B.A. sat at Murdock's side, he felt so guilty. He should have made sure Murdock had taken cover before worrying about his dam rifle. Murdock seemed to be reading his mind because he tugged on B.A.'s sleeve and B.A. leaned closer to Murdock. "Not… your fault… B.A…" Then Murdock lost consciousness.
"Murdock! Come on you crazy fool stay with me!" B.A. lightly shook the pilots shoulder, but the pilot made no reply, his hand still on B.A.'s sleeve. B.A. took the pilot's hand and squeezed it.
When they landed at base there were medics already waiting for them. Powell had radioed ahead. As the medics placed Murdock on a stretcher B.A. was still holding his hand. He still held onto it until a nurse prised his hand away. She looked him in the eye and led him to the waiting area, B.A. respected her she wasn't giving any false hope saying Murdock would be fine. Because she knew as well as B.A. that Murdock was lucky to have survived this far.
Two hours later a surgeon came over to the team. His face was pale. No, oh please no! Please don't let Murdock be dead please! "Lieutenant Murdock is very lucky, we almost lost him" B.A. released the breath he didn't know he was holding.
"Will he be alright doc?" Asked Hannibal,
The doctor sighed, "I don't know, we've done all we can. It's up to the Lieutenant now. The next twenty four hours will be crucial" the doctor led the team to Murdock's bed on the ward. B.A. was unprepared for the sight he faced. Murdock was deathly pale, his breathing was ragged. The team sat around his bed, they weren't going to leave him until he woke up and if that meant staying for twenty four hours or more, that's exactly what they were going to do.
The team were dozing around Murdock's bed; Murdock had been unconscious for thirty two hours. "Hey you ugly mudsucker" B.A., Face and Hannibal almost leaped out of their chairs.
"Hey yourself you crazy fool"
Murdock just grinned up at the team.
"Told ya you wouldn't die" said B.A.
Murdock chuckled, but it turned into a coughing fit. Hannibal sat Murdock up slightly and rubbed his back to help him subdue the coughing and steady his breathing. When the coughing fit was over Face said "better try and rest up buddy" Murdock just nodded, Face got a glass and filled it with water and helped Murdock to drink the water. Hannibal and B.A. didn't need to ask how Face knew Murdock wanted some water. Murdock and Face were close friends; they could read each other like books. "So when do you think I leave this place?" asked Murdock,
Hannibal just shook his head, "Lieutenant you've had a serious wound you need to rest up for at least three weeks"
"Three weeks! Aw Hannibal!"
"Doctors' orders Murdock" Face and B.A. just smiled at each other. They had their pilot back.