Daniel had always been an early riser and now, as he walked down the corridor towards the kitchen, he was sure that he had heard his daughter's bedroom door softly click shut. Thinking no more of it, he went into the lounge to see the sleeping form of the young Lieutenant. Had he looked closely, he would have seen Face desperately trying to hide his smile, as he turned and faked the illusion of sleep. Daniel walked into the kitchen, spotting the two empty mugs on the table, and catching the aroma of fresh coffee. He picked up the still warm mugs and placed them in the sink. Turning towards the lounge he watched the supposedly sleeping form of the Lieutenant and thought about the closing door he had seen as he came into the kitchen.
He turned and made yet more coffee and made his way over to Face. Tapping him gently on the shoulder, he offered Face a mug of coffee as he put on the façade of groggily waking up.
"More coffee, Face?" Daniel asked.
Face sat up and faced Amy's father. He knew he'd been caught out. They had forgotten about the coffee. Already their relationship had caused him to make a mistake. For their sake, he would have to be more careful. He wanted it all, he needed to be with Amy, and yet he would not relinquish his place on the A-Team. He vowed to himself to find a way to have both. Daniel watched him.
"Be careful with my daughter. Look after her. "
Face looked at him, as they sat on the couch.
"Always" he said. "Always, Daniel."
Chapter 12Hannibal strode into the lounge, breaking the spell. Daniel looked up and smiled at the Colonel.
"Coffee?" he asked, moving into the kitchen ready to make some more. Hannibal sat down next to Face. Something had happened, Hannibal had known Face for far too long not to read the Lieutenant. Face was positively glowing. Hannibal glanced towards the kitchen.
"What's happened?" he whispered. "Have you talked to her?" Face's blue eyes met Hannibal's. He decided to own up.
"Yes. We talked. We need to talk some more, but we talked. It's all right Hannibal. We're fine." He looked up as Amy came in.
Her gaze immediately went to the two men seated on the couch. One set of blue eyes met hers with a grin, the other pair of blue eyes looked at her, speculating the future. Hannibal stood and hugged her briefly.
"Welcome back, kid" he said, and walked into the kitchen.
Amy looked down at Face. She sat beside him and crossed her legs comfortably, tucking her feet under his blanket.
"He knows?"
"He knows there's something between us. He knows about as much as we do." said Face quietly, reaching out to hold her hand, smiling as he felt her hold it tightly.
"I missed you while I was in Jakarta. Your e-mails were the only thing that kept me sane. I had to go, you know that, but leaving you and the others was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do." She stopped, willing herself to go on and to reveal herself, knowing subconsciously that she'd gain the response she needed.
" I like you Face, I like you a lot, and I know it's going to be difficult, but I can't, - I can't not tell you. When I saw you last night, I knew I was safe. Even when that idiot was groping me, ", she felt Face stiffen and held his hand even tighter, " even then, I knew I would be fine, because you were there. I trusted you and you were there. Not that I couldn't have saved myself, of course," she grinned defiantly. Face grinned back at her and with a glance at the kitchen, pulled her in for a swift kiss.
"I like you too Amy." he said, holding her hand tightly, "and if we're careful and" he glanced at the kitchen, where he saw Hannibal watching them " honest, I reckon we can do this."
Releasing her hand, he stood up. "But now I have to shower, and I believe we have some work to do."
Amy stood as well. Poking fun at Face, she held her nose and said, "Yes, I'm coming to the conclusion that that would be a good idea. A very good idea!" and she ducked as Face flung a pillow at her.
After another quick hug, he went down to the bathroom and they soon heard the sound of the shower, the muffled words of "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine" just about reaching them.
Chapter 13Amy wandered into the kitchen and sat at the table with her father and Hannibal. She smiled at the two men, two of the most important men in her life.
"It's OK, guys, I'm fine. Everything's fine."
"OK Amy. Just, " Hannibal stopped, not really knowing what he wanted to say, or how to say it. Amy looked over at him.
"Hannibal, how long have I known you guys? How long have I worked with you guys? " She felt her father's eyebrows raise, " I know the rules. I know why the rules. And " she stopped, looking from one to the other, "I know I love Face." It was the first time she had said it out loud and she blushed, but forced herself to continue. "We can do this. We can beat the rules. Face and I can beat the rules. We have to, Hannibal."
Hannibal looked deeply into her brown eyes, registering the determination, mirroring the determination he'd seen in Face's clear blue eyes as they had talked briefly on the couch.
"You know I'll have to talk to B.A. and Murdock."
Amy nodded, knowing that the two other members of the A-Team wouldn't object. She knew that this had been coming for a long time, she'd felt the undercurrents just as they had. Hannibal stood and moved out of the kitchen, going to find B.A.
Amy sat deep in thought, her finger absently twirling the top of the coffee mug. As she came out of her reverie, she became aware of her father watching her.
"So?"
"Daddy, I guess I need to talk to you and Mum." She said.
"Slight understatement that, my dear. You're a member of the A-Team? And you and Face? What, when, where?"
Christine's eyes widened as he entered the kitchen and caught her husband's last remark. She sat down at the table and looked at her daughter. Well, she thought, that would explain the Lieutenant's reactions last night, and would also explain Amy's erratic lifestyle in the previous two and a half years. But their daughter a member of The A-Team?
B.A. and Hannibal came in and caught the tone of the atmosphere. Without stopping they both turned, as if to leave again.
"Oh no you don't," said Amy, catching hold of both men. They reluctantly sat down, preparing themselves for the grilling that was to come. Amy took a deep breath and began.