Disclaimer: The characters belong to J.E.

Spoiler Alert: There may be mention of anything from the series since this takes place just after 18. This story takes place immediately after Explosive 18.

Ranger's POV:

I hung up the phone from talking with Charlie Mott and thought about the information he'd just given me. Although I wouldn't admit it to anyone, I was stunned when he told me the name of his adversary. I looked down at the paper in front of me and smiled. Looks like Tomas Junario was going out of this world one way or another. I was just about to make a call when the phone rang. I picked it up and was further stunned by the caller and what he was telling me. I assured him I would be at the meeting and told him Mott was a client of Rangeman and we'd already been called in. I disconnected the call and dialed Tank's number.

"Yo."

"Charlie Mott and a friend of his will be joining us at two for a meeting on Junario."

Silence. Finally, "Damn Rangeman."

I chuckled, "Welcome to the club."

I hung up the phone. Looked like we were having quite a party at two o'clock. I smiled in anticipation. One thing for sure, Junario was a dead man.

Chapter 10: The Planning Session

Lester's POV:

I was waiting in the Lobby to meet Mr. Mott and his friend so I could take them up to the main conference room on 5 where Ranger and the rest of the team were waiting to start the meeting. Life sure did turn out funny sometimes. Who would have thought that one of Ranger's clients had dealings with Junario just like we had. I remembered our last meeting with the bastard. If we'd gone with our own instincts the bastard would never have survived but we had orders to let him go because he was more manageable then the fucker we were taking out. The powers that be didn't want a civil war and leaving the bastard alive insured that wouldn't happen. Fucking suits.

I checked my watch and saw it was five minutes till two and looked up to see Mr. Mott walking into the building. The man who walked in behind him surprised the shit out of me and I don't do surprised. Surprised can get you killed. I stepped forward and greeted the two men and told them to follow me. We entered the elevator and rode up to the 5th floor. I led them to the main conference room and asked them to have a seat. I joined them at the table, knowing the rest of the guys would be joining us within seconds.

By two o'clock, everyone was seated in the conference room and the meeting got underway.

Stephanie's POV:

I had been working on the search programs and reading through the material I collected on Junario since Ranger agreed to let me help. I had found several pieces of information I thought needed further investigation and started in-depth searches. I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that I was missing something. There was something in these pages that was more important than anything else I'd read but I wasn't seeing it. I printed out the last of the information I had gotten and glanced at the sheet on top.

Shit! This was it! I read quickly through the information and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had just found the key in bringing this bastard down. I didn't stop to weigh my next actions, I knew Ranger and the guys were meeting a couple of other people regarding Junario in the main conference room and I decided this information constituted an emergency. Without stopping to knock, I opened the conference room door and hurried inside.

I had heard talking as I entered but suddenly there was silence. I looked up and my eyes widened in shock. "Daddy! What are you doing here?"

My dad winced, "Pumpkin, what are you doing in here?"

Every eye in the room was on me. I sighed and looked to Ranger. He was looking at me with narrowed eyes. After doing a mental check to make sure my panties were still dry I gave him a weak smile and took a deep breath. "I found something."

Ranger sat forward and reached out for the papers in my hands. I went over and handed him the information, pointing to what had caught my interest. His eyes narrowed and he read over the information. Once he'd finished he shook his head and looked to the others. "She's fucking brilliant as usual. Gentlemen, we have him."

I glanced at my dad and saw he looked a little surprised. I smiled and took the seat beside Ranger. My dad and Mr. Mott frowned as well as several of the Rangeman guys. I raised my eyebrows and moved my chair closer to Ranger's. Several of the guys started fiddling with the pencils and pens on the table in front of them. The only ones who seemed to be comfortable with my presence were Tank, Bobby and Lester. Just then the door opened again and Hector walked in. He grinned ear to ear when he saw me seated beside Ranger and then took the only other seat in the room.

Ranger passed the paper with the pertinent information around the table so everyone could see it. I noticed my dad squirming around in his chair and I frowned. "Daddy, is everything okay?"

My dad looked at me and hesitated before shrugging and saying, "Well, I wasn't exactly expecting you to be at this meeting pumpkin."

I heard snickers when my dad called me pumpkin and glanced over at Vince. He was still half smirking. Suddenly he was being pinned to the spot, not only by Tank, Lester and Bobby, but also my dad and Mr. Mott were giving him a stern eye. That was nothing compared to the look Ranger was giving him. Ranger growled softly, "Something funny Nolan?"

Vince paled and straightened up in his seat. "Uh, no sir."

Ranger looked around the table at the rest of the guys. "Does anyone else have a problem?"

No one said a word. After several seconds Ranger nodded and continued, "Make sure to check your attitudes at the door from here on out. I will not tolerate anyone making light of my wife. Need I remind you of the times she's made most of you in this room look like idiots because she got the upper hand without even trying? Babe has made a very logical argument for why she should be included in this take down. From what she's just shown me, she's more than proven the validity for that argument."

I bit my lip worrying if the guys would really accept me. Ranger reached over and took my hand in his. I turned to look at him and he winked at me. My eyes widened in surprise. "It's not that the guys don't want your help Babe. They just want to protect you from people like Junario. He's not the nicest human being in the world."

I felt tears burn the back of my eyes and I looked around at the guys. "I'm not asking to go out in the field and help you take this guy out, although if I'm needed for that task I would do whatever I could to help you. But I am asking you to let me do what I do best."

Vince coughed, "I'm sorry I laughed Bomber. I know better than most just how tenacious you can be. Ranger's right though, I want you out of harm's way. Sorry I laughed but I can't picture you as a little round pumpkin. Sorry I made fun of your dad's nickname for you."

I smiled, "That's okay Elvis. Everyone has a nickname that might not seem to fit them."

Vince turned red as a beet and the rest of the guys started snickering. Vince smiled and nodded, "Point taken. What did you find more offensive?"

I smiled. Vince chuckled, "Point taken…Stephanie."

With that we got back to planning just how the guys were going to deal with Tomas Junario.

Frank Plum's POV:

Sitting in on this meeting with my old friend and mentor Charlie Mott was an eye opening experience. I got to see a whole new side of my daughter. I knew Ranger was a force to be reckoned with but I never realized just how good my little girl was at her job. I felt my chest swell with pride for my little pumpkin. I glared at the man named Vince. I dared him to say one bad thing about my little girl. I'd show him Ranger wasn't the only one watching her back. As I sat there and listened to the plans being formed, I got a whole new view of my son-in-law as well. It made me proud that my little girl had chosen a man like him for her life partner. I determined to make sure my wife stopped her harping on how unsuited Ranger was for Stephanie. I laughed to myself. Hell, wouldn't surprise me if Ranger was the only man who could handle living with such a dynamic force as Stephanie.

Ranger's POV:

We had everything planned. Everyone knew their parts. I was proud of Babe. She'd demanded to be included and I knew the guys were worried she might get hurt. What she told them seemed to shift the balance and everyone accepted she was telling the truth when she told us she wasn't interested in going out and physically taking Junario down with us. But she did want to be included in the planning and gathering information. The parts she excelled at. Listening to Frank Plum during the meeting, I came to realize Babe came by it naturally. She was definitely her father's daughter. I was glad that our talk had a positive effect on their relationship. I knew how important her father was to her, and I was glad he chose to continue being part of her life.

We'd finally ended the meeting and I told the men dismissed. Everyone knew their parts. As everyone filed out of the room I pulled Babe to me and settled her on my lap. I kissed the top of her head and said "Proud of you Babe."

She turned and wrapped her arms around my neck and softly said, "I love you Ranger."

Hal stopped at the door and smiled back at us before he headed through the door. He and Ram were going to be shadowing Junario. I rubbed Babe's back for several minutes before softly suggesting we head up to 7. Babe grinned up at me and said, "I thought you'd never ask."

She stood and motioned with her finger for me to follow. My eyes darkened with desire and I was right behind her. I was roused by the ring of the phone and I flipped my phone saying, "Yo."

"Wow! What a greeting."

I grinned, "Smart mouth. How you doing Angel?"

There was a sigh and I frowned. "What's going on?"

"I mentioned flying to Newark so I could see you and things got a little tense."

"Would you like me to talk to them?"

"Would you? That would be great."

I smiled, "Put them on."

There was a pause before a woman's voice wryly said, "Let me guess, she called you to let you know things are a little tense here now."

"What's going on?"

A sigh sounded down the line and then quietly she told me of all the mixed feelings everyone had been having lately. I asked how I could help and it was suggested that maybe I should back off for now. I replied I couldn't do that because she had called me. I felt she needed something from me right now and I wanted to be available for whatever it was she needed. There was a pause and then another sigh. Finally, she admitted I was right and then she told me what the psychiatrist had said. I repeated I was willing to do anything that was needed.

There was a longer pause this time and then, "Can she come there for a while? Can you give her your time?"

"Give me her flight and arrival time and I'll pick her up. I'll have Matt fly with her so she will be protected at all times."

"Alright. As soon as I have it I'll call you."

I disconnected and turned back to Babe. She was facing me and wide awake. I smiled and kissed her before letting her know what the phone call was about. She nodded, "Is it safe?"

I gave a miniscule nod, "As safe as it would ever be."

"Okay then. Will she be flying into Newark?"

"Yes."

"Maybe we could spend a couple nights in Newark and visit with you family while we are there."

I kissed her again. "That would be perfect Babe." That's the last words we spoke for the rest of the night. By morning we were both very relaxed and sated.