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Chapter 4

Step Four: Unexpected developments may influence your final decision

When I awoke the next morning, the first I noticed was the terrible headache that penetrated my head, the second thing was how awfully bright the sun shone.

By the time I finally found the strength to get up, breakfast was over and lunch was being served.

It did lighten my mood a little that Mary Lou was feeling equally bad – as mean as that may sound.

"Mary Lou?" I asked as I rubbed my forehead with my index finger. We were both seated at a rounded table in the dining-hall, but neither one of us felt really hungry at this moment. "Did we really see one of the Merry Men last night?"

"I don't know," she slowly answered, her eyebrows crunched together in thought. "I can't really remember. Did you see one?"

Sighing, I took a sip of my water. "I guess not. Maybe… I just dreamed I saw one."

Mary Lou grinned, amused. "Uh-oh, don't let Ranger hear that. Wouldn't want to let a homicidal Ranger to lunge at his men, now would we?"

I shot her a glare. "Shut up."

But of course she didn't listen.

"Who was it? Do I know him? Is he hot?"

Instinctively, I rolled my eyes.

Maybe she wasn't so affected by her hangover like me.

"Lester Santos," I said, not volunteering any further information.

"Hn," she eloquently replied. "Is he hot?"

I shrugged. "I guess so. I mean all of the Merry Men are hot."

She nodded. "True."

When we finished eating, we went for a walk along the beach, whilst busying ourselves with observing the different types of people around us.

As we got thirsty we bought a soda in one of the little pubs and sat outside at a table.

Though it couldn't compare to the action I had in the Burg, it felt nice to walk around and meet new people from all around the world without having to fear that some crazy lunatics were after me. A group of Englishmen even invited us to a bachelor party. (A/N: Happened to me once when I was in Prague LOL)We declined.

"What I've wanted to ask you for a while now: Why aren't you freaking out about Ranger knowing where you are?" Mary Lou curiously inquired.

I gave her a wry smile. "Ranger only needed to call the airport and let them check for my name."

She frowned. "How would he know to search for you at the airport?"

I shot her a look.

"Oh right, he's Batman. Batman knows everything."

"Yeah," I sighed, "he's Batman."

"But wait a minute," she said. "What about Morelli? Do you think he knows where we are? Although he's Supercop, he doesn't have all the… qualities that Ranger has… On the other hand Morelli and Ranger do seem to co-operate whenever you're involved… So he probably does know you're here too!"

I watched her in surprise. "And you figured that out just yet?"

She scratched her head sheepishly. "Well… now it's at least clear why I never got to be Miss Marple when we were little…"

I rolled my eyes.

"Why are you so freaking calm?" she asked.

"Well, I for my part knew it was just a matter of time till they figured out where I was. So there's truly only one thing that could freak me out." I rubbed my temples tiredly. "As you know I came here to be on my own and especially far away from them for a while. They got my notes. If they now disrespected my wishes and followed me here, it only would show that they don't care about my desires, wouldn't it? And that wouldn't only freak me out, but also make me very, very angry."

Mary Lou looked appalled. "That sounds like you're just waiting for one of them to come here so you can dismiss him."

I groaned. "No, of course not. I just... I don't know what to do. I love them both and at least Morelli loves me back, but what about Ranger? It's so complicated and I want to be with both, but that wouldn't be fair. And I don't how or who to choose. Maybe it would be better if I broke it off with both of them."

Mary Lou patted my hand sympathetically. "Don't worry, Hun. I'm sure you'll soon figure out who is the right one for you."

"You know, that did sound like you knew who is the right one for me."

She winked at me. "I'd rather call it favouring one of the two men for you."

"Who?" I curiously asked.

She shook her head vehemently. "I won't tell. At least not yet. You have to make your own decision first."

Damn, she was right.

In content silence we continued our stroll along the ocean until we reached a bay with a cute little boat floating in the water. The boat had originally been used by fishermen and anglers but now served as a way for tourists to get a nice view at the coast from the ocean.

Spontaneously, we bought some tickets and joined the fairly long queue.

Aboard we leaned against the railing and enjoyed the eerily peaceful journey.

It was shortly after our departure when someone tapped me lightly on the shoulder and I came face to face with a quite familiar figure.

"Hola, Bomber."

I wanted to faint. I really, really wanted to faint and believe it was all dream.

My poor mind needed a moment to process the fact that Lester Santos was here, standing right in front of me with a cheeky grin on his lips.

"I don't believe it!" I furiously exclaimed, glaring viciously at him. "You weren't just a dream! What the hell are you doing here!"

"Whoa, whoa," Lester said, raising his hands in defence. "Easy there, Bomber."

"Don't Bomber me," I fumed. "I can't believe that Ranger did that."

"Calm down, Stephanie," he quietly said, placing one of his large hands on my shoulder.

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply; in the background I could faintly hear Mary Lou muttering, "Now I remember him… That was the man who stood at the street when we came home last night… So my random discovery was right despite my drunken state…"

Always the perceptive one, that's my best friend for you. At least now she seemed to remember more of last night. Unfortunately it was too late, since it was now clear that I didn't dream Lester was there.

"You know, that didn't change anything. I'm still pretty mad right now." I dryly remarked.

"I guess that's understandable," he said and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Why are you here, Lester?"

He sighed in defeat whilst his facial expression turned serious.

"Ranger sent me."

That was painfully obvious.

"Why did he send you?"

He looked me directly in the eyes.

"To make sure you do nothing stupid." There was a hint of humour in his voice.

I raised my eyebrows. "Nothing stupid like?"

Lester's grin slowly returned. "Like attracting Spanish lunatics."

I rolled my eyes in exasperation. There was a sudden flash from the night before where I mentioned something like that in Lloret de Mar when I was drunk.

My hands gripped the railing tightly as my eyes surveyed the horizon.

"Go back to Ranger and tell him that I neither need a babysitter nor his obligatory feelings of protecting me. He has no responsibility for me."

Lester opened his mouth in shock. "Stephanie, he doesn't…. I think you misunderstood…"

"No, I didn't." I interrupted him.

"I agree with him," Mary Lou unexpectedly piped up, startling me because I had totally forgotten about her.

"He doesn't feel obligated or indebted to you because of business," Lester said, a frown on his face.

"But he doesn't care about me either; otherwise he would have come himself to make sure I'm all right."

Mary Lou bit her lip quizzically. "But I thought you didn't want him to follow you here…"

"That's not the point!" I said in frustration.

Mary Lou shook her head. "You are such a hypocrite…."

Lester, who had been scrutinising me, quietly said, "I understand what you mean, but you're still wrong to assume he doesn't care about you."

I didn't believe him. I didn't know what to believe at all anymore. Everything was just so confusing…

So I changed the topic and introduced Lester and Mary Lou to each other. My best friend was positively excited to meet one of the Merry Men personally, while Lester appeared to be amused by her childish delight.

They began a casual small-talk about Spain in general and the differences between Europe and the USA.

After their polite chatter had ceased, Lester randomly questioned, "I still don't know why you've gone through all the trouble of sneaking away in the middle of the night to border a plane and come here. I don't think that anyone would have tried to stop you if you had informed them beforehand."

"It seemed like a good idea at the time," I said, a little unsure. "Plus, it was much more fun this way."

Yeah, because as soon as my mother gets a hold of me the fun will find its end… And then there's also Morelli's family… I mean, technically I was still his girlfriend…

Lester grinned broadly. "That's my Bomber!"

Contrary to popular belief, Lester was not only a 6feet tall toned and muscled wall with martial art skills, but also a very laid-back man who spoke more than one word willingly and even possessed a great sense of humour. Although his definition of humour was kind of twisted sometimes…

All in all Mary Lou and I had a great time with Lester, especially later on when we were all lazily relaxing at the beach.

Unfortunately he was also very nosy. He inquired again why we chose to leave Trenton like that and Mary Lou finally gave in and told him about Lenny and her problems with him. Surprisingly, Lester turned out to be a good listener and an even better adviser. He encouraged Mary Lou in her feelings and decision, and simultaneously tried to give her an insight into Lenny's situation.

That I was impressed was a great understatement.

Suddenly I was very glad that Lester was there to help Mary Lou with her worries, because honestly, I couldn't by far even imagine what her situation was like. I had two macho men in my life instead of a loyal husband, and I never ever wanted to have brats like my sister Valerie's.

If I hadn't been so grateful for Lester's understanding, I would have found it creepy and awfully unfair that all Merry Men seemed to be skilled in just everything… except for maybe Cal.

"Pal!" A by now quite familiar voice called. „Long time no see. How are you doing?"

I turned around in time to watch Lester stand and greet Martouf with one of those confusing but oh so manly handshaking rituals.

Wait a minute.

They knew each other!

After the two men had sufficiently finished their greeting, they told us that they knew each other back from military and that Martouf was working for RangeMan as well. Ranger, however, sent him to Spain after a few years to open and run a business company there.

"But why are you selling coconuts half of the day?" Mary Lou asked a little overwhelmed from being surrounded by two of Ranger's employees.

"Ah, well, it's kind of boring being in the company building all day when the weather is so nice," Martouf winked.

"He's not exactly a workaholic," Lester clarified with a wistful smile.

"Yeah," Martouf good-naturedly agreed. "But I found them, didn't I?" He said, indicating Mary Lou and me.

I raised an eyebrow.

Lester laughed. "I was really surprised when Ranger told me they were with you." He grinned mischievously at me. "The fact that you kept an eye on them was the only thing refraining him from leaving everything behind and find them himself."

I lifted my other eyebrow.

"Okay, you were supposed to find us?"

Both men looked at me like I'd grown another head before shaking their heads at me.

Well, that was informative.

I turned to Martouf. "And why didn't you tell us that you were one of Ranger's men?"

He grinned cheekily at me and his eyes sparkled with mirth. "I wanted to see for myself what Ranger's Babe was like before revealing who I am."

There was a warm and fuzzy feeling inside of me when he entitled me as Ranger's Babe.

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Flashback

"Do you remember the conversation we had a few days ago?" she asked. "About me not wanting you to track me every step I take?"

His stoic face didn't change.

"Damn it, Ranger! I neither want you to secretly put tracking devices on me nor for you to send one of your men after me as soon as I leave this building."

Her arms fluttered wildly in the air, emphasising her point by including the company building of RangeMan they were currently in.

"It's for your own good, Babe."

"Stop saying stuff like that!" she angrily exclaimed, pressing the palm of her hand against her forehead in order to organise her thoughts.

All of a sudden there were two strong arms enveloping her body in a comforting hug.

"As soon as you're out to help Lula with a skip or take part in a mission for me, I worry about you." His lips brushed her temple in a feathery kiss and her eyes closed automatically as a content sigh escaped her owns lips. "I can't help it." A warm hand massaged the back of her neck. "I feel better knowing at any minute of everyday where you are."

She wrapped her arms around his waist, savouring the feeling of completeness that suddenly washed over her.

"I just… I just always feel like you don't trust me and my abilities in some way. Like I'm not capable of staying out of trouble. I mean, you don't send Hal to track Tank when he is out somewhere."

She felt his lips curve into a grin against her cheek.

"My men always have a partner when they're on an operation. You have Lula." His grin got wider. "And you never stay out of trouble."

She rolled her eyes but smiled a little.

Both of his hands cupped her face so he could look deeply into her eyes. "And I do trust you and your abilities. But there were too many times for you to nearly die that I could leave you completely unprotected."

She shook her head at his words, not catching the slight fear in his voice or the hard determination in his eyes.

He knew she didn't entirely believe him, but he couldn't bring himself to say more. Not when she belonged to another.

End Flashback