Chapter 11 - Higher Love Blowin' In the Wind

11:49 AM
Fairfax County, Virginia - Clerk of Courts
2 days until medal ceremony

The double doors of the prestigious courthouse parted and the three exited the building as fast as a bullet. Their footsteps tapped asynchronously as they headed down the long flight of stairs to the busy city sidewalk.

Following two steps behind, Face could only shake his head in wonderment, knowing he'd just sat through what he could only describe as the ten-minute nuptial special - and yet, once upon a time he'd been down this exact same road, legality-wise and remembered how he felt afterward.

Nauseous.

"Well, that was fun, I even picked up a 'best woman' for a date tonight!" He happily sighed. "Monogamy is so overrated, isn't it?" Now grinning full force, he slung an arm around each of their uniformed shoulders. "Sooo, how do those bonds of holy matrimony feel there, guys?" he teased, envisioning less bonds and more nooses and shackles.

Oblivious to the city's cacophony around them, A.J. looked down at her wings that Murdock had pinned on just a few minutes prior and a dreamy half-smile appeared. "I think I'm flying on cloud-niner here," she admitted, then looked at Murdock and noticed he was about the same shade of green as his uniform. Her smile quickly vanished. "Uh-oh... and solo by the looks of it."

Face eyed him closely, then teased, "Yeah, I know that look - something the matter, Murdock?" He definitely wasn't looking like his usual self, even his sane one.

"I, uh..." Murdock froze in his tracks and a shaky hand went to his midsection. It'd hit him out of nowhere almost at the same time the signed marriage license was in his hands. One moment he went from relieved that everything had gone according to plan, to reality throwing a punch to his gut; harder than any thug with a balled up fist could deliver. "I think it's gonna be my turn to... yakkity-yak soon."

"That feeling goes away after the first hour or so, buddy. Trust me!" Face chuckled and slapped Murdock's back reassuringly, who bit his knuckles at the sudden jolt.

A.J. took hold of Murdock's elbow and guided him forward. "C'mon, let's get you back to the car so you can sit down." She led him to Face's awaiting vehicle in the nearby parking garage.

"What happened to that stomach of steel, Murdock?" Face shook his head in dismay. "A case of the post-marital jitters should be a piece of wedding cake." He looked at A.J. "Speaking of - do you know that your, uh... husband here once ate shaving cream off a fake wedding cake?"

She raised an eyebrow as Murdock proudly explained through his fist. "Hey, I was merely trying to enhance its delectability and it worked too, remember?"

After they'd settled in the backseat, Face was now cautiously eyeing Murdock through the rear-view mirror. "Hey, this interior is classic, don't you dare get sick back there," he warned him.

Before he could answer, A.J. playfully accused, "Like you did in my - our bird?"

"Aw, you just had to bring that up, didn't ya?" Face groaned, then keyed the engine. "Well, where to now for the happy couple? How about we cut into some wedding cake - or lunch? I know a quaint little Italian place downtown called 'The Two Amys'."

"One Amy was quite enough, remember?" Murdock's green tinged look of resignation made it clear he was in no mood for post-ceremonial fine dining. "I really just want to get home and in my own bed right now. Shall we?"

Face raised his eyebrows then teased, "I bet you do, faker. I know what you're doing, playing sick so you can get a jump-start on the honeymoon, right?"

"Not with the schedule this afternoon," A.J. answered first, more-so reminding herself. Wondering if he really was faking, she stared into Murdock's glossy-eyes as he plopped his head in her lap, and right away knew otherwise. "I've got the afternoon, sunset and two night hops - including yours, Tiger. You're officially grounded tonight and that leaves me solo for pre-flight, de-icing, maintenance check-"

"Murdock, you married a bonafide workaholic," Face told him matter-of-factly, then snickered as a hat thwapped him again - hers this time. "Alright, back home it is. Time for the best man to give out the Faceman's honeymoon sendoff special. Murdock, I'm just glad you chose to forgo the dress this time, pal."

"Hey, I looked absolutely stunning in that dress and you know it!" Murdock proudly stated, then blinked in surprise as he recalled the conversation with Amy only days before. As he looked up at A.J., she staring back at him with nothing short of befuddlement.

"Dress?" Her ever-growing curiosity reached its peak. "Is this something I should know about, guys?"

"No," they answered in unison.

Parker Residence
2:15 P.M.

"Well, at least one of you is carrying the other over the threshold here," Face muttered while practically dragging Murdock up the porch steps. "But isn't it supposed to be the other way around?"

"Yeah, but... " Murdock panted with each step, "nothing about... today has been... very traditional, has... it?"

"True, why should we start now?" A.J. asked as she steadied Murdock's other side, then quickly unlocked and opened the door.

Murdock took three assisted steps in the house, stopped in his tracks, and his eyes immediately glazed over.

Face studied him carefully, then shook his head. "Well, it's been over an hour - I don't think this is the wedding jitters after all."

"Just be glad I didn't leave a little something in your backseat," Murdock muttered, then swallowed hard, hoping the nauseousness peak would finally descend now that he was home.

It didn't.

"Sorry, Tiger." A.J. glumly apologized. "I must've been contagious after all."

"I'm very inclined to agree with you on that one, now if you'll excuse me." Murdock lifted his arms from their shoulders. "Thanks for the lift guys, but I'll take it from here. Here," He handed her the license he'd still been carrying, then wobbled to the stairs to ascend them as fast as his churning stomach would let him.

"You better not be contagious!" Face warned. "Or Stockwell's going to wind up sending you out solo next time." After an exasperated sigh, Face looked over at A.J., who had busied herself reading the license, intentionally avoiding his gaze.

Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, what he uttered next was almost unbelievable. "Sooo, Mrs. Murdock..."

She winced. "Yeah, Face? And it's still Parker, by the way."

"By the powers vested in me, I know something is going on around here. What in the world is this really all about?" He pointed at the paper in her hands, which she quickly offered to him as a distraction.

"I thought Murdock already explained everything?"

Face nodded. "He did, and I still have no idea what's going on. So I was hoping you'd tell me." He looked down and skimmed the license then curiously muttered, "Acelynn?" then looked up to see her making a beeline for the kitchen. He rolled his eyes and wasted no time in following.

"Now what are you doing, besides obviously stalling?"

"Trying to be a good host for the best man, putting on some 'go-juice'." She held up the filters and the canister of coffee grounds she'd grabbed from a cabinet moments before. "Because I have a feeling that this is going to be one of those moments."

Face scoffed. "Will you forget the coffee 'n get to the point here?" He suddenly froze in a sense of déjà vu, remembering a time when he'd said something near verbatim to one Amy Amanda Allen.

Get the coffee and we'll get out of here, okay?!

"Face, why are you looking at me like that?" She recognized his same expression from the hospital and pointed to her ring, warning him through a smile, "Don't make me use this!"

"What... no!" Face chuckled as diverted his googly-eyes to the marriage certificate he was still holding. "No, I wasn't looking at you like that, A.J., I was just remembering someone I knew from a long time ago... someone I hadn't thought about 'till now."

"She must've been pretty special."

"She was, and brilliant too, with just the right amount of crazy." His sparkling eyes suddenly snapped out of it and back to reality. "Not full-throttle crazy like you are, kid."

"Face, you're talking like a pilot!" She beamed. "I just knew you'd come around..." As she tried to hug him, he stopped her - much to her surprise. He intently stared, waiting for the answer he didn't have to ask.

"Okay, Face." She finally nodded in agreement. "If all you're looking for is a good reason, isn't two people in love good enough reason?" Coincidentally, she held out a steaming cup of freshly poured coffee and he raised his eyebrows at her timing.

"One of those moments, huh." He finally resigned the situation with a sigh of finality and a sip of hot java. "Of course it's enough. You know, when we were fixing your bird, I told him not to let you fly away... I'm glad he listened."

"Thanks, Face." She pointed to the ceiling. "I'm gonna go check on him, you coming too?"

He shook his head. "Kid, that is one show I'll gladly take a rain-check on." He slammed back the rest of his coffee in one gulp, then headed for the door. "See you later, Mrs. M."

"It's still Parker!" she teasingly called back, then wondered aloud, "Hey, Face - what was her name?"

"Amy," he answered softly, then smiled at the thought of saying her name again. "Amy Allen." He braced for the cold that greeted him when he opened the door, then stepped out and closed it behind him.

She hurried to the kitchen for a glass of water then raced upstairs and into the open room.

"Hey, Face just took off. He said he hopes you feel better." She sat down beside him and offered him the glass along with her hand as she felt his sweaty forehead. "How you doing there?"

"Better since I offered a generous sacrifice to the porcelain 'gods'." Murdock shivered under the covers as he sipped at the water. "What did you tell Face? I know he asked you. Did you tell him anything about the ceremony or the White House?"

"No, I just told him this was all about love. I think it sounded more convincing than, 'to sneak H.M. into the White House to slip a few pardon requests on the president's desk'."

"It sounds so easy when you say it like that." He handed the glass back to her and collapsed against his pillow. "But, I prefer the former too."

"I really do... love you, that is." She looked down at her wings and the all-too-familiar feeling of warmth spread over her. "More than flying if you can believe it."

"Well, I don't know about that, but I know one thing's for sure," he reached out from under the covers and opened his hand to reveal his own wings. "I love you too, co-pilot."

"Oh, Tiger." As her eyes glossed over with tears, she would've leaned over and kissed him right then if he hadn't leaned over first... to grab a nearby pail.

"Hold that... thought." He quickly turned away so she didn't have to see what was up and coming.

Wild Aces Hangar
8:45 P.M.

"You're pretty quiet tonight, Junior - everything okay there?"

"Everything's great, Dave." She offered a reassuring smile through winter-kissed cheeks. "Just thought my last client would've shown up by now." After a quick glance at her watch, for what seemed like the hundredth time in the past half-hour, she shrugged. "Ah well - it was one of those iffy-ones anyway, no deposit."

"Didn't expect you to be here alone, tonight. Where's H.M.?" He looked around, his brow wrinkled with concern. "He's not making you do all the work again, is he?"

"Of course not, and he doesn't." She nudged him with her elbow, glumly explaining, "He's grounded with the flu."

Dave gestured to the rumpled handkerchief poking out of his front pocket. "It's been going around like the plague, just got over it myself."

Her eyes widened in realization. "So it was you that I caught it from the other day! I swear, I really thought I was preg-" She suddenly bit her lip.

"Junior!" He gaped.

"I didn't just say that."

He eyed her in disbelief, then muttered, "Well, I won't tell your dad."

"Thanks." She chuckled nervously as she took hold of his arm. "I never told you this before, but thanks for coming to check on me all this time after Dad... you know." She trailed off as the all-too familiar grief hit.

"Al was my best friend and he was the glue that held our squad together. We all took his death real hard too."

"I remember." She eyed his squadron jacket, knowing an identical one to it was hung safely in her father's closet back home. She suddenly lit up. "Say, Dave, I was wondering, you were at my dad's medal ceremony, right? It was so long ago, and I really don't remember much."

"We all were there," Dave proudly answered then his face softened as he reminisced. "All five of us. Boy, you were just a wee one back then, not even waist high. You walked right up and gave the president a hug, if memory serves."

She blushed. "Oh my - I did not! Hey Dave, since you were at the first ceremony, it's only fair you should know about the second one - I just got the letter the other day, they're giving Dad another medal posthumously."

"Really?" Dave looked up to the sky, and gave a loud hoot in his old wartime call. "You hear that Al? That's two for ya and you deserve it you old bird!" He crowed again, then reached out and shook A.J.'s shoulders excitedly. "When's the ceremony, Junior? I can't wait to polish up my old uniform."

"The day after tomorrow, at noon." She reached out and gave him a tight hug. "You're really coming?"

"Of course! I'll try to round up the rest of the guys."

"Hey, Dave," She pulled back slightly and eyed him. "You don't really talk to my dad like that, do you?"

"Sure, I do. I know he's up there listening too." His eyes turned to the sky, then he gave her a knowing smile. "You should try it, bet he'd love to hear from you."

She was just about to tell him he was crazy when the nozzle suddenly clicked.

"Alright kid, you're filled to the brim and ready to go." Suddenly, they both curiously turned to the sound of an approaching car's engine. "Look there, must be your client now," he muttered, watching as the yellow taxi pulled up to the hangar's entrance. They both watched as a figure dressed in a long trench coat exited the vehicle and look towards them.

"Yes, it... must be. Thanks again, Dave."

"That'll be fifteen dollars, Toots."

Amy passed the cab driver a crisp twenty-dollar bill through the window. "Keep the change."

"Wow, thanks, babe. Have a good one!"

The sound of the taxi's engine faded away as it drove off. "Talk about the middle of nowhere," she muttered to herself as she looked around. The first thing she noticed was the well-lit hangar, then the car parked in front of it.

"My other car is a helicopter," she read the bumper sticker aloud, then snickered. "Still crazy, I bet." As the loud sound of a nearby truck's engine started, she turned and saw a woman in a blue jumpsuit jogging her way.

"Hi there! Welcome to Wild Aces." She offered an enthusiastic grin and stuck out her hand. "I'm A.J. Parker, one of the pilots here."

"Hello, I'm Amy Allen, from the L.A. Times." She dropped the heavy bag from her shoulder and smiled warmly as they shook hands.

"Nice to meet you!" The excitement in her voice rose, remembering Face's conversation. "L.A., wow, that's quite a hop!"

"You're telling me. Two delays and a three hour layover in Ch-Charlotte." The chilly wind crept through Amy's stocking covered knees and she shivered. "Geez, it's f-freezing out here. Hold on, you don't look cold at all in this weather - what's your secret?" She curiously asked.

"Thermal zoom-bag." A.J. tugged at her collar, then pointed at the sky. "It gets pretty cold up there at night now."

"I s-see." Amy nodded.

"Were you here to take the D.C. night tour?" She motioned to the nearby helicopter settled on the landing pad. "I had a last minute cancellation so we can head up for a hop now if you don't want to make an appointment."

Amy shook her head to decline. "Nooo, I've spent enough time in the air today, th-thanks." As she eyed the helicopter, it brought back past sounds of rattling guns and deafening explosions, and she quickly suppressed the sudden burst of jazz with an adrenaline fueled smile. "Actually, I was looking for Captain Murdock. I stopped by to deliver a few things to him and this is the address he gave me. Is he here?"

"Captain?" Her eyes widened in surprise. "Yes, Murdock's a pilot here too, but I'm sorry he isn't on duty tonight. He's down with the flu that's been flying around."

"Oh." Amy's disappointment was obvious. "I thought I might see him here. I had some-"

"Hold on, I can see if he's up for visitors." She reached for the radio on her belt, then keyed it. "Captain Murdock, this is Parker calling in for a status report. You up and running yet?"

A few seconds later the radio squelched. "Roger that, Mrs. Murdock."

"Wait a minute, did he just say Mrs. Murdock?" Amy asked, her expression a downright gape through chattering teeth.

"Uh," A.J. nervously sputtered a raspberry in the radio, explaining, "No, I think he said, 'This is Murdock'. Yes, I know this is you, and you have a visitor here. Does the name Amy Allen ring any bells?"

"Does it ring any...?! Wild Thang, that's a downright clang and a deafening bang to boot. Hey there, Chiquita! You made it out here before the ceremony after all! I see you met Ace too, ain't she the most generous, wonderful-"

"Tiger," A.J. warned, as she watched Amy stand there shivering and eyeing her with morbid curiosity. "I'm closing up here now and we're heading back. You up for a visit?"

"Well, I haven't been through the throes of regurgitation in almost six hours now, so I think we're on the mend. So come on down to zee Chez Parker, gals!"

"Okay, we're on our way." They both smiled as A.J. clipped the radio back on her belt and quickly motioned Amy to her car. "He's just down the road, come on. I'll drive you there."

"Same old Murdock," Amy smiled as she settled in the passenger seat. "He sounds like he hasn't changed a bit."

"So, you knew him when he lived at the V.A.?" A.J. curiously asked.

"You know about that?" As she nodded back, her reporter's inquisitive nature was now at maximum. "Can I ask you something that might seem just a little bit personal?"

"Uh," A.J. glanced at her briefly, then back to the road. "Sure, why not?"

"How on Earth did you get mixed up with a guy like Murdock?"

"Well," A.J. grinned. "That's kind of a long story, which I'll be happy to tell once we're inside and thawed out."