Chapter 6

The next morning came around awfully fast, so Ranger had to drag me out of bed for my evaluation. That was fun. Not. They ran through the whole schedule to determine my level. I could have told them that I was pretty bad. They would just have had to ask. It was cruel. I could run a little bit more than a mile and a half, before I was so out of breath and soaked with sweat that they took pity on me. I just watched them run their ten miles. Afterwards I showered with Ranger and we had breakfast together. The time at the gun range was okay, thanks to RangeMan policy for target practice, but it wasn't anywhere near the others. They had provided me with a Sig Sauer, so I knew how to you it. Hand to hand was a total disaster. Nuk had me on the mat in 15 seconds flat. I didn't even land one punch, couldn't even score with a kick to his family jewels, as he was expecting this move. Ranger encouraged me to go on, or I would have boarded a plane back to Trenton at noon.

The session at the gym was okay, as they started me with small weights. We had lunch together and made some little exercises for control of your body and emotions. Not my strong suit either. After this disappointment Tim took me swimming and had me doing some diving exercises. I had no idea what he wanted me to do, so he showed me. I was really bad at it. The session with knives was a total disaster. I had never used knives to defend myself or to attack somebody. I couldn't even use one in the kitchen without being afraid of cutting myself. What did they expect of me?

After dinner the guys discovered that I had absolutely no knowledge about communication besides micros and earpieces, which we use for distractions. I already knew a little bit of Spanish, courtesy of Hector.

At 9pm I was dead tired and swaying on my feet. Ranger had to drag me into the shower with him and washed me. I was sore all over, and they hadn't even started on my training yet. The last thing I knew, Ranger was washing my hair, and the next moment he was poking me in the rips.

"Babe, come on. You shouldn't sleep in the shower. You might drown." He shoved me out and toweled me off. I went over to the bed and fell onto it face first.

"Wait a second and I will give you a massage." I could only grunt in response. By the time he was finished in the bathroom I was already dozing off, but this didn't deter him from giving me a massage. Sometime during the massage I fell asleep.

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The next two weeks where pretty much the same. I would try really hard, but couldn't succeed. I discouraged pretty fast, but Ranger kept me going. He would hold me when I cried because of exhaustion and defeat. He always encouraged me, always told me how proud he was of me, but my progress was very, very slow.

Nuk was the one who I could really talk to. He was the one who understood me best besides Ranger. One morning, it was during my second week in hell, as I had come to think of it, I just broke down during my training in the combat room. I started crying and sobbing uncontrollably. It was all to much. I missed my family and friends, the training was really hard and Ranger had had to leave for the day to take care of some business. He would return the next day, but he wasn't there. The guys had been waiting for this breakdown, and Nuk told me why, after he pulled me into his lap.

"Shh, calm down." He rocked me back and forth until my sobs had quieted down to occasional hiccups.

"You know, we have been waiting for this kind of breakdown." I was totally embarrassed that I had lost control like this. And Nuk knew it, as I tried to hide my face in his shoulder.

"Hey, no need to be embarrassed about this. It is totally normal that you have a bad day every once in a while, we all have. But you need to talk to somebody. You can talk to everyone of us, every time you need to. We all like you and only want what's best for you. But you are a bottler. You don't allow your feelings to surface. Once in a while everything you bottled has to come out. In the course of your training you will learn how to deal with it, but until then you need to allow us to help you. We all want to help you. And it might help to take your anger and frustrations out on a punching bag. It will help you to stay in control. Everyone needs to blow of some steam. We guys normally spar to do so, and when you are this good, you will join in."

I could only nod.

"So what is it that lies so heavy on your heart?"

"I miss my friends and my family." I hadn't had a chance to write the Merry Men or my father. I had no idea what was going on in Trenton, I felt kind of homesick. "And I feel like I make no progress, like I am worse than when I started."

"That's understandable. The training we put you through is based on basic training. You didn't go through basic, so you have a lot to compensate. Give it time and you will soon see the first improvements. Okay?" I nodded.

"Alright. I will see what I can do with the friends issue, but now let's continue."

The next morning I was in for a big surprise. After the run and my shower I went down for breakfast. At the table sat, smiling at me, Ranger. And he had brought Lester and Bobby with him. Seems like Nuk talked to Ranger. Ranger walked towards me to kiss me senseless. "Did you miss me, Babe?"

"Yeah. Had a rough day yesterday."

"Heard about it. That's why I brought two of the Merry Men."

"Thanks." I didn't get any further, because Lester grabbed me to hug me.

"Hey Bombshell, how are you?" Before I could answer Bobby had me engulfed in a bear hug of his own. "Bomber, how are you doing?"

"Better now. Had a rough day."

Lester answered. "Yeah, heard about it. That's why we came. Couldn't let you down, could we?"

With Ranger by my side my mood was immediately better. Lester and Bobby helped a lot. They told me the latest gossip at the office, about Rex and to top it of, they had a letter from Mary Lou. They had told her what I was up to and had her promise them that she wouldn't tell anyone.

After dinner I had the time to read the letter.

Hey Steph,

Lester was here and told me what you are up to. Had me promise that I won't tell anyone. I'm proud of you and for your choice of lifestyle. You would never be happy with my life.

Good for you that you dumped Morelli. Cheating Bastard. I heard that he was screwing Terry the whole time you were together, as well as some ho from Stark. Sorry, but I think you should know. I heard some neighbors of his saw two black Broncos at his house. Wonder who they were. Joe called in sick this day.

I knew it. Thankfully we had always used condoms, although I was on the pill. I just couldn't trust him. Thanks to my spidey sense.

Kinda dull without you around. The grapevine has nothing to say with you out of town. All the gossip mongers are bored. Serves them right.

They need their own life. Why do they always feel the need to talk about me?

I miss you and wish you all the best. I fully support your decision. Your mother called me to see if I knew anything, but this was minutes before Lester showed up, so she knows nothing.

I am proud of you! Keep going.

Love you, Mare

Thanks, Mary Lou. She was one of the few people who fully supported me. Gotta love this girl.

Bobby and Lester left after two days. They made sure the guys treated me right and joined in in my training, making suggestions here and there. Best of their visit were the two evenings we had together which we spent catching up and relaxing. I needed it desperately.

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But soon came the day when Ranger announced that he had to get back to business, so he had to leave. He told me this one Sunday evening after a little more than three weeks.

"Babe, I need to get back to Trenton. There are some big cases going down and Tank needs my help. I would like to stay longer, but I know that you are strong enough to finish your training. I know that you can do this."

"I know. And I understand this. But you have been a huge help." I understood his reasoning, but I was a little sad that he would leave, but I would finish my training and then amaze everyone when I go back to Trenton. The knowledge to do something that nobody thinks I am able to do was a great moral booster. It helped me to keep going.

"Thank you for understanding. I know how hard this is for you."

He then proceeded to kiss me, hard and with lots of tongue. I gave as good as I got. The next thing I remembered we were laying on the bed, naked. Ranger kissed his way down my jaw to my neck and I couldn't hold in the moans. My hands had found their way into his hair, holding him closer to me. He kissed and bit the juncture of my neck and shoulder what had me shuddering with desire and I could feel a wave of wetness between my legs.

He kissed his way further down to my breasts where he licked and nibbled one nipple, while he worked the other one with his hand, until my nipples were rock hard. I could feel his own arousal rubbing against the outside of my thigh. He kissed his way down, only to stop at my belly button were he drew circles with his tongue around. I was moaning and reduced to begging.

"Please..."

"Please what?" He brushed his knuckles against my nipple which sent a wave of excitement through me, but did nothing for my ability to speak. He continued his descent, kissed me at the juncture of my leg and torso where he sucked so hard that he marked me at his. He kissed and touched his way down my leg, without paying attention where I needed him most. I was trashing around, desperate for release. I could fell the heat pooling in my tummy and I wanted this orgasm.

"Please, inside me. Now!"

Ranger just chuckled. But I was desperate, so I touched myself. I let my own hands wander down my sweat slicked body, pausing only to pinch my nipples that had me moaning. I touched one finger firmly to my clit, running circles over it, while I pushed two fingers of the other hand inside me, my hips bucking. I was moaning and writhing. When Ranger saw what I was doing he groaned and leaned back.

"Please!"

"Nope, do it yourself." With this he started pumping his cock. I was so turned on that it didn't take me long to go over the edge. I screamed his name when I fell over.

When I came down from my high, Ranger was leaning over me, poised at my wet entrance.

"God, Babe, you are so beautiful when you come. And even more so, when you push yourself over." With this he pushed the tip of his cock into me. I brought my legs up around his hips to get him to go deeper, but he wouldn't budge.

"Please, more." I wanted him inside me and I didn't mind the begging. He pushed a little bit further in.

"Like this?" I didn't like his smug grin, so I clenched my muscles around him. He groaned and sheethed himself completely inside me. I clenched some more and he started pounding into me with hard, fast strokes. I could feel my orgasm coming, my muscles clenching. I fell over, screaming his name and could hear him groan out my name with his own release.

We made love long into the night, but when I got up to go running, he was gone. I found a red rose and an envelope on his pillow. I opened the envelope to find a picture of him. He looked sexy as hell in this picture, open hair and bare chested. Yummy. That's what a girl's dreams are made of. I also found a note.

Morning Babe,

I let you sleep, because you looked so peaceful. And you need your sleep, especially after our workout.

Always remember that I am proud of you. I know that you can do this.

On your nightstand is a secure cell phone. Call me whenever you want to or need anything. I had the e-mail system set up, so you can write your Dad, Mary Lou and the Merry Men.

We are all proud of you.

I love you. Ric

I put the note and the picture of him in my nightstand and went running with a big smile on my face, although I was a little sore in certain areas. Okay, a lot. But it was worth it. Our night together after the DeChooch deal was about sex. This night was about love, feeling complete, not just about getting pleasure, but about giving pleasure. I never thought sex could feel this good. Sex that is so emotional that you cry.

Tell me your opinion, please.