Chapter Twelve – Tank POV – Ground Zero
Life without Stephanie was different.
For all that he adored and admired Stephanie and given her the last push she needed to say goodbye to her life in Trenton for a while, he had underestimated the impact it would have.
Stephanie's disappearance had thrown Trenton into chaos. Tank didn't even realise that Steph knew that many people. Apparently, she did.
Everyone from Morelli's grandmother to Alexander Ramos had something to say about it. In fact, it worried him immensely that every major crime family had expressed some kind of feeling on her absence. It didn't seem to surprise Ranger.
Ranger had not kept as much distance from Tank as he'd expected. Sure, after their blow out in the conference room Ranger did not invite him back into his confidence. They'd never exactly been chatty friends, but he'd always known Ranger trusted him with his back.
He'd seemed to have gotten the worst of it out of his system after approximately two weeks of constant sparring in the gym ending with so many injuries to Tank that Bobby had wanted to take him to the hospital to get him checked out in case he had some kind of internal bleeding.
Tank had shaken him off, insisting he was fine (and he was, he didn't get the nickname Tank for being easy to take down).
After that Ranger seemed to ease off. That didn't mean he relaxed. .
Ranger was pissed.
Pissed Ranger was an even calmer Ranger. It was what made him so good at what he did.
Not this time. This time Ranger was turning Trenton upside down and over looking for Stephanie.
He'd gone to her family, to the Bonds office, even willingly interviewing Vinnie for hours to see if he knew anything. He stooped to cooperating with Morelli once they'd realised neither knew anything more than the other.
He'd already tried Tank of course, but he kept his mouth shut, no matter what Ranger did to him he couldn't let Stephanie down like that. Not without giving her a running chance first.
The more dead ends Ranger ran into the more frustrated he got. He'd started spending whatever time he didn't spend looking for Stephanie taking his anger out in the gym.
When he wasn't battering his knuckles to bloody shreds he was working out far past what was healthy as if he wasn't exhausted enough already. He said he was sleeping but he knew for a fact Ranger wasn't. It wasn't like Tank was sleeping either. With Stephanie gone, he was back to his days when the only back Ranger needed him to watch was his. He knew Steph would have been disappointed in him if he'd given her away to Ranger. But she would fucking strangle him if he let any harm come to Ranger. Especially while looking for her.
After a few weeks Tank receives a mysterious postcard. It's marked from Michigan but he's betting Steph's nowhere near there anymore. Ranger had taught her well, and she was sharp. He's relieved to know she's alright. At least physically, He has no idea what kind of mental toll this is taking on her but tells himself if anyone could do this, take themselves away from everything g they know and survive, thrive even its Stephanie.
He receives postcards every month or so. All while he helps Ranger search for her all over the fucking U.S. Ranger correctly figures out that she's taking public transport, hopping on and off randomly and she's obviously not travelling under her own name.
Ranger's got every man he can spare and then some looking for her but he hasn't got shit to go on. He's pulled in contract workers to cover shifts left behind by the more experienced on his team he's got searching for her high and low.
He's out on the streets every day that he's not on a plane or making phone calls to contacts pulling every card he can to find her. For the first month or two, Tank's betting Ranger doesn't have a clue nor care what state his business is in. It isn't just the paperwork piling up on his desk, it's the way Ranger looks tired in a way Tank's never seen him, not even on his darkest days in the military or the toughest days on the streets.
He's picking fights on every dark street in Trenton, reminding the low life's who he is in case one of them knows something. Tank's sure Ranger knows they haven't got shit on Stephanie, he just can't stand feeling so out of control for the first time in a long time that all he can do is use what power he still has.
He's bigger than he used to be, so many hours spent and his own men when he's not ponding the streets busting skips way below his own league because it's what Stephanie would usually handle.
Tank feels like shit when Ranger tries calling in contacts who apologetically say they've got nothing when he knows it's because he got there first. He'd had to pull some damn convincing acts to get these people to bullshit Ranger Manoso, but the one person Tank would take a bullet for before Ranger is Stephanie. If only because if he didn't there wouldn't be much Ranger left to take a bullet for.
Ranger really isn't a marriage and commitment guy. Ranger loves Julie to his bones but he's not family material. Ranger once mentioned something that sounded like he'd made this clear to Stephanie when Tank asked why she wasn't in his bed.
Ranger could have any woman he wanted, and it was obvious to Tank the only one he showed any interest in was one Ms Plum. Tank had called him a damn fool, but Ranger had just shrugged. Said if Stephanie got too close they'd both regret it.
He reminded Tank for all the good they did now there were days where they were the very opposite. Not just in the past, but in the present too. That a woman like Stephanie couldn't, wouldn't accept any bullshit Ranger gave her.
Tank had told him maybe he ought to try being honest with her. "Looks like she's already pretty damn close" he'd commented. Pointing out all the times not only had Ranger bled his time, his men and his money for her, but also all the times that Steph had not even hesitated to lay herself on the line for Ranger.
Ranger had warned him to drop it, making it clear if Tank told Steph anything he would no longer have a place at his side.
Looking at the state his friend was in now he wish he was out of his life if that meant Stephanie was in it.
After six months he receives a phone call. He's so relieved to hear Steph's voice he almost forgets to keep the reality of her absence from Trenton from her.
"He's okay isn't he? Still eating rabbit food and all, right?" she laughs but its forced, he can tell he should have kept his mouth shut and tries to reassure her that Ranger's doing ok.
He doesn't tell her that Ranger doesn't sleep, barely eats but he's still pushing himself harder than he ever has. The way he now stalks round like a dark cloud hanging over Rangeman.
Steph's family are devastated by her leaving months on, Helen Plum has even called Rangeman numerous times, not even accusing them but begging for anything Ranger might be able to give her.
He used to take her calls, reassuring her he was doing everything he can. Now the guys know not to even bother telling him she's calling. Her family and friends, Morelli even might be horrified that Steph's disappeared, but Ranger is what can only be described as lost.
Tank's relieved when Steph tells him she's going to James. He's not Tank's first choice of comrade but he knows he'll look after Steph. More than that he knows Steph can take care of herself. She needs this. He can't stop her now.
It's only the next day that Ranger stumbles on her trail, or rather Lester does. If anybody has been beating themselves up about Steph's disappearance as much as Ranger its Lester and Bobby.
They've been doing the bare minimum of their duties, spending all their free time searching for their Bombshell. He's had to pick up the slack around d Rangeman and he knows they don't care. Ranger obviously would rather they'd spend their time hunting for Steph than running his company.
They treat him civilly, but the trust they once had is irrelevant now. Tank's not the enemy, but he might as well as be. They can't be angry at Steph, so they have to be angry at him. Tank doesn't mind. It's the way he'd rather it be too.
Ranger's not quite so good at compartmentalising as he used to be. In the first few weeks it was Tank who bore his anger. As the search turns into months Tank can see the tide start to turn towards Steph too. His frustration marring the very affection that keeps him searching for her.
Ranger's started sending men out watching the transport links in various locations, anywhere he can think that Stephanie might be drawn to. Tank feels real fear for the first time in a long time when Cal bursts in to the conference room they're using to search for Steph to shout that they'd found a hotel she'd spent a few nights in.
Ranger flashes a look at Tank before he starts barking orders, heading out to the airstrip they use for the Rangeman jet to go search for her himself. He can see Ranger believe he might just catch her if he tries hard enough.
The core team all go except Tank. Hector take his place instead, he gives Tank a nod as he leaves to follow the boss. Hector has been the most relaxed after Steph's take off. He knows it's because hector and Stephanie share an understanding that even Ranger doesn't get.
Hector's the only one who never had a problem with what he's done. Even the new contract workers had to learn the hard way to take Tank's rule as their gospel at Rangeman, obviously sensing the discord in the air. He'd done a pretty good job at beating them into subordination, most of them only knew him as their CO as Ranger was so absent these days.
One day a fairly new recruit Sanderson, decided he was cocky enough to try his luck. He'd seen the conference room full of scattered files, pictures and reports of all Steph's bounty hunting history and then some. Even some pictures of her with Ranger, (though never entangled in the way that Tank had sometimes seen them. The only person who wouldn't have met certain death to do so).
Sanderson challenges Tank in the gym. It's mostly just an annoyance until Sanderson starts talking shit about Stephanie. Tank's about to give him so much hurt his own mother won't recognise him but he never gets the chance. Turns out Ranger's actually around his men for the first time in months. He hears Sanderson talking shit and that's that.
It takes seven men to get Ranger off and away from Sanderson. All the time his eyes are obsidian, he never shows any emotion. Even lets Tank pull him from the room and dismiss the others.
Sanderson has to be taken to the ER. He had internal bleeding and more than one organ in trouble. The official story is it happened to him by way of a skip. No one dares contradict that story and those who know Steph regret they didn't get their chance to lay their hands on him.
Somehow Morelli hears about Sanderson and the next time he's at the cop shop he runs into him, expecting Morelli to threaten to take Ranger in. Instead Morelli surprises him, he doesn't say how how knows what happened but he makes it clear to Tank no one at the TPD will be chasing up Sanderson's case despite it being quite obvious he was nowhere near a skip when the incident happened.
Morelli looks almost as shit as Ranger. Tank had expected him to be stepping out with someone else by now. It turns out he'd underestimated the cop. Every so often he comes by Rangeman, when Ranger's actually there the two disappear into his office for a couple of hours, pooling resources and information. It doesn't help any.
It's a call to close to comfort that day Ranger nearly gets his hands on Stephanie but she just manages to slide out of his grasp. Tank knows how Lester got the info on Steph's whereabouts. Knows that Lester knows she called him. Other than a flats stare when they return empty handed Lester makes no acknowledgement of it and somehow manages to avoid letting Ranger in on the know.
It speaks volumes that Ranger hasn't guessed it for himself. It scares the shit out of Tank that losing Steph has done this to his friend.
After that day something seems to flip in Ranger. He still sends men out searching, still uses every contact he has but he cleans his shit up. He actually sleeps that night for the first time in a long time. He shaves, has a shower. Gets dressed in fresh gear that's not blood stained or torn and actually shows up to run his business again.
It takes about a year for Ranger to stop spending most of his time searching for Stephanie. He still looks for her, but Tank knows if he's finding anything, it's not helping. He seems to resign himself to trusting her to take care of herself. He himself hasn't heard from Steph in a long time. He tries to convince himself he's not worried but he is.
He starts to doubt that letting Stephanie go wasn't the biggest mistake he's ever made.
By complete chance one day when he and Ranger are on a business call to an old Ranger acquaintance he tells them something that chills Tank to the bone.
"She's a feisty one. Made a bit of a name for herself actually" Cameron's been rambling on about his contacts as if to prove he's still in their league.
Tank hasn't been paying attention and he knows Ranger hasn't either, they're only here because Ranger has to start doing some damage control or his business will collapse. No business means no resources to find Stephanie.
Something about Cameron's ramblings catches Tank's attention. He sees Ranger switch his focus to Cameron too.
"She?" Tanks asks nonchalantly, knowing that he's playing with fire asking in front of Ranger but by this point it's been 18 months and he's worrying more than a mother hen that he's fucked up Stephanie's safety.
He knows the chances of it being Stephanie are incredibly slim, but James has been known to associate with London based Angelo before. It seems too much of a fucking coincidence. He doesn't think Ranger's made the connection all the way back to him yet, he's just grasping for anything at this point. He has no idea how close he is, but it won't be much longer before he puts two and two together and Tank's back in the firing line.
Cameron seems thrilled that he's got the full attention of both men now, not even pretending to still be installing his security system. "Oh yeah" he grins. "She's quite the hottie. She's in England running with Angelo so she's not big time" he shrugs but leans closer to them and starts to whisper like he's got a secret. "But rumour is she packs a punch you know what I mean?" Cameron laughs.
Tank imagines he thinks he's some kind of Lester character but the truth is he's hasn't got half the charm Lester has and if it wasn't for all the ass kissing he and Ranger now have to do to rectify the past year or so they wouldn't have even stepped into the same state as him .
"What's her name?" Ranger asks Cameron quietly, but by the way Cameron's stupid grin drops right off his face he knows that Ranger's not playing games.
Smarter than he looks he doesn't hesitate to answer. "Stephanie"
Ranger gives Cameron no room to breathe, suddenly in his space and looming so much that Tank stands to interrupt but backs off at the hard look Ranger gives him. He hasn't seen his friend look this alive in well, eighteen months.
"She's in London? With Angelo?" Cameron looks confused at Ranger's question, looking towards Tank as if he'll help him out but all he finds is another laser intense stare.
"Yeah" Ranger relaxes ever so slightly and Tank can see that he's ready to be out the door and on a plane to London quicker than Cameron can take his next breath. Except for what he says next. "Well she was. I heard she headed back 'cross the ocean"
Ranger freezes. "Who is she running with?" his tone is composed just barely, but Tank can see he's slipping.
Cameron's freaking out now. He's not half the soldier he's always pretended to be. "Look I don't know man" Ranger grabs his shirt to lug him forward. "Okay okay! Dude!" he stresses, stumbling over his own feet as Ranger lets him go.
Cameron straightens his shirt out, giving them both a look that says he wants them as far away from him as possible as soon as possible. "I heard she might be with the Spider"
It was Tank's turn to ask questions. "The spider?" he queried. By the look on Ranger's face he was more familiar with him than Tank was.
"Yeah y'know" Cameron's trying to pull back some facade again, act as if he nearly didn't just piss himself at having Ranger in his personal space. "Araña?" Tank gives him a look that makes it clear he doesn't know but wants to know right now.
"Jeez man I don't know what to tell you if you don't know. He's a big guy, and one I wouldn't want to meet. He's got a rep. I heard He sometimes goes by the name of Alejandro. Don't know if that's his real one though" Cameron's back to his nonchalant shrugging act again, trying to shuffle them out of his business.
They let him, they have no desire to stick around now. Tank stopped listening to him as soon as he said Alejandro. That is name that Tank definitely knows, and by the look on his face Ranger knows exactly what it means.
Outside in the dazzling sunshine of Los Angeles they can hear the laughter and noise of happy carefree crowds. They share a look that makes Tank scared for the first time in a long time.
More scared than he's ever been in his entire life.
Because there is only one way to describe the look in his friends eyes.
And it is fear.