These Four Walls and Me - PT. 2
### Sorry for the delay on this. I really loved the way Pt. 1 ended but I also wanted to give you a second part! So it's taken me a while to get to the point where I was happy with the second part. Hope you like it! Benji from Code One: USA v US comes in to it as well! (The flight times according to location are correct from the research I've done so it is possible for them to coordinate flights from Kandahar and the States into Germany) I own NOTHING apart from Benji and the story line – everything else is Janet's!
I'd been staring into space for another indeterminate amount of time when the desk phone rang.
"Rangeman, Stephanie Manoso speaking"
No response.
"Is anyone there?"
There was some crackling on the line. I held the phone to my ear with my shoulder whilst I typed frantically to try and triangulate the call. I watched it bounce all over the place.
"Who is this?"
Then someone spoke. Barely audible. But it sent a shiver down my spine.
"Babe"
Ricardo 'Ranger' Carlos Manoso, my husband has been missing in action. Until now.
Since I couldn't sleep, I'd relieved the night shift on monitor duty whilst I waited for Tank and Bobby to bring Lester home from the hospital. We'd been T-boned at a junction on the way back from a takedown. I'd gotten off lightly with broken bones and cuts, compared to Lester who had suffered head injuries and a collapsed lung.
Right now, my body was flashing hot and cold over and over again as one word had been said. One word. An enigma with 1000 different meanings.
"Babe" he said again.
I couldn't breath. I had to focus. I had to calm down.
Once I had control of myself again I spoke.
"Carlos?" His name caught in the back of my throat. I felt like I was choking on it. All the emotion from the last 9 months built up to one moment. This moment.
"Babe. Tell me you're tracing my call?"
My heart broke for him. "You don't know where you are?" I asked. I'd switched to a headset so I could use the computer more easily.
My fingers danced across the keyboard as I desperately tapped in to every programme we had to try and get a location on him.
"My best guess is somewhere ending in 'stan?" Great, now he makes jokes.
"Carlos, stay on the line. I'm calling the whole team in"
I pushed the emergency call button on the communications desk. This would bring everyone currently in the building or on shift straight down here.
Hector and Manny were back in the room as quickly as they'd left and they were quickly followed by Cal, Ram and Zero.
"Angelita, what is it?"
Before I could answer Bobby, Tank and Lester came through on the comms channel.
"What you got Bomber?"
"I've got Ranger on the line. I'm trying to triangulate the call but I'm getting nowhere fast, it's being bounced off every satellite possible"
"Carlos, I'm putting you on speaker. I need all the help I can get right now"
"Babe. Guys"
"Boss" was all that anyone said in response for a short time before they got over the shock that their missing brother was finally calling in. Then chaos ensued.
Tank started first.
"Bomber. We're 5 minutes out. call Benji and ask him what he can do. I'm gonna make some calls and get a helo scrambled. Once we have a location we can have it radio'd through. Boss hang in there"
"I'm in the middle of a hell hole. Where exactly do you propose I hang? Last time I checked, Starbucks hadn't exactly branched in to the fucking ISIS territory of Afghanistan Tank!"
He was angry, tired and whilst he would never admit it, scared.
I tried my best to calm him down.
"Carlos, we're doing our best here"
"Sorry. I. I can't remember the last time I slept, or ate. I've been on the move for at least 4 days. Up until then I've been bounced from one location to another. My guess is to stay ahead of anyone trying to track me down. There has to be someone on the inside feeding them Intel otherwise Special Ops would have found me by now"
Whilst Hector took over trying to get a location and talked to Ranger, I called Benji.
"Boss Lady, there's only one reason you'd be calling me at 3am these days. What have you got?"
"I'm sorry to call when you've got enough going on but He came through on our secure line about an hour ago. He has no idea where he is and the call signal won't sit still long enough for me to locate him. Best guess is Afghanistan. I need your help"
"Don't apologise. I wasn't asleep anyway. I'll patch in to the call and see what I can do. Give me 10 minutes"
"Make it 5 Benji"
And with that, the call ended.
Ranger had been called in to lead a hostage extraction. It was supposed to be a 2-week mission. Because the location was so remote, they'd be dropped in 4 days out and make their way in on foot. On the day before they were due to move on the target, they were ambushed by a small group of rebels.
We don't know what happened after that yet but if the Intel had come from an inside source, I'd damn well track them down and kill them myself.
But right now, he's totally alone in the arse end of who knows where. He'd managed to find an abandoned military outpost which had a satellite phone and after two days of trying to make it work, he finally got the signal he so desperately needed.
Just as even Hector was getting desperate, my phone buzzed again and it was Benji.
"Tell me you have him?"
"I've got him Boss Lady. He's a fucking lucky SOB. That outpost he stumbled across? Company property (CIA). Hence the bouncing signal. I called in a favour and we've diverted the helo to his location" I felt the air whoosh from my lungs in relief but before I could tell the guys Benji interrupted.
"Steph. We've got to fly him in to Ramstein"
"What the actual fuck Benji?"
"The men believed to have taken him have connections in the states. We can't take the risk of someone being at his location when he touches down"
I couldn't fucking believe it. We've finally managed to track him down and he's still not safe.
"Fine. Let me tell the guys and we'll get the corporate jet ready. I'll damn well be on that tarmac to be there for him when he lands"
"I'll call the base and let them know"
With that, I hung up and grabbed the headset from Hector.
"Carlos. They've tracked your location. Stay as safe as you can. An Evac Helo is on it's way from Kandahar. But they have to take you to Ramstein"
Carlos let out a stream of expletives.
"Did Benji say why?"
"The intel on the team that took you says they have connections in the states. If someone on the inside is feeding them your location information, we can't risk any unwanted guests at Fort Dix. I'm going to get the Rangeman Jet ready and we'll be there to meet you ok?"
"Ok babe. I trust Benji's intel. I love you" I could hear the strain in his voice and all the energy and resolve he'd been using to stay alive was slowly draining away.
I struggled to hold back the emotion that had been pushed down in the chaos of trying to trace his location.
"I love you to Carlos" I choked out.
Tank had already called ahead and arranged a helicopter transfer to where our corporate Jet was stored. Tank, Lester and Bobby were coming with me. Hector patched my phone in to the line so I could keep talking to Carlos until he was picked up.
Just before we took off I heard the chopper blades drown out any other sound on the phone line and telling him I loved him one more time, I let the tears fall knowing I'd be holding my husband again soon. By the time they'd flown him back in to Kandahar, had his health checked and put him on a separate secure transport to Ramstein we should arrive in Germany at around the same time as him. We'd had to leave Lester behind as he still wasn't well enough for travel but he knew we would bring his cousin home so he didn't mind.
Once we were in the air, I quickly fell asleep, mostly from exhaustion. It wasn't a peaceful sleep though, knowing what was coming. But I knew I'd sleep better once I was in my husband's arms again.
RANGER POV
As the noise of the rotor blades surrounded me, whipping up dust that bit in to my skin, I could barely hold myself up any longer. Any remaining energy I had used getting to this point drained out of me and I collapsed just as two solid pairs of arms grabbed me and hauled me into the helo.
I was extremely dehydrated, suffering from exposure and exhaustion and all the injuries I'd sustained whilst being held began to hurt like hell. I had healing broken ribs, fingers and feet, knife wounds to my palms and torso and I'd lost fat and muscle mass where I had spent days being starved. I was a mess. The one and only thing that kept me going was the thought of getting back to my wife and my brothers.
As soon as we landed again I was rushed in to the medical suite where I was cleaned up and put on an IV drip and had all my injuries checked. A couple of the knife wounds on my torso were infected and I was running a fever which until now had been staved off by adrenaline. I spent 2 hours in medical before they deemed me safe to fly but I was going to be escorted by a doctor and kept on fluids until we landed in Germany. Before we left I was approached by one of the Army Generals on base.
"Captain Manoso" he said, saluting me. "Your country thanks you for your service. Whoever was giving away our search party locations to your captors will be brought to justice, you have my word. But for now, go home to your wife and your family and recover. We'll take it from here"
"Yes Sir. Thank you, Sir," I did my best to salute him with what little energy I had before being placed on the medical transport plane.
**Ramstein Air Base - Germany**
Steph POV
I'd been resting when they announced we were making our descent in to Ramstein. I tried to get up to move through to where the rest of the guys were sat but my leg had stiffened up from staying still for so long. I'd had my knee and shoulder popped back in to place and was in a brace for my knee and a boot for my ankle. You could still see the marks on my face and arms from the flying glass and I still ached from being thrown around so much. Tank must have heard me moan in frustration at not being able to move properly since he came and helped me up.
"Thanks big guy"
"Any time little girl. Our guy is home now"
"Not yet. I'll finally believe it when I have him in my arms"
Tank just smiled down at me and I got up slowly and followed him to the front of the plane where everyone else was sitting and were prepping for landing.
We'd barely been on the ground five minutes when my phone rang. It was Benji.
"Yo"
"Boss Lady. Rangers' plane is about an hour out. He had to stay at Kandahar longer than expected whilst they gave him the medical treatment he needed"
Shit. I tried my best not to fall apart.
"Is he OK?"
"You can check him over when he lands. But they cleared him to fly with a Doctor on board"
"We'll get him released in to Bobby's care. How long are we staying in Germany before we're clear of threat to fly back?"
"I've got some men working on it. Shouldn't be more than a day or so"
"Ensure it isn't Benji. I want to bring my husband home" and with that, I hung up.
I went and sat back in the car that had arrived to pick us up. I couldn't really put in to words how I felt right now. I realised part of me had been preparing for the possibility I'd be bringing a body back and now I was finally bringing him home, very much alive. I knew I had to be strong for him. I was prepared for PTSD and I couldn't fall apart when he was already broken. I put my head back on the seat and let a few silent tears fall before regaining what composure I had left and heading back out on to the tarmac of the runway. Bobby put his arm around me.
"You OK?"
"I will be. Just need to stay strong for him you know?"
"I know Steph, but you've been staying strong for so long now. It's OK. You can let go"
"Not yet. Not until I've seen him and held him and made sure he's ok"
"With whatever he's been through, he may be OK physically, but probably not mentally. Just be prepared for that"
"He's my husband. I married him for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. If I have to stay awake all day every day to watch over him, I'll do it. I'm not going anywhere"
"I never thought you would baby girl. Just don't feel like to you have take on his battle, and subsequently yours, on your own. We've stuck together through all of this and we'll continue to be here"
I took a deep breath in, held it for a second and let go. I looked around at my Merry Men. I honestly don't know where I'd be without them. They've been my rock and I'd like to believe I've helped them to. And now. Finally. We were getting our Robin Hood back. My Batman. My husband. I smiled at everyone and we went back to general chatter about nothing really.
I was approached by two personnel from the base.
"Mrs Manoso. The plane is due to land in five minutes. A medical team are on standby to take him to the hospital straight away. You can travel with him and your team can follow you up"
All I could do was nod. This nightmare was nearly over. The medical transport drove on the the airstrip and we heard the plane approach. I held on to Bobby's arm. It was all I could do to not run to the plane before it landed.
Time went in to slow motion as the plane landed and circled back. We all went and stood at the bottom of the steps that had been placed at the plane doors.
My breath caught in my throat as the door opened. Two soldiers came out first and stood either side of the steps. I stayed focussed on the door. A medic stepped out and then Carlos was behind him.
Bobby whispered in to my ear as he held my hand.
"Breath Steph"
I let out the breath I hadn't realised I'd been holding. Carlos slowly made his way down the steps behind the medic. As soon as his feet hit the tarmac I grabbed him and we collapsed to the floor.
"Babe" he whispered. His voice thick with emotion as his hands twisted through my hair.
I couldn't respond. I just let the tears fall. I could feel his shoulders shaking in mine and I knew he was crying as well.
"I thought I'd lost you" I choked out.
He took my face in his trembling hands "I'd never leave you"
"Boss. We need to get you to the hospital" Bobby interrupted.
Ranger just looked at him and nodded. The blank face was back. I'd gotten very adept at reading the emotions that sit under that blank expression but I couldn't get a read on this. I was worried he was going to block everything out and we were going to be in for a long road.
Bobby helped us both up off the floor but as I went to let go of his hand to get into the back of the medical transport vehicle with him, since I was going to need to use the hand rails, he froze.
"Carlos? What's wrong?"
"You let go of my hand. Don't leave me"
"I'm not going anywhere Carlos. I promise" I took his hand again and felt him relax again. I turned and looked at Bobby who gave me a nod of support before shutting the doors and banging on the back to say we were ready to go.
I knew he hadn't noticed how banged up I was but this wasn't about me and I wouldn't let it be. I'd fill him in on everything that had happened in time.
He was hooked back up to an IV Banana Bag and a second bag full of broad spectrum antibiotics to combat the infections he was fighting and we made our way to the base hospital which was about 10 minutes from the airstrip. He never said a word. Just stared at me. I could feel everything he was feeling and was trying my best to absorb it all, but it was tearing me up inside. I just held on to his hand like my life depended on it and let him soak up whatever strength I had left to give.
*A Few Day's Later*
It had taken longer than expected to straighten things out and I'd spent every waking moment at the hospital with Carlos. After plenty of sleep and lots of fluids, he was more lucid and we had talked about everything that had happened. I filled him in on the Power of Attorney and the accident. I assured him both me and Lester were ok.
Benji had kept us updated about the situation with those involved with the ambush against Carlos and his team. There had been a leak. An intelligence officer had gotten himself in to financial troubles and was selling intel to the highest bidder. It wasn't actually aimed at Carlos but it didn't make it feel any less personal. Insurgents had paid the most amount of money to try and keep Carlos for as long as possible. He was an Army Captain who was known in terrorist circles as a huge threat so they were extorting him for as long as possible. We all know the plan would have been to kill him eventually but they held him for too long and got sloppy.
I was lying next to him in his hospital bed, stroking my hand through his hair as he woke up.
"Babe"
"Carlos. I've had an update from Benji. They've neutralised the threat in the States. If the Doctors clear you, we can fly home tomorrow" I smiled at him. I was desperate to get him home. I felt like the quicker he resettled the quicker he would recover.
"That's good news. I'm ready to go home. How are you feeling?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?"
"I'm fine. I'll be fine. All I have ever thought about, all the strength I needed whilst I've been...away, has been coming back to you. I knew if I could just get back to you, I'd be ok"
Tears stung the back of my eyes.
"I knew you'd come back to me. I couldn't bring myself to think about the possibility that you wouldn't. I kept telling everyone I'd know if you were dead. Everything that happened with the car accident made me wonder whether I'd be able to do you justice but I knew I was just keeping your seat warm"
"From what the men have told me you've done an amazing job. But you won't have to worry about me going away anymore. The powers that be can fuck off. I've done my duty. I won't be signing on for anything other than consultations, and they can be done from the comfort of Rangeman"
At that point, as if those powers knew they were being talked about, Ranger's General appeared at the door.
Ranger went to stand and salute but was stopped.
"At ease Soldier. Relax. I'm glad to have you back. I've been asked to discuss your options with you but I think I already know the answer"
"Damn right you do" I interrupted.
"Calm down Mrs Manoso. I'm not taking him anywhere. He's done enough. Captain, consider yourself discharged from your contract with full honours. You've given everything for your country and I can't ask for any more. Even if my bosses would like me to"
"General. I'm happy to offer my services and those of Rangeman for consultation, but you are right. I'm not going anywhere anymore. And even if I wanted to, I'm pretty sure my wife would kill me"
"He's right. I would" I nodded.
The General smirked at me.
"Well. That will be it then. Expect your discharge papers in the post and an invite to the White House. I've recommended you for the Medal of Honour" and on that note, he turned on his heel and left.
"Carlos. I'm so proud to call you my husband"
I leaned him and kissed him like our lives depended on it. I knew we had a long way to go, but we were going to the only place we needed to be. Home.