AUTHOR's NOTE: This story came to me a while ago and because I was trying to finish up Opie's sequel I just plopped down a little bit and came back to it when I was done. I want to thank RainbowSeverus for reading it over and telling me to keep going.
As always, thank you for reading and please review.
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CHAPTER ONE
The emergency room waiting room was once again infiltrated by a sea of black. Usually, it was because of the curly haired brunette that was currently pacing frantically, but today it was because of one and only Carlos Ricardo Manoso, aka Ranger.
The take down was simple enough. Their target, a serial offender James Watson, was holding out in a small ramshackle cabin just outside the Pine Barons. That's probably why, after their research, they only planned a four man team. Obviously, it hadn't gone as planned. Tank, Ranger, Les and Cal had mapped out the area and surrounded the cabin. It had one door and four windows; one on each side.
Les had mentioned at their arrival that it reminded him of a Lincoln Log cabin, and they all chuckled realizing that he was right. Watson wasn't armed, nor was he combative and securing him took less time than they had anticipated. This was probably why they were so lax when it came to what happened next.
As they pulled out of the small dirt drive that lead away from the cabin, Tank hadn't noticed the truck barreling full speed down the road a mile or so down. If he did, he dismissed it as you would any other vehicle traveling the opposite direction on a two lane road. What he hadn't anticipated was that the driver of the truck was Watson's lover, Gary Plutnick. The neighbors had called him at work when they saw a black Escalade pull into the normally abandoned road and turn into their cabin. He knew instantly who it was, and what they were doing there.
Gary knew that James was not going to be able to be rebounded. The judge had made that very clear at the hearing. The only reason why the judge had even given his lover the option of bail was for his own personal safety. He had stolen money from a well-known front business used by the 'Family' and wasn't going to survive a night in jail. So, not thinking he had another option, he gunned the engine and hit the SUV head on.
Thankfully no one had died. Tank tried to swerve out of the way causing the SUV to flip multiple times before landing upside down in the field. The airbags had deployed as did the emergency alert to both Rangeman and local emergency authorities.
"SITREP!" Tank's voice boomed the moment he became conscious, coughing and wincing; his chest was on fire.
"Fuck." Les' baritone was barely a whisper. Shifting in his seat he looked at his team mates. "Cal?"
"10-10-1" Cal grumbled, noting that all his appendages were intact. "Watson is out and we got bleeding. Don't know if it's him or me or both."
"Ranger's out." Tank swore under his breath reaching for his best friend who was next to him; his arms dangling above his head. He felt a pulse. "Anyone reach their phone?"
"Got it." Les grimaced as he reached down, or up as they were all upside down, and unbuttoned his side cargo pocket. He quickly called the control room.
"Rangeman." Woody's voice boomed through the phone.
"Woody, what's the ETA on assistance." Les gasped in pain as he tried to adjust his position.
"Three minutes." Woody's voice never wavered. "Causalities? Injuries?"
"No causalities." Les could hear Woody release his breath. "Ranger is unconscious, so is Watson. We're hanging upside down, man. I can't even think straight."
"They can see you. Just pulled onto the road. Keep your head up. We got ya'."
Les disconnected and let the phone drop as his arms relaxed and dangled above him. A minute or so later, Bobby's face peered into the space where the driver's side window used to be.
"Hey boys!" He smiled, taking in their situation quickly and eyeing each man for obvious injury. "Who pulled the little straw?"
"Get Ranger first." Tank flexed his hands. "I can't see the other side of his face, but he's bleeding from somewhere." He pointed to the roof. A small puddle of blood was pooling directly under Ranger's head. Bobby nodded and motioned for the men with him to go to the other side first. "Les, any breaks?"
"Nah just beat to shit."
"Cal?" Tank tried to turn, but realized that it wasn't going to happen.
"I don't know." Cal's voice was strained. "My legs are stuck under the seat. But I can wiggle my toes."
Bobby, Hal and an EMT cleared the broken glass from the window on Ranger's side and slowly began to extract him and set him on the awaiting gurney. Once he was out, Tank pulled out his knife and cut away his seat belt bracing himself with is knees and free hand.
"Mother fucker." He growled as he slid out of the window and began to assist the others removing Cal and Watson. Les had followed Tank's lead and was currently lying face down on the grass by the window he had just crawled out of.
"Tank!" Bobby yelled, hopping onto the gurney straddling their leader and beginning CPR. "Code Red man!"
Tank scrambled towards his best friend and followed the gurney into the awaiting ambulance. Before the doors closed he tipped his head towards Hal who responded with a nod. He was in charge of the scene. Taking a deep breath he continued to extract Cal from the back seat, pushing the panic and fear aside.
Now, Hal sat on a small plastic chair staring into nothing as they all awaited the news. Ranger had crashed again as he arrived, but thankfully was somewhat stable. He had dislocated his shoulder during the crash and had been hit so hard on impact that his brain was swollen. Bobby had staggered out an hour or so after he arrived explaining the injury and had been hopeful that he would recover completely. They only had to wait to see whether or not he had suffered any permanent brain damage.
"Why can't we go and see him?" Stephanie Plum, the resident female at Rangeman, whimpered to herself. She and Ranger had some sort of relationship, although no one really knew the extent of it. She had been a fixture at Rangeman, in one capacity or another, for years now and had become the heart of the company. She had been pacing back and forth since she had arrived moments after the ambulance, more than likely tipped off by the automatic text alert that was sent out after the accident.
"Bomber, come sit down." Ram, who had shown up with the first string of Rangemen, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her to the sofa. She nodded, tears welling in her eyes, and carefully took a seat next to Les.
"Beautiful." Les pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. She nestled into his embrace and quietly sobbed. Stroking her back softly, he whispered soothingly in Spanish. He knew that she was beside herself with fear. He wished he could console her the way his cousin could, but at least he knew that out of all of her "Merry Men" he was the closest to her.
Tank was taking up an entire loveseat. His head was in his hands, elbows braced on his knees. He and Les had refused treatment at the scene even though he probably should have at least a scan. Cal hadn't been so lucky. His legs were pinned between the seats, the metal brackets shattering on impact and cutting all the way down his thighs. He had needed more stitches then he could count and was currently high as a kite in a recovery room down the hall. Binkie and Woody were standing guard.
"Mr. Sherman?" A man in scrubs spoke quietly. Tank jumped to his feet, hissing at the pain that shot through his leg and back. "I'm . Mr. Manoso has been moved into his room now. He seems to be stirring so we are hoping that he will wake soon."
Steph launched herself off of Les' lap, apologizing as he grunted in pain.
"Let's go!" She was filled with nervous energy, twisting her hands over themselves as she stood next to the two men. Tank took her hand, partly to stop her fidgeting and part to help calm the anxiety that was knotted in his stomach. She smiled up at him and squeezed his hand, knowing instantly that it wasn't just for her benefit.
"This way." Dr. Sampson turned and motioned for them to follow, scanning his security badge to open the doors. As they entered the hallway, he spoke again. "Mr. Manoso's injuries aren't signifcant that they are life threatening at this point." Both Steph and Tank let out a sigh of relief. "The fact that he had a head injury can account for him being unconscious, but…" He took a deep breath and paused for a moment to call the elevator to the floor.
"But what?" Tank could feel his heart rate speed up.
"He is mumbling incoherently. In Spanish." Dr. Sampson entered the elevator followed by the pair and pressed the 3rd floor button. "I worry that he may have some damage, but we won't know for sure until he is completely awake and we can evaluate him."
The doors opened and they all walked out, following the doctor to a room at the end of the hall. He stopped right before the door and spoke quietly.
"I want you to report to me anything that doesn't seem normal."
Stephanie held her breath as the door opened. Tank placed a hand on the small of her back and lead her into the room behind Dr. Sampson.
"Ranger." She whispered, rushing to his bedside and taking his hand in hers. He looked fine, except for the small line of stitches around his hairline and the bruise discoloring the left side of his forehead around the side of his head and into his hair.
"We will have men posted outside of his room." Tank had his hands on his hips, his gaze never leaving his best friend lying in front of him. "And someone will always be here with him."
"Understood." Dr. Sampson nodded and checked over Ranger quickly. "I'll get out of your way. Please call the nurse if you need anything. I'll be back in a few hours to check on him."
Tank pulled a chair from across the room and set it next to Steph. She took the seat and smiled up at Tank, tears still falling down her cheeks.
"He'll be okay, Little Girl." He said, ruffling her hair and leaning to kiss her forehead. "I'm going to get Bobby and make a schedule for guard duty. Do you need anything?"
She shook her head and brought Ranger's hand to her lips, kissing it softly.