I own nothing, make no profit, but have enjoyed playing with all of the MM.

Thanks Jaime for her editorial powers and her encouragement!

Stephanie's Gamble

The next morning, hung over and bleary eyed I made it to the comm. room and was ready to get into the groove of Tank only to realize I was no longer with Tank, it was Lester's turn. Tank would have done the gentlemanly thing and gone to McDonalds and bought me the Cure. Lester knew all about the Cure, large Coke and large fries, but I had a feeling he wasn't going to get it for me.

New month. New Merry Man. Big Hangover. Welcome to February, Plum. It looks like it is going to be a doozie.

Chapter 5 February

Oh boy. I smiled as I remembered the conversation with Tank, how "nothing would be up for rumor or speculation" and I felt better; then sometime after lunch Lester sauntered over.

"Bomber, hope you are up to the new month," Lester said with a huge grin, "I'm really looking forward to it. And as to the ground rules, you need to remember that I am not Tank and I have no current girlfriend." Well nuts, this just doesn't sound good. Lester continued, "Since I have no relationship to jeopardize and it doesn't look like you do either right now, I have no problem with everything we do together being up for rumor or speculation with any or all of the guys. The same rules apply, Ranger still won't have any say in what we will be doing together. This is up to my discretion and yours," he said in a stage whisper so that the entire floor could hear him.

Jeez.

Lester made sure everyone on the floor was paying attention to us when he continued, "February may be the shortest month, Bomber, but it has Valentine's Day in it. You know what that means don't you?"

"Ah … drawing a blank Lester. What does it mean," I asked crossing my fingers.

"It means that you have no choice in a date for Valentine's this year. I am going to be your special date and you're gonna love what I have planned," he said with the biggest grin on his face I had ever seen.

My mouth fell open and I think my eyes bugged out. I was having a hard time believing he had already planned Valentine's day. It was just the first of the month! If I was still with Joe, it would be pizza, beer and a romp between the sheets, planning time about five minutes to make sure there were enough condoms. If Valentine's was with Ranger it would probably mean surveillance and sitting outside in the butt numbing cold. Mary, Jesus and Joseph. I was not up to Lester for Valentine's Day. I could feel my face turn red and then lose color all together.

Before I could catch my breath I heard the sound of a familiar bark, "Santos, my office, now." I knew Ranger had summoned Rangeman's answer to Hugh Hefner to the inner sanctum. Maybe things were looking up.

The "discussion" as it would later be called, involved a lot of yelling in Spanish and stomping, storming and other acts of male posturing. I think Ranger and Lester had done this dance before, because for the longest time neither one backed down. I heard my name some mumbling and in English heard "but she agreed and so did you" my heart sank. When I heard, "but you promised not to interfere" and "I never get to have any fun around here" I was so miserable I could have been two people. Crap and double crap.

Eventually the storm calmed and the door opened. Lester ambled out with his hands in his pockets. He sidled up to me and bumped his shoulder to mine and said, "Stephanie, sorry if I was disrespectful. I just don't like to be formal and structured. I believe that some things are best experienced by the seat of the pants. That's all I meant, promise. Besides, I value my skin and my job. We are going to have the same basic schedule you and Tank had, but the structure of our time is out the door, that I can promise you. But the good news is that I still have Valentine's Day with you! I'll be back for you when everything is ready."

Lester headed for parts unknown and probably unwatched by Ranger.

A few minutes later my desk phone rang, it was Ranger.

"Babe, do you have a couple of minutes for me before you head out with Santos?"

"Sure thing, I'll be in shortly."

I finished printing the search I had been working on and collected it from the printer.

"Babe, remember when you were going to start working with Tank?"

"Yeah. I was nervous and you made me feel better."

"Babe, you've got to remember that Lester isn't Tank. I know it will be a good experience for both of you. I trust you. I do not trust Lester. If Lester gets out of line and it becomes too much for you, call Tank. If you call me, I'll kill Lester and then ship his body to a third world country."

"Ok, Batman. I'll keep a good look out for Lester. Do I need to have a secret word with Tank to let him know when Lester has overstepped?"

"Babe, that's going a bit far, don't you think?"

"Just wanted to make sure we are on the same page, that's all. Unless you want to be my one and only Prince Charming and rescue me from the fire breathing Lester?"

"Babe, there's a lot of paperwork with dead bodies."

"Thought so, Ranger. Tank to the rescue it will be. Though I doubt I'll need his help, I will just handle him like I handled my dates in college."

"And just how was that?"

"You know, lots of headaches, whining, sniveling, and being incredibly demanding."

"And this has changed since college, how?"

I crossed my arms over my chest, rolled my eyes and attempted to look really pissy. "Ranger, jeez. I am not that bad and you know it. Maybe Lester will be like a breath of fresh air? Maybe Lester is secretly gay and none of us know it? Maybe Lester is actually desirous of my mother or my grandmother? Who knows? Anything is possible under the sun. We may just all find out what that is together. Gotta go, my new knight awaits," I said blowing Ranger a kiss as I quickly left the office.

No sooner than I left Ranger's office than I immediately walked into Lester.

"Your new knight, huh? Quite the compliment there, Steph. Wonder what I will have to do to keep that image up?"

"I was playing around Lester, nothing personal, I promise."

"Are you sure, I could earn the title from you and then it could be very personal for both of us."

"You are an absolute nut, Lester Santos. Come on, it is time to get this show on the road. Where do we start?" I raised my head and was standing purposefully straight.

"Why at the very beginning, of course," he said with a sly smile. Then he added, "Just like with Tank, you and me alone in my apartment for the rest of the afternoon; possibly longer."

"You need to know that your lines just don't work on me, make me nervous or make me excited. It does make me wonder how much talking you have done with Tank. Evidently not enough."

"Whatever you say, your ladyship. Let's head to four."

We headed to the fourth floor together and down the familiar hallway. We passed the halfway point and were all the way to the end of the proverbial road when we reached Lester's place. I thought my place was decorated like a dorm room, it had nothing on Lester's. His place was an homage to the 70s. He didn't have chairs, he had oversized bean bags. He had lava lamps and strobe lights. I was beginning to wonder if he had an eight-track player. I was pretty sure he had an old style water bed, but was hoping not to find out personally any time soon. There was a sign on his wall that said, "Dance with your dreams".

The dichotomy between Tank and Lester was amazing. Where Tank had art on the walls, Lester had posters. Where Tank had china, Lester had paper plates. Where Tank served hot tea and finger sandwiches, Lester offered me beer, from a can, and a handful of stale pretzels.

"Take a load off, no shoes required in here. In fact, shoes and surplus clothing of any kind is not encouraged."

"I'm willing to dump the shoes, socks and jacket but that is as surplus as I am willing to go with you."

"Feel free to change your mind at any time. What you and I are going to do is explore ENERGY of all kinds. How to balance your energy, how bodies in motion tend to stay in motion, how bodies at rest remain at rest until acted upon by a body in motion. Those are just the building blocks, where we take it from there is up to you and me. Getting the idea?"

I tried not to rise to his bait and said, "Sounds like science class. I did pretty well in science unless we are going to be balancing chemical equations then I am going to need a study partner."

"Sounds like you are up for the challenge. Let's go. Time to drop the shoes, remove anything from your pockets, turn off your cell phone – not even on silent or vibrate and take off your belt. Come lay down next to me in front of the entertainment center, then we will begin." Lester had turned on his Radio Announcer Voice that worked like a snake charmer on me; oh nuts.

Did I remember that I could handle the "handy" guys in college? Evidently not so well as I remembered. Ranger is going to kill one if not both of us because I was voluntarily going to get horizontal with Lester on the floor of his apartment, in daylight, with no chaperone.

What was I thinking? I was going to have to make an appointment to talk with Father Frank, I just knew it. How do I keep doing this to myself?

While I was in my cups, some soft mood music started. Oh boy, where was Tank when I needed him? Tank had turned out to be quite the teddy bear and maybe would have been my protector too. It was looking like Lester had not only earned his reputation as a playboy, but I might well be on my way to being one of his conquests. Fudge.

I found my way onto my back next to Lester. I don't know where the pillow from under my head had come from, but there it was. I have spent a lot of time with the Merry Men, but usually it is not so up close and personal. Seldom is it in the dark, never in the dark lying down. Damn if he didn't smell good, and I think he knew it, too. He was a little too practiced at all of this. It looked and smelled like there is a reason for the reputation. Yikes.

"Stephanie, there is absolutely nothing that is going to go on here that you don't want to happen, I promise. There is nothing that is going to go on here that I don't want to happen. You are going to have to trust me in order for this to be good for both of us, can you do that?"

While I was still focused on the "nothing going to go on here that I don't want to happen," he turned off all of the lights except a night light in the far corner of the room.

"Yes," I squeaked.

"OK. I want for you to close your eyes and listen to the music and do what I tell you to do. I am going to give you a minute to get your breathing under control and then we will begin," he had a smile in his voice that rivaled Ranger's damn him.

It took me a minute to slow my breathing down and just relax. Once I did, Lester's soft and well modulated voice started again.

"Steph, I've done this lots and lots you will be just fine, promise. Just focus on my voice and think about the things I am saying to you. Don't read anything into what I am saying, just take the statements as they come. Are you ready?"

"Yes," I said sleepily.

"Close your eyes and rid your mind of any feelings of fear, stress, or anxiety. Observe any unwanted thoughts slipping away from you without judgement. Now I want you to feel all of the tension leaving your body. Beginning with your toes, see the tension slowly falling away from your body and vanishing. Imagine it freeing each body part one at a time starting with your toes and working its way up your body. Visualize each part of your body becoming lighter and lighter as the tension is removed. relax your toes, then your feet. Continue with your calves, thighs, hips, stomach and so on, until you've relaxed each portion, including your face and head.

"Continue taking slow, deep breaths. Each time you exhale, see the negativity leaving in a dark cloud. As you inhale, see the air returning as a bright force filled with life and energy.

"Now you are extremely relaxed. Imagine you are at the top of a flight of 10 stairs. See each and every detail of this scene from the top to the bottom. Now you are going to descend the stairs, I will count each step down, starting at 10. Each number I count is further down and closer to the bottom. After each number, you will feel yourself drifting further and further into deep relaxation. I will keep counting and guiding you down until you reach the bottom. Once we reach the bottom, see that you are happy, safe and relaxed. .

We are going to stay in this safe, happy and relaxed place for a little while and if you fall asleep, it will be just fine."

The next thing I knew three hours had passed and it was way past my regular quitting time. Lester was sitting up next to me, grinning like a fool. I was no longer on my back, but on my side covered in a blanket. Rats.

"Bomber, I hate to wake you up, but this part of relaxation and balancing your energy is over."

"Huh?"

"I brought you back out of your hypnotic state, but I don't know that you could hear me for all the snoring you were doing. By the way, you are cute when you snore."

"I do not snore. My mother and sister will vouch for me."

"I don't care what your family says, they'll side with you. Now, do you really want me to start confirming your snoring and sleeping habits with either Ranger or Morelli? I don't think they would take it too kindly if they knew I got you to sleep with me and I wasn't even trying hard."

"Lester, you would not."

"Oh, would so. You know I would love nothing more than to see the look on Ranger's face when I asked him about it. I promise I won't go into the things you actually say or the noises you make when you are asleep."

"Lester, that's blackmail."

"And don't I know it? In exchange for this so called blackmail, you don't get to go spreading any horrible, nasty truths you may find out about me in future to the guys."

"Cripes, I am just never going to win am I?" I asked him.

"Bomber, just so you feel better about this, I have done hypnosis on people for years to help them get over their fears or other issues in their lives. I took courses and got licensed and everything. I probably should have told you up front, but I didn't know how willing you would be."

"Not that I don't trust you, but did you program me to bark like a dog or cluck like a chicken when you say a certain word?"

"Not ethical, can't do it. Believe it or not, I work only on the ethical side of things, usually. I want you to be more relaxed and better balanced so you have a better awareness of where you are and what is going on around you. We will revisit this from time to time, but not every day. This is just one technique of many, I promise. But before you go back to the comm. room so you can get your stuff for the night, you are going to need to tame that hair of yours. I am not going to be responsible for what Ranger thinks all by himself."

"I'll take my chances on the truth." Wait a minute, maybe not.

I reluctantly let Lester accompany me back to the comm. room. We were met by Ranger.

Ranger looked into my eyes and said, "Looks like you survived your time with Lester unscathed. It wasn't as bad as you thought it would be was it?"

"Actually, I don't remember too much, I got comfy and fell asleep. Les has great pillows," the words were tumbling out of my mouth before I realized what I could stop them. Fudge.

"Explain."

"Bomber, you promised you weren't going to say anything like that in front of the boss," a dumb ass grin was plastered all over his face. He looked so proud of himself, jeez.

I shot Lester an evil look, which he evidently missed.

"It was a hypnosis kind of a thing Ranger, completely innocent, really," I stammered.

A second ago, Lester was by my side; Lester had become smoke and was half way down the hall.

Ranger said, "As long as you are sure, I trust you but have issues with my friend who is skulking away."

"I really shouldn't have had any issues with this; being with Lester is more like being with Tank than I would have guessed."

Over his shoulder Lester shouted, "I heard that and am offended. You never once slept with Tank and you slept with me. We both know it."

"Not funny Lester, not by the longest shot."

Before the blank face could take over, I think Ranger looked crushed, "Babe, you didn't …"

"Yes. I mean no. I mean I wasn't like one of his 'dates'. I swear I didn't 'sleep with him' that way. It was like this, we were on the floor, lots of nice pillows, soft music, low lights. This doesn't sound good for either one of us does it?"

"Not in the least. Babe, I've got work to do."

"But … let me explain."

"Enough explanations, I do trust you but I really may need to put some kind of a guard on you when you are with Lester. Got a big client meeting to prepare for in the morning." With that he kissed me on the cheek and went back to his office.

This so didn't go the way I thought it might. Oh well, it was Friday and I had the whole weekend ahead of me.

I had an entire weekend without any break ins to my apartment, so maybe Ranger took the "sleeping together thing" a little more biblically than literally. Lester and I were going to have to have a talk.

Monday when it was my designated time to meet Lester, I saw the e-mail to meet him directly at his apartment. Lester wasn't going to escort me from my cube today. I wondered if he was afraid of Batman's reaction to Friday night.

When I got to Lester's apartment, Tank was standing in front of Lester's door. I smiled at my guardian and knocked on the door.

Lester opened after a few seconds, probably doing the last minute preparation thing. Lester was ready for the uninvited guest. Lester's apartment was set up the same as before, but a lot more pillows, flowers and candles.

Tank asked, "Mind if I join in today's session?"

"Fine by me," I replied with a smile, "but this is Lester's show, it is really up to him." As I said it, we all knew it was really up to Ranger and Tank was babysitting.

Lester looked at Tank and then me and said with sultry tone, "As long as you are sure, and I do mean absolutely sure, Ranger won't care that you sleep with both of us, I am good with it."

Nuts. Just who did he think I am?

With that Lester had me in the same position as before, but I was laid out between Lester and Tank. He did the same thing with the lights, music and his little speech. Before I knew what happened, I was back on my side, covered in the blanket being looked down on by the two Merry Men. Shit.

"Ranger's going to believe it but he isn't going to be happy," Tank said.

"Huh?" was my well formed response.

"Bomber, you really did sleep between the two of us. We have spent the last hour discussing our next big take down while you were snoring," Tank said with a huge smile.

"So what exactly are you going to say? Because if we aren't careful, these lessons in 'relaxation and balancing my energy' are going to become Merry Men sleepovers at Lester's. The whole office is going to wind up invited to watch me sleep and if that happens I am going to be banned from pineapple upside down cake for the rest of my life," I said groggily.

"Well, now that's something I never thought of. Hell, I could sell tickets or raffle them off! Steph's mom would just love that, wouldn't she?" Lester choked out.

Out from nowhere, it seemed, there was a knock on the door. Nobody was in a hurry to answer the door, so I got up off the floor, dusted my self off and headed to the door. Color me not at all surprised, it was Ranger.

"Babe, looking a little bleary eyed this evening, everything OK?"

Shit, he was back to the blank face and the tight voice.

He followed me into the living room and planted himself on the sofa. I guessed he didn't want to test the fates and get on one of the bean bags.

"Sure, why wouldn't it be? Lester and Tank have been trying to help me relax and center my energy and help me to get de-stressed."

He then noticed the pillows on the floor as well as the blankets. Thankfully the guys had turned the lights back up and the music off before Ranger walked in the door.

"Rangeman, it was exactly like Lester said the other night. She got relaxed, then comfortable and then the whole snoring thing happened. Lester finished his guided meditation and actually finished it when she was snoring to beat the band. We didn't know what it was going to take to wake her up." I had no idea that Tank was a tattle tell, yikes.

"Lester, for the good of her reputation and your continued good health, you need a new tactic with Stephanie starting tomorrow. You can continue to help her 'relax and rebalance' but not on the floor complete with music and lighting. Got it?"

"Got it, boss."

"Glad to hear it. I need to get organized for this evening's takedown. You with me Tank?"

"I'm with you and right behind you," Tank said with a smile.

The two men left quietly and peacefully, thank goodness. That's when Lester leaned over and said to me in a conspiratorial tone, "Tomorrow is all about music, movement and blindfolds. I didn't think we were going to have to ready for that so quickly, but it looks like my time table has just been moved up. See you tomorrow afternoon, Steph. Oh, and either wear or bring a skirt and bring some comfortable high heels, it will make all the difference, I promise."

Oh boy.