It was unsettling to be sitting next to Ranger in one of his cars like nothing had happened over the past five years. He still sat in his ZONE while driving and it was still uncomfortable for me. I don't know why but I felt bad. Felt bad for leaving everyone, for having everyone worry where I was, if I was okay. Hell everyone thought I had been kidnapped and murdered.
I watched the scenery whip past as we drove in the uncomfortable silence. I haven't been to Trenton for five years but I didn't think it could change this much. And that got me to thinking, how much have people changed, how much have I changed? Absentmindedly I watched Ranger drive. For some odd reason I started to giggle, and when Ranger shot me a questioning look I started to full on laugh.
He parked in a parking lot I hadn't noticed before and looked at me. "What's so funny, babe?" I stopped laughing for a second and tried to calm down. But my plan was ruined once I looked at him again.
"You...you…" That was all I could manage. I had no idea why I found it so funny. "I always thought you were Batman but now…you remind me of Alfred." I started to laugh again.
Ranger raised an eyebrow and shook his head. I nearly jumped out of skin when there was a knock on my door. I stopped laughing and wiped the tears that had formed in my eyes. Tank offered his hand to me and helped me out of the car. I noticed that the feel of the air had changed. It was so somber here.
I looked around and was reminded of home back in Connecticut, where I lived with Marcus. The trees were turning shades of red and orange and leaves were floating down onto the graves of the cemetery.
I looked at Tank; he had a small smile on his face and he nodded his head towards the entrance. I followed his gaze and saw that Ranger was walking inside. I followed at a distance with Tank even further behind me.
I was shocked to see Ranger acting this way. He seemed at peace but so melancholy. We walked a good distance, winding between graves, passing those mourning loved ones past. I was just about to ask Tank where we were going when Ranger stopped and knelt down in front of one of the graves.
It was nothing fancy; the headstone was sunk into the ground the flowers next to it had petals missing, most of them having been blown off in the breeze. I looked back to Tank who gave me the hand gesture for keep going. So, I slowly joined Ranger on my knees, never looking at the head stone.
I was too busy watching his face. I don't think he noticed I was there; he had a somber look plastered on his face for the longest time before he smiled. It wasn't a full 200 watt smile like I had seen him do before, but one of those smiles where he doesn't want anyone else to know he really is smiling.
His eyes are what shocked me the most, he was steadily gazing at the name written on the headstone, reading it over and over, recalling memories. I could tell by the look in his eyes combined with the smile in his face whose name he was looking at. But because I wanted to be wrong I looked down. That was the only time Ranger looked at me was when I looked down at the name. STEPHANIE MICHELLE PLUM. Daughter, danger, dream.
I involuntarily chocked back a sob and stood up. Much to my surprise I sank back to my knees when I realized I couldn't move. It shocked Ranger too, who had stood up to prevent me from leaving. He wasn't expecting me to go back down. He stood for what seemed like hours, watching me. But eventually he kneeled down again and took me in his arms. "It's good to have you back, babe."
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Sorry for the short chap. I know it was kind of sappy but hey, I wanted to write it. Thank you to all of my reviewers for ALL of my stories. If you haven't already, for some change of atmosphere read Lunchroom Blues. -Cokkii