Part Two

Murdock sat on his couch, his head in his hands as he shook it from side to

side. Sitting next to him, Face slid a comforting arm around his confused

friend's shoulders.

"Hey, Murdock, don't worry, buddy. I am sure it's some kind of a mistake.

There's no way Kelly would sell your home to a man like Vincent Robbins, no

matter what those papers say. I promise you this: it will all work out and you

and your sons will live in this house for a very long time. No one will ever

make you guys leave. Rita and I will see to that!"

Murdock looked up at his friend and sighed heavily before speaking. "Face, I'm

so glad you're here. You've always been the brother I've never had."

Face smiled at his friend. "Murdock, I've always felt the same way. I love you

and your sons. I don't know what I would have done without you. You got the team

out of so many tight jams. Being here with you is the least I can do. With

Rita's help we'll get to the bottom of this ordeal with this Mr. Robbins."

Murdock's eyes suddenly looked very serious. Face knew that look. He'd seen it

many times before.

"Murdock? What's wrong?"

"Face, the name Robbins, I've heard that name before, but where?"

Face nodded his head. "I don't know, Murdock."

Murdock nodded. "It will come to me. I just got to think."

At that moment there was a loud banging on the door. Murdock looked at Face in

disgust.

"Why don't people use the bell? I installed it to be used, not just to look

pretty!"

Face stood up. "Easy, buddy. I'll go answer it. You wait here."

Face walked over to the door. Looking through the peephole, a huge smile spread

across his face. He opened the door to BA and his son, Keene.

"BA, Keene, so good to see you guys. Hey, Murdock, it's BA and Keene!"

Hearing the news Murdock raced to the door. He saw Face and BA in an embrace. BA

pulled away from Face and gave Murdock a small grin.

"Hey, Murdock."

"BA, Keene, thanks so very much for coming. Hey, Keene, the gang's outside in

the garden if you want to join them."

Keene raised his eyebrow. "Hmm, Ronin and Todd alone in the garden with your

daughters, Uncle Face?"

Murdock gave Keene a cocky look. "Hey, my sons know how to behave."

"If you say so, Uncle Murdock ,but I better get out there just in case. You

see they need supervision all right. By me!"

Keene politely walked by the adults and headed out the back door to join the

others. Murdock stared at Keene. He was strikingly similar to his muscular

father with a few exceptions. He was 16 and clean -shaven .and not fond of

excessive jewelry. He did, however, share the love of being in shape and wearing

feather earrings.

Looking confused, Murdock walked around BA and Face, suddenly realizing that

someone was missing. He walked out onto the porch, looking at BA's car in the

driveway and then turning around to face the two men standing in the doorway.

"Hey, BA, where's Mandy? I hope she isn't ill. Did she have to care for her

mother again?"

BA looked at the ground not wanting to meet Murdock's eyes.

Murdock noticed this and was concerned for his friend. "BA? Is everything okay?

Hey, Big Guy, talk to me."

BA looked up and Murdock could see the sadness in his eyes. BA took a moment

before he spoke.

"No, Mandy isn't ill and she isn't taking care of her mother." BA took a deep

breath and sighed. "Mandy left us. She said that she was in love with another

man and she left."

BA suddenly wanted to change the subject. "Hey, Murdock, did Keene bring in that

casserole? I hope he didn't leave it in the car."

BA hurriedly passed Murdock and headed for the car. Murdock stood frozen on the

porch watching him. Mandy leaving BA was hard to accept. They had both been at

the Kelly's funeral earlier and they had seemed to be okay then. There had been

no sign of trouble in their marriage. But then, Murdock thought, I may have been

too caught up in my own problems to even notice. He quickly came to his senses

and hurried after his friend. BA opened the car door and found the casserole on

the back seat. He was reaching in for it when Murdock approached him from behind

and threw his arms around his big friend.

BA felt embarrassed. "Get away fool, I don't need that!"

Looking a little sad, Murdock pulled away from BA. "Okay, BA. I understand, but

if you need to talk, I am here to listen."

BA realized he had hurt Murdock's feelings. "Look fool, I know you only want to

help, but I don't want to talk about it no more. You're the one who just lost

his wife."

"You lost your wife, too, BA."

Murdock walked away with his head lowered and passed Face as he entered his

house. Face placed both hands on his hips, looked at BA and shook his head from

side to side. BA looked down at the casserole in his hands and realized he had

better try and fix things. He walked into the house and went over to Murdock.

The pilot was leaning against the fireplace, gazing upon the portrait of his

family.

"Look man, hey, I'm really sorry. I guess it's really getting to me. I shouldn't

have talked to you like that. I just want to be here for you and help you now,

not whine about mine and Keene's petty problems."

"Hey, big guy, your problems aren't petty. I'm so glad you're here."

BA pulled Murdock to him and whispered in his ear.

"You my best friend and I care about you and your boys."

smiled.

"Thanks, BA."

"Welcome."

"Hey, BA?"

"Yeah?"

"You and Face both think alike."

"Whatcha mean ?"

"You both told me the same thing."

A week passed and The Pecks invited Murdock and his sons to their home to

discuss the information regarding Murdock's home. Their children decided to go

to the theater to see the new James Bond movie, so the adults could be alone for

this very important discussion.

Rita sat down at the table, taking out a large folder. She carefully removed

some of the papers. \"Murdock, does the name Helen Robbins sound familiar to

you?"

Murdock thought for a moment "Yeah, she bought Ronin into our lives. Why?"

Rita nodded her head.

Murdock waited for her to explain.

"Ronin's mother is Christina Louise Robbins, the sister of Vincent Robbins."

.Suddenly he slapped himself on the forehead as the name Vincent Robbins

registered "Are you telling me that the Mr. Robbins who is buying out the

neighborhood,is the same Vincent Robbins who's Ronin 's natual uncle?"

Rita nodded. "One and the same."

This was really starting to agitate him Murdock as he began to paced. What does

this have to do with my home?" asked Murdock

"Easy, hon I'm getting to that." Rita carefully looked over the papers before

she spoke. "I had a friend check this out for me. She's a private investigator

so she's got connections. She found out for me that Hannibal and Christina were

engaged to be married; however, for some reason, her brother was strictly

against it and forbade the marriage Hannibal tried to get her to elope with him

but she was too afraid of her brother. So she left. What Hannibal didn't know

was that she was with child, his child. She never told him."

Both Murdock and Face read over the papers Rita had given them.

"She went through with the birth alone and brought Ronin John into the world

much against her brother's wishes. Well, Christina didn't survive the

childbirth. So Helen took the boy and left. She had planned to raise Ronin

herself."

Rita paused for a moment.

"Unfortunately, her brother caught up with her and told her to do away with the

child or he would do the job himself. She became very frightened and kept

running with the boy, searching for Hannibal. She finally found him but too

late. She thought the only way to keep the boy safe was to have someone from the

Team to raise him. She thought there would be no way for Vincent to find him."

Face look at his wife. "Rita, what did he have against the child?"

"I don't know, Templeton. My friend couldn't find that out.'"

Murdock shook his head. "I had no idea about Ronin's back ground. It just didn't

seem important."

"Kelly did appear to know. She knew she was dying and she also knew that it

wouldn't be long before Vincent would somehow cross your path." Rita stopped and

looked at Murdock confused face. "Hon, I'm only guessing here, but it would

make sense."

Murdock stared, his mind was racing. "Why didn't Kelly tell me of this? Didn't

she love me? Didn't she trust me?"

"Murdock, trust me, she loved you, too much maybe. She did what she did for you.

You see, you were so distraught over her cancer she was probably afraid that

this might be too much for you to bear. So she took matters into her own hands

regarding this house. You see,she did't sign the house over to Mr. Vincent

Robbins , she sign it over to Ronin Robbins. She asked you not to give Ronin

your name. Remember?"

Murdock nodded,"I was hurt at the time,but she reminded me that it didn't really

matter. We registered him at school and everything else as"Murdock".but left it

open for him to decide which name he wanted. She want us to ever tell him what

he should do. We thought that when he was old enough,he would be able to make

the decision for himself

"Murdock, Ronin turns twenty-one tomorrow . Right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"You see ,effective tommorrw, the house onwer is Mr. Ronin John Robbins not HM

Murdock, nor Vincent Robbins. There's no way Vincent Robbins can throw you out

of a house that isn't his.

Murdock stared in disbelieve. Then he got up from the table. He was losing

control. He had to calm down. Seeing no other option he went outside. Face stood

up but his wife shook her head. A few moments later Murdock returned. He stood

there staring at them. "Rita, thanks for the information, but Robbins lives

above the law. He doesn't give a damn who owns this house and I will not give

this house up, not even to Ronin."

"Murdock, you have no choice."

"It's my home..."

Rita placed her arm around him. "I'm sorry Murdock. I wish I could be of more

help."

Murdock shook his head "It's my fault . Kelly owned this house I 've never got

around to signing the owner papers . She wanted me too but ... " Murdock hung

his head."I didn't think it matter."

Face putted his hand on his friend shoulder. "Calm down, Murdock, you won't lose

your home. Ronin would never take it from you."

Murdock only nodded.

Rita looked at Face, not knowing what to say to Murdock. Face gave her a smile,

letting her know things would work out somehow.