Ranger's Princess
Ranger and his daughter Sarah entered the control room of Rangeman Chicago ignoring the odd silence that was now filled with the little five year olds rambling. They both contradicted each other but oddly fitted together. Ranger, the bad ass mercenary was dressed in complete black Rangeman fatigues, his hair was pulled back and tied in a ponytail and he was expressionless except when he was addressing his daughter when he was showing complete and utter love and care. You could see by the way he handled the small five year old he was extremely careful and protective of her. To address the stares of the other employees he tucked her head into his neck and cuddling her with his hand on the back of her head. Sarah, Ranger's daughter was dressed fully in pink. She was wearing a leotard, stockings, ballet shoes, a tutu, a tiara and carrying a sparkly wand. She was a very adorable child taking after her mother in looks. She had flowing brown curly hair that looked un-tameable, big blue eyes and very softly tanned skin from her father's darker complexion. She was going to be a heart breaker when she grew up.
It was a widely known fact in Rangeman that Stephanie Plum, the famous Bombshell Bounty Hunter had passed away last year from a brain tumour. It was now apparent that Ranger lived for his daughter and company, taking her to her ballet lessons, school, play dates (although he refused for the word 'dates' to be used) and between these events expanding his company. After Stephanie's death Ranger and Sarah had stayed in Trenton so their visit to the Chicago office was unusual.
Ranger's POV
"Guess what I'm today daddy?" My adorable daughter asked me. "A fairy princess!.." She continued her rambling. She was definitely Steph's daughter , she was so animated. When the elevator opened I lifted her up to sit on my hip and tucked her head into my neck to try and shield her from the stares of the Chicago employees. The silence didn't worry Sarah who was still rambling softly in my ear. God, I loved her so much, she was the only thing of Steph I had. I stifled my emotions. I missed Steph so much. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have Sarah. She was my personal sunlight, curing me of my darkness.
"Ranger" I heard from behind me. At once I knew it was Travis the manager in Chicago. "Sarah"
"Unkie Travey!" Sarah squealed and stared moving uncontrollable until I set her down on the floor and she ran to Travis who quickly in one swift movement picked her up and hugged her tightly. "Guess what I am today Unkie Travey?"
"What cutey?" He smiled down at her in his arms.
"A fairy princess!" She beamed at him then her face suddenly clouded over. "Did you just call me cutey?" She was giving him a stern look now, that she had learnt from her father.
"Yeah?" He was suddenly nervous.
Sarah was going through a stage where she wouldn't respond to anyone unless they called her by her real name and chucked hissy fits if anyone called her anything else. Oh yeah Travis, a former black OPS captain was going to be brought down by a five year old.
"My name is Sarah. S.A.R.A.H. Nothing else, just Sarah. I don't like the name cutey, it's stupid." She frowned, glaring directly into Travis' eyes. He was fidgeting. "If you call me that again... I'll... I'll..." I smiled inside wondering what my five year old daughter could threaten Travis with. She leaned in close, I assume to whisper to him, but I knew she couldn't whisper it was more like normal talking for her. "I'll deck you in front of everyone." She smiled mischievously.
I knew Lester had taught her that and it resulted in Zero being decked in the control room when he refused to let her sprinkle fairy dust (sparkles) on him. Thank God he was wearing boxers and not going commando. Sarah doesn't negotiate she gets what she wants, not that she wants much, she was the most unmaterialistic child I knew. The best thing was Zero was furious but when he was about to take his fury out on her she just batted her eyelashes and said sorry and all was forgiven. But after that I noticed every employee wore belts and boxer underpants, to frightened to see what I would do to them if a Zero episode happened again.
"Sarah" I walked over to her and took her out of Travis' hands. "Don't make me repeat that talk on decking." I gave her a stern look and she immediately looked ashamed.
"Yes daddy" She looked down and the whole control room muttered and "Ohhhh" When I kissed her forehead.
"Get back to work" I growled and followed Travis into his office.
"So what's this about Ranger?" Travis asked as soon as we were sitting down.
"Sarah, baby can you go and colour in, in the control room. You're colours and books are in your bag in the car. Get someone to take you down." I looked her directly in the eyes to tell her not to mess about. I gave her my keys. "No starting the engine"
Somehow a few months ago, Sarah started the Porsche and nearly crashed in the garage. Thankfully the hand break was on and she couldn't go anywhere. Now it was policy to have the hand break on at all times at the Trenton building's cars. It was a close call and I wouldn't tolerate it.
"Yes daddy" She smiled a skipped from the room as I watched her go. I loved the way she called me daddy. It made my heart swell.
"So..." Travis' voice tore my eyes from the door my daughter had disappeared through. I glared at him and started to tell him my reasons.
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Sting Ray's POV
The scene that had just played out was so cute. You could tell Sarah was Ranger's and Steph's daughter. We all laughed about Travis' reaction to Sarah's threat. To be honest we had only heard whispers of Ranger's daughter Sarah, from the Trenton Rumour Wheel. They were worse than old ladies! But she certainly was 110% better than expected. Who would have guessed that hard-ass Ranger Manoso would be wrapped around some little girls finger?
Suddenly Travis' office door swung open and Sarah walked out playing with a set of keys in her small hands.
"Um do I know anyone here?" She asked bluntly but in such an adorable tone, while frowning slightly. We all shook our heads. She walked back over to the office door and just swung it open. "Daddy I don't know anyone here" She shouted to him. It was cute to watch, but if we ever tried it, we would be dead before we could say 'sorry'. There was a brief discussion and she walked back towards us. She crinkled her nose in concentration. "Eney mini mo" She sung and finally pointed to me. She skipped over and smiled. "I'm Sarah", she put her small soft hand up for a handshake.
"Sting Ray" I said masking my emotions looking down at her and gripping her tiny hand.
She suddenly climbed on my lap. "You should smile more Ray Ray, you'll get frown marks" She looked very serious as she pulled at my face trying to make me smile. "Smile?" She pleaded with her beautiful blue eyes.
"No" I said bluntly.
"You're moody" She frowned. "Is it your time of the month?"
I blushed as everyone laughed, "no"
"PMS?" She tried again.
"No" I felt my face burn as everyone roared in laughter.
"You sure, mummy used to get it. Well, that's what Daddy says and he says it made her really made and grumpy." She looked so innocent. Like she didn't know what she was saying really.
"I'm sure" I gritted. I tried to be mad but I really couldn't.
"Oh. I know what will make you happy!" She instantly smiled and leaped off my lap tugging at my hand. "Come on Ray Ray!" Everyone looked at me expectantly which forced me to comply. She put her hand in mine and we walked to the elevator and headed down to the garage.
As soon as we were there she was skipping to Ranger's car; it wasn't his slick Porsche cayenne but rather a Porsche family SUV car that had DVD players installed along with some other safety modifications.
"Hurry Ray Ray!" She laughed and pointed the key Fob at the car with direct poise to unlock the car. She threw the keys on the floor to fling the door open with both hands. She could barely reach, but crawled along the floor until she reached a pink princess bag, she rummaged through it to find a fruit roll-up. "Yum!" She said gleefully attempting to open the packet unsuccessfully.
I slowly took the packet from her small incapable hands after picking the keys from the floor and opened it for her, unfolding the roll up as well. She smiled, gave me a hug and sat down in the middle of the garage. It took all of about two seconds. She was like a whirlwind.
I smiled. She was cute. I sat down beside her and she offered me some of her roll-up.
"Thanks" I smiled, taking some and she smiled back.
She started mumbling and quickly raced back to the car and pulled out her princess bag. "Colour in with me?" She gave me the puppy dog eyes and I had to say yes because if I didn't it looked like she might cry.
So here we were colouring in her princess colouring in book in the middle of the garage. When suddenly the stair door loudly opened and Ranger came storming through. He swiftly gathered his daughter in his arms and spoke to her in Spanish.
"I was so worried my Little One. I love you" He spoke softly into her ear. "You shouldn't colour in on the garage floor Sarah. A car could come." He said sternly and then glared at me, silently saying Your ass is grass as I hurriedly packed up our pens and books.
"Sir" I handed him Sarah's small pink bag and swiftly left racing towards the stairs. I'll never forget the look he had in his eyes, the worry and the relief as he held her small frame.
I reached the door when her shrill laugh rang out, "Silly daddy you worry too much!"
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Ranger's POV
I held Sarah close as we boarded the chopper. I had her pressed to my front holding her back and her head protectively shielding it from the harsh winds around the chopper.
"Mr Manoso" The pilot addressed me. I nodded in response and settled down in my seat to find Sarah already asleep. My life was hard for her. She was only five and already she woke up at the same time as me to go to the gym and encourage me, she was learning Spanish and I was pretty sure one of the guys taught her how to pick locks already. She had been up since five this morning and it was now five in the afternoon she was napping now. I shifted her in my lap to a more comfortable position and her eyes opened half way.
"Daddy?" She asked her tone laced with sleep and haziness.
"Yes, querida?" I stroked her untamely tight curls.
"I love you" She whispered and closed her eyes again.
"I love you too" I whispered kissing her forehead. My heart welled with joy when she said that, I loved her so much, words couldn't explain. The rest of the flight I held her and thought about all the ways she reminded me of Steph, my babe I would never see again.
Half way through the flight Sarah woke up again, but was obviously still tired because she just sat on my lap and played with my hair as I told her stories of Steph and Princesses. It was the opposite of her normal shifting and restlessness.
"Mr Manoso, Sir?" The pilot addressed me and I looked up from stroking Sarah's hair. "We'll be landing in twenty minutes"
I gave a small nod and turned to Sarah, "little one, you have to put your seat belt on now" I shifted her onto her seat of the chopper and she frowned and climbed back onto my lap. "Sarah"
"Daddy" She looked up at me her eyes shining, "Landing is scary"
I sighed. "You have to put your seat belt on" She looked like she was going to cry. "You can hold my hand put you have to sit in your own seat."
She frowned and I moved her to put her seat belt on, she clutched my hand tightly, "Daddy, when we get home can we get ice-cream?" She pleaded. She was Steph's child. Sarah loved two things above all others sleeping and eating.
I gave her a stern look, "Only if your good"
"Yah!" She smiled and we started to land.
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Tank's POV
I watched as Ranger and Sarah climbed out of the chopper. Ranger loved that little girl so much, we all loved her. She was so energetic, so happy, so Steph.
"Unkie Tank!" She squealed as Ranger came close and he lowered her to the ground. She was off like a bullet into my arms.
"Well hello to you too" I smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Guess what I am today!?" She smiled enthusiastically.
"What?" I enquired
"A fairy princess!" She squealed. "Oh and guess what?"
"What?"
"I made a new friend today, Ray Ray!" She smiled as I raised an eyebrow at Ranger. I couldn't remember anyone called Ray Ray on the Rangeman pay role.
"David Samson a.k.a Sting Ray" He said without emotion and a hard face.
I lowered my eyebrow and busied myself putting Sarah into her pink booster seat. I shook my head, she really loved pink, everything she owned was pink including her room. It looked like someone spewed up pink everywhere. I closed the door and handed Ranger the keys.
"How was Chicago?"
"Okay" He replied turning onto the high way.
"Ranger" I gave him my non-nonsense voice.
"Fine" He sighed. "I'm setting up the company in Toronto to add to the ones we have in Chicago, Trenton, Boston, Atlanta and Dallas"
I whistled, "Boy you really want to expand" But I really knew he was just expanding to keep himself from thinking about Steph too much.
"I know but..." He checked the rear view mirror to check Sarah was asleep. "It keeps my mind off Steph" Bingo!
"I know Range man, I know" We both sighed as we entered the Haywood garage.
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Ranger's POV
Tank pressed the elevator button as Sarah started wiggling, "Daddy, I'm tired" She yawned.
"I know honey, we're home now" I soothed her as we got off at the 7th floor. Tank opened the door and I quickly went to tuck Sarah into bed.
"Daddy I love you" She said.
"I love you too" We said this exchange each night and many time during the day and I still couldn't help all the emotion that rush through me at those words. I silently walked to the door and watched her sleep before closing it.
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Reviews are welcomed! If you liked it or have some advice, please tell me by reviewing! I might add another chapter as well....
