What Does it Mean to Trust

by at8c

What does it mean to Trust? Will Stephanie understands what it means to trust when something happens that makes her question every man in her life including the merry men. NOT CUPCAKE FRIENDLY, NOT MORELLI or HELEN PLUM FRIENDLY.

31. Chapter 30: How Do You Trust Yourself

These characters belong to Janet I am just borrowing them for my amusement. Although I would love to keep Ranger and the merry men for myself!

This story does contain violence, and touches on dark subject matters. This story is not friendly to Morelli or Helen Plum so for Cupcake fans you have been warned.

I want to thank everyone who writes a review for my story. I enjoy reading them and I love ideas they give me so keep them coming! You do my soul good!

I have a website that I have created to give you all something to explore to dig deeper into the story "What does it mean to trust". See character bios including pictures of some of them, as well as playlists like girls night out playlist. Pictures of things that add depth to the story

www(dot)fanfictionstoryinfo(dot)webnode(dot)com

Chapter 30: How Do You Trust Yourself?

SPOV

I had just stepped out of the shower and was drying myself off when Carlos came in and kissed me on the back of my neck and shoulder. God I love when he stands behind me and kisses my shoulder it almost makes my knees weak.

"Babe" that was his way of saying good morning and I could hear the love he had for me in just the one word.

"Carlos" I say playing his game pouring as much love into that one word as I could and smiling at him. I pulled the towel that was wrapped around my hair off and started to dry it a little before running my gel thru it that Mr. Alexander had given me. Okay I purchased it but still we have been over this before right? I purchased it at his recommendation.

I wondered what Lester would have in store for me today and I wondered how I should dress. "Carlos how do you think I should dress today? Do you think I should go Cargos and Rangeman uniform with my boots or do you think I should go more Yoga pants with workout top and tennis shoes?" I asked him as he was stepping into the shower.

Watching him walking away from me and stepping into the shower I could only think one thing God I hated to see him go, but I love to watch him leave. People said Joe had the best ass in Trenton that is only because they hadn't gotten to lay their eyes on Carlos'.

Carlos had the best everything. The best ass, the best … well that I will keep to myself, the best looks, the best cars, the best that money could buy when it came to material things, the best sheets, the best chief in Ella, the list could go on I could get lost making the list of everything Carlos had that was best.

I am not certain how I got so lucky to have a man as wonderful as Carlos to love me. I only hoped today that I could prove to myself that I am worthy of such a man, such love and such devotion that he has for me.

I was going to succeed or die trying. I was pulled out of my little own world by arms snaking around me damn he takes fast showers. Then again he is batman it isn't like any dirt, or filth, or stink would have the nerve to touch him. Fuck even his clothes were too afraid to wrinkle on him. I don't know how he did it only that I have never seen that man in wrinkled clothing, dirty clothing, or dirt on him in all the fucked up situations I found myself with and without him none of it every dared to touch him.

I once again was pulled out of my internal dialogue by soft lips on my shoulder and neck and I just wanted to crawl back into bed with him. I know I moaned I couldn't help it and I heard him growl behind me.

"Playing with fire Babe" he told me chuckling as he made his way into the dressing room. I could only think burn me like only you can. Burn me and burn me good. But I knew we didn't have time. We would be heading to the compound soon and I was beyond hungry. My stomach had been growling for the past ten minutes.

I hurriedly dried my hair and pulled it up into a ponytail. I skipped the makeup I know don't panic or think I am sick but I knew what Lester had planned would be challenging and I didn't want to sweat my makeup off and have it all run down my face making me look like something from the bride of chucky so I opted for an al natural day. Only putting on my moisturizer and a little bit of lip gloss that more than likely would be gone by my first cup of coffee even though they promise all day wear in my experience they don't make it past the cup of coffee.

I am sure if I had Carlos' way about me it would be afraid to wear off and would stay on and in place all day but alas I don't have any of those traits in me so it will wear off quickly. Oh well I sigh and throw the evil tube of traitorous lip gloss down in the drawer. Didn't it understand girl code? But then again if Carlos rubbed me on his lips would I want to wear off? Fuck no, so I couldn't get too mad.

I made my way into the closet just in time to see Carlos' delicious ass he pulled his cargos up over his hips damn commando when wasn't that going to not make me hot? I thought only I realized I had said it out loud when Carlos' answered "Babe I hope there is never a time when I don't make you hot."

Fuck, I swear I am broken when it comes to my thoughts and his body I can't keep them to myself. Oh well. He hadn't answered me about what he thought I should wear. "Carlos what do you think I should wear?" I asked him again.

He looked at me and smiled "I think what you have on right now is pretty good Babe." I gave him an eye roll. I mean I am standing here butt fucking naked. Of course he would like this. Sometimes I can be evil and just then the devil sitting on my shoulder prodded me.

"Okay Carlos have it your way but you can't kill your men for looking when you are the one that told me to wear what I am wearing." It was all I could do to keep myself from laughing and make myself sound as serious as possible. Although I should have known better than to pull that tiger's tail I mean I can't help but pull it but I never can take the heat it brings and I always end up leaving the kitchen. After all Carlos always wins when it comes to sexual innuendos.

He crossed the closet it two steps grabbing me in his strong arms pulling me to his bare chest. He growled a little and then said "Mine, only mine I don't share." I had to laugh. Nodding my head holding him to me I set his mind at ease.

"Yes Carlos I am always yours and only yours forever." I told him. Smiling at him I wasn't going to allow myself to think negatively today I was going into this test with the belief that I would pass it any other option well wasn't an option. This is it I am sitting on the ten yard line in the final quarter with ten seconds to go. It was make a touchdown and win or go home alone and I'll be fuck if I am going home alone.

He put me down giving me a quick kiss and tapped my ass telling me. "Babe I think Cargos and t-shirt you don't have to dress in Rangeman uniform but knowing Lester I would pick something that will blend don't go red, blue, yellow, or white those colors stand out." He told me.

Good advice Batman I thought made perfect sense it also gave me an idea to pack a bag with extra clothing depending on what we were doing I could change. So I got dressed in black Cargos and a black t-shirt. But I packed a dark green t-shirt a pair of camouflage cargos as well as a camouflage top that would help me blend into woods. I packed another pair of black yoga pants. I also packed a black hat and a camouflage hat. I threw in my tennis shoes and put on my boots.

Carlos had gotten me a pair of boots that were super comfortable, super light weight, yet strong enough to stand up to whatever Lester would throw at me today. They allowed me to move comfortably and quickly with the support I would need especially if we were in the woods. I had no idea what he planned so I was going to be prepared for everything I knew about at the compound.

I put my hogs tooth necklace on along with the dog tags Carlos had given me. Having them would give me extra strength I needed to get thru this test. It would help me hone in on my inner Ranger. Another reason for dressing in black and packing my camouflage gear. I went ahead and added my gun belt with my guns not knowing and wanting to be prepared I had learned how to shoot these pretty accurately I didn't want to have to take a chance at learning another weapon. If one of the tests was on marksmanship I would be prepared.

I tried to think of everything but I am certain I won't be prepared for everything. I briefly walked over to Ranger's side of the closet looking at his things that he keeps there. I noticed he had paint for his face to make his face blend in and I added it to my packed bag. I noticed he had a few knives so I selected one that felt good in my hand not that I would really know what to do with it but better to be over prepared than under so I added it to my bag along with a tie that I could tie it to my leg if it was needed. I grabbed a few additional leather ties as well.

Looking over everything again I noticed a compass, and a GPS device. I turned it on letting it boot up and displayed where I was and a map of the area around me. That may come in handy so I turned it off and packed it in my bag. I knew he wouldn't mind me using these things but I was going to ask him before I actually carried them out of the apartment just in case.

There in the corner of his closet I found a scope. It wasn't attached to a gun but looking thru it I could see it had good magnification and even had some digital read outs as to distances something told me this would come in handy so I packed it in my bag. The last thing I packed was my digital camera it may come in handy. It was just a small point and shoot digital camera but depending on what happened today I may be able to use it and if not I would be able to get some pictures of my brothers and Carlos.

Carlos stepped back into the closet checking on me "Babe you okay?" he asked I had been in here awhile packing my bag and checking things out to see what I thought would help me.

"Yeah Carlos if you don't mind I looked over some of your things you have laying out and packed a few things that I thought might help me today." He smiled. I felt like I needed to add "if that isn't okay then I can put them back." He just put his fingers over my lips. "Babe what's mine is yours help yourself if you think it will help you then it probably will trust your spidey sense today it will never fail you." He told me. I just smiled.

He had always trusted my spidey sense even when I didn't and come to think about it, I don' think it has ever failed me. Maybe I failed to understand it or felt it a tad too late but it had always been there. I hugged him he always knew the right thing to say to me.

I told him about grabbing the compass and the GPS device and he took a few minutes to show me how to work it so I could get the best out of it. He also showed me once again about the compass and how to effectively use it along with the GPS.

Before we left he placed a panic button in pants. Telling me "Babe it's a panic button there is no GPS setup on this unless you activate the panic button. Once the panic button is activated your location will be sent to all of us along with a signal we will be able to track on the phone. So depending on the test be sure not to accidentally engage the button but if something happens and you need help you will be able to get help to you quickly. I don't know what Lester has planned but I want to know that you have a way to reach us if something unforeseen should happen." Of course Batman would have thought of this.

After all if Carlos was anything he was always prepared for anything and everything. He just shook his head saying "Babe". I took that to mean he was the forever boy scout forever the Ranger but more than likely it just meant since I met you I have learned to be prepared for anything and everything. I don't know but I am going with the first explanation.

A knock at our door brought me out of my thoughts as I picked my bag up and headed into the other room with Carlos. Carlos clicked his fob and I heard the door unbolt. The door then opened and in walked Ella, Lester, Tank and Bobby all carrying trays which I hoped contained food as my stomach was well past hungry at this point. Had my stomach been hikers in the desert well they would have hiked well past the point where Jesus lost his sandals.

Smelling the delicious smells as they walked past me smiling caused my stomach to growl so loud Lester jumped. I am sure he wasn't sure if it was ready to attack or not. The guys wouldn't put anything past my stomach capabilities. They also knew enough to know not to get between me and food or they may come back without a limb. I blame it all on the stomach it had its own mind.

I follow them like a lost puppy to the dining room.

EllasPOV

That sweet child has been thru so much. She doesn't understand how her presence here has affected these men. I have been their caregiver here well since the beginning and I remember how these guys were prior to her. I remember how regimented they were how almost robot they were in their actions and interactions with each other. All work all the time.

This place ran like a well oiled machine. It still runs smoothly but she has changed this place. She has brought color into a world that was only black, white, and gray. She has put smiles on some of the guys faces that I had never seen smile in all the years I had been here.

She had made some of the guys laugh and made them appear happy when I know prior to her they weren't like that. Lester being the biggest example he was never as happy, go lucky, jokester until she came into the life of Rangeman.

Ranger well Ranger was a machine. He ate, he worked, he worked out, and he slept that was his life. I worried about him because he had no life nothing special in his life other than this business. Yes he was rich but money doesn't buy you the things that Stephanie brought to his life. Now that he had decided to bring her into his life he was happy, he was different and that made my heart smile for him.

The things this poor girl has been thru to be a part of this place most women would have cracked most women would have given up but not her. She has been ridiculed for her choice of friends, she has been accused of horrid things with the men. She had turned her back on her family who refused to accept her choices and she had to deal with an asshole x-boyfriend that wouldn't take no for an answer. I swear I would like to get my hands on him.

Didn't his mother teach him better I mean coming from the burg one would have thought he would have been taught better. But he was a Morelli and from what I have heard Morelli men had a reputation of abusers, boozers, and womanizers so why would that asshole be any different.

I know you are surprised I know all of this but trust me while I work here and take care of the guys as if they were my sons I hear them talk, I see things, I hear things around town when I am running errands and I am smart enough to deduct the truths from all of what I hear.

I am so glad to have a daughter now to care for I have always wanted a daughter and had Luis and I had a daughter I would have wanted her to be exactly like Stephanie. She didn't know it but I loved caring for her and doing for her.

The thought of her leaving us was just unfathomable and if these boys of mine let that poor girl walk away from here without trying to stop her well I would purposely put extra fat and sugar in their meals for a month maybe longer. They may believe themselves to be bad asses but trust me I knew how to get to them and punish them. After all I do their laundry, I clean their apartments, and I fix their food.

If they messed with me I would hide their condoms, wash their blacks with bleach, starch their underware, and I wouldn't think twice about using real mayonnaise, real butter, real cheese, full cream, whole milk, and all the sugar I could. Let them have fun working all that off in the gym. So they better stop my daughter from leaving us if they know what is good for them or they will be dealing with me and they think Ranger is scary when he is pissed off they have no idea what I am capable of and how miserable I can make their lives.

As soon as I heard the news this morning I started fixing Stephanie's favorites. I had expected Ranger to call me to ask me but it was Lester, Bobby, and Tank that had called. They all insisted that I call them when it was ready and I didn't tell each of them about the other I thought I would let it be a surprise when they all showed up.

Soon as I had everything packed up on four trays I called them. It was funny when they met in the hall and realized that they had all had the same idea. See what she does to them? Before her they would have never dreamed of calling me requesting that I make something specific for a woman or anyone else in the building including themselves they would have known better but for her I will do it.

When we walked in I saw the look of shock on Stephanie's face and I just had to smile to myself. The closer we got you could see her sniff the air and moan and her stomach growled so loud that Lester actually took a step back. I had to laugh. Her stomach was a force to be reckoned with. She was the one person that I could cook the way I loved for including desserts and personally I loved spoiling her someone had to lord knows her mother never did.

I had heard how wretched her mother is and for the life of me I couldn't understand why. Now that is one woman I would like to have the opportunity to choke. To be gifted a daughter as wonderful in every way as Stephanie was and not to know what she had. Not to care for her, support her, lift her up and tell her how amazing she is every day I just couldn't understand.

I set about fixing the table I knew my boys would be joining Ranger and Stephanie for breakfast so I made sure to set their places as well. I briefly wondered if any of the other boys would be joining them as well but since no one else was here I just sat place settings for those that were here.

I heard Stephanie squeal in the other room and it made my heart smile. Peaking around the door I see Lester twirling her around the air. They were laughing about something, now that is music to my ears. I could tell by the amount of towels and sweaty clothing in the locker room this morning that most of the men must have been in the gym last night working their frustrations out. So it was good to hear them two laughing.

My sons may be scary to some people but to me I knew the real men behind the scary fearless exterior and they were soft as teddy bears with hearts of gold. They felt themselves unworthy but they were all worthy they all deserved love, the love that Ranger and Stephanie had. I could only pray that each of them would now allow themselves the opportunity to find it seeing how Ranger has allowed himself to have it with Stephanie. One can only hope.

I call out to them letting them know that Breakfast is ready and they are all quick to gather to the dining room. I smile at the sight they all make and there is no doubt whom they center around. Stephanie takes a look at the spread of food and smile bursts out across her face.

I then hear her say "Ella is goddess, I know she is a goddess because no one else could do the things she does. God I want her to adopt me." I had to chuckle she was talking to herself only out loud.

I smiled at her "Stephanie I adopted you long time ago, the first time I was asked to make something special for you. As far as being a goddess well that is stretching it but I thank you for the compliment." I tell her and she blushes.

Looking at me Stephanie says "Ella thank you. I love you and I am thankful and grateful for all the things you do for me. Don't be mad but I sort of think of you as a second mom." My heart soared.

"Stephanie how could I be mad? When I felt like you were the daughter I never had for a long time now. I love you too." I told her. "Enjoy your Breakfast oh and I heard about what's going on today you will do wonderful child of mine because you are awesome." I told her giving a little boost to her confidence. My boys use to love when I called them awesome growing up and you could see their confidence grow at the word just as I saw Stephanie's.

Lester took that moment to add to my comment sometimes I swear that boy I don't know what to do with him. Hiding his condoms came to mind. "Ranger tell us just how awesome Steph..OW" thank you Bobby for the slap to the head.

Ranger barked "Santos Mats eighteen hundred and I will show you how awesome I can be while kicking your ass." I couldn't help but laugh to myself served his dumb ass right. Lester is one of my favorite sons but he never knew when to shut it and he always pressed Ranger when it came to Stephanie. His constant flirting with her was probably one of the reasons Ranger decided to pull his head out of his ass and open his life up to her. Seeing the almost childlike expression on Lester's face made me laugh. He looked like a little kid that someone took his favorite toy away from him. See I told you soft as teddy bears on the inside.

I looked at them sitting around the table fixing their plates and just smiled to myself now this is how I loved watching my sons and daughter. I made my way out of the apartment thinking now would be a good time to hide those condoms.

LPOV

Great mat time at eighteen hundred didn't Rangeman know that I had a stressful enough day ahead of me and now I have mat time. Maybe he will be too busy celebrating with Beautiful to remember. No who was I kidding the fucker would kick my ass at eighteen hundred and be back up here by eighteen ten having already shit, showered, and shaved and ready to celebrate. While I am good probably the next best fighter here even I could hardly hold a candle to Ranger when he was focused and in a hurry and tonight he would be both of those things. Oh and if by some reason she isn't successful and she ends up leaving us well he will just fucking kill me after all this was my idea so it is also my responsibility.

I tell you double edge sword it will either keep my best friend with me or make me lose her forever. I swear sometimes I can get myself into the damnedest situations. Oh well it is done now and I have come up with a perfect test for her. One that will use all her skills she has after one week of training and will be challenging I even have a few surprises up my sleeve.

"Beautiful I want to talk to you about the test I came up with but first I want you to understand something. I want you to really listen to me because this is important to understand." I tell her. I took a breath and looked at the guys I might need them backing me up on this one depending on how she takes this.

"Here's the deal I came up with an exercise that will prove to you, you have the skills to do what you want. But you have to realize something you have had one week of training. Yes, you were a bounty hunter before with an excellent track record and you will use all those skills as well but this exercise isn't exactly bounty hunting and you won't have several attempts to get your man so to speak."

I had her attention, good. "I want you going into this exercise knowing you have what it takes to be successful but I also want you to understand your abilities as they are today right this moment and not expect the performance of someone who has been training for years. You will get there but like all of us it takes time. I have all the faith in the world in you and your abilities but you have to have faith in them as well and have an understanding that it is going to take years of training just like we have done for some of this. It doesn't happen overnight, it didn't for us and it won't for you. You realize Basic training is twelve weeks and Ranger training is an additional eight weeks of hell and as you have witnessed it doesn't end there."

I just didn't want her to feel like a failure I wanted her to really have a realistic set of goals going in so she would understand how successful she would be when it was over. We all knew she had unrealistic expectations of herself and she always had people beating her self worth down, her self esteem, and her confidence down. I had seen a huge step forward in her with that this week but this incident took its toll on that and you could see it. Another reason I wanted to kick the shit out of that fucking cop.

I won't give you all the details to the test just yet. But I will tell you that it's going to take place at the compound I will tell you that it will be you against eight of us. We are only using the guys that are use to training basic recruits and Ranger or Seal inductees. That way we won't use skills above where your training is currently at because that wouldn't be fair to you. We won't dumb it down below your level either. So if you know we know something special about your training then expect us to use it against you." I added because I didn't want her to think that we were skewing it. I promised her we wouldn't and we wouldn't. If I caught any of the men skewing it I would personally met them on the mats for not keeping my promise to Beautiful.

We had finished eating and I was anxious to get to the compound and get things started. "Beautiful we are going to head out and get things setup I will explain everything when you get there. I expect you to be there at fourteen hundred I tell her." I watch her do the math and smile. I can't help but smile at her.

"Okay Lester I'll see you at two." She tells me. She is getting military time way to go Beautiful. I give her a hug and kiss and motion for the guys to follow me.

A/N: I have no idea how long Ranger training is and only guessed for the purpose of my story.

A/N: Go to my website now to see the map Stephanie will use for the test. This map has her marks on it minus a few but they will make sense as you read the story. Trust me when I say the map will further enhance the experience of the test.

www(dot)fanfictionstoryinfo(dot)webnode(dot)com Click on What does it Mean and then click on Fun Stuff.

SPOV

I am nervous about what he has planned for me but I am going to do my best to accomplish it. Carlos and I head down to the garage. The second we step off out of the elevator there is a loud bang and smoke everywhere.

I feel someone grab me and I can remember screaming Carlos' name and not hearing a reply. A canvas bag was placed over my head and my hands were tied behind me I was kicking and fighting but there was more than one and they were holding me so none of my kicks connected. I was quickly loaded into a vehicle and I heard tires screaming as the vehicle pulled away.

My heart was throbbing I wasn't sure if this was part of the test or if I truly had been abducted from the Rangeman garage. I debated using my panic button but with where my hands were tied I couldn't reach it anyway and being laid on my stomach I couldn't push my ass into anything and activate it.

The vehicle drove around a lot I was trying to track the turns and think what possible route we were going but with so many turns it was nearly impossible. When the vehicle finally came to a stop I was lifted out of the vehicle where I tried once again to attack my kidnappers but they held me in a way I wasn't able to land a significant blow.

I didn't hear a sound other than their shoes on the ground I heard a door open and then close I could tell by the light coming thru the bag that I was now indoors but I had no idea where. I was sat down in a chair and quickly tied to it with a rope around my chest tied at the back almost where my hands were tied.

I heard the door open and close again the room was silent. I sat and listened for a few minutes to make sure I was alone that I didn't hear anyone breathing or moving. When I was fairly certain I was alone I started working on the knots that bound my hands. When I finally worked them lose I started working on the knot that was tying me to the chair. It took me a couple of tries as the chair back was getting in the way but I finally was able to release myself.

I pulled the bag off of my head to look around to see where I was. My eyes focused on my bag. They had left the bag I packed this morning with me. This wasn't kidnappers this was the doings of my brothers. When this was over I am going to kill them for scaring me so bad. But I guess when I think about it I sort of asked for it.

I went thru the bag making sure everything I packed was in there and it was. Whew. I briefly wondered if they looked. They were the Merry Men my brothers of course they looked. Hell I couldn't bring a bag in of tampons disguising my contraband of tasty cakes without them wanting to look in and go thru it. Thinking tampons would thwart their desire but it had no effect whatsoever it may as well been a box of ammo.

Needless to say I had to share my tasty cakes with Lester to keep him from squealing on me, the pig he is. He almost lost his best friend status that day after all it takes a lot for me to share my tasty cakes especially under duress of the threat of being ratted out to the boss.

Everything I packed this morning is in my bag. I notice a letter written on the desk sitting beside a digital recorder. The note said "Play Me". So I pushed the button. A voice I didn't recognize started to talk. The voice sounded like a gang banger in the way he spoke and the language he used.

He told me that I and Ranger had been kidnapped. He said that I had to free myself, find Ranger, free Ranger and get us both to safety by way of the safe house. Fuck what had I gotten myself into I briefly wondered. But I had asked for it so I was going to have to pull it together and figure it out.

The voice went on to explain that they were a local gang and that if I were to be captured by a gang member then Ranger would be killed immediately as would I. If the gang members detected that I was there coming for Ranger than Ranger would be killed. So I couldn't even be seen, or detected and couldn't be captured. I had to go totally undetected. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to do this. But the voice went on further to explain things.

If I was seen and if I could render the gang banger dead before they notified any of the others then all would be good. The voice told me there eight gang bangers and that they would respond to my actions as gang bangers would meaning shoot me, capture me, or try to fight me but they wouldn't have any special training or advanced fighting skills only that they are bigger and stronger than me which let's face it most men are.

The voice then tells me that I have two weapons to use in addition to my fighting skills. The first is a laser gun that when I shoot someone with it, it will sound off a loud beeping noise. But that I had the option of putting a silencer on it that would only cause lights to light up on the vests. The bad news was I had to attach the silencer myself and I had a vest I needed to wear and they had the same weapon with the same capabilities. So they could use their silencer to shoot me. If shot in the kill zone all lights on the vest would light up and I would be officially dead the same held true for the gang members. If I was just wounded then the light would be on that area but I could continue only I couldn't use that limb. If it was near my right arm I couldn't use my right arm or near my left leg I couldn't use my left leg. Okay that made sense.

The second weapon was a wooden knife. Not sharp and completely harmless but wherever the knife was used on skin to consider it a wound. The only kill with the knife was to run it across someone's neck. While you could stab someone with a real knife that wasn't acceptable in this exercise so if I stabbed someone it wouldn't count as a kill or a maiming.

The voice then told me where I could locate my vest, weapons, and lastly a map that I needed to use they had marked the spot where Ranger was being held and where the safe house was but there were no other markings on the map. I needed to figure out where I was and how to get to him without being detected, without being captured, and rescue him bringing him to safety of the safe house. The last instruction on the tape was that Ranger wasn't to help instruct me if I was able to rescue him. He was going to completely follow my orders and my lead in order for me to get him to safety. That I couldn't ask him questions or ask him for any assistance and that he had been instructed to give me none. He had to rely on what I knew and my instructions to follow me to safety.

Holy shit what the fuck had I gotten myself into? I briefly wondered. Taking a deep breath I sat down for a minute and studied the map, taking a look at my vest, and my weapons, getting a feel for them in my hands a feel for shooting the laser gun. I worked the silencer on the gun because the gun was laser I could turn on or off the silencer. Being that I didn't want to be detected I just turned it on.

I saw a reset button on the vest so I tested it to make sure it worked…and it did. Then I decided to see how accurate the vests were. So I placed it a distance away from and fired at it seeing how I could set off the individual sensors and when it would set all of the sensors off making it a kill shot. Once I was fairly happy with my ability to fire the gun I proceeded to get dressed.

Seeing the area was mostly wooded I opted for the camouflage wear so I quickly changed into my clothes that I had packed. I took a few minutes to use the facial paint on my face and arms. I tucked my ponytail up into my camouflage hat. I shrugged on the vest. I put my weapons on me and then went thru my bag. I selected my real knife with the woods it would come in handy if needed. I selected the compass that would help me with the map, I selected the GPS unit again it would help with my location and distance.

I even grabbed a few of the leather ties just in case I needed them for anything. Lastly I grabbed the scope. I managed to find a place for everything in my utility belt that I had packed. I didn't have a mirror to see but I bet I was looking like a total bad ass.

I sat back down and turned on the GPS unit to get my location and looking at the map on it I was hoping I could match it to the map they provided me. That would help me figure out where I was in relation to Ranger and in relation to the safe house. Between the two maps and the GPS I was able to determine that I was a good distance away from Ranger. I grabbed my pen that I had packed at the last moment and marked on the map where I was. I then tracked a route to Ranger. First one I did was a direct path from my location to his. It was thru the woods as I suspected when I had first seen the map.

I knew direct would be the fastest way to him but also knew that would be more expected and the most guarded path. So then I tracked two other routes and one route had two possible ways. I could cut in and reach him or I could circle out further from the GPS map it looked like one was higher ground than the other which might come in handy and I would reach him from the back of the building he was being held which may have an advantage as I was certain there would be a guard there I just didn't know if the guard would be inside or outside.

The other route was more downhill circling around behind again but coming out more to the side of the building than behind the building. I wasn't certain about being downhill from even the direct route as that would give any guards a better line of site of me if they spotted me it was over unless I could stop them before notifying the others and with that disadvantage I wouldn't be able to stop them.

So I selected the path that I had tracked that had the two routes. It wasn't like it was path in the woods I had no idea what I would be walking thru it was a path that I made up on the map. Looking at the directional markers on the map I could tell that I would be walking north west direction then turn slightly more to the west and then more to the north before turning more north east then east and finally heading south to come up behind the building. I liked it. It had its advantages in that it was probably the longest path to his location so I doubt the "gang bangers" would expect me there and I would be able to scope out the safe house from an advantage to make sure we would have no surprises there as I would skirt by it at the top of the hill. I only hoped the forest would be full through those areas. If not I would have to find a better way.

I quickly made a couple of notes from what the voice had told me on the map. One there were eight gang bangers. I quickly thought if I was running this where I would put my people. One on where I was located, one where Ranger was located, probably one or two on the way to the safe house, and the rest would be spread out where I thought the most likely path would be taken. I had the obvious path marked so I would imagine one or two there but then I wouldn't be surprised if the others wouldn't be fanned out a little. I folded my map up and tucked it into my belt. Now I had to get out of here without being detected.

I looked around the building and noticed there were windows that I could actually open. Using the chair a moved the chair to the windows to look out to see if I could spot anyone standing guard or watching the building I was in. Carefully and as quietly as I could I moved from window to window there was no body at the back of the building or on the sides but there was a guard at the front of the building standing just to the right of the door about 20 feet or so away from the door. So if I had opened the door I wouldn't have seen him until I either stuck my head out or stepped out of the door. He was turned towards the door and leaning against the building.

Looking at him I could tell it was Zip. I moved the chair as quietly as I could move to the back of the building. I took my map out and wrote Zip's name on it. I already had written Lester, Tank, and Bobby. I probably could have guessed the others but just in case they thought they would trick me I wasn't guessing anything.

I stood up in the window scanning the area I didn't see anyone in the open but that didn't mean they weren't there. I know they were supposed to have the skills of a gang banger but this might be a gang banger like Hector who is not your average gang banger. I pulled my scope out and scanned the area watching carefully for movement. When I had done the tracking with Junior he said to watch for movement it was the easiest way to see someone you are tracking it was also the easiest way for them to see you.

I followed the line of sight I had in the woods slowly looking for any movement any signs of life. I didn't spot any so I thought here goes nothing. I needed to be as silent as possible. So that meant I really needed to control myself going out and not hit against the building or land on my ass on the ground. I couldn't alert Zip I had escaped.

Silently I pull the window open the opening isn't that big but hopefully I will be able to fit thru it Thank god I had been laying off the boston crèmes lately or my ass wouldn't be making it out of that hole. I finally got my lower end out of the hole and gradually lowered myself down. I was amazed at how strong I was. I was able to completely lower myself with my body against the building for support when I was fully extended I dropped to the ground the extra several inches but it was quiet. I paused with my gun ready listening for foot prints but I heard none. Scanning the area once more I made it to the trees for cover.

Once I got to the trees I hunkered down between some bushes. Pulled out my map and my compass once again having figured out where I was and the path I wanted to take prior to getting to this point was helpful because I was able to quickly find my direction and the way I wanted to go.

I was careful to cover my trail behind me. Being careful not to touch anything unnecessarily I walked easily and as fast I could. Constantly scanning down as I was heading up to higher ground stopping every now and then to scan the hill above me for movement. The wind wasn't really blowing today so I was also looking for any leaf movement. Gun at the ready just in case, I made my way up the trail I had mapped out. So far so good I saw no movement and hadn't encountered any of the "Gang Bangers".

I had paused to take a look at my map, GPS, and compass just to make sure I was still on the path I had laid out when I heard something I wasn't sure what it was. It was a click sound had I been moving I would have never heard it. I had pressed myself between a tree and bush when I stopped taking cover.

I listened for any other sounds and heard nothing but I knew not to move, at least not yet. If it was one of the "Gang Bangers/Merry Men" then that sound was something they didn't anticipate making and they would be walking silently. I doubt if they even realized how silently they walked after all these years. Not moving an inch I scanned the area I could see with my eyes. I knew they wouldn't see me from behind because the tree covered me completely. The only way they would see me is from the one side or the front.

I held my breath and I didn't allow an inch of me to move. I finally heard what I was waiting for behind me were footsteps. I pulled my knife out I wasn't going to take chances with the gun yet. I wasn't sure if there were one or more so I was going to let them get in front of me and I would sneak up behind if it was one if it was two I would let them go on before I selected another path.

It wasn't but a few seconds later when Zero came walking by me. He was looking ahead and looking up the hill as if expecting me to be higher up. I had squatted down so I was well below the area he was scanning but I knew any movement even the slightest leaf movement would give me away.

I let him get several strides in front of me just enough that I knew I would be out of his peripheral vision Hector had worked with me on that on the mats. Watching and anticipating an attack. I won't forget that lesson. I quickly lined myself up directly behind him and advanced on him. Using my lesson from Cal with jumping on his back I quickly advanced and jumped on his back pulling the wooden knife across his throat.

Zero immediately fell to the ground taking me with him me landing on top of him. He was playing dead. I had gotten him. I quickly took his weapons from him, his gun and wooden knife. They said Ranger couldn't help me but they didn't say that he couldn't be armed after all he was to follow my orders. My orders would be shoot the fuckers, kill the fuckers if they spotted us.

I rolled Zero over to see if he had any other useful weapons or toys and I spotted a cell phone that wasn't stand issue Rangeman cell phone. Thinking this was how they were communicating with each other I took it. Hopefully they were sending texts to each other. If that is the case maybe they would give me some insight to where they were or at least I hoped.

Looking his utility belt over again I found a pair of binoculars may come in handy so I took them and added it to my belt. I took a moment to write his name down on my map and draw a line thru it. One down seven to go or watch out for. I then decided to get Zero off of my path. That way if he was found he wouldn't lead them to me at least the path I had mapped out.

Sorry this may hurt a little I picked his arms up and covered his face then I proceeded to roll him down the hill. It was wooded area I rolled him until I came to a tree that had fallen and I rolled him up against it hopefully no one would see him alerting them that I am here. For safe measure I pulled my knife, the real one, and I proceeded to cut a few limbs from a couple of the bushes near by covering him with them. He wasn't completely covered but hopefully no one would see him.

Once I finished that I pulled my map out and got back on the course I had mapped out. I pulled the cell phone I had taken off of Zero out and scrolled thru text messages. It was clear they were communicating by text message I just wasn't sure what they were saying. I paused for a moment beside a tree opening the map and looking at the text messages. Z2 had texted no activity all quiet with TK Just a couple of minutes go so Z2 must be Zip I must be TK. I sat down for moment pulling out my pen. I wrote Z2 at the building where I was held. But I had to assume he would move from there.

I scrolled the next message it was from L1, Lester, his had D4 - E6 Clear. D4 to E6 what the fuck was that. Looking at the map I saw the legends top were letters sides were numbers. Holy fuck I knew where Lester was. Playing Battleship had paid off who would have thought it. Marking my map L1 in that area I quickly drew a box around the area. I scrolled to the next message it was B1, Bobby, his message said subject secured. He was with Carlos. It could have been worse it could be Tank with Carlos so I will take it.

Taking my map I made note of where Bobby was only I wasn't sure if he was inside or outside. I made note beside both Bobby and Lester's name of their nickname not that I would forget it but I can be anal at times. I scrolled to the next message it was from H1, Hal, I wrote Hal's name with H1 on the map and marked the area he was in, he was in C2 – E3 right near where I was planning to go so I would have to be on the lookout for him as I neared that area and made my way over to the building.

The next message was from C1, Cal making the same notes as I did for the other I marked his location F4 – H5 so he was where the direct path along with Lester that would have led me to Carlos. J1, Junior was patrolling F1 – H2 right where I needed to be behind the building Carlos was being held. Fuck. I marked my map with his location I would have to think about that further. R1, Ram's message said I2 – J4 clear so he was on the far side of the building not good. Finally I see a text from Tank, T1 he is near the safe house at A 1 – B2 fuck. He is like monitoring the area around the safe house the only way around them would be to expose ourselves out of the cover of the forest. Shit.

I had made all my notes I noticed more texts of clear coming in for the same coordinates as previously listed. I scrolled to see what Zero's text was and found Z1 the coordinates of A4 – C5 clear. So I hit to resend it. If they didn't get a text from Z1 they would know something was wrong and I was here.

As I continued on my path a debated about which path the one higher ground that cut across Tanks patrol or the lower one that went right through the middle of Hals. I went for higher elevation in hopes that I could Spot Hal and take him out and the whole time praying Tank didn't spot me. I was betting on him being a little closer to the safe house. My path just cut across his area a ways from the safe house he was guarding so I felt like I had a better chance of going undetected along with the better possibility of seeing one of them. This path also put me above Hal's in case I didn't see him I could probably stay hidden better. The only problem with his path is that it sent me straight into Junior's area. I knew the tracker he was and felt a little uncomfortable with that.

I decided this felt like the best path to take so I stuck to my plan of higher ground hoping that they would be patrolling closer to the more likely direct route path options. I keep walking knowing I am getting closer and closer to Tank's area. The hill going up is pretty steep but I make it with as little noise as possible. On top of the hill I am able to see the safe house. I also see Tank. He is down closer to the safe house. Hidden behind a bush I drop to my knees where he won't see me.

I can't do anything with him because I am almost certain he is well out of range for the laser guns. He is down by the house. So down on my knees where I know I am low enough that he can't see me I proceed to easily crawl across the area. I am not so concerned about covering my trail perfectly but in case he pulls a patrol before I am done I don't want to make it obvious so I do my best to make sure only knees and hand touch and make sure I don't scrape the ground. It's not easy you should try it sometime but I manage.

I also keep an eye on my right for any signs of Hal as I make my way out of Tank's area. There is nothing to say they can't go beyond these areas I am just hoping that their plan was stay in these areas and look for me in their area. As I checked my map and compass and turned directly east to head over I am only slightly above his area nothing says Hal won't be up this high. I am more on the ridge of the hill and his area is slightly below but it was only the difference of feet maybe couple yards at the most.

I stood up and made my way east toward the cabin. Keeping a look to my right and ahead I knew no one would be on the left or behind me at least not right this minute but behind wouldn't be safe for long.

I caught movement from the right ahead of me and ducked behind a tree. Peeking out sure enough I saw Hal. He was coming towards me slightly lower on the hill from me seeing my opportunity I quickly grabbed hold of the limb and pulled myself up in the tree. Hal was looking more down the hill than up but occasionally would glance up. I got the laser gun read I was going to shoot his vest once he was a little closer. I would still have center mass shot but hopefully he would be within range. I made double sure the silencer was still on I didn't need to send out the alerts of his vest buzzer going off.

He was finally within my range I took aim and fired. All the lights on his vest lit up. I saw the look of shock register on his face and he quickly scanned for me before falling down playing dead. I am not sure he saw me before playing dead.

I got down out of the tree and made my way down to Hal. Like Zero I was going to strip him of his weapons and see if he had any more goodies on him. I quickly pushed on him to turn him over and he obliged and rolled over. Less face I would never turn over Hal's dead weight. I took his cell phone, his weapons, and I noticed he had another device on him that Zero didn't have. It was like my unit but it had blips on it. I took it I would figure out what they were in a few minutes. From where I knew where the other guys were I left Hal as they wouldn't see him here. I did cover him with a few bush branches that I cut with my knife just in case but it was good. Not that I could have moved him anyway.

I took my map and scratched Hal H1 off the list. Now we had safe passage back to the safe house well until we reached Tank that is. I sat down for a minute looking at my map I had a decision to make. Now that I had taken Hal out I could go thru Hal's area come out just below Junior's area at the house or I could continue on the path I had chosen.

I had to figure out what Junior was going to do if he was going to be closer to the house or running the ridge. Both had advantages and disadvantages. While I was thinking about the way I would go I checked out Hal's GPS unit. I knew it was GPS and I figured the blips were the guys. There were only a few but from looking at it I would say it was telling the single for Lester, Tank, and Bobby. I was worried that it may be telling the signal for Hal if the other guys had a similar device. So I made the decision to leave it at the edge of his area closet to the house. The guys will think that he took up post there to watch for me coming to the house. At least I hoped that is what they would think. When I had Ranger I would retrieve the device when I got back to his area we could use it to help with Tank's exact location.

I knew Junior like higher ground but I also knew if I went lower I would be a sitting duck. He was good. He had taught me. So I had to be extremely careful and go extremely slow. He could be anywhere from up a tree to lying on the ground. I knew hearing him would be out of the question. This was going to be the most challenging and I had to go in half mile and then turn south for a quarter of a mile all in his territory the south would be going downhill. If I could get lucky and take him out Carlos and I would have safe trip back to safe house until we reached Tank's area.

My path actually went below that of what Junior was patrolling so I could go above to the upper lines but that would mean I would have to go up hill as I was already at the crest of the hill and then downhill south to the house further than my prior planned path. However he probably wouldn't be looking for me on this side of the hill that would be an advantage of course the longer downhill trek would be a disadvantage if I hadn't been able to spot him and take him out before I reached that point.

Pausing a moment before I entered his area I took cover and studied the map more. While that seemed like an option something told me to stick to my plan. So I stayed on course. Just going extremely slow cautious of every step not to make a sound and make sure the slightest of trail was covered. I had my gun at the ready just in case I saw him I was going for the kill. I wasn't pausing I wasn't waiting I was going for it.

A text popped in all clear from the guys again including Junior so I sent one from Hal and one from Zero. I saw a text from Lester well the hell is she and has she left the building yet? But no response from Zip if I had left I guess if I didn't alert them to my leaving then they weren't allowed to look. I was hoping that was same with where Ranger was being held.

I climbed a tree that I saw I could get up and down easily from and decided to just wait Junior out. It was my best defense. Walking wasn't going to work with him. It was a last minute thought and decision when I saw the tree it had the perfect limb I could lay out across it and had perfect sight of the ridge and down towards the house. He would come by it was only a matter of time.

The leaves kept me covered yet I had great views and I was able to sit my laser gun in front of me like a sniper rifle double checking the silencer was on once again I watched and waited for Junior to step into my trap. He wouldn't expect me here. I had been sitting there about twenty minutes when I saw movement. I had to smile. I had him. He was heading straight towards me coming up the hill probably to walk the ridge I let him get two steps closer and pulled the trigger all the lights on his vest lit up.

He looked up and spotted me I saw the ghost of a smile on his face as he fell down playing dead. Like the others I stripped him of his weapons and cell phone. He didn't have any other thing on him weapon or gadget wise but he had a key around his neck something that he doesn't normally wear so I took it. I wasn't sure what it was but something told me it was significant and I would be able to use it.

I sat down took my map out crossed out J1 and looked at the options we had for heading to the safe house. It was open all the way to Tank's area. I just had to get Ranger out of there undetected. I needed to do a little recon. To find out just how close Cal was and if Bobby was outside or inside. See all those hours of watching war movies were paying off well that in addition to my training. But my training never told me to take the other guys weapons. That was probably sacrilegious in the world of Rangeman.

I only stripped them of the fake weapons. I would never take my brother's real weapons away from them. They needed them like I needed my underwear or my plastic you know can't leave home without it.

While I am safe in Junior's area I walk from one side to the other getting as good of a view of the building from the three sides. I don't see anything of Cal down in front of the building area and I don't see Bobby that means he is standing out front or inside. I know Ram's patrol is the far side of the building and I need to find him in order to have a clear entrance and exit of the building.

I make my way further across Junior's area. Ram is a Sniper he is going to find high ground and hunker down. I know the guys aren't supposed to use their training beyond my knowledge but Ram knows I would know this about him so it being his second nature he would do it.

I sat down pulled out the map studying it and looking at the lay of the land in front me I actually decide to head north and go higher above the area and come down into his area from the back side of the ridge. One, he will never expect me up there because that is way out of the way of where Carlos is and two I am betting they are thinking I am more focused on actually rescuing Carlos than taking them on.

I made my way up high and came in on the far corner of his property. His focus would be on the house back and side knowing Bobby and Cal had the front. As I made it up over the hill and crested the top I was right. He was about 40 feet in front of me lying down behind some boulders with the laser gun focused on back of the house just waiting for me if I had chosen that path.

I pulled my wooden knife out walking as silently as I could knowing Ram could hear a pin drop at twenty feet I got to the point that I could launch myself on his back. This was going to be fun. I launched myself and landed on his back the second I hit him he turned taking me with him but I was able to drag the wooden knife across his neck. His turning actually assisted me in that task.

The only problem now was that Ram was playing dead lying completely on top of me his back to my front with my arms out to the sides. Fuck he is heavy I was gasping for air. I knew he was having fun with this and laughing on the inside about having trapped me only he was "dead" and I was "alive" as far as the test went so joke on him. I just had to figure out how the fuck to get out from under his heavy ass.

I pushed and tried to turn but he weighed more than I can move with the leverage of lying on my back. I finally got a leg out and was able to shift a little bit. Fuck he wasn't making easy probably payback for me getting him, catching him unaware of his surroundings none the less. When I was able to shift my hip out from under him I was able to bend my knee up with my foot on the ground and my hand and hips pushing him up I was able to raise him up enough to slide my upper body out when I got my upper body out I was able to with both hands move him enough to get my lower body out. Fuck that was hard.

Sitting there catching my breathe I took his laser gun, and knife and searched him for anything else I may be able to use to my advantage. He didn't have anything other than a slim flat piece of metal I didn't know what it was but I took it. I would figure out what to do with it later.

I grabbed the cell phone they were using for communication and noticed an all clear message had come in from the other guys still in the game. Coordinates still matching the areas I had noted on my map. I took a minute to text back from all of the guys phones letting them know their areas were all clear as well. I marked R1 off on my map before getting up.

Knowing the area around the back of the house to the far side of the house was clear I made my way to the back of the building. Making sure to stay exactly behind the building and move as quickly as possible once out of the cover of the trees.

I made my way to the back of the building. There were no doors only windows and they were slightly above my head but if I stretched I could possibly see in well enough. I am not sure. I first put my head to the wall trying to listen for any sound but I couldn't hear anything. I then tried listening at the window and still was unable to hear anything. Either the place was really sound proofed or there was no movement or talking inside.

I pulled out the map again depending on where Cal was he would be able to see either side of the house. Looking at it I felt like there was less chance that he would be looking on the far side of the building rather than the side closer to other buildings. So, I made my way to that side of the building. I found a bucket perfect for standing on. I didn't want to hang out on the side because I had no idea where they were and the last thing I wanted was for them to spot me. With virtually no cover I knew it would be nearly impossible not to be seen.

Grabbing the bucket I make back to the safety of the back of the building. I stand up on the bucket and peer into the window from an angle. Directly on I will affect how the light shines into the room and alert them. From an angle though I will have the best opportunity to see what I need without being seen.

I looked in and saw Carlos sitting in the chair at a table. He had a bag over his head, and his hands were tied behind him. He was tied to the chair just as I was. I wondered why he hadn't untied himself and then remembered that Carlos wasn't supposed to have any special skills he was only to follow my instruction. He was waiting for me to rescue him. Even knowing this is an exercise the thought of me rescuing Carlos made my heart soar with pride.

I didn't see anyone else in the room with him but I couldn't see all of the room. Before I do anything I moved to the other side still empty. I then moved to the other window and peeked in from both sides the room was empty. The only way for Bobby to be in there would be if he was standing at the back of the wall pressed up against it. I was going to just have to take a chance on that not being the case.

I made my way back to the window that was on the farther side of the building less chance of anyone seeing us escape thru that window. I tried to push the window up but it wouldn't budge. I took my knife out and pushed it between the window sill and pane running it along the width of the window. I had dealt with old painted shut windows before and I was hoping that was the case.

I then wedged the knife in to give me a little bit of leverage and the window broke loose, thank fuck. But wouldn't raise it was locked. I remember the thing I took off of Ram and used it to run between the lower window and upper window effectively unlocking the window, now I knew what it was for. I slowly raised the window up until I was able to pull myself up thru the window. It wasn't easy to get thru but I did it.

I am not certain Carlos will be able to get out of the window but we will see he's taller than me so it would probably be easier for him. I eased my way up to him I knew it was him but I didn't want to alert Bobby who was probably out front of my presence in the house.

I pulled the bag off and found a smiling Carlos. I smiled back at him. Mouthed I loved you at him and proceeded to untie him afterwards motioning for him to be quiet. While I was there I checked the phones and went ahead and sent an all clear from Zero's, Hal's, Ram's and Junior's phones.

I handed Ranger one of the laser guns, as well as one of the wooden knives. I motioned for him to follow me to the window. Looking out I double checked to make sure we hadn't been made and I slowly pulled myself out the window. Being the lookout I motioned for Carlos to come out that the coast was clear.

He was able to get himself out of the window I was a little surprised but he made it. But then again he is batman he could probably turn into smoke if necessary. I motioned for him to follow me and we took off at a good clip for the cover of the woods. I didn't stop until we were at the safer spot of ridge line of the hill.

I stopped and turned to Carlos then. "Hi, I love you." I told him. He wrapped his arms around me pulling me too him kissing me on the top of my head.

Answering me "Hi Babe, I love you too." He told me. The sentiment almost made me want to burst into tears I know there was nothing to cry over but it had been a stressful day and I had rescued Carlos. But I got control of my emotions before they sprung loose. We still had to get to the safe house and get inside of it and we had to get thru Tank to do it. We were far from home free.

I checked the text messages and matched everyone up with their coordinates on the map if they were texting their true coordinates then they were still in their area. There was always a chance that was a trap but I was going to have to go with it being where they were and just continue to be cautious.

I motioned for Carlos to follow me as we made our way to over to Hal's area where I had left the GPS unit with the blips on it. I quickly retrieved it taking a moment to sit down looking at the map and the blips along with the map on the unit I attempted to figure out the different blips. I saw Tank's over by the safe house, he was easy. I wasn't sure the one in front of the house Ranger had been in was Bobby's or Cal's it could honestly be either one. The other one I determined was Lester. There was no blip for zip.

I sat there watching the blips move and I made a mark on my map as to any patterns I noticed while sitting there for about fifteen minutes. I would like to have watched longer but knowing that Bobby or Cal and Zip didn't have blips made me nervous if they changed positions we would be in trouble.

Ranger also had on a vest so they could kill him while he was with me and or kill me. So I had to make sure I kept him protected as well as protected myself. I looked at the map one last time forming a plan for making it to the safe house.

We were going to stick to higher ground of the ridge and head back to the safe house the way I had come only we were going to stay in Hal's area just in case. If his unit was displaying a blip for him I didn't want it outside of the coordinates not even a little bit. That would alert the guys something wasn't right and I didn't want to alert them to give them reason to start searching for us.

Until they were alerted there was something going on they would continue to do as they had been doing. They were supposed to be gang bangers with no training and no knowledge that I had escaped and reached Carlos so far none of them have been alerted by a change in anyone's behavior.

So far that element of surprise was working for me and I didn't want to lose it. I motioned for Carlos to follow me. While we were safe I whispered to him that if saw a "gang banger" to shoot. He just chuckled but nodded. After all he was to follow my orders.

Watching the unit we made our way closer to Tank's area. The Closer we got the more nervous I was getting. This was going to be a challenge I hadn't come across an A-team member yet and Tank well he was one of the best along with Carlos and Lester.

Still on the ridge and well out of Tank's area I sat down pulling my map out again. I knew the area south was safe except for where Lester was but I could stay far enough north of his area that it wouldn't matter. So we could head southwest then turn more westnorthwest before heading north to the house. Having watched Tank's movement on the device he wasn't really patrolling that far end he was concentrating more on the east and south east side of the safe house not really dead south if we went west enough we may be able to sneak past him, maybe.

So that was my plan, I felt good about it so I motioned for Carlos to start following me and we headed south west. Before I exited Hal's area I made sure to put the device down well within his area. I hated leaving it behind as it would have come in handy but it was too much of a risk in alerting them. I didn't need all of the rest of them searching this area for me, for us. Besides if they knew I had this device then they would know I had taken Hal out and that may make them question others. Knowing my luck they probably had a safe word or something. If they were alerted I wouldn't be able to depend on them maintaining their coordinates.

I kept a look out just in case and was careful with the trail we were leaving covering anything that really stood out. Checking my map, the GPS unit I had been carrying and my compass I realized we had reached the point to turn more west north west to head up towards the Safe House. This would take us more to the west and south of where Tank was patrolling.

I had marked my map where tank was patrolling and this was about as good as it got for us to get there. They didn't know I knew where they were so again I had the element of surprise. But the area he was patrolling was really close to where we were going. The good thing and bad thing is that area is out in the open so we would be able to see him, possibly. I just hoped we had good cover with a good view when we got there. I knew crossing the area he was patrolling would be certain and sudden death so I had to have surprise on our side. But I also knew that Tank like Carlos or should I say Ranger in this instant is nothing if not always hyper aware of their surroundings so there would be no sneaking up on him. Maybe Ranger could pull it off but I knew I couldn't and since Carlos isn't suppose to have any skills I can't order him to do that.

We reached the point where we would turn north and head into Tank's territory. Before we reached it I sat down with the map and gathered my thoughts. I briefly wondered how far in the opening we would have to run to make it to the house. I didn't want to break cover to make it to the house but I knew we had no choice.

I also knew that Tank wasn't going to be the type to lay in wait he was more in your face more bold his size gave him the advantage. He wasn't going to be laying in wait for us but he was going to be ready for us the moment we broke cover he would be ready to act. Unless I got the opportunity to take him out. I didn't know how much the route he had been patrolling was under cover or out in the opening I could only hope some was out in the open and I could only hope that he was sticking to the pattern I marked on my map.

I folded my map back up getting up I motion for Carlos to follow. I motioned for him to keep watch out by pointing to my eyes and then to the areas where I wanted to keep a watch out. I needed to focus on Tank so I needed to ask him to keep eyes on the right side and behind us. I wasn't too afraid for our left side as it was the edge of the map and I doubt they would suspect us this far out but I would take a minute here and there to scan it none the less.

The more we walked into Tank's territory the slower and more controlled my movements became. When I found an area to stop that was enough cover for both of us I took it to scan the area closer to check for movement to see if I could hear anything. Having my laser gun at the ready for any action coming our way I would motion to Carlos and we would start slowly progressing further towards the safe house.

I really would like to sit and take another look to see how much further we have to go to get to the house but I wouldn't risk sitting at this point. I needed to get us as close as possible to the house and find cover for us so I kept going forward. It wasn't long before the house came into view thru the woods.

Slowing down even more I found an area of cover for Carlos and motioned for him to stay there. I needed to get closer and scope out the place. I could keep him covered where he was should Tank approach us.

I made my way closer to the edge and found a spot that would be good coverage for us it wasn't ideal but it was okay. Carlos could squat down behind and I could lie down sort of under the bush. I was hoping I would be able to catch Tank out in the opening on one of his patrol rounds.

I quickly back stepped my way to Carlos and motioned for him to follow me. Quickly getting us to the point that I had scoped out I motioned for him to squat down while I got on my belly. I motioned for him to keep look out and pointed to the right and behind us. I wouldn't be able to cover those for my location so I needed him to do that. He nodded his understanding. I made my way slightly under the bush laying my laser gun in front me being very careful the tip of the gun didn't protrude past the bush. I needed the leaves of the bush to cover us.

Thank god the leaves are on the trees and bushes if not I wouldn't have been able to pull this off. I could see the house in front us and it was about forty feet of open space we would have to cross to get to the house. Then we would have to get in the house to be considered safe. I knew the time it would take even if it was small would still be enough for Tank to kill both of us.

So we were going to have lay here and wait until hopefully he came out in the open. He had been patrolling a route that would have brought him out in the open as he came closer to the house so I could only hope he would continue to do the same thing. If so, then I would have my shot to take him out which was the only way we would be able to successfully make it to the safe house.

We had been in this position laying at the ready for almost thirty minutes. I was growing tired of lying here but I knew it was the only way. When I saw movement in front of us and to the right of us just where I had expected him or hoped that he would appear. I knew for the way he was walking and our angle I had a very short window of opportunity to actually kill him and not just wound him. Getting myself ready and making sure the silencer was still on I readied myself for the shot.

As soon as Tank stepped into the scope I was using to help site the laser gun I took the shot. His vest went off like the fourth of July. I had done it. I had taken out Tank. YAY ME! I knew we still needed to get into the house but I was much more confident and relaxed but also knew those emotions lead to trouble. So before I got to excited I got up motioned for Carlos to stay put and keep a look out. I skirted the forest until I was near Tank. Checking around to make sure it was safe I made my way to Tank.

I took his laser gun and wooden knife just as I had with the others, I also found a key around his neck like Junior's so I took it along with his cell phone. I quickly sent an all clear text to the rest of them as I made my way back into the cover of the woods and back to where I had left Carlos waiting.

Once I made it back to him I checked the phones for the clear messages from the guys left in the game and all were where I had marked them. We were safe they weren't near us but we still had to make it in the house. For some reason I still had a weird feeling about that.

I motioned for Carlos to follow me I motioned for Carlos to stay with me when we broke cover of the woods we hustled to the house as fast as we could move well he probably could have gone faster but I couldn't so he stayed with me running at my pace.

Reaching the house I came to halt before stepping up on to the step to the porch. Something wasn't right I just didn't know what. I wanted to get in bad but I knew to overlook my impatience and check the area around the house. I motioned for Carlos to follow me as I went to the far side of the house I motioned for him to wait there and keep a look out as I made my way further down the side of the house. I didn't see anything out of place so I turned back. Walking back to the front and then turning to the front of the house I saw it. The first step of the steps to the door had a wire going up to it and then ducking under the tread board. They had set a booby trap for us.

I wasn't sure if I could just cut the wire or if in cutting it, it would set off the trap which I would just guess would set off both of our vests. Meaning I would have effectively killed us both. I used my knife to pull the wire away to see if I could trace the wire to its origin. Motioning for Carlos to keep lookout I followed the wire along the front of the house. When it got to the side it ducked under the porch.

I got down looking under the porch I found the box that the wire ran to tucked up behind the porch support beam. I pulled the box out and saw where a key turned it on and off. Smiling I took the keys from around my neck.

The key from Tank turned it off. The light went out effectively rendering it dead. The tricky bastards but I had found it and were still alive so all was well. I motioned for Carlos to follow me still not totally trusting the first step I avoided it and put a little weight on the second step when nothing happened I went up the steps motioning for Carlos to not step on the first step.

I made my way to the door the door was locked, of course it was locked. Using the key I had taken from Junior I opened the door bringing both Carlos and myself in to safety. I had done it. I had rescued him, I had taken out Zero, Hal, Junior, Ram and Tank, and I had directed us to the safe house and got us safely inside. Needless to say I was beyond happy.

The moment he stepped thru the door Carlos enveloped me in his strong arms and pulled me to him giving me the kiss of my life. I was so wrapped up in his kiss that I didn't realize we weren't alone until I was brought out of my moment of pure delight by voices being cleared.

Breaking the kiss and looking up I found Hector, Manny, Vince, Binkie, and Woody all with huge smiles. I couldn't help but smile back I was flying high I had done it. It was hard and challenging but I had done it and I thought for the most part I had done it well never being detected and taking out the guys I did. I know I didn't take them all out but that wasn't necessary only getting Carlos and getting to the safe house was necessary to be successful and I had done it.

I was flying. I don't even think it fully registered what I had done completely. The guys all hugged me and I hugged them back furiously I have my brothers, my best friend, the love of my life. I had proved to myself that I was Rangeman material, that I could protect my brothers, that I could control my emotions and only hoped that I would get better with the training I would continue to get. I had proved to myself that I could trust myself.

RPOV
I have never been more proud of my Babe walking with her and following her orders she only spoke the one time when she knew we were safe to make a little noise and then was only a whispered hi and I love you everything else she used hand signals. She didn't know it but the woods were wired for sound all sounds going to Cal's earpiece but when she spoke the whisper was low enough it didn't pick it up that and we were far enough away.

She had taken the guys weapons and in so doing had gotten a hold of information on where the guys were located being smart she had marked her map that was given to her so she wouldn't forget or have to go look at the information again.

She paid close attention that nothing changed, she had taken the keys even though she didn't know what they went to she realized they held some significance. I knew she had taken out Zero, Hal, Junior and Ram by the things she was using. She was even smart enough to leave Hal's GPS in his area because had she taken it out the others who had blips would have seen it and known it wasn't Hal who had the device.

She had texted back to the guys had they not received a texts they would have sent an alert and with the alert a word from each of them would have to be sent to know they were still alive in the game. Because she held their cover by sending the texts from their phones it was never questioned the others thought they were still alive.

I was so impressed with her. I knew she had skills and I didn't doubt that she wouldn't rescue me but what I saw completely blew me away, she was better than good. After all her training she was going to rival myself, Tank, Lester, and Bobby. When we got to the house she knew something wasn't right and went searching for what set off her alarm double checking the guys position by sending an all clear text she knew it wasn't them. She found the wire and turned off the trap that would have set our vests off had we stepped on the first step of the house.

I have trained Rangers in the military that didn't have her skills and sadly even with training would never have the skills she currently possessed. I wasn't sure what made her do some of the things she did as I know we hadn't trained her with some of it like taking the weapons but in so doing she was able to arm me.

"Babe I am so proud of you, you never disappoint and you never fail. Now you have proved to yourself what we all have always known." I take her back in my arms and lower my lips to ear and whisper in her ear "now I get my wife, my partner, my soul mate because I will never let you go. I never want you to let me go." I looked at her and she had tears in her eyes. She hugged me tight.

"Carlos I love you so much I swear I will never let you go." She said just hearing those words were like balm to my heart and soul. God what I wouldn't do to be able to make love to her right now but I knew her brothers would want to celebrate and hell they would want to see her dressed like this with the face paint on she never looked hotter and they would love her solider look.

I knew the guys were going to be blown away. I decided to have a little fun with them now that we were safe and the game was over. I took Zero's phone and texted everyone Dead, then I took Hal's phone and sent another Dead message, I did the same with Junior's and Ram's phone. Lester sent a text WTF? Why are you texting if you Dead? I almost laughed out loud at his comment. I could just imagine him scratching his head could be worse it could be his balls.

I then took Tank's phone and Texted the group Dead. Cal texted back who is this? He was starting to catch on. My Babe was standing beside me reading the texts and giggling. God I loved it when she laughed like that.

"Babe you ready to tell them?" I asked her she nodded. So I motioned for her to do the honor.

Picking up Tanks phone she sent them all a message "TK and Subject are Safe in Safe House retrieve my "dead" brothers and meet us here cause it is party time!" I am not sure what she had in mind for party but I had a few ideas. The Rangeman pool in the compound for one it was time to kick back and have some fun. We would worry about the rest later.

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