CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Katie sat in front of the TV; in the past couple of months, Murdock had found an apartment for all three of them. Megan was in bed and Murdock himself was at work at the Italian Restaurant he'd landed a job in.
The snow hadn't lasted long but long enough for them all to enjoy it. Megan had been thrilled, it had been the first time she'd ever seen snow. Even BA had taken her out and helped her build a snowman and make snowballs. In great delight, they'd thrown them at Murdock as he came out to see what they were doing. With a grin, he'd joined them and waited until first Hannibal and then Face had come out. Face had been the funniest to watch because the snow had got in his immaculate hair and on his very expensive suit.
But the crowning moment had been when Stockwell appeared and both Megan and Murdock had thrown snowballs at him, giggling all the while. Katie had had tears of laughter running down her face by the time they were finished.
She started to notice that Murdock and Stockwell had no love between them; it had been something she had long suspected but she was starting to see the real proof of it in every word and action. She also noticed that Murdock never took Megan with him if he knew that Stockwell was likely to be there. Of course, it was never easy to determine when the General was going to appear.
Katie herself had had numerous encounters with him and many snide comments had been exchanged on both sides. She was always aware at those times of Murdock's eyes fixed on her, ready to intervene at any moment he felt that Stockwell was going too far. He was fiercely protective of both her and Megan but he would never admit to her that he was scared that Stockwell would do something that could potentially harm them.
In the past few months their relationship had grown and strengthened, it would be never be as it had been before she'd run out on him but to her surprise, she found that if anything it was better although different. He seemed to love her more for being the mother of his child than he had ever loved her before. Somehow, all the bad things and the time apart had made them appreciate each other more.
Katie flicked through the channels idly, it was late and Murdock wouldn't be home for a couple of hours. But she was determined to stay up and wait for him to get in, they'd had too many nights just lately where all they had seen of each other was as he had crawled into bed late at night and at the hasty evening meals she prepared for him.
The news came on and her finger hovered above the button to switch the TV off. Suddenly, she saw a place that she recognised but she couldn't immediately call to mind. Then with a shock, she realised that it was the restaurant that Murdock worked in. She was numb as the newsreader told that hostages had been taken and a shooting had occurred earlier in the evening. No victim was found but there was evidence of blood, apart from that no one else had been harmed.
Katie couldn't breathe; it felt as someone was sitting on her chest. She forced herself to reach for the phone and dialled the restaurant. A police officer answered and stoutly refused to offer her any details; he could only tell her that no one of the name Murdock had been present since the investigation had begun.
With tears in her eyes, she put down the phone and turned off the TV. Then she went and woke Megan. The little girl wasn't happy at being woken and it took a while before she could get her out of bed. Hurriedly, she dressed her and grabbing the keys, she made for the door.
Her only thought was what she would do if something had happened to Murdock. Her mind was in a whirl and she couldn't think clearly. She drove to the nearest hospital, parked the car and all but ran into the emergency room.
A hand on her arm made her stop. It was Hannibal, for a moment, she couldn't think of anything to say.she couldn't find the words to ask him if Murdock had been hurt or worse.
'Katie.' He looked exhausted. BA appeared beside her and took Megan from her. She didn't resist as he lifted the girl out of her arms.
'Is he.?'
'Katie!' The voice was Murdock's and she turned and saw him standing there unhurt and alive. She flew to him, throwing her arms around him.
'You heard.'
'I thought it was you! I thought it was you!' She was crying. She could see now that his face was drawn and pale. He looked more tired than Hannibal.
'Not me.Face.it was Face.I, we, my fault.' He could barely get the words out, next moment his face was pressed against her neck and she could feel the hot tears flowing down his cheeks. She held onto him tightly, vaguely aware that Hannibal and BA were taking Megan over to the vending machine to get her a drink.
When Murdock had pulled himself together, they went outside. Shakily he told her the whole story, how Face had been shot, how he had been able to do virtually nothing for him. How they didn't even know if he'd live.
'It's my fault, I asked him to come down there, I practically pushed him into it. I just.I.'
'I know.' She understood how he'd wanted to show the guys that he was making something of himself, had a real job at last. 'It's not your fault, it was Face's decision to be there and none of you could have known that this was going to happen.'
'I just felt so helpless and all I kept thinking was.I can't let them kill me. Frankie wouldn't have known what to do and I couldn't leave you and Megan.I was terrified you'd take it into your head to come visit me tonight. I kept expecting you to walk in the door. You have no idea how relieved I was when I saw BA.'
She let him talk but before he'd finished a hand touched his shoulder. It was BA, still carrying Megan. Murdock instantly took his daughter and hugged her very tightly. 'Love you honey.' She heard him whisper.
'They finished operating.'
Murdock looked up and she could see the expectation on his face, he didn't think that his friend was going to pull through. 'Is he gonna be ok?'
BA shrugged. 'Wouldn't say.just said he's not outta the woods yet but he's doing ok at the moment.'
Murdock nodded. 'Can we see him yet?'
BA shook his head. 'Won't let no one in. I tried, not even me. They said we should go home.'
Murdock shook his head stubbornly. 'No way. I'm staying right here.'
Katie touched his arm. 'Honey, you're exhausted. Why don't we go home, there's nothing you can do now. You should get some rest.'
'I'm not tired and I can be here, I can be here when he wakes up.' There was a look of fierce determination on his face that normally Katie wouldn't even have bothered trying to argue with. Not tonight, however. She looked up at BA for back up.
'You go home fool; we'll call you if he wakes up. He's probably not gonna be awake for a while yet.'
Murdock opened his mouth to argue but obviously, the thought of bed was too tempting. He nodded quietly and got to his feet.
*** It was two weeks later when Murdock woke Katie in the early hours of the morning. Face was now well on the mend and Murdock had got over his guilt.
Murdock shook her again. 'Katie. C'mon wake up.'
With a groan, Katie buried her head in the pillows. 'No.not time to get up yet.'
'Yeah.come on.' He shook her harder and she opened her eyes.
'It's four in the morning.why do I have to get up?'
'Cos I want to show you something.'
'Can't that wait?'
He grinned. 'Not that and no it can't wait. Come on.' He got out of bed and went into the bathroom and washed. He walked back into the bedroom with a wet facecloth in his hand. He dropped it right onto Katie's face. She sat up and even though she couldn't see, she somehow managed to reach over and punch him lightly and playfully in the arm. She peeled the facecloth from her eyes.
'Now that was just mean.' She rubbed at her eyes and looked around. 'It's still dark.'
'I know.come on!' He could barely contain his excitement. 'We have to go now before it's too late!' He pulled on her arm and finally managed to get her out of bed. Karen was asleep on the sofa bed after having spent the weekend with them. She'd stay with Megan whilst they went out.
Ten minutes later she was somewhat ready, fifteen minutes after that, they arrived at their destination.
'Murdock.why are we going to airfield? Isn't it a bit early in the morning to fly?'
He shook his head with a secretive grin. 'It's the perfect time to fly.' He almost ran to the plane and helped her inside.
Sitting in the co-pilot's chair, Katie yawned. 'What crazy stunt do you have in mind now?'
'You'll see.' His grin was wider than ever. He didn't howl this time on take-off realising that she was too tired to appreciate it.
'Where are we going?' She asked as they drifted along.
'You'll see.' It seemed to be his standard answer to everything and it was really starting to annoy her.
Finally, he pointed out to the east. 'Look.' She followed the line of his hand and saw a rosy pink glow; with breathtaking beauty, the sun rose.
Katie stared at the clouds tinged pink and yellow by the morning rays. The grey of the sky was slowly turning to blue. As she watched, she heard Murdock say. 'Will you marry me?'
She turned in shock and saw that he was holding a ring; there was a lopsided grin on his face. 'Will you?'
It was so unexpected that for a moment, she could say nothing and his happy expression started to fade and then she looked into his eyes. 'Of course I will.' She found that she was laughing. She hadn't thought he was serious for a moment.
He slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her. After a minute, she had to push him away. 'The plane?'
'Autopilot.' He kissed her again and then something occurred to her. She pushed him away again.
'Wait a minute.I don't know how you knew but I don't want you thinking that you have to do this. I mean, we didn't get married the last time I was pregnant.'
The shocked and stunned expression on his face told her that she'd got it wrong. He had no idea that she was pregnant. His mouth formed the words soundlessly.
'You.you didn't know?' He shook his head. 'So.you were asking me to marry you because you love me?' He nodded his head still staring at her.
His grin spread wider and wider until she was sure that his face would split in half. Then he was hugging her so hard that she almost couldn't breath. Then he kissed her again. Then he laughed and finally he threw his head back and let out an ear-splitting howl of delight.
She stared at him in pleasant surprise. 'It's safe to say that you're pleased then.'
Again, that grin nearly split his face in two. 'I'm marrying the woman I love and she's expecting our child.nothing could be better.' Then a look of panic crossed her face. 'It is mine.right?'
She grinned. 'Oh yes.it's yours alright.'
Katie sat in front of the TV; in the past couple of months, Murdock had found an apartment for all three of them. Megan was in bed and Murdock himself was at work at the Italian Restaurant he'd landed a job in.
The snow hadn't lasted long but long enough for them all to enjoy it. Megan had been thrilled, it had been the first time she'd ever seen snow. Even BA had taken her out and helped her build a snowman and make snowballs. In great delight, they'd thrown them at Murdock as he came out to see what they were doing. With a grin, he'd joined them and waited until first Hannibal and then Face had come out. Face had been the funniest to watch because the snow had got in his immaculate hair and on his very expensive suit.
But the crowning moment had been when Stockwell appeared and both Megan and Murdock had thrown snowballs at him, giggling all the while. Katie had had tears of laughter running down her face by the time they were finished.
She started to notice that Murdock and Stockwell had no love between them; it had been something she had long suspected but she was starting to see the real proof of it in every word and action. She also noticed that Murdock never took Megan with him if he knew that Stockwell was likely to be there. Of course, it was never easy to determine when the General was going to appear.
Katie herself had had numerous encounters with him and many snide comments had been exchanged on both sides. She was always aware at those times of Murdock's eyes fixed on her, ready to intervene at any moment he felt that Stockwell was going too far. He was fiercely protective of both her and Megan but he would never admit to her that he was scared that Stockwell would do something that could potentially harm them.
In the past few months their relationship had grown and strengthened, it would be never be as it had been before she'd run out on him but to her surprise, she found that if anything it was better although different. He seemed to love her more for being the mother of his child than he had ever loved her before. Somehow, all the bad things and the time apart had made them appreciate each other more.
Katie flicked through the channels idly, it was late and Murdock wouldn't be home for a couple of hours. But she was determined to stay up and wait for him to get in, they'd had too many nights just lately where all they had seen of each other was as he had crawled into bed late at night and at the hasty evening meals she prepared for him.
The news came on and her finger hovered above the button to switch the TV off. Suddenly, she saw a place that she recognised but she couldn't immediately call to mind. Then with a shock, she realised that it was the restaurant that Murdock worked in. She was numb as the newsreader told that hostages had been taken and a shooting had occurred earlier in the evening. No victim was found but there was evidence of blood, apart from that no one else had been harmed.
Katie couldn't breathe; it felt as someone was sitting on her chest. She forced herself to reach for the phone and dialled the restaurant. A police officer answered and stoutly refused to offer her any details; he could only tell her that no one of the name Murdock had been present since the investigation had begun.
With tears in her eyes, she put down the phone and turned off the TV. Then she went and woke Megan. The little girl wasn't happy at being woken and it took a while before she could get her out of bed. Hurriedly, she dressed her and grabbing the keys, she made for the door.
Her only thought was what she would do if something had happened to Murdock. Her mind was in a whirl and she couldn't think clearly. She drove to the nearest hospital, parked the car and all but ran into the emergency room.
A hand on her arm made her stop. It was Hannibal, for a moment, she couldn't think of anything to say.she couldn't find the words to ask him if Murdock had been hurt or worse.
'Katie.' He looked exhausted. BA appeared beside her and took Megan from her. She didn't resist as he lifted the girl out of her arms.
'Is he.?'
'Katie!' The voice was Murdock's and she turned and saw him standing there unhurt and alive. She flew to him, throwing her arms around him.
'You heard.'
'I thought it was you! I thought it was you!' She was crying. She could see now that his face was drawn and pale. He looked more tired than Hannibal.
'Not me.Face.it was Face.I, we, my fault.' He could barely get the words out, next moment his face was pressed against her neck and she could feel the hot tears flowing down his cheeks. She held onto him tightly, vaguely aware that Hannibal and BA were taking Megan over to the vending machine to get her a drink.
When Murdock had pulled himself together, they went outside. Shakily he told her the whole story, how Face had been shot, how he had been able to do virtually nothing for him. How they didn't even know if he'd live.
'It's my fault, I asked him to come down there, I practically pushed him into it. I just.I.'
'I know.' She understood how he'd wanted to show the guys that he was making something of himself, had a real job at last. 'It's not your fault, it was Face's decision to be there and none of you could have known that this was going to happen.'
'I just felt so helpless and all I kept thinking was.I can't let them kill me. Frankie wouldn't have known what to do and I couldn't leave you and Megan.I was terrified you'd take it into your head to come visit me tonight. I kept expecting you to walk in the door. You have no idea how relieved I was when I saw BA.'
She let him talk but before he'd finished a hand touched his shoulder. It was BA, still carrying Megan. Murdock instantly took his daughter and hugged her very tightly. 'Love you honey.' She heard him whisper.
'They finished operating.'
Murdock looked up and she could see the expectation on his face, he didn't think that his friend was going to pull through. 'Is he gonna be ok?'
BA shrugged. 'Wouldn't say.just said he's not outta the woods yet but he's doing ok at the moment.'
Murdock nodded. 'Can we see him yet?'
BA shook his head. 'Won't let no one in. I tried, not even me. They said we should go home.'
Murdock shook his head stubbornly. 'No way. I'm staying right here.'
Katie touched his arm. 'Honey, you're exhausted. Why don't we go home, there's nothing you can do now. You should get some rest.'
'I'm not tired and I can be here, I can be here when he wakes up.' There was a look of fierce determination on his face that normally Katie wouldn't even have bothered trying to argue with. Not tonight, however. She looked up at BA for back up.
'You go home fool; we'll call you if he wakes up. He's probably not gonna be awake for a while yet.'
Murdock opened his mouth to argue but obviously, the thought of bed was too tempting. He nodded quietly and got to his feet.
*** It was two weeks later when Murdock woke Katie in the early hours of the morning. Face was now well on the mend and Murdock had got over his guilt.
Murdock shook her again. 'Katie. C'mon wake up.'
With a groan, Katie buried her head in the pillows. 'No.not time to get up yet.'
'Yeah.come on.' He shook her harder and she opened her eyes.
'It's four in the morning.why do I have to get up?'
'Cos I want to show you something.'
'Can't that wait?'
He grinned. 'Not that and no it can't wait. Come on.' He got out of bed and went into the bathroom and washed. He walked back into the bedroom with a wet facecloth in his hand. He dropped it right onto Katie's face. She sat up and even though she couldn't see, she somehow managed to reach over and punch him lightly and playfully in the arm. She peeled the facecloth from her eyes.
'Now that was just mean.' She rubbed at her eyes and looked around. 'It's still dark.'
'I know.come on!' He could barely contain his excitement. 'We have to go now before it's too late!' He pulled on her arm and finally managed to get her out of bed. Karen was asleep on the sofa bed after having spent the weekend with them. She'd stay with Megan whilst they went out.
Ten minutes later she was somewhat ready, fifteen minutes after that, they arrived at their destination.
'Murdock.why are we going to airfield? Isn't it a bit early in the morning to fly?'
He shook his head with a secretive grin. 'It's the perfect time to fly.' He almost ran to the plane and helped her inside.
Sitting in the co-pilot's chair, Katie yawned. 'What crazy stunt do you have in mind now?'
'You'll see.' His grin was wider than ever. He didn't howl this time on take-off realising that she was too tired to appreciate it.
'Where are we going?' She asked as they drifted along.
'You'll see.' It seemed to be his standard answer to everything and it was really starting to annoy her.
Finally, he pointed out to the east. 'Look.' She followed the line of his hand and saw a rosy pink glow; with breathtaking beauty, the sun rose.
Katie stared at the clouds tinged pink and yellow by the morning rays. The grey of the sky was slowly turning to blue. As she watched, she heard Murdock say. 'Will you marry me?'
She turned in shock and saw that he was holding a ring; there was a lopsided grin on his face. 'Will you?'
It was so unexpected that for a moment, she could say nothing and his happy expression started to fade and then she looked into his eyes. 'Of course I will.' She found that she was laughing. She hadn't thought he was serious for a moment.
He slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her. After a minute, she had to push him away. 'The plane?'
'Autopilot.' He kissed her again and then something occurred to her. She pushed him away again.
'Wait a minute.I don't know how you knew but I don't want you thinking that you have to do this. I mean, we didn't get married the last time I was pregnant.'
The shocked and stunned expression on his face told her that she'd got it wrong. He had no idea that she was pregnant. His mouth formed the words soundlessly.
'You.you didn't know?' He shook his head. 'So.you were asking me to marry you because you love me?' He nodded his head still staring at her.
His grin spread wider and wider until she was sure that his face would split in half. Then he was hugging her so hard that she almost couldn't breath. Then he kissed her again. Then he laughed and finally he threw his head back and let out an ear-splitting howl of delight.
She stared at him in pleasant surprise. 'It's safe to say that you're pleased then.'
Again, that grin nearly split his face in two. 'I'm marrying the woman I love and she's expecting our child.nothing could be better.' Then a look of panic crossed her face. 'It is mine.right?'
She grinned. 'Oh yes.it's yours alright.'
