CHAPTER 2: All Work And Some Play

Their first day at the ranch had been a fairly uneventful one, well, as far their actually mission was concerned.

BA worked on the old truck, along with his new little helper. It was in pretty bad shape but, ever the mechanic, BA had it up and running in next to no time.

The remainder of his day mostly consisted of helping out with any strenuous jobs, fixing miscellaneous objects and toys that Timmy gave him, because Timmy liked being the big guys’ helper. It made him feel proud and important, much to BA’s amusement; he’d quickly grown fond of the young boy.

When Murdock wasn’t helping out with the animals or doing any other tasks that were needed of him he was sat down on the grass, in the middle of the field, talking to the cattle.

He’d become particularly friendly with a cow named Bella, who seemed to listen intently to every word the crazy pilot said, in fact, if Bill didn’t know any better, he could have sworn she was nodding and shaking her head to questions Murdock asked. Bill did some head shaking of his own, telling Janise that hanging out with Murdock all day was beginning to have an effect on him, Janise laughed and told him he didn’t need Murdock to make him crazy.

Face spent most of the day working hard on trying to avoid work and was doing a good job of it too, in fact, every time there was the slightest whiff of a chance he’d have to get his hands dirty, he managed to disappear out of sight. That was until Jerry got fed up with the ‘Spoiled lazy city boy’ as he dubbed Face, and went in search of him. He found the charismatic Lieutenant sweet-talking his housekeepers, and nieces Carla and Samantha.

Taking Face by the arm, he told the younger man that unless he started to pull his weight he’d be on cowpat cleanup duty in the morning. Unfortunately for Face, as good of a conman as he was, his art of persuasive charm didn’t work with Jerry.

Actually, it seemed only to irate the older man further, telling Face that he’d be on cowpat cleanup duty for the rest of his duration at the ranch if he didn’t help out.

Needlessly to say Face gave in, settling for some ploughing. So instead that particular morning task was given to Murdock. He insisted in fact saying something about ‘In order to truly understand another creature, you must also become familiar with that of which was inside it, and then passed.’

And Hannibal did his fair share of the work too, fixing broken fences, helping Jerry to trim the horses hooves, and keeping a lookout for any unwanted visitors. Although, he was a little disappointed as the hours passed and not a single one of Greys cronies dropped by, it looked as though they’d have to ‘be sorry’ another day.

Now they were all enjoying an evening meal which Janise had made for them.

‘I was just saying that it would have been nice if Carla and Samantha had joined us.’ Face shrugged defensively.

‘And I’m just saying, again, that they both have houses of their own that they like to get back to.’ Jerry paused to put a forkful of food into his mouth, swallowing it before narrowing his eyes and adding, ‘So it looks like you’re gonna have to chat up my nieces some other time!’

Face looked over at Hannibal for support but groaned as he saw the amused grin on his CO’s face.

‘Pa leave him alone.’ Face smiled thankfully at Janise as Jerry grunted and ate his meal.

‘Take no notice of him; he used to be worst with me.’ Bill winked then ducked as Jerry chucked a boot at him

‘And he’s always liked Bill.’ Janise laughed.

‘Mommy, do I have to eat these?’ Timmy whined, nudging the vegetables on his plate.

‘Yes sweetie, now be a good boy.’ She patted his head.

He groaned then looked over at BA who was happily chomping on his vegetables, Timmy pulled a face in disgust, ‘You’re eating them?’

‘Sure Timmy, how else am I gonna stay big and strong?’

The young boys eyes widened, ‘You mean if I eat em I might end up being strong, like you?’ BA nodded, ‘Cool.’ Timmy exclaimed much to everyone’s amusement, tucking enthusiastically in to his greens.

‘Impressive, where have you been all our life?’ Bill laughed.

‘Yeah, you certainly have a way with kids.’ Janise agreed.

‘See, the Big Guy does have his uses.’

‘Shut up Murdock!’

‘Now there you go again BA, being mean, you’ve done nothin but hound me all trip!’

‘I’ll be feedin you to the hounds if you don’t be quiet!’

Jerry put his fork down on his empty plate, ‘Do them two ever stop bickerin?’

‘Rarely.’ Hannibal ate the remaining morsel that was on his plate, ‘Thanks Janise, that tasted great!’ Everybody else agreed, thanking her gratefully for the meal.

Timmy rubbed his eyes, ‘Oh, looks like somebody’s ready to go to bed.’

‘Awww, but Mommy, I’m not tired.’

‘Yeah, well it’s already passed your bed time.’

‘But I’m a big boy…’ He yawned widely, ’now’

‘And big boys need there sleep too.’ She held his hand as he slid off the chair, ‘Come on, now say goodnight to everyone.’

He folded his arms and frowned, ‘Goodnight.’

Bill chuckled and picked Timmy up, ‘Looks like someone’s a little tired and cranky.’

Everyone said goodnight to Timmy as Bill and Janise took him to his room.

Face looked over at Hannibal, ‘So what are we doing tomorrow, still just gonna wait to see if some of Greys men turn up?’

‘No, looks like we’re gonna have to go to them.’

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Face pressed the pillow tightly to his ears, then moaned as the sound from the next bed could still be heard.

‘…and then she said that Clint, that’s the bull, you know the one with the big white spot around his eye, well anyway, Bella said that he….’

Face slammed his fists down on the mattress, shooting Murdock an irritated look, but keeping his voice low ‘Murdock I don’t care about your conversations with cows, I don’t care about your adventures with Chase and Fetcher, it’s a quarter to three in the morning and at this exact moment…’ Face raised his voice slightly ‘I don’t care about anything!’

Murdocks eyes went wide like a scolded puppy, he shot Face an indignant look, ‘Well, I. Am. Sorry, but I didn’t realised a guy’d get chastised for wantin to talk to his best friend!’

‘Well they do if said best friend is really tired and wants to sleep.’

‘Hmph!’ Murdock dragged the blanket over himself and sulkily faced the wall.

Face lay back down but kept his eyes opened; knowing that as soon as he closed them there’d be a good chance that Murdock would start talking again. The minutes passed and his friend remained silent so Face finally shut his eyes, smiling peacefully as he started to drift off into a nice restful…

‘Facey, do you think they’ll let me keep a calf at the VA?’

Face sat up again, ‘Why me Murdock, why?’

‘Huh?’

‘Why is it that every time we share a room you have to keep me awake all night?’

‘But I talk to Hannibal and BA when I share with them too.’

‘Not all night like with you do with me.’

‘Yeah, but you know the ol’ Colonel, he can sleep through anythin, I actually think my talkin helps him doze off.’ Murdock sat up, ‘And as for the ugly mudsucker, lord knows he needs all the beauty sleep he can get.’

‘Oh right, I’ll tell him you said that.’ Face smirked.

‘I already did, ages back.’ Murdock grimaced as he remembered that particular conversation, ‘I couldn’t sit down for a week after, and the Big Guy was barefooted too!’

Face couldn’t help but laugh at that, ‘Well anyway, it’s been a long day, I’m tired, you should be too, so how about doing us both a favour and leaving the Dr Dolittle stuff for tomorrow, ‘kay?’ Face smiled, all sense of annoyance having now left him.

‘Dr Dolittle, Hmmm.’ Murdock tapped his chin thoughtfully.

‘BA’s gonna kill me.’ Face groaned, pulling the blanket over his head.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

‘…alligator, guinea pig, and flea! I would converse in polar bear and python, and I would curse in fluent kangaroo, If people ask me ‘can you speak rhinoceros?’
I'd say ‘of courserous! Can't you?’ If I conferred with our furry friends, man to animal, think of the amazing repartee…’ Murdock sang merrily as he shovelled.

‘Man, what’s all that noise?’ BA growled as he walked over to his friends, with Timmy on his back.

‘That, would be Murdock singin.’ Face turned to BA.

‘Singin? I though the cat was sick!’ BA lifted Timmy down.

Timmy looked up at the muscular man, ‘We don’t have a cat.’

Murdock shot BA a look as he shovelled, ‘I like singin when I work.’

‘Hey, I’d watch what I said if I were you Sergeant or Murdock might literally give you a pat on the back.’ Hannibal grinned

‘If he tries it he’ll be flat on his!’ BA growled, his eyes narrowing at Murdock.

Murdock held his hands out defensively, ‘What? I didn’t say nothin!’

‘What was you singin?’

Murdock looked down at Timmy, ‘Talk to the animals, you ever seen Dr Dolittle?’

‘No.’

‘Ah, well he’s this guy, real smart, who can talk to animals and they understand him too, same as me.’ Murdock smiled, ‘So I thought it was only fitting that I sang that song, seen as we have the same ability and all.’

‘You can’t talk to no animals!’

Murdock folded his arms ‘Can too BA!’ He looked at Timmy again, ‘It’s a gift, and a curse.’

BA rolled his eyes, ‘Come on Timmy, before we all get as crazy as he is!’

Timmy stared curiously up at Murdock, ‘Why’s it a curse?’

‘Cus whenever I talk to em BA over there turns into an even bigger grouch than he already is!’

Timmy giggled and ran after BA.

‘When you’ve finished there Captain we’ll go and have a little chat to Grey.’ Hannibal looked at his watch, ‘Have we got an address yet?’

‘Janise is looking for it as we speak.’ Face turned to Murdock; ‘Having fun?’ he smiled awkwardly as Murdock nodded happily.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

‘But Mr Grey, these guys were really good, they-’ The stocky man that the A-Team had met the day before cringed as the voice from the other end of the telephone interrupted him, ‘Yeah I know we’re not paid to lose, next time we won’t let em get so lucky.’ He held the retriever away from his ear slightly, ‘I know don’t worry, we’ll get you that ranch in no time, they’re bound to give up sooner or later. These new guys are just a miner hiccup, they’ll probably get fed up soon, once they realise who they’re messing with.’

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Murdock grinned widely as he walked out of the house.

‘What’s got you so happy?’ Face raised an eyebrow.

‘I’m goin back home.’ He beamed

‘To the VA?’ BA asked, ‘Good, best place for a crazy man to be!’

‘No no, not the VA, home, where I grew up, that’s where Grey’s set up his office.’

Face passed their weapons to BA, ‘In your old home?’

‘No, but real close by.’ Murdock leant on the truck, ‘Hey, I wonder if Uncle Roger still lives next door.’

‘You don’t have an Uncle Roger Murdock, he was just so I could swing you from the VA, remember, you gave him your right lung?’

‘Oh right, how about Cousin Marty?’

‘Left kidney.’

‘Francis?’ Face shook his head, ‘Which of my relatives are actually real then?’

‘Come on guys, time to pay Grey a little visit.’ Hannibal got into the truck. BA got into the drivers seat and Face and Murdock jumped in the back.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Murdock Jumped out of the truck and looked around, ‘Hey, this place looks at lot smaller than I remember it.’

‘That’s cus you ain’t a kid no more fool.’ BA got out and slammed the truck door shut.

‘No that’s not it.’ Murdock pondered for a moment, ‘Hey I know, it’s cus the castle ain’t here no more!’

‘Castle?’

‘Yeah Face, that’s where I used to go when I was training to be a knight.’

‘Shut up fool.’

Murdock ignored BA, continuing, ‘I had a real good time too at knight school, cept when I had to walk across the drawbridge, that troll who lived underneath it was real mean.’

‘Man, I told you we shoulda dropped him off at the VA instead.’ BA slipped the gun strap over his shoulder.

‘Oh, I don’t know BA, I can just see Murdock in shining armour, riding aboard his trusted steed.’ Hannibal smiled mischievously at his aggravated sergeant. He turned his attention to Murdock, ‘Captain, we’ll have proper look around here after we’ve met Grey.’

‘Thanks Colonel.’

Hannibal lit a cigar, placing it firmly between his teeth, ‘Lets go Face.’ He and Face got their rifles ready, ‘You two wait here and stand guard, we’ll signal you in if we need you.’

BA and Murdock nodded, watching their friends as they made there way towards Greys office.

The man behind the desk jumped up as Hannibal kicked open the door.

‘What is this?’ He demanded, staring nervously at the two guns pointing at his chest.

‘I take it your Frederick Grey.’ Hannibal rested his rifle on his side, he used his free hand to pick up the name plate that was on the mans desk, which read ‘Frederick Grey’

‘Who do you think you are, barging in like this?’

‘Well, we’ve already had the displeasure of meeting some of your slimeballs, so we thought it was only right to meet the head of the slimeballs too.’

‘Ah, so you’re two of them guys that my men were talking about.’ Grey sniggered, ‘You caught them off guard last time so allow me to give you some friendly advice.’

‘Oh, I love friendly advice.’ Hannibal grinned; he turned to Face, ‘Don’t you.’

‘Yeah, it’s the best kind.’

Grey snorted, ‘Stay well away from that ranch if you know what’s good for you, cus if you don’t the next time you and my men meet, you won’t be so lucky.’

Hannibal mock pondered for a moment, then smiled and shook his head, ‘I think we’ll take our chances.’ He pressed his rifle on Greys chest, ‘Now you’re goin to leave that family alone and find some other piece of land to build on.’ He turned to leave, ‘Come on Face.’ Face followed.

‘Over my dead body, I’m gonna get that ranch if it’s the last thing I do!’

Hannibal paused, turning back to face Grey, ‘Have it your way.’ He shrugged.

They made their way back to BA and Murdock, ‘Guys like Grey never learn the easy way.’

‘I know what you mean Hannibal, we give em a chance but they never take it.’ Face sighed.

Murdock looked at Hannibal expectantly, ‘You wanna check out your old house now Murdock?’

‘I sure do Colonel; I got a lotta memories from that ol’ place.’

‘Yeah, but which ones are real?’ Face muttered.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

‘…And I thought I told you to take care of them!’ Grey shouted down the telephone, ‘I want them gone, and if they won’t leave on their own accord, then you’ll have to make em.’ He screwed his face up angrily as he listened to the voice on the other end of the phone, ‘I don’t care how good you think they are I pay you to be better, and if they won’t leave, eliminate them!’ Grey slammed the phone down, crumpling up a piece of paper and rolling it in his palm, ‘Nobody threatens me and gets away with it!’

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Murdock stood in the doorway of his old house; eyes wide and thoughtful as past memories came flooding back.

‘Man I ain’t come here for you to just stand in the doorway.’ BA pushed Murdock inside.

‘Hey, you wanna see my old room?’ Murdock strode forward before anyone had a chance to answer, they followed after him. Murdock opened the door, waiting until his friends were inside of the empty room before speaking again. He pointed to the wall across from the window, ‘That’s where my bed used to be.’ he walked over to the window which had the curtains drawn and opened them wide, ‘I always kept these open, used to lie in bed and stare at the stars at night before I went to sleep, made me feel safe.’ He chuckled, ‘And then in the morning I’d look out and watch all the birds flying high in the sky, so calm and peaceful, not a care in the world. I wanted so much to be like them.’

‘To fly?’ Murdock faced Hannibal and nodded.

Murdock put his hands in his pockets and made his way out of the room. Looking back momentarily before casually walking away. The others following him as he gave them a tour of his childhood home, putting on a commentators voice as he told them about past events.

A trip down memory land of the ol’ Murdock homestead was always going to be an interesting one, even if a lot of what he thought he remembered was doubtful. One thing was for certain though; Murdock’s great imagination and love for flying had been there from a very early age. People always told him he was different, even when he wasn’t insane, but like his three friends who were with him today, they knew deep down that that was what made Murdock so special.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Greys men were waiting for Hannibal and his team as they drove towards the ranch. The road block they had set up failed to prevent BA from getting the truck passed them so instead they all got back into their now slightly damaged vehicles and pursued the A-Team.

Their gunshots were met with returning fire as Face and Murdock aimed rounds at their tires and hoods. Bullets pierced the metal of the truck.

‘I only just fixed this man!’ BA shrieked furiously, swerving to the right.

‘Hang in there BA, I’m gonna give some extra fire power.’ Hannibal opened his door, leaned out of the truck and shot at the enemy vehicles with one hand, using his free hand to hold onto the truck.

The nearest car stopped abruptly as the bullets proved too much for it. The hood flying off as the car exploded, causing the vehicle behind to flip over it. A man crawled out of the now upside down vehicle, looking dizzily at the two men who scrambled out of the other car.

The remaining two cars proved even less of a challenge than the others, swerving off the road and into a ditch as bullets burst the tires.

BA gave Hannibal a disgruntled look as his CO closed the door and got back into his seat, smiling gleefully as though he had thoroughly enjoyed that little bit of excitement.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

‘Man, look what they did to the truck!’ BA slammed the door shut.

‘Oh my gosh, what happened, y’all ok?’ Janise stared at the bullet holes in the truck.

‘We’re fine, but Greys goons didn’t seem all that jubilant when we left them.’ Hannibal grinned.

‘I’m glad you’re happy Hannibal, but you weren’t the one who had bullets whizzing past their head!’ Face complained.

‘Yay your back!’ Timmy wrapped his arms part way around BA’s waist, and then looked at the truck, ‘You want me to help you fix it again?’

BA rubbed Timmy’s head, ‘Course I do Timmy, you’re my helper.’

‘But you’ve got chores of your own to be doing first.’

‘Ok Mommy, I’ll do them after I help BA.’

‘No, you’ll do them first.’

‘Hmmm, what if I ask Daddy, and he says I can?’

Janise laughed, ‘Chores now, help BA after, I’m sure he’ll wait for you.’

‘Yeah I’ll wait, do what your momma says Timmy.’

‘Ok, I’ll be really quick, like superman!’ Timmy ran off.

TBC

Thankyou to everyone who has read and reviewed this story so far :)