Hi everyone! I promised a new, longish chapter story and this is the one I've decided to post this summer [2012]...Like many of you, I loved Twelve Sharp, even the ambiguous but oh so romantic ending of "One Ranger is all you 'll ever need."

But like most of JE's books, and in fact many other books I've loved, there were so many unanswered questions: What happenened NEXT? How did Julie cope, how is Ranger? and so on. And over the years I've written my version, which wil be posted here. Of course, we know, in my Mercenary Ranger world, he and Anthony are off to a job in Panama almost immediately. [Panama is on my blog.] This story takes place just before. There's a smidge of angst and zero plot, but it also has a lot of backstory for the guys...and so it is definitely a Mercenary Ranger fic. How it fits into the Take a Chance arc is beyond me...maybe just before, or between that story's flashback and present? In other words, you'll be happiest if you don't try to force the continuity too strictly. [or AU to TAC but histories are part of MR world?] This IS after all, fanfiction...I hope you enjoy.

Safe for Cupcakes, no Joe at all.

I will also be posting a shorter story, Saving Julie, on my blog...that fic is everyone's POV about the rescue scene, and sort of a prequel to Shrink Wrapped..

Standard fanfiction disclaimers apply for entire story.

SHRINK WRAPPED

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Prologue

Monday afternoon, a hot June day in Miami. I am expecting a new client today, a little girl who had been kidnapped, held for twelve days, finally rescuing herself by shooting her kidnapper. I had received the referral from the child's pediatrician. He told me that he saw no sign of PTSD in the girl but her family, rightly so, wanted her to have counseling. He added that the child's biological father was very wealthy. I surmised he was telling me that for this referral at least, I'd get paid in full, no sliding scale. Not that that matters, of course.

My name is Marilyn Sanders and I am a clinical psychologist specializing in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The mother came to see me last week. Her name was Rachel Martine and she arrived promptly to interview me. All quite correct and properly handled, I felt. Mrs. Martine was a beautiful woman in her mid-thirties, I estimated. She had a honey tanned complexion, brown hair with golden highlights, and warm amber brown eyes. I guessed she was perhaps part Latina, hard to tell. She was dressed in simple but expensive clothes, I know Prada slides when I see them.

I shook her hand, gestured to a chair and sat myself down to read over her introductory file. Hmmm. Her husband was an air conditioner repair guy, hard to think he could afford to dress his wife in Prada. Although this was Miami and I suppose air conditioner guys can charge big bucks when you need them bad. They had three children, all in private schools too. And an excellent address. I flipped to her insurance info, paid for and guaranteed by Rangeman LLC, Carlos Manoso being the person to whom all bills went. The name rang a bell. Oh yeah, kidnapping. Lots of coverage in the media.

I said, "Tell me about Julie. Briefly: what happened to her? If you don't mind.

Rachel Martine gripped her Hermes bag tightly and took a deep breath, then she looked me in the eye and began.''Julie is my oldest child, her father and I were divorced since right after Julie was born. My husband Ron legally adopted Julie when she was four. She sees her biological father a few times a year, knows who he is, seems to accept the situation. My husband is, for all intents and purposes, her father.''

''Go on.''

''A few weeks ago Julie was kidnapped by a man who wanted to assume my ex-husband's identity, take over his life, his world, his family…''

''A stalker?''

''Yes. A crazy, deluded stalker. He kept Julie chained in an unlit room for twelve days, finally drugging her and using her to lure Carlos, my ex, to a place where he could kill him, his final act in taking over Carlos's life. Carlos went into the apartment, his girlfriend's apartment, unarmed. To negotiate. The crazy guy shot him six times, Julie grabbed the gun and killed the bad man, trying to save herself and Carlos and the girlfriend.''

''Her father was not killed, as I recall,'' I said.

''No, he was wearing a Kevlar vest. But he was hurt quite badly, bullet-proof vests don't work so great at point blank range.''

Mrs. Martine stifled a sob. I said, ''This is hard, but was Julie sexually molested?''

''She says no, that the man wanted to be her dad.''

More tears, dabs with tissue. I asked, ''How has Julie reacted to this? Any symptoms, regression, clinging, nightmares, crying…?''

''No. that's the thing, she is just like Carlos, all calm and cool and collected, 'I did what I had to do, mom.' "

''Go on.''

''Well, Carlos is an ex-Army Special Forces officer, or maybe not so ex, oh, madre de dios! — don't tell anyone I said that!" I nodded reassuringly, no clue what she was talking about. Mrs. Martine went on, "— and he is a bounty hunter and a security expert and god only knows what else….part of the reason our marriage had no chance! So I can understand him acting that way. But a ten year old child, my little girl…I'm concerned.''

''What does her father say?''

''Ron? Well he says I must do whatever is best for Julie.''

''No, I meant her biological father—Carlos, is it?''

''Yes. Carlos Manoso, street name Ranger. Julie calls him Ranger, well, we all do, I guess.''

''And?''

''He agrees that Julie should have counseling, someone to talk to, whatever she needs. Ranger is intimidating, but but he's no idiot. Really, he is a good man, very generous and he loves Julie a lot. He'd do anything for her.''

She seemed determined to convince me, but I already had the thought, Well, yes, he walked into a killer's trap on purpose, to offer up his life for his daughter's. What more can a father do…what greater sacrifice?

I gave a moment's consideration to the sort of courage and resolve that would make a man walk helplessly into almost certain death. And I guessed that his generosity explained Rachel's Prada shoes and designer clothes.

I said, ''Will the biological father be available to come to some sessions with Julie?''

Rachel Martine stared at me, various thoughts going across her face. For a second it looked like she might laugh, then she sighed and said, ''Right now he is still hospitalized in New Jersey but I am sure he will be willing to come to see you if you feel he should. When he is able to, I mean.''

I asked, ''Why did you look amused?''

She said, ''Oh sorry, I was thinking, good luck getting Ranger to talk! He'll stare you down and say nothing, zip, nada. But hey, you'll enjoy the view! Not appropriate, I guess, but—well, you'll see when you meet him.''

''I remember seeing his picture on TV, he was very handsome in his Army uniform.''

She said, ''Uh huh.''

''Why was that photo so censored?''

''Black ops, doctor. Don't ask, don't tell.''

Taken aback, I hesitated, finally said, "Isn't that about homosexuality? The Army's former policy? Uh...?"

Rachel Martine gathered her purse and stood. "Not in this context, Dr. Sanders. Just, ah, don't ask."

tbc

Thank you very much, in advance for reviewing. It means so much! I'll maybe post twice a week, if you all like the fic...we'll see how it goes.

I'll let you know when Saving Julie begins on my blog, too.

a/n yes I know, in 12, Julie did not kill Scrog but in my world she did...