Disclaimer: All the characters you recognize from the Stephanie Plum books belong to Janet Evanovich.
A/N: This story isn't beta'ed. Any grammar faults or spelling errors are not to be considered flaws or defects but enhance the individual beauty : )
Thanks so much to everybody who left a note for the last chapter! Your support feeds my muse and makes her want to continue writing.
Regarding the reviews: One of you wrote something that made me stop and think... I didn't really mean to take the chapter hostage in the meaning of blackmailing you 'If you don't review, then I won't update' ... that's really not my style. It was rather meant as a temptation that I'm going to update daily, if you just leave some supportive words for me. In the end I guess it's the same and I can't say I feel good about that.
Some of you are writers themselves and know the effect of reviews or the lack of them; but the majority I guess are 'just' readers and I understand that you wonder what the hell is so important about those notes. From a writer's POV they are the only reward we get for all the effort and love we put into our works. It ranges from a verbal clap on the shoulder to literally stroking our souls. It might feel awkward at times, or unnerving, or you simply don't know what to say; but leave a few words - even if it's just a 'good job' because on the other side of the world sits someone who gets all mushy and keeps writing thanks to your little notes.
Chapter 29 – Newark's New Spring Champion
Five days later, six o'clock in the morning, Hal and Steph's apartment
Steph let the spoon fall into her bowl of cereals and laughed out loud. "You did WHAT?"
At the other end of the line, Hal chuckled. "I grabbed my crutches, stalked out of the bathroom, stark naked, and asked her what the fuck was so important."
"Oh my god. You can't do that. That poor nurse will never set foot into your room again," she admonished him with a smile.
"Good. That was exactly what I was aiming for. Nobody likes her. She treats us paraplegics as though we had some sort of brain damage. Imagine that, she was responsible for helping Josh with his bath and she called his cock winkie and talked to him as though he was a little kid. Puh-leaze."
"Josh has enough testosterone for two. He will survive," Steph laughing shook her head and picked up her spoon again. Hal and she were having breakfast, each on their cell phone, and shooting the shit about the group of new nurses making their rounds at the paraplegic unit. Today was Stephanie's big day; her first Jiu-Jitsu fight in Newark and nervous didn't begin to describe her state.
"He told me that he'll be thinking about you today and to tell you to beat the others to bloody pulps."
"This is not about beating anybody to a bloody pulp," Stephanie rolled her eyes.
"I know that; but he destroyed each and every memo you sent him. That kid has his priorities straight," the male voice at the other end of the line laughed. "So how are you feeling, Angel, now that you have sexy me on the phone?"
"Irrevocably in love and utterly calm. I hate that you can't be with me today. This day is special. I want to share it with you," she sighed.
In Princeton, Hal smiled while consoling his woman on the phone. She didn't know about the surprise he had planned for her. The competition started in Newark at nine a.m. and a handicapped accessible cab would pick him up at the Rehab Center and bring him to the sports arena the event took place just in time for the first fights. Everything was planned out and passed by the head of the paraplegic unit; his absence allowed till six p.m. when dinner would be served. He couldn't wait to see her face when he rolled up to her.
"It's going to be okay, Angel, I promise," he comforted her. "You will see, everything will turn out fine. And of course you will blow them out of their socks."
"We won't wear socks on the mats."
"Gah," Hal exclaimed. "Then you will blow them out of their GIs," he laughed.
"Yes, sir," Steph smiled back at him. "Listen, Baby, I have to go and start packing my stuff. There will be fights on six mats at the same time and Ram and Cal want to leave early to save us a place directly near the mats I will fight on."
"No problem. Go, do your thing and call me whenever you need a pep-talk. Love you, Angel."
"Right back at ya. Bye, Baby."
Steph rinsed her cereal bowl and put it into the dishwasher before trudging back into the bedroom. The moment she hung up the agitation flooded back and she was feeling distressed once more. The bathrobe went back to its hook on the bathroom door before she went into the closet, looking at herself in the full length mirror mounted to the side. She looked good in her blue strings and sports-bra. They matched the blue color of her GI beautifully. Her body was toned, the muscle definition giving her a rush. She had always found her looks medium; not that bad; but also not beautiful. Seeing herself now and turning around in front of the mirror, Steph couldn't deny the beauty looking back at her. She looked good and with a little luck she'd look even better tonight after she managed to kick some ass.
Taking the GI off the shelf it was lying on, Steph held it to her nose and inhaled deeply. Hmmmm. Freshly washed and ironed with Ella's love. She put the bottoms and jacket plus the white belt she would wear on the bed. Fuzzy socks, a set of fresh clothes, her shower gel, shampoo and two fresh towels went into the bottom of her sports bag. Cal would pack energy drinks, smoothies, little snacks plus bandages and cool packs in case she would get smacked around. Looking at the bag lying at the foot of the bed, Steph started to stretch out to hopefully settle her unnerved mind. Everything would be fine. Cal promised he would never let her enter the competition if he wasn't sure she was ready and come out the other end as a winner. Going down into the splits, she moved first towards the one foot, then turned and moved toward the other one. She could do this. Hal was waiting for her reports, not leaving his cell phone for a second today. He promised. Steph's upper body was resting on the floor between her split legs when there was a cheerful knock at the front door.
"Come in," she hollered and heard Ram announce himself a second later.
"Nervous?" He asked once he stood in the doorway to the bedroom and saw her lying in a split on the floor.
"How do you know?"
"Cal is the same before competitions. Keyed up and on edge. Once I found him in a headstand in the closet telling me it helped him to remember what to pack into his bag," Ram smiled at the memory. "Since that day I pack his stuff and let him get into his zone. I thought to check in and see if you need some help, too," he pointed to the sports bag lying on the end of the bed.
Walking over, he looked inside and smiling walked to the bathroom while Steph lay down on the bed watching him.
"You don't want to forget two hair ribbons; one for use and one as spare in case you lose the first one or it snaps. Then a brush. It's amazing how brushing your hair can calm you," he came back and put all three items in a side pouch of the bag. "Your mp3-player and a book or magazine; at least two different things because you can't know now what will help distract you later on. I know that Cal packed the bandages, tape, cool packs and Arnica salve, plus some circulation-enhancing massage oil in case you need a rub down. We also have all the nutrition you will need covered plus the paperwork necessary for your admittance. Now, last but not least we need your hand and foot gear, plus your GIs," he packed them on top of the remaining stuff and zipped the bag, "plus, as nice as you are looking, you should put on some clothes before we leave the apartment," Ram grinned.
Stephanie looked down at herself, sprawled on top of the covers just in strings and sports-bra, and squeaked before rushing into the closet.
"Damn, Ram. Why didn't you say something before."
"Because you looked absolutely adorable, flustered as you were and hanging onto my every word," he laughed good-naturedly.
Steph stuck her tongue out at him and quickly pulled on yoga-pants, a t-shirt and one of Hal's hoodies before slipping socks and sneakers on.
"You ready, Sweetie?" Ram had his hands on her shoulders and was looking right into her eyes.
Steph gulped and nodded bravely. After a last visit to the bathroom, she and Ram left her apartment and took the stairs down to the garage. Ram had his arms slung around Steph's shoulders; both to hold her upright and to keep her from bailing and Cal laughed at the sight of the two entering the garage.
"Someone showing nerves, eh?" He smiled brightly.
"You better shut up my man," Ram narrowed his eyes at him. "Or do I have to remind you about your own well-being ahead of competitions?"
He helped Steph into the backseat of the waiting SUV and pressed a loving kiss to her brow. "Let him talk, Sweetie. Just remember what I told you," he smiled before closing the door and getting into the passenger seat.
~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#
Newark Legends Arena, Newark
It was eight o'clock when they pulled into the parking lot of the sports arena in Newark that had just opened its doors.
"Perfect," Cal nodded satisfied when he saw the time. "We will find a very good place this way."
Of course he found a parking space right in front of the main entrance, causing Steph to roll her eyes, and packed with two sport bags, folding chairs and a rolled up yoga-mat to stretch out they found their way into the arena.
"Oh my god," Steph took everything in. "This is HUGE."
"Hey Cal, Stephanie," a Hispanic man hollered over to them. "Good to see you."
"Julio," Cal greeted the Jiu-Jitsu trainer of the Gracie Trainings Center in New York. "Scouted out the place?"
"Yeah, the beginners are in the far right corner."
"That's where we will head then," Cal nodded toward Ram and Steph before turning his attention back to the man in front of him. "Good luck, Julio. Guess, our girls will meet on the mats," he grinned.
"Our girls will meet, and the Gracie ladies will win," Julio laughed before friendly shaking Cal's hand.
A few minutes later they found their mats and had free reign on any spot they wanted.
"This is perfect," Cal put the bags down and motioned for Ram to do the same with the folding chairs and yoga mat. "Steph, take these papers with you, change into your GI and then go to the weighing," he instructed and then made himself busy with setting up camp.
Twenty minutes later, Stephanie was back. She had already met the girls she had fought against at the assessment day in New York. They were nice enough and gave her a few pointers what to expect and by that helped Steph to settle her nerves. When she came back to Ram and Cal, the arena had visibly filled and the noise level had risen.
"130 lbs; Light Featherweight," she reported to Cal while stashing her bag next to his. "If I could manage to lose 4 more pounds I could be in Roosterweight."
"You better not, Sweetie. You are already too skinny the way you are now. If it would be up to me, I'd have you at 145 lbs and in Featherweight. You would be unstoppable there," Cal held her eyes and waited for what he knew would come.
"I'd be fat."
"Bullshit, you would look amazing plus you would have more stamina. I bet Hal won't have a problem with you gaining a little more weight at all the right places. It would make you even sexier than you already are."
Stephanie looked at him doubtful and put the fuzzy socks on she brought with her against the chill in her bare feet. The arena filled quickly now, not just with competitors but also with spectators on the stands. Everywhere around them, trainers and their students were filling up the remaining space around the mats, some cheerfully calling out to each other, others looking grim and already in their zone. Steph took everything in and felt at awe. A year ago, even half a year ago, she'd never have guessed to enter a martial arts competition one day and here she was, about to fight her first match. Nine o'clock on the dot, the speakers above them cackled and a hush fell over the crowd.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we welcome you to this year's Newark Jiu-Jitsu Spring Tournament. With 435 competitors we once more rock the scale and hope to bring joy and satisfaction to every contestant. All weight divisions and classes are accounted for, you know the rules, keep these fair games and LET THE MATCHES BEGIN!" The announcer hollered into the microphone.
A cheer erupted from the crowd and suddenly, Steph could see the mats becoming busy with all kinds of judges, those sitting at tables at the ringside and those involved on the mats. Before she knew it the first fight was called out in front of them and Cal made her drink a few swallows of an energy drink and nipple on a granola bar.
"You are the fifth fight. Go and warm up," he kissed her temple after taking the drink and bar back from her and watching her leave for the warm-up area aside the mats.
Suddenly, time seemed to fly by and before she knew it, Cal was waving her to come back.
"Okay, Sweetie. That's it. You are next. The woman you are fighting against is one of Julio's girls; but she can't hold a candle to you. Remember, don't wait for an attack. Watch her body language and if you think you have a feel for it, go. Surprise her with your fast movements and reflexes. You can bring Bubble, Ram and me down, so that girl will be a ride in the park," he pep-talked her, hands on her shoulders, slightly massaging, while Steph bounced on the balls of her feet, her eyes never leaving the match on the mats.
The bell ringed and the fight was over. Steph started to shake out her arms and legs and stretch her neck. Her training kicked in and the nervousness was gone, replaced by focus and determination. The judge announced the winner and the contestants left the mats. After a couple more bounces, Steph turned around and found Cal's eyes.
"Go, get'em Tiger," Cal squeezed her shoulders a last time, then gave her a little push towards the mats.
Steph and the other woman stepped onto the mats; bowed to each other, stepped inside the fighting square, bowed to the judge, then again to each other before bumping fists. The judge started the fight and immediately the two women danced around each other, looking for a good opening. Her opponent was young, just twenty, and smooth in her moves; but Steph had the cool and the trained eye both from training with Cal and Bubble but also from her work as BEA. Within moments, she got a feel for the other girl's movements and struck. Ram and Cal were beside themselves, shouting,
"GO! GET HER STEPH,"
But their hoots barely registered as Steph attacked and within seconds brought her opponent down onto the mats, wrapping herself around her in a choke hold. There was nothing the young girl could do but to give in. They jumped back up, bowed, the judge gave them the go and on they went. Not once did Steph give the girl the chance to get in a proper kick, punch or hold; she had the drop on her and enjoyed every minute of it. Grabbing her jacket, pulling her roughly into her body, Steph threw her over her hip and followed her down onto the mats, just as the bell ringed announcing the end of the fight. There was no doubt who the winner was.
"Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod," Steph was short of hysteric and jumped around the mats making it hard for the judge to get a hold of her. She was about to fly into Cal's arms, when she realized his frantic arm movements that she had to stay away.
"Miss," one of the three ring judges was suddenly beside her, holding her back before she could do one more step. "If you leave these mats now, we have to disqualify you," he looked earnest; but couldn't hide the smile behind his stern face.
"Whoops." If her head hadn't already been red by the exertion of the match, the blush on Steph's face had illuminated the whole arena. "Sorry," she smiled ashamed at the man next to her. "I'll be good now, promised, I'm just so happy."
"No problem," the judge laughed warmly. "That's why I like to referee the beginners so much. Your joy over even small wins is just heartwarming," he lead her back next to his colleague who then proceeded to announce her the winner of the match. After another round of bows and congratulations to Julio's girl, Steph was finally free to leave the mats and jumped into Cal's waiting arms.
"I won, Cal … oh my god, I won," she hugged him as tight as she could while her legs were wrapped around his waist. "Did you see that? I never let her get to me. I did exactly what you and Bubble taught me," the exuberant joy bubbled out of her.
"Yes, you did, Sweetie. You were amazing," he smiled, setting her down and pushing her towards Ram who pressed a sloppy wet kiss on her brow and hugged her to him. "You were like a steam hammer, never dropping your intensity. It was breathtaking to watch. I'm so proud of you."
"We are so proud of you," Ram seconded that.
"Hey, what about me? Do I get a hug, too?" An unexpected voice sounded from behind them.
Steph couldn't hold back the squeal when she rushed into Hal's waiting arms. "I won, Baby. I won," she pressed a hard kiss onto his waiting lips. "Wait. What are you doing here? How did you get here? You are supposed to be in Princeton," happy tears were coming thick and fast.
"Hush, Angel" he squeezed her to him before pressing a more loving kiss to her lips in return. "My woman is having her first Jiu-Jitsu competition today and I swore to myself to be there and cheer her on. A handicapped accessible cab brought me here and I'm all yours until about half past four. Then the cab is picking me up again and I have to head back."
Steph couldn't believe her ears. The man who was afraid of going out on his own, who was just convalescing from a major attack during his only time out alone, organized a cab and drove the whole long way to Newark to surprise and be with her. Tackling the crowds within the arena alone must have been a challenge.
"I can't believe you are here," she whispered into his ear, nuzzling it. "I love you."
"Man, great to see you," Ram broke their moment before it could turn too private for public eyes. "You should have called us, we would have picked you up."
"And missing out Steph's face when she just saw me? Never," Hal smiled and did a complicated handshake with him and Cal. "I wanted to tackle this alone. Worked with my therapist on planning every eventuality and having contingency plans in place. I'm prepped," he pointed at the daypack mounted to the back of his wheelchair.
Shaking their heads; but being happy, Cal and Ram made room for Hal's wheelchair and then proceeded to run the first half of Steph's fight by him that he had missed. Cal had mounted a digital camera on a tripod and recorded the whole match and they were now going over it, working out what had been good and what could have been even better.
The following hours went by in a blur of talking, watching the other matches and Steph's own fights. Cal took superb care of her, kept her constantly fed and watered with his smoothies, energy drinks and snacks before her blood sugars could spin out of control plus around lunch time he gave her a heavenly rub-down that caused Steph to fall asleep in the middle of the bustle around her.
"She's something else, that's for sure," Julio's eyes raked over a napping Stephanie. Cal had covered her with Hal's oversized hoodie so there wasn't much to see from her; but the man's eyes were lusting all the same. "I want her to start under the name Gracie. I know you are training her well, Cal; but you can do just that much for her. She could profit from a connection with us. What do you say? She comes every other week for a day of training to New York and I provide her with challenging partners. In return she will start for us from now on."
Julio Sanchez was a good looking man, a champion on the mats, and the main trainer at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Training Center New York. He had come over for a friendly exchange with Cal and now turned his head and raised his eyebrows at Hal who had started to growl when Julio's eyes lingered on Steph.
"If you keep looking at her like that, you overstep boundaries," Hal growled not too friendly at the built man; his icy blue eyes so cold a chill went out from them. Cal and Ram took notice and fluently stood up towering over Sanchez. They had seen Julio's look at Steph; but since they knew the man's big ego and mouth it didn't raise any alarm in them. Seeing Hal bristling was enough to remedy that. It didn't matter that Steph would be able to handle the bigmouth on her own. Their friend was irritated and they were ready to back him up.
"Whoa, chill it, guys," Julio Sanchez took a step backward. "Didn't mean to step on anyone's toes. She's your woman?" He looked at Hal and then nodded in direction of Steph.
"Yeah, and you won't disrespect her by thinking and talking about her like some piece of ass. I might sit in a wheelchair; but I'm not helpless," Hal's eyes nailed him down. "And she sure as hell isn't either."
The Hispanic man lifted his hands in defeat and chuckled. "Now, can't have myself getting attacked by a handicapped, can I?" He smirked, obviously amused by the idea.
That rubbed Cal the wrong way.
"Listen Sanchez, your behavior right now is uncalled for. Stephanie's training is in good hands. If she wants to change anything about it, that is her decision. And don't disrespect my friend, we clear?" Cal took a step forward into Julio's personal space and stared down into his eyes.
Realizing his joking wasn't meeting open ears, the man held his hands up, took a step back, turned and vanished.
"Who the hell was that?" Hal asked Cal, positioning his wheelchair on the other side of Steph lying on the yoga-mat, effectively protecting her from any curious eyes.
"He's an acquaintance. Don't think about him, man. Julio is full of himself; but aside from that a really nice guy who takes excellent care of his students."
"Didn't like how he looked at my Angel."
"No shit, bro'," Cal grinned at him. "That eye thing you did was really cool. Suddenly it felt like the temperature dropped to freezing point."
"You have to work with what you got," Hal grinned back before lovingly looking down at Stephanie, snoozing, oblivious to what was going on around her. Soon enough, Cal would get her up again so she could prep herself for her next fight. He couldn't wait. Seeing Steph out there on the mats, intense, full of focus and determination was a major turn on for him. He didn't care whether she would win her class today or not, just seeing the fight and spirit in her was enough for him to be happy.
And happy they were, all of them. The afternoon matches were a single road of success for Steph and soon enough it was time for the last and deciding fight; the finale. Hal had called the Rehab Center and told them that he would be late because he had to see that last match, at all costs, and he and Ram were now watching Cal and Steph at the warm-up area, getting ready. Julio was there, too, with his girl Ramona. She was well-experienced for a white-belt, had several pounds on Steph while being four inches shorter. She looked sturdy and it would be a hard fight since Steph was used to fighting with men all bigger than her. Adjusting to someone smaller would be a challenge.
Hal rolled his wheelchair as close to the mats as was allowed so he wouldn't miss a thing and had still enough room to place the tripod with the camera in front of him. A nudge from Ram and he turned and saw Steph and Cal coming back. The expression on Steph's face took his breath away. She always joked about the guys' zones; but today she had found her own and nothing happening around her could perturb her. Bouncing on her feet, her eyes held Cal's who was talking to her intensely. Ramona was on the other side of the mats getting ready. Cal checked Steph's foot and hand gear one last time, squeezed her shoulders before pulling her to him for a quick hug.
"Go, get'em Tiger," he told Steph and pushed her towards the mats just as the judges took their places and beckoned the fighters over to them.
"You can do that, Angel," Hal hollered over to her and smiled when she didn't turn or acknowledged him otherwise. She probably hadn't heard him at all.
Steph never let Ramona out of her eyes and nonetheless the immediate attack after bumping fists took her by surprise. Before she could react, Steph flew to the ground and felt a feet connecting with her face, hard, taking her breath away for a second. That second was long enough for Ramona to get her into a choke hold and constrict her air supply. Steph didn't realize that Cal was complaining about the irregular kick, nor did she hear Ram and Hal shouting at the top of their lungs. All she could think of was the blackness starting to diffuse her sight at the edges and it made her angry. She didn't come that far just to give up now. Pulling her legs as close to her body as she could, she put her feet to the other girl's crotch and pushed with all the force in her, making her fly to the side and loosen the grip she had on the lapels of Steph's jacket. Not with me, sissy, Steph thought and smashed her body into Ramona's side causing her to fall over. This time it was her on top of the game, holding her opponent in a choke hold, not letting go, no matter how much she writhed beneath her. In the end, Julio's student had no other chance but to give in and the judge broke them up, sending them in opposite directions. Steph danced on the balls of her feet, waiting for the judge to restart the match. When he did, Ramona came at Steph with fists flying, this time punching her on the opposite side of the face, kicking her in the gut and trying to hurl her down onto the mats once more. Steph was seeing little dots dancing in front of her eyes; but held against it. Apparently, this girl wanted to fight dirty. Well, she could do that, too. Steph unleashed the beast in her that Cal and Bubble had actually trained for her bounty hunting job. Catching herself, she got back in control and counterattacked, her fists and feet a blur of motion that Ramona couldn't withstand. In a flash the girl was on her back, held down with a growl by a really irritated Steph. Once the judge gave her the points, let them stand up and restart, she was on Ramona like white on rice, kicking and punching and using the energy of her movements to bring her opponent down again and yet again.
Hal sat in his wheelchair, the camera in front of him, and couldn't move his eyes from Steph. She was so utterly sexy, stripped down to her primal instincts, reflexes and iron will. That was his girl and he couldn't have been more proud. He couldn't say how long the two women were already going at it; but he could see that Steph was winding down and he hoped it would be over soon. Steph and the other girl were lying in a bunch on the ground, each digging deep, fighting to get the upper hand on the situation. Finally, the ring belled and the judge separated them a last time. He made them bow to each other and shake hands before he took both their hands and shouted loudly,
"THE WINNER AND SPRING CHAMPION WHITE BELT / LIGHT FEATHERWEIGHT IIIIIIIIS…. STEPHANIE PLUM."
He pulled Steph's arm in the air and she couldn't stop the waterworks from starting. Her jacket was pulled out from under the belt, hanging loose and open, showing off her abs and sports-bra, but she didn't care. She congratulated Julio's girl again and then stumbled off the mats and into Cal's waiting arms, her hands over her mouth, muting her cries.
"I won," she sobbed into his shirt. "I really won. I can't believe it. My face hurts and my stomach from when she kicked me. She was so mean."
Cal chuckled and held her close. He was so proud of her. "Yeah, she fought dirty; but you won, Sweetie. You kicked her ass to the moon and back for the shit she did. Now go to your man before he combusts and afterwards I'll take care of your face. It's already bruising."
Steph sniffed and smiling rubbed the tears away before falling onto Hal's lap to be welcomed by his warm lips in a hot kiss.
"My woman," he whispered proudly, wiping at her continuously falling tears, before pulling her face towards him for another searing kiss. "I'm so proud to be your man," he hugged her tight and rubbed her back while she let go of all the day's tension.
A/N: Remember my ten 'notes of support', please :)
