18. Protecting the Defenseless

Disclaimer: I do not own The A Team movie or television series or any of the delightful characters found on The A Team.

Hours later, Hannibal sat with Maggie on the front porch swing, his arm loosely draped around her shoulders. They both held mugs of coffee in their hands and listened to grasshoppers whirring in the taller grasses. Amanda and her newborn daughter rested in a downstairs bedroom until the doctor was certain both were healthy enough to be released.

"I don't know for sure where she's going to go with little Rosa Jane when she leaves this house. From what I've heard, Russ had her move in with him as soon as he found out she was pregnant." Maggie sipped at her coffee and leaned her head back. Closing her eyes, she grimaced before adding, "So now she's so dependent on him she's afraid to be on her own again. He's convinced her that she deserves nothing better than him."

Hannibal said nothing. He gently squeezed her arm in response. He wasn't sure what to say. A woman like Amanda Sunderson who continued to return to a man who beat her . . . that was difficult for Hannibal to understand. It was harder still for him to understand a man like Russell Fox who not only beat his girlfriend but jeopardized the life of his own offspring.

After a few seconds of silence, she sighed and tilted her head to rest on his shoulder. "I know I can't read her mind but I can almost predict that she'll be back with him before Rosa's two weeks old. I wish she wouldn't but I've seen that happen too much to think it'll be any different this time."

"Filing that complaint against him will keep him away for a few days at least. You did the right thing, Doc. Even if Miss Sunderson refuses to file a complaint against him, he'll have to appear in court with those charges of attempted assault, trespassing and vandalism." He narrowed his eyes at the memory of the drunken man posed to hit Maggie with the baseball bat and tightened his hold on her.

"In the meantime, I suggested to Amanda that she ask her mother in Oregon if she can go up there with Rosa for an extended visit. She seemed to agree. As long as Russell doesn't talk to her and persuade her otherwise, I think she'll do that. I'm going to check and see what's she's decided after you go." She cuddled closer and shivered slightly.

"If she needs an escort up there to make sure Fox doesn't do anything, we can see about getting a chopper and have Murdock and Face accompany her. It'll get her there in a hurry, maybe before he finds out what her plans are." Hannibal sipped his coffee.

"And what would you be doing while they do that?" she murmured, a small smile on her lips.

"Guarding you." He set down his coffee mug and turned toward her. Cupping her chin in his hand, he looked into her brown eyes. He was not smiling. "Do you honestly think Fox is going to leave you alone once he gets out of jail and finds out Amanda and Rosa are gone?"

She sniffed and gave a soft bitter laugh. "No, I guess not. But you can't stay here forever, John. It isn't safe for you." She brushed her lips against his before sighing and settling back into his arms again. "Besides, this is my home. I can't live in fear all my life because of men like him. I have to do what's right, and giving Amanda and her little one a head start by pressing charges against Fox does that."

"You're some lady, Captain Sullivan. Smart, brave, looking out for the weak and defenseless . . . " His voice trailed off as he heard her chuckle.

"You're no slouch in those departments yourself, Colonel Smith."

They listened to the song of a robin high up in a pine tree and finished their coffee in silence.

With regret, Hannibal stood up an hour later and helped Maggie to her feet. Placing both cups on the porch deck railing, he held her hands and gazed somberly into her eyes. "I'm going to get the ball rolling with Face on scamming that helicopter. We can probably get her out of Bad Rock by noon tomorrow at the latest."

Maggie nodded. "If I have to pack her and Rosa myself and walk her out to the airport, I'll make sure she's ready when you are."

"I'll be back in time to drive her out there myself. When Face scams the chopper and springs Murdock, I'll bring them here and we'll get the little ladies on their way." He stroked her cheek with his thumb before giving her a lingering kiss.

Moments later he stepped away and headed down the porch steps. She paused with the empty cups in her hands, watching him as he went. "John?"

He turned at the bottom of the steps and looked up at her.

"Thanks for everything you're doing for Amanda."

Nodding, he added, "You make sure when I'm not here you keep your eyes open. I wouldn't take lightly the threat that slimeball made. It might not hurt to keep your service pistol near you and a telephone within reach if Fox should manage to get out of jail early."

"I'm not sure what my patients would think of my bedside manner if I carried a gun while I treated them." She smirked at the thought.

"That's an order, Captain."

If his words hadn't been accompanied by such a grim expression she might have argued. Instead she meekly nodded and murmured, "Okay."

As Hannibal drove the Corvette he borrowed from Face down the road, Maggie glanced around her and shivered slightly before entering the house. She set the cups in the kitchen sink and went to the drawer where her weapon was kept, checking to see if it was loaded and ready. Then she went to talk to Amanda about the plans to protect her and her baby. She hoped the young mother had not changed her mind.