SPOV

After another one of Bobby's filling breakfasts, we locked up and headed out the door to Rangeman. We were both on duty today. Bobby had to restock the first-aid kits in all of the fleet vehicles and I was going to be spending a monotonous day behind my computer screen again doing what I feared would be endless butt numbing searches.

We arrived there fairly quickly. I was too lost in my thoughts to realize how fast the scenery passed by me. But then again Bobby was not one to speed or drive recklessly.

We got out of the car and strode to the elevator. Bobby gave me a quick hug before he got off on the 3rd floor to get the supplies for the kits he was replenishing. I continued up to the 5th floor, stepped out once the doors opened, and shuffled to my lowly cubicle.

I sat down and started booting up my computer, ready to get this day under way. While I waited for the computer to boot, I reached for the files in my inbox. I was shocked to see just a few. What was going on? I wondered if Rodriguez was here or not. If I judged by the lack of searches waiting for me, then he must not be.

I opened up the first folder and entered the name in the search engine when my computer was finally ready. I added another name in a different search, because I always ran more than one at a time. I looked back down at my stack of files, surprised to see that there were only five or six left. What was I going to do when these few were done?

I clicked open another internet explorer tab. I decided to watch some videos on youtube while I waited for my searches to run. I was just getting into an older song by Prince when I heard a throat clearing to my left. I jumped, slightly startled and gazed up into Woody's amused blue eyes.

"Make some noise next time, why don't ya? You scared the crap out of me Woodrow!"

"Sorry Darlin', just wanted to stop by and check on you. How are you feeling this morning?"

"Fine, better. Why aren't you working? You know the boss will have your nuts on a stick if he catches you." I giggled.

"He is such a hard ass, isn't he?" He chuckled. "Slow day today. We only had one skip to track down and Brett and I picked him up earlier this morning, plus I already caught up on the little bit of paperwork I had. So I'm all out of tasks to do."

"I'm sure if you asked Tank, he would find something for you to do. He would probably pass off some of his paperwork to you. You know how the big guy hates paperwork." I teased.

"That he does. But he can't talk me into doing his for him. I hate doing my own." He laughed.

Our laughter attracted a couple more of the guys, Ram and Hal. They just had to see what was so funny. Hal spoke up first.

"What's got you two in stitches over here?" He asked.

"We were talking about Tank's loathing of all things paperwork." I smiled up at him.

"Well, that is a known fact around here." Ram added.

"I don't pay you clowns to stand around chatting. Get back to work." Ranger's commanding voice demanded.

That broke up our little hen party. 'Thanks Ranger, you stick in the mud.' I thought to myself as I glared up at him from my desk chair. He just turned on his heel and strutted back to his office, like the peacock he thought he was.

My computer dinged, informing me my first two searches were complete. I printed them out and got the next two going. I peeked down at the clock on my computer and noticed it was just after lunch time. This got my butt up out of my chair and moving toward the break room.

After I ate a quick meal of a sandwich and fruit, I took the elevator to the garage to check on Bobby. He should have been nearly finished with restocking the kits.

I stepped off of the elevator at the garage level. I quickly glanced around, my eyes seeking out Bobby. I saw the rear door of an SUV some 15 feet away was open and I heard shuffling movement; and was that humming?

I smiled big when I realized it was Bobby. I quietly made my way to him and that's when I found out he was not only humming along to the ear buds hanging from his ears, but he was also dancing to the beat. I stood there mesmerized by the sway and thrusts of his hips. My Bobby had moves.

I finally couldn't take it any more and a snort slipped from my throat. Bobby's moves immediately ceased. A split second later he jerked the ear buds from his ears and whipped around to face me. There was an obvious red tint to his mocha cheeks as he sputtered out his excuse.

"Steph, I didn't hear you sneak up on me. The ear buds, the music ..." He stopped mid-sentence, aware that he had been caught and there was no escaping it if I saw fit to tease him. I just couldn't resist having a teensy bit of fun with him.

"Why Mr. Brown, I had no idea you had such moves. The people at Chippendale's must really miss you."

"Yuck it up Tiger. I am way too expensive for the likes of Chippendale's." He joked back.

"So no professional background in dancing? Do you do private shows only? Where do I sign up for one of those?" I inquired while I batted my eyelashes at him.

Bobby stepped in front of me and wrapped his arms around me lightly. He looked deeply into my eyes with all traces of teasing gone from his when he spoke next.

"All you ever have to do is ask. Anything. Anytime. Just ask and I will give it to you." Then he leaned down an gave me a lingering kiss high on my cheek.

Our moment was interrupted by a loud commotion when the stair well door banged open and several laughing Merry Men came bounding through.

It was a group of my favorites that included Les, Hector, Hal, Ram, Woody, and Vince. The all had looks of mischief on their faces and they were all carrying a huge arm load of what looked suspiciously like balloon animals.

Wait, now that I looked more closely, they didn't look like any type of animals that I recognized. I gasped when it hit me. They were dick shaped. They were condoms. Why on Earth would the blow up a bunch of condoms? I just knew whatever the reason, Les was surely behind it.

And that was enough for me to ignore what was sure to be a disastrous situation for everyone involved. All I could do was shake my head, roll my eyes, and return my attention back to Bobby.

We had been talking softly amongst ourselves for a couple of minutes when all of a sudden I felt a thump against my right shoulder, immediately followed by a gush of water splashing against the whole right side of my body, from the whole side of my face all the way down to the top of my thigh. I gasped out loud and glared up at a guffawing Les.

That's when I realized I had been hit with a water filled condom. Vince's voice cut through the silence. "Sorry Bomber, Ram ducked and it got away from me."

"Ram, Hector, come here please." I said, my tone dripped with sugary sweetness.

They both hurried over, ready to assist with whatever I needed. The twinkle in both of their eyes told me that they understood exactly what I had in mind.

I held out my right hand expectantly. It was quickly filled with a dick shaped water bomb. I curled my lip up into an evil sneer as I cocked my arm back and took aim. I flung my arm forward and released my ammunition toward my intended target. My arm was spot on.

The water bomb exploded on contact, smack dab in the middle of Lester's chest. I jumped up and down and whooped while I yelled out.

"It's on like Donkey Kong Santos!"

So began "The Great Water Cock War of Rangeman", 2014 edition.

The battle ensued for the next ten minutes or so, with everyone laughing and having a blast. It was me, Bobby, Ram, and Hector against Les, Vince, Woody, and Hal. I had no way of knowing who was in the lead, but I sure was having the time of my life … until …

I shouted over to Hector, "Santos, right in the head. Go!"

We both hurled a water bomb in Lester's direction, he was standing right beside the door to the stairs. The door opened up at the same exact moment Les dropped to his knees. Needless to say our throws did not hit their intended target. But who they hit, all I could think was, 'Oh shit! I'm a dead woman. Either that or I'll be shipped off to Siberia … in the winter!'

Ranger stood there with his blank face firmly in place, but I could see the fire in his eyes. Standing next to him was a man in a dark suit that I did not recognize. Ranger just stood there with his fists hanging at his sides fuming. He raised one of his hands up from his side and reached up using only two fingers, as if it was contaminated, to remove the broken condom from his shoulder. While he held it out in front of himself, he growled out.

"First, there are better uses for these things. Secondly, Who threw this one? And lastly, I know this is somehow your fault Santos; I just wish your father had seen fit to use one of these, then maybe you wouldn't be here making my life miserable."

It was Woody's drawl that first spoke after Ranger. "Holy crap Hec, you hit Rodriguez." When I heard that I couldn't stop myself from thinking, 'so that's the elusive Rodriguez? I'm kinda glad Hector hit him, payback for all those searches he floods my inbox with.'

But it was Hal's comment that really made me quake in my boots.

"Screw that, Bomber you hit Boss man!"

I gulped and chanced a peek up to see if my fate was sealed by Hal's confession. Ranger's eyes had lost some of their fire and now held a hint of amusement before he quickly squashed it back down.

"Enough. Everyone back to work. I don't pay you to play around with prophylactics." Ranger ground out.

I heard Les grumble out, "guess the party's over."

We all parted ways and meandered back to our respective work spaces. I gave Bobby a quick hug and a wet kiss on his cheek; wet because I felt like a drowned rat at the moment, my boots were making squishy sounds when I walked. This time I trudged up the stairs. I deserved the pain. I wondered what Ranger was going to do to me for his punishment as I opened the door that let me out on the fifth floor. I jumped and squeaked in surprise when I heard his voice coming from right ahead of me.

"Nothing babe. My men all know that I would never punish you. They take advantage of that knowledge constantly. And besides, I saw you throw it through the glass on the door even before I opened it." He wore a half smirk.

Then his expression changed to one of concern when I shivered. "Go get dried off and cleaned up. Your searches can wait until you return."

Thirty minutes later I was freshly showered, dried out, and on my way back to my desk. The rest of the day flew by. The next thing I knew Bobby had dropped by my cubicle to inform me that it was quitting time.

"You done? It's time to head home. You ready?" He asked me.

"Yes sir, I just got done here. I'm ready to knock off for the day, just let me shut everything down." I responded.

I packed up as quick as I could then we were on our way to Bobby's truck in the garage.

Halfway home Bobby spoke. "Would you like to stop somewhere and have dinner?"

"Sure. Where?" I replied.

"Whatever you want to eat is fine with me. What are you in the mood for tonight?" He wanted to know.

"How about Chinese?" I suggested.

"As you wish." He grinned then added. "Why don't we eat in? It could be like another date. If you want that is." He looked a little nervous at the end.

"Sounds good to me." I smiled back.

Our next stop was 'Panda Wok' around the corner from Bobby's house.

JPOV (Joe)

I parked my truck the next block over from the address that I got from the child at city hall. It was a decent neighborhood. I cursed to myself when I saw that the place was monitored by Rangeman. I should have known. No matter, I had a plan.

I locked up my vehicle and walked down to the next street over. The secret is to look like you belong. I found the house that my no good wife was holed up in. It appeared to be dark and locked up tight and there were no cars parked at the premises. Even better, no one is home yet.

I strolled up the drive way and pretended to knock on the side door off of the garage. After a stealthy glance around to make sure no one was watching out their kitchen window, I crept around to the back of the house to find a place to lay low and hide for a while.

I found the perfect spot. It was dark in shadows without light. I squeezed myself in the tight space between the shed and the seven foot tall privacy fence. Now all I had to do was wait for someone to come home and give me the perfect opportunity to strike! ###########################