A-Team
The Kidnapping
(Thunk) I glanced up watching another ball of paper miss the
garbage and give Susie a sidelong glance. I feel her pain, I miss the guys too,
especially the crazy one. (Thunk, Thunk, Plunk) She smiles briefly before
sighing miserably and repeating the action.
“She’s made one out of
thirty.” It is more than I can
take and finally I stand returning to my cleaning obsession. I have cleaned
more times than I can count, by the time I finish this round I could swear
everything shines like jewels. This is when I get it; we’re desperate,
miserable and lonely.
“Enough!”
Susie jumps
startled by my voice. Her eyes are wide a frozen shocked look on her face.
“I can’t take it
anymore. It has been a week, you’re miserable and I’m desperately miserable…long
story.” I stop her before she asks. “We need out.” I turn to go to my room and
get ready for a girls night out.
“Out?”
“Yes Susan, O-U-T,
out.” I stop short of slamming my door and hear her mutter going to her own
room.
I know I’m going to
pay for that one; she hates Susan more than anything. I now know I am worn out
and on frazzled nerves. I start to ready myself staring at my closet and
tossing random outfits across the bed. Seeing a familiar outfit I have buried
in the closet I groan and cover my face.
“Damn.”
“You miss him and know
it.”
“Not you again.”
I hadn’t argued
with myself in a full week and now they were back arguing how much I miss
Murdock. Reluctant to continue the usual argument I open the other side of the
closet and find a pair of black jeans. I pull on a long blue sweater with bell
sleeves and leave my hair down.
I walk from my
room, taking note at the face Susie offers before going to the door. I mutter a
few less than pleasant words before opening the door and facing off with one of
our rather irritating tenants. In very few words I point out that Susie and I
both have boyfriends and shut the door in his face. “Boyfriend?” I did not see
that as accurate to describe Murdock, but it wasn’t like I didn’t want that to
be so.
Susie stops short
of stepping on my feet and eyes me curiously. “You called me Susan…do
you have a death wish?” I wave her off and exit the apartment; I can hear her
rushing after me.
Walking down the
stairs and outside I take in the warm air and glance up at our building. I hate
thinking about the guys being off on adventures without us. Susie notices the
issue I have and starts to ask, this is where I duck into the jeep and shut the
door on her protests.
We drive in silence
to a local dance bar and club. I glance up at the neon sign ignoring the club
name and stalk through the double doors. Susie is right at my heels observing
the dull gloom of the club and watching the others inside. I walk straight to
the bar and order a drink, her eyes bug at the drink of choice before she
observes the couples dancing and orders her own.
I finally seat
myself at the bar and stare straight ahead at the many bottles of liquor. I can
feel her eyes on me and continue to sip at my drink. “
“I wish I knew
myself.”
She is now silent
staring ahead as well. I stand and go over to play a game of pool, without
paying attention someone joins me and I continue to shoot. I don’t bother to
look at the guy that seems interested in me and continue to go about my
business.
I stop sensing his
presence over my shoulder and sigh righting myself from my shot. “Please do not
hit on me, flirt or ask to buy me anything. I’m in no mood.” Somehow that
doesn’t seem to work and I turn watching him duck into the shadows.
I turn hearing
Susie’s startled sound and leave the game and stick behind. I smack straight
into a large figure and stagger before feeling someone steady me. I finally
glance over at Susie and watch her steadily slap face for scaring the crap out
of her.
I realize I had run
smack into B.A. and glance behind me seeing Hannibal grin and sigh. “He feels
like a brick wall and thanks Hannibal.” B.A grins at my reference before I get
the strangest feeling and turn to return to the pool table.
I can see him
standing hidden in the shadows and walk right up slapping his arm.
“Hey!” just like I
suspected Murdock stumbles away staring at me in surprise.
“Damn you, and damn
your invisible friends too.” I decide I don’t need this confusion and leave the
bar, the others don’t even notice me.
I know I can’t
leave Susie behind and am sure their all going to return to the housing
complex. I start down the street to clear my head; I don’t care about the
rushing familiar feet or the muttering to his invisible dog Billy.
He had admitted I
had won but I didn’t feel like I had. I felt strangely cheated, maybe a bit
muddled. Winning the way he had said it didn’t quite sound like it was true,
yes his kiss had made me rethink everything but unfortunately too much.
“Where’s the fire!”
I make a face and
turn sharply into a dark alley; he isn’t going to catch up to me if I can
manage it. Unfortunately the alley is a dead end and I walk smack into the wall
on my way to leave.
“Ow.”
A hand catches my
wrist but I pull back. “
I hear the
confusion in his voice and hesitantly meet his dark eyes. I had won but was it
real or just him surrendering?
“Did I truly win or
was that just to get me to back off?”
“Huh?”
“Murdock…” I sigh
sometimes his persona of crazy and sane take all my patience to handle. “…Did
you give in because I admitted feelings or are you just trying to keep me happy
in your own crazy…
Surprised I feel
his lips against mine and am pulled tightly into his arms; clearly his answer
wasn’t just a way to get me to back off. Those eyes tell me everything despite
the insane one inside.
“Crazy fool.” His
grin is catching and I can’t help but smile in turn.
“That’s B.A.’s
usage.” I watch him wave at something and wonder what his next fantastic
invisible danger is this time. “It’s annoying, those darn gremlins still are
following us.”
“Is Sally still
being persistent?”
“Um…Billy actually
did eat her, she became rather violent.”
I pull his hat down
and make my way out of the alley; his arm is immediately around my waist
following me back to the club. Inside I see Hannibal sizing up a shot and hear
Susie protest vehemently, she hates loosing.
“I swear that jazz
is all you ever have going through your veins.” I laugh at her sour look and
watch face hand her a drink, surprisingly she seems just drunk enough to pole
dance. “I don’t feel…
“And she’s off.”
Susie makes a mad dash past the crowd and to the ladies room. “Her and tequila
don’t do so well together.” I watch Face make his way through the crowd to her
rescue.
Hannibal arches a
brow watching me sipping at the same choice. “I handle it fine…to an extent.” I
can see three sets of eyes on me and stick out my tongue at each of them.
“Limit…one bottle.” I laugh when Murdock chokes on the coke in his hand and
note Hannibal’s amused laughter.
“Not often I hope
girl.” I give B.A a look that is lost when I see his dark look.
“No…not fond of
hangovers thank you.”
Now all of them are
eyeing me again. Murdock swipes my drink and studies me closely, I know
reaching out won’t do me a bit of good; he’s a good deal taller than I am. I
make a gesture to hand it over and he offers me that familiar smug grin.
Stupidly I reach
and find it significantly out of my range. “How much have you had?” I see that
rare sanity and know he’s serious. “Billy doesn’t like how you step on his tail
at the moment.” I cringe and like always play along and step off the invisible
dogs tail.
“I’m not
answering.”
“She’s had two
bottles and a half…if you give that back.” Susie sound hoarse and looks pale, I
note that Face is holding her up and giving me a surprised look.
Murdock at this
walks over and dumps the rest of my drink before coming back to us. I wonder
what he has on his mind and note Hannibal and the others indicate that they’re
heading back in the van. I had planned on leaving my car and taking a cab, I
refused to drink and drive.
Murdock talks with
Hannibal for a few minutes and immediately grasps my arm taking me to my own
car and promptly shuts my door behind me. Apparently he doesn’t like me
drinking myself silly over something stupid, clearly he likes me and I won fair
and square.
Halfway back to the
house he speaks. “Why so much?” glancing straight ahead I don’t want to answer.
“
I hiccup which
isn’t really a shock and turn to stare out the window. He knows he won’t get an
answer but I also can guess he won’t quit. The jeep stops outside the
apartment, I can tell the others are already upstairs and leave to make my way
up those familiar stairs to the safety of my room. (My room the place that I
don’t have to answer to anyone.)
“Answer him, you’re
not intoxicated that far.”
“MYOB.”
I agitatedly make
my way up the stairs; the staggering sensation is not helping me in the least
and smack into the apartment door. I drop my key twice before it goes into the
lock and stop; I hear nothing inside and wonder briefly if the others really
were there.
I push and find the
door is locked; I easily remedy that and shut the door firmly behind me. “Hey?”
I give Susie the
look of death and march into my room; I hear the low voices of the others and
know they’re discussing my attitude at the moment. I also know that she
probably told the others that I was interested in Murdock and that they were
assuming the worst.
“Go away Susan.”
I lift my pillow
over my head grateful for my silk pajamas and the darkness of my room. I
remember my angry rampage and why I avoided Murdock the other night. I yelp in
surprise hearing a radio blast a wake up bugle and nearly fly from my bed.
I cover my ears
against the noise and throbbing of my head. “Damn you Murdock.” I glare at him
watching him lower his hat over his dark gaze and observe the tape deck shut
off. “Was that necessary? I have a hang over and…
His almost
sarcastic smile bugs me and I stop. “I needed your full attention now that
you’re sober.” My glare doesn’t even dent his smirk.
“You got it…the
hard way.”
“Coffee?”
Curious I watch him
sneak into the barely visible light with two cups of the hot beverage and watch
him sit beside me. I reluctantly take the offer and wait for the lecture to
come. He blind-sides me when his hand gently cups my cheek drawing me into a
soft kiss before I meet those dark eyes.
“Why and what
happened to you last night?”
I wince at his
strange tone and sip the coffee; my head feels like a marching band doing some
heavy metal song. Food sounds really lousy and with that observation I hand
over the coffee and run full tilt diving into my bathroom.
Brushing my teeth
and scowling at my reflection I glance over my shoulder. I don’t want to face
him and know my own issues; he doesn’t need to deal with them at this point in
time. I like him and don’t want this to worm its way through us.
“Tell him.”
“Nope.”
“At least hint at him
what’s going on.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You need to tell him
your fears and why it isn’t intimacy.”
“Don’t go there,
that isn’t even on my mind.”
I again feel stupid
talking to myself, rather arguing with myself and wonder how long I’ve been
hiding out. A bathroom just cornered me to an attack and left me open for a
confrontation.
I hear a light
tapping and flinch, some days it just doesn’t pay me to wake up. I know
avoiding him forever in the bathroom will not work. I know as well that he is
very capable of waiting me out, he’s probably half as stubborn as I am or
worse.
“You can’t hide
forever.”
“I can try.” I consider my reflection and brush my hair
out of my face, it’s hopeless to avoid one more insane that oneself. Making a
face I turn to the door and open it, I proceed to duck the tall ones arm and
make myself a comfortable lump in bed again.
I watch him and his
familiar hide his expression with his baseball cap; I hear no signs of his
invisible conversations and wonder if his sane side has kicked in. Naturally I
have been blind sided by that assumption before.
“Billy isn’t happy
and neither am I. What is going on with you?”
“Shit.” Flinching again shows this is a subject I
would rather avoid; clearly he can see this and arches a brow, his hat lifting
with his gentle touch. “I’m disinclined to answer that until I feel the need to
do so.” “Great way to avoid an
answer.” I lower my gaze to the
bed and purposely ignore the stubborn look on his face.
“I think you need
to do so.”
“Not likely.”
“Please?”
“Nope.”
“I won’t leave you
alone, you drank yourself into a hangover and have been sick.”
“So?”
“Susie.”
I regard that
answer, pondering how much he could have learned during my drunken state and
hangover state and that’s when I wince. It would be so like her to state any
issues she had noticed since the last case, including my discomfort with some
shows I like and how I have been cleaning and acting like a mad nutty woman.
“Yes?”
“Murdock, not going
to talk.”
“You’re not leaving
here until you do.”
“Why is that?”
I’m greeted with
silence after my cynical tone; clearly I have more issues than even I’m willing
to admit to myself. I reflexively skitter across the bed away from his approach
and study him with suspicion.
“The mission
bothered you didn’t it?”
“Ick.” I view his observation with dislike; I
don’t like people getting into my head and really don’t like the fact he can so
easily do so. I watch him swat at something and shake my head; he’s still got
gremlins on the brain.
“The concept behind
it did.”
I can’t believe I
just admitted that aloud and cover my head with my hands, the coffee in my
Indian style legs steaming into my face. I didn’t want to talk about it, didn’t
want to ruin the other being back and especially didn’t want to discuss this
with an already complicated subject matter in my mind.
I glance up seeing him
flick his gremlin off his shoulder and watch him nod. He offers an opened hand
and waits expectantly. I lift my coffee from my legs and stare at him for the
longest time, slowly a familiar grin crosses his face and I take the offer.
Standing both of us
exit the living room where I’m greeted with a smooching Face and Susie,
Hannibal and B.A. frozen at the entry way with amused expressions.
“Ew, too early for
that.” I smirk watching Susie jump a mile and see Face glance around with all
pretence of innocence.
“Look who’s
talking.”
“I have hangover
breath, so sorry to disappoint you Susie Q.” she scowls at my amusement and I
duck a flying piece of toast. “Yikes, death by toast in the living room.”
“Clue me in
please?”
For the first time
we notice Amy watching us with confusion in her expression. All fingers point
to Susie and I, I shrug walking over and fill her in to the best of my ability.
Luckily the grin on her face tells me that Susie won’t hear the end of the
morning just yet. We all gather around with breakfast to hear the news that she
has to share with us, nothing all that important until she gets to an article
from another newspaper and explains that the chief of this particular one has
reported his daughter missing, there are no leads and somehow I get the feeling
this is personal interest to Amy.
Hannibal and the
rest of us listen intently. “She’s seven years old and went missing when her
mother took her to a toy outlet, she run off and no one had seen her since. The
family has offered rewards and everything. The father…” here she paused
studying Hannibal intently. “…He asked if I knew where to hire you guys, I
really do write too much on you four.” She points out with a half smile, she’s
joking about that, but the little girl missing grates on all of our nerves.
I watch B.A. walk
around threatening anyone who might have hurt her for twenty minutes before
realizing Hannibal is making plans to meet the father. I know very well that
this mission involves some innocent kid; unfortunately after the last mission
I’m not so sure I’m right to help the A-Team or be in Murdock’s life.
I stand making my
way to the kitchen and then carefully retreat to my room; just maybe they will
forget me for this mission. I can’t handle things right now being so screwy in
my own fashion.
^^^
All heads turn to
the sound of a door shutting, Murdock is on his feet heading that before Susie
makes a strange noise making him pause. Turning slowly almost like he’s facing
a predator and ready to bolt he waits for her to speak.
With his actions
all eyes shift to Susie. “She’s doubting herself at the moment, best friend
information only so don’t ask. Just trust me it isn’t wise to put her
into this mission yet.”
^^^
Pacing seems to be
a common segment with me at the moment. I’m so messed up the fact a kid is in
danger has no bearing on my usual feelings to help them. Kids were one thing I
would not tolerate being hurt and here I am hiding out from a mission that is
necessary.
“Coward.”
“Hush.”
“You can’t hide
forever, on both accounts.”
“Shut up!”
“Seven years old and
crazy man you love.”
“Oh do leave me the
hell alone.”
“More than likely no.
I like my job.”
“Driving me nuts?”
“I thought you were
already, you’re the one in love with a certified crazy man.”
“Damn it.”
I realize arguing
with myself isn’t helping me, but it feels better and has me thinking more
clearly over all my situations. I have to face Murdock, the issues of the last
mission and pull myself together long enough to help some innocent kid from
danger.
“I win again.”
“So it would appear
that way, but only so far.”
“Shit.”
I smile hesitating
in my exit. I’ve gotten myself all psyched up to help and yet can’t bring
myself to open the bedroom door. I can’t bring myself to dive head long into
another mission, I don’t wish to be blind sided so severely again.
I hear the muffled
sound and know it isn’t my room; someone is at the front door.
“Shit on a stick.”
I bolt from my room
and watch everyone freeze before walking attentively to the door. Peering
through the hole I recoil and turn to our friends. In answer four men gather
their things and bolt to the hidden stairwell, while Susie and Amy start a
movie, fast-forwarding to some point in the middle.
Opening the door I
force a smile and watch Colonel Decker eye me with a know-it-all grin. “I’m
here to collect my fugitives.”
“Have at it
Decker.”
I stalk into the
living room and flop between both women. Susie is desperately trying to hide
her grin behind a glass of juice and Amy is just watching the movie. I can feel
Decker and his idiots watching us while they look, I can feel that cold gaze
lurking over my shoulder.
“Have a seat, you
might get into the movie better.” I’m bluntly sarcastic and notice Decker
straighten giving me a dark look. “Find anything significant yet?”
“It’s all clear
sir!”
“I know they’re
here somewhere…you’re obstructing justice.” All three of us eye Decker like he
might be some sort of insect before he huffs and nods to the others to leave.
“I won’t give up on them.”
“They won’t give up on
making your life hell either.” I
smirk at the pleasant thought before escorting the MP’s and Decker from the
apartment. I make sure to slam the door and swear everything in my vocabulary
at them before turning back to the living room. A few minutes later the guys
appear and I turn to go back to my sanctuary.
Back in my room I
continue to argue with myself over pros and cons of the situation. Each new
idea bugs me even more and my approach to breech a subject with Murdock is even
worse. Groaning in miserable defeat I flop on the edge of my bed and mutter
irritably.
“I need to oil
that.” I glance up hearing a soft laugh and watch Murdock close the door walk
over and sit beside me. “Yes?”
“You have too much
running through your mind, you’re going to be sharing a room with me if you
keep it up.” I consider this and sigh, if only that was the case.
“They wouldn’t let
me share a room with you in the V.A. hospital, one I’m not military and two I
think they would deem me fit for a padded room.” I feel his arm wrap around my
shoulders and send him a curious look.
His dark gaze is
strangely intense for someone insane. “I might be able to convince them
otherwise on both accounts.” His sanity is still yet to be determined. “Do I dare
ask what is really going on in that pretty head of yours?”
“Flattery will get
you nowhere fast.”
“Who said I was
flattering you?”
“Cute.” I sigh
staring skyward in hopes of finding the nerve, sadly it isn’t helpful in the
least. “I’m trying to figure us out, my issues with the last mission and this
current one.”
Blunt and to the
point, I wonder how helpful that will be for him. I offer a sidelong peek and
see his contemplative expression; somewhere in those features I can tell I
won’t like his answer. Slowly he waits for my eyes to meet his and offers and
small smile, I definitely won’t like this.
Breathing softly he
takes my hand and makes sure to have my attention. “Billy and Gremlin girl, not
Sally…we all think that us should be on hold. You need to sort your confusion
and help this girl. I’m just something that you have to place aside for now.”
“What!” That was much shriller than I wanted and I watch him wince at the
volume I offer. “You can’t be telling me…
“I’m crazy, not
stupid.”
That of coarse
shuts me up and I watch him stand to go talk with the others over the mission.
He made it a point that I get involved with the mission and no matter what, I’m
stuck with his choice whether I like it or not.
“Now you did it.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“Ouch.”
That settled with
my agitating inner voice I feel tears burn my eyes and wonder what the hell
just happened. Reluctantly I go find a tissue and return to my mission mode,
maybe the pain with buzz off for a bit.
It seems like hours
but eventually the plan is to meet Amy’s friend. Susie and I will wait in the
van while the guys go discuss things with the chief of the paper, and Amy will
join us after searching the area for trouble. I have my suspicions that
Hannibal and the others are doing this on purpose, Susie has far too big a
mouth for her own good sometimes.
I dislike the
storage building for the paper, it holds the carnival rides and such that they
have once a year. The dust is thick and the worst part is the van is hidden
among the darkest and most disgusting part. I ignore the dusty shadow shapes,
spiders and other things in favor of whatever sanity I actually do have. Susie
can clearly see my discomfort, but she can tell that I have more going on than
she can see.
Susie tries to
breech the problem several times, each time I bluntly tell her to shut up and
leave me alone. Ten times is pushing her luck, twenty is grating on my nerves
and twenty one is when I finally snap.
“None of your
fucking business Susie Q.”
Her mouth hangs
open for a long time before snapping close, I never use that sort of language
or anger on her unless something is really hurting or bugging me. She now knows
it is serious and to mind her own P’s and Q’s until I’m ready to talk about it.
“
I turn sharply to
Amy’s urgent cry and all but dive from the van. A few minutes later I see MP’s
sneaking around outside the area and wince, this didn’t look good. Susie is
behind the wheel in minutes and I carefully make my way through the building.
I hear voices and
know that Hannibal is talking with a gentleman. Clearly this wasn’t a set up or
Hannibal would have been gone already, somehow the military got wind of this
meeting and were doing fairly well at tracking them.
Without really
caring about our issues and such I catch Murdock’s coat and tug him into the
crates, he easily avoids making a surprised sound and is nearly nose to nose
with me.
“The MP’s are
outside H.M.” Nodding he returns to the others and Hannibal rapidly speeds
things up.
Soon I’m back at
the van and hear the guys ducking through the menagerie of things to get back
to us. Susie dodges from the drivers seat and ducks into the back behind the
seats with me.
We lay low while
the guys drive and burst forth on another speed away from the military. For the
longest time I wonder if roller coasters are safe and then I remember whom I am
with. Swerving, turning sharply and moving in a quick ark indicates we’re
probably fairing better than Decker and friends. With a screeching sound I
glance out the back window seeing a military pile up and know we’re safe and
back on our mission.
For a long while I
relax listening to Hannibal discuss how we are going to track the little girl,
who we will have to question and a plan to sneak two members of the team into
the paper under cover in some form to find out if it was an inside job.
I refuse to listen
to the rest; I already know whom he has in mind to send into the paper as fake
detectives. (At least one of us is fake.) The strange break off point at the
budding relationship I almost had with Murdock is hitting hard and far too
deeply. I realize then that I care more than even my argumentative conscience
knows, or maybe that knows better.
“You’re loosing it.”
“No shit Sherlock.”
“Please go away.”
I am again greeted
with silence; it doesn’t mean that my arguing voices will stop later when I’m
alone and can face them.
“Captain,
“It would be easier
to go on my own Hannibal. I know some of them and can get info without risking
your teams exposure.” He nods watching me climb from the car and head to some
of the familiar officers.
I wonder if that
hurt Murdock because I had seen the strange disappointed look there, but then
again he was the one to suggest hold, which was still bugging me. I meet up with
several familiar faces and get a good deal of information. This case is going
to be long and hard, not just because my love life was falling into the ditch
either.
Back at the van
we’re again off with directions to the chief’s house, hopefully we can get some
information without military showing up. I can almost sense Murdock’s gaze on
me while the others case the house for trouble and that makes Hannibal’s
wonderful acting skills come in handy for a job interview.
Silently I scan the
grounds aware of him not far off doing the same, I chance a sidelong glance and
watch him shift his cap to hide his eyes. I have a feeling he was watching me
and how I was reacting to things. (Not good I might add.)
“This is not healthy. First you’re fighting with yourself,
ignoring your feelings and pretending that he can win that easily. Mission or
not you can’t just sit here and pretend that you don’t care, that he doesn’t
mean anything to you and that is the truth.”
“Persistent.” I
manage barely above a whisper.
“No kidding.”
Growling softly I
pretend that I’m not arguing with myself again and stare ahead noting someone
running swiftly across the yard and ducking hedges. Murdock is ready and
immediately catches the intruder seeing Face grudgingly glare at being shoved
into the dirt.
“You didn’t even do
the signal Faceman.”
“Didn’t have time.
B.A, Amy, and Susie are coming fast too.” I watch him and Murdock move about in
a familiar fashion readying for trouble.
It isn’t long
before they show up and get into the van. I find myself lifted into the van and
turn to stare at Murdock before B.A. guns it and disappears quickly from sight.
I’m worried that we left Hannibal behind until I see someone climbing over the
back wall and B.A. slams on the breaks.
Hannibal is in the
car lighting a cigar and staring back toward the large house. “It didn’t go
like I had planned, apparently your cop friends are working with the MP’s.” I
make a face at that and eye Susie who looks white.
“Damn stupid son of
a…” I watch Susie go off into a muttered rant and know it can be only one
person that has pissed her off. “…I hate, hate, HATE, that no good
rotten Detective Braxton.” I smile slightly at the confused looks offered at
the ranting woman.
“Othello was her
ex…before Face.”
Apparently I had
successfully cleared up the confusion, unfortunately I knew very well why that
particular detective opened his mouth. He was always jealous of other men near
Susie, hated my easy nature with guy friends and me. (Naturally.) Most of all
he hated her when she dumped him because he was too extreme for her.
“Control freak.”
I nod at Amy’s
assumption and watch Susie glare at me in an accusatory manor. (I got my
revenge for your nosiness.) She doesn’t always like it when the tables are
turned and her past is dragged through the mud.
“Enough about this
mess, what’s going on Hannibal?” I decide the ranting Susie does is far too
common and wait for the next great plan.
“First thing is I’m
leaving you two to monitor the building where the girl disappeared. There’s a
hotel complex across it and I need my two best observers.” If I could have
recoiled into a tiny ball I would have been far more pleased, knowing he was
locking Murdock and I up bothered me greatly. “The rest of us are going on
information search and I need Susie and Face to case the restaurants nearby for
more than unusual activities, they might have her locked in a basement or
something.”
I wanted to
strangle the lovely Colonel Hannibal Smith, but resisted the urge in favor of
the still missing girl. I could see Murdock weighing the pros and cons of this
situation and knew he wasn’t any surer of this than I was. I felt honestly sick
at the moment.
Amy did all the
checking in work and such for us, leaving us to a vast silent cave of a room
and a great view of the department store where the little girl vanished.
Instead of focusing on how much this situation sucked, I went around the
kitchen area looking for coffee and in my case a good bottle of tequila or
something suitable with alcohol in it.
Two hours waiting
for signs of mischief and I decide to flop on the bed and stare out the window.
I watch Murdock pace carefully vigilant for any signs of trouble. Recording
equipment and the lot situated. (It was good to be a detective with resources.)
“It appears far to
quiet down there.” I wonder briefly if he’s actually speaking to me now. “The
fairies I met today don’t like it, I should send some of those pesky gremlins
after the bad guys.” Instead of playing along I snort and close my eyes.
“Get the hell out of my head.”
I sit up seeing his
gaze is intense on me and sigh, maybe he is right. I let him get to me far to
easily and the worst part of it is, love hurts.
“Are we talking or
are you silent treating me?”
“How about
neither.”
I hear him stifle
laughter and glare at his amused look.
“It isn’t funny
Murdock…my head is spinning and it isn’t stopping. We need…
“To talk about
what’s really going on?”
I could have sworn
the sanity was in full swing. “The fairies help there too?”
“Maybe.” I make a
face before throwing a pillow at him and feel remarkably better for the action.
“Death by pillow?”
“Not yet, give me
time and I may smother the crazy man.” I stand to stalk off to another part of
the room; the surveillance equipment works quite well and leaves too much time
for talk.
I hear him talking
to someone and take a sip of coffee since it’s the only thing I found. I hear
him walk up behind me and turn to glare. Apparently Susie is much more gifted
than I gathered, because I get the sneaking suspicion that her and Hannibal did
this on purpose.
Apparently reading
my thoughts he tilts his head with a curious expression. “I may have been a
little…
“Brash?”
“Blunt.” I shrug at
his very hesitant smile and pretend he isn’t winning. “I didn’t know what else
to do…you made this hard for both of us.” If I could have slapped him I might
have.
“No, just myself.
You’re the easy part…at least you were…you are the most…” I pause trying to
figure out what exactly I’m saying and shrug. “…Despite your sanity and
questioning that, I can’t put us on hold it is screwing with
my head.” Finally some truth out there to toy with.
“Slow down and
breath.” His hand gently cups my cheek, but in favor of focus I step back
seeing him slowly lower his hand eyes intent with mine.
“I am breathing.” “I love you and want to be yours.” I know that won’t work so well and might
scare him. “I don’t want issues, I want to be happy and that involves you.”
“Insanity and
sanity are a fine line to dance on.”
“I’m starting to
wonder if a fell off that line.” This gets a curious look from him and I can’t
help but smile. “My issue with the last mission was knowing some of them women
were hurt beyond repair, I’m a bit worried you might think that of me because
your…unique and it scares you.”
I see realization
in his expression and duly note his sudden panicked movement, his hat is
flipped down quickly and hand up behind his head rubbing his neck. I realize
then I hit the nail on the head, he was afraid that if I was willing to be his
completely I would be damaged. He was truly afraid of closeness because of his
strange sanity, insanity routine he hid behind.
“So you did say I
won because it was a way to help you think about things, you were trying to
figure out a way out.”
His shuffling again
gets my attention and this time I know I’m right. He cringes at my gesture of
annoyance and meets my gaze.
“Do I have a pair
of headlights on the deer?” he makes a strange face and attempts to retreat to
insanity and back to the mission. “Murdock! Don’t you dare!”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“Yes ma’am.”
He takes another
step of retreat and halts, this time I do see him wince. “What do you want me
to say?”
“The truth.”
“Madness is the
truth.”
“H.M. is that why
you avoid me with these games?”
Instead of
answering he casually walks from my sights, unfortunately for him he isn’t
getting out of this one. Watching him scan over the recent information from
surveillance I see him slouch and hear a sigh.
“What games?”
“Don’t play stupid.
I’m not something that is that easily damaged.” I withdraw when I see his dark
gaze harden.
“I know that.”
Realizing he almost did something he turns back. “I never said you were damaged,
I’m afraid that…
“You’re afraid your
damaged.” His sudden silence and surprised look gets my attention. “Oh you are
so full of it Murdock! I’m the one arguing with voices in my head because I’m
in love with you and want to be with you. You’re not damaged; we’re just both a
little different. I’m yours.” I realize then that I went a bit further than
planned, I told him everything on my mind.
“Ooooh, not what I wanted.”
“Right, silent now.”
Apparently the
silence in the room despite the voice in my head is unnerving, he coughs before
eyeing me like I’m another person from some alien race.
“Billy…help?” I’m
surprised by his feeble attempt to call upon his friends.
“No Billy,
gremlins, fairies, leprechauns, or whatever…just H.M. Murdock.”
“He’s not good
enough for you.”
“His opinion and
clearly no one else’s.” He smacks into the wall and realizes he’s been trying
to run and hide. “Will you at least listen to me without panicking?”
Reluctantly he nods
before eyeing me worriedly. “You’re not damaged, I care for you more than you
can understand and you can’t hide forever. I know you and you know me. The
voices weren’t a joke; they’re my friends and have been there a long time.
Susie knows this if you don’t believe me. All that matters to me is you and you
will never be damaged or damage me ever. I’m yours and you’re going to have to
deal with that.” I wait watching him consider my words carefully.
Finally after a
very hard silence, meaning I’m about to snap he speaks. “Why me, the crazy one
that is…more than I seem?”
“Why not. I’m not
exactly easily understood.”
“Not arguing that
point.” I smile at his half attempt at a joke. “I’m so…um…
“Unsure of
everything?” he nods eyeing me strangely. “Join the club. One thing I am sure
of though is this…you ever tell me that this has to be on hold when I care this
much, I will kick your ass.” Despite the situation his grin appears and I get
the feeling I got through.
“Crazy man
understood.” His eyes dart briefly to the video cameras and his expression
hardens. “She’s there.”
I turn sharply
seeing a small girl being carried in the arms of someone, clearly she is
terrified and knows she’s in a bad situation. “Albinia looks terrified.”
“She should be.” He
points to a sharp object against the little girls side and I’m instantly
calling in our reinforcements. “Are we good again?”
I listen to
Hannibal’s orders before turning to see a worried look on his features. I smile
flicking his cap and lean up kissing him softly.
“We always will
be.” I turn to the door and nearly smack into Susie. “Yes I know.”
Without a word she
yanks my arm and I watch Murdock run to catch up. Strangely her panic bothers
me, I start moving faster both Murdock and I getting ahead of her. I yelp
watching Amy nearly thrown into traffic and see B.A all but yank her to safety.
Hannibal and Face
are occupied with the goons and that leaves us watching a frantic
seven-year-old avoiding traffic, moving on to strangers and smack directly into
the tall one at my side. Frightened she turns to bolt and is caught up in
Susie’s strong grasp.
Struggling I watch
her fight Susie for the longest time before she breaks down into sobs and
clings deathly tight to her. “Street walker heading this way.”
Murdock’s comment
makes me glance up and I see a woman with at least two other men rushing our
way. “Schick Razor…time to split and peel out of here.” Bad jokes aside he
catches my drift and my arm. “Susie Q!”
Making a face Susie
turns with the small one in her arms and is at our side in minutes. I make her
switch with me feeling Albinia grip onto me for dear life; with her hold I know
my air supply for running will be very short.
I now knew B.A. was
much less painful than a wall, especially considering how hard we smacked into
that one being blind sided. Murdock I see has been knocked down and is out. I
allow Albinia to linger behind me and gently kneed him with my shoe, I get no
response.
“Girl now.”
The venom in the
woman’s voice is strong and very silk like. Susie stares down at the
unconscious crazy man and then at Ms. Venom and makes a very prominent snort of
agitation. We both know this doesn’t look like it is in our favor, but letting
the little one get captured again is the farthest thing on our minds.
“Not likely.”
Susie eyes me like
I’ve lost my mind, especially considering the gun leveled at my head. She knows
giving Albinia up isn’t an option, but doesn’t like the idea of being shot
either. This is one of those times I would give anything for Murdock to see
something invisible, even yell at Billy to bite someone and get a funny look.
I glance down
seeing brief movement and note Murdock looks up before closing his eyes again.
“Gremlins say no.”
Despite the
gremlin’s joke it is great to see him conscious. I stifle a smile watching the
woman offer the strangest confused look before a gun is leveled at Murdock who
is now staring up at the barrel almost cross-eyed.
“Is this some kind
of joke?” She looks peeved which is clearly not a satisfactory look. “I want
the girl, kill these three.” I wince closing my eyes at the command and hold my
ground.
Murdock makes a
sound of protest before I hear a strong sensation of hammers being pulled back.
“I love it when a plan comes together.”
“I love when he
says that.”
I nod in relief
staring down at Murdock who is grinning ear-to-ear and climbing to his feet.
Susie looks just about white and collapses startled when Albinia wraps herself
in her arms and cries. I just stand there with relief and watch the guys gather
the criminals together.
“White is too pale
a look on you.” At that I offer Amy a weak smile and see B.A lift the small
girl who nearly disappears into his large arms. “Susie looks worse in ash.” I
glance around seeing her being nearly held up by Face and briefly glance around
for Murdock.
“Right Hannibal.”
Relieved I watch Murdock help escort the group out to a waiting party of
security from the mall and recoil at the sirens in the distance. “Time to go?”
Hannibal nods along
with the rest of us. Susie is practically carried, while B.A. leaves Albinia in
her fathers waiting arms. I follow after them watching Murdock make some weird
dance move and offer us entry into the back of the van. I smile slightly at his
showing off before hearing the usual banter between B.A and him.
Things are back to
as normal as they can be with the military team hiding out in the complex.
Being back and telling Decker off twice in one week was drawing away what
patience I had left. Susie was aware I was touchier than usual and knew that
Murdock and I had somewhat resolved some issues.
I thought that was
the case also, until he avoided me for three straight days. On day four I
considered going down to his apartment and did just that. I heard him stop
talking to the voices on the other side and watched him freeze when the door
opened, imagine my surprise when I saw he was talking to Hannibal and his
voices.
“Remember Captain.”
I rose a brow watching Hannibal leave the room and go on down the hall to his
own place.
“I don’t have a clue.”
“Didn’t ask you.”
“Touchy.”
Watching me with
amusement he offered a mock bow and let me enter the apartment. I wasn’t even
close to feeling sure of myself after that brief shock. I heard him talking
with Billy and some of his other choice friends before turning to stare at him.
He walked around
the room with a strange amused bounce in his step and then turned like he was
waiting for something. I waited before he offered me a hand, innocence in his
expression and a strange glint in his gaze.
“Don’t like
winning?”
“Winning?”
“You get your way,
corner me and are still confused?” his mock tone annoys me and he knows it. “I
thought you understood my certified insanity.”
“Only when I don’t
feel like my head is spinning.” His grin tells me he’s enjoying every minute of
my being stumped. “What did I miss?”
“Relative
information that helped me along the way, my friends aren’t always as useful as
the colonel.”
“Still puzzled.” He
walks toward me and gently grasps my hand.
“Only for a little
while.” I glance up at his small smile before he leans in kissing me softly,
arms pulling me tight into a deeper one.
“Madness.”
“You like it.” I
smile; it’s nice when he’s so sure of himself and right on the nose.
END