"Damn it, Ian, I'll crack his chest if I have to, " shouted Dr. Bentley. "I'm not giving up on him. Now either help or get out!"
Ian was about to speak when Murdock burst into the room. "NOOOO! Don't die Face. Don't die!"
Dr. Bentley shouted. "Get him out of here!" He turned back to Face. "I'm gonna hit him one more time – 400 watt seconds."
Nurses headed for Murdock. Before they could reach him BA pulled him out of the room, into the hallway. Hannibal stood against the wall, using it to hold himself up. BA ushered Murdock down the hall, to the waiting room, Frankie following behind.
Hannibal couldn't leave. He had to stay. Face was fighting for his life. He turned slowly, leaning against the doorframe, watching the activity in Face's room.
Dr. Bentley was hovering over Face, the defibrillator paddles in his hands. He placed them on Face's chest.
"Clear."
Face's body jerked.
The room was silent.
Hannibal held his breath.
Then he heard it.
The heart monitor had begun to "beep."
Dr. Bentley watched the monitor for a minute. Nurses collected vital signs.
Ian slapped Dr. Bentley on the back. "Nice going, Cade. I thought we lost him."
Dr. Bentley looked down at Face. "It's not over yet, but he's a fighter. Now all we can do is wait." He turned toward the door. Seeing Hannibal in the doorway, he walked over to him. "Why don't you go to the waiting room? I'll be there soon."
Hannibal let out the breath he had been holding. He headed toward the waiting room.
XXXXXXX
Murdock sat in a green plastic chair, rocking back and forth, sobbing. BA was standing beside him, his hands on Murdock's shoulders.
Frankie whispered to BA, "What can I do?"
"Ain't nothing you can do. We just gotta be strong for Murdock. Losing Face is like losing part of himself." BA choked back a sob. "I can't believe he's gone."
"He's not."
BA and Frankie turned toward the voice. Hannibal walked over to the men. He knelt down and placed his hands on Murdock's knees. "Murdock, he's not dead. You hear me? He's not dead."
Murdock stopped rocking. He rubbed his eyes with his palms. "Face…isn't…..dead?"
Hannibal stood. "No, he isn't dead. They were able to get him back. Dr. Bentley is going to come talk with us soon. Now, why don't you go wash your face before he gets here? Frankie, how bout you go get us some coffee?"
Frankie, thankful for something to do, replied, "Sure thing, Johnny." He turned to Murdock, "C'mon Murdock, I'll walk with you to the restroom." Frankie draped his arm around Murdock's shoulders and they both walked down the hall.
Hannibal sat heavily on the couch. BA remained standing. "I don't know how much more of this Face can take, BA. When I saw Dr. Bentley shock him and his body jerked…He was dead BA!" A tear slid down Hannibal's cheek.
BA sat beside Hannibal. "He's gonna get through this, Hannibal. We all are. You just gotta believe."
Hannibal nodded. He patted BA's thigh. "Thanks BA." Hannibal was grateful for BA's strength, not just physical strength but mental strength as well. Back in Vietnam, BA had appointed himself protector of the team, especially Face and Murdock. It was a role he took seriously.
Hannibal and BA sat on the couch in silence, waiting for the doctor, hoping for good news about Face. Neither man could picture the A-Team without Face.
XXXXXXXX
"Damn it!" The phone was slammed down.
Ellen could hear Stockwell in the other room. She pulled back the covers and slipped back into her robe. She walked into the living room. Stockwell was sitting in an overstuffed chair, his hands clenched into a fist. "What's wrong?"
"He's still alive. Damn it, Ellen, didn't you put the whole syringe of morphine in the line?"
"Yes, General. I put the whole thing in, just like you said." Ellen's voice trembled.
Stockwell stood. "Well, for some reason it didn't kill him. This is going to put a setback in phase three. I'll admit, I don't mind that he's going to suffer some more, which in turn will make Smith suffer, but I like things to go according to plan. And him surviving is not part of the plan."
Ellen poured a glass of brandy, then walked over to Stockwell, offering it to him. "Well, even if he is alive, he can't be doing very well. It won't be much longer. You'll see. But you know they won't leave him alone after this. The doctors are bound to run tests and find out about the morphine. I can't go back to the hospital and risk being seen by one of them."
Stockwell took the glass of brandy from Ellen and took a sip. "Ahh, but that's where you're wrong, my dear. You see, your part of this whole arrangement is to kill Peck. You haven't done that. If you don't kill Peck, then our arrangement is null and void."
Ellen smiled. "General, I didn't say I wouldn't kill him. I just can't go to the hospital right now. You know they'll take turns staying with Face. I'm open to any suggestions you may have on how to get to him."
Stockwell took another sip of brandy. "I'll let you know."
XXXXXXX
Dr. Bentley entered the waiting room. Hannibal stood.
"No, no, stay seated," said Dr. Bentley as he pulled up a chair and sat across from the team. "Templeton suffered a cardiac arrest. I don't know what triggered it, but I'm running blood tests now. I'll let you know as soon as I get the results. It's going to be touch and go for a while. If he arrests again, I doubt we can get him back. I know you want to see him, and I'll allow it. Talk to him. Touch him. Let him know you're there. Stay positive around him. The subconscious mind is a tricky thing. I don't want him to hear anything negative about his condition. Oh, and there's something else you should know." Dr. Bentley pinched the bridge of his nose, then ran his hand through his hair.
"Yes?" Hannibal asked, his stomach began to knot up. "What is it?"
"You remember those pain pills I had analyzed? They were three times stronger than the dose prescribed. It's no wonder he went into respiratory arrest." Dr. Bentley locked eyes with Hannibal.
"Doc, I don't want him left alone. You've got to let at least one of us be with him at all times." Hannibal said forcibly.
"Well, it's against policy, but I'll allow it. My main concern is my patient. He's a fighter, he proved that today. You guys can go see him for a while, then limit it to two at a time, okay?" Dr. Bentley stood. "I'll be by in about an hour to check on him again. I'll see you then."
XXXXXXXX
Ellen had waited in the living room while Stockwell made some calls, and then excused herself to the bedroom. She sat at the vanity table, brushing her hair. Things were not going according to plan, and like Stockwell, she wasn't happy about it. Giving Stockwell the complete diary of her father should have been enough to give her a new identity, a new life. She had carefully read her father's diary, and upon finding the section on Stockwell had decided to make a deal. Stockwell had taken parts of AJ's diary out. His own section, of course, and some general in Vietnam. Stockwell told her that he would meet her terms, but he had one addition. He wanted Face dead. Ellen had objected at first. She'd never killed anyone before. But she desperately wanted a new life out of the shadow of AJ Bancroft. And Stockwell was a powerful man who could make that happen. She accepted Stockwell's offer. She flew to Washington and presented the senate committee with AJ's diary….minus some information. Then she returned to Florida. Stockwell informed Murdock that AJ was Face's father. It was the beginning of the perfect set-up.
Stockwell walked up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder, startling her out of her thoughts.
"You were right, Ellen. Peck is not out of the woods yet, so to speak. It wouldn't take much to make him suffer a cardiac arrest. They don't think he'll survive another one. And they're going to take turns guarding Peck. Seems the good doctor ran an analysis on the pain medicine, so now Smith is certain someone is out to kill Peck." Stockwell began to run his fingers through Ellen's hair. He brushed it aside and kissed the nape of her neck.
"So what do you want me to do?"
Stockwell smiled. "Oh, I'm sure we'll think of something."
XXXXXXX
Face was still, too still. The team entered his room slowly, quietly. Hannibal approached the bed. He took Face's hand in one of his own and stroked Face's hair with his other hand. "Hey, Face. You're going to be okay. We're with you now. You've got to keep fighting, Son." Hannibal looked at Face, hoping for some sign of movement or understanding. Face lay motionless except for his chest rising and falling with the breath provided by the ventilator. Up and down. Up and down.
Murdock stood at the foot of the bed, staring at his best friend who was hooked up to machines and IV's. Murdock wanted to run away from the fear, but knew that he had to stay for Face. He had to believe Face would be okay. He had to make Face believe it. Murdock walked up beside Hannibal, then bent down close to Face. "Hey Muchacho. It's time to wakey, wakey. You've got a couple of cute nurses assigned to you and if you don't speak up then I'm gonna get dibs on 'em."
BA stood on the other side of Face. "Hey Little Brother, don't you listen to the fool. Believe me, those nurses only got eyes for you." BA picked up Face's hand and held it, surprised at the coldness of his skin. "You just rest and get better."
Frankie stood at the foot of the bed. "Hang tough Face." He mentally cursed himself for not being able to think of anything to say. Truth be told all the machines and lines made him nervous.
They stood like that for what seemed like an eternity, gathered around Face's bed. Watching his chest rise and fall. Listening to the heart monitor. Face was so pale, and his hands were so cold. Hannibal stroked his hair and ran his finger down the side of Face's cheek. Face looked so fragile. But Hannibal knew that looks were deceiving. Face was a survivor. He had survived a hellish childhood, the war, and the prison camps just to name a few.
Dr. Bentley entered the room; followed by the doctor Hannibal had seen working with Dr. Bentley earlier.
"Gentleman, I'd like you to meet my colleague, Dr. Ian Stockwell."
All four men turned in unison at the mention of the name Stockwell.
Hannibal composed himself and approached the doctors. Dr. Stockwell extended his hand, "It's nice to meet you."
Hannibal shook his hand. "Dr. Stockwell? You wouldn't by any chance be related to a General Hunt Stockwell, would you?"
Dr. Stockwell looked surprised. "Yes, as a matter of fact I am. He's my father."
TBC