A day with Bobby and Steph Part 3

Nothing major happens in this chapter, but Cal demanded the opportunity to speak and I couldn't say no. Turns out Cal can be very chatty when he wants to be so this is the longest chapter by far.

Thank you to trhodes9, my fabulous new beta for cleaning this up and getting rid of some of my britishisms. I've really enjoyed our chats.
Thanks also to my regular reviewers including bgrgrmpy and Barb4psu, your support means a lot.

Cal POV

I am so angry it is hard to concentrate on what I need to do. My hands are throbbing, but I can mostly ignore that by concentrating on the needs of my Nightingale.

I have always respected Steph for what she does, it's not an easy job to do and is typically male dominated, and yet she is more successful than most of us. Although I served with some females in the Seals they were often those who had been through a lot already and had been hardened against the world allowing them to do their jobs.

When I joined Rangeman the only females involved were Ella and Jeanne Ellen. Ella was a substitute mother for many of us who either don't have one any longer or who don't get to see them very often. Jeanne Ellen is definitely not a motherly type. She is hard as nails and skilled at achieving her objective, but not good with people. While she has been considered Ranger's equivalent in skill she doesn't have the ability to deal with people and is a real lone wolf.

Like most of the men the first time I heard about Steph I thought she was a little girl out of her league looking for adventure like a bored housewife. She really gained our notice when she brought the cop in by herself. I think the way she achieved it should've been the warning we needed that she was a force to be reckoned with. Over time as she continued working and making captures she slowly earned our respect, even though she achieved it in unconventional ways.

When Ranger started assigning guard detail we looked forward to the amusement it would bring. She provided light relief where there generally isn't much to laugh about. Having her sister's water break on me is one of the low points in my career to date, but it was the first time I got to spend time with Steph, even if it wasn't long.

We all knew that if she really put her mind to it she could get a lot better at her job. Her instincts are some of the best I've seen, but her skills some of the worst. When she finally decided to make an effort to improve we all jumped at the chance to help her. Woody started working with her at improving her aim and Zip started working with her to improve her B & E skills.

She started going to a local gym and taking both aerobic and weight classes to improve her fitness and strength. While it is completely different to what we do she was adamant that it was what worked for her and if she tried our methods she would get bored. To prove that it does still provide a good work out she invited some of us to take part in her classes.

I was one of the fools that decided to come along and Lester, Ram and Bobby, our resident ladies men also signed up. It started good, all the women avoided us, although she did leave us to talk with a group that she obviously knew and they kept looking our way. Us guys had made a pact before going that we wouldn't show off... well too much anyway. The young looking instructor entered and raised an eyebrow at the unusual additions to her class but decided not to say anything. She spent a couple of minutes sorting herself out and the women in the room formed themselves into lines and we split up to copy them. The instructor pushed play and a track began to play as she moved to the centre of the front and started a series of moves. We all attempted to follow as the women appeared to know what was going to happen and moved in synchronisation.

The men in the room were not as good. Even Lester who considered himself a smooth mover was struggling and the instructor kept checking that we were ok and letting us know it is ok to struggle, the others had been doing this routine for a few weeks and so knew what they were doing and we'd get there eventually. By the end of the first track we were already sweating and embarrassingly slightly out of breath, how we would get through the next hour I didn't know.

We did make it through the first class, but by the end we were a mess, and Steph looked smug. "Easy is it? Definitely not the same level as running on a treadmill". None of us responded, we were trying to catch our breath still. "Seeing as it is such an easy class I like to hang around for the weights class that will start in half an hour, you're welcome to stay if you like. Of course if you don't think you can handle it you can go back to Rangeman." The minx, how were we supposed to walk away now without losing face?

We should have walked away anyway, but none of us did. When we work out we generally use a lot of weight with fewer reps to gain maximum gain with minimum time commitment. I'd always thought that it was as good as or better than doing it with lower weight but more reps. Turns out I was wrong again and so were the others. When they advised us to use a lot less weight than we usually would I thought dropping it by a couple of kilos was enough. It wasn't. An hour later and I wasn't even sure I could walk back to Rangeman. I still don't know how I made it. The four of us vowed never to speak of that day again and that night we went out drinking to use that as our excuse for not getting up and working out the following day. The reality was we could barely move which was something that hadn't happened since basic training.

It did highlight the problems with our existing workouts and we all changed the way we do it each day. A couple of months later we all went back to do it again to redeem ourselves and we did do better the second time and after the classes I joined up and started attending with Steph 3 times a week. Any time someone tries to give us crap they are challenged to give it a go. When they do most of them get as thoroughly embarrassed as we did.

I liked that it also gave me time to spend with my Nightingale. When I think back to that day I am so thankful it was her there with me and not some of the other guys. Many may have known that a valve was needed to prevent lung collapse, but without the appropriate field kit I don't know how many of them would have been able to come up with an on the spot quick fix out of materials to hand. As far as I see it she saved my life and I will be in her debt for the rest of her life.

Shortly after that day I started calling her Nightingale as she is my Florence Nightingale. I have heard that her family were not supportive of her in the same way the Florence's family did not support her in her career choice. Yet both of them went against their families to do what they thought was right and go against societies expectations to look after injured soldiers. I made a vow to look out for her and protect her in any way I can.

Today that meant calling a small minded nitwit to a place that I could make a good attempt at knocking some sense into an unusually small mind. I had been sat with Binkie on monitors, one of which was showing Steph and Bobby on the roof talking about his medical career when Beans approached from behind to take over.

"Man, you were brave to let her touch you. I wouldn't let her within 5 foot of me for fear she'd accidently kill me. I mean she injures herself so much it's no surprise she wanted to learn first aid so she could repair herself without wasting any more of Bobby's time but anyone that lets her near them is a few sandwiches short of a picnic." The insult to me didn't bother me; I've been called a lot worse. The insult to Steph however, I could not let go.

Bean's partner Romeo showed up just as I was standing up. I looked at Binkie and he nodded and turned back to the monitors. Excellent. "Gym, now" was all I stated before walking off to the gym. If he didn't understand what that meant then there is no hope for him. Being called to the gym by a more senior member of staff means only one thing.

When I got to the gym I went to the locker room and changed into my workout shorts and went to the matt's throwing my top to the side. I start stretching and wait for the little ignoramus to show his face. A couple of minutes later he stepped into the ring. I levelled a long look at him but remained silent knowing the weed would crack.

"Don't know what your problem is. I ain't done nothing wrong!" Ranger seriously hired this guy? He's not stupid, he's beyond stupid, and how he's survived this long I don't know. I'm glad he isn't my partner, doesn't he realised he just admitted to having done something? Normally I wouldn't talk while sparing but I thought I'd try out some insults on him that Steph had taught me on a particularly boring stakeout.

"It's a shame there's no cure for your illness." I waited for him to bite, he already looked confused.

"Which illness?" I'm concerned that he clearly has so many illnesses that he has to ask.

"Stupidity." I hear a bark of laughter nearby, clearly someone is watching and enjoying this.

"But I ain't stupid!" I let out a sigh; there really is no helping some people.

"I looked up stupid in the dictionary the other day and it had a picture of you beside it. I mean, only someone truly stupid would insult Bomber in this building." I heard a few people suck in air and a voice pipe up.

"He's not stupid; he's possessed by a retarded ghost!" Well, I guess him being possessed would explain how he came to work here; I assume it happened after he was employed.

"Yeah, he's the kind of man that you could use as a blueprint to build an idiot!" another voice piped up, distracting my target. I got in a couple of swings and heard his ribs crack. Too easy.

"Ouch! But she's always messing up and we have to put our lives at risk to save her!" Will he ever learn?

"I'd like to see things from your point of view" I told him leaving a pause for dramatic effect "but I can't get my head that far up by butt!" Howls of laughter surrounded us, causing him to look away and I got in a good kidney jab. He bent over and I decided I'd had enough fun, beating someone this easy is not the challenge I want "I'd leave you with a thought, but I don't think you have anywhere to keep it" and with that I turned his lights out, but on his way down he twisted his ankle.

Really, he got off fairly lightly, but I know Nightingale is helping Bobby today and I don't want her to have to deal with him too messed up. A moment later she came into the room like a beacon of light and I heard Bobby instruct her to look after him and talk through what she was doing. Part of me wanted to pull her away and tell her to leave the scum as he doesn't deserve her care. But I know she needs the chance to practice her skills and it seems like sweet revenge on him for her to look after him when he'd defenceless.

When she rolled him onto his cracked ribs I could guess how much pain that would cause and almost felt guilty. Almost but not quite. It really was amazing to watch the way she dealt with it, knowing exactly what to do, and I know if anything was wrong she would know how to react. Once she was finished with him she looked at Bobby and I could clearly see his pride in her and felt the same way. He praised her treatment and I added my own.

"Good job Nightingale" I told her and then added "even if he didn't deserve it!" although I hoped she wouldn't hear it. Of course she did hear it and wanted to know why he was taking a nap, but there's no way I could tell her. I know Ranger wants her to start helping out as Bobby's second but despite everything she has done she still doubts her skills and building up her confidence is key to getting her to stay and telling her what he said would not help with that.

She had come over and was delicately looking at by bruised and slightly bloody knuckles. She was so gentle there was almost no pain. We heard schnook let out a pained moan and Nightingale moved to go and give him further treatment, but I knew that was not a good idea so I pouted at her and asked if she could treat me instead, knowing Bobby would take over the douchebag's treatment.

Bobby asked her if she wanted to learn about concussion and when she asked for my permission I wanted to refuse, knowing something bad would happen, but I couldn't without insulting her. Then the jerk opened his giant trap and spewed the same vitriol from upstairs in front of her proving me correct in my assumptions. Doing it in front of Bobby and some of the other guys sealed his fate for the next few days. I doubted this would be the last time he was unconscious. But still I wanted to do it myself for a second time and was only stopped by my Nightingale placing a calming hand on my chest. And when she said "If he doesn't want me to treat him then I won't. Next time I'll leave him to choke. Let's go look after your hand upstairs." it broke my heart a little. I knew she would never leave him to choke no matter how nasty he was to her.

I grabbed my top, pulled it on and took her up to my flat so she could clean my hands and now I'm struggling to keep in the anger I still feel at the twerp downstairs but right now Nightingale needed me.

"Is that really what people think? Would they really rather suffer than let me look after them?" Her self-doubt killed me. "Is that what you thought? Did you want me to leave you alone but you were too weak to tell me to?"

I lifted her so she was sat on the kitchen counter and looked her straight in her sad blue eyes so she knew I was serious in what I was about to say. "I never want to hear you say that again. What you have been doing is amazing. You saved my life and every man in this building admires you for what you do. If you let that small minded zealot get to you then he wins. I'm insulted you would trust one insult from him over the praise of all the rest of the men in Rangeman who respect and love you for all the positivity you bring to us. Please believe me when I tell you that you are the most amazing woman in the world and we are lucky to have you in our lives. I would trust you over him any day."

I watched as a tear fell from her eye and wiped it away before hugging her to me. I heard a whispered "thank you" a held her slightly tighter to me. We pulled away some time later and I made a decision to show her how much I care in a way she would understand.

One of my favourite things to do is cook and I know in Steph's family they show their emotions through food. It was still slightly early for lunch but what I had in mind would take an hour or so, but it would be worth it, as long as she isn't called away, but if she is I could reheat it later and it would be just as good. I felt a moment of guilt for Binkie and Romeo who were still stuck on monitors as far as I knew, but someone would relieve them at some point.

"I was going to make myself one of my favourite meals for lunch, would you like some? I can guarantee it is not a salad and tastes great." I knew I had done the right thing as I watched her face light up like a child at Disney world. "Good, you can help." I watched her face fall, I know she sees herself as a bad cook but there really isn't a way to mess up grating cheese "Don't worry, nothing difficult. Can you grate me this cheese?" I requested handing her the cheese and grater.

She jumped down off the side and started to grate the cheese. While she was doing that I grabbed some pasta out of the cupboard and put it on to boil in a pan and got another small pan out and got some butter, milk and plain flour out and put next to me with two desert spoons and a small hand held whisk. I then put a Pyrex dish on the side and turned the oven on to 180o. As I finished getting ready Steph let me know the cheese was ready.

"Ok so the pasta is on and we're going to make a cheese sauce." I saw Steph looking around "What are you looking for?"

"The packet of mix," she replied

I let out a bark of laughter "That is not cheese sauce; this is how you make proper cheese sauce." I turned the heat on under the small pan but kept it low. "We start by melting a spoon of butter in the pan, so put it in" I handed her the butter and spoon. She looked down at the items in her hands.

"How much?"

" A spoonful." She dug the spoon into the butter and pulled a lump out showing it to me. I nodded and she dumped it in to the pan.

"Now we just wait for it to melt. This time I'll show you how to do the rest, but next time you can do it all ok?" The look she gave me clearly said 'yeah right, not going to happen'. When the butter was nearly melted I asked for a tablespoon of flour of about the same volume as the butter she gave me. She pulled some out of the bag "Ok dump it in the pan"

"With the butter or pasta?"

"The butter." she put it in and I began whisking the two together "This is called a roux and is used as the basis for a lot of white sauces. We need to keep it moving so it doesn't burn, but before we add the milk we need to leave it long enough to cook the flour otherwise you can taste it later on. Incidentally a similar base is used for some pastries, such as profiteroles. Now it's cooked a bit add a little bit of milk at a time. She put a splash of milk in the pan. "See how the milk actually thickens the roux? That's normal and we just keep adding it a bit at a time until it starts to look like a white sauce." We spent the next few minutes doing this until it turned into a thick sauce then added little more to loosen it up a bit. "Well done!" I encouraged. "Did you see how easy that was? And that was the hardest bit, now add a handful of the cheese, let it melt a bit and then add another handful and there you have it a cheese sauce, no additives or preservatives, a fraction of the cost and much better for you than the packet stuff. Plus it tastes a lot better."

"That was a lot easier than I thought. It's amazing." I was pleased that she thought so and hoped that it was a recipe she might use in the future. "Is that what you would use to make mac and cheese?"

"Yep," I smiled "It's exactly the same. Now can you open and drain these for me?" I handed her two tins of tuna with a can opener. While she was doing that I drained the pasta and put it in the bowl before adding the tune Steph handed me, poured the cheese sauce over the top and then the remaining grated cheese topped the dish off. "Perfect. Thanks for your help." I picked the finished disk off and put it in the oven, setting the timer for 30 minutes.

"It looks tasty, I didn't expect anyone here to make something so" A knock at the door interrupted her sentence and I walked over to see who it is.

"I hear you have my partner in here?" Bobby wanted to know. I stepped back to let him in. I hoped that he wasn't coming to take her away already. He looked excitedly at the mess still left in the kitchen where Steph was finishing eating the last bits of grated cheese that I had missed. I walked over to start clearing up and Bobby followed "Please tell me you made enough for me?" He begged.

"Have you had it before?" Steph wanted to know.

"Only once, and I've never been able to get him to make it since." I finished putting everything away and had started to wipe the side down.

"Only if you do the washing up." I told him pointing to the two pans and grater that we had used. Bobby jumped up eager to help. Steph watched in amusement and he noticed.

"It's worth it. Cal is the best cook here. He rivals Ella." that was a bit of an exaggeration but I think he's just trying to secure a portion of the food still.

"In the Seals I was a chef and got used to creating decent meals out of rubbish supplies. I enjoyed it and whenever I had the opportunity to cook with good quality ingredients I liked to experiment. Bobby was one of my guinea pigs."

"But weren't you in different forces? How did that work?"

"Generally the different branches will work together to maximise skills in operations. We worked together a couple of times." I hoped that would be enough for her, we couldn't tell her much more without giving out classified information. She appeared to think about it for a couple of minutes then seemed to accept what she had been told.

"It was always good to know who the best chefs were. They were the best protected men in any operation." True.

"Surely the medic was the most important to protect? If he gets hurt then there would be no one else to treat injuries."

"Everyone who works in the field has basic first aid training in case there is not a fully trained medic able to attend. A good chef, however, is hard to replace and if he gets hurt you know you won't get decent food. You should've heard it" Bobby reminisced shaking his head and put on a high pitched voice "Protect the chef! If he gets hurt think of what we'll have to eat!" He's right, I heard that more than once his voice dropped back to normal "Napoleon was so right when he said an army marches on its stomach."

"And it isn't just an army, so do all the other forces!" I added. I had seen first had how a decent meal could improve the way a man and unit functioned. I found a pride in being able to provide something that made my comrades feel better even in the worst of circumstance.

Bobby finished the washing up and came and sat at the table to where Steph and I had retreated.

"So how did you become the chef? Did you always cook?" I took a minute to consider how to tell her this part of my story.

"No, I didn't always cook. A couple of years after joining I was severely injured in my right shoulder that nearly forced me into retirement." That was an understatement. The shot shattered the joint and part of the shrapnel from the bullet came within millimetres from my heart. It took a lot of surgery to rebuild it and I ended up with a complete replacement of the joint.

"Is that what the scar was from?" I was surprised she noticed. It doesn't bother me much now and I thought she was paying more attention to other things so she wouldn't notice. She always amazes me with her observation skills.

"Yeah. Anyway, while recovering it was suggested that I needed to do something that would help improve the use of my shoulder and cooking was suggested. Once I started I liked the idea of using my hands to do something good, which would add to life. It sort of made me feel like I'm doing something to balance to bad stuff I've done. I know it doesn't really work like that. I'm just going to take a quick shower before lunch." I hadn't worked hard enough to break into a sweat in the gym, but after thinking back to that time I needed a few moments to collect myself.

I went and had a quick shower. I hadn't thought about that period for a long time. The missions had been going so well until the moment we went to catch a bird back to base but we walked into an ambush. We all made it out alive, but for a while it was a close thing and I was certain that I'd lose my arm. What sort of life would I have without it? I'd have to leave my life as I knew it and who would want to employ an ex-SEAL with only 1 arm? I owe my current existence to the doctors who patched me back up and worked to allow me to keep my arm. It was a long and painful recovery, but it sparked my interest in food and cooking.

As I walked back in to the open plan area the timer on the oven went off indicating lunch was ready. I took the steaming dish out and put it onto the side to serve up. Once it was all plated I put the now empty cooking dish in the sink and filled it to soak before taking the plates over to where Bobby and Steph were waiting with cutlery already out.

Steph took her first bite and I waited to receive her verdict. "Oh, that is so good!" she managed to get out before she continued to dig in. At that sign I started to dig into my own. Normally I would have prepared a salad to go with the pasta, but I knew there was a good chance it would have been wasted and this was about providing her with comfort, not trying to feed her something nutritious.

Less than 10 minutes later and all plates had been cleared. "That was so good. I expected you to feed me something healthy but nothing that tasty could be good for you. Thanks, Cal" I really didn't want to tell her that it wasn't actually that bad. The pasta was wholegrain and provided a good source of carbohydrates, the cheese, milk and butter were all low fat versions and the tuna was a good source of protein. With a salad it would have been a fairly healthy meal. I might reveal that at a later date to show her that just because something is low fat it does not have to taste bad.

"You're welcome, Nightingale. Any time you want some good comfort food let me know." She started to pick up the dirty plates but then Bobby's phone went off signalling they were needed elsewhere. She got up and walked around to me leaning down to kiss my tattoo. I love it when she does that, it shows just what an accepting and loving person she is. I watched as the two of them left and got to clearing up my apartment, glad to have been able to pick her back up again enough that she didn't hesitate to go help.

Bad news is my imagination has gone AWOL and I'm struggling to write the next chapter. In the mean time if you haven't already discover it I highly recommend This Never Happened. Originally started by Jude the story has been picked up and is being continued by a collaboration and can be found on a special profile username ThisNeverHappenedII