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

[notthatcrazy]

There's really nothing else he can do here, which only makes him feel worse. Hee only makes it as far as the waiting room before his strength gives out and he curbs up in a corner chair, letting the tears out quietly.

[notjustaface]

About twenty minutes later, BA emerges and heads straight out the door - Hannibal following close behind but opting to sit down across from Murdock's crumpled form.

"He's sleeping," he says softly, reaching across to pat him gingerly on the shoulder. They've both known POWs - they both know bouncing back from what he's been through isn't fast or easy.

[notthatcrazy]

The worst of the crying has subsided but he's still a little shaky as he nods.

"Guess I should've expected something like that."

He's been through a lot. It'll take time to help him through it.

[notjustaface]

"Gave BA a hell of fat lip..." he manages to half-laugh, offering a slight smile.

Clearing his throat, he licks his lips and adds; "We'll keep him sedated until we can move him. BA's coming back with a truck, there's a safe house a couple hundred miles south we should be able to make it there tonight."

[notthatcrazy]

No wonder he ran out so fast.

"I've just...been on the other side of that, you know?"

Not the torture, but the panicking and not knowing what's real? He gets that.

"Can I ask you somethin', Boss?"

[notjustaface]

Leaning back, wiping a fine mist of sweat off his brow as the clinic starts taking in other patients for the day.

"Sure Murdock," he answers, settling back in as much as he can; "you know that."

[notthatcrazy]

"Did I do good today?"

It's not often that he needs validation - he's usually pretty comfortable with himself. But sometimes he needs to hear it.

[notjustaface]

The soft voice is enough to draw a fond smile from the older man, relief and weariness after what they've all been through.

He nods, reaching across the small gap between them to pat his shoulder again. "You did good, Captain. Above and beyond the call of duty."

[notthatcrazy]

He gives him a small but grateful smile.

There's not much else to do but wait until BA returns. With a protective nod, he hands Murdock a to-go cup - not coffee, but a milkshake from the burger joint up the road, half chocolate and half strawberry the way he likes it. BA gives him an awkward, one-armed hug before moving to the facing seats to talk to Hannibal.

The unexpected kind gesture almost makes him cry again.

[notjustaface]

Food makes everything a little easier to handle.

"Scanners are lit up, boss." BA shakes his head, biting into a big burger that's probably not his first of the morning. "We're gonna have to move soon. You pissed off a lot of high-ranking terrorists..."

"Did you get a clean vehicle?" Hannibal asks, calm and confident as he can be.

"Minivan, fold down seats. Clean plates. You know I do good work, man."

[notthatcrazy]

He really can't even think about eating right now, but the shake is good.

"How long 'til we can move out?"

[notjustaface]

"As soon as he's stable." Hannibal answers, taking much smaller bites of his meal. "We can't risk having to make a fast getaway."

"We can stop and get supplies on the way." BA adds as best as he can.

[notthatcrazy]

"So... waiting."

Saying he doesn't deal well with situations like this is an understatement.

[notjustaface]

Hannibal nods again, crossing one arm over his chest.

"You should be in there with him. In case he wakes up again."

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah... I should."

With a nod to his teammates, he heads down the hall, feet heavy as he returns to Face's room. He's still sleeping.

[notjustaface]

Face is still again, clearly restrained despite the crisp white sheet drawn up from his bare feet to his battered chest with a slow and steady pulse of the monitor punctuating assisted breaths.

He's stable, at least - his eyelids fluttering dream like against bruised cheeks.

[notthatcrazy]

After a few moments of simply watching him rest, Murdock reaches up and removes the chain with his own wedding rings from around his neck. Pressing a kiss to the warm metal, he places them in Face's hand, wrapping his own around it.

He's ready to take them back if he wakes up agitated, but he's still hoping he won't have to.

[notjustaface]

Reflexively, his fingers curl around the warm metal. His own were lost, ripped off in the interrogation.

The hospital buzzes with activity, and eventually the slow flutter turns to confused, wide open blue eyes as he tries to speak.

"Wh... where..."

[notthatcrazy]

He'd expected as much. It's sad, but he's so glad to have him back that he can't bring himself to think about it at the moment.

"Hey, Temp."

He forces himself to talk around the lump in his throat, not wanting him to feel alone for one more second.

"I'm here. It's okay..."

Damn it... ya had me at that edit...

[notjustaface]

Everything feels slow, drugs he knows even if he's not entirely sure anything that's happening is real.

"No..." he whispers weakly, his voice dry and ragged, his panic building as much as it can under the sedation as he tries to move and finds he can't.

"No..."

[notthatcrazy]

He feels the tension rising and squeezes his hand just a little tighter, trying his best to convey this is real, you're safe.

"The doctors had to sedate you. It's gonna be okay..."

He can't quite keep the quiver out of his voice. If he's lost so far in the memories that they can't pull him back ..

"Just breathe..."

It's not clear wether he's saying that to Face or himself.

[notjustaface]

"Fuck you..." Face growls from behind clenched teeth, but he's so weak there's no bite to it. "Kill me."

His body tries to pull, but still he fails to move - fails to even manage his bleary eyes fully open against the seemingly blinding light of the dim room. "Stop. Talking."

[notthatcrazy]

He does, but only because he's at a loss for what else to say. Obviously the drugs aren't helping... god knows what he's got in his system besides the sedative. At least right now he can't hurt himself.

( Unless he tries to fight the restraints, his mind supplies unhelpfully.)

Still fighting off tears, he moves to the door and calls to the waiting room.

"Hannibal? Need you here."

He barely notices the few reproachful looks he gets for yelling before he returns to the bedside.

"I'm not goin' anywhere, so you might as well get used to it."

[notjustaface]

Face's muscles strain against the tight staps, discolored as he tries to fight them off as much as his weak and tired body will allow.

"Jesus..." Hannibal mutters under his breath as he pushes past a confused attendant into the small room. "Snap out of it, Peck," he orders in a loud, gruff tone; "we're getting you out of this mess but you better straighten up and deal with it!"

[notthatcrazy]

He steps back, shoulders sagging, as Hannibal takes control. It's a little awkward, needing to be there but not wanting to get in the way, but this may be just what Face needs right now.

Doesn't make it any easier to watch, though. He holds his breath, catching Hannibal's eye as he continues trying to talk him down.