Sometimes a flame refuses to go out. It flares up from the faintest ember to illuminate the darkness. - Karen Hesse
Face drove slowly through the grounds, looking carefully at each of the buildings. He hadn't realized just how big this place was. Or how... strange. First that dungeon-like underpass, covered with obscene graffiti. Then near perfect landscaping surrounding nearly identical mammoth white buildings with tiny numbers over the doors. Take the wrong turn and it was nothing but blacktop delivery areas, garbage bins, and chain link fence.
He finally found the street he was looking for, then the building. Marking the location in his mind, he drove two streets over, parking at the back of yet another building beside a row of bins. It was getting dark now, a handful of street lights buzzing as they lit up. He moved slowly away from the car after making sure it was locked. He walked casually, keeping a sharp eye out for any olive-colored vehicles or uniforms. Knowing the VA wasn't under the DOD didn't mean the Army couldn't be hanging around.
He didn't know why the hell Hannibal had sent him over here anyway. If Murdock was here, there must be a reason for it. Considering how he'd been acting the last few weeks before that damn robbery, there'd definitely been a reason. And Ray said the pilot didn't even recognize him when he'd visited last month. Face wasn't sure he wanted the same 'non-reception'.
He knew he didn't.
It was easy enough getting back to the target building, but finding the right room from the outside had been trickier. At least, he hoped it was the right one. Ray had told him the room number, and he'd counted the windows carefully. But what if there was an office Ray hadn't noticed, or hell, a bathroom? The last thing he wanted to do was break into some real crazy's room instead of Murdock's. Shaking his head, he started working on the window.
He wasn't sure what to expect when he finally climbed into the room, impatiently pushing the curtains away. The only light came through a small window in the door, but it was enough for now. He could see a body on the bed, hoped it was Murdock. It sat up suddenly, and Face relaxed. He couldn't see the person, but he did see the baseball cap.
"Hey, Murdock."
There was a long silence, then, "Hey."
*****
Murdock sat up, looking at the figure by the window, wondering why they'd come in that way.
"Hey, Murdock."
The voice sounded familiar. Sorta. He cocked his head, frowning.
"Hey."
The man moved closer to the bed. Murdock pushed back against the headboard. The man stopped.
"It's Face, Murdock. Sorry it took so long to visit, but we weren't sure where you were."
'Face'. He knew a guy named Face. In country. But that was a long time ago. Wasn't it?
"It was Ray who finally found you. You remember Ray? Ray Brenner?"
Murdock frowned more. Ray was from even longer ago.
"Face."
"Yeah. That's me. You remember now?"
Murdock sighed, closing his eyes. His head was foggy so much of the time. Face. Face...
"Face!"
The man chuckled. "Yeah. You remember now."
"Yeah. Well, kinda. We were with Hannibal." He smiled when the man nodded. "And we were... we were friends."
Another nod, coupled with a grin.
And suddenly it was there. Like a photo in his head. A tent, and sandbags, and rain... A group of men, sitting on cots, playing cards. And Face, grinning...
And cheating. Face always cheated. And they all knew he always cheated.
He sat up straighter, grinning himself.
"Hey, Face. Whatcha been up to?"
FINI