Josta
I don't own the A-team and I'm sure Murdock in particular should be grateful. This chapter contains graphic torture and lots of angst, so be warned.
I am no doctor and the only thing I know about medicine is that you can take an aspirin when you've got a headache. All medical actions in this story are therefore totally, completely and utterly non-sense.
I'd like to express my thanks to Clairon for being my beta. Her contribution to this story is much appreciated.
They look at each other worriedly.
"What's the plan, Hannibal?" Face wants to know.
"BA, you call your mother and tell her to meet you somewhere. Pick her up. Hurry and you might be in time."
Kelly interferes. "Bring her here, my house is big enough."
"Thank you! You heard, BA, now go! Face, we got to check the perimeter, you take the front, I'll go round the back. If they come back here, we'll be ready for them."
Kelly goes to check on Murdock. She's very worried because the pain is exhausting him and having a negative influence on the healing process. "Hannibal, he needs stronger painkillers to prevent him from deteriorating. And he's burning up, I'm afraid he's running a fever."
"We'll have to do something about that first. He mustn't endure more than he already did. Lieutenant, you take care of that. In the meantime I'll stand guard alone. Hurry!"
Face gets the keys to Kelly's car and she gives him the address to the pharmacy. "I'll call them to tell you're on your way so you won't have to wait for them to collect the things I need."
Face rushes off and Hannibal goes out to check the perimeter. Kelly checks Murdock. He is very restless, obviously suffering a nightmare. She decides to wake him and gently touches his shoulder. He gasps awake and looks at her flabbergasted. She explains: "I'm Kelly Stevens, a doctor. Your friends brought you here because the nearest hospital is too far away. Can I get you something to eat?"
He cautiously shakes his head which is still very painful. "No….. thanks," he whispers. He feels far too sick to be able to eat; the thought alone makes him nauseous and he breaks out into a sweat. "Do you want something to drink?" He nods and she gets him something out of the kitchen.
"BA….. Where is BA?" he wants to know.
"He went to fetch his mother. When you told your friends what those men had in store for her, he left immediately."
He is reassured. This will turn out fine. He tries to get some more sleep but he doesn't succeed. Something is bothering him…… He can't remember….. It's vaguely there in his memories, but he just can't recall. What….? What….?
He tiredly closes his eyes, but it keeps nagging at his brain. It was something the old man told him before they left for the team….. All of the sudden he remembers! He sits up wildly, a movement which causes a virulent pain to wreck his body. Kelly tries to calm him down, but he groans: "Hannibal! Get Hannibal!" And panting in pain he eases himself down in the soft pillows again.
Kelly runs to get Hannibal who immediately comes with her.
"Take it easy or I won't understand what you're saying."
Murdock is way too excited by what he remembers to take it easy so it is absolutely impossible for him to relax! He grasps Hannibal's sleeve to make him listen.
"Decker!" he gasps, his face disfigured in pain. "Decker knows that you….. are somewhere around here…. He is in the….. in the neighborhood!"
"Okay, I get it. You just relax now, we'll take care of Decker. All you have to do is get well."
Relieved he was able to warn him, Murdock is going back to sleep in the knowledge Hannibal will find a solution.
Hannibal is making hisrounds. He is very worried about Murdock, his most favorite man, although he will never speak a thing like that out loud. And he is boiling raging! Cowards! It sure takes a lot of courage to torment a man who's outnumbered four to one. They nearly killed him and he's sure Murdock was all but dead when they found him. He could have sworn Murdock's heart stopped for a moment back then. He can only hope Murdock will be all right for he's in a real bad shape. His back! And those shot wounds! He must have suffered tremendously, and still is suffering! He wishes Face was back with the painkillers…..
Hannibal doesn't have to wait long for Face to return. The conman must have been speeding because he's back already. He runs inside to give Kelly the medicines and to see how Murdock is doing. Murdock is still asleep, but it isn't a healthy rest; his fever is sky-high and Kelly is glad to see Face back so soon. Only because of the medication he brings though! He seems nice enough but she admires Murdock who, in spite of the pain he is in, only cares about the safety of others.
Hannibal too comes in for an update. He questioningly looks at Kelly, who just administers an injection with antibiotics.
"His fever is very high, but this antibiotic should stop it. He'll be feeling much better in just a little while. He will be fine, I guarantee. In about two weeks he'll be as good as new."
Hannibal looks at Murdock, who moans and shivers and seems very helpless at the moment. He has to see it to believe, but on the other hand….. Murdock has been in poor condition before and always came through. No 'Mens Sana in corpora Santo'…..
"Good, in that case we are going to see if we can't throw Decker of the scent."
Hannibal and Face leave and Kelly sets herself down besides Murdock. He mumbles in his sleep, but she doesn't try to understand what he's saying. It's a sign he's waking up and she hopes to get better acquainted when he does. A few moments later he really awakes and with a groan feels at his head.
"How do you feel?"
"If not for that headache, I'd feel fine."
She knows that can't be true; his back must give him more trouble than his head. The way it looked!
"Do you want a painkiller?"
He does and if Hannibal or the others had been around to hear him say so they would have been very worried although it's likely that if they had been around, he would have refused the offer….. She helps him to sit up, a movement which is painful enough to make his breath fail. He tries not to show it because that's not in his nature, but his face pales visibly.
"As soon as this painkiller takes effect I'll get the bandages off your back and fill the bathtub. I'll add a disinfectant to the water to clean your wounds thoroughly because there was a lot of dirt in them. When they're cleaned I'll bandage them again, you'll see you'll feel a lot better then."
He smiles at her with gratitude and it makes her blush. She could drown in those beautiful brown eyes…..
"Doesn't your boyfriend mind you letting strangers sleep in your bed? I mean, when he gets out of work later, aren't you going to get in trouble? When BA gets back here bringing his mother you'll be having five guests. Isn't he going to be upset?"
She blushes. Does he like her too? The way he's asking about the competition is pretty obvious.
"I don't have a boyfriend."
He's glad to hear because he's attracted to her, but on the other hand he knows he can't maintain a relationship. He has to go back to the VA! He hopes to get out someday, but when? He's been there for almost ten years now and as long as the team is on the run he has to stay because it's the only way they won't be linked together. As it is it's the only way not to be caught by the army. But still Murdock can't believe she doesn't have a boyfriend that easily.
"What do you mean you don't have a boyfriend? You have to have a boyfriend! What? You've been living behind drawn shades and shut doors? I mean….. You….."
He stops, seeing that he's making her bashful. He doesn't keep quiet for long though. "You have to have a boyfriend! You're a pretty girl!"
Kelly bursts out laughing. "Well, I have never thought of myself as pretty."
He thinks that's near to impossible. She's about the prettiest girl he's ever seen and she doesn't think she's pretty? "You should look in the mirror more often. You'd see what I mean if you did."
She abruptly changes thesubject, she doesn't want him to notice she likes him a lot. Besides it's pretty obvious the conversation strains him. His sight is troubled and his breathing is getting ragged.
"You just rest easy now and I'll fill the tub and get you something to drink. Does that sound like a plan to you?"
The idea of a bath sounds great to him; he feels dirty and yes, he's very thirsty indeed! The cup of tea she brings him is gratefully accepted. He drinks it and she helps him to settle back. Exhausted he closes his eyes. He hopes the others will be back soon because he knows they're not safe as long as those bounty hunters are at liberty. He's afraid they'll find out where he is and will take revenge on Kelly. And the way he feels he isn't able to protect her..…
Hannibal and Face have spotted the army cars. Decker's men have put up a roadblock and are thoroughly searching all passing cars. Hannibal and Face watch their activities from the bushes, then Hannibal hands Face a small package.
"Okay, Face, pick one and call me on the walkie talkie."
Face sneaks through the bushes and chooses a car in the middle of the roadblock. He attaches the package to the bumper. "Ready, Hannibal, now what?"
"Count to twenty, push the red button and run! I'll pick you up." Face does as he's ordered and just seconds after he's reached Hannibal a giant explosion blows the MP cars sky high. Then they're off, followed by the two cars not damaged by the explosion.
After a wild, long chase they finally shake off the MP's.
After his bath Murdock feels a lot better and decides to stay out of bed for a while. He needs some fresh air and takes Homer out into the garden. Kelly too is keeping him company. She monitors him closely since she fears he's overtaxing his strength. He was very ill only hours ago and a concussion takes time to heal as well. It's obvious he feels a lot better thanks to the antibiotics, but he's certainly not fully recovered. And to be honest; he's glad he made it as far as the garden-seat so he can sit down. Twenty yards is a long distance when you're not feeling well.
"How long ago did BA leave?" he wants to know.
She checks her watch. "About five hours."
He shows his relief. BA should be back soon, unless he ran into some difficulties on his way.
"How are you feeling now?" she asks. She can't imagine he feels good at all but she doesn't expect him to admit it. But….. wonders will never cease…..
"Not too good, I'm dead-beat," he pants, "but if those bounty hunters should show themselves I don't want them to see it. They have to think I can take 'em on all at once. I can't let them know a gust of wind is enough to knock me over."
She's pretty worried. If those men do come back what can the two of them do against such superior power? "Do you really expect them to come?"
"I don't know, but I do hope BA gets back soon, just in case they do."
He rests his chin in his hands while perspiration stands in beads on his brow. No matter how much he wants to look strong, he just isn't. He feels too wretched. Kelly reaches out to him.
"Come on; let's get you back to bed. As long as they don't show you can rest. Homer will warn us if anything happens. If BA gets back in time, you don't have to worry at all."
He gets up laboriously and grateful takes her arm. She takes him inside and back to bed.
Fifteen minutes later Homer gives the alarm! A pick up truck tears through the garden and they don't have to wonder who it belongs to or what business the occupants are here for…..
Murdock, who had only just fallen asleep, awakes with a start. Kelly comes running into the guest room.
"Kelly, do you have a shotgun?" He doesn't really expect her to, but she does. As well as the handgun she threatened Hannibal with when they arrived. There's plenty of ammo too. "Okay, get Homer inside before they shoot him. I'll do the best I can to keep them off till help arrives. Try to reach the Van. Hopefully BA is close by."
All hope is shattered when they find out the telephone wire is cut. Murdock orders Kelly to hide in the basement with Homer. The entrance is well hidden beneath the carpet. They should be relatively safe. He urges her to stay there and under no circumstances show herself.
He tries his best to ward them off but he's hopelessly outnumbered and in his weakened state not able to last long. In no time at all he's in pain, dizzy and completely exhausted. The bounty hunters don't have a hard time overpowering him then. The old man sneers at him.
"Well, son, here we are again. Remember the promise I made for when we got back? All is not lost that is delayed!"
In spite his desperate resistance they drag Murdock outside and hang him by his wrists on a thick tree branch. Pain flashes through his back and chest. Royco and Chazz build a fire and Tannen puts his running iron in it. The old man looks at his youngest son. "Go ahead, Tannen!"
Tannen grins bloodthirstily and takes a cattle prod out of the car. He stabs Murdock in the back with the prod and laughs as the jolts of electricity make the other man moan and convulse. Tannen enjoys himself tremendously. He knows exactly where to stab Murdock to inflict as much pain as possible since he's well aware of all the injuries he's suffered. He repeatedly and mercilessly stabs Murdock in his chest and back until the pilot almost passes out and in spite of himself Murdock screams in agony. This maltreatment on top of the previous day is more than he can take. But just as Tannen picks up the red-hot branding iron to finish the job, a shot is fired. The bullet disappears in the foliage above Tannen's head and surprised he turns to see who the marksman is.
It is Kelly! She heard Murdock scream and has come to his rescue. With courage made strong from desperation she approaches the men, closely followed by Homer.
"Beat it!" Her voice is shrill and stupefied they watch her as she fires another round. The question is whether she would have succeeded in chasing them off on her own but right at this time BA arrives. He isn't alone for out of each windscreen of the Van there is a machine gun sticking and its spreading lead.
The bounty hunters run for their pick up truck and make themselves scarce.
tbc