(Stephanie's Pov)
I climbed into the back of the truck and placed Rex in his aquarium beside me. When we pulled out of my lot and began driving I pondered on how many times I'd been in this one truck of RangeMans and figured it was probably a lot. Laying my head back on the seat, I was beginning to feel a queasiness in my stomach the closer we got to the airport. I really hate to fly and try not to do it if I can get out of it. The entire time I'm on the plane I'm thinking we are gonna crash so enjoying the flight with the other excited travelers is out of the question. I place my hand on my stomach and begin to rub it telling myself over and over that it's all gonna be ok.
(Lester's Pov)
Bobby and I were up in the front of the truck talking about some of the things Tank had found for me and Steph while we would be in Tennessee. As we were talking Bobby got my attention and jerked his thumb over his shoulder pointing to the back seat. I turned to see what had gotten my friends attention and saw Steph with her head back, eyes closed, breathing deep, and rubbing her stomach. I sighed and shook my head a little and looked over at Bobby to see what I should do.
"Stephanie you ok?" he asked releasing me of the task of asking
"Yea, I just hate flying" she answered back
"You know they say flying is safer than driving" he told her
"Then tell that to the ones who crashed and died a horrific fiery death" she sarcastically said. Bobby and I smiled at each other, even though Steph has been going through hell these past few weeks sometimes we still get a glimpse of her old self come shining through.
"It will be a smooth ride and over before you know it. You'll see"
"Yea we'll see"
Bobby took the exit that was marked for the airport and pulled us up to the curb at the doors where our flight was. We all got out of the truck and began to place our bags onto this wheelie cart to be checked in.
"Thanks Man see you when we get back" I said doing one of them complicated man handshakes with Bobby
"Anytime have fun and lots of R and R Medics orders" he told me and then turned to Stephanie. Bobby placed a hand to her cheek and her eyes watered over.
"Have a great time away Bomber and don't worry about anything back home, just take care of yourself and take the meds I gave you if anything begins to be to much" he told her and she nodded. Bobby opened his arms and she stepped into them instantly being swallowed by his bulk.
"Checking bags for this flight?" a bag handler asked coming out to us with long white strips of paper in his hand
"Uhh yea" I said looking over to the bags on the cart
Steph stepped away from Bobby, wiping her eyes, and watched as the baggage guy slipped a long slip of paper around the handles of each of our bags. He told us to follow him as he grabbed our cart and began wheeling it inside of the airport.
"See you guys later" Bobby called as he jogged back to the truck. We both watched as he pulled from the curb and drove off.
"Well guess it's just you and me" I said to Steph
"Yea"
"Come on lets go check in" I told her offering my arm for her to take as we walked in and followed the guy that had our luggage over to his ticket counter.
(Tank's Pov)
I was sitting in a dark hole in the wall bar on Stark. I was having a celebratory drink in memory of my fallen boss and friend. I had been partners with Ranger for a long time, and have been saving his ass from assassins long before he made a name for himself here in Trenton. When people on this street saw me and him coming they ran like the vermin they are and we loved it.
"Making yourself known?" Brown asked sitting down at my table interrupting my thoughts
"No, but they don't know that" I said of the street we were on
Stark Street was where it all went down everyday and was notoriously known for the pot heads, crack heads, thugs, street walkers, and lowlifes of Trenton. RangeMan was constantly down here stirring rats out of their nest and seeing ones that would hand out some useful information to us. Stark Street knew Ranger and was scared of him, with him gone and the news of his demise circulating I'm sure an uprising of criminals is in the works until they realize that Ranger may be gone but RangeMan is still very much active and will still come down for the occasional ass whooping. I was telling Brown the truth when I said I didn't come to Stark to show that RangeMan was still around, but if hey if it happens to work out that way makes my job easier.
I looked up as a girl in a tight tank top and skin tight skirt sat a beer in front of Brown "Get Santos and Stephanie off?" I asked when the girl left
"Yea just came from the airport"
"What's their status?"
"Steph is done. I don't think that woman can stand anything more. She admitted to me that she can't eat or sleep and that she just worries all the time. Ranger and his death really has done a number on her" he told me and I rub a hand down my tired face.
"She accept the pills?" I asked
"She didn't at first but I asked her to keep them with her just in case she couldn't take anymore"
"Santos knows right?"
"Yes I told him so he will monitor that" he said
"What about Santos?" I asked pretty much knowing his condition but wanting to hear what our Medic had to say
"Just as you called it, he is exhausted but tells he is fine. Les is a fighter and a solider been conditioned to not allow what's bothering him to get in the way of the goal and his goal right now is Steph. He is very focused on her. Having them go off I think is the best for them. They can get away from all this madness and rest and sleep"
"Yea" I said draining the rest of my bottle
"You're first major decision as RangeMan's acting CEO" Brown said and I felt like I had received a kick in the gut
"You know I love my place in the company" I said and he nodded his head " and sometimes I guess like normal I would "daydream" a little as you say what it would be like to own my own company and be the head of it but I didn't want it like this" I told Brown
"I know but you always knew that this would be the only way you'd ever be head of RangeMan and get it away from Ranger. It was a valid threat every time he left" Brown reminded me
"True but this just seems so wrong, maybe to fast that it happened. We always knew whenever he left it would be handed over to me but now it just so final. Its mine, everything I say and do will impact the Company"
"You'll figure it out and you don't have to worry about us we are behind you as our new leader"
"Not worried over you guys, its them I'm worried about" I said as we watched some thugs in the low riding pants come strolling in "They think with Ranger gone the constant threat to them is gone"
"Yea I guess we will just have to show them huh?" Brown asked smirking
I hoped I could fill the void and the shoes that were left by Ranger. I'm not a stupid man and I'm trained just as he was but Ranger just had this presence and aura about him. I hope in the months to come with the success of RangeMan, Santos and Steph healthy, and back home with us it will be a testament and honor to his work, name, and memory.
