[Disclaimer: I don't own Murdock and Face but I wish I did!]

[Timeline: 1983 – somewhere in the Los Angeles Underground. This takes place shortly after the episode "Beast from the Belly of a Boeing". At the beginning of the episode, Murdock is declared sane and evicted from the VA hospital. After his accident on the plane, Face brings him to his recently scammed pad to look after him.] [NB: This is a bit tongue in cheek in places but no slash!]

Time Warp – by Richard O'Brien
(taken from The Rocky Horror Picture Show)

Murdock had watched The Rocky Horror Picture Show a few years back at the VA hospital. He had enjoyed it immensely, as it had appealed to his zany, madcap sense of humour. In an attempt to cheer him up, Face bought the film and they had watched it together many times throughout the week during Murdock's recovery.

As Murdock's eyes and face wounds began to heal, he knew that soon he would have to go back to the VA and clear his room out. He hung his head in misery, as he really had no idea what he was going to do or where he would go.

"Cheer up, buddy," said Face. "We'll sort something out. What do you wanna do today? You're choice."

The inane grin on Murdock's face made the Lieutenant cringe inwardly. He had a feeling he was going to regret asking that question!

"Can we learn the Time Warp dance, Face, huh, can we?" Murdock pleaded earnestly.

Face groaned loudly in protest at Murdock's request, but didn't have the heart to disappoint him.

"Okay, Murdock," he sighed.

"But we've got to do it properly, Face," continued Murdock enthusiastically. "We've got to dress up so we really look the part! We'll practice this afternoon and then we'll have a proper run-through tomorrow. It will just be like being in the film!"

The next day the video was in the machine, paused and ready to go at the appropriate scene. Murdock pressed the play button and quickly ran back to take his place next to Face, who was fidgeting sulkily with his tie.

[Verse 1]

It's astounding.
Time is fleeting.
Madness, takes its toll.

"Face, you're not taking this very seriously!" admonished Murdock crossly as he glanced over at the conman. "You could at least have made some sort of effort to dress up!"

But listen closely.
Not for very much longer.
I've got to, keep control.

Face stared back at him, somewhat incredulously. Murdock was dressed in black stockings, suspenders, boxer shorts and one of his daft t-shirts. On his feet he donned a pair of ill-fitting stiletto shoes and his face was painted rather crudely with make-up. Face had a feeling that Amy had been in cahoots with him on this one!

I remember doing the time warp.
Drinking, those moments when.

"That's not fair, Murdock!" rebuffed Face, trying to put the rather disturbing thought of how good Murdock's legs looked in stockings to the back of his mind. "I've come as the Geek – see?"

"Hmm!" huffed Murdock in a rather disappointed manner, as Face pointed down to his sensible grey trousers and white buttoned-up shirt. At least he had taken the time to sport a pair of thick, black, nerdy-looking glasses.

The blackness would hit me.
And the void would be calling:

Let's do the time warp again!
Let's do the time warp again!

"Okay! Get ready Face!" yelled Murdock, excitedly. "Don't forget we jump to the left first!"

[Chorus]

It's just a jump to the left.

"No Face!", shouted Murdock impatiently. "I said left. And don't forget to shimmy down!" Face threw a scathing look in Murdock's direction, wondering how the hell he had managed to let the pilot talk him into this.

And then a step to the ri-i-i-i-ight.

"Ouch, Murdock!" yelped Face. "You've just trod on my toe with your damn high heels!"

"Well you forgot to toe step out in the opposite direction!" retorted Murdock

With your hands on your hips,
you bring your knees in ti-i-i-i-ight.

Murdock was flapping his arms up and down on his hips in time to the lyrics, whilst Face was still trying to master the toe step sequence.

But it's the pelvic thrust,
that really drives you insa—a-a-a-ane.

"Come on Faceman!" yelled Murdock. "Keep up! We're supposed to be thrusting at the same time!"

Let's do the time warp again!
Let's do the time warp again!

Murdock was raising his arms up and down in time to the music, whereas poor Face was at least 3 beats behind.

[Verse 2]

It's so dreamy.
Oh fantasy free me.
So you can't see me.
No, not at all.

"Freestyle!", yelled out Murdock, as he tap-danced his way around the room in a sequence of pretty nifty foot work.

In another dimension.
With voyeuristic intention.
Well secluded, I see all.

"Huh?" questioned Face in complete bewilderment.

"Just let it all hang out, Oh Facial One!" puffed back Murdock.

With a bit of a mind flip.
You're into the time slip.
And nothing, can ever be the same.

Murdock glanced furtively at Face. Ever since they had got back from their latest mission, Face's nerves had been shot to pieces. He had been very concerned about Murdock and had managed to hold it together until he had got him settled. But it hadn't gone unnoticed by the Captain, that Face had spent most of that first evening throwing up in the bathroom.

You're spaced out on sensation.
Like you're under sedation.

Assuming an offence posture against six guys with guns in an aeroplane at 35,000 feet over the ocean, had been a somewhat harrowing experience for them all.

But adding a blind pilot, a catatonic BA and a Colonel on the jazz to the mix, had all but pushed Face over the edge.

Let's do the time warp again!
Let's do the time warp again!

Murdock had been desperately racking his brains to find a way to loosen the young man up and make him relax.

[Bridge]

Well I was walking down the street.
Just a having a think.
When a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink.

He was relieved to see that Face was finally beginning to enjoy himself. He had unbuttoned his shirt and taken off his tie, which he was swinging with great gusto round his head.

He shook-a me up, he took me by surprise.
He had a pickup truck and the devil's eyes.

To Murdock's great delight he then began to shake his cute little tooch in his direction like there was no tomorrow!

He stared at me and I felt a change.
Time meant nothing, never would again.

As they came back into formation they were both yelling the words out at the top of their voices.

Let's do the time warp again!
Let's do the time warp again!

[Chorus]

It's just a jump to the left.
And then a step to the ri-i-i-i-ight.

This time Face got the steps and the timing right.

With your hands on your hips.
You bring your knees in ti-i-i-i-ight.

They were in perfect unison as they flapped their arms backwards and forwards with their hands on their hips.

But it's the pelvic thrust,
That really drives you insa—a-a-a-ane!

They giggled like two school girls as they faced each other and thrusted energetically in time with the music.

Let's do the time warp again!

They jumped in the opposite direction and then back round to face each other again, raising their arms up and down in quick, precise movements.

Let's do the time warp again!

As the song ended, they collapsed in a heap on the floor. Murdock gave Face a big goofy grin. It may have only been one step to the right, but it was more like 100 steps for Face, who had been well and truly out of his comfort zone.

Looking like an idiot didn't particularly bother Murdock – who had made being silly a bit of an art form. However, he knew the suave and sophisticated lieutenant wouldn't normally exhibit his inhibitions in such a public manner.

"You dance pretty good for geek!" he commented in an admiring voice.

"Well, you make a pretty convincing Frank N. Furter!" quipped back Face, sending them off into a fit of giggles again.

A couple of days later the team drove Murdock back to the VA. Apparently, there had been some sort of mix-up with a certain, unhinged doctor dishing out unofficial release papers to the patients, so Murdock found out he still had his room and board after all.

When Face got back to the apartment, he saw the video still sitting on the coffee table. He patted it fondly, a grateful smile twitching in the corners of his mouth.

"Thanks Murdock," he whispered.

Fini

[Altogether now – It's just a jump to the left …! Hope this wasn't too silly and you were all joining in! Thanks for reading. Reviews welcome.]