Sorry for the delay, thanks for the reviews!
Chapter: 4
The flight to Italy was comfortable for everyone except Face and Hannibal. Constant worries ran through both of their head's as they struggled with the truth.
Even though Murdock was flying the plane, he still felt a difference in the demeanor of his two friends. Frankie obviously noticed nothing, but Murdock didn't really expect him to. When you have been together as long as the team had, you noticed these things, and to say that he was worried was an understatement.
He put the plane on auto pilot and headed to the back. He walked past Frankie who was engrossed in a book, then past B.A who was out like a light, thanks to the knockout juice. He then saw Hannibal and Face, who usually sat together going over the upcoming mission, sitting far apart from one another. He sighed and started with the colonel.
"Hey colonel, how's it goin?" Murdock asked sitting down.
Hannibal, who had been staring out the window, looked at Murdock and sighed.
"Fine Murdock, but don't you think you should be flying the plane?"
"Don't worry about that, this bird is flyin herself for the moment."
Hannibal nodded and turned his attention back to the window. He hadn't forgotten that Murdock was just as involved in the Bancroft situation as Face was. He couldn't look at either one without thinking that they has lost all trust in him, and that killed him.
"If you don't mind captain, I would like some privacy."
"Sure colonel, sorry to bother you."
Murdock stood up and knowing he struck out with Hannibal, he headed to Face.
"Hey muchacho, whatcha doin?"
Face looked up at Murdock, wondering if he should tell his best friend what was going on in his head. He took a deep breath and decided.
"Murdock, do you buy what Hannibal said about this mission?"
Murdock blinked, not believing what he was hearing. So this was the problem. He himself had wondered briefly if the colonel had been telling the truth, but let it go. Hannibal never lied to his team.
"Sure Face, Hannibal wouldn' t do that to us, you of all people should know that. Ya know, between you two, sometimes I wonder if I was the wrong one to be locked up in the V.A"
Face nodded and managed a small smile.
"Sometimes I wonder that too Murdock, now go fly the plane. Somehow I don't think B.A would be very happy if he woke up to see you back here talking to me and not in the pilot's seat."
Murdock stuck his tongue out at Face and skipped back down the aisle to the pilot's seat.
They landed in Italy a few hours later and after B.A's usual "I'm on a plane!" rant, they settled in to the hotel that Stockwell had previously arranged.
Hannibal looked at his watch, only 3 more hours until he was supposed to have Face at the arranged meeting place. Stockwell told him that Lorenzo Angelo's main operation was out in a warehouse by the docks. Once he had heard that, the term 'sleeping with the fishes' kept running through his mind.
Stockwell had kept his word on everything up to now, and Hannibal was counting on Face not being harmed. Lying to his team was bad enough, but if something happened to Face, he didn't have to worry about the team forgiving him, he would never forgive himself.
"Hey Hannibal, what leads we got on this missin kid?" B.A asked, walking into the hotel room, Murdock, Face and Frankie right behind him.
Hannibal almost forgot what B.A was talking about, but he covered quickly hoping no one would notice.
"There is this warehouse down by the docks, Face and I will check it out in a few hours, you and Murdock walk discreetly around the area, see if you can pick up on anything. Frankie, hang around here, Stockwell is supposed to call.
Hannibal watched Murdock, B.A and Frankie nod their heads, and felt relieved when Face joined, though a twinge of guilt made his stomach flutter.
"Face will be fine and we'll all get our pardon's." was the mantra he repeated to himself.
Face forced himself to relax. He knew Hannibal and Hannibal had never lied to him, why would he now? This was just another mission, and the sooner it was over the better he would feel.
As the hours passed, Hannibal glanced at his watch and and noticed it was time for he and Face to leave.
"Come on kid, let's get going. We'll see you guys later."
Face grabbed his coat, and after playfully tagging Murdock on the arm, ran after Hannibal.
They rode to the docks in silence, both not knowing what to say to the other. Hannibal parked the in an alley within viewing distance of the docks and got out. Face followed suit, fear pitting in his stomach and he didn't know why.
"Hannibal, you sure this is the place? I gotta bad feeling on this one. "
Hannibal snatched a cigar from his pocket and stuck it between his teeth. He looked around also having a bad feeling, but putting more faith in Stockwell than he ever thought he would, he turned to Face with what he hoped was a confident and reassuring smile.
"Sure kid, this is gonna be a piece of cake. Let's go."
Face, not feeling the least bit reassured, nodded anyway and followed Hannibal towards the docks.