Something's Burning: Chapter 4

Not mine. Not making any money. Just playing.

Warning for strong language.

…

Tank's POV

Interesting. NOT! Watching Morelli, pacing, raging and ranting, practically frothing at the mouth, the only thing missing is his caveman club. What a fucker! Huh. I smile inwardly. He is not a happy chappy seeing Stephanie in Ranger's arms and she's holding on tight and close, real close. Yeah, definitely NOT a happy chappy. She is frightened, terrified and trembling and I can hear Bossman whispering to her, gentling her in Spanish. Querida? Ooh, man, you got it bad. Can't blame him really, she's a keeper. But methinks him holding her so close is actually her holding him together, keeping him … grounded, calming the beast within. Yeah, must be one of those mutually beneficial situations.

However, during his entire rant fest, at no time did the cop stop to ask how she was, if she was okay, if she needed anything. Go figure. What a selfish, self-righteous bastard. Not only does she have all this crazy shit happening, what with a delusional nutcase creeping her out, she has to put up with this shit, this bullshit drivel. He's full of it. Talk about verbal diarrhoea! He's oblivious to the danger. Yeah, Morelli, real caring. Sounds like you are more into you than my Little Girl. Yeah … sounds good, my Little Girl. You just lost your man card, Morelli, disrespecting my little Girl. Asshole.

So while Ranger has his eye on the prize, and his hands as well, Les and I are both on red alert with threats from two fronts, the crazy freak coming from Stephanie's apartment and the angry cop before me totally in a green-eyed, red-faced zone. Back-up is on its way and should have the place swarming in less than five.

While Ranger is with his damsel in distress doing the heroic Batman thing, I eyeballed Lester, indicating the raging and ranting Italian cop pacing up and down the parking lot, gesticulating wildly. Lester raised an eyebrow at the sideshow while keeping a close watch on the nutcase calling taunts to Steph. Sounds like a real screwball with that high voice, probably got a small pencil dick and had his nuts squeezed one too many times! Oh Fuck! That's Ramirez the boxer! That is not good. How does she attract these fuckwits? And here comes the cavalry!

Now my attention is on the cop. Huh. Didn't know his face could go that colour. He's really working up a head of steam. What's his problem? While scanning the whole scene the parking lot came alive with flashing TPD vehicles and Rangeman black SUVs as our men took up their positions, Les and I remaining on point.

This Morelli is a real piece of work. What a douche. What's he going on about, since they were six and eight? Choo choo? What the fuck? Choo choo? What the fuck is that? And the Tasty Pastry floor? I missed something there. Mine? Yeah, Morelli, in your dreams. Writing on the wall? Oh shit! His arms are flapping and still he rambles on. Oh fuck! He popped her cherry! You are going down, fuck face! He's been disrespecting my Little Girl. Ranger ain't gonna like that.

Lester's POV

While Tank is watching the cop, my target is working his way down, still in silhouette with the light behind him. Quite nimble for a big guy … muscular, athletic and agile but definitely not military. He has a really weird girly voice for a big guy and his taunts are really hitting hard at Beautiful. Yeah, Beautiful, it fits, Beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. She is not afraid of us, in fact, she's a tough little cookie, a lot of spirit and determination and respects us without judgment unlike a lot of the folks round here.

Tank lifts his chin at me and we both have documented what a douchebag the cop is with his pacing and ranting. Yeah, real caring Morelli. Glad Beautiful is safely in my cousin's arms. She looks terrified as the nutcase keeps taunting Beautiful in that sicko voice of his. What's with that?

Ah fuck! Should have guessed. Fuckin' Ramirez! Fuck! How does this beautiful woman attract crazy? Ranger's doing a mighty job calming Beautiful, lucky bastard. Wish they were my arms around her. Sure glad I called for back-up early and here they are. I signal to the cops to where Ramirez is almost at ground level. We can't really intervene while we have no actual authority but the guidelines will instantly change if he makes Stephanie his direct target.

The Rangeman team is in place, silent, honed and sleek. Zip, Zero and Hector between the cop and Ranger. No need to guess what Hector is thinking as he eyeballs Morelli intently while the rest of us maintain our blank visages. Probably mentally sharpening his knives and visualising some slicing. His body language exudes poise but I know his face will instil fear with those fierce eyes. Cal and Hal have slunk stealthily into the shadows between Ramirez and where I am on point.

Bobby's POV

Like a synchronised, efficient team our Rangemen take up their positions as the parking lot is ablaze with flashing lights, TPD cops and paramedics. Lester's call for back-up indicated a code black with Bomber in danger. She's something else, a survivor, resilient and a real fighter in both her spirit and her compassion for others. Tank and Lester have taken up point position; Ranger is with Stephanie who appears to be terrified given her trembling and Ranger's protective posture; there's something big on the fire escape and … Aw fuck! What's that fucker Morelli doing in the mix? You've got to be kidding. Sanctimonious shit is denigrating Bomber, insinuating not so delicately that she's a whore, with all of us. That's a bit rich Morelli with your rep. What a hypocrite. Ha! Ranger's impassive and direct face off to Morelli, yeah man, I know that look. You are really getting a buzz that Morelli's pissed because you have Bomber wrapped up, safely in your arms. At least he is taking care and gentling her. She's traumatised. Since we arrived, that fucker Morelli hasn't even asked if Bomber is hurt.

From the roof on the building opposite, Ram identifies Ramirez ... fuck! He's the threat, the crazy stalker on the fire escape. Hector is glaring maliciously at Morelli as if daring him to make a move. Then all hell breaks loose as Morelli freezes momentarily after Ramirez hits the ground swiftly taking out three cops with deadly moves belying a big man. He's a boxer, a sicko and he is notorious for "playing" with the girls until he's bored and they seem to disappear. He's been on our radar for some time but, until now, he's not been on our Shit List. Morelli, who has been over-sharing with his none too friendly remarks, suddenly morphs back into cop mode with the call, "Officer down! Officer down!" Cal and Hal have Ramirez promptly bound and cuffed as I race over to check the vitals of the TPD officers Ramirez clocked.

The lobby bursts into life as the paramedics come out with a pair of gurneys. Stephanie snaps out of her state of fear and races over checking the little dude frantically. Randy? Aw shit. There he goes again dissing our girl. Morelli you fucker! Bomber whirls around and we're all enraptured as she lays into him. Ooh yeah. There's that fiery spirit we all love as she hands him his ass, defending our reputation.

"You are out of his league. I know who I want."

Wow! Wait till the bitter bitches and gossips get a load of that. She has categorically and publicly disowned him whilst definitively implying who she wants and with a huge audience including the entire Rangeman team, the TPD cops, paramedics and the residents as they emerge to this scene of bright lights and action. I hope none of these oldies is epileptic with all the flashing and blazing lights.

Ranger is with her all the way, poised to strike but she signals him to stand down! She's not done with that piece of sanctimonious shit yet. What a sight. Lester is grinning broadly and Tank is actually smiling and I can't help but join them as she declares her loyalty and love. Bombs away!

Bossman looks at me as we both recognise the symptoms. She's about to crash as Morelli's POS car storms out of the parking lot followed shortly by many of the TPD, departing more sedately. Show's over boys. Her final parting sortie had her stepping backwards into Ranger's embrace as her adrenaline had reached its peak and her legs were about to give out.

She is fading fast. Ranger, although looking concerned, leaned down and whispered with pride, beaming, "Proud of you, Babe."

Tank, Lester and I made our way over and acknowledged our pride in her with a pat and a squeeze of the shoulder, a ruffle of her beautiful unruly curls and a kiss on the cheek with a clicking smiling wink from Les.

"Proud of you, Little Girl."

"Way to go, Bomber."

"Remind me to never cross you, Beautiful. You rocked it. That was totally hot!" Lester grinned.

He got that right. That was totally hot. Manoso is a lucky man.

As Ranger scooped her up, Eddie came over to check on her. At least someone in the TPD has the consideration to ask how she is and is concerned for her safety. He explains the damage to her apartment and gives her a brief run down on the two casualties.

Her collapse is complete. Tank and I swap cars. He drives off with Stephanie cradled in Ranger's arms in the back seat as I drive off in the Mercedes wondering where he will take her.

I heard her mutterings of , "Warm and safe." I wonder…?

AN: I have to confess that I did not want to get inside Morelli's head. We all know the stories and frankly having him describe them from his POV would be very distasteful.

So … warm and safe ….