They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. - Hosea 8:7
"Face, you promised Murdock you'd pick him up today. It's been weeks since Richter would give him a pass and you know he's - "
"Hannibal, I can't pick him up! What part of 'the brakes went out on the Vette' don't you understand?"
"You mean you can't get another car? Really, Lieutenant?"
"Not when I promised BA I'd help him fix it. Not when he's taking time off from the center to come over and fix it - on condition I help him. Why, just once, can't you pick him up?"
"Because I'm supposed to be on set in an hour, that's why!"
"So take him with you. The VA's on the way. He'd have a ball!"
"That's what I'm afraid of."
"Hey, gotta go. BA's here. I'll come by and pick him up after we're done here."
Click.
Hannibal could only glare at the phone.
*****
"Okay, now listen, Murdock. I have to get into my costume and get on set. You will stay here, read your book, watch TV, whatever. You will not leave the trailer for any reason. Understood?"
"You're not as much fun as Face, Colonel. He lets me - "
"Understood, Captain?"
Murdock slumped into the chair. "Understood."
"Okay. Face could be here even before we break for lunch, and then you and he can go have fun."
"Yeah..."
Murdock watched the door close with more than a little resentment. He was supposed to be with Face. He'd had all kinds of things planned for them to do, places to go, people to see. It was BA's fault. He could've fixed those brakes by himself. He could've fixed them after Murdock had gone back to the VA. Then Face could've gotten a different car and Murdock would be having fun with Face instead of sitting in this little trailer, waiting for Hannibal.
Sighing once more, he pulled his book out and began to read.
*****
"Smith!"
Hannibal, just about to step into the water, stopped dead. That was not his director deciding to make a last minute change. That was his director having an apoplectic fit. And there could only be one reason for that.
*****
"What did I tell you, Captain? Before I left, what did I tell you?"
"To stay here. But it's boring here, Hannibal! My book got boring, the TV was boring, everything was boring!"
"So you decided to raid the costume department."
"I didn't raid it. I was just looking."
"And trying things on."
"Just couple wigs."
"You stay here, Captain. That's an order!"
"Yessir..."
*****
"Smith!"
*****
"It got too hot in here, Colonel. And it's not like he was using it."
"You do not joyride on the director's crane, Captain. Period!"
*****
"Okay, Murdock. Let's go get some lunch. Murdock? Murdock!"
*****
Face pulled up in his now-repaired Vette, immediately spotting Hannibal leaning against his car, calmly smoking a cigar.
"Hey, Hannibal! Came to pick up Murdock, as promised. Where is he?"
Hannibal smiled, tossed him a key, and walked away.
Face frowned, then heard a muffled pounding coming from... the trunk?