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“There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story.”
Frank Herbert
“Not staying for the party?” Hannibal asked, smiling.
Stockwell huffed a soft laugh, stopping by the front door, “I’m sure I’d be the guest of honour.”
“I don’t know, I think making all their dreams come true really warmed them to you,” Hannibal replied. He glanced back towards where the music was coming from, “Mrs B made cake.”
Stockwell followed his gaze, then smiled thinly, “You might be one of the few people I trust, Hannibal, but that doesn’t mean I like you.”
“Really?” Hannibal smiled at him. “For me it’s the other way around.”
Stockwell paused, an uncertain look on his face that the others were never going to believe happened. “I don’t make friends. I gave up a long time ago.”
“Yeah, but did you?” Hannibal asked skeptically. He smiled again and held out his hand, “Don’t be a stranger, Hunt.”
“That might be the first time I’ve heard any of you say that without that particular… inflection,” Stockwell said wryly, and shook Hannibal’s hand. “I’ll be around. Not least because the president has asked me to present you with medals.”
“I’d be honoured.” Hannibal said sincerely.
Stockwell looked at him again, expression unreadable, and turned to the door without another word.
Hannibal let him out and closed the door behind him, smiling softly as he turned and walked back to the main sitting room where everyone had gathered. He stopped in the doorway, leaning on the frame. The team, of course, friends and family, more to come later for the ‘real’ party.
Amy stood up, addressing the group, “And now, a sneak preview of tomorrow’s top headline,” She beamed, “A-Team cleared of all wrongdoing, conviction overturned by judge Velazquez, who called the original trial-” She raised her finger, “And I quote, a farce-” The group cheered, “And a mockery of justice.” Another cheer. She raised her beer, “and as to the allegations of alleged ‘mercenary activity’, the lawyer leading the case stated it was merely ‘hearsay, designed to divert attention from the real wrongdoers’.”
Everybody laughed, and a third cheer went up.
Murdock stood, “I’d like to propose a toast!” He held his beer aloft, “to somebody I think to whom we all owe a great deal…” He pressed the bottle to his heart, “Captain Cheeze, the bravest little squeaker I ever met.”
“May he and his decedents live happily in the walls of Fort Hamlyn forevermore,” Face said.
They’d done it.
The thought suddenly hit Hannibal and settled in his chest. They’d made it. They were here, not just the finishing line but the winners podium. All of them.
They’d really done it.
A lump formed in his throat.
He turned away from the door and walked a little down the hall, going through the first door he came to and closing it behind him, leaning back against it. Pressure built up behind his eyes and he rubbed his hand across them, palm coming away wet.
It had been a very long time since he’d truly cried, he didn’t even remember the last time, but there was no stopping it now. He slid down the door, sitting on the carpet as his chest heaved and he broke into a sob of pure, unadulterated relief. He drew his knees up, sank his head into his hands, and cried.
A few minutes later, Hannibal emerged from the room to find Face coming down the hallway. Face stopped, looked him over, then smiled.
“We’re missing you at the pre-party party.” Face said.
Hannibal nodded, “I just, uh, needed a moment.”
“Anything I can do?”
“N- wait, yes,” Hannibal beckoned him closer, “one thing.”
Face took a step forward, and Hannibal dragged him into a hug. Face smiled, hugging back.
Eventually, Hannibal let him go. “Thanks.”
“Any time.” Face chuckled.
“You know I’ve had this dream a lot.” Hannibal said.
“Where we hug in a corridor?”
“Where we won,” Hannibal sighed, “Then I wake up in a warehouse somewhere and the anaesthetic's wearing off.”
“I think it might be real this time.” Face said. He hesitated, “Hard to believe it’s finally over.”
Hannibal nodded. “Yeah. And you know what… for the first time in my life, I have no idea what to do next.”
“Aw come on, Hannibal,” Face grinned, “You and I both know there’s never really been a plan.”
“After all I've done, now I get slandered by my own lieutenant.” Hannibal said indignantly, smiling. He put his arm around Face’s shoulders and they walked back towards the party, “I made a promise, and I never break a promise.”