Chapter 7

I used the remaining time before I officially started my job, to do more shopping and settle in at 3 Ponies. I started at the scrub store and picked up 10 sets of my favorite Grey's Anatomy scrubs in Capital Health Regional Medical Center's classic ER Gray. From there I swung by the mall to hit Victoria's Secret and the Nike Outlet. VS was first and I filled a mesh basket full of my favorite spandex thongs, more pajamas and a few of their strappy sports bras. Two big ole pink striped bags later I was headed towards Nike to pick up more shoes, spandex shorts and some workout attire. I sat down at the mall food court with my bags and splurged on a Cinn-A-Bon and some Panda Express. I was a natural born people watcher so the mall was an easy place to just sit. I recognized a few old faces, and a few of the girls I went to high school stopped by and chatted a bit, but we didn't have much in common then, and we sure as hell didn't have any more in common now.

I was just getting ready to go throw my garbage in the trash when I heard this god awful nails on a chalkboard voice that I had really hoped to avoid for at least a few more weeks. "Oh my goodness, Stephanie. Is that you?"

I threw my trash away and stacked the tray, using that time to take a deep breath and prepare myself for what I was about to endure. Turning back towards the woman that I despised for most of my life, a woman that I had learned to forget about. Helen Plum.

"Yes, Helen, it is me." I was completely monotone. I had never completely forgiven her, even after years of therapy, I was never able to come to terms with what she did or what caused her to do it.

She looked a little shocked at my tone, but pressed on. "When did you get back? Why didn't you call? It's been years, Stephanie. Why Marsha Callone's daughter doesn't leave for years on end and never call or write! Why me?" her hands waving in what I had come to know as an Italian fit. I could feel my temper rising in accordance with hers, but tamped down on it before things escalated beyond control.

I took a cleansing breath and stepped in real close "Helen, and yes I mean Helen. You stopped being my mother the day you threw me down the stairs. And then you ceased to exist when I was finally able to move out after graduation. You never supported me, hell I bet you never even loved me. But I guess I knew that, you threw it in my face often enough. So I'm going to tell you what. You stay away from me, because I'm just a stranger, and I can guaran-damn-tee you that I will not come looking for you. Trenton is big enough for the both of us." I turned and then with one last look at the woman who was supposed to love me "Make sure to tell your spineless husband the same thing" I walked away.

Face red, chest heaving I grabbed all my bags and strode towards the exit that led to my truck. Throwing by bags in the back seat I hefted myself up into the drivers seat, tears streaming down my face. I hated that god awful bitch, she was the ONLY one who could make me feel like this. I pounded my balled up fist against the steering wheel a few times, releasing some of the anger.

I pushed a contact that to date I had never used, I guess it was only a few days old. The owner picked up on the second ring "Brown" Yeah short sweet and to the point. It was easy to let my mind fall back into that setting, I'd lived in it for years anyways.

"Hey that offer for a friend and a gym still available?" my head back against the seat, eyes closed focusing on my breathing.

"I told you Needle, we may not know each other well, but Rangers stick together." After being greeted with silence (I was too touched to speak for fear of my voice giving me away) Bobby continued. "I'm going to text you an address, it's my day off so show up anytime." With that he hung up and my phone beeped in my hand.

I sent the address to my truck and it guided me to a very classy section of town that was new to me. It led me to a big black glass building with an underground parking structure. I spoke with whoever must have been manning the desk about meeting Bobby Brown here and he directed me to guest parking. I grabbed the ever present gym bag in my passenger seat and hopped down from the truck. I hit the lock button and looked for an elevator or door to the stairs just as Bobby stepped through it. I hurried over only to stop short, feeling a little out of place, and in a rare outward showing of emotion, I scuffed my toe on the ground before looking up at him.

He just tipped his head towards the stairwell and turned expecting me to follow him, which of course I did. He showed me to a guest bathroom to let me change and then took me to the gym. I should have figured since it was Bobby's day off, that there would be a good chance of it being other guys' day off. And if anyone should have known what these guys like to do on their day off, it should have been me. All this hit me a little too late with my mind preoccupied, so when about 15 faces turned to see who came in, I couldn't help the widening of my eyes as I took it all in. Sooo many naked chests, so many muscles.

I could hear the murmur of questioning sweep around the room, before I was tackled to the ground from the side, knocking the wind out of me. Coughing and struggling under the heavy weight of what I could only assume was a male assailant I let my mind shut down and go on the reactive.

Knee to ribs, causing a grunt and exhale of breath. Elbow to the side of the head, causing dizziness. Roll opposite way of assailant, escape and up onto feet. Drop into defensive posture to prepare for secondary attack.

Breaking through the haze was the sound of laughter. Standing slightly I could start to make our individual voices. "Oh shit, she schooled you!" "Who the hell is that?" "I don't know, but whoever she is, she is hot as hell!" How does he know her?"

I finally got my brain rebooted and looked back at where my attacker should have been. Standing there, next to a shocked and confused Bobby was Zip. It only took me half a second to launch myself at him, latching on to him like a liferaft. I was wrapped so tight he finally had to tap me to get me to release, like we did when we were play fighting. I slid to the floor and looked up at him. "So how'd you come to be here?"

"Well Rangeman has had me on lock for a few months, waiting for me to finish my love affair with the government."

"Wait, you ended it?" I couldn't help from blurting out.

"It didn't feel right with you leaving. Our whole group is done now."

Of course I couldn't help but interrupt him once again. "Wait, what? How come I haven't heard any of this?"

At this he put his hand over my mouth and wrapped me in a hug from behind "Damn, you haven't changed! Maybe because, as per usual, you don't check your facebook. When are you going to get it on your phone like the rest of us Needle?" He kissed the top of my head and let me go.

I could feel the stares from all the people who had just witnessed, what to them probably seemed like a very personal interaction. Zip cleared his throat and introduced me to the group.

"Rangman, this is Needle. Needle this is Rangeman." Well damn Zip, you still aren't any good at introductions. I just smiled and did a finger wave to everyone. Before turning around to Bobby. I looked at him a little sheepishly before asking if I was still good to get a real workout in.

"Only if you can take me on in the ring Needle." He threw his arm over my shoulders and semi dragged me towards the matted ring in the corner. "So I know you said you were ARMY Ranger Medic, but you couldn't have told me you were Needle? Ya damned legend." At this my jaw dropped and I physically couldn't make my feet move. Me? Legend? Yeah right. He was just kidding… Wasn't he? The look on his face said differently. Well that was something to ponder at a different time. With that, I followed Bobby up onto the mats and prepared to have my ass handed to me.

30 minutes, 3 gallons of sweat and about 300 curse words later. Bobby and I both laid on the ground, about to die. We had both taken each other out a few dozen times, and finally called it quits when I took a sweep to the legs and still managed to tackle him. Chest heaving I stared at the ceiling tiles, sucking air. I mean I was in shape but damn, Bobby gave me one hell of a workout. I was contemplating changing my workout regimen when I heard a throat clearing from outside the ring. Rolling over onto my stomach and propping my chest up on my forearms I looked up into….. Oh my god Ranger Manoso. Tongue out of order and brain on the fritz I could only stare blankly at him.

"Well, are either of you going to tell me what the hell is going on here. More specifically, why is there a woman here who can kick one of my Core members' asses?"

Brain still on the fritz, my apparently fried filter didn't manage to stop this from exiting my mouth "Pent up frustration?" Oh lord kill me now. Just open up a hole and let it swallow me whole please.

A short bark of laughter clued me in to just how fried my filter was since my internal ramblings were apparently no longer internal.

Bobby, having found his feet, breath and brains was the one who spoke next. "Ranger, meet Needle, aka ER Nurse Steph aka Stephanie Plum. She was the one who helped with Lester earlier this week. While she was helping we talked about being ARMY Rangers and I offered for her to come workout if she ever needed to."

"Well Needle, sure nice to find someone else who can take his ass down a peg or two. You're welcome anytime." With a nod and a smile that could stop most mortal women cold, he turned and strode out the door. Having regained my breath and hopefully my brain, I stood and made my way to my gym bag for a drink. Sitting on the bench my bag was also taking up real estate on, I drank long and hard from my giant purple HydroJug. Zip came over and looked about as shocked as I felt.

"Well that was new.. Ranger never brings outsiders in, let alone invites them back." I just shrugged my shoulders because there really wasn't much to say to that. "Well, since you're invited back I hope to see you soon. Put Facebook on your damn phone and answer all the guys. Mack is about ready to call you, he's been anxiously awaiting a response since you left base. Said he wants to make sure you're all updated on what everyone's been doing. You know how he is." With that he gave me a one armed hug and set off to finish his workout. I figured I should probably finish mine too. Though sparring with Bobby had effectively cleared my mind. I settled for a cool down, waved to the guys, grabbed my bag and headed to my pickup.

As I hopped in the truck a text message came through on my phone

Your key fob

(for the gate, elevator, stair door and the guest restroom)

is in your bag. Use it.

R

The message came from an unknown number. But if the R at the bottom, and the man's stealth was anything to go by. It was none other than the Whizard himself.

Ranger.