Chapter 9

Ranger -

I'd spent four days training a new crew of Rangers. They were so young and made me, at 31, feel old. Not in training and physical skills (because I could still out run, out shoot, and out fight all of them), but in maturity and experience. My recommendation was going to be that these guys got some more simulated missions where they had to strategize and make decisions, because they weren't quite there yet.

On my last night there, I went to an off-base bar with some of the guys. I shook my head internally while I watched the guys' "game." That was me 10 years ago - I was a player. And then the job and a certain woman changed my perspective.

I had a few drinks and shot the shit for a few hours with the new guys and with some people I knew from my military days. Eventually, I excused myself and headed back to the base, leaving the guys to their efforts.

When I got back to my room, I sent Steph a text that I'd be back tomorrow afternoon.

I was surprised when I got a fast response so late at night. Steph likes her sleep.

"Good to know, Batman. I've missed you."

"Missed you, too. Get your pic taken lately?"

"Ha! Not that I know of!"

Before I could type a response, my phone beeped with another text. A picture this time. Of her, laying in bed. She had on a tshirt and the covers up high, so it wasn't an overtly sexy pic, but it did it for me. More than a bar full of young, hot women looking to score.

"My shirt?"

"Duh."

"Babe. One day I'm going to run out of shirts."

"That'd be a shame. Pic?"

I felt like a 12-year old girl, but what the hell. I went to the mirror and snapped a shot and sent it.

"I pictured you running around in uniform all week."

"Went to bar with guys we were training."

"Ranger training comes with hook up assistance?"

"Funny, Babe. Although they could have used it."

And then, just to be sure she understood, I sent another, "They are on their own for that shit. I came home."

"You don't report to me, Ranger."

"I know." And then, "But I can. Can tell you my first thought tonight was I'd rather text/talk to you than stay in bar full of motivated woman."

"Motivated to get in your pants!"

"Got a few offers. Pass."

"So, what? You came home early to sext with me?"

"Is that a real thing? Sext?"

"Lol - yeah, it's a thing. Doubt it's very effective."

"Googled it. Rather do that in person."

"Yeah, me too. See you tomorrow, Ranger."

"Night, Babe."

I'd gotten home the next afternoon and through an hour or so of work when I got the message that Babe's car went offline. Fuck. This hadn't happened since she started working for me, so I froze momentarily. And then training kicked in.

I sped to her last know location and screeched to a halt about 100 yards from the flames. My path was blocked by emergency vehicles, so I ran through the mess, looking around for Tank and Steph. My heart was racing.

After 5 minutes of (internally frantic but outwardly calm) searching, I saw them. They stood by an ambulance, with a medic looking at Tank's arm. I jogged to them, taking inventory as I got closer. They looked mostly okay, a little sooty.

I slowed down, put my hand on Tank's shoulder and asked him if he was okay, keeping one eye on Steph. At his affirmative reply, I focused all my attention on her and took the couple steps so I stood right in front of her. Once I determined she was okay, which I'm sure Tank and the medic already did, I let out a quiet breath and rested my forehead on hers. "Babe."

"I'm fine, Ranger. We were leaving the meeting when their boiler exploded. We just got shook a little."

"Your car went offline."

She rolled her eyes. "We haven't seen the parking lot yet. Didn't make it that far. I thought things were done exploding around me!"

Leaning down towards her ear, I whispered, "I feel like I'm going to explode around you all the time."

She dropped her face into my neck and made some kind of groaning sound.

Despite the chaos around us, I felt good.