Thanks for the reviews! On to chapter 2...
Loyalty
Chapter 2:
Stockwell motioned for Hannibal to sit down, and he followed suit.
"Colonel, my organization is not the only one who is aware that the A-Team is alive and well. One such organization happens to be the Italian Mafia."
"Italian Mafia?" Hannibal asked in disbelief.
He already figured that people other than Stockwell knew they escaped the firing squad, but the Italians?
"How did they find out where we were Stockwell?"
"How they know is irrelevent. What should be more important to you is why they need your assistance."
"Ok then why?"
Stockwell picked up the file he had been reading earlier and handed it to Hannibal.
"The leader is Lorenzo Angelo. As you can see from his picture he is not a man to cross."
Hannibal stood up and lit the cigar he had been holding.
"Stop beating around the bush Stockwell, what the hell does he want and why do I have to lie to my men?"
"Ok Colonel, I will put this bluntly. it involves A.J Bancroft and your lieutenant."
"What's Face got to do with this?"
"I see your lieutenant and captain never told you that Bancroft was Face's father."
To say that Hannibal was shocked was an understatement.
"They knew who he was? All along?"
A smile crept onto Stockwell's lips and he laughed smugly.
"Well Captain Murdock knew before Lieutenant Peck, but yes, they both knew in the end who he was and his relation to the team."
Hannibal paced around the office. His eyes darting from the file on Stockwell's desk, to the door where he wanted to confront Face and Murdock. How could they not tell him about Bancroft? Did they not trust him? Finally Hannibal turned back to Stockwell and narrowed his eyes.
"As I asked before. What's this got to do with Face?"
"Well the mafia have some unfinished business with Bancroft and now that he is dead they want to square it away with his son. They would've taken Ellen Bancroft but she dissapeared 2 weeks ago."
"No way Stockwell. I'm not serving up my lieutenant on a platter to the Italian Mafia. Besides how do they even know Face is Bancroft's son?"
Stockwell smiled and Hannibal was livid.
"You bastard, You told them. Why? What's in this for you?"
"A person always needs friends in high places Colonel. Don't worry about your lieutenant, I was assured he will not be harmed, they just want some words with him."
"Why can't I tell him?"
"Ah, well Lorenzo said that this was to be of the upmost secrecy. Only you and I were to know, anyone else in on this and the deal is off...for everyone. You tell your men anything about this and not only will you have every government agency after you, the mafia will be hunting you as well. We both know you can't hide from them."
Hannibal began his pacing again. He really didn't like this. Could he really trust Stockwell on this? What about the mafia, would they keep their word and not harm Face? If he didn't agree to this there would be no way to outrun the mafia. One more thing didn't make sense to him though.
"If this is so easy, and they won't harm Face, then why are you giving us the pardons?"
"That's simple colonel. With me being in with the mafia, I won't need you anymore."
Hannibal glared at Stockwell, took a deep breath and extended his hand.
"When do we leave?"