Disclaimer: I don't own the A-Team and I make no money from this.

Chapter 35 Subtleties in Subterfuge

"Let's go, Syd!"

Sydney cracked an eye open and peered at Kate through the screen door. She had just enjoyed the first truly good night of sleep that she'd had in some time and part of her just wanted to stay cocooned in her hooch.

But the night before Kate had laid out a strict schedule for her over the next couple days. The first order of business was Syd's hair. Kate had informed her that HM hated the black. Syd wasn't wild about it herself. And though it was a necessity while working in the field, she wasn't in the field now.

So Syd had agreed, albeit reluctantly, to subject herself to the ministrations of Kate and a couple of her friends. Apparently one of them kept a supply of peroxide and other hair products to maintain her own Marilyn Monroe hair style and was more than happy to lend her expertise.

Hurrying to the door, Syd threw it open and waved Kate in.

"I just need to get dressed."

"Just bring your clothes. Your shorts and tank top are going to work out best while we do your hair anyway." Kate shoved an apple into Syd's hand. "Oh, and eat this to tide you over until we go to breakfast."

Syd grimaced as she gathered her things. The thought of facing even just a couple of overtly curious nurses in her current sleeping attire was daunting. She had not considered that aspect of this little project. Maybe it wasn't too late to back out.

"I don't know, Kate. Maybe we should just skip the hair coloring…"

Sighing, Kate took Syd's hand and gave it a light squeeze. "C'mon, sweetie, it'll be alright. I talked to the girls and they won't say anything. Besides, the bruises are already starting to fade. You must be a quick healer."

Not allowing herself time to think too much about it, Syd said, "Ok. Let's go."

"That a girl!"

Kate led the way out the door and Syd followed. As Kate explained the process to her and told her about the people involved, Syd couldn't help wondering.

What was she letting herself in for?

mmmmm

"What's your big fuckin' hurry?"

Murdock shrugged in the face of his best friend's obvious irritation. It had taken several minutes of prodding to get Face into motion. Now he was taking his sweet time getting dressed, leaving Murdock to pace off nervous energy.

Desperate to see Syd, Murdock was hesitant to go without backup. He suspected that she was pretty well pissed off at him after last night. And while he was certain that she'd cool off given time, the length of the cooling-off period was a real crap shoot. He wasn't willing to wait anyway. He needed to know where things stood with the Hawaii trip and figured if Face was with him, there was no way that Syd could just haul off and slug him for siccing Kate on her.

"I want to check on S-Kate… and Syd. Make sure everything turned out ok last night. 'Sides, Syd needs to go to breakfast. We don' get her to eat, she's gonna disappear."

Face was pulling on his boots, finally. "She ate pretty damn good at dinner."

"She did," Murdock agreed. "Thanks for that, by the way. I think Syd really enjoyed herself."

Face looked up at him, shaking his head. "I didn't do it for you, Murdock. Sometimes I really don't get you, you know that?"

"What? Why?"

Standing, Face glared at him.

"You act like Syd's still your girl and yet you're all snug with Kate." Face shoved by him. "By the way, I really wish you'd stop the cozy shit with Kate in front of Syd. It really bothers her. Not that you'd notice."

Grinding his teeth, Murdock turned and followed Face out of the barracks. He hated not being able to tell Face the whole truth, almost as much as he had hated not telling Syd. But by now the Syd issue should have been taken care of. Unfortunately, the Face issue was going to continue to be a challenge all through the trip.

At least Face had been somewhat mollified by his late inclusion on operation Get Syd to Hawaii. Hopefully that would keep the conman distracted enough to miss that there was more going on than just Syd's change in R&R destination. Once they were in Hawaii, Murdock figured that his best friend would be so into the local flora, fauna and females that he'd be oblivious. At least he hoped so. As close as he was to Face, he knew that keeping a lid on Sydney and him being together in Hawaii was going to be a challenge.

Of course that was assuming Sydney had agreed to go along with the plan in the first place. Murdock grimaced again.

He needed to find Syd and Kate.

fffff

"Syd?"

When Sydney didn't respond Face pushed open the screen door and poked his head in. The hooch was silent and empty. He backed out and ran straight into Murdock.

"Back off! Sheesh. She's not in there," Face said.

Murdock scowled. "Are ya sure?"

"Unless she's hiding under the bed, I'm telling you she isn't in there."

Murdock still checked. Face waited, arms crossed.

"Where could she be?" Murdock looked as worried as he was puzzled.

"Maybe she already headed to breakfast."

"Guess we can go check the mess tent. Seems strange, though." Murdock gave a stiff shrug, troubled gaze fixed in the distance, as if searching.

Murdock's unease was rubbing off on him, so Face plucked at his friend's arm and led the way. It did seem strange for Syd to head to a meal alone. In fact, in the last few days, she hadn't really ventured outside of her hooch without either him or Murdock. Well, until she'd gone to the beach with Kate the night before.

"Maybe we should go check on Kate," Face said, hesitating.

Murdock motioned him on. "Let's check the mess hall first. If we don't find them there, then we'll go check on Katie."

The chow line was short when they arrived, but Murdock bypassed it to scan the occupants of the tables.

"Do ya see 'er?"

"Nope," Face said. "But there's Kate and she looks fine."

Kate was waving them over. Murdock flashed her a tight smile and raised a hand.

As Murdock moved toward the table, his face suddenly cleared and he muttered, "I'll be damned."

Face followed his friend's gaze to a luxurious head full of blonde hair belonging to a petite woman sitting across from Kate. Not recognizing the hair as belonging to one of the nurses he knew, Face quickly decided he needed to remedy that.

He was shocked when a moment later Murdock put a hand on the woman's shoulder and spoke to her.

"We been lookin' for ya, sugar."

She turned and smiled up at them. "Hey, guys."

"Syd?" Face gasped.

Her hair was lighter than her natural dark blonde, but looked far better on her than the awful black dye job. And the relaxed smile on her face was a very welcome sight. As Murdock left her side to round the table and take a seat next to Kate, Face could only gape.

Syd laughed at him. "You can close your mouth now, Lieutenant."

He straddled the bench next to her, unable to stop staring.

"Your hair looks great, Syd, really great! When did you get it done?"

"Ann and Leia did it for me just before breakfast," Syd said. "It definitely makes me feel more like myself to be rid of the black."

Reaching out, Face ran a lock of the hair through his fingers. "It's really soft, too. I'm glad you left it long. It looks amazing on you."

"I think so too," Kate said. "Leia did trim up the bangs some, but we all agreed that she should keep the length."

Face noticed that Murdock seemed frustrated by Kate who was waving him off with a murmured. "It's fine. We'll talk about it later."

Distracted from his friend when Syd gathered her hair into a pony tail, Face's eyes traced the curve of her neck that the motion had revealed.

"I'm going to have to get it tied up in this heat, though. It's like having a winter scarf on my neck," she said.

Without thinking, Face put a hand up just as she let hers drop. Using his fingers like a comb, he managed to get all of the hair on top of her head.

"It would look great up and it would be cooler."

Hands buried in that thick, soft mop, Face couldn't seem to keep his thoughts from straying into forbidden territory. He pulled his hands back, allowing the hair to fall across Syd's shoulders in a platinum blonde wave.

She laughed and shook her head to get her mane back in place, the faint scent of bleach overlain by lavender engulfing Face as she did so. He bit the inside of his cheek. Now he not only wanted to bury his hands in her hair, but his nose as well.

Flashing him a tolerant smile, Syd said, "Yeah, that just kind of moved the problem to the top of my head. I may end up cutting it off after all."

"You do have enough hair for about half a dozen people, Syd," Leia said with a chuckle.

"Down boy."

Kate's muttered comment was directed at Murdock who was glaring across the table at him and Sydney. What the hell is that look for?

Meanwhile, Leia continued, "I have some thinning shears with me. After breakfast, we'll see if we can take some of the weight off."

Murdock grunted and when he spoke his tone was disparaging.

"Only off her head. She can't afford to lose weight anywhere else."

Face had trouble interpreting the look that Syd flung at Murdock. Then she smiled down the table at Leia.

"I really appreciate that, Leia, but I hate to be any more trouble."

"No trouble at all. I've always loved doing hair and you have a beautiful head of it. I know women who go to a lot of trouble for hair like that, Sydney."

"Well, the additional trim will have to wait until we get back from the infirmary," Kate said. "I promised Jak I'd bring Syd by this morning after breakfast. He's been bugging me about it incessantly for the last three days."

Face looked at Kate and asked, "How's Jak doing? Have they set a release date for him, yet?"

"He's doing terrific and he should be released in a day or two." Kate glanced at her watch and jumped up. "Geez, it's getting late. Come on, Syd, my shift starts in like five minutes."

Syd went to stand so Face popped to his feet and helped her out of the bench.

"I'm ready, Kate. I'm kind of anxious to see Jak, too."

Face grinned at Syd. "Tell Jak to get off his ass or he's gonna miss out on our trip."

"I'll let him know," Syd said with a laugh. "When do you guys leave?"

"Friday morning," Face said. "You're coming with us, Syd, even if Murdock and I have to pack you in our bag."

Murdock had walked Kate around the table, his expressive eyes dark with anger.

"I think we could take Lewis out, Face. That would end everyone's troubles. It's not like anyone would mourn him."

"I would," Syd said, her tone reproving. "I expect you two to behave yourselves. I can handle Lewis."

The glare Murdock directed at Syd baffled Face. Why was his friend angry at her? She was the victim in all of this.

"Fuckin' independent bullshit," Murdock muttered.

Sydney purposely caught Murdock's eye. "I mean it, Murdock. Stay the fuck out of it."

Murdock's jaw clenched and Face realized there was an undercurrent to the conversation that he had missed. What the hell was going on?

Looking at Syd, Face asked, "Are you going to try to get Lew to let you come to Hawaii?"

Syd shrugged. "I haven't seen a whole lot of Lew since we got back – we're overdue for a talk."

Kate murmured something in Murdock's ear and then gave him a peck on the cheek, saying in general, "I really gotta get moving. We'll see you guys later. Come on, Syd."

Face watched Kate and Syd walk out of the tent. It was a relief that Syd was acting more like herself. She even seemed to be getting over the worst of her upset regarding Murdock's relationship with Kate. She'd tensed when Kate had kissed Murdock goodbye, but the reaction had been mild enough to be unnoticeable.

Nudging him in the arm, Murdock said, "Let's get some food. I'm starving."

As Face followed his friend to the chow line, he asked, "Do you really think Lew's going to let Syd come to Hawaii with us?"

"Hell no."

"So we still need to move forward with alternative arrangements."

"We aren't doing anything," Murdock said sourly. "Syd won't allow it."

"What?"

Murdock shrugged. "I didn't get much more than that. Syd's being her usual stubborn, independent, maddening self. She can be a real pain in the ass. I'll have to get the story outta Katie later."

Face sighed. "I bet she doesn't want us getting in trouble if the plan goes south. That seems like a Syd kinda thing to do."

"You're pr'y right," Murdock grunted, frustration tightening his face noticeably. "Much as it pisses me off, I have to admit it kinda makes sense. Lew's gonna be expecting trouble from us."

Face grinned. "Yeah, but he'd never suspect a coupla females of trying to pull one over on him – especially not Kate. That might just work with no need for bloodshed."

Shoulders relaxing, Murdock actually chuckled. "You got a point there, Faceman. These women we're hangin' with sure are crafty."

"And Lord knows I love a crafty woman," Face said.

"Amen, brother!"

Hawaii was going to be a blast.

sssss

Outside of the mess tent, Sydney gathered her hair, twirled it into a knot at the nape of her neck and pulled a pencil out of her pocket to shove through the center.

"Ah, that's better. Forgot I had that in my pocket."

Kate raised an eyebrow at her. "Face certainly was enjoying running his fingers through your hair…"

"Face was just goofing around," Syd said with a shrug.

"Really? Well, HM didn't think it was a joke," Kate said. "He was about ready to launch across that table and throttle his best friend."

"Why?"

Kate shook her head. "Sydney, you are so clueless where men are concerned."

"I am not." Sydney considered that for several seconds, then shrugged. "Ok, maybe a little clueless. But not where Face is concerned. He and I are just friends."

"We seriously need to have a talk about the difference between a friend who is male and a boyfriend, Syd."

"This from the woman who is blurring those lines as we speak."

Kate gave a bark of laughter. "Point taken."

"Murdock is not happy with me," Syd said.

"Sweetie, trust me, once you get to Hawaii, HM will forget all about what a pain in the ass he thinks you are at times."

"I'm a pain in the ass?" Syd asked.

"Actually, I believe he called you a stubborn, independent pain in the ass."

"Ah. Well. That's better."

Kate laughed. "He adores you, Sydney. He'll get over it. Come on, Jak's been as worried about you as the rest of us, with far too much time on his hands to imagine the worst. He really is anxious to see you."

Syd felt comforting warmth spread through her chest. It was slowly sinking in that she had some truly great friends.

More than she had ever realized.

kkkkk

Kate stepped past the curtain, her gaze immediately seeking out Jak. He was sitting up on the edge of his bed, playing cards with the man next to him.

"Jak!"

He turned at the sound of her voice, his handsome face breaking into a wide smile.

"Katie!" Jak stood and started across the room. "Sydney, is that you?"

Kate turned as Syd entered behind her. They met Jak in the center of the room. He gave Kate a light kiss on the cheek and then turned to scoop Sydney up in a bear hug.

"How ya doin', sweetheart? I been worried 'bout ya."

Sydney grinned at him as he set her feet back on the floor. "Likewise, flyboy. Heard you got yourself shot up – a regular invalid."

"I'm just 'bout good as new. Don't know who you're gettin' your information from." Jak's tone was teasing, but turned serious a moment later as he took one of Syd's hands. "I heard you got into a bit o' trouble too. How're ya really doin', sweetheart?"

Syd shrugged. "Not bad. Not great, but not bad."

Tracing the bruise still evident along the curve of Syd's neck with his free hand, Jak emitted a low growl. Anger burned in his brown eyes as he met Syd's gaze.

"Is he dead? Because if he ain't, I'll hunt him down."

Taking his free hand so she held each of his in one of hers, Syd gave him a soft smile. "I don't know if he's dead and it doesn't matter. I'm alright, Jak. Really."

He stared at her silently for several seconds before lifting her right hand to his lips and then releasing it. He led her toward the bed.

"Come sit with me for a bit, sweetheart, and tell me all about how ok you are until I believe you."

"Smart ass."

Kate kept herself busy checking the other patients in the infirmary, but couldn't help watching as Jak and Syd sat side by side on his bed, heads bowed together as they talked quietly. And even though she knew the truth, it bothered her. In fact, it bothered her a lot.

Now she understood exactly how Syd had felt for the last few days.

sssss

Syd and Jak were lying on their backs, side by side on the bed flipping through a magazine Jak's mother had sent from home. It had been a pleasant afternoon, sitting and chatting with the pilot and catching up on the happenings around base. Jak had told her some hair-raising stories from his short tenure as Murdock's second, including the story of the mission that had landed him in the infirmary – and resulted in Paul's death. Jak was still having trouble coping with survivor's guilt, but he said that the therapist that was working with him was really helping a lot.

"Well, it looks like you're having a good day, today, Lieutenant Jakowski."

Snapping the magazine down on his chest, Jak squinted up at the slim, scholarly-looking man standing at the foot of his bed.

"Hey, Doc! Wondered if you was gonna show up today."

Jak swung to a sitting position on the side of the bed and then helped Syd up, keeping an arm firmly around her as he pulled her beside him.

"Doc, I'd like you to meet my girlfr-uh, my friend, Sydney Wilson. Syd, this is Dr. Arliss."

Sydney stood and shook the man's hand. "It's nice to meet you, Doctor. Jak's told me how much you've been helping him."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sydney. I've heard a lot about you."

"You have?"

Looking at Jak, Syd recognized amusement in his face even as she felt the heat in her own.

"I told ya I been worried 'bout ya, sweetheart." Jak stood and wrapped an arm around her. "Feelin' loads better since seein' ya with my own two eyes, though."

Syd smiled. "Same here, flyboy."

Jak winked at her and then fixed the doctor with a questioning look. "Did ya get my message, Doc?"

"Yes, I did. In fact I just came from a meeting with Colonel Vickers and Colonel Smith, both of whom agree that an extended R&R is warranted before you're returned to duty."

"Great!" Jak said. "Hawaii, here we come! Did Face and Murdock tell ya 'bout it, sweetheart?"

Syd opened her mouth to respond, but the doctor beat her to it.

"I'm afraid Sydney has not been cleared for R&R in Hawaii. Her supervisor won't allow it."

"What?" Jak's brows drew down over eyes darkened with obvious anger. "Why's Lewis gotta go and be such a kill-joy? Syd's part of the Team – she's gotta come with us."

Doctor Arliss looked down at Sydney. "I'm very sorry, Sydney. SA Lewis was quite adamant that you were not going to Hawaii with Colonel Smith's unit. They had a rather heated discussion about it, as a matter of fact."

"I can imagine," Sydney said. In fact, she had a good idea what the course of the argument had been even without having been there.

"This is bullshit," Jak muttered.

Giving Jak's waist a squeeze, she said, "It's alright. You'll have a good time in Hawaii and I'll see you when you get back."

"No," Jak said. "I'm not goin' without you. Forget that shit. I'd rather stay here than go to Hawaii without you. You need the R&R as bad as the rest of us."

"Jak, you need to get away and shut down," Dr. Arliss said.

"Not without Syd."

The stubborn set to Jak's jaw was enough to convince anyone that there was no arguing with him on this point. Still, Syd was going to try.

"Jak –"

Putting his hands on her shoulders, Jak fixed her with a no-nonsense look. "I said no. I ain't goin' without you and that's final. Listen, Syd, I know what you been tellin' me, but I'm tellin' you – I love you. And you need to get away. We need to get away. Everybody else be damned – including Lewis."

"Brave words for a flyboy."

Sydney turned in surprise at the sound of Lew's voice. How had Kate managed to arrange for Lewis to come in?

"Um, Syd, SA Lewis stopped by looking for you."

Kate appeared behind Lewis wringing her hands, eyes wide and worried. It looked like Lew's presence was just plain, dumb luck. And Jak's timing couldn't have been more perfect. Now Syd just needed to bring it home.

Lew's expression was bland and his voice dispassionate, as always. "Went by your hooch and you were gone. I was worried."

Syd crossed her arms and faced him. "I'm fine, Lew. What did you need?"

"Well, I had planned to talk to you about the leave situation before you heard it from someone else. Appears I'm too late, though."

Lew shot a quelling look at the doctor, who shrank back.

Jak's hand landed protectively on Syd's shoulder. "Why you gotta be such a prick, man? Syd's got a right to leave just like the rest of us."

Lew didn't even spare Jak a glance, keeping his sharp eyes trained on Sydney.

"And she'll get it, just not in Hawaii. Japan, Polynesia, even the Real World – all are doable. But Hawaii is out of the question."

"Because Murdock's going to be there," Syd said flatly.

Lew shrugged.

Sydney heaved an exasperated sigh. "He's going with Kate, Lew."

Disbelieving amusement contorted Lew's face into a frightening smile.

"You'd like me to believe that, wouldn't you? I thought we understood one another better than this?" He stepped close to her and gripped her chin, his voice low and ominous. "It isn't nice to lie to your partner, Sydney."

His grip was uncomfortably tight, as he forced her to look into his odd eyes. Syd managed to suppress the automatic flash of fear and meet his gaze with an unwavering challenge. The last two months had taught her quite a bit about the man standing in front of her. But what frightened her more than anything was the recognition that she still had a lot to learn.

With a forceful sweep of her arm she knocked Lew's hand away and sneered at him. "You're losing your touch, Lew. I'm not lying to you. I wish I was, but I'm not. I hope you're happy – you've cost me one relationship. Now you're working on another."

Allowing her gaze to stray to Jak, she let her frustration over the current situation crowd her thoughts. When she looked at one pilot, all of the longing and need she felt for the other poured out of her. This had to work.

She turned to glare at Lewis, again. "Or are you going to make him off limits, too?"

Holding her gaze, Lewis searched her face intently. He finally gave a little snort.

"You want Jakowski, have him, Sydney. I know the truth. Take your pick of R&R destinations. Anywhere you like… except Hawaii."

"Do you enjoy playing games with my life, Lew?"

Lew leaned even closer and Syd felt Jak's hand tighten on her shoulder. Neither thing caused her to flinch, though. Whatever she did, she was determined not to show weakness in front of Lew – not unless it served her purposes. She held his gaze steadily and was surprised when his face broke into a leering grin.

"As a matter of fact, Sydney, I do. I most definitely like playing games with you. Isn't that what we're good at… Partner?"

Lew spun away from her and stalked out of the infirmary. He threw one last parting comment over his shoulder.

"Don't forget to let me know where you want to go on leave with your new pilot, Sydney." He was chuckling as he disappeared from view.

Sydney took a deep, steadying breath as Jak draped an arm over her shoulders.

"Ya done good, sweetheart. Real good."

Jak's breath tickled her ear as he whispered into it. Syd wasn't sure if the involuntary shiver that raced up her spine a moment later was caused by that, or was a reaction to the danger that she knew Lewis represented. Still, this encounter could definitely be listed in the win category.

Sydney nodded. I did good enough, anyway.

"Japan, here we come."

kmc