Category: Angst / Adventure / Romance

Pairing: Hector / Steph / Lester

Rating: R - some not so happy themes, but generally not SO bad.

Summary: -Gasp- How will the A-Team take the knowledge of WHO Hector is?

Disclaimer: (The shells of) These characters belong to Janet Evanovich. (Their mental problems are probably my fault.)

Warning!! Some mildly touchy themes in this one. Nothing too major.

Author's Note: Here's my big apology to everyone, chapters are going to slow down from here on out because I'm no longer as ahead as I'd like to be. I suggest sending the hatemail to my DH (it's all his fault for buying the Wii) I'll be cutting back to a chapter every other day for now. As always, Huge Thanks to everyone for their awesome reviews!

This is the first chapter so far that's in complete flashback form, hope it doesn't come across too irritating.

Breaking The Habit

5

All at once, there was dissension in the ranks.

Tank let loose with a giant laugh that I imagine would have fit right in among canon fire on a Pirate ship. I could have spent a lifetime studying this man and never would have predicted that reaction.

Lester's head swiveled back between Tank, showing disbelief, myself with a touch of surprise, and finally settled on Ranger. The look he gave his boss had a hint of questioning behind it, but it was already obvious that he was trusting Ranger on this decision.

The mask of Bobby's face had cracked far enough for him to raise one perfectly manicured eyebrow at Ranger.

"Ranger, man, are you sure about this?" Bobby was definitely not as accepting as Lester. I think it's safe to say this guy doesn't like me.

Ranger mostly ignored them. Only bothering to pass over them with a glare before focusing his attention back on me. I felt like I was standing in the spotlight in front of a firing squad. This was it. Maybe now he'd tell me why I was here.

"Do you want out?" Ranger's even voice floated down the table to me.

I sat there in a dead shock. This was not what I was expecting. Out? Of the Pantera's? No one got out of the Pantera's. Not as long as blood was still flowing in their veins. I'd never considered it. Those were my brothers, my Hermano's. There had been no other family for so long. But now they wanted my head. Could I really do it, could I really break those ties and still walk away with my life? And what about Rufio? What had happened in the short time I'd been locked up for him to turn away from me so far? Could I walk away without him and still live with myself? The questions must have shown in my face, Ranger decided to take pity on me and continue.

"I can save you from this if you'll help me."

Despite the blankness of his face, there was a sincerity in his voice that told me he knew what I was facing. How, I don't know, but he knew. Probably the same way he knew I was Koa. No one but the other four crowns and Rufio knew who I was, or my rank.

When my answer wasn't immediately forthcoming, he must have felt compelled to sweeten the deal.

"I've heard about your reputation with electronics as well as all the other formidable abilities you like to keep hidden. I could use a man with your talents on my crew. My men are well trained and well protected. I'd even go so far as to offer you an apartment in the building, which is completely secure. I can send you away for a few months to train, clean up our little gang problem while you're gone and you can come back to a new life, a job and place to call your own. But I need your help to do it. You are the only person that has the information we need that isn't an obvious part of the problem."

By this point I'm pretty sure I'd lost all control over my face and every thought I had was flying by for all to see. And see they did. Every eye in that room was trained on me and the firing squad feeling was intensified to a drastic new degree.

"You could be fighting on the side of the Angels this time Hector."

How did this man know!? He knew every button to push, every corner to shine the light in. I had a feeling Ranger was the type of man who didn't believe in the word 'impossible'. I'd even go so far as to bet he had a well read copy of 'The Art of War' hidden away somewhere. His tactics were impeccable.

For the first time in two days I heard the rasp of my own voice, stopping to clear my throat of it's scratchiness before I spoke.

"What do you need from me?"

Ranger inclined his head towards Bobby and without hesitation the man began his explanation. He looked me straight in the eye as he spoke, a fire behind his eyes making their amber color look alive. Whatever it was, it was personal for him.

"Last week the body of a thirteen year old boy was found in a rundown park on Stark St. here in Trenton. Autopsy showed he had died of an overdose of high-grade Heroin. He was the eighth fatality in the greater Trenton/Newark area in 5 months. Every single one of them had the packet of Heroin on or near their persons when they were found. A nondescript clear plastic baggy the size of my thumb, printed on one side with the head of a black panther and the initials P.T."

Shit. I've only been able to live with myself this long by keeping myself oblivious to the extent of the gangs activities. No contact with other members outside the local Crown Council. No knowledge of what services were being rendered that I was collecting for. I made threats in order to carry out my responsibilities, and ensure my reputation, but the occasion where my hand was forced to violence was very very rare. I kept myself far enough out of the loop to not be legally or morally responsible. I chose to live by the belief that they really were just trying to make better conditions for our fellow minorities in our community. It didn't look like they planned to let me continue on that path for long. How can they be bettering our culture if they're killing off our future?

"In the time since the first body was recovered multiple organizations, both on the Federal level, and locally have gotten involved, as well as Rangeman representing the private sector. With all of our combined forces, we've only managed to uncover one name. La Araña. But the man isn't a spider, he's a ghost. He may as well not exist for all the luck we've had finding him. We need you to give us La Araña, and as many other members of the council as you can." The fire burning in Bobby's eyes hadn't dimmed in the slightest. There was a good chance that if I didn't help them, he'd grill me alive himself. Not a pretty fate.

Shit. Fuck. Damn. What a clusterfuck.

This could either be a defining moment in my life or it could be a lead weight around my neck. This wasn't something I could just decide. This was something I needed to think about, I needed to clear my head and consider the consequences of this.

"You're offer is a very tempting one, but I'm not a impulsive man. If it's possible, I'd like to take a little bit of time to think about it. Would you be kind enough to allow me somewhere to shower, maybe some clean clothes and some time to consider my options?" Always have a counter offer prepared.

Ranger nodded his approval of my request and then shot his eyes to the other side of the table. Lester was up like a flash and across the room, dialing out from a phone on the wall. My attention was pulled back to the table as Ranger spoke.

"Lester will take you to an apartment. I'll have clothes and toiletries sent down for you. Someone will stop by in an hour with some food. Take some time, get your thoughts in order tonight. I'll have one of my men come get you in the morning and you can tell me your decision. I do ask that you not leave the apartment unless accompanied by one of us, but should you try, keep in mind that this entire building is under constant surveillance." The end of his speech was punctuated with a curt nod that I quickly realized was my dismissal.

Lester had finished his phone call and was waiting for me next to the door. Not a word was exchanged between us as he led me further into their fortress in the middle of the city. Words weren't necessary, there was too much to be thought about.

We stopped in front of a door on the fourth floor and he pulled a set of keys from his pocket, unlocking the door before repocketing the keys. He led me into the very same apartment I'd end up still living in four years later, and at the time, all I could think was that I was extremely unhappy that someone else would have the keys to access me while I was sleeping. I always hated that.

It was a small, simple efficiency apartment. Open floor plan with a couch, coffee table and TV shelf, sans TV, in one corner. The opposite corner held a twin-sized bed complete with blankets and pillows. In an alcove off to the left was a small Kitchen. Your basic appliances, plus an under the cabinet microwave and a countertop Mr. Coffee. Another door next to the kitchen presumably led to a bathroom. Over all it wasn't a bad apartment, sadly more then I'd known or had to call my own in a very long time. The pull to say yes, simply so that I could rest my head somewhere I could call my own, was very enticing.

As we stood there in the open doorway the elevator dinged and a small stout looking woman emerged from between the doors before they'd finished opening all the way. Bright, sharp, bird-like eyes were on us as soon as she turned in the hall. She looked old enough to be Ranger's mother, but somehow I doubted that was who she was. She wasn't very commanding, but she carried herself with a tautness and grace that made me think even she too had some sort of training. I doubted very much escaped her attention.

She stopped just outside the open doorway, taking us both in before a friendly smile lit her face. Her Hispanic heritage shone in the warmth of her smile, softening her entire face and I was taken back a very long time by the feelings that smile awoke. To a place I'd shut down and locked up years ago.

I shook myself out of it as she handed me the black duffle bag she'd carried down the hall with her.

"I hope this works for you. It's the standard Rangeman emergency kit. A pair of sweats and t-shirt, thick boot-socks, overnight toiletry kit with the usual trial-size bathroom necessities. This apartment wasn't planned to have anyone in it just yet, so I'm afraid I haven't completely finished things. I'll have some food supplies down in a little while, and if you'll be here long I'll have one of the boys bring a television up for you." Her voice was warm, belying the harsh nearly calculating way she had first taken me in. A very protective nature. She was indeed the Mother to this pack of men, no matter the blood between them.

"Th-thank you Ma'am. I appreciate that very much. Don't worry about a television though. I do not know yet that I'll be here long enough to need that." My voice still tumbled rough from my throat. I needed rest, and I needed a damn drink.

She nodded, that smile still on her face and turned sharply on her heel, taking herself straight back to the elevator.

I turned back to Lester and he was smirking at me like he knew something I didn't. I didn't like it. I wanted to wipe that look off his face, I was just torn about what I wanted to use to do it. In the beginning, I was never too certain if I wanted to use my fists on Lester, or my tongue.

He led the way into the main room of the apartment. I dropped the duffle bag on the bed and turned back when I heard the door click shut. Lester leaned against the door, that smirk still in place, quite a sexy picture with all that hair and dark golden skin flashing against the white of the door. Just then I could picture myself dragging my tongue up his body with his fingers digging into my scalp.

The image was broken by Lester's 'All Business' voice as he explained how to contact him via the intercom unit attached to the wall beside the door. If I wanted to speak with Ranger any earlier then morning, or had any questions that Lester might be able to answer for me, I was to contact him. Anytime.

"That's not bad, but is Ranger aware that the software on this particular model actually became outdated three months after it was released to the general public?" I couldn't help myself. Over-rated technology made my head hurt. Some things were really just flash and no bang.

Lester actually chuckled a bit before he answered me. It was a deep rich sound, loose and bubbling up from his chest in genuine amusement.

"I think I see now why Ranger wants you on the team. You could certainly come in handy."

He didn't bother sticking around to hear what I had to say. Turning on his heel with just as much determination as the little woman who had come down the hall, he snapped the door open and made his way out into the hall.

I stepped up to the door, breathing out a sigh of relief as the lock clicked into place and my forehead made contact with the cool wood.

Now how in the hell was I supposed to figure this all out?

OoO To Be Continued OoO