Chapter21
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After taking her attorney to lunch at Rat's french restaurant in Hamilton Township, Malika was spending Saturday afternoon in the Rangeman gym. Bobby was busy on duty. Ranger asked if she would work out with him.
"How about holds and escapes to start? Then we can move into attacks," Micky suggested.
Micky slipped off her jeans to reveal gym shorts. "Saves going to the locker room," she shrugged. Before Ranger could react, she pulled her shirt off to reveal a workout bra. Ranger noted the men in the gym were taken aback by her casual attitude. Stephanie had always remained shy, even modest.
After 15 minutes of stretching and a quick tour on the treadmills, both prepared to engage in hand to hand, Russian Systema style. Micky appreciated having such a consummate partner. Ranger rarely participated in her classes, but stood to the side, watching, absorbing. This was the first one on one they had ever had. Nothing needed to be shown to him twice, and he quickly developed his own techniques, showing the versatility of Systema. He was unable to get a firm hold on her, though. She had ways to relax one or two muscles, just enough to escape or deflect his grips.
Most of the guys in the gym were watching the two wiggle, slip, and drop each other out of holds and failed to notice Bobby enter the gym hiding behind Tank and Hal. Bobby was not in Rangeman attire. Instead, he was in a dark tuxedo behind the two largest Rangemen as they made their way across the gym to the mats where Micky and Ranger were engaged. The gym quieted.
Out of the corner of her eye, Malika saw Bobby in his formal dress. She stopped, but Ranger continued the attack. In an instant, he had her in an arm lock, his first successful hold.
"When you have a minute Micky." Bobby smiled.
"Formal occasion, Dr. Brown?" She asked as Ranger continued to hold.
"Very."
Ranger exerted more pressure with the hold, and Micky went into rapid cyclic breathing to relieve the pain. "I'll be right with you. I needed to eliminate this cockroach."
Before Ranger could register what she said, she had relaxed a muscle and slipped out of Ranger's grasp, pivoting, freeing herself, sweeping her feet, put Ranger on the floor.
"What the he..." Ranger said as he found himself empty-handed on the floor. He rolled and regained his feet instantly. "Theoretically, that was impossible to escape."
Tank looked impressed. Turning to Micky, he said, "We should have nicknamed you Rubbermaid."
"Please, not another name," she said. Then turning to Bobby, she put her hands on her hips and surveyed his attire, "Too formal for a funeral. Are you attending opening night at the theater?"
He smiled. His bright white teeth shone against his deep caramel skin. "I have been chastised for my lack of romance regarding my marriage proposal."
The other Rangemen in the gym looked surprised. This was the first they heard of marriage.
Micky decided to play a bit. "Well, yes, it did lack forethought. I don't believe I heard the words love or marriage in the suggestion to change my name."
Bobby shrugged, playing along, "I'm an in the moment guy. But since other people were offended, I decided to upgrade to a romantic proposal."
"A tuxedo in a gym is your idea of a romantic proposal?"
Bobby smiled and said, "I believe riding in on a white horse would have ruined the wood floor. To say nothing of trying to bring one up in the elevator." Then getting down on one knee and pulling a long stem red rose from behind his back, Bobby began, "Micky, my love, you have captured my heart. The first strings were thrown many years ago in Turkmenistan. More were thrown in Albany and began weaving together. The months here in Trenton have completed the web. I am trapped, gloriously entangled in my love for you. I humbly ask you if you would consent to be my wife so we may spend our lives woven together."
"Robert Brown, are you calling me a web-slinger?" She kidded. "You know, my dear, black widows consumer their mates after during and after copulation. Even if the males escape, they die from exhaustion soon afterward."
Bobby's smiled, "Sounds glorious."
She laughed, and when the tears were rolling down her face, she said, "Yes, Robert Brown, I accept your marriage proposal." She took the rose from his hand. "If I weren't so sweaty, I'd jump into your arms and kiss you silly. But seeing as you are wearing a magnificent custom-made tuxedo, I don't want to dirty the fabric."
Bobby smiled and held out his arms, "Dry cleanable." Instantly Malika put the red rose stem in her mouth and rushed into Bobby's outstretched arms. Together they rolled to the mats. Removing the rose from her mouth, they began to kiss deeply.
The assembled Rangemen shook their head in wonder then joined together in a mighty "OORAH!
Bobby remained flat on his back, firmly lip-locked with Malika. After several minutes Lester asked, "Are you going to let him up any time soon? We'd like to use the mats."
Micky winked at Lester and turned back to Bobby, "Does New Jersey have a waiting period between marriage license and wedding?"
"Why, do you want to get married now?" Bobby asked.
"Carpe Diem. Since you are dressed for the occasion, I can change quickly," she answered while sitting on his abdomen.
"Unfortunately, New Jersey has a three day wait."
"Bummer."
"New York has something similar, as does Pennsylvania."
"Triple Bummer."
"I could look around, but short of Las Vegas, we'll have to wait until Monday to get the license and Thursday to marry."
"Real bummer."
"You don't want a long engagement?"
"Thirty minutes is too long. I'm not getting any younger sitting on your very firm abs and rapidly firming up male parts."
Bobby turned to Lester, "You might not get the mats back any time soon."
Lester and the guys laughed. "It used to be me making the sexual innuendos. It seems Micky has discovered a whole new side of you, Bobby."
Malika smiled, "Oh, I hope so. I love investigating all parts of Dr. Brown."
The assembled men mumbled, "Micky?"
Micky looked up, "Gentlemen, from now on, please call me Micky or Grace. Due to ongoing stalking problems from my step-father, I need to change my name."
The other Rangemen began gathering around congratulating the couple. Micky had not moved off Bobby has he still sported an erection underneath. Stephanie looked down at her hand and asked, "Where's her ring?"
Micky looked surprised. "Ring?" Looking at Bobby, "Maybe we need to go to Walmart."
"Woman," Bobby huffed, "We can do better than Walmart."
"Nothing too fancy, I'm not that type of gal."
Lester shook his head, "With your skills, a big rock on your finger would be another weapon."
"Good point. Then Baltic amber is out. It will crack."
"What's your favorite stone or precious metal?" Bobby asked.
"I don't know. I've never had reason to own any jewelry aside from a few cheap earrings."
"What is your ring size?" he asked, fishing for needed information.
"I don't know."
"What's your birthstone?"
"I don't know."
"Wow, a jewelry neophyte," Lester exclaimed. "I should be so lucky to find a woman like that."
"Too bad Cracker Jacks stop putting prizes in their boxes, Les. You could save a fortune," Micky shot back.
Lester laughed. Micky dished it out as well as she took it. He was looking forward to her being around Rangeman.
Micky finally let Bobby off the floor. He still had several more hours on duty. While he changed back into his Rangeman uniform, she showered in his apartment, donning trousers and t-shirt.
Returning to the gym, she found Stephanie with Hector doing stretching exercises. "You going ring shopping after Bobby gets off work?" Stephanie asked.
"I don't know," Micky replied. "This is all new to me. Any suggestions?"
"For for a diamond. The bigger the better," Stephanie counseled.
"No, I have nothing to prove, and showing off doesn't suit me."
Stephanie all but rolled her eyes. What woman doesn't like jewelry? "Then think of it as a monetary investment. In the case of problems, you could sell it."
"And get, what 1/10th the value? No. There is no price on the love I have for him."
"People will be expecting him to spend big bucks."
"Why? I don't need a $10,000 or more ring. If that money were invested for ten years, it would be worth $16,000. As a diamond ring, in ten years, it would be worth, maybe $1,000."
"The bigger ring proves he can support..."
Micky glared at her. "I will not be a kept woman. We are equal in love and life. We will pool our money and take care of each other. He will not support me, nor will I support him unless one of us is disabled. Your Burgness is showing Stephanie. For a Wonderwoman wanna-be, you sound very much like a traditional wife."
Stephanie was stung. All her life, she was told her husband would bring home the paycheck. A woman's job was wife, children, and tending family. She's been trying to be something else. Or has she? She rebelled, but has she rebelled enough? Is she still waiting for a knight to come riding in and save her? Joe said he would but never did. Ranger certainly has, but he's not talking marriage. They continue to be friends with sexual benefits. She was the damsel in distress, waiting for her knight to come in and carry her away? Strange, no fairy tale ever explained about life in the knight's castle.
Shaking her head out of her thoughts, Stephanie asked, "Where will you live?"
"Other than in each other's arms, we haven't gotten there yet. I enjoy working. Plus, the military and VA are seriously short of doctors. Bobby needs to live here or very close by."
"Then, you won't be using my apartment," Stephanie said. Suddenly Stephanie was glad she had kept it. She might move back and reassess her situation.
Micky smiled, "I hate to tell you, dear, but crazy things are happening around that apartment. In addition to the lovely crazy women in the elevator and the man that takes his trash to the dumpster completely naked, I have had Joe Morelli twice, your mother, some small man named Briggs, a doper who was quite nice and a seven-foot giant crossdresser. A rather robust woman came to the door with a bucket of chicken and a bottle of wine. I hated to turn her away, but I couldn't partake of either. I have had stalkers in the parking lot and a peeping Tom on the fire escape."
"I did warn you."
Micky had a puzzled look and looked down and mumbled something.
Stephanie watched, "Is there something else."
"I'm not sure the other incident wasn't a dream since I don't know how he got in or left. The windows and door alarms were not triggered.
"Tell me about it." Stephanie was concerned.
I woke to realize someone was in bed with me. A muscular man, naked, was draped over me, snoring. Immediately I restrained him. He started apologizing, saying he thought I was you. When I let him loose to dress, he asked if you were finally with Ranger. When I assured him you were safe but didn' know your status, he apologized again, then leaned over, ready to kiss me. But before lips met flesh, or I smashed his face, he stopped. He said something about two of a kind wasn't a good idea, turned, and disappeared. It must have been a dream, but I swear the room smelled like Christmas sugar cookies when he left. Maybe it was a dream."
Before Stephanie could explain Diesel, Bobby came back into the gym in his Rangeman gear.
"Steph and I were discussing where we'll live," Micky reported.
"As the medic here, I should remain close. Would you mind living here?"
"Not at all. I rather like the neighbors here. No strange guests popping in."
"Beyond Lester, has there been someone else?" Bobby said with concern.
Stephanie and Micky glanced at each other but said nothing.
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Micky and Bobby did not want to be married in Trenton. Micky was trying to avoid bringing notice on herself from the Trenton residents.
The wedding was held in Pennsylvania at the Washington Crossing Inn, just across the Delaware River from Washington Crossing State Park, where she and Bobby now often went to watch the sunset.
Only the Core Team was invited to the wedding. Lester and Stephanie were the witnesses in the Inn's private Secret Garden just before sunset. Being autumn, the brilliant fall foliage along with the late roses, asters, and chrysanthemums provided the color. Micky wore a long sleeve dress with a cape for warmth. Stephanie wore a long coat over her dress. The men, soldiers, endured the 50-degree weather wearing only their civilian suits. Afterward, the wedding party hurried indoors for dinner.
"What made you choose here?" Stephanie asked.
"It wasn't in Trenton but still close to one of our favorite spots. Bobby showed me pictures on the internet. I fell in love with the classic appearance."
"But outside at this time of year?"
"Blame the Russian in me. I thought it was invigorating. At least it wasn't the Adirondikes in February."
Both she and Stephanie shook that horror from their minds.
After dinner, the guests returned to Trenton. Bobby and Malika stayed at the Inn. As Micky snuggled into bed with Bobby, she asked, "Did Washington sleep here?"
"Maybe outside in a tent. This house was built in 1817, about 41 years after the Battle of Trenton."
"Then maybe we should make our own history tonight," she purred.
The newlyweds returned to Rangeman two days later ostensively to host an engagement party. Only a few knew they were now married. Stephanie tried to decorate the yard, but Bobby and Malika insisted there be no balloons, flowers, streamers, or congratulatory banners.
Stephanie stood looking over the picnic preparations, "There is no wedding cake!"
Lester chuckled, "Yeah, they wondered if you would notice."
"Les, we can't have a party without cake! Grabbing Lester's arm, "Come on, we are going cake shopping." They returned with a half dozen cakes of various sizes and colors. "If we stack them on blocks to suggest a wedding cake."
The cakes had messages such as "Happy Birthday, Ralph" and "It's a Girl." Ranger came to see the preparations, "Are you going to put the neon yellow one with the balloons and teddy bear on the top? People will assume they are expecting."
"Maybe it will give them ideas."
Ranger wasn't sure if Stephanie knew or forgot Micky could not bear children. "Put Ralph's birthday cake on top, Babe."
Indeed many of the employees assumed the BBQ was the engagement party and were not aware of the real reasons until Lester, Tank, and Ranger tapped their beer bottles with the knives they all carried in their pants.
Ranger began, "First of all, I want to thank Micky and Bobby for hosting this delicious BBQ. Of course, Elle offered to cook, but I doubt her kitchen could handle what surely was an entire steer worth of beef. Not surprising, Babe provided the dessert cakes, though I still don't know who Ralph is," Ranger said as he looked at the topmost cake in the stack.
After the laughter died down, Tank continued, "We are here this afternoon not to honor Micky's and Bobby's engagement. Rather, to announce Thursday afternoon, these two ran across the river and got married. So much for long engagements. Micky and Bobby will be living here. I'm sure Steph and Ella will appreciate having another woman in residence. Micky will continue her Air Force career at Lourdes and will aid Bobby here. Welcome and offer congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. And Doctor and Major Robert Brown…..
"Micky, PLEASE," Micky quickly added.
Tank shook his head. He wasn't finished with his introduction, "May these two knuckleheads have a long life together."
"OORAH!" came from the assembled employees.
Lester held up his hand for quiet. "While I want to congratulate Micky and Bobby, I'm also disappointed there was no bachelor's party," Lester huffed.
Micky laughed, "Les, you and the men can take him out for a post-bachelor's party. Just because he's married, I don't expect him to spend all his evenings at home with his wife at the expense of his friends. All I ask is no lap dances. I've claimed exclusivity there, and I assure you, they will be better than what you guys pay for at the local bimbo parlor."
The group laughed. During the laugh, Bobby put his ear next to Micky's and said something that made her blush.
Before serving the cake, Micky held up her hand for silence. "Gentlemen, many of you know I'm having trouble with stalkers, probably my step-father and perhaps a second person. Not only am I changing my last name to Brown, but not all of you know I'm also changing my first name to Grace. If you must talk about me away from Rangeman, please refer to me as Grace Brown. But around here, Micky will do just fine. " She wasn't sure it would be enough to send the hounds in another direction, but she was tired of running.
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Stephanie continued to improve physically, but mentally she was stuck. She had made progress, but was currently in neutral, going neither forward or backward. Her weapons scores were improving, but she was still reluctant to carry a weapon at all times.
"Micky doesn't carry," she complained one day. Immediately Micky pulled a 9mm from under her back belt and a knife from her boot.
"Oh?" Stephanie whispered.
"Babe," Ranger began, when you can pull as quickly as Micky, you can carry concealed. But in the beginning, I would appreciate you carry on your hip or shoulder. Micky thinks you should be strong enough now for either."
"What about a knife?"
In time I will ask you to carry a knife. Right now, you are not proficient.
Stephanie didn't notice Ranger had not been insistent. He was asking. "But I've gotten along OK before without."
"Babe, when you worked for Rangeman you carried both a handgun and a knife. Just because I wasn't here to see you, doesn't mean I wasn't informed."
Micky was standing off to one side, listening. In an instant, she knew what Steph's problem was. She needed to consult with Bobby and the psychologist.