Hours Later
It was dark and Face was tired. Emotionally and mentally exhausted from the strain of the last week he knew he wouldn't drive back to Malibu tonight. He hadn't answered his phone knowing that Hannibal was calling to demand just where the hell he was and to come back so he could bitch him out. Face just wasn't up to the confrontation tonight. He needed support from someone who wouldn't ask a lot of questions and thus he saved this errand for last. The town was quiet. Face had driven the back way and parked his car in an abandoned barn not to far from her house. He made his way to the front door unnoticed due to the empty street. He just prayed she was home alone. Knocking on the door he waited for a response.
The door was opened by a surprised Maggie Sullivan. "Face what are you doing here? Is everything okay? Come in, come in." She ushered the young conman in giving him a warm hug after the door was closed. Face flashed his first genuine smile of the day as he hugged her back. The hours they had spent watching over Hannibal had formed a bond between the two. "Everything's fine. Hannibal's irritable at being cooped up in order to fully heal but he's getting better everyday thanks to you. I just came up here to settle things. I know you turned down Hannibal's offer to pay for your services, but you're not going to turn me down. He doesn't know how much food we ate and all the medical supplies you used to patch him, but I do. We owe you Maggie, for several things, and I always make sure we pay our debts."
He pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to the surprised doctor. "Please take this and restock your supplies or maybe make an extra house payment. It's the least we can do to pay you back for all your help."
Maggie's eyes widened at the amount of cash in the envelope. She immediately began to protest. "Face really this isn't..."
He interrupted, "Yeah Maggie it is and I won't take no for an answer. You could have gotten into a lot of trouble with the law for helping us out again. Please take it with our thanks."
She gave him the evil eye for a minute before reluctantly accepting the generous payment. "Okay, but I do so under protest. I didn't help Hannibal and you guys because I expected you to pay me a small fortune."
He smiled again, "I know that, but just because you fulfilled your Hippocratic oath doesn't mean you shouldn't get paid for your services."
When glaring didn't seem to work she finally acquiesced. "Okay." With that she dropped one subject and started another. "Have you eaten dinner yet? Would like join me?"
"I don't want to impose." Face stated honestly, although secretly hoping she'd insist. He wasn't ready to leave her friendly presence yet.
"It's no imposition really. I was just about to eat. There's some leftover chicken, is that okay?"
"That'd be great, thanks."
They sat down to eat a few minutes later, Maggie starting the conversation. "So what are you really doing up here so late Face. You could have just left the money, then I couldn't have argued with you, but you chose to talk to me. What's going on?"
He gave a rueful sigh, then smirked as he cut up his chicken. "You're pretty perceptive doc. I'm just trying to avoid a situation I don't want to deal with. It's going to come up and I know I can't avoid it forever but for now I'm just trying to delay the inevitable."
She smiled sympathetically at him trying to convey her empathy. "You want to tell me about it?"
"Nah, I don't want to drag you into this. Suffice it to say that Hannibal wants the answers to a couple of questions that I'd just assume he didn't ask. He's not going to like what I have to say and I'd rather just avoid the argument and strain."
"Is it serious?" She asked her curiosity peaked.
"Yeah. I did something he's not going to approve of and I should feel guilty, but don't. He's not going to be happy with me, and I don't know how this is going to play out, but if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change anything. He's not going to want to hear that." Sighing as he takes a healthy swallow of wine. "I don't want to disappoint him, but I think I already have."
She could see the burden he was carrying in his eyes and the droop of his shoulders. Whatever the problem she knew he considered it serious and she hoped they worked it out, because it was apparent that Hannibal's approval meant a great deal to the young man. She stretched her hand over to squeeze his in a small attempt to buoy his spirits. "You'll work it out Face. I've seen the two of you together and it's obvious that you care about one another. You two will be okay, I know it. But for now why don't you stay the night here. You're exhausted and I don't want you driving back to LA tired. You're also not going to solve anything worrying about it tonight. Get some sleep and then you can go back and work things out tomorrow. Finish your dinner and I'll go make up a spare bedroom."
He smiled gratefully, knowing that her offer was genuine and that coming up here was the right decision. He needed to hear that things were going to be okay. "Are you sure it's not a imposition? I really don't want to be an inconvenience. I'll be perfectly fine driving back tonight."
Rolling her eyes tolerantly. "Face you're staying. Don't argue with me and finish your dinner before it gets cold. Making up a spare bed really isn't a bother."
"Thanks Maggie. I appreciate it. Hannibal's a lucky guy." He smirked at her. Face couldn't tell if she blushed as she turned for the stairs, but he felt better.
Less than an hour later Face was passed out in a spare bedroom. Maggie smiled as she closed the bedroom door. He resembled more a little boy than ex-Green Beret as the worry lines that creased his face disappeared in sleep.
She went back downstairs pulling out an address book, calling the number on the otherwise blank piece of paper stuffed in the front of it.
"Hello?"
"Hi John, it's Maggie." She said softly.
Surprised, "Hey Maggie. I'm fine. You don't have to call and check up on me, even if it is nice to talk to you."
"Yeah I know you're okay. One of the guys would have called me otherwise." She smiled at the idea of trying to mother Hannibal Smith.
Now curious, "Then what's up? Are you okay? Is there anything wrong?"
Laughing at his concern. "I'm fine, thank you for asking. Actually, I was wondering if you were missing a certain blond hair, blue-eyed lady killer."
Completely serious at this turn. "Yes I am. Is he okay? What's wrong, what's he doing up there?"
"He's fine too, John. Don't worry. He just came up here to blackmail me into accepting money for taking care of you. He looked fatigued and I was concerned about him driving back to LA tonight so I insisted he stay. I just didn't want you to worry about him."
Relieved, "Thanks Maggie. I've been calling and cursing his name most of the day because he hasn't checked in. I'll be up there in a couple of hours to collect him."
Laughing, "Whoa cowboy. You need to rest if you want to get better, not get in a car and drive up here late at night. He'll be fine after he gets a little sleep and some breakfast in the morning. I promise to send him straight home after that."
Hannibal didn't appreciate the humor, but realized that she was probably right. He was tired, pacing throughout the house most of the day wondering what the hell was up with Face had left him drained. Racing up there, waking the kid up, to yell at him didn't make much sense either. "This really isn't funny Maggie."
The concern and worry in his tone stopped the snickering. "What's going on Hannibal? He didn't go into much detail but I get the impression he's avoiding you like the plague."
"You're not the only one with that impression. As for what's going on I really don't know because he hasn't told me, but the next time I see him he will tell me, even if I have to beat it out of him." Frustrated, Hannibal paused to reign in his temper. He wasn't mad at Maggie. "I just don't know what to do with that kid. He's never deliberately avoided me before. Even when I've chewed his ass about something he's never just walked out. He didn't tell you anything?" Hannibal questioned trying to find some explanation for Face's behavior.
Wishing she could be more helpful. "Sorry John, no. He said he didn't want to drag me into whatever this is and that he doesn't want to disappoint you, but he's afraid he already has. Other than that, he just said he doesn't want to answer some questions you have. Does that mean anything to you?"
Perplexed. "Disappoint me? He said that?" Sighing, Jesus kid what the hell happened? "Sorry Maggie, I don't know much more than you, except that if he doesn't drive back here tomorrow to explain what the hell is going on I'm going to wring his neck. Anyway, thanks for letting me know he's okay. I don't think I'd have gotten any sleep tonight if I hadn't heard from you. I'll let you know when we get this all straightened out. Then you can explain how he convinced you to take our money when you wouldn't listen to me."
She could practically envision his smirk through the phone line. "Sorry John, that's between Face and I. A girl's gotta have some secrets. Let me know if there's anything I can do and you get some sleep or you're not going to be in any condition to argue with him tomorrow."
"I will. Thanks for the call Maggie, I appreciate it."
"You're welcome John. Goodnight."
She hung up the phone more curious than ever about what was going on between the two men. She hadn't spent much time with the A-Team but it was evident to her that Face and Hannibal cared deeply for one another. Their relationship was strange, but devoted and she believed, unbreakable.
Realizing that speculating would do nothing but keep her awake all night without any appreciable results she decided to turn in and see if she couldn't pry more information out of her guest in the morning.
It was dark and Face was tired. Emotionally and mentally exhausted from the strain of the last week he knew he wouldn't drive back to Malibu tonight. He hadn't answered his phone knowing that Hannibal was calling to demand just where the hell he was and to come back so he could bitch him out. Face just wasn't up to the confrontation tonight. He needed support from someone who wouldn't ask a lot of questions and thus he saved this errand for last. The town was quiet. Face had driven the back way and parked his car in an abandoned barn not to far from her house. He made his way to the front door unnoticed due to the empty street. He just prayed she was home alone. Knocking on the door he waited for a response.
The door was opened by a surprised Maggie Sullivan. "Face what are you doing here? Is everything okay? Come in, come in." She ushered the young conman in giving him a warm hug after the door was closed. Face flashed his first genuine smile of the day as he hugged her back. The hours they had spent watching over Hannibal had formed a bond between the two. "Everything's fine. Hannibal's irritable at being cooped up in order to fully heal but he's getting better everyday thanks to you. I just came up here to settle things. I know you turned down Hannibal's offer to pay for your services, but you're not going to turn me down. He doesn't know how much food we ate and all the medical supplies you used to patch him, but I do. We owe you Maggie, for several things, and I always make sure we pay our debts."
He pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to the surprised doctor. "Please take this and restock your supplies or maybe make an extra house payment. It's the least we can do to pay you back for all your help."
Maggie's eyes widened at the amount of cash in the envelope. She immediately began to protest. "Face really this isn't..."
He interrupted, "Yeah Maggie it is and I won't take no for an answer. You could have gotten into a lot of trouble with the law for helping us out again. Please take it with our thanks."
She gave him the evil eye for a minute before reluctantly accepting the generous payment. "Okay, but I do so under protest. I didn't help Hannibal and you guys because I expected you to pay me a small fortune."
He smiled again, "I know that, but just because you fulfilled your Hippocratic oath doesn't mean you shouldn't get paid for your services."
When glaring didn't seem to work she finally acquiesced. "Okay." With that she dropped one subject and started another. "Have you eaten dinner yet? Would like join me?"
"I don't want to impose." Face stated honestly, although secretly hoping she'd insist. He wasn't ready to leave her friendly presence yet.
"It's no imposition really. I was just about to eat. There's some leftover chicken, is that okay?"
"That'd be great, thanks."
They sat down to eat a few minutes later, Maggie starting the conversation. "So what are you really doing up here so late Face. You could have just left the money, then I couldn't have argued with you, but you chose to talk to me. What's going on?"
He gave a rueful sigh, then smirked as he cut up his chicken. "You're pretty perceptive doc. I'm just trying to avoid a situation I don't want to deal with. It's going to come up and I know I can't avoid it forever but for now I'm just trying to delay the inevitable."
She smiled sympathetically at him trying to convey her empathy. "You want to tell me about it?"
"Nah, I don't want to drag you into this. Suffice it to say that Hannibal wants the answers to a couple of questions that I'd just assume he didn't ask. He's not going to like what I have to say and I'd rather just avoid the argument and strain."
"Is it serious?" She asked her curiosity peaked.
"Yeah. I did something he's not going to approve of and I should feel guilty, but don't. He's not going to be happy with me, and I don't know how this is going to play out, but if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change anything. He's not going to want to hear that." Sighing as he takes a healthy swallow of wine. "I don't want to disappoint him, but I think I already have."
She could see the burden he was carrying in his eyes and the droop of his shoulders. Whatever the problem she knew he considered it serious and she hoped they worked it out, because it was apparent that Hannibal's approval meant a great deal to the young man. She stretched her hand over to squeeze his in a small attempt to buoy his spirits. "You'll work it out Face. I've seen the two of you together and it's obvious that you care about one another. You two will be okay, I know it. But for now why don't you stay the night here. You're exhausted and I don't want you driving back to LA tired. You're also not going to solve anything worrying about it tonight. Get some sleep and then you can go back and work things out tomorrow. Finish your dinner and I'll go make up a spare bedroom."
He smiled gratefully, knowing that her offer was genuine and that coming up here was the right decision. He needed to hear that things were going to be okay. "Are you sure it's not a imposition? I really don't want to be an inconvenience. I'll be perfectly fine driving back tonight."
Rolling her eyes tolerantly. "Face you're staying. Don't argue with me and finish your dinner before it gets cold. Making up a spare bed really isn't a bother."
"Thanks Maggie. I appreciate it. Hannibal's a lucky guy." He smirked at her. Face couldn't tell if she blushed as she turned for the stairs, but he felt better.
Less than an hour later Face was passed out in a spare bedroom. Maggie smiled as she closed the bedroom door. He resembled more a little boy than ex-Green Beret as the worry lines that creased his face disappeared in sleep.
She went back downstairs pulling out an address book, calling the number on the otherwise blank piece of paper stuffed in the front of it.
"Hello?"
"Hi John, it's Maggie." She said softly.
Surprised, "Hey Maggie. I'm fine. You don't have to call and check up on me, even if it is nice to talk to you."
"Yeah I know you're okay. One of the guys would have called me otherwise." She smiled at the idea of trying to mother Hannibal Smith.
Now curious, "Then what's up? Are you okay? Is there anything wrong?"
Laughing at his concern. "I'm fine, thank you for asking. Actually, I was wondering if you were missing a certain blond hair, blue-eyed lady killer."
Completely serious at this turn. "Yes I am. Is he okay? What's wrong, what's he doing up there?"
"He's fine too, John. Don't worry. He just came up here to blackmail me into accepting money for taking care of you. He looked fatigued and I was concerned about him driving back to LA tonight so I insisted he stay. I just didn't want you to worry about him."
Relieved, "Thanks Maggie. I've been calling and cursing his name most of the day because he hasn't checked in. I'll be up there in a couple of hours to collect him."
Laughing, "Whoa cowboy. You need to rest if you want to get better, not get in a car and drive up here late at night. He'll be fine after he gets a little sleep and some breakfast in the morning. I promise to send him straight home after that."
Hannibal didn't appreciate the humor, but realized that she was probably right. He was tired, pacing throughout the house most of the day wondering what the hell was up with Face had left him drained. Racing up there, waking the kid up, to yell at him didn't make much sense either. "This really isn't funny Maggie."
The concern and worry in his tone stopped the snickering. "What's going on Hannibal? He didn't go into much detail but I get the impression he's avoiding you like the plague."
"You're not the only one with that impression. As for what's going on I really don't know because he hasn't told me, but the next time I see him he will tell me, even if I have to beat it out of him." Frustrated, Hannibal paused to reign in his temper. He wasn't mad at Maggie. "I just don't know what to do with that kid. He's never deliberately avoided me before. Even when I've chewed his ass about something he's never just walked out. He didn't tell you anything?" Hannibal questioned trying to find some explanation for Face's behavior.
Wishing she could be more helpful. "Sorry John, no. He said he didn't want to drag me into whatever this is and that he doesn't want to disappoint you, but he's afraid he already has. Other than that, he just said he doesn't want to answer some questions you have. Does that mean anything to you?"
Perplexed. "Disappoint me? He said that?" Sighing, Jesus kid what the hell happened? "Sorry Maggie, I don't know much more than you, except that if he doesn't drive back here tomorrow to explain what the hell is going on I'm going to wring his neck. Anyway, thanks for letting me know he's okay. I don't think I'd have gotten any sleep tonight if I hadn't heard from you. I'll let you know when we get this all straightened out. Then you can explain how he convinced you to take our money when you wouldn't listen to me."
She could practically envision his smirk through the phone line. "Sorry John, that's between Face and I. A girl's gotta have some secrets. Let me know if there's anything I can do and you get some sleep or you're not going to be in any condition to argue with him tomorrow."
"I will. Thanks for the call Maggie, I appreciate it."
"You're welcome John. Goodnight."
She hung up the phone more curious than ever about what was going on between the two men. She hadn't spent much time with the A-Team but it was evident to her that Face and Hannibal cared deeply for one another. Their relationship was strange, but devoted and she believed, unbreakable.
Realizing that speculating would do nothing but keep her awake all night without any appreciable results she decided to turn in and see if she couldn't pry more information out of her guest in the morning.