44. Short Straws

Ah, the first Monday morning of a new year. Lil woke up happy, which was easy to do when she loved her job. While the whole Erikson/Boston/Mob problem was still a clear issue, the rest of her life was going pretty well. She had reconnected with her brother in a way that hadn't been possible for years. Her lovely daughter was growing well and healthier than ever. Lil adored her apartment, Rangeman, and all her new friends. Her job was awesome. And… She had gotten some! Yup, the new year was looking good. Ella picked Tilde up shortly after their early breakfast. Something about 'big plans' this week… It likely meant mayhem involving her kid… should be fun.

Lil entered the conference room for the morning meeting, taking her usual seat next to Ranger. She gave him an earnest smile and a 'mornin Boss!'. For some reason, he wasn't looking so good. Was he hungover? His complexion was off, slightly green, and his eyes were definitely bloodshot. "Are you feeling alright Carlos? You're not getting sick are you? I can make you some homemade soup! My chicken noodle will cure just about anything." He eyed her warily, shaking his head to the soup. Lil shrugged her shoulders, she tried. Lil studiously paid attention to the other team leaders as they gave briefings for the week ahead, adding her two cents here and there. Ranger was watching her, damn near staring. When Tank would catch his eye, he'd give him that 'what the hell's your deal?' look. Ranger just kept watching Lil. By the end of the meeting, the boss looked like he was trying to complete a calculus problem, with Swahili instructions… completely confused. Tank adjourned the meeting, dismissing everyone who wasn't a part of Cal's team. Ranger, startled to realize he had missed most everything, stood as if to leave. "Aren't you staying to discuss Erikson?" Lil's question caught him more off guard. Shit, get it together. "Yes Dulce, I just need to run to my office." And ran is what he did. Closing himself within the safe confines of his private domain, Ranger let out a slew of curses in Spanish, Greek, Arabic, and Russian. It didn't help. Tank breezed into his office, slamming the door shut behind him. "Rangeman, I don't know what the FUCK your problem is, but you need to pull your shit together, NOW." Ranger stared at his second-in-command, blatantly annoyed for being called out. "Don't give me that pissy look. You weren't paying attention to a damn thing in that meeting. Ramon will be on conference call in one hour, the Boston feds are lined up for 1130. I don't care why you are having a fricken hissy fit, but this is not only about our business problem, but also Lil's safety. So get your shit right." It wasn't often that Tank addressed his boss and friend in such a way… but sometimes it was necessary. Having Ranger's back took on many different meanings. The large man gave him a hard look and left as forcefully as he entered.

Ranger stood with his hands on his hips, breathing heavy from the anger and adrenaline. The slight burn in his chest gave him a flashback to Friday night with Lil… Oh fuck. Those pictures were not going to help right now. Sure, he had been in a bad mood lately, he knew it. But what the hell was he supposed to think or do? She left. They had amazing sex and she… left. Like it was nothing. She left like he always did with women in the past… Motherfucker. The realization made him nauseous. Is this what other women had been feeling for years because of his actions? He didn't like this, not one fucking little bit. And then there she was this morning, all sexy and sweet and caring. Still treating him just like before New Years, no less… no more. And there it was, nothing had changed for her, but his entire life was somehow different. Fuck fuck fuck fuck.

Having finally pulled himself together enough for mixed company, Ranger joined the others for the meeting. The conference with Ramon didn't lend much more information than what they already had discovered thanks to Lil. As Ramon Santos addressed the group via speakerphone, he had the opportunity to speak to Lil for the first time. If you thought Lester was a horndog, his brother was ten times worse. For her part, Lil laughed at his outrageous flirting, but kept the call on track. Ramon was impressed, which only egged him on more. Apparently, Lester had texted him a picture of them from the party...When he started asking her if she was single, Ranger and Cal both reached to disconnect the call. Lil had just rolled her eyes. Men.

The conversation with the feds was only marginally more productive- meaning none. Ranger had called in numerous favors, issued a few threats of his own, to determine that their undercover was legit. This pissed Lil off beyond belief. The agent briefing them was taken aback at her anger. "You mean to tell me, Agent Carlson, that Agent Cortena has been working as a UC for over six years within the MSF umbrella?" The man on the other end cleared his throat, annoyed at being questioned. "Yes, Miss, Parton." Cal's eyes widened. Oh shit. "So he would have had some inkling that Erikson was following Matteo Parisi's plan for defection by the time the shooting happened in Las Vegas?" Carlson made an irritated noise in the back of his throat, Lil thought it sounded like he was about to choke on his own bullshit.

Cal rubbed his flaming tattoo and looked at Hal. He mouthed to him, in all seriousness, 'if she looks like she's gonna throw something, DUCK'. Now Hal's eyes were wide. Carlson's response was dripping in condescension. "That may be the case ma'am, but you're not cleared for all the details. And here in Boston, we know how to run our operations." Double shit. Lil laughed, the sound sent a chill through the entire room. It also sped Ranger's blood flow south. "If that's the case, your Federal Agency has been aware of the money laundering involving Rangeman for some time now… yet you didn't find it necessary to contact Mr. Manoso… I find that incredibly hard to believe." Agent Carlson spluttered a few times. "Whats more, the FBI would have been well aware of the danger I was in, having been involved in the shooting. Yet you did nothing. Even when I spotted Erikson a few months ago and reported it, you did absolutely nothing to help protect me and my child." It was a really good thing for the fed that they weren't having this conversation in person. "Miss. Parton, I assure you, if you were ever in any real danger we would have stepped in." Lil stood, hovering over the phone like a cobra ready to strike. "Let me make some things very clear to you, Agent Carlson. I understand the need to preserve the safety and cover for your agent, but the line was crossed when my daughter became a target. I have made some very important friends in the security and casino businesses. Friends who sit much higher on the food chain than you. With three phone calls I can have your job, this entire story on the evening news, and your nuts hanging from the rear-view mirror of my Nissan. And my name is Lillith Peyton… Pey-Ton… Do I need to spell it for you? It's Y-O-U-R FUCKED if you think you can mess with my family." Lil slammed her fist on the table to finish her sentence, righted herself, and walked out of the room. She needed a breath… She needed something to throw. Vince and Hal stood like they were going to follow her, worried about their friend. Cal shook his head so fast, his damn forehead looked like it really was on fire. Big Bad-Ass Cal was very much afraid of his sister when she was this pissed off. Smart man. Ranger was fighting the urge to stroke himself under the table.

Later that evening, Cal knocked gently on Lil's apartment door. It was well past Tilde's bedtime, he was hoping they could talk. Lil opened her door, immediately inviting him in. "Hey Sugar-butt, what's going on? Everything OK?" He gave her a nod and a one-armed hug. She poured him a Coke while he filled her in on the rest of the call she missed. There wasn't much new to tell though. He agreed, Carlson was a douche and the Boston FBI office was about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. As always, she knew there was something else on his mind. The FBI crap could have waited until the morning. Cal rubbed his forehead, "So, you and Ranger huh?" Lil rolled her eyes. "Calvin, do you REALLY want to have a discussion about my sex life?" She was trying not to laugh at his discomfort. "Hell no I don't. But since I'm family, I get the short straw." Lil snorted. "Fine. Yes, we had sex. It was no big deal. Two adults, scratching an itch. What's the problem?" He looked at her like she had sprouted another leg. "The problem is that ever since IT happened… Ranger has been a complete ASS to all of us." It was Lil's turn to look confused, "How so? He seemed fine this morning… Though I thought he might have been coming down with something." Cal leaned down on the counter, placing his head in his hands. Then he started laughing… really yucking it up. She waited for him to finish, the stress of this conversation had clearly knocked a few of his screws loose. "Lilly-pad, he is sick… LOVE sick. Jesus, that man has a serious case of LIL-fever!" His laughter was back. Lil was not amused.

"Hush your mouth. Carlos isn't harboring any kind of feelings like that. He knew what was happening, BEFORE it happened. And when I left, he was just fine. Cripes, it's not like I was his first. That man probably has more notches on his bedpost than I have freckles! Good grief, you make it sound like I turned him down for the prom, like we're dating." Cal got himself under control, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "Well, all I know is he's been in a right state for three days. Like he doesn't know whether to check his ass or scratch his watch. And when he's not confused, he's spittin nails. So you tell me what that's all about..." Lil had to admit, she had no idea. Cal turned more serious, "If you were… enjoying yourself… why did you leave?" Shit, he would rather be back in the Middle East instead of having a dopey sex talk with his sister. Lil gave an honest shrug, "Why would I stay? I live in the same building, my own bed was three floors away. And it really wasn't that big of a deal. Again, I repeat, it's not like he asked me out or anything. We're just friends." Cal nodded, that part at least he did sort of understand. His sister may not be completely traditional… obviously… but she takes her commitments and loyalty very seriously. In past relationships he had watched her treat her boyfriends like princes, even if Cal thought they were frogs. Had Lil and Ranger actually been 'dating', Lil wouldn't have left afterward.

Well hell. Cal knew there was no easy answer to this. He also knew that she and Ranger needed to talk. Which meant that he, or one of the other men, was going to have to broach the subject with Ranger. Yup, first thing tomorrow morning, Cal was re-enlisting and packing his bag. He'd rather be ANYWHERE else right now. On second thought, he drew this short straw… the next one had someone else's name on it…