The Zone
Disclaimer: All these characters, except the FTAs,
belong to others that are not me, but I like to play with them.
Rating: PG-13, because of language and violence, and some romance stuff.
Chapter 1
Stephanie tried again. Not working, she thought, maybe if I try it from another angle.
Nope. Ouch.
"Now exhale as you move into downward dog position."
Thank God. I have found through this class that breathing is one of the few things in life that, as stated by the instructor, needs to be regulated. Screw it I'm gonna breathe how I want to and I'm getting a donut after this endless torture session.
Screw finding a zone. My zone is in the bakery. I love the thoughts of luscious, chocolate covered donuts and their creamy rich filling. This is my zone. My time that if anything is going wrong everything will just slow down enough to catch my newly found breath. Ranger was wrong, there was more than just meditation and yoga to finding a zone. It included something that he had plenty of and what I keep running out of, patience. This just made me want another donut. Sometimes there just isn't enough zone to go around and Ranger seemed to be hogging all of it.
"You did what?"
Lula was looking at me weird, as if she had just encountered someone from an alien race. I was still in my clothes from yoga and as much as I hate to admit it, it did make me feel a little calmer but energetic.
"I went to a yoga class this morning."
Oi, didn't they understand what I said the first 3 times? I told myself I would not go running again unless chasing down some nasty FTA. I needed an alternative and this had no running and was non-commitive on my part. This was perfect, not to mention that it was next door to Tasty Pastry so I could pick up breakfast on the way out.
"Yoga helps build muscle tone and your inner chi." Connie Rossoli said from behind her Yoga For Idiots book.
"Since when have you been the expert on exercise programs?" Lula asked looking Connie over with a judgmental eye. Connie was 5'5" with chestnut colored wavy hair, curvy shape, and loads of makeup on her rapidly aging face.
"Since Stephanie said that it was how Ranger finds his inner zone and since I deal with you and Vinny all day, I'd say that I need a zone plus getting in shape can't hurt since I am behind this desk all day."
"Huh. You say Ranger does this?" Lula said with a new found interest and surprisingly not finding Connie's insult in her explanation. "I might try it out. So why do you go?" She asked me.
"Well, I need a zone," That whole Scrog thing scared the hell out of me. I decided that I need to find a zone so that even when I get kidnapped that I can think clearly. "Plus, the class is next to Tasty Pastry so I can get breakfast on the way out."
"That place will kill ya, Babe." A voice whispered into my ear.
Holy shit! I jumped enough to ram my knee into Connie's desk and fall on the floor, looking up at Ranger's amused face.
"Babe."
"Huh. Why didn't we see him when he come in?" Lula asked "We always see him walk in. He just has an aura about him."
Ranger lifted me up off the ground enough to have my feet dangle an inch from it before plopping me back down on it.
"Thanks," I said avoiding those rich, dark chocolate colored eyes in front of me.
"You need help with that kidnapping issue? I can help. I'll even make sure that no one will hurt you," he said, his voice brushing against my ear lobe.
I felt a blush creeping to my cheeks. "Nope, not yet but maybe later."
With a nod he turned his head to Connie. He knew as well as I that kidnapping wasn't a joke. I've been kidnapped so many times and assumed dead that if he didn't have a zone he would be dead from extreme anxiety.
"I heard you had some things for me."
"Yeah, we have Jane Greenwood and Harold Giavatta. Stephanie didn't have too much luck with him last time so we thought we'd give you him this time."
Ranger had a small smile on his face. Yeah, once again Stephanie had to ask one, Ranger, for help with her capture. This one either wasn't that technologically up to date or he was high on something because he was convinced that we were going to shoot him with Ranger's Maglite, as opposed to the Glock right next to it. We spent some time trying to get him off the roof until finally he jumped off into the backyard, sending Ranger snickering after him before he jumped the back fence.
"Can you take him, babe?" He said leaning especially close into me from behind to place Harold's folder back on the desk.
"Maybe. I'll take Lula with me this time though."
"Call me if you need me." He said placing a small kiss at the base of my neck and walking out the door to his big badass truck.
"So whose nasty ass are we picking up today?" Lula asked looking up from the window where Ranger just drove off in his truck.
