I don't own them, I don't make any money off of this and I only write for my (and hopefully your) entertainment. I promise to return the characters to the author unscathed. No copyright infringement intended.

Thank you, Kat, for betaing for me. You did an awesome job!

Birthday Surprises

by Katrin

Chapter 11

First thing on our list to do was to get an orientation on where we were exactly so that we could get started on mapping out the area. Sure they'd provided us with a map but we'd need to draw a much more detailed one. But before we could start doing that we'd need to know where exactly we were. It wouldn't do to walk in the wrong direction and then wonder why we never found a thing.

Next thing to do was to find a place to spend the rest of the day. We'd need to sleep now, because once it was known that foreigners were looking around we wouldn't get much sleep.

Moxie got out the map and her compass, while I tried to find some landmarks that would give us a clue. Our pilot hadn't been exactly forthcoming with information about our drop zone.

I strained to hear something that might help us and after my hearing sharpened I could hear water rushing down over rocks and gurgling around fallen down trees. Sounded like as good a place as any to start.

"Let's head down to the river. Should give us an idea which direction to go,"

"Lead on."

We made our way through the thicket, following our ears to the flowing water. The soft ground of the forest beneath our boots helped us conceal our steps and only a soft rustle of the legs of our pants rubbing was audible.

We had to walk about a mile east until we reached the river. We stayed back in the shadows as we observed, careful to avoid notice by the natives.

"Damn."

"Ranger?"

"I'm pretty sure that that's the river 'Paraiso'. Means we need to go further east to get where they want us. We'll have to cross it. Gotta wait for nightfall for that one."

She nodded and we pulled back into deeper parts of the brush that would offer us cover until we could attempt to cross the river with none being the wiser.

"What are we gonna do to pass the time?" Moxie whispered.

"Memorize the map, eat, sleep. How good are you at drawing?"

"Huh?"

"Trying to get you to draw the map as we scout out the area."

"That bad in arts?"

"Yup. Teacher wrote my mom a letter she was so overwhelmed with my abilities."

"Looks like I'm gonna do the map. But what's for lunch, dinner, whatever?"

"Ever heard of that new twigs and bark diet? It's supposed to be very healthy."

"Don't tell me I was right all the time."

"I won't tell you then."

We walked around and found a little overhang that'd give us shade while we waited. We didn't have Cal with us so we'd have to make do with what we could find. As an additional plus there a small spring that seemed clean and smelled fresh. We'd found a good place to wait.

The trees were standing pretty close to where we'd settled down, but at the same time it allowed us to spot when somebody or something was coming near us. Add to that our green camouflage and we were hidden pretty well.

We set our packs down. The weight of them was something we'd get used to pretty quick. I was just thankful we'd be able to carry the chutes along. You just never knew when they might be useful. I only hoped that Moxie would be able to carry her stuff even for long periods of time. She was carrying a lot more than she had when we went to Africa with the team. Now we had the essentials divided between only the two of us, making for significant heavier packs.

"Take a drink, sit back and relax."

I took my own advice and knelt down next to the spring. The quiet babble was music to my ears after hours of the loud roar of first the chopper and then the plane. I cupped my hands together and bent down. The cool water wet my lips before its smoothness flowing down my throat soothed the scratchiness. The water tasted good, not at all salty and very light, very refreshing in the heat they'd dropped us in.

When I'd quenched my thirst and filled up what water I'd used during the flight I looked up, only to find Moxie kneeling opposite me, mirroring my movements. I hadn't even heard her move. I knew she was good, but she'd just proven she was even better than I thought.

I realized that I was unconsciously trying to lead, trying to give guidance she didn't need. I needed to accept that and treat her like an equal, just as competent as myself. I trusted her with my life, had been doing it for some time now, but that was a new situation for us. We were on new ground and needed to figure a lot of stuff out. They knew what they were doing when they sent us on training missions back in the army. We'd just have to figure it all out as we went along and hopefully by the time we got to the real action we would be firmly in our roles.

We sat back, the packs beside us so we could grab them and run should the need arise.

Now was as good a time as any to start getting a system into our rather inaccurate map.

"You've got the map handy?"

"Uh huh. Thought we'd divide it into squares with a length of a mile each."

"Okay. You draw the net into the map and I'll go and scout out the area. Maybe I can find us something to eat that's not twigs and barks. Maybe some roots."

Moxie grinned at me. "Go, I'll be fine. Don't worry so much."

How the hell did she know that I worried about her?

"You're getting easier to read."

Huh? I was easy to read? I've been told that I had the best blank face with no emotions detectable by many people.

"I know you. And then there's ESP."

"Moxie, I give. I'll be back in two hours tops."

"I'll be fine."

I nodded and left her, although hesitant. We both needed to get used to it, but I didn't want Moxie to be alone in a country she'd never been to, had no idea how to get where. At least she'd be able to communicate. I trusted her, really, I did, but I was afraid for her. She was Moxie, tough as nails and danger to anybody who crossed her, but she was still my Babe too. The woman I loved, who I met all these years ago when she still needed my help on a regular basis. And now I was supposed to rely on her, work with her in an environment and situation few women had ever encountered before her. It was a new situation for both of us.

I started to do my job, drawing ever growing circles around where I left Moxie, taking note of every little detail. I felt my senses sharpen, slowly noticing more and more.

The low rustle of some rodents on the ground, twigs breaking and leaves rustling in their wake. A lone bird sitting in a tree, singing. Insects and butterflies humming. I noticed every flower, every plant, always on the lookout for the enemy.

The picture that nature presented me with as a whole was incredibly beautiful and colorful, but I wasn't there to enjoy nature. Rather, I was looking for signs of civilization, anything that would alert me to be even more cautious.

I couldn't find any sign of natives living like fire places in the immediate area, but I was sure we'd encounter them at one time or other during our stint in Bolivia.

I plucked some berries and collected some edible flowers and then made my way back to Moxie. It was time to get a little rest.

I approached her cautiously, but stayed in the shadows so she wouldn't see me and tried to walk as quietly as possible. Moxie was leaning against the boulder, her legs crossed underneath her.

What appeared to be the map of the area was lying in her lap and she was studying it intently. She seemed to be intent on memorizing it, seemingly unaware of her surroundings.

Suddenly she looked up, her gun unwaveringly pointed directly at me. "Show yourself."

I held up my hands as I stepped out of the shadows, not sure how she'd react.

"It's only me."

When she saw me she nodded and put down her gun.

"I know."

"How?" I was genuinely puzzled.

"Already forgot that we sense each other when we're close?"

"Didn't think of that."

"Uh-huh. Now get over here so I can show you what I found."

I walked over to sit opposite her and she spread the map on the ground between us.

"We're around here," she pointed out the river we'd cross later, "and the area we're supposed to search lies here." This time she pointed out an area about twenty miles from where we were now. With a bit of luck we could start scouting out the critical area day after tomorrow.

"What did you find?"

"The whole area is nearly as plain as a table, but there are a few springs scattered in there."

"Uh huh."

"One of them seems to be larger than the others. And it's in a smaller wood with a large clearing around. Seems like a place we should take a closer look on."

"Good job. But just to be sure we'll have to reconnoiter the whole area."

"Huh?"

"Sorry, I've been reading Hal's reports again. We'll have to scout out the whole area."

"Now you're talking. What's the plan until we can cross the river?"

"Nap."

"Fine with me. You gonna take first watch?"

"Yep. You've got two hours until I'm gonna wake you up."

Moxie looked at me while twiddling around with her hands. "How am I gonna sleep?"

"Sitting up, leaning against me. Makes for easier and noiseless waking."

"10-4."

I scooted around to her so we were sitting side by side, the rock at our back offering us cover. I put my arm around Moxie's shoulder. Before long her breathing evened out and I knew she was sleeping the sleep of the innocent. Hopefully that would still be the case when we got back. I still wasn't sure how she'd cope with everything.

She'd had to kill people before, but it was either self-defense or in a way where she didn't know her victims. I had no idea how she'd react if she had to shoot somebody to protect herself, or even worse to protect me. And it was only the two of us here. We didn't have the whole of RangeMan behind us to bail us out of trouble. If we got into trouble we'd be on our own. Only us, our abilities, out weapons, our knowledge, our training.

Moxie was mumbling something in her sleep and it reminded me of the once so vulnerable Stephanie Plum, the woman I'd learned to love, adore and cherish.

But Moxie was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, The woman I could trust with my life, my heart, my history, everything. Although the history part still needed some work.

I was tempted to think about our future, our marriage that wouldn't take place like planned, what life would hold for us. I couldn't give into the urge as I might very well get distracted and if Tommy was right and we were indeed after Cardorez being distracted would mean our certain death.

My thoughts drifted to Cardorez and my first encounter with him and his men.

It was our first mission in the Rangers. The six of us, Tank, Lester, Bobby, Lil, me, and Ray, TK's younger brother.

It was one of the worst missions we ever had to do. Our job was to bust Cardorez and his cartel. It had taken us months to get a handle on their schedule, to plan the assassination, to infiltrate them. It had been so easy to get slowly all of us inside, but it was a ploy. Somehow the information had leaked and they knew who we were. They were expecting us.

Before we could even start killing them one after another we were thrown into jail cells, starvation their ultimate goal. They beat us for their amusement, raped us, had their fun with us. It was hell and just remembering it was incredibly painful.

We got brackish, green water once a day, but nothing or little to eat. At the beginning we'd had individual cells, but after about a week we were thrown into one cell. Between beatings they chained us up and held us at gunpoint but after some time they didn't need to anymore. We were too weak to try anything anyway. Starting that day we huddled together, taking comfort in each other's presence and the sound of the others' breathing. We didn't talk much, it cost too much energy we didn't have, but staying close together kept us alive, helped us keep up the hope that we'd escape. That we'd live.

It all was meant to weaken us, to curb us. For what we didn't know. But it hurt so much to see my comrades, my mates and friends get beaten and raped. We all were a battered mass of bruises and lacerations, broken bones scattered throughout our bodies. Every movement hurt like hell. Even breathing.

Luckily for us we were to check in once a week, so after we'd missed three check ins they sent a team in after us. When they arrived almost two weeks later we all were in really bad shape. We were running fevers, infections having settled in. Ray was the worst. He was unconscious most of the time, his severe concussion didn't help any. Bobby was doing his best, but without his kit he didn't stand a chance.

Ray didn't make it home again. He died on his first assignment.

We had to watch him die. All our hopes died that day.

When they finally got us out they had to carry us. We were too weak to walk, having lost most of our weight. Our bodies had eaten up all of our reserves to keep our hearts beating, to keep our lungs drawing in a fresh breath every few seconds.

Seeing them load Ray onto a makeshift gurney was the worst moment in my career I ever had to live through. The finality of that action sent tremors running through my body, made goosebumps erupt on my skin. It was one of the few moments I wasn't delirious with pain and fever.

It was a moment I'd never be able to forget.

Unfortunately, the team getting us out concentrated on exactly that, getting us out, but they didn't complete our mission for us, so Cardorez was still living. They'd only shot who they absolutely needed to get us out. By that time Cardorez had long since crawled away into a hole and got away unscathed.

When we finally made it back to the US we were brought to a military hospital immediately and were placed in ICU. The personnel encountered one big problem though. If separated we'd wake up shaking and screaming from nightmares. They had no choice but to improvise so we could all keep in constant contact with each other.

We all got high dosed antibiotics via IV and drugs against all kinds of STDs as a precaution. Over time we got better, but we still couldn't stand it to be alone. Bobby was the worst. Having to watch a brother die, but being absolutely powerless to help him despite having the necessary skills distressed him to no end. His nightmares were so bad that he didn't want to sleep at all to escape them. In the end they had to sedate him so his body could heal.

Physically we all healed. Mentally was a whole different matter though. Months of counseling finally helped us to accept what happened, helped us deal and live with it.

Waiting for the HIV-testing was a trying time for us all. Not knowing if our captors had infected us was nerve wracking. Thankfully the tests for HIV as well as for various other infectious diseases came back negative for all of us. Probably because all of our shots were up to date and we got incredibly lucky. I didn't know how we'd have reacted if we'd gotten infected, how and if we'd been able to cope. We'd probably have gone insane, lost our minds sooner rather than later.

I was in my zone now, trying to force away the sadness that threatened to overwhelm me. I still hadn't forgiven myself for it. It was my fault we'd gotten caught in the first place. I'd led the team, but I'd failed. I'd failed a brother and a friend. My boldness, my sauciness had gotten him killed.

That was something I'd never be able to forgive myself for. It was my fault Ray had died so young and without reason. TK had long ago forgiven, maybe never even really blamed me. He'd talked things through with me and it had helped. But it was a burden I'd have to carry with me until the day I died.

"What's got you so tense?" Moxie's voice startled me out of my reverie.

"Huh?"

"You're all tense. I could feel your muscles strain under my cheek."

"I'm sorry," I admitted sheepishly.

"Don't be. It was time for me to wake up anyway. Wanna talk about it?"

"Not now." Talking about it at that point might only scare her. If you're scared you're frozen up. Not something we needed at the moment.

"Okay. Why don't you take your nap now?"

"Right."

Moxie sat up and I leaned against her, but she moved around until my head was resting in her lap.

"Sleep. I'll watch over you."

She ran her fingers through my hair, massaging the sensitive skin of my head and neck. I fell asleep to her gentle ministrations on my scalp.

When I woke some time later it was to Moxie's nudges to my back. I was instantly awake.

"There's movement ahead," she whispered barely audible.

"Where?"

"03:00." That was a technique all soldiers used. It was founded on the person being the center of the clock and the direction straight ahead was 12:00. The time gave the direction. It was especially useful when you didn't know where north was, but you had to be careful that you were both looking in the same direction. Beside that it was a great way to orient yourselves.

"Stay put."

As quietly as possible I got up to find out what she's heard.

I strained my hearing, trying to catch the noise my partner had heard. I wasn't sure how well Moxie could distinguish what exactly she was hearing, but over the course of our mission she'd perfect this skill one way or other.

I went ahead when I caught a soft whisking sound. That confirmed my suspicions. She'd heard a bird. A harmless thing, but if you couldn't place the sound it was always a reason to worry. And better safe than sorry.

I made my way back to Moxie who awaited me with her gun pointing at me. Her tense body relaxed slightly when she recognized me, but she didn't let her guard down entirely.

"You heard a bird."

She nodded, the relief taking over her features.

The sun had already started to set and the sky was turning a beautiful shade of pink with orange and purple stripes thrown in. The shadows had started to get longer for some time now and it wouldn't be much longer until it'd be dark enough for us to continue our trip.

We ate what nature offered us, though I figured I'd hold back on the crawly things for another few days so Moxie wouldn't have my balls before the mission even started.

Thanks for reading. Kat

Only one more exam this term. After that I should find the time to finally write more, promise.