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

[Timeline: 1969 – Downtown Nha Trang. Face talks to Murdock about his feelings for his first love, Lesley Becktall. Obviously, this is before he knew she ran away to become a nun.]

Come back and stay – by Paul Young
(written by Jack Lee)

[Verse 1]

Since you've been gone,
I shut my eyes,
and I fantasize,
that you're here with me.

Face was feeling in a reflective mood as he sat drinking in the Pink Pagoda Nightclub with Murdock. The image of her face flooded his thoughts, making him feel dizzy and lightheaded – or perhaps that was just the effect of the cocktail he was drinking. After all, he was already on his third round.

Will you ever return?
I won't be satisfied,
'till you're by my side.
Don't wait any longer, come back.

Murdock was tentatively listening to Face as he poured his heart out to him. Despite the anger he felt about her walking out on him, it was evident that he still loved her deeply and hadn't given up hope that one day she would come back to him.

[Chorus]

Why don't you come back?
Please hurry.
Why don't you come back?
Please hurry.

There was a desperate, pleading look in his blue-grey eyes that made the pilot's heart flip over sympathetically. Face felt ashamed to admit to his friend that he still prayed every night in the hope that she would one day get back in contact with him.

Come back and stay for good this time.
(Did you write the book of love?)
Come back and stay for good this time.
(Ego and you lost)

If only she had told him what he had done wrong, then maybe he could have stopped her from going. He would have done everything in his power to make her happy. Surely she knew that?

[Verse 2]

You said goodbye.
I was trying to hide,
what I felt inside,
until you passed me by.

Murdock waited patiently for Face to regain his composure. He could see how choked up he was. He'd only known the lieutenant for a couple of months but they had become very close friends in that short space of time. When Face did eventually continue, Murdock wasn't sure if he was speaking to him of just voicing his thoughts out loud.

"I knew something was wrong," he said, unconsciously biting his bottom lip. "She seemed distracted when I dropped her off at the dorm that evening. I wanted to tell her how much she meant to me. In fact, I was going to give her my fraternity pin as a sort of pre-engagement present."

You said you'd return.
You said that you'd be mine,
'till the end of time.
But don't wait any longer.

"But there was a sad smile on her face as she said goodnight – almost apologetic. I guess that's why I didn't give her the pin. It just didn't feel right, so I decided to leave it until the next day."

[Chorus]

Why don't you come back?
Please hurry.
Why don't you come back?
Please hurry.

"Except the next day never came, coz when I went to pick her up she was gone. Her friend said she couldn't see me any more – no explanation – no forwarding address. I didn't want the pin anymore so I gave it to her friend."

Come back and stay for good this time.
(Did you write the book of love?)
Come back and stay for good this time.
(Ego and you lost)

"Another guy - that's what everyone around me was saying. But it didn't add up. I mean, if she had met someone else, why couldn't she have told me?"

Face had now finished not only his cocktail but also Murdock's as well. He paused briefly whilst he ordered another couple of drinks. He had already downed half of it before Murdock had even got a chance to start on his.

[Bridge]

Love, since you've been gone,
I opened my eyes,
and I realize
What we had together.

Face breathed in deep and could smell the scent of her perfume. He could see the soft contours of her body and hear her captivating, delicate laugh.

"We had something special, Murdock," he sighed woefully. "She never made me feel like I was just that good-looking kid from the orphanage. She treated me with respect. We were equals and I could just be myself with her. It was like she could see through all my false bravado and fabricated lifestyle."

Will you ever return?
I'll have you change your mind,
if you won't stay mine
Just love me forever, love me forever.

"Why did she have to run away? I would have forgiven her anything if it meant she was happy. I wonder if she ever thinks about me?"

[Chorus]

Why don't you come back?
Please hurry.

Murdock wished he could throw his buddy a lifeline to rescue him from drowning in his own sorrow.

Why don't you come back?
Please hurry.

God knows if being stuck out here amongst all this jungle madness wasn't punishment enough.

Why don't you come back?
Please hurry.

Face needed a little glimmer of hope to cling on to if he was going make it. Murdock had never seen the usually confident and composed conman looking so dishevelled and forlorn.

Why don't you come back?
Please hurry.

"Don't sound to me like she walked out on ya Face," said Murdock. He put a comforting arm around him as he slumped with an air of defeat over his cocktail. "Perhaps she had something else on her mind that she didn't get a chance to tell you about."

Face glanced up from his drink, frowning quizzically for a moment, as if that thought had never crossed his mind.

"Do you really think so?" he asked hesitantly, a ray of hope shining in his waterlogged eyes.

[Outro]

Just come back and stay for good this time.
(Did you write the book of love?)

"Sure!" lied Murdock, in a convincing voice, crossing his fingers behind his back. "Why, I bet she'll come looking for you one day when you least expect it and then it will all make sense."

Come back and stay for good this time.
(Ego and you lost)

The look of joy and acceptance on his buddy's face made Murdock feel better about the elaborate lie. Face needed to hear something positive. From what Murdock could tell, everyone he had loved and trusted had walked out on him. If he had to tell a little white lie to help his buddy feel good about himself, then Murdock was prepared to take the consequences for his actions.

Come back and stay for good this time.
(Did you write the book of love?)

"Besides, it's not all bad news," continue the pilot. "If Lesley hadn't left, then you wouldn't have quit college and joined the army and then you wouldn't have met me and the rest of the guys!"

Come back and stay for good this time.
(Ego and you lost)
Don't ever leave me.

A grateful expression spread across Face's handsome features as he pulled the surprised Captain into a bear-like hug.

"Guessev'ry cloud hassa silva lining," he responded sheepishly, his words beginning to slur into each other.

Did you write the book of love?

Murdock smiled fondly at the half-conscious Face. He wasn't sure if he would remember any of this conversation in the morning. But one thing Murdock knew for sure was that he was never going to walk out on Face. Not ever!

Fini

[Just a little bit of fluff! Thanks for reading and please review if you can find the time.]