Best-Laid Plans

[notthatcrazy]

It was supposed to be an easy job. At least that's what Hannibal had said, with his usual bravado. All they had to do was tail the guy who'd been stealing corporate intel from their client and report back when they found his base of operations - at least that was the plan, until they'd been spotted and he'd gotten the drop on them before Face could take him out.

So now he's got a possible concussion and a probable - ow, no, make that a definite broken arm and a very worried partner to deal with.

Comments

[notjustaface]

"No... no... kids, great..." he replies, squeezing his hand again. "Let's talk about kids. What about a girl, you think?"

He's panicking, it's the only reason he'd follow that road.

[notthatcrazy]

"Temp... it's okay."

He's pictured them with a little boy, or maybe a boy and a girl, but he can't bring himself to freak him out any further.

"How much longer 'til the others get here?"

[notjustaface]

It's not okay. It's very much not okay, Murdock's not okay.

"Couple hours..." At least. They don't even know, and he's more or less hoping on some sort of psychic connection to tell them please hurry.

"Talk to me, babe. Anything. Anything you want to talk about."

[notthatcrazy]

"Can't... hurts too much."

He's trying, but everything he's said has only made it hurt worse. He doesn't know himself if he's talking about physical or emotional pain because it's all started to blur together.

"Talk t'me instead? Tell me a story, anything..."

[notjustaface]

He really, really doesn't like the tremor in Murdock's voice.

"Okay, just listen to my voice and focus on keeping your eyes open. I am not about to lose you, man. I... I can't."

[notthatcrazy]

"I'm listenin'..."

He catches sight of the scar on his arm that Face had pointed out earlier, remembering Germany.

Why won't anyone tell me why I'm here?

It was funny, in a way... In his mind he'd been calm, rational even. In reality he'd been screaming so loud his throat hurt later.

Fine... You won't tell me, I'm outta here.

After they'd stitched him up, they'd moved him to a room without windows.

[notjustaface]

His mind scrambles for something, anything, to talk about that might keep Murdock's interest.

"Did I ever tell you that I wrote you letters while I was in prison?"

[notthatcrazy]

It's like he knew, somehow. He tries to force his mind back to the present.

"No, you didn't tell me."

[notjustaface]

"I did. I guess I thought at first maybe it would help me work shit out, just writing it all down."

He laughs a little awkwardly, it feels overly-sentimental and romantic... but the things he wrote at the time he knows he only did because they'd be destroyed before anyone could see them. Letters specifically written not to be sent.

"I didn't know what to say at first so I just wrote things like; 'I'm thinking about you and I miss you like crazy and I swear I'll fix everything.'"

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah?"

The takes his hand again, running his fingers over the ragged scars on his knuckles. They'd both been through the wringer in those six months.

[notjustaface]

In a way, it was good. It gave him time to think, time to prioritize. And, you know, work on his abs.

"Then I started just writing about the day, you know? Like you really cared that I managed a real bed and VIP status."

And sometimes he even apologized for the things he did to get them.

[notthatcrazy]

"I would have," he insists softly.

"... Might not've wanted all the sordid details, but I always cared."

[notjustaface]

That's enough to draw a small smile.

"Would you have written me back?"

[notthatcrazy]

"'Course I would."

It would have been nice to have that contact. He'd really thought it was the end for them. It's enough to make him feel guilty now. He should have realized they'd never leave him in that place.

"Don't know if I'd have gotten 'em even if you had sent 'em, though."

[notjustaface]

"Probably not." Definitely not, there's a reason they were kept as far apart as possible - individually they're all dangerous, together they're unstoppable.

"I burned 'em anyway." At first he told himself it was cleaning up the evidence trail, but even he knew it was because there were some things he didn't want anyone knowing - even Murdock. Maybe especially him.

[notthatcrazy]

That was the hardest part, the feeling of being alone.

"Little dramatic, don't ya think?"

[notjustaface]

"My options were a little limited," he smiles again, nosing against him as he once more checks his eyes... they're not looking any clearer.

"The last two months was pretty detailed about the plan."

It may have also involved promises he knew he couldn't keep.

[notthatcrazy]

He's still pretty out of it. He sighs.

"Love you, y'know?"

Whatever happens, as long as they're together...

[notjustaface]

"I know, I know..." he squeezes Murdock's hand again, convinced it's the only thing keeping him calm.

"We're gonna be okay, you know that, right?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah."

It pretty much is. He's clinging to him as much as he can in their uncomfortable position.

"Just wish the cavalry would hurry itself up."

[notjustaface]

"They'll be here..." he tries to be reassuring, but it's not exactly his strong suit.

"Hey, after this is all over... you know what? We're getting ice cream. You like ice cream."

[notthatcrazy]

"Do I get a lollipop if I'm good for the doctor?"

At least being wounded in the line of duty hasn't fully dampened his snark reflex.

[notjustaface]

"You can have all the lollipops, babe." The concern in his voice is obvious and he knows it, but there's no use hiding it.

"Anything you want. Just keep it together for me, okay? For me?"

[notthatcrazy]

"I'm tryin'..."

He raises an eyebrow at him.

"You weren't s'pposed to take that seriously, y'know."

[notjustaface]

He can't help it, at this point he'd do just about anything to keep it together. For both of them.

"Hey, I always take you seriously." Even when he's being silly because deep down he knows there's something to it. Sometimes. More often than people give him credit for.