Two weeks later, Amy dropped by the hospital to check on Murdock's progress. She found him in the physiotherapy room as the therapist was exercising his legs.
"How you doing?" she asked.
"Hey Muchacho! Well, as you see the mulish limbs still won't budge," he said bitterly.
"But they're less stiff, more flexible. I say that's an improvement," the therapist chimed in while bending Murdock's left knee.
"I spoke to your doctor and he said you'll be able to leave the hospital tomorrow," Amy happily announced to a grumpy Murdock.
"Tomorrow?"Murdock exclaimed. "It's too early,"
"You'll move around in a wheelchair until you get the feeling back."
"Could you leave us alone for a moment, please?" he shot at the therapist who silently nodded and stood.
"I'll back in ten minutes to return you to your room."
Murdock strained a shy smile in response and waited for the therapist to exit the room before addressing Amy. "Amy understand, I'm not ready to leave this hospital yet."
Amy crouched down to Murdock's level. "Why?"
"Isn't it obvious?" he lashed out.
"You can't move your legs, so what?" The rest of you is still intact," she retorted with similar vehemence.
"That's debatable," he said, rolling his eyes and looking away.
"In fact ever since the accident you've been acting...sane."
"Yeah, isn't that a tragedy?" he quipped, bordering on cynicism.
Amy sat opposite Murdock and briefly paused to reflect on his aberrant behaviour. "There's something else gnawing at you, isn't it?"
Murdock glanced at her with dewy eyes. "The Colonel breaks me out of the VA hospital whenever the team needs a pilot for the missions." He shook his head helplessly. "I can't help him anymore," he snivelled, biting his lower lip to quell the rush of emotions.
"Correction, we need you for a lot more than for a plane ride, buddy!" she scorned." Besides, you'll be back in the pilot seat in no time."
"How can you be sure when the doctors themselves are sceptical?"
"Because they don't know you like we do. You're resilient and fight your way out of any situation. This is no different. Come on, let's get you back into that wheelchair."
"I can't do it by myself," he griped, roughly brushing her aside as she started assisting him to his chair.
"Oh, oh, oh, my! Aren't we a little bitchy this morning," she taunt. "I've got news for you, dearest, I'm not impressed, nor am I insulted."
Murdock repented and hung his head in remorse. "Sorry, Amy. I didn't mean to..."
"I know you didn't," she mollified with an endearing smile. "I'm tougher than you might think."
"I know you are, Baby," he smiled with a teasing wink. "Thanks...for trying."
"I too am stubborn. I'm not giving up on you, yet."
Swallowing his pride, Murdock allowed Amy to assist him into his wheelchair. She then pushed him out of the therapy room and down the hall where they crossed path with the therapist. "I'm bringing him to his room."
"Ok. I just spoke to his doctor and indeed tomorrow he can go home."
"That's good news, thank you." She continued wheeling Murdock down his room. "You know B.A won't say it but I can tell he's very anxious and looking forward to having you visit with his mama," she confided as she assisted Murdock into his bed.
"He's one big giant teddy bear." Murdock laid back and sighed heavily.
"Don't fret it, Murdock. Everything's gonna be fine."
"I hope so, Amy. I hope so."
At Murdock's insistence, the doctor agreed to keep him an extra seventy-two hours in the hospital before discharging him. During that time, the team respected their buddy's wishes to allow him some breathing space in order to reflect on his condition and take appropriate measures to beat the glum that was alienating him from his friends.
An eerie uneasiness took root within the unit following Hannibal's startling news that Murdock's doctor had recognized them. The physician assured that he wouldn't breathe a word to the authorities but nevertheless, nerves were on edge at the possibility that Decker could spy on Murdock's whereabouts. They sought temporary refuge in the Evans's mansion while counting down the hours of Murdock's discharge.
To beat the unfavourable odds against them, Hannibal decided to curtail Murdock's stay at the hospital. A mere twelve hours later in the wee hours of the morning, Greg Evans willingly volunteered to bring the Captain from the hospital. Amy agreed to go along as a lookout in the event that they picked up a tail. The night journey went without a hitch with Decker nowhere in the vicinity, save for their moody and irascible passenger who complained about being wrenched out of his slumber. Murdock finally clammed up when Amy exposed the rationale behind their decision to head out to Mrs. Baracus's farm at night time.
At the Evans' home, a groggy Murdock was settled into a guest room while the rest of team finished ironing out the details of their trip to San Joaquin Valley. Once ready, they all headed out quietly, heedful not to disturb Mary's and Meghan's sleep. They strapped Murdock securely in his seat at the back of the van and following a hearty goodbye to Greg Evans, Hannibal drove the truck out of the driveway and on to their destination.
It was mid-morning when the A-Team van pulled into the driveway of a charismatic farmhouse. No sooner had Hannibal slid open the side door that Mrs. Baracus dashed down the front porch's wooden stairs to greet them.
She flung herself into her son's arms and clenched him into a tight embrace. "Bosco! You're here! I'm so happy to see you, son." B.A. flinched at the strength of the hug that he couldn't return on account of his broken arm. "Sorry, did I hurt you?"
"Don't be silly, mama. Just can't move it, is all."
She went to Amy and pulled her into her arms. "Amy, Sweetie. Nice of you to come."
"I'm grateful for the invitation, Mrs. Baracus."
"Please, all, call me Evelyn. And Templeton...," she cooed, hugging the man. "My blond cutie pie," the pet name made Face blush with embarrassment. "And where is my Murdock?" she asked anxiously, peaking inside the van where Hannibal was busy unbuckling Murdock's seatbelt.
"We'll be right out, Mrs. Baracus," Hannibal said, beckoning B.A. and Face to lend a hand in getting their crippled friend out of the van and into his wheelchair.
"Got to warn you, mama. He's one giant pain in the butt. He whines and gripes all the time."
"Humm, sounds like someone I know," she chaffed, getting a growl in return. " I love ya just the way you are, Bosco," she smiled.. She then turned to the van as Hannibal and Face were settling Murdock into the wheelchair. "And there's my favourite son."
"Mama!" B..
"Oh Bosco, you know what I mean," she atoned with a motherly hand on B.A. shoulder, after which she bent down to lay a peck on Murdock's cheek. "How are you doing, Sweetie?
"Not too bad...considering," a sulking Murdock sighed deeply.
"Look...we built up a ramp so you can come and go as you please. Your room is on the first floor and easily accessible."
"Sorry you had to go through this on my account. I don't want to be a burden."
"Murdock, honey. It's no bother at all, believe me. I'm just very happy that you accepted to come," she glanced up at everyone present and added, "that you all came. I hope you'll like it here and you can stay as long as you want. I appreciate the company. It might seem a small farm but it's mighty big and lonely at times." She paused as Murdock let out a muffled yawn.
"I'm sorry. It's been a long trip. Would you mind if I went to have a lie down?" Murdock asked with an acrid tone that suggested exasperation instead of weariness.
"No, not at all. Come, I'll show you all to your rooms. You can catch a nap before dinner," she beckoned, leading the way up the front porch. The team followed with Hannibal pushing Murdock's chair up the ramp.
Once Hannibal and Face had helped Murdock settled into his room, they closed the door for privacy and joined the others gathered in the livingroom.
"Oh Hannibal, how's Murdock?" Evelyn asked with genuine concern.
"Just tired, is all. He needs to catch a few Zs and he'll be alright." Hannibal feigned to spare the good woman any unnecessary qualm, but his strained eyes betrayed him.
"Who are you trying to fool here, Hannibal?" Evelyn retorted. "It's plain to see that he's hurting. Maybe not so physically but emotionally. Level with me... Murdock hasn't fully accepted his condition yet, has he?" She panned around the room to gouge reactions to her question. "Don't shield me, people. I want to help this boy as much as you do, but we need to join forces if we want to goad him into getting off his sorry butt and start walking."
Hannibal cracked a wicked grin at the sweet sound of mischief. "Man, I love this woman."
"We should have her on the team, Hannibal," Face added in.
"With your permission, folks, I want to put Murdock to work on the farm as soon as he's fully rested," the imposing woman asserted, leaving little room for argument.
"You got it, Evelyn. You got it," Hannibal consented. "It'll take some doing but no doubt you have the muscle for it."
"You bet she has, Hannibal, I can vouch for that," B.A. agreed. "The fool ain't got no prayer."
"That's settled then. We'll put the wheels into motion first this in the morning. But for now, why don't you all go catch a nap before dinner. You all look worse for wear."
"It has been a long road," Amy remarked through a muffled yawn.
"Bosco, Sweetie, why don't you show your friends to their rooms."
"Ok mama."
While B.A. beckoned the troop to follow him down the hall to the bedrooms, Mrs. Baracus padded up to Murdock's room and gently nudged open the door that had been left slightly ajar. She poked her head inside and sighed wistfully at the man slumbering soundly on the bed.
"Before the week is over I'll have you walking again, son," she admitted in a whisper before she carefully closed the door.