Chapter 17 for your pleasures. Do you think this works? I wasn't sure if it
did or not - I kept reading and re-reading and I didn't know what to do
with it - I think I've read myself out!!! Any ideas you have to improve
this would be greatly appreciated. Oh and small warning of language in this
chapter - I think it's only once but it's there.
Chapter 17 - Breaking Point
BA and Jimmy watch in horror as Hannibal and Face are led out of the building, their hands resting on the top of their heads. As they are being lined up and the guards are checking their guns, Jimmy turns to BA.
"We need a distraction. Something to draw their attention away from the others."
Without warning BA suddenly stood up, in plain view.
"HEY GUYS - OVER HERE!"
He shouted. Jimmy looked shocked as BA dove sideways for cover as they started shooting. It worked and Hannibal and Face were given enough time to round on the nearby guards and grab their guns. Jimmy and BA ambushed the couple of guards stupid enough to follow him into the woods, and they came out smiling at Hannibal and Face who had rounded up nearby guards.
"Good to see you BA. Timing was perfect!"
Hannibal smiled.
"Where's Murdock and Kate?"
BA asked as he started to tie up some of the guards.
"There still inside. We'd better get in quick before his father," he gestured to Colin who was sprawled out of the floor unconscious. "does any permanent damage."
"How many more guards do you think there are?"
Jimmy asked him.
"Not many. I had a good check as I came out. I'm guessing there's about four or so with the boss and maybe a couple more patrolling the corridors."
"Well, lets get in there then!"
BA said, already for action.
*****
Meanwhile, down in the basement, Murdock wasn't having a very good time. They'd strapped him to a chair and had started to beat him up in hopes that Kate would give in at the sight. She had been gagged so that she couldn't speak at first and she was being held down in her seat by two guards who both had a hand on her shoulder to hold her in place. She was mumbling and struggling against them and the gag, trying to stop them.
Murdock chokes as the boss punches him in the ribs again, then in the stomach, causing him to retch. Murdock tries to keep his eyes on Kate as best he can and between retching and catching his breath he tries talking to her.
"Don't give in, Kate...no matter what...they do to me..."
He starts coughing from another impact in the ribs.
"Listen to me Kate...don't tell them anything."
Kate keeps struggling against them. The boss smiles at her and she widens her eyes, knowing the blood thirsty look in them. He turns to Murdock and using the butt of a rifle, he launches it into the side of Murdock's face, causing the whole chair to topple backwards. Murdock lands on his back, unable to help himself as his arms are tied to the chair. His head rebounds off the floor with a sickening thud, causing him to lose consciousness. His baseball cap goes flying off his head.
Kate screams, the sound muffled by the cloth tied round her face. The boss nods at two of the guards standing by and they lift Murdock back up, his head lolling to the side.
One of the guards holding Kate unties the gag. Immediately a string of curse words escapes her mouth that would have made her parents turn in their graves, and just about anyone listening blush.
The boss ignored her and moved over to a nearby table, covered in numerous medical items. He picked up a syringe and bottle and filled it. Kate knew what it was without even looking at the bottle. It was more truth serum. She struggled again, not wanting anymore, because she knew she couldn't hold it off much longer. The guards tightened their holds as the boss moved closer and injected her in the arm. She flinched slightly, then he stood back and let the serum do it's stuff.
The boss watches her carefully and it's not long before her eyes become slightly glazed and she slows her struggles and starts having difficulty focusing.
"Kate? Look at me."
Kate slowly focuses on him, a glaring look on her face.
"What's your name?"
"It was Katherine McKnight, but now it's Kate Kawalski. My friends call me Kate, my parents used to call me Kitty, and Murdock calls me Chiquita."
The boss smiles.
"Glad to see she hasn't become immune to the stuff. It appears to have taken full effect again."
He grabs a nearby bucket of water and throws it over Murdock. He splutters awake, groaning at the throbbing in his head. If he could have moved his hand and felt the back of his head, he knew that it would come away wet and sticky from blood. Blood was already running down the side of his face from the impact of the rifle.
"Now Kate, what would you do if I was too hurt your boyfriend, here?"
"Please don't. He's nothing to do with this."
She replied almost monotonously.
"So, are you going to tell me what I want to know."
"I've already told you."
"You've told me that the key is the key, and you know that doesn't make any sense. I want the real answer now, okay?"
"I told you."
She whispered looking down. Murdock stared at her through the sweat running down into his eyes. The boss nodded at the guards and they started to seriously punch Murdock into submission. He tried not to scream out loud, so as not to scare Kate - he knew he'd been through worse back in 'Nam but this was getting close. He could feel the blood running down him and he knew that if you'd have lifted his top up he'd already be black and blue.
He could hear Kate screaming at them to stop - that she'll tell them what they want, what the key is. The boss signals the guards to stop and they do, leaving Murdock panting with the effort to breath without pain.
"Go on then Kate."
With a deep breath Kate opens her mouth...and starts to sing. Once again she's singing Amazing Grace, through her gritted teeth.
The boss's face goes red with anger. You could have almost seen the blood vessels on his face bursting. He'd had enough of her games and he grabbed her by the shoulder and stood her up, shaking her, until her teeth rattled in her head. But still she kept on singing. Murdock was watching in shock, and the slightest bit of pride that she was holding on like she was.
The boss loses it and shoves her across the room - she hits the table, going over the top and taking the table with her, spilling medical equipment onto the floor as she bangs into a load of metal cans behind the table with a sickening crunch and Murdock knows she's broken something. The impact knocks her out.
"Kate! Kate!"
Murdock chokes out, his voice having gone hoarse. She didn't move. Silently Colin's father gestured to the guards, who unstrapped Murdock and propelled him to the floor, where he lay panting, semi conscious. The boss stood there, trying to calm himself down from the rage inside - he couldn't lose it now - he was too close to being completely free.
The two guards then went over to Kate, picked her up, and, dragging her feet, the pulled her across the room and strapped her into the seat, just vacated by Murdock. Her arm was strapped at a funny angle and Murdock could see that it was broken.
The boss was handed a recently filled bucket of water and he poured it over Kate. She didn't move at first, then she stirred. The water had obviously brought her into semi-consciousness but the blow to her head had obviously been worse than it had seemed. The boss slapped her, which made her lift her head up, her eyes looking up at him from under her brows.
"Come on Kate, wake up. I'm not finished with you yet."
She stared up at him. Dark rings were round her eyes and she had become very pale. Water was still running down her face from her hair.
"Now, I'm going to get my faithful people here to beat up your lover until you tell me what I want to know - you hear me? If you don't tell me, then this man of yours is just going to be beaten to death - and there's nothing you can do about it."
He clicked his fingers and the guards started kicking Murdock where he lay. He grunted from the many impacts and couldn't keep the shouts of pain escaping from his throat.
"You'll kill us anyway."
Kate said silently. She was watching Murdock. She knew that even if she told them, they were both dead. She looked back up at the boss, trying to block out Murdock's screams.
"You're right." He replied just as silently. "But if you tell me, I can make your deaths quick and painless."
Kate considered everything that had happened and couldn't stand to watch Murdock being put through such pain. Hannibal and Face were more than likely already dead, God knows what had happened to BA, and her and Murdock were both going to die anyway.
*I suppose this way, we'll both be together at last.*
She thought to herself.
"Stop."
The boss looked at her. She was staring down at Murdock who wasn't making a sound anymore. He was unconscious.
"What? I didn't hear you."
"Stop! I'll tell you what you want. Just stop. And make it a quick death."
"You have my word."
He gestured for the guards to stop.
"You're word is worth shit. But if it'll make you stop hurting him I'll tell you. It's the song."
She replies.
"What do you mean?"
"The song is the key."
"What: the name of the song? Amazing Grace?"
"No. The key the song is played in. B-Flat. The 'key' is the key."
The boss smiled. Not a nice smile.
"Thank you. I'm glad we finally got there."
"I'm sorry Murdock. I guess I'll see you on the other side. At least we're gonna be together."
"Kill them. And make it 'quick'."
The boss said pointedly to Kate, and headed for the door. As he reached it there was a huge bang and the door fell inwards off it's hinges, hitting the man straight in the face and falling on top of him, flattening him to the ground. It was a heavy oak door.
"That was quick."
Kate whispered slightly amused before her head lolled to the side, her vision starting to spin rapidly.
BA stood on the other side, brandishing a gun. The rest of the team charge in and quickly deal with the four guards in the room. Face and Jimmy head to Murdock and Kate respectively.
"He's alive, but barely. We need to get him to hospital."
Face said, looking up at Hannibal.
"What about Kate?"
He asked Jimmy and moved over. Jimmy had gently lifted Kate's chin and was making her stare into his eyes.
"Kate?"
She finally focused on him.
"You're really here."
She stated, before losing consciousness.
"She's alive as well, but it looks likes she's been drugged. And her arm is definitely broken.
"Hannibal, this dude's dead."
BA stated. Hannibal looked over at him checking the boss.
"Looks like the oak door was heavier than you thought BA. Must had cracked his skull when he hit the floor."
He said, looking down at the man, who has blood pooling out around his head.
"Leave him. We have to get these two to hospital."
BA nods, and moves over to pick up Murdock. Hannibal grabs Kate carefully, who has been untied by Jimmy. Face leads the way out and through the woods, leaving behind random groups of guards tied up and unconscious.
It seems like forever before they see the van in the distance. Carefully they place Murdock and Kate in the back, then Jimmy gets in to make them comfortable. Face turns to Hannibal.
"Hannibal, what we gonna do? We just lost our pilot!"
"We're just gonna have to drive them there and hope we reach it on time."
Hannibal said, clearly not liking the idea.
"You need a pilot? What: you got a plane or something nearby?"
Jimmy asked, overhearing them.
"There's a helicopter in a field not far from here - it was going to be how we got Kate out, while the guys came after the van."
"Well, I can fly."
Jimmy stated. Hannibal smiled.
"I love it when a plan comes together! Hop in guys. BA get us to that field."
They got in and BA soon had them at the field. Jimmy jumped out to get the chopper ready, while Face and Hannibal got Kate and Murdock into the back. BA told them that he would drive and meet them at the hospital as soon as possible. Face and Hannibal got in the back, holding the two unconscious forms as still as possible. They knew that the both of them had broken ribs, Murdock's were grating together already and they knew that it wasn't good. He also appeared to have broken his clavicle. Kate didn't seem to be in as worse a state as Murdock but it was still serious - her wrist was hanging limply across her stomach.
Hannibal tells BA that he'll call the van if they hear anything before he gets there, and then they lift off and glide over the field to the nearest hospital. BA watches them leave, then hops in the van and shoots off down the dirt track.
*****
As soon as they get there, Hannibal jumps out and shouts to a couple of nurses standing outside having a break.
"I need some help here!"
One nurse runs inside, while the other rushes over. She looks into the chopper to see three people. Two are unconscious and look ragged, pale and are covered in blood. The woman is being held by another who is also looking worse for wear.
"What happened?"
She asked checking the young woman's pulse. It was there but not very strong.
"Both have been beaten badly, they have massive trauma's to the head."
The other nurse joins them with two doctors and nurses with trolleys. Face and Hannibal help the doctor get them onto the trolleys, then turn to Jimmy.
"I've got to go. I've got to get those men into custody. I'm gonna phone Steve - he'll want to be here. I'll be in contact."
They watch as he jumps back into the chopper, and they step back and watch him lift off and fly back the way they came, then they rush up to the hospital entrance to follow the trolleys.
They are shown into the waiting room where Face sits down silently, while Hannibal starts pacing and chewing on the end of a new cigar, having chewed the last one to pieces in the chopper. After a moments silence Face spoke.
"You think they're gonna be okay?"
"I've seen worse injuries before, Lieutenant. And they've pulled through. I think we got them here on time."
"Yeah."
Face breathed. Neither of them sounded sure.
BA joined then half an hour later, having bombed it down the quiet roads to get there. They still hadn't heard from anyone and they were all getting rather twitchy and worried.
Finally, after what seemed liked forever, a doctor entered the room.
"How are they?"
Hannibal asked straight away as Face and BA stood up.
"Stable. They both had internal bleeding but we managed to catch that early so it's not a problem. The young lady needed pins put in her arm to set it. But other than the concussion, which we are monitoring carefully, and a few bruised ribs she should be okay, she's just sleeping off the affects of the anaesthetic."
"What about Harry?"
Face questioned. They'd given a false name for Murdock so that Decker or anyone else wouldn't realise he was here.
"He's a different matter. His head injury was quite serious and...he's in a coma. He also has numerous fractured ribs which we had to set."
Face looked down unable to believe the news. Hannibal sighed and BA looked like he was gonna hit the wall.
"Will he be okay?"
Hannibal asked.
"It's too early to tell. He'll need a lot of rest to let the ribs heal. We'll just have to wait until he wakes."
"Thanks doc. We'd like to see them if that's possible."
Hannibal told him.
"Sure, but only one at a time for Miss Kawalski, she needs sleep."
They nodded, then followed the doctor out. Kate was in recovery but Murdock was further down the corridor in a private room in ICU.
Hannibal let Face go to see Murdock first with BA while he checked up on Kate.
Entering the room he sighed at the sight. Kate looked small and insignificant amongst the equipment and wires. She was still very pale but the beeping on the monitor assured him that she was still alive.
He moved over to the seat and, sitting down, he took her good hand and held it in his. For a while he didn't speak. He just sat there. Then he took a breath.
"You know, if someone had told me back in 'Nam that one day we would be where we are today - I would have laughed and told them not to kid me. I never thought you were as strong as I've seen you be these past few weeks. You always seemed so innocent.I could never understand what you were doing in a place like 'Nam. But now I know. You're strong and you don't suffer fools gladly. So I know that you're going to get through this...and I know that you're going to help Murdock through this."
He stood, gently rubbing her hand, then he placed it back on the covers and left to go and see Murdock.
What do you think? Any good? Does this sound like the Team you know?
Chapter 17 - Breaking Point
BA and Jimmy watch in horror as Hannibal and Face are led out of the building, their hands resting on the top of their heads. As they are being lined up and the guards are checking their guns, Jimmy turns to BA.
"We need a distraction. Something to draw their attention away from the others."
Without warning BA suddenly stood up, in plain view.
"HEY GUYS - OVER HERE!"
He shouted. Jimmy looked shocked as BA dove sideways for cover as they started shooting. It worked and Hannibal and Face were given enough time to round on the nearby guards and grab their guns. Jimmy and BA ambushed the couple of guards stupid enough to follow him into the woods, and they came out smiling at Hannibal and Face who had rounded up nearby guards.
"Good to see you BA. Timing was perfect!"
Hannibal smiled.
"Where's Murdock and Kate?"
BA asked as he started to tie up some of the guards.
"There still inside. We'd better get in quick before his father," he gestured to Colin who was sprawled out of the floor unconscious. "does any permanent damage."
"How many more guards do you think there are?"
Jimmy asked him.
"Not many. I had a good check as I came out. I'm guessing there's about four or so with the boss and maybe a couple more patrolling the corridors."
"Well, lets get in there then!"
BA said, already for action.
*****
Meanwhile, down in the basement, Murdock wasn't having a very good time. They'd strapped him to a chair and had started to beat him up in hopes that Kate would give in at the sight. She had been gagged so that she couldn't speak at first and she was being held down in her seat by two guards who both had a hand on her shoulder to hold her in place. She was mumbling and struggling against them and the gag, trying to stop them.
Murdock chokes as the boss punches him in the ribs again, then in the stomach, causing him to retch. Murdock tries to keep his eyes on Kate as best he can and between retching and catching his breath he tries talking to her.
"Don't give in, Kate...no matter what...they do to me..."
He starts coughing from another impact in the ribs.
"Listen to me Kate...don't tell them anything."
Kate keeps struggling against them. The boss smiles at her and she widens her eyes, knowing the blood thirsty look in them. He turns to Murdock and using the butt of a rifle, he launches it into the side of Murdock's face, causing the whole chair to topple backwards. Murdock lands on his back, unable to help himself as his arms are tied to the chair. His head rebounds off the floor with a sickening thud, causing him to lose consciousness. His baseball cap goes flying off his head.
Kate screams, the sound muffled by the cloth tied round her face. The boss nods at two of the guards standing by and they lift Murdock back up, his head lolling to the side.
One of the guards holding Kate unties the gag. Immediately a string of curse words escapes her mouth that would have made her parents turn in their graves, and just about anyone listening blush.
The boss ignored her and moved over to a nearby table, covered in numerous medical items. He picked up a syringe and bottle and filled it. Kate knew what it was without even looking at the bottle. It was more truth serum. She struggled again, not wanting anymore, because she knew she couldn't hold it off much longer. The guards tightened their holds as the boss moved closer and injected her in the arm. She flinched slightly, then he stood back and let the serum do it's stuff.
The boss watches her carefully and it's not long before her eyes become slightly glazed and she slows her struggles and starts having difficulty focusing.
"Kate? Look at me."
Kate slowly focuses on him, a glaring look on her face.
"What's your name?"
"It was Katherine McKnight, but now it's Kate Kawalski. My friends call me Kate, my parents used to call me Kitty, and Murdock calls me Chiquita."
The boss smiles.
"Glad to see she hasn't become immune to the stuff. It appears to have taken full effect again."
He grabs a nearby bucket of water and throws it over Murdock. He splutters awake, groaning at the throbbing in his head. If he could have moved his hand and felt the back of his head, he knew that it would come away wet and sticky from blood. Blood was already running down the side of his face from the impact of the rifle.
"Now Kate, what would you do if I was too hurt your boyfriend, here?"
"Please don't. He's nothing to do with this."
She replied almost monotonously.
"So, are you going to tell me what I want to know."
"I've already told you."
"You've told me that the key is the key, and you know that doesn't make any sense. I want the real answer now, okay?"
"I told you."
She whispered looking down. Murdock stared at her through the sweat running down into his eyes. The boss nodded at the guards and they started to seriously punch Murdock into submission. He tried not to scream out loud, so as not to scare Kate - he knew he'd been through worse back in 'Nam but this was getting close. He could feel the blood running down him and he knew that if you'd have lifted his top up he'd already be black and blue.
He could hear Kate screaming at them to stop - that she'll tell them what they want, what the key is. The boss signals the guards to stop and they do, leaving Murdock panting with the effort to breath without pain.
"Go on then Kate."
With a deep breath Kate opens her mouth...and starts to sing. Once again she's singing Amazing Grace, through her gritted teeth.
The boss's face goes red with anger. You could have almost seen the blood vessels on his face bursting. He'd had enough of her games and he grabbed her by the shoulder and stood her up, shaking her, until her teeth rattled in her head. But still she kept on singing. Murdock was watching in shock, and the slightest bit of pride that she was holding on like she was.
The boss loses it and shoves her across the room - she hits the table, going over the top and taking the table with her, spilling medical equipment onto the floor as she bangs into a load of metal cans behind the table with a sickening crunch and Murdock knows she's broken something. The impact knocks her out.
"Kate! Kate!"
Murdock chokes out, his voice having gone hoarse. She didn't move. Silently Colin's father gestured to the guards, who unstrapped Murdock and propelled him to the floor, where he lay panting, semi conscious. The boss stood there, trying to calm himself down from the rage inside - he couldn't lose it now - he was too close to being completely free.
The two guards then went over to Kate, picked her up, and, dragging her feet, the pulled her across the room and strapped her into the seat, just vacated by Murdock. Her arm was strapped at a funny angle and Murdock could see that it was broken.
The boss was handed a recently filled bucket of water and he poured it over Kate. She didn't move at first, then she stirred. The water had obviously brought her into semi-consciousness but the blow to her head had obviously been worse than it had seemed. The boss slapped her, which made her lift her head up, her eyes looking up at him from under her brows.
"Come on Kate, wake up. I'm not finished with you yet."
She stared up at him. Dark rings were round her eyes and she had become very pale. Water was still running down her face from her hair.
"Now, I'm going to get my faithful people here to beat up your lover until you tell me what I want to know - you hear me? If you don't tell me, then this man of yours is just going to be beaten to death - and there's nothing you can do about it."
He clicked his fingers and the guards started kicking Murdock where he lay. He grunted from the many impacts and couldn't keep the shouts of pain escaping from his throat.
"You'll kill us anyway."
Kate said silently. She was watching Murdock. She knew that even if she told them, they were both dead. She looked back up at the boss, trying to block out Murdock's screams.
"You're right." He replied just as silently. "But if you tell me, I can make your deaths quick and painless."
Kate considered everything that had happened and couldn't stand to watch Murdock being put through such pain. Hannibal and Face were more than likely already dead, God knows what had happened to BA, and her and Murdock were both going to die anyway.
*I suppose this way, we'll both be together at last.*
She thought to herself.
"Stop."
The boss looked at her. She was staring down at Murdock who wasn't making a sound anymore. He was unconscious.
"What? I didn't hear you."
"Stop! I'll tell you what you want. Just stop. And make it a quick death."
"You have my word."
He gestured for the guards to stop.
"You're word is worth shit. But if it'll make you stop hurting him I'll tell you. It's the song."
She replies.
"What do you mean?"
"The song is the key."
"What: the name of the song? Amazing Grace?"
"No. The key the song is played in. B-Flat. The 'key' is the key."
The boss smiled. Not a nice smile.
"Thank you. I'm glad we finally got there."
"I'm sorry Murdock. I guess I'll see you on the other side. At least we're gonna be together."
"Kill them. And make it 'quick'."
The boss said pointedly to Kate, and headed for the door. As he reached it there was a huge bang and the door fell inwards off it's hinges, hitting the man straight in the face and falling on top of him, flattening him to the ground. It was a heavy oak door.
"That was quick."
Kate whispered slightly amused before her head lolled to the side, her vision starting to spin rapidly.
BA stood on the other side, brandishing a gun. The rest of the team charge in and quickly deal with the four guards in the room. Face and Jimmy head to Murdock and Kate respectively.
"He's alive, but barely. We need to get him to hospital."
Face said, looking up at Hannibal.
"What about Kate?"
He asked Jimmy and moved over. Jimmy had gently lifted Kate's chin and was making her stare into his eyes.
"Kate?"
She finally focused on him.
"You're really here."
She stated, before losing consciousness.
"She's alive as well, but it looks likes she's been drugged. And her arm is definitely broken.
"Hannibal, this dude's dead."
BA stated. Hannibal looked over at him checking the boss.
"Looks like the oak door was heavier than you thought BA. Must had cracked his skull when he hit the floor."
He said, looking down at the man, who has blood pooling out around his head.
"Leave him. We have to get these two to hospital."
BA nods, and moves over to pick up Murdock. Hannibal grabs Kate carefully, who has been untied by Jimmy. Face leads the way out and through the woods, leaving behind random groups of guards tied up and unconscious.
It seems like forever before they see the van in the distance. Carefully they place Murdock and Kate in the back, then Jimmy gets in to make them comfortable. Face turns to Hannibal.
"Hannibal, what we gonna do? We just lost our pilot!"
"We're just gonna have to drive them there and hope we reach it on time."
Hannibal said, clearly not liking the idea.
"You need a pilot? What: you got a plane or something nearby?"
Jimmy asked, overhearing them.
"There's a helicopter in a field not far from here - it was going to be how we got Kate out, while the guys came after the van."
"Well, I can fly."
Jimmy stated. Hannibal smiled.
"I love it when a plan comes together! Hop in guys. BA get us to that field."
They got in and BA soon had them at the field. Jimmy jumped out to get the chopper ready, while Face and Hannibal got Kate and Murdock into the back. BA told them that he would drive and meet them at the hospital as soon as possible. Face and Hannibal got in the back, holding the two unconscious forms as still as possible. They knew that the both of them had broken ribs, Murdock's were grating together already and they knew that it wasn't good. He also appeared to have broken his clavicle. Kate didn't seem to be in as worse a state as Murdock but it was still serious - her wrist was hanging limply across her stomach.
Hannibal tells BA that he'll call the van if they hear anything before he gets there, and then they lift off and glide over the field to the nearest hospital. BA watches them leave, then hops in the van and shoots off down the dirt track.
*****
As soon as they get there, Hannibal jumps out and shouts to a couple of nurses standing outside having a break.
"I need some help here!"
One nurse runs inside, while the other rushes over. She looks into the chopper to see three people. Two are unconscious and look ragged, pale and are covered in blood. The woman is being held by another who is also looking worse for wear.
"What happened?"
She asked checking the young woman's pulse. It was there but not very strong.
"Both have been beaten badly, they have massive trauma's to the head."
The other nurse joins them with two doctors and nurses with trolleys. Face and Hannibal help the doctor get them onto the trolleys, then turn to Jimmy.
"I've got to go. I've got to get those men into custody. I'm gonna phone Steve - he'll want to be here. I'll be in contact."
They watch as he jumps back into the chopper, and they step back and watch him lift off and fly back the way they came, then they rush up to the hospital entrance to follow the trolleys.
They are shown into the waiting room where Face sits down silently, while Hannibal starts pacing and chewing on the end of a new cigar, having chewed the last one to pieces in the chopper. After a moments silence Face spoke.
"You think they're gonna be okay?"
"I've seen worse injuries before, Lieutenant. And they've pulled through. I think we got them here on time."
"Yeah."
Face breathed. Neither of them sounded sure.
BA joined then half an hour later, having bombed it down the quiet roads to get there. They still hadn't heard from anyone and they were all getting rather twitchy and worried.
Finally, after what seemed liked forever, a doctor entered the room.
"How are they?"
Hannibal asked straight away as Face and BA stood up.
"Stable. They both had internal bleeding but we managed to catch that early so it's not a problem. The young lady needed pins put in her arm to set it. But other than the concussion, which we are monitoring carefully, and a few bruised ribs she should be okay, she's just sleeping off the affects of the anaesthetic."
"What about Harry?"
Face questioned. They'd given a false name for Murdock so that Decker or anyone else wouldn't realise he was here.
"He's a different matter. His head injury was quite serious and...he's in a coma. He also has numerous fractured ribs which we had to set."
Face looked down unable to believe the news. Hannibal sighed and BA looked like he was gonna hit the wall.
"Will he be okay?"
Hannibal asked.
"It's too early to tell. He'll need a lot of rest to let the ribs heal. We'll just have to wait until he wakes."
"Thanks doc. We'd like to see them if that's possible."
Hannibal told him.
"Sure, but only one at a time for Miss Kawalski, she needs sleep."
They nodded, then followed the doctor out. Kate was in recovery but Murdock was further down the corridor in a private room in ICU.
Hannibal let Face go to see Murdock first with BA while he checked up on Kate.
Entering the room he sighed at the sight. Kate looked small and insignificant amongst the equipment and wires. She was still very pale but the beeping on the monitor assured him that she was still alive.
He moved over to the seat and, sitting down, he took her good hand and held it in his. For a while he didn't speak. He just sat there. Then he took a breath.
"You know, if someone had told me back in 'Nam that one day we would be where we are today - I would have laughed and told them not to kid me. I never thought you were as strong as I've seen you be these past few weeks. You always seemed so innocent.I could never understand what you were doing in a place like 'Nam. But now I know. You're strong and you don't suffer fools gladly. So I know that you're going to get through this...and I know that you're going to help Murdock through this."
He stood, gently rubbing her hand, then he placed it back on the covers and left to go and see Murdock.
What do you think? Any good? Does this sound like the Team you know?