After being asked of Face's condition, Dr. Haskell continues his examination of the ugly wound.
Several minutes later he spoke to the man hovering over the bed, full of worry, the man he knew to be Hannibal Smith.
"The bullet needs to come out, infection has already began to set in deep. The fever can get dangerously high in a short time. I will start antibiotics and we will have to get the bullet out as quick as we can. The bullet may have damaged internal organs, so we will have to look for that as well, and tend to any problems as we come to them. I also work at the hospital in the larger town nearby, so I am qualified to operate and I have a small room here where I do smaller procedures. If you prefer,
I will do the operation there instead of transporting him to the hospital. We have to decide quickly though as this is an emergency. I can't promise you anything other than that I will give everything I have to save your friend."
Hannibal immediately agreed, now trusting the aging doctor with Face's care.
Upon Hannibal's agreement the Dr asked if He, BA, and Murdock would like a few minutes alone with Face before he was taken to surgery. Hannibal went to get them and the Dr left them alone stressing that he couldn't give them long. He used this time to call in his partner to handle his other patients, not giving a reason other than a friend that had an emergency situation.
The three men inside the room gathered around their friend, brother, and what Hannibal saw as his son...in every way but blood. One large tear slowly ran down Murdock's face onto his best friend's hand, that was held securely between his own. He put his mouth to Face's ears and talked to him quitely.
"You're going to be okay brother, you remember we are going to be out here waiting for you. Don't give up". With that he gently deposited Face's hands back down beside him, ran his hands through his friend's hair, told Face once that he would be in the other room waiting to see him and again, and walked out.
BA was next...he too knelt beside Face and talked quietly to him. His gruff voice took on a surprisingly gentle and soft tone. "You don't stop fighting Faceman, you hear me. Your family will be right out that door when you come out of surgery.". He took Face's hand in his own and squeezed it lightly, leaning down to whisper into Face's ear..."We love you little brother, don't you leave us." With that he walked out behind Murdock.
Hannibal stood beside Face for a moment, gazing at him, before leaning down next to him. "I'm so sorry Face, I cannot put in words how sorry I am. But be brave right now and get through this and we'll be ready to take you out of here when you are strong enough. I will make this up to you. With nobody watching, he smoothed Face's hair back and kissed him on the forehead, as a father would do to a young child. "You'll be okay". And he walked out to set with the other two men and wait...