clenching her fists, she forced out the next lie. "He won't hurt you anymore if you do."

She could see him scanning her face, a slight frown pulling at his pale lips. Confusion filled his bruised face, but then it eased away, leaving her to stare into those innocent, clear eyes of his. This wasn't her fault; she had to keep telling herself that.

"He'll be back soon…" That wasn't a lie.

He kept searching her face, looking for something. She hated that pleading stare; she wanted to leave. Damn Manuel and his money; this wasn't worth it.

"Smile though your heart is aching…"

That whispered melody, so beautifully haunting, chilled her.

"Even though it's breaking…"

She leaned closer, knowing she should silence him, but had she ever heard anything that had stirred her so much before? She needed to listen.

"When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by…"

Before she could stop it, her hand darted forward and rested on his shoulder. The warmth of his fever surprised her, and she almost withdrew her hand. The thought of his suffering made her lip tremble and she quickly bit it to hide the quiver.

"If you smile through your fear and sorrow…" He was struggling now, obviously fighting to stay awake.

Natalie squeezed his shoulder. Just a little more…she just wanted to hear a little more.

"Smile and maybe tomorrow…"

She couldn't hold it back any longer. She couldn't lie to herself. This was her fault. She felt the trail of a warm teardrop sliding down her face.

"You'll see the sun come shining through for you…" His weary voice trailed off.

She looked away, wiping the tears from her eyes. When she glanced back, she found him desperately searching her face again. What was he looking for? Slowly, it dawned on her and she gave it to him. She smiled.

His face lit up with a goofy grin. There was tenderness in the way his eyes scanned her face; it was a gentle honesty that men seldom used when looking upon her. With a final sigh, his eyelids slid closed.

She wouldn't get her money, but that hardly bothered her anymore. The severity of her role in these hostage dealings had finally caught up with her. A cold dread filled her. How many lives had she ruined?

Natalie gave a mild yelp as the door swung open and Manuel entered the room.

"Has he said anything?" He asked, quickly making his way to the bedside.

She tried to force out an answer, but her throat constricted, leaving her silent. Hesitantly, she stood and slunk to the furthest corner of the room.

Manuel sighed. "I didn't think he would." He pulled a pistol from his jacket and placed the barrel to the man's fevered brow. "And now his friends have released all my other hostages, so…he must die."

Face sprinted through the warehouse. This was all about timing. They had to find Murdock before the head honcho realized they had busted everyone loose. Most of the guards were out cold, but a few would suddenly pop around a corner. Face groaned; he didn't have time for this…Murdock needed him.

After punching out yet another guard, Face spotted the door to the lone room. Bingo. He trotted over, rifle at the ready, and turned the handle. The door swung open and Face's heart fell.