Thanks once more to Deborah...I have faith that one day I will correctly spell the word, Sergeant. (right now I'm cheating, so it doesn't count..)
BA watched as Hannibal walked into the store, then turned to check on Face in the backseat.
"You okay, man?"
Face only nodded, but BA could see how tired he was. This trip was really going to be hard on him, they weren't even halfway to the cabin yet.
"You just set tight, Faceman, we'll find a motel before too much longer."
BA was rewarded with a small smile and another small nod. "Thanks BA"
The big man was about to turn back around in his seat but instead continued to focus his gaze on the lieutenant. The fear and humiliation was still on his handsome face, mixed with exhaustion. BA's heart is as big as his body, and the sight of the lieutenant hurt him almost as much as he felt Face was hurting. BA stared another moment, knowing that Face couldn't see him. Then he spoke. "If I could take this from you, I would."
This simple sentence touched Face and his head, previously leaning back against the seat, shot up and toward the direction he knew the Sergeant to be. He smiled vibrantly, a sincere smile that reached the corner of his eyes,
and said "Thank you BA, it means a lot to me that you guys are here and to know how much you care. That's what gives me the courage to carry on."
Before BA could respond, the passenger door opened and Hannibal was inside the van, setting the paper bag down and immediately turning around to check on Face. Murdock was not far behind, carrying a sandwich with him. "They make fresh sandwiches in there, Faceman, want half of mine? It's turkey, you're favorite Muchacho". He waved the thick turkey sandwich under Face's nose as he spoke, hoping to entice him to accept his offering.
Face reached up and gently pushed his friend's hands away.
"Not now, Murdock. I'm not hungry."
Murdock frowned and looked toward Hannibal, who was fishing in the bag for his and BA's lunch. He stopped what he was doing and looked back toward Face.
"I'm not going to force you to eat right now, Kid. But, you do have to drink something."
Face nodded at this as Hannibal continued speaking.
"We'll stop in a few hours. I know you must be tired and uncomfortable. Before we get a room for the night we will stop and eat, you will have to eat something then, Face. I won't take no for an answer. You can't get well if you don't eat, kid."
"Okay."
Face was asleep before they were 50 miles down the road.
Murdock continually checked his forehead, noting with relief each time that it was cool to the touch.
A little over three hours later, BA drove the black van into a small town.
Hannibal declared this their resting spot for the night.
They found a small local owned motel on the outskirts, Murdock went in and paid for the room, asking about a place to eat before settling in for the night. The kind lady behind the counter pointed him to a local diner.
When he got back to the van with the directions Hannibal told him to wake Face up.
"Wake up buddy, time to go get some chow."
Murdock watched as Face slowly woke up, blinking the blue orbs and looking frightened for a moment, as though he forgot he couldn't see.
He looked toward the front of the van..."Hannibal, I don't know if I can eat. It's going to make me sick."
"You have to eat something, Face, you can't go all day without eating. The lady at the motel said this is a local diner, so I bet they will have soup. Maybe you can keep that down. You've got to try, kid, that's all I ask."
The diner did have vegetable soup and Face did manage to drink some of the juice from it, and successfully keep it down. For this he was grateful, he didn't feel like throwing up.
Less than an hour later they were back at the motel.