Murdock and Nancy hurried to the helicopter and quickly pulled off all of the camouflage. He climbed into the pilot's seat and pulled on the headset and began the startup sequence. At the same time Nancy clamored into the copilot seat and put on the respective headset. He took off almost immediately. He soon could see the van barreling down the highway toward town. There were more jeeps following the others. "Nan," Murdock said into the microphone of the set, "take some of this dynamite - see if you can't make that road impassable. Let's see if we can't strike a bargain and buy some time." He handed her most of the dynamite, keeping a couple for later.

"I see you found my stash," Nancy said smiling, as she took the explosives, "first my gun and ammo, now my TNT."

"It was all together - right where it should be: with the guinea pig food," he smiled.

"I know," she responded with a positively mischievous grin from ear to ear. She lit and dropped the dynamite on a ledge of a small butte just to the side of the road. Perfect. After the blast, a huge rock pile lay between the A-Team van and their pursuers. Murdock and Nancy continued to follow the van closely - in case they ran into trouble. There didn't seem to be any, but Murdock kept watching.

"Nancy, how bad you hurt? You need to go to the hospital?" he asked, looking at the van.

"Nah," she responded. "It's not bad. It's mostly bruises on the face&hellipsome on the ribs: I took a couple of punches there too. They mostly just hit or slapped me in the face." She looked off into the distance.

"What about the wrist?" he asked.

"It's broken - you're friends did a good splint. No, they did that just before they threw me back into the cell with your friends. I was too close to passing out: they got bored. I'd only been there since yesterday - they were just getting started." She was still looking away from him, then she turned to him. "If you all hadn't come when you did - I probably wouldn't have survived. . .or Jordan either."

"That wrist needs to be seen to," Murdock said, concerned.

"After we DESTROY these . . ." her voice trailed off, "only then," she finished.

"The A-Team isn't in the revenge business, Nancy. This is justice, not vengeance. We don't shoot to kill. We do use force to take `em down, but then we turn them over to the state police and then they get their right to due process. Okay?" he finished.

"You see so many horrible people. How can you not just end their whole operation of oppression with a simple bullet to the head?" she demanded.

Murdock's expression and tone hardened becoming deadly serious, "We do our best to help people who need help standing up for themselves. But doing so NEVER, ever made us judge and jury - a responsibility so heavy. . ." he drifted off, momentarily, "it shouldn't rest on one or even four people," he said, forcefully. "It's just not right," he finished, quietly. He did not look at her; he just stared at the van, ahead, a scowl still etched in his features. Nancy nodded, understanding through his passion on the subject. She'd known H.M. Murdock for almost two years - he'd always been a joker even in dire circumstances. His lack of levity and the vehemence of his response made her realize how important it was to him and, apparently, to the rest of the team, that this not be her using them to get revenge. She continued to ponder his statements, but soon pulled herself out of deep thought to look at him again.

"So," she said bringing things back around for a more pleasant conversation, "what brings you boys this far east? Last I heard you all were in Las Angeles."

"Oh, we had a job in Atlanta, Georgia. Usual stuff. We just thought that we'd take a little detour - the army thinks they're so smart, but they won't be looking here. Say when did you become `Mrs. Charleston?' When did you retire? I thought you'd be with the company until you were old and gray," he asked, grinning, as he turned back to face her.

"It all happened about five years ago. I met Cal - Calvin," she quickly explained. "It all just . . .happened," she said shrugging. "We moved here to get away from the city and away from all the things that we had learned about so intimately when we worked for the government. You know . . .the drugs, etc. We bought a ranch. Built a new life. Had a baby. . . now it's all shattered. Cal's dead . . ." she began to sob.

"I know I never met Calvin, but I understand how you feel: like someone's ripped out your heart and left it out in a thundering stampede of elephants, it'll always hurt, but you can't change that. You have to move on, you have a beautiful baby girl . . ." he smiled reassuringly and offered his hand. She took it, gratefully. The very logical part of her mind that seemed far removed from her emotions at all times, which occasionally made commentary on things, did so now: she seemed amazed at how comforting it was for him to have a firm hold of her hand.

"Okay," she started. "Let's kick some . . ." she paused briefly remembering Murdock's objection to severe or excessive cussing, "scum-bucket tail. What do your friends have in mind?" she asked.

He smiled and began to describe in great detail the plan.

Part 23:

Murdock landed the helicopter close to the barn, just as the rest of the team pulled the van into the barn. He cut the engine and the two former occupants of the helicopter walked into the formerly abandoned building. They all began to work with the equipment that the team had brought to the barn that morning. Due to new circumstances, and now knowing exactly who they were dealing with, they made a few adaptations to the plan. Soon they finished and awaited the arrival of the league.

"Are you sure they'll know where to find us?" asked Nancy as she looked out the large bay door that was only slightly open.

"Face, did I remember to say something about the abandoned barn on farm road 8723?" asked Hannibal, grinning.

"Yeah," he responded, smiling knowingly.

"But this is farm road 1452,how . . ." she began confused, but then she began to understand.

"They should have found the note we left by now, it should take them about fifteen to twenty-five minutes to come down out of the hills. They should be here anytime now." Hannibal explained, his face glowing mischievously. He thrust his cigar back into his mouth.

"Hannibal, here they come!" B.A. called from the loft of the barn.

"Well, speak of the devil . . .," Face said, under his breath.

"Murdock, take off, now," Hannibal ordered into the transceiver, "let's move," he said looking at the others. Face dashed to his position to the left of the door on a ledge about eight feet from the floor. He quickly pulled the rifle from his shoulder and wrapped the strap around his arm, aiming it at the now half open bay door. He prepared to pull the ties on ropes that were knotted close to his feet. Hannibal took his position in the horse stall beneath the ledge where Face was. B.A. took up his position near some more tied off ropes in the loft, opposite Face. Nancy jogged to the back of the barn, taking her place behind wall of concrete rubble that someone had obviously been too lazy to take to the dump.

"They're coming in, Colonel -" Murdock's voice called over the walkie-talkie.

"Roger," Hannibal responded.

"My NAME is H.M. MURRRRDOCK. Who's this `Roger'? You trying to replace me?," came a quick reply.

Hannibal sighed and replied, "Get ready, Captain."

Hannibal and Face, who had been close enough to hear Murdock's come back, exchanged a look through the wide spaces between the boards of the loft. Face only shook his head a bit.

"Everybody keep low," Hannibal called. Everyone was now well hidden. Almost immediately they could hear several vehicles pull up outside. Several came in, cautious. Everything was quiet. The man that had met them in the parlor strolled in as well. He was flanked on either side with guards, as well as having them in front and behind him. Almost immediately five more men entered: two looked like big players.

"I'm going to skin those men and that woman, ALIVE, if this is another false trail, and then I'm going to blast the town to pieces," the original "boss" said angrily.

"Glad you slime-balls can read. You found this place OK," Hannibal's voice echoed so it sounded like it came from everywhere. The men could not find him by the direction of his voice.

"You are out-manned and out-gunned mister Smith, give up and we will kill you out-right instead of torturing you, your men, the woman, and her baby to death. Just give me the woman and the baby and the rest of you can die painless deaths," the man put forth the deal as if they we discussing sandwich options for lunch.

"Forget it, you scum-bucket," Hannibal called. He fired several shots from his pistol at the men's feet, forcing them to step back: right into position. "NOW!" he called to Face and B.A. who quickly pulled the slips from the knots.

Eight bags of dirt, twenty pounds or so each, crashed down on the men's heads, knocking six of them out cold, including two major players. The other four, a bit stunned, including the big "boss", quickly began to retreat out the door, but before they could go very far the rest of the group that come in the whole entourage, that had waited outside, were trying to come in the door at the same time.

Murdock had chased them inside with gunfire and was now in the process of blowing up their vehicles with what was left of the dynamite. Eight more men rushed inside. Almost instantly, the ten remaining collectively decided to try their luck inside the barn. Face shot the rest of the ammunition out of the clip. He drove them into a smaller group. He slung the rifle over his head so that it hung from one shoulder top the opposite hip. He leapt from his position in the loft and landed on top of two henchmen. He quickly dispatched of his two shocked opponents. He began to move toward the one who had met them in the parlor. He could see B.A. leap from his position and take out another three henchmen. Nancy continued to give them cover fire - shooting rifles as they came to bear on a team member. Hannibal was also in the thick of things: he took out two more shocked guards. He could see the boss and one or two guards escaping out the door. In his moment of distraction he missed stopping an incoming punch. He reeled for a moment, but quickly put the offender into unconsciousness.

Soon the only ones left standing were Hannibal and B.A.: Face was on the floor moaning some, apparently having taken a hard hit to the jaw and another to the nose.

"Come on, Lieutenant, the leader's getting away," Hannibal jogged over to Peck and pulled him from his sitting position. Nancy approached from the back, prepared to watch the ones piled in the door-way while the others finished off the job. "Let's go, guys," he ran over to the tractor that, after the A-Team was done with it, looked like a metal monster from a cheap horror flick.

"These swamp monster won't be going any where, Colonel," Murdock said, as followed the three that Hannibal had seen fleeing earlier. His pistol pointed at the men as they slowly walked hands up and beaten back into to the barn. "These three were trying to leave the party early."

"Nice, Captain," Hannibal said as he pulled a cigar out of his inside jacket pocket and bit the end off.

"What now, Colonel Smith?" the "boss" asked from where he was standing in front of Murdock, his hands part way up. He didn't look like he was giving in, but merely tired and bored with a game. As Murdock indicated for the other two to join the ones on the floor that were now beginning to stir, Hannibal lit his cigar. The boss stood alone, in front of the door, with Face's .45 pointed at his stomach. Nancy, B.A. and finally Murdock had taken all of the weapons from the men on the floor and were now beginning the process of tying them up. Hannibal them looked at Nancy, who crossed the floor to address the man, personally.

"Richard Manison. You're the brains behind this whole thing." She walked around him and came to look him in the eye. Her right hand on her hip and her left arm in a sling. She slapped him across the face with her good hand. He reached to grab her wrist. She evaded his grasp and Face closed the three foot distance to put the pistol barrel in his ribs.

"Put your hands on your head, lace `em together, palms up!" Peck ordered. Manison complied.

"You're going to prison and the chair if the prosecution can swing it. And with your history, it can't be that hard," Nancy continued.

"You little wench. You will pay for this. You'll never get me out of this stable, alive," Manison hissed at her.

"I don't think so," she said and nodded at Face who immediately knocked the man out with the butt of the revolver.

"Turn about's fair play," he said as he watched the man fall to the floor and holstered his gun.

"I just love it when a plan comes together!" Hannibal smile at the rest of his team and Nancy. Her smile showed her relief.

Part 24:

"OK, now will somebody explain at least PART of what happened here. Let's start, Murdock, with how you know her," Face said in an exasperated tone as he leaned his left shoulder against the sliding door of the van. Inside, in the closest passenger seat, sat Nancy holding Jordan. She sat sideways in the seat so as to be able to see the team as they gathered around to discuss everything that had just happened.

"She and I worked on some undercover gigs before I left the company. We worked together for about a year," Murdock responded, vaguely. He knew that some of the information that was involved was still top secret so he didn't want to say anymore in a public area. And he knew that Face understood this because of his reaction. Even with the vagueness of his reply, he knew that it satisfied his friend. Murdock was leaning to his right on the side of the van just behind the handle for the front passenger door. His hands were shoved into his pockets, all his weight rested on his left leg, and his right leg crossed over his left at the ankles leaving the toes of his right foot pointing at the ground.

"Was it just lucky that we found that Fire Department report?" Murdock asked Nancy. She smiled as she set Jordan down on her lap.

"I don't think so. I haven't ridden on a fire truck since I worked for the company. The people of Millwood are very resourceful. So I'm sure it was planted for you to find there," Nancy explained.

"It had your signature on it. We connected that with the hand writing on the note," Face responded, confused.

"No it didn't - not *my* signature anyway. They probably forged it," she finished, brushing off the sheer improbability of the situation.

A look of pure shock at her response and its implications crossed the lieutenant's face, then suddenly disappearing as the fog began to clear.

"So, the league destroys all the files that they can get their hands on - all the ones in those filing cabinets. Then," Face's volume and tone rose as he pointed his right index finger up like an orchestra conductor as several things that had been bothering him finally fell into place, "the town's people put forged documents right where we can find them. That probably also included the report on Wharton. That explains the librarian, clerk," he corrected, "whatever, who almost obviously was tolerating our little adventure at the hall of records. If some members of the town were helping us out along the way - that would also explain why they didn't ask me any questions when we checked into the motel and wouldn't take or ask about the twenty-five dollar tip I offered without explanation," he finished. His expression was a look of triumph.

"Face, you didn't say anything about them not taking the twenty-five bucks," Hannibal said from where he had recently arrived to stand next to Murdock. He thrust his cigar back into his mouth and looked at Face for an explanation.

Face grinned sheepishly at Smith, "I forgot to mention it `cause when I got back to the room . . . never mind," Hannibal was smiling at Face's sudden discomfort. "What I still don't understand - is the thing with the boy that was high in the diner," Face said, changing the subject, as he turned back to face Nancy.

"John Striker and his grand-father. John is president of the high school's drama club. I set that up to test you. I wanted to see if I could trust you, Face. I knew I could trust H.M., but I wanted to be sure," she paused momentarily, noticing his hurt expression. "I was GIVING you four my baby. What else can I say?" she finished.

"If you had so much faith in us, why didn't come to us directly instead of just leaving Jordan with us?" Hannibal asked in a curious tone.

"I went underground and hid after Wharton killed my husband. He took over our ranch as his head-quarters. It was nice and it was away from town where passers-through might recognize him. He tried to keep a low profile, just in case. But he kept getting closer and closer," she began.

"Why didn't you just leave?" B.A. asked.

"I couldn't. If he thought I was gone, he'd have blown the entire town to smithereens. I had to leave him a trail . . . I just couldn't let him get too close, which is what happened about the time you all got here," she explained. "I left Jordan and then lead them away, but they caught me," she continued. "Not everyone in town was completely trustworthy."

"Why didn't you let me know who you were?" Murdock asked, again.

"Like I said before - I didn't have much time to write. I also knew that one way or another you would help. I knew that you wouldn't leave. I know you pretty well, H.M.," she smiled. Everyone was quiet for a few moments. All their questions seemed to have been answered and Nancy would soon be going back to the ranch with Jordan.

"Ummm, can I hold her one more time?" Face broke the silence. Hannibal and B.A. glanced at each other and Murdock could have sworn he heard B.A. giggle under his breath.

Nancy smiled, "Sure." She handed Jordan over to Face who held her much as he had the first time he ever picked her up.

"B.A., put some gas in the van, I'm going to thank Shelly for taking care of Jordan," Hannibal wagged his eyebrows a bit and added, "meet us back here as soon as you can." He turned to go into the store then turned back, "and be sure we don't have any more stowaways."

Hannibal grinned evilly and turned and entered the small store. B.A. shook his head as he slipped into the driver's seat and drove to the gas station at the end of the block. Murdock, Nancy, and Face all began to stroll toward Nancy's truck that was parked across the street. Face was still carrying the baby. Murdock and Nancy moved away from Face as they talked privately about old times and prospects and plans for the future. The two approached the driver's side as Face walked toward the passenger's side so as to put Jordan in her car-seat.

"I'm gonna miss you, Little One. You know, someday, when things quiet down and I find the right woman, I want to have children," he glanced up to be sure that Murdock was involved in his conversation. Face could see him scribbling something on a piece of paper. He guessed it was the van phone number. He didn't care as long as nobody was paying him any attention as he talked to Jordan. "I want to have a family. I want it to be so much more than I ever had." He smiled, wistfully; as he reached the truck to put her in her seat and said, quietly, "Don't tell anybody what I just told you - my reputation would be shot." He laughed to himself and strapped her into her seat.

"Bla-blablablablablpt," Jordan said. He continued to talk to and entertain her for several minutes. She was holding his finger and trying to put it in her mouth when Nancy decided that it was time to leave.

"Thank you both. And give my gratitude to B.A. and Hannibal, okay, H.M.?" she said.

"No problem, Nan," Murdock responded.

"It was good to see you again, H.M.; it's been too long," she reached up and put her arms around his neck and he drew her into comforting hug. She drew away from him and turned to go.

"You'll be fine, Nancy. If you ever need anything don't hesitate to call or get a message to us," Murdock reminded.

"Now, you take care of your mother. Do what she says and ALWAYS eat your vegetables," Face said to Jordan just before he kissed her forehead. "Bye, Little One."

"Eemple-ahhhnt-ahhhhhhnt," she began to cry a bit. He closed the truck door, gently and waved good-bye to Jordan. He looked up to find Murdock and Nancy smiling at him. He shrugged and gave them a sheepish smile.

"Take care of her," he told Nancy.

"I will," she promised. She slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. "Thank you again." She closed the door and put the truck into drive. She paused one more time to wave good-bye. Murdock and Face stepped to the side and watched her truck disappear into the distance. When they couldn't see her any more they turned to walk back across the street to wait for Hannibal and B.A. They were both quiet for a few moments.

"Nancy's like a sister to me," Murdock commented, absently. He soon looked over to Face who had said nothing. The lieutenant was looking at the ground, apparently lost in thought. Murdock smiled, knowingly, to himself. After a while he said, "What kind of confetti should we have at Billy's birthday party?"

"Hmmm? I'm sorry - what did you say?" Face asked as he was snapped from his reverie.

"I said, `What kind of confetti should we have at Billy's birthday party?'" Murdock repeated. Face squinted at him, his features displaying his puzzlement.

"There aren't *KINDS* of confetti, are there?" Face responded.

"Faceman, what were you thinking about?" Murdock asked frankly as they stepped up onto the curb in front of the store; he turned to face the lieutenant. Face seemed shocked at his friend's inquiry.

"Ummm, you know . . . this whole case," he said, turning away some and looking at the ground. Seeing his obvious discomfort Murdock changed the subject.

"Yeah, me too. There's just one thing that bother's me," he said and then waited for Face to ask him what it was. He didn't, so Murdock continued, "we built that monstrosity out of metal and wire and that old tractor and the sweat of our brow and we never used it. Doesn't that bother you?" Face only shook his head no. "Well, at least those yahoos are all in prison. Waiting for a trial. Without bail. On charges of murder, attempted murder, slavery, terrorism, torture, kidnapping, false imprisonment, use of excessive force, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera" Murdock finished. Face nodded.

Soon they were on the road again, headed for L. A.

". . .and then we'll have the cake say `Happy Birthday, Billy,'" Murdock could be heard saying as they crossed the Texas state line.