Home is wherever you leave everything you love and never question that it will be there when you return. - Leo Christopher
"So this is it, huh?" Murdock's eyes roamed over the house in front of them.
Hannibal smiled, almost sadly. "Yeah. Not what I'd have expected. But he likes it."
BA huffed. "All that matters then."
Nodding, Hannibal climbed out of the van and headed up the walk. The house was on the edge of a small city, a good three hour drive north of LA. Sitting on a large wooded lot, there was nothing fancy about it, just a solid older house with clapboard siding and six pane windows. All very middle America, and very private.
It had been a long year for the team. The pardons had finally come through, and they'd moved back west to begin their new careers as legal 'soldiers' for hire. They'd gotten two lucrative jobs very quickly, which allowed them to set up a real office, including a couple pencil pushers to handle any paperwork.
But then things went south. Hannibal blamed himself. He knew Face would never be able to handle the heavy stuff again, and tried to keep him on research and surveillance. He had forgotten - or ignored - the periodic medical interventions needed, and the extra precautions he should have taken. During their third job, the people under surveillance unfortunately decided to introduce themselves to Face. That encounter had moved things up on the medical calendar - and ended Face's career with the team.
Only Hannibal had been to the house, a little over six months ago. While Face was still in the hospital, he'd made some somewhat hasty decisions. His timing was a bit off. He'd been released, but could barely stand for more than a few minutes at a time. The colonel ended up helping him finish with the realtors, the banks, the movers - and then getting him actually settled in. Hannibal stayed with him only until he was slightly more mobile.
Face hadn't wanted anyone around after that.
They were here now because yet another corrective surgery was due, and none of them would allow their teammate to go through it on his own. They'd respected his need for privacy long enough.
As they stepped up to the door, they could hear piano music inside. They smiled at each other as Hannibal led them in. Face stopped playing, moving quickly to embrace each of them.
Murdock looked around, curiously. The longed-for piano stood in a place of honor in the living room. Surrounding it were various pieces of furniture, made for comfort rather than style. A set of shelves filled with books was next to the fireplace, another on the other side held potted plants and small statuettes. On the wall opposite were photos of the team and other close friends. He noted one in particular - a youngish woman he didn't know. Not beautiful, but probably as pleasant as she looked. Murdock smiled.
Maybe Face finally had what he'd really wanted all along.