THE MULE KICKS BACK

Part Three:

A Stitch in Time

Bang!

After following the tracker signal Hannibal, BA and Murdock smashed into the Operating Room, with guns ready and adrenaline pumping, to be met with an extremely bizarre sight.

Face lay flat on his back on the operating table, obviously completely out of it. His head was on its side and a bleeding wound was very evident behind his ear in almost exactly the same place as his previous wound although it was slightly covered by a dollop of once white but now scarlet cotton wool. The pad was being dabbed in the blood by a pale faced and anxious blonde nurse whose eyes were flashing their panic and who let out a terrified scream as the Team entered.

"Please!" she howled, tears forming in her eyes and rolling down over her beautifully chiselled cheek bones. "Don't hurt me!"

Hannibal flicked his head to indicate to the other two Team members that they should secure the area. Guns still very much at the ready they rushed to do so. The Colonel, on the other hand, lowered his M16 and moved to the centre of the room.

The poor girl was petrified, shaking visibly as she tried to shrink away from him. "Don't come any nearer and don't touch him – you've done enough already!" she said bravely.

"Calm down, lady," Hannibal soothed as he moved to the other side of the bed. "How is he?"

The nurse stuttered, wondering whether she should hold her ground but aware that these guys had guns – and big ones at that. "I dunno…." she ventured slowly.

Hannibal gently turned Face's head toward him, placed his fingers around the delicate hand that was still resolutely holding the pad over the wound and lifted both away gently.

"Lot of blood," he muttered as a spring of scarlet seemed to surge up into the hole that was the wound. "What happened?" He looked up; saw the name badge on the nurse's still frantically heaving, and to Hannibal's appreciative eyes, rather attractive, breasts. "Chrissie, is it?"

The nurse nodded. "I thought you would tell me," she snapped back gravitating between absolutely terrified and bravely indignant, all the time just wishing that the fearful quiver in her voice was not quite so obvious.

"Nurse," Hannibal's voice was laced with patience. "We only just got here." He placed the absorbent pad back down onto Face's head. "Murdock," he called over his shoulder. "Watch Face. I need to talk to the lady."

Murdock nodded, slung his gun on the strap over his shoulder and moved to take over the Colonel's position. Hannibal took hold gently but firmly of the nurse's arm and manoeuvred her to a chair by the sink in the corner of the room. It was a struggle for Chrissie to get her legs to work and, though she would never admit it, she was more than a little grateful for the strong supportive arms of the grey haired, bright eyed man beside her.

She shivered as she caught sight of the third man lurching towards them and the failing flicker of fear flared up in her chest once more causing her lungs to lurch in fright.

BA smiled. "It's OK, little sister," he said. His massive hand reached out to her with a plastic cup full of cool water. "Here, take a drink and relax." His eyes were incredibly kind and Chrissie forgot the rest of his frightening visage and smiled haltingly but sweetly, before taking a long, refreshing gulp.

Hannibal waited for the girl to recover her composure. "So Chrissie. That's my man there and we've come to rescue him not to do him more harm but we need to know what happened here. So, can you tell us what you know? Slowly, take your time."

Chrissie nodded, her hand unconsciously screwing at the hem of her dress nervously and squeezing it. She took a deep breath before starting. "I don't know. I wasn't here. I just thought it was strange, at this time of the evening for somebody to be getting out at Floor 13."

"Strange or unlucky?" Murdock put in from behind them. "Unlucky for Face, obviously."

"I mean, I knew there were no operating sessions scheduled," Chrissie continued her words quickening in pace as if now she had started she had to finish as soon as possible. "They don't do elective surgery at this time and he didn't look ill enough to be an emergency case and then there were the handcuffs and he was so cute!"

Hannibal laid a gloved hand on to her knee and she hesitated. "Where did you see him, Chrissie?"

"In the elevator. He smiled at me and it was so sweet and I thought he was trying to tell me something but I was late and Nurse Morrow is on shift tonight and she's after me already for something that happened last week that wasn't my fault, well not really. So I couldn't hang around. I should have done something straight away but then she gave me bed pan cleaning and put me down for last break, I was kinda busy." Hannibal nodded, concentrating hard to get the message as the words continued to tumble out. "But I kept thinking about it, about him, and something just wasn't right. Anyway when she finally let me take my break I came down here and saw this. He was lying alone and there was so much blood…. I didn't know what to do …. I…" Tears welled into her eyes again and she began to shake.

"You did really well, Chrissie," Hannibal said softly, reaching out towards her. The young nurse hesitated and then accepted the embrace with a sad sniff.

"Christ!" she cursed, suddenly pulling away and sitting bolt upright. "What time is it? I only got thirty minutes break – Nurse Morrow is gonna kill me!"

"Calm down, sweet cheeks," Hannibal soothed. "Did you see anyone here, when you arrived?"

Chrissie shook her head and tried to stand up. "I gotta go!"

But the Colonel wasn't finished yet. "Easy, easy. If I promise to talk to your Nurse Morrow will you relax?"

"But what can you do?"

Hannibal rolled his eyes mischievously. "I have a way with Senior Nurses. There was one in Nam – Major Parrott – had her eating out of my hand, believe me! You've done a very brave thing and maybe saved my man's life here. I am not going to allow anyone to bawl you out because of it."

"Colonel!" Murdock's call sent them all scurrying back to the bed. "I think he's coming round."

There was an accompanying moan from the figure on the bed. Face tried to open his eyes and his first sight was a beautiful blonde staring down at him with wide blue eyes misted with concern.

"Oh," he groaned. "An angel!" He managed a pained smile which froze on his face as Murdock pushed into his view. "Oh no!" he groaned. "What are you doing here?"

"Saving you, Faceman!" Murdock pouted.

Face snorted with indignation. "I like the other saviour best," he moaned as his eyes went back to the pretty face still hovering above him.

"How you doing, Lieutenant?" Hannibal's voice came from behind the angel.

Peck tried to sit up. "Ow, my head… not again!" he bleated pathetically, falling backwards.

"It's another hole," Murdock confirmed, peering into Peck's wound. "And yes! I can confirm," he switched to his TV commentator voice, "They tried it once before and failed but this time they have been successful! Yes folks, it is official! Templeton Peck's brain is missing! Last time the hole wasn't big enough – it's amazing what that extra half inch can do!"

"Murdock!" Face whined, flailing his arms about in a wasted effort to push the pilot away.

"Don't fear, oh brainless, Faceman!" Murdock stepped away just a little. "It must be here somewhere." He started to look around and bent to investigate beneath the bed. "If I could just find it and maybe stuff it back in … then nobody need know." He moved back and took hold of Face's hand. "It'll be our little secret!"

"Shut up, fool!" BA intoned.

Face pulled his hand dejectedly away. "Hannibal, stop him, please!"

The Colonel managed to wipe the indulgent smirk from his lips by clearing his throat loudly when he saw Face's pleading eyes come up to his. "Go look over there, Murdock," he instructed and then moved into the space the pilot had vacated.

Face threw him an exasperated look and then, proving he was really unaffected by the whole banter experience, turned his attention back to the nurse on his other side. "Hi," he managed weakly. "Have we met?"

"Hi," Chrissie responded with a genuinely thrilled smile. "In the elevator earlier. Are you OK?"

Face tried to shrug but it hurt so he just assumed a pained but brave expression. "I think I may survive," he groaned.

"I think we'll have to stitch you up, Lieutenant," Hannibal said. "Will you do the honours, nurse?"

Chrissie gulped and an attractive blush bloomed across her cheeks. "Ah, I don't do stitching," she disclosed sheepishly. "I'm not actually a nurse, well not yet. Just an auxiliary. I don't do much except clean bed pans but I hope to qualify, one day."

Hannibal sighed and glanced around the room. "Looks like I'll have to do it then."

"Awh, Hannibal," Face whined. "You're never gentle!"

The Colonel guffawed. "Where's your courage, Face? BA watch the doors. Murdock…. Murdock?"

The pilot was on his knees reaching beneath a sterile, stainless steel cabinet. "I think I see it, Colonel. If I could just….."

"Later, Captain!" Hannibal replied. "We need to stitch Face up now. You know; a stitch in time!"

Murdock climbed back to his feet, his face horrified. "But if we stitch him up where will we put his brain?"

"Murdock!" Face snorted in disbelief.

Hannibal chuckled and moved to put his hand around Murdock's shoulders, turning him away from the curious Peck who was straining to hear. The Colonel whispered, "Between you and me, Captain, Faceman's brain has actually been redundant for some time."

"No!" Murdock hissed doubtfully.

"It's true. Think about it; all he does is smile and talk. And you know as well as I do that his mouth has a mind of its own. So, we can close him up and believe me, nobody, not even you, will notice the difference. Are you with me, Captain?"

Murdock threw a glance over his shoulder. "Remarkable!" he muttered and then turned back to the Colonel. "If you say so, Sir!"

Hannibal beamed and patted his back. "Good man. Get me the equipment then, please."

"What did you say to him?" Face demanded as the Colonel returned to his side.

"Nothing important, kid," Hannibal said dismissively but Murdock let out a horrific chuckle and rubbed his hands together like a character from a B horror movie.

"Hannibal!" Face repeated, shrinking away from the advancing pilot.

"It'll be like Frankenstein all over again!" Murdock cackled in his best Boris Karloff voice. "You will be invincible, my child!"

"Hannibal!"

The Colonel grinned. "Murdock- focus!" he ordered and the pilot hesitated, nodded slowly and turned away to find a needle and thread.

Face gulped. "Colonel, I ….."

"Relax, Face," Hannibal soothed. "It's going to be fine!"

Murdock laughed horrifically and threw a hungry glance over his shoulder. "Why's he looking at me like that?" Face whined.

The Colonel sighed. "Come on, let's get this finished. Chrissie, would you soothe the patient?"

The young nurse, who had watched the preceding interaction with a growing sense of disbelief nodded and took hold of Peck's hand. Face looked up at her and smiled, his disquiet forgotten by the sparkle in the girl's eye. She was definitely giving him the look!

"Will you think any less of me if I scream?" he asked.

Chrissie looked genuinely concerned. "I think you've been very brave, so far," she ventured nervously.

Face nodded, assuming his pained but courageous expression again. "Maybe there is one thing that can get me through this," he murmured.

"What?" she asked naively.

BA shook his head as he stood at the doorway. He had heard all of the conman's lines too many times before and he marvelled at the simplicity of this girl.

Face was aware of it too, of course, but like the experienced flirt he was, he moved in for the pay off. "I need something to hold on to …. Something to live for…." Face continued weakly, his eyes downcast. He gulped and lifted them to meet Chrissie's sympathetically innocent ones. "Maybe you can help."

"Me?"

"You're a beautiful lady. Maybe... the thought of you… no, you couldn't!"

"Couldn't what?"

"Well, the promise of a date, dinner, candlelight…. Maybe that would give me the hope I need, the strength to carry on."

"A date with me?"

Face nodded, solemnly hopeful. Behind her Hannibal shook his head in silent admiration.

"It would help you through the pain?" Chrissie continued, seemingly completely taken in.

"Definitely!"

She smiled shyly and bent forwards to peck him on the cheek. "It's the least I can do!"

Murdock strode up. In his TV voice again he proclaimed, "Hello and welcome viewers! Here we are at the Brainless Dating Agency. Our courageous hero, Templeton Peck, although suffering from the slight setback of losing his brain, has indeed triumphed over adversity, sorted out his priorities and got himself a date. Viewers out there in TV-land, I have to tell you it is true! The Faceman needs no brain to do what he does – his mouth is capable of anything!"

"Murdock!" Face snorted.

"That's enough guys!" Hannibal bit back his laughter and assumed leader mode. He took hold of the needle Murdock proffered. "Let's get this wound sorted."

"Hannibal, I…." Face began.

"Enough, already, kid," Hannibal cut him off and holding his Lieutenant's head firmly, he began the procedure.

Chrissie smiled encouragingly at Peck as he lay bravely on the bed. He bit his lip at the pain and tears sprang into his eyes.

With a skill that comes only from much practise, Hannibal inserted four stitches into the wound to close it. Then he waited. Murdock threw him a curious glance and then smiled sharing in the conspiracy as he realised what the Colonel was doing. Face still lay on the bed, tense as hell and whimpering feebly.

"All done, Lieutenant!" Hannibal said finally after a delay of a few minutes.

Face let out a long sigh of relief and Chrissie hooted with triumph and threw herself into his all-too-welcoming arms.

"Not soon enough!" BA said as he came back into the room from the corridor beyond. "Just saw out the window, Decker and his goons pull up."

"Decker!" Murdock gasped suddenly in sensible mode.

Hannibal chuckled. "Well, who told him, I wonder," he mused. "OK, let's move! Murdock, BA get Face on a trolley and take him down the back elevator – you're going to the morgue, if anybody asks. Chrissie, you're coming with me to see Nurse Morrow."

"We don't have time for that, Hannibal!" BA spat.

"Some people seem to have more time than others," Murdock put in. "No brains but plenty of time!"

BA and the Colonel turned to see Face and Chrissie still deeply entwined in an apparently everlasting kiss.

"Put her down, Lieutenant. Lieutenant!" Hannibal called.

There was no reaction so the Colonel was forced to firmly pull the pair apart. He pointed at Face. "You – morgue!" He took hold of Chrissie's hand. "You – with me. Now move it!"

"But Colonel…."

"No time, Faceyman," Murdock pushed a gurney over and he and BA helped to move a less than compliant Face on to it. He then covered him over with a white sheet.

Face pulled the blanket off his head. "Murdock, I …."

The pilot pushed him back and re-covered him. Face came up for a second try but this time BA growled and firmly pushed him back, where Peck stayed this time, but he could be heard distinctly grumbling under the sheet.

"What are you going to do?" Chrissie asked. The flush on her cheeks seemed to have intensified following the kiss.

The Colonel's eyes shone. "Have you ever heard of that famous practitioner of Emergency Medicine Dr Arkansas Armitage?"

Chrissie shook her head blankly. "No."

"Well you should have as you've just helped him perform a most delicate procedure and we saved the patient!"

"I did?" Chrissie looked confused. "We did?"

Hannibal nodded. "Come on; I have to sing your praises to Nurse Morrow."

BA and Murdock pushed the gurney past them at that point. Chrissie let out a wistful sigh. "Will I ever see him again?" she asked. "He was so cute and brave and such a good kisser!"

"Wasn't he just?" Smith sounded less than convinced.

"And in such pain!" Chrissie said with a knowing smile.

Hannibal stared at her then with new interest, sensing a depth to her he had not noticed in her panicked state of earlier. "Do I take it you weren't exactly taken in by my Lieutenant's performance?" he asked.

The young woman's smile was even wider. "Who wouldn't be taken in when a guy like that asks you out?"

Hannibal shook his head and smiled. "You promised him dinner, kid. Now, I'm not saying Face is easy but I'd put money on him turning up – it's what he does best. Now come on; we haven't got much time!"

TBC