Characters belong to JE. Mistakes are mine O/C characters are mine. Be kind this is my first attempt.

Chapter 1 Lunch at Shorty's

The core team was having lunch at Shorty's. Tank had just gotten home the day before from his last mission. Per Rangeman luck they had their usual table in the back. A woman alone was sitting close enough to hear some of what they were saying.

Tank was saying I am glad we all decided that as we each complete our last mission we are done. No more re-upping. They agreed, done. It was time to move on to other things. Rangeman was growing. In addition to Trenton, Boston, and Miami they now had offices in New York, Pittsburgh PA and Washington DC. None of them needed the money.

Ranger was already out and was getting very serious with Stephanie. Bobby and Lester were the only two not done. Bobby was slated to go in about six months. Lester sometime after that. They could see a light at the end.

Lester asked, "So Tank now that you are done what are you going to do about Lula?" Tank replied, "I have not decided we get along great. I enjoy her company. The draw back is she can be Lula. I wish she and Stephanie would take their safety more seriously." Another thing all of them agreed upon.

Tank asked Bobby how serious was it between him and Connie. They had been seeing each other for a while. He replied They were not going to get serious until he was out and done with the contract. I was thinking about breaking it off with her before I leave. Something the guys had always done in case they did not come back. Ranger had always sent Stephanie back to Morelli when he would 'go in the wind' for fear he would not return.

The woman sitting near them figured out they were or had been military. She was an above average woman. Blonde hair, blue eyes and of average height and weight. She was fit. As she was leaving she approached the guys. "Hi. I overheard some of what you were saying. I presume you all served in the military. They all said yes. I have always tried to thank people that I meet that have served. So, Thank You." She took a moment to look each of them in the eyes as she thanked them. When she met eyes with Lester, that is where they stayed. They each introduced themselves but her eyes never left Lester's. His did not leave hers either. It was not lost on either one of them. She introduced herself as Amanda Maxwell. Lester is hot Amanda thought to herself. She told them it was a pleasure to meet them and to enjoy this beautiful day. "I believe it is a great day to go topless" was her last statement before leaving.

A few minutes later the guys were on their way out the door. Amanda was at her car trying to get the spare tire out. While she was inside somebody flattened one of her tires. Lester came over and offered to help. She graciously accepted. After all, she was not stupid. When he was finished he loaded the tire in the trunk for her. She thanked him and offered to pay him for his time. He refused. "Well at least let me take you to lunch sometime." He smiled at her told her that would be great. He handed her one of his business cards after he wrote his cell number on the back. "Call me if you need anything at all." he said as she was putting the top down on the car.

In the truck, nobody said anything on the way back to Haywood. Lester was thinking about those eyes and her smile. He was smiling.