Disclaimer: Don't own of these characters or Title. The characters are Janet's. Thoughts that the song "Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney brought to mind. Not a song fic.
I opened my eyes again. "God, you let him know didn't you? I don't want him not to know, I love him and I'm sorry."
"I know."
Rangers POV
Something just feels off. I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's because of the feedback from the band's mics. I can barely hear Steph. I don't feel as in control of this as I usually do. The guys keep telling me things seem to be progressing well.
"Where are we going?" I heard Steph say. Oh shit.
"Cal, move out. Steph is on the move." Cal had reported her going to the restroom and Andrews talking to the guys in the band.
Moments later, "Boss, I don't see of Steph, but a dark blue van just pulled out of the alley." He paused, "Shit."
"Talk!" I barked into my mic.
"Steph's bag and her mic were thrown against the wall of the building." Cal reported.
"Get back inside and secure the guys in the band. They know Andrews, I want to know everything about that van. Now! Ram, find that van. Move!"
After a couple of minutes, Tank, Lester, Cal and myself had the three band members lined up outside the door of the bar. They looked properly frightened. They had no idea just how much danger they were in.
"Where did Andrews go in the van?" I asked.
"We don't know. He called to say that the chick he was talking to at the bar was the Bounty Hunter from the newspaper and wanted to know if anyone had been looking for her or him after he left. I told him I didn't see anything, we were working on our equipment, for some reason we were getting a bunch of feedback through the mics tonight."
"I need the van's plate number and any places you think he may go. I also want your cell phone." I wasn't asking; they knew it.
"Here you go man, look, we had nothing to do with this. Tony's my brother but the guy is whacked." Band guy said.
I called into the Comm. Center and told them to move all units and look for the van. Pull everything we had on Andrews. We had to find a place he might take her. The phone beeped in my ear with another call. I looked down at the display. I didn't recognize the number. I hit answer.
I couldn't really hear anything, something that sounded like a motor running and some rustling. I looked down at the cell phone band guy gave me, scrolled through his received calls. The last number was the same! Steph! It had to be.
"Tank, get Comm. Center on tracking this cell number. Steph has his phone."
Tank flipped open his phone and gave the instructions. "Boss, you know it will only give us a general area." He said.
"I know, but we can set up a perimeter and do a sweep. It's all we have at the moment."
I spoke into the phone. "Babe, keep the line open. We're on our way."
I plugged in my ear bud and clipped my phone to my waist. The only sound I could hear was the motor running. I jumped into my truck, all of the Rangemen went to their trucks and we fanned out, searching the city for Steph.
The more time that passed the more worried I got. I had told Steph before that you couldn't get eat up with worry and fear, just focus on the job. I was having a hard time following my own advice. Fear griped my heart, she could be gone so easily and we could never find her.
After what felt like hours of riding the streets finding nothing, the call finally came in they had tracked the cell phone to the last contact tower. The van or the phone rather could be within a 3 square mile radius. I mobilized all available Rangemen to the area to search.
The area was rural and forested, dirt and gravel roads. I was slowly driving down a narrow dirt road when a flash of something metallic caught my eye. I slowly passed. It was the van, backed into the trees. I pulled farther down the road and stopped. I called in to the Comm. Center. They of course had my location via the GPS, back up would be here shortly.
I checked my weapons and eased out of the truck, silently making my way to the van. I stopped in the edge of the trees and watched. The van was running, but I couldn't see any movement. I could still hear the motor running in my ear through the phone. I had the right van. I circled to the back of the van through the trees for cover. I now had the rear of the van in sight; there was no movement, but the site before me made me want to retch. I could see Andrews legs, his jeans at his ankles. He was lying between Steph's spread legs.
I should wait for backup, but the site of Andrew on top of her propelled me forward, I held my gun at my side and silently ran to the back of the van. Reached in with my hand and yanked Andrews by the back of the shirt. I was ready to tear him apart. But he was limp in my hand. I threw him to the ground and slowly climbed into the van.
Steph was whimpering. Tears were streaming down the side of her face. She had her eyes closed and slowly rocked her head back and forth. I carefully slid my hands under her and lifted her out of the van. I walked back to the truck so that I could lay her down and warm her. I called in for EMS.
And then I held her. I wanted to crush her to me. God, how could I let this happen. She was still whimpering something. No not whimpering, whispering. I put my ear closer to her lips.
"I love you Ranger, I'm sorry. I love you Ranger, I'm sorry."
'Dios!' I said to myself. I put my lips to her ear. I stoked her hair. I wanted to tell her, what? That she has nothing to be sorry for, that I was afraid she was dead, that I would give anything to make this night not have happened, that I love her, too.
But I didn't say anything; I just breathed in the smell of her. I held her gently and stroked her hair. This was too close; I've screwed up everything. I've ruined her. Her blind faith in me did this. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid by keeping her at arms length. How could I have been so stupid; I pulled her more and more into my world without preparing her, training her.
Lights appeared down the road. A line of Rangeman SUVs and the EMS with their lights flashing. Tank was the first out of his vehicle. He ran over to me.
"How is she?" He asked. He peeled off his jacket and draped it over Stephanie.
"Not good." I responded. "She's pretty beat up, breathing's shallow and I think she was raped."
"Fuck." Tank whispered and dropped his head. He took a deep breath, then looked me in eye. "Where is Andrews?"
"Behind the van, on the ground."
"You kill him." It wasn't a question.
"No." I turned to carry Steph to get checked out by the EMS guys.
"Why not?" Tank asked to my back.
I stopped, "I didn't get the chance. Steph had already done it."
"That's our girl." He said with pride, turned and he walked away to check on Andrews.
That's right, I thought, 'That's our girl, my girl.' and I turned my head, put my lips to Stephanie's ear "Proud of you, Babe." I whispered.
"God, let Ranger know I love him and I'm sorry." Stephanie whispered.
"I know." I said.
"Good. I was stupid last time, I'll do better next time."