A/N: A few people wondered what was up with the last chapter since it seemed a little out of place and out of context with the story, but truth is, I wanted something to break the storyline up a little and also get it moving along in a way of sorts. I know it seemed a little bit odd, but also figured the typical a-linear telling was overdone :) Also as someone said to me on diffferent stories way back 'it's your story, do whatever you wanna do' ;)
I believe the end of this chapter is what people have been waiting for - well one of the things people have been waiting for.
I can't remember how many debriefs took place after Nicholson and how many of the men tried finding ways in something like that never happening again. I sat through the first three and then decided to let them debate without me. It wasn't like I didn't care and never wanted to find myself in a similar situation ever again. But from where I was standing, stuff like that happened in jobs like ours. There were always chances something couldn't work out the way you had it planned. There were always uncertain variables that neither of us could predict. The guys agreed but still kept looking at options to minimize the risks.
I left the conference room and made it back to my office, Batman following me in his always curious ways. I had decided to keep the one good thing out of the whole situation with Nicholson and not just fed the puppy the promised Filet Minong but give him a home. He had saved my life after all and also suffered as much – if not even more – as me.
He was a black Labrador puppy with the biggest eyes I had ever seen. After the ER had cleared me and the vet we spontaneously needed to find cleared him we took him back to RangeMan. Once the Merry Men heard of my actual story of what had gone down, I'm almost certain my little new best friend would be dining on Filet Minong for the next few months at least.
"He also already abides to the dress code," Cal laughed, pointing towards the black puppy at my feet. Finding an appropriate name for him took me half a night and three glasses of red wine – though two of them might have been needed to work through the events of that day. I wanted a somewhat meaningful name and not the standard or usual name for dogs, like 'snoopy' or something similar. Halfway through my deep thinking I needed to think about Ranger once more and the day I had as well as the question what Ranger would have done in today's situation. I figured he wouldn't ever find himself in such a situation, but assumed even he must have had one situation or two before where things didn't go as planned. And then I remembered he was dead and that his last mission had definitely not gone ideal. Letting my eyes land on the black Labrador puppy next to me on the couch, I realized I wanted Ranger to be around in a way – cheesy and Hollywood-movie like. So why not give him a name that would make sure he was.
Calling him Ranger or Carlos felt odd and for a moment I thought about boss or Rangeman. But… it didn't feel right. And then I realized while I always had been Wonder Woman he was always Batman. And Batman was the perfect name for my cute little sidekick. "You keep protecting me, right? Just like the Merry Men?"
Batman looked up from his cushion and yelped softly at me, before licking the hand that had petted his head a moment prior. He might not have been lethal but he was killing with cuteness overload. I always had wanted a dog and while I had enjoyed Bob during my relationship with Morelli he was never mine. I was almost always something like the sitter for Bob whenever Morelli needed someone.
I was aware I needed to read up on a lot of things in regards of taking care of a dog, especially one so young. But I figured I'd be alright. Walking him would actually give me an excuse to leave the office and get outside, clearing my head. And even for the rare occasion that I wouldn't be able to, I guess one of the guys could take him on their runs. Otherwise he could stay in the apartment or with me in the office and get all the attention he needed. The day went by without any hickups or major events and before I knew it, I found myself up on seven, Batman next to me and a glass of wine ready to let the day end.
Sipping on my wine glass I stared at the ceiling for a long moment, while Batman was licking my palm still. It was odd how much things as well as my life seemed to have changed over the course of just a few, mere weeks. If I wasn't on sort of non-talking terms with most of the people outside this company I'd actually make a few calls right about now to talk about it. But… there was no one really to call – except for MaryLou, but I knew for a fact that she was right now otherwise occupied. So no one to talk to, unless…
I grabbed for my cell phone and looked at the display for along moment. I knew sooner or later this would have to stop. But for now? Who cared? Dialing the number I waited for the mailbox to pick up.
"So… Batman, I got a dog. In all fairness it wasn't really planned but he got me out of a sticky situation and I figured I owed him. He is a Labrador and in order to comply with RangeMan rules wears the dress code very well seeing that he has head to toe black fur. He fits in perfectly therefore and I decided on naming him appropriately. He bears your name: Batman. I have no idea about how to raise a dog, but I'll figure I do what I've been doing these past few days and weeks. I'll just see how it goes and learn everything I need to know about while I do it. I made sure to get everything he needs in your most favorite color: black. I got everything in two or three versions, so I don't have to drag everything between my apartment, the office and your apartment back and forth and spent half a fortune at the pet store. I got him a collar in black – obviously – with white cross-stitching that reads SWAT, so that he matches me when I wear your SWAT cap."
I went on telling the mailbox about my last few days, explaining the exact circumstances about how I came to have a dog and what he did. "I'd think alone the fact that he bit Marky in order to what I believe was to be distracted would make you and him get along fairly well. In a way I'd say he looks after me now that you can't do it yourself any longer," I laughed wondering why I was still calling this number. Some people could probably say I'm losing my mind and that was the first sign of it.
Cal and I had been sitting in my office, going over files and talking about the roster. Despite the fact that I hadn't done it I wanted to make sure people were happy and okay with it. I wasn't sure what they were used to and figured that one of their own would know better, but wanted to make certain everything was okay in that regards.
"When did you get to bed?" I asked Cal when he was taking a sip of coffee inbetween yawning.
"Couple hours ago. That mission for Anderson, that FTA for the Feds, took longer than anticipated and he was a bit of a son of a bitch in regards of getting handed over."
"You got to bed only a couple hours ago and still decided on coming to our weekly debate about office stuff?" I asked surprised and remembered the FTA he was talking about. I had been busy with my own FTA last night, who had been as uncooperative as the one Cal and the others went after.
Cal and I had sort of set up a weekly meeting between him and me in my office to go over everything office related that happened during the past week. Cal had sort of become a liaison between me and the other Merry Men, speaking about things that he found important – or were brought to his attention – that the others might not feel too comfortable for whatever reason, deemed unimportant or just didn't have the time to tell me about. When I had initially suggested it my biggest fear had been that maybe the others thought Cal would rat them out about stuff they didn't want me to find out – not sure whether there actually was anything like that. But as it turned out, they got what I was trying to do and create.
"From what I heard you only got to bed after me and yet were here at your desk before I showed up earlier," he commented, taking another sip.
"Yeah, but I am the boss, so I guess I need to be here," I laughed at him at which he grinned back
"Shouldn't you as the boss actually get to do what you want?"
"Not always," I said, shaking my head. We worked through a few more files and debated about a few things he found important to bringing to my attention for a while.
I always had a great rapport with all the Merry Men – at least as far as I knew – but with Cal I always had the closest bond right after Ranger, Bobby, Lester and Tank. I couldn't really say why that was, especially seeing that neither of the other Merry Men was doing anything that wouldn't warrant that same sort of closeness. There was just something about Cal and me that made it so easy to let go.
Despite his rather unorthodox look and that tattoo clearly visible on his forehead and shaved head Cal was an incredible sensible person and a great listener. But something told me, all Merry Men might be surprising me in that regards.
"Can I… can I ask you something, Cal?" I asked after a while and saw him look at me surprised. "Do you think I lost it, Cal?" I asked, looking at the man opposite of me serious.
"Why?" he asked surprised.
"Because I… I have this odd habit of calling Ranger's phone and leave lengthy messages on his mailbox," I replied quietly. Up until now I hadn't told anyone around here of my very odd new hobby. But instead of looking shocked or surprised, Cal just looked calmly at me as if he was expecting more to come. When there wasn't anything else added on my part he leaned forward towards my desk and almost whispered with a smile.
"I hate breaking this to you, Steph, but we already know. Well, some of us anyway. Occasionally we have heard you leaving one or two of these messages."
"You don't think it's weird or that I am slowly losing it?"
Instead of answering, Cal looked back at me for an equally long moment. "What I think doesn't matter, Stephanie. The only thing that should matter is what you yourself believe."
Eloquent and not answering my question. Like always. I suspect these were two qualities you needed to bring when looking for employment with RangeMen.
"Let me ask you something. Do you call him because you have no one else to talk to? Or do you call him because you want to believe he's still alive and at some point maybe listens to them? Or maybe even listens to them now?"
"I checked with Hector. The messages don't get listened to. He hacked into Ranger's phone. They just fill up his storage without ever being listened to."
"Okay, so you know he isn't listening to them now. But is there a part in you that maybe hopes or thinks he will at some point? And I don't mean this in a spiritual 'he's around us' kind of way. But rather in an actual still-alive-kind of way."
"It … it somehow doesn't feel like he is gone. But maybe that is just me and the fact that I don't want to let go," I admitted softly.
There was silence for a short moment before he went on, surprising me.
"You want to know my opinion?" Cal asked and I just nodded, not sure I was ready to hear what he was about to say. "I don't think you lost it. Despite all my training and duties for my country and me probably knowing better, I don't think you lost it. I have learned long ago that whatever you and the boss have is...unusual to say the least. You beat every single odd that said you two should and would never work out. Whether it was your upbringing, family and the entire Burg, his experiences, world view and other obstacles that pointed towards you two never should have gotten even along, you beat them all. So why not beat that last obstacle and overcome possible death? You have a sense for things that is incredible and I long stopped questioning it. Why start now? If you think he's still around somewhere I won't argue...I can't prove you wrong anyway."
I was laughing at his last comment and was about to reply when we heard a lot of talking and cheering outside the office. Junior and Vince, as well as Binkie and Hal could clearly be heard, sounding more than just happy.
"What's happening?" I asked curiously once outside my office, looking at the crowd of people close to the elevators. When the crows separated and I could see what they were so happy about I almost dropped my coffee mug that I had still been holding on to.
"Beautiful," I heard more than saw Lester. I registered him walking towards me with his standard grin and engulfing me in a tight hug a moment later. Bobby and Tank followed him and took turns hugging me once Lester let go of me.
Lester's "Beautiful", was followed by Bobby's "Bomber" and finally Tank's "Little Girl". The hugs seemed to last forever until I heard a phone ringing somewhere and Junior's voice a moment after the ringing had stopped.
"Steph, Ram is waiting at the range for your gun training. Shall I tell him you are busy?" he asked and a moment later my hug ended and I was looking at three rather curious faces.
I walked over to Junior who held the receiver in his hand and took it from him.
"Sorry Ram, my meeting with Cal was running a bit late. I'm on my way." Then I hung up, turned towards Tank, Lester and Bobby and smiled at them.
"I'll need to go, otherwise Ram will hand me my ass later on at self-defense. I'll catch up with you once I'm back up. Welcome home, guys," I smiled widely, pushing my way through the door for the stairs and jogging down to Ram, knowing fully well I left back an entire floor of surprised, shocked Core Team members and otherwise very amused Merry Men.