Phillygirl27... put on your dancing shoes. Enjoy ;)
--
Chapter 6
During the next few days, I helped Bucky determine which location he should search next. He was leaving for Paris immediately after dinner. The Paris warehouse had erratic power usage. It suggested someone was using high powered machinery at night when the warehouse should be closed. Ranger was sending one of his men to accompany me to the private airport outside Newark. At first I put up a good fight, after hearing him say, "Please Babe. I need you to be safe," I caved. After all, he did say the magic word. I could never say 'no' if someone said 'please.' Bucky grabbed his small duffle bag and led me to the Rangeman SUV in the parking garage.
"I guess we have Rangeman valet service today," I joked when I noticed someone in the driver's seat.
Bucky smiled. "Ranger cares about your safety. Who is he?" he pointed to the small Hispanic man waiting for us.
"I think his name is Hector. Ranger had him install a security alarm on my door but I couldn't figure it out and shot it. Hector came back to my apartment to remove it. I don't think he speaks English." I caught a smile on Hector's face as I passed the side mirror. Well what do you know? It seems Hector is does speak and understand English. The sly little fox. Hehehe... Let's see if I can get him to crack.
Bucky opened the front passenger door and indicated I should sit beside Hector. As I buckled in, he said, "Hola Angelita."
I started laughing and said, "Trust me, I'm no Angel." The expression on his face was priceless. It took a few seconds before I realized he said the words on my shoulder. "Is this your writing?" I showed him the barely legible writing on my left shoulder.
"Si. Is this your writing?" He showed me his right bicep.
"Yes. I lightly traced my writing. Why didn't you talk to me before now?" I wondered.
"You're a beautiful woman. You don't speak Spanish. Everyone at Rangeman thinks I don't speak or understand English," he explained.
I couldn't help laughing. "Don't worry Hector. I'll keep your secret," I said with a glint in my eye.
"How did you know I speak English?" he asked.
"I saw you smile when I told Bucky I didn't think you spoke English. I instantly knew you could." I could see the pride in his expression.
"You're the only person to discover my secret." He looked in the backseat at our travel companion. "Are you James Buchanan Barnes? The one they call the Winter Soldier?" he asked.
"I am. I prefer to be called Bucky."
"How do you know Angelita?" he asked, giving Bucky the second degree.
"She's one of my platonic soulmates," he confessed. "Will you take care of her while I'm away?"
"Si. I will protect Angelita," he promised after confirming he was my platonic soulmate. Once I convinced Bucky he could trust Hector, he told him about the mission to destroy HYDRA labs. Bucky was attempting to neutralize the scientist responsible for brainwashing him during the last 5 years. He was able to escape and find himself only to be recaptured and reprogrammed.
"I'm afraid they'll come after Stephanie while I'm away. I trust you and the others will keep her safe?" he asked. Hector nodded. "If Ranger and his team go on a mission, do you have others at Rangeman willing to assist you?" Bucky asked.
"Yes. I promise she will be protected. She is very important to Rangeman," he stated.
Bucky gave me a hug before boarding the private plane. He bumped fists with Hector and said goodbye. Tears steamed down my face as the steps were retracted and the hatch closed.
Hector wrapped his arm around me. We waited as the plane taxied down the runway. I waved until it disappeared from my view. Hector gently guided me back to the SUV. "We need to go now." I nodded as I let him help me into the car.
Hector drove us to Rangeman, pulling into a spot in the employee parking lot. "Why are we here?" I asked.
"Ranger is leaving on a mission during the night. We have a meeting soon," he explained.
"But I'm not really a Rangeman employee," I complained.
"You need to be here. It's about your safety."
"Okay. I guess I'll tag along." I reluctantly followed him into the conference room.
I took a seat next to a large man with short blond hair and a wicked tattoo on his forehead. He smiled when I didn't turn away from him. We remained silent since Ranger was ready to start the meeting.
Ranger started speaking. "As you may have heard, I'm leaving on a mission tonight with Lester, Bobby and Junior. The details are confidential. During my absence, I would like Ram to work with Stephanie in the gun range." I groaned. I really hate guns. He continued issuing commands to keep Rangeman running. "Stephanie, a word please." There he goes again. Saying the one word to guarantee I'd cooperate.
"What word are you looking for?" I sassed.
"Smart ass," he joked. "There's an empty apartment on 4 for you to stay during my mission. Word on the street says you're in danger. A gang has been actively searching for you. While Hector was driving you and Bucky to the airport, your car was firebombed." He paused to show me a photo of my burning car. "Please stay here. It would give me one less thing to worry about while I'm away." I readily agreed. Ranger's safety on a mission was important to me. He's become my best friend.
I couldn't believe another car was destroyed. "I'll stay here if it makes your life easier Ranger. Ram can work with me until I become more comfortable with my gun," I added for his benefit. Staying at Rangeman has its perks. Ella's cooking being the number one benefit. I wonder if she'll adopt me.
"She probably would if you asked," he replied, proving I spoke my last sentence out loud. "Ram's waiting for you in the gun range." He led me to the room to ensure I arrived in time for my lesson. "Don't go crazy Babe."
"Don't get shot," I replied. He closed the door after leaving me with Ram.
I noticed he had several guns strapped to him. One on his thigh, one at his ankle and another in the back of his pants. I saw the gun in his hand. It was the same caliber as my Smith & Wesson. "Can I show you how to hold my gun?" he said sexily.
"Definitely, but I want to know how to hold the one in your pants," I said in a sex kitten voice. Oh my God. I can't believe I said that to Ram. I'm so embarrassed. I turned and ran from the room.
He yelled, "Ranger ordered the men to zap you if you attempt to leave the building."
I saw Hal at the front door. He was a very shy man and often blushed whenever I was around. "Can I see your taser?" I asked as I rubbed my hand down his arm.
He nodded as he passed me the weapon. "Sure. You just press that button." I gasped before I placed the taser on his arm and pressed the button. He instantly fell to the ground. Before I could leave the building, Hector arrived.
"Angelita!" he yelled. I was surprised. Hector never yells. He took advantage of my stunned state to pull me into his arms while disarming me. "Stephanie, it isn't safe out there. You need to practice with Ram. Please," he begged. I nodded, allowing him to guide me to Ram who was assessing Hal's condition.
Cal caught up to us when he noticed I tased Hal. He smiled at me. I smiled back and without thinking, I said, "Awesome Flamin Fred tat."
He laughed before rearranging his expression to that blank face I really hate and replied, "Don't drink then ink." I practically fell over laughing.
"Oh my God! This is you?" I showed him the writing on my lower back, forgetting about the other 2 with it.
"Yes. You have other words here too." I stopped him from reading the other words.
"No. Don't read them. I need to see my writing on you." He lifted his shirt to show me my words written on his back. "Yup. That's my writing," I confirmed.
"Are you alright?" Ram asked me.
"I'm sorry I ran. I can't believe I said those words to you. I'm so embarrassed," I said as tears streamed down my face.
"I have your words written on my back," he said as he lifted his shirt to show me.
"Your words are written on my back too. I suspect they're with Cal and Hal's. Can we wait until Hal wakes up to show him too?" I asked. "I already showed Cal his."
"Sure. We'll bring him into the range with us," he said as he easily lifted Hal in a fireman hold. I was impressed. Hal was nearly as large as Tank. Ram was slightly larger than Lester. "It's nothing I haven't done before," he added. "On my last mission, I carried Tank 3 miles to our extraction site."
I remember when Tank returned from his last mission. His leg was in a solid cast. He was unable to bend it at his knee. Bobby said Tank's knee was shattered by a bullet as they completed their mission. It was fortunate he jumped over the wall when he did or he would have died.
Ram showed me how to fire a few weapons before I noticed Hal coming around. "We should take a break so we don't scare him," I suggested. I walked over to Hal and sat beside him on the floor. "I'm sorry Hal. I was freaking out about what I said to Ram. The guys are going to tease you, aren't they?"
"It's okay Steph. I was surprised you said the words on my back," he explained. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have given you the taser or showed you how to use it. Help me lift my shirt."
I reached behind him and lifted his shirt to read my handwriting. "It's my handwriting alright."
"I already knew it was your writing. I've seen the same writing on the searches you completed for me," he confessed.
"Is that why you were afraid to talk to me?" I wondered.
"Partly. Where are my words? I need to confirm my handwriting," he said, ever the military man.
"With Cal and Ram's writing on my back." I waved Ram over to see his writing. They both confirmed their handwriting. I had accidentally lifted my shirt too high and they saw another group of writing close to my bra strap.
"These look like Lester, Bobby and Tank's handwriting. Just how many platonic soulmates do you have?" Ram asked, curiosity clearly displayed on his face.
"Well, I've already met Mary Lou, Eddie, James, Ranger, Lester, Bobby, Tank, Hector, Cal, Hal and you Ram. I still have many more to meet. Huh... I just realized I met half of my platonic soulmates. Before you ask, I have 20 platonic soulmates and 1 romantic soulmate."
"I only have 3 platonic soulmates and 1 romantic. Cal and Hal are my other platonic mates. I still need to meet my romantic soulmate. At first I thought it was you because your handwriting is similar, but I now realize it isn't," Ram answered, looking a bit sad.
"You'll find her when it's time. Be patient." I gave him a hug to make him smile.
"I have 4 platonic soulmates and 1 romantic. Like Ram, I haven't met my romantic soulmate. Ram, Cal and you are 3 of my platonic soulmates. I still need to meet my final platonic soulmate," Hal told me.
We decided to watch movies in my apartment with Hector. Since I stunned Hal, he was given the first choice of movie to watch. The movie started playing the opening sequence I knew like the back of my hand. "How did you know that's my favourite movie?" I asked Hal.
"It has always been my favourite," he replied. "I'm glad Ghostbusters is your favourite too." He carefully tucked me into his lap so Ram could sit beside us.
A few exhausting, terrifying weeks passed. I had another 2 cars catch fire. Someone shot a Molotov cocktail into my apartment effectively destroying everything. I was following Kenny Mancuso, a new FTA and stumbled over a gun running operation involving stolen military weapons. Grandma and I were kidnapped and held in the funeral home morgue. When she shot her gun in defence, it hit a box of ammunition, sending the building up in flames. To make matters worse, some Trenton Times reporter penned me as the Bombshell Bounty Hunter.
My Merry Men started calling me Bombshell or Bomber. Just what I always wanted, more nicknames to add to Babe, Beautiful, Doll and Pumpkin. After some convincing and lack of low bond FTAs, I accepted a full time position at Rangeman.
The men trained me over the next 3 months so I could pass their rigorous physical training tests. My final test was yesterday. I had to spar with Ranger. Bobby said I either needed to take him to the mats twice or last 45 minutes. As I stretched in preparation for my final test, Hector whispered to me, "Remember our training sessions. Never go for the obvious, he will expect it. Use the combination of street fighting and martial arts I taught you. I know you can do this. Make us proud." I nodded my head before kissing his teardrop tattoo.
"I promise. I'll keep my eye on the prize." Ranger started circling me when I entered the ring, waiting for me to make the first move. Concentrating on his motions, I dodged his right fist as it approached my face. I quickly kicked out my right leg to hook my foot behind his left knee, throwing him off balance. He was expecting me to retaliate using my left leg. I landed on top of him as he fell to the mats. After he tapped my hip, I stood up and got back into position. For his next move, he kicked out his left leg to catch my right side. Recognizing the first part of his combination move, I quickly dropped down to use my back to push his left leg higher to knock him off balance. He fell backwards landing hard on his back. Bobby quickly called the fight.
"Has Hector been training you Beautiful?" Lester asked.
"Yes. I've been training with him at his house. Hal, Cal and Ram also helped," I replied.
"Babe. I think you set a new record."
"New record? What was the old record?" I asked Bobby.
He answered, "Hector held the record for quickest time to take down Ranger. You just beat his record by 5 minutes." I was surprised. There was no way I beat that record.
"Babe. It took him 20 minutes to take me down twice. I managed to take him down once in between. You managed to take me down twice in 15 minutes without me taking you down once. Your record is the one the new Rangeman recruits will work hard to beat. Congratulations, you are now cleared for field duty." He pulled me into his arms for a tight hug. He whispered, "I'm proud of you Babe."