A/N: Here is the start of Part III, and hopefully, the last part. I'm still writing this, so bi-weekly updates only. I did enjoy updating daily this past week. Thank you for your well-wishes, things are crazy here in NYC and LI as I'm sure it is all over the place. Be smart, socially distance, and read FanFic. I start virtually teaching on Monday, which should be interesting. This part will incorporate some of the canon with my twist. I hope you like it. :-)
Part III
May 2011
Ranger's POV
"Julie, come over here."
"What, Papi? I want a puppy. Puppy over there."
"Princesa, you can't just run over to any dog you see. Not all dogs are friendly." I take Julie's hand and bring her into the building. I put her on my shoulders as we walk up to the control room on the third floor. The whole time, she's continuing her commentary.
"But I want a puppy. Why won't you get me a puppy?"
"Julie, we've discussed this. A puppy is a lot of work and a lot of commitment. With Mommy and Daddy's jobs, we can't take care of a puppy properly."
"We have Tia Ella, Tio Lester, and Tio Hector to help."
I place Julie on the floor, responding once again to her request. "Julie, I said no puppy. Stop asking."
"You mean, Papi. I going to Mommy." I shake my head as I watch my daughter run into my wife's office.
"Ranger, you know you're going to get her a puppy. In about three minutes, Stephanie's going to call you into her office, and they are both going to start in on you. Julie will look at you with her big brown eyes. Stephanie will make an innuendo about withholding sex from you, and in ten minutes, we'll be on our way to a breeder." Tank says, laughing.
"You're my SIC. You are supposed to have my back."
"I know better than to cross your wife and your daughter. If you want an ally, your best bet is Lester. He's the only one who doesn't seem to quake when either of you orders him to do something."
"That's only because I've known this one," Lester says, pointing to me, "since he was in diapers and Beautiful since we were in elementary school. They don't scare me. All I have to do is call Abuela, complain that they are ganging up on me, and she'll take care of them."
"Papi, Mommy wants to talk to you." I try not to cringe as I hear my daughter's order. I walk into my wife's office as Moe and Larry are laughing at me. They'll get their payback. I close the door behind me.
"Yes, Babe. What can I do for you?" I ask, giving her my 1000 watt smile. She may be my wife of seven years, but she isn't immune. I watch as her eyes momentarily glaze over. However, Julie is not affected.
"Mommy. Tell Papi what you told me." Julie stood before Steph, with her hands on her hips, mimicking Steph's 'I mean business' stance.
Steph shakes her head. "Carlos, Julie's been asking for a puppy for the last six months, since Christmas. She's been a good girl and has been doing really well in kindergarten. We have a set schedule, with a lot of help. I think it would be good for her to have a puppy."
I sigh, "Steph, who's going to walk the dog, train it, groom it? You are swamped during the day between the searches for Rangeman, the government research, and the meetings you attend. When Julie gets home, you help her do her homework, then take her to dance, gymnastics, and swim class. We then prepare dinner, have family playtime, then bedtime. When in the day are you fitting a dog into the mix."
Apparently, I said something wrong. I'm trying to mentally replay what I said as I see Stephanie's body language change subtly. Her eyes are no longer azure, but now swirling midnight blue. She's pissed. She stands, placing her hands on her hips. Fuck. I'm in trouble. I take a step back.
"Who said that the puppy would be MY lone responsibility? You still go running every morning, most days outside. You can take the puppy with you. Then, you can walk the dog while I'm bringing Julie to school. After school, you can take the dog out. During the day, if we are too busy, I'm sure that some of the guys here would be more than happy to help. Besides, didn't you tell me that Connor trained military dogs? If he was able to train them to find bombs, land mines, and subdue enemies, I'm sure he can train a dog to sit, stay, heel, and come."
Well, I guess I could walk the dog. It would be nice to have a running companion again. Though I miss my runs with Steph, which often ended with another form of cardio in the shower, I know she likes to spend her morning with Julie. Connor could train the dog to go into bodyguard mode, protecting Julie. Maybe this isn't such a bad idea. Now, I need to put my foot down on the breed.
"Fine. You win. What type of dog did you have in mind?" Yes, I know I'm whipped, but I rather my girls be happy, because when they are happy, especially Stephanie, I'm thrilled.
"Well, I've been researching different breeds. It seems to me that our best bet would be a herding dog. They have a fierce sense of loyalty to their family, are good protectors, but are also gentle and make great family dogs. They tend to be a little larger, so they are more imposing. I'm leading towards a smooth collie, a border collie, or an Old English sheepdog. My first choice, though, is the smooth collie. That dog has a short coat, so the grooming won't be so bad. It's also a little larger, and depending on the color, it can look like a shepherd to someone who doesn't know dogs. My second choice is the border because even though they have longer hair, it's not too long. Here are pictures of the breeds."
I look at Steph's computer, inhaling the scent of her shampoo, the light aroma of her perfume, and my blood starts rushing south. Dios, even after all this time, I still need her more than I need oxygen. I nibble her ear, feeling her lean back against me. It's nice to know that I still have that effect on her.
"Mommy and Papi, really. I want my puppy."
We both laugh, then look at the screen. "I like that one, the smooth collie. I wouldn't mind having that type of dog."
"I like that one too!" Julie piped in.
"Okay, where do I go," I say, resigned that my wife is in charge in this relationship.
"Yay! I'm getting a puppy, I'm getting a puppy, I'm getting a puppy, I'm getting a puppy, I'm getting a puppy."
"Basta!"
"Sorry, Papi. I'm super excited."
"Sweetie, why don't you go see if Tia Ella needs any help?"
"Okay. I'm getting a puppy, I'm getting a puppy, I'm getting a puppy." We hear her sing as she goes to find Ella.
"Carlos, are you really okay with this? I think it would be good for Julie. She doesn't have many friends. I mean, how many people want their little girl hanging around with a girl whose parents walk around with two guns and a knife 24/7?"
"No, you're right. And if Connor trains the dog, we can train it to guard Julie too."
"That was my thought as well."
"What do we need to do now?"
"I contacted the breeder. She has a couple of pups ready for adoption. I told her about our lifestyle, and she has two that she thinks would fit well. One is a female, the other is a male. I'll let you decide."
"Okay. Do I have an appointment with this breeder?"
"Yes, in one hour. It will take you about forty-five minutes to get there."
"I'll head out now. Te quiero, Babe."
"Te quiero, Carlos."
"You owe me, Babe, a weekend away. Just me and you. It's doesn't even have to be a full weekend, but at least eighteen hours."
"Your sister Rosa and Tom are visiting Abuela Rosa. Maybe she'll watch Julie. I know that Rosa and Isabella love spending time with her."
"I'll offer our house to Rosa to use so we can go away. They will be more comfortable there than staying with Abuela."
I lean down and gently kiss Stephanie. Any more and clothes would go flying. "Thank you, Babe."
"Thank you for what?"
"For understanding me, for staying with me, for believing in me. I love you so much."
"You're welcome. I love you so much. You saved me, all those years ago, You saved me. I don't know if I would have been able to recover from what Joe did to me without you."
"You would have, you're a strong woman. Now, let me go get us a dog."
I kiss her once again, then head out onto the floor. "Santos, Connor, you're with me. Let's go."
"Sir, I'm supposed to be on the monitors in ten," Connor said.
"Tank, you need to assign someone to cover Connor. He's with me."
"Got it, Ranger. How long?"
"About three to four hours."
"Roger."
Once we get down to the garage, I walk over to one of the Broncos. I figured that the vehicle will be large enough for a dog. I get into the driver's seat, with Lester riding shotgun and Connor going to the back.
"Where are we going, Sir?"
"We're going to get a puppy for Julie."
