Yay! Chapter seven is here!!!! Enjoy.
1.1.1.1 PART SEVEN – Some Things Never Change.
After picking up her book from the table, Kate laid herself down on the sofa for her first night off since the A-Team left – four days ago. She'd worked non-stop since they'd gone and she was starting to feel the fatigue. Steve told her to stay home that night rather than come in and help or go the VA and for once Kate didn't argue with him. She'd gotten enough information out of Donaldson for now and it was time for a short recess.
She wasn't five pages into her book when someone pounded on the door. She sat up mindful. Steve had told her he'd call in the morning, so it couldn't be him, plus he usually rang before he came, and it wasn't likely to be anyone else from work. Deciding to air on the side of caution, she picked up her gun from the table, while placing her book down. She stood and moved quietly towards the hall where whoever it was banged again. Feeling the adrenaline pumping she reached the door. She took a deep breath ready for anything, and was about to ask who it was when a voice spoke.
"Kate? Kate are you there?"
The voice called carefully.
"Murdock?"
She unlocked and opened the door to see Murdock standing there, looking tired and filthy.
"What are you doing here? You scared me!"
"We need your help. Are you alone?"
Kate nodded. Murdock signalled to someone behind him and she saw Hannibal and BA emerge from the shadows, the limp form of Face hanging between them.
"My God, what happened?"
She asked moving aside to let them in.
"Put him on the couch."
She commanded, placing the gun in the back of her jeans , while grabbing the first aid kit from the cabinet in the living room.
"He got shot at. Bounced off a metal can and scraped past his temple. We've cleaned it as best we can but we wanted to get it checked out by a professional."
"Good idea."
She said kneeling next to the unconscious Lieutenant and automatically placing her fingers on his carotid artery. It was there and relatively strong. She looked up at the rest of the Team.
"You all look like hell, why don't you go into the kitchen, get some coffee and something to eat. The bathrooms upstairs, first on the left if you want to clean up."
She turned back to Face, carefully lifting the make-shift bandage to examine the wound.
"Will he be okay? He's been unconscious since it happened."
Hannibal asked her.
"He'll be fine, it's mostly superficial, but he may need a couple stitches. He's concussed, that's why he's unconscious, he'll wake soon enough."
Hannibal placed a hand on Kate's shoulder and squeezed it. Kate looked up at him, nodding in understanding at his concern. Then the three of them left Kate to look after him.
She was just finishing the two tiny butterfly stitches and placing two small lines of tape across the wound when she heard a low moaning and Face started to stir. She shushed him gently.
"Careful, take it easy."
She whispered. He moaned again and moved his head.
"Face, try and keep still for me."
"My head..."
He whispered, then his eyes fluttered open and focused blearily on her.
"Kate...?"
She smiled.
"Yeah, it's me. Just relax. Do you remember what happened?"
"Fighting...he had gun..."
"That's' right. You were very lucky. The bullet just scraped past your temple. You've got a concussion and I've had to give you a couple stitches."
"Stitches?"
His eyes widened slightly at the thought.
"Don't worry, I haven't ruined your good looks. They won't leave a scar. A couple days and you'll be as good as new."
"What a headache...I'll kill him."
"Kill who?"
"Hannibal...said it'd be a p-"
"-Piece of cake."
She finished for him and laughed.
"You should know by now never to trust him when he says it'll be a piece of cake. That's just jinxing it from the word go."
Face grunted.
"Get some sleep. And I want you to take it easy for the next few days. Get over the concussion."
Face just nodded and closed his eyes.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
She smiled, then quietly packed away the first aid kit and joined the others in the kitchen.
Hannibal, Murdock and BA were sitting quietly around the table, drinking coffee. All three looked up when she entered.
"How is he?"
Hannibal asked straight away. She noted as she answered that all three seemed to have cleaned themselves up and she was relieved. Now she wouldn't have to order them.
"He's gonna be fine. In fact he just woke up – but, he's asleep so there's no point in rushing in there."
Hannibal sat back down from the half standing position he was in. The three men physically relaxed to know that Face was gonna be fine.
"I told him he's to take it easy for the next few days, so I want you to make sure he does. No more missions for a while, okay?"
They all nodded solemnly.
"For a moment back then, when I saw that guy shoot at him, I thought he was a gonna."
Hannibal said quietly.
"Nah Colonel, Faceman one tough guy."
"Try lucky, fool. That man was just a bad shot."
Murdock stared at BA.
"Faceman's tougher that you think you ugly mudsucker."
At the name calling BA went and stood toe to toe with Murdock who stared back trying to be just as menacingly.
"What'd you call me fool?"
BA grabbed his lapels and was just lifting him off the floor when they heard a stifled laugh come from over by the sink and they looked over to see Kate trying hard not to giggle.
"What?"
BA asked, not amused. He lowered Murdock a little.
"Even after over a decade you lot never change. You and Murdock still argue, Hannibal's still on the Jazz and Face is still the charming, chauvinistic heart-breaker. And you're still helping people that need it. Huh...some things just never change."
"You have."
Hannibal replied softly, with a hint of sadness. Kate looked at him, staring at her with those clear blue eyes. She turned away and picked up the kettle, pouring herself a coffee.
"Yeah...well, circumstances out of my control."
She replied just as softly.
"And those circumstances mean you have to take your gun to the door everytime someone knocks?"
Kate turned back round to face him. She noted that he'd stood, and that both Murdock and BA were watching her carefully. Especially Murdock, who she knew could tell what she was going through.
"I've just been more cautious lately. Two of my friends were murdered while on the job I was suppose to be on."
As an after thought she added,
"We're all being careful at the moment, just until we've sorted it all out."
Murdock knew straight away that it was something more and he stood and walked over to her.
"You're angry with yourself. Because you think it should have been you."
She turned to him angrily.
"Yeah, it should have been me! But then I go and get myself shot and Danny and Mike took over!"
Her voice broke slightly.
"I didn't even know they'd been assigned it."
There was a pause.
"Tell me what happened. How did you get shot?"
"I went into a warehouse to question a man we found to be easily persuaded to dish out information – all it too was Chinese take-away...we'd been a thousand times...but someone must have found out...they were waiting for me."
"Where was your partner?"
"I told him to wait out in the car, that I'd be okay."
She looked down.
"Doesn't sound like your fault to me."
She looked up at Hannibal.
"But it was, don't you see...I let my guard down. If I'd have been more cautious, if I'd have let Steve come in with me, then none of this would have happened. Danny and Mike would still be alive."
"Yeah, but you wouldn't. You've have been killed instead of them."
Murdock argued, the grief evident.
"What would that matter."
She said despondently, staring at the floor, trying to hold back the tears she felt coming.
"Everyone I love...think I died a decade ago. Wouldn't have been many people who would have missed me. You already thought I was dead."
"But I didn't."
She looked up at him.
"Not really. Even after going to the funeral, seeing your grave. Somewhere deep inside, I could still feel you...I can't explain it...but, ever since I first met you there was a connection and I know you can feel it. It was always strongest when we were together, but I could still feel it when we were miles away. So, when I heard you'd died I couldn't believe it because the bond was still there. For a while I just figured maybe, you were with me in spirit, but when I heard rumours you may still be alive I had to believe them. So, you see. If you had have died, then I would have known it, because part of me would have died."
Kate stared at him. In those eyes she could see the Murdock she knew, the serious, sensual Murdock, and not the crazy Murdock she had seen for the past couple of weeks. She felt the tears coming, because she knew that he was right. Then she felt gratitude and contentment when he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. She wrapped her own arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest, feeling comforted.
Hannibal and BA, feeling as if they were prying on a personal moment, decided to check up on Face and they left quietly.
Murdock and Kate stood still as Kate sorted out her feelings and took hold of her emotions, stopping the tears. Feeling the silence going on to long and become awkward, she spoke.
"This feels familiar."
She sighed, relaxing. Murdock looked down at her head resting on him.
"It's comfortable."
She lifted her head and looked up into him.
"It always was."
She felt her face moving closer to his as he lowered it. Feeling the old memories sweep over her, she started to close her eyes. He did too.
Then, suddenly, as one, they both realised what they were doing and they pulled back, giving each other small, awkward smiles.
"Um...maybe I should see how Faceman is doing."
Kate just nodded as Murdock walked out. Kate took a breath and leaned back onto the counter.
*What the hell were you thinking, Kate?* She said to herself. *You can't just go back to how it was, you've discussed this. Now get back into professional mode, check up on your patient and forget what just happened. All gestures of affection stop right now.*
When she entered she saw Face half sitting up chatting to Murdock. Hannibal and BA were listening.
"I thought I told you to rest."
She said like a stern doctor.
"I'm resting...see I'm still sitting, hm?"
She rested her hands on her hips and gave him a look. She was about to lecture him on the importance of resting after a serious knock to the head when she heard her beeper. She looked around, unsure of where she left it, then spotting it on the coffee table she grabbed it.
"It's Steve, he's coming over." She looked up. "You'll have to go before he gets here. But you," she looked at Face "need rest. At least a week. You're to do nothing strenuous you got me? Nothing strenuous."
Face rolled his eyes and nodded.
"And that includes dates."
"No dates for a week?!"
He whined, Kate ignored him.
"If you come back in a fortnight I'll take the stitches out. You lot can make sure he stays home."
Hannibal, Murdock and BA nodded.
"Now, you'd better get going. Steve'll be here soon."
Hannibal and BA stood and started to help Face up. Murdock turned to Kate and took her shoulders.
"Will you be okay?"
Kate smiled.
"I'll be fine. I've been fine for 10 years."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"I'm sure. I'll call if I need to talk, okay?"
"You'd better. I'll give you a ring when I'm back at the VA."
He pulled her in and gave her a brief, comforting hug. She gave him a squeeze back and they parted. She walked him to the door and waved them off. She went back inside and tidied up and 5 minutes later the doorbell rang and Steve called through.
"Kate, it's me."
Kate opened the door.
"Hey Steve, what's up?"
"Just checking on you. How you doing?"
Kate sighed. *Where do I begin?*
********************
A week later and nothing new has happened. Murdock had rang a couple of times and said that he would be back the next day. Kate was glad because they had a lot to discuss – mostly about their relationship. She said she'd meet him at 1pm.
That night Steve came round again, unexpected. Kate knew that something was wrong straight away and she led him to the sofa where he watched her for a moment.
"What's wrong? Steve? You're scaring me, what's happened?"
He looked at her sadly.
"Kate...Josh...he was found dead in his apartment."
She stared at him.
"What...?"
Her breathing became slightly shaky and Steve put his hand on hers.
"The place had been ransacked. Looks like it was the same people that killed Mike and Danny."
She was silent for a moment.
"When will it end...when...?"
Steve took both her shoulders and pulled her towards him, to face him properly. He knew that the news was going to affect her deeply. She'd known Josh since she was a kid. He'd been her father's partner.
"Kate...we need to stay strong, okay? We need to keep going. The sooner we find out who's behind it the sooner it will all be over. You got me? Kate?"
Her eyes focused on him and he saw a sudden strength fill the empty void that was there. He'd managed to get through. As long as he could keep her strong now, to help her get through it, then he could deal with the aftermath once everything was over. It was the only way to survive in their line of work. It made it harder in the long run but later didn't matter.
"What do you want me to do?"
She said, the determination in her voice.
"I found some more information."
He handed her the file that he'd placed on the table.
"What's this?"
"Everything we have on Peter Hart."
She opened the file and took out a single sheet of paper.
"Not much then?"
"No, Peter Hart isn't his real name. We do have a photo. We want you to show Donaldson to make sure it's him."
Kate nodded.
"Sure, I'll go and see him tomorrow."
Steve nodded.
"I'd better get back. Are you going to be okay?"
Kate looked at him and sort of shrugged.
"You know...for now."
"I know. Call me."
Kate nodded and showed him out, locking the door securely after him. Once he'd driven off down the road she leaned back against the wall, her eyes closed and took a couple of deep breaths. Everything was moving so fast, things were happening all at once and she wasn't sure where she'd ever get the strength to carry on. Then she thought of Murdock. He'd always managed to pull her back from the edge in 'Nam as she had him. She opened her eyes and knew that she would be okay...at least for the time being.
It was strange how some things never changed...not even how deeply Murdock could affect her.
*******************
The phone rang and he picked it up.
"What?"
"It's me papa. Josh didn't have anything on him."
"So it has to be Kate." He said, slight laughter in his voice. "Okay, tomorrow I'll send my own men to her place to find out if it's there. I want to deal with this personally. If it's not then-"
"You can't kill her!"
"Calm down! I just want to scare her. Maybe she'll show us where the papers are hidden."
"What if she does have them?"
"Then she's mine. Don't worry, I won't kill her. Not at first anyway, it'll be more fun to keep her around for a while. And I don't want you anywhere near. If she figures it may be you, then your covers blown. I'll ring you tomorrow night."
The phone line went dead. Colin hung up his end and sighed, putting his head in his hands.
******************
11.30 the next day and Kate slouched out of the VA exhausted. Donaldson had finally identified the photo – it was Peter Hart and Donaldson had also mentioned that Peter was his first name but that he had changed his last name for some reason. Donaldson said he didn't know what it was but he said that he had a son that he thinks was called Colin. Frowning, Kate slumped into her car and called Steve, giving him the news so that he could research into it.
Unlocking the front door she stopped dead at the sight that met her eyes. The hall was a mess – straight away she pulled the gun out of the back of her trousers. She took a few cautious steps and entered the living room. Before she had time to fully enter she felt a gun dig into her back.
"Don't move."
Well...? Good? Bad? Terrible? Please R and R.
1.1.1.1 PART SEVEN – Some Things Never Change.
After picking up her book from the table, Kate laid herself down on the sofa for her first night off since the A-Team left – four days ago. She'd worked non-stop since they'd gone and she was starting to feel the fatigue. Steve told her to stay home that night rather than come in and help or go the VA and for once Kate didn't argue with him. She'd gotten enough information out of Donaldson for now and it was time for a short recess.
She wasn't five pages into her book when someone pounded on the door. She sat up mindful. Steve had told her he'd call in the morning, so it couldn't be him, plus he usually rang before he came, and it wasn't likely to be anyone else from work. Deciding to air on the side of caution, she picked up her gun from the table, while placing her book down. She stood and moved quietly towards the hall where whoever it was banged again. Feeling the adrenaline pumping she reached the door. She took a deep breath ready for anything, and was about to ask who it was when a voice spoke.
"Kate? Kate are you there?"
The voice called carefully.
"Murdock?"
She unlocked and opened the door to see Murdock standing there, looking tired and filthy.
"What are you doing here? You scared me!"
"We need your help. Are you alone?"
Kate nodded. Murdock signalled to someone behind him and she saw Hannibal and BA emerge from the shadows, the limp form of Face hanging between them.
"My God, what happened?"
She asked moving aside to let them in.
"Put him on the couch."
She commanded, placing the gun in the back of her jeans , while grabbing the first aid kit from the cabinet in the living room.
"He got shot at. Bounced off a metal can and scraped past his temple. We've cleaned it as best we can but we wanted to get it checked out by a professional."
"Good idea."
She said kneeling next to the unconscious Lieutenant and automatically placing her fingers on his carotid artery. It was there and relatively strong. She looked up at the rest of the Team.
"You all look like hell, why don't you go into the kitchen, get some coffee and something to eat. The bathrooms upstairs, first on the left if you want to clean up."
She turned back to Face, carefully lifting the make-shift bandage to examine the wound.
"Will he be okay? He's been unconscious since it happened."
Hannibal asked her.
"He'll be fine, it's mostly superficial, but he may need a couple stitches. He's concussed, that's why he's unconscious, he'll wake soon enough."
Hannibal placed a hand on Kate's shoulder and squeezed it. Kate looked up at him, nodding in understanding at his concern. Then the three of them left Kate to look after him.
She was just finishing the two tiny butterfly stitches and placing two small lines of tape across the wound when she heard a low moaning and Face started to stir. She shushed him gently.
"Careful, take it easy."
She whispered. He moaned again and moved his head.
"Face, try and keep still for me."
"My head..."
He whispered, then his eyes fluttered open and focused blearily on her.
"Kate...?"
She smiled.
"Yeah, it's me. Just relax. Do you remember what happened?"
"Fighting...he had gun..."
"That's' right. You were very lucky. The bullet just scraped past your temple. You've got a concussion and I've had to give you a couple stitches."
"Stitches?"
His eyes widened slightly at the thought.
"Don't worry, I haven't ruined your good looks. They won't leave a scar. A couple days and you'll be as good as new."
"What a headache...I'll kill him."
"Kill who?"
"Hannibal...said it'd be a p-"
"-Piece of cake."
She finished for him and laughed.
"You should know by now never to trust him when he says it'll be a piece of cake. That's just jinxing it from the word go."
Face grunted.
"Get some sleep. And I want you to take it easy for the next few days. Get over the concussion."
Face just nodded and closed his eyes.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
She smiled, then quietly packed away the first aid kit and joined the others in the kitchen.
Hannibal, Murdock and BA were sitting quietly around the table, drinking coffee. All three looked up when she entered.
"How is he?"
Hannibal asked straight away. She noted as she answered that all three seemed to have cleaned themselves up and she was relieved. Now she wouldn't have to order them.
"He's gonna be fine. In fact he just woke up – but, he's asleep so there's no point in rushing in there."
Hannibal sat back down from the half standing position he was in. The three men physically relaxed to know that Face was gonna be fine.
"I told him he's to take it easy for the next few days, so I want you to make sure he does. No more missions for a while, okay?"
They all nodded solemnly.
"For a moment back then, when I saw that guy shoot at him, I thought he was a gonna."
Hannibal said quietly.
"Nah Colonel, Faceman one tough guy."
"Try lucky, fool. That man was just a bad shot."
Murdock stared at BA.
"Faceman's tougher that you think you ugly mudsucker."
At the name calling BA went and stood toe to toe with Murdock who stared back trying to be just as menacingly.
"What'd you call me fool?"
BA grabbed his lapels and was just lifting him off the floor when they heard a stifled laugh come from over by the sink and they looked over to see Kate trying hard not to giggle.
"What?"
BA asked, not amused. He lowered Murdock a little.
"Even after over a decade you lot never change. You and Murdock still argue, Hannibal's still on the Jazz and Face is still the charming, chauvinistic heart-breaker. And you're still helping people that need it. Huh...some things just never change."
"You have."
Hannibal replied softly, with a hint of sadness. Kate looked at him, staring at her with those clear blue eyes. She turned away and picked up the kettle, pouring herself a coffee.
"Yeah...well, circumstances out of my control."
She replied just as softly.
"And those circumstances mean you have to take your gun to the door everytime someone knocks?"
Kate turned back round to face him. She noted that he'd stood, and that both Murdock and BA were watching her carefully. Especially Murdock, who she knew could tell what she was going through.
"I've just been more cautious lately. Two of my friends were murdered while on the job I was suppose to be on."
As an after thought she added,
"We're all being careful at the moment, just until we've sorted it all out."
Murdock knew straight away that it was something more and he stood and walked over to her.
"You're angry with yourself. Because you think it should have been you."
She turned to him angrily.
"Yeah, it should have been me! But then I go and get myself shot and Danny and Mike took over!"
Her voice broke slightly.
"I didn't even know they'd been assigned it."
There was a pause.
"Tell me what happened. How did you get shot?"
"I went into a warehouse to question a man we found to be easily persuaded to dish out information – all it too was Chinese take-away...we'd been a thousand times...but someone must have found out...they were waiting for me."
"Where was your partner?"
"I told him to wait out in the car, that I'd be okay."
She looked down.
"Doesn't sound like your fault to me."
She looked up at Hannibal.
"But it was, don't you see...I let my guard down. If I'd have been more cautious, if I'd have let Steve come in with me, then none of this would have happened. Danny and Mike would still be alive."
"Yeah, but you wouldn't. You've have been killed instead of them."
Murdock argued, the grief evident.
"What would that matter."
She said despondently, staring at the floor, trying to hold back the tears she felt coming.
"Everyone I love...think I died a decade ago. Wouldn't have been many people who would have missed me. You already thought I was dead."
"But I didn't."
She looked up at him.
"Not really. Even after going to the funeral, seeing your grave. Somewhere deep inside, I could still feel you...I can't explain it...but, ever since I first met you there was a connection and I know you can feel it. It was always strongest when we were together, but I could still feel it when we were miles away. So, when I heard you'd died I couldn't believe it because the bond was still there. For a while I just figured maybe, you were with me in spirit, but when I heard rumours you may still be alive I had to believe them. So, you see. If you had have died, then I would have known it, because part of me would have died."
Kate stared at him. In those eyes she could see the Murdock she knew, the serious, sensual Murdock, and not the crazy Murdock she had seen for the past couple of weeks. She felt the tears coming, because she knew that he was right. Then she felt gratitude and contentment when he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. She wrapped her own arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest, feeling comforted.
Hannibal and BA, feeling as if they were prying on a personal moment, decided to check up on Face and they left quietly.
Murdock and Kate stood still as Kate sorted out her feelings and took hold of her emotions, stopping the tears. Feeling the silence going on to long and become awkward, she spoke.
"This feels familiar."
She sighed, relaxing. Murdock looked down at her head resting on him.
"It's comfortable."
She lifted her head and looked up into him.
"It always was."
She felt her face moving closer to his as he lowered it. Feeling the old memories sweep over her, she started to close her eyes. He did too.
Then, suddenly, as one, they both realised what they were doing and they pulled back, giving each other small, awkward smiles.
"Um...maybe I should see how Faceman is doing."
Kate just nodded as Murdock walked out. Kate took a breath and leaned back onto the counter.
*What the hell were you thinking, Kate?* She said to herself. *You can't just go back to how it was, you've discussed this. Now get back into professional mode, check up on your patient and forget what just happened. All gestures of affection stop right now.*
When she entered she saw Face half sitting up chatting to Murdock. Hannibal and BA were listening.
"I thought I told you to rest."
She said like a stern doctor.
"I'm resting...see I'm still sitting, hm?"
She rested her hands on her hips and gave him a look. She was about to lecture him on the importance of resting after a serious knock to the head when she heard her beeper. She looked around, unsure of where she left it, then spotting it on the coffee table she grabbed it.
"It's Steve, he's coming over." She looked up. "You'll have to go before he gets here. But you," she looked at Face "need rest. At least a week. You're to do nothing strenuous you got me? Nothing strenuous."
Face rolled his eyes and nodded.
"And that includes dates."
"No dates for a week?!"
He whined, Kate ignored him.
"If you come back in a fortnight I'll take the stitches out. You lot can make sure he stays home."
Hannibal, Murdock and BA nodded.
"Now, you'd better get going. Steve'll be here soon."
Hannibal and BA stood and started to help Face up. Murdock turned to Kate and took her shoulders.
"Will you be okay?"
Kate smiled.
"I'll be fine. I've been fine for 10 years."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"I'm sure. I'll call if I need to talk, okay?"
"You'd better. I'll give you a ring when I'm back at the VA."
He pulled her in and gave her a brief, comforting hug. She gave him a squeeze back and they parted. She walked him to the door and waved them off. She went back inside and tidied up and 5 minutes later the doorbell rang and Steve called through.
"Kate, it's me."
Kate opened the door.
"Hey Steve, what's up?"
"Just checking on you. How you doing?"
Kate sighed. *Where do I begin?*
********************
A week later and nothing new has happened. Murdock had rang a couple of times and said that he would be back the next day. Kate was glad because they had a lot to discuss – mostly about their relationship. She said she'd meet him at 1pm.
That night Steve came round again, unexpected. Kate knew that something was wrong straight away and she led him to the sofa where he watched her for a moment.
"What's wrong? Steve? You're scaring me, what's happened?"
He looked at her sadly.
"Kate...Josh...he was found dead in his apartment."
She stared at him.
"What...?"
Her breathing became slightly shaky and Steve put his hand on hers.
"The place had been ransacked. Looks like it was the same people that killed Mike and Danny."
She was silent for a moment.
"When will it end...when...?"
Steve took both her shoulders and pulled her towards him, to face him properly. He knew that the news was going to affect her deeply. She'd known Josh since she was a kid. He'd been her father's partner.
"Kate...we need to stay strong, okay? We need to keep going. The sooner we find out who's behind it the sooner it will all be over. You got me? Kate?"
Her eyes focused on him and he saw a sudden strength fill the empty void that was there. He'd managed to get through. As long as he could keep her strong now, to help her get through it, then he could deal with the aftermath once everything was over. It was the only way to survive in their line of work. It made it harder in the long run but later didn't matter.
"What do you want me to do?"
She said, the determination in her voice.
"I found some more information."
He handed her the file that he'd placed on the table.
"What's this?"
"Everything we have on Peter Hart."
She opened the file and took out a single sheet of paper.
"Not much then?"
"No, Peter Hart isn't his real name. We do have a photo. We want you to show Donaldson to make sure it's him."
Kate nodded.
"Sure, I'll go and see him tomorrow."
Steve nodded.
"I'd better get back. Are you going to be okay?"
Kate looked at him and sort of shrugged.
"You know...for now."
"I know. Call me."
Kate nodded and showed him out, locking the door securely after him. Once he'd driven off down the road she leaned back against the wall, her eyes closed and took a couple of deep breaths. Everything was moving so fast, things were happening all at once and she wasn't sure where she'd ever get the strength to carry on. Then she thought of Murdock. He'd always managed to pull her back from the edge in 'Nam as she had him. She opened her eyes and knew that she would be okay...at least for the time being.
It was strange how some things never changed...not even how deeply Murdock could affect her.
*******************
The phone rang and he picked it up.
"What?"
"It's me papa. Josh didn't have anything on him."
"So it has to be Kate." He said, slight laughter in his voice. "Okay, tomorrow I'll send my own men to her place to find out if it's there. I want to deal with this personally. If it's not then-"
"You can't kill her!"
"Calm down! I just want to scare her. Maybe she'll show us where the papers are hidden."
"What if she does have them?"
"Then she's mine. Don't worry, I won't kill her. Not at first anyway, it'll be more fun to keep her around for a while. And I don't want you anywhere near. If she figures it may be you, then your covers blown. I'll ring you tomorrow night."
The phone line went dead. Colin hung up his end and sighed, putting his head in his hands.
******************
11.30 the next day and Kate slouched out of the VA exhausted. Donaldson had finally identified the photo – it was Peter Hart and Donaldson had also mentioned that Peter was his first name but that he had changed his last name for some reason. Donaldson said he didn't know what it was but he said that he had a son that he thinks was called Colin. Frowning, Kate slumped into her car and called Steve, giving him the news so that he could research into it.
Unlocking the front door she stopped dead at the sight that met her eyes. The hall was a mess – straight away she pulled the gun out of the back of her trousers. She took a few cautious steps and entered the living room. Before she had time to fully enter she felt a gun dig into her back.
"Don't move."
Well...? Good? Bad? Terrible? Please R and R.