Chapter 19 for your pleasures. Tell me what you think. Pretty please?
Chapter 19 - Keep Moving, Come Back
Face stood there stunned for a moment, then felt the gentle pressure of a hand on his arm.
"Sir? Sir?"
He looked down to see a young nurse holding his arm.
"Why don't you take a seat in the waiting room. Someone will come and get you as soon as we hear anything."
Her gentle tone brought him back to reality.
"Um...I'm gonna go and wait in Mr. Muldoon's room. Her friends are all in there. I have to tell them."
"Okay." She smiled. "I'm sure she'll be okay."
He almost blurted out 'how the hell would you know', but stopped himself and just smiled at her. She was only trying to help.
"Thanks."
He moved down the corridor. His head spinning with the image of her laying on the ground, her body shaking, her hands balled up into fists, her teeth clenched. He shook his head of the images as he entered Murdock's room. Steve and BA were back and they looked up at him.
"Hey, where's Kate? She gone back to her room?"
Steve asked.
"She uh...she...she..."
They could see from his expression that there was something seriously wrong. Steve jumped up and rushed out of the room to get answers. Hannibal grabbed Face and sat him down.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. One minute we were walking, the next...she was laying on the floor throwing a fit. It all happened so quickly."
There was a silence that thundered around the room as they took this in. BA looked like he was going to slam his fist into the wall in frustration and Hannibal just stood there, not knowing what to think. Kate had had a relapse and Lord only knew how she was. He looked back down at Face who was just staring at a wall, his eyes glazed over in thought.
"How bad do you think?"
Face moved his gaze to look at Murdock who was still blissfully unconscious.
"Bad. She just went down...it was just a matter of seconds."
"Poor lil mama."
BA said quietly. At that they sat there in silence again, waiting for Steve or anyone that might have news.
*****
It was nearly an hour, a long drawn out hour when they finally saw Steve coming down the corridor towards them.
Face, Hannibal and BA all stood up as he entered, desperate for any type of news. Steve has a sad expression on his face, but somehow they know that she's still alive.
"Well...?"
Face asks. Steve stands there for a moment.
"The uh...the doctors aren't sure what happened. They managed to stop her fitting...but when she woke...she's just not responding to anything...she's catatonic...We've uh, we've been trying to snap her out of it but nothing seems to be working. They were wondering if you guys would like to try and talk to her, see if it brings her out of it."
Immediately Face was out of his seat.
"She in her room?"
"Yeah."
Steve said. Face left quickly, Hannibal and BA at a slower pace, talking to Steve in detail.
When they reached Kate's room, Face was already sitting by her side, chatting away as if nothing was wrong. Hannibal, BA and Steve stopped outside a moment and watched. Kate was sitting up in bed, staring out with glazed eyes at the wall next to the window.
"He looks like he's done this before."
Steve stated about Face.
"Uh, yeah. Back in 'Nam. Murdock went catatonic after a rough week - we lost a lot that week, Murdock almost being one of them. Face sat with him night and day talking to him until we woke up."
"Kate's never mentioned anything like that about Murdock before - and she's told me just about everything."
"She never knew. She left before...after the time we got caught by Charlie. He didn't go catatonic then."
"Oh. Maybe he can bring her back them."
"Maybe..."
Hannibal said and entered the room.
"I'll go and keep an eye on Murdock for you."
Steve said to BA, who nodded and followed Hannibal.
Hannibal knew that Face wasn't going to be successful. Face had managed to help Murdock because they were like soul mates. But Face wasn't close enough to Kate to help her. Only Murdock could do that.
But if Murdock died, then there wasn't much of a chance for Kate. Hannibal had seen it back in 'Nam. There were others in the camps that had gone into similar conditions - some had come out of it, others were probably still in mental hospitals being looked after 24/7. And then there were the rest who ended up dying after a few months like it.
He sighed and sat down by Face, taking Kate's hand, joining in the conversation as Kate continued to stare ahead.
*****
Darkness. Silent. Eerily silent, but calm. Was that a light? He drifted towards it, it got brighter. There was no pain here, no grief or sadness. No chaos or confusion. No death or destruction. He could hear a monotonous tone of what he knew to be a heart monitor, and suddenly he was reminded of his life. He stepped away from the light, not sure if that was what he really wanted, and ended up back in the cold darkness. In his mind he screamed out. He didn't want to die, but he didn't want to return to the pain, the grief. Now he couldn't go either way, the light was gone.
As he looked around he realised he was standing in the middle of a park. Trees and bushes grew all around, a river of silver separating him from the other side. A side he didn't care to look at. His side of the river was beautiful. Flowers bloomed all around the place and there were people all around him, laying on blankets with picnics, feeding the ducks, sitting on benches and reading. The place was covered in a warm glow, but there was no sun. The place was surreal, it was like someone had painted it with the brightest colours on the palette. He looked across the river. Black clouds covered the other side, no flowers bloomed, the trees had no leaves, and there were no people. He moved closer and could see large raindrops falling. As he looked closer he could see pictures in the water falling. Images of people he knew, people he cared about. He could hear them on the other side, talking to him, calling from far away, wanting him to come back. He moved closer and saw the stepping stones crossing the river.
He knew that if he went back then he would feel pain and suffering and he wasn't sure he wanted that anymore. Here he felt so at peace with himself.
He felt something hit his legs and he glanced down, out of his thoughts, to see a scruffy dog, barking at him, having dropped the ball in his mouth.
"Billy!!"
He shouted happily and knelt down to stroke the dog. He picked up the ball and threw it. Billy yapped after it, skidding on the grass and rummaging in the bushes as it rolled out of view. Murdock stood up right and smiled, watching as the happy dog came trotting back.
Murdock, knelt back down, praising the dog, and suddenly wondering what he'd been so worried about. He was sure there was something he needed to decide and think about, but now all he cared about was Billy and having fun.
He threw the ball again and again and again, and when they got bored they found their picnic site under a huge willow tree and laid down, Murdock playfully rubbing Billy's ears and staring up at the sun.
Time had no meaning here. It was as if all his worries had filtered away into nothing and all he needed to do was lay here in the warm sun, with no cares in the world.
After an eternity, or a life-time, or a moment, Murdock heard a voice call in the distance. He sat up and saw a young woman crossing the stepping stones from that dark place. As she stepped across, like magic she went from black and white to full colour. Her dress went from a dingy white flat dress, to a full flowing summers dress covered in flowers. She stopped on the last stone and waited for him. As he moved closer, his memories of her came back to him.
"Kate!"
"Murdock, it's time to go home now."
She said smiling.
"Home? What do you mean?"
"This isn't our world, Murdock."
"It isn't? But it's so lovely here - why don't you just come and stay with me under the tree. It's so calming and peaceful."
"Murdock, it's a fantasy world. Dreams can come true here. But none of it's real. I'm not really here and I can't stay long. Come back to me, Murdock."
"Not real? But I'm safe here."
"I know. I know it feels safe, but it's not. Limbo's a very unstable place to be. And if you stay here, you can't have me. As soon as I go, you'll just forget me."
"I could never forget you, Kate."
"But you already did. There are others Murdock - Hannibal, Face, BA - they're your best friends and you don't remember them."
She replied sadly. Murdock didn't know who she was talking about and suddenly he realised what she meant. He stared at her and she looked over her shoulder, then back at him.
"I have to go back soon. I don't belong here. If I stay here too long I'll end up like you."
"If I go back, it'll hurt again, it always hurts. What's so different about having a fantasy world back there and this place? If your only reality's an illusion, then illusion is a reality - so I'm better off staying here because this illusions more real than my own."
"But then you can never have reality - you're not always in your world Murdock - you like having the stability of your friends around you - they keep you grounded. And you can never have me here. You can never love...you can never feel what it's like to kiss me, to hold me, to show me you love me. Because there are no real people here Murdock."
Murdock stared off behind him as she continued.
"Isn't the love we feel greater than the fear and hurt? I love you Murdock. I have to go."
She turned and walked away, back over the river and disappeared into the rain.
"No Kate Wait!!!!"
Murdock shouted after her and ran up to the first stone step and stopped dead. He turned back and looked at where Billy was waiting for him and barking, then he looked back across the river at the black and white desolate buildings.
"Kate."
He made his decision and hopped across the steps and started to run across the rough concrete ground.
"Kate?! Kate?!"
He couldn't find her and he ran through the rain until he was soaked through and shivering and still he didn't stop. He ran through a door of a building, all the time seeing glimpses of her white dress. He didn't stop until he reached the door the figure went through. The room was white and clean looking compared to the rest of the place. There was a bed in the middle of the room and Kate was sitting on it, staring into space.
He moved closer, Kate was staring at a wall just beside him.
"Kate?"
She didn't respond. Just sat there. Murdock moved up and brushed her cheek gently. She was warm.
"Kate."
He suddenly heard voices and looked across two see two people sitting opposite him and he recognised them instantly.
"Hannibal! Faceman!"
The didn't seem to hear him, they were talking to Kate.
"Come on, Kate honey. You can't stay like this forever. We need you here. Murdock's gonna need you when he wakes up."
Face stopped talking and went silent for a moment.
"Hannibal, she's been catatonic a lot longer than Murdock ever was. It's been what; nearly a week now?"
"I know. Problem is I think she needs Murdock to bring her out of this, but we don't know if he's ever going to wake, let alone when."
"Let's go see him. Steve might want to come back and sit with Kate."
They stood. Murdock followed them out of the room and found that he was now in a hospital. There was no more rain, no more black and white.
He followed them down a corridor and into another room. This one was full of equipment and wires and tubes. BA and another man, Murdock presumed to be Steve, were sitting at another bedside. Steve stood when he saw them...well, when he saw Hannibal and Face, no-one could see Murdock. Steve smiled and left the room while Hannibal took the seat he'd just vacated and Face leant against the window.
Murdock moved closer and got a shock when he found himself staring down at...himself! And he suddenly realised what he had to do and he bent down and touched his face.
*****
The pain was the first thing to hit him, pain and then the feeling of the tube down his throat. He tried to open his eyes, to move, to speak - anything, but nothing seemed to be working right. Nothing, except his ears. He distinctly heard Face's voice shouting for a nurse, then:
"He's waking up!"
Then there was a lot of muffled noise, and a females voice beside his ear. He tried to move again and this time his body responded slightly.
"Lay still, Mr. Muldoon. I need to check you."
He complied as he wondered who Mr. Muldoon was, then he realised that they must have put him in under a false name. Clever Team. That way, they could stay as long as they liked.
He finally managed to pry open his eyes, the scene was like a TV screen that wasn't tuned in properly. He closed his eyes again, then blinked until the scene cleared.
There was a nurse in his eyesight and he could see Face standing close behind. He cast his eyes around the room to see Hannibal and BA.
"Good to have you back, Captain."
Hannibal smiled. Murdock moaned slightly in response.
"Don't try to talk Mr. Muldoon - you have a tube in your throat, helping you breathe."
*What a stupid thing to tell him!* He thought - he knew that!
"If you just stay still for a moment, I'll go and get the doctor and see if we can take that out for you. You don't seem to be having any problems breathing now."
She disappeared and BA moved closer.
"How you feeling, crazy man? Okay?"
Murdock blinked once.
"Once for yes, twice for no?"
BA asked. Murdock blinked once again. Then he frowned slightly and tried to think of a way to ask about Kate.
"Something wrong, Murdock?"
Face asked. Murdock blinked again.
"Are you in pain?"
Murdock blinked twice.
"Liar." Face smiled. "Okay, so pain isn't the issue."
Two blinks. Then he stared at Face. His eyes didn't blink but Face could see the worry in them, and knew the look.
"Kate."
Face stated. One blink. One desperate blink.
"She's gonna be okay."
Face lied slightly. Murdock couldn't deal with her problems now - he had to think of himself.
Murdock knew he was lying. He'd seen Kate, and he needed to be with her. He laid there patiently, waiting for the doctor, then did as he was told to get the tube out of his throat. He coughed roughly as it was pulled out and tried to catch his breath.
"I wouldn't talk for a little while, Mr. Muldoon. You're throat is going to be a little sore for a while so take it easy."
He turned to the Team.
"Could you give us a few minutes while I check out his injuries."
He said. They all nodded and moved outside to wait. The nurse pulled the blind across the bed as the Doctor did his checks. The group of them just stood there, outside the room, leaning against the walls. BA was pacing back and forth. After a few minutes they left the room. The Doctor smiled at them.
"It's early days but it looks like he's going to make a full recovery. We're going to keep him in for at least another week under observation but I don't think there will be anymore complications."
Hannibal smiled, relieved.
"Thanks, Doc. It's okay to see him right?"
"Sure. Just makes sure he gets rest."
They nodded and entered the room again. Murdock looked over at them as they entered and smiled.
"Hey Captain. You had us worried for a while then. It's good to have you back."
"I have to see Kate." He mouthed without a sound. "Have to help her."
"Help her?" Face asked. "Did the Doctor tell you what happened?"
Face said slightly annoyed as it wasn't his place.
"No. I knew. I saw...in my dreams."
The four of them stared at him, Hannibal being the first to speak.
"Not right now, Murdock. You need to rest. Get some sleep. When you're feeling stronger, then you can see her. She's not going anywhere."
Murdock went to protest but Hannibal shut him up.
"That's an order, Captain."
Murdock acknowledged it with the look in his eye, then he turned his head slightly with a small grimace and closed his eyes. It took only a matter of moments before he was asleep.
"How did he know?"
Steve said amazed.
"They have a connection." Face told him. "I don't understand it, but they're linked in some way. He might be Kate's only hope."
"Maybe we can get them to bring Kate into here." A smile touched Hannibal's lips. "Face, why don't you go and chat up that pretty little nurse, hm?"
Face smiled.
"Yes, sir."
What do you think? Any good? Do you want the next part?
Chapter 19 - Keep Moving, Come Back
Face stood there stunned for a moment, then felt the gentle pressure of a hand on his arm.
"Sir? Sir?"
He looked down to see a young nurse holding his arm.
"Why don't you take a seat in the waiting room. Someone will come and get you as soon as we hear anything."
Her gentle tone brought him back to reality.
"Um...I'm gonna go and wait in Mr. Muldoon's room. Her friends are all in there. I have to tell them."
"Okay." She smiled. "I'm sure she'll be okay."
He almost blurted out 'how the hell would you know', but stopped himself and just smiled at her. She was only trying to help.
"Thanks."
He moved down the corridor. His head spinning with the image of her laying on the ground, her body shaking, her hands balled up into fists, her teeth clenched. He shook his head of the images as he entered Murdock's room. Steve and BA were back and they looked up at him.
"Hey, where's Kate? She gone back to her room?"
Steve asked.
"She uh...she...she..."
They could see from his expression that there was something seriously wrong. Steve jumped up and rushed out of the room to get answers. Hannibal grabbed Face and sat him down.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. One minute we were walking, the next...she was laying on the floor throwing a fit. It all happened so quickly."
There was a silence that thundered around the room as they took this in. BA looked like he was going to slam his fist into the wall in frustration and Hannibal just stood there, not knowing what to think. Kate had had a relapse and Lord only knew how she was. He looked back down at Face who was just staring at a wall, his eyes glazed over in thought.
"How bad do you think?"
Face moved his gaze to look at Murdock who was still blissfully unconscious.
"Bad. She just went down...it was just a matter of seconds."
"Poor lil mama."
BA said quietly. At that they sat there in silence again, waiting for Steve or anyone that might have news.
*****
It was nearly an hour, a long drawn out hour when they finally saw Steve coming down the corridor towards them.
Face, Hannibal and BA all stood up as he entered, desperate for any type of news. Steve has a sad expression on his face, but somehow they know that she's still alive.
"Well...?"
Face asks. Steve stands there for a moment.
"The uh...the doctors aren't sure what happened. They managed to stop her fitting...but when she woke...she's just not responding to anything...she's catatonic...We've uh, we've been trying to snap her out of it but nothing seems to be working. They were wondering if you guys would like to try and talk to her, see if it brings her out of it."
Immediately Face was out of his seat.
"She in her room?"
"Yeah."
Steve said. Face left quickly, Hannibal and BA at a slower pace, talking to Steve in detail.
When they reached Kate's room, Face was already sitting by her side, chatting away as if nothing was wrong. Hannibal, BA and Steve stopped outside a moment and watched. Kate was sitting up in bed, staring out with glazed eyes at the wall next to the window.
"He looks like he's done this before."
Steve stated about Face.
"Uh, yeah. Back in 'Nam. Murdock went catatonic after a rough week - we lost a lot that week, Murdock almost being one of them. Face sat with him night and day talking to him until we woke up."
"Kate's never mentioned anything like that about Murdock before - and she's told me just about everything."
"She never knew. She left before...after the time we got caught by Charlie. He didn't go catatonic then."
"Oh. Maybe he can bring her back them."
"Maybe..."
Hannibal said and entered the room.
"I'll go and keep an eye on Murdock for you."
Steve said to BA, who nodded and followed Hannibal.
Hannibal knew that Face wasn't going to be successful. Face had managed to help Murdock because they were like soul mates. But Face wasn't close enough to Kate to help her. Only Murdock could do that.
But if Murdock died, then there wasn't much of a chance for Kate. Hannibal had seen it back in 'Nam. There were others in the camps that had gone into similar conditions - some had come out of it, others were probably still in mental hospitals being looked after 24/7. And then there were the rest who ended up dying after a few months like it.
He sighed and sat down by Face, taking Kate's hand, joining in the conversation as Kate continued to stare ahead.
*****
Darkness. Silent. Eerily silent, but calm. Was that a light? He drifted towards it, it got brighter. There was no pain here, no grief or sadness. No chaos or confusion. No death or destruction. He could hear a monotonous tone of what he knew to be a heart monitor, and suddenly he was reminded of his life. He stepped away from the light, not sure if that was what he really wanted, and ended up back in the cold darkness. In his mind he screamed out. He didn't want to die, but he didn't want to return to the pain, the grief. Now he couldn't go either way, the light was gone.
As he looked around he realised he was standing in the middle of a park. Trees and bushes grew all around, a river of silver separating him from the other side. A side he didn't care to look at. His side of the river was beautiful. Flowers bloomed all around the place and there were people all around him, laying on blankets with picnics, feeding the ducks, sitting on benches and reading. The place was covered in a warm glow, but there was no sun. The place was surreal, it was like someone had painted it with the brightest colours on the palette. He looked across the river. Black clouds covered the other side, no flowers bloomed, the trees had no leaves, and there were no people. He moved closer and could see large raindrops falling. As he looked closer he could see pictures in the water falling. Images of people he knew, people he cared about. He could hear them on the other side, talking to him, calling from far away, wanting him to come back. He moved closer and saw the stepping stones crossing the river.
He knew that if he went back then he would feel pain and suffering and he wasn't sure he wanted that anymore. Here he felt so at peace with himself.
He felt something hit his legs and he glanced down, out of his thoughts, to see a scruffy dog, barking at him, having dropped the ball in his mouth.
"Billy!!"
He shouted happily and knelt down to stroke the dog. He picked up the ball and threw it. Billy yapped after it, skidding on the grass and rummaging in the bushes as it rolled out of view. Murdock stood up right and smiled, watching as the happy dog came trotting back.
Murdock, knelt back down, praising the dog, and suddenly wondering what he'd been so worried about. He was sure there was something he needed to decide and think about, but now all he cared about was Billy and having fun.
He threw the ball again and again and again, and when they got bored they found their picnic site under a huge willow tree and laid down, Murdock playfully rubbing Billy's ears and staring up at the sun.
Time had no meaning here. It was as if all his worries had filtered away into nothing and all he needed to do was lay here in the warm sun, with no cares in the world.
After an eternity, or a life-time, or a moment, Murdock heard a voice call in the distance. He sat up and saw a young woman crossing the stepping stones from that dark place. As she stepped across, like magic she went from black and white to full colour. Her dress went from a dingy white flat dress, to a full flowing summers dress covered in flowers. She stopped on the last stone and waited for him. As he moved closer, his memories of her came back to him.
"Kate!"
"Murdock, it's time to go home now."
She said smiling.
"Home? What do you mean?"
"This isn't our world, Murdock."
"It isn't? But it's so lovely here - why don't you just come and stay with me under the tree. It's so calming and peaceful."
"Murdock, it's a fantasy world. Dreams can come true here. But none of it's real. I'm not really here and I can't stay long. Come back to me, Murdock."
"Not real? But I'm safe here."
"I know. I know it feels safe, but it's not. Limbo's a very unstable place to be. And if you stay here, you can't have me. As soon as I go, you'll just forget me."
"I could never forget you, Kate."
"But you already did. There are others Murdock - Hannibal, Face, BA - they're your best friends and you don't remember them."
She replied sadly. Murdock didn't know who she was talking about and suddenly he realised what she meant. He stared at her and she looked over her shoulder, then back at him.
"I have to go back soon. I don't belong here. If I stay here too long I'll end up like you."
"If I go back, it'll hurt again, it always hurts. What's so different about having a fantasy world back there and this place? If your only reality's an illusion, then illusion is a reality - so I'm better off staying here because this illusions more real than my own."
"But then you can never have reality - you're not always in your world Murdock - you like having the stability of your friends around you - they keep you grounded. And you can never have me here. You can never love...you can never feel what it's like to kiss me, to hold me, to show me you love me. Because there are no real people here Murdock."
Murdock stared off behind him as she continued.
"Isn't the love we feel greater than the fear and hurt? I love you Murdock. I have to go."
She turned and walked away, back over the river and disappeared into the rain.
"No Kate Wait!!!!"
Murdock shouted after her and ran up to the first stone step and stopped dead. He turned back and looked at where Billy was waiting for him and barking, then he looked back across the river at the black and white desolate buildings.
"Kate."
He made his decision and hopped across the steps and started to run across the rough concrete ground.
"Kate?! Kate?!"
He couldn't find her and he ran through the rain until he was soaked through and shivering and still he didn't stop. He ran through a door of a building, all the time seeing glimpses of her white dress. He didn't stop until he reached the door the figure went through. The room was white and clean looking compared to the rest of the place. There was a bed in the middle of the room and Kate was sitting on it, staring into space.
He moved closer, Kate was staring at a wall just beside him.
"Kate?"
She didn't respond. Just sat there. Murdock moved up and brushed her cheek gently. She was warm.
"Kate."
He suddenly heard voices and looked across two see two people sitting opposite him and he recognised them instantly.
"Hannibal! Faceman!"
The didn't seem to hear him, they were talking to Kate.
"Come on, Kate honey. You can't stay like this forever. We need you here. Murdock's gonna need you when he wakes up."
Face stopped talking and went silent for a moment.
"Hannibal, she's been catatonic a lot longer than Murdock ever was. It's been what; nearly a week now?"
"I know. Problem is I think she needs Murdock to bring her out of this, but we don't know if he's ever going to wake, let alone when."
"Let's go see him. Steve might want to come back and sit with Kate."
They stood. Murdock followed them out of the room and found that he was now in a hospital. There was no more rain, no more black and white.
He followed them down a corridor and into another room. This one was full of equipment and wires and tubes. BA and another man, Murdock presumed to be Steve, were sitting at another bedside. Steve stood when he saw them...well, when he saw Hannibal and Face, no-one could see Murdock. Steve smiled and left the room while Hannibal took the seat he'd just vacated and Face leant against the window.
Murdock moved closer and got a shock when he found himself staring down at...himself! And he suddenly realised what he had to do and he bent down and touched his face.
*****
The pain was the first thing to hit him, pain and then the feeling of the tube down his throat. He tried to open his eyes, to move, to speak - anything, but nothing seemed to be working right. Nothing, except his ears. He distinctly heard Face's voice shouting for a nurse, then:
"He's waking up!"
Then there was a lot of muffled noise, and a females voice beside his ear. He tried to move again and this time his body responded slightly.
"Lay still, Mr. Muldoon. I need to check you."
He complied as he wondered who Mr. Muldoon was, then he realised that they must have put him in under a false name. Clever Team. That way, they could stay as long as they liked.
He finally managed to pry open his eyes, the scene was like a TV screen that wasn't tuned in properly. He closed his eyes again, then blinked until the scene cleared.
There was a nurse in his eyesight and he could see Face standing close behind. He cast his eyes around the room to see Hannibal and BA.
"Good to have you back, Captain."
Hannibal smiled. Murdock moaned slightly in response.
"Don't try to talk Mr. Muldoon - you have a tube in your throat, helping you breathe."
*What a stupid thing to tell him!* He thought - he knew that!
"If you just stay still for a moment, I'll go and get the doctor and see if we can take that out for you. You don't seem to be having any problems breathing now."
She disappeared and BA moved closer.
"How you feeling, crazy man? Okay?"
Murdock blinked once.
"Once for yes, twice for no?"
BA asked. Murdock blinked once again. Then he frowned slightly and tried to think of a way to ask about Kate.
"Something wrong, Murdock?"
Face asked. Murdock blinked again.
"Are you in pain?"
Murdock blinked twice.
"Liar." Face smiled. "Okay, so pain isn't the issue."
Two blinks. Then he stared at Face. His eyes didn't blink but Face could see the worry in them, and knew the look.
"Kate."
Face stated. One blink. One desperate blink.
"She's gonna be okay."
Face lied slightly. Murdock couldn't deal with her problems now - he had to think of himself.
Murdock knew he was lying. He'd seen Kate, and he needed to be with her. He laid there patiently, waiting for the doctor, then did as he was told to get the tube out of his throat. He coughed roughly as it was pulled out and tried to catch his breath.
"I wouldn't talk for a little while, Mr. Muldoon. You're throat is going to be a little sore for a while so take it easy."
He turned to the Team.
"Could you give us a few minutes while I check out his injuries."
He said. They all nodded and moved outside to wait. The nurse pulled the blind across the bed as the Doctor did his checks. The group of them just stood there, outside the room, leaning against the walls. BA was pacing back and forth. After a few minutes they left the room. The Doctor smiled at them.
"It's early days but it looks like he's going to make a full recovery. We're going to keep him in for at least another week under observation but I don't think there will be anymore complications."
Hannibal smiled, relieved.
"Thanks, Doc. It's okay to see him right?"
"Sure. Just makes sure he gets rest."
They nodded and entered the room again. Murdock looked over at them as they entered and smiled.
"Hey Captain. You had us worried for a while then. It's good to have you back."
"I have to see Kate." He mouthed without a sound. "Have to help her."
"Help her?" Face asked. "Did the Doctor tell you what happened?"
Face said slightly annoyed as it wasn't his place.
"No. I knew. I saw...in my dreams."
The four of them stared at him, Hannibal being the first to speak.
"Not right now, Murdock. You need to rest. Get some sleep. When you're feeling stronger, then you can see her. She's not going anywhere."
Murdock went to protest but Hannibal shut him up.
"That's an order, Captain."
Murdock acknowledged it with the look in his eye, then he turned his head slightly with a small grimace and closed his eyes. It took only a matter of moments before he was asleep.
"How did he know?"
Steve said amazed.
"They have a connection." Face told him. "I don't understand it, but they're linked in some way. He might be Kate's only hope."
"Maybe we can get them to bring Kate into here." A smile touched Hannibal's lips. "Face, why don't you go and chat up that pretty little nurse, hm?"
Face smiled.
"Yes, sir."
What do you think? Any good? Do you want the next part?