Originally written under my nic: Murdock's Doc
.
After sitting in a dark corner of Lt. Peck's cell for fifteen minutes, Colonel Smith was beginning to wonder if the wandering prisoner would be returning at all.
As if on queue, Hannibal could hear the sound of someone walking down the hall, and he watched with amusement as a young man juggling two coffee cups and a newspaper stopped in front of the cell and bumped the cell door open with his hip. From his hiding place, Smith silently watched the young man set the coffee cups on the floor then toss the newspaper on the bunk before turning his attention to the now open cell door. After closing the cell door, Peck reached up and grabbed something tucked on the top cross bar.
When the Lieutenant bent low to work on the lock, Hannibal cleared his throat. "Ah-hem"
Peck dropped the thin piece of metal in his hand and spun around. For a brief instant, surprise registered on his face before he covered it with a look of calm. "Who are you?" he asked after clearing his own throat.
"Heard this was the best place to get a cup of coffee," Hannibal said with a grin. "Name's John Smith, CO of one of the Special Forces A-Teams, and I'm looking for a supply officer. Your name came up."
Peck cocked his head to one side in confusion. "You're kidding right?" He asked as he looked around the room for MP's. "This is a joke right?"
"Deadly serious Lieutenant." Smith said, "The A-Team Special Forces are reorganizing into smaller units to perform more specialized missions, and I need an Acquisition specialist."
"Yeah, so why me?" Peck asked as he picked up the two coffee mugs and offered one to the Colonel. "In case you haven't noticed, I have a few issues that prevent a unit assignment."
Smith tapped Pecks record on his knee and chose to ignore Peck's comment about the difficulty of getting assigned to a unit from the brig. "You have an interesting record Lieutenant. Take the reason you're in the brig this time as an example. Theft of four cases of toilet paper from the General's personal stock." The Colonel paused and gave the young thief a look that revealed that he thought the charge was humorous. "Obviously your not a run of the mill petty thief, especially since the evidence is suspected to have appeared in the enlisted stocks?"
"They have no evidence and no one willing to testify to that fact." Peck asked defensively.
"Strangely enough, that's about the same with all your cases, no one sees anything " Smith replied with a grin. "It reads like the record of a modern day Robin Hood."
Peck flashed a brilliant smile, "It does, doesn't it?"
Hannibal leaned forward and stared intensely at the younger man for a moment, almost as if he was looking into the man's soul. The Colonel liked what he saw. "Since they can't make a case against you, they will eventually have to drop the charges." Hannibal pointed out. "I can make your release happen a lot faster if you're interested in joining my team."
Peck watched the Colonel for some tale tell sign that he was being thrown to the wolves for annoying the base CO. He found none, so he decided a direct approach, "So is this my punishment? Compulsory assignment into one of the most dangerous units in Nam?"
"Nothing is compulsory Lieutenant," Smith replied, "You're being offered an opportunity as a result of your special talents, nothing more."
Peck sipped his coffee and considered everything he had heard about Colonel Smith and his units. Sure, he had heard things, lot's of things. Smith was said to ride his men hard, but in turn he took care of them. "So what exactly will I be expected to do?" Peck finally asked.
"I expect you to take care of the unit's needs," Hannibal said flatly.
"Mission only?" Peck pressed.
"No," Hannibal clarified, "All needs. We work hard, and I expect them to be taken care of."
A sparkle appeared in the young man's eyes. "In order to take care of a unit's needs, there may be occasions when some higher ranking officer does without."
The corner of Smith's mouth rose slightly, "Then we'll deal with the occasion when it arises."
Peck approved of the answer. "Are there any other duties expected of me?" Peck asked.
"You'll be second in command of the unit, and will be expected to fulfill those duties in the field as well as on the base." Hannibal replied. "You have special forces training, so you should be able to handle it."
Peck sipped his coffee again and considered the irony of going from the brig to second in command of one of the most elite units in the Army. It was an appealing thought. "Alright Colonel, you have yourself a Supply Officer."
Shortly after nightfall, Murdock and Valerie slipped into the water and headed towards one of the fishing boats tied up near the shore. Both agents moved slowly, letting the current of the water take them towards the boats.
Murdock reached the boat first, and easily slipped his long lanky frame out of the water. Reaching out a hand, he helped to pull Valerie in behind him. "Go untie the rope and I'll see how this puppy moves." Murdock whispered as he shuffled towards the back of the small boat that couldn't be more than fifteen foot long. Valerie nodded and headed towards the ropes.
Moments latter, the boat was drifting free, and they let it drift southward away from the village before they took any active roll in the boat's direction.
"You figure out how to work this thing yet?" Valerie asked as she approached the back of the boat.
Murdock was bent low, working with what looked like an oddly shaped paddle, and he didn't look up when he replied. "Looks like poles for shallow water, and some sort of steering paddle for the deeper water where the currents are stronger." He said while in deep concentration.
In the limited light from a partial moon, Valerie looked around the boat as if cataloging the contents. "This thing doesn't have any cover so we should only travel at night," she said quickly, "Nothing personal, but with those round eyes of yours, you'll stand out like a sore thumb if we're seen during the daylight."
Murdock grunted as he lifted the steering paddle into place over the back of the boat. "Maybe I can take cover under the nets while you guide the boat during the day," the pilot suggested as he worked to fasten the paddle firmly onto the boat.
Valerie nodded even though Murdock couldn't see the action. "I'll take a look around the boat to see if there is something we could use besides the poles and net."
"Something to eat and drink would be nice." Murdock commented as he finished attaching the paddle.
Valerie's stomach growled in response. "Had to mention that didn't you." she grumbled while she poked through items scattered though the boat.
"Sorry." Murdock said with a touch of guilt when he realized that neither of them had eaten since the day before. Water wasn't really an issue since they had both swallowed at least a gallon of it during their river escape. Murdock heard Valerie sign deeply, and he figured it would be best to let the topic drop. "I'll get us in the middle of the river. " Murdock offered softly.
Nodding in agreement, she turned to her partner. "Can't seem to find anything but one hat, a net, and the poles," Valerie said with disappointment.
Grabbing the end of one of two poles in the boat and dropped the other end of the pole in the water. "It should only be a day or two travel out of China," Murdock asked hopefully as he stood up to begin using the pole to push towards the center of the river.
"If we go by what Intel says, it should only be a day," Valerie snorted, "But I don't want to rely of anything Intel had to say at this point."
Murdock remained silent since he had absolutely no experience about the company he had been drafted into serving. What he did know, was that his partner was upset by the bad information that had been given to them. "Why don't you get comfy and get some sleep." Murdock suggested, once again changing the subject. "No matter how many days we're looking at, this is going to be a long hard trip and we'll need our rest."
Several hours later, the Captain was relieved to hear the relaxed breathing of sleep coming from the nets. Left with only the occasional sounds of night birds, Murdock finally had the opportunity to take stock of the situation he was in. The injury to his arm ached, and the duck tape support had been lost during the trip into the river; his head pounded from the rifle butt to his noggin; and various scrapes and scratches covered his body from either debris in the river or brush along the river bank. To top off his misery, he was painfully hungry.
'I'll just tell em I can't do any more missions." Murdock thought to himself. 'Right, and within 5 minutes you'll be in a brig facing a court-martial for falsifying records.' He argued back in his mind. He was trapped in this mess and he could see no way out, now or in the future.
As the night passed, the pilot could feel the currents pushing the boat a bit faster, and for most of the night he was forced to put a little more effort into steering. Just before dawn, he turned back to his thoughts. 'Some super sleuth you turned out to be, you're just a kid in over your head.' Murdock scolded himself. Something in the sky caught his attention and he watched a shooting star blaze through the sky only to burn out into nothing after creating a brilliant display. 'That you up there, a blazing star that burns out quickly.'
"Murdock?" Valerie said softly as she began to , "It'll be dawn soon, I better take over."
Valerie took over the steering after a few awkward moments where both she and Murdock took a few moments to answer natures call over the side of the boat. As Valerie settled herself in at the back of the boat with a firm grip on the steering paddle, Murdock settled in under a heavy cover of nets.
"Can you see me Valerie?" Murdock asked as he settled in under the nets for the day.
Valerie took her time scanning the area where she knew Murdock hid and she finally confirmed his concealment. "Can't see you at all, I'll check again when the sun is fully up." She looked east at the brightening horizon then turned back to the pile of nets. "Are you comfortable?"
Murdock didn't answer right away, instead he attempted to come up with an answer that wouldn't worry Valerie more than needed. "Ah, it's not really all that comfortable, but it will be alright." He finally replied, and the second he did his mind called out 'Liar, you feel like you're in a waffle press."
"If it gets to be too much for you, let me know and I'll head for a place to hide for the day on the shore." Valerie said with a hint of concern.
"Will do," Murdock said from beneath the pile of nets, but deep down, he knew he wouldn't say a word no matter how bad it got. Thoughts of the drugs that could already be on their way south reminded him why he needed to get back. The information they brought back would save lives.
.
.
Hours passed, and the heat under the nets rose with the sun. Murdock felt the sweat pouring off his body, a fruitless attempt by his body to cool his rising temperature. While he was suppose to be sleeping, the heat and the feeling of being squashed under the heavy nets kept his mind from getting any rest, until he passes out from the heat and dehydration in the early afternoon.
When Murdock woke, it was dark and the nets had been moved off him. As his foggy mind tried to figure out what was going on when a small amount of water splashed in his face. "Raining?" He slurred out.
Valerie appeared in his line of vision, "Are you alright?" She asked with concern.
Murdock struggled to roll on his side, "Fine, just sleepin." The Captain lied.
"Uh-huh, sure you are." Valerie said skeptically. "You wouldn't respond when I told you that the sun had set and I couldn't wake you up after I got the nets off you."
"What's going on?" Murdock asked as he struggled to get some control over his body.
"Sun's been down for over an hour," Valerie said quickly, "And I'm pretty sure that we should reach Laos by dawn."
"Lemme freshen up, and I'll take over." Murdock said a voice a bit steadier than he felt.
"You sure?" Valerie said with a yawn. It had been a long day, and the lack of food was beginning to wear her down.
"Trust me," Murdock said as he half crawled to the side of the boat to get to the water. After splashing the water up into his face several times, Murdock drank several handfuls which revitalized him slightly. "Okay, lets switch off so you can get some sleep."
On the first night after release from the brig, Lieutenant Templeton Peck strolled confidently through the compound towards his new CO's office. Everything he had been ordered to do had been done, and for the first time in a long time, Peck felt proud. Stepping into the Headquarters building, Peck weaved through the desks and headed towards the last remaining occupant in the building.
"Everything's done Colonel." Peck said with a smile.
Hannibal leaned back in his chair and grinned. "BA and Ray are ready to go?"
Peck nodded, "Yes, sir. I had a little trouble arranging transport." He said nervously, "Our drops going to be a couple clicks short of where you wanted to go, but it was the best I could do."
Smith nodded. "We have that problem more times than I care to think about," Smith said as he rose out of his chair. "I'm working on getting permission for a pilot to be attached to the unit, but the General is still skeptical about it happening anytime soon. There's a shortage of pilots here in Nam, so he's not sure that the top brass will approve."
"Too bad," Peck said while thinking of the problems he had finding someone to fly the unit north. "It would sure save a lot of time, and although I have no first hand experience, I imagine that it could make a difference on the success of a mission."
"That it could kid," Hannibal said putting a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Now what do you say we go get a little experience in the field under your belt."
"Oh I'm really looking forward to this Colonel," Peck said sarcastically.
Hannibal smiled, "Sure ya are kid, sure you are."
"Val?" Murdock called softly as he fought to keep his eyes open, "Come on gal, I need a little help here."
Valerie shifted in her sleep, and woke slowly. "What?" She said half asleep.
"I think I'm checkin out on ya," Murdock said softly.
Lifting her head, Valerie could see that the sky had begun to lighten. It was near dawn. "Why didn't you wake me sooner." Valerie complained.
"Seemed so peaceful, didn't have the heart to wake ya." Murdock whispered in a distant voice.
"You need some rest," Valerie said as she quickly rose up from her makeshift bed of netting.
"Someone's coming." Murdock said softly as he pointed to a bobbing light heading towards them.
"Damn it." Valerie cursed as she turned towards the direction her partner was staring. Moving quickly as possible, she pulled Murdock from the paddle and shoved him on the floor of the boat near the nets. The light drew nearer as she struggled to pull nets over her partner to hid him. She was puffing hard by the time she finished and made it back to the paddle.
"Hey." Murdock complained from under the nets.
"Shut up!" Valerie snarled in a whisper as a larger more modern boat neared. "Keep your mouth shut or you'll blow our cover."
The larger boat slowed and pulled near the smaller boat. Valerie watched them suspiciously, but did her best to play the role of a peasant. A tall thin black man leaned over the rail of the larger ship and called out, "Anyone able?"
'Thank God," Valerie thought to herself, that was the code phrase. "Nine!" She called back happily as she headed to the pile of nets.
"You alone?" The man called to her as he tossed a ladder down over the side of the larger ship.
"No," Valerie called out, "Shadow twelve is with me." In less than a minute, Murdock was freed from the netting. "Our ride is here Murdock, do you think you will be able to get on board their ship?"
"Sure, I'm okay," Murdock said weakly as accepted Valerie's help to get to his feet. "Let's blow this popsicle stand and get on home."
Once on board the larger ship, Murdock and Valerie were taken down below for separate debriefings as the ship turned around and headed back the way it had come. This was the last leg of their mission, and once the debrief was over, the mission was over.
Valerie relaxed as she entered the room where she would be debriefed. 'All the comforts of home,' she thought to herself as she entered the comfortably furnished cabin. Murdock on the other hand entered an entirely different environment. Both agents were queried about their mission, and each detailed their version of the mission, including their capture and subsequent escape. Once they told their story, their interviewers asked questions to clarify specific points.
"Agent Murdock, how many guns did you estimate to be located in the warehouse awaiting shipment?" A short heavy balding man asked the Captain.
Murdock signed, "Can I have a glass of water please."
"We've told you before Agent Murdock, we can not allow you any comforts since it will tamper with the condition your found in once we return you into the Vietnam theater." A second interviewer stated impatiently, "Now please answer the question."
"Water first." Murdock insisted firmly.
Both interviewers looked at each other in frustration and the shorter of the two went to a cabinet and withdrew a bottle of water. Both interviewers waited as the Captain drank the contents of the bottle. Licking the last of the moisture from his lips, Murdock began to speak. "Cases held half dozen weapons, stacked three deep, ten wide, and twenty high, total of eight locations." Murdock said in a dry dull voice, "Total of twenty eight thousand, eight hundred weapons."
The short interviewer glanced over at the other one. They were both impressed. "How about ammo?"
Murdock signed, "Grenades, dozen a case, stacked five deep, five wide, ten high, total of 6 locations." Murdock answered, "Total of eighteen thousand. Rifle rounds, case contains twenty boxes of fifty rounds each, ten deep, twenty wide, eight high, total of 10 locations, sixteen million rounds total."
"Was there anything else in the warehouse?" The second interviewer asked.
"Mines, six per case, cases five deep, ten wide, five high, six locations, total of nine thousand." Murdock said as he mentally walking through the warehouse, "Rockets, three per case, three deep, five wide, five high, four locations, total of nine hundred rockets."
"Think Agent Murdock, was there anything else?" The short interviewer asked persistently.
Murdock weakly looked up at the interviewers, "Com gear, rations, and the drugs, I don't know the numbers, I didn't get a chance to examine them too close before getting hit on the head."
"Names, can you remember any names?" The short interviewer asked.
"Major Che," Murdock said dryly, "General Cho, but he's really the Vietnamese General Chao, a real scuzball. When Val and I were hiding up in the ceiling, Che and Chao mentioned something about a Lieutenant Thang coming to pick up the drug shipment."
"That's all?" The taller interviewer asked.
"Yeah." Murdock replied as he dropped his head on the table in front of him to get a little rest.
With that, the taller interviewer slipped out of the cabin. The shorter one folded his arms across his chest. "Do you understand that you can not speak of this with anyone, regardless of the situation." The shorter man said.
"Yeah, I know the deal," Murdock replied impatiently without lifting his head, "The mission never occurred, I never saw any of you guys."
"Once you crash landed your chopper, you had to leave due to VC overtaking the area. You hid and traveled south." The interviewer lectured.
"Ate bugs and drank dew collected on leaves, yeah, yeah, I know." Murdock supplied.
The taller interviewer entered the room with a bag which he sat down in front of the Captain. "Once you change back into your flight suit we'll arrange for a chopper to take you back."
"How far will I have to travel to find friendlies?" Murdock asked as he lifted his head from the table and absently began to peel off the tattered clothes he was wearing.
"No more than a day," The tallest interviewer said firmly, "We'll set you down in a clear zone so you shouldn't have to worry about VC."
Murdock nodded and continued to strip off the last of the clothing he wore. "Just make sure no one sees the chopper dropping me off." Murdock said as he slipped on the underwear and socks he had been wearing when he went down. "According to Val, you're Intel was a little off during the mission, and I don't want a repeat where I will be put into a bad situation that I can't explain."
"The area is clear." The shorter man reiterated as he helped Murdock pull on his flight suit.
.
.
"This area was suppose to be clear," Sergeant Brenner complained as he popped off a couple rounds into the jungle.
"I'm beginning to think we should take Intel and do the opposite." Smith said calmly as he turned to the soldier next to him. "Signal a retreat Ray."
One by one, Smith's four man team began to fall back. Slipping silently through the jungle, they regrouped fifty yards south of the point that they had encountered VC fire. As Peck and Smith crouched down to talk, BA and Ray stood nearby with their rifles ready. "How many do you think there are?" Smith asked Peck.
"No more than five," Peck responded, "I kept and eye on the position of the flashes from their guns."
Smith nodded proudly at his new XO, "That's what I figured too. They're probably just a patrol."
"Mean's this place gonna be overrun soon." BA added without turning his attention from the surrounding jungle.
"We can't afford that." Smith said thoughtfully, "The troops to the south are engaged in a different front. If VC gets through here, they'll be surrounded."
"What do we do?" Peck asked as he mentally calculated the odds of four men against an entire NVA platoon.
"Take BA's position," Smith said stiffly. "I think it's time to call in a little help."
Peck nodded and lowered his rifle at ready as he slipped in next to BA, who in turn dropped down to crouch next to the Colonel. BA hung his rifle over his shoulder and pulled the radio forward.
"Shhhh" Peck snapped as he heard something in the jungle ahead. "I heard something."
Ray nodded. "Let's go check it out," he said as he turned to alert BA that they were going forward. He wasn't surprised to find that BA had already heard. He had already dropped the radio on the ground in front of the Colonel and was taking position to guard.
Ray went left and Templeton went right. They both crouched down when they heard a twig snap directly in front of them. Both men brought their weapons up to fire at anything that came into view.
Murdock's heart was pounding so hard that he could hear each beat in his ears. 'Area's clear my ass,' he thought to himself as he stepped slowly through the jungle. He had been to the south of the last firefight, and was now heading towards what he hoped where U.S. troops. He heard a twig snap under his foot and he cringed. 'Pay attention you idiot, one more mistake like that and you'll be full of holes.' Murdock scolded himself.
A shadow came into view, and Peck pressed slightly on the trigger of his M-16 ready to fire. As the young Lieutenant watched the shadow through his scope, he noted that something wasn't right. 'Too tall,' he thought to himself, and he held his fire. "Hands in the air," he called out, hoping he wasn't making a mistake.
Murdock took another step and stopped short when a voice called out for him to put his hands in the air. Without hesitation, the pilots hands went up. "I sure am glad to see you guys," the Captain whispered when two heavily armed men stepped out from the brush a few paces in front of him.
Templeton and Ray stepped towards the pilot, their weapons still raised and ready to fire. Ray was the first to see the pilots face. "Hey, aren't you the pilot from Da Nang that went missing last week?" He asked in a whisper as he lowered his rifle.
Murdock nodded and said with a smile, "Captain H.M. Murdock, assigned to the Jolly Greens." Slowly he lowered his hands.
"Cut the chit-chat," Peck whispered harshly as he continued to scan the jungle around them. Something didn't feel right to him. "Let's get this guy back to the Colonel."
"Lieutenant is back," BA whispered. "Brought someone with him."
"Good," Smith said as he tucked the handset back into its pocket on the radio pack. "Chopper's coming for us, and the Jet's will follow to clear this area out." Smith looked up as his men returned, when he spotted the pilot he smiled. "Good to see you Captain."
"No where near as glad as I am to see you Colonel." Murdock said smiling back.
Smith nodded. Although he was happy to see the pilot safe and sound, they had a time table to keep in order to be about of the area before the jets started pounding the jungle. "Okay guys, lets move, we have to get into position for our ride home."
The five men moved through the jungle south. No one said anything, but they were moving much slower due to the pilot. The Captain was pushing himself hard to keep up, but the events of the past six days had taken their toll on him. By the time they reached the edge of the clearing, Murdock was being pulled along by one member of the team or another. Even with the help, Murdock was still puffing like an old man.
"Choppers coming," The pilot said between gasps.
"I don't hear nutton," BA said looking to the sky.
"Fine," Murdock said dropping down to his knees in exhaustion. "Don't trust the pilot," snapped out over the buzzing in his head.
"I hear something too," Peck said kneeling down beside the pilot.
Murdock took a deep breath and jerked a thumb towards the Lieutenant. "Listen to the Face here, you can trust it."
The radio on BA's back crackled to life, "Apple Red Niner, pop your smoke."
Smith reached over and pulled the handset from the radio, "Roger that." The Colonel looked to Brenner, "Do it Ray."
The sound of a nearing chopper grew louder as the Sergeant pulled a pin on a small canister and tossed it into the open field. "They spotted us Colonel," Ray called out as he spotted the chopper turn towards the smoke. "We'd better get our asses in gear."
"Go," The Colonel called. He waited to make sure his men moved forward. When he noticed the difficulty the pilot was having, he called out, "BA, give the Captain a hand."
The big Sergeant reached down and grabbed the Captains right upper arm and yanked him up, "Colonel said go." He growled.
Murdock tried to pull his arm out of the Sergeants grasp. "I heard, I heard." Murdock complained as the bigger man roughly dragged him towards the clearing. The Colonel appeared on the Captain's left reached out to help drag the pilot along. Murdock was about to protest even stronger, but VC shouts from behind silenced him.
"Company coming," Smith called out as he and BA neared the chopper. Peck and Brenner immediately stopped in their tracks a few feet from the chopper, and brought their weapons up to fire as they turned around. "Cover us," the Colonel called out as he and BA passed through the other two men on the team.
Murdock cringed as two M-16's began firing on automatic, and he found himself lifted up into the waiting chopper. As the choppers pararescuman began to pull him further inside the chopper, the pilot saw the Colonel and big black Sergeant turn and provide cover for the two men further out as they retreated and ran for the chopper.
"Are you hurt anywhere Captain?" the pararescuman called out as Murdock watched the Colonel and his team work their way into the chopper. The enlisted man shook the Captain slightly, "Captain, are you all right?"
Murdock turned, "You're with Murray's team aren't you?" He asked breathlessly. When the Sergeant nodded, Murdock smiled then promptly passed out.
"Colonel Shipton, Murray just radioed in," Captain Jarvis said interrupting the Colonel's paperwork. "He's bringing in Captain Murdock."
Shipton looked up in surprise. "What? Is he okay?"
Jarvis nodded, "He says his crew thinks he's suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and a general lack of food, but other than that they think Murdock is going to be fine."
"Thank god." Shipton said with relief, "When are they due in?"
"About twenty minutes," Jarvis replied, "Medics are already on standby."
Shipton rose up from his desk, "Trumpet, do me a favor."
"What's that bossman?" Jarvis asked.
"Keep the news from Headquarters for a little bit, I'd like the Doc's to have a chance to take care of Murdock before Martin storms in to make the kids life miserable." The Colonel asked.
Jarvis nodded, "Already planed sir."
.
.
"What the hell do you mean that Captain Murdock should be released for duty in a week?" Martin shouted at LtCol Shipton, "Why wasn't I notified that he was found? When did this happen?"
Shipton cringed as Martin shouted, but it was a small price to pay for giving his man a chance to get medical care before having to face someone who obviously didn't have the kids best interest in mind. "He was brought in yesterday afternoon sir with Colonel Smith's A-team."
"Smith," snarled Martin. His expression didn't hid much of his opinion regarding the Army Lieutenant Colonel.
"Yes sir," Shipton said as he noted that Martin's color turned a bit redder. "They found him while out on recon."
Martin stared at Shipton for a moment, then grabbed his hat and headed towards the door. "I'm going to see him," he called over his shoulder as he stepped outside. Shipton hurried after his CO.
Those who are active, have little patience for staying in bed even if there is a reason to do so. The pillow and mattress that seemed so comforting only hours ago, now caused an uncomfortable pressure on the points of the body that pressed the deepest into the padding. Even the sights, and sounds of the hospital that had at first seemed so interesting and in a way comforting, now grated on over exposed nerves. When the Doctor had said he was going to spend a week in bed, it sounded good at the time, but now he wanted out.
Murdock rolled over when a nurse came to check on him for what seemed to be the tenth time in the past hour. "Hey darlin', how about you check on one of the other guys while I catch a couple extra winks."
"Sorry, I came to check on you." the woman in white replied.
Murdock's eyes opened wide. That voice sounded familiar. He rolled over as quick as his aches and pains would allow and found Valerie staring down at him. He opened his mouth to say something, but she put a finger up to her lips to indicate that he should be quiet. "Good to see you Val." He whispered. "Sorry I didn't get to say goodbye."
"Happens all the time." She assured him, "But I figured since I was in the country and all, I'd stop in and make sure you were okay."
"That was nice of you," Murdock said warmly.
Valerie frowned and whispered, "Do me a favor, don't spread that around Okay. It would ruin me with the company." She checked the saline solution bag and then the tubing, "Anyway, I better get going. You take care of yourself, and good luck with your next mission."
This time Murdock frowned at the mention of another mission, "You too Val, take care of yourself."
Valerie nodded, and headed for the door. Before she reached the door it opened and Colonel Smith walked in. "Oh excuse me," she said politely.
Before she could slip out of the room Smith asked, "How's he doing nurse?"
Valerie stopped and glanced over at Murdock, "I think he's going to be okay."
Colonel Smith thanked her and sat down next to Captain Murdock's bed. "How are you feeling Captain?"
"Antsy to get out of bed," Murdock said with a smile as he watched the door close. He lifted his arm and nodded at the IV, and said "They been pumping me full of juices since I got here and I think the tank's full."
The Colonel laughed and the two men chatted for a few moments. When the Captain began to look a bit tired, Smith stood up and said, "Well, I just wanted to stop in and let you know that I'll buy you that beer I promised the next time I'm in Da Nang."
"You don't have to do that Colonel," Murdock said quickly as he lifted his drooping eyes a bit, "I'd say we're more than even now."
"Humor me," Smith said standing up and reaching out a hand. "I like to keep my promises."
Murdock reached up and shook the Colonel's hand. "Thanks Colonel, if you ever have need of a lift, give me a hollar."
"Be careful about what you offer Captain," Smith said with a grin. "I just might take you up on it."
Shortly after Colonel Smith left, Murdock closed his eyes and snuggled deep into the hospital bed. He ached from head to toe, but it was good to be back where he belonged. Just as he began to drift off into a peaceful sleep, Martin stormed in.
"Wake up Captain." Martin growled.
Murdock's eyes snapped open and he cringed slightly. "Colonel Martin?" He had expected Martins visit at some point, but even so, the anger in Martin's face scared the hell out of him for some reason.
Martin leaned closer and growled, "Lieutenant Colonel thanks to you." Murdock's eyes opened wide, and he clamped his mouth shut tight. "I want you out of this bed and back on the flight line Captain. I don't have enough pilots as it is and I sure as hell don't have the luxury of having a perfectly healthy pilot taking up space reserved for the injured. You got that?"
The door opened behind them and Shipton entered with Murdock's doctor. Shipton looked from Martin to Murdock and back again. Silently he cursed himself for taking the time to stop and bring a doctor along.
"Murdock say's he fine." Martin directed to the Doctor. "We need our pilots back in the air."
"Colonel's right Doc, I'm feeling much better now that I got a fill up and a good nights rest." Murdock offered hoping to appease Martin. "I'd really like to get back in the air."
The Doctor looked skeptical. "I'd like to see you gain some weight back before releasing you Captain."
Murdock patted his stomach, "I've always been a little on the skinny side Doc, I like it that way, honest."
The Doctor looked at Murdock's chart, "I'm not happy about letting you go so soon, but other than a loss of five pounds, dehydration, and several bruises, there is nothing seriously wrong with you."
"Then release him," Martin suggested in a tone that sounded more like an order.
The Doctor eyed both Martin and Shipton closely, then finally spoke. "I'll agree to releasing him, but I want you both to understand that I want you to take it easy on him for at least a week."
"I'll see to it Doctor," Shipton said quickly as he gave Martin a challenging look.
The Doctor gave Shipton a grateful look, then turned back to his patient. "I'll send a nurse in to remove your IV Captain." He said kindly, "And I want you to continue to drink plenty of liquids and work on gaining some weight back."
"You got it Doc," Murdock replied with a nervous look at Martin.
The look wasn't lost on the Doctor, "and I want you back here if you start to feel poorly."
When the doctor stepped out, Martin turned to Shipton, "I want him back on the duty roster immediately." With the order given, Martin didn't wait around for an answer.
Shipton took a deep breath and released it slowly after Martin was gone. Looking over at Murdock, he noted how pale the kid still looked. "I would have preferred you staying in the hospital a little longer."
"That's okay boss," Murdock said cheerfully, "I would rather be up in the air then laying in this bed."
Shipton nodded. He understood the feeling, as did most pilots. "I'm going to talk to your crew and let them know to keep an eye on you for a few days." When the Captain opened his mouth, Shipton raised a hand to silence him, "It's not a matter for discussion Captain."
Two weeks had passed since Murdock had been released from the hospital, before Smith returned to Da Nang. When the Colonel and his team arrived back from in country by chopper, one of the first things he wanted to do was to find Captain Murdock and buy him a beer.
He had left a message for Captain Murdock with the pilot that had flown them in, and Captain Jarvis had promised to make sure Murdock got the message once he got back to base. That was earlier in the day, and Hannibal now found himself waiting in the same bar he had been waiting in a month before.
In a deja vu relay, Colonel Smith watched Murdock's crew enter the bar, and like before they were complaining. Smith frowned, and hoped that he wouldn't hear a conversation similar to the last one.
"I swear to god, I'm going to start closing my eyes when we go in for pick ups," Trombetta complained, "Cap's been crazy with his flying since he came back. I don't know how he gets out of shit like he does."
"Hell if I know," Lieutenant Long said shaking his head, "I sure couldn't fly like that."
"At least Martin isn't causing any more trouble," Wendel added, "I think even he's impressed by some of the tight spots that Cap's got us out of."
"At least impressed enough to back off and start taking credit for his units mission," Trombetta added sarcastically as he sipped his beer, "I'll tell you one thing, the next time Cap starts singing, I'm ducking."
Lieutenant Long chuckled, and began to sing "You are my sunshine, my only . . ." but didn't get too far as his companions jabbed their elbow's into his ribs. "Hey!" He protested, "It works for Murdock."
"That's because he's crazy," Wendel snorted.
"But you gotta admit," Long said in defense, "He sure is saving lives." The three nodded.
Smith smiled as a plan began to form in his mind. HQ had given their blessing for the addition of a pilot into the special forces A-teams and based upon the way Captain Murdock's crew was talking, there was a strong possibility that he had found just the pilot he needed.
The door to the bar opened and Smith watched with interest as Captain Murdock stroll in. The younger man had changed in the two weeks since Smith had seen him last. He carried himself with a strange kind of confidence and there was a wild glimmer in his eyes. 'Yes', the Colonel thought with a grin, Murdock just might be exactly what he was looking for in a pilot. It would probably take time and a lot of favors called in to get him transferred, but he had a feeling it would be worth it.
Across the room a large black Sergeant elbowed a young blue eyed Lieutenant, then pointed toward the Colonel. "Look out man, Colonel's on the Jazz again." BA said in a low voice.
~fini~