***Thank you to all who diligently review and give me encouragement! It gives me the push to keep writing! There is some language in this chapter. OH! I don't own Ranger, but rumor has it he's going to be under my Christmas tree! Santa do me right!***
Joe ran at a full sprint into the street tackling Paige, holding her and rolling the distance into a parked car. Shots fired from the passing car and the scream in his ear was deafening as he held Paige tight against the car, huddling protectively over her. Two police cars with lights flashing and sirens blaring sped after the car. Paige was on the ground under Joe and as he pulled away he could see blood on Paige's face and neck.
"Oh, god. Paige?" Joe rolled off, brushing her hair off her face. "Paige,"
"I'm okay, Joe." Lifting up onto her elbows rubbing her head. "That was a hell of tackle, Detective."
"Are you hurt, there's blood on you."
Paige did a once over of herself, "I…I don't think it's from me." She checked herself again. "My hand is a little cut up but…oh, it's you." She stated rather calmly gingerly touching his arm.
Joe lifted his left arm and saw the source of blood. "Must have been a ricochet, it just sliced the arm."
Paige smiled wryly and looked up at Joe. "Oh, Joe!" She reached up and pulled herself around his neck embracing him. He reciprocated by wrapping his arms around her back. "Thank you." She whispered into his ear, kissing the side of his head. Her grip tightened around his neck and Joe thought he felt her trembling. "What the hell was that?"
Joe shook his head, "I don't know, but the sirens are close. Probably around the far corner."
More tires squealed making Paige jump and turn around to see black vehicle after black vehicle speed past. Paige looked down the street beyond the fallen street lamp to where the vehicles turned. "There's probably an entourage of police vehicles down there, an ambulance included. You up for walking?" Joe nodded. "Let's get you a bandage from the medic, eh?"
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"What is taking so long?" Lester looked up from over the keyboard at Ranger who was on the phone. A normal person would think that Ranger was incredibly calm, but to the four people around him, he was scathingly upset. "Where?" Ranger hung up. "Santos, take the com car."
"Wh..wh…what about me?" Chuck said from the Escalade holding up his shackled hands. If looks could kill, Chuck would have died instantaneously from Ranger's glare. "Vince, Tank, follow me with the skip. Steph, get in the truck."
"Boss?" Tank questioned.
"An indirect incident with another RangeMan building. Words exchanged. Shots fired. That's all I know." Ranger ran to the truck signaling the end of the conversation. Stephanie barely got her seatbelt clicked when Ranger took off.
"Ranger, what about Bobby and Binkie?" Stephanie asked her eyes large and concerned.
Ranger didn't say anything, he just drove fast down the street and around the corner, turning down an alley to avoid the police barricade popping out on the other side. The truck hardly stopped when Ranger jumped out and ran into the frenzy of policemen. Stephanie got out to follow but was restrained by a firm grip on her arm.
"Wait." She turned around to see Tank, a look of concern across his face.
"But," Stephanie began. Tank just shook his head. Strangely she understood that this meant, "We need to wait until Ranger gives the signal," and leaned against the truck. "That doesn't mean we can't see what's going on." Tank gave her a warning glare. "I'm only going to check things out from the alley. I won't even go up to the barricade. Come on, you know you're interested." She walked to where the streets met and saw Ranger get lost in the plethora of people.
Ranger scanned the sea of lights and blues walking around. Firemen were extinguishing some flames outside a building. He walked up to the barricade the policeman not even questioning his presence and slipped under, walking headlong to the ambulance where a man dressed all in black was hovering over a gurney. "Manoso," Ranger felt a hand on his arm halting his progress. Slightly perturbed, he turned to see Armand Gamache.
"Inspector," Ranger growled.
"We had an incident that…"
"No shit. If you'll excuse me," Ranger shrugged the hand off, "I have a man to tend to."
"I need to brief you on…"
"I'll be back." Ranger finalized the conversation, turning to leave.
"Fucking Terminator." Gamache shook his head, and slunk back into the swarm of officers.
Ranger walked to the ambulance tending to his men. Bobby leaned over the gurney and assisted the medic. "Pull it tighter." The medic told Bobby. Blood was pulsing from Binkie's leg in a very rhythmic fashion around the protruding femur, staining the white gurney a bright scarlet. "As soon as we get the tourniquet set we can take him to the hospital. We've got to stop the bleeding as much as possible. He's already lost quite a bit of blood." They both pulled the band and dropped the squirting to a trickle. Binkie masticated so hard his muscles danced clear up his head. "Ff…Oh, hey, Boss." Binkie said sweat dripping from his brow as he nodded to Ranger. "Not a whole lot happening here." The medic grabbed the leg above the knee and Bobby followed suit towards the top of the leg. With a crack, the femur was set and back in the skin. Binkie grunted and jerked his leg. "Aren't you guys suppose to give me something?" Ranger stood arms folded amused at the sight of Binkie's leg and eyed the blood saturated gauze on Bobby's neck that was beginning to drip, pooling at his collarbone.
The medic looked at Bobby wide-eyed, "Didn't you give him a morphine shot?" Bobby shook his head a slight twinkle and grin flashing across his eyes. "Geez, man, why didn't you say something earlier?" The medic grabbed a syringe and shot Binkie full of happy juice.
"Getting weak in your old age there, Bink." Bobby said patting his friend's arm, strapping his leg.
"This stuff's amazing!" Binkie said preparing to stand. "Let's go!"
"What are you doing!?" The medic halted Binkie's progress pushing him down onto the stretcher, securing him with straps. "Stay put." Ranger and the medic lifted and pushed Binkie into the back of the ambulance. "Secure!" He yelled up front smacking the back of the ambulance. He turned to Bobby, "Thank you. We're a little short handed tonight with that maniac hitting things through town. You need to go get yourself checked if not go to the hospital." Bobby shrugged. The medic shook his head and handed him some more gauze. "The ambulance over there," he pointed over to a fire truck, "is the stationary unit tending to superficial injuries, at least pay them a visit." The medic jumped into the back and took off with Binkie.
"Boss," Bobby nodded to Ranger, swaying as he stood. Ranger hooked his arm, guiding him toward the medvac unit. "What a night."
"Apparently." Ranger mumbled as they approached the medvac.
"Holy cow, man!" A paramedic said taking Bobby before he could tell Ranger any details. "Derick, I need a kit." He turned his attention back to his new patient, shining a light in his eyes. "What's your name?"
"Bobby."
"Okay, Bobby, this may hurt. What's your story?" He asked as he ripped the blood soaked patch off Bobby's neck. Bobby didn't flinch, he sat unfazed. Another paramedic came over mumbled, 'here you go Paul' and placed a box by his leg. Bobby looked up at Ranger knowing he should keep discretion with the details.
"Some nut was in the building and a stray bullet blew the radio off my shoulder. Guess I got a little shrapnel and a neck burn. Just slap a Band-Aid or cotton ball on."
"Little nothing, I'm surprised you didn't get the artery. There's no debris in this wound, but I will need to stitch it up."
"Can't I just do it myself?" Bobby asked.
Paul shook his head and swiped some antiseptic on the wound. "No. It'll go faster if you're not looking in a mirror." Ranger waited patiently as Paul thread the needle and began to suture.
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Paige and Joe walked over one street into what looked like Christmas with all the lights flashing. Joe had his arm wrapped around Paige's shoulder, keeping her close, his left arm leaving a trail of blood. Scanning the chaotic scene as they walked to the nearest ambulance he spied a man in black standing with his arms folded observing a medic attending to another black clad man. "Manoso."
Ranger looked up staring suspiciously at Joe and Paige. Joe felt a sudden tension grip Paige's shoulders as she caught Ranger's stare. "Carlos." Paige muttered.
"Detective Walker." No emotion showed on the three blank faces. "I see Miami didn't treat you well." Ranger muttered.
"Just doing my job, Carlos." Paige said coolly. Though the medic continued to stitch Bobby's neck, he careened it as far as he could to hear the conversation without stretching the stitching. Ranger continued to be emotionless.
"What does your job entail, Detective? Tired of the Miami sex life?" Ranger asked flatly.
"Go to hell, Manoso." Joe shot back. "You're the one to talk. Don't you have a bastard daughter back in Miami?"
Ranger let Joe's comment slide off him. "No one to fuck for information after my brother and Tanner?" Ranger's eyes flashed with malice, but his face gave away nothing.
"Tanner?" Joe asked confused.
Paige snapped. "Bastard!" Before Joe could react Paige swung a full force slap to Ranger across the face. Her hand never connected. Quicker than her assault, Ranger grabbed the insulting hand wrapped it behind her back, twisted her around, and pulled her against him. Completely amused, Bobby too reacted and jumped off the back of the ambulance and restrained a furious Joe. Paul was so stunned watching Bobby restrain a man with a needle and thread hanging out of his neck, he just let it unfold.
"Don't ever attempt to strike me again, Detective." Ranger whispered deathly in her ear. "Let's be big kids and act nice." Paige was breathing hard trying not to fight his hold. "You crossed me once before. You slandered my family and me. Never again. Understood?" Paige curtly nodded.
"Manoso! What the hell! Get off me Brown!" Joe was yelling, his Italian temper raging. "Are you threatening a police officer?"
"Hey!" Came Paul's voice, breaking away the confrontation. "Bring that neck over here now, Bobby. And you," he pointed to Joe and his dripping arm, "go see Derick on the other side of that truck." Ranger released Paige. She flipped around her emerald eyes on fire. She contemplated spitting on him, but thought better of it.
"Temper still matches the hair." Bobby said. He released Joe, who pulled Paige out of striking distance and walked to where he was directed, muttering expletives. Bobby could feel the blood trickling down his neck and realized he had a needle dangling on his shoulder. Obediently, Bobby walked back to Paul and sat down promising to be a good patient.
"Who the hell does he think he is?" Joe muttered to Paige. Derick sat Joe down and had him take off his coat and shirt. A smile flickered on Paige's mouth as his hard muscled body was revealed. Joe grinned and was brought back to reality as iodine was applied to wound and Paige's phone rang. "Excuse, me." She turned and walked over to the sidewalk to carry on a conversation.
"It's not very deep, Detective, just long." Derick said rummaging through his kit. "I'm not going to stitch you up. I'm going to apply a little bit of styptic to the gash and wrap you up. You should be bandaged and ready to leave in no time."
"Thanks." Joe muttered, watching Paige's animated conversation.
Within fifteen minutes, Joe was bandaged and dressed. Paige came back and gave him a questioning glance. "I'm afraid I'll live."
Paige gave him a quick hug. "That was Slater." Joe turned acknowledging his interest. "He checked some more of the shipping records to export records and dates of possible gun drop-offs and nothing matched. Damned dead end again. Any word on the driver."
"I'm in the dark as much as you." Joe shrugged his jacket back on. "Get, your hand cleaned, I'll find out some info." Paige nodded and sat in front of Derick. Joe walked back into the maze of activity and noticed Ranger nodding and signing a paper with Gamache. He decided to wait until Ranger was done talking to Armand before he approached. Joe looked around and noticed Stephanie standing off in the alley and walked over. "Steph." His eyes got wide as he got closer.
"Joe!" She stepped forward and gave him a hug, not noticing his grimace.
"What the hell, Cupcake?" Tank took a slight step forward and eyed Joe.
"What are you doing here? I thought you had the day off?"
"I'm a cop, there's a police incident. What are you doing here? And dressed like this." He took in her outfit and noticed her cheeks color.
"But I thought you were off duty. I told you I was doing a distraction." Stephanie said as she buttoned a button on her blouse.
"Yeah, well, I didn't think you would actually go through with it after you left this morning. For as much of a stink you threw about Paige, I thought you would have a little more decency with…your working relationship."
Stephanie gave him an incredulous look, "Seriously? I was working too!"
"Mmm hmm, I can see that." Joe rolled his eyes. "We were down the street when an erratic driver decided to shoot a gun and run us over." Stephanie gasped. "I have to get back."
"Are you okay?" Concern splashed on her face.
"Yeah. I got a ricochet," he touched his arm, "but we'll be fine." He turned and noticed Ranger and Bobby walking his way. "I gotta go." He gave a chagrined look to Stephanie and glared at the men behind her.
"Bobby!" Stephanie cried as she ran to him. "What happened?" Bobby pointed to his throat and voice box and shook his head sadly turning his hands up. "Oh, my god!" Stephanie threw her arms around him.
"Ass." Ranger said shoving Bobby.
"I'm just joking, Beautiful. I'm fine." Bobby said grinning.
"What happened? We were coming out of the bar and then…" Stephanie stopped. "Where's Binkie?" Noticing the funny looking guy wasn't around she looked at the blank faces of Ranger and Bobby.
Bobby put his hands up and hung his head shaking his head, hiding his smile.
"Um, Binkie didn't make it." Stephanie's distress turned to shock.
"Brown! Car. Now." Ranger ordered. "Babe, don't listen to a word he says."
"Oh, Stephanie, it's just too easy sometimes." Bobby said walking to the truck and helping Stephanie into the truck.
"You're a jerk!" Stephanie sassed as she stepped up.
"Santos, Tank, take the skip down and report back to RangeMan. Vince, take the com car back to RangeMan, we'll assess when we get back from St. Francis." The men nodded at Ranger and went to their respective vehicles. Ranger and Bobby climbed into the truck. Ranger looked in the mirror back at Bobby. Recognizing this was his way of asking what happened, Bobby began.
"Binkie and I were listening to some police shit go down on the scanner when you guys left to get Chuckles. The perp apparently broke into the hardware store next to our building to hide out from the police. Like a good criminal, he just wanted some alone time. The cops showed up to surround the building and exchange a good round of words back and forth. The guy in the building got pissed off and decided he wanted to leave, but the back was covered. Bastard decided to drop a firebomb out the door and threw another one out of the window into the street so he could escape.
"Obviously this shocked everyone, so he ran out of the building firing blindly as he jumped in his car. Threw another firebomb out the window and kept his finger on the trigger. Binkie got the kickback of the blast blowing his ass into the street and caught the guy's bumper as he sped off. Radio on my shoulder got hit by a bullet and exploded. Heh, guess I should be glad it wasn't an inch down or over."
"Bobby that's terrible!" Stephanie said turning around to face him.
"You gotta give the guy credit. He was making little homemade bombs while the police were trying to negotiate with him. Almost admirable." They arrived at St. Francis and Ranger parked in the visitor's lot near the emergency room entrance. Ranger turned the engine off and a slight sigh escaped.
"What was that?" Stephanie asked. Ranger didn't say anything. "Was that a…a sigh, Ranger?" Stephanie could hear Bobby chuckling as he got out of the car.
"Babe, since you entered my life, I have made more trips to St. Francis's emergency room overseeing injuries to my men, than before I even had RangeMan started. Now we're like frequent fliers."
"It could always be worse, Ranger."
"Let's hope not."
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Morelli got the same rundown of information that Bobby gave Ranger. "So why did he run? Is there a connection with anything else?" Joe asked.
"Nothing more as of yet." Armand said scratching his head. "All I know is this guy made a mess, and he's still out there making a bigger mess of the city. We got three cars chasing him down, and eight more at various barricades and intersections leading out of the city."
"Keep me posted. I don't see any dead bodies. I said I was taking the day off, so I'm still off. See you tomorrow." They shook hands and Joe turned away walking briskly back to his car.
"Joe! Hey, Joe, wait up!" Paige called after him as he turned the corner. She caught up to him as he approached the car and unlocked the doors. "What the hell? You were just going to leave me?" Joe placed a hand on the hood and shook his head disapprovingly as she stood before him, hands on hips.
"I don't get it, Walker. We're suppose to be partners and you give me a line of shit and bits and pieces about your time down in Miami. Then I got Manoso who seems to know more about you than I do, and I work with you for Christ's sake! What do you want me to think, huh?"
Paige kept a firm stare and dropped her hands to her sides. "I'm not sure what you want me to say."
"Not sure? That's all you can say? How about we start with Miami, huh? So you slept with Manoso's brother to get information. But then Manoso throws out a Tanner too, who knows who else, you fucking Manoso too?" Joe heard the slap before he felt the sting.
Joe rubbed his cheek and locked eyes with Paige. "I may have deserved that, but I won't condone it. Touchy subject, Honey?"
Paige didn't move, but he noticed her breathing trying to become more controlled, her jaw working overtime. "I have never, nor do I ever, plan on sleeping with Carlos Manoso. I think our interaction tonight was quite indicative of my relationship with Carlos." She hissed through clenched teeth, stopping to calm herself. "You're right, you deserve more than I have been giving you." She hung her head in slight shame. "I'll tell you whatever you want."
Joe felt his shoulders ease, not realizing the tension he had been carrying. "Thank you. I'm glad you feel that way."
"Should I start with Miami?"
Joe picked up her bandaged hand and rubbed the top. "Let's start with Tanner." Paige's head shot up and she swallowed hard.
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