notjustaface | Rescue Mission

Rescue Mission - It's a TRAP

Leaving Canada was about the hardest thing he'd done yet - harder still knowing that they were all flying into heavy enemy territory where not only would there be insurgents breathing down their necks there would almost certainly be a US Military ambush to capture them.

The mission itself was straightforward, two non-combatant civilians (reporters, Hannibal thinks) were captured three months before and being held in a camp a few miles outside of Baghdad. Three teams had already been sent in to extract them; two came back wounded and empty-handed, the third didn't come back at all. By Hannibal's reckoning the problem was that they were sending in too many people and taking the small compound through a single strategy - the first by air, the second full frontal, the third undercover. The real trick - and the trick to getting out of the trap - was to divide forces.

Hannibal goes in undercover, giving BA just enough time to create a nice explosive distraction for Face to set up with a sniper rifle and start taking out anyone that stands between the prisoners and the gates - no matter whose uniform they're wearing. Murdock had the most important job of all; air support. He'd have to wait undetected as close as possible before coming in and laying down enough cover to get everyone safely in the chopper before getting them the hell out of there... while being shot at.

"Think we can pull this off?" Face whispers quietly as they load magazines together in the relative privacy of their tent - less than two hours before going in.

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"You are a liability." He asserted, "But I understand."

And in his own way, he does. At least as much as he can. They're in love... and love's a risk.

Then again, so's family.

"Just... you can't let your feelings override the mission."

"I don't think you do," he says quietly, turning to go back in.

"Anything else, sir?"

Being second guessed digs at him, but they've all had a rough night - they're tired and with a man down emotions are running high, so he lets the remark slide.

"Be careful," he says softly, tossing the burned down stub of his cigar into the sand.

If it was just the one reprimand he could understand it. But as much as he knows Hannibal sees their relationship from a much different perspective, there's things about the two of them he either can't or won't acknowledge. Not while he still sees Face as the reckless kid he had to rein in to keep him from self-destructing.

He lets the comment go with a silent nod as he returns to Face's side.

"Hey, buddy. How's the leg?"

The meds haven't kicked in yet, so his face is red and his eyes are just a little puffy though he won't admit he may have cried a little as he bit down into his fist where small crescent marks are still very clear. But, the sewing part is done and he's got a large patch over the wound and a tight brace around his ankle.

"I'm alive," he manages, rolling his eyes. "Doc says I need to stay off my leg for two weeks - they're scrounging up a pair of crutches."

Don't think he doesn't notice those eyes.

"Come here."

Prepare to be fussed over, Lieutenant.

"Two weeks ain't too bad. As long as you stay off it and don't try to do anything stupid."

He perches on the cot next to him, taking his hand and rubbing gently at the red marks.

He considers pulling his hand away, but thinks better of it - Murdock wouldn't let him get away with it long.

"I'll be fine. Besides, I'm sure Boss has something lined up soon." He licks his dry lips, looking toward the cup of water beside Murdock before he asks; "How bad did he rip on you?"

He shrugs, holding the cup out for him.

"'You're disobeying orders, you need to stop letting your feelings interfere with the mission'... the usual."

He rests his head on Face's shoulder briefly. He doesn't like disappointing Hannibal, but he doesn't see a way around it if they're going to keep doing this.

He nods slightly with an almost guilty "oh" into his cup as he drained it.

"It wasn't your fault, man. I should have come down sooner. I waited too long."

Letting himself remember, he stares down at his lap; "Jesus, I killed a guy."

"Yeah... he wasn't too happy about that either."

He looks down to where he's still holding Face's hand in his own.

"If it'd been any one of you, I'd have waited. He didn't believe that."

He really would have gone on without him, too. It would have broken something inside him and he probably would have ended up back in the psych ward sometime after landing, but he would have done his job.

The fact that Hannibal thinks otherwise upsets him more than he wants to admit.

Edited 2013-07-06 09:51 (UTC)

Hannibal's not the only one, if he could he'd kick his own ass for that one.

"You know how he is..." Face sighs, laying back on the cot and closing his eyes. "He just worries that letting us do our thing was a mistake."

As though he had any say in the matter.

All he wants to do is lie down beside him and make everything else go away. He doesn't want to give voice to the fear that Hannibal's right.

"He thinks we're a liability."

The mellow sleepiness starting to settle in, he raises an eyebrow and half-shrugs; "We kind of are."

Admittedly, caring about one member of your team more than the others is always going to be a problem. It's just something they have to work with.

"But we're doing what we can not to be."

He just sighs and nods. There's not really anything they can do about it now. Even if they broke up (which isn't going to happen, barring something seriously catastrophic) the emotional attachment would still be there.

"The pills startin' to kick in?"

"Little bit, yeah..." he replies honestly, leaning his head against Murdock's hand.

"Should be moving out soon, though. Can't stick around too long before we're in trouble again."

The last thing they need is a bunch of pissed off MPs on their case after how many of them he had to disable.

He brushes his hair back from his face, kissing his forehead.

"Once we get outta here, you can get some rest."

He's going back into caretaker mode, which is at least better than sitting around being morose.

"Any idea where we're headed?" He's the boss' right hand man on those sorts of things, but right now Hannibal's not exactly happy with him so there's no telling when he'll know what the next step is.

"No idea," he sighs again.

"Should probably go find him and see what's up."

Squeezing his hand tight, Face lets out a soft sound of protest.

"Nah, man... we'll figure it out soon enough. Stay here."

He doesn't want to be alone right now.

The needy little sound seems to break down some unseen barrier, and he finally lets himself rest. The cot's really not meant for two people, but he tries not to take up too much room.

"Always."

He sighs again, burying his face in his partner's neck.

"Tell me everything's gonna be okay?"

He feels like he shouldn't be so worked up over things, but it's still nice to hear reassurance.

The cot squeals under their combined weight, but holds sure and he presses small kisses to the top of Murdock's head.

"It's gonna be okay," he murmurs, teasing his fingers through the curls at the nape of Murdock's neck. "This'll all be over some day."

He's comforted by the simple gesture, letting out the stress of the day in long, slow, shaky breaths.

He doesn't want to leave this spot until he has to. Hannibal can find them when it's time to get moving again.

"Hey, you did good..." He continues the gentle stroke, sleepy fingers catching and tugging a little harder than he means to.

"You got in there and got everyone out without blinking an eye or letting that chopper fall apart. No simple task, man."

He doesn't mind the occasional tugging. It's keeping him from getting too lost inside his own head.

"Doesn't feel like it."

"You did what you had to do."

He wraps his free arm over his partner, squeezing as best he can before adding; "Don't worry about it, it'll blow over. Boss'll get over it."

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notthatcrazy - 2013-07-06 21:09 (UTC) - Expand

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