Chapter 20 for your pleasures. Tell me what you think. Pretty please? This
is the second to last chapter. Put I want more reviews before I give the
last short chapter out.
Chapter 20 - Hear His Voice
Murdock awoke to see Face sitting next to him, reading a paper. Murdock looked around the room but they were alone.
"Face?"
He croaked out. Face looked over the paper, smiled and lowered it.
"Hey Murdock, how you feeling?"
"Rough. What's the damage?"
"Few broken ribs. Serious concussion. Internal bleeding but they sorted it. You've been out for a couple of weeks in a coma."
"What about Kate?"
"Concussion, broken arm, bruised ribs. She was okay for a while...but she had a relapse."
"She's catatonic, isn't she?"
Face paused, not even bothering to question him on how he knew.
"Yeah. We've tried everything but she's been the same for a week."
"I want to talk to her."
"Soon, Murdock, soon. We're trying to persuade them to let her come in here."
Murdock nodded slightly. He looked through the window to see Hannibal and BA walking up.
"Hey guys..." Murdock said. "BA! You big ugly mud sucker! Give us a hug!"
Murdock joked, reaching his arms out gently so as not to cause pain in his chest.
"Get away fool!!!"
BA said keeping his distance. Hannibal and Face laughed.
"Looks like you're feeling better, Captain."
"Yes, sir. Good enough to go and see Kate..."
He hinted. Hannibal gave him that 'you can't pull one over me' look.
"Not yet, Murdock. You need to rest and stay in bed."
Murdock gave him that sad, puppy dog eyes expression.
"And that's not going to work either." Hannibal said seriously. "We're working on them to get her in here, okay? It won't be long."
"I miss her Colonel."
"I know you do. Just be patient."
"I'm already 'a' patient - isn't that enough?"
"Well, why don't you sleep then? The time will go quicker and you need the rest."
"Good idea!"
Murdock said closing his eyes.
*****
"Murdock? Murdock."
Murdock was woken, by a gently tapping on his shoulder. He forced his eyes open tiredly to see Hannibal looking over him.
"Kate's coming in."
Straight away Murdock was wide awake and trying to sit up. Hannibal put his hand under Murdock's arm and helped him up. Murdock looked out the window to see Steve wheeling Kate down the corridor in a wheelchair, a vacant expression on her face. Murdock sighed at the sight but put a smile on his face as they entered.
"Hey, Kate."
She was wheeled up and Murdock reached over and took her hand. He looked up at them all staring at him as if he's just about to perform a miracle.
"Uh, could you give us some time guys...please."
They all nodded and left. He turned back to Kate who was looking past him at the wall behind.
"I've missed you honey. Hope you're okay in there. I know you can hear me because I've been there myself. Back in 'Nam..."
*****
Hannibal and Face looked through the window and smiled as they watched Murdock chatting away to Kate. Maybe...maybe he could bring her out of it. Hopefully. "Come on, guys. Let's go get some lunch." The nodded at Hannibal and moved away to the lift.
*****
Half an hour later, Murdock was still talking to her.
"...I almost didn't enter that recruitment office. I'm glad I did. I remember it as if it were yesterday."
May 1967
I pushed open the door and walked straight up to the desk. I was afraid to look anywhere else, in case I lost my nerve. I kept my focus as I asked to be signed up. All my friends from the Thunderbirds were signing up. I knew I would be a huge asset to them over there. I smiled as I took the papers, then turned and went and sat in the nearest spare seat, next to a woman in a nurse's uniform.
That was when I realised that I didn't have a pen with me. I turned to her smiling, my normal welcoming smile.
"Uh...excuse me ma'am. You have a pen I could borrow?"
I asked just glancing at her for a split second.
"S...sure."
She stuttered slightly. I figured that she must be just as scared at what she was about to do as I was. The woman reached into her purse and I watched her. Her hair was pulled up neatly into a high pony tail, her skin was perfect and slightly tanned, her lips full and a natural rosy pink. She looked very familiar. I found himself drawn to her and I looked down, trying to control the feeling welling up inside of me.
*Get it together, man! You only asked her for a pen!*
I told myself. I saw her pull the pen from her purse and look up at me, her head was still low but I could feel her eyes on me, causing a shiver to run up my back.
I reached to take it, and plucked up the courage to look at her as I thanked her. And I stopped...my hand on the pen, just touching hers. Electricity shot up my arm. I could hardly breathe, my skin was tingling all over. Was this what love felt like? I'd never felt anything like it in my life.
I stared into her eyes, her bright emerald eyes so sparkling, so deep and knew that she'd felt the same thing. She looked so familiar. Did I know her? I had to find out. And if I didn't know her, I knew that I had to.
I smiled, half-knowingly.
"Do I, uh...know you?"
It took her a moment to answer me, she licked her lips slightly as if suddenly dry.
"No, I don't think so. I think I'd remember you."
"Same here."
I told her. I smiled. I was in love - I just knew it. I don't know how but I did. She smiled back at me and it lit her face up.
Present
Murdock paused. He watched her carefully. Her skin was just as perfect as it was back then, if a little pale. Her lips were still full and rosy, only her hair had really changed. It was shorter than back then, and she had a few more lines around her eyes - probably from all the stress she'd been through for the years they'd been apart.
She still looked beautiful. She still had a young looking face but it had been hidden these past few months from the frowns and wrinkles in her brow from all the concentration.
"Come on Kate. I mean, how am I gonna get through everyday? And who am I gonna call every night? And talk to about what we did all day? And who's gonna listen to me prattle on about Billy? You're my best friend...I love you."
He stared at her, hoping to get a response. Nothing. He sighed.
"I love you..."
He repeated silently.
*****
Two days later, and Kate was still the same. During this time, Murdock had been allowed up out of bed, and he'd been spending most of his time by Kate's bedside. He wasn't going to give up on her. She'd never given up on him. Steve had gone back to work, and the Team had gone off to help someone they'd bumped into in the hospital. Something about business troubles and men demanding she sell up. They were going to come back in a couple days and Murdock had been fine with it. It gave him more time with Kate. He sat there playing checkers with her. Well himself, but he'd play the white checkers for her.
The radio played silently in the background.
"I can't believe it, you've won again!" Murdock said amazed. "You keep beating me!"
Murdock laughed slightly.
"You always used to beat me at checkers. And at all those card games we played as well. Do you remember Kate? Back in 'Nam? We played everything from Poker to Snap. I never minded losing against you. I never minded losing against BA either - besides if I ever won he'd have probably beaten me to a pulp! That guy did not like to lose! Face was the best at Poker - he could keep a straight face - "
He stopped mid-sentence as a new song started on the radio. Murdock looked over at it in amazement. The lyrics sounding so familiar. He looked back at Kate, smiled, and started singing along.
"When I look back on these days I'll look and see your face. You were right there for me. In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky. In my heart there'll always be a place for you for all my life. I'll keep a part of you with me. And everywhere I am there you'll be, and everywhere I am there you'll be."
He continued onto the next verse and chorus. Then stopped and sighed. He could feel the tears just behind his eyes and wished Kate was really there with him. He was starting to wonder if she could hear him at all. He knew that he had been able to hear people, but maybe it was different for every person. BA could never remember if he heard people or not when he'd become catatonic on that plane.
"Cause I...my light...strength..."
Murdock's head shot up as he heard her voice. She was still staring ahead but she was moving her lips.
"...right there for me...there for me..."
He stared at her amazed. Then smiled slightly and joined in.
"In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky. In my heart there'll always be a place for you for all my life. I'll keep a part of you with me. And everywhere I am there you'll be, and everywhere I am there you'll be. There you'll be."
The lyrics ended and the song started to fade out. Kate's head seemed to slump slightly, then she jolted and moaned.
"Ohh...wha...?"
"Kate? Oh Kate! Kate! Look at me! Look up at me!!"
He gently lifted her chin, her green eyes touched his and focused.
"Kate?"
He asked delicately.
"I heard you...I was screaming for you to hear me...I got so lost, Murdock..."
He pulled her into a tight embrace. She rested her chin on his shoulder and cried tears of relief.
"I found you...I'll always find you."
He closed his eyes and smiled.
"Don't ever leave me again, Kate."
"I won't, I won't. I've missed you so much..."
What do you think? Any good? Do you want the last part?
Chapter 20 - Hear His Voice
Murdock awoke to see Face sitting next to him, reading a paper. Murdock looked around the room but they were alone.
"Face?"
He croaked out. Face looked over the paper, smiled and lowered it.
"Hey Murdock, how you feeling?"
"Rough. What's the damage?"
"Few broken ribs. Serious concussion. Internal bleeding but they sorted it. You've been out for a couple of weeks in a coma."
"What about Kate?"
"Concussion, broken arm, bruised ribs. She was okay for a while...but she had a relapse."
"She's catatonic, isn't she?"
Face paused, not even bothering to question him on how he knew.
"Yeah. We've tried everything but she's been the same for a week."
"I want to talk to her."
"Soon, Murdock, soon. We're trying to persuade them to let her come in here."
Murdock nodded slightly. He looked through the window to see Hannibal and BA walking up.
"Hey guys..." Murdock said. "BA! You big ugly mud sucker! Give us a hug!"
Murdock joked, reaching his arms out gently so as not to cause pain in his chest.
"Get away fool!!!"
BA said keeping his distance. Hannibal and Face laughed.
"Looks like you're feeling better, Captain."
"Yes, sir. Good enough to go and see Kate..."
He hinted. Hannibal gave him that 'you can't pull one over me' look.
"Not yet, Murdock. You need to rest and stay in bed."
Murdock gave him that sad, puppy dog eyes expression.
"And that's not going to work either." Hannibal said seriously. "We're working on them to get her in here, okay? It won't be long."
"I miss her Colonel."
"I know you do. Just be patient."
"I'm already 'a' patient - isn't that enough?"
"Well, why don't you sleep then? The time will go quicker and you need the rest."
"Good idea!"
Murdock said closing his eyes.
*****
"Murdock? Murdock."
Murdock was woken, by a gently tapping on his shoulder. He forced his eyes open tiredly to see Hannibal looking over him.
"Kate's coming in."
Straight away Murdock was wide awake and trying to sit up. Hannibal put his hand under Murdock's arm and helped him up. Murdock looked out the window to see Steve wheeling Kate down the corridor in a wheelchair, a vacant expression on her face. Murdock sighed at the sight but put a smile on his face as they entered.
"Hey, Kate."
She was wheeled up and Murdock reached over and took her hand. He looked up at them all staring at him as if he's just about to perform a miracle.
"Uh, could you give us some time guys...please."
They all nodded and left. He turned back to Kate who was looking past him at the wall behind.
"I've missed you honey. Hope you're okay in there. I know you can hear me because I've been there myself. Back in 'Nam..."
*****
Hannibal and Face looked through the window and smiled as they watched Murdock chatting away to Kate. Maybe...maybe he could bring her out of it. Hopefully. "Come on, guys. Let's go get some lunch." The nodded at Hannibal and moved away to the lift.
*****
Half an hour later, Murdock was still talking to her.
"...I almost didn't enter that recruitment office. I'm glad I did. I remember it as if it were yesterday."
May 1967
I pushed open the door and walked straight up to the desk. I was afraid to look anywhere else, in case I lost my nerve. I kept my focus as I asked to be signed up. All my friends from the Thunderbirds were signing up. I knew I would be a huge asset to them over there. I smiled as I took the papers, then turned and went and sat in the nearest spare seat, next to a woman in a nurse's uniform.
That was when I realised that I didn't have a pen with me. I turned to her smiling, my normal welcoming smile.
"Uh...excuse me ma'am. You have a pen I could borrow?"
I asked just glancing at her for a split second.
"S...sure."
She stuttered slightly. I figured that she must be just as scared at what she was about to do as I was. The woman reached into her purse and I watched her. Her hair was pulled up neatly into a high pony tail, her skin was perfect and slightly tanned, her lips full and a natural rosy pink. She looked very familiar. I found himself drawn to her and I looked down, trying to control the feeling welling up inside of me.
*Get it together, man! You only asked her for a pen!*
I told myself. I saw her pull the pen from her purse and look up at me, her head was still low but I could feel her eyes on me, causing a shiver to run up my back.
I reached to take it, and plucked up the courage to look at her as I thanked her. And I stopped...my hand on the pen, just touching hers. Electricity shot up my arm. I could hardly breathe, my skin was tingling all over. Was this what love felt like? I'd never felt anything like it in my life.
I stared into her eyes, her bright emerald eyes so sparkling, so deep and knew that she'd felt the same thing. She looked so familiar. Did I know her? I had to find out. And if I didn't know her, I knew that I had to.
I smiled, half-knowingly.
"Do I, uh...know you?"
It took her a moment to answer me, she licked her lips slightly as if suddenly dry.
"No, I don't think so. I think I'd remember you."
"Same here."
I told her. I smiled. I was in love - I just knew it. I don't know how but I did. She smiled back at me and it lit her face up.
Present
Murdock paused. He watched her carefully. Her skin was just as perfect as it was back then, if a little pale. Her lips were still full and rosy, only her hair had really changed. It was shorter than back then, and she had a few more lines around her eyes - probably from all the stress she'd been through for the years they'd been apart.
She still looked beautiful. She still had a young looking face but it had been hidden these past few months from the frowns and wrinkles in her brow from all the concentration.
"Come on Kate. I mean, how am I gonna get through everyday? And who am I gonna call every night? And talk to about what we did all day? And who's gonna listen to me prattle on about Billy? You're my best friend...I love you."
He stared at her, hoping to get a response. Nothing. He sighed.
"I love you..."
He repeated silently.
*****
Two days later, and Kate was still the same. During this time, Murdock had been allowed up out of bed, and he'd been spending most of his time by Kate's bedside. He wasn't going to give up on her. She'd never given up on him. Steve had gone back to work, and the Team had gone off to help someone they'd bumped into in the hospital. Something about business troubles and men demanding she sell up. They were going to come back in a couple days and Murdock had been fine with it. It gave him more time with Kate. He sat there playing checkers with her. Well himself, but he'd play the white checkers for her.
The radio played silently in the background.
"I can't believe it, you've won again!" Murdock said amazed. "You keep beating me!"
Murdock laughed slightly.
"You always used to beat me at checkers. And at all those card games we played as well. Do you remember Kate? Back in 'Nam? We played everything from Poker to Snap. I never minded losing against you. I never minded losing against BA either - besides if I ever won he'd have probably beaten me to a pulp! That guy did not like to lose! Face was the best at Poker - he could keep a straight face - "
He stopped mid-sentence as a new song started on the radio. Murdock looked over at it in amazement. The lyrics sounding so familiar. He looked back at Kate, smiled, and started singing along.
"When I look back on these days I'll look and see your face. You were right there for me. In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky. In my heart there'll always be a place for you for all my life. I'll keep a part of you with me. And everywhere I am there you'll be, and everywhere I am there you'll be."
He continued onto the next verse and chorus. Then stopped and sighed. He could feel the tears just behind his eyes and wished Kate was really there with him. He was starting to wonder if she could hear him at all. He knew that he had been able to hear people, but maybe it was different for every person. BA could never remember if he heard people or not when he'd become catatonic on that plane.
"Cause I...my light...strength..."
Murdock's head shot up as he heard her voice. She was still staring ahead but she was moving her lips.
"...right there for me...there for me..."
He stared at her amazed. Then smiled slightly and joined in.
"In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky. In my heart there'll always be a place for you for all my life. I'll keep a part of you with me. And everywhere I am there you'll be, and everywhere I am there you'll be. There you'll be."
The lyrics ended and the song started to fade out. Kate's head seemed to slump slightly, then she jolted and moaned.
"Ohh...wha...?"
"Kate? Oh Kate! Kate! Look at me! Look up at me!!"
He gently lifted her chin, her green eyes touched his and focused.
"Kate?"
He asked delicately.
"I heard you...I was screaming for you to hear me...I got so lost, Murdock..."
He pulled her into a tight embrace. She rested her chin on his shoulder and cried tears of relief.
"I found you...I'll always find you."
He closed his eyes and smiled.
"Don't ever leave me again, Kate."
"I won't, I won't. I've missed you so much..."
What do you think? Any good? Do you want the last part?