Saving The Ranch

By DMandNCISFan

Disclaimer: I don't own the A-Team or the characters.

Warnings: None

Summary: The A-Team are hired to help a small family ranch. Their mission seems relatively straight forward, but when it comes to the A-Team, can anything really go completely according to plan?

Prologue

The warm afternoon sun shone down as the cattle grazed nonchalantly. Stirring only when two barking dogs, a Border Collie and a black tricolour Australian Shepard, came running playfully past them. The cows watched them momentarily, before going back to their grazing.

The Australian Shepard chased the Collie past a small house and over towards two men, who were working. The older man, who had grey-white hair, and was average height and built leant on his shovel, and looked over at the dogs, which were now rolling around on the grass, play fighting.

He shook his head, 'Some working dogs they're turning out to be.'

The younger man stuck his shovel into the ground and stretched his back, wiping his brow with the back of his hand, he looked down at the smaller man, 'I don't know Jerry, they certainly got enough energy.'

'Energy don't mean squat on it's own, you gotta put it to good use.' Jerry replied, 'Y'all have made em too soft, all that stroking and playing with em.' He shot an accusing look at the younger man.

'Hey, don't look at me,' the younger man ran a hand through his thick brown hair; 'Janise and Timmy are the ones who take care of the dogs.'

'Oh yeah, speakin of which, when's that daughter of mine spose be getting back Bill?'

Bill took a look at his watch, 'Janise shouldn't be too long now.'

'Good, there's work that needs doin, this ranch ain't gonna run itself you know.'

'Yeah, hey, what-a-you know.' Bill smiled, nodding towards a light blue car that was driving through the gates.

'About time!' was all the older man said in response.

A woman, in her earlier thirties, who looked slightly younger than Bill got out of the car. Her long blond hair bounced up and down as she ran over to the two men, a grim expression on her face.

'Greys men are on their way!' She warned them.

'Dammit! Not again!' Bill glared at two trucks that could be seen in the distance, which were heading towards them.

'Get inside Janise.' Jerry ordered.

'No!' She shrieked, insubordinately, 'This is getting ridiculous!'

'Do as your Pa says Janise!' Bill put his hands on her shoulders, ushering her towards the house. She huffed and stormed through the door.

'You're not welcome here!' Jerry shouted as they pulled up, getting out of their cars.

'Yeah, we already said all we wanted to say the last time you barged in here, we weren't gonna give this ranch up to you then, and we sure as hell ain't gonna give it up now!' Bill stood beside Jerry, 'So if y'all don't mind, we'd like you to get the heck off our property!'

'Aww, that's too bad.' A tall man with dark hair stepped forward, 'It'd be a real shame if that pretty lady of yours got hurt, but, accidents do happen.'

'Don't you dare come near my wife!' Bill pointed his finger aggressively at the man.

'You had better leave my daughter out of this!'

'Well you just hand over this ranch then!'

'You ain't getting it, and the sooner y'all get it through your thick skulls, the better!' Jerry barked, moving in closer to the men.

'You're gonna wish you hadn't said that old man!' the tall man growled as he punched Jerry in the face. Bill made a grab for him as he stumbled backwards.

'What sort of scum are you?' Bill spat, as he got a cloth out of his pocket wiping the blood from the small cut next to Jerry's eye.

Everyone stopped dead in their tracks at the sound of a shotgun going off, 'The next one won't miss, now get the hell out of here!' Janise ordered shakily, shotgun in hand.

'Y'all had better get off our land!' Bill ordered. The men just shrugged.

'Alright, but we'll be back!'

Bill took the shotgun from Janise.

'What the heck did you think you where doin?' Jerry tried to push himself up, 'You shouldn't play with guns, they're dangerous!'

'You ok Jerry?' Bill helped him up.

'I wasn't playing, I got rid of em didn't I, which is more than can be said for you too!' Janise gave Jerry a concerned look, 'You ok?'

'I'm fine.' Jerry brushed Bills hands off himself 'Got lucky that's all, caught me off guard! The hell if he thinks a little hit like that is gonna get him this ranch though!'

'Oh Pa, why'd you always have to be so stubborn!'

'Listen, your grandpa owned this ranch before me, and your great grandpa before him. Hell, this here ranch has been in are family for generations, and I'm damned if I'm gonna let some low life take it away from us!'

'So, what? You think its worth dying over?'

'Course it is!'

'Your Pa's right, we can't let Grey walk all over us.'

'Maybe a few years ago I'd have agreed, but we've got a child now, how do you think it's gunna effect poor Timmy if one of you get yourselves killed huh? How do you think he'll feel if he has to grow up without his Daddy?'

A young boy ran up to them and put his arms around Janise's waist.

'Mommy, them bad men were here again weren't they?' She nodded, 'Why'd they hurt Grandpa?'

'Hurt me? They didn't hurt me, just a lil' scratch s'all.' Jerry winked and patted Timmy on the head. The boy smiled, 'Uh oh, oh no, what's this?' Jerry started to wiggle his fingers, 'Oh no, looks like my fingers have turned to ticklers, run Timmy, run, before it's too late!'

'Oh no!' Timmy giggled, running away from Jerry, who had his arms stretched out, still wiggling his fingers, chasing Timmy.

'Oh Pa, be careful!' Janise warned, unable to hide the smile from her face.

'I know you're right, about Timmy, but it's so unfair, why should we let some low life like Frederick Grey ruin our lives?' Bill moaned, 'Cus lets face it, he kills us for this or we give this to him, either way it'll ruin our lives!' The sound of Timmy's laugher and gleeful screams as he and Jerry played could be heard in the distance.

Janise sighed, 'I know, and look at Timmy, he loves it here so much, he'd hate it if we moved!'

'Exactly.'

'We need help!' Janise curled her hair thoughtfully.

'Ahhh, whose gunna wanna help folks like us?' Jerry joined in as he and Timmy walked back over to them.

'Hmmm, I think I've heard of group who might!' Janise smiled, a hint of hope in here voice.

TBC…