A/N: Murdock's thoughts are shown in italics. *The voices in Murdock's head are shown with asterisks*
Murdock felt like he was under water and he was slowly coming to the surface. He tried to pull himself back down.
'I have to stay. I can't go back.'
*What's it matter? They've already hurt Face.*
*And BA is dead, remember?*
'But Hannibal is still safe, right?'
*Maybe.*
*You're so weak you probably talked.*
*You never were good for anything.*
'No!'
*Hannibal might be hurt. Or dead. And it's all your fault!*
'No! I didn't talk! I'd never betray Hannibal!' Murdock felt himself start trembling. He had to stay away, he couldn't come back. He had to protect Hannibal.
He felt someone shake him. "Wake up, fool. Come on, Murdock, wake up!"
'BA? That's BA!'
*No. BA is dead.*
'No, no. That's BA!'
*Thats what they want you to think. So you'll talk.*
*They know you'll trust him. He's not real.*
Murdock slowly opened his eyes and looked up.
BA looked down at him, almost smiling. "Hey, man. How ya feelin'?"
Tears started running down Murdock's face. It looked like BA. It sounded like BA. But how could he know for sure?
*They're good. They know you'll believe it's really BA.*
*If you talk, they'll get Hannibal.*
'I have to protect Hannibal.'
BA saw the fear in Murdock's eyes. "It's okay, fool."
The look of fear stayed on Murdock's face. BA glanced at the door to be sure no one was watching. Then, very gently, BA took Murdock up in his arms and held him close. Murdock tried to push himself away at first.
This man was strong like BA. Maybe, just maybe, it was BA.
Murdock buried his face in big man's shoulder. Even if this wasn't really BA, he made Murdock feel safe. Maybe Henry and Decker would stay away from him now.
~~AT~~AT~~AT~~AT~~
Hannibal moaned as he shut the alarm off. On the other side of the bed, Face rolled over, but didn't wake up. Hannibal forced himself to his feet. It was time for him to relieve BA.
He yawned as he opened the door to the next room. He started to walk in, then froze. BA was rocking Murdock in his arms! Hannibal smiled. BA could hide it all he wanted, but they knew the truth. The big man was nothing but a teddy bear!
BA looked up at Hannibal. "He woke up once."
"Good. Was he okay?"
"He was scared. Didn't seem to know who I was."
"Did he say anything?"
"No."
Hannibal sat on the side of the bed and watched Murdock closely. "I hope the shaking in his hands go away completely, like Richter says it will."
"Me, too. Poor fool's already got enough wrong with him. Don't need nothin' else."
BA tried to lay Murdock back down on the bed. Murdock's eyes shot open and he clung to BA like a frightened child.
"It's okay, man. Hannibal's here. He'll stay with ya."
Murdock looked at Hannibal. Hannibal smiled and held his hand as BA laid him down. Murdock's glance moved quickly between BA and Hannibal.
"We're both here with you, son. You're safe now."
'Hannibal? He's alright!'
*Just another trick.*
'No! It's the colonel. The guys are here for me!'
*Where's Face?*
'He's fine. He has to be! I'd die if anything happened to the Faceman.'
*Interesting.*
Hannibal was worried by the vacant, clouded look in Murdock's eyes. It was as if he wasn't there. "Can you hear me, son?"
*Are you going to answer the fake colonel?*
Murdock was tired, too tired to fight with the voices anymore. He sighed, then drifted off to sleep.
~~AT~~AT~~AT~~AT~~
Richter grabbed the papers he was reading and ran upstairs. "I found it!"
Hannibal motioned for him to keep quiet around the sleeping pilot. "Found what?"
"I finally found the Vero file."
"Anything interesting?"
"Very. I thought at first that Henry was using left over Vero from the project. But the drug only stays good for up to six weeks. It was about eight years ago that they approached me about using it. The project was shut down about a year after that."
"Which means that someone out there is still making it."
"It seems that way."
Hannibal's eyes twinkled with excitement. "Richter, stay with Murdock. Face needs a lift to the VA."
"The VA? Why?"
"He has an appointment with Dr. Henry's personal files!"