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Step right up, and don't be shy.
Because you will not believe your eyes.
She's right here, behind the glass,
and, you're gonna like her,
cause she's got class.
You can look inside another world.
You get to talk to a pretty girl.
She's everything you dream about.
Templeton Peck, AKA ''Faceman'', walked into the campus disco and sat at the bar. Looking over to the side, he noticed a pretty blonde giving him the eye...
''Well, this vacation idea of Hannibal's may not be so bad after all...'' he thought, giving her his most charming smile and inching closer to her. ''Hello, I'm Templeton Peck. And, you are...''
''Monica.'' she breathed. ''Monica Q--- Webber.''
''Very nice to make your aquaintance, Monica... Mind if I buy you a drink? Champagne perhaps?''
''Champagne sounds lovely...'' she agreed. ''But... Perhaps we should have it in a more fitting setting? My hotel-room is right up the street...''
Well... this girl got right to the point! Face loved that in a woman...
''My Corvette's right outside...'' he smiled, not missing a beat, and offering his arm for her to take...
But, don't fall in love.
She's a beauty.
She's one in a million girl.
She's a beauty.
Why would I lie?
Why would I lie?
Walking in the hotel, Face noticed that it seemed rather nice. Not the fanciest hotel he'd ever been in, but probably the best in town... Still keeping fast hold of his arm, Monica led him to the elevator, and towards her room, where she retrieved her key from her purse.
''Here we are...'' she said, smiling seductively, as Face shut the door behind him.
You can say anything you like,
but you can't touch the merchandise.
She'll give you every penny's worth,
but, it will cost you a dollar first.
You can step outside your little world.
(Step outside your world.)
You can talk to a pretty girl.
(Ahhhh.)
She's everything you dream about.
''Ummm-hmmm... Here we are...'' He murmured, sitting down next to her on the bed. ''My... such lovely golden hair...'' he sighed, loosening it from the french-twist to have it cascading all around her shoulders.
Looking in each-other's eyes, they moved in closer, and came together for a passionate kiss...
But, don't fall in love.
She's a beauty.
She's one in a million girl.
One in a million girl.
Why would I lie?
Why would I lie?
But, don't fall in love.
Cause, if ya do
ya find out she don't love you.
She's one in a million girl.
One in a million girl.
Why would I lie?
Now, why would I lie?
Oh.
Monica slipped out of the bed gently so as not to disturb her sleeping friend. Alan would be waiting for her, and she did have to get back to work...
''You are a handsome charmer...'' she sighed, giving him a soft kiss on the mouth before departing.
Face barely stirred, so Monica left, shutting the door behind her with a soft click...
Step outside your world.
But, don't fall in love.
She's a beauty.
She's one in a million girl.
A one in a million girl.
Why would I lie?
Now, why would I lie?
But, don't fall in love.
Cause, if ya do,
ya find out she don't love you.
She's one in a million girl.
She's a one in a million girl.
Why would I lie?
Why would I lie?
But, don't fall in love.
She's one in a million girl.
Why would I lie?
Face knocked gently on the hotel-room door. "Monica? Are you in there?"
"T-temp?" she sniffeled, running to open the door.
"Are you all right?" he asked in extreme concern, seeing her tear-streaked face.
"N-not really..." she admitted as he closed the door.
"Did something happen?" he asked, pulling her into his arms comfortingly.
Nodding slightly, she pulled back a bit from him and went to the bed to retrieve an envelope, which she handed to him.
"You mean you're... We're going to... Oh, my..." he stammered, slumping down on the bed in shock.
"It's yours; that much I'm certain of..." she assured him. "It's been two months since my husband---"
"Husband?! You have a husband?!"
"He deserved it." she defended. "Like I said, it's been two months, and it's not like he hasn't had his share of affairs..."
"You... you can't just try to pass of my kid as---"
"No, no of course not!" she promised. "I was thinking of signing over full rights and custody to you, in fact..."
"You were?"
"Well... I don't have to raise Alan's illegimate child, so why should he have to raise mine? Besides, if we go sign the papers this afternoon, it will give me leverage..."
"Leverage?" he echoed, pursing his lips in confusion.
"I can't afford to divorce him; he is a Quartermaine, after all..."
"Quartermaine? As in ELQ?"
"My father-in-law's company..." she concured.
"Uh-huh..."
"Look, let's just go; I know a lawyer who can get this all done and filed by this afternoon..."
"Hello, Bobbie." Dr. Alan Quartermaine smiled back. "Have you seen my wife this morning?"
"No; she called in and said she was takin' the mornin' off..."
"Okay, thanks..."
"No sweat..."
"I know the signs, Monica..." he thought venomously. "I know what you're up to, and I'm gonna catch you at it..."
Face and Monica walked into Scotty Bawldin's office, and he sat down nervously.
''Uh, Monica?''
''Yes?''
''You... you say he's already started drawing up these papers?''
''Yes, but I told him not to tell a soul because I didn't want Alan finding out before I told him...''
''Ahhhh... I see...'' he sighed in relief.
The last thing he needed was for Decker to come bursting through those doors; especially with the rest of the team not there for back-up...
''Everything seems to be in order, Monica...'' the man said, coming into the room, shuffeling through some papers.
''So, now what?'' Face asked, getting slightly fidgity.
''Just sign here, and Monica, you sign here.'' he told them, pointing out the specified spaces. ''There ya go...'' he smiled, as they signed. ''I'll just file this at the county-clerk's office, which'll take about 15 minutes; it's just down the hall... I'll be right back...''
''Thank you, Scotty...'' Monica sighed, relieved to be getting this over so quickly. Calling him in advance was a good move, she decided.
Face just wanted to get this all over with. He was getting tired of sitting in this building, not two blocks from a police-station. Just not a smart thing in his book. Finally, the lawyer came back in...
''Okay, here are your copies.'' he said, handing them each a document. ''Legal and binding...''
''Thanks.'' Face managed, putting his hand on Monica's waist to lead her out of the building. ''We have to go to my hotel-room this time.'' he told her.
''Why? Something new?'' she teased flirtatiously.
''Not that... There's, um... something I gotta show ya... We'll talk in the car...''
By the time they got to the hotel, he had filled Monica in on as much as he thought she needed to know.
''C'mon; let's go introduce you to the guys...''
''The A-Team?'' she repeated again for the fifth time. ''How did I not pick this up?''
''I'm good.'' Face grinned smugly.
''Yes, you are...'' she grinned back. ''Well, our baby will have an... interesting childhood, eh?''
''Yes, I think interesting pretty much covers it...'' he nodded, chuckling slightly as he turned the knob.
When they got into the room, the guys stopped their conversation short to look up at them interestedly.
''Uh, guys? I got somethin' to tell ya...''
One look at his demeanor gave it away. He didn't even bother to mask his features.
''Awww, Faceman! You didn't!'' BA said with a scowl.
''How'd you know?'' he asked, confused.
''Written all over your face, Lt.'' Hannibal informed him with a small smirk.
''Well now... Think of that... A little Face-y...'' Murdock laughed.
''Don't start, Murdock...'' BA warned.
''Well, we do need to discuss this...'' Face said.
After talking for a while, they decided that they should probably leave for now, and come back around the week of the due-date...
''Oh, you can stay at the mansion...'' Monica said airily.
''With your husband?'' Hannibal asked sharply.
''His parents too... And, probably my son home from boarding-school around that time... Hey, I told you how things are with us; besides, it's my house, in my name. Look, I'll give you guys a head-start, and let him in on what he needs to know later on tonight...''
''We appreciate it.'' BA nodded at her.
''Yeah, thanks, Monica.'' Face added.
''Just get goin', and I'll see you in nine months...''
As Monica waited in Dr. Drake's office, her mind recalled the night she told Alan the layout of all this...
"You're having another man's child?! I knew it; you sl---"
"You just wait a minute, Alan Quartermaine!" she snapped. "Need I bring up Susan Moore? Jason?" she sneered.
"But---"
"Oh, don't you dare even try to tell me that was different! I've already signed over full custody to the father, so that's that..."
"Without con---"
"It's my decision." she reminded him harshly. "He and his friends are coming to stay a few days here at the mansion around the due-date---"
"In my house?!" he exploded, appalled.
"It's my house!" she reminded him.
"I gave it to you!" he shot back...
"Dr. Quartermaine?" she heard, bringing her out of her reverie.
"Oh, um, yes, Dr. Drake?"
"The baby's doing great." he assured her with a warm smile. "Everything's coming along right on schedule."
"Great..." she sighed in relief.
"Yeah, you should be starting to show any day now, and we can go ahead and schedule your ultrasound about two months from now?"
"BA, I am not getting camoflague wallpaper!" Face said, exasperated. "What if it's a girl?"
"We could paint little army bunnies on it?" he shrugged.
Hannibal chuckled softly.
"Okay, I think I like this crib---"
"Oh, no, no, no... Tsk, tsk..." Murdock said, shaking his head.
"That's the fifth one... What's wrong with that one? I think it's very ele---"
"Oh, fine. Elegance over saftey? That baby's gonna fall out of that thing on it's head!"
Face just rolled his eyes and shook his head; this was gonna be a long day...
Face grabbed the fire-blaster with a carefree grin and took aim at the trucks. BA barely paused from his task of tossing the guy in his hands to note the looks of his teammates. He often accused Hannibal of being "on the jazz", but the rest of the guys, including himself, had "the jazz" just as much as their leader. They were in a life-and-death situation, having the time of their lives. Like kids at Christmas... It was almost like a big game... And, really, as Hannibal once said, what else is there?
Hannibal approached their leader, placing his foot on the man's chest. "You and your outfit are through, got it?" he barked, grabbing a cigar.
The man barely nodded, wheezing and gasping his only reply.
"Next time," Hannibal continued, a wicked grin forming over his features. "Don't get yourself a bunch of men together; get yourself a team." He chuckled softly, lighting up his cigar. "I love it when a plan comes together..."
Mission taken care of, they decided to head off to Port Charles...
"No plane!" BA warned.
"New York's not so far from Wyoming we can't drive..." Hannibal agreed amiably. "'Sides, we got a coupla days, don't ya figure, Kid?" he asked, looking at Face.
"Oh, yeah... due-date's not for another week..." Face nodded.
The guys approached the Quartermaine mansion and almost stopped-short.
Murdock let out a slow whistle, and turned to Hannibal. "Fancy digs, eh, Colonel?"
"Yup... What kind of welcome are we expectin', Face?"
"Not sure..." Face admitted quietly. "I mean, Monica invited us and all, but... her family is gonna be there, after all..."
"I'm too tired for a buncha arguin', Faceman." BA scowled. "I wanna relax."
"Chill out, BA... We'll get plenty of time to relax; Monica'll probably have us a seperate wing if we want it..."
They opened the glass french-doors, to see the unusual scene of the Quartermaines at breakfast. Monica, now very pregnant, had her feet propped up on the table and was reclining on the couch. A young butler was handing an older lady a cup of coffee, while a younger man and an older man sat arguing over their papers, and a small boy sat quietly watching the scene with disinterest...
"Templeton!" Monica exclaimed, jumping up and running to him much faster than one could believe for one so far along...
"Hello, Monica..." he grinned, with that famous twinkle in his eye...
"Hello, gentlemen..." she said, smiling up at them.
"Mrs. Quartermaine..." Hannibal nodded.
BA & Murdock gave her a polite nod as well.
"Who are these weirdos?" Edward demanded.
"Everyone, this is..." she had to stop herself before saying "The A-Team", "Um, this is my baby's father, Templeton, and his friends, Hannibal, Murdock, and BA." she finnished. "And this," she told the guys, gesturing at the rest of the room, "is my family. My son, AJ, my mother-in-law, Lila, my father-in-law, Edward, and my husband... Alan." she said, smirking at him.
"Him, Monica? The pretty-boy?" Alan said, coming to Face with a sneer.
Face merely winked at Alan and walked off towards the buffet. "Um, I don't think Monica introduced you?" he said, turning towards the butler.
"I'm Reginald."
"Okay, then, Reginald, could ya get me some whipped-cream for these strawberries?" he smiled charmingly.
"Oooooh, and maybe some honey?" Murdock asked.
"Sure..." he nodded, going towards the direction of the kitchen.
BA said nothing, merely piling his plate high.
"Nice spread in this here joint..." Hannibal said, hiding a grin as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Exactly how long do you... people plan to be here?" Edward demanded.
"Just till my baby comes..." Face said smoothly, with a smile.
"Edward, Alan, behave!" Lila admonished. "These men are guests in this house, and will be treated with respect! Mind your manners! So sorry for them, gentlemen..." she apologized, smiling indulgently.
"Quite all right, Madame..." Hannibal assured her with a smile.
"Edward... Why don't you take me to my room now?"
"Oh... all right..." he sighed heavily, wheeling her out of the room.
"Well, I'm going to work..." Alan snapped to no one in particular, and stormed out.
Reginald came back in, but quickly left again, leaving them alone with AJ.
"You look kinda familiar..." the 10-year-old said finally, looking up at them.
"Um... we do?" Murdock said in surprise.
"Hey!" he smiled in realization. "You're the A-Team, aren't you?"
The four men exchanged glances.
"S'ok; I won't tell..." he assured them. "This is so cool, though..."
"You're a good kid..." Hannibal said finally, ruffling his hair a bit.
"Awww... c'mon, Face!" Murdock said, flopping on the couch. "Why can't I?"
"Shut up, Murdock!" BA snapped. "You can't be in the delivery-room, crazy fool!"
"And, why not?" he asked, standing up indignantly. "I bought me an extra-big catcher's mitt and everything!" he grinned.
"Catcher's-mitt, Murdock?" Hannibal echoed, confused.
"A-course, Colonel... For when the baby comes..."
"Ahhh, I think we should let the doctor handle that part, okay, Murdock?" Face said gently, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes.
"Well... if you say so, buddy..." he nodded, only slightly disappointed.
"Got any plans for the day?" Face asked them all.
"I promised AJ I'd take him bowling." BA said.
"And, I promised Lila I'd help her in the garden." Murdock added.
"Colonel?"
"Oh... I thought I'd hang around and see if Eddie's busy..." Hannibal said with a wicked smirk.
"Great, Hannibal's on the jazz; just what we need... Face thought with a shudder. Out loud, though, he said, "Yeah, okay... I guess I'll go with Monica to her doctor's appointment..."
"Something wrong, Lieutenant?"
"Nah, we're just going to get a look at it, and get to hear the heartbeat and stuff like that..."
"Hey, gonna get one of those little picture-thingys where the baby looks like an alien?"
"Uh... I guess so, why?"
Murdock shrugged. "Just wonderin'... Can I see?"
"Oh, okay... Yeah, sure... Well, I'd better be getting down there..." he said, looking at his watch. "See you guys later..." "Be good..." he prayed silently.
They'd been at the mansion a week now... The baby was three days late, and Face feared they were fast wearing out their already tenative welcome...
"Would you kindly---"
"Aw, c'mon, Eddie ol' buddy..." Murdock grinned, laying his arm on Edward's shoulder. "I'm startin' to grow on ya, I can just tell..."
Edward rolled his eyes and "humphed", shuffling off towards his morning paper...
Face recalled the day he'd brought back his first "photograph" of the baby...
"Get the picture?" Murdock had asked excitedly.
"Yes, here it is..." Face said, fumbling in his pockets, finally finding it and handing it to him.
"Well, lookee here at that, y'all..." Murdock grinned. "I already know who it looks like..."
"You can't tell from that..."Face said, rolling his eyes.
"Why, sure I can!" Murdock insisted stubbornly. "Looks just like E.T...."
Hannibal laughed. "Hey, Face," he said, looking at the picture. "it's got your head..."
BA heard that and started snickering as well...
"Templeton?" he heard a voice saying, breaking into his thoughts.
"Hmmm? Oh, good morning, Lila." he said with a warm smile.
"I hope your time here isn't too wearying..." she said in an almost apologetic tone.
"Nah..." he said with a dismissive wave of the hand. "You've made it all worthwhile." he said, smiling his most charming smile at her and kissing the top of her hand.
"Monica was right; you are a charmer..." she laughed.
"Uh, Templeton?" Monica said in a harried tone, sticking her head into the room.
"Something wrong, Monica?" he asked, instantly alert.
"It's time..."
I was never alive,
till the day I was blessed with you.
When I hold you late at night,
I know what I was put here to do.
I turn off the world and listen to you sigh,
and, I will sing my angel's lullaby.
The hospital waiting-room was a hectic place to say the least. Everyone was rushing around, bustling about their various jobs...
Murdock stood, leant against the wall, pounding into his oversize catcher's mitt...
"What'd you bring that thing for, Murdock? You know they ain't gonna let you in there..."
"Well, now you never know, BA..." he grinned. "The doc might need some backup, and we should be prepared just incase... Am I right, Hannibal?"
"Of course, Captain." Hannibal said in all seriousness.
"You people are nuts!" Edward blurted out.
"Why, thank you..." Murdock smiled at him. "See, I knew he liked us..." he nodded to BA.
Face, meanwhile was pacing back and forth across the hall. Any minute; nay, any second now, he was going to be a father... Scary thought...
Hannibal, who seemed to sense his distress, moved away from the crowd towards him. "You okay, Kid?"
"Ahhhh, well... I dunno, Hannibal..." he admitted, raking his fingers through his golden-blonde hair. "A child is... you know what I'm saying here?"
"A heavy responsibility?" he guessed.
"Yes! I..." he almost admitted he was worried about being able to handle it, but he just... couldn't...
Fortunately, though, Hannibal seemed to be reading his thoughts. "Face, my boy, you are going to do just great. You and the kid are gonna be just fine." he said firmly, clapping him reassuringly on the shoulder. "I can tell, Lieutenant..." he grinned at him. "you've been excited about this for months, and once that baby gets here, everything will fall into place..." he promised.
Face nodded, and Hannibal patted him on the shoulder one more time before going back to join the others, and Face resumed pacing...
Know I'm forever near.
The one you can always call.
Right now all you know to fear,
are the shadows on your wall.
And, I'm here close enough
to kiss the tears you cry.
And, I will sing my angel's lullaby.
Hours passed; the wait was maddening. Everyone had begun to grow irratable, and it was clear even Murdock was about ready to deck Alan. That is, of course, if Hannibal didn't get there, first...
"Look, I don't care who you are, I will---"
"Okay, now you're startin' to get on my nerves... You'd better cool it, doc!" Hannibal snapped in a slightly dangerous tone.
Fortunately, before WWIII could break out, a nurse approached them.
"Um, Mr. Peck?" she asked tenatively.
"Yes?" Face answered anxiously, coming to her.
"It's a girl..." she smiled. "I'll bring her to you right now..."
"You guys hear that?" he shouted happily. "A girl!"
"Hey, that's great, Faceman." BA said smiling widely, slapping him on the back.
"Yeah, ain't that somethin'..." Murdock grinned.
"A girl, huh? Heh-heh... Kid, I think you were just given pennance for all those chicks you've dated..." he laughed.
Face shot him a dirty look.
"Just kidding, Leiutenant..." Hannibal assured, putting an arm around his shoulders. "Congratulations..."
So, tell me how to stop
the years from racin'.
'Cause, there are secrets someone knows.
I'll never catch all the memories I'm chasin',
I'll never be ready to let go.
Finally, the nurse came out with a little pink bundle, and lay it in Face's arms. All he could do was look, awestruck into her big, beautiful eyes, his own threatening to flood with tears...
"Have you chosen a name?" the nurse asked finally.
"Emily... Emily Ameila Peck..."
And, when the world seems cold,
ya feel that all of your strength is gone.
There may be one tiny voice,
your reason to carry on.
And, when I'm not close enough
to kiss the tears you cry,
you will sing your angel's lullaby.
Let this be our angel's lullaby...
Hannibal stepped lightly into the house in the valley which Face was currently "housesitting". Face was lying on the couch, clad in his pajama-bottoms, the baby asleep on his chest...
"Up and at 'em, Lieutenant!" Hannibal said loudly in his ear, sounding for all the world like a drill-sargent...
"Wha---" Face started to jump, startled, but fortunately realized Emily was there, and caught himself just in time, deciding to rise lightly.
Unfortunately, the sudden motion still caused her to fuss.
"Oh, shhh, shhh, baby..." he soothed, jiggling her slightly. "Thanks a lot, Hannibal..." he moaned irritably.
"It's 9:00 AM." he informed him, looking at his watch.
"Yes, well... she didn't get to sleep until 4:00..." he explained.
"Ahhh..."
"There, I think she's about asleep... I'll be right back; I'm gonna go put her down..." he whispered, carrying her into the back room.
"Well, we haven't had a case in a few weeks now..." Hannibal began.
"Yes, I know, Hannibal..." Face apologized. "But, it's been kinda slow, anyways..."
"Well, business is pickin' up... we're gonna have to find the kid a suitable sitter..."
"How soon?"
"Go ahead and break Murdock out of the VA; we have to meet our client tomorrow-night..."
"Yeah, okay..." Face nodded. "You guys wanna help me interview this afternoon and tonight?"
"Sure." Hannibal agreed with a smile as he reached for a cigar.
By that night, though, they still were undecided...
"Ah, thank you Miss..."
"Kasey Robens." the girl repeated patiently.
"Ah, Kasey... Yes, thank you very much, and I'm sure we'll get back to you..." Face said, holding the door for her.
"Okay, thank you, sir." she nodded, taking her coat and leaving.
Face shut the door and turned to face his friends, and shook his head gravely. "Nope."
"What was wrong with her?" BA snapped, getting annoyed. This was the 7th girl they'd interviewed, and Face hadn't been satisfied with any of them, despite the background checks...
"Yeah, Faceman; I gotta go with the big-guy on this one... She seemed sweet..."
"For Atilla the Hunn..." he muttered under his breath.
"Lieutenant, she's a little girl, barely 15... what harm could she do?" Hannibal asked with an exasperated sigh.
"Oh, now you're wanting me to leave my baby with some inexperienced kid? I don't think so!"
"Uh, Faceguy, according to this file she's got 5 little brothers and 2 little sisters..." Murdock corrected, thumbing through the folder.
"But... I..."
"That's it, we gonna get this settled now." BA stated firmly, going towards the phone.
"Who're you calling?" Face demanded.
"I'm callin' Mama back in Chicago; she'll look after Emily, and you won't be distracted worryin'. Not to mention distractin' us with it... Okay?"
"Hey, that's a great idea, BA..." Hannibal enthused.
"Yeah, thanks, BA..." Face sighed gratefully. Funny how it hadn't struck him before to ask Mrs. B...
"Oh, isn't she just the most precious thing?" Mrs. B cooed, picking Emily up. "Oh, Face, I can see she takes after her Daddy..."
Face smiled.
"Now... what about her Mama?" she asked suddenly.
"Um... well..." he stammered, the smile fading a bit.
"What's wrong, sugar? Did something happen to her?"
"Oh, no... She's just... um, still with her husband..."
"Husband?" she repeated sharply.
"I didn't know..." Face admitted. "If I'd known, I wouldn't've... but... she didn't tell me until I found out Emily was coming..."
"Ummm-hmmm..." Mrs. B nodded knowingly. "Then it's good you got her away from a woman like that..."
"Yeah, probably..." he agreed.
"Not to mention her crazy husband and in-laws..." BA added with a shudder. "Them folks make Murdock look normal..." he joked, giving their pilot a sideways glance.
"Ugh, Em don't suck your thumb..." Face pleaded, removing her hand from her mouth.
"Whattsa matter with that? All babies do that..." Murdock said.
"No, they don't; it'll ruin the shape of her mouth and make her have a deformed thumb..." Face insisted.
"Here... I'll go get some Quinine to put on it..." Mrs. B said, handing her back to Face. "There we are..." she smiled, swabbing some onto her thumb. "She'll try, but the bitterness'll break her of it pretty quickly..." she assured.
"Hey, that's a pretty neat trick... Thanks..." he said sincerely, smiling at her dazzlingly.
"Hello?" the man called out in a thick accent. "I'm looking for---"
"We know who ya are, and who you're lookin' for..." Hannibal interrupted, stepping out of the shadows.
"Bloodly hell! You nearly gave me a heart-attack!" the man said. "Who are you, anyways? What are you doing here?"
"Well... and I thought you wanted to hire the A-Team..."
"Yes, yes..." he said quickly. "Are you..."
"I'm Hannibal Smith, and this is the rest of my unit... Templeton Peck; we call him Face..." he said, cueing Face to step out of the shadows. "H.M. Murdock," he said as Murdock popped up, "and BA Baracus." he finished, as BA stepped out as well.
"And, I'm Duke Lavery..." the gentleman introduced himself. "Gentlemen, the WSB desperately needs your help..."
"And, just what would the World Spy Bureau want with us?" Murdock drawled out.
"You've heard of us, I suppose?" Duke asked, slightly surprised.
"Hell, man; I was in the CIA at one time... I know what you people are all about..."
"Then you know what we are capable of, the resources we have access to..."
"Enough with the talk." Hannibal interupted. "What does an orginazition like that want with guys like us?"
"Well... we don't always have to do things, um... on the level, as it were, and from what I hear, you gentlemen are the best..."
"That still doesn't say what you want us for." BA scowled.
"Ah, yes... Okay, gentlemen...There's this military group; they're renegade soilders from France, and they've taken over a province in Bornio..."
"So? What do you want us to do?" Face asked, confused.
"They have an important prisoner." he explained finally.
"Ahhh, now we get down to it..." Hannibal said, leaning against a nearby pile of boxes.
"This man is a very important operative; in fact, he's the only one that can complete a mission which has currently been shelved due to his untimely capture. Here is his picture, and all the information I have..." he said, handing them a manilla envelope.
"Okay..." Hannibal nodded, going through the contents of the envelope.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Face prompted.
"Forgetting...?"
"The money, pal; we ain't free, ya know..." Hannibal said.
"Ah, yes... will this suffice?" he asked, popping open a briefcase full of hundred-dollar-bills...
Hannibal sat comfortably in the copilot's seat, realaxed and smoking a cigar. He was able to easily tune out Murdock's interpretation of "Whip it", unlike Face, who sat in the back with his headset on...
"Ah, Murdock?" Face asked apprehensively, coming into the cockpit.
"And, whip it, whi---" he sang at the top of his lungs, not hearing Face.
"MURDOCK!"
"Wha... huh? What's up, Faceyman?"
"How soon're we down? He's wakin' up..."
"We're as good as landed..." Murdock nodded, getting into a quick landing position...
Upon landing, they rushed to untie and carry BA out of and far away from the plane...
"Hey!" he yelled, starting to rouse. "Hey! Put me down!"
Murdock and Face promptly dropped him.
"Where are we?" he demanded.
"Um..."
"Ahhh..."
"Well..."
"You let him fly me, didn't ya?" he accused.
"Fly?" Face said blankly.
"I'm sick of y'all always lying to me; druggin' me, trickin' me into flying with that crazy fool..." he said, stepping towards them menacingly.
"BA, we don't have time for this." Hannibal said authoratively. "The encampment is just up the road, and we have to be quiet, and discuss our options..."
"You've got a plan, right, Colonel?"
"Always, Murdock..." he grinned, as they approached the bushes.
Well, Hannibal had a plan, but it didn't go quite on schedule...
"You're the men sent to get me out of this place?" the man asked, upon seeing the three of them thrown onto the floor of his prison.
"Yeah, but don't worry, there's still one of us out there..." Hannibal assured him.
"Murdock? We've got everything bet on Murdock?"
"We in trouble now..." BA sighed, shaking his head.
"Don't be so pessamistic..." Hannibal smiled, lighting a cigar. "This place has... possibilities..." he nodded, gesturing around the room.
They had all split up, but Murdock would've been the last one to enter the encampment, as he was checking out their chopper for supplies. He watched grimly from the bushes as he saw his friends shoved roughly into the crude hut...
"Man... whatta time to be without a rifle..." he muttered.
He stiffened as he heard the leader tell the guards to prepare a firing-squad; he knew he had to act fast. Planning something off the cuff was usually Hannibal's department, but...
"Mr. Scorpio, we're going to need your help getting out of here..."
"Of course, anything..." Robert assured him. "But, they've taken our weapons, we're locked in here... What can we do?"
"Where there's a will, there's a way, trust me..." Hannibal assured him.
"He's on the jazz again..." BA whispered, nudging Face as he caught Hannibal's look.
Face nodded and made his way to the window, noticing something out the corner of his eye. "Colonel, look..." he said quietly, nodding towards some barrels.
"Well now... isn't that handy..." Hannibal grinned. "Good work, Lieutenant..." he nodded, clapping him on the shoulder.
"All right, men, ready to work?"Hannibal asked, rubbing his hands together.
"You've got a plan?" Robert asked, surprised.
"Yup; those guys obviously aren't the brightest bulbs in the factory... They made a couple of mistakes with their supplies... but we haven't go long... Only way it's gonna work is for me to get taken out there first... BA?"
BA nodded and they set to work. Robert and Face watched as the two men set to work making a crude slingshot, while they set to work sharpening one of the posts...
The leader came in, staring Hannibal down. "That one first..." he said, smirking at Face.
"Wha... what?"
Hannibal noted the fear visible in the eyes of his Lieutenant, and tried to ignore the tightening in his own chest. "Listen, dirtball!" he spat. "I am the leader, so I get to go first."
The leader looked at him, his smirk widening. "Take that one." he repeated, nodding towards Face.
"Wait... can't we talk about this?" Face asked as they dragged him away.
The slamming of the door sounded unusually loud and hollow as they stood, staring at it.
"We have to move fast..." Hannibal said with a hard look. "BA, Scorpio, ya ready?"
Murdock was about to move from his spot, when they dragged a struggling and much protesting Face out. His jaw dropped open in shock for the merest of moments, his heart nearly stopping in fear as they roughly tied his friend up...
"C'mon... this isn't right..." he protested. "Don't I at least get a final cigeratte?"
"Give him a cigeratte." the leader relented, nodding for the guard to bring him one.
"BA, distract them..." Hannibal whispered.
BA ran to the door, yelling at the guards as Robert and Hannibal caused a leak in one of the barrels. Mentally crossing his fingers, Face spit his cigeratte into the stream of petrol, only to have it snuffed out, much to his chagrin.
"Ready... Aim---"
Before the guards could react, Murdock fired a flare towards the barrels, which were coincidentally close to the ammunition crates...
At the sound of the explosions, Hannibal, BA, and Robert hit the deck. But, only temporarily. BA ripped off the door and they made a run for it.
Meanwhile, Murdock was busy distracting the guards from his position with dynamite-caps...
"Face?" Hannibal yelled worriedly upon not seeing his Lieutenant. "Face?!"
Murdock ran for the chopper, getting it started up, as the rest fought their way there, except for Face, who was still trying to work his way out of his bonds...
"I ain't flyin' with that crazy fool, I warned ya when we got he---"
Robert looked at Hannibal in shock as he knocked out BA from behind.
"Get him in there, willya?"
They had slight liftoff, and finally found Face, who barely made it onto the side...
Robert looked around headquarters as he removed his 'chute, and was shocked to find a group of MP's rushing towards him...
"May I help you?" he asked, his charming grin masking his confusion.
"I'm Colonel Lynch; I have it on good authority you were with the A-Team, Agent Scorpio, and if you know what's good for you, you'll tell me which direction they were heading." the mustached man ground out.
"A-Team? Never heard of them..."
Face adjusted Emily in his lap as BA took a curve unusually fast...
"Hey, I forgot the carseat; go easy?"
"Yeah, I'll show you easy..." he muttered.
"Boys, we may have another trip to get ready for..."
"Awww, Hannibal... we just got back two days ago..." BA scowled.
"Yeah, little soon for me to scam Murdock out of the VA again, isn't it?"
"Oh, you'll like this case, Face..." Hannibal grinned, biting back a laugh.
"Oh?" he asked, raising a brow.
"Yeah... lady-reporter name of Amy Allen..."
This case with the reporter-lady had to be their strangest thus-far... This nutty broad actually wanted to join-up with them! Hannibal didn't quite know what to make of it, but he had to admit the gal had moxy...
Amy had been given the plane-ride home to convince the guys to let her in. She wasn't too worried, though; already she clicked with them like she'd been there for years...
"What's your full name, Kid?" Hannibal asked suddenly.
"Amy Amanda Allen."
"Huh. Triple A..." he mused, twirling his ever-present cigar in his fingers.
"Just perfect for a unit called 'The A-Team'." she smiled, not missing a beat.
A few hours later, they landed on an air-strip in Chicago and loaded BA into the van. Hannibal drove at breakneck speed to an apartment-complex, where they left the still unconscious BA in the van.
"Why are we here? Aren't we going home?" Amy asked on the way up the stairs.
"Somebody we had to pick up first..." Murdock explained.
"Oh..." was all she said, but she was still slightly confused. "Who would they be picking-up?" she wondered.
When they got to the apartment, Mrs. B gave them the warmest of welcomes, and seemed quite pleased to meet Amy. Amy, though, nearly got the shock of her life when she saw Face go to the bassinett and lift up a baby-girl that was unmistakably his...
"Hey-a, Kitten... you miss me?" he smiled, giving the little girl a kiss on the cheek.
"You... you're married?"
Murdock and Hannibal exchanged glances and burst out laughing.
"Who? Me?" Face grinned, ignoring Hannibal and Murdock. "Nah... her mother beat me to it..."
"Ahhhh... you're raising her by yourself?"
"Look, Emily is just fine, and much better off with me than her mother!" he stated, slightly offended. "Besides..." he teased, grinning wickedly. "This is the 1980's... and here we thought you were a liberated woman..."
"I... I didn't mean it like that..." she apologized.
"S'ok." he assured her.
Suddenly, they heard a great pounding and yelling coming towards them.
"Hannibal! You did it to me again!" they heard. "I done tol' you not to put me on a plane with that crazy fool, and you knocked me out again!" he yelled, barreling through the door.
"Now, Scooter, you behave yourself!" Mrs. B admonished. "Slam my door and don't even give your Mama a hug?"
"Oh... Sorry, Mama..." he said, giving her a hug and kiss.
"What'd I tell you? Just a big ol' pussycat..." she winked, giving Amy a nudge.
Amy smiled at Mrs. B. "Um, not to be nosy, but who is her mother?"
"Speaking of Monica..." Hannibal cut in, "Maybe it's time we took Emily for a visit?"
"You don't wanna expose that innocent little baby to that... woman!" Mrs. B said distatstefully. "She done gave that child up, anyways..."
"Well..."
"What about her crazy husband and father-in-law, Hannibal? They're nuts!" BA piped-up.
"Yeah, and not in the good way..." Murdock added with a nod.
"Who are these people?" Amy asked again.
"Oh! Sorry, Amy..." Face apologized. "Um, Monica Quartermaine is her mother..."
"Quartermaine? As in ELQ?"
"Yup; her father-in-law..."
"Are you going?"
"Well... I don't guess it would hurt to visit once in a while if all of us go..." he mused.
"Can I go?" Amy asked excitedly. "I would love to interview Edward Quarter---"
"No!" they all said at once.
"Look, trust me, Ames, you don't wanna meet this guy..." Murdock assured her.
"He's right, Kid..." Face nodded.
After dropping Amy back in LA, they decided to make the drive to Port Charles. Hannibal was in the front with BA, and Murdock was in the back with Face, trying to entertain Emily in her carseat...
"Hey, BA!" he called. "I think Marshmallow over here wants a different station; she don't like that boring music you listen to..."
"She ain't told you nothin' 'bout no music; she can't talk yet!"
"Well... I can just tell... We communicate on the same level..." he informed him, grinning widely.
"Uh-huh... same level alright..."
Suddenly, they hit a hard bump in the road, and heard a muffled scream.
"Um, I don't think that one was comin' from the little one, d'you?"
"Nope..." Face agreed, shaking his head as he lifted the blanket from the back of the van which was used to cover up the weapons-box...
Hannibal turned around in his seat to catch a look as well. "Well... and I thought we left you back in LA..." he said as Amy's head popped up...
"Now... before you all get mad..." Amy began.
"We ain't mad..." Murdock assured her with a lopsided grin.
"No?"
"Nah..."
"You, um, might be more comfortable in an actual chair, though..." Face said, biting back a laugh.
"Oh, yeah..." she mumbled, embarrassed, scrambling into a seat.
BA stole a glance at her in the rearview mirror and shook his head.
"So, what hotel are we staying in?"
"Hotel? No hotel; we're staying in the mansion..." Hannibal smirked.
"Mansion?" she echoed, confused. "With the mother and in-laws?"
"Of course; it'll p*ss 'em off for sure..."he chuckled.
Amy looked at Face questioningly, who merely shrugged.
"Well, it was Monica's idea..."
When they got to the mansion, Edward was sitting alone in the living-room...
"Oh, no! Not you again!" he yelled, jumping up.
"Nice to see you too, Eddie." Hannibal chuckled, lighting up his cigar.
"Tem?"
"Oh, hi, Monica..." Face smiled.
"Oh, hi baby..." she said softly, reaching out to touch Emily's cheek gently. "Oh, Tem, she looks just like you..."
"Monica, what are they doing here again?" Edward demanded, practically jumping up and down.
"Oh, put a sock in it, Edward; they are welcome to visit here anytime..." Lila said, coming into the room.
Just then, AJ came into the room, leading a younger blonde-headed boy in.
"Hi, guys!" he said happily. "This is my little brother, Jason..."
A few hours later, Face and Monica were sitting on the patio, Emily in Monica's lap...
"I guess you're wondering about Jason?"
"Well... I believe you had mentioned him before?"
"His mother died." she explained. "He lived with his stepfather for a while, but I've adopted him now..."
"Well, that's great, Monica..."
"You're doing very well with this one, I see..."
"Thanks, but I did have a bit of help..." he smiled modestly.
"Mr. Quartermaine, the Courier is not really a paper; it's an affilaite of over 70 nationally syndicated papers. This very interview could be printed in up to every single one of them..."
"Really?" he mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Couldn't hurt business, now could it?"
Amy smiled and got out her notepad...
"Tem, what is the big deal?"
"Look, I brought her to visit you; isn't that enough?"
"I'm just taking Emily for a few hours; we'll be back soon..." she said, hefting Emily onto her hip.
"Well... all right..." he said reluctantly. "Um, remember to feed her, and promise me you won't drop her?"
"Look, Murdock... it's simple; just follow her around and make sure you don't get caught." Face said, handing him the other walkie-talkie.
"And, you don't think you're bein' just the least bit overprotecive, Faceman?"
"No, I don't!" he huffed slightly. "She's been gone over two hours now, and I haven't heard from her... Now, you going to help me or not?"
"No problemo, Muchacho." Murdock nodded.
Less than a minute after Murdock had left, Hannibal, Amy, and BA walked in with a pretty blonde in tow...
"Face, this is Laura Spencer, and she wants to hire us..."
"What? Now?"
"Yes, now." she said. "My husband has been kidnapped by Frank Smith, and I need help getting him back."
"Frank Smith? The gangster?"
"Yes... Look, Luke is smart and can take care of himself, but... these are some pretty bad men..." she explained, her large eyes threatening to flood over with tears. "We can pay you as soon as you get him out..." she promised.
"Where's Murdock?" Hannibal asked suddenly.
"Um, well..." Face hedged.
"Face?"
"Don't you start with me, Hannibal... I kind of made Monica mad, so I don't see her calling while she's gone with Emily, and... well... I---"
"Howling Mad to the Facial one..." came suddenly over the crackling reciever in Murdock's best Walter Cronkite voice.
"Murdock? What? Something happen?"
"Nup; everything's A-OK, Faceguy..." he assured cheerfully. "Oh, there she is... showin' off the baby to one of the nurses..."
"Oh?"
"Yah; pretty too... Mind if I---"
"Yes, I mind..."
"Face, this is silly..."Amy said with a touch of exasperation.
"But... she's got my baby... Ahhh, we're getting off the subject; this lady wants us to take up a mission..."
"Where is he?" BA asked suddenly.
"Um, Bulgaria, I think..." she answered, brushing at her eyelids impatiently.
"You got a boat?"
"We don't have time for---"
"I don't fly." he insisted, crossing his arms stubbornly.
"We'll work out travel arrangements later, huh, BA?" Hannibal said, slightly aggravated.
"Look, I'm going with you---"
"M'am, I really don't think---"
"This is my husband, and I've gone on worse missions with just the two of us, so I think I can handle it..." she spat.
"Well... your dime..." Hannibal shrugged.
"Guess we're leaving early..." Face mused. "Murdock?" he spoke into the walkie-talkie.
"What's up, Faceguy?"
"C'mon back; we got a mission to prepare for... I'll just call Monica and tell her we're ready to go..."
"And, this is HM Murdock, signing off..." he said, still using the news-anouncer-voice.
"Um, I have a little boy; he's about a year old... I really should see about making arrangements for him..."
"Well, actually, in this business, it's best not to arouse too much suspicion..." Hannibal said.
"You think I should bring him?"
"Well... BA, think Mrs. B would mind another kid?"
"Nah... she won't mind this once..." BA assured.
"You're gonna get your comeuppance, Spencer..." Frank spat, backhanding him as he sat limply in the chair he was tied to.
"Ya got nothin..." Luke said with a half-cocky grin.
"I will have what is mine!"
General Hospital's Friendship Forever