So - I gave you 'happy' and you still cried!
So to hell with you!
Back to the angsty stuff it is then...
Please keep your reviews coming. I may not have time to reply but I really do appreciate what you write. :o)Lester picked up the phone. It was for his cousin's own good, he rationalised as he dialled the number.
"Hello?" asked a woman's voice.
"Rachel?"
"Yeah? Who is this?"
"Les..."
"Oh My God, Les! He's alright, isn't he? Please tell me he's OK."
"Well if by that you mean he's in one piece I'd say Ranger's OK. If you mean is he of sound mind, I doubt it."
"?"
45 minutes later Les put the phone down a far happier man.
o0o0o0o0o
"Tank, got a minute?" Lester said as he breezed in to the Big Man's office which looked like some insane person's idea of a jungle as it was filled with plants and vases of flowers of every color.
He stopped abruptly as Tank looked up from the picture he'd been cradling in his hands. His eyes were slightly misted over.
"Sorry" Les said softly "I can see I've come at a bad time. I'll pop back later." He turned to leave, embarrassed at catching Tank deeply grieving.
"S'k" came a gruff reply as Tank cleared his throat.
Lester turned back slowly to allow Tank to compose himself. He shut the door and slid over to the chair Steph had sat in – it was a firm favourite with everyone as one size really did fit all.
Tank looked at him quizzically, blinking hard to clear his eyes of moisture.
"Tank, I won't beat around the bush, but did you know Ranger was thinking of moving you down to Miami to act as Julie's body guard and that he was going to use this as an excuse to run away from his feelings for Steph? He plans to come and settle you in then hide up in the Boston office until she gets over him and finds someone safer to love."
"Stupid Fucker!" Tank ground out going from grieving man to angry rhino in the blink of an eye. "One person hurting like I am is far too much. Bomber does not need to go through the same agony just because Manoso's a fucking yellow fucking chicken." He added vehemently.
"Yeah, my sentiments exactly." Came the smug reply.
"Seems you've been thinking about this. I suppose you've got a plan."
"Might have! It seems to me that Ranger's probably wanting to make the changes immediately after Lula's funeral so he'll probably collar you in the next day or so. I've spoken to Rachel and she's on board. Julie is coming up here for a few weeks so that Rachel can have some renovations done to the house."
"She didn't mention anything to me last time we spoke."
Santos gave Tank a knowing look.
"Ah" said the big man as understanding hit him.
"So, when Ranger tells you what his plans are you need to play dumb, say you'll give it serious thought then phone Rachel soon as you can. She'll do the rest."
Both men felt slightly happier now that they knew they'd come up with a plan that pinned their elusive leader down to Trenton – at least for the short term anyway.
The conversation turned to the funeral and Tank filled Les in on what his plans were.
The funeral was to be in four days' time and the viewings would start tomorrow afternoon.
Half an hour later Santos stood up to leave as he had to go look at some plans he needed to approve.
"Les?"
"Yeah?"
"Pissed off any women lately?" he asked gesturing to a load of bouquets standing to attention in the corner.
Les smiled. "Always and forever" he said, smiling as he scooped up a couple of sprays.
o0o0o0o0o
"Tank, once this is over, how do you feel about moving to Miami?" Ranger asked, appearing nonchalant, the next morning as he stepped off the treadmill, scooping up his towel from a nearby bench and avoiding his gaze.
Tank stared at him, surprise showing all over his face. Lester had been right he thought as he stood waiting for Ranger's next comment. When it didn't come he replied slowly.
"Well, I'm sure my family would like to see me for a couple of weeks and I could do with a vacation. Why, what did you have in mind?"
Ranger finally caught Tank's eye. "It's just that Julie has worn out another of Franco's men and I thought you might like to move down there and sort her out."
"You want me to babysit your daughter just because she's got spirit?" Tank asked incredulously. Even for Ranger this was lame, anyone could see he had an ulterior motive.
"I need someone who will not pander to her and let her get away with murder any more." Ranger added "I reckoned you could do with a change of scene and responsibility. I've been overloading you for too long." He added, patting Tank's arm.
"Fucking great!" Tank growled "I'm to go from second in command at Mission Control to running around after your kid. Gee thanks."
"Tank! Let's be reasonable here shall we? You've just lost your fiancée and it'll be a while till you're fully back in the game. I accept and understand that. I don't want you to get hurt while you're grieving. That's all."
Tank glared and harrumphed at him "I'll think about it." He said angrily as he turned and left the gym, shaking his head in disgust as he went.
Ranger breathed a sigh of relief. That went well, OK, better than it might have done he thought to himself. Once he had Tank on board he could get on to the next part of his plan.
As soon as he was back in his apartment Tank picked up the phone and dialled Rachel.
"Ron speaking." Came the friendly voice on the other end.
"Hi Ron. Rachel there?"
"No, sorry she's out at the moment. Who's calling?"
"It's Pierre. Have you got a mo?"
"Sure, I was just on my way out to work but I've got a couple of minutes. How're doing, man? So sorry to hear about Lula, hope the guys are looking after you. Did the guy who shot her get his just rewards?"
"Yeah, you could say that." Tank added dryly. "Anyway, I hear you've got some renovations about to start?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Renova... oh yeah." He said, sucking in his teeth. "I don't know what we'll do with the kids." He added feigning innocene, a smile evident in his voice. "He still being a coward?"
"Yep" Tank replied, making a popping sound with the p.
"I'll get Rachel to call him."
"Appreciate it, Ron."
"My pleasure" Ron replied then both men hung up.
o0o0o0o0o
Steph pulled into Haywood and aimed her key at the gate which swung open slowly so that she could continue in.
Once she'd parked she called the elevator and went up to 5. Today she was dressed for the gun range. She hoped one of the guys would have some time take her to and let her practice. She'd even loaded her gun. Wasn't she a good girl she thought to herself.
Tank stepped out of his office at that moment and nearly ran her over.
"Hey, Bomber. Where you off to?"
"Gun range, if anyone's free. I surprised myself with Khan and got a clean shot to his shoulder but if I'd only been quicker..."
"Stop that train of thought now!" Tank snapped. "I'm free, I'll take you" he said as he turned to the roster located outside his office. Both lanes were empty for the next couple of hours.
"Come on, no time like the present." He said as he filled in the sheet. As they walked past the comms room he yelled in to let them know where they were going. He added that all monitors were to be turned off as he didn't want the guys to spend the next hour ogling his student.
o0o0o0o0o
Tank flipped the switch and the lights to the range spluttered awake. He also checked the monitors just in case Binkie 'forgot'. He knew how the men loved to watch Steph blow the crotches out of her targets. He smiled to himself as he looked forward to her unusual style of target practice.
As they entered the room Steph headed to the first lane and Tank had peeled off towards the safe. Moments later he caught up with her holding several boxes of bullets.
Steph knew the guys loved the smell of cordite but she had never taken to it. Perhaps it was a guy thing she thought as she took her gun out of her pocket and placed it carefully on the table.
Twenty minutes later Steph's arm was getting tired and she was starting to lose her aim. The last bullet had hit the target in the knee – obviously well below her intended mark. She loved aiming for the crotch and she knew the Merry Men found it funny. Even Ranger had raised an eyebrow and faintly smiled when he'd found out the area she usually aimed for.
Tank stepped up behind her and corrected her stance again so that she could finish the clip she'd just started. He stood close behind her and she could feel his warmth through her pale blue hoodie. She sighed as she thought how she would have preferred it to have been Ranger who was there with her.
"Deep thoughts? Bomber." Tank whispered in her ear as he gently gripped her shoulders to line her up. Instinct made her put her empty hand on top of one of his. She really needed a hug right now.
Before she'd realised it, she was engulfed in Tank's arms as he spun her round and wrapped himself around her. She looked up to see tears pooling in his dark chocolate eyes.
Then he kissed her. Hard and with feeling.
Steph started to respond then her brain kicked in. She pulled herself back quickly.
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry Tank!" she managed to cry out just before he pulled her back into another deep kiss.
"Stop, Tank!" she cried as she struggled to escape.
Tank suddenly let go as the insanity fled. "Oh, Steph! What have I done? I'm so sorry!" he said as he fell to his knees on the floor and hugged her round her waist.
"I didn't mean it. I'm just... Oh Steph! What I am going to do without her?" he sobbed out before breaking down and weeping big fat grief-stricken tears.
"It's ok, Big Guy" she crooned as she kissed then stroked his bald head, gently rocking him from side to side as his heart broke all over again.
o0o0o0o0o
"Where's Tank?" Ranger asked as he stepped out of the stairwell. He needed to know that he could get his plan started. He was having so much trouble avoiding the woman he loved and every time he saw her latest POS in the garage he wanted to hunt her down and tell Steph what she meant to him. He knew he mustn't. He needed to stay strong. She deserved a long and fulfilling life with the man of her heart. He still ran ops occasionally so knew that one day he might not make it back. He couldn't do that to her.
"Gun range with Bomber." Came the reply. Ranger nodded and turned toward his office. He could wait. The idea of watching her shooting the balls off her targets turned him on so much he daren't go and watch her in action. He'd want to rip her clothes off and take her on the lane floor. No, he had a better idea, he'd watch her on the monitor in his office. He could whack off there and no-one would know.
Perks of the job, a private bathroom. His cock twitched in anticipation as he headed onwards.
He turned on his computer and took off his jacket as it booted up then quickly grabbed a bottle of water from his fridge.
He settled himself down, spreading his knees in anticipation "What the fuck?" he swore to himself as he leant forward and peered at his computer screen.
At that moment his phone rang so reached over to pick it up. Rachel. What had Julie done now, he thought. All previous plans for the next ten minutes banished from his mind.
Sorry about the link for Robin's ring, See www. avantgardejewellery. co. uk (look for Andrew Leggett's Marquise cut diamond 'flick' ring. Oh, you'll also need to remove the spaces I've had to add in the web address when showing it here)