Thanks to everyone who reviewed. That was some really kind things you said. I was really nervous with it being only my second attempt at writing xxxx
It didn't take long to get back to my apartment. As we walked out the elevator I heard Tank say he smelled bacon. Thinking it was one of my neighbours I swung open the door and there himself was 'tkeepitinmypants Morelli. I hadn't seen him since in 4 months when I may have accidentally blew up his jeep. Just because I had caught him doing the bedroom mambo with Sheena Castellano the week before doesn't mean I meant it. He refused to believe it was a skip throwing a Molotov cocktail at my car which bounced into his open window in the Tasty Pastry parking lot. (Really Lula picked it up and threw it in his car). Morelli was at the stove cooking bacon in a skillet that I didn't own. Tank placed himself in front of me just as Morelli said "welcome home cupcake. The boys missed you….". He didn't finish that sentence looking up he saw Tank looming in the door. Tank not one to pass up annoying Morellli said "Joe I know you guys in the Navy were a pretty flowery bunch but at least buy me dinner before calling me cupcake. Better yet I like pudding". Joe turned a nice shade of purple and I wondered if he had his gun on him. "Told you I smelled Bacon" Tank whispered under his breath. I choked back a laugh at his double meaning and told him to play nice.
"What do you want Joe. I think I made it pretty clear you needed to return your key and stay the hell away from me. After all why would you want to see someone who apparently blew up your truck". I couldn't help it but by the end of it I started to get pretty mad. I have put up with enough of his crap. I wasn't good enough for his ideal family life but the moment he senses I'm happy he pops back up like I'm not allowed to be. "Cupcake". I channel my inner Ranger with the glare I give him. "Steph your mom called me and said you wanted to sort things out and that you were sorry. I'm willing to forgive you." I blink trying to process this. My mother. Helen "I'm an alcoholic saint" Plum. My anger builds but before I can let him have it with both barrels I feel a deep rumble at my back and for a second think that Tank is growling. But suddenly he bursts into laughter; the sound so deep I can feel it in my own chest. " Morelli you are a grade A idiot. Where do you get off telling bomber you'll take her back cos her mother faked an apology. Man what the HELL is wrong with you" he gasped out between laughing. I can't help but be shocked at how young Tank suddenly looks when he smiles. His teeth were so white against his skin . I was almost staring at him until I realised I had to make sure Morelli really gets the picture. I walk up to him with a smile on my face. I can see by his expression he thinks I'm joining him again. I reach towards him and let him have it. "We are DONE MORELLI! . There is nothing more between us. You continually put me down, take my help and claim it as your own work, try to change me and make me feel like I'm the inadequate one. Well you know what you aren't good enough for me. I'll never wonder in 20 years' time what if, never regret settling down with you and popping out 2.5 kids. I'm gonna live Morelli and there is nothing you, my mother or the Burg can do. I'm leaving tonight and I just might not come back" Each word I punctuated with a finger poking him in the chest. I was breathing heavily but strangely all I could think was Damn this feels good. "What will people…" I cut him off again. What came to mind was something my grandma Mazur said. The people that matter don't mind and the people that mind don't matter. "I don't care Morelli. So drop the caring act. I'm done with being the laughing stock of this town. Let's see how well you get on now without my help. So give me back my key and get the hell out of my apartment". He looked like he was about to argue but with Tank as my backup he just took it off his chain and threw it down on the counter.
"Better yet Morelli if you're so concerned with what people say why don't we just let everyone know you broke into a woman's apartment at night without consent and see what people say about you then". Morelli's eyes flared at Tank's parting comment but shoved by him wordlessly. I sighed and apologised to Tank knowing by the time I left here my answering machine would be full of my mother saying why me and Burg rumours that I was running away with a giant black Gigolo gangbanger. He said nothing as he started cleaning up the mess Morelli left behind. I busied myself getting out my bag and packing. I packed all Rex's things and his holiday survival kit (olives, nachos and a tastykake) . I knew Ella would make sure he was healthy but I had to make sure his junk food cravings were met. He did after all live with me. Tank was a man of few words but once he got onto a topic he liked…man he was a chatty Cathy. "You know eventually you're going to have to stand up to your mom. If you don't she'll eventually treat Val's girls the way she treated you". That thought stopped me cold. "Over my cold dead body. If Val allows that then I'll make sure I get custody of those girls". Tank just looked over and smiled at me. "I always knew there was a badass in you bomber. Ranger's a lucky man". I blushed and ducked my head. I always thought Tank didn't like me but once you get under his skin he had warmed up to me pretty quick. I'm glad he was here tonight otherwise it would have descended into a screaming match and Italian hand gestures pretty quickly. I cleared out my stuff, turned over my keys to Tank and followed him to the car. He was going to drop me off at the airfield and head back to Rangeman with Rex. As we got in the car he handed over a new phone. "Here take this. It's brand new and the number untraceable. It has Rangers, mine, your grandma's, Lula, Mary-Lou, Connie and the rest of Rangeman's numbers already programmed. This way you can avoid all the bullshit" . I couldn't help but reach over and hug him. "Thanks Tank". He smiled at me and started driving. I wasn't paying attention but over the radio I heard Adele's rolling in the deep song. The lyrics fit true
"There's a fire starting deep in my heart. Reaching a fever pitch it's bringing me out the dark. Finally I can see you crystal clear; go ahead and sell me out and I'll lay your shit bare"
I was coming out the dark and Ranger was my guiding light. I realised it was time to start setting some boundaries with people. I was done being taken advantage of. I smiled at that though; the burg isn't gonna know what hit them.
