33. Drink Me!

The Thursday morning meeting was as efficient as ever. Core Team leaders addressed new information while updating the others on current events or accounts. Cal's report on how Fordham was apprehended was met with cheers from the group. Lil was trying very hard to not blush. Ranger caught her eye, giving her a secretive smile. At least it wasn't awkward, much. When she had fled his apartment last night, Lil was completely unnerved. To some extent it was irritating. She tried very hard to not let others get to her like that, especially men. Tilde had been in high spirits after her dinner with Ella and Luis. During their bedtime routine, she told Lil that she was going to have a real Alice tea party tomorrow. Lil just laughed, there was no telling what Ella and Tilde would get up to next.

After a night filled with wandering thoughts and very little sleep, Lil was downstairs at the range, clocking her mandatory time. Ram was running re-qualifications on Hal and Vince, normal testing that Rangeman completed quarterly for all field employees. Lost in her own thoughts she didn't realize Ram was waiting for her to finish maiming paper people. When she removed her safety gear and holstered her gun, Ram approached. "You OK today Oakley? Your shooting was great, but you seem off somehow. Feeling alright?" Lil flashed him a cordial smile, "I'm fine darlin, just thinking about some things. Do you need any help down here today? I'm free until my PT at 1300." Ram put away his clipboard. "Actually, I'd like to pick your brain. I've been looking into bulk ammo purchases through a few different suppliers and manufacturers, but the sales departments at these outfits haven't been too cooperative." Ah, she understood right away. "OK, lets take a look at what you've got so far." They spent another two hours going over the proposals and invoices, making calls and calculating figures. In the end, Lil helped him settle on two businesses that met Rangeman's ammunition needs.

She was sitting in her office, going over some contract information from Junior and trying in vain to not think about Carlos. Cripes. A text message from Hector reading 'break room Chica. Party time' was more than enough to peak her interest. A diversion is just what Lil needed. She ambled out of her door, running into Tank. "Follow me soldier, I think my girl is making another Rangeman spectacle." She was giggling as she said it. Tank smiled fondly, he wouldn't miss Tilde's antics for the world. They entered the break room and were not disappointed. The room itself had been transformed to look like the tea party scene from Alice in Wonderland. Giant flowers, teacups, and clocks adorned the walls. Each was a foam cutout, brightly colored in great detail. Ella was amazing. The break room tables had been pushed together, creating one long seating area. The large table was decorated to the hilt; red tablecloth, checkerboard runner, dozens of tea cups, an assortment of flowers, and playing cards tucked here and there. Tiered trays offered little pastries, cucumber finger sandwiches, and lemon scones. A banner hung at the doorway reading 'Merry Unbirthday!' The scene was photo-shoot quality, but the guests at the party took the cake.

Tilde was standing on a chair at the head of the table, in complete Alice costume, including the big black bow on top of her little curly head. She was gorgeous. Her smile was enormous, bright brown eyes filled with glee. To her left sat Slick and Hector, they were dressed as the Mad Hatter and March Hare respectively. OH. MY. WORD. To Tilde's right sat Zip, and a red-faced Lester. They were playing the parts of the White Rabbit and the Dormouse. Lil and Tank stood in stunned silence, watching these large hunky men sipping tea from delicate china while wearing various animal ears and silly hats. Tilde kept whispering, "Curiouser and Curiouser." They passed the treats and spoke to each other in formal tones. Lil really might have peed herself this time. Tank was shaking like an earthquake, she worried he would explode from holding the laughter inside. Slick turned his Adonis-like face to Lil, chocolate eyes and bright smile in great contrast with his luscious dark skin. The iconic 10/6 hat sat jauntily on his head. He gave Lil a wink, "We're all mad here." She backed out of the break room and ran to her office, barely getting her door open before losing it. She briefly registered Ella standing outside of the break room with a mischievous smile and a camera.

In his own office, Ranger was having another day where work was impossible. Every time he attempted to read a new contract, he thought of Lil. From the moment she left his apartment until he finally fell asleep in the wee hours, their conversation ran through his mind. He really had committed everything she said to memory. Part of him wondered what would have happened had he just leaned forward that last millimeter… One of Lil's many interesting revelations played through his mind again, giving him an idea. He picked up his phone and dialed Luis. They had a short conversation in rapid Spanish. By the end, both men were excited. If they could pull this off, it would make a fantastic Christmas present for Tilde. Who was he kidding, of course they'd make it happen. Rangeman was the best, and money was no object.

He was still picturing how his master plan could come together when Tank strolled in with a purpose. The muscular man walked behind Ranger's desk, hit a few buttons on his boss's keyboard, and walked back out without a word. WTF? Ranger looked at his screen and barked out a laugh. Tank had brought up the camera in the break room. Madre de Dios. His men were loons. But, they were loons that did sweet things for Tilde. Bonuses would be larger this year, especially Ella's. Damn, his cousin looked like such an idiot with mouse ears and a giant pink hat and bow tie. Ranger zoomed in just as he picked up a flowery tea cup. Snap. That picture was going to the WHOLE family...The Manoso's, the Guzman's, the Santos's and all of Rangeman.

An email came through to all of the Rangemen from Bobby at 1230, informing the men that the gym would be off-limits and the camera feeds would be down for ninety minutes. Ranger read it twice before realizing it had something to do with Lil's PT today. Ranger closed out the memo he was drafting for the other branches on the Fordham capture. He opened his phone, texting Bobby one word- 'Explain'. Bobby replied promptly- 'Working on massage therapy today. Want Lil to be comfortable'... Oh fuck. How the hell was he going to sit in his office knowing that she was down there with Bobby… with Bobby's hands on her. His first instinct was to find the nearest punching bag. Well shit, that wasn't gonna happen. Magnus had been sleeping by his window, sensing the human's emotional change, he sidled over and waited for instructions. Ranger stood abruptly and walked out, the faithful dog followed. They took the stairs and fobbed open the nearest Explorer. He was going to have to drive many miles to get himself under control.

Bobby had sent a separate email to Lil, asking her to wear clothing that would work better for massage. There was no way in hell he was going to let her strip completely, his professional boundaries could only be stretched so far. He also didn't need Cal finding out and shooting him. She replied that she would be dressed accordingly and waiting in the gym. She also thanked him for killing the gym access. Lil knew how lucky she was to have the Doc. On the way to her apartment to change, she found Tilde sitting on Hal's desk drawing. The big man was sitting next to her, working on reports. They were quietly singing the ABC's together. Good Grief, her daughter was not even four and had a busier social calendar. Lil was reminded, yet again, of how lucky she was to have the Rangemen in their lives. Their generosity and acceptance could never be repaid.

Bobby found Lil in the gym as promised. She was sitting on the massage table in sweatpants and a hoodie, her flip flops had been kicked off to the side. "Hey Doc. I'm ready for my rub down." She gave him a flirtatious wink, they both new she was just pulling his chain. Lil removed her ponytail and swiped her long hair to the top of her head for a messy bun. Bobby smirked, "I'm hoping this feels good and helps the pain, but I'm warning you now, some of it might be uncomfortable." Lil nodded, she knew rehab like this wasn't a piece of cake. "My colleagues and I have decided that a mixture of techniques might work best. So we're going to incorporate Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, Reflexology, and Neuromuscular Therapy." Lil crinkled her nose, "So no Enya and lavender massage oil Doc?" Bobby threw his head back and laughed. "Fraid not sister." It felt good to pick on each other in a familial way. Lil moved off the table with a fake pout. She slid her pants off. If Lil was wearing shorts, they were really tiny. Oh crap. Bobby busied himself gathering a few sheets from the cabinet. He placed one on the table for her and stepped back. She unzipped her hoodie slightly before turning her back to him.

Ranger was sitting in the Explorer with Magnus in Trenton's warehouse district. If anyone were to pull up his tracker, it would look like he was on a stake-out. Driving hadn't done anything to lessen his desires or clear his mind. He pulled out his tablet and accessed the gym camera feed, overriding the block with his special codes. This might be stalking. At the very least it was pure voyeurism. The picture came to life just as Lil was sliding her pants down. Santa Madre de Dios! Ranger flipped through the three different camera angles, trying to find the best view. He spied Bobby standing a distance away, looking a little pained. He watched as Lil turned her back on him. This view gave him a profile of the scene as it unfolded. Lil unzipped her hoodie the rest of the way and slid it off her shoulders. Ranger's fingers gripped the tablet harder, threatening to crack the plastic case. She stood with her back to Bobby, wearing the smallest black exercise shorts imaginable, and nothing else. Me estas matando! The vision of her long, lean soft curves, delicate perky breasts… Ranger started to sweat. It wasn't even full frontal, but it was killing him.

Lil laid down carefully on the table, trying to preserve some of her modesty. She wasn't a prude in general, she knew that other people found her attractive. But she was trying to keep things as professional for the Doc as possible. She didn't want him to feel uncomfortable, that wouldn't be fair after all he had tried to do for her. Bobby approached, his walk was a little stiffer than normal. So were some other things. He placed the second sheet over her lower half with care. While the handsome medic gave himself a pep talk as he looked at the bullet scar on her shoulder blade (You can do this Brown, get it together, she's just another patient, she needs your help), Ranger was having his own pep-rally in the Explorer. His sounded much more like indistinguishable growls intermixed with curses in Spanish and threats to kill Bobby.

Just before Bobby placed his warmed hands on her back to begin, Lil turned her head asking, "Doc, you said ALL the cameras were blocked right?" He smiled, thinking her to be shy. "Yes ma'am. No one on the control floor has access. You're totally safe." She raised an eyebrow, "And Carlos, can he override the block?" Bobby blanched but quickly recovered, "Yes, but I doubt he would." Lil gave a grim laugh. Ya, sure. Oh well if he got a free show… maybe he would be as unnerved as she was last night...