Title: The Closet
Summary: A what happened next for the episode Mind Games.
Warnings: Spoilers for Mind Games
Face heard the pounding of his heart in his ears. Louder and louder he heard the "thump, thump, thump" and it only propelled him forward. Reaching the bottom rung of the fire escape ladder, he jumped wildly and landed awkwardly on the ground below him.
Face felt his knee "pop", but there was no pain. That was the wonderful thing about adrenaline. He took off half-running, half-limping toward the Vette, oblivious to Murdock's fast approaching footsteps.
"Face!" Murdock yelled, "Wait up!" He watched Face jump behind the wheel of the car and sprinted the rest of the way and threw himself inside just in time. If Face hadn't been slowed by his knee, he would have been left behind in the dust. Tires screeching, they peeled off onto the road, both men gasping for air.
When the burning sensation in his lungs had subsided enough to get the words out, Murdock said loudly, "pull over, Face." Face stared straight ahead, still breathing hard, and lost in his own world. "Lieutenant Peck, as your superior officer, I order you to pull over!"
Face blinked rapidly and shook his head slightly as if trying to clear his mind. He looked over at Murdock, fear and confusion in his eyes.
"Pull over, Face," Murdock said gently. Face did as he was told, and eased the car to the side of the road.
"I'm sorry," Face said softly.
"What just happened? What made you run?"
"I don't know," Face lied. He knew what happened, he just wish he had known how to stop it.
"C'mon, Face. This is me, Murdock. You bestest buddy in the whole wide world. What's going on with you lately…you can talk to me."
"I know I can," Face sighed. "It's just that I haven't been sleeping too well. I'm just overtired." Murdock gave him a doubtful look. Face tried to joke, "really, I'll be okay. But, neither one of us will be okay if we don't meet Hannibal and B.A."
"Fine," Murdock conceded. There was no getting through to Face when he was like this. "You okay to drive?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
Murdock rolled his eyes. "Um, for starters, you just freaked out in my room and ran away like you had seen a ghost. Not to mention that from the way you were running, it looks like you busted up your leg back there…doesn't it hurt?"
"No." Or at least it hadn't until Murdock mentioned it. Now, he was starting to feel a dull ache in his left knee. "Murdock, nobody drives my Vette but me."
"You sound like B.A. with his van."
"In that case, can we stop the jibber-jabber and get on with it?" Face asked, turning the key in the ignition.
"Okay, but at least let me call Hannibal and tell him we're on our way."
Face nodded, but stopped Murdock before he had a chance to dial the number. "Can we keep what happened between you and me?"
"Yeah, but next time you act crazier than me…"
Face cut him off. "There won't be a next time." Or at least he hoped there wouldn't be; he had to get control over his memories before they took control over him.
"Well, what'd he say? They better have a good excuse for bein' late," B.A. grumbled.
"Murdock said they ran into a little trouble at the VA, but that they are on their way."
"Faceman gonna be real mad when he find out you lied to him."
"I didn't lie, B.A. I told him that we had to discuss our next case…and we do."
B.A. put down the glass of milk he had been drinking and gave Hannibal a quizzical look. "Before or after you give him the third degree?"
"After," Hannibal admitted. Something had been bothering Face for weeks now. His usually outgoing Lieutenant had suddenly become withdrawn and sullen.
"He probably still mad that he didn't get that pardon."
"I'm sure that's part of it. But I think there's more going on with him."
"What if he don't wanna talk?"
"We don't let him leave until he does. Got it?"
"Yeah, man…I got it."
