Trouble is Coming
Authors: Susie Owens, with a little help from Kimberly
Rated: PG 13
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Part One
Murdock sat in the living of his home, staring at the family portrait, the last
one taken before his wife Kelly got sick. He slowly ran his fingers across her
face. Her funeral had been earlier that day and he felt so old and lost. He
signed. He was now sixty years old but felt older.
Murdock heard the front door open and looked up to see a tall lanky person walk
in. He smiled as his son, Todd, walked over to him. Todd smiled as he noticed
his dad looking at the picture.
"Hi, you okay, Dad?"
Murdock said nothing at first, just looked at his son. Todd was going to be
tall as he was but huskier later in life. His hair was thick, not thin like his
own, and black like his mother's, but he had brown eyes like Murdock. Todd loved
to play football and was the star quarterback of his high school football team.
Murdock thought about all the girls who flocked around Todd like flies to honey,
but he knew Todd only had eyes for one - Dani Peck, his best friend's daughter.
"I'm fine, Todd." Murdock patted the blue sofa he was sitting on.
"Come on and sit down. I'm doing okay. You?"
Todd sat and stared at the picture, noticing how close his father was holding it
against his chest
"Dad, I miss her, too."
Murdock reached over and gave his son a hug. "Yeah, I know. It just makes me
think about the time we lost Hannibal."
Todd sat there looking uncomfortable. He ran his hand thought his hair,
something he did when he was nervous about something. Murdock looked at him.
"Todd, what's wrong, son?"
Todd stood up. Murdock waited as his son began to pace the floor. Murdock then
stood up and grabbed his son gently
"Todd, sit down, son. What's wrong?"
Todd hesitated, not knowing how to say what he wanted to say, especially since
he probably should have been told the truth before now. He swallowed and slowly
sat down. Murdock joined him, waiting for him to speak.
"Dad? Is Ronin Hannibal's son?"
Murdock looked at his son, surprised. "Why are you asking me that?"
"I heard you and Mom talking one night. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop."
Murdock sighed while rubbing his chin."I see. Yes, Ronin is Hannibal's son. Has
it been bothering you, Todd?"
"No, not the fact he's Hannibal's son. Ronin will always be my brother. He's
taught me a lot. What does bother me is that I was never able to tell you I
knew."
Murdock smiled at his son. "Todd, never be afraid to tell me anything. Okay,
son?"
Todd smiled back, now glad he had gotten it out in the open. "Thanks, Dad, I
will try and remember that."
Murdock smiled slightly and nodded, his mind drifting back to that fateful day
in 1993, the day of Hannibal Smith's funeral…
It was raining and people were starting to go home. A group of people stood
alone, each lost in their own thoughts. A woman approached them with a child.
She walked up to the team and introduced herself.
"Hello, my name is Helen Robbins and this is Ronin." She pointed to the young
boy with her. The boy looked up at the group of people. They all smiled at him.
He looked to be about four. He had blond hair with a tint of red in it and blue
eyes. He was wearing a child's blue sailor outfit.
"This child was my sister's boy. She died and I cannot take care of him any
longer. Your friend, Mr. Smith, was his father. I know that my sister would have
liked for one of you to raise him."
The team looked at the boy. They were shocked at the news. None of them had
known that Hannibal even had a child and yet here he was.
Face was the first to recover. "Are you saying that this boy is Hannibal's son?"
"Yes. If one of you doesn't take him he'll be placed in an orphanage."
Face bent down to the child. "Guys, I know what that's like. I'll take him. I
know Rita won't mind. Besides, Dani and Brandi will be thrilled to have a
brother. What do you say, Ronin, want to come live with us?"
Ronin just stared at Face and said nothing. Murdock also stared at Face, then
back at Kelly. She just smiled at Ronin, who smiled back at her. Murdock knew
she wanted this child. They had been trying for two years to have a child.
"Wait a minute, Face. You have two children, your two year old twins. Kelly and
I don't... and we really want a child."
Face look at Murdock, suddenly feeling really bad. "Murdock, Kelly, I'm sorry. I
should have realized."
Helen Robbins stood there. "Gentlemen, I need your decision by tomorrow."
"I want this child, Murdock. Very much. Please, let's try and adopt him," said
Kelly, never taking her eyes off of the boy.
Murdock nodded his head. He wanted Ronin, too. "What do we need to do in order
to adopt Ronin?"
"First you need to be checked out, but I'm sure there will be no problem. I'm
sure you'll give him a good home and plenty of love."
The Murdocks held each others hand. "We can do that."
"Good, then I will see you tomorrow morning in my office." She reached into her
purse and took out her business card. "Together we'll go to the adoption
agency."
It took almost six months, but in the end, Murdock and Kelly became Ronin's
parents
Todd noticed his father's face far away look and it scared him, so he shook
him. "Dad, you okay?"
Murdock came back to reality and saw his son's face. "Hey, Toddy, I'm fine. Just
thinking, that's all."
They heard a noise and both glanced up as Murdock's oldest entered the room..
"Come on, Todd, Dad's fine. It's been a long day. Stop being such a mother hen."
Todd stood up. "Hey, I was just worried."
"Okay, you two, knock it off," Murdock replied, even though he knew his sons
were only teasing each other. They would do anything for one another.
Ronin was twenty years old, soon to be twenty one. He resembled his late father
a lot. He was a strong and handsome looking man. His sandy blond hair still had
some tints of red in it and he had the most beautiful blue eyes that would make
even the meanest person's heart melt.
Murdock suddenly grabbed Ronin and pulled him down to the sofa and enveloped his
arms around both of his sons. "With my two sons by my side, how could I not be
fine?"
Ronin reached over and tickled his brother. Todd squirmed; he hated being
tickled. "Come on, Ronin, cut it out," he laughed. Murdock watched as Ronin
attacked Todd more. Todd was now laughing hard.
"Please...Ronin... stop...please..."
Ronin was enjoying this. "Say uncle'."
Todd squirmed, "No... "
Ronin tickled even harder. "Say uncle', Todd."
Todd was now laughing so hard he could hardly speak. ''" Unnn..."
"What? Did you say something?" teased Ronin.
Murdock decided to come to his youngest son's rescue. "Okay, Ronin, let your
brother up."
Ronin got up and helped his brother up, then looked at his father. "Pop, do you
remember the day mom told us she was going to have Todd? I'll never forget that.
She told us on my birthday."
Murdock softly giggled. "It's a day that will go down in history because we were
told we would never have another child ."
Kelly pulled the car into the driveway and ran into the house. "Murdock, Ronin,
where are you? I have the most wonderful news!"
Murdock and Ronin were on the floor playing a new game Ronin had gotten for his
fifth birthday.
"What is it, Mama? Did you get me a puppy for my birthday?"
Kelly laughed as she walked over and bent down to her son.
"No, Ronin, something even better."
She smiled at Murdock. "We're going to have a baby."
Murdock's eyes lit up and he grabbed Kelly, lifting her up and swinging her
around.
"A baby? We're going to have a baby?"
Kelly giggled. "Yes, we're going to have a baby. Murdock, put me down."
"Wowie! A baby! We're going to have a baby."
"Big deal," came a small voice. "I wanted a puppy."
Murdock and Kelly stopped and stared at their five year old son. Murdock stooped
down to his level. "Hey kiddo what's up? Aren't you happy for your mother?"
Ronin felt bad for what he said. "Yeah, I guess. I just wish it was a puppy.
Sorry, Mama."
Kelly smiled. "That's okay, baby."
Murdock winked at Kelly. "Hmm, a puppy, huh? Now, would you take care of a
puppy?"
Ronin's eyes lit up. "Oh, yes, Daddy. I would."
"I believed you would, with a little help from me and your mom. So close your
eyes."
Ronin stood up and closed his eyes real tight.
"Now, no peeking."
"I won't, Daddy."
Murdock walked out of the room and soon returned and placed a cocker spaniel
puppy in Ronin's arm.
"Happy birthday, Ronin."
Ronin hugged the puppy. "Thank you, Daddy, thank you, Mama."
Kelly smiled. "So what are you going to name him?"
"Billy."
Murdock smiled, remembering his invisible dog, Billy. "So, Ronin, why Billy?"
Ronin looked up from having his head buried in the puppy's soft fur. "Because
Andy Martin's dog's name is Billy and he's big and strong and I want my puppy to
have a big and strong name, too."
Murdock patted his son's head. "Then Billy is a very good name for him."
Todd now smiled at them. "Hey, I like that you'd rather have a puppy than me,
Ronin."
Ronin laughed. "Hey, what can I say? But Todd, Billy loved you, too, and always
protected us. "
Todd nodded. "I know. I think I cried for days when he got hit by that car when
I was six."
Ronin flopped his arm around Todd. "Yeah, I did too."
Todd looked surprised. "You did?"
"Yeah, I did."
Murdock was about to say something when he heard someone at the door. Todd got
up.
"I'll go see who it is, Dad."
Murdock nodded. Todd walked over to the door and peeked though the keyhole.
Seeing who it was he opened the door.
"Hi, Uncle Tem. Hi, Aunt Rita. Hi, girls."
"Hey, Todd," replied Rita as she gave him a small kiss on the cheek. Face shook
hands with him and their daughters smiled bashfully.
"Come on in. Dad's in the front room."
Murdock stood up as Face and his family entered the room. "Face! It's really
good to see you. When did you get back?"
"We just got back, Murdock. I'm really sorry we missed the funeral. The plane
was delayed."
Murdock sadly smiled at Face. "Well, you're here now and that's all that
matters. Come on; let's go into the living room. Gosh, it's great to see you."
"Murdock, we were only on vacation, but it's good to see you too. How are you
holding up?"
Murdock lowered his head. The day's events were catching up with him and he was
beginning to feel the weight of the world on his shoulders. He slowly looked up
and stared into his best friend's blue eyes.
"I miss her, Face. I can't believe she's gone. My Kelly, is gone." Suddenly
Murdock broke down and cried. Face held his friend as Murdock thought back to
that terrible day, the worst day of his life.
Kelly and Murdock sat in the doctor's office, holding each other's hand. When
the doctor entered, they could tell by the look on his face that it was not good
news.
Doctor Brown sat down at his desk and look at the Murdocks. "I'm sorry, Mr. and
Mrs. Murdock, there is nothing that can be done. The cancer is too far gone. I
wish we had been able to catch it sooner. I'm very sorry."
Kelly cried on her husband's shoulder. He looked at the doctor, his heart is
breaking. His beautiful Kelly was going to die. He choked back the tears and
asked softly, "How long?"
"It's hard tosay. Maybe three months if she is lucky."
The doctor had been wrong. She had died six weeks later in their home, with her
husband and her sons by her bedside. Murdock remembered that both of his sons
had cried but he couldn't remember if he had. Crying now felt almost comforting.
"Thanks, Face."
His friend nodded. "I'm here for you, Murdock."
"I know, Face, I know."
He turned to Rita and the girls. Rita was a lawyer Face had met while on a case
back in 1988. She was tall, about 5 feet 9 inches, with green eyes and long
brown hair that came down to her shoulders when she didn't have it up. They had
married in 1989, with the twins being born in 1991.
"Hello, Rita, girls. Thanks for coming."
Rita smiled, taking Murdock's hand. "That's okay, Murdock. Is there anything we
can do?
"No. Just all of you being here is enough."
Todd stared at the twins, his heart racing. He wanted so bad to be alone with
Dani, but she was older and only thought of him as a friend. "Uh, do you want to
see the garden? The tomatoes are real nice this time of year."
The girls looked at each other. "Yeah, sure, why not," replied Dani.
Brandi turned to Ronin. "Are you coming, Ronin?"
"In a minute. I want to make sure Dad's okay."
Murdock waved his son off. "I'm fine, Ronin, you go join the others."
"Okay Dad, but if you need me..." Ronin replied, his voice sounding concerned.
Murdock nodded. "I know where you'll be. Now, go have some fun."
"Come on, Ronin. We're waiting for you," called Brandi.
Dani smiled at her sister. She knew Brandi had a crush on Ronin.
"Now, aren't you two just too cute?" she teased.
"Young lady, you are a little too young to think boys are cute." said Face.
"Templeton, she's seventeen. I thought boys were cute at fourteen," teased Rita.
"Well, Todd's only fifteen, too young for my daughters, and Ronin's twenty, too
old for my daughters," answered Face.
"Dad, what century are you living in?" asked Dani.
"Don't worry,Uncle Tem I will keep an eye on them! I promise nothing will
happen. And Brandi can help me," replied Ronin
"Good, that makes me feel a whole lot better. Hey! Who is going to keep on eye
on you two?"
Everyone laughed. The laughter died down when they heard a knock on the door.
Murdock got up to get it, leaving Face and Rita still talking until they heard
Murdock's angry voice.
"You get out of my house! I told you before, I'm not selling! I am not selling!"
Face got up, and entering the hallway he saw a tall man dressed in a dark black
suit along with two big, burly, ugly-looking men.
Face moved to stand by Murdock. "Excuse me, is there a problem here?"
The man stared hard at Face. "My business is with Mr. Murdock. Not with you."
Face at once disliked the man. "You mess with my friend, you make it my
business."
The man snapped his finger, and his goons grabbed Face. He then shoved some
papers into Murdock's face.
"Mr. Murdock, your wife signed these papers. As you can clearly see, this house
and the land it is on now belong to me. Vincent Robbins. I want you and your
sons out of here before next week. Good day, gentlemen."
.Face struggled to get away from the goons. Vincent Robbins snapped his fingers
and the goons let go. They walk out laughing and Murdock slammed the door hard.
On hearing the door, Rita came out to join them. She watched as Face took the
papers from Murdock and looked them over. Face heard his wife and turned to her.
"Rita, please take a look at these papers. Are they legal?"
Rita took the papers and looked them over carefully. "They seem to be, but I'll
take them to my office tomorrow and I will go over them there more carefully. If
there's a loop hole I'll find it."
Murdock looked at Rita and hoped with all his heart she would find something. He
had no idea what that man was talking about. Why would Kelly sign their home
over to him? She knew Mr. Robbins was going to build a complex in their
neighborhood. He was buying off property and the Murdocks had refused to sell.
Now, Mr. Robbins had given him a paper that said Kelly had sold him the
property. Why? He sat down with his hands on his head. First the death of his
wife and now this. He saw his whole world crashing down around him.