After Bad Rock
Warning: This following story contains extreme,graphic, and repetitve physical, sexual and psychological torure. We love Face, but we were not nice to him at all in this one. Consider yourself warned...read at your own risk...and hopefully enjoyment!
Chapter 35
Murdock and B.A. drove down the road satisfied that they had found the perfect place for the team to move to.
"Hey…isn't that Maggie's car?" Murdock asked seeing the small sedan up ahead in the distance.
"Man…you got eyes like a hawk if you can see that far," B.A. said.
"It's a pilot thing…we're used to looking at small objects from a distance."
B.A. shook his head and muttered but as it got closer said. "I think you're right."
The car swerved suddenly until it was heading directly for the van. "What's she doing?" BA said as he pulled the steering wheel hard to the left.
Face's reaction was slowed by his condition. His mind gave the command 'get back to your lane' to his arms and he pulled the car to the right with all his might. By the time he realized that a) it was BA's van coming towards him and b) he was pulling it in the same direction, his mind gave the command 'noooo, the other side' but it was way too late to put the plan in action.
He remembered to remove his hands from the wheel and fold his arms in front of his body, it hadn't been the best idea to drive with one arm in a cast to begin with but then the arm was a minor problem. Anyway, he didn't want to risk another break. The next thing he heard was the screeching of metal against metal as the sides of the cars collided. The next thing he thought was 'forget about the arm, you're dead meat the moment BA get's his hands on you.'
The car came to a stop inches from a tree by the roadside. Face hurt all over but only for the short time it took until he was out.
Hannibal had hurried into the direction he had seen the car vanish. It didn't take him long to catch up with it.
"He's amazing. Just now he couldn't get back into bed and minutes later he's running." Hank was looking at Maggie's car in awe.
Face was obviously not in the condition to drive fast. He had visual contact after only some few minutes and thought about how to stop Face when he saw familiar headlights in the distance. It was just about getting dark and he could make out the shape of the van. Coupled with the non standard headlights BA had installed he was sure to know who was approaching them. He thought about signaling BA to block the road but decided against it since he wasn't sure if Face could react fast enough. He didn't want to cause an accident between his men. He decided to just follow and signal BA to do the same once he passed him. However that plan flew right out the window as Face suddenly swerved and headed for the van.
"Oh, no, come on kid, damn."
"Oh god no." Maggie couldn't believe what happened in front of her as she watched from the backseat. Hank was quiet, just holding his breath. All three were out of the car in a flash the moment it stopped.
"My van! I knew this woman doctor cannot be trusted. Maybe she's a good medic but sure not a good driver. What was she doing, freshening up her make up?" BA rumbled on as he got out of the van to survey the damage. "She better be okay so I can tear her apart." It was seldom for BA to rumble like that unless he was very concerned. And right now he was concerned about his van and the doctor who had helped them so much.
Murdock had seen Face from his side of the car and was frozen. Inside his mind he screamed 'Noooo' but outside he couldn't utter a sound. But once BA mentioned for the driver to be okay he jumped out of his trance and into action.
BA saw Maggie walking to the car and let out a sigh of relieve that she was okay. He then turned to his van. "My van, look at this, the whole side…."
"Can it sergeant." Hannibal barked out. He had hurt Face with his words, the last thing they needed was BA to follow suit.
"Hannibal what are you…" BA took in his surroundings well. "Oh no, Faceman!"
Maggie knelt beside the open drivers door. "There doesn't seem to be any new physical damage. Get him out of the car and stretched out in the back of the van. I want to check him over properly."
As Maggie did that with Murdock hovering close, Hannibal was forming plans. "BA, are the cars okay to move?"
"Yeah, just some dents and scratches, no real damage." He felt terrible about his earlier outburst.
"Did you check out the locations?"
"Yeah."
"We'll move there right now if Maggie gives us the okay, move him while he's out. We'll get our things later."
Maggie came over and announced, "He probably passed out from pain and exhaustion. But you can safely transport him…he'll be okay." She paused and looked directly at Hannibal, "At least physically."
"Maggie…"
Maggie held up her palm. "Don't, John…I'm not saying that you meant to hurt him…but you did. Medically I've done all I can… now it's up to you to make him better."
"What she talkin' about, man?" B.A. asked.
"I'll explain later. Tell Murdock we're heading out…he can sit up front with you. I'll be riding in back with Face."
B.A. looked a bit surprised, but he said, "You got it, Colonel."
After B.A. had walked off Hannibal pulled Maggie into a hug. "I wish you were coming with us, but maybe what this team needs is some time alone to work through some things."
"You sitting with Face instead of Murdock is a good start."
"Murdock isn't going to be happy…when Face is hurt he likes to stick to him like white on rice. But I need to let the kid know how much I care…and how I would never turn him away."
"Just talk to him, John. He needs to hear these words from you…as well as see it in your actions."
Hannibal sighed, still holding on tightly. "I know…it's just that this is new territory for me."
"You'll figure it out…all you need is a plan," she teased.
"I'll start by going in the back door…of the van that is."
Maggie chuckled and gave him a squeeze before pulling away. "You better go…I'll explain to Ella and James."
Hannibal slapped his hand to his forehead. "Oh no…I totally forgot."
"They're going to be disappointed, but they'll understand. They just want what's best for Face.
"As do I."
Maggie stroked his cheek. "I know. You know how to reach me if you need me."
Hannibal pulled her back into him and dipper her body. "And I need you." He leaned over and kissed her deeply. He then turned and quickly jogged off toward the van before it became any harder to leave the woman he was falling for.
Maggie watched and placed her fingers to her tingling lips savoring the feeling. "I need you too," she whispered.
The van soon disappeared from her sight and she turned her attention to Hank who was surveying the damage done to her car.
"BA, which one is good for us?"
"There's some remote cabin, it's standing alone by a small lake, belongs to Hank's folks."
"How remote is remote?"
"Close enough to the next town to get help for the Faceman if need be."
"Face doesn't like huts in the forest."
"Ain't a hut fool, it's a cabin. Besides there's a lake."
"Face likes the beach."
"He will like a lake too Murdock, it's calming to sit by the lakeside."
The ride to the place was quiet; everybody hung in his own thoughts. While the two men in front didn't even know what had happened but were wise enough not to ask now, Hannibal was lost in guilt.
'How could I have said this out loud. It's true, he is a trained killer and he is dangerous but we all accepted that long ago. What got into me I'll never know, especially the part with the VA. While I'm sure it would do him good to get some tough therapy it has never been an option and knowing him now it won't ever be, no matter if we get pardoned. But I never discussed this with anyone, why Maggie?'
Soon BA announced that they were there. Face was settled into a bed and Murdock and BA moved out to get supplies. It was over an hour later that Face opened his eyes.
Seeing Hannibal sitting next to the window and looking out he cleared his throat so as not to startle the man. "You're not going to believe the dream I just had, colonel….I…"
Hannibal turned his weary eyes upon Face and his worried look stopped him dead in his tracks.
"I…oh God…I…it…wasn't a …dream," Face stuttered, his breath coming in short gasps. "None…none of…it. It…it was…all…real."
Hannibal jumped over to Face's bedside. "Calm down, Face. It's okay, kid."
"Stay…stay away." It replayed through his mind like a movie on fast forward…Sue brutalizing him, the team forced to hurt him, and Hannibal berating him.
He grew paler by the second, but when he got to the car crash he became translucent. "No…no…I hit…the van…are…are…they…they…" Face was shaking so badly he couldn't form the words any longer.
"Murdock and B.A. are just fine…now just try and slow your breathing." Hannibal again moved closer and made as if to reach for Face's hand, but Face recoiled.
"You…you were right. I'm…I'm dan…danger…ous." Face had a hand on his chest as if it would somehow make the air go in easier. "I've…hurt people…almost hurt…again. No good…I'm no…no good."
Hannibal swallowed a lump in his throat as he watched tears form in Face's eyes and then remain there shining and threatening to spill out at any moment.
"No, kid…that's not true."
"Yes…it…is. I've killed…with…with my…bare…hands."
"We were in a war, kid…you had no choice. It was kill or be killed."
Face looked down at his lap, his voice a mere broken whisper. "You'd be…better…off…if it…was the…latter." The tears finally trickled down his cheeks.
The first thing that came to Hannibal's mind was to bark at the kid to never say such rubbish again. He caught himself just in the nick of time, last thing the kid needed was someone barking at him. Instead he pulled a chair close. Face was propped up on some pillows and now that Hannibal sat his head was only slightly higher than Face's. He leaned forward and gently took Face by the chin to make him look into his eyes.
"Don't you ever say such a thing again, you hear me? We need you, all of us."
Face tried to turn away but Hannibal tightened his grip. All he could do was to cast his eyes away.
"Just look ….mess I made of…of team. "
"We're not a mess kid, I agree we're a bit out of whack right now but we'll only come out stronger than we were." 'At least I hope so.' He mentally added.
"I…no….I….Murdock, BA….where…" Face was growing weaker.
"They're just fine kid. Went out to get us supplies. They'll be back anytime."
"I…I…van…"
"Who cares about the van? It's just…"
"BA"
"Okay, BA cares but it's just a pile of metal and plastic. It can be replaced anytime…." As an afterthought he added "other than any member of this team."
Face was asleep before Hannibal had finished talking.
A short while later the van arrived and Hannibal went outside to meet it.
"What the hell took you two so long?"
"Had to get some parts and paint for the van."
Hannibal said nothing, but the furious look on his face did all the talking necessary.
B.A. stood a bit taller and stuck his chest out in a defensive stance. "What…you got a problem with that, man?"
Hannibal in turn spread his legs and crossed his arms around his midsection. "You bet I do."
Murdock stepped in between the two men. "C'mon guys…don't do this."
"Do what, Captain? Point out that my sergeant cares more about his van than his teammate?"
"Oh no he didn't…" B.A. muttered, pushing against Murdock.
"Oh, yes he did," Hannibal countered, pushing from the other side.
"Hey…hey…hey…Murdock in the middle here!"
"Then move outta the way, fool."
"No way…not until you two promise to play nice."
Hannibal took a step backward. "Fine…one of us needs to put Face first."
"Oh no he didn't," B.A. said once more.
This time it was Murdock who responded with, "Oh yes he did." He took off his cap and scratched his head. "All due respect, colonel, but that isn't exactly fair."
Hannibal knew it wasn't, but he was so emotionally drained that he had to take it out on somebody. "Oh, isn't it? I just got through telling Face that the van didn't matter and you spend hours shopping for paint."
"Now you just wait one minute, Hannibal," B.A. fumed.
There was the sound of a door slamming and they all turned to see Face standing in the door frame. "Stop…please stop. You're…fighting…my fault…"
"Face, what are you doing here buddy? C'mon, let me get you back to bed." Murdock was at his side in a second and just in time to catch the dangerously swaying man and steady him. He turned him around and marched him back inside, it was a slow march, rather an inching across the room, but a march after all. As soon as they were clear of the door Murdock used his heal to firmly close it, maybe a bit too firmly, but it clearly sent a message to the two fighters, 'stay out or face my wrath.'
Hannibal and BA didn't have a problem with that. Seeing that Face was taken good care of and with Murdock gone from their middle they continued right on.
"I should wait for what? Are you going to tell me that the van could not have done without paint for some days?"
"You have no idea what we went through to…."
"And I don't care either. I don't want to hear about how many different shops you had to go to to get the best paint for that darn van."
"Hannibal, I'm warning you."
"Or what?"
Murdock was doing his best to distract Face but it wasn't working.
"Did….did I do a lot of damage? BA's gonna make me pay, just like he promised when we entered Bad Rock for the first time. And what about Maggie's car? Hannibal must be mad…."
"Stop Face, nothing happened, nobody was injured, that's all that counts."
"The van was injured. BA's gonna make me pay. I can hear how mad he is."
"Face, stop it, the van isn't a person and BA is not mad at you, he's mad at Hannibal. Those two are just blowing off some steam, don't mind them."
"No…my fault…my team, I'm destroying my team, it's all I have."
Face looked so lost. "You're not destroying anything here, let's just forget about those two outside, look here, Billy learned some real cute tricks."
Face's pinched expression told Murdock that it wasn't working. "Okay, let me go and switch of the background music. Stay put, I'll be right back." With that Murdock went out, closed the door and went right in between the two fighters.
"…I'm telling you…."
"And I don' wanna hear …."
"Stop it, both of you. You both don't care about Face, all you care about is who's right, you never stopped to think what this is doing to Face."
That did the trick and both men stopped dead.
"Nice to see some reaction," Murdock turned dead serious. "BA, go chop some wood or something, behind the house, Hannibal, go catch a fish, other side of the house. If I hear one more peep from you two I'm gonna send Billy." He turned and stormed back into the house, but when he got there Face wasn't in the bed where he left him.
"Face?" he asked stepping into the room.
It sounded like the faucet was turned on high in the adjoining bathroom and he immediately headed toward it. "Face?" he asked again standing outside the closed door. Murdock lifted his hand to knock thinking Face couldn't hear him but then he heard it…the unmistakable sound of sobbing.
Murdock rested his hand against the door and bowed his head. He remained in that position until he heard the water shut off. Then he stood erect and waited for a clue from inside the room as of what to do next.
"Murdock?"
That was his clue, and an obvious one at that. "Yeah, buddy, I'm here."
"Can you…ah…can you come in…I…ah…"
But Face didn't finish as Murdock had already burst into the room and was kneeling by his side. "You okay?"
Face nodded and smiled feebly. "Yeah…it's just that I got myself down, and can't seem to get back up."
"You're lucky…I usually have the opposite problem. Except while in the air…I seem to have no problem crashing," Murdock joked, while helping Face to standing.
"What's…a few…plane crashes…between friends?" Face forced out as his head swam.
Murdock felt Face sag against him and held on tighter. "Let's get you settled."
Once Face was lying horizontal again he felt much better. "How much did you hear before?"
"Enough," Murdock simply replied. Face blushed and turned away from the pilot. "Hey…it's okay to cry, Face. I just wish you didn't feel you had to hide it…especially from me."
"I know I don't, Murdock…but at the same time I do. Does that make any sense?"
"Perfect…but then again you are talking to a crazy man."
Face looked back at his friend. "You're not half as crazy as they say you are…and you aren't a quarter as crazy as I am these days."
"Cut yourself some slack, Faceguy. You've been through some pretty heavy stuff."
Face sighed loudly. "Yeah, but you guys shouldn't have to carry the load."
Murdock reached out and grabbed Face's hand happy when he didn't pull away. "We don't carry the load…we share it. That's what teams do...that's what families do."
Face squeezed Murdock's hand feeling to emotional to speak. The moment was broken as the sounds of arguing once again filled the room.
"And I'm about to sick Billy on two of our family members right now," Murdock grumbled. "Look, Face, none of this is your fault. I know you don't believe me right now, but it's true."
"You're right," Face paused. "I don't believe you."
The yelling was escalating and Murdock knew he had to get outside and quick. "Will you be alright if I leave you for a few?"
"Yeah…I'm fine. Go...I'm real tired…think I'll sleep."
"In that case, I'll try to get you some quiet…"
Murdock tried to open and close the door quietly since Face was asleep already. His little trip to the bathroom had left him too exhausted to keep his eyes open another minute.
He stepped right between BA and Hannibal, pushing them apart in the process. "Which part of shut up and go your separate ways didn't you get?"
"Get outta my way fool, this is between me and the colonel."
"If this is between you two then why are you shouting loud enough for the rest of us to hear? Face needs his sleep."
"I can't hear it again. Move or I move you fool."
Murdock stood with his mouth open, he couldn't believe his ears. "Did I just hear you right? You can't hear again that Face is injured and needs rest? May I remind you that it was your doing that started the whole episode?"
"Yeah, and I'm tired of hearing that too. It was an accident. And I'm not responsible for that lunatic stalking him, she did so before and would have gotten to him sooner or later without my doing. Now move outta my face." He shoved Murdock back hard enough to make him stumble and fall, hitting his arm on a large rock that happened to be in the way. He grimaced in pain but was not finished yet.
"This was an accident too, isn't it big guy? They happen quite often lately don't cha think?" BA looked down, not knowing what to say, he had lost his temper, something that shouldn't happen, especially for someone who is as strong as he is and puts a lot of force behind the shove.
Turning to Hannibal Murdock added, "And just for the record colonel, what BA was trying to tell you earlier on, we had a police car on our tail as soon as we were ready to head back to you guys. Instead of shaking them at that point we went in the wrong direction for over an hour until his back up arrived and then lost them. We wanted to make sure we lead them as far from here as possible so Face can get his rest without moving again so soon. We took a different route back and happened to come across a car painting shop at about the furthest point from here. We both figured that the police got suspicious because of the damage clearly visible and also that it will be good if someone reported spotting us at that place. That's why we took long and brought everything to repair the van." Without waiting for any response from the two men that looked like schoolboys having been caught stealing the neighbors' apples from the tree, he got up and slowly walked into the house. Only when the door was shut behind him and he saw that Face was still asleep, did he cradle his injured arm that hurt like hell. At that point he was too pissed to inform the other two and didn't want Face to get another thing to put on his conscience. It would just have to wait.
Face began to moan and shift under the covers and Murdock knew what was coming if he didn't bring him out of it. "Face…c'mon buddy…wake up."
"No…stop…I'll be a good boy…please stop."
His voice sounded childlike and ripped at Murdock's heart. "Face…wake up…it's just a dream."
"Don't touch me…please…stop."
'At least he isn't dreaming about Sue,' Murdock thought, but then Face began to cry and it seemed worse. Silent tears made their way down his cheeks as he lay completely still. Murdock moved in closer and said gently, "Face…it's okay…it's okay."
Suddenly Face let out a scream and began to fight an imaginary force. He kicked out his leg and got Murdock square on his injured arm. Murdock fell off his chair and writhed in pain on the floor while Face continued to lash out .
"Ow…please…help…no," Face cried.
"Face," Murdock tried breathing hard. "Face…wake up."
Face continued to struggle against the air.
"Face…I need you…I need you to wake up," Murdock said with all his might and then fell back exhausted.
Face stilled once more, but this time his eyes fluttered open. "Mur…Murdock," he whispered. He looked around for his friend and spotted him on the floor, looking pale and holding his arm. "Oh no…Murdock!" Face got out of the bed and onto the floor as quickly as possible. "How bad did I hurt you?"
"Get…the…others." Murdock wanted to explain that it wasn't Face's fault, but he had to focus on breathing first.
Face crawled to the door feeling weak and drained from his own ordeal. He pulled himself up using the door knob and stumbled into the living room where luckily Hannibal and B.A. were just entering. Seeing Face, Hannibal asked, "What are you doing up, kid?" Noticing his frazzled appearance, he added, "What's wrong?"
"Murdock…hurt…needs help."
Hannibal and B.A. moved past him and toward the bedroom, leaving Face to slide down the wall. 'I'm dangerous…this proves it.'
Murdock was still on the floor, but his back was propped up against the side of the bed. His arm throbbed, but the initial intensity had lessened some.
"Hey fool, you okay?" B.A. asked bursting through the door.
Hannibal was a few moments behind as he had gone for the med kit first. "Where are you hurt, captain?"
"Arm…not sure if it's broken."
"Hold still," Hannibal ordered, feeling up and down the limb for breaks. Murdock winced as he got to the upper arm. "Is that where it hurts?"
"Yeah."
"I don't feel any breaks…can you move it?"
Slowly and with gritted teeth Murdock lifted his arm up past 90 degrees.
"Good…can you bend at the elbow?" Again, Murdock was able to perform the movement. "I doubt it's broken, but I want to get a look underneath your shirt." Hannibal opened the med kit and reached for some scissors to cut up the arm of Murdock's long sleeved t-shirt.
"Good thing you wasn't wearin' yo leather jacket," B.A. said.
"Yeah."
Hannibal and B.A. exchanged worried looks…Murdock was never this quiet…even when injured or sick.
"How'd this happen?" Hannibal asked as he carefully cut through the fabric.
"When B.A. pushed me," he said looking straight ahead, the anger still clear.
"Aw, man. I'm sorry…had no right."
"No you didn't," Murdock agreed seriously, then hissed as Hannibal prodded his exposed arm.
"You got one hell of a bruise forming, but it isn't swelling much. We'll ice it, keep it elevated and then immobilize it for a few days and you'll be as good as new."
"Great."
Another short answer had Hannibal and B.A. unsure what to say next. B.A. helped him off the floor and into a chair while Hannibal busied himself cracking and shaking a cold pack. Once it felt icy he handed it to Murdock.
"Listen, Murdock…we're both sorry. I had no right going off on you two the way I did. I took my stress about Face out on you, and it wasn't fair."
"And I should have controlled my temper…I'm sorry I hurt ya."
Murdock looked at the two men before him and said, "So…you two worked things out?"
They both nodded and Hannibal said, "We had a long talk."
"Yeah…we're good."
Murdock smiled wide. "I knew Billy would get you two under control."
B.A. was about to protest, but a look from Hannibal silenced him.
Murdock's smile disappeared. "Face was having an awful dream before."
"About Sue?"
"No…sounded like from his childhood. He actually kicked my arm…oh no!"
"What's the matter, Captain?"
"He thinks he hurt me…that's why I didn't say anything before…I didn't want him to blame himself. Now he's going to think it's all his fault."
"B.A., go check on Face."
"You got it, man." B.A. came back minutes later looking grim. "I can't find him."
"What do you mean you can't find him?"
"You seem not to get me lately. He's gone. Front door's open but then we didn't close it when we came in and rushed to the fool."
"Okay, let's stay calm. He can't be far." Hannibal wasn't sure if this was advice to his men or rather to himself. "BA, search around the house, I'll look in the house, Murdock, stay put."
"I can manage inside the house, you join BA outside. It's not likely he's inside and you need to find him fast."
"Alright." They went about their tasks and came back minutes later without a clue as to where Face was.
"Okay, we have to search the area. We still have some hours of daylight left. Murdock, you stay here in case he comes back. You can search the area about 100m around the house but not further. BA, how's your leg?"
"I'm fine."
"Will you also be after walking through the forest for hours?"
"I'll be alright."
Hannibal nodded. "We don't know which direction he went. We comb a radius of one kilometer around the house, in his physical condition he can't have gotten further. You know the problem is he's expert in hiding, if he doesn't want to be found we'll have a hard time. Stay in radio contact. Let's move out."