26.
Still dressed in his BDUs and utterly exhausted from his day and fatherly duties which had piled on top of another when he stepped foot inside the house.
Not only did he have to call three of his Operators on their time off. Someone had to keep an eye on the Ranger and his daughter. Plus it was always good to practice recon work in suburban areas. Then it was off to the upstairs bedroom to talk with his son about women. After that dinner was done and the family got together, then it was bath-time for Daniel, which he was excluded from. Diana got Daniel in the tub to get the paint off him, while Sanderson and Rachael went to go catch Harry, who escaped from his pen. After that it was homework time. Followed by quality quiet time…and then 2120 rolled around.
At 2125 Ranger Rouze pulled into the driveway.
Once all five children were safety tucked inside the rather large home, and Sanderson bid farewell to his little spies. He locked up the house like Fort Knox in order to keep Daniel in, who had learned how to not only work deadbolts, but move furniture.
Only when everything was complete, locked, and home did he walk into his bedroom and collapse on his bed, still in his BDUs that he had started the day in.
From the bathroom came, "Did Lily get in touch with Matt?"
He was too exhausted to move.
"No. He's out on assignment. Colonel Steele is raising hell as we speak on the phone. Apparently there were a couple other wives who had been propositioned by the man. I'll go down tomorrow."
Diana made a noise of encouragement, then spat out something in the sink. She pointed a foamy toothbrush through the door, a few moments later she managed, "He was a disgusting little man anyway. Under the "not if he was the last man on earth" category."
Sanderson was tired and he knew he had one last thing to do. Convince the wife to quit her job.
Combat was easier.
"That's nice to know…what do you think of Ranger boy?"
He could hear her brushing her hair. But didn't have the will to move. Plus, there was a good chance he'd be banished to the couch. So he wanted to enjoy the bed as long as possible.
"Eh. Ali told me she doesn't know. She's giving it a week before he gets bored or frustrated and runs off with a Ranger Groupie."
Knowing his daughter had such knowledge of men made him cringe. He covered his face with his hands and groaned aloud.
He heard her set the hair brush down, turn off the bathroom light, and then turn the fan on. When he lifted his hands his heartbeat kicked up and blood traveled south. Propping himself up onto his elbows, his eyes followed his wife around the room, "Am I getting some tonight?"
Confused, Diana looked down at her clothes while putting clean clothes away.
Her sleeping clothes were in need of washing. Her clothes always took a backseat to Sanderson's and the kids in the washing. Which left her with the bottom of the drawer clothes. Super short booty shorts that had Hooah across to butt. Then there was the shirt…which was a basic baby-doll style shirt, but so old it was practically transparent.
Not even in the mood to be feisty, she continued to put clothes away, "Oh probably. But take all your guns and knives off. I only want to feel one gun tonight. Baby…why do we need all thirteen guns in the house?"
As he quickly pulled his weapons off and set them on the nightstand, he replied, "Home protection."
Diana rolled her eyes, but continued her folding and storing. Under her breath she murmured, "Well, when North Carolina decides to invade, we'll be set."
"What was that?"
With a bump of her hip the drawer was closed, "Oh. I have to go down to Rachael's Summer Camp tomorrow. Apparently her plans for world domination are concerning the head of the camp."
While he disarmed his BDUs, he groaned, "Didn't you tell him that she just has really high ambitions for someone so young?"
She gave him a smile.
Then pulled a G.I. Joe from his sock drawer and placed it on the top of the dresser. "I'll mention that."
Later that evening…
Angela lay sound asleep on the couch in what could have been either a colonial nightgown, or a white undershirt for a giant. A shirt that reached her calf when she stood.
When Garren was absolutely positive she was asleep he reached around the floor.
Not daring to move.
He'd learned she would wake at the simplest movement. At first it had hampered his ability to do his job. However, he was growing rather fond of his job. The perks were getting better and better. But the line between work and what was real was getting really blurry.
His hand patted around for his cell phone. He found it. Pulled it from the pocket under the couch and flipped it open.
The sleeping woman didn't so much as stir. Yet, he couldn't take any chances. When the phone began to ring and someone answered it, he spoke in rapid Chinese, knowing that the sleeping woman could wake. He knew she was fluent in French, German, and possibly other languages. He prayed she didn't know Chinese.
He couldn't risk blowing his cover.
He had gotten in really deep and could not fail.
He gave his serial number and real name. Then there was a click as his call was forwarded.
Then came a very calm voice over the line, "How's the progress."
No names were used.
No casual conversation exchanged.
It was strictly business.
Watching Angela intently, he replied, "None of the field Operators are the leak. I've managed to get moved to a desk. The colonel is clean and he trusts me so I have clearance. I'll know more after a day or so more. One Lee Howell may be the leak."
She didn't so much as stir.
Not at the movement from him talking, nor at the foreign language he spoke.
His commanding officer then inquired, "How's your cover?"
The question implied so much.
He'd been under for almost three years. He'd had to go through Selection, training, and even out in the field. He was essentially an Operator, not why he originally joined the Army. But he had formed friendships and enemies. It asked if he was ok. If there was a problem.
"Solid."
"Is the woman of any help to your investigation?"
He looked at the sleeping woman.
Unlike all the other women he had had on previous assignments, he was really hoping it worked. But he wasn't who she thought he was. He was not who he pretended to be. If she only knew.
"I'll contact you when I know more." He closed the phone and hid it back in the couch. Then he looked down at her sleeping head. She looked so peaceful. Garren wouldn't have woken her. Garren would have let her sleep. Garren would continue to be patient and understanding. Garren would make her breakfast and leave more little love notes in the morning, while selflessly giving up a career in the Army.
He traced calloused fingertips over her pierced ear. He was tired of being Garren when he was with her and with her children.