AN: Hello readers I hope some of you are still out there. It takes a little longer to create and edit then it does to just edit what was already written. Posted my chapter 8 hours ago and it still isn't here so I guess it's too long? I divided it up to see if it will post and if you're reading this, it worked and now you get 2 chapters today.. Yay. so I guess I am back on track in my posting schedule, haha. Fanfic is probably right, an online chapter shouldn't be too many words
Chapter 8
The next few days seem to crawl by but each day the soreness decreases in my hips and the fatigue improves. I can't stand the large walls of windows watching me each night while Ranger is gone until dawn. It is like he is in a feverish pursuit ; he is so focused and barely available to talk. But then again maybe I am imagining it, I think. When he pursues a skip he is methodical and smart. He always gets his man. But is he more relentless now? He seems to pursue the unmentionable with a kind a fury.
Night time is when unmentionables are the most active so Ranger is out leading his team, Alpha, nightly. By day he reviews data and coordinates searches. He usually comes home each morning around at 5 am or 6 am reads a report for an hour, then goes to sleep before awaking later to work with the day crews in the afternoon. I am not sure how many hours of sleep he averages.
After the second night, I start sleeping in the 4th floor apartment. I feel safer and less exposed. I don't feel as lost as I did in the silence of the 9th floor, with its walls of mirrored eyes staring the nights darkness back at me because I have turned on every light in his apartment. On 4, I have one regular window in a smaller bedroom and I feel more cocooned and safer. I can hear the guys in the apartments next to me moving around and going in and out of their spaces taking and laughing in the hallway. Though, I am still by myself here on the 4th floor, I don't feel as alone in my rooms. I feel the men living next door are near and they will hear me if I cry out for help. It is better.
I can get to sleep now, but it is bad sleep. There is always something in the darkness hunting me and pain rips through me. My heart is heaving under his strangle hold and I know he is sucking me dry. Any minute now I will die. It is usually then I wake up all covered in sweat screaming for it to stop, my hip throbbing in pain. Gasping, I tell myself it is a dream, only a dream. But I know it is a lie. It is not a dream. Because if it was, it would all go away. It wouldn't return when I close my eyes. Telling me something I need to know. IF it was just a dream, I wouldn't be terrified of the dark.
"What's the point of this!" I sigh exasperated after another nightmare. It's the worst when I wake up and it's dark outside. I change into some clothes and leave my apartment wandering to the control room. There is always someone there on monitor duty at night. Hanging out with them under the lights seems like a better plan than sitting up agitated in my apartment.
"Hi Jeb." I say to the redheaded guy at the monitor. He is about 20 and green to the company and well, everything. We've hung out before
"Hi Miss Plum" He says glancing up at me for a second then back at his monitor.
"Stephanie, remember?"
"Miss Stephanie" he says without evening looking away from his monitors. Well it is a step in the right direction.
"I set a coffee down for him. 1 sugar, 1 cream just how he likes it. I sip a double fudge hot chocolate because I figure, drinking too much caffeine can't be helpful for insomnia. Besides, any upset feels a little better after some chocolate.
"Okay teach me what to do"
"huh" he grunts
"I want to learn monitor duty" I already watched and chatted on a previous shift, now I am ready to participate.
"Watch the camera for any unauthorized access and …" He takes a sip of his coffee " Report ANY suspicious activity to the correct teams."
"We have investigative teams and emergency teams." He continues "Investigative teams respond to anything that is suspicious. Emergency teams respond to a break in and all other immediate threats."
"Immediate threats and break-ins call the emergency teams. Got it. So what counts as suspicious activity or a threat?"
"Better read the manual Miss Stephanie" he points not to a manual but what looks like a phonebook. I heave it onto my lap, turn to the security threats section and read. Most of it is pretty self-explanatory. An unknown person trying to gain entry or snooping around. If the camera feed suddenly goes dead for 10 seconds or more, if the camera is blocked by an object, the list goes on. All of these will cause a team to be "dispatched". Of course, silent alarms and panic buttons have a whole other set of protocols and are considered security threat level-emergency.
"So what if a bird or a cat sets off an alarm or moves a camera?"
"They can't"
"But some cats are BIG" I say gesturing with my hands to show the giant alley cats I've seen.
"Can't happen. Our cameras are mounted with special heavy-duty frames and are remote controlled so we could move them back if they were bumped. We can look around to see what made the camera move. IF we can't do this, they are sabotaged or there is a mechanical failure. Both are considered an immediate threat-emergency level.
" I can see sabotage being an emergency.. but how can a simple mechanical failure be an emergency?"
"It is at least a Level 2 threat because there is no way to know if it is sabotage in disguise or a simple malfunction. Besides, the system is vulnerable even if it is a 'simple' mechanical malfunction." He actually did finger air quotes around the world simple. In high security, there is no simple in malfunction.
"Fascinating." He looks at me like. Yea right. I am teasing, but only half way. I'm impressed. I never thought security had so much detail and coordination. And I am only getting the tip of the iceberg here.
He teaches me the ins and outs and we watch the monitors but there's nothing much to see at 2 am.
"So how is your cute girl?" I smile big and lift my eyebrows up in anticipation.
"She's not mine and nothing much." he stares at the screen slightly blushing. He is too sweet.
"Have you seen her lately?" He nods. "Did you get to talk to her yet?" He just stares ahead.
"Hmm" we sit there for a moment
"Sooo will you be my wingman as far as security and monitor stuff goes? I am a total newbie."
"What?"
"And to pay you back I'll be your wingman on what girls like. I know it's not much, to pay you back for all the free lessons, ALL night long, but it's all I got. Take it or leave it" He sits there for a moment then shrugs.
"Alright!" I say jumping up with a smile as I offer him a high five. He looks at me like I'm crazy "Don't leave me hanging here wingman." He then slaps my hand and goes back to the monitor. I should have offered a fist bump; high fives are rather old school.
"So, you have her number right?" I recall they are in a study group or maybe it's a project together so I know he has her contact info.
"How about texting?" He looks at me with large empty eyes. Just as I thought, he has no clue what to say or even what to write. That's why he needs a female wingman.
"Let me help you out."
An hour later, we have some good stuff and a plan on how he could text her before he sees her later in class. It seems he didn't have an opening for what to say when he saw her in class or study group. But with the texting beforehand, hopefully it will break the ice so they can talk in person easier.
"Don't forget emojis. Just a few."
"A what?"
"Don't you ever use them?"
"I just write words or send a photo if graphic instructions are helpful for the situation" hmm so computer savvy but not emoji savvy, so strange.
"Maybe try that cute little happy face if you ever tell her that the best thing about 4th period is her smile." He looks at me like he never considered that but then slowly nods. Ahh he is so cute and clueless. I know he never considered a woman would want to be sincerely told something like that, until our brainstorming session.
"Well wingman next topic of the night, favorite foods and the best places to get them." I say as I stretch and walk to the fridge for a water.
"Count me In." I hear a shout from the bay of monitors on the other side of the room
And so we passed the night. Laughing and yelling back and forth with Dan who is on the bay 2 monitors across the room. First it is our favorite meals and restaurants and then naturally we move on to sinfully indulgent deserts. After that we transition to making a list of the 10 best movies of all time.
After a while we are all talked out and we sit in silence as the minutes tick by.
"See now I can watch the monitor for you if you have to go to the bathroom" Jeb looks at me like I am strange. "The benefits of teaching me your Jedi monitor skills." He smiles and rolls his eyes. Ha! I knew we bonded. Boy, I think I am a little loopy from lack of sleep. I feel a bit anxious still, as I jostle my leg up and down.
"Well I am off to the gym" That will get me ready for sleep. "Thanks for the lessons. See you later."
"Have a good day Miss Pluh..Stephenie" He says as I give him a look.
"Good day to you too" Well it isn't night now its, 6 am and the last of the night teams are all returning.
I walk on the treadmill no shortness of breath. Yes! I am improving. Well it has been a week since I've been here. I finish up and go do weights. I found if I go hang out on monitors then go to the gym, I can then get to sleep by dawn. Everything is better in the sunlight and I have less nightmares. Though I still have some. They just don't seem so terrifying when I wake up and it is light outside. Today I am later than my usual 4 am gym time.
After 4-5 hours of sleep, I get p and look over some of the paperwork the day teams have gathered together on potential leads. But the ones that I pointed out as the best possible leads were at least a week old. Tank shook his head and I knew they already checked these and nothing was there now. In one or two of the places all that was found was a body. They tried to hide that part of the report from me, but I could tell they found a victim before Tank swept the report from my view.
"That looks like if could be him" I said the first time I saw it, my heart pounding. But then my stomach dropped further when I saw how old it was, he was long gone. But I knew that already. I don't need a report. He has left the area. I turn to Lester and Tank and tell them. They nod and go back to work. Because we all know, he'll be back someday. Today he has disappeared without a trace and no one knows how to track him.
After roaming the control room floor with Tank and the crew, I then usually go pester Lester about some kind of day assignment. I know I will eventually be assigned to a team when my strength is back. Which will be soon and Lester currently is the one over regular skip work.
The door to the gym slams and I hear the voices of men. I turn and see Tank and Lester and a few men from the day crew coming in to work out.
"Hi guys."
"Hi beautiful, you're up early? Or still up?" I wonder why Lester even considers that I've been up all night. I do get sleep during the day, at least as much as Ranger, I suspect.
"I'm just getting a workout in." He gives me a steady assessing look but doesn't insist I answer his question
"Come over and I'll do punching bag with you"
"Really?"
"Yea, if you can't hit, you should learn."
"I can hit."
"We'll see." I strap on the gloves with his help and he holds the bag. I start to punch. He gives me some pointers on my stance and punching form. Immediately I feel improvement in my accuracy and power.
"AHH, AHHH" I cry as I throw all I have into the bag thinking of how I can't figure out how to fix the giant mess I am in, much less escape it. "YAH YAH" I add in some kicks. Then go back to punching, crushing my frustrations until I am panting and my arms are trembling. I am too weak to punch anymore. Ohhhh, I think I am ready to sleep now.
"Better?" he says his face grinning, his hair slightly tousled.
"Yes, Thanks. I can feel an improvement. You're a great teacher." I look up and smile at him from where I sit on the floor, a panting sweaty mess.
"Huh oh yea. That too." I look at him with questioning eyes.
"So did Jeb teach you everything about monitors?" Oh, I guess someone's been talking
"Actually the manual did. But Jeb told me all the good parts to read as I could never get through that phone book," I make a silly sour face. "Hey maybe you could put me on monitor duty too." I say brightening up
"But then you couldn't go out on day teams"
"Why not?" He looks at me like that would be obvious, duh "When are you going out again?" Lester looks a little uncomfortable at my question.
"Today. To catch a few of the FTA files you brought over."
"Aren't the bonds expired on those?"
"Not the more dangerous ones. They don't expire" he replies casually
"What time are you going?"
"Around 1400" that's 2 pm more than enough time to sleep.
"Let me come. I will have had plenty of time to rest and get ready… come on" I urge him giving him by best pleading look.
"Okay. BUT only if you agree to be the lookout. No going in. This guy is very dangerous so we could use a lookout in case he come at us from another angle or has backup to trap us."
"I can do that!" Yes! anything to escape the slow monotony of fatigue followed by nightmares and then restlessly pacing the building until fatigue brings me back into vague disturbing dreams.
"You have to promise on your life AND love of the Boss you will not go in or do anything without me -THE team leader-communicating the go ahead or you will NEVER EVER be taken on this level of mission AGAIN."
"Sure. You act like I am not trustworthy." I make a silly pouting face at him then smile brightly to lighten his worried mood.
"No. But you're impulsive sometimes"
"Well it's just in the past, I was kept in the dark so I decide to investigate on my own. But if I am an equal partner, I'm very cooperative. If I'm lookout, please get me a way I can talk to team leader in real time. NO calling on a cell phone waiting for someone to pick up, as that won't help much if it's urgent" Lester smiles and looks at me. See I can think things through.
"Naturally." his smile turns into a big cat grin. I raise my eyebrows and give him a look. "What?" he says continuing his giant grin.
"I can see you asking me to swear on my life but on my love for Ranger? What is that about?! Sure, I like Ranger…who wouldn't" I add the last part under my breath "but why do you think it is something to swear on?"
Lester laughs and then give me a come on you're not fooling me look "You don't just like him, you'd do anything for him. You LOOVE him."
"ANYTHING, whatever. I don't wait on 9 with his slippers or hover around him in the control room bringing little organic snacks every time he turns around, oooo" I say clasping my hands as I look upwards and blink my eyes in a melodramatic role play of the fawning little woman and then laugh.
"No. Not pointless fluff. When it really counts. When Boss is stuck in a bad way, you'd do anything to help him."
He looks me straight in the eye, doesn't flitch, and says this so seriously I instantly stopped laughing and feel the weight of his words in my stomach. I couldn't laugh about it. I knew if Ranger wasn't around there would be a big emptiness in my something. My heart or maybe my stomach as it felt like there was a giant pit full of lead in it at that thought and I didn't want to think about it anymore as the heavy feeling was now moving into my chest making it ache.
I do know, when he was in trouble, I couldn't rest until I helped him and things were better again. I couldn't stand it if I destroyed his trust in me. So promising on my life and his trust in me would be a completely binding promise. But really, Lester only had to tell me not to wander or it could cause a team members life and I'd not move. I'd do all I could to protect a team member.
"Ok, I promise. I will not go inside or move from my post as lookout until instructed to do so by fearless team leader" I grin as I say fearless team leader
"You didn't swear on your life and love of Ranger" Lester raises an eyebrow at me
"My promise is good no matter what…"
"What was that?" We both looked back and see Ranger coming through the door of the gym. His team is back from their night mission. I couldn't help smiling. I didn't care that Lester is watching. Seeing him gives me that happy feeling. Even when he is a hot mess, covered in mud and dog tired; he is still a beautiful sight to me.
He comes over and looks at me I see his eyes look tired but gentle.
"What's going on?" Rangers gaze continues to roam my face
I can feel my lips twitching he is so beautiful even though he has dark shadows under his eyes. I wonder if Lester will blurt out that he thinks I love him, which is a bit awkward, since I've never said I love you to Ranger.
My ears are pink and Ranger is looking intently at me. Lester is standing right by and I can feel his Cheshire grin. Uggh.
"Babe?" he is so close I can feel his heat and the tips of his fingers are now barely on my arm in a whisper touch that caresses down my upper arm. He silently waits, wondering.
"Oh.. Lester just wanted me to use your name to swear" I blurt out all flustered "But I don't want to use Ranger as a swear word" my discomfort rising, I now feel my face burning and my mind spinning in distress. Wait that doesn't sound right. I think it goes I don't want to swear by Ranger, No swear on the name…
I stop my racing thoughts as I hear Lester's quick intake of breath and feel Ranger's hand pulls away from my arm; his stance is stiff and ridged. Uh oh.
"Then don't, Babe." I peek up and see him looking at Lester who is giving him a smile.
"Just a little misunderstanding Boss ." Lester looks at me and I think, I better set this right.
"Yea. What it sounded like is not really what I meant. But I still didn't do what I was trying to say but didn't explain because I don't want to. So it is all good because I won't do it or…actually say it …okay?" I smile but I am sure Ranger didn't get any of that. Heck I didn't get any of it. My brain is a bit mushy and tired. I am done for the night.
"Mmmm" He hums. I stand up on my tip toes and give him a little kiss on his lips. I don't usually instigate kisses and so far,never in front of the guys. They start whooping and cat calling. Ranger grins and tells them to get to work and they go back to their exercising.
"So today at 1400, Right?" I say quickly because Lester is moving away from me and soon he will be swept up in other things. He nods. I jump and clap in excitement.
I turn to talk to Ranger but he is now talking with Lester and the rest of the men are crowding in asking questions. He is giving orders and coordinating details for the off going night teams and the oncoming day crew. I would usually wait for a small break in the crowd and noise that surrounds him, but I want to get cleaned up and go to bed so I can get some rest before the day mission.
I glance back and see Ranger and Lester talking and staring at me at the same time as they lift weights. I smile and finger wave at them and then leave the gym and slowly climb the stairs to the 4th floor.
to be Continued in chapter 9