Thanks for the great support on this story. I'm backed up on replying to reviews, but I do read them. Someone mentioned that JE either did a lot of research or got lucky when she chose Ranger's name. I'm guessing it would be more the research proposal rather than luck, but it could be either,lol.
For a long time now, the idea to write an original work of fiction has been circling my head. When I was growing up I wrote a few short stories and I really enjoyed it, which is why I didn't think it twice when I came across fanfiction. Anyway, for the past several weeks I've been working on an original romance/mystery story/novel. The plot is all set in my mind and the first two chapters are written. I'm trying so hard to keep it completely different from anything I've written on FF, that it seems to have blocked me (if anyone would like to give the first chapter the once over and provide feedback, it would extremely appreciated. PM me). I've got three updates under works for several of my Plum stories, and although it's been slow, I think I'm finally working past the writer's block. So, with that said, thanks for your patience and support:D
Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE.
What the fuck? I thought as we all stared dumbfounded at the setup. Ranger didn't seem intimidated by the scene before us, because he was quick to be the first to give it a try. And like everything he does, Ranger moved confidently across the obstacles.
"Well, shit." Nick groaned when Ranger reached the other side. "When he does it it's easy."
Elisa leaned close to whisper in my ear. "I'm pregnant." My eyes widened when she confessed she'd yet to break the news to her husband. "What if I fall?" I nodded my acknowledgment.
"Who's next?" Menard asked, prompting me to give it a try. The first step was easy enough, but I missed the ball on my second step. So, I had to start all over again. "That's alright, Stephanie." Menard encouraged.
Determination set as I did it again.
"Move that ball." I heard Ranger instruct a few moments later, once I was well past halfway.
"This one?" I asked, nudging the ball I thought he was pointing to with my foot. When he said yes, I rolled the ball to the side and continued my path. As soon as I was near enough, Ranger extended his arm towards me. I took his hand and jumped a tiny gap in order to make it the rest of the way.
"Nice!" He praised, flashing me his patented half grin.
Something fluttered low in my belly, fueling my libido. I took a slow breath to calm myself before I spoke. I made it brief, replaying Elisa's news to him.
"Oh." His forehead furrowed in thought as I asked if he could carry her across. "Is that allowed?" It was his turn to tease my rule interpretation.
I forced myself not to roll my eyes, shrugging instead. "The person crossing can't touch the ground."
"Babe!" A bark of laughter escaped him before he kissed my cheek and crossed the court.
Everyone looked at him funny, but Ranger wasn't deterred. With ease, he scooped up Elisa and carried her across.
"Is that allowed?" Nick asked, but the good ol' Doctor didn't protest. That meant it was legit, right?
"Thank you." Elisa said to Ranger when he set her on her feet.
It was then that Ranger was told to re-cross. He didn't seem to mind and as he was in the middle of completing the task, a loud explosion sounded nearby.
"Oh shit!" Someone said, turning everyone's attention to the sky. A cloud of smoke was rising on the other side of the building. I've seen a lot of my cars burn and that cloud of smoke seemed to fit a scene I know a little too well.
"They're here!" Nick started babbling nonsense, but Ranger must have sensed something no one else did.
Ranger grabbed the Glock strapped to his left ankle before turning to me. I took it without questioning him and as he reached for the gun at the small of his back, we shared a look. I nodded, because I knew what he needed me to do.
I'm not a fan of guns, but I can manage. I once shot a man right in the heart through my messenger bag. "Everyone inside!" I ordered, rushing them back inside. No one questioned me and if they did, they didn't do so verbally.
"What the hell is going on?" Sebastian asked once we were back in the session's room.
"Yeah, what is going on?" I had one eye trained on the large window and the other on Groff. It's a skill I learned throughout my bounty hunting years.
"I…I uh…" Nick looked beyond freaked. "They are looking for me."
"They?" I asked at the same time that Elisa rolled her eyes.
"I don't know who they are." Nick shrugged, saying that he's never actually seen anyone lurking around. "It's more like a feeling." A feeling that was fueled by threatening emails he's received.
"You never said anything." His wife's annoyance was replaced by worry.
"I didn't want to scare you." Groff said apologetically to his wife.
"But why is someone after you?" Amy asked, voicing what we were all thinking.
"I, uh, cracked time travel."
We all stared at him in shock, mouths open and everything.
"Oh, for God's sake." Elisa growled at him, her annoyance renewed with a bit of anger thrown in there.
"Really?" I glared at Nick. "You cracked time travel?" To be honest, it sounded pretty farfetched to me. But what do I know? I barely passed any science class I ever took. Biology made me gag more often than not. Chemistry was too complicated and Physics too confusing. Like I said, what do I know?
"Well, in theory." Groff muttered.
"Why time travel?" I couldn't help but ask. Nick's a smart guy. The technology he's provided Rangeman with has really brought the company into the 21st Century and beyond.
Another shrug. "Don't we all have that one moment we wished we could change?"
Everyone contemplated that for a beat. Even before my bounty hunting years I had some pretty fucked up moments. I guess if I could go back in time to change certain things, I probably would. There's the time I thought I could fly and jumped off the roof. Or when I married my now ex-husband. And the time I dove into a dumpster… Jeez, there's so much there I probably wouldn't be able to decide even if I did have the option of going back in time.
"What do you want to change so badly?" Elisa growled, giving Nick the same pissed off look she's sported since we got here. "You know what?" She was pacing by this point, waving her hands in the air in frustration. "I'm done. This was our last chance to make it work." Tears finally rolled down her cheeks and from the looks of it, she'd been holding them in for way too long. "How can we start a family when you're always this paranoid shell?" The arm waving turned towards me. "You brought bodyguards to our retreat!" A few gasps interrupted her rant. "No offense." She said to me.
"None taken." I assured.
"What?" Nick's eyes widened as his genius brain finally caught on. "Are you…are we having a baby? I'm going to be a dad!"
"I don't know." The sag of her shoulders held an air of defeat. "I'm having a baby." She said simply, before dropping the real bomb on him. "I don't know if you're going to be a father."
"Elisa, baby…" Nick tried to wrap his arms around her, but Elisa slapped them away.
Menard intervened, whispering something or other to the Groffs. Appeased that he would take care of things, I redirected my full attention to the world outside. A shadow passed by the windows and I had the gun at the ready. I can't be too sure Nick's story is completely reality, but if I've learned something from bond enforcement is that if something can go wrong, it will go wrong.