Hey again. I'm trying to slowly pick up my story line again. I've been writing during my time away so hope to stay on track a bit. Fingers crossed for more updates on this story.
Stay safe and healthy and I hope you enjoy this new chapter.
Chapter 7 - a minor setback
"Murdock! Are you alright?"
A soft gasp escaped Murdock's lips as he came to his senses with a start. What happened? Face's foggy head hovered in front of the pilot's face before coming into focus. Murdock realized with a hint of shame that he must've fainted and he quickly composed his face, silently scolding himself to get a grip.
"Yes, I'm okay," He answered almost robotically while finding out he was sitting on the bathroom floor with his back leaning against the wall and his head uncomfortably against the sink.
Fighting off the fuzzy remains of his brief fainting spell, he scrambled back to his feet a little too fast.
"Whooo, hold down, buddy," Face said as the pilot swayed lightly on his feet.
Murdock vaguely felt his friend supporting him but was too occupied watching the colonel drag an unconscious B.A out of view with lots of huffing and puffing. For a split second, he racked his brain to understand what had just happened. Then he saw the red and black bird from the corner of his eyes, and he remembered the infuriated B.A advancing on him in total shock of being on board of a plane. Then there was nothing...but Murdock figured it must've been a short fainting spell. Maybe he could pretend it didn't happen. He turned his head to Face who looked back at him with clear concern in his eyes. Murdock immediately formed a not-so-convincing grin on his features to comfort his friend.
"It was all just pretense, Faceman. Obviously I was trying to distract B.A so you guys could knock him out again." He spoke, hoping that the conman would buy it.
But Face did not…
"So you've decided to continue lying to me," was all he said.
Murdock's grin faltered instantly. He looked at his shoes while muttering an apology. Face was completely right of course, but he just felt too embarrassed about this whole situation.
"Let's get you something to drink, okay?" Peck sighed as he guided the trembling pilot out of the restroom and back to the conference room.
Murdock obeyed silently, feeling too defeated to make any objections. The bird sniggered eerily from his shoulder.
*Two hours had passed since the ordeal in the jetplane and the team had made a safe landing in Arkansas.*
Hannibal leaned back in the comfortable driver's seat of the rented four-door sedan that their client had kindly provided. He'd parked it in front of a phone booth in which Face was currently making some important phone calls.
Upon their arrival at the airport, the rather big luxurious car waited for them, free of charge and with directions to a 3-star hotel that was located in a town near the school. Apparently, the Gilberts had booked them a room there, but Hannibal was not going to make use of this offer. And he'd also already decided that he was going to trade the flashy rental for something more practical instead.
What he really needed was a sense of subtlety. The team needed to blend in instead of standing out.
Of course, it was more than generous of the Gilberts to provide them with all the things they could wish for. They simply wanted to help the team wherever they could to get their boy back safe and sound. And clearly, money was of no concern.
"Huh.. that's an understatement," Hannibal mumbled under his breath while lighting a fresh cigar. It was the first time a client had been so willing to pay for everything.
For a split second, Hannibal wondered what it would feel like never to have to worry about money anymore. But he quickly erased the rather pleasurable image from his mind with a little shake of his head. It wasn't very pragmatic to muse over these kinds of thoughts right now.
Puffing on his cigar, the colonel peered through the curly clouds of smoke with a slightly furrowed brow. If there was ever a client eager to aid them during a mission, it was the Gilberts. However, the colonel sensed a certain pressure with this particular job. It was clear that the Gilberts wanted to see their money's worth in return.
Such a pity they'd already encountered a bump in the road before getting started. That must've been some sort of record.
Hannibal shrugged airily. Oh well... It was nothing he couldn't deal with. Murdock's situation had proved to be a small setback indeed but the colonel never turned down a challenge. He just needed to adjust his initial plan and change his course of action accordingly. And it was a good thing they didn't need the skills of a pilot for this job. Despite his optimistic demeanor, the colonel couldn't deny that he felt a bit worried about his captain. At the moment, it was hard to tell how long, or even how badly, Murdock would have to deal with his withdrawal symptoms. Would he be able to help, if at all? Hannibal moved his cigar to the corner of his mouth and lazily folded his arms over his chest. He knew Murdock was tough as nails and would probably try waving it away like a pesky little cold while insisting on participating whatever the consequences. He'd done it before and always delivered. The zany pilot may be a bit juvenile at times, but he was still a grown-up man capable of making his own decisions. In fact, they all were... Anyway, the captain would never risk getting his teammates into any hazardous situations if he could prevent it.
The colonel suddenly smirked around his cigar.
"...Come to think of it. That's my job."
He'd made his decision for now. If Murdock's condition allowed it, he would let the pilot take part in this mission. If not, he would order the crazy man to lay low and get some rest (though he could already hear the complaints grinding his ears if it ever had to come to that).
Hannibal's eyes moved to the phone booth. It looked like Face was finishing his call. Good. He needed the conman for the first part of his plan. A grin formed on his lips as he opened his window to flick off some ash from his cigar. The jazz was already building up in his gut and the prospect of some serious action in his future felt exuberant. Plan B was going to be as good as plan A, no doubt about it
The front passenger door opened, and Face hopped in.
"So what did Maggie say," Hannibal inquired eagerly.
Face sighed in exasperation. Couldn't the man at least wait until he sat down properly? He combed a frustrated hand through his hair.
"Well, as to be expected, there is not much we can do right now,"
"Hm..." Hannibal nodded, though seemed a bit surprised. "Nothing?".
Face shook his head while absentmindedly looking out of the front window.
"Maggie said it would've been best if he'd slowly cut back his dose and preferably under the guidance of a doctor, but it's too late for that now. She thinks he'll just have to sit this one out, but if his symptoms get any worse, he needs to see a doctor immediately."
Hannibal nodded, looking in thought.
"Did she tell us what to expect?"
The conman shrugged.
"She told me to expect flu-like symptoms like fever, shaking, muscle cramps, but also delusions... Even hallucinations,"
"Nothing new there," Hannibal joked half-heartedly.
"Perhaps not, but she warned us that it wouldn't be the usual kind of imagination we'll have to deal with. Not like Billy."
Face paused for a moment, running his hand through his hair for a second time with a nervous gesture.
"Something you're not telling me, lieutenant?" Hannibal inquired calmly.
The conman gave his commander a sideway glance and hesitated for a second.
"I'm not sure, Hannibal," he said pensively. "On the plane, there was definitely something off about Murdock. He seemed agitated about something, and I believe he was talking to something or someone."
Then he shrugged.
"I don't know...The best thing we can do for now is keeping a close eye on him and make sure he stays well-hydrated and fed. I told Maggie he's sweating peanuts, and she warned me that dehydration is a very likely possibility in his state and a whole different kind of problem to deal with."
Hannibal nodded again.
"We'll hop over to Hamburger Heaven for some food and drinks on our way back," He said. "Meanwhile, B.A is keeping an eye on him…"
Face made a disapproving sound. "If he's still alive…" he scoffed sounding rather sarcastic. "I'm still not sure if leaving Murdock at the motel with a VERY grouchy B.A was one of your better plans."
The colonel chuckled lightly as he started the engine
"Hannibal. I mean it! Didn't you see his eyes? They were livid. If looks could kill, we'd all been eighty-sixed by now,"
Motor running, the colonel turned in his seat to give his lieutenant a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Calm down Face. B.A might play rough at times, but he wouldn't hurt Murdock, not even in his foulest of moods,"
"He hit 'you' on the plane," Face emphasized with a slight smirk.
"Well…yeah," Hannibal grinned while rubbing his thumb over his lightly bruised chin, a souvenir from the scuffle with his half-sedated sergeant.
"But in all these years of countless threats," he continued, "have you ever seen him actually 'hit' Murdock?"
It took Face a moment. He'd seen Baracus hunting the pilot down many times. It went from throwing him into a harbor to chasing him up a tree where Murdock stayed for three hours before he felt safe enough to come down. But every time it was all in good humor. He never actually followed up on his rather violent promises.
"Come to think of it… not really," Face finally replied.
"Exactly," The colonel said while clenching his cigar in the corner of his mouth. "He's safe with him. Don't worry,"
Face nodded thoughtfully while his commander put the sedan in gear and pulled into traffic.
"Let's drop you off at the school so you can continue your part of the plan. I'll pick you up in… let's say an hour and a half?"
"That's enough time," Face agreed. "In the meantime, what are you gonna do, Hannibal?"
"Oh, you know... running some errands... snooping around a little... you know... Stuff."
"Sheesh, could you be any more vague?" Face said mockingly.
All he received was a cheeky grin from his commander that made him roll his eyes.
TBC
