Disclaimer: Characters you recognize belong to JE and are used without permission
Disclaimer: Characters you recognize belong to JE and are used without permission. Original characters and the storyline are mine.
A/N: I'm sorry for the long delay between posts, my 'real life' hasn't been conductive to writing much lately. I started getting "are you ok?" and "please update!" PMs from some of you. Thank you! I think it was just the boost I needed.
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Chapter 21 – Devil's Night
By three-thirty the bar was half full and most of the customers wore some sort of costume. Bear was handing a coupon for a free non-alcoholic drink to everyone dressed up, which was turning out to be a well-received prize when the customers saw the specials board. Nearly everyone wanted to try one of the Halloween drinks. Bear was starting to wonder if they'd sell anything else tonight.
Next to Bear stood a young man dressed as Quasimodo. His name was Jesse, and he was a former employee who had volunteered to take pictures for the costume contest. Anyone in costume could enter by signing in, getting their picture taken, and taking a ticket with a number on it. Jessie had arrived at three with a digital camera, a digital picture frame, and a gadget that would attach to the bar's big flat-screen TV. The contest would close at eleven and the pictures would be on display on the flat-screen. At twelve the staff would vote and Bear would give out the prizes.
From four o'clock until after nine there was an almost constant stream of people going in and out but Bear still managed to keep an eye on everything. The menu was a big hit and he was glad he'd arranged for the couple from the deli down the street to bring in their portable catering stoves and do the cooking. All the specials were popular tonight, but the hands-down favorite – pardon the pun – was the hand sandwich. Everyone who ordered it laughed as it was put in front of them. From what he could see, it looked like each table was ordering one of everything, determined not to miss anything good.
Rabbit was having a lot of fun with the cauldron. There was usually a small group of people around it, watching it bubble and create the creepy fog that was forming.
Someone was pointing at the floating peeled grapes, and Bear caught part of Rabbit's comments.
"…never heard of eye of Newt? Do you know how hard it is to find guys named Newt around here?" and "No, why would I want it to cure warts?"
Behind the bar, Owl was making a big production of pouring blood from a bottle for a trio of college girls, making them squeal. "Of course, it's much better straight from the source," he was saying, flashing his fanged smile.
He couldn't figure out how Angel was managing to keep her pristine toga clean, and he smiled again when he caught sight of her white sneakers decorated with silver and gold paint.
Steph swept through the crowded room to deliver a full tray to a table where two couples sat. Bear watched as she deftly and dramatically placed each item on the table. He could see she was talking, enthralling the two women at the table just as much as the men, but he couldn't hear what she was saying. He shook his head as he watched her sashay away. How could she work in three-inch heels without breaking her ankles?
He heard a click and turned to see Jesse taking pictures of his crew, his camera following the Devil more often than the others.
"Who is that girl?" Jesse asked under his breath as Steph struck a pose with Angel for a woman with a camera.
"She's the Jersey Devil, kid – and she's the real deal. Don't fall for her. She'd eat a kid like you for lunch," he said with a grin, only half joking.
"I mean who is she really?"
"Jess, you wouldn't believe me even if I told you. Let's just say she's a living legend."
Before they'd opened tonight Bear had encouraged everyone to sit down for a minute, nibble something, and get a drink any time there was a lull. He'd know it would be busy and he didn't want his people too tired to enjoy the fun. They took turns taking quick breaks out of the bar. Owl spent his sitting on the back steps in the fresh air and moonlight. Angel sat down in the back room and bent to her toes to stretch her back. Doc chatted with Jesse about his camera. Rabbit stretched out on a bench in the back and closed her eyes, occasionally giggling to herself about some of the things that had happened so far tonight.
When it was Steph's turn she made her way to Bear's side.
"I'm going upstairs for my break," she said quietly.
"Anything wrong?" he asked, concerned.
"No, just want to fix my makeup. I'll be right back."
He nodded and she headed toward the back at a fast clip, leaving him to wonder if her 'spidey-sense' was still pinging.
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Steph ran up both flights of stairs and headed straight for her apartment. As soon as she was inside her eyes went to the table where she'd left a note before going down to work.
The note was still there, printed in big letters on a full sheet of paper.
Ranger, I know you're here. You might as well come talk to me.
Her heart started hammering in her chest when she saw the new writing below.
Midnight. R.
She dropped into a chair. He was here! It hadn't been her imagination; her 'spidey-sense' was still working.
Kicking off her shoes, she stretched her legs and feet before padding into the bathroom. She relieved herself, washed her hands, and checked her makeup. Her hand was steady as she touched up her lips with the eight-hour lipstick she'd bought to match the costume. A smile crept across her face as she wondered if Ranger would wear a costume into the bar. She didn't see him as the kind of man to dress up for Halloween, but with him she was never sure. He surprised her sometimes.
She stretched again and then straightened her costume and put her shoes back on. It hadn't been much of a break but she had gotten used to the long hours on her feet. Besides, seeing the note had given her a surge of adrenaline.
Back in the bar her eyes flicked to the clock as she checked her tables. It was a quarter after ten. Less than two hours and she'd see Ranger… But she had to finish her shift. Would he stay?
Bear noticed her edginess a little later and wondered what was up, but he didn't have time to find out. The bar was packed. The costume contest closed at eleven, and everyone was watching the 'slide-show' on the flat-screen and arguing about their picks for the various categories. The staff was taking turns going behind the bar and looking through the contestants on the digital picture frame, casting their votes. Some of the customers were arguing about which of the staff's costumes was best.
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At twelve o'clock sharp Bear announced the winners and handed out the prizes and was trying to make his way back to his post at the door. His progress was slowed some by customers who stopped him to say how much they enjoyed the evening, or mention what their favorite part was. He was almost to the door when he heard a glass shatter on the floor near the bar. It wasn't surprising or even all that unusual -- but still, he turned to look in the sudden hush of the bar.
Angel was standing frozen, gripping her tray like a shield. Bear followed her gaze to the barstool at the end of the bar, against the wall, where Steph had first appeared. Now a man all in black sat there.
Jess stepped up beside Bear, whispering, "Where did that guy come from? He didn't come thought this door – I'd remember."
Bear agreed, frowning. The man was all in black – black shirt and pants, black boots, black cape that couldn't conceal the width of his shoulders. A black hat was pulled down to conceal most of his face so all that was visible was the strong line of his beard-shadowed jaw and his shoulder-length black hair.
He didn't realize he'd started forward until Steph waved him off. The sound level was beginning to creep back up as he watched her go to Angel and touch her shoulder reassuringly before walking up to the man. Rabbit was blatantly staring, and Owl and Doc were watchful as Steph stopped and put her hands on her hips.
"You had to make an entrance?"
The man replied without raising his head, his voice low and slightly husky, lightly accented. "What can I say, Babe? The Devil made me do it."
He raised his head slightly and Bear saw his half-smile for a moment. Then Steph laughed and pushed the hat backwards off his head, letting it fall back to reveal the black bandana Zorro mask and Ranger's glittering black eyes.
More than a few spectators gasped when Steph stepped closer and kissed him, her hand coming up to cup his jaw. Ranger's hand splayed wide across her back to hold her in place. Bear felt a stir of envy and beside him he heard Jesse sigh.
"I guess she knows him," Jesse said sadly.
"I guess she does."
Stephanie broke the kiss reluctantly, well aware that most of the eyes in the bar were on them. "Will you stay?" she whispered against his lips.
She felt more than saw his faint nod, and she drew a shaky breath before drawing back. "We close at two an—"
He stopped her with a gentle finger across her lips. "I'll be here, Babe. I'm not going anywhere."
Time suddenly seemed to crawl. Stephanie tried hard to do her job with her usual efficiency even with Ranger's eyes following her. She dodged grasping hands, ignored personal questions, and gently turned down an inebriated proposal. She knew when Ranger responded to Owl's slightly-timid inquiry from behind the bar, and smiled to herself when he seemed to be trying all three of the drinks. Occasionally she caught Ranger's gaze and barely-there smile. But mostly she kept her distance.
Her senses seemed to have gone into hyper-alert; she was aware of everything. She saw the curious looks and the drooling, and heard the speculations being whispered behind hands. She fielded questions as to Zorro's identity and whether or not he knew how to use the real Spanish rapier he wore. She knew exactly when Bear began to make his way toward the bar.
Ranger watched the Native man approach with mixed feelings, wondering if he was about to be grilled or warned off. The way the man carried himself as he walked across the room suggested he'd had training and experience, as did the play of muscle visible in his arms and chest bared by the breastplate. He might be fifteen or twenty years his senior, but Ranger wouldn't bet against him in a fight. Still, Bear managed to surprise him.
"Ranger, I presume?" Bear inquired.
Ranger's eyes narrowed slightly but he nodded, shaking Bear's extended hand briefly.
"Steph mentioned your street name a few days ago. I'm David Navarre, Strong Bear or just Bear to my friends."
"David Navarre. That sounds familiar… Seal Team Three Lt. David Navarre?"
Now it was Bear's turn to be surprised. "I thought Steph said you were an Army Ranger."
"I was, but I worked a few joint projects." Ranger gestured to the seat next to him, inviting Bear to join him.
Bear slid onto the barstool. "I Googled Steph a while ago, when it was obvious she wasn't going to tell me the rest of her story. It was pretty easy to figure out why she might need a break if any of what was printed was true."
Ranger's lips tilted in a rueful smile. "What made it into print was usually only the tip of the iceberg. I just wish she'd told me how she felt instead of taking off. I would have helped."
"Why did you wait so long to come after her?"
"I didn't. She's got the gift."
Bear's eyebrow went up at the phrase. It was slang for the ability to disappear without a trace and generally used only by the upper-echelon 'black-ops' crews in Special Forces. "I didn't catch your name," he hinted.
One corner of Ranger's lips quirked up. "Carlos Manoso, RangeMan Security."
"Retired from the Army?"
"Mostly."
Bear chuckled and let that slide. "I still can't picture Steph as a bounty hunter. Is she good?"
"Her capture rate is nearly one hundred percent. She's got luck and a knack for knowing what people will do." There was a trace of pride in his voice that wasn't lost on Bear.
"Her 'spidey-sense'?" Bear asked.
"She told you about that?"
"She mentioned it." Across the bar an argument was breaking out and Bear glanced over. He frowned but tossed back over his shoulder as he got up, "That's how she knew you were here a week ago."
After a moment of stunned silence, Ranger chuckled.
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TBC…
A/N2: I know, it wasn't as much as you wanted! I'll try to get the next chapter (the 'good' one!) up soon.