Good evening. Thank you again for sticking so far. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

LittleMonkeyDog: I've always wanted to write an Ellen/Face fic. I hope this one comes out good. I guess here you will get the answers to your question…well, partly.

TranNZ: Thank you so much! I'm glad you are enjoying it. I very much loved writing it.

MissEclipse: You know, I find writing A-team fics hard. Writing male characters (especially "macho" men like these characters) is challenging. I hope that I was able to portray Hannibal the right way.

Okay….here's the next chapter….Have fun.

Chapter 4-The Phone Call

It was well over midnight when the phone rang. Ellen Bancroft had been dozing off while reading a paperback novel she had picked up at the grocery store earlier that day when the sudden sound of the telephone ringing startled her.

"Who on Earth?" she gasped as she sat up from her bed wondering who would call her at this time of the night. Picking up the phone, she groggily answered, "Hello?"

"Ellen?"

She recognized the voice immediately. The feeling of sleep immediately disappeared as anxiety and frustration set in. She closed her eyes for a moment trying to control the anger that sparked spontaneously, "Murdock? Why are you calling me? Listen, I thought I told Templeton–"

"He was shot earlier this evening," Murdock interrupted her. "We're at D.C. General."

She stayed quiet for a moment before answering. The anger quickly faded and a feeling of worry and downright panic appeared. A memory of her brother came in to her mind. The last time she'd seen him his blue eyes where so full of hope just before she crushed them with her request. Now, she not only felt scared that she wouldn't see her brother again, but remorse for what she made him feel before leaving him, "Is he…" she couldn't finish.

"He's alive. For now," Murdock answered. His voice sounded very monotone and tired. She could tell he was trying to keep it together, but Ellen felt the pain in his voice. "We don't know if he'll make it. The doctor had to induce him into coma. She said...brain swelling...I...I'm not sure what's going to happen."

"Oh God!" Ellen cried out.

"Listen, I know you don't want anything to do with him, but he called out to you twice tonight," Murdock said quickly afraid she hang up on him. "He wanted to let you know that he was sorry and that you were right." Murdock could hear her crying on the other end of the line, "I'm not sure what he meant by that, but maybe you know. I don't know. Maybe, he wanted you to know that."

The captain could not see her. But if he had, he'd see Ellen nodding in bed as she held her sobs. Noticing that she wasn't saying anything, Murdock took the hint, "I need to get back. I just wanted to let you know."

"Okay," Ellen was only able to whisper.

Nodding, Murdock answered, "Okay," before hanging up.

XXXXXXXXXX

As Doctor Cartwright had told them, within fifteen minutes a nurse entered the waiting room and escorted them to Face's room three floors above them. Luckily, Hannibal had been back so they saved time going to the van to look for him. As the nurse led them down the hallway, she stopped in front of a door of the last room in that particular corridor. There she faced them, "Before you go in, I need to warn you about a few things."

The men looked at her with worried glances.

"First, I want you to be prepared for what you see. Patients who undergo surgery go through a very rough ordeal. Your friend will look very tired, pale and worse for wear. His breathing is still ragged, but, we're giving him oxygen and as the trauma in the lungs clear, the breathing will go back to normal."

"I've heard that in the past, there are times that people in drug-induced comas demonstrate some type of conscious state. Is that true?" Frankie asked carefully, trying not to sound foolish by his question.

The nurse nodded somewhat, "Well, there's instances where the patient might dream. Others, once fully awake, have shared that they could hear voices, although they couldn't tell what the family members were saying. I think that is why Doctor Cartwright wants you all to have as much interaction with him as possible."

"How are you monitoring the brain swelling?" Hannibal asked.

"There's a portable EEG machine above the head of the bed," the nurse said in low calm voice. "It is what we are using to monitor his brain waves. You'll see it as soon as you walk in."

Hannibal nodded.

"Are you ready to see him now?" the nurse asked.

When they were finally able to see him, Hannibal put on his bravest face. B.A., who was never capable of showing a poker face, shook his head regrettably. Frankie sighed and whispered, "Oh man."

Seeing that the group needed privacy, the nurse gently said, "If you need anything please don't hesitate to call me." With that, she quietly made an exit out of the room.

Murdock, who had been the most susceptible through the ordeal, was the first to walk to him. Taking his friend's hand, he whispered, "Hey muchacho, you gotta wake up once that drug wears off. You just got to."

Under the respiratory prongs they had placed under his nostrils, Face was pale white. His blond hair was neatly, but unstylishly brushed back. The hospital gown was worn very loosely, probably to make it easier for the medical team to access his wound. An IV drip, along with various bags of antibiotics, was attached to his left arm to provide fluids. Each of his temples had an electrode that feed information to a machine stationed above the head of the bed. His breathing was still erratic, forced, just like the nurse had mentioned earlier.

The rest of the team walked up slowly to the bed. Frankie was the first to speak, "You gonna be okay man. We are here for you. We need you."

"Yeah, man," B.A. added. "Who's gonna scan us a decent place to crash on our next mission? You know this crazy fool don't do a better job than you," he said pointing at Murdock.

Murdock, on the other hand, couldn't say a word. He kept staring at his friend and all the feelings of guilt just rushed back. Oh my God. What have I done?

After a moment, no one expected Hannibal to say anything. He never shared his true feelings with anyone. He was a reserved man. Quiet. Pensive. That's why he took everyone by surprise when he suddenly said, "He has to wake up. I can't lose a man, not like this."

"You won't, Jonny," Frankie replied putting his hand on the Colonel's shoulder. "Face…Face is stronger than we give him credit for. He'll pull through."

Hannibal nodded, but the statement didn't make him feel any better, "I'm going to stay with him for a while."

"Me too," Murdock immediately offered.

"Yeah," B.A. answered as he picked up a chair from the corner of the room and placed it on the other side of Face's bed.

"I'll go get us some coffee," Frankie offered as he watched the team guard their friend. "We have a long night ahead of us."

XXXXXXXXXX

The team stayed with Face close to the early morning hours. Hannibal was the first one up and checked in on his fallen comrade only to find that there had been no change since he first saw him. Face was in the same position as he left him before he fell asleep. Nothing changed. He expected it, but still clung to some hope of finding a miracle, no matter how small.

Sighing with resignation, he looked over at the rest of the team. Frankie and Murdock sat uncomfortably on the sofa across the room. They were asleep, but Hannibal could tell that upon waking they were going to have neck pain from the position they lay in.

B.A. had taken the chair on the right side of Face's bed. He snored softly. Hannibal had taken the chair to the left of the bed that faced the small window. He was about to wake up the group when the phone in the room rang.

Everyone slowly began to sit up as they heard the ring. Well, no need to wake them now, he thought as he picked up the phone. He had an idea of who it was.

"General," the Colonel replied over the phone.

"Colonel," Stockwell's voice emerged. "How is Lieutenant Peck?"

"No change," he answered looking back at his friend. "But I think you knew that already."

"Doctor Cartwright briefed me last night," the General answered. "I was hoping you tell me something different."

"You believe in miracles, General?"

"At times," Stockwell replied with a good natured tone that surprised Hannibal. Stockwell, not wanting to continue on the path of sentimentalism, offered, "I've taken the liberty of reserving two rooms at the Marriott Hotel in Woodley for the next week. I figured that you might want to stay close to the Lieutenant. Langley is an hour away and I'm sure none of you are willing to go back."

With a small smile of appreciation and still surprised by the gesture, Hannibal answered, "You getting soft on us Stockwell?"

"Not at all Colonel," he said with a sarcastic laugh, "That will never happen. But, when it is needed, I take care of my team. Carla has left your room keys with the front desk. They are under the name Stanley Hunter. The rooms are available for you whenever you arrive."

Now growing a little serious, Hannibal, a man who didn't thank people very easily said, "That's very kind of you General. We…I appreciate this."

Surprised by the Colonel's gratitude, Stockwell remained quiet for a moment before answering, "Well, let's see how you'll all show your appreciation on your next mission when you do things…my way."

Before Hannibal knew it, the line went dead. The Colonel knew that it was just as hard for Stockwell to take compliments as it was for him to give one.

Once he hung up the phone, the rest of the group looked at him wondering what had happened, "Stockwell reserved us two rooms at the Marriott. It's a long drive from Langley to DC. He figured it be easier for us if we stay."

"Stockwell did that for us?" Frankie asked not hiding his surprise.

"Yeah, who knew he actually has…feelings," Murdock said as he stretched.

Looking back to Face, who showed no signs of even having been aware of what happened, Hannibal said, "I think we should get some breakfast and then crash for a few hours at the hotel. Frankie and B.A., when you're up to it, can you drive back to Langley and pack us some clothes to bring back?"

"Yeah, sure," BA nodded immediately. "Murdock, I'll need your apartment key to get in."

Nodding, Murdock rose from the sofa, pulled the keys from his pocket and handed them to the big muscled man, "Thanks Big Guy."

"No problem," the big man answered as he got up. "We should go."

No one wanted to leave the room. They had to force themselves out. Leaving Face on his own felt wrong. Murdock felt it the most, "Listen guys, I'm…I'm going to stay here until someone comes back."

"Murdock, you need your rest," Hannibal began shaking his head.

"I know, I'll get it. Look, I got the sofa all to myself. I'm sure I can get a blanket from one of the nurses and I'll be fine. I'm not even hungry. When I am, I'll go down to the hospital cafeteria and get something to eat. Besides, once you are back, I'll go grab some Z's at the hotel."

"Are you sure?" Hannibal asked, feeling relieved knowing someone would stay with Face.

"Yeah," Murdock nodded. "I don't want to leave the Faceman alone. Can you imagine how angry he'll be if he finds out no one was with him during this time? You know how needy he can get."

Hannibal hoped he'd hear Face's overly melodramatic whines soon. But, part of him still had his doubts. After all, there was no guarantee that once the doctor stopped the medication, Face would wake up. But, he had to admit that Murdock was right. He knew Face would never let them live it down. He'd use guilt as part of his con to get what he wanted out of them. Hannibal found himself smiling a little at the thought. "Alright. We'll be back in a couple of hours."

"No worries," Murdock shook his head. "Got it covered."

With that, the team headed out, leaving Face and Murdock on their own.

Once alone, Murdock walked over to Face's bed. He took his friend's hand and squeezed it lightly, "Faceman, you better wake up. You can't take Sleeping Beauty's place. She's a girl for crying out loud!" Knowing he'd receive no response, Murdock sighed and said, "Buddy. You need to come back to us. We need you."