Disclaimer***unfortunately they all belong to JE, with the exception of Reynolds, Murphy and Tuck.

**I tried to do my best on researching the Army Special Forces, but some of my info could be wrong. I apologize in advance!

Xylia—you're still my favorite Beta gal—I promise I'll have more for you to look at soon. *Lizabee*

Sue— Thanks for giving me the extra nudge to get these chapters done. I promise I won't make you clean my house or unpack boxes!

InBox

By: CrimsenLiz

Chapter 28

I wasn't expecting to see Ranger when I turned around, although I probably should have expected it seeing how my spidey sense was going off the charts.

He addressed us all, wanting us to introduce ourselves. I'm sure to everyone else he had a blank face, but I knew better. He looked at me in shock, trying to hide behind his emotionless mask. What am I supposed to do for the rest of training? I don't know if I can work with Ranger watching my every move.

When he requested to see me outside, I couldn't hide my surprise. Tuck leaned over and taunted me. "Oooh, Little Falcon!" he drawled. "You're already in trouble!"

I glared at him. "Screw you Tuck, mind your own damn business!"

Damien squeezed my hand in reassurance. "It'll be ok Steph."

I wasn't as confident as Damien, it wasn't that simple. I walked out of the barracks and found Ranger standing on the side of the building with his arms crossed.

I couldn't help but check him out as I was walking. He had on a camouflage uniform similar to mine, but his was perfectly molded to his body. Damn he looked fine. I shook my head to get rid of those thoughts. I stopped in front of him and he continued to give me a blank stare. "Explain." He said calmly.

Still one word answers, just great. "I don't owe you and explanation, Ranger. Is that all you asked me out here for? I came here to learn, not to play catch up."

He looked annoyed, I know that's not what he wanted to hear, but that's tough shit.

"Why didn't you tell me Stephanie? When and why did you join the army?"

Why would he care I wondered to myself. He's the one who didn't want me, not the other way around.

"Because I care about you, Babe."

That remark annoyed the hell out of me. If it were possible I would probably have steam coming out of my ears right now. "Is that right? If you cared so much you would have picked up a phone in the past months and called! You're the one who made it clear you wanted nothing to do with me. If you really want to know I joined the army after I returned from Miami, and I did it because I wanted to."

He continued to stare at me as if he was trying to figure me out. "Proud of you babe."

My heart swelled. Secretly all I wanted was his approval. Stop it Stephanie, he doesn't want you! "Is that all?" I said trying to sound casual.

He stared at me for a moment. "Not quite. We will be leaving for a faux mission in the morning. All soldiers will be split into two teams."

He handed me a piece of paper with groups and names. "I want you to assign soldiers to the proper teams and tell everyone to be ready by 0500 tomorrow."

"Yes, Sir." I said.

His lips curved upward. The bastard was internally laughing at me!

"You're dismissed Sergeant Plum. Report back here tomorrow morning."

Without another word I turned and went back into the barracks. Everyone was doing their own thing, mostly sitting around talking. Here goes nothing.

"Listen up everyone!" I shouted. They all stopped and came to attention.

"I'll be dividing us up into two teams. Get acquainted with your team because as of tomorrow morning you will be spending every waking moment with them for the next month or so. We will be leaving for a faux mission tomorrow morning."

I separated everyone in their groups and was happy to see I was with Tuck, Murphy and Reynolds. We had a few other guys with us I knew from other parts of training. There aren't as many as when we started, the pack had dwindled significantly since the beginning. Not everyone was cut out for SF.

One thing I was grateful for was that Thompson wasn't in our group. There's no way she could fuck our shit up if she was in another group. She's a pain in the ass and only holds us back.

We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening packing our gear, we only stopped to eat.

Ranger sat a few tables away in the chow hall. He appeared to be scoping everyone out, but I could fee his eyes on me. Apparently I wasn't the only one who noticed. Tuck elbowed me in the side. "The CO can't keep his eyes off you Little Falcon, he's checking you out!"

He snorted and laughed and a few other guys joined in. Fuck. I don't need this shit.

I scowled. "You need your eyes checked Tuck, he's obviously checking us all out, it's his job."

Damien came to my defense, as always. "She's right; he's probably trying to figure us out. I hear he's good at reading people."

We didn't take long to eat and were back at packing in no time. We goofed off more than we packed and it took us twice as long.

Finally it was time for lights out and I changed into shorts and a tank top and crawled onto my bed. It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but it's better than the ground I'll be sleeping on for the next month.

I laid there and thought about Ranger. I still can't believe he's here. And my CO of all people! I just better suck it up now because there's no going back. I didn't bust my ass for the last five months to quit now.

Damien and the other guys were playing a game of cards before they turned in and on his way back he plopped down on my bed when I was almost asleep. "I'm trying to sleep here Reynolds. Get the fuck off my bed." I said sleepily.

He laughed. "Sorry Steph, I just wanted to tell you that I won't tell anyone about Manoso. It's no one's business and I wouldn't break your trust like that."

I looked at him in shock. He'd never met Ranger and I didn't think I told him his real name. "How did you know?" I asked him.

He gave me a lopsided smile. "I saw a picture of him in Tank's office when we were at Rangeman, and I saw how you reacted when you saw him earlier. To everyone else you had a blank face on, but I know you better than that."

I kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks Damien, I appreciate you not telling anyone, it's hard enough with him being here, I can't imagine what the others would say if they knew about Ranger and I. Lay with me for awhile?"

"Sure thing Steph, just for a little bit, someone could get the wrong ideas if they found us lying here together. We could be in some deep shit."

Don't I know it? It's just comforting to have him cuddle up next to me, even if it's not in a sexual way.

He lay beside me in the small bed and I snuggled into him. He automatically wrapped his arm around my shoulder. He rubbed circles with his fingers along the back of my arms. We stayed like that for a few minutes and he shifted to get up. "I'm gonna take a leak and get some sleep, goodnight Steph." He said before placing a kiss on my forehead.

The back of the hairs on my neck stood up and a tingle went down my spine as I fell asleep.

Chapter 29

Ranger's POV

I sat in the corner by the door hiding in the shadows. Stephanie sprawled out on her little bed while the others played cards. I could smell something burning from here, she must be thinking hard. I smiled to myself.

Most of the two groups would make it through the next month. A few of them would fail miserably. Especially that runt Thompson. Sure, she's pretty, but annoying as fuck. She had already cornered him after chow and lying the flirting on thick. She was supposedly fucking a few of the other instructors and that's why she made it this far. I got the impression that the majority of the other soldiers weren't too fond of her. In not so many words she told me she was up for anything and to let her know if I needed anything. I tried not to laugh in her face. I made it abundantly clear that I was her instructor and no more.

The guys began dispersing to their own beds and things became quiet except for whispering here and there. I thought everyone was accounted for, and then I saw Reynolds' bed empty. I remembered him immediately from the karaoke video. He must be good friends with Steph if he was out with his men. They don't let just anyone around their bombshell. I couldn't be sure if they had anything going on, it seemed like a harmless friendship, but you never know.

I scanned the room and found him lying next to my babe on her bed. He had his arm round her shoulder and they were cuddled against each other talking. He said something and she tensed up. I wonder what he's saying to her. He better not be hurting her, I'll kill him. He whispered something to her and she immediately relaxed. It reminded me of how she and I once were. I missed her so much in the past few months it hurt. I picked up the phone so many times to call her but always chickened out at the last minute. Go figure, the tough Carlos Manoso afraid to call a woman. How am I going to get through the next few months without holding her, touching her, kissing her? It was easy when she wasn't right there in front of me, tempting me with her body, laugh and smile.

Reynolds stood up whispered something to Steph then kissed her on the forehead. He was coming right for me, probably heading to the bathroom.

He was almost to the door and I spoke. "Going somewhere?"

Reynolds nearly jumped out of his skin. "Fuck, you scared the shit out of me; I'm just going to take a leak and go to sleep."

I didn't waste any time in asking him the question nagging at my brain. "Is there something going on between you and Sergeant Plum? Because the army frowns upon fraternization." I said with a smirk.

He looked at me and laughed. He actually laughed right in my face.

"You have a lot of nerve Manoso. You don't think I know who you are? I know all about you and your no relationship, my love comes with a condom and not a ring spiel. You broke her heart and left everyone else to pick up the pieces. For some odd reason she still loves your sorry ass. No, there's nothing going on between Steph and I besides friendship. She's there for me and I'm there for her. She's my best friend and if anyone fucks her over I won't hesitate to beat some ass."

I tried not to smile. I liked this kid, he's got potential. Maybe when he is through with the army I'll hire him at Rangeman. I was relieved there wasn't anything more than friendship with he and Steph, but that didn't help me at all. She was cold as ice towards me and I don't blame her. I've been an asshole.

"Keep an eye on her; she tends to attract trouble like flies on shit. For the record, I do love her; I only did what I had to, to protect her."

"Don't give me that bullshit Manoso; you really have yourself believing that crap? Stephanie is an incredible woman, and if she had any interest in me what-so-ever I'd jump at the chance. I'd rather have one minute with her than the rest of my life without her. She can hold her own, you have no excuses now. She does attract crazies like no one I've ever seen, but she always gets her man. Well, almost always." He said that last sentence looking at me with cold eyes. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out what he meant by that.

He turned and disappeared into the bathroom. I wanted nothing more than to beat the shit out of him for talking to me like that, but he was right. I need her like the air I breathe. I'll think of a way to win her heart again. It's going to be a long mission.