41 Sparkling Stones

AN: I know it's been a while. Problems with my hard drive meant no access to some already started work on this chapter. I'm sorry about making you wait.

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

"I'd rather be there at the hospital, even if I have to wait in the van to hear word, Colonel. I can stay out of sight. You know I can."

Hannibal glanced sharply in the rear view mirror at the con man. Face refusing to stay in a motel room all alone with an attractive woman, even though both of them were in pretty rough shape, was a first.

He took in the milky whiteness of his Lieutenant's face and his slightly glazed eyes and knew that the adrenaline from the rescue and escape was quickly dissipating.

The kid looks like he's going to pass out any minute now. But he'll fight it if there's a chance of changing my mind about dropping the two of them off and going to the hospital alone.

The older man had expected Face to argue his decision. If he hadn't, Hannibal would know there was a more serious injury the Lieutenant was hiding from him.

But it would be better if he and Melody get cleaned up and rest, then use whatever disguise they need to get in to see Murdock.

He pushed back the last memory he had of the Captain, the anguished pleas as the orderlies took him into the emergency room. Hannibal knew no amount of words would convince Murdock that Face and Melody were still alive unless he actually saw them. For a fleeting moment, he was jealous that as leader, his bond with his men could not be as close as the brotherly link between Murdock and Face.

No, I have to be the one to order them to do things that endanger their lives, the one to make the hard decisions.

The Colonel decided not to answer Face's protests. Instead, he focused his attention on the fire trucks parked near the barn the trio had fled. The flashing red and white lights cut through the drifting smoke in the field and created a sinister atmosphere. The flames, fueled by dried grass, had already grown. Several firefighters tamped out any new advances the flames made toward the old barn behind them. That was all the Colonel had time to notice before he drove past.

Jack and his men were nowhere to be seen. Hannibal wondered in which direction they ran.

With our luck the way this vacation has gone, we'll spook them trying to break into the van.

He neared the faint twin depressions in the ditch that showed where earlier he had driven the van up the hill. Turning off the headlights, he gritted his teeth and veered off the road, ramming the sedan up the rugged incline.

Face stifled a sharp hiss of pain as the car hit a deep furrow. "Sorry," Hannibal muttered.

Hope Jack doesn't mind what I do to this fine car of his.

He didn't want to rip the undercarriage out before he got near the van. Neither Melody nor Face would be able to walk very far when they changed vehicles.

The black van loomed in the darkness and Hannibal relaxed a little. Swerving to the right, he slammed the sedan into 'Park' and shut off the engine. Fishing in his jacket pocket, he took out a pen and piece of paper and started to write, using the dashboard as a desk.

"What're you doin', Colonel? Thought we needed t' be out of here in a hurry." Face was slurring more of his words and Hannibal realized he didn't have much time before the Lieutenant wouldn't be able to get to the van under his own power.

"Writing a note to the authorities to let them know when they find this car, who owns it and the sparkling stones in the barn down there."

That is, if Jack didn't have the foresight to grab the loot and scram before the fire trucks got here.

Hannibal finished the note and opened the car door, pinning the page to the windshield with the wiper.

Now to take care of a little business before we get out of here.

He poked his head inside the car and made eye contact with Face. "Stay here," he instructed the con man. "I need to do something with the guy who led me here before we make the transfer over to the van. We're not taking him with us."

Face weakly nodded, then seemed to think of something. "Hannibal. Wait. You said 'sparkling stones'? You wouldn't mean like these, would you?" The con man felt around in his pants pocket and retrieved something. Even in the dim light cast by the fire below and the moon above, Hannibal saw the glitter of multiple facets in Face's cupped palm.

Leaning into the sedan, the Colonel let a satisfied grin settle on his face and took the gems from Face's hand. "Exactly like those. Glad you were able to scoop up some of the evidence before we left." He opened the glove compartment, noting the handgun already occupying the space, and deposited the jewels. Grabbing the note on the windshield, he jotted down another line and tucked it back under the wiper.

Face slumped back against the seat and closed his eyes. "Glad I could be . . . of service. Too bad . . . it's prob'ly stolen goods. They looked . . . high quality."

Melody gently stroked his cheek with one hand and murmured something to him. Hannibal smirked, seeing the faint smile she received in response, and knew the Lieutenant had scored a few points with her by his actions.

"And now to take out the trash so we can get out of here." Hannibal frowned toward the van where faint thumping noises and muffled shouts were coming. "I'll be only a minute. You two relax."

He could see from the way Face relished the attention Melody was showering on him that they already were. With another smirk, he turned to his next task.