THREE
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor did I create, any of the A-team characters (main or support) nor do I own, nor did I create, any of the episodes. That credit is due to Stephen J. Cannell and his associates. Any familiar catch phrases or settings also belong to the Cannell team.
Spoiler Alert: References characters, locations, plot, and revelations from Season 3 Episode 11 "The Bells of St. Mary's". including but not limited to St. Mary's School, Angels Guardians, Sr. Catherine, Billy Rey King, Charlotte King, The Bells, Dave Luna, and Zeke Westerland.
Sr. Ruth, Miss Chambers, Coach Boggs, Sr. Paulette, and Timothy are my OCs
Author's Notes: This takes place in my "A-team World" which I set up in my story "Chronicles of a Colonel". The Team has received not just pardons but full exoneration. They are free men and have established a private security company called A-team Security Co. After all who are better trained to chase thugs than these guys.
The seed for this story was planted by Peppe1951 who requested a story about the Team and their security company.
Summary: The Team begins to implement their plan while things escalate at St. Mary's School.
Return to St. Mary's: A Case Close to Their Hearts: by LAGC
Nighttime Troubles
By six o'clock, Murdock and Face returned to cover the first shift. BA and Hannibal would relieve them at midnight, but were currently catching some sleep in a motel a block away. Murdock and Face set about working out a patrol pattern. They did an initial sweep of the school, sport fields, and spectator areas as a pair. They had decided that after this first run-through it"d be best to split up so they could cover more area simultaneously.
While they explored the interior of the school, Face reminisced about his time there. He pointed out which classrooms had been his. They paused at the trophy case and Murdock teased Face about his teenage football hero day; just like he had several years ago when the Team had first seen the photograph of Face, in his number 8 jersey, posing for his All City Quarterback award. Face wistfully pointed out the hidden place behind the main stairwell where he stole his first kiss, from "Jennie Beth Johnson. A sassy redhead." Both men had lingered respectfully under the portrait of Father David Magill.
Suddenly Face announced, "I can't stand it that this school is being threatened. That some thugs are attacking it. St. Mary's is so much more than just a school. Its the closest thing to security and normal life for so many of the kids here. Its my …childhood."
"Don't worry Buddy. We're here now. We'll fix everything." Murdock assured as he patted his friend's back.
Once the duo was reacquainted with the property they turned on their walkie talkies and split up. Murdock patrolled the grounds only by the light of the moon. Inside Face was relying on the dim illumination of the sporadic security lights. This was Hannibal's orders. Of course the primary purpose of the watch was to protect the school property but if they could catch a thug in the process, well as Hannibal had put it, "That would be NICE. So, we make like shadows men."
All was quiet until about 11:30. That's when Murdock heard an unwelcome noise coming from the direction of the concession stand. Recognizing the sound he instantly called Face over the radios.
"Faceman, hurry your designer slacks out here and bring the big fire extinguisher."
"Roger that! Where exactly are you, Murdock?"
"Approaching the concession stand. Looks like it's cooking, Muchacho."
Murdock ran toward the snack shack with his pistol drawn. He got there just in time to see the tail lights of a dark sedan speed off. He holstered his weapon and went for the garden hose nearby. He turned on the tap and began to douse the flames. Barely a minute later Face rushed up and set to work with the extinguisher. Suddenly both men heard a fright-filled scream from inside the structure.
"Faceman! Someone is inside!" hollered Murdock.
"Help! Help! I'm trapped! Somebody help!"
"Dear God! it's a child, Murdock!"
"Keep using the hose, Face. Give me the extinguisher."
Murdock grabbed the can from Face and ran to the stand's door. He broke off the padlock by striking it with the base of the extinguisher and rushed in. Emptying the can as he entered.
Smoke billowed from the door and Murdock came stumbling out carrying a young boy. Hannibal and BA arrived just as he emerged.
"Hey! That's Timothy!" growled BA as he took the boy from Murdock's arms.
"What was he doing in there?" Hannibal wondered aloud.
"Hey! I could use a little help here!" Face hollered.
Just then the LA fire department arrived. Hannibal had dialed 911 from the van as soon as Face had radioed in an SOS to the Colonel. The firefighters made quick work of the small blaze and their EMT worked on Timothy.
"He's gonna be just fine. No burns and only minimal smoke. If he does develop a cough though get him to his doctor immediately" said the EMT.
"Thanks, man. I have a feeling that Sr. Catherine is going to want him to see the doctor no matter tomorrow." said BA.
When Timothy began to complain the Big Guy quickly shut him down, "You're going to your doctor tomorrow and that's final. I'm taking you myself, Little Brother."
"Timothy, why were you in that shed?" asked Hannibal.
The boy simply starred past the Colonel and refused to reply.
Face, who had been conferring with the firefighters, supplied Timothy's answer,
"He was camping out in there. The LAFD found his bedroll. They thought perhaps he'd started the fire."
Timothy looked terrified at this explanation. Face tossed a smokey sleeping bag at the boy's feet and said, "Relax kid, I set them straight. Murdock saw the arsonists speed off."
"Why were you sleeping in the concession stand, Tim?" Hannibal tried a second time. Again his inquiry was met by an empty gaze.
Face rolled his eyes and hypothesized, "He ran off from a foster placement."
"What would you know about that!" snarled Timothy.
"Plenty kid, did it twice myself at your age." Face ruefully answered. Tim looked dumbfounded.
"Hannibal, you're gonna want to see this." Murdock's call broke the awkward sudden silence that had fallen among the group.
"What do you have, Captain?" replied Hannibal
Murdock handed Hannibal a paper. "I found it nailed to the trash can near the stand. I guess the bad guys wanted it found unburned."
It was a note done up in the same patchwork lettering as the other one. "Do not hold the Gala. Do not build the sports field. If you try the school will be the next to burn."
The Team, with Timothy in tow, loaded into the van and drove over to Sr Catherine's quarters at Angels Guardians. Surprisingly they were greeted at the door by a frantic Lily and nun.
"TIMOTHY!" Both women exclaimed.
"Where have you been, child?"cried out Sister "We've been looking for you."
"Why weren't you with the Shillings?" Lily gently demanded.
"Why are you with Mr. Smith? In fact why are you all here? Oh my God something dreadful has happened!" stammered the nun as she processed the scene in front of her.
"Now, now, Sister Catherine. Everything is under control and everyone is ok. Here have a seat." Face soothingly said as he led her to the bench in the foyer. "We'll explain everything."
Hannibal told the women about the evening's events and results. He concluded by saying, "The snack shack is still safe to use, fortunately the fire was set in the back corner away from the stock and equipment."
"I'll repair the singed wood before school begins tomorrow. Murdock will help." BA promised.
The women were horrified at the news of the fire and distraught that Tim had been trapped inside the burning structure.
"Timothy, why were you there?!" The authority in Sister's voice demanded a response.
After a brief pause Tim admitted, "I wanted to protect the school. I overheard you telling these guys about the threats. I just wanted to help. Didn't think the Schillings would notice me gone."
With her initial shock wearing off, the nun hugged the boy and sent him off to bed in his old dormitory room. His protests at her declaration of a doctor's examination in the morning were squelched by BA's reiteration that he'd drive Tim to the pediatrician himself.
Lily had been listening quietly to all the conversations.
"You guys aren't just new staff are you? Wait…Smith, Peck, Murdock, Baracus?"
"Yes Miss Chambers, you might have heard of us. We are The A-team. We are working at St. Mary's to find the culprit behind the recent attacks and threats against the school." Hannibal interrupted her thoughts.
"Sister! You didn't tell me about any threats."
"Lily, dear, you have enough to worry about. School security is on my shoulders."
"No, Sister Catherine. School security is in our hands." promised Face.