17. Amanda's Choice
Disclaimer: I do not own The A Team movie or television series or any of the delightful characters found on The A Team.
Maggie whirled toward the sound of breaking glass, backing up against the exam table as she did. Fox swung a leg over the sill and climbed through the opening. He stood swaying and gripping the bat in both hands as if ready to hit a home run.
"Lemme see mah girl, Doc, or yer gonna be sorry," he growled.
The doctor shook her head and spread her arms out to either side as if to protect the woman and child behind her. "Nothing doing, Russell. You'll have to come through me."
In response, Fox drew the bat even further back over his shoulder and above his head. He was seconds away from swinging it.
From behind her, Maggie heard Amanda sobbing in counterpoint to the healthy wails of her newborn child. Her own heart was thundering in her chest as she waited for the first blow.
For once, she wished she kept her service pistol in a drawer of the nearby cabinet instead of in the living room.
A second later, the door to the examination room slammed open, rattling the framed pictures on the wall.
"Trouble, ladies?" John analyzed the situation quickly. Pointing his Smith and Wesson at the intruder, he edged toward the doctor and her charges and gave Maggie a quick squeeze around the waist. Glaring at Fox he growled, "I can tell you my pistol trumps your baseball bat in a fight, friend. Drop it."
The inebriated boyfriend sobered when he saw the weapon. The bat clattered to the floor and he raised both hands in surrender. "Don' shoot, mister. Jus' wanted ta see mah baby," he blubbered.
Hannibal's eyes were a steely gray as he scrutinized the man in front of him. Nodding at Fox, he muttered to Maggie, "He sure is a persistent bastard, isn't he?"
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Letting him hold her, she rested her head on his shoulder for a moment and willed her legs to stop being so rubbery.
She found her voice and murmured, "Persistent and not very smart. If I'm not mistaken, this is a case of criminal trespass or vandalism, at the very least."
"I think you're right, Doc. But I may be able to persuade our friend here to take it outside where he and I can settle this in a reasonable manner." Hannibal gave the other man a chilling grin. "Don't you?"
"Ah got no battle with you, mister. Jus' wanted ta see mah baby," Fox repeated, his gaze intent on the hand holding the gun.
"Mo?" Hannibal used the name everyone who were friends with her called Maggie. Even if the man standing in front of him was inebriated and violent, she was the physician and it was her practice. It was ultimately her decision whether or not to allow the father to see his own child. Hers and the young lady's.
Maggie had moved to the foot of the table. Amanda was still in labor. The placenta had to be delivered, examined for any abnormalities. More had to be done now that the baby was delivered and Fox had interrupted that.
"Not when he's drunk like this, John." Looking up from what she was doing, her dark eyes flashed with anger and disgust at the man who moments before threatened her.
"You heard the lady. She said no. Let's take it outside, pal." Hannibal's voice was cool and collected. He stepped back toward the table and placed the pistol on the table with the rest of Maggie's surgical instruments. "I'm sure you won't need this, but just in case . . . "
She nodded. "Just don't make more work for me. I don't want to have to stitch him up. Or you either. Okay?"
The young woman on the examination table pushed herself into a semi-sitting position.
"Don't hurt him, mister. Please? He'll leave. Won't you, honey?" Amanda clutched the bundle containing her crying infant to her chest.
Maggie shook her head as she listened. She knew what was coming. Glancing up at John, she saw his frown of disbelief and realized he knew, too.
For several seconds all that could be heard in the examination room was the crying infant, Amanda's sniffles, Fox's harsh breaths and the song of a robin perched in a tree outside the smashed window.
"Get out of here," Hannibal growled. His voice had a resigned quality to it.
Fox staggered toward the door, stopping only to glare back at Maggie. "This ain' done, Doc. Not near 'nough."
Hannibal made a move toward the drunken man. Fox hesitated for a second, then stumbled out of the door and through Maggie's living room, slamming the front door as he left.
Glancing at the two women and taking his pistol back, the Colonel nodded toward the living room. "He's gone for now. I think I'll sit out there and make sure he doesn't come back. Leave this door open just in case. Okay?"
Maggie paused, the suturing needle in her hand. "I'll fix us both a new pot of coffee as soon as I'm done." She added with a grim smile, "I'm so glad you were here."
"So am I, sweetheart, so am I," he muttered as he moved the chair directly in front of the open door and sat down.