A/N: I'd just like to point out for this chapter that I have no idea about guns or how to fire one? So if that part of the chapter sounds a bit off and strange, you do know why...

When I made it to the basement and the gun range Ram was already waiting, looking like loading several different types of guns.

"Sorry, Cal and I needed to discuss important things," I laughed and saw Ram laugh with me.

"And I guess the return of Lester, Bobby and Tank didn't make a difference," he commented still smiling.

"Junior?" I asked, seeing he had been the one I had taken the phone from.

Ram shock his head. "Vince. Figured I wanted to have a slight heads up since I give it two minutes for them to show up here, making sure they heard you right and you are actually learning how to handle a gun."

He had a point and I must admit I found his two minute estimation rather generous.

As it turned out both of us would be wrong. Ram gave me a quick explanation about every single gun that lay ahead of me and I already knew for a fact that half of these I'd never touch outside this training. He gave me a quick rundown on each gun and what they advantages as well as disadvantages were and how to best handle them and then handed me the first gun. As always he demonstrated first how to do it at best and let me hit off a few shots, suggesting things for me to improve my stand and aim, moving my arms around and widening my legs if he figured I'd get better.

At some point we had made it through half the weapons in front of me when we both heard the door opening. It didn't take us long to figure who could have joined us and since neither of the three said a word we continued with the program as if we hadn't noticed.

"Try it with only your right hand," I heard his instruction which confused me.

"Why? Wasn't one of your first lessons to always have a tight hold on the gun?"

"Yeah, but there might be situation where you only have one hand and then you should know how to adjust in order to actually hit your target."

"I operate under the impression that such a situation will never arise," I said smiling at which he smiled back. We both then chose to ignore the Nicholson fiasco.

I did what he asked, firing the gun with only my right hand and was surprised how much the forces changes that I had to deal with.

"Try again now that you know what to expect and try balancing the different force. Move your right side further front and turn a little. Change your stand to mirror your upper body and hit it."

I did as instructed and did better, though only minimally in my opinion.

"You need more tension in your upper body to be able to balance out the recoil."

A moment later I felt Ram behind me, bringing his hand and arm next to my hand and arm and taking hold of the weapon for me to some degree. Early on we realized that him standing next to me and just explaining things or doing them for me to watch was working only partial. Sometimes I needed a little more hands on approach and I was okay with it in all fairness. To someone – like the three Merry Men standing somewhere behind us still awfully quiet – it might have looked like something different but both Ram and me knew there was no flirting or sexual tension involved. He made that very clear, and I made it very clear as well. We both had no interest in that direction anyway.

"Ok, go ahead," he said and I pulled the trigger. I was surprised how well the last shot worked out, but knew half it was Ram's doing.

"One more," he instructed and I felt him less close, meaning I was depending a little more on me. I pulled the trigger and was confused when nothing happened. So I pulled it again. Once more nothing.

"Um… I think I broke it," I said confused at which I heard him laugh.

"No, the gun is just empty and you need to reload."

"Right," I said. And it made sense. I had shot of quite a few rounds and hadn't needed to reload so far. "Um, okay." I saw there were a few clips laying around but honestly drew a blank in what to do. I knew that Ram had explained that to me last week, but I had been someplace else with my mind.

I stared at the clips in front of me and at the gun in my hand. I was certain I had managed to see one of the guys change the clips of their guns at least once at some point but… I couldn't remember. After a few moments of drawing blank after blank I gave up and asked Ram for actual instructions.

"I knew you weren't listening last week," he admitted smiling softly, showing me what I should have done on another gun.

"Sorry, I just… I had been in that meeting with the finance guys and after that as well as the weekly companywide video conference I was just… confused and uncertain about so many things that I was only paying half of the attention I should have paid."

I did what he had shown me and this time actually remembered it for next time and off we were again one last time.

"I know it has only been a little while, but do you see any improvement in my handling? Because I feel like nothing is changing whatsoever," I asked curious when it was done.

Ram laughed for a moment loudly, before shaking his head at me. "We are only a few days in and at this stage I'm happy you can handle yourself. The aim is not something I'm too focused on for now. I don't need to transform you into a snipper."

"Why?" I asked confused. Not because he didn't want to transform me into a snipper, that I got. But I was confused why my aim wasn't his goal.

"Because it should never come to you having to shot someone, Beautiful," Lester said. "Half of the time it is about confidence and that you technically would know what to do if you ever had to shot. And even when you fire your gun, you don't have to go for a kill shot but rather an element of surprise – or disarming your opponent."

"I can count on one hand how often I actually really needed to shot someone these past years, Little Girl."

"Let's end todays lesson then on that note," Ram smiled, having already started to pack away half the guns and ammunition. "Also, I would like to move tomorrow's training to five o clock since I have an urgent appointment at our usual time. Cal is already aware and said he doesn't mind pushing your morning run back a little."

"You want me to handle a gun at five in the morning?" I asked half-jokingly, half-stunned.

"Is there anything different than at any other time during the day?"

"Other than me being pissed of that I actually got up at five? No," I replied and saw him and the other three laugh as well.

"Good, you can release your anger than at the target," Ram suggested and I just rolled my eyes.

Tank, Bobby, Lester and I walked back upstairs and I surprised the guys once more when I made a beeline for the stairs instead of the elevators.

"You are not gonna believe it," Bones more or less ambushed me the moment I pulled the door onto the floor open. He was standing there, smiling and waving a piece of paper in front of me. Just then did his vision focus on the guys behind me. By his reaction he wasn't aware of their return.

"What is it?" I asked and he handed me the paper wordlessly.

"Gold contacted us again," he just announced and I read quickly over the details printed out. A contract.

"I… how?" I asked, looking again at the contract and signalizing him to walk with me.

"He actually called back a few days after your visit and seemed… different. Also, it might have helped the point you had made in regards of anyone being able to actually rob him and have him beg for his life. Because… he was robbed a day after our visit."

"Karma's a bitch I guess…." I commented amused and had by now made it to my office. Once in the office I sat down on top of my desk and saw Bones stay in the door frame.

"Well, the bitch turns out to be him," Ramos replied when he stepped into my office and past Bones a moment later and looked surprised at Lester, Bobby and Tank as well. "Also, he was bitching like hell, suggesting that we were involved with the robbery since it can't have been much of a coincidence that we show up and advise him about the possibility and then he really gets hit."

"Are you kidding me? He was really saying that?"

"Among other things, most of them revolving around you which I won't replay."

"So how did he go from accusing us of hitting his shop to… getting a contract?"

The silence that followed was odd since I figured it wasn't that hard of a question.

"So… um… Ramos and me might have done a little side project in a way," Bones started ominously.

"Side project? Do I… want to know?"

"We tracked down the people that actually did rob him and presented him with them. Turns out he was robbed by his cousin, nephew and some friend."

"Lovely family dynamic."

"Family that robs together and all that shit," Bones just replied with a smile. "Congratulations. You got your first contract and it is one that no one would have ever seen coming."

And with that Bones and Ramos got up and left, leaving the room to me and the newly returned Core Team.

Tank had decided on sitting on the small couch against the wall that had served more as a storage place these past few weeks and Lester and Bobby took the guest chairs.

"So what's new?" Lester asked and I looked at him confused. I wasn't sure how much they knew at this point, but seeing how long it had taken them earlier to come and find me and Ram I assumed someone must have briefed them on some regards.

"Have you…. has anyone told you about…about Ranger?" I asked carefully, not sure how to breech that topic if they'd say no.

All three nodded, which had me nodding as well.

"I… I'm sorry for your loss," I said quietly, having dreaded this exact moment for weeks. The moment when I'd met Tank, Bobby and Lester again and we would have to someway talk about Ranger. It was an awkward atmosphere with me not knowing what to do or say. Apparent from the obvious stuff. Everyone had suffered a terrible loss on different levels. I knew the three men in front me had known Ranger the longest out of everyone – with Santos probably taking first place seeing they were cousins and knew each other since a very early age. Comprehending what each of us had lost was hard as it is, but sort of talking about it made it even harder.

"We are sorry for your loss and the… mayhem you were most likely thrown into," Tank said. "I mean taking this all on," he continued, pointing with his hands in all sort of directions. "That's quite a lot."

"Yes," I admitted. "But now that you are back, I guess my job is done."

"The nameplate would suggest otherwise," Bobby said, grabbing the goldish desk name plate next to me.

"It was sort of a present from the guys," I admitted laughingly. "It… it doesn't mean anything really."

"Why? Because you don't think you can do the job?" Tank wondered.

"Because this is your company. You built it up with Ranger and should see it succeed. Me coming in to run the show was for a moment until you got back and took over."

"The way I see it, it is succeeding. I mean I don't see anything that would indicate that things have turned for the worst."

"And if I'm not completely wrong Ranger didn't name you a stand in in case we are not around, but he made you the head of the company."

"Yeah, but that's a whole different mat -… wait, you know about Ranger's request?" I asked confused. All three men nodded.

"Yeah, he discussed it with us years ago when we thought that maybe we needed a plan B in case something once didn't work out the way we would like. We are in a business were fatalities are not uncommon. You can't do our job and expect to retire at 60-something with a house by the sea. Most often we won't make it to 60-something. That's maybe why our reaction to his passing is different to yours. We weren't really expecting it, but we weren't surprised by it either. It is a risk of our job."

"Why… why do you think he did it? Did… appoint me?"

"Because he knew you'd be amazing at this job," Bobby said.

"And because he knew he can't put Tank, Bobby and me behind a desk," Lester went on. "That also was the main reason why he was the face and CEO of the company. We were good with being sort of silent partners and shouldering our small part of sitting behind a desk every once in a while or stepping in when he needed to go abroad. But for the long run? No chance in hell."

"Not sure how amazing I'm really am at managing everything. It was… quite a lot," I admitted and saw Tank and Bobby look at my concerned.

"I know and trust me, now that we are back we'll take some of that workload of your desk and shoulders. But I'd like to see you remain in your position. Ranger asked you and I won't go against his wish and request, especially since I'm certain he is right," Tank explained and I saw Lester and Bobby nod, before Bobby turned his entire attention to me and looked serious.

"How… how have you been, Bomber? I imagine all of this has been a shock and all and can't have been easy. Especially the news of Ranger."

"I… it hadn't been the best week to start with," I laughed somewhat sarcastically. "And then ending it on the note of the news of his passing wasn't improving anything."

"How did you hear about it?" Lester asked carefully.

"Cal and Bones broke into my apartment one morning, armed with coffee and breakfast and a mission to get me back here in order for someone to probably do the hard part of delivering the news. We never really made it here. I remember them telling me, me blacking out and the next thing I know was Cal, Bones and literally everyone of RangeMan in my living room when I woke up again. It was… not very easy in all fairness. I think I spent the better part of a week locked up in my apartment sleeping and… not being too social. When I left my bedroom again after a few days of being miserable I fell over several Merry Man who had refused to leave my side and took turns in staying at my place or working their hours at RangeMan. After that I meet Connor and got told about Ranger's request. And that started a whole new drama."

Bobby, Lester and Tank had been quietly listening for the duration of my story but when I ended they looked up serious and almost angry.

"Why? Did any of the guys give you hell?" Lester asked almost angry and I was quick in clearing up their assumptions.

"No no no, quite the opposite. It was more an issue with myself, the question what Ranger had been thinking and my… family that caused the drama."

"Let me guess, your family and boyfriend didn't agree," Tank guess, relaxing physically the moment he heard that not the Merry Men had been the issue.

"So you went against your family's and Morelli's idea of what to do. What made you go for it? Fighting family is usually quite a lot of work. And your family is an extra special hard case."

"I…," I started uncertain, not sure how to explain my motives. It seemed silly to some degree and I was worried that the guys would think I didn't take any of this serious.

When I didn't follow up on my initial start, Lester looed concerned at me. "I'm sure it was a very good reason. No matter how odd it seems to you."

"It… in a way it was family that made me see this through. It were my nieces," I explained, chewing on my lower lip a moment later. As expected Tank, Lester and Bobby didn't quite understand what I meant. And how could they? I was making no sense and not explaining one thing really.

"I… before I came to the meeting I set up in regards of my position with RangeMan I was set on declining the offer. I had debated for days, asked everyone I could think of, my parents, MaryLou, Joe, the guys here and despite all the different answers and feedback I received from everyone I was listening to the ones that said I couldn't do it. An hour or two before I came here to tell Connor that I'd have to pass I was stopping by at Valerie. It is hard to explain, but something there made me realize that my nieces' idea of their future was to various degrees to either become a Burg wife or some trophy wife who stood by the sideline, cheering for her guy to save the world. While I myself am clearly not capable of saving the world myself I figured that they and every other girl needed more girls in positions to show them being a housewife isn't all there is in regards of future plans. And... Oh god, you must think I lost it and that I don't take any of that serious. I do, I really do. I think the first week I pulled like twenty hour days or something along the lines. Not…not that this proves my seriousness. But I really try getting a hang of things."

"Steph, relax," Bobby intercepted me by grabbing my hand and looking calmly at me. "I can guarantee you, none of thinks you aren't taking this serious. And whatever the reason that made you overcome all the naysayers in your surroundings, I'm glad…. We are glad."

"Why do you think Ranger set up RangeMan?" Tank asked me, nodding at Bobby's last remark. I thought about it and shock my head.

"To save the world?" I asked cheekily, seeing all three smile.

"When it became obvious that we couldn't be working for the military full time for the rest of our lives the options were limited. Most of us were good at what we did in our different functions at several different branches of the military, and while some of our…specialties weren't for the fainthearted they were necessary for some missions. While most of us excelled at our specialties we weren't able to… have normal lives and normal jobs. Stuck behind a desk was the worst kind of idea for most of us. Consulting is the usual way a lot of ex-military hardheads go but it didn't feel right either. A lot of us had graduated from high school and that was it. The military offers courses, of course they do, but between long days and a lot of travelling for some of us, these offers were just too much and time consuming. I remember when Ranger brought you along for the redecoration job and how you reacted when you saw us for the first time. While the usual fright and being scared shitless of us didn't apply as such to you and you stood your ground with us, there was a certain carefulness. Which I don't blame you for. We aren't necessarily known to be raised as lapdogs by the military. In other words, we aren't really capable of doing a lot in the real world. Ranger created a company and jobs that would help us transitioning and do the same – or rather a lot of– stuff that we were trained on and for over years. One could now say him wanting to create a place of common interest for all of us wasn't the most serious task as well, or that he wasn't serious about really making it. But, here we are. Your reasoning doesn't always reflect on your determination or success. And it doesn't have to. When you are successful that is proof enough for how serious you were."

"And I guess there is no louder argument for how serious you are then a training plan with the men in things like gun instruction, self-defense, running or kickboxing," Lester chirped in, ending Tank's uncharacteristically long and serious speech with a humorous note, which was followed by a familiar whimpering a second later.

"What was that?" Tank ask confused and I looked under my desk where Batman had decided on waking up from his hour-long nap.

"I got a pet."