A/N: Here it is. The final piece of this story. This has been an amazing journey for me, and I want to thank everyone who has read, and is still reading, this. You guys are awesome! Enjoy!
1983
BA found Face up on the roof, just like he'd expected.
The lieutenant had disappeared almost immediately after Amy had left.
They hadn't told the reporter anything. Hannibal didn't explain what he'd meant when he told her the sergeant had found a scrapper. All they told her was that Hannibal had put Face on the team after seeing the kid and reading his file. Of course she had wanted to know more, but none of them elaborated. It took longer than it should've, but she finally got the hint and moved on. But BA knew he hadn't been the only one to notice the look in the lieutenant's eyes. He doubted Amy did, but there was no way Hannibal or Murdock missed it.
Hannibal had advised the sergeant to wait a bit before following when their teammate slipped out. Murdock had added, 'You know how Facey is.'
Indeed, he did. They had come a long way since their first meeting. But the truth of the matter was that BA knew something the others didn't.
After they'd escaped Fort Bragg and found their way to Los Angeles, it was inevitable for Face to have to acknowledge the orphanage, and in doing so he reconnected with the priest who'd helped raise him. That was how Hannibal and Murdock found out Face had conned his way into the Army after he was released from juvie. But they never did find out why he'd been in there in first place. They just assumed it was one of his scams gone wrong. Face never corrected them. And BA never told them he knew the real reason.
But it was how the sergeant knew that Amy bringing up how Face had ended up on the team had also brought up other memories as well. The kid's revelation in the jungle, and subsequent trust that BA would keep it between them was a huge turning point in Face's life.
BA never did figure out why Face told him in the first place. But without a doubt, BA knew that by not sharing that information, despite multiple opportunities to use it against him, he had earned the kid's fragile trust. It was a feat very few accomplished. And doing so had helped the lieutenant realize he could trust the rest of the team as well. It turned them into, not just a team, but also one of the best. They weren't just a team. They were family. And they were the only one Face had ever had.
The kid was used to everyone leaving him to fend for himself. His mother had done it. The orphanage had done it. The courts had done it. The Army did it too. But never the team. The team never left him.
Combs had been killed by a landmine. Reyes was medically discharged and shipped home, only to die two weeks later from diseases he picked up in the POW camp. Ray went home after his tour was over; he'd already extended twice, and was eager to get back to his girl. However, he'd said he would've stayed if he weren't confident that Face would be a good XO to take his place. Even after everything that happened with the bank robbery and becoming fugitives, Ray told Face he hadn't been wrong in his thinking; Face was a good second for Hannibal. And Ray stuck by them. He'd still been in the Army when they were arrested, but left the Army after it became apparent they were going to keep pursuing the team. It hurt them all when he was killed by those stupid punks in his hometown, and it had taken a lot of self-control to not retaliate the way they'd wanted to.
But through it all, Face had never been alone. Sure, there were times when they were all doing their own thing, but they still checked in with each other regularly. Of course, there were also times where Face would disappear for a few days, or three weeks in one particularly ugly incident. After the first time, the lieutenant had learned the hard way to give one of them a heads up if he was going to disappear, and to not be out of contact for more than a couple days without at least calling to check in.
Hannibal had made sure Face learned that lesson without a doubt. Murdock actually asked the colonel why he was being so hard on the kid; they all knew that Face needed time to himself every so often. The colonel's answer was something BA would never forget. Hannibal had said that he had to push Face; had to force him to check in. He'd said he knew that if he let Face get away with it once, then the next time he wouldn't come back; he'd be gone without a trace. The colonel had learned the hard way he had to remind Face that they gave a damn and weren't going anywhere. It was a lesson that almost cost Face everything; he went over an edge Hannibal almost wasn't able to pull him back from.
That had been right after they'd lost Combs. All of them were hurting. But after everything was said and done, they were stronger for it. The aftermath cemented them as family, no matter what might happen down the road. Something that was tested time after time, even to this day.
Throughout everything, they stood by each other no matter what. Even if Face needed the occasional reminder to reinforce it, it was something they all knew as a certainty. Which was why BA knew Face wasn't surprised he'd been followed, nor was he by the first words that came out of the lieutenant's mouth.
"Checking up on me?"
Since the younger man hadn't turned around, BA allowed his smirk. "Somebody's gotta keep an eye on ya," he retorted.
Face chuckled lightly, but kept his gaze out over the city as he leaned against the brick barrier, only glancing out of the corner of his eye when the sergeant joined him.
They just stood there for a few minutes, neither saying anything.
"Hannibal make you wait?"
BA let out a small sigh; of course Face knew he tried to follow sooner. "Yeah."
"I'm fine, BA."
"Really? Then what's with the whisky?" the sergeant challenged, gesturing to the half empty bottle sitting next to the lieutenant's arm.
Face shrugged. "Nostalgia."
"Bullshit."
That got the lieutenant's attention. He met the hard gaze of the man who, even in Vietnam, didn't drink and rarely cursed. But then Face remembered who he was talking to and sighed, turning back to look out over the skyline.
Silence reigned for a few more moments before BA asked quietly, "You ever check up on him?"
Taking a deep breath, the lieutenant let it out slowly before replying softly, "He died two years ago. Complications from a surgery; some new procedure that might've helped him regain some movement or feeling."
BA didn't say anything, just placed a hand on the younger man's shoulder.
Face took a long swig out of the bottle before asking a question of his own. "How're they doing?"
"Good," the sergeant answered. "Last time I called, Linda said he'd taken the kids camping. Oldest gettin' ready to graduate high school."
"Good for them," Face smiled, but BA recognized the faraway look in those blue eyes.
Nudging his friend, the sergeant said, "Come on. Murdock's down there cookin'. Don' want that crazy fool burnin' the place down."
Chuckling, Face nodded. Grabbing the bottle, he followed BA.
Entering the staircase, BA stopped when the lieutenant put a hand on his shoulder.
"Ya know BA, if you ever want a rematch, just let me know," Face said lightly before adding with a smirk, "If you think your pride can handle another loss."
"Watch it sucka!" BA growled.
0
Hannibal and Murdock turned when they heard the door open. They shared a grin when their two teammates walked in; Face laughing and BA scowling and growling.
A/N: Hope you guys liked the ending! This story is officially complete. I did leave it open though, so that I may decide to add more stories to this timeline/universe. I also have a few other ideas for A-Team stories that I want to write. So I'm definitely not done :) However, I will be focusing on a story I started in another fandom now that this one is complete. So no guarantees on when I'll have a new A-Team story.
Anyway, like I said before, THANK YOU to all of you who've been reading (especially those that have been with me from the beginning)! I know it's be over a year since I started this, and some updates may have taken a while, but hey, I finally finished! Hope you all enjoyed reading as much as I did writing. And as always, reviews are greatly appreciated!