Thank you to Facelove for giving me inspiration for this story. Hope it's alright so please enjoy.

"What do you think you were doing Colonel Smith?" Stockwell was angry. Nope that was an understatement he was pissed. Face couldn't understand why though. Sure they'd messed up a whole country but they'd completed the mission.

Shifting in his seat, Face winced as he waited for Hannibal's reply. Stockwell had met them personally on his plane, something that did not bode well for them. They'd had to knock BA out so he was escaping the yelling form the irate general. Face wished he'd gotten away with that.

Honestly, Face was wondering how he'd managed to stand up for so long since that beating those thugs had given him. He hadn't had one of those since Nam and he'd been younger then.

"Well, we couldn't just leave them could we?" Hannibal's tone of voice made Face sigh. The man was nearly permanently on the jazz but they all were. Probably the only thing that had kept him going.

"We had to help Bonita." Frankie insisted. Wow, the guy had fallen head over heels for that pretty girl. Seemed she'd been a little taken with Frankie as well. Maybe more than a little taken.

"The mission said nothing about helping these people." Face couldn't help but wonder if it wold be better if Stockwell would just yell at them.

"That's too bad." Murdock stated. He was sat next to Face and kept sending him concerned glances as Face tried to get comfy. His ribs were killing him. All he wanted to do was get back to Langley, take some pain killers and sleep. Maybe then his ribs would stop aching. At least those idiots hadn't broken his nose with that hit to his face. Then again he'd definitely have a bruise there in the morning.

It was at times like this that Face hated Hannibal's plans. More specifically the plans that caused him to get captured. Why was it always him? Why not someone else?

Stockwell looked at the four men sat in front of him, sighing. Looked like he'd finally gotten to the conclusion that there was no point in telling them off. Face was glad about that especially seeing as when Hannibal decided to do something he was going to do it. Whether it was a good idea or not.

"Next time stay to the mission at hand." Stockwell told them, knowing fine well that they wouldn't listen.

Face closed his eyes, thinking that maybe he could get some sleep. It wasn't meant to be though. "I think it's about time you start telling us what we're walking into." Hannibal stated, taking out a cigar.

"And why should I do that?" Face didn't want to get involved with this but around this time was when he spoke up and he didn't want the guys to know he was hurt.

"Because if we don't have all the facts how are we meant to do the missions without going outside of your rules." Face put on his most insubordinate voice, making Hannibal, Murdock and Frankie grin and Stockwell grind his teeth together.

"I will tell you what you need to know Lieutenant. Nothing more and nothing less." Yeah Stockwell was well and truly beyond pissed at them.

"That's not good enough, General."

"It will have to be." Hannibal was about to open his mouth again but Stockwell continued speaking. "I will here no more on the subject; we will be landing in Langley in 10 minutes so I will bid you goodbye gentlemen. And remember what I said about sticking to the mission. Unless you want to endanger you r pardons." With this Stockwell walked out of the area of the plane the team were sat in.

"Bastard." Frankie muttered.

"Maybe we should listen to him, he is going to give you guys your pardon." Murdock added.

"Maybe, but we aren't going to stop helping people who need it just because Stockwell tells us to. What do you think Face?" Up until this point Face had started to float. His side was aching with a vengeance and he wasn't really concentrating. Hannibal's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

"What?" His head was foggy and his arm was wrapped around his side. Pulling on his best con face, Face looked at the Colonel and continued, "Sorry, just a little tired. What were you saying?"

Hannibal seemed to consider Face for a moment before shaking his head. "Don't worry about it kid." Then he turned back to talking to Frankie and Murdock about something or other. Face didn't let his mask slip though, knowing Hannibal was watching him. His CO knew him too well to let the small slip up go unnoticed.

By the time the plane came to a stop, BA was starting to stir. "Better get the ugly mudsucker to the van before he wakes up." Murdock stated. Too late.

"I'M ON A PLANE!" BA shouted as his eyes flung open. Face groaned, quietly, hoping no one had noticed. A small headache was starting to form in his left temple, where the thug had punched him in the side of his head.

"At least Murdock's not flying it." Hannibal said, trying to lighten the mood.

"I die before I fly Hannibal. I don't fly." BA growled. Face took this as a cue to get out of the plane. He wasn't in the mood for dealing with BA's anger so followed Murdock and Frankie out of the plane and into the van, leaving Hannibal to deal with the irate man.

"Think I'll ever see Bonita again?" Frankie asked, taking his seat just behind Murdock. Face lent his head back onto his own seat, closing his eyes slightly. When he opened them again Murdock as looking at him with a concerned look on his face. For a crazy fool the pilot could always tell when something was wrong. Luckily, Murdock knew better than to say anything. Instead he gave Face a small smile and turned to answer Frankie's question.

"Distance cannot separate lovers." Murdock used his English accent, making Face smile slightly.

"What does that mean?" Frankie looked at Face expectantly but thankfully BA and Hannibal chose that moment to climb into the van. Face slid the door closed as BA started the engine.

"Where do you want dropping off fool?" BA growled at Murdock, who grinned at them.

Before he answered though he took another glance at Face, who knew then what Murdock was going to say. "Don't mind if I come stay do ya?"

"I ain't sleeping in the same room as this crazy fool." BA instantly growled at Hannibal.

"Don't worry, BA, me an' Facey are gonna share. Ain't we Faceman?" Murdock looked at Face with big puppy dog eyes that Face could never refuse.

"Yeah, sure Murdock." Murdock grinned broadly.

The rest of the drive back to Langley was a bit of a blur to Face. His side was aching and his head was starting to thump like a persistent drum beat. Face didn't think he'd been so happy to see the house before now. All he wanted was to sleep of this damned pain.

"Give us a hand, Face?" Frankie asked as they exited the van. Face felt his shoulders slump downwards slightly but he nodded any way. He almost missed the disapproving glances the other three gave Frankie. Face was just thankful they didn't say anything. They knew though. It was obvious. You didn't spend so long on the run with the same people without getting to know their habits. Even the habits of a con man.

By the time the five men had brought in and hidden all of equipment, not to mention found and gotten rid of all of Stockwell's security cameras, Face's whole body was aching. His ribs felt as if they were on fire so he was holding his arm tighter around his waist both involuntarily and harder than usual. As if that would help. Yeah right. Nothing would.

"You okay, Face?" Hannibal asked as he watched Face hold his waist. Face smiled at the Colonel what he hoped was a convincing smile.

"Yeah, just gonna take a pain killer and get some sleep." Hannibal nodded.

"We're down here if ya need anything." BA stated, flicking on the TV.

"I'll come up later. Promise I won't wake ya." Face sent a grateful smile towards Murdock, then gave the other two a grateful smile too.

Swallowing the pain killer down dry, Face changed into a comfy set of pyjamas before closing his eyes to sleep. One benefit of the guys knowing him so well was that they didn't try to make him talk about it.

By tomorrow the pain in his ribs would be gone anyway. If it wasn't he could always take some more painkillers. All he needed right about now was some sleep. Sleep would help ease the throbbing of his ribs.