Time for a new chapter! I'm very glad everyone is enjoying this, and thank you all for the awesome reviews! I really appreciate hearing what all of you think about various characters! And hey, some of the names in this chapter were offered by readers, so you know who you are! Keep your eyes peeled to see your suggested names from this point on in the story. The people who answered a quiz question correctly got to submit a name for me to use in the fic, so congrats all of those who got the right answer! If you don't see your submitted name yet, don't worry.. it will get used sooner or later!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you continue to enjoy! And so.. dinner with the Rangers continues...

The oldest seated at the crowded table, Sergeant Daniel Green took a plateful of the nachos over Beach's mild protest. "Yeah yeah, don't make me take your sorry ass outside Sneeden. I'll still kick your butt." He nodded across the table to the lone female. "Could I please have some of your fried cheese things there?"

She smiled and reached to push the platter across towards him. "Of course Sergeant Green. How could I refuse such a gentleman?"

He snorted and took a few items. "Rangers get politeness drilled into our stubborn heads early on when dealing with outsiders. Makes it easier to kill them later if they're relaxed and not running away. You can call me Sarge.. or Daniel." He motioned at Beach. "Don't let him fill your pretty head with no buncha lies about us."

She took the platter back to her side and offered it to Beach. "Oh, he hasn't told any lies about you, he hasn't mentioned anything about his early years really. We just make things up to irk him when he's eavesdropping."

Other than a snort of derision, Beach ignored her so Benny dragged the platter over to himself. "BeachHead here didn't tell you about us? That's him alright, close mouthed about everything. We went through some tough stuff though."

Beach got a proud expression and bumped fists with Benny. "Yeah we sure 'nough did. Rangers lead the way." He dug into his food again, letting the conversation flow around him.

Benny spoke loudly across the table to Sarge. "Yeah, you should have seen her, she was fixing that tank like it was a tricycle! Never saw a chick repair a tank before! What do you do, Army gal? What's your MOS?"

She smiled, looking a bit embarrassed. Her glance to Beach told her nothing as he was studiously ignoring the query, hoping she'd wrangle her way out on her own. "Ahh.. well.. I'm a mechanic. I just really love the big vehicles, so I kind of study up on them a lot on my off time. It's a simple fix really, most folks.. they immediately start bleeding the hydraulic lines and stuff like that, any line containing fluids, they want to bleed it like a 1600s horse leech. But see.. with tanks.." Beach smiled fondly to himself as she regaled the table with how exactly one worked on that particular problem. She'd lost everyone about two sentences in, but no one would interrupt her as long as the gorgeous woman was speaking to them. Highly trained Rangers, well versed in every weapon known to man, and yet, all still highly male and enamored of a beautiful female.

Benny leaned over and nudged Beach with an elbow, then whispered, his eyes never leaving the slender blond still explaining the intricacies of industrial diesel engines. "Beach.. dude. How attached are you to this girl? I mean.. really.. she's soooo... you know..."

BeachHead cast just his eyes over and sighed lightly. "Ah know.. Ah know, Benny. She's..." He gave up and sighed.

Benny suddenly looked concerned. "Hey.. you ain't.. you know.. serious right?" Beach refused to meet his eyes. Benny leaned to look at his face. "Oh no.. after all this time? Come on man. Don't do this to yourself."

Beach flicked his gaze over and back quickly. "Ya just wanna shot at her yerself." His tone was sullen and uncomfortable. Benny shook his head. "Ah know, that's stupid, but jus' drop it." The smaller man tipped his head and started to speak and Beach over-rode him. "Ah said.. drop it. Not now.. not here."

Benny took a breath in, considering whether to stop or not. "Alright... but man, I hope you know what you're doing."

Beach looked at him somberly. "Ah ain't got a damned clue, Benny."

"That's what I'm afraid of. I remember how you were when you joined us.."

"Shush up, Benny." Beach reached over and squeezed his arm briefly. "That was a long time back." He sat back in his chair. "What have you been doin' on Benning? Last I heard you were a Cadre member?"

Benny made a face. "Ehh, I'm a assistant Cadre instructor. Mainly I'm instructing on the obstacle courses, jumps and the woods protocol."

Courtney suddenly leaned around Beach's elbow. "Woods protocol?

Brightening at her question, Benny's chest swelled. "Yeah, when we take trainees out to the woods and turn them loose to get lost and cold and lonely, I'm one of the guys catching them trying to cheat."

She grinned. "Poor fellows.. I'll bet they don't get away with much with you on the job. What about Daniel?"

Benny lost the grin and picked his beer up to take a long swallow. "Sarge is pushing a desk. Bum leg."

BeachHead nodded. "Sarge caught a bullet in his knee, the officers benched him on medical disability." The Alabama native gave Benny a elbow. "Green has to keep tabs on all the troublemakers, including the bantam weight Benny."

The mentioned bantam bristled up and lowered one eyelid in a baleful glare. "Just cause we ain't all over-sized gorillas don't mean we're bantams." He flicked a hand out too quickly for Beach to dunk and thunked him in the forehead. "Besides, I'm quick.. and I'm a smaller target. That's why I liked hanging out around you in the field. Big huge fat target like you, the enemy never noticed me."

Daniel's voice came across the table. "Benny stop being so jealous of us full-grown folks. You're a munchkin." He nodded at CoverGirl. "Girl, you want a bargain? I'll trade you Sneeden for Benny there.. you could have a handy-dandy pocket-sized Ranger. Take him anywhere.. he don't eat nearly as much as Lard-butt there, and he don't tend to shout as much either."

"Whoa whoa..." There was a slight protest from Sergeant MacAllister, another of the instructors stationed at Benning. "I gotta say, you can't go trying to make that trade on that girl without full disclosure... you should add some bonus items in with Benny to make that a fair trade. Benny don't weigh half as much as Sneeden.. so sheer pound-for-pound, Benny would be a overall loss. Plus.. Sneeden is really talented at picking up heavy things.. or people..."

Beach put a hand over his eyes. "Gawd help me.. NOW Ah remember why Ah don't miss Benning.."

Green pointed at him wildly. "Another point to Benny! Half the time no one can understand Sneeden! Benny speaks good clear English without all that slurring!"

Beach scowled. "Ah dun slur nuthin!"

Sarge held up his hands, raising his eyebrows at the proof of his statement and Beach rolled his eyes. Courtney had a hand clamped over her mouth trying not to laugh out loud.

Mac waved his hands around. "No no.. that doesn't make up for rank differences! Sneeden has more rank, so he can call in bigger favors!"

Green snorted loudly. "Benny has more blackmail material."

Looking thoughtful, the sergeant nodded. "Point taken.. but for legitimate requests without having to resort to blackmail, Sneeden clearly wins out on that point. Plus.. Sneeden is a better shot and he's a small arms armorer."

"Benny's better looking.. plus, if you get mad at Benny, you can just fold him up and put him in your handbag until you're ready to talk to him again. Sneeden will argue louder and louder until you give up just to shut him up." Green looked smug.

Courtney held up a finger, stopping everyone. "Alright.. now that's too much." Her chastising glare made everyone shift uncomfortably. "There's no way you can tell me that giving in to Beach in an argument shuts him up. He'll browbeat you verbally until you gnaw off your own arm to escape the area." General laughter broke out, although Beach looked rather disgusted with her.

"Thanks Cinderella, nice ta know ya got mah back." He ducked his head from under her hands as she tried to muss his hair playfully. "Ahh! Hands off the Sergeant major."

She smirked at him. "Oh you know me.. I'm a pretty hands-on type of person."

Green laughed. "There's another thing.. Benny is a fun guy, not a stick in the mud."

Mac rallied again. "Yeah I think you mean Benny is 'fun-sized' while Sneeden is 'full-sized'. More bang for your buck."

"Benny has his Sapper tabs." A chorus of 'oooo!' went around the table and Beach cleared his throat.

"Hey now.. Ah could have mah tabs.. just ain't had time to do the formalities. Anything Benny can blow up, I can blow up with less explosives in a more destructive manner." Beach raised an eyebrow at the smaller man who shrugged.

"That's your opinion.. " Benny licked his thumb and smoothed both his eyebrows dramatically. "I'm more sexy!"

Mac suddenly pointed. "Beach can bench press Benny, but can Benny bench press Beach?" He suddenly worked his jaw a few times. "I think I just sprained my tongue.."

Benny suddenly grinned. "I bet I could bench press Courtney! I'm willing to try!"

Courtney leaned to smile sweetly. "Benny, I could bench you with one hand."

He smiled back. "Please tell me that's a promise!"

Beach leaned between them to give Benny a glare. "Are ya flirtin' with mah gal again?"

Benny gave a dazzling grin. "No, I'm flirting with my future girl... " He saw the hairs bristle on the larger man's neck and laughed. "Oh give it up Beach. I'm not stealing your girlfriend, I got more honor than that. Besides.." He pointed to where her hand was resting on Beach's forearm. "I don't think she's really seriously considering trading you in."

Courtney smiled at her Ranger. "Nooo, I don't think I'll trade him in. I'm kind of used to him now, and besides.. I almost have him housebroken."

Benny laughed easily. "Well then, you got me beat.. I still wee on the furniture if Sarge don't take me for walkies."

Green mock-scowled at him. "If that's some veiled way to tell me you peed in my office again..."

Benny held up a hand. "Hey hey.. I'm joking.. I used the potted plant like you taught me."

Courtney laughed until she snorted, then stopped suddenly with hand over her mouth. Benny got a huge grin. "She snorts when she laughs."

Beach sighed. "Only when she really gets rolling. She snores sometimes too." He downed the last of his soda, already having cleaned not only his plate, but polished off Courtney's leftovers as well as stealing a few items off any other handy platter. "I think I'm done in for the night. Been up since way too danged early." He looked over and nudged Courtney's head with his own. "What about you?"

She shrugged. "I'm fed and tired and I can't figure out what time it really is." She pushed her chair back and stood. "So I think.. I shall take the good Sergeant major's advice, and go get some rest." Beach disappeared to pay for the food, and she said her goodbyes.

Sarge beckoned her over, leaning back in his chair to speak softly to her. Courtney stepped over to listen to his low voice as he spoke to her. "Look.. don't go playing him. Okay? I mean, if you need some company, but not him. Plenty of folks available if you just want a Ranger fix, including me. If you want to talk, just contact me. Any of the offices can get you to wherever I am. Got it?"

She nodded slowly, not certain whether she should be insulted or threatened. "Umm.. yeah.. I uhh.. I'll see you tomorrow I guess? Big parachute thing?"

"Yep. Sneeden and Benny are both jumping." Green seemed a bit uncomfortable with her suddenly. "We can talk anytime."

"Okay.. uhh... I better go, he'll be fussing." She stepped through the crowds to find Beach just getting his card back. "Ready, Beach? Can I pay for mine?"

He shook his head. "I got the table." He yawned. "Sorry.. I'm tired."

She hooked a arm through his and tugged him towards the door. "Let's get you back to the room, you're exhausted." They headed down the sidewalk and he shrugged his shoulders around in his fatigues. "You know, you usually hold up a lot better, are you feeling okay?"

He tilted his head to look down at her fondly. "I'm fine, Flint kept me up too late for me to catch any sleep last night." He looked up as he did the math in his head. "That's forty-five hours I been up. Really about ready fer some sleep.. other than my nap earlier."

She squeezed his arm. "I wondered why you fell asleep this afternoon. No wonder. Don't fall over on me Ranger man.. I don't think I can carry you back to the motel." Giving him a saucy grin, she wriggled. "Maybe I should consider that trade.. I could carry Benny to the room."

Beach snorted. "You could put Benny in your back pocket and carry him anywhere. He's a really good man though.."

"I'm not interested in Benny."

"I didn't say ya was.."

"Just wanted to be clear, Wayne. I'm interested in you, not anyone else."

"Got it."

By the time they made it back to the room, even Courtney was exhausted. She slipped the keycard through the lock on their room and pushed the door open. "Does it seem like a year since this morning when we arrived? It sure does to me."

Beach just grunted, obviously having passed his point of social chatting. She supposed that today would have been a continuing nightmare for him. Start him out with a trip to the airport at an ungodly hour of the morning when he'd normally be sleeping, then a hassle at the civilian airport about their weapons. A few hours on a crowded airplane full of families and annoying young people who kept staring at him, mainly because he was scowling constantly. Her driving hadn't settled his nerves any either she supposed. Once at Benning he'd run into old friends, and a few old enemies from the sound of the exchanges. Courtney just hoped the week would go smoothly. Beach wavered between feeling comfortable in his old stomping grounds of Benning, and uncertain when confronted with certain individuals. She was happy to get to meet some of his old friends though. They seemed like people that really knew him well.

"Oh that bed will feel good." She stretched and rummaged in the drawer to find her shorts. Casting her eyes over at the grumpy Ranger, she watched him unlacing his boots quietly. The entire day, she'd been watching carefully for any cues as to his state of mind regarding.. well... 'it'. Every time she thought he was becoming more open and affectionate, he'd abruptly back off. Frustrated wasn't quite a strong enough term for her mood. Everyone who seemed to 'know' something about the Ranger's reluctance to take a definitive step in their relationship, didn't want to actually come out and tell her anything. Daniel seemed like he wanted to talk to her alone, but she couldn't figure out if it was about Beach or an attempt to get into her pants himself. She decided to not push and smiled at him. "You look like you're about to fall asleep sitting up."

He snorted lightly. "Been a long day." He stood to strip off his shirts, stretching his shoulders out and back. She wasn't drooling over the flexing chest muscles.. much. His eyes seemed to stay half closed, but instead of looking haggard, he was looking entirely too enticing to her right now. She reminded herself that she wasn't pushing herself on him. He'd been too skittish all day, and she'd only drive him away if she kept chasing.

She was sliding under the covers while he brushed his teeth at the sink when he suddenly turned to frown at her. She waited a second, then raised an eyebrow at him in query. "What?"

He shook his head and turned back to the sink to spit. "Nuffin.." He rinsed his mouth out and spat. "Ya gonna turn on a movie or go ta sleep?"

She sighed. "I thought I'd turn on the tv for some noise.. muffle the sound of people wandering up and down outside. It's up to you though, which noise will irritate you more? The people outside or the tv inside?"

"Don't matter none. I can sleep." She flipped on the tv and found the Weather Channel. Turning the sound to a low level, she put the remote on his side of the bed and settled her head on her pillow to watch the reports scrolling by sleepily. After a few minutes, he flipped off the lights and padded over to check the door. She smiled at the sight of his silly kitten pajama pants, and maybe admired his bare torso a little in the flickering light of the television.

He settled on the other bed and she cleared her throat loudly. "Beach.. if you try to sleep in that bed, I swear I'm going to get up and kneecap you."

He jumped up off the bed and then coughed slightly. "Sorry.. habit." He looked hesitant and she lifted the blankets up for him. "Uhh..."

She made a judgment call in her head. "Come on to bed... umm Beach? I'm really tired.. could.. could we just sleep? I'm sorry."

She had to fight the urge to laugh at the huge wave of relief that crossed his face. "That's fine.. it's uhh.. okay." When he settled into the bed, she waited for him to shift himself around. Beach rolled onto his side and watched her face for a moment. "Courtney... I really.."

She put her finger on his lips. "Shhh... sleep." Scooting over to snug herself to his chest, she tucked her head under his jaw and sighed with contentment. Uncertain though he might be otherwise, his arm came around her body to hold her snugly and she felt him relax. "Good night Wayne."

"Night Courtney." Beach's voice rumbled quietly in his chest. She could feel his heartbeat against her cheek and it soothed her to sleep.

End Chapter(also End Day 1)

I know.. they're in bed.. and nothing is happening. Tcch tchh. Patience. Next up.. Ranger Panty Runs. If you don't know the term... Rangers have a habit(tradition) of running their PT runs in tiny black silky PT shorts.. nicknamed "panties"(usually by other branches of the military). And the sight is really something to behold, worth getting up early for.