The mission was over. The oil baron was indeed right about his son and the A Team had managed to expose him. Hannibal enjoys this part of the mission. The money-counting part that is. They drive off in the van, all 5 of them, all feeling content with a job well done.
"That went rather according to plan, won't you agree Face?" he quips to his Lieutenant.
"According to plan Hannibal? We nearly had our asses handed to us by those goons." Face whines "My head is still sore!"
Hannibal chuckles in the front seat and lights his cigar. "We've got to deliver Murdock to the VA hospital first. Start thinking Face."
Face salutes jokingly.
"I have an idea for that this time Hannibal."
Hannibal looks up slightly surprised. Cassie never does anything to contradict an order of his.
"What's that kid?" he asks her.
He sees her swallow first and open her mouth second. She's nervous about this, he can tell. "I live nearby anyway, so I can just drop him off and I can head home immediately after that."
Hannibal senses ulterior motives, but he decides to not pursue the issue. He turns back to the front "Face, you're off the hook this time!"
Face also senses there's something Hannibal doesn't say, but goes along anyway. It's bound to be one of those plans of his anyway. "Aye aye Colonel."
The van stops two blocks away from the hospital and Cassie and Murdock get out. The goodbyes have already happened, so they part quickly. BA drives off quickly, but Hannibal puts his hand on his arm. "Hold it Sergeant. Can you park on the street across form the entrance?"
BA looks at Hannibal confused, but does as he's asked.
Cassie walks next to Murdock, feeling extremely nervous. Butterflies fly around in her stomach, making it almost impossible to speak.
"Cas? What's the matter?"
She looks up and sees him watch her. Obviously he notices she isn't herself right now. He knows her so well that it's almost impossible for her to keep a secret. She looks into his brown eyes and smiles at him.
"Nothing. I just wanted to ask you something without the guys there."
Murdock breathes out, feeling relieved. "Sure Cas, what is it?"
Cassie looks towards the road, trying to gather her thoughts. They are nearly at the hospital, and she knows it'll be to late once they are inside. She stops underneath a sturdy looking pine tree. "What does HM stand for, Murdock?" she asks him.
He looks at her slightly startled. Where ever this conversation was going, this he hadn't seen that coming.
"Eeuh..." he fumbles as he stalls for time, "Henry Mac." he says eventually. "My full name is Henry Mac Murdock."
Cassie smiles at him, butterflies raging at full force. She will now take an absolute leap of faith. She gathers up her courage and says "So, Henry Mac Murdock. Is it ok with you if I call you Henry sometimes?"
Murdock grins broadly. "Sure that's ok Cas. Call me whatever you want."
For Murdock, it feels like they have just taken a hurdle of some sort. They've made some sort of progress, he isn't sure what kind though. All he's sure of is that he really, really wants to kiss her right now. With all the butterflies in his stomach it is a miracle he isn't flying right now. She has that cute smile on her face and seems content to just be there with him. He can't kiss her though, because he doesn't want to create any weird vibes in the team. What if she doesn't see him that way? He will ruin everything if that's the case. He can't do that. He can't kiss her. Just can't.
"Henry?" Cassie whispers.
Murdock feels a chill run over his spine. Nobody has called him Henry in a long time. When she says it, it just feels right. Without thinking, he steps closer. Cassie puts her hands on his chest. His hands find her waist and he holds her close.
Standing like that, bodies pressed together, noses only inches apart, Murdock's brain simply stops to function. "Yeah Cas?" is all he manages to whisper.
Looking deep in her eyes, he is completely lost. Her hands glide from his chest up to the back of his neck. She pulls him closer and kisses him. Murdock pulls her closer to him and kisses her right back. They stand like that for a while, completely oblivious to the rest of the world.
In the van across the street, Hannibal smiles and declares "I love it when a plan comes together."
