Out of respect for Fingers' loss of her beloved Buttons, and others of you who've lost beloved pets recently, I offer this sequel to "Daytime Friends and Nighttime Lovers" in lieu of "Come In, Day Three", which will be posted tomorrow night. Fingers, I hope this suits. Title: Don't Take Your Love to Town Author: rita (mommacita1@juno.com) Rating: PG (for hints of infidelity and m/m relationships), hurt/comfort - more comfort this time Warnings: None! Summary: A sequel to Daytime Friends and Nighttime Lovers. Once again, Face is left to fend for himself by Hannibal. Too ashamed to call BA, and knowing they aren't doing themselves any favors with their illicit affair, he calls Murdock for a very different kind of comfort. And, once again, thanks to Kenny Rogers for his inspiration. The lyrics are borrowed (heavily, but with changes to make them appropriate) from "Ruby (Don't Take Your Love to Town)". Disclaimer (protects you) In memoriam to Fingers' cat, the original chocolate Buttons. Disclaimer: I don't own the Team or make any profit from them. I just like to play with them. *** "Are you contemplating going out somewhere? The shadow on the wall tells me the sun is going down. Don't take your love to town." *** The shower turned off and Hannibal whistled as he finished in the bathroom. Face watched the shadows and imagined the sunset he couldn't see from the bed. He didn't turn around when Hannibal entered the bedroom, tying one of Face's silk ties around his neck. "You okay, Kid?" "I'm fine, Hannibal." "I'm really sorry about not getting to the repair shop in time to pick up your wheelchair." "It's okay. I understand." "I'll get it first thing Monday morning and put it in the car on my way to work. You'll be rolling again Monday night." "Thanks. Nice aftershave," he commented, still not turning his head. "Uh, listen, I have tickets to the jazz ensemble ..." Hannibal had the grace to look away when Face turned his head and arched an eyebrow. "I could carry you, but I know you don't like that kind of a scene." "Do you have to go?" Face asked. "I'll have to pay for it even if we don't go," Hannibal explained. It sounded lame even to him. The service bell rang, announcing his companion. 'Saved by the bell.' "I, uh, figured you wouldn't want to go, and I didn't want to waste the ticket, so I uh... invited one of my costars. That must be her." *** "It wasn't you that started that old crazy Asian war, And I was proud to go and do my patriotic chore. And yes it's true that I'm not the man I used to be, But I still need some company." *** Hannibal started to leave, but turned at the door. "I'm sorry, Face." "For what, Hannibal?" "For ... hell, for everything. If I hadn't taken you into my unit in 'Nam, you wouldn't be ... like this now." "You didn't start the war, Hannibal," Face said patiently, wondering why he assuaged Hannibal's guilt instead of adding to it. "And I enlisted, you'll recall. I wanted to be in Special Forces. Besides, that isn't what put me here." He gestured at the bed. "And just because I'm not hale and hearty doesn't mean you have to become a recluse." "I'll try to be home early." Face managed to smile. "I'd like that. Maybe we could spend some time just talking together if I'm still awake." *** "It's hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralyzed. And the wants and the needs of a person like you, Believe me I realize. It wouldn't take much, I've heard them say, to put me in the ground. But until that day, please, don't take your love to town." *** The service bell rang again. "I better go," Hannibal mumbled. Face shrugged and turned back to the wall, but clouds had moved in covering the sun and the shadow show was gone. 'How fitting,' he thought. 'Ring down the curtain." As soon as Hannibal turned away, pulling the bedroom door shut, Face reached for the phone. 'I'm still capable of love, Hannibal, maybe not enough for you, but you won't even try me. Guess you can't wait 'til I catch a cold I can't shake or lose enough weight that I can't keep going. Some people are willing to make the effort though.' He started to dial BA's number, then hung up again. He heard Father Maghill's voice reprimanding him. *Two wrongs don't make a right, Templeton.*. 'No, they don't, Father,' he agreed. BA and he were sinning, and it wasn't right, no matter how good it felt at the time. *** "He's leaving now, 'cause I just heard the slamming of the door. The way I know I've heard it slam 100 times before. If I could move I'd get my gun and put him in the ground. For God's sake - turn around!" *** The outer door slammed and Face pounded his useless legs with his fists. Enraged, he almost didn't hear the tap on the bedroom door. "Hannibal?" he queried hopefully. "Nope," came a cheerful drawl. Murdock poked his baseball-cap-covered head in. "Will I do?" "C'mon in, Murdock," Face said with a genuine smile. "Brought you a present," the lanky pilot announced, walking in. A mixed breed dog bounded in after him and jumped on the bed, wagging its tail. "Hi Billy!" Face greeted the enthusiastic mutt. "Billy, get down from there," Murdock ordered. Billy ignored him as Face scratched his ears. "It's okay, Murdock; you know I like Billy - especially now that I can see him." The dog rolled over and Face pulled himself upright to rub his tummy. "Where've you been lately? I haven't seen you in awhile." "Why I've been to the other side of the pond, I have," Murdock pronounced in an atrocious English accent. "That's right," Face exclaimed, remembering. "You had a charter to London - how was it?" "Really neat! I went to Mme. Tussaud's three times while I was waiting for those business types to finish their negotiations. I brought you something from there, too." "From Mme. Tussaud's?" Face asked, suddenly wary. Surely the pilot hadn't taken a wax figure from the museum. Murdock laughed. "Naw, Facey. From England! He reached into a pocket of the leather bomber jacket Face had bought him years ago and brought out a box of chocolates." "Buttons," Face read. "Never had these. Thanks, Murdock." "Oh, but that's just a souvenir," Murdock said, as Face put them on the bedside table, his smile fading despite his best efforts. "I got you a real present. BA's been keepin' it for me 'til I got back, so I guess you could say it's from both of us." He shooed Billy onto the floor and gave him a chew toy. Then he reached inside his jacket and brought out a small bundle of black fur. Carefully he put it on Face's lap. "A kitten? Murdock, it's wonderful." The blond's face lit up, then fell. "But ... I can't take care of a kitten." He looked down quickly as tears stung his eyes. "I can't even take care of myself." Tentatively he stroked the kitten's soft fur then scratched under its chin. Golden eyes looked up at him adoringly and a tiny pink tongue came out and laved his fingertips. Face smiled down at it. Murdock didn't deny Face's statement. There was no point in lying to the disabled man. "Kittens are much easier to take care of than people," he responded. "And BA made it even easier," he added mysteriously. "Let's go into the kitchen." He looked around. "Where's your chair?" "Hannibal didn't have time to pick it up," Face said quietly, the smile disappearing. He stroked the kitten again and the smile reappeared. "Oh. Too bad," Murdock said absently. "Well, we'll make do. Hold on to him." Murdock stuffed the chocolate box back in his pocket and scooped Face up easily and Face clutched the kitten to his chest. The kitten purred happily at his new perch and licked Face's chin until Face was laughing. In the kitchen, Murdock put Face in a chair and the chocolates on the counter. "I'll be right back," he said darting into the living room. He returned almost immediately with a strange-looking apparatus. It appeared to be two clear plastic columns ending in saucers and a small pet carrier with what looked like a chimney coming out of its top, enclosed in a frame with a large Velcro-sealed canvas bag on one side and a vacuum hose on the other. A small motor was attached to the back. "BA made it," he explained. Face nodded. "I can see that. What is it?" "You don't know? Why even a kitten knows what it is. Let him down and he'll show you." Murdock pulled the sprayer hose from the sink, turned on the water, and filled one of the columns. Then he took a bag of kitten chow from the canvas bag and poured some of that into the second column. Face let go of the kitten and it jumped down and pawed at the saucer under the kitten chow. A small amount of food dropped into the saucer and the kitten gobbled it down. "BA trained him while I was gone," Murdock explained. "He gets his own food and water. All you have to do is refill the tanks when they run low." Face watched as the kitten finished his snack, drew some water to lap, and then sat down to wash his face. Billy trotted in, chew toy in mouth, and dropped it onto the water saucer. Water gushed out, spraying him in the face. He yipped in surprise and shook his head, spraying the kitten, who jumped back into Face's lap, mewing piteously. "What's the other thing, his house?" Face asked, petting the kitten to calm it. "No, silly! That's his litter box." "The food and water I can probably manage. But Murdock, I can't change a litter box." "I built it so you can do it." BA had entered while Face was investigating his creation. "Here's your chair." He pushed the wheelchair into the kitchen and stood back. Murdock scooped the kitten up and stepped out of the way. Face looked up at the two men for a moment then leaned forward and positioned the wheelchair. With a quick twist he seated himself. "Thanks, BA. Hannibal said he couldn't get to the shop before it closed," "Fool called and tol' me," he muttered. "Repair shop's open 'til 9." "Maybe Hannibal didn't know." BA grunted. Murdock looked down at his shoes and said nothing. There was an awkward silence. Finally Face spoke up. "So how do I empty and refill the litter box?" BA pointed to a toggle switch on the back, above the motor. "Flick that up," he instructed. Face wheeled himself closer and did as he was told, starting the motor. "Now pick up hose." When Face did so the carrier rose, shaking in itself in a steady motion, until it was at Face's waist height. Sand sifted out into the box that remained on the bottom of the frame. Face grinned as he caught on. A grid held the used litter. Looking at BA for approval, he tugged the hose end to turn the vacuum on and vacuumed the grid. Then he followed the hose through the frame to where a plastic bag was attached to it by clips. He removed the plastic bag, tied it shut, and attached another that Murdock handed him from the canvas bag. He wheeled himself to the sink, opened the door under it and tossed the full bag into the trash. Coming back, he looked expectantly at BA. "Turn the switch off." Face did so and the carrier lowered itself onto the box holding the sand. "There's more litter in the bag?" he asked. "Yup," Murdock said. "And a scoop. Just pour it down the chute here." "And if Hannibal can't remember what hours the grocery store keeps, you let one of us know and we'll bring more food and litter," BA said, with uncharacteristic sarcasm. "BA," Face said warningly. Murdock interrupted him. "I wanna show you something else. What color do you think his fur is?" "Black, of course. There's nothing wrong with my eyes, Murdock." Murdock grinned. "Black, huh?" He dumped the kitten into Face's lap. "Come with me." Face followed, not noticing where Murdock was leading him until a cool breeze struck him. "Murdock, why are we going out on the balcony?" "Want you to see something. Hold him tight now." The sun fell on Face and warmed him. The kitten crept down his chest and curled in a puddle of sunlight on his lap. Instantly the kitten turned a deep, chocolate brown. Face gasped and looked up at Murdock in wonder. "You gonna open this, Faceman?" BA asked from the balcony door, breaking the moment. The chocolate box was in one hand. "Bet they'd go good with milk." Face and Murdock looked at each other and laughed. "Is there anything that doesn't go well with milk in your opinion?" Face asked. "Sure, BA, open them and take one." BA happily did as asked and then passed the chocolates around. The three team mates sat in companionable silence watching the sun set. Face petted the kitten and reflected that the real sunset was much better than the shadow sunset on his wall. Murdock interrupted his reverie. "So Facey, what are you gonna name the kitten?" Face leaned forward and snagged another chocolate from the box BA held, careful not to dislodge the kitten. The last rays of the sun caught the kitten's ears as he moved, turning them brown again. Face looked from the kitten to the chocolate then back again. "I think I'll name him 'Buttons'." Face popped the chocolate into his mouth as Murdock nodded approvingly. The twilight brought a chill and BA rubbed his bare arms. "Let's go somewhere warmer," he suggested. Face wheeled himself and the kitten into the apartment, waiting until BA had closed the balcony door before letting the kitten loose. It made a beeline for the litter box. Face looked after him, in the direction of the kitchen, then stared at the heavy balcony door for several seconds before asking thoughtfully, "BA, do you think you could refit a small apartment - a studio maybe - so I could manage on my own?" "Condo'd be better," BA said without hesitation. "Then I can widen doorways, get rid of ledges, stuff like that, and you'd still have rooms. If it was out of the city, I could put a cat door in for Buttons, too." "Out of the city'd be nice," Face agreed. "I could go outside by myself. Only I couldn't get anywhere if I needed to without calling someone." "Well, you don't wanna turn into a hermit, Facey," Murdock protested. "No," Face said carefully. "But I don't want to be dependent on anyone either. I'd like some privacy - but I don't want to be trapped by it." "Friend of mine does custom vans for handicapped folks," BA said. "I'll take you to talk to him nex' week, okay?" "We can go house-hunting, Facey!" Murdock exclaimed enthusiastically. "That'll be fun!" Face smiled. "Yes, it will be fun." "What about Hannibal? You gonna tell him?" BA asked. "Eventually," Face said. "He'll have to know sooner or later. But I think later would be better." "We can be discreet," Murdock said. BA coughed suddenly. "We can!" the pilot insisted. "It's okay, Murdock," Face soothed him, giving BA a warning look. "Hannibal ain't gonna notice anyway," BA said caustically "He'll understand," Murdock assured the blond. BA snorted. Face sighed. "Let's be honest," he said. "He'll be relieved. I think we all will."