Disclaimer- I own nothing involving the A-team. I just like writing stories about them.
Title- Recesses of the Mind
Summery- Pike is mad that the A-team is always stealing his jobs. So he decides to get back at them and hurting Murdock is his way of doing it. Rape/Torture
Murdock tells the team of his decision, and they all finally clear up everything between them all.
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Murdock's POV
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Murdock was sitting on his hospital bed reading his aviation magazine. He was checking the things he liked, and making mental note to look further into some of them. He had been feeling pretty relaxed today, and surprisingly made it through the night without any nightmares. He believed that was due to Face protecting him, and the higher amount of security he had been given. He was also told by the nurses that he was well enough to have visitors. All in all he felt much better and if he wasn't still physically sore he might be up to his usual fun and games. However, it might be a while before that would happen as he was sure he would take a while to heal, and he couldn't rip the stitches.
He was terrified that they would ship him back to the VA hospital and he did not want to go back. He wanted to stay with his friends, and have things go back to the way they were. He had only seen Face since he was taken to the hospital, but he knew that they all knew by now and was slightly nervous to how they would react, and if they still wanted him. His thoughts were interrupted by the tent flap opening and his friends walking in to see him smiling and looking overly relieved, if not a bit nervous.
Face ran up to him and gave him a hug which he returned gratefully. When Face let go he looked at him and asked "How ya doing buddy? Feeling better today?" He helped him up into a sitting position like the night before except this time Face was gently massaging his back. Murdock knew what he was doing. First off, he was seeing how much touching he could get away with without scaring him, and secondly he was trying to find his sore spot so he knew where not to touch until he was healed up. He didn't mind the extra attention and relaxed into the tender touch.
Murdock nodded and answered "Yep, better than I felt in days. So how have you all been?" he asked curiously.
Hannibal's eyes softened when they settled on him and he walked up and took Murdock's hand into his own rubbing it softly. Murdock didn't mind the touch and just relaxed. Hannibal replied "We've been worried about you. Are you sure your okay?" Murdock could hear how concerned the coronial was and felt bad for worrying him. They all had bags under their eyes and looked so tired. BA had yet to come any closer to him and stood inside his room looking around awkwardly.
"Yep. I feel much better." He was still concerned about being sent away and decided that Hannibal would probably know what was going to happen now. "So when are they shipping me back to the VA hospital" he asked queitly looking down sadly.
After a short silence he looked up at Hannibal and noticed the wounded expression on his face. That wasn't good. Then the thought occurred to him that they could just be here to say their goodbyes. Now he was scared and he pretty sure Face could feel it because he was applying more pressure to his back trying to sooth out some of the tension. Hannibal sadly told him "Well, if that's what you want I'm sure they will send you when you are well enough to walk again."
"No, I don't want to go back, but I know they will send me there. I doubt I'll get a choice in the matter." Murdock said sadly and looked away from his CEO. However he looked up again and noticed the confused expression on Hannibal's face. Hannibal looked at Face and BA who also looked confused.
"Didn't Morrison come to see you yesterday? He said he would come and tell you your options and let you choose what path you wanted to take." Hannibal confirmed looking a little better and less hopeless.
Now it was Murdock's turn to be confused. "No, I haven't seen Morrison. I wasn't allowed to have any visitors yesterday. " He replied a bit bewildered. "So what was he going to tell me?" he asked enthusiastically now feeling better.
Hannibal smiled Face was now gently touching his hip. Well he said that you would offered an honorable discharge and more than likely be sent to the VA hospital, or you could be released to us, and we could take care of you. We asked Morrison and he said that releasing you to us wouldn't be a problem and all of us would be more than happy to help. We would miss you if you left, but we would understand your reason for doing it. I don't want to sway your choice any. I want you to be happy." Hannibal told him sincerely.
Murdock wasn't prepared to hear that. His eyes were wide with shock. He didn't have to be sent away. He could stay with the team they wouldn't treat him any differently. At least Hannibal and Face wouldn't. He wasn't sure about BA, who hadn't moved any closer to him at all and was standing in the corner looking at him and then away every once in awhile. He knew however that he wasn't going to be easy to deal with now though, not that he was before, but this would make it worse, and it didn't seem fair to put them through that. "Well I don't want to go, but maybe it would be better." He noticed the crest fallen look on Hannibal's face and continued. "It would mean a lot of commitment from you guys. Chances are I won't be physically healed for a month doc said, and my mental state has definitely gone back a few steps." Noticing the looks from BA he clarified his statement. "I don't mean like worse crazy, but more along the lines of increased amount of nightmares and I'm more jumpy around people." It was true. The nurses had been scaring him quite a bit if not unintentionally he knew, but couldn't help it all the same. He felt like he had receded to an earlier part of his mind and would have to recover everything he lost. It might not take as long this time, but it still would be a process. He decided baby-steps were best right now. Not with his team, no he trusted them and wasn't about to change anything with them, but other people, well that was a different story. "I just don't think it's fair to put you guys through that." He had finally finished voicing his thoughts and waited patiently for a reaction.
It was Face this time who spoke. "Hey, we would rather have you here than be sent away. That would only make us worry more about you. We can help you just like we all help each out when it gets tough." He said it sincerely and it helped ease some of Murdock's guilt for putting this on them. Also, he discretely pushed something into his hand. Since he didn't do it in front of the other he played along and took it, hiding it under the blanket. Hannibal and BA seemed not to notice. He kept his hand on the little box and ran his thumb trying to figure out what it was.
"Alright, I don't want to leave, but I don't want to put this on you guys either." Murdock said looking at them all.
Hannibal smiled warmly and squeezed his hand. "Captain, you are a great friend and we are all glad you don't want to leave. So should I talk to Morrison and the hospital about your release date to us?" Hannibal asked and Murdock nodded and smiled back thinking about how all Hannibal was missing was cigar. If he had it he would surely be walking out of here smoking saying 'I love it when a plan comes together.'
Murdock was looking at BA now who had remained silent during their conversation. He really wanted to talk to him too. "BA you can come closer. I'm not diseased, they checked, and even if I was its like you would catch it." he said playfully hoping to encourage him a little. BA shuffled nervously by the door, all eyes on him. He looked sick they he was going to throw up and Murdock felt bad for ever bothering him.
"You know I don't want accidently break or knock over anything, fool. And the nurse said no ruffhousing, so I can't get you for not telling me in the first place. Just plain stupid not coming out with it in the beginning, crazy fool." BA started muttering at the end, but a ghost of a smile was forming on his lips.
"I'm sorry. Do you think you'll ever forgive me?" Murdock asked innocently, but everyone knew he was joking.
"Well, I guess everything worked out all right, but next time you get seriously hurt you had better tell ASAP, got it." BA was scolding him now, and he had been waiting for someone to do it. Admittedly he did deserve it. He should have got them from the start but didn't.
"I promise you will be the first to know, scouts honor." He said holding up his fingers and smiling back.
"Well we had better go boys and leave the captain to his rest. I going to go talk to Morrison and the nurses to see when you can be released. Fell better okay." Nodding he watched him get up to leave.
"Ya, don't worry were here for you buddy. I promise." Face said standing up to leave and squeezing his shoulder comfortingly. He was the last one out and winked at him. Curiously he looked at the box he had received and almost cheered when he realized that Face had given some milk duds in a little box. There was also a small note attacked. He laid back and started eating the candy happily as they were his favorite. He unfolded the note, and read it. It said simply 'Hey hope these make you feel better. Get well soon. I'll help you anyway I can okay, and don't be afraid to ask.' He smiled at the note and thought that this might be easier than he had originally thought.
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Hannibal's POV
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"What did you give him." Hannibal asked curiously and almost laughed when he noticed the deer-in-the-headlights look Face had. He had thought he hadn't notices apparently.
"Nothing bad, I promise." Face said smiling innocently.
Just the Morrison turned the corner and bumped into them. "Oh, hello." He looked surprised and stared at them.
"Hi, we just saw Murdock and he said he wanted to stay."Hannibal said smugly.
"Oh, really. Well I was headed to see him. He just needs to sign some paperwork to confirm that that is what he wants and then he will be released to you." Morrison told them smiling. "So what did you do to convince him to stay." He asked voicing his suspicion.
"Nothing, I assure you that this is what he wants. I would never push him to stay if he didn't want to." Hannibal told him firmly.
"Alright well I will have him sign this and then you can talk to the nurse about the specifics." He told then before walking into the room.
An hour later they were seated in the private room they had become accustomed to over the past few days with the same nurse. "Do any of you have any experience with taking care of people who have been seriously injured?" she began looking at them.
"Yes, sometimes one of us will get hurt on missions and we will all pitch in and help them recover." Hannibal stated smoothly.
"What about with trauma?" she asked again raising an eyebrow.
"Murdock still goes through trauma from the last time this happened and we have helped him to deal with it in the past." Face told her. Really they all wanted to know what to do to help their friend and were eager to help.
"Okay, so you have some experience good. Well he is recovering at a good pace. He still can't walk though. When were you hoping he would be released to you?" she asked them like she needed some more information before she could continue for them.
"ASAP" BA surmised.
"Right. Well, since he can't walk yet he will need a wheelchair. He will probably continue to need it for the rest of the week since moving around a lot could irritate his injuries. So you will be given one for temporary use. Also, he will need large amounts of rest to recover from this. The more rest he gets the better, so you will need a comfortable place for him. Preferably one that you can monitor him. With the nightmares he had experienced it would be best if someone was looking after him. You will need to change the bandages on his chest twice a day so that he doesn't get an infection. Also, be gentle because he is still very weak and fragile. A nurse will be over each day to do the rest. I'm sorry but it won't be me. I have other patients to attend to. He will be ready to leave tomorrow if you are ready for him."
"Excellent, when can we pick him up?" Hannibal said noticing the excited looks on Face and BA's faces. This was great. They would finally be able to take care of him and ensure that he was safe from Pike.
The nurse looked at them all "We could have him ready tomorrow at nine for you." she said sweetly.
"Alright see you then. Come on boys lets go home and get everything ready." Hannibal said already exiting the room offering the nurse a smile.