Chapter 6

"He's on the premises," Tank spoke quietly.

"Um, well, yeah, Tank, I was kind of hoping to talk to you, you know, alone, and away from Haywood. Would you have a chance to meet me this afternoon?" I asked.

"I don't have any info to share on the subject. Let me appraise the situation and get back to you." With a click, he was gone.

I looked at Connie and rolled my eyes. These guys totally need to learn some phone manners! "I guess someone was in the room, and he'll call me back when he gets a chance," I explained.

I filled her in on the details I had gotten from Les about Deborah Fairbanks. She was as incensed as I had been to find out that the guys knew her. Somehow that really made it feel worse. "Something just seems hinky to me," I told her. "Although maybe it's only because I only want to think of Ranger being with me." I added, wistfully.

"Well, I don't know about Ms. Skankbanks, but I do know that something isn't right with Ranger, and hasn't been since he got back," Connie said slowly. "He comes in here, but it's like he doesn't even see us. He's never been one to shoot the breeze, but now it's just the bare minimum of communication to get his point across. And what's the deal with dragging her around? I don't know, Steph, but something's wrong with Batman."

I didn't know what to say. It hurt to think of Ranger with Deborah Fairbanks, but it hurt more to think that there was something wrong with him. I resolved right then to get to the bottom of this. Pride be damned, I needed to talk to Ranger.

Right then my phone rang, cutting off my musings. I answered, and wasn't surprised to find it was Tank on the other end. "Hey, Steph, he's gone. That was a close one. What do you say we meet over at Pino's? It's about time for lunch."

I told Tank that would be fine and he disconnected. I filled Connie in with my plans, and motored off for some pizza and information. Why did I feel so weird then?

Tank was already there when I pulled in the lot. I wasn't surprised to find him sitting in the corner booth with his back to the wall. He waved me over, and told me he had already ordered. Good. This man appreciates a Pino's pizza the way it should be. The waitress soon brought our two loaded pies and a pitcher of Coke. Did I mention that I love this man?

We ate in companionable silence, but eventually the silence felt heavy. "Ok, Tank, spill it," I said, as I furtively popped the button on my jeans.

"Well, Bomber, let me give you some background. I don't know how much Lester told you. Ranger and I have known Deb for seven or eight years. Bobby and Les met her a couple years later. She's a contract worker for the government, and serves as part of the debriefing team that we work with when we come back from a mission."

"Yep, I know that much. Lester said that she's a doctor?" I asked.

"A psychologist. She's one of two on the team. Some guys find it easier to talk to a woman. I know Ranger always went to Geoff Steadman instead. I'd use whichever one felt right at the time, as would most of us. But not Ranger, he'd only talk with Geoff. Always. Deb's also there for our families after we get home. Sometimes it's hard to go back to normal, you know?" He paused for a drink and another piece of pizza. Guess he needed a break.

"So anyway," he continued, "since she wasn't ever Ranger's doctor, it wasn't like it was unethical when she and Ranger got involved. It was frowned upon, but people just chose to look the other way. At the time, Ranger had been gone over a year. The mission was long, and he had had no communication with any of us from the day he left. When he came home he stayed away from Rangeman. He let me know he was back, but that was about it. When he resurfaced a month later, he and Deb were together." At this point, Tank reached over and put his hand over mine.

"They were together for a little over a year. She was always around, but she didn't live with him, if that matters to you. Also, as far as I know, Ranger never was in love with her. Not like he is with you." With these words, I felt a single tear make its way down my cheek.

"Yeah, Tank, he loves me tons," I started, but he interrupted me before I could go any farther,

"Stephanie. Listen to me. I don't know what's going on with Rangeman right now, but I do know this: He loves you like he's never loved another woman. He's changed since he's known you. You have to believe that. Ranger loves you. You love him. We all know it. Sometimes I think he tries to convince himself it isn't true, but we know. Believe me, this will work itself out. I just don't know how, but it will. You have to have faith." He gave my hand a little squeeze before he continued with his story.

"Ranger never talks about his missions, and this time was no different, but I knew something was wrong. He seemed different when he came back. Something was missing. At first I didn't notice, he was so busy with Deb and all, but he couldn't keep it from me for long. He wouldn't talk about it. Not that I expected him to. He's not exactly Chatty Cathy. So I called in some favors and asked about the mission. Nothing stood out. It hadn't been pretty, but then, they rarely are, so that was no help. He tried to keep up a good front, and he and Deb seemed good together. He just never seemed happy, he seemed haunted somehow. Of course, with Ranger it's hard to tell," he said with a little laugh.

He continued, "Then after a few months, he seemed to be returning to his old self. He also started spending less and less time with Deb. She didn't like it. I know she wanted more from him. Then one day, it was just over. Deb was gone. Ranger never told what happened and she wouldn't tell either. We still saw her after missions, but that was it. I never gave it another thought until the night of the party."

He took a deep breath, and then continued, "But this time, Steph, I'm worried. Ranger hasn't been himself since he got back. Something's missing. Something's broken. I don't think its Deb. I don't know what it is. And I don't know how to fix it."

"Me neither," I whispered as the tears began to fall.