A/N: Wow, what a reception already! Thank you all for your kind reviews and follows. I'll try not to let you down!
Also, I'm in the process of moving and am having a hard time trying to write. :P I'll try to post whenever I can- and on that note, most type/post times are on Tuesdays and Thursdays- but it may be slow going until everything settles. My apologies!
Oh, and quick question- how do you all feel about the chapters? I realized yesterday that I've been posting them more as scenes then chapters, and it's making them slightly short. Would you all be happier with chapter breaks that make them longer with less chapters, or shorter 'scene' chapters like what's been posted so far?
Alright, I'm done keeping you from your story. Enjoy!
Wednesday night had come finally, and Face was more than nervous. He had planned this for a while, wanting the whole team to meet Jess and realize he was serious about her. He had never had a dinner like this though, and he hadn't factored in Hannibal and BA's meeting with Jess already. He already was thinking of calling the whole thing off, but he knew it was just putting off the inevitable. He nervously brushed away imaginary dirt on his suit for what had to be the tenth time.
"Temp, it's going to go fine," Jess said from beside him.
He nodded his head, flashing her a sincere smile. Before he could respond there was a knock at the door. He turned to tell Jess he would get it when he realized she was already in the kitchen. It was all beginning. The knock was repeated as he walked to the recently repaired door, opening it with a smile. Hannibal stood on the porch chewing his cigar, BA and Murdock on either side.
"How's it going, kid?" Hannibal asked as he walked past Face.
"Fine, just fine," Face answered absentmindedly, closing the door behind the team. "Glad you guys could come."
"'Course we came, man! Ain't like we got nothin' better to do." was BA's gruff reply as he headed towards the couch. Hannibal smirked as he followed him. Face shook his head as they grabbed for the TV remote and started the long process of deciding whether they watched the game or 'Aquamaniac 3'.
"Billy wants to know what's for supper," Murdock informed Face, dragging the conman's attention away from Hannibal and BA. The pilot petted the air beside him absentmindedly, watching as Face brushed dirt off his suit again. He knew that was one of his friend's nervous ticks, and was eager to take his mind off of his nerves.
"I think we're having steak," Face answered, silently dreading the fact that Murdock had brought Billy. His friend could get carried away with his fantasies, and Face didn't want him to worry Jess. "Murdock, do you think Billy could wait outside until we're done?" He asked, giving Murdock a pleading look.
Murdock nodded silently, turning and opening the door. Murdock felt horrible as he saw the injured look his pet gave him, and realized he was feeling the same hurt his dog was. He sighed, blocking away the feeling and smiling crookedly. "Don't worry Billy, we'll be done soon," He consoled his dog, shutting the door and turning back to Face. But Face was half way in the kitchen, leaving the pilot alone.
Murdock frowned, looking from the couch to the kitchen door. He would usually follow Face, but he knew Jess was in there with him. For some reason Murdock dreaded meeting Jess, knowing she was the one Face preferred. But deep down he knew he had no reason to dislike her without even meeting her, so he chose to follow Face into the kitchen. As he entered he saw the couple talking and decided that staying out of the way would be better than interrupting.
He studied Jess intently. She was certainly good looking. Her light brown hair fell around her shoulders carelessly and her light green eyes were shining as she looked at Face. Her skin was nicely tanned, he noted, and she certainly had a certain charm about her. She was everything Face liked just looking at her, but so were a lot of girls. Why did he choose this one to love?
Face wasn't even aware of Murdock's presence. "Maybe you're right, Jess," He was saying to the young woman. "But I'm still worried."
Jess laughed, her eyes shining with something Face had decided resembled the 'Jazz'. "What, worried we won't get along? I can play nice, Temp. Besides, I've already met Hannibal and BA."
Face snorted at that, but couldn't help the grin on his face. "Well, yes, but not in the way I wanted. I mean, a simple phone call would've been fine; I'd still have my old door and everything would have gone as planned. But you saw…" He paused not sure how to finish.
"I saw them exactly how I wanted, caring for the team. Now I know they'll look after you while you're gone, won't I?" Jess looked at him, completely serious. "I worry about you, Temp. Now I know you're with people who care about each other as a whole, not just for themselves."
Face nodded, knowing she was right. He hadn't thought of the early meeting as a good thing, but now he realized it was exactly how it should've been. "You're more understanding than the guys, though. And you still haven't even met Murdock…" He paused, the mention of his friend bringing him to the realization that Murdock had pulled up a chair at the small table and was listening to them intently. "Ah, Murdock…" He started, slightly surprised that the man had snuck in without his knowledge.
Murdock gave his friend one of his insane grins as Jess turned around, seemingly surprised at seeing the man. "You must be Murdock," She stated, smiling at him. "I'm Jess, as I'm sure you know." She held her hand out to him in greeting.
Murdock's gaze flickered to her, and his grin vanished. He studied her hand for a small moment before ignoring her completely, turning instead to Face. "I'm worried," He stated quickly, an intense look in his big brown eyes.
Face frowned slightly as he watched Murdock ignore Jess's attempts at being friendly. He saw her smile waver as she pulled back her hand and he decided he would have to talk to Murdock later about his manners. He sighed, giving Murdock a look. "Worried about what?" He asked in a tone commonly associated with children.
Murdock frowned, glancing back towards the door. "Well, Billy's being good out there and all, but his tummy keeps growling. I didn't want to give him your food since the big old mudsucker will probably eat you outta house and home…" He paused, seeing Face roll his eyes. "Facey, do you got anymore of them dog treats around here?"
Face glanced at Jess in time for her to mouth the words 'who's Billy?' He knew there was a lot of explaining to do when it came to Murdock, but he didn't want to have to go through it right now. "I uh, may have some in my coat pocket," He answered the pilot. "You can go check. It's by the door."
Face watched Murdock hesitate before bouncing out of the room humming an unrecognizable tune. He sighed, leaning against the counter behind him. Sometimes he wished Murdock went to Hannibal for his antics, not him.
"So, are you going to explain that or am I going to have to ask him?" Jess asked from beside him, glancing at the door. Face just gave her a wan smile as he moved to sit in the now vacated chair.
"Murdock has a dog…" He started, only to have Jess interrupt him.
"He has a dog? How? And why is it outside?"
Face almost laughed at the confusion on her face. He hadn't told her a lot about Murdock, only that he currently resided at the VA. He knew it was wrong but he felt deep down that Jess might be a bit more cautious around him just because he was...well, how he was.
"It's not a real dog, it's imaginary." Face paused, knowing he couldn't jump around the subject of his friend's mental health for long.
Jess glanced towards the door again as if expecting Murdock to bring his dog in any minute. "Imaginary? Like hallucinations?" She asked, her voice becoming slightly concerned.
Face held up a hand and shook his head. "Not exactly. His doctors say he could be faking most of it." He saw the worried look in her eyes and realized that wasn't enough for her. "His… antics are really harmless, and sometimes fun. I promise he's a good guy."
Jess sat in silence for a moment, trying to process what Face was telling her. "So he's slightly more crazy than I thought," She started slowly, "But it's a good crazy." She looked at Face who nodded a little, hoping she understood. "Temp, I trust him if you trust him. It may take a little getting used to, but it'll be fun." She smiled at him, moving to the cabinet and grabbing a plate. "Now, let's get these steaks out there."