Fate has a way of bringing together the most unlikely of pairs. - Maya Angelou
Hannibal was watching BA, who was watching Face, who was standing very close and talking very softly to a very pretty young woman. Hannibal didn't see anything particularly interesting in Face's activity. It was something he did on a regular basis. So why was BA frowning as he watched?
"Something wrong, BA?"
BA kept watching the couple as he answered. "Yeah, man. That's the third girl he's been flirting with this week - but he never mentions them again."
"And that's bad?"
"It's... wrong. He always talks about his dates. Always. But he hasn't said one word about any of his girlfriends in almost a month."
"I would think you'd be relieved. Aren't you the one who always complains when he details his conquests?"
"Him not talking about 'em is the same as Murdock not talking about his invisible dog. Ain't right. Ain't Face."
BA wandered off, still grumbling.
Hannibal resumed his own watching. Face was obviously flirting, but there was something... He shook his head, telling himself he was just imagining it because of BA. That is, until the girl got into her car and drove away. Face didn't watch her go, or wave, or even grin. Just turned around and headed back into the house they were currently sharing, stopping when he reached Hannibal.
"Something wrong, Colonel? Don't tell me you've already got another job lined up!"
"No, no, just... woolgathering." He smiled, a plan forming. "I was thinking of having a barbecue tonight, a late celebration of that last job - and that nice paycheck we got."
"Well, actually, I have a dinner meeting tonight. Maybe we could postpone it for a few days." He smiled. "Gotta keep my contacts happy, right?"
"Sure, Face. You go ahead."
As soon as he heard the shower start, Hannibal hurried to the garage.
*****
"So you worried, too, huh?"
"I'm not 'worried'. I'm... curious."
"Uh-huh."
"Okay, so I'm a little worried. Face never has dinner meetings with his contacts. And he never lies about having a date. I don't like it when any member of the team changes behavior. It's like..."
"Like Murdock not talking about his invisible dog."
"Or like you not threatening Murdock." Ignoring the glare, Hannibal continued. "I just want to make sure he isn't in any kind of trouble. That's the only reason I can think for his outright lying to me."
They drove for a few more miles before the tracker indicated the Vette had stopped. BA pulled up a block away, frowning.
"This looks familiar, Hannibal. Ain't this where - "
"We helped that delivery company. Yeah. Why would he come down here?"
"The sister?"
"Lisa? Face liked her, but she didn't really seem to be his type."
" 'Cause she's blind?"
"That's not what I meant. But it is a factor. Let's face it, the kid is usually attracted to women who are A) gorgeous, or B) don't like him. One's an ego booster, the other a challenge. And women like that, even if they don't know why, do know he's not going to stick around. They don't want a man who will. It's just a fling, and they both know it. So, Lisa is definitely not his type."
"But why would he be here then? And it don't explain why he's..."
The sentence drifted off as they watched Face and Lisa come out of the building, laughing as he held the car door for her. Moments later the car pulled away.
The two men in the van watched as the car disappeared around the corner.
"So why hasn't he told us?"
Hannibal thought for a moment, then sighed. "Two reasons, BA. Leslie and Rina."
"Huh?"
"Remember how we treated him? Both times? And both women he really, truly cared about."
"So now what?"
"So now we go home, mind our own business, and hope for the best. For both of them."
The van made a u-turn and slowly drove away.