**Once again…everything is based on J.E.'s masterworks. I just like to play with them. **
Les POV
Tank had gone out and gotten a dozen large pizzas and arrived back just as the rest of the guys made it in. All eleven of us sat crammed into the hospital room, talking, laughing and eating. The pizza was gone, followed by the sodas and bottles of water that Hector, Cal and Hal had commandeered from the vending machines in the basement of the hospital. Gabi and I were curled up on the bed, her boots sitting on the floor next to my bed.
"Are you guys gonna get some clothes on?" Cal finally asked us, pointing to the gowns.
"What?" Ram asked standing and twirling around showing his bare ass to the entire room. Gabi giggled and buried her face in my chest. "You don't like it? I was going to keep this permanently."
Hector groaned and tossed a large black duffel bag at Ram, hitting him hard enough to bend him slightly at the waist. Bobby was in full view of Ram's ass.
"Fuck me!" Bobby yelled, covering his eyes. "My retinas are burning."
"I thought that I was burned into your eyes permanently." Gabi laughed at Bobby. His face turned white as his eyes nervously flicked to mine.
"What?" Cal questioned, his eyebrows furrowing together.
"These two..." Gabi pointed to Ram and Bobby. "Walked in on me naked this morning." She laughed as both of them tightened. She pointed back to Ram. "I'm still going to kick your ass for that."
"You saw her naked!" Cal screeched at Ram. "The tattoo?"
"Yep." Ram smirked, winking at Gabi. "It's a nice one." I reached for the bedside table and grabbed the closest thing I could reach, whipping it at Ram. Unfortunately, it was only a box of tissues and bounced off him with little to no damage. Gabi started giggling.
"How was it that both of you saw her naked?" Tank rumbled, his face contorted with anger.
"Uhhh..." Bobby began looking to Ram for support. Ram just laughed, wiping tears from his eyes. "She asked Ram to ask me to come up. She wanted to use the Xbox. I knocked but no one answered. I thought that maybe she was sleeping…or hurt. So I walked in…there she was standing naked in front of her bed." Bobby's eyes glassed over a bit.
"What the fuck, man!" I yelled, trying to reach out and punch him. He jumped out of the way before I could make contact. Gabi was full out laughing now, hiccupping and almost snorting. "You know this means that I have to kick your ass." Gabi smacked me on the shoulder and scowled before giggling again.
"It was an accident!" Bobby cried out. "I apologized. It was Ram that barged in even after Gabi told him not to!"
"Way to throw me under the bus." Ram laughed.
"You are all a bunch of fucking clowns." Ranger growled impatiently. "Diesel, would you be willing to pop me back to Haywood?"
"Sure thing, Batman." Diesel stood up, unzipping the bag and pulling out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Without flinching he pulled off the gown.
"Damn." I heard Gabi whisper. I growled and clapped my hand over her eyes. "What the hell, Les?" She whispered to me.
"Looking a little too hungry." I said flatly. She blushed and covered her eyes back up with my hand.
Diesel was dressed quickly, and was grabbed Ranger's forearm. I released my hand from Gabi's face.
"Take the men back to the safe house for the night. Two guards at the door. Schedule shifts. Call me when we have confirmation of their release." Ranger said, tilting his head towards me. "Keep her close cuz."
"No problem." I said as I watched them disappear.
GABI POV
A couple of hours later, I was still having hot flashes after seeing Diesel butt naked, but even more I was tired. A huge yawn escaped before I had the chance to suppress it. Les was drowsing next to me and Ram was passed out, snoring. I stood up and stretched.
"Cricket, do you want to come back to the safe house with us, or stay here? I bet we could get you a bed if you wanted to stay." Tank whispered to me. The guys were picking up the garbage and playing rock-paper-scissors to see who was going to stay. Tank and Cal lost.
"I will stay here. I can't go back there, not tonight. Plus, the guys need me here. It's my fault that they are here."
"Gabi, it's not your fault." Bobby said. I flitted my hand dismissing his words and walked towards the bags that Ranger had gotten and Cal had brought up from the SUV. I pulled out the cutesy star and moon pajamas. Bobby shook his head and smiled when he saw them. "Love the jammies."
"Ranger picked them out." I smirked, holding them out in front of me. "Wonder what this means?" I rolled my eyes.
"I don't know. Looks like something he would buy his daughter, Julie." Tank smiled.
"Great." I scoffed. Tank raised an eyebrow at me. "I was hoping that I could find one of you that could think of me as the bad-ass that I am. " I lifted my arms in a strong-man pose and growled. "See these guns!"
Tank and Bobby burst out laughing, waking up Ram who jumped a good two feet in the air before slipping off the bed and onto the floor. Les had sat up quickly, looking around the room. The sleep monster must have kicked his ass, because he looked like he was totally disorientated.
"What the fuck!" He moaned, rubbing his head as he got to his feet.
"Sorry, Ram." I said, biting my lip. I went over to him and checked his head, kissing the small bump he had gotten slamming onto the floor. "The guys are leaving, and I am going to get ready for bed."
"You gonna come snuggle up to me, Darling." Ram said in a bedroom voice, snaking an arm around me and playfully tickling my ribs.
"Uhhh...tempting….but no." I smiled. "Diesel doesn't seem to be coming back, so I am going to curl up in his bed. I am sure that with Cal and Tank at the door, we don't have to worry about Nurse Hatchet coming in and trying to stab you in your sleep."
"Alright, but if you get lonely….just let me know." Ram kissed my cheek and nodded to the guys before curling back into bed and falling asleep.
I said goodbye to the guys, each bending to give me hugs and kisses.
"Call me if you need me." Hector said, glancing towards Ram and Les. "You been through a lot tonight. I come right away." He pulled me into a huge hug, kissing me on both cheeks and my forehead. Winking, he strolled out of the room. Tank and Cal took their positions in front of the door and I slipped into the bathroom to change and get ready for bed. When I got out of the bathroom, the room was dark, except for the bluish glow from the television. Les was sitting up, his arm bent behind his head and the remote in his hand.
"Gorgeous, you wanna sit and watch television for a little bit?" He said, patting the blanket next to him. I nodded and curled up next to him. I sighed as his wrapped his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. "How are you doing…I mean…really doing?"
I shrugged my head. "I don't know. I guess that I am okay." I spoke softly not wanting to wake up Ram. "I do feel like I have a small weight off my shoulders. I guess that knowing that he is finally gone and that I have nothing to be afraid of will take away that part of my anxiety."
"Tank came in while you were dressing." He said softly. "He told me how he found you."
"Yeah." I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. "I couldn't get him off of me, Les. I tried. I just hadn't thought the whole thing through."
"Gabi, if you would have waited…shit, I don't even want to think about what could have happened to you." His grip tightened and he slipped a hand under my chin lifting my face so we were eye-to-eye. "What you did was incredibly brave and smart and…I am so proud of you." He kissed me gently on the lips.
We snuggled, watching television for a while longer. Soon, I felt Les' hand began to slide down my shoulder and land on the mattress. Glancing up at his face I saw that he was fast asleep. I smiled, pushing a stray hair back and slid my hand down his cheek. He looked so young when he slept, and so peaceful and innocent. He was only a few years older than me, but I knew from what stories I have heard about his military (and Rangeman) experience that he was aged well beyond his years. Kissing his cheek softly, I slipped out of his bed and crawled into Diesel's empty one. It didn't take long before I surrendered to sleep.
I woke snuggled warm and cozy, but I didn't want to open my eyes. I felt a warm body at my back and turned over cuddling deeper to it, wrapping a leg between his. Nuzzling my face into the bare chest, I wrapped my arm around his waist pulling him tightly against me. His hand gently caressed my back under my pajama top, running up and down my spine. I sighed and arched my back. Taking the invitation, he lowered his hand to my ass, pushing me gently up so our faces were a breath apart. I wrapped my arm up around his neck and pulled him to me, pressing my lips to his. When the kiss deepened I moaned, taking in a deep breath. I stopped, frozen. I smelled cookies and pine needles.
"Shit." I whispered, fluttering my eyes open. Diesel grinned at me, so I slammed my eyes shut again. "Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit."
"Good morning." His deep voice rumbled in my ear, his breath hot against my neck. "Sleep well?"
"Fuck." I whispered again, untangling myself from him. Before I could sit up, he pulled me back to him pressing me against him. "Let me go, Diesel." I snarled.
"You shouldn't start things you are willing to finish." He purred, wrapping his arms around me and kissing my neck.
"Let. Me. Go." I ground out, louder this time. I had a hand on either bicep and was pushing against him. I heard rustling of sheets.
"What the fuck!" Ram gasped, ripping off the blankets and pulling me out of Diesel's grasp. Les had woken just as Ram's arms wrapped around me to lift me off the bed.
"What the hell is going on?" Les growled, sitting up and staring at the three of us. I just scowled at Diesel, who was smirking.
"I don't know." Ram said. "But I woke up to Gabi telling Buzz Lightyear here to let go."
"Buzz Lightyear?" Diesel and I asked Ram together.
"Shut up!" Ram spat out. "It's early."
"What were you doing in bed with Gabi?" Les asked, standing over Diesel who was stretching his arms over his head.
"You mean MY bed." Diesel said, turning before whipping off the covers. Diesel was butt-ass naked. I buried my face in Ram's chest and tried to stifle a giggle.
"Jesus Christ." Les muttered. "Put some fucking clothes on." The door flung open and Tank strolled in followed by Hector and Cal.
"What's going on?" He demanded.
"Fucking Freak-boy curled in bed with Gabi naked and was getting fresh with her." Ram said pulling me towards his bed and sitting me down.
"She started it." Diesel said, pulling on a pair of jeans. "I was just minding my own business when she snaked herself around me and started making out."
"I DID NOT SNAKE!" I yelled, feeling my face get red. "I thought you were Les." Shit. I thought. That's embarrassing. I glanced over at Les who was smiling from ear to ear. "And anyways, I was sleeping there first, you came in uninvited."
Diesel barked out a laugh and Tank shook his head.
"I miss all the good shit." Cal said under his breath.
"AARG!" I groaned, jumping off the bed to grab the shopping bag before heading into the bathroom. "I am going to take a quick shower and then I am going for a walk."
A half hour later I came out the bathroom wearing jeans, a grey stretchy t-shirt, black CAT boots and a black hooded sweatshirt. I tossed the bag with my dirty cloths and pajamas onto the floor by Tank's feet. He was sitting in one of the lounge chairs, flipping through channels. Diesel, Ram and Les had gotten dressed and were currently chowing on hospital food.
"I'm going out." I said, sticking out a hand to Tank. "Could you lend me some money? I need to get something to eat and stuff. I can pay you back when we get to Trenton."
"Want me to come with you?" He asked, pulling out a couple of twenties and handing them to me.
"No." I said, stuffing the money in my pocket. "I just need some time without distractions."
"Take Cal at least." Tank said, nodding his head. "He will keep his distance if you need him to. And be back before noon. I know the minute these goons are released they are going to want to book it."
"Alright." I waved at the rest of the guys and headed out the door. I smiled at Cal and waved him over to me. "Bossman says you're coming with me, Handsome."
He nodded and followed a step behind me. We rode the elevator in silence and continued our non-conversation until we reached the edge of the parking lot.
"Where are we going?" He asked, finally breaking the gap between us and walking next to me.
"I need some air…and some food." I stopped walking and looked around. "I don't know where anything is here."
"I think there is a Denny's down a block or so this way." He pointed to the left. "And some sort of mom and pop place down the other way."
"Denny's?" I asked pointing in that direction. Cal shrugged and followed me down to the Denny's. We ate in relative silence, only stupid chit-chat about the weather or plans for when we got back to Trenton. We were walking back towards the hospital when I stopped in front of a gas station. "Do you have your ID on you?" I asked. He raised his eyebrow at me and nodded. "Good. Come with me."
There was a gas station across the street. I waited at the side of the road for traffic to clear before running across. When we reached the parking lot I pulled Cal's sleeve and motioned at the side of the building.
"Can you do me a favor?" I asked, toeing my boot in the gravel.
"Anything." He spoke softly, his eyebrow still raised.
"Get me a pack of smokes and a Mountain Dew?" I bit my lip waiting for him to say no. He stood staring at me for a moment before he spoke.
"You don't smoke." He said flatly. I rolled my eyes at him.
"Will you?" I asked again, this time flashing him a huge smile. He shook his head, agreed and stalked into the gas station. He returned a few minutes later carrying a bottle of Mountain Dew and a pack of Marlboro Lights. He handed them to me. "Thank you." I ripped open the bottle, chugging a third of it before packing the smokes. "You wouldn't happen to have fire on you, would you?"
He flipped out a solid black Zippo. I opened the pack, pulled out a smoke. He flicked the Zippo and I lit my smoke, inhaling deeply before letting out a sigh. I glanced at Cal who was just shaking his head.
"What?" I asked defensively. He grabbed the pack from my hands and pulled a smoke out for himself, lighting it and taking a drag before handing me back the pack.
"What am I going to do with you, Sexpot?" He shook his head again. I could feel my fish-face impression and quickly closed my mouth. "It's a bad habit. Definitely don't let Ranger see you. He quit years ago and the smell makes him itch for one."
"I didn't know you smoked, Cal?" I said, leaning up against the building and took another drag.
"I don't." He said, following my lead. "But you looked like you needed someone to join you."
I looked at him incredulously. "That is silly." Cal just shrugged.
"So, you gonna tell me what's up?" He took another drag and turned, so he was leaning on his shoulder.
"My head is all fucked up, Cal." I sighed, finishing the smoke and tossing it to the ground. "For fuck's sake…I'm smoking." I eyed the pack in his hand
"Didn't know you did." He said calmly, holding the pack out to me.
"I used to smoke pretty heavy until…well, until Q." I lit it. "I picked it up again after my recovery. I have one of those smokeless-electronic cigarettes that I use now. I just needed the real thing. It's been days since I had nicotine." I smiled at Hector who shook his head.
"How did I not know about that?" He said, probably more to himself than me. "I have never seen you with one."
"I'm pretty sneaky." I placed a finger on my nose and tapped it sarcastically. "Real sneaky."
He laughed before he put his hand on my shoulder. "You doing okay after last night?"
"Yeah. I think so." I kicked at a rock, trying to find it incredibly interesting.
"Gabi." He said, pulling my attention back up to him. "It's okay to be a little upset about it. The man was fucked up...they both were. When Tank found you...we thought that...shit, you were almost naked and covered in blood."
"You know…" I began looking into Cal's eyes. They were a soft hazel with green and gold flecks. "I am okay about what happened…for the most part. I don't feel scared anymore. I just still feel so…broken."
"Gabi, you went though some crazy shit and survived…and even better...you strived. Look at you. You are strong, funny and smart...not to mention beautiful. Give yourself some credit. I bet that once you realize how amazing you really are you might feel different."
"I guess." I stamped out that cigarette and looked up at the hospital across the street. My mind was going a million miles a minute. Diesel had gotten me all hot and bothered again, and I didn't know how to handle it. Maybe it's all the men that I am around all the time. I could always head back to Tennessee. I never had this problem there. I shook it off and turned to Cal. "I guess that we should be getting back, huh?"
"Yeah. I am sure that Les is in circles right now." Cal laughed, and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "I am sure that we are going to be heading back to Trenton soon."
"Good. I can't wait to get home. To my own bed." I giggled. Then I remembered that my apartment was trashed. "Shit. I don't have a bed. It got trashed when my apartment was ransacked."
"You can some stay with me?" He wagged his eyebrows at me. "Then maybe I will be able to finally see that tattoo of yours." He winked at me and I smacked him on the chest.