"Bomber, heya Bomber." I awoke to a very up close and personal Tank. He was smiling, I was trying my damndest to curl into a little ball and go back to sleep and the wonderfully delicious dream of Ranger only wearing a smile. "Do you know you moan in your sleep Bomber?" See that wasnt incentive for me to wake up, that was incentive for me to disappear into thin air. I hunkered down even more into the seat, trying like hell to keep my ass covered, and vanish. "Alright Evan, hit her with it." Hit who with what? What the hell is he talking about? Then, and only then did it hit me.
"MMMMM, thats better than sex." Pinos, the only thing besides naked Ranger, that I would say is better than sex. God Almighty, thats an amazing way to wake up. Although naked dream Ranger with PInos, was all the more tempting. "MMMMMM." I moaned again.
"Oh God if she keeps doing that, Im gonna have wet dreams tonight!" Im assuming thats Evan the new guy, even now I could tell I didnt like the putz. I felt the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. Ranger. If I knew he was standing there, I knew Tank was already a step ahead of me, but apparently Evan was new to the game, and couldnt sense Batman yet. "Did you hear the way she whimpered Pinos, I could only wish that was my name." He snickered, I found it funny that he had no clue he was going to die.
"Shit" That was a very tense Tank that had just taken a very big step back, the coward. The asshole Evan, took that as a sign to take another step towards me with the bag. I was no longer hungry, actually I felt dirtier now then I did while I was duct taped to the vomit covered merry-go-round..
"EWWW, get the hell away from me, you goat fucking, cocksucking asshole!" I spat the words at him as if he were the Devil incarnate, and when the words left my mouth, I spat at his feet for good measure. He stepped back leering at me. Asshole.
"Feisty."
"You just made me throw up in my mouth."
"What, you think you can do better than me with hair like that? I now realized, Tank wasnt a coward, he just didnt want to get blood on his clothes when Ranger shot this scumbag.
"In my fucking defense, not that it matters much, I havent really had time to shower yet after my night of hell and shit. So excuse the fuck outta me if my hair isnt up to your lowbrow standards. Now please do me a favor, either die or slither your nasty bottom feeding ass away from me." I was pissed, I was beyond pissed, this is going without sugar and sex for a year pissed. This man is lucky I wasnt wearing boots, because he wouldnt be able to identify his nuts after I got through with them.
"Fuck you cunt." Eh, I can live with the word cunt, its not that bad. I couldnt live with the way he leaned in when he said it. This guy just ooozed asshole.
"I wouldnt entertain the idea. Go to hell." This time, I spit dead in his face. If looks could kill, Id be more than dead, Id be sleeping with Satan. He and Tank both took a giant step forward, I jumped out of the truck and met them head on. Fuck this guy, fuck guys in general. If he wanted to mess with his first Jersey girl, who am I not to give him the full pissed off Rhino-mode package. my mother scared me more than this schmuck. "What Evan, not man enough to do anything, whatd you lose your balls to your last girl. Did she cheat on you with another girl, is that why you have no balls, or did your Mama run off with the milkman and leave you with a drunken daddy, that didnt teach you shit bout how to treat a lady.." For all I knew he could be married to a wonderful woman, and his parents could be who they modeled the Cleavers after. My mind still screamed shoot him though.
He charged towards me. I stood my ground and waited.
"Get the fuck away from Steph!" He grabbed Evan by his shirt and tossed him back a few feet. So, Tank does get upset. Wow, this is the most reaction Ive seen from Tank ever, he wasnt even this pissed when his leg was broken by my douchebag FTA.
"Not until I have that slut screaming my name, the fucking whore. Ill show her exactly what type of man I am. I wanna hear the bitch beg."
I mustve blinked because the next thing I knew Evan was pinned against the car by Ranger, a wicked looking knife pressed in his neck and a gleam in Rangers eye that just begged Evan to say another word. Ranger never loses his cool, much less threatens one of his men. This has trouble not just written, but carved through-out it. Fuck.
"Let him go Boss, he aint worth the blood on your blade." By this time I heard the elevator ding open and watched as a very cramped looking Hal, Vince,Cal, Hector and Lester came spilling out. Practically running to get to Ranger, Tank and I. Funny how my first thought was, "That had to of exceeded the weight limit." Blame it on my easily distracted mind, but hell if you wouldve seen them all fall out, you wouldve thought the same thing also.
"Ranger." A collective call of his name from his men, did nothing to deter him.
"Ranger." I barely breathed the word, Im not even certain that I said it allowed, but Ranger caught it. By some chance it couldve been his damn ESP but I had the feeling he heard me. He didnt move, he didnt breathe, he just kept staring at him, and my God Evan held his stare. Im not certain it was stupidity or the willingness and acceptance that he was going to die, yet Evan never backed down.
"If you ever in your life, breathe her name, if it passes your lips in conversation even slightly I will without a doubt slice you open from ear to end. Do you understand me?" I held my breath as Evan nodded slightly. Ranger threw him into Tank and grabbed me and crushed me to his chest. "Babe." That one word said everything that hadnt been said before. It screamed loved and fear, I did nothing but nod and cry.
"Who the hell was that asshole?"
"Not one of mine, assigned here by a higher up. I dont like him, hes a fucking degenerate." Leave it to Ranger to insult the guy with a four-syllable word, I had to smile.
Lester cleared his throat a few times trying to catch out attention.
"Santos?"
"I kinda figured she wouldnt want to eat this garbage anymore, wanted to know if she wanted anything else. Im heading out to pick up an FTA thats passed out at Shortys."
A whole lotta The Cure I thought, right about now all I wanted was to get fall down, silly, drunk. Ranger did his ESP thing again, damn ESP and shook his head no at me. "You need a clear head these next few days Babe, no can do."
"Fiddlesticks." I got an eyebrow raise from Batman, and a full on bark of laughter from Lester. If they werent both so sexy and well if I still werent unarmed Id of shot them. "Im trying to cut back on my cursing thank you."
"Babe."
"Steph, we heard you in the COM room upstairs, if thats cutting back then my oh my what a mouth you have." I started seeing black dots as the sickly sweet voice from last night repeated itself in my head "Oh my, Oh my, what have I done. I lost my cookies, and slid to the ground, wanting to know where my legs had gone. My last concscience thought was "Rangers' gonna be pissed, I upchuckd on his windbreaker."
I floated in a limbo for what felt like ages, and last nights events came crashing back, being naked, and that damn hand running up and down my back, the suffocating feeling of failure and hopelessness. Fighting for conscienceness and clarity. Ranger. Funny how when I thought I would die, the man that I regretted not seeing and saying I love you too was Ranger and not Joe. Ranger.
"Babe?"
Ranger.
"Babe??"
"UGNN" my mouth tasted like copper, that couldnt be good. "Ranger?"
"Alright Ranger, lets sit her up so I can take care of that gash." Bobby. I smiled, seems like he was always taking care me. All of my cuts and bruises, hes a good man.
"Thanks Bobby." Again.
"No problemo Poppet, just dont do this again, smelling salts dont come cheap ya know." Poppet! Bobby has been calling me Poppet since he had "Bombshell Duty" a few weeks back. We had ended up over at Mooners house, and had watched black and white flicks for 6 hours. Throughout the one, this curly haired, big blue eyed girl kept running around getting into trouble. Poppet was her name, and apparently my new nickname. It works, its sweet, and I like it a helluva lot more than "Bomber."
Ranger cleared his throat, he didnt look very pleased with the intimate nickname.
"You ok Babe?"
"Yeah, Im sorry I puked on your jacket." Sorry, Im an idiot and cant hold my own, sorry I cant tell you I love you, Sorry I still look a wreck. I was just sorry today.
"Ill buy another, want to tell me why you fainted?"
"Ill tell everyone at the meeting, how long do we have?" I needed a shower, I needed a nap, I needed my two favorite men; Ben and Jerry.
"ETA is 20 minutes on Les, so half an hour."
WHAT? "EEEP, thats no time to get my hair washed and styled, are you kidding me? Let me stand, I need to go to your place and get a shower in! Jesus Ranger, do you know nothing about women?" Im going to strangle this man, hes laughing at me. LAUGHING at a pissed half-naked woman. This man has guts. I was already half running, half limping to the elevator, my ass and left leg were numb and I had to drag my leg behind me. Bobby chuckled caught up with me and picked me up to help me get there faster. I believe I love this man, or he just feared Id show up to the meeting with scary hair and cause all of the men to faint. Thats a case of salts atleast.
Brown, DOWN" Ranger growled the words. That cant be good, then again a half naked me with any man cant be good in Rangers book. Hehehe, Brown down, it rhymes.
He set me down with a wink and a smile. "Aye Aye Captain." He walked into the staircase, gigling like a schoolgirl. Thanks Bobby for leaving me with a pissy Ranger, although he hasnt scrambled the cameras yet, so he wont try to kill me. Right?
"Babe, You going to call the elevator?" Shit, he was coming up with me. I swallowed hard and concentrated on breathing. The elevator doors opened, and Ranger walked in. "You getting on?" Yep, just as soon as my legs started to work again. He pulled me inside and straight into his chest, molding me to him. "Babe." He whispered into my hair. I choked on the feelings creeping up my throat from my heart, it hurts to be loved and to love, no one ever tells you that. He was hurting, and I knew it was all my fault.
"Ranger? Can I ask you something?" Love me forever, marry me, kiss me, dont ever let me go?
"Anything, I cant promise I can answer though." The doors opened at seven and we inched our way out, not wanting to move and break the contact that we shared. Once we were safely inside, I turned slightly to face him. I couldnt say any of it. I froze.
"Stay with me while I shower, I need your company." PLEASE!!! The need I feel for you is so immense it scares me, Dont leave me. The emotions ran across my face as they ran across my mind, he read everyone of them. His eyes darkened and he pulled me tighter to him.
"Always." It was a promise, it was a commitment, its what we both needed. He kissed me lightly, gently, and smiled. "Babe, you need a breathe mint." Jerk. I smiled. He pushed me towards the bathroom telling me I had twenty seven minutes to get ready. I screamed and ran. A girl has to have priorities in life. Mascara and cute hair are some of mine. Half an hour later I emerged, scrubbed, polished, and clean. My hair was cute, wet and curly and my mascara was perfect. Four power coats, and a smudge of eye liner for pop, I was ready for anything.."Ready?"
"As Ill ever be, lets get this over with." I felt better than I thought I could, I was sapping all of Rangers energy and faith from him, but it felt good to be supported.
"Evan will be there." Shit. Ewww. Gag!
"Give me a minute." I ran back to Rangers closet and exchanged my sweater, slacks and heels for my SWAT gear. My black steel toed CATS, cargos, and tee. I suddenly felt like being in ass-kicking gear, Evan has no idea whats coming to him if he screws with me again.
Ranger smiled his 1000 watt, that takes my breath away smile. "Babe."
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THANKS ALL FOR THE REVIEWS. I wanted to showcase Evan in this chapter because like it or not he plays a key point. I dont like it, lol, but hes needed. The meeting is the next chapter, which will be up within the next few days. Thanks again, and if anyone can help me figure out why my punct doesnt transfer, itd be greatly appreciated.-Eva Marie.