A week later a uniformed Colonel Decker walked into the office of his Commanding Officer, General Keel.

"Colonel Decker. At ease." Keel stood up and shook Decker's hand. "Welcome back. Sit down."

"Thank you, sir." Decker handed him an envelope and then sat. The general extracted a single sheet of paper from the envelope.

"If this is your report I have to say I was expecting something longer." He frowned as he read the paper. "A transfer request?"

"Yes, sir."

"I see. Well I can't say I didn't expect this. I suppose you got to know them all personally, even became friends?"

"I got to know them, yes, sir."

The general sighed and put the request down on the desk.

"A shame the Canadians let them get away," Keel said.

"Yes. I blame myself."

"Not your fault." The general waved a hand, dismissively. "You were taken ill. They thought it was your heart?"

"Yes, sir, but it turned out to be just very severe heartburn, probably caused by eating fruit for the first time in so many months."

"Of course." The general nodded. "My grandfather had two heart attacks he never even knew about because he thought they were indigestion. Was a martyr to it. He was on his way to the drugstore to buy antacids when he died."

"From a heart attack?"

"What, oh no, he was hit by a city bus."

Decker sighed. Maybe he should resign from not just the case but from the army. Retire and go and live some place where they had no word for snow. He didn't care where he went. His wife was getting the house. Decker would go anywhere.

"What about Captain Murdock?" Keel asked.

Decker looked back at him. "Has he shown up at the VA hospital?"

"No. Do you think he will?"

"There or some other lunatic asylum. That man is not normal, General. I'm certain he crashed the plane deliberately to keep his friends in Canada. And there were other incidents. Well you'll read it all in my report."

"There's certainly enough evidence to charge him with aiding wanted criminals."

"Yes, but in my opinion the chances of a conviction are zero. If he's even found fit to stand trial."

Keel sighed. "Very well. If he shows up we'll maintain surveillance but won't arrest him."

"I think that's the best strategy, sir."

And there it was. He'd done what Smith wanted. Kept Murdock out of jail. Would he have done that anyway? He'd certainly believed Murdock had problems, just as he'd said, but would he have gone as far as he just had without being coerced? Perhaps. But perhaps wasn't enough for Smith.

The general stood up and Decker did too.

"Well, it's good to have you back, Colonel. I'll find something interesting for you to do if you're set on leaving the case."

"I am, General."

Decker smiled. Smith hadn't asked him to request this transfer, he knew nothing about it. He expected Decker to keep chasing them and to keep on failing. Well now another man would take on the case and he wouldn't have his hands tied.

There was nothing Decker would like more than to kick the team into a cell and lock the door forever, but if he couldn't achieve the ideal of capturing them personally he would step aside to let someone else do it. He'd sacrifice that pleasure for the greater purpose.

Because he knew now that, even without the threat of the tape's exposure, he would never be able to catch them. He made the same mistake over and over. It was embarrassing, frankly. Like he had a blind spot. He forgot to think of them as a unit and not individuals. He'd known that was a mistake when they got away from him when Murdock was injured and yet he'd repeated it. He'd let himself believe he could trust one of the team, had thought of him as an individual instead of a part of the unit. He'd forgotten exactly who Peck owed his loyalty too.

Why had he even been surprised?

Decker left the office. As he walked outside he lit a cigarette and strolled to his car enjoying the spring sunshine and wondering about the future. Who would they put on the case now? What would happen if the new man did catch the team? Decker would certainly be called to give evidence against them. If he did, would they use the tape to take Decker down with them?

One way or another Decker had the feeling the next time he saw the A-Team would be in a court room. He just didn't know who would be on trial.

~~~~

"She's not even gonna want to see me is she?" Face said, passing the flask of coffee back to Murdock.

"Of course she is!" Murdock poured himself some coffee and sipped it. "For one thing she'll appreciate how much you're risking sitting here only yards from the police station waiting for her."

Face sank down further in the passenger seat and into his coat until his face was visible only from the nose upwards.

"Yeah." Face said, then spat out a mouthful of fur trim and pulled the Parka down to clear his mouth. He sipped his coffee. "But she was expecting to see me ten days ago and I didn't show up."

"You were kind of busy escaping from the entire Canadian armed forces. I'm sure she'll understand."

"I hope so." Face went quiet again. He watched the door of the police station through the windshield.

Murdock glanced at the dashboard clock. Just after seven a.m. He knew Face was nervous about this trip and had volunteered to come with him for moral support. Besides, he wanted to meet her too.

"When we go home," Face said. "Do you want to get back to the VA?"

Murdock nodded. "I guess it's time." They had heard from a contact that Murdock wasn't going to get arrested if he showed up there. Of course he would have to appear to be his usual crazy self once he returned. He sighed. Acting crazy could drive a man crazy. When did the acting stop? He really wasn't sure where it had stopped back at the station. He'd started out acting and then... started acting crazy.

Hannibal wanted to confess to Face and BA that he'd asked Murdock to pretend to be crazy and not tell them. He told Murdock he was feeling very guilty about that. So he should be, Murdock had said. So both of us should. But right now the team was strained enough and Murdock decided he wasn't letting Hannibal add to that.

"Don't tell them," he'd told Hannibal. "I wasn't acting. Not all the time." Hannibal just looked even guiltier then.

"But, Murdock -"

"No. You want to tell them because you hate carrying the guilt. Well tough, carry it. It feels like a hot stone in your mouth and you want to spit it out. But if you do you only hurt the person you spit it at." He smiled, humourless. "For the team, Colonel. You carry that burden, because dumping it on Face and BA can only hurt the team. And we all know, don't we, that the team comes first."

Hannibal looked down, unable to meet Murdock's eyes.

"If it helps," Murdock had offered, "I could punch you a few more times."

Right now Hannibal and BA were back in Barrow trying to retrieve the Rodin sculpture that Decker had taken off their plane. Murdock thought some time apart was the best thing for Hannibal and Face and himself just now.

Murdock heard Face sigh again and turned to him.

"You're worried."

Face scowled at him. "Captain Obvious making a return visit is he?"

Murdock grinned. "Maybe. Are you worried she won't be good looking? I know that's important to you."

"So, you're saying I'm shallow?"

"Erm, Face, you're the only man I ever met who dumped a girl because her knees weren't symmetrical enough."

Face bristled, sounded irritated. "That was not why I dumped her! She kept talking about marriage."

"Yeah, and who'd want to marry a woman with unsymmetrical knees?"

"Murdock, I really don't -" Face stopped. The door of the police station had opened. They both glanced at the clock. Ten past seven. Just about right, Murdock thought, for say, handing over to the constable they'd seen go in a few minutes earlier, having a little chat, putting on her coat, rummaging in her purse looking for car keys.

A woman came out, wearing a thick coat, boots and a furry hat.

"That's got to be her." Murdock said. He squinted in the dark. She was quite short, about five foot three. Her figure was hard to gauge under the coat, but looked about average sort of size, he guessed. Face was staring fixedly.

"It's her."

"She's walking this way," Murdock said. "You know we can wait till she walks past, so you can get a proper look, then if -"

Face ignored him and jumped out of the car.

"Shila?" His voice rang clear though the early morning chill, his breath misting in the air. She stopped, startled, and then her hand flew to her mouth.

"Templeton?"

Murdock grinned. That was the voice.

"Did you really think I wouldn't come?" Face asked.

She stepped closer, only a small step. She clutched the strap of the purse she carried over her shoulder.

"Captain Baker said..."

"Nuts to Captain Baker." Face smiled at her and she came a few steps closer. And then she smiled too and ran towards him. She almost slipped on ice as she reached the car but Face caught her arms and they both laughed.

Murdock got a proper look at her face now. It was, well, just a face really, he thought, nothing spectacular. Quite pale skin, a pair of brown eyes and a nice smile. He guessed she was in her mid thirties. Then she put her arms around Face and he enclosed her in his and they hugged and Murdock turned away to give them some privacy.

After a moment Face tapped on the window and gestured to him to get out of the car. Murdock was happy to, grinning like a maniac. He got a hug too and was glad of it. He had to bend down into it, being so much taller.

"Murdock insisted on coming." Face said, "He said he just has to meet Frodo."

"Oh, like you don't want to." Murdock winked at Shila. "Face here, see he just loves cats. The more cats the better he always says -"

"Ignore him, he's certifiable. Actually, he's here to fly us to that date I promised you."

"Date?" Shila said. "I... I'm not really dressed for a date."

"Believe me," Murdock said. "Where we're going, warm clothes are what all the smart people are wearing."

"Will you come with us?" Face asked. "I'll understand if you say no." He glanced back towards the police station. She glanced back too, over her shoulder, then turned to him and smiled.

"Well I have to find out if you really can dance, after all."

"All right!" Murdock opened the rear passenger door. "Everybody in the car! The chopper's waiting."

"A helicopter?" Shila said. "Not the one you, um...."

"Stole?" Murdock said, cheerfully. "No, no, this is a whole other stolen helicopter."

~~~~

Face believed in doing these things right, and he had a chilled bottle of champagne waiting on the helicopter. He'd admit that a helicopter wasn't the most romantic way to travel, but it was the only way to get where they were going.

"You going to be warm enough?" Face asked, helping her into the helicopter. He wanted to wrap her in his coat. He wanted to sit with his arm around her and keep her warm and feel her warmth against him. How did he get this lucky? She was spectacular. Ivory skin, big dark eyes and a smile that could have melted all the snow and ice that had kept them apart so long.

"It's okay," Shila said. "I'm used to the cold." She took off her hat, letting her long hair loose and shook it out. Face stared as her glossy, jet black hair tumbled over her shoulders. Then he shook himself and closed the door.

"Whenever you're ready, Murdock."

~~~~

Shila went to sleep during the trip. Coffee would have been a better option than champagne, Murdock decided, since she had just come off a night shift. Face didn't seem to mind though. She leant against him and he sat with his arm around her shoulders, trailing his fingers through her long hair.

She had good hair, Murdock thought, guessing the black must come from her Inuit heritage. It was thick and shiny, looked as if she took good care of it. He smiled. Perhaps she and Face could swap hair care tips. Face's own hair was looking good too, after a visit to the best stylist in Toronto.

Face was a hell of a guy, really, Murdock thought. He was used to dating models and actresses and other such glamorous ladies, but Murdock knew he would treat this presentable, but otherwise entirely ordinary looking woman exactly the same as he did any of them. The man could make any woman feel like a queen. Now that was charm.

~~~~

Murdock brought the chopper in to land. The grooves where the much larger helicopter had landed ten days ago were still just visible.

"The station!" Shila said, looking out of the window. She smiled at Face, "I should have known."

"I thought you might be curious to see it."

"Definitely!"

"And Murdock's not going to be in our hair either," Face said. "He's off to the plane, the one we crashed here in, to pick up the pictures that belong to our clients."

"And I'm so happy you'll be all cozy inside while I'm hauling crates," Murdock said. He held up a walkie talkie. "Gimme a call when you're ready for pick-up. Don't worry none about me. I'll be out here in the snow freezing my butt off."

Face rolled his eyes. "And they call me the whiny one." He opened the door and climbed out, turned back to give Shila his arm and help her out. They hurried to the kitchen door, which was unlocked as they'd first found it and had left it. Once they were inside Murdock took off again in the chopper.

"Okay," Face said. He put down a shopping bag he'd carried from the chopper. "You wait here and I'll go get the lights and heat on. There should be just enough fuel left to give us a few hours of power."

He left her in the kitchen and hurried back outside to the generator shack. When he came back the lights were on and she was setting up the coffee machine. He liked her sense of priorities. Of course she was a night shift worker.

"I found coffee in the bag, you don't mind?"

"That's what it's there for. Come on, let me show you around."

"I'd like to see the radio room."

"I figured you would."

It was too cold to take their coats off yet, so they toured the station still bundled up. Shila examined the radio equipment with interest and talked about a lot of technical stuff that BA would probably have appreciated. Face just appreciated the way she glowed as she talked.

The last place they ended up, after going back into the kitchen to get their coffee, was the rec room. They walked in there holding hands. The electric heaters had warmed it up enough for them to shed their coats now. Face helped Shila out of hers. She wore a long sleeved shirt and jeans under it. Face sighed a tiny bit. He had to admit he'd have preferred something skimpier. On the other hand she'd been at work and he didn't want to think of Captain Baker getting an eyeful of... of what? Face asked himself. Of my woman?

They sat on the sofa and sipped their coffee. Face looked around. A lot of memories in this room. Some of them were not memories he felt good about. What would Shila think, he wondered, if she knew exactly what sort of man he was? Would she forgive him the things he'd done? He hadn't forgiven himself yet for what they'd done to Decker.

How calculating had he been that night? He'd started up the recorder, just in case. But on the other hand when he gave Decker that cigar the only thing in his mind had been trying to make the poor guy feel better and take the kicked puppy look off his face.

It had been necessary. For the team, for Murdock especially. Face had asked Hannibal right here in this room how far Hannibal would go for the team. Now he was asking himself how far he would go. They'd all done heroic things for the team. Face could be proud that he had once walked into a ranger station full of MPs to get a first aid kit to save Murdock. But just how far the other way would he go for the unit? How deep into the darkness?

Perhaps he'd see Decker again one day. Perhaps he could apologise to him. If Decker didn't kill him on sight of course. When Decker attacked him in the kitchen Face hadn't even fought back until Decker's hands went around his throat and instinct forced him to resist. He'd deserved to get the crap kicked out him.

He turned to look at Shila. She smiled at him, shyly.

And, he decided, he didn't deserve the attention, the respect, of a woman like this one, until he did something to earn it.

"Shila, will you do something for me?"

"Of... of course, Templeton."

He reached into his pocket and took out a compact cassette tape. "Take this, please. I don't mind what you do with it. Keep it, lose it, destroy it. But don't ever tell me where it is."

She looked puzzled, but took the tape and put it into the pocket of her jeans.

And now, Face thought, when Hannibal asks if I know where the tape is I can look him right in the eye and say no. No I have absolutely no idea where the tape is. Of course I'll leave out this part. And the part where I lifted it out of his pocket in that coffee shop at Toronto railway station.

"Now then." Face smiled, feeling lighter, feeling better. He got up, went over to the stereo and put on the album he and Hannibal had used for the dancing lessons. Then, striking a pose, smiling, he offered her his hand. "Shall we dance?"

Shila came into his arms, smiling, laughing at his posing. She was a better dance partner than Hannibal, and she let him lead. After a moment she stopped laughing and spoke quietly, serious.

"I know, Templeton, that there's only today." She looked up at him, and lifted a hand to touch his face and hair. "And that's okay."

"Shila, if I was free, really free I mean -"

"It's all right, I understand. What we've had, while you were here, I'll never forget that."

"Me neither."

She moved closer against him and rested her head on his chest. He bent his head and dropped a small kiss on the top of her head, on her thick hair that smelled like flowers.

There's only today.

~~~~

Murdock didn't know how long it would be before Face called him up for a pick-up. For Face's sake he hoped it would be a good long time. He got the pictures loaded, and settled down to wait in the helicopter. With the heater turned up high he munched sandwiches and drank coffee and wrote in his notebook.

So there you have the adventures of one crazy pilot and his crazier friends, John, Alvin and Bosco. No-one will see this book for a long time, maybe so long that I'll have enough material for a sequel. Because nobody is supposed to know I belong with these guys. To these guys. There's only one person that can ever take me away from them and that's me. The other me that lives inside. The bad kind of crazy me.

Murdock glanced up as a movement caught his eye. A wolf stood in the snow, barely twenty yards away. It looked back at Murdock. Murdock smiled and nodded his head. It was their wolf, he recognised it.

You never went away. You never go away, even when I go home to the VA, you'll be there.

The wolf took off running, north, over the snow. Murdock watched until it was out of sight then turned back to his book. He took a bite of ham sandwich and started to write again.

That person took me away once before. I won't let him do that again. But I know he's always there. One day they might even say I'm free to go, that I'm cured. But he'll still be there. There's only one place I can go to escape him. I think you know by now where I mean.

Murdock looked out at the clear blue sky and then down at his notebook. He wrote two more words.

The End
 

The End