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

[notthatcrazy]

"Mmm. Hormones, y'know? They didn't always play nice with the old gray matter."

He still kind of feels bad for what his grandparents had to go through, even though it wasn't really his fault.

[notjustaface]

Hormones? Now that he's an expert on.

"What?" He grins almost shyly; "Like sneaking away to do crazy stuff with girls?"

His brain just functions in a very linear fashion.

[notthatcrazy]

"More like mood swings and hallucinations."

He says it mostly without bitterness. He's come to terms with his issues, for the most part, long ago, but some of the memories are still hard to bear.

"Got so bad I had to leave school... Gram tried to homeschool me, bless her heart."

[notjustaface]

And that sets him awkwardly quiet, because there's nothing he can really say to that.

After a few drawn out moments, he says softly; "Wow... I guess I always kind of thought it was Iraq, you know? That sort of scrambled your brains."

He means it with love, Murdock.

"I... uh... I guess I don't really know a lot about that." Or him. Or anything but living in the moment.

[notthatcrazy]

"Just made it worse. I was always a little off-center."

He knows he means well. Mostly.

"Wasn't all bad, y'know? Gram taught me to cook, and Grandpa was the reason I wanted to join up in the first place."

[notjustaface]

"Was he a pilot too?"

Face visually checks over the broken arm, trying not to dwell on the swelling or how much it must be hurting him.

"I took the exam when I was in high school, placed high enough for Navy intelligence but they said my record wasn't good enough for anything higher than the front lines - I was too much trouble." He chuckles dryly; "If my recruiter could see me now."

[notthatcrazy]

"The best kinda trouble, Faceman."

He's trying for a reassuring smile, but it comes out a little crooked.

"Yeah, Grandpa was an airman from way back. Even when he couldn't fly any more, he still loved it."

[notjustaface]

Best kind? Yeah, he kind of doubts that.

"Must be in your blood," he replies easily, adding; "guess that's why you're the best."

[notthatcrazy]

Well, mostly the best.

"You say the sweetest things."

[notjustaface]

Definitely the best.

"It's nice to mean them."

He doesn't always, part of the gig - but with Murdock he's more than happy to tell it like it is.

[notthatcrazy]

"I know you do."

He whimpers, the lingering pain wearing heavily on him.

"Keep talkin', Temp? Need to stay awake..."

[notjustaface]

"Cavalry will be here before you know it." It's not exactly a lie, he's gonna probably start slipping in and out after a while and time gets a little bet wonky after the first few times.

"Sure... sure. Uh... what about pets? You ever have any pets growing up?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Gram used to raise chickens in the backyard."

He smiles at the memory of chasing the birds around and watching them peck for bugs in the grass.

"Used to cry when they died, 'til she sat me down and explained the connection 'tween the birds and Sunday dinner."

[notjustaface]

He chuckles under his breath, giving Murdock's hand a much tighter squeeze to keep his attention.

"I always kinda pictured you as a dog guy, you know? Rolling around with some playful mutt."

[notthatcrazy]

"Wanted to, but Gram was allergic."

The comforting presence is noted and appreciated.

"What 'bout you? You have pets anywhere you stayed?"

[notjustaface]

It's digging deep, things he shut away on purpose. But for Murdock? Worth digging.

"I started boarding school when I was like twelve, but I remember a couple years before that I stayed with this one couple for a few months that had this really great boxer named Baby." He chuckles, closing his eyes a long moment as he dug out the memory. "One day I took her out for a walk and just didn't feel like going back so I didn't stop until we hit the county line."

[notthatcrazy]

His heart aches for that lonely little kid, but he knows it won't help to say so.

"We should get a pet. Y'know... once we're settled."

It's a nice dream, anyway.

[notjustaface]

"Anything you want, babe."

He doesn't dare angle for a kiss, it'd shift Murdock far too much, but he presses another kiss against the same spot on his temple.

"I'm thinking Borneo - we had a few good times out there, maybe get a nice little hut on the beach. I can teach you how to surf."

[notthatcrazy]

"Mmm. Sounds nice."

He lets his imagination go with the idea.

"We should have lots of pets. A whole pack of dogs, some cats.... maybe a few fish."

[notjustaface]

His logical brain doesn't know how that's going to happen, but if it's what Murdock wants he's willing to try.

He's deep enough after all they've been through in the last few years that he's willing to try just about anything.

"We'll start with one and see how that goes."

[notthatcrazy]

"And maybe when the time's right... maybe a family of our own."

He has no idea how that's going to happen either, but since they're clearly in the realm of fantasy here, why not?

[notjustaface]

His laugh is genuine, and completely unexpected - for Murdock it's hard to tell if it's the concussion, wistfulness, or actual desire talking.

"You'll have to carry it because I'm not ruining my girlish figure."

[notthatcrazy]

He joins in the laughter, caught up in the moment. "Hey, I'm serious here.... kinda."

He inhales sharply, hit by a fresh wave of nausea. He tries to hold very still until it passes.

"You'd be a good dad, I think."

[notjustaface]

"I'd be a terrible Dad and you know it." He laughs, kissing him again as he takes in a deep breath. He thinks he might be an okay Uncle or maybe 'guy that's sleeping with Dad', but not exactly father of the year material.

"What am I gonna teach a kid? How to pick up women in six different languages? Forgery? Petty theft?"

[notthatcrazy]

"See, that's what I mean. You get to tell 'em what not to do."

His grin fades as he gets more serious.

"There's a lot of stuff you could teach a kid."