Every Thought Captive
Disclaimer: I do not own The A Team movie or television series or any of the delightful characters found on The A Team.
Chapter 87 Murdock's Answer
For several minutes after B. A. left the room Murdock let the two children huddle close to him. He kept his arms around them and murmured reassurances until he felt Mia's frightened trembling slowly fade away.
"I won' let th' big mudsucker do anythin' t' hurt ya. I promise."
Tonio was the first to leave his protective arm. Twisting around to gaze up into the pilot's eyes, he asked, "Is he always angry like that?"
Murdock smiled, more to calm the children than anything else. He was still furious over B. A.'s gruffness with the children and Hannibal's over-protectiveness. "He acts that way most o' th' time but he don' mean anythin' by it. Most o' th' time. But . . . " He looked at each child in turn. ". . . it wouldn' hurt t' stay outta his way . . . 'specially if he's workin' on his van."
Mia touched the bandage on Murdock's throat, chewing her lower lip as she did. "Was he the one that did that to you? Does it hurt?"
The pilot thought back to Hanson's attack on Cazador and the nightmarish out-of-body near-death experience he had with Billy. He shook his head, mostly to force the memories to retreat into the darkest places of his mind. Clearing his throat to rid himself of the lump that had formed, he replied huskily, "No . . . no, li'l darlin', B. A. didn' do this t' me. He wouldn'. See, most o' th' time th' four o' us . . . Hannibal, B. A., Faceman 'n' me . . . we work t'gether t' help people that're in trouble. I get on th' Big Guy's nerves sometimes but he jus' barks without a lotta bite."
Part of himself wondered how all of that would change once he became Mister Cazador's employee.
But I gotta know if I'll ever fit in out here in th' real world. Don' I?
He grinned to lighten the mood. "Ya wanna know a secret?"
The two children, eyes wide with curiosity, drew closer to listen.
He whispered, "That big guy? He don' like t' fly. Ever. Gets all panicky. We a'ways gotta give 'im somethin' t' make 'im sleep b'fore I fly 'em anywhere."
"Really?" Mia whispered back. She had not left her position, sheltered under his arm.
"Really," Murdock murmured, nodding. He touched the bandage and held back a grimace. "'N' this li'l cut? It don' hurt much. B'fore ya know it, it'll be all healed up 'n' good as new."
He wondered if the same could ever be said for his mind.
oooooo
B. A. found Scanlon in the hallway guarding the bedroom entrance. He noted the cut bottom lip with a small degree of surprised satisfaction, then met the bodyguard's cold stare.
Fool musta got in a good punch. Scanlon won't let him do it again, I bet. Fool won't get the chance.
"What do you need?" Scanlon shifted position and blocked the way down the hall to Cazador's office.
B. A. sized up the bodyguard for a moment, noting the man's squared shoulders and clenched fists. Scanlon was ready to block any wrong move B. A. might make.
Won't mix it up wit' him now but when Hannibal gives the word, I ain' holdin' nothin' back.
"The Captain's woke up. He wants ta talk ta your boss an' the Colonel." B. A. stepped to one side, the other man moving in the same direction.
"I can get Mister Cazador for you but your Colonel isn't here." Scanlon gave the Sergeant a grim smile.
"Where'd he go . . . if it ain' too much bother ta tell me." It surprised B. A. that Cazador gave Hannibal that much freedom.
But maybe Cazador set Hann'bal up ta be caught.
"Don't know." The bodyguard shrugged nonchalantly. "It was none of my business." He pushed aside his jacket and placed his hand on the gun in his shoulder holster. "I will get Mister Cazador. You go back in that room and tell your friend my boss'll be there in a minute."
Just the way Scanlon sneered when he said the word 'friend' sent a small warning bell ringing in B. A.'s head.
If Murdock takes that job, he'd better watch his back. This sucker's got it in for him.
For a second the Sergeant considered pushing past him and taking his chances.
That won't help nobody, me gettin' shot in the back. An' I have no doubt Scanlon'd do that.
B. A. let a deep growl rumble in his chest as he turned to the bedroom door where Murdock and the children were. The pilot wasn't going to like the report he had to give about Hannibal. He paused with his hand on the door knob and gave the bodyguard one more smoldering glare.
"You an' your boss'd better hope the Colonel comes back safe." He knew the other man didn't take his threat seriously. He just had to get it off his chest.
Scanlon narrowed his eyes and his lips tightened but he didn't respond. B. A. pushed open the door and went in, knowing the bodyguard wouldn't move until he did.
oooooo
B. A. hated the suspicious glare Murdock gave him as he re-entered the room. It wasn't like he meant to scare the two kids. Even now, the little girl hugged the pilot's waist and gnawed at her bottom lip as the Sergeant approached.
"So did ya tell 'em?" Murdock's voice had an edge to it that B. A. didn't understand. He drew the children closer to himself as he asked the question.
The Sergeant sank into the arm chair to reduce the threat he seemed to be presenting. Not even that put the little girl at ease. The boy clutched the book they had been looking at to his chest as if it would shield him from attack.
Nothin' I say's gonna make those kids trust me.
He shook his head. "Your friend in the hall wouldn' let me."
"Scanlon ya mean?" Murdock's eyes took on a dangerous glint. "Figures."
"Said Hannibal's gone somewhere. He's gettin' Cazador for ya." B. A. studied the pilot's expression and noted how he tensed with the news about the Colonel.
"Colonel had t' of had a good reason t' take off like that." Murdock frowned. "He's prob'ly makin' sure th' MPs found Jackson. If he doesn' come back in a couple o' hours, ya better fin' out what happened. Don' let Scanlon stop ya neither."
A knock at the door interrupted him. As Scanlon opened it, he scowled at the man in bed before grunting, "Mister Cazador is here."
The Sergeant saw the smoldering glare Murdock gave the bodyguard.
No love lost b'tween those two. Maybe Scanlon better watch his own back.
B. A. twisted in his seat to see the ranch owner. Noticing the black man's reaction, Cazador paused before entering the room.
"You wanted to speak to me, Captain?" The businessman smiled as he noted where the two children were seated. "I see you have met my Tonio and Mia. They've been well-behaved?"
Murdock nodded and smiled back as the two children squirmed off the bed and ran to their grandfather. "We've been lookin' at one o' their fav'rite books."
"How do you feel? Did you get enough rest?" Cazador let the children each grasp one of his hands as he neared the bed.
The pilot glanced at B. A. before answering. "Gonna take some time t' heal up but I slept okay."
"Good . . . good . . . " For a few seconds he seemed to be contemplating. "You may go, Mister Scanlon. Keep watch outside for anyone coming down the driveway. Let me know immediately if we get any visitors of the military type. They are not to enter the house. I will speak to them outside."
"Yes sir, Mister Cazador." B. A. saw the vehement glare passed between his team mate and the bodyguard before Scanlon left the room.
Murdock sank back into the pillows as soon as the door closed. The Sergeant noticed how weak the pilot suddenly seemed.
"You wanted to talk to me?" Cazador sat in the other armchair, allowing his grandchildren to climb into his lap.
Seems so harmless with the kids sitting there with him. Hard ta believe he smuggles weapons as a side line.
Murdock shot a quick look at B. A. and the two children. Licking his lips, he paused before saying anything. "I kind o' wanted t' talk t' both you 'n' th' Colonel. In private. I made a d'cision 'bout that thing we were talkin' 'bout earlier." He gazed intently at the businessman.
Cazador pursed his lips and scrutinized the pilot's serious expression. "Tonio, why don't you take Mia to the kitchen and ask the cook to dish you both up some ice cream."
Mia scrambled off her grandfather's lap and ran to the door. Looking back, she pleaded with her brother. "Come on, Tonio! What's taking you so long?"
Tonio crawled down and turned to stare at the man in the bed. "Aw, Grampa! I wanna know if Captain Murdock's gonna teach me how to fly!" The young boy drew nearer to the pilot and clutched his hand. "Please? Please stay, Captain. I wanna learn everything you know about flyin'."
Murdock gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "That's what your grampa 'n' me's gonna talk 'bout. But I promise ya, soon as we're done you 'n' me'll look at yer book some more 'n' talk 'bout flyin'. Okay?"
The boy gave him one more beseeching look. "Please? Say yes, Captain."
"Tonio, if the Captain wishes to talk to me in private, you must do as he says. That's the first step to learning anything from him: do what he says without question." Cazador said it sternly. A smile tickled at the corners of his mouth.
The boy turned to his grandfather and ducked his head in shame. Mumbling "Yes sir" he trudged reluctantly across the plush carpet. He clasped his sister's hand and pulled her out the door. "C'mon, Mia," he muttered.
With a grim set to his mouth, Murdock turned his gaze on B. A. and cleared his throat. "Go watch for Hann'bal, Big Guy. Make sure he comes home safe."
Home? This ain' our home.
B. A. growled under his breath before answering. "Hannibal wanted me ta stay here."
"As long as Captain Murdock was sleeping. He's awake now. Your Colonel should be back soon. As soon as he is, you can ask him what your orders were." Cazador directed his comment to B. A. but kept his gaze on Murdock. The two men appeared to have some kind of mutual understanding between them. And that made B. A. uncomfortable.
The Sergeant hesitated.
I got a bad feelin' what the fool wants ta talk ta Cazador about. Sure wish Hannibal was here ta talk him outta it.
"Aw, B. A! I'm gonna be fine." The pilot raised his hands and made a shooing gesture. "Now go on! Shoo! Skedaddle!"
Lumbering to his feet, B. A. strode to the door and yanked it open.
There's no reasoning I can do ta make him wait for Hannibal ta show up.
Closing the door none too gently behind him, the black man muttered, "But maybe Faceman can."
Not seeing any sign of Scanlon, B. A. turned toward the second bedroom where the Lieutenant kept vigil beside Amy's bed.
Fool's gotta listen ta someone.
oooooo
As soon as B. A. left the room, Murdock turned serious eyes on Cazador. "Now t' business."
Cazador nodded grimly, unwilling to rush the pilot. "The offer still stands."
The man in the bed swallowed hard and averted his gaze to the patchwork quilt covering him. A wave of emotions passed through him, leaving him feeling suddenly weaker, less certain, than moments before.
"Captain, if you still need it, I can give you as much time and space as you require to . . . "
Murdock passed a slightly trembling hand over his eyes. "No . . . no, I think I know what I wanna do." He swallowed again and rested his gaze on the other man. "I jus' gotta have some things set in stone b'fore I say yes. Like my guys leave here safe 'n' sound."
Cazador smiled. "Of course. They are free to go when your Miss Allen and your friend Lieutenant Peck are healed and well enough to leave. They will not be detained by anyone here. Is there anything else?""
"No phone calls 'r talkin' t' no one 'bout them ever bein' here." He knew he was making a bargain with someone who had been involved in some very illegal business. But Cazador was a grandfather.
That means somethin', don' it? B'sides, he reads 'Peter Pan' t' his grandkids 'n' teaches 'em t' fly. He can' be all bad.
He tried to ignore the nagging voice in his head that forced him to recall the visual image of the snipers on the roof as Hannibal and the others arrived at the farmhouse.
"I have no intention on making your friends' trip back to Los Angeles difficult. But with the increased military presence in this area due to Jackson and those weapons, I would suggest they wait for a couple of weeks before they go. Things should quiet down by then. That will also give you the opportunity to see how things operate around here and time to say goodbye."
Murdock flinched at the last word. It sounded so final.
But what I'm 'bout t' agree to really is final, ain' it?
"'Nother thing. If Hann'bal says he needs me for a mission, ya won' stan' in my way 'n' keep me from goin'."
Cazador narrowed his eyes at that. After a few moments of solemn scrutiny, he slowly nodded.
"Within reason, o' course. If ya gotta have me fly ya somewhere 'r somethin' else . . . well, yer my boss . . . " Murdock's voice faded off as he thought about what he just said.
My boss? Am I that sure 'bout it?
His eyes met the watchful black eyes of the businessman. Cazador was smiling. "I think we can come to an agreement about that, Captain. The job is yours if you want it."
The pilot looked down at his hands again and swallowed. After a moment's reflection, he stammered, "Yes sir. Yes, I want th' job."