PART 7

"You walk into a door?" Peck asked as he slid onto the plastic seat across the table from Drake, nodding toward the boy's swollen, black eye.

The kid looked uncomfortable and seemed to want to shrink away but visibly pulled himself together to bite back. "Yeah, the same one you did!" He was staring at the angry bruise on Peck's cheek.

Face allowed a tight smile. "Getting safely through doors can be such a problem! You want to tell me what happened to you?"

"You want to tell me what happened to you?" Drake shot back, shifting nervously on his seat. Tension cracked between them.

Peck snorted and looked away. Of course he didn't want to reveal his own embarrassing weakness but he also knew that tactically he had to. Taking a deep breath he looked back at the boy before him. "I wouldn't tell anybody this and if I find out you've told I shall be forced to kill you but I got punched by a big mud sucker."

"BA hit you?"

Face nodded. "I've told him before not to go for my face but when he gets it into his head, he sort of forgets." He shrugged. "Still no excuses, I deserved it – what about you?"

Drake sighed. "I got hit by a big mud sucker too although not such a friendly one as BA!"

"Ain't that the way?" Peck snorted. "Somebody should do something about these violent mud suckers before they ruin our good looks completely!"

Drake drew in a deep breath and found himself unable to hold the older man's blistering stare. Instead he looked across the burger bar in which they sat; over to the parking lot as if just by looking he could move himself away to a place more comfortable. Sensing the boy's reticence and uneasiness Peck suspected he knew its source but he forced himself to wait.

When no further teenage words were forthcoming however, he pressed. "You want to tell me why you got hit, Drake?" he asked softly.

Drake shrugged, his lips curling into a boyish pout. "Cos of you guys, I guess. Van got hit, drugs lost, my name was in the frame, so I took the fall." Drake tried to assume a nonchalant air but Peck could see his barely concealed fear and something more beneath his feigned confidence. He felt a rush of sympathy towards the young man and no little guilt. "That it?" he asked as gently as he could, wishing he didn't have to force the boy.

Drake shook his head and his shaggy hair fell into his eyes making him look younger. "I think you should stop now," he ventured, his voice nervy, his eyes jumping around the room unable to rest.

"Stop?"

"Uh-huh. People are getting hurt and I never wanted that to happen. Shit it was only a job I lost; I can get another one, no sweat."

Peck sighed, nervously fiddling with his tie. "What did they say to you, Drake?" he asked.

Drake's head went down and his shoulder's shook. He stretched his hands out on the table and jerked his fingers anxiously. A stifled sob escaped before he found the strength to whisper hoarsely. "They gonna get Shannon next. I can't allow that… not with the baby and her…"

"Is that why you sold us down the river?"

The mop of hair jerked upwards then, eyes moist and wide flashing with anger, he banged his hands down on the table. "Sold you out?" he repeated.

"I don't blame you, Drake." The wave of empathy that crashed through Peck was difficult for even him, the accomplished actor, to tamp down and control. He reached across the table to lay a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder. "When we turned up yesterday at the warehouse they knew we were coming, they were ready for us. Bad shit went down and we only just got out but we did. I understand if they threatened Shannon and the baby – I can see why you did it."

"I didn't do it!" Anger turned to indignation. "I never talked and I didn't tell them. I would never sell you guys out, Christ you're my heroes! When they were beating me I shut it out. I thought 'What would Face do?' And you kept me strong…. Honest!"

Peck eyed him for a long moment. The kid appeared to be telling the truth, and long years of being less than honest had given the conman the advantage of being skilled at deciphering that particular trait in others. But if Drake had not told, then who the hell had?

"I didn't tell!" Drake repeated, his features looking more boyish by the second. "I never would, I swear!" His voice was loud and other people from the surrounding booths were glancing across curiously.

Peck patted the kid's shoulder. "OK," he breathed. "I believe you, and I'm sorry I had to ask but I had to be sure. BA tells me that when you want to mend a puncture you got to find the leak first, right?" He sat back in his seat.

Drake nodded, the beginning of a smile lighting his face. "Thank you for believing me," he said unassumingly.

"So you serious about quitting?" Face's long fingers were now playing with a paper napkin on the table, folding it this way and that, his mind playing through the possibilities was completely unaware of his physical action. "Cos you back down from a bully and he'll keep coming back at you – believe me, I know."

"But Shannon and the baby!"

"I understand that, kid. But this can be over with real soon and I promise you I will not allow anyone to harm one single hair on your pretty lady's head. You got the Faceman's word on that!"

Drake's smile was rueful. "The Faceman's word?" he questioned. "The most famous conman in the world's word!"

Face preened noticeably, choosing to take the comment as a compliment rather than a criticism. "And I got to be that by knowing when to play things straight!" he boasted shamelessly. He turned serious. "If you don't let us deal with those bastards they'll always be there, hiding behind some corner, waiting in the shadows and you won't know where or when, not until it's too late."

Drake nodded. "I know but…"

"Hey kid, it's OK to be scared," Face said, suddenly remembering being told those exact same words by a grey haired Colonel who refused to let the smoky fear of Vietnam dull the gleam in his ice blue eyes. A biting ache of loss rushed through Peck then but he forced it away and continued, "You just got to hang on to the fear and turn it into something useful. Trust me – I won't let you down on this."

They held each others stare for a long time and then Drake nodded. "Faceman's word is good enough for me! Now you gonna shout me a burger or am I gonna die of hunger in a fast food joint?"

"You are one mouthy kid – you know that?"

Drake laughed. "Gee I wonder who I modelled myself on."

Peck was smiling as he got back to his car. Murdock noted the conman's relaxed aspect as he gunned the motor. "Where's my burger?" he asked.

Face sighed. "Not on my upholstery!" he replied. "How come you're driving again, anyway? I thought your arm was still stiff? This is my car remember? And you said only someone who chose image over substance could possibly drive it!"

Murdock laughed, throwing the Viper across the lanes of traffic carelessly as he used the car's excessive power to manoeuvre effortlessly. "Did I say that?" he teased. "Well it is ostentatious but I gotta admit it does give me a thrill – makes me drive like an idiot but gives me a thrill none-the-less!"

Peck snorted but he said no more. Instead he sat quietly letting his mind replay the conversation with Drake and trying to work out who could possibly have disclosed their plans to their enemies if it was not the kid. Nobody else had know save Murdock, Amy and BA and he knew none of them would have talked – hell, they were all involved and in danger if the plan went wrong. So who?

Sighing softly and relaxing back into the leather bucket seat he let his mind go back to the aftermath of the disastrous assault and his conversation with Murdock the night before. The pilot had come out after Amy had left and found him leaning against a soda machine, acting coolly casual having had the time to control the anguish that was so manifest when he had left the motel room earlier.

Murdock had cleared his throat loudly, letting Peck know he was approaching; experience had taught the pilot it was always better not to sneak up on a Green Beret, no matter the circumstance.

Peck had gulped and turned slightly to regard his lover. Lots of words rushed through his head, lots of justifications jumbled in his mind and cold fear bit at him but Face ignored them all. He knew Murdock well enough to know that bullshit would not help the current situation. But he didn't want to talk about it – not now; he was tired and the bruise on his cheek was throbbing so hard he wondered if he had broken a bone. And yet seeing the pilot standing before him an uncontrollable rush of desire grabbed at him. So he fixed Murdock with his wide eyes and said simply and honestly, "I am an idiot." His voice was so soft that Murdock could hardly hear it above the deep thrum of the ice machine beside him.

"It's so true," Murdock agreed, his conversation with Amy still fresh in his mind, he stopped just outside of Peck's reach. "But a sexy idiot, I have to say."

Peck took a hesitant step forward. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

Murdock stuck his hands deep into his pockets and scowled. "No, you never do!"

Blue eyes wide with consternation only inches away fixed on the pilot. "Forgive me?"

"Damn!" Murdock swore. "Every goddamn time! I came out here, loins girded, heart hard, mind set and you just turn those eyes on me and I liquefy!" Peck smiled. "Oh, and don't do that!" Murdock moaned. "As if I ever had a chance!"

"No chance at all!" Peck agreed as he lifted his arms to embrace the pilot. "We have to talk," he whispered as he nibbled Murdock's ear.

"Don't I know it!" Murdock groaned as his body gravitated towards the other's commanding touch.

"But right now," Face continued between sweet kisses. "I prefer to investigate your girded loins and though I'm not interested in hard hearts, maybe I can make another part of your anatomy hard too and you can liquefy all over me!"

"Oh!" Murdock moaned as the passion sparked between their bodies drawing them together with magnetic force. "Sex is no substitute for communication," he managed with difficulty as Face tried to suck his lip.

"No substitute at all!" Peck agreed as he gently pushed the pilot back towards their room.

Still the pilot tried valiantly to cling to his sanity as his body seemed to growl its need and leaned into the other man who held him so tightly. "We have to talk about what happened today."

"We do," Face agreed, managing to open the door without seeming to let go of the pilot for a second and pushing him towards the bed.

Murdock sat down. "OK maybe not now but I need some promises from you, at least!" Peck nodded enthusiastically. "Promise me no more dates with other people!"

Peck was undoing his shirt buttons, fingers trembling with excitement. "I promise."

"Even those that are connected with your work?"

"I promise!"

"Especially with mythical women who sit on rocks singing to enthral men and leading them to their doom!"

"Definitely!" Peck enthused as he gave up with his buttons, simply ripped off his shirt and moved menacingly towards the bed.

"Wait! There's more!" Murdock held up his hands. "Mandatory watching of Butch and Sundance every day!"

Peck hesitated, his face masked with disgust. "Murdock; don't push it!" he warned.

Murdock pouted. "You would if you loved me!"

"But once a day – it's too much for any man! Can't we negotiate?"

Murdock batted his eyes and pouted even more. "Love needs no negotiation!"

Face sighed in defeat. "OK, OK," he groaned. "Now I'm gonna make you forget about goddamn cowboys completely!"

The harsh ring of his cell phone pulled Face from the wonders of his memory. He fumbled until he found it in his pocket. "Hi Amy!" he answered as he recognised the reporter's voice. "What you got?"

"OK, OK," Murdock shot him a curious glance but remained silent. "Let me make a note of that," Face said, he delved into his inside pocket, came out with a pen and paper and wrote something down. "Got that. Anything on Lorelei? OK, let me know as soon as you do. Thanks Amy!" He replaced his phone.

"So?" Murdock asked.

"Amy's found Stepford," Face said flicking his pad with his pen. "He's in hospital – cancer ward."

"So what do we do now?"

"We go check him out, see how bad he is and whether he's fit enough to care that I'm still in the game."

Murdock nodded, his eyes narrowed. "Where'd you get that pen?" he asked.

Peck felt himself blush guiltily as he noticed the gold plated pen in his hand. "Erm," he hesitated, and then decided that honesty was the best policy on this occasion. "Lorelei gave it to me the other night."

Murdock snorted, his nostrils flaring with anger. "You just don't get it do you?"

"Get what? It's a goddamn pen, Murdock that's all!" Face spat back. "Stupid thing doesn't even write very well."

"She gave it to you! She give you anything else?" Peck could have sworn that Murdock's eyes were flashing green.

"No!" he said, letting his exasperation spill out angrily. He really didn't need this, not now!

But Murdock was determined not to let it rest. "You didn't? With her?"

"Christ! I was only out for three hours, Murdock and that included getting there and back and dinner! Even I would have been going some to seduce her in that time!" Murdock looked unconvinced. Peck sighed. "OK, I'll give you the truth!"

The pilot snorted. "The truth huh! Don't put yourself out too much!"

Ignoring the snide comment Peck pressed on. "I didn't enjoy it, not really."

"The truth, Face!" Murdock repeated.

"This is the truth! Lorelei is beautiful sure… but she made me feel … well… somehow.. I don't know…" he stumbled along, feeling foolish.

"How come words escape you when you're being honest?" Murdock's voice revealed the deep hurt he felt.

"Christ, Murdock! I'm trying to make you understand! I'm not even sure if I understand it! She made me feel old, old and inadequate. I don't belong with somebody like that, not in her world." He gulped. "I belong with you."

Murdock held Peck's gaze for a long time, knowing that such a confession would have cost his lover dear but not guilty that he had forced it from him. Sometimes the only way to get past Peck's walls was to bulldoze straight through them. Eventually he looked away with a short nod when Peck gestured towards the road in front of them – red tail lights flashed like a Christmas tree indicating a jam.

"OK," Murdock said as he stepped on the brake. "I…"

The ring of Peck's cell phone interrupted once more and he made a gesture for the conman to answer it. Maybe he needed the time to think on what his lover had just disclosed.

"Oh, hi," Face's body tensed instantly. "How did you get this number? Did I? I don't recall."

Murdock arched his eyebrows with curiosity as he listened, gently coming to a halt behind a truck. Peck shifted nervously in his seat, turning away from the driver.

"Look I really enjoyed the dinner too but…."

It was Murdock's turn to stiffen, as he realised with a cold sinking feeling, just who was on the phone – bad timing or something less innocent?

Peck threw a somewhat timorous glance over his shoulder and smiled sheepishly. Murdock just shook his head in resignation.

"Look, Lorelei," Face continued. "This is a difficult time for me. I really have to go. I'm gonna be out of town for a while and…. No, I'll be gone awhile. No, I don't think that's possible – it was fun but… And to you too, sweetheart."

For someone who had great difficulty in saying no to beautiful women, Face had managed it in two consecutive sentences and Murdock had to be impressed but the question still ate at him - was it all an act?

They sat in silence for awhile. Finally, after shuffling relentlessly Peck began. "Murdock I.."

"It's OK, Face." Murdock cut him off. "I know you're irresistible!" The sarcasm that dripped from the words surprised even the pilot as he spoke them and he saw Peck flinch.

"I didn't…"

"It's all right!" Murdock snapped, trying unsuccessfully to rein back his emotions.

"I'll throw the goddamn pen away!" Face tried again.

Murdock's jaw was set firm. He sighed deeply. "Keep the pen. I don't expect you to be a saint, Face! Tell you the truth I like you better this way than the sad, uncertain man you had become six months ago.

"You do?" Peck's voice was tinged with hope.

Murdock smiled. "I do. I know what you're like. It was BA and Amy who said you shouldn't go on the date because of me. I was more worried about the danger you were putting yourself in to."

Peck nodded and ran his hand through his hair. He didn't have anything else to say but he knew didn't need to. They didn't need to fall over themselves with apologies. Suddenly he felt calm. He glanced at the car beside them. It was a police car and a pretty blonde female officer sat at the wheel. Before he truly knew what he was doing Peck smiled at her on full power. She smiled back, so he rolled his eyes.

Murdock noted the exchange. "For God's sake!" he snorted and pulled the car towards the off ramp.

"What?" Peck asked innocently.

"You are just incorrigible! She was a cop for Christ sake!"

"So?"

"You're still on the run, remember?"

"She wouldn't turn me in, not with a pretty smile like that!"

"Face!" Murdock hissed but then he allowed his indignation to dissipate. He smiled evilly. "Besides its Butch and Sundance time!"

Peck groaned. "Take me back to the cops, please!"

TBC