Separation, Anxiety

[notjustaface]

It hadn't been a particularly hard mission, at least not by comparison to some of the stunts they've managed in the last ten years, but there was one fatal point where it could fall apart. Face had approximately sixty seconds to make it from tunnel to the next - a journey that shouldn't take more than forty-five seconds - before enemy's defensive explosion went off leaving him not only trapped but pinned down and unable to escape assuming he survived the event.

An unexpected sniper cut thirty seconds off the time he had. He was four seconds too late... just behind enough the blast didn't take him out - but not out. He was trapped behind the line, and utterly fucked.

"Put her in the air, Captain." Hannibal says softly, staring at the plume of dust and debris for any sign that Face had made it through last second. There was none.

Comments

[notjustaface]

"Do you really know?" He spits back, taking a deep breath to calm himself before speaking again.

"We'd need at least... I don't know maybe ten... fifteen men. A strike team. They'll have him lacked down - interrogating him. Trying to find out who we're working for."

[notthatcrazy]

He makes a strangled sound and buries his head in his hands again. It's going to be a while before he's composed enough to continue talking about this.

[notjustaface]

"I'm not telling you this to hurt you, Murdock..." Hannibal's voice softens again, the frustration tapering back to the sinking pain in his gut.

"We need to think about this before we run in there half-cocked. It won't do him any good if we're captured... or worse."

[notthatcrazy]

"No... I know."

He looks up after a moment, wiping his face on his sleeve.

"We gotta think of something."

He may have some issues with him on a personal level, but things will have to be seriously fucked up before he loses faith in Hannibal's strategizing abilities.

[notjustaface]

Hannibal nods, staring down as he searches for some sort of answer.

"I'm working on it."

As fast as his mind can work, considering Murdock isn't the only one shaken by the loss.

"But you have to be ready for this to end badly."

[notthatcrazy]

He nods, looking miserable as he tries not to break down again.

"I just need to know."

It's going to devastate him if they lose him, but not knowing is killing him.

[notjustaface]

As he takes another drink, Hannibal's eyes narrow down to a small black mark where he'd initially considered going in but avoided once he found a much more secure route.

"I know..." he says softly, tapping his finger on the mark.

It'd be a gamble... and hell of a lot of sneaking for the three of them... but it wasn't impossible.

[notthatcrazy]

He knows Hannibal well enough to sense that he's had an idea, but he knows better than to interrupt him. He pulls his jacket tighter around himself as he leans in to look.

[notjustaface]

Hannibal leans forward, setting down his drink to trace the old route as the other hand withdraws a pencil from his breast pocket.

"It's a long shot..." he barely whispers, licking his lower lip.

[notthatcrazy]

He sighs.

"Seems like everything we do's a long shot."

Still... a slim chance is better than none.

[notjustaface]

It's different when it's a situation like this - an extraction that just might be a funeral.

After a long moment, he sighs again and downs the remainder of his drink before saying; "If we go in through this mineshaft, we'll come out behind their border and about half a mile from the cave-in."

They could start there, and assuming they don't find a body...

[notthatcrazy]

It's definitely high-stakes, in more ways than one... but it wouldn't be the first time they pulled off the seemingly impossible.

"It'll be tough."

[notjustaface]

"That's an understatement, Captain."

Hannibal stares back down at the map before hesitantly plugging the fresh cigar in the corner of his mouth. "We'll want to avoid a firefight - we'll be easily outgunned... ten to one at best."

[notthatcrazy]

"I know," he replies to both statements.

It'll take a great deal of sneakiness to pull this off, and they're not exactly known for their subtlety.

[notjustaface]

His brain is going faster than he can articulate as the plan falls together.

"We can do a two man strike team - you'll be back at the mineshaft preparing for the worst if we have to make a hasty retreat."

It doesn't even occur to him that the likelihood of Murdock letting BA go in instead of him is slim to nil.

[notthatcrazy]

He's a bit torn oh it. While he knows that BA's logically the better choice, logic is taking a backseat to emotion.

"I'd like to go in first on this one."

[notjustaface]

It'd be a lot easier of a decision if it wasn't their best sniper they were going in for - BA could take down any of them hand to hand and made the better choice for backup.

But all the same, he can understand the request.

"I don't think that's the right choice, this is a stealth operation..."

[notthatcrazy]

He sighs.

"You're probably right. I just..."

He trails off, unable to articulate what he's feeling.

"I just can't get left behind this time."

He's always the backup. It's not going to work now.

[notjustaface]

Pulling away from the table, Hannibal lights his cigar and sinks back into an uncomfortable chair, drawing on it several times before giving a silent half-nod.

Eventually, he asks; "Are you sure you're ready to see the worst case scenario?"

[notthatcrazy]

He gives this some serious thought.

"I can promise I'm not gonna break down while the heat's on. That's the best I can do."

[notjustaface]

He puffs a little harder, exhaling with a soft sigh.

"Is there anything I could say to dissuade you?"

[notthatcrazy]

He looks him square in the eye again.

"Probably not."

[notjustaface]

He nods again, slow and understanding.

"Get some rest, you're going to need it." He pauses, considering the severity of the operation.

"We leave at dawn."

[notthatcrazy]

"Yes sir."

He likely won't be sleeping much... or at sll, but he'll give it a shot.

"Okay if I bunk on the couch tonight?"

Sleeping in an empty bed is just... too much.

[notjustaface]

"Whatever you need to do."

He pauses, carefully considering his next words before quietly adding; "Take your medication. Please?"