I do not own these characters. They are the soul property of JE. Ranger just came to my yard to talk today.

03The Layers of Ranger

Reading the comments on Babe-squad, I have come to believe Ranger is a much more complicated man than he is given credit for. When I picture him he is the persona that he has created in his military carrier. I also feel there is a man beneath the persona; multiple layers and textures. Just as Stephanie found a Carlos beneath the Ranger, a business man beneath the street hood she first met and a caring man beneath the mercenary.

Not just a mercenary, a man that has lived and learned more, than most of us in his 30 or so years.

The man has a colorful and varied past. He has his childhood and early teenage years, he has his mixed up late teenage years and his time with his grandmother, He has his college years, his early army career, his time in the Rangers, now he has his covert government and business tycoon years. That's a lot for one man to pass through.

Looking at all that, I can't help but feel he is much more than a Bad ASS, Blank Faced, Mercenary and opportunist.

I think there is a mind and heart beneath that is able to control all of these facets. He is a total product of his life not just a small part. To use an old phrase from the movies, THE GOOD THE BAD THE UGLY.

"Joe is her on and off again boyfriend. I have sent Babe back to him before, because I thought he could give her what I couldn't, a family and a home. He gave her beer, pizza and a hockey game mixed in with some sex.

At the time I didn't think I knew how to love, but that was no way to have a relationship with a lady.

Joe and Steph broke up three months ago. She has been alone since then.

Now that I am ready to try love and romance again, I hope I am not too late to win my Babe's heart.

I hit speed dial 1 on my cell phone, "Babe will you do me the honor of having dinner with me Friday night?"

Ranger is back to talk today

Layers of Ranger

I closed my cell phone when I entered the yard and sat down. I had just called the florist to deliver a dozen red roses to my Babe. I hand selected the roses earlier and wrote the card. Driving here I checked that she was at her apartment.

"Yesterday I started Operation Make Babe Mine. I called and asked for a real date and she accepted.

That was my first real test with Steph. I have always been very protective of my heart. Actually that isn't true. Before Steph I never presented my heart to anyone.

The women I was with in the past were just physical, there was no heart involved just sex. They knew this before we started. There was no emotional involvement.

Ha, no emotional involvement. I think I said that to Steph after our one night together. How could I have loved her all night and not had emotional attachment. The passion, the fireworks were all there.

Of course I'm emotionally attached.

I ran away and drove to Florida as fast as I could. But after a few weeks I knew I couldn't get away. My next move was to keep her on the edges of my life and protect her but try to stay out of her life.

Yeah, like that worked. The more I learned the more I cared. The harder it was for me to walk away. Then a mission would come up. I was in the wind for months. Hours on recon missions before the final assault, gave me too much time to think.

I heard her soft laugh, when I closed my eyes I could see her blue eyes and wild curls. I could almost feel the curls on my face and hand. I could almost feel her soft smooth skin. All I could think about was touching her, tasting her, and kissing her all over. I had to close that part of my mind, it was too distracting. Distractions in my job get you dead.

The last year the missions have been tougher and longer. The last one had gone on for 8 months. I was almost sure I would die in that jungle. After missing the extraction helicopter I was left as MIA. In my missions that usually means you are considered dead.

I have been told that each man stands with his face in the light of his own drawn sword. Ready to do what a hero can. I have faced that drawn sword many times, but I am just a man. I am not a hero and I am not ready to die. I have too much to live for. I need to live to be with my Babe.

I spent two months getting out on my own. The government didn't care, it was my final mission; I had succeeded with that part, that was their only concern. If it was a suicide mission there were no loose ends, finished, file closed. The general would just find another weapon to take my place. There is always someone in the ranks to step in. Everyone is totally replaceable.

Two months after the extraction screw up. Fifteen hundred miles through the jungle and swamps; millions of leaches, dozens of snakes, a few jaguars and other predators later, I came to a native camp. I was almost too weak to walk. I was carried back to their camp and placed on a mat in a hut. I fell into a dream filled sleep. Babe was sponging my face, cool water on my lips and soft hands cleansing my wounds.

Many times I thought I would die but I didn't. The thought of never seeing Steph and never telling her how I felt kept me going day after exhausting day.

The natives patched me up, fed me, and brought me back to health. Then, boated me into a small town. There was a telegraph line in the town for traders. No phone. I was able to get out a message to Tank, short, cryptic.

Two days later a coded reply. Received two day. All good.

Pretty simple Tank had received the message and had the name of the town from that. He would be here in two days, everything at Rangeman was good and Steph was safe. I faded back into the jungle for two days waiting for my own extraction and recovery team.

Two days later right on schedule my team was in town. I was still not sure if I had been trailed. We were very circumvent about meeting. That night at the river I had stowed on a boat under the cargo and was taken downstream by the team.

The boat was far from the town and it was dark before I made my way to Tank and Lester.

Tank only said. 'Glad you could make it. Just us on the boat.'

Report I told Tank and he and Lester condensed everything that had happened in Trenton in the last eight months. All I cared about now was Rangeman, Steph and my team.

Tank continued. 'We're headed down river and have a plane twenty miles down in the next town. Anything we should know? Where are we headed? What kind of flight plan? Do we need supplies?'

I wish I could've told Tank to bring Steph. We might have just gone off line together for our someday. Oh, that wouldn't be fair to her. I need to win her love not take it.

No, two weeks recovery time then back to Trenton. I trust the house is ready for us?

This was the end of my last mission. I am now a free man.

Freedom, yes freedom is just some people talking. I was free, no longer a prisoner of the government walking all alone. I was ready for someday with my Babe.

I told you that I was giving her the gift of my love. I didn't say that right; see why I don't do relationships? I have trouble saying what I feel. Then people misunderstand and I don't want Steph to misunderstand she is too important to me. Feelings are hard for me to talk about. What I was saying is that I was going to give Steph all of my love, all of my heart and soul. That I hoped she would accept them and give herself to me.

I am ready to soldier up and be open with her. Trouble is a part of life and if you don't share it, you don't give the person who loves you a chance to love you enough. So now I have to learn to share my whole life with Steph. She will only accept me that way and I know it.

I plan to shower her with gifts, to show her how much I love her. I also plan to talk and answer almost every question she has. If it isn't classified she has a right to know.

I hope she can love all of me after our talk. I hope she can get past my dark past.

I know now that to be a couple, I do have to put my single self on a shelf. It has taken me a long time to realize this. For us to work I have to give all of me. There will still be a me and there will still be a Steph but we will be stronger and better as one.

We have a date this Friday. I have three days to prepare. I know you think it shouldn't be a problem but I want everything to be perfect. We have eaten together before, we have traveled together, we have even slept together, but most of that was associated with work in some way. This has to be special this is our first real date.

Today I sent her roses and a card; I wish I could think of a poem to write to her.

Babe,

If I had a rose for every time I thought of you I'd be picking roses for a lifetime.

Love, C

I must cut our talk short today.

I 'm going to be busy for a while. I have to make reservations and send her the dress that I bought her. I also have beautiful ribbon tied FMPs just like she wears. I can almost see her perfect legs in those shoes.

I have two days to wait.

Tomorrow I'll send chocolate covered strawberries.

Ok , flowers. Check

Chocolate. Check

Dress and shoes. Check.

Reservations, Check.

Limo. Check

Discuss meal, wine and dessert with the chef. Check.

Mission ready."

Word count 1545

Babe_squad 2 prompt

Perfectly plum 2 prompt (seven words)