Chapter 2

'So what you're saying Murdock, is that an Elf visited you in your room to tell you that Santa needed to hire the A-Team' Hannibal summed up what Murdock had told them.

'Yeah Colonel' Murdock confirmed.

'Right' Face replied, sounding unconvinced, 'Murdock, have you been watching Christmas movies before going to bed again?'

'Of course I have, but we've got no time to talk about movies Faceman, Santa needs our help!'

'Aww man, why'd I have to come all this way Hannibal, just so I could to listen to the fools Jibba Jabba' BA complained, 'talkin bout invisible elves, and imaginary workshops'

'You got it all wrong Big Guy, the workshops are invisible, and the Elf was…' Murdock began.

'Imaginary' BA cut in.

'No! Fidgely is not imaginary BA' Murdock reprimanded, he stood up from the chair he had been sitting on and started shaking his finger towards BA's face, 'If he was imaginary, then that'd mean that all this wasn't real, and trust me, this was real'

'You better get that finger away from me sucka!' BA warned, 'ain't no elves been visiting you, just you bein' a crazy fool like always!'

'Oh no BA, don't tell me that you believe' Murdock paused for dramatic effect, and put on the deepest voice he could muster, 'The Myth!'

'Shut up fool!' BA growled, pushing Murdock back down onto the seat.

'So Muchatcho's, you gonna help?' Murdock asked.

Face looked over to Hannibal, who shrugged, 'Ok Murdock, but under one condition, you have to let us take you back to the VA tonight so you can get some rest ok, you look exhausted'

'Righteo Colonel, thanks' Murdock grinned at Hannibal, then turned his attention to Face, looking at him expectantly.

So humouring him it is then, thought Face, as he complied with his C.O, 'Umm, yeah, sure, I'll help too Murdock'

'Thanks Face, so how about you, ya big ugly Mudsucka' Murdock smiled at BA, 'you gonna help too?'

'No fool, I ain't helping any of your imaginary friends' BA answered.

'Aww, come on BA you big softie, what about all the kids, they gonna be real disappointed on Christmas day when old Santa Claus hasn't been able to leave em any gifts now aren't they' Murdock pleaded, 'and I know how much you love the kids'

'Kids ain't gonna be disappointed sucka' BA growled

'They will be if we don't get the workshop fixed and help the elves make new toys' Murdock explained.

'Only thing that needs fixing round here fool, is your head' BA snarled, 'you betta stop all your Jibba Jabba!'

'Ok, ok guys' Hannibal raised his hand to stop the bickering before it had a chance to start, 'BA, I wanna talk to you for a minute' BA followed Hannibal out of the room.

'What is it Hannibal? 'Asked BA.

'Think you could play along with Murdock, just this one time, why he isn't feeling too good?'

'Murdocks only got a cold Hannibal' BA answered, 'Fool always talks crazy talk'

'Yes' Hannibal agreed, putting on his best reasoning tone, 'but I wanna get him back to the VA, and he won't go anywhere unless you agree to help'

All Hannibal got in reply was a growl.

'Now come on BA, humouring him this one time isn't gonna do you any harm' Hannibal told him, 'and besides, you know Murdock, by morning, he'll have probably forgotten all about it'

'Ok, but you better be right Hannibal' BA warned. Both men walked back into the room, their friends looked over at them. 'I'll help too' BA sighed.

'Yay! Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou' Murdock said cheerfully, he started to rush towards him, but stopped in his tracks as an aura surrounded all four of them, creating a bright blinding light, when the light faded, the apartment was left empty, as all four friends had disappeared out of site.

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All four men stood in silence, taking in their new surroundings. It was possibly one of the most beautiful sights any of them had ever seen, even if the place was a complete wreck It looked pretty amazing, and it could of even looked quite magical too, if it wasn't for the hundreds of little sad looking elves, heads bowed glumly, obviously still devastated about everything that had happened.

Hannibal, being cool and collective as always, was the first to break his gaze,' Well wha'da you know' his voice sounded pleasantly surprised. The sudden sound caused the other three men to break their gazes too.

'This is, this…' Face stuttered.

'Is Santa's workshop' Murdock helped him, 'It's almost just like I'd imagined it, except, so, so much better, well, apart from the broken up, um, everything'

'They're…elves!' BA stated the obvious.

'That's right BA, now do you still believe in the myth?' Murdock grinned.

'Shut up fool, I didn't say anything bout believing in no myth' BA retorted.

'Thankyou so much one and all for agreeing to help us' Fidgely said as he joined the team, 'I knew I could count on you Murdock'

'Well, we know why we're here, and we have a rough idea of what you want us to do from Murdock, but um, just how do you propose we do it, I mean, you made us leave kind of abruptly and we didn't even get a chance to grab any of our weapons' Hannibal pointed out.

'Aww, come on Hannibal, they're just elves, I mean, do we really need weapons?' Face questioned.

'Now Face, remember what I told you, you should never underestimate anybody' Hannibal lectured, 'cus when you start doing that, that's when you start to loose'

'I know' Face sighed.

'Well…' Fidgely paused suddenly. He and all the elves stood up straight, heads raised, staring silently in the same direction. The A-Team decided they should probably do the same.

'Whoa, it's Santa!' Murdock shrieked excitedly, making some of the elves jump, 'look its Sa-' he was unable to finish his sentence as his sudden outburst caused his cough to return with a vengeance.

'You ok?' Asked BA, Murdock nodded in reply.

'Thankyou for coming to help me and my elves' Santa smiled gratefully, 'I will show you around properly, you already know why you're here, but first, I think I may have a little something to help with that cold Murdock' He signalled for one of his elves, who rushed off, returning moments later with a glass, of what looked like eggnog.

'Here, try this' the elf smiled, 'it's eggnog, with a little oomph'

'Oomph?' Murdock downed the drink in one go, and then looked down at the empty glass in shock, 'I feel….better, what's in this?'

'That would be a secret' the elf grinned, and Murdock smiled thankfully back.

'Thankyou Gipzter, after I've shown you four around, then we can start on getting the workshop up and running again' Santa looked around at all of his elves, they smiled half heartedly at the comment, 'Now come fellers, cheer up a little, I know all that's happened as been quite demoralizing, but we have the A-Team to help us now don't we, everything should turn out fine.'

'Yay, three cheers for the A-Team' an extremely small elf, with an almost chipmunk-like voice shouted, 'Hip Hip'

'Hooray!' all the other elves cheered.

'Hip Hi-' the very small elf was stopped by Hannibal, who raised his hand.

'Ok, ok, we're very happy to help, but really, the cheers aren't necessary'

'But it's the elf way Colonel, ain't that right guys' Murdock said knowingly.

'Shut up fool' BA snapped.

'So if you'll follow me fellers, I will show you around, this is the main workshop area, where my elves make all the toys, and in this room, this is where they make their milk, cookies and candy canes, this room is the kitchen, this here is the mail room, were all of the letters from the little girls and boys, and the occasional adult' Santa looked over at Murdock, who was wearing one of his crazy looking grins, Hannibal and Face shared an amused look, whilst BA just shook his head, 'this is the main sorting office, where my elves sort through the letters, putting them in the good and bad slots, this room here is where they do the paper work, up the stairs are all our bedrooms and finally, in here, is my office'

'Very nice, this is really some place you have here' Face sounded impressed.

'Ho ho ho, thankyou' Santa laughed.

'Ok, well I guess it's time we got to work then guys, lets start with getting that workshop fixed'

'I will leave you and your men too it then Hannibal' Santa entered his office, 'I'll be in here if you need me'

TBC