Cade Bentley turned down the road leading to his beach house. The memories of the house were bittersweet. Memories of a lifetime flooded his mind –- Anna and David collecting seashells, David building sandcastles, the three of them splashing in the waves. Cade turned the Jeep onto the driveway. He saw a hammock rocking in the wind – the hammock he and Anna had been laying in when the police came and told them about David. His 16-year-old son died taking a curve too fast, and crashing into a tree. Cade felt a tear escape and slide down his cheek. He wiped the tear away as he pulled into the garage.
Frankie entered the garage as Cade exited the Jeep and walked around back for the groceries.
"Here, Doctor, let me give you a hand." Frankie reached in and picked up a bag of groceries.
"Thanks, Frankie. I thought I should stock the shelves. I figured you guys were probably ready for some "real food" as my son used to say. I thought we could grill some burgers and fix a salad. I bought some soup for Templeton. He's not ready for solid food yet," said Cade.
Frankie grinned, "Ooh, let's get this stuff in, then. I'm starving!"
XXXXXXXXXX
Ian dialed his car phone. "Father, I'm outside Cade's beach house. I followed him from the grocery store. I believe he's hiding the A-Team here."
"Very good, Ian. You know what needs to be done."
"Yes, Father."
Ian returned the phone to its cradle. He knew what needed to be done. The same thing that had needed to be done to David Bentley. Ian thought back to the first time he had met David. Cade and Anna had hosted a dinner party welcoming him to Cade's practice. David had been there. Cade had introduced David to everyone, pride radiating from his face as he showed off his son. Ian had watched as father and son interacted. A pat on the back here. A touch on the arm there. Smiling. Laughing. Suddenly Ian knew that David had to go away.
It had been quite simple really. Ever since David had received the 1966 Mustang for his 16th birthday that summer, he would use any excuse to drive. He would run errands for his father. He would run errands for his mother. On Fridays he would pick up lunch at a local eatery and cater to the staff at his dad's practice.
Ian watched as David pulled out of the parking lot after taking down the staff's orders. Ian followed David at a distance and then pulled into the parking lot of the diner. He made up an excuse that his own car was acting up and asked if David could follow him home, just to make sure he made it okay. David had agreed.
Ian had pulled over to the side of the road. He got out of his car and raised his hood. David pulled in behind him. He got out of his own car and walked over to Ian. Ian immediately knocked him down and stabbed him directly in the heart. David had managed to plea for his life for a few seconds before he died. Ian had removed the knife. He found a tree branch and thrust it into the wound created by the knife. Then he placed David in his car and pushed it over the side of the road, crashing it into a tree. Everyone had assumed it was an unfortunate accident.
Ian thought that maybe with David gone, Cade would turn to him. Ian could be Cade's son. Cade would be proud of him. And it had worked. Cade was overcome with grief. He and Anna had secluded themselves for a while, but Ian had always made a point of dropping by to check on them. Ian had worked hard taking care of Cade's patients. Cade had come to respect him, depend on him. Cade was proud of him. Ian's own father never cared, had never been proud of him. Well, after tonight his father would be proud of him. After tonight, everything would be perfect.
Ian opened the glove compartment and retrieved his gun. He tucked it into his medical bag. Now all he could do was wait until dark.
XXXXXXXXX
Face was walking. He didn't know where. He was just walking.
A faceless woman and a priest were beside him. The woman was handing a child to the priest. "Take him. I don't want him."
Keep walking. Keep walking.
He turned and 9-year-old Billy Johnson was walking beside him. "Hey Alvin, whatsa matter? Nobody want cha? I'm getting adopted you know. Gonna go live with a real family. Too bad nobody wants a loser like you."
"Yeah, nobody would want you Templeton." The voice belonged to Ellen. Face turned and Ellen was walking on the other side of him. She continued, "I'm glad you're not my brother. I can't believe you were stupid enough to believe you were my brother."
Face kept walking. Billy and Ellen disappeared.
Keep walking. Keep walking.
AJ Bancroft was beside him now. "Any man would be proud to call you son."
"I'm not your son!" yelled Face.
Keep walking. Keep walking.
"You are special Lieutenant. You are mine." General Chao was beside Face, reaching for him. Face began to run.
Face began to stir and mumble in his sleep. "No, stay away from me." His head rocked back and forth. "Stay away from me. Please, please. Stop! God, no! Stop!" Face reached out.
"Shhh, Son, it's okay. It's okay. Wake up for me, Face. Wake up." Hannibal grasped Face's hands in his own.
Face slowly opened his eyes and looked around the room, trying to get his surroundings. His eyes locked with Hannibal's. He allowed himself to relax. Hannibal released Face's hands. He took a cloth and wiped the sweat from Face's forehead.
"Sorry, Hannibal. Guess I was dreaming," Face said softly.
"It's okay, Face. You've been through a lot. It's bound to make the nightmares surface. Do you want to talk about it?" asked Hannibal.
"No. Thanks. Do you think maybe I could sit out on the deck for a while?"
"Sure. I'll get BA. Just rest and we'll get a place set up for you." Hannibal went off in search of BA.
Murdock entered the atrium, hands in his pockets, eyes downcast. "Hey, Face."
Face turned to Murdock. "Hey Murdock. Listen, I'm sorry about the way I treated you earlier. You didn't deserve it. I was just….upset. I took it out on you and I shouldn't have."
Murdock walked over to Face's bedside. "That's okay, Face. Can I….can I get you anything?"
Face smiled. "A Popsicle would be nice. Orange."
Murdock grinned. "Okay. One orange Popsicle coming right up."
Murdock turned toward the kitchen. He stopped and turned back to Face. "I'm sorry about Ellen and AJ, Face."
Face offered up a ghost of a smile. "Thanks, Murdock."
Murdock walked to the kitchen.
Face turned and looked through the windows out to the ocean. He could hear Murdock and Frankie in the kitchen. He saw BA and Hannibal putting cushions on a deck chair. He was surrounded by people he knew cared about him, but he felt alone. Very alone.
"Penny for your thoughts."
Face turned and found Cade pulling up a chair beside his bed.
"I don't do anything for a penny. Offer me a nickel and we've got a deal." Face smiled.
Cade spoke, "You remind me of my son. He had the same blond hair, blue-green eyes – and he would throw up smoke screens whenever he was upset. Just like you are now."
Face turned to stare out the window. Hannibal and BA were apparently having a discussion about which way to face the deck chair.
Cade continued. "I know you've been through a lot. You've lost your sister and your father in less than a year –"
"Ellen wasn't my sister."
"In your heart she was. You loved her. You're grieving for her now. That's perfectly understandable."
"What would you know about it," Face asked, anger in voice.
"I lost my son and wife within a year's time. My 16-year-old son died in a car accident. My wife died of cancer a year later. I'd say I'm an expert at grieving. I know what it's like to feel alone in a room full of people, to feel like your heart is simply going to shrivel up and die. But you have to go on, Templeton. You've got a family surrounding you right now. Hannibal, BA, and Murdock love you, Templeton. Lean on them. They want to be there for you. You're a strong man. I saw you in the hospital in Vietnam. You were a fighter then. I saw you die in front of me just days ago, but you fought your way back. Keep fighting."
Face stared at Cade as he spoke. "I…I remember you in 'Nam. You're the one who signed the papers that I could go back to my unit. I never got to thank you."
Cade smiled at Face. "You're welcome, Templeton. Now, I believe Murdock is growing impatient standing outside the doorway, and your Popsicle is probably melting," Cade turned toward the doorway, "Right Murdock?"
Murdock entered with a guilty smile on his face. "Uh, yeah, well, I didn't want to interrupt and uh, well,….here's your Popsicle, Face." Murdock handed the Popsicle to Face.
Face laughed, then sucked in a deep breath as the laugh caused a spasm of pain.
"I'm sorry, Face. I'm sorry."
"That's okay, Murdock. I need to laugh. And thanks for the Popsicle."
Cade rose from the chair and walked back toward the kitchen, a smile on his face.
"Doc—"
"Call me Cade."
"Cade. Thanks. For everything."
"Sure thing, Son."
XXXXXXXX
"Carla, send for the car. I'm going to beach house. If Ian fails, I'll have to take matters into my own hands."
"Yes, General."
XXXXXXXX
Ian quietly exited his car and made his way to the back of the beach house. It was dark outside, but the back deck was lit up brightly. Face was sitting in a deck chair, swathed in blankets. Cade was sitting beside him. Hannibal was grilling burgers. Murdock, Frankie, and BA sat around the table. Voices carried in the wind.
"I told you, Fool, don't nobody put ham on a burger."
"But they're called hamburgers."
"That don't mean they put ham on the burgers."
"BA's right Murdock. Who would put ham on their burgers?"
"I would."
"You're crazy."
"No I'm not, remember?"
"If I say you're crazy, you're crazy."
Hannibal interrupted the conversation. "Okay, guys. Burgers are done. Everybody dig in."
Hannibal joined the others at the table. Cade and Face remained seated where they were. Face was sipping soup from a cup, as was Cade.
"Cade, you can eat a hamburger if you want. You don't have to settle for soup on my account," said Face.
"I like soup, Templeton," said Cade.
Face looked at him doubtfully.
Ian worked his way up the steps of the deck.
Cade stood. "Ian, what are you doing here?"
All conversation stopped and everyone looked at Ian.
Ian stammered. "I, uh, saw you headed this way after work. Thought maybe you were coming to the beach house. I know you hadn't been here since Anna ….well, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I see you moved Peck here. Do you need any help with anything? I brought my bag."
"Oh. Well, that's very thoughtful of you, but we've got things under control. You want to pull up a chair and join us?" Cade stood.
Ian hesitated. "Sure, thanks." Ian approached the table and sat between Frankie and Murdock.
Hannibal passed a plate to Ian, not saying a word. He glanced at BA as if to say 'Keep an eye out. I don't trust him.' BA nodded slightly.
A few minutes passed. BA stood. "I'm going to get some more milk." He walked toward the kitchen. He turned back; making sure no one had followed him in. He went into one of the bedrooms and took a pistol out of his bag. He tucked it into one of the side pockets in his pants. He opened Hannibal's bag in order to retrieve his pistol, and noticed it wasn't there. 'I should have known,' he thought.
BA then went to the kitchen and poured a glass of milk. He carried it out to the deck and rejoined the others.
Ian had finished his hamburger. He stood and walked over to Cade and Face. Face yawned, and his head lolled to his right shoulder. "Cade, it looks like maybe your patient needs to get back in bed."
Cade smiled. "I think you're right."
Face jerked his head up and opened his eyes. "Oh, come on, let me stay just a few more minutes. I just—" he yawned again, "want to stay out here. I just—" his eyes closed and he fell asleep.
Having seen Face lose his battle to stay awake, BA approached Cade and Ian. "I'll take him inside." BA scooped Face up off the deck chair, covers and all.
Face opened his eyes halfway. "I'm not a baby. I can walk."
BA smiled down at Face. "Sure you can. But we're already inside, so just relax and enjoy the ride."
Face closed his eyes and whispered, "Thanks, BA."
"No problem, Little Brother." He gently placed Face back in the bed. He took the covers from the deck chair and threw them onto the couch, then pulled the bedcovers up around Face.
Hannibal smiled watching the scene of Face and BA. He had always marveled at how BA, a man who could reduce an enemy to tears with just a look, could be so gentle with those he cared about. BA stayed by Face's bedside until he was sure he was asleep. He walked slowly away, toward Hannibal. He could hear Murdock and Frankie cleaning up from the meal, plates and silverware clanging together.
Cade quietly approached the bedside and placed the back of his hand against Face's forehead, then checked his pulse. Satisfied with his findings, he walked over to Hannibal and BA. Ian followed behind him.
He spoke quietly. "He's fine, just tired. But the fresh air did him good. He should sleep for a while now."
Cade motioned toward the couches. He and Ian sat on one couch; BA and Hannibal sat on the other so that they could keep a watchful on eye on Face. After a few minutes, Murdock and Frankie joined them, each sitting in an armchair.
After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Hannibal stood. "Why don't I go make us some coffee?"
Murdock jumped to his feet. "I'll help you Hannibal."
Hannibal and Murdock excused themselves to the kitchen.
XXXXXXXXX
"Murdock, I don't know what Ian's doing here, but I don't buy his story of just happening to see Cade come out this way. Do you have your gun with you?" Hannibal asked.
"Not with me. It's---" Murdock's sentence was cut off by a scream coming from the other room.
Hannibal and Murdock ran into the atrium.
Cade was standing over Face on one side, BA on the other. Face was in the throes of a nightmare. Frankie stood in the corner, eyes wide. He had seen Face have nightmares before, but never this bad.
Face screamed a primal scream, and then began to speak in Vietnamese. BA was trying to hold him down. Hannibal reached around BA and began to stroke Face's hair.
"Calm down, Face. Calm down." Hannibal spoke softly.
Face continued to thrash about, oblivious to everything around him. He kicked his covers off and tried to wrestle himself free of BA's grip.
Murdock watched Face. He slowly backed up against the wall and slid slowly down to the floor, his own memories of the camps threatening to surface.
Cade yelled, "Ian, get a tranquilizer. Hurry!"
Ian walked to Cade's side holding his medical bag. He reached in.
"Hurry up, Ian! We've got to get him calm!"
Ian smiled. "Sorry, Cade. No can do." He pulled the gun out of his bag and aimed it at Face. He pulled the trigger.
TBC