Stephanie tried to take deep desperate breaths as she paced back and forth in her office, clenching yet another letter in her hands…...it had been another 6 days and she was going crazy…... she was trapped and had not felt truly safe since the moment Ranger had left. Every day a new letter…. Every day a new treat…she felt the fear like it was a living thing breathing….no beating on the back of her neck.
She rubbed her baby bump that was now large and in charge trying to ground herself on what was right in her world… what was good…... She still was the same weight as 6 days ago, unable to gain anything...… but she had also not lost anything…. but her stomach was bigger… her twins were bigger… but she was losing body mass in her face and arm and the guys were starting to notice that her diet was not working…... nothing was working, and she was most definitely not ok.
Every night she got her IV and Shots and Diesel helped her keep down some food at every meal, but it was still not enough…. Not with the stress she was feeling… not with the fear that was taking over everything… even with the meds she felt sick all of the time…...and now she was starting to feel drained and exhausted and it all led back to the stress of Ranger being gone, the guys being gone and the stalker that was now sending letters daily.
"Hey Bomber?" Hal called from the door, making Stephanie jump and whirl around to see him in the doorway, her breath catching and her eyes wild, "Can I talk to you?" He asked jaw clenched.
Stephanie took a deep breath and gave him a small nod and smile, "Sure come on in." She said going to sit on the couch, shoving the letter behind her, "What's up?" She asked softly.
Hal frowned grabbing one of her chairs and pulling it over to the couch, "What is going on?" He asked softly.
Stephanie's eyes went round and wide, "What?" She asked her voice catching.
Hal raised an eyebrow at her, "Don't…. don't lie to me." He said softly, "Please."
Stephanie shook her head, but Hal reached out and grabbed one of her hands, "Please…. Talk to me." He said, "I see you…... you are constantly looking over your shoulder… you jump when any of us walk into a room…..." Stephanie shook her head and Hal snorted, "You just jumped when I came in…... your face was terrified for a moment until you saw it was me…...and Joe has come by almost every day to talk to you…... behind closed doors…... Diesel and Hector never leave you alone unless you are on this floor and even then, it is rare…." He reached out so he was holding onto both of her hands and looked her in the eyes, "Talk to me…. You are scared and I can see that it is effecting your health and the babies." He said gently.
Stephanie closed her eyes, "I can't tell you." She whispered, her voice catching as the stress took over.
Hal nodded at her, "Well that is a better answer then telling me nothing…... but I can't help you if you don't tell me." He said tapping her chin, "Talk to me."
"He is right." Diesel said from the doorway, "It has been another week and its escalating…. We have to tell them." He said.
Stephanie shook her head, but Joe walked in behind Diesel and pulled the door closed, "Stephanie …... I got nothing from my end …... Diesel and Hector have nothing, and the letters are escalating…. And you are now getting sick from it… you have to tell them… we need help… even if it is only to have you feel safe because you know that everyone is watching your back." Joe said sitting on her desk looking over at them.
Stephanie pulled her hands from Hal's and covered her face as she started to cry softly, "I don't want to distract Ranger or the guys." She said.
Hal looked over at Diesel who shook his head as much as Diesel agreed with Joe… it had to come from Stephanie…. She had to be the one to tell them, he could not not take that from her.
Hal turned back to Stephanie, "Ok…... why would Ranger find out… he is in the middle of who knows where… doing who knows what." He said softly.
Stephanie looked up and snorted at Hal, "Please… I know that if he or any of them call or checks in… any one of you will tell them exactly what's going on here… and there is nothing that they can do about it when they are there…. Or wherever they are." She said crossing her arms over her belly.
Hal raised an eyebrow, "Well if they did call in to check in and asked me about you… do you know what I would tell them now?" He asked sitting back and mirroring her with his arms over his chest.
Stephanie shook her head and Hal smirked, "Nothing that you would be ok with if you don't want them to worry." He said watching her eyes narrow at him. Hal shrugged, "I would tell that you are still losing weight… you are stressed and sacred of something that you will not talk to us about… you are jumpy and working too hard…... to the point that you are not sleeping, and you have dark circles under your eyes and your skin is pale as snow."
Stephanie shook her head, "No…... you will tell him that I am fine, and everything is fine." She said standing up and starting to pace back and forth across the office.
Hal snorted at her, "Well… I am sure as shit not lying to them… and if they ask me… everything that I just said is what I see." He said watching her start to mutter to herself as she rubbed her forhead. He looked over to the couch to see the crumpled latter, the cut-out letters just barely visible…... and frowned as he reached out to grab it.
Hal's jaw clenched tight as he read the words,
You Bitch,
I waited for you,
I loved you.
I wanted to you to be mine.
But you stay in that building… With those men.
When I get you, I will teach you not to defy me… I will cut that baby out of you and break you until you love me back like you are supposed to.
I will see you soon.
Hal slowly stood up…... looking over at Joe who frowned at the letter, "What the fuck is this?" He snarled out.
Stephanie turned quickly taking in the letter in his hand and felt like she was going to pass out, starting to fall. Hal reached out and pulled her into his arms, helping her back over to the couch as Diesel came and took the letter reading it quickly before handing it to Joe who scowled as he read.
Hal cupped Stephanie's elbows pulling her in for a hug as she began to shake, "Hey… I got you… you are ok." He said rubbing her back softly and Diesel pulled his phone out to call Hector, "You are ok."
Stephanie shook her head tucking it into his neck, "I know that I am ok… I am here… and I am not leaving the building… but you can't tell Ranger." She begged softly, "He will lose his mind… he will go crazy being away from me… you know that … and there is nothing that he can do until he is finished with what he is doing…. He can't help from where he is… only let it terrify him and distract him."
Hal nodded finally realizing what was going on and why she was refusing to tell anyone, "OK… ok." He said. "Take a deep breath." He said as she kept talking faster and faster, until she couldn't breathe, "I will not tell him." He promised as he pulled back to look her in the eye with a small smile, "Even if he does kill me for it."
Stephanie took a deep breath and nodded, "I need to know that he is as safe as he can be… that he is focused on getting home safe…. Not on me." She said softly her voice breaking.
Hal sighed and kissed her forhead, "I get it…. He wont like it… but I get it and I will not tell him… you can tell him when he get home." He said softly, "But now you are going to tell me."
Stephanie sighed sitting back and closing her eyes, "I started to get letters… the day after Ranger left... I got my first one." She said softly, "They did not start out like that." She said waving over at Joe who was holding the letter, "At first they were like small… but super weird love letters…... super stalker-ish but not… bad." She paused rubbing her stomach.
Diesel cleared his throat, "When she went to the doctor… that was the first time she had gone out since the guys left… and she was notability more pregnant then…. The letters turned after that… they got darker." He said.
Joe nodded, "I have a profiler tracking them… they are getting progressively worse and more frequent now." He said holding up the one in his hand, "This is the worse…. And the 5th one this week."
Hal sighed, "Ok…..." He paused looking around the room, "I assume Hector knows." He said, "Since you two are peas in a pod."
Stephanie, "Yes…... I told Diesel and Hector so they would know when we went out of the building…... I told Joe so he could look from a cops perspective." She softly.
Hal grinned, "I was wondering how you were going to tell Ranger that he left, and Joe stated visiting the building every day… and PS… you didn't think that we would think that it was weird… and Diesel and Hector were both so ok with Joe in the building after what happened a few months ago?" He asked looking at Stephanie. "That alone told us something was up."
Stephanie rolled her eyes, "That was not Joe's fault…. Be nice." She said taking a deep breath, "and no… I am not thinking that clearly lately… Obviously."
Hal snorted, "No shit." He said raising an eyebrow at her making her reach out and slap his arm, "Ok…. So, this is why you put shadows on her…..." He paused looking serious again, "Steph… we have to tell the guys who are shadowing you, WHY… they can't watch your back unless they know what is going on... what they need to look for."
Stephanie went to shake her head and Hal held up his hand, "We have to…. Even in the building … we have too many people coming in and out with the construction… which is going to kick up on Monday…. That's in two days… we have to make sure that in the building or out you are protected…. I can't see you hurt like you were a few months ago… none of us can and you are cutting us off at the knees when we don't have information."
Stephanie bit her lip, hugging her belly and Hal went in for the kill, "You are putting us in danger also." He whispered watching her eyes get big and her head start to shake but he cut her off, "When we don't know what we are watching out for… we cant be ready for it."
Stephanie closed her eyes and leaned forward clenching her head taking deep breaths. After a moment she sat up and gave a small nod, "Fine… but they have to swear not to say anything until the guys are back home…." She said softly, "I also plan on staying in the building for now." She paused and held up a hand, "And ONLY the guys who are on protection detail… the more people you tell the more it has a chance to get out."
Hal nodded, "OK… to easy… Cal, Binkie, Bones, Manny and Zip…. That is who is left in the main team and the only ones that Ranger authorized to watch over you any way." He said looking over at Hector as he walked in, "I will call them in here."
Stephanie sighed, "No…. can they come to my apartment?" She asked softly, "I am exhausted and right now that is one of the few places that I feel safe… really safe." She rubbed her forhead as the headache took over, her eyes beginning to dull, "Besides, I have to get my Shots and IV yet tonight."
Hal nodded, "I will get them and meet you there in 15?" He asked standing up.
Stephanie took a deep breath slowly standing up, her hands shaking softly, "Yea… Joe, Diesel can you go with Hal… I want to talk to Hector for a moment." She asked.
They both gave her soft smiles and nods as she walked over to Hector and slid her hand into his elbow, "Mi Apartamento." She told him softly. Hector clenched his jaw, his hand going to the small of her back. "I will see you guys in a few minutes." She said softly to the men as they walked out the door.
Hector led her to the elevator, putting a code in the new system so it would go to the 5th floor, neither of them saying anything on the short trip.
Hector unlocked her apartment and walked in first closing and locking the door before walking through the apartment to check all the rooms and closets as Stephanie walked over to the couch and sat down carefully. When Hector finished clearing the apartment, he walked back to see Stephanie leaning back on the couch, her feet tucked under her, her eyes closed, and he sighed. She was hanging on by a thread. He walked and grabbed her IV bags and the shots that James had taught them to use.
He cleaned all the equipment setting it up on the coffee table, when he was ready he tapped her knee, "Hey you." He said softly, "I am going to set you up... before you are done for the day."
Stephanie sighed but nodded untucking her feet to lay flat on the couch, her arm out. Hector placed a pillow under her head, sitting on the couch next to her hip, "You are reaching your end… I am glad we are telling everyone." He said softy covering her with a blanket and placing her arm on his lap, uncovering the semi-permanent port the nurse had set up on her forearm.
Stephanie smiled almost sadly, "I am ok… I got all of you… I am just tired… and hungry." She said.
Hector snorted, starting her daily IV, "Well you would be better with Ranger here… and he will be soon." He promised helping her rotate to her side so she could place her arm along her face, "Rest and when the guys get here… Diesel and Joe and Hal will fill them in." He said gently.
Stephanie closed her eyes, "Thank you Hector." She whispered holding onto his hand, "So much…... I am so tired…. But I know that I can sleep when you are here…. I know that I am safe."
Hector leaned down and kissed her curls softly, "Thank you for listening to us and staying safe in here…. And I will always protect you." He said watching her drift off. He stood up and started to check the cameras and motion sensors he had placed around the main rooms. Once he was satisfied that they are all in perfect working order, he pulled out the computer he had stashed in her apartment.
The new letter scared him… it was darker…. And it showed that the stalked was escalating… he was looking for a pattern in the words… in when they came in… searching the stamp and the post offices used… but so far there was nothing and he was starting to feel fury. He looked over at Stephanie and really looked at her, she was exhausted... you could see it in every line of her body.
She was still working full time… the company working smooth as butter, like the guys had never left… she was working on the apartment with Mike, already having 2 more meetings and finalizing the final layout for the apartment on 7. All the while she was batting her HG which was made worse by stress…. And she was currently under a massive amount of stress and fear… and through all of it… she only thought of the guys… of Ranger and keeping them safe.
Hector sighed rubbing his face…... he did not know how to make this better… how to help her beyond keeping her physically safe… and even with that he was terrified he was missing something. He heard a knock on the door and looked to the camera on the laptop to see the guys waiting.
He walked over and pulled the door open with a finger to his lips nodding over to the couch where Stephanie was sleeping.
Hal nodded leading the group in who paused and took Stephanie in on the couch and they all frowned, "She is not ok." Zip said.
Cal nodded, "How long has she need that?" He asked pointing at her IV.
Diesel shook his head, "For the last week… her HG is getting worse." He said quietly.
Bones scowled, "Why didn't you tell us?" He said crossing his arms, "And what else is going on…. Why is the cop here?"
Joe shook his head, standing at the counter with the new letter in a clear envelope facing down.
Hal sighed, "First we need all of you to swear that if Ranger or any of the guys call in to check in… what we talk about does not leave this room…... those are Steph's rules." He said.
Binkie shook his head, "That is a bad ideal." He said raising an eyebrow, "Keeping anything from him is a bad ideal… keep shit about her from him is asking for death."
Hal nodded, "I agree… but I also agree with Stephanie in this…... the reason she has not talked to us before today is because she did not want to put us in the middle…. But if we tell the guys... there is nothing that they can do but stress and worry and be distracted." He said.
Zip sighed but nodded, "Fine I agree…but you know they are going to kill all of us." He mumbled.
Diesel shook his head, "Stephanie already said that she would tell them that she only agreed to tell us was on the solemn swear that we did not tell a soul…... they will still be pissed but happy that she told us and not kept it a secret." He said.
The guys all nodded and agreed to keep what was said inside the room quiet and Hal looked over at Joe "Joe… pass the letter around." He said.
One by one the guys read the newest letter and the room became icy as they took it in and looked over at Stephanie who was curled up on the couch exhausted and their fury took over, "When did this start?" Snarled Cal.
Diesel sighed, "The day after the guys left, she got the first letter…... she told Hector, Joe and I a week later when we took her to the doctor…... they escalated after that and that is why she has not left the building for anything." He said…. he looked over at Hal, "Hal cornered her today and got her to tell him… and he convinced her that you all needed to know."
Binkie held up a hand, "I get why she didn't want to tell us… but why didn't you?" he asked, crossing his arms.
Diesel shook his head, "Just like you are swearing… she made us swear also…... I can't break her trust." He said, "If she doesn't trust me… then she won't come to me."
Cal crossed her arms, "I get it… why she didn't want to tell us… because if Ranger or any of the guys call to check in…. I am not sure if I can really lie to them…. if anything happens to her and they don't know…." He paused and shook his head, "But what if something happened and we had no clue… how are we supposed to keep her safe." He said.
Hal sighed looking over at Stephanie, "Look at her…... she is struggling." He said watching the rest of the guys pause to take Stephanie in. He pale face, the dark circles under her eyes, her sunken in cheeks, "And she is waring with herself right now…. She is trying to keep herself safe… the babies safe…and all of the guys who are gone focused, undistracted and safe." He said. "She is trying to protect everyone."
Diesel shook his head and crossed his arms looking at the guys, "Did you know that every day she takes photos and videos of her self-smiling and happy and sends them to Ranger…. Telling him that everything is fine… that he needs to come home safe and sound to her and the babies…." He rubbed his forhead, clenching his jaw, "Then she hides herself in this building, she lets Hector and I check every room, put a camera in every corner of every room… has not been left alone except when she is in this apartment after we clear it and lock her up…. She is trying to balance everything and do the right thing and keep everyone safe." He snarled, "And she is the one who is suffering through all of it."
Hal sighed, "We can't change the last two weeks… but we can take care of her now… and I will do what she is asking because in the end it is not just the guys, she is helping… but herself… she has to know that the guys are as safe as they can be…. That is just as important for her mental health… as keeping her physically healthy right now." He said looking over at Diesel who nodded, "So we protect her… help her… we start taking on some of her duties around here to get her more rest…. And we all start investigating what is going on."
Diesel nodded, "I also want to get her out of the building…... she needs a break to feel safe and not under a million eyes." He said looking at Hector who nodded at him slightly, "So tomorrow…. I have a friend that is going to come pick us up…. I figured it would be harder to follow us if we fly out of here." He said, "I have another friend that is going to come with to keep her safe…. We are going to relax and look at baby stuff in New York… then fly back home."
Joe frowned finally speaking up, "Are you taking a helicopter from here all the way to New York?" He asked.
Diesel nodded, "Yes and I just set it up and no one knows…... Even if someone knows where we are going… it will take them hours… and by the time they get that we should be on our way back." He said. "But she needs to get out of this building… she needs to relax, and not be looking over her shoulder."
Joe nodded, "I agree… she needs a mental break…... and I think that is a perfect time for you to sweep the building for any surveillance cameras or audio…... and then Hector can add the invisible cameras he wanted added." He said.
Diesel tapped his finger on the counter, "With the amount of people entering and exiting the building with the construction, we need to up the way we are watching them." He said, "We did the initial checks, but we want to do deeper checks… Hector is also adding more cameras as well as motion detectors to this floor as well as the offices… We want to keep it simple and we don't want Stephanie to stress or see it."
All of the guys nodded as they looked over at Stephanie again and this time it was Zip who spoke up, "She has been getting that done every night this week?" He asked softly looking at her IV.
Diesel nodded at him, "She was still losing weight and her vitals were not great last check in…... so they put her on a new routine… we have been working this week on getting her to gain weight and getting her vitals steady …" He clenched his jaw, "Her weight has stayed the same… so better then losing anything but still not good… and I am pretty sure her blood pressure has been consistently low and her pulse high… she is still barely kept anything down… and I know that the stress of everything that is going on is making it so much worse."
Binkie nodded, "Well then we also have to make sure that she starts feeling safe and protected… and reassured that none of us will breath a word to the guys…." He said, "I will deal with the guys anger about not being told when they get back… she and the babies are the most important right now." The rest of the guys nodded in agreement.
Joe stood up walking over to grab the letter and looked over at Diesel, "I will add this with the rest and see if we can get anything else." He said waiting for Diesel to nod at him before walking out.
Diesel looked over at Hal, "We are leaving early…. Can you make sure that the monitor room knows that the helicopter will be landing at 9 tomorrow…and we should be back around 5." He said.
Hal nodded before looking at the guys again, "I want to meet all of you first thing in the morning with Hector…. He is going to give us all the things that he wants done." He said.
Hector handed Hal some folders and muttered in Spanish to him softly for a moment, "Zip… Binkie, Bones and Manny… can you take these names and photos with basic info and get me everything that you can on them… I want to know what they eat... I want to know when they shit…. I want to know who they are having sex with and what they do every second of every day." He paused, "These are the men who have been working on the 7th floor the last week…. I want to tell Stephanie with confidence that these men are not a threat."
The four guys nodded, "Consider it done." Zip said grabbing the folders, "I have tomorrow off… so I will start it now." He said, "I will make sure that you get these as soon as possible."
Hal looked at the rest of the guys, "We will see you all in the conference room at 7am." He said watching them all nodded and start to walk out of the apartment, when only Hal, Diesel and Hector were left Hal turned to Diesel, "We will figure this out… make sure that she relaxes tomorrow and let us know if you need anything…. I will call in the morning to the New York office and let them know you will be in the city and if you need anything that you will call them."
Diesel nodded waiting for Hal to walk out before he turned to Hector, "You are the only one that I am letting you know where we are going… I have a friend going with us… he will be in the background." He said sitting at the counter, "We are flying out and going straight to a spa that I know… I am going to give her a morning of relaxing and pampering with no stress…. Then we are going to get lunch and then I was taking her shopping for some more clothes and baby stuff…... I already got the spa, restaurant and stores shut down for the times of the day we will be there…. So, she won't have to look over her shoulder… I want her to just relax… to step away for just one day… see if we can get her relaxed enough that when she gets back and sees all the guys on her side she can move into next week in a better place."
Hector nodded looking over to make sure that Stephanie was still sleeping before looking back at Diesel, "I did some checking… the guys should be home soon… I don't want to say anything to her just encase shit changes though." He said softly.
Diesel snorted, "Did you use your dark computer skills to get that information…. Anything else I should know?" He asked with a smirk.
Hector lifted the corner of one lip, "I am not sure…. It is just a feeling that I have… I also feel like I know that they are all ok right now." He said, "So maybe let Steph know that when you are out tomorrow… make her feel better."
Diesel laughed as Hector walked over to check Stephanie's IV, carefully pulling the line and covering her port again with new sealing bandages. Once he had carefully cleaned her arm, he gently gave her the two shots smiling when she woke up during the second one.
"That hurts." She muttered quietly.
Hector nodded, "It is the one that you said feels like sludge… but I am …." He paused pulling out the needle and covering her arm with a band aid, "all done."
Stephanie sighed sitting up, "Are the guys coming up?" She asked softly, rubbing her eyes.
Hector snorted out a laugh cleaning up her medicine, "The have come and gone…... and they all know what is going on and they all." He paused holding up his hand at the way her eyes widened, "And they all agree that they will not breath a word to anyone…. But only if you promise to protect them from the guys when they get home."
Stephanie took a deep breath and gave a soft smile, "I can do that." She said sitting back on the couch.
Diesel walked over and sat on the coffee table, "You have to go to bed and get some rest…. We are going on a field trip tomorrow…. and before you freak out." He said watching her eyes get big, "I have thought of everything…. We are leaving in a chopper in the morning…... so no one can follow us…. Everywhere I am going I had someone else clear out… so we can just get pampered, relax and shop."
Stephanie bit her lip, but Hector smiled, "I think this is a good ideal…... I went over everything with him, and you will be safe…. And I think you need a break." He said tapping her leg, "The guys and I are going to go over the building and who is coming in and out… we are going to make sure that everything is taken care of here…. So, when you get back…. You can just relax and breath."
Stephanie sighed, "I have to work tomorrow, and I have meetings." She said.
Hector shook his head, "Nothing that can't wait… and I can take the meeting… I have met with him before." He said.
Stephanie smiled at him, "Thank you." She said, "It would be nice to get out of the building… are you sure it will be safe?" She asked softly.
Diesel narrowed his eyes at her and scowled, "You think that I can't keep you safe?" He asked with narrowed eyes, "I take offense to that." He said pointing at her making her giggle at him.
"Sorry… yes I trust you." She said raising her hands, "I am just scared… I seem to live in fear lately." She whispered.
Diesel stood up and plopped down next to her on the couch, "I know Babe… and that is why I am going to give you a day of relaxing, fun and zero stress." He said.
Stephanie took a deep breath and rolled her eyes, "Don't call me Babe… only Ranger can call me that." She said leaning her head on his shoulders.
Hector smirked, "Should we call you our little pain in the ass then?" He asked.
Stephanie smirked, "No because Ranger calls me that too." She said making the guys bursting out laughing.
"Fine." Diesel said, still laughing, "My little ray of sunshine…... I will call you my pretty princess." He said.
Stephanie burst out laughing, "That works." She said. "I always wanted to be a princess."
Hector shook his head, "Hermana… you are something else." He said with a smile, "I do love you."
Stephanie smiled at him, the first carefree and relaxed smile that he had seen her give in weeks and he pulled out his phone and clicked a photo and she giggle at Diesel. He quickly emailed the photo in a private lock account… with a quick note that said that Stephanie was ok… like he did every day.
-/-
Ranger heard the small ding on the phone in his pocket and almost smiled, he quickly hit the man tied in the chair in front of him across the face one more time, feeling the crunch of his nose.
"Take a moment to think about the answers that are coming out of your mouth." He said softly before walking out of the room and pulling the door closed so the room was encased in darkness…. He walked into the dirty dark kitchen to where Bobby sat at a table with Lester and Tank.
"Is he talking yet?" Tank asked sipping on his water bottle, the sweat beading on his bald head.
Ranger gave a sharp shake of his head, "Not what I want… and he thinks lying is going to get him somewhere." He said under his breath, "I am letting him think for moment."
Tank shook his head, "I am sick of this heat…. He is the last thing we need to take care of this shit so we can go home…." He muttered, "Give me a few minutes with him."
Lester snorted taking a sip of his water, "A few minutes with you and he won't be talking to anyone… and we need that information to get the fuck out of here." He said making Bobby snicker as he typed on the laptop, he had in front of him.
Ranger shook his head at the men at the table pulling out the phone and opening the screen, Bobby looked up and his eyes narrowed, "Are you going to share what you are getting each day?" He asked sitting back in his chair.
Ranger looked up from the phone, "What?" He asked, his face blank.
Tank snorted, "Don't fuck with us… we know that you get something from someone each day… so you going to share?" He asked sitting forward, arms on the table.
Ranger raised an eyebrow but kept silent and Lester shook his head, "He still thinks after all these years he can hide shit from us." He said with a grin.
Ranger barely shifted his eyes, but in his world, it was a major eye roll, "I am not hiding anything." He said looking back at his phone.
Tank raised an eyebrow, "Then share." He said pointing at Ranger.
Ranger shook his head once and pulled a chair out to sit down, "Fine…... get behind me… I only get to see it for 15 seconds." He muttered leaning over to Bobby, so he did not have to get up.
Tank and Lester stood walking behind Ranger and Bobby and looked at the phone and Ranger clicked on the file in the email, typing in a 10-digit code to remove the lock. After a second a message came up:
Her laughter is still filing up rooms,
But it is not as bright without you here.
It only stayed up for 5 seconds before the words left the screen and a photo popped up and the guys broke into huge grins. Stephanie was seating on a couch next to Diesel, her head tilted on his shoulder, a giant smile on her face so you could practically hear her laughter. Her hands rested on her now full stomach and Ranger felt his heart clench at how much he missed in only two weeks.
"What is on her arm?" Bobby asked eyes narrowed at the bandage.
"She looks tiered." Tank said softly.
Lester narrowed his eyes, "She looks like she lost weight…. But she popped." He said with a small grin.
Ranger looked at the bandage and the dark circles under her eyes and knew that Hector was not telling him something…. But for now... in the last hour… he knew she was alive…. She was laughing…. And she was safe in his building…... he could relax for another day for now.
The photo disappeared and Ranger took a small breath putting the phone down. Tank and Lester sat back down and looked at Ranger, "You have been getting those every day, haven't you?" Tank asked.
Ranger nodded, "I get one random one a day and it only stays in my email for one hour… I have to put in the code to get it to open and it only lasts 15 seconds…. I get one small message and one photo…." He said tapping his finger on the table, "If I don't view it within the hour its gone… if I mess up the code the first time… it disappears."
Lester grinned, "Fucking Hector is good." He said.
Ranger smirked, "It is actually a program Timmy created…. that Hector set up on my phone remotely." He said.
Tank snickered, "That is a government phone…. And you got not one but two guys who can do what ever they want to it." He said, "Tell me again why we are still doing this bullshit?"
Ranger smirked over at Tank, "Because we are saving the world." He said.
Bobby clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes as he stared off into space for a moment thinking, "Well we need to hurry this shit up." He said before turning to Ranger, "She is still sick… and that looked like a port in her arm."
Lester looked over in confusion, "What is a port?" He asked.
Bobby's nose flared, "It is when someone needs a regular IV or meds…. So, the individual does not need to keep getting stuck with needles." He tapped the table, "She has also lost weight and her face is drawn and pale…." He snarled, "I need to go home and check her out."
Ranger gave a small smile at Bobby's protectiveness coming out, "Bobby… she is alive… and she is home… and if all else fails… she is laughing." He said, "I cannot control anything from here… so I have to focus on those things until I get back."
Bobby nodded, "I know…... but…"
Ranger held up a hand, "NO buts…." He said, "We focus on the fact that she is alive and laughing…. And we get this shit done so we can figure out the rest when we get home."
Lester stood up with an evil grin, "Well I want to go home and see my BFF and touch her popped belly…so give me just a second." He said turing and walking over to the room Ranger just left.
Tank snickered over at Ranger, "You know…. He is pretty good at getting things we want… we wanted Steph working with us… he got her with us… he wants to go home to see her and the babies…. I think we will be going home soon." He said sitting back in his chair.
Ranger raised an eyebrow but tilted up one corner of his lips, "You think he can get the information that I can't… that he wants to go home more then I do?" He asked.
Tank snickered, "I think that you and I tend to use brute force… he on the other hand will use his words…. And he is motivated now that he has seen her 'pop" Tanks said making quotes with his fingers, "… he wants to feel her belly." He said.
Ranger gave a small shake of his head, "The sad part is your are probably right…. And the fact is I don't give a fuck… as long as I get to go home." He said making Bobby chuckle.
Bobby pulled over his medical bag, "If Lester does not get it… I will." He said pulling stuff from his bag, "Brute force doesn't always work… but this always works."
Ranger snorted, "You both know that she is mine… right… that the babies are mine…. That all of you should not be just as excited to get home to her as I am." He said.
Tank threw his head back and laughed, "Once again… it is cute that you still think that." He said.
Ranger just shook his head, not even turning when they heard the screaming from the back room, "Looks like we might get to go home soon." He said with feral grin.
Bobby smirked, "To see our girl." He said.
Tank grinned full of teeth, "To see our babies." He said.
"Jesus Christ." Ranger muttered making the two man laugh.
Lester walked out wiping his hands on a towel, "I got most of what we needed…... lets get this shit wrapped up…I want to get home to my girl." He said, "Get your ass in here."
Ranger threw his hands up, "I give up." He said walking into the back room followed by the rest of the guys into the back room, "Mine." He growled, "FUCKING MINE."
All three men laughed as they pulled the door closed as Ranger leaned over the man, his face completely blank, "I want to go home." Ranger said quietly into the man's ear, leaning a hand on either side of the chair caging him in, "So let me make myself clear… I will do anything I have to you to get the fuck out of this hellhole…. Then I will let my friends …...each who feel the same way that I do…. spend some time with you… so are you ready to talk." He asked.
The man looked up around the room looking at Lester who was grinning at him, his hands still being wiped on the rag… Bobby who was holding onto his bag and Tank whose tree trunk arms crossed over his chest and finally back at Ranger who eyes were filled with fire and the man nodded, "I am ready to talk." He whispered.
Ranger nodded, "Good." Looking over his shoulder to the guys who grinned back, "Good."