The Test

Warnings for angst and language.

Chapter Twenty Five

Ranger heard his door open and looked up to see Tank and Lester walking in.

Lester tried to lighten his cousin's obvious load "What's the matter Rangeman? Can't afford the light bill?

Ranger shook his head in annoyance as he hit the lights.

"Brown?" Ranger inquired.

Lester looked pained as he responded "No change. Still pretty out of it. Left him with Loretta and her sister. Two on the door."

Tank reminded them "Doc said there wouldn't be any change until the inflammation subsides and that'll be awhile. At this point, no news is good news."

Ranger rubbed his hands across his forehead "I've told the Doc to keep him mellow until we have a better idea of what direction he's headed. No point having him worried about his condition and having it delay his recovery."

Tank grinned "Lester, make a note of this new Rangeman approved approach to treatment for the manual."

Ranger noted "Santos. Include an addendum that this treatment doesn't apply to me – ever."

Lester smirked "As if there was any doubt…"

Tank leaned forward and spoke hesitantly "How you holding up, Ric?"

"Fine. I've had Mary Alice transferred to the private hospital we used in Atlanta and all the Plums are in the nearby safe house. Location is need to know only."

"We're working on the forensics for the warehouse and street but so far they haven't given us anything."

"I've authorized the men to offer a higher…incentive to the street for any information leading to Miguel."

Tank gave Ranger a look that clearly said he was speaking as his friend not his employee and stated "Not what I was asking, Man. How're you and Steph?"

Ranger's response was firm as he stated "We need to focus on the job at hand."

Lester stared at the floor for a moment as he prayed for it to swallow him whole. When that didn't happen he glanced up to see his eagle eyed cousin waiting impatiently for him to speak.

"Look, Ric…you know, we love Beautiful and we've all been happy for the two of you but…today…with Bobby…some of the men…"

"Spit it out, Santos."

"Some of the men have are…uneasy about working with her or guarding her. They just don't see why she went off like that. Why she keeps going off like that. They have concerns about the risk."

Ranger's face was devoid of any expression as he responded "Inform the men that they will be compensated for any duty that involves Stephanie. Also, any man who would prefer to opt out of said duty may do so without penalties."

"Lester's face reddened slightly as he asked "How you gonna compensation Brown, Boss?"

Tank's head started to ache as he looked back and forth between Ranger and Lester "He doesn't mean that the way it sounds, Ric."

Lester shrugged and then offered "No, I don't. Not really. I'm sorry, Ric. I know this is hard on you…it's just that money can't fix this."

Ranger's expression was bleak as he stated "I know it can't Les and you aren't telling me anything I haven't already figured out. I just don't know what to do here."

"I've had missions go FUBAR before but the reasons were out of my control. This situation with Stephanie was well within the sphere of my control and I looked the other way. For a long fucking time. Now, I have to live with that."

"And I have to find a way to insure this never happens again which means that either Stephanie changes or…" Ranger allowed his voice to drift off.

Tank shook his head "Man, how can you even consider it when you can't even say it? You can't let her go."

"Christ, do you think I want to? I can't imagine my life without her but I can't be with her like this and she may not accept my asking her to change…I'm the only person who's never asked that of her."

Lester started to speak but Tank cut him off "You still aren't asking her to change…not really. You're asking her to do more…get trained and expand her thought processes for everyone's sake. Including hers. If she can't see that…"

Ranger started to respond but only got as far as "Yeah…if she can't see that…" when he was interrupted by a loud knocking on his door.

The knocking was followed by the unauthorized entrance of Hal saying "Sir…"

Ranger gave Hal the look that made terrorists quake as he asked silkily "Did I or did I not leave instructions that I was not to be disturbed?"

Hal paled but answered steadily "You did, Sir."

"Is someone dead? "

"No, Sir."

"Have you found Miguel?"

"No, Sir but…"

"Given the lack of any type of dire circumstance I can only assume that you have of your own volition, decided to ignore my orders. Would that be correct?"

Tank and Lester exchanged nervous glances as Hal answered honestly if stupidly in their opinion "Yes, Sir but I have a reason…"

Ranger's voice became even sleeker as he inquired "And I didn't have a reason for my orders, Private?"

"Yes, Sir. I mean, no, Sir. I mean, I'm sure you did but you didn't know my reason and…"

"Private, are you laboring under the misapprehension that your reasons are more valid than mine? Or that your reasons make it in any way acceptable for you to discount mine and disobey a direct order?"

Lester and Tank watched the verbal volleying with interest and began to ESP as they wondered how they would be able to remove Hal's body from Haywood undetected. After all, the killing of a subordinate, however justified, was always bad for morale.

Neither Tank nor Lester could imagine what Hal was thinking…taking Ranger on under any circumstances was a stupid move but to do it while he was under this kind of pressure…scary to think that the Army had trained someone this dumb in explosives.

They were down a man with Bobby in the hospital and short staffed with Miguel on the loose so maybe they'd get lucky and Ranger would settle for hurting Hal badly but not permanently – then at least he'd be able to handle monitor duty. They could only hope…

Ranger fixed his most lethal glare on Hal's face as Hal seemed to belatedly remember that discretion might be the better part of valor but efficiency in execution could keep you alive. Especially under Ranger Manoso's command.

"Sir…please. You need to see this. Wouldn't have disturbed you otherwise but it's important. It's about Ms. Plum."

Ranger's voice froze "Has she left the fucking building?"

"Nnnoooo." Hal was stuttering now as he tried to explain "She's here but this is more from her than about her. To you."

"You read a private missive addressed to me?"

"Not as such, Sir. I thought it was evidence. I would never…not on purpose…it was an accident…"

"Evidence of what?"

"It was in her car. You need to read it, Ssssir."

Ranger held out a hand and Hal waited only until Ranger's fingers grasped the corner before he let go and ran from the room.

Everyone knew Hal lived in a constant state of awe when it came to Ranger so Tank and Lester exchanged glances as they wondered what Hal thought was important enough for him to defy a direct order from someone who scared the living shit out of him.

Ranger knew how Hal felt about him so he couldn't help but be curious as he lifted the paper and the words Stephanie had written began to echo in his head.

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