Song copywrited by someone else.
by By Terri

It had been years, more years then he could count, since he had been in a church. But here Hannibal was, inside a church for no particular reason. He had literally been dragged here by Murdock. “C’mon Hannibal. I promised Face that I would get you there. You don’t want me to go back on my promise to him, do you?” Murdock had begged. And since Murdock had promised, Hannibal had no option but to comply.

Hannibal, BA, Murdock and Frankie had gone to the first pew, and sat down. Then Frankie knelt and said a short prayer. He smiled shyly at the team when he sat down next to Murdock again. “Old habits die hard.” He said shyly. Hannibal nodded, feeling uncomfortable. He wasn’t actually an atheist. Being a soldier, he believed in the old saying, “There is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole.” But he didn’t go out of his way for religion either.

Hannibal looked over at BA and Murdock. It was a small miracle to get BA to dress in a suit and tie. But when BA was convinced to go to church, (again by Murdock, who must have promised Face that the whole team would be in Church) BA found a plain light brown suit with a tie to go with it. He grumbled about having to wear one, but Hannibal could tell how much putting on a suit really meant to BA. Murdock and Frankie were dressed in light blue suits. Hannibals was a light gray.

The service began. Hannibal was surprised to see Face carrying a large cross, followed by the priest and others. The congregation started to sing. The team joined in. Shortly afterwards, the priest started the sermon. It was about the importance of fathers or father figures. Hannibal had never been a father by choice. His lifestyle up till then had never allowed for it. And when he was younger, he hadn’t wanted to get married and raise children. The team was his family, and the men in his care were his children. Particularly the young man who had carried a large golden cross down the church aisle.

When the sermon was over, there were readings from the Bible, all pertaining to fathers. Face then stood up, and went to the front. He smiled at the congregation, and gave a great big smile when he saw the team. Someone started playing a piano, and Face started to sing.

I cried a tear, you wiped it dry.
I was confused, you cleared my mind.
I sold my soul, you bought it back for me.
And held me up, and gave me dignity.
Somehow you needed me.

Hannibal was transported back in time to Vietnam and the POW camp. He remembered holding Face in his arms, while the boy cried. Giving comfort, and telling him that the torture he had received hadn’t been his fault. Nobody deserved that kind of abuse. Face had believed he had deserved it for being bad.

You gave me strength to stand alone again.
To face the world out on my own again.
You put me high, upon a pedestal.
So high that I could almost see eternity.
You needed me
You needed me
And I can’t believe it’s you,
I can’t believe it’s true.
I needed you, and you were there.

Hannibal smiled, though tears had welled up in his eyes. Face had always needed him, and Hannibal had always tried to be there.

And I’ll never leave.
Why should I leave?
I’d be a fool.
Cause I finally found someone who really cares.

Hannibal let the tears fall. He remembered only a few years ago how Face had received a bogus pardon, and had left the team. He had acted like a fool, and had almost been killed in the process by a vengeful VC. After Face had spent a brief time in the VA, he had wept on Hannibal shoulder. He had wanted to be free so bad, he had forgotten about how much his friends meant to him. The team had forgiven him, assuring him that there was nothing to forgive.

Face walked down the steps, and stood in front of Hannibal. He took Hannibals hand in his own.

You held my hand when it was cold.
When I was lost you took me home.
You gave me hope when I was at the end.
And turned my lies back into truth again.
You even called me friend.
You gave me strength to stand alone again.
To face the world out on my own again.
You put me high upon a pedestal.
So high that I could almost see eternity.
You needed me, you needed me.
You needed me, you needed me.

The tears were flowing freely now from Hannibals eyes, as well as from Faces. Face pulled Hannibal to his feet, and hugged him hard. “Happy Fathers Day, Hannibal.” Face said in a choked voice. “Happy Fathers Day.”