CHAPTER TWENTY

Katie opened the front door and stepped inside her house.  The house was silent, no sign that anyone was home.  'Mom?'  She called out but no reply came, her mother was probably still at work.  Katie motioned for Murdock to enter and he did so hesitantly.  He'd offered her a ride home and she'd accepted, the thought of going back to an empty house after all that had happened didn't appeal to her.

She put her keys down and went into the kitchen.  'You want a drink?'  She asked him and he nodded.  As she set about making coffee, he walked around the living room.  It was a very different room to the one that he'd seen when he'd come back here five months before.  For one thing there were things missing that he had a feeling had belonged to Eddie, he was glad to see that there was no trace of that pathetic little weasel left in the house.

What he was surprised to see were pictures, photographs.  Some were of Tony but a lot of them were of himself.  Everywhere he looked there was a photo of him.  He stared round; it touched him deeply to see that she seemed determined not to forget him.

'Coffee's ready.'  Katie held out a mug to him.

'Thanks.' He murmured taking it.  'You didn't microwave this did ya?'

She looked at him strangely.  'No, I didn't, I don't know how you make your coffee but I do it the way everyone else does.'

'Good.'

Katie frowned and then looked behind him.  'Oh.'  She said softly realising that this wasn't him being crazy it was him not sure of what to say because what he really wanted to say, he couldn't. 'You noticed.' She made a motion with her hand, indicating the pictures on the walls.

'Kinda hard not to.'  He said softly sitting down and stretching out his legs.

'I, uh, I didn't want it to be like last time.  I didn't want to forget this time around.'

A smile touched his lips and she felt glad to see it.  It was a sign that the Murdock she knew hadn't gone for good; he was still in there somewhere.  Different to how he had been but still there.  A thought occurred to her.  'Stay there.'  She said and left the room. 

Murdock watched her go curiously.  He looked around the room again, looking at the pictures more closely, smiling at some of the memories.  He remembered thinking that he'd have to take Katie flying after they'd rescued Karen.  He decided that he would still do that. 

There was the sound of a key turning in the lock and the front door opened.  'Katie, I'm home honey.  Sorry I'm late I was…' She broke off as she saw Murdock standing in the living room.  The bags she was carrying dropped from her grasp and her hands went to her mouth as a gasp escaped her lips.

'Karen, I…' He couldn't think of what to say, he could only stand there stupidly, feeling an even stupider grin on his face but unable to do anything about it.

Karen walked towards him.  She reached up and touched his cheek and then promptly burst into tears.  He put his arms around her.  'It's ok.'  He murmured not sure what he should say to her.

Katie came into the room at that moment and saw her mother.  'Oh god.'  She said.  She was holding a bundle of papers in her hand; she put them down on the chair and came forward.  'Let's sit her down Murdock.  I'll get her some tea.'

'You're…you're…' Karen stammered.

'Yeah, I guess I am.'  Murdock said, leading her to the sofa and sitting her down.  'Don't worry I'm not a ghost or anything.  See.' He pinched her gently.

Karen blinked at him and then a smile curved about her lips. 'You're here?  You're actually here?  But…you were, Hannibal said…Katie…' Murdock held her hand as she tried to make sense of everything.

'I'll explain it all later Karen.  But I'm fine and yes, I'm really here.'  He smiled and Karen burst into tears again.

'Aww don't cry.  You're gonna get me going.'  Murdock said putting an arm around her shoulders.  He leaned her head on his shoulder. 

Karen wiped her eyes. 'Sorry.' She told him. 'It's just such a shock, seeing you here like this.  How long have you been in town?'

'A few days.' He replied, taking the tea from Katie as she brought it in from the kitchen.  'Here drink this, make you feel better.'

Karen laughed.  'I'm feeling a lot better than I have in months.'  She motioned for her daughter to sit beside her and Katie did so.  'I can't believe that Hannibal didn't tell me that this…'

'He doesn't know Karen.  None of them know yet.'

'I see.'  Karen said quietly and then looked at her daughter. 'Are you ok sweetheart?'

'I'm fine mom.'  But Karen gave her a sceptic look, which confirmed Murdock's suspensions that Katie hadn't been fine in a long time.  There was a knock at the door and Katie rose. 

'I'll get it.'  Murdock saw the look on her face and instantly knew who was there.  He got up and followed her out of the room and out of Karen's hearing.

'You called him.'  He said flatly.

'Who?'  Katie asked nonchalantly, reaching to open the door.  Murdock blocked her way.

'You called Hannibal, you told him to come here as soon as he could.'

Katie shifted uncomfortably.  'I have to open the door.'

'Didn't you?'  There was a sense of urgency in his voice and Katie looked at him quietly. 

'They have a right to know Murdock.  You'll understand that when you see them.'

'I can't, not yet.'  The pilot's voice was edgy, almost afraid and Katie gave him a sympathetic look.

'You can't hide from them forever.'

'Katie if they find me here it's only a matter of time before other people do.  You know what that means apart from some very awkward questions.  Come on muchacho what do you think they'll do when they find I'm back?  The first thing they'll do is put me back in the VA.'

Katie pushed past him and opened the door.  Hannibal, Face and BA stared at her.  'What was the urgency Anderson?'  Hannibal asked in a brisk tone of voice indicating that he didn't really want to be here.  Murdock had vanished back to the living room and Katie felt nervous suddenly, what if this went wrong.

'I think you should all come in.' Katie held the door open and they all walked through into the living room.  Face was first in the door and she saw him come to a complete stop as he saw Murdock.  BA practically shoved him out the way to see what it was that held Face to the spot.  Hannibal was the last one to enter the room and Katie slipped past him to her mother's side.

Karen put her arms around her daughter and waited to see Murdock reaction.  He was staring at the three men in a kind of daze.  They stared back at him and for a long time no one spoke and then Face finally seemed to snap out of it.  He gave a choked sob and walked forward to hug Murdock.  Murdock embraced his friend back unsure of what to think of the rare display of affection.  And then Hannibal and BA were moving forward too and even BA wrapped him in a big bear hug.

As they pulled away Katie couldn't take it anymore she turned and ran up the stairs to her room, the emotions of the four men too much for her.  Murdock saw her go and made to go after her but Face stopped him.  'I'll go.'  He said and Murdock felt a stab at the painful reminder that things were different now.  Face was now the one to give her the comfort she needed.  He nodded and Face walked up the stairs after her.

She was standing with her back to the door and Face didn't even bother knocking just walked into the room.  Almost at once she turned to look at him and he could tell by the expression on her face that she'd been expecting, hoping, that it was Murdock.  Face pulled her towards him and held her close.  'I know.'  He said.  'I know.'

Katie gulped, determined that she'd done enough crying for one day.  'I'm sorry it was all too much.  I only found out today and everything's

 still confused.' 

Face nodded and then turned slightly as he heard a movement from behind him.  Murdock was standing in the doorway; he'd been unable to stay downstairs.  Face nodded towards him and Murdock walked towards them.  Face gently let Katie go and Murdock put his arms around her.  Face turned and walked out of the room and back downstairs to the others.

Katie stayed still for a long moment, unable to speak or move.  'Ohh honey.'  Murdock said finally.  'This is a lot for you to take isn't it?' As usual he knew exactly what she was thinking.  Murdock had always had that uncanny knack of knowing what people were feeling, even if they didn't know it themselves.  He rubbed her back soothingly.  'Are you going to be ok?'

'I'm ok.  Are you ok?'  She asked and he laughed.

'Well so long as the big guy doesn't slug me for leaving I should be fine.'  He sighed.  'Guess I've got some explaining to do.  Want to give me a hand?'

She pulled away and looked at him.  'You know what, I think that I need some time alone.  I might just sleep.'

He looked at her concerned for a moment and then saw that she was serious about sleeping.  'Ok.'  His eyes twinkled.  'Now if you need a bedtime story, there's a fabulous one about the Range Rider.'

She laughed.  'I think I can get by without thank you.'

'Ok night.' He kissed her forehead.

She smiled at him.  'Night.'

'See you in the morning kid.' Murdock said grinning and then he left the room whistling.