(Disclaimer: Said it once, said it twice... well, I've at least said it
once: I don't own them!)
IT Ch. 4-- Maybe...
Face glanced from the corner of his eye at Hannibal who calmly, quietly steered the corvette down the back road. They were almost at the cabin now, only a few minutes away. Neither of them had spoken more than a word or two since the argument over who was going to drive. Apparently, Hannibal had had some concern that his Lieutenant might make a run for it if he had let him drive; something he was not willing to chance. And, of course, the Colonel had won. He always got his way no matter what or who that way involved.
But, the argument being over for a couple of hours now, Face began to feel hopeful. Nothing had been said about IT. The fact that practically nothing had been said at all was beside the point. As long as IT was not a topic, Face had a chance of avoiding the subject all together. Hell, maybe Hannibal had even forgotten all about IT.
Hannibal glanced at him and Face quickly looked away.
Maybe...
Be cheerful, smile, act as if nothing was wrong... not that there was anything really wrong... After all, he was the Faceman! He could con anyone out of or into anything!
He glanced at his commander once more.
Hannibal watched him, his eyes narrowed, suspiciously.
Maybe...
Taking a deep breath, he said "I wonder if B.A. has throttled Murdock yet."
Hannibal humphed.
Face smiled his best, chuckling. "I wonder how long that egg will last. Murdock should of picked a less fragile prop." He watched Hannibal for a moment, waiting for a response. When he didn't get one, he asked "Did he tell you what's the deal with the egg?"
Hannibal shrugged, smiling slightly. "Does Murdock ever need an explanation?"
Brightened by the response, Face grinned and laughed. "Even if he needed one, I doubt anyone could come up with one." That was a good sign. Communication that did not refer to him himself. That was very good. Maybe, just maybe, the morning, the discovery had been forgotten.
Maybe...
Their destination came in sight. A beautiful scene of a 2-story log cabin sitting in a clearing beside a sparkling lake. A jetty stuck out into the water and a small, wooden rowboat was tied to the end. Wonderful, warm sunshine above, green-green grass below, and tall trees all around...
Maybe...
As the corvette pulled in beside the A-Team van, Murdock jumped up and down and waved from where he had been building a sand/gravle castle for his egg on the beach. B.A., who had been standing on the jetty, keeping an eye on Murdock, looked their direction. Then, calling to the pilot, he started back to greet their friends.
Faceman waved to them as he climbed out of the car. "Well, still alive. So far so good." he commented to Hannibal.
Hannibal again smiled only slightly. He looked up at the porch where Dr Richter had risen up out of the rocker and was patiently waiting to be noticed. Faceman hadn't noticed yet. And, Hannibal hoped he didn't until they were at least far enough from the car and B.A. was close enough to discourage the kid from making a run for it. Boy, oh boy, wasn't this going to be fun. "Got a cigar, kid?" he asked, keeping the lieutenant's attention.
"Don't I always?" He pulled the requested cigar from his jacket pocket and headed around the car to his commanding officer just as Murdock pounced onto the scene.
"Facey! Facey, Facey, Facey!" Murdock jumped up and down like a puppy dog who's kid had just returned home from school.
B.A. grabbed him by the back of the neck and yanked the pilot back. "Give him some air, fool!" When Murdock pouted, B.A. sighed. He looked him up and down, then asked "Where's that egg of yours, anyway? Ah'm hungry."
Murdock squealed, twisted out of his grip, and ran back to rescue the momentarily forgotten egg which had been left behind on the beach.
Face chuckled. Arching his back, he stretched his arms out, stiff after the long ride. He winced slightly as he was rudely reminded of the cut on his arm. Quickly dropping his arms, hoping that the Colonel hadn't noticed, he turned back to the car to grab his duffel.
But Hannibal had already grabbed the bag. He tossed it to B.A. who nodded in response to some unspoken command.
Face almost frowned, but quickly reinforced his grin. Keep smiling, keep it together, play it through... everything was going just perfectly.
Maybe...
Face shrugged. Backing toward the cabin, he asked "So, what's for dinner? Murdock caught any fish yet?" Keeping up his grin, he turned around. "I'm starved."
"Good to hear it." Dr Richter spoke up, taking a step down toward them. He smiled and watched carefully for the lieutenant's reaction. "But, I'm afraid there's no fish yet."
Templeton Peck stopped. He looked up at the doctor as B.A. and Hannibal stopped on either side of him. "Hey, doc." he said wearily. Damn, damn, damn, damn! So much for maybe! His mind raced around the obvious answer, but he asked anyway, hoping he was wrong. "Doing a little fishing?"
Richter took another step toward him, his eyes never leaving the young man. "Not exactly. I'm here to talk to you."
Well, hell, Hannibal thought. He could have at least waited until they had him cornered inside before announcing that one!
Face flashed a brilliant grin which lasted exactly three seconds. Then it, and all other signs of calm and normality, vanished all together. "Uh-uh." he said, shaking his head. Stepping back, he glared at his commander. "No way, Hannibal! I'm not crazy!" he growled.
"Lieutenant..." Hannibal tried. He knew that, if he had to use force on the kid, it would do a hell of a lot of mental damage to both Face and the rest of the team. He took a moment to silently thank his Sergeant for sending Murdock away.
B.A. tried to look as unthreatening as possible, which was quite a challenge for the big man. "Come on, man, no one said you were crazy." he assured, reaching out for Peck's arm.
But Face yanked free, practically leaping away. "Then why is HE here?" he yelled, shoving a finger in the doctor's direction. He turned his attention back to Hannibal, his tone taking on a sudden pleading note. "I'm fine! Honest!" He waved his arms about as if they could see through his long sleeves. "These... they're nothing! They'll heal, barely a scar! I won't do it again! Please, Hannibal, don't do this to me!"
"Don't do what?" Richter asked, taking another step toward them. "All I'm here to do is talk." he assured. "Talking never hurt anyone."
"You shut up!" the young man snapped. He gazed at Hannibal, but, when the Colonel showed no sign of backing down, he became angry once again. "Who the hell do you think you are?" he snarled. "We're not in the army anymore! Remember? You're not a Colonel! I'm not your Lieutenant! And you can't order me to stay!"
Damn, why couldn't the doc have stayed out of sight just a little longer?! Hannibal shook the car keys, reminding Face who had them. "And how do you plan on doing that?" he asked, his tone absolutely emotionless.
Face glared. "If you think I need keys you really don't know anything about me, do you?" he growled, a nasty smile etched across his handsome face.
Hannibal nodded to where B.A. had, unnoticed moved to the car. "You might need that."
Face spun about to see the Sergeant yank free the distributor cap from under the hood of his corvette. His jaw stiffened, his mind momentarily frozen.
Hannibal wondered for a moment if the moment of silence was due to rage or fear. Watching the young man's stiff back quiver, his fingers digging into the palms of his hands, his weight adjusting from one foot to the other, the Colonel had to wonder if even Face knew.
"Lieutenant Peck," Dr Richter spoke up again. He had managed to move up beside Hannibal without being noticed. Must come in handy in his line of work; sneaking around and psychology had a lot in common. "You don't really want to run away from your friends, now, do you?!" It was an observation, not a question.
Face's head dropped with a sigh as he resigned to the fact that they weren't going to let him just leave. Slowly, he turned to glare at the doctor. "I want to enjoy my vacation. Which your lack of presence would greatly help."
Dr Richter shrugged. "Alright, I'll make you a deal." That drew a startled look from Hannibal, but the doctor ignored him. He would deal with the rest of the team once Peck was in hand. "Tonight, once you are all settled, sit down and have a chat with me." He held up a hand when the young man opened his mouth to protest. "One little chat, that's all. Then, come morning, if your still feel the same, I will leave." And return the next day he added silently. Forcing him to talk wasn't going to help anything. But pestering him until he finally spat it out... well, that was the basis of psychology.
Face's eyes narrowed. "You'll leave?"
The doctor nodded.
Face glanced back at Hannibal. "You'll let him?"
Hannibal frowned, but he, too, nodded.
Again Face sighed, dropping his chin to his chest. "Alright." he whispered.
Dr Richter smiled. "Good." he said. "Good. Now, why don't you go up stairs and get settled. I do believe Captain Murdock is eager to tell you all about his egg." He waved to Murdock who was slowly approaching them, his eyes scanning the situation wearily.
Murdock offered a shaky smile to his doctor, then held his hand out to Face. "Come on, Facey."
Face hesitated. But what was left for him to do? Just do it, have a chit chat with the head shrink, send him packing, and, then, maybe then, he could get on with his life.
Maybe...
IT Ch. 4-- Maybe...
Face glanced from the corner of his eye at Hannibal who calmly, quietly steered the corvette down the back road. They were almost at the cabin now, only a few minutes away. Neither of them had spoken more than a word or two since the argument over who was going to drive. Apparently, Hannibal had had some concern that his Lieutenant might make a run for it if he had let him drive; something he was not willing to chance. And, of course, the Colonel had won. He always got his way no matter what or who that way involved.
But, the argument being over for a couple of hours now, Face began to feel hopeful. Nothing had been said about IT. The fact that practically nothing had been said at all was beside the point. As long as IT was not a topic, Face had a chance of avoiding the subject all together. Hell, maybe Hannibal had even forgotten all about IT.
Hannibal glanced at him and Face quickly looked away.
Maybe...
Be cheerful, smile, act as if nothing was wrong... not that there was anything really wrong... After all, he was the Faceman! He could con anyone out of or into anything!
He glanced at his commander once more.
Hannibal watched him, his eyes narrowed, suspiciously.
Maybe...
Taking a deep breath, he said "I wonder if B.A. has throttled Murdock yet."
Hannibal humphed.
Face smiled his best, chuckling. "I wonder how long that egg will last. Murdock should of picked a less fragile prop." He watched Hannibal for a moment, waiting for a response. When he didn't get one, he asked "Did he tell you what's the deal with the egg?"
Hannibal shrugged, smiling slightly. "Does Murdock ever need an explanation?"
Brightened by the response, Face grinned and laughed. "Even if he needed one, I doubt anyone could come up with one." That was a good sign. Communication that did not refer to him himself. That was very good. Maybe, just maybe, the morning, the discovery had been forgotten.
Maybe...
Their destination came in sight. A beautiful scene of a 2-story log cabin sitting in a clearing beside a sparkling lake. A jetty stuck out into the water and a small, wooden rowboat was tied to the end. Wonderful, warm sunshine above, green-green grass below, and tall trees all around...
Maybe...
As the corvette pulled in beside the A-Team van, Murdock jumped up and down and waved from where he had been building a sand/gravle castle for his egg on the beach. B.A., who had been standing on the jetty, keeping an eye on Murdock, looked their direction. Then, calling to the pilot, he started back to greet their friends.
Faceman waved to them as he climbed out of the car. "Well, still alive. So far so good." he commented to Hannibal.
Hannibal again smiled only slightly. He looked up at the porch where Dr Richter had risen up out of the rocker and was patiently waiting to be noticed. Faceman hadn't noticed yet. And, Hannibal hoped he didn't until they were at least far enough from the car and B.A. was close enough to discourage the kid from making a run for it. Boy, oh boy, wasn't this going to be fun. "Got a cigar, kid?" he asked, keeping the lieutenant's attention.
"Don't I always?" He pulled the requested cigar from his jacket pocket and headed around the car to his commanding officer just as Murdock pounced onto the scene.
"Facey! Facey, Facey, Facey!" Murdock jumped up and down like a puppy dog who's kid had just returned home from school.
B.A. grabbed him by the back of the neck and yanked the pilot back. "Give him some air, fool!" When Murdock pouted, B.A. sighed. He looked him up and down, then asked "Where's that egg of yours, anyway? Ah'm hungry."
Murdock squealed, twisted out of his grip, and ran back to rescue the momentarily forgotten egg which had been left behind on the beach.
Face chuckled. Arching his back, he stretched his arms out, stiff after the long ride. He winced slightly as he was rudely reminded of the cut on his arm. Quickly dropping his arms, hoping that the Colonel hadn't noticed, he turned back to the car to grab his duffel.
But Hannibal had already grabbed the bag. He tossed it to B.A. who nodded in response to some unspoken command.
Face almost frowned, but quickly reinforced his grin. Keep smiling, keep it together, play it through... everything was going just perfectly.
Maybe...
Face shrugged. Backing toward the cabin, he asked "So, what's for dinner? Murdock caught any fish yet?" Keeping up his grin, he turned around. "I'm starved."
"Good to hear it." Dr Richter spoke up, taking a step down toward them. He smiled and watched carefully for the lieutenant's reaction. "But, I'm afraid there's no fish yet."
Templeton Peck stopped. He looked up at the doctor as B.A. and Hannibal stopped on either side of him. "Hey, doc." he said wearily. Damn, damn, damn, damn! So much for maybe! His mind raced around the obvious answer, but he asked anyway, hoping he was wrong. "Doing a little fishing?"
Richter took another step toward him, his eyes never leaving the young man. "Not exactly. I'm here to talk to you."
Well, hell, Hannibal thought. He could have at least waited until they had him cornered inside before announcing that one!
Face flashed a brilliant grin which lasted exactly three seconds. Then it, and all other signs of calm and normality, vanished all together. "Uh-uh." he said, shaking his head. Stepping back, he glared at his commander. "No way, Hannibal! I'm not crazy!" he growled.
"Lieutenant..." Hannibal tried. He knew that, if he had to use force on the kid, it would do a hell of a lot of mental damage to both Face and the rest of the team. He took a moment to silently thank his Sergeant for sending Murdock away.
B.A. tried to look as unthreatening as possible, which was quite a challenge for the big man. "Come on, man, no one said you were crazy." he assured, reaching out for Peck's arm.
But Face yanked free, practically leaping away. "Then why is HE here?" he yelled, shoving a finger in the doctor's direction. He turned his attention back to Hannibal, his tone taking on a sudden pleading note. "I'm fine! Honest!" He waved his arms about as if they could see through his long sleeves. "These... they're nothing! They'll heal, barely a scar! I won't do it again! Please, Hannibal, don't do this to me!"
"Don't do what?" Richter asked, taking another step toward them. "All I'm here to do is talk." he assured. "Talking never hurt anyone."
"You shut up!" the young man snapped. He gazed at Hannibal, but, when the Colonel showed no sign of backing down, he became angry once again. "Who the hell do you think you are?" he snarled. "We're not in the army anymore! Remember? You're not a Colonel! I'm not your Lieutenant! And you can't order me to stay!"
Damn, why couldn't the doc have stayed out of sight just a little longer?! Hannibal shook the car keys, reminding Face who had them. "And how do you plan on doing that?" he asked, his tone absolutely emotionless.
Face glared. "If you think I need keys you really don't know anything about me, do you?" he growled, a nasty smile etched across his handsome face.
Hannibal nodded to where B.A. had, unnoticed moved to the car. "You might need that."
Face spun about to see the Sergeant yank free the distributor cap from under the hood of his corvette. His jaw stiffened, his mind momentarily frozen.
Hannibal wondered for a moment if the moment of silence was due to rage or fear. Watching the young man's stiff back quiver, his fingers digging into the palms of his hands, his weight adjusting from one foot to the other, the Colonel had to wonder if even Face knew.
"Lieutenant Peck," Dr Richter spoke up again. He had managed to move up beside Hannibal without being noticed. Must come in handy in his line of work; sneaking around and psychology had a lot in common. "You don't really want to run away from your friends, now, do you?!" It was an observation, not a question.
Face's head dropped with a sigh as he resigned to the fact that they weren't going to let him just leave. Slowly, he turned to glare at the doctor. "I want to enjoy my vacation. Which your lack of presence would greatly help."
Dr Richter shrugged. "Alright, I'll make you a deal." That drew a startled look from Hannibal, but the doctor ignored him. He would deal with the rest of the team once Peck was in hand. "Tonight, once you are all settled, sit down and have a chat with me." He held up a hand when the young man opened his mouth to protest. "One little chat, that's all. Then, come morning, if your still feel the same, I will leave." And return the next day he added silently. Forcing him to talk wasn't going to help anything. But pestering him until he finally spat it out... well, that was the basis of psychology.
Face's eyes narrowed. "You'll leave?"
The doctor nodded.
Face glanced back at Hannibal. "You'll let him?"
Hannibal frowned, but he, too, nodded.
Again Face sighed, dropping his chin to his chest. "Alright." he whispered.
Dr Richter smiled. "Good." he said. "Good. Now, why don't you go up stairs and get settled. I do believe Captain Murdock is eager to tell you all about his egg." He waved to Murdock who was slowly approaching them, his eyes scanning the situation wearily.
Murdock offered a shaky smile to his doctor, then held his hand out to Face. "Come on, Facey."
Face hesitated. But what was left for him to do? Just do it, have a chit chat with the head shrink, send him packing, and, then, maybe then, he could get on with his life.
Maybe...