Chapter 8

"How is he doctor?" It had been three days since Hannibal had carried Face into the ER and now they were wondering when he could take him home.

"Well, the infection is completely gone and the wound is healing nicely. His fever is gone, so I think that as long as he promises to take things easy he can leave this morning. I just have to get your release papers ready."

"Great! I can't wait to get out of this drafty gown and into some real clothes. Did you bring me something to wear?"

Hannibal smiled as he placed a small overnight bag on the bed. "Here you go kid." And stood back as Face hurried to the bathroom with the bag in hand.

Just as soon as the door to the bathroom closed Sheriff Jenkins and another man walked in.

"Hannibal, this is Detective Joe Hampton. He is now in charge of the case and wanted to ask you and Face some questions. I transferred Brother Thomas, Brother John and Mr. Michaels over to him.

"Detective Hampton this is Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith. You might remember that he is the leader of the A-Team. The boy you want to question is Hannibal's adopted son, Lieutenant Templeton Peck."

The two men shook hands. "What can I do for you Detective?"

"For one thing, where is your son?"

"He's in the bathroom changing out of the gown and into some real clothes, as he called them. He's also probably cleaning up some so you might have to wait a few minutes to talk to him. What about I tell you what I know and Face can fill in any blanks you might have?"

"Face?"

"That is the nickname he received while in 'Nam and it stuck."

"Carry on…now how did this all get started?"

"This is what my son told us. Face was at a favorite spot in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Its where he likes to go when he wants to think. Anyhow he heard the sound of a jeep and looked up to see a boy running from the pursuing jeep. The kid looked scared so Face jumped into his car and took off towards the boy in hopes of getting to him first. Which he did. He said that he got to him within minutes of the men in the jeep grabbing him. He took the kid home…."

Hannibal continued the story until the bathroom door opened and Face limped out wearing a pair of sweat pants.

"Hannibal couldn't you had brought something more stylish than this?" It was then that he noticed that Hannibal wasn't alone.

Face recognized the sheriff and smiled a greeting. "Kid, this is Detective Hampton, and he has taken over the case. He has some questions for you."

Face nodded and sat back down on his bed.

"Your father told me how it all came to be but could you tell me what happened from your point of view since you were there and he was just repeating what you told him."

So Face repeated his story for the fourth time and the detective saw that all he was told was the truth.

"So it was your idea to go undercover and you did this against the orders of your father?"

Face nodded.

"Let me get this straight. You went into a dangerous situation after knowing that the odds were great that you would be recognized as the one that had interfered in their recapture of Billy?"

Face was startled. He wasn't expecting the detective into figuring that out.

"Face, answer the question!" ordered Hannibal.

"Yes, sir, I knew."

"Why? Didn't you realize that this was a sexual slavery operation that you were walking into?"

"I had a good reason…" Face tried to explain only to be interrupted by Det. Hampton.

"There is no excuse or reason that could be considered acceptable for what you did. If you didn't care about yourself, you should have thought of what this would have done to your family or didn't you care about them either?"

"No, I cared!"

"You have a funny way of showing it, kid. Seeing your ravished body would have torn them apart."

"It was the only way I could prove that I should be a full-fledged member of the A-Team again!" yelled Face angrily.

Det. Hampton turned to Hannibal. "If I were you I would take my belt to his backside and wear him out for doing something so stupid like this!"

"I want to thank you for stopping by and if we can help you in any way you only need to call. I will consider what you suggested about further punishment."

As Sheriff Jenkins and Det. Hampton were leaving Nurse Tucker came in pushing a wheelchair. "Are you ready to go home?" she asked Face who only nodded and quickly got into the chair.

"Here are his release papers," she said as she handed the papers to Hannibal.

"Dr. Russell says that if he has any pain just to use over the counter painkillers."

Hannibal thanked the nurse and soon they were on their way home.

"Come on kid, we have much to discuss," Hannibal said after Face had been welcomed home by the remainder of his family.

"What do we have to discuss?" Face had been uneasy ever since Det. Hampton had discussed his actions with him at the hospital.

Hannibal led the way to the family room. "Well for one thing the way you endangered your life when you willingly went into a dangerous situation knowing you would be recognized as the kid that rescued Billy."

Face was silent as Hannibal continued to talk, "Then there is the reason you did it. Haven't I told you that you will always be a member of the A-Team?"

"Yes, but you won't let me go on missions with you because of my age. Well, if you remember I was able to take care of myself quite well when you didn't know my true age. I'm the same person now as I was then. The only thing that has changed now is that you know my true age. It's not fair Hannibal!"

"I know kid and I truly regret not having you with us, but as your legal guardian I could be arrested and prosecuted for endangering the life of a child and although I do not regard you as a child the law does. Don't you understand?"

"I guess but it still isn't fair."

Hannibal nodded and held his arms open. Face threw himself in the warmed and love the open arms represented. "Just think of this kid, in three more years you can rejoin us but until then can't you just enjoy your teen years."

"I'll try but it isn't going to be easy. Now that that's over I'm ready for some good food. Mama what's for lunch, I'm starving. Hospital foods stinks." He started towards the kitchen when he heard.

"Aren't you forgetting something kid?"

Face turned his innocent eyes to Hannibal. "No I don't think so."

"Face!"

"Yes?"

"Do you remember Detective Hampton's suggestion of what I should do to you?

Face's innocent expression changed to one of fear.

"I intend of doing what he suggested, if not by my hand but I'm sure that Murdock, BA and Mrs. B can take my place quite easily. To set your mind at ease we would never use a belt on you but I'm sure that Mrs. B can come up with something that will leave a sting to your hindquarters."

"You can't be serious. I'm too old to be spanked!" yelled Face indignantly.

"Son, I was 16 when my Dad last spanked me. I had been drinking at a friend's house. Now my dad had allowed me the occasional beer but only at home and under his supervision. We would watch ball games together over a beer. But he had strictly denied me permission to drink outside of the house or when he wasn't home and here I was drinking at a friend's house on a Friday evening.

Do you want to know how he found out?"

Face nodded in spite of himself.

"I drove myself back home and was stopped by the police and failing both the breath test as well as being underage was jailed, but not booked. It seemed that the police officer recognized just how sorry I was and decided to give me a break.

Instead of booking me he allowed my father to take me home. Dad didn't do anything to me until the next day when hung over he made me run his obstacle course and then he wore me out. I couldn't sit comfortable for days. He did that because he loved me too much to let me endanger my life needlessly. I could have caused an accident, hurt myself or someone else and that he could not allow."

"So that is where the obstacle course came from."

"Yep, I ran his course so many times during my teen years but never again did I endangered my life needlessly because I knew if I did I would find myself over the kitchen table getting my butt beat."

"But I don't want to be spanked. How about if I promise not to do anything like this again. Won't that do instead?"

"No, son it won't. Now come with me and we can get the first part of your punishment over with." Mrs. B said as she pulled Face forward.

"Little brother is going to be in a world of pain soon. Mama has a strong right arm. I think I will wait until later to enforce my punishment on him."

"Well since Facey won't be sitting comfortable for a few days I think I will ground him from using his corvette for a month and if he wants to go anywhere it will have to be with one of us."

"You aren't going to spank him, too are you big guy?"

"No, but I think a month of manual labor will be good for him. He will be doing yard work or helping me in whatever manner I say."

"I think your punishments will do quite nicely and will teach him to consider the consequences of his actions before he tries anything stupid again."

"OWWWWWW! Not so hard Mama! YEOWWWWW. I won't do it again…Owwww…owwww…" and on the cries continued until all that could be heard was the sobbing of their kid. It was a few minutes later that a sorry Face was led back into the family room. His face was tear stained and he was rubbing his backside furiously in hopes that it would ease the pain.

"He has been punished to my satisfaction. He has something to tell you."

Face didn't say anything until Mama gave him a shake and swat. "I'm sorry for worrying you. I'll try and do better."

"Face!"

"I'll do better," Face amended his statement quickly. "I'm going to my room to lie face down on my bed."

"Not yet Facey…the big guy and I have punishments for you as well."

Face put both hands out in front of him and said, "I can't take another spanking HM!"

"We aren't going to spank you Facey. You are grounded for a month. That means not driving your corvette and if you have to go anywhere it will be in the accompaniment of one of us."

"Grounded! No corvette! That's inhuman HM."

"If you would rather have another spanking instead, that can be arranged." Murdock said seriously.

"No…no I'll take the grounding."

"And my punishment is that you will be our yard man for a month and my helper for anything I see fit."

"You mean the grounding wasn't from the both of you?"

"Nope." BA started to giggle.

"I rather take another spanking then do all of that work."

"Keep it up kid and you might get both."

"Hannibal!"

"I love it when a family comes together!"

The End

9