Stephanie laughed as they brought in bag after bag into the elevator, "Where am I going to put all of this…... it will not fit in the apartment I am staying in now and 7 is nowhere near ready." She said, looking at the full elevator.
Eric and Diesel looked around the into the elevator, their own arms full of bags, "Let's take them to one of the conference rooms. I Am sure the guys would love to see what you bought for the babies." Diesel said.
Stephanie nodded her head, "That Is a good ideal." She said pushing for the 5th floor, "Besides, I want to see what they guys were up to today while we were gone."
Diesel snorted, "Of course you do." He said pulling one of the bags out of her hands, "You are not supposed to be carrying so much." He said.
Eric reached over and took another one of the bags out of her hands so she only had one bag in each hand now, "I can't believe that you could spend that much…. Buy this much stuff…. in 2 hours." Eric said in disbelief.
Diesel snorted, "She went easy on us… I am assuming that because she is pregnant, she didn't buy that much for herself." He said.
Stephanie nodded, "I am trying to take it easy with the clothes for now… especially since I am only going to get bigger… and my shape is constantly changing… you can take me shopping again next week." She said bouncing in excitement, "Besides, you can never go shopping too much… it is just not possible."
Eric grinned, "We can go shopping every week if you want… you know that I am down… but man you got a ton for the babies …. I love those onesies that you got… and the stuffed animals." He said.
Stephanie nodded as the elevator door's slid open, "I know…. I am still not wanting to buy too much for the babies because I want Ranger to be here when we pick out stuff to decorate the room." She said leading them down the hall. She paused when Cal walked up to her, "Hey you…. how was your day?" She grinned.
Cal smiled at her, "Busy... and I am thinking just a bit more stressful then yours…. Judging by that smile on your ace." He said, "But… I have to say that I am loving that smile you have."
Stephanie grinned at him, "A day of stress-free shopping and the spa… of course I am relaxed." She said, "Plus I ate 3 times today and I kept ALL of it down." She wiggled her eyebrows, "I kept down food and I got full."
Cal gave a shout of excitement that had the hall filling with more men who looked between Stephanie and Cal. Cal grinned over at them, "Steph ate today… and kept it down…." He paused and grinned, "3 times." The rest of the guys broke out in grins grabbing the last two bags in her arms.
Cal smiled, "Well I was worried about you going with everything that is going on… but it sounds and looks like it was just want you needed." He said, "Now what's all this?"
Stephanie nodded, "It was a great day…. and we got baby stuff… do you want to see it?" She asked the guys walking into the conference room.
The guys all rushed in the room after her as Diesel and Eric placed all the bags on the table, "What did you get?" Binkie asked pulling over one of the bags, trying to peek inside it.
Stephanie grabbed it back, "Nope…... no baby stuff until you tell me what you guys did today." She said with a grin.
Hal walked in with a smile, "We ran backgrounds on all of the contract workers for upstairs… they all look ok… worked for the company for at least a year… most of them have wives and children… nothing that stands out." He said crossing his arms, "Hector went around with a few of the guys and upgraded all of the cameras in the building as well as put up more sensors and check points."
Stephanie smiled softly, "So you made the place safe for me." She said.
Hal nodded, "We have made 5 and the apartments on 4 like big brother…. No one is coming or going without ne of us seeing it... we also added monitors as well as set up a schedule that has one of us always watching." He said.
Stephanie nodded, "That sounds great Hal…. Thank you so much." She said reaching over to kiss his cheek softly, she turned to the rest of the guys, "Thank all of you for helping out today… I already feel better… safer."
The guys all grinned over at her, "We are going to keep the three of you safe and sound." Hal promised, "Now I heard that you ate real food and went shopping today…show us what you got." He said reaching for bag.
Stephanie shook her head grabbing the bag, "Nope... no peeking… get all the guys in here first." She said with a grin. Cal nodded steaking his head out the door and yelled, "You have 2 minutes to get in here if you want to see what Steph bought the babies."
The room quickly filled up with giant men in black as they excitedly tried to peer in the bags over the conference table. Stephanie laughed as grabbed them back waiting until Hector strolled in the room and leaned against the back wall with a small smile, "OK." She called out. "I got some normal things that were fun." She said pulling out two small black velvet bears with stitched on capes out of the bags making all the guys burst out laughing.
She handed them out so the guys could feel them and reached into another bag, "I also got matching blankets for the babies." She said pulling out black cashmere blankets. "Once we figure out the sex and the names, we can get the names embordered on them.'" She said grinning when the guys grinned.
"They are going to be the little men or girls in black." Zip said grinning.
Stephanie nodded, "I am sure everyone else will get us some cool colored stuff… but I saw these and thought they were prefect to bring the babies home with." She said pulling another bag over, "I also found these."
Stephanie grabbed out some black onesies hiding the fronts, "Well actually Eric and Diesel found them, and they are the ones that had them made up while I was still shopping for stuff…. After I told them what I wanted them to say." She said grinning over at the guys, "First one-up." She said turing it around to show the guys who all grinned.
On the front of the little back onesie was the word Rangeman printed in white making the guys shout n excitement, "Heck yea…" Cal said, "Now they will fit in…they just need little black pants and shoes."
Eric reached into another one of the bags and pulled out matching black sweatpants and shoes making Hal shake his head grinning, "OK… those are good." He said.
Stephanie grinned, "And we got them in every size from newborn all the way up to 24 months… so they are set for a while with their mini uniforms." She said laughing, "And Diesel found this.' She said pulling out a small black headband with a cute bow, "In case we have a girl."
Manny smiled, "Now that is gonna be so cute." He said grabbing the headband, "But it is so small." He said looking at it closely.
Stephanie smiled, "Well it stretches…but the babies are going to be small." She said rolling her eyes.
Manny frowned, "This is really small… their head will be this small?" he asked looking up at Stephanie.
Stephanie burst out laughing, "They will probably fit in the palms of your hands when they are first born…. The average weight for a twin when born is 4 to 5 pounds." Pointing at Manny's huge hands.
Manny shook his head, "I take shits bigger and heavier then that." He muttered setting the headband down looking up at Stephanie again, "I am not holding them until they are bigger." He said crossing his arms over his chest, "I will not be responsible for braking one of them."
Stephanie smiled at him, "No one is required to hold the babies unless they want to." She promised reaching out and patting Manny's arm, "You can just watch them while we hold them."
Manny nodded at her with a frown but Binkie grinned, "I will hold them…. my cousin had a baby, and it was so fun to cuddle…." He paused with a frown, "Until it poops on you… for being so cute and small… they really can stink." He said.
Stephanie shook her head, "You guys kill me." She said reaching for another black onesie and turning it around letting the guys read the front. It got more cheers when they saw- I get my curtness from my uncles.
Stephanie then turned the next black onesie around to show the phrase- Don't make my uncles kick your ass. Making the room applaud again before she pulled out one last Black onesie and the room went silent when they read the words- I love my uncles. Stephanie then pulled out 7 XL large black t-shirts passing them out to the men watching as they turned over the shirts to see the phrase- Uncle on Duty.
Hector smiled softly but it was Bones who finally spoke up, "You got these for us?" He asked softly.
Stephanie looked around the room taking in Cal, Binkie, Bones, Manny, Zip, Hal and Hector and smiled, "Of course it is…. You guys are family… and I know that the babies are going to love you as much as I do." She said softly. She carefully reached into one of the bags pulling out two identical picture frames with a thick black matting, "In fact…. I got this because I am going to take a photo with all of you and each baby after they are born…. And it is going to go up on their bedroom walls so the babies can always see you."
The men looked at Stephanie and slowly each one smiled and nodded at her, "And we will love them as much as we love you." Cal said softly making the rest of the men nod in agreement.
Stephanie nodded sharply taking a deep breath and wiping away one of the tears that managed to escape, "Now…. I also this one for Diesel." She said pulling out a bright pink onesie turing it around to show the phrase- My uncle is a secrete spy.
Diesel burst out laughing, "That is by far the best color." He said reaching for it.
Stephanie grinned at him, "Good cause I got you this." She said pulling out a matching pink shirt turning it to show the words- I am the uncle. Diesel grinned snatching it from her, "I am going to wear this when I take the babies out… and the three of us are going to match."
Stephanie smiled at all of the guys, "I got a few more things but we have to wait until Ranger and the guys get back to open them." She said closing the rest of the bags and setting them to the side, "Now I am ready for bed."
The men walked over one by one pulling her into a tight hug giving her kisses on the top of her head, whispering how much they loved and apricated her. When it was only her, Hector, Diesel and Eric left she yawned rubbing her stomach softly. "I am going to run by my office quick to get some paperwork because tomorrow I am sleeping in." She said, "Then when I eventually wakeup I am going to curl up on my couch and do paperwork… hell I might even do it in bed." She muttered making the guys laugh at her.
She walked over pulling Eric into a hug, "I will have Diesel give you the information for the baby shower.' She promised, "And the next time that I have to go out and need a shadow I would love to see you." She whispered.
Eric gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, "I have a feeling you will see a lot more of me." He said pulling back, "For one you are shaping up to be a great friend… I will have Diesel give you my phone number… call me any time, Pumpkin."
Stephanie rolled her eyes, "I am not a pumpkin… no matter what shape I am now." She muttered making the guys laugh at her before Diesel walked over, "I have to go get some work done… but I will be back tomorrow…. I know you ate today but I still think you should take your shot and IV… just until you get stronger and can do it more days on your own." He whispered in her ear.
Stephanie nodded, "Hector will help me." She promised, "See you tomorrow." She said waving to Diesel and Eric as they walked out.
Stephanie turned to Hector and gave him a tired but happy smile, "My day was good… How was yours?" She asked softly.
Hector shrugged, "Long…. but I got everything that I wanted done… I feel like the building is safer now…... but I don't know… something is nagging at the back of my mind" He said, "I just want to find out who this is and take care of them." He muttered. "Timmy has been doing so research while I set up the building…. Hopefully, that will show us something soon."
Stephanie nodded walking over to slide her arm through his, locking elbows, "I am not worried…... I know that if anyone can figure this out... it is you... besides." She said pulling him down the hall to her office, "I already feel safer…. And honestly the building could have used the upgrade in security…. You guys have been updating the outside but nothing inside the building since you started…. I know you all feel like you are safe but what if it is someone else going after one of you.' She said.
Hector nodded, "I agree…. Hopefully, Ranger won't be to upset with how much I spent." He muttered with a small grin, "It is a lot… even for me."
Stephanie let go of Hector's arm as they walked into her office, "Please… you could bankrupt us and if you tell him or any other guy here it was to keep me safe, they will just nod and say…ok." She said pointing at him, "I mean I know that is what you told yourself as you bought it all and put it up."
Hector gave her a smirk but said nothing making her laugh, "See I know you all so well." She said grabbing some of the files on her desk and sliding them into her arms before reaching for her mail and adding it to the pile.
Hector reached over grabbing a few of the boxes that had been place on her desk, "You get a lot of mail." He muttered, "We have been checking for letters with no return addresses but nothing so far today." He said.
Stephanie nodded, "No news is good news right." She murmured, "and I get a lot of mail because I am now accepting and doing all of the contracts for the company." She rolled her eyes, "Most of the time it is complaints…. Or other security companies trying to sell us types of equipment or now because I am the lucky one in charge, I get the junk mail."
Hector burst out laughing, "We might be able to do something about the junk mail." He said following her down the hallway, "I can put a filter at the mail office…. Maybe we can have someone filter the mail downstairs too... we just need to figure out a system."
Stephanie gave a small nod…. when they got to the elevator Hector pressed his hand on the pad, "You are one of the only people that have full access to the building besides Me and Ranger." He said. "The rest of the core team will have access to everywhere but 7 once it is finished."
Stephanie nodded, "That is prefect." She said getting into the elevator, "What about the 4th floor."
"Only people who live on 4 have access from both the elevator and the stairs." He said, "And we have cameras in every corner…. There is no unwatched space in this building from the basement to the roof now.'
Stephanie smiled, "Sounds like you went crazy with cameras." She said stepping out into the hall when the doors slid open and walked to her door.
Hector grinned, "A few hundred cameras that are motion activated… so as soon as there is movement they come up on the monitors and they all record 24-7 onto a massive hard drive." He said stopping at her door, "You door also has a hand scan that only opens for you, me and Diesel…. A code can be out in and only Hal has it."
Stephanie nodded placing her hand on the pad…. pushing the door open when the locks disengaged, "Even though I ate…... Diesel wants you to check my vitals and give me my shots and IV… until I can have a few days of keeping things down on my own, I need to keep up this crap."
Hector nodded throwing her mail on the counter, "I got you…. Sit down." He said.
Stephanie yawned sitting at the counter, pulling the stack of letters over as Hector gathered the supplies to start her IV. She held out her arm as she read through some of the contracts that she just opened. She gave Hector a small smile once she was set up with her hydration bag… turning to create piles of junk mail, contracts and others on the counter.
"I am going to run downstairs to grab the blood pressure cuff." Hector said pointing at her, "Do not move."
Stephanie snorted, "I am not moving." She promised opening another letter, "I have a ton of things to go through." She said waving her hand over the counter, "Evidently…... even only one day off means that the mail takes over… I don't even want to check my emails." She muttered making Hector laugh at her.
Stephanie smiled up at him, "I am glad that you find my pain amusing." She said making him laugh harder.
Stephanie rolled her eye watching as Hector walked out of the apartment, she sighed as the nausea from the IV started to take over…... Stupid meds were starting to make her stomach feel like crap… after she had felt good most of the day, she was ending it sick again with the stuff that was supposed to make her feel better.
She finished with the last letter before starting to pull the boxes over to open them one at a time. The first had only a replica of a small camera that was probably meant for Hector. The next small box held more contracts she had to go over.
Stephanie paused taking another deep breath pushing down the rolling nausea grabbing the last box, pulling it towards her ripping off the front and reaching in to grab the small box inside. She paused when the door flew open with Hector's eyes wild and filled with fear, "Stephanie do not open the boxes."
Stephanie paused her hand still in the box, wrapped around whatever was inside, "What?" She asked worried.
"Don't move." Hector whispered slowly walking over so he didn't spoke her. He carefully held onto her arm so she couldn't move, "We have not been checking the boxes…. Only the letters." He said.
Hector slowly pulled out Stephanie's hand looking in fear at the small device in her hand, "Carefully open your hand… I am going to take this." He said looking at the small black box realizing instantly what it was, "Then I want you to walk into your room and close the door… I am going to take this out of the building."
Stephanie shook her head, "No… what if you get hurt." She said eyes wide as Hector held out a hand, fear filling her veins like ice.
Hector took a deep breath, "Please Stephanie… please do this for me…" He begged, "I need to know that you are safe."
Stephanie clenched her jaw tightly as tears filled her yes, "Promise you will be ok." She begged back and she slowly placed the small box in his hand, "Promise me… that you will be ok." She said standing up cautiously.
Hector gave her a small smile, "I am going to be fine… now go." He whispered, "Make sure to close the door."
Stephanie nodded, backing away from Hector tears sliding down her face.
Hector waited, watching as Stephanie closed the bedroom door before he turned to carefully stick the little black box inside a pot before putting a lid over it. He pulled out his phone to call Diesel, "There was a bomb in one of the boxes that Stephanie got… she brought it to her apartment." He said not moving, "Can you get back here… can you help me get rid of it?" He asked.
Diesel froze in what he was doing, "Fuck… yes give me two minutes and I will be there." He said turing to leave, "Where is Stephanie?" He asked.
Hector carefully picked the pot back up, "I got her out of the room and into her bedroom, but I don't want to move this mny more then I have too… so I am in her kitchen…... we have a bomb box in the basement... in my office… can you get it and bring it up?" He asked carefully.
Diesel nodded, before he realized that Hector could not see him, "I will get it… do not move… I will be there in a minuet." He said.
Hector felt his heart racing as he waited for Diesel, it was only 3 minutes from when he ended the phone call until when Diesel came in, but it felt like hours, "Hey." Diesel said, with a small smile, "I got something." He said holding up the box taking the lid off, sweat dripping down his forehead.
Hector nodded carefully moving to set the pot inside the box, careful not to shift it.
Diesel held his breath using his body to block the bedroom door as Hector moved… neither of them breathing …. but neither of them were prepared for the explosion when it went off. Diesel barely had enough time to push Hector out of the way behind the counter…. Stephanie did not have time to move away from the bedroom door…. None of them were ready… and no one moved as the room started to settle in black ash, fire and silence.
-/-/
Ranger halted on the path towards the extraction point… something was wrong… he could feel it in his bones.
Lester pulled up behind him, Tank closely following, "What is it?" He asked scanning the tress.
Ranger shook his head so slightly the men barely saw it, "Something is wrong." He said under his breath.
Tank started scanning the clearing watching as the helicopter approached, "What do you see?" He asked as Bobby came in behind them, limping slightly.
Ranger said nothing just kept scanning until they made their way onto the helicopter and they took off. Ranger slid his weapon into the side holster expecting the feeling to dissipate the farther they got away from the site but instead the feeling got worse.
Lester looked at him with narrowed eyes, "What is it?" He asked softly so only the four of the heard him.
Ranger narrowed his eyes and gave another small shake of hs head, "Unknown." He said under his breath.
Tank narrowed his eyes looking to the pilots, but Ranger gave another small shake of his head freezing when he felt the phone his pants vibrate. He quickly pulled it out to look at the new email that came out. He quickly put in the 10-digit code, fear blooming in his chest.
His hands shook when the message came up on the screen.
There has been bombing in the building... get home as soon as you can… Newark Hospital.
Ranger looked up as the blood drained from his face showing the message to Tank, Lester and Bobby.
"Call them." Tanks said under his breath "Fuck the consequence."
Ranger shook his head," I can't… Hector only set it up to receive messages." He clenched his hand, "I can't call out until we land in the US and get to a new phone." He closed his eyes, his blank face slamming down as he began to pray…... began to begged whoever as listening that Stephanie was ok. That his babies were ok… because he would not survive if she wasn't.
