VII

Hannibal was vague with details when reporting back to Stockwell about the mission. He didn't want him to know how things had really gone.

Stockwell really wasn't interested in details, as long as he got what he wanted. The General soon left the men to their own devices.

Hannibal wanted to talk about the situation right away.

"I think we need to organise some training session, guys. We're letting ourselves go." He stated to the others. From the lack of response he got, he wasn't sure of the others feelings, so pressed on.

"I'm going to organise a few different tasks for us to take part in, build up some team work."

"Aww Hannibal, do we have to. We had a bad day, that's all." BA said. The last thing we wanted to do was run around in the early, cold mornings.

"That 'bad day' could have cost someone their life." Hannibal reminded him.

"That's a little drastic, isn't it Johnny?" Frankie replied, smiling at how absurd it sounded.

"I don't think so." Hannibal replied deadly serious. "Teamwork's our biggest weapon out there, if we can't work together at one, we're just not good enough."

"That's a bit harsh." Face said. It was fair enough that they did work best as a team, but it was unfair to say individually they were as good.

"No, it's not. We have to work as a team." Hannibal said.

"But it's OK when you go off on solo missions, 'cause you are good enough?" Murdock asked.

"Murdock, you're way off form right now so I think you should be a little more careful with what you say." Hannibal reprimanded.

Murdock smirked, but said no more.

"Whoa guys, come on." Frankie said, slightly afraid things were going to turn nasty. "We're all put some extra time in, right?"

"I can't commit to that." Murdock said. "Look, there's only so many times I can just walk out of a job at a moments notice before they get sick of me and I get the sack. And I can't keep going from job to job 'cause I'll tell you I'm gonna run outta places that'll take me on."

Hannibal rubbed a hand across his eyes tiredly. "Fine. You'll just have to do limited exercises with us, as long as you get to do some. The first one will be tomorrow morning, 6am here. You can make that one right?"

"No problem." Murdock replied.

"Ok guys. Get some food, unwind and get some rest. We're in for a long day tomorrow."

Face came out of his bedroom wearing a smart shirt and jeans and made his way into the lounge.

BA was the only one in the room, and he was absorbed in a Wrestling match on the TV.

"Where is everyone?" Face asked.

"I'm here." BA said, not looking away from the screen.

"Well, where are the others?" Face said.

"Not sure."

"Thanks for your help. If you see Hannibal just let him know I've gone out but I'll be back before midnight."

"Why, is that when you turn into a pumpkin?" BA asked, smiling.

"No, but if I come back later than that, Hannibal will carve me up like a pumpkin." Face was about to make his way to the door, but came back into the room and sat down near BA. He looked at him for a moment, saying nothing.

BA turned away from the screen, noted a hint of worry playing on Face's features. "What?" he asked.

"We'll be OK, won't we?" Face asked. Noting BA's slight confusion at the topic, Face elaborated. "The team."

Enlightenment dawned on BA. "Course we will. It was just one mission. Ain't nothing to worry about. Hannibal's sorting it out."

"Yeah, I guess." Face didn't seem very comforted by the words.

"You're gonna be late." BA said.

"Yeah, I best get going. Will you let Hannibal know where I've gone. I don't want him to flip out."

"Sure."

As the door closed behind Face, BA started to consider what Face had said.

For the first time, he actually wondered if the team could still work together.

She answered the phone on the third ring. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's me." Murdock said.

"Oh, you're back then." Erica replied, her voice sounded a little shaky, undoubtedly due to her anger with him.

She was obviously still mad with him. "Can we go somewhere to talk?"

"Sorry I'm busy tonight."

"What?"

"I have plans. Did you expect me to just sit around and wait for you to call?"

"Look, I just want to work things out between us." Murdock said.

"There is no us. I can't sit around and wait for you to decide you feel like talking. I've moved on."

"What about the baby?"

"What about it. You're obviously not interested. I've met someone new. We're going to raise the baby together. I don't want anything from you and if you try to fight it, I think your past will come back to haunt you."

Murdock took a few moments to digest what Erica had just said. "My past." he repeated.

"Crazy people shouldn't be left alone with babies."

Murdock slammed the receiver down. There was no way Erica should know that, Face had made sure that Murdock's records were spotless so he would be employed.

There was only one person who would have told Erica the truth.

Stockwell.