Chapter 5: An Eye in the Sky Two Feet on the Ground

A/N - *yellow alert* Some implied "relations" incoming. ;) *yellow alert*

Home.

It really was their safe haven here in Langley after nearly fifteen years on the run. This was the first place B.A. could open his eyes after a decent night's sleep and not worry that he'd be snuffed out of his apartment by some rouge bounty hunter looking for a payday, or a handful of inept M.P.'s looking for a promotion. It was calm and peaceful here, at least it was when Murdock wasn't around, driving him up the wall with his crazy ideas... like fixing helicopters.

But this morning, B.A. awoke with a 'head doesn't want to be in the clouds' panic, which was still fresh in his mind from yesterday. They'd done it again; poked him with the dreaded needle of unconsciousness and forced him on yet another one of those confounded flying machines.

They're gonna pay. I dunno how yet, but they're all gonna…

He sat up in a funk, utter displeasure on his face. After a quick stretch and a nonchalant grunt, he looked out the window and found a sight that quickly took his raging anger and washed it down the drain; like the grease from his hands after a long day of engine rebuilding.

As he gazed out at the white blanket of snow, he felt his heart soar. Out here, the layers remained pure; undisturbed atop the mountains behind the house. It was beautiful, nothing like the ones he remembered in the city; or cities rather. L.A. never saw snow like this - only mere flurries on the coldest of days. Sure, he saw his fair share of snow as a boy in the Chicago projects, but the beauty never lasted, as it quickly turned into piles of ash covered slush after a day's worth of snowplowing and shoveling.

Out here though…

"Wow, man," he whispered in awe and his breath fogged the window. Then he grinned. "Wow!"

Then he began to wonder if his mama - his real mama, would love to see this as well. He longingly stared at the picture of her on his dresser.

Been too long, better call her real soon.

A shower and a head shave later, he pulled on his olive green Army issue jumpsuit, affixed his precious gold chains around his neck, then left his room. As he stepped into the hallway, he gave a solemn glance to the door of Face's empty room, then headed down the hall for the stairs.

"Morning, B.A."

"Mornin', Hannibal." Surprised to see him just standing in the hallway and eyeing his watch, he curiously asked, "Whatcha doin' out here?"

"Shh, waiting. You're just in time." Hannibal smirked and motioned for B.A. to wait as well. "Hold on, just ten more seconds."

Curious, B.A. crossed his arms and studied Hannibal for a moment. He could sense something in him. It wasn't quite the jazz, but almost like a familiar playfulness from years past. Hannibal had the same amused expression as the one he used to give when he would torment a few sorry ass MP officers and their overconfident, lackluster commanders.

"Hannibal, you're nuts. I know you ain't really gonna do what I think you're -"

"When opportunity knocks, Sergeant - three... two... one..." He loudly rapped on the door, calling out, "Up and at 'em, Parker - your bird awaits!"

B.A. rolled his eyes, knowing Hannibal had pulled the same wake-up routine day after day earlier that year, then watched his amusement fade into confusion as each silent second passed in response.

He knocked again. "Uh, anyone home?" After more than enough time had passed, he cracked the door and peeked inside. Finding it unoccupied, he wondered aloud, "You don't think she skipped out already, do you?"

"Nah, A.J. wouldn't do that. Maybe she's…" B.A. pointed next door and shrugged. Heck, it wasn't a secret - not with the way Murdock yapped his fool head off the entire three weeks about her, his job and his so-called sanity.

Hannibal pondered the thought, then paced five steps to his immediate left and knocked on the door of the abandoned quarters of one Frankie Santana. "Hey, Murdock! You guys in there?"

"Uh, occupado muchacho!"

The teasing spark in Hannibal's eyes returned. Of all the times he'd been interrupted in this house. "Your presence is requested, Captain!"

"Can't it wait? Kinda busy here!"

Busy. He'd heard that line many times before, mostly from Face. "On the double!"

"Oh, for crying out– fine, I'm coming! Geez, of all the things to be in the middle of -"

"...hey, I heard that crack about my bird, Hannibal. Nice try!"

B.A. and Hannibal looked at each other, then towards the stairs where her voice called out from below.

"I was up early, so I started kitchen duty. It was my turn, anyway - technically."

"Uh, oh - look out, she's cooking." B.A. snickered at the thought, then winced. He called back, "I'll be right down to help!"

"Thanks!"

Hannibal turned back to Murdock's door, calling out, "Uh, say Captain, neverm-"

He was two seconds too late. The door flew open and there Murdock stood, dripping wet with a thin white towel clutched around his waist and a mound of frothy shampoo on his head which he continued to scratch at. His displeasure was obvious on his now clean-shaven face.

"What?! My first real hot shower in three weeks - now, what's so important that you had to interrupt that, Colonel?"

Hannibal raised an eyebrow, resisting the urge to laugh. "Nevermind, mystery solved." Keeping his poise, he saluted him and commanded, "As you were, Captain."

Murdock saluted back, but not before dropping the towel first. It pooled at his feet as he slammed the door, calling out, "Geez o' mighty, are we doing room checks now? This ain't a college dorm, remember?"

B.A. broke into muffled giggles, highly amused not only by Hannibal's dumbfounded mouth drop, but at the full frontal image of Murdock that he'd now have to desperately try to clear from his head. As they headed for the stairs, he tried to bite his lip, but he couldn't resist.

"Maybe that'll teach you to mind your own business, Hannibal!" B.A. snorted, then made a beeline for the kitchen.

Hannibal headed back down the stairs as well, opened the front door and was immediately met by a gust of frigid Virginia winter air. He shivered, invigorated by the sensation, then picked up the newspaper lying on the doorstep. After shaking it free of the snow he unrolled it.

Breaking News : Ongoing D.C. Peace Talks Resume After Surprise Return of Stolen Rare Artifact.

Hannibal grinned as he returned to the warmth of his refuge and immediately headed for the phone, excited to tell Face about the news. Perhaps home wasn't so far from L.A. after all.

B.A.'s lighthearted mood had followed him to the kitchen, still enthused by Hannibal's earlier misfortune.

"Hey, I got your back, mama. I know it's been awhile."

"Thanks, B.A." A.J. smiled appreciatively. "It took me a sec to remember what it's like to cook for five, uh, four." Face's empty chair sat as a reminder that he was having his breakfast in a hospital bed this morning. "Sure you don't mind helping me?"

"It was gonna be my turn anyway. Hey, and you always helped me, remember?"

She sheepishly grinned, remembering. "Tried to anyway."

B.A. giggled as he remembered that particular morning six months prior. He couldn't remember the exact day, perhaps her second or third, but she'd curiously ventured into the kitchen just as he was in mid-flip of a line of pancakes and tried to offer her hand, a very inexperienced one...

"Sorry about that, B.A."

"It's okay, just be sure to keep the heat down next time and it won't burn like that, all right?"

"Okay, throttle-back hard on the afterburners... got it."

"You know you sound just like Murdock with all that pilot jibba-jabba... uh, you know you don't have to help me. We rotate kitchen everyday and it's my turn."

"Okay, but it just doesn't seem right, B.A. - me just sitting in there, knowing you're in here doing all this work and then you're going to spend the whole day fixing my bird's engine too? No, I'll be your wing-man on this and - hey, what's wrong with the way I talk...?"

As he came back to the present, his brown eyes warmed as he watched her flip a pan of eggs onto the last empty plate without incident this time, then smile proudly at him.

"Look at that, B.A., a perfect three-point landing! Everything's done, all that's left is to taxi these on over to the guys."

"Jibba-jabba," he muttered, and as he helped carry everything to the table, he briefly wondered if he shouldn't lay off Murdock this morning, for her sake.

Nah.

Hannibal wandered in moments earlier, cordless phone to his ear and utter confusion on his face. "What do you mean you don't have a Templeton Peck listed in your directory? I was just there last night. This is D.C. General, right? Okay, thanks." He hung up the phone with a frustrated push of a button, then sat down in his usual chair just in time to be served. "Well, that's odd. How can he not be there?"

"Try asking for Jack Nicholson," A.J. suggested. "Murdock had him checked in under that name."

"Great, thanks." Hannibal mashed the redial button, then held up the newspaper to show them the headlines. "Check it out, guys. Looks like we turned some heads."

B.A. took the paper from Hannibal, eager to read.

"Wow, front page?" A.J. stopped behind B.A. so she could read the article over his shoulder. She shook her head in bewilderment about the mayhem and preventing civil war, yet no mention of the team themselves at all.

Hannibal grinned, then turned his attention back to the phone. "Yes, I'm trying to reach a patient in your ICU, the name's Jack Nicholson... no, not the actor." He rolled his eyes, then began fishing in his front pocket for a cigar. "Yeah, I'll hold."

"Good morning, muchachos." Murdock strode in, minus his hat and hair still wet. "Would've been down here earlier but someone interrupted my shower and well… I had to start all over."

A.J. looked up from the paper and giggled. "At least you shaved. Morning, Tiger."

His eyes lit up as he eagerly walked over to her, then leaned over with puckered lips, eyes closed...

"Don't kiss me you fool!" B.A. snapped as Murdock dipped in and planted a wet one on B.A.'s cheek.

"Sorry, B.A., I just couldn't help myself. There's just something about waking up here to all these gorgeous - I mean, gorgeous sights. Like that magical winter wonderland outside, and the smile on your mudsucking face," he pinched B.A.'s cheek then grinned at A.J. "And last, but certainly not least, my Ace of hearts right here up my sleeve." He wrapped his arm around her waist, then grabbed the newspaper from B.A. and held it up to hide their faces.

B.A. rolled his eyes and counted exactly five seconds before he snatched the paper back. A.J. grabbed her coffee cup to hide her now blushing face, while Murdock sighed in frustration as he looked at the paper now laying on the table.

"Front page?" He leaned in for a closer look, quickly skimmed the article, then plopped down in his seat, quite uninterested. As long as the headline didn't read 'A-Team Finally Executed' he knew it wouldn't hold his interest very long today. Instead, he found his attention drawn to breakfast as he looked down at his plate. "Uh oh, scrambled - that means only one thing," he pretended to fidget nervously, then clutched B.A.'s arm and hung on for dear life. "Is it safe to eat, Big Guy or should I head for the hills?"

"Get offa me," B.A. muttered through a mouthful as he shook Murdock off his arm, lightheartedly for a change.

"Yes, it's safe! B.A. is a great teacher," A.J. playfully glared at Murdock, then looked at B.A. and they shared a knowing smile.

Murdock put his chin in his hand and stared at her dreamily. "Amazing isn't it - you helped us put a ten-thousand pound whirly-bird back together, but burnt every single meal you tried to cook that week."

"You're never going to let me live that down, are you? Hey, when your life is at full throttle, it's all take-out and sandwiches."

"Well, I'm condiments - it's so nice to meet you!" Murdock introduced himself, grabbing her hand and shaking it wildly.

"You're something," she teased, then looked at Hannibal as he hung up the phone.

"Good news, guys. Face'll be officially home tomorrow. Until then, he says he's enjoying D.C. General's wonderful and gracious hospitality."

B.A. scrunched his nose and attempted to waft Hannibal's cigar smoke away with the paper. "So what's the plan for today, Hannibal?"

"The plan is there is no plans - only what I hope is the start of a long post-mission R and R. I'm going back to the hospital later to visit Face once the roads are clear." He gave a scolding look to Murdock and B.A. "Hopefully they'll let me in after yesterday."

"Roads?" Murdock suddenly grinned mischievously through a Doc Brown impression. "Where we're going we don't need roads... want us to drop you off on the roof on our way back?"

"No, Tiger!" A.J. immediately protested, then stared at him wondering if he was really serious.

"What, why not?" He grinned back, answering her questioning eyes. "I used to do it in 'Nam all the time with these guys. It's called the 'ol drop 'n run. In and out, piece of cake!"

"It wasn't no piece of cake!" B.A. broke in, "Especially that one time in 'Nam when you..."

Not again!

She retreated to the kitchen at the escalating banter, calling out, "Just remember, if you get just one citation, they'll revoke your license and I don't have to tell you what that means, but I will - you're grounded, Tiger!"

"Okay, okay!" Murdock lightheartedly sulked at the voice of reasoning. "No impromptu drop 'n runs this time, Colonel. I suppose I gotta start following the rules now."

"That's the price you have to pay for finally going straight, Captain." Hannibal grinned.

Murdock shrugged, then watched as she headed for the back door. "Hey, hold-up - where you goin'?"

"The bay, of course."

"What... why? I know you're into routine and all, but we don't have any repair work to do."

The intent was obvious in her sparkling eyes. "But I have a pre-flight inspection to do and I didn't plan on sitting around here all day playing pool and cards like the old days, as much fun as that sounds." Her face lit up, reminding him, "And just imagine that Yak sitting all alone back at the hangar - that's borderline neglect. Sorry guys, gotta fly!"

"Stay outta trouble, kid." Hannibal chuckled.

"Bye, A.J." B.A. waved back. "Thanks again for the help. Take care of yourself, ya hear?"

"Hey!" Murdock scrambled out of his seat faster than the eggs he'd just wolfed down. "Throttle back on those jet jockey genes, Ace. Don't you dare go anywhere near that bird yet - I haven't checked it for anymore snakes!" He made a mad dash to follow her outside, but not before calling out to B.A. and Hannibal before the door closed behind him.

"Straight's definitely worth it, guys. See ya later!"

"Here's your breakfast, Mr. Nicholson."

Face's mouth quirked upwards. "Thanks, you're a gem." After giving the nurse a charismatic wink, he turned back to the phone. "Yes, I'm fine, Hannibal. Believe me - I'm in, uh, more than capable hands here." As his eyes darted up to meet with hers and he could've sworn he saw her turn a few shades redder under her scrubs as she approached his bedside. "Hey, who else do I hear there? Hey, you guys didn't start the homecoming party without me, did you?"

"We'll save the festivities for when you're back, okay?"

"You'd better," he warned, then he felt her warm hand nudging the crook of his back.

"Lean forward Mr. Nicholson." She coaxed him with her gentle, yet firm hand. "I'm just checking to make sure your lungs are clear this morning."

He leaned over enough that he was almost nose to nose with his still covered breakfast tray. After he felt the rush of open air as his gown parted in the back, the cold stethoscope pressed against him, along with her warm hand on his shoulder.

"Now," she whispered in his ear, giving his shoulder - and bicep - a firm squeeze, "deep breaths."

He inhaled deeply and released it in a heaving sigh directly into the phone's receiver.

"Aw, cheer up, Face. Check today's paper, front page. It'll make a good read when you're not... busy."

"Busy? Oh, please - you really think I'm busy in here?" He cleared his throat when he felt the distinct touch of a fingernail's curve casually trace the contour of his back, then felt the hairs on his neck raise. "Gimme a break, Hannibal."

"You've got your break, Face - you're on the injured list. Consider yourself lucky since Stockwell can't touch you right now."

"Feeling so lucky I just might head to Vegas," he muttered, then drew in three more deep breaths while Hannibal's laughter filled his ear.

She scribbled on the clipboard. "All of your tests look good, Mr. Nicholson. We'll be moving you down to the recovery ward soon." Her lower lip protruded and she pouted. "I'm almost sorry to say."

He pulled the phone's receiver away from his mouth. "I'm almost sorry too. Say, could I get a newspaper up here? Thanks." He turned back to the phone. "Good news, I'll be out of ICU later today... yeah. I'll call you when they move me... okay, see you then." He hung up the phone, then turned his attention to the tray and lifted the lid.

The door suddenly burst open. "Flowers for Mr. Nicholson!"

"I'll take those, thanks." The nurse rushed over and plucked the flowers from the candy-striper, then ushered her out of the room as quickly as she entered.

He looked up from his breakfast tray to the bouquet of flowers now sitting on the table beside him. Finally, he mustered up the courage to spoon the pudding, then hesitated just before tasting it.

"Looks like someone thinks you're pretty special." She watched him intently as he looked at the flowers. "Your girlfriend?"

"Nahhh." A thoughtful expression crossed his face and he raised his eyebrows in delight. "Mmm, not bad." He pointed his spoon at the plastic dish. "You know, this stuff reminds me of the kind they served back at the orphanage."

"Orphanage?" Intrigued, she curiously asked, "Then who were those people here to see you last night?"

"My family," he smiled. "They're probably the same ones who sent me the flowers." He brought another bite of pudding to his mouth; this time with the spoon backwards. He gave it a slow pull from his mouth, then grinned. "Mind handing me the card?"

"Sure, there's a few here actually." She plucked them from the flowers and handed them to him, along with an intent stare of interest.

"A few? Wow, I better start my thank you notes. You know, that's the problem with people today; they lack the value of common... courtesy." His sparkling eyes met hers and maximum charisma was now achieved.

"Mm hmm," she responded, her face indicating she was hanging onto every word, then gave a lick of her painted lips in response. "So, you really grew up in an orphanage?"

"Yep." He heaved a dramatic sigh and a great impression of puppy dog eyes. "The hard knock life."

She clicked her tongue and her own eyes turned one glance shy of predatory. "How could anyone abandon someone as charming and adorable as you?"

"Who knows?" He shrugged as she sat down beside him and gave his blond hair a playful flip. "But at least my real family cares. Ah, now let's see..." He held the cards up to read.

"Hurry home soon, brother. ~ B.A.
...and some days the snake gets you, kid. ~ Uncle Smith
Get well ssssoon, Jack! ~ H.M - P.S. The flowers were her idea."

He smiled, then realized there was something else behind Murdock's card. He moved it aside with a rub of his forefinger and thumb and found a playing card behind it - the ace of spades. His eyes softened. "They're a great family. My family."

"They must be, I'm sure." She gave him a knowing raise of her eyebrows, then leaned his way, staring intently. "They pulled quite the stunt to get in here and see you last night."

"Well, that's what teamwork is for, right?" He eyed her and began drowning in anticipation. He glanced at his watch, then back at her again. "You know, I thought the shift change around here was fifteen minutes ago."

"It was." Her hand slipped to his chest, parted a few buttons on his gown, and ran her long fingernails down it. "But I wanted to check on your - hmm, heart monitor." She leaned over and gently nibbled his earlobe.

"How thoughtful," he gently moaned and as if on cue, a warning alarm blared on a nearby monitor. He quickly silenced it with a flick of the switch, telling her, "Oh, my heart's just fine - though I do seem to have this one particular ache that I can't seem to get rid of." He ran a meticulous hand up her leg, then reached for her waist for a gentle squeeze.

"Mm," she purred, then slid her arms around his neck. "Maybe I can help with that."

He wagged his eyebrows. "Maybe you could."

After a brief, but straight to the point kiss, her lips pulled from his, trailing to his chin, down his neck...

He reached out and instinctively traced a finger under her petite cheek, then gently tilted her chin so they were now staring eye to eye.

"Tell me... what's your name? Teige just doesn't cut it for me."

"Christi," she whispered. "Short for Christian." She moved to meet his lips once again and this time brushed her tongue against his.

"What... a... name," he murmured through her kiss. Wasting no time, he mashed his hospital bed's 'down' button. It couldn't move fast enough.

Neither could he.

Langley, Virginia was quite the far cry from the bustling streets of L.A. and the noisy halls of building sixteen of the V.A.'s psychiatric wing. What would've been a symphony of honking horns in traffic or a cacophony of noisy hallways was now just a few native birds tweeting on the wind and the crunch of snow underneath their feet as they trekked side by side through the wide open field.

"She wasn't left out to freeze last night, right?"

Knowing full well that question was coming, he held out the keys and grinned. As she raced ahead, his thoughts pulled him back to the same place on that stormy, summer night on the same path so seemingly long ago and what once had been a distant memory surfaced with each step.

She's not out here getting drenched, is she?

Her seemingly 'one-track chopper mind' had never veered from what was most important that night. It wasn't even an obsessive-fixation disorder brought on by post-traumatic grief like he'd initially assumed. It was just plain and simple loyalty to honor promises made. She was so different then, soul as hurt and torn up as her bird was. But now...

*splat*

"Hey! What the...?" He'd been so enthralled in reminiscing, he completely missed her stop, kneel down and pretend to tie her shoe.

"Bulls-eye!" Her victory cheer turned to laughter as the snowball slid down the painted tiger of his flight jacket. When he whirled around in surprise, another one exploded at his chest. "That's for yesterday, flyboy!"

He looked down in disbelief, then his eyes playfully narrowed as he knelt down and scooped up a bare handful of unlimited ammo.

"Of course you realize, Ace..." he sputtered in a Daffy Duck impression, "this means war!" He snickered as she darted for the hangar, then pulled back and fired. He whistled a missile dive as it sailed through the air and splattered against the back of her jacket this time - U.S.A.F. blue of course. "Direct hit!"

"Make love, not war, soldier!" she teased back, then ducked just in time as another incoming clanged against the metal wall of the vehicle bay behind her. "Missed me!"

His expression mirrored the thought and he quickly dropped the snow in surrender, game over. "I... I sure did - and later," he added with a wink, as he stuck his now-freezing hands in his jacket pockets.

"Then, I'll see you later." She excitedly looped her arm through his, then looked up. "Full CAVU and not much headwind. I won't have any problems getting home solo."

"Solo? Hold on a sec - did you think I was just walking you out to your car here?" He gestured to the vehicle bay, implying the helicopter inside it, then smirked,

"But what about Face...?"

"Hey, I know for a fact that Faceman would rather spend today trying to woo some nurse into eating out of the palm of his hand."

"Hope it's Teige," she giggled knowingly.

He snickered hard at the thought. "Yeah, and he can't do that with me hanging all over him - blowing up rubber gloves to make puppets and playing with the defibrillator." The serious showed in his eyes as he remembered. "You weren't there the last time, I'm thankful for that. He's okay... okay?"

"Okay! I know I'm hardly in a position to argue here," she told him as they pulled the vehicle bay doors open.

"Good - besides, I've got to get back to work too, don't I?" As they walked inside, he continued on, "I've got a plane to check for infestations and appointments to book - you can't just hog 'em all now, you know."

"Take a vacation," she suggested, and they traded looks of disbelief. "Yes, I'm serious - you've been gone three weeks. Take some time off."

"You are my vacation," he answered matter-of-factly, then grinned as he watched her blush.

Taking advantage of the quick moment of privacy, their lips met - and he suddenly remembered what Face had told him just before he left the hospital room last night.

"I ain't dying this time, Murdock. Now get back to business!"

"I'm a pilot, and my job is to fly." ~H.M. Murdock - The Crystal Skull