Stephanie could feel her blood boiling as she tapped her foot in the elevator as it descended down into the screams in the basement. When the elevator door opened, her eyes cut over to Hector, Lester and Cal standing in front of one of the doors. Lester and Cal had the good sense to take a step back from the death rays being shot from her eyes but Hector crossed his arms and glared right back. She practically stomped down the hall, arms swinging in stiff movements, eyes never leaving the guys until she stood right in front of them, "MOVE" she growled.
Lester and Cal each took a step to the side but Hector just raised an eyebrow at her, "No" he said. "Ranger, Dice Que Espere."
Stephanie stuck a finger into Hector chest hard enough to feel it almost break, "I don't give one SHIT what Ranger said…MOVE NOW." She said in a voice that could have been from the exorcist.
She vaguely heard Cal and Lester chough at not only her words but that she dared to lay a finger on Hector.
Hector look down at her finger that was still planted into his chest, and turned to look at Lester who was mumbling under his breath, "Don't kill her, please don't kill her…Ranger will kill us allllll." Cal was nodding his head slightly in agreement.
Hector looked back at Stephanie and said again, "Ranger, dice que espere."
This time Stephanie brought up both hands and attempted to shove Hector out of the way as she screeched, "I don't care that Ranger said to wait. You will move and let me in there NOW or I swear I will kick your ass into next week."
All three men looked at her as she finished her sentence and could see how upset she was, and behind the door they could hear Timmy screaming at the top of his lungs in terror.
Lester cleared his throat, "We didn't touch him Beautiful. I swear. He started screaming when we got him in the car and hasn't stopped in 5 hours. But we never even really hit him."
Stephanie looked at Hector after she glared at Lester, "So I suppose that you told him nicely who you were. Asked him super sweet to get in the car and then escorted him inside the building to sit down right…right? ORRRRR did you sneak up behind him in the dead of night, throw a bag over his head and tie him up? Possibly threw him in the car while getting in a few cheap shots, then dragged him in here and tied him to a chair, allll while still having his head covered?" she glared at all of them, "Well which scenario was it…. Cal." She said as her head whipped over to him with a death glare.
Cal looked down refusing to meet her eyes.
So she turned to Lester, "Soooooo." She ground out.
Lester took a very sudden interest in his nails, also refusing to meet her eyes.
So she turned back to Hector who just shrugged his shoulders.
She took a deep breath, "Look I understand that you all hate him and want to kill him after what he did to me. I get that, I do. But I asked you to be kind to him, I told you that he was already terrified because he has been on the run from guys who will kill him after hours of abuse. Did any of you bother to tell him that you were with me? Or did you let him think he was being brought to his death?"
She noted that Cal and Lester still refused to meet her eyes.
"That's what I thought." Stephanie growled. "Look I am not mad…...well not super mad. But I just want to go in and tell him that he is going to be ok."
Lester and Cal flinched when they heard Timmy's voice break mid sob that he didn't want to die. Lester braved his fate when he looked up and said, "Ranger said that were to absolutely not let you in. We didn't think that it would come to not letting you in because its 5am. We were sure you wouldn't be down here."
If it was even possible Stephanie narrowed her eyes even more, "So you thought that because I would probably still be asleep, it would be ok to torture that poor kid for hours and agree to keep me in the dark about it?" she asked slowly as if talking to someone who was special.
"NO …oooo…ooo" Cal stuttered, "We didn't think that we would keep you in the dark."
Stephanie raised her eyebrows, "That is what Lester just said. That it was ok because I wasn't supposed to find out."
"That's not what I meant, really." Lester tried to back pedal. "We just meant that we didn't think we would have to enforce what Ranger said because you wouldn't be here."
"Same thing, Lester." Stephanie growled to him.
Lester just stood there for a moment mouth opening and closing trying to think of what to say when he was saved by a voice behind him, "They were following my orders, Babe."
Lester and Cal both sighed in relief and took off to stand at the end of the hall, they were still on guard duty but wanted nothing to do with this conversation anymore.
Stephanie just glared at Ranger for a moment before a sadness crept into her eyes, "Let me in there Ranger. What they did and what you are doing is not ok."
Ranger just looked at her a moment before he nodded over to Hector who took a step to the side. Stephanie rushed in to see Tank standing next to the table where Timmy was shackled both hands and feet, and a bag covering his head.
Ranger pointed to the corner, "Stand there or you will leave."
Stephanie looked at him a moment before she relented and moved to the corner behind Timmy. She knew that he would carry her out if he needed to and she was the only one who would be able to get Timmy to calm down at this point. She didn't hesitate to give Tank a death glare as he moved over next Timmy. Tank just raised an eyebrow back at her.
Ranger walked over to Timmy and pulled off the cover, it took a moment for his eyesight to adjust before he saw Ranger standing over him. When he finally focused on Ranger's face he let out another scream so loud Stephanie actually had to cover her ears and Tank flinched.
"Shut up." Ranger Growled.
Timmy stopped immediately, body still shaking, but he made the mistake of looking next to him and saw Tank and promptly passed out. Tank rolled his eyes at Ranger who gave a small shake of his head back.
Ranger reached down and slapped Timmy hard across the face, "Wake up now."
Timmy slowly blinked open his eyes and began to open his mouth agine when Ranger Growled, "Do not scream."
Timmy slammed his mouth shut and Ranger gave a small nod, "Good, do you know who I am?"
Timmy gave a small nod.
"Do you know that you are lucky?" Ranger asked.
This time Timmy shook his head no.
Ranger raised an eyebrow, "You are alive."
Timmy just looked at him.
"Had you been anyone else in this world, you would be dead. If she hadn't asked me to save you. You would be dead." Ranger whispered.
Timmy stuttered, "Stephanie?"
Ranger gave a small quick nod then looked over at Stephanie but spoke to Timmy, "It was her request that saved your life and you will repay her by doing everything in your power to keep her safe and happy."
"Howwwww?" Timmy stuttered.
"You will start by telling us everything about who is attempting to use you, then you will do everything we tell you." Ranger said quietly.
Timmy gave a small nod, "So Stephanie is ok? I was worried about her; I didn't want to leave…but you were coming."
Ranger growled, "No, you were cowered and you ran and left her in the dark."
Timmy shrank back into his chair, "Yes, I was."
Rangers eye brows went up in surprise.
"I don't regret a lot in my life but what I did to her will haunt me the rest of my life. I will do whatever you want, anything to make sure she is ok." Timmy said as he looked back up at Ranger.
Ranger stared him down for a moment and when Timmy stared back Ranger nodded then looked over to Stephanie and gave her a quick nod as he moved back a few steps.
Stephanie came around Tank into Timmy's view and smiled, "Are you ok?"
Timmy broke into a huge grin, "You are ok?" he half stated, half questioned.
"Yes." Stephanie said as she came right next to him and started to undo his bindings, "Just a few scrapes and bruises, nothing I won't heal from! I have had much worse before." She looked up at Tank when she heard him cough. "Well, I have!" she said with a grin.
She looked back at Timmy, "I am so sorry that they scared you and hurt you. I asked them not to." She said with a glared at the door.
"Nah its ok Steph, I kind of deserved it." Timmy said with a small grin.
"No you didn't." she said back, "You made mistakes and made poor choices…. that doesn't mean that you deserve to be hurt to. Two wrongs, doesn't make something right. Now we are just both hurt"
She watched as Timmy rubbed his wrists that were red and bleeding, "We are going to go to Bobby." She said as she looked over at Ranger.
Bobby?" Timmy questioned her voice still small.
"Yep" she said as she reached down to help him up. "He's the medic and will look at your wrists and get you something to calm down before they sit you down to find out everything they can about the man who wants to hurt you... And maybe me now."
"Babe, he can see Bobby after." Ranger said gruffly as he walked over to them.
Stephanie looked up with a glare, "No, now."
She helped Timmy walk by Ranger and over to the door. As they walked into the hallway Hector, Lester and Cal looked over at them with questions in their eyes.
"We are going to see Bobby, then to the conference room to discuss what's going on. Are you coming?" Stephanie said in a firm voice.
They looked behind her to see Ranger and Tank coming out. Only after a nod from Ranger did they move out of the way so she could guide Timmy to the elevator. At this point Timmy looked like a light breeze would knock him out so they didn't question Stephanie holding him up.
The very full elevator was silent as it glided to the 4th floor. All the men stood stiff waiting for the doors to open and when they did the men stepped out only far enough that Stephanie and Timmy could exit but not go down the hall.
"Stephanie, let the guys take him down to Bobby. We need to talk." Ranger said stiffly.
"No." She said firmly and began to walk around him.
Ranger reached out to lightly grab her arm.
"Stephanie, now" he said lightly with and a very angry under tone.
"Ranger, don't push me right now." She said right back with anger. "I will take him in then come back out to talk to you."
She went all the way around him this time and began down the hall until she reached Bobby's door. With a quick knock she pushed the door in when she heard Bobby call out for her to enter.
She gave Bobby a small smile and gave Timmy a push towards the exam table. "Bobby this is Timmy. He has come to help find the guys that are threatening him…and maybe me." She gently pushed Timmy to sit on the table. "He was hurt and scared half to death when he was brought in. Can you look at him and fix him up?"
Bobby narrowed his eyes at her, "You mean the Timmy that took you and did that to your face?" Bobby asked pointing at her.
"Yes." She said back with a bite. "Also the Timmy that let me go and tried to save my life by running with his own." She crossed her arms in a huff. "Now will you help him or not?"
"Yes, but only if you let me look at you first quick." He said back with a bite.
Stephanie gave him a small smile and nod. "Ok worry wart. Look away. I feel better."
He walked over to tilt her face back and forth before pulling up her sleeves so he could see the scratches. "I need to redress these quick."
She had a feeling redressing her wounds were done for two purposes. One they really did need to be redressed and two he wanted Timmy to see firsthand what he had done.
Bobby led her over to the second table and sat her down, "Do they hurt at all?" He questioned.
She shook her head no, "Not really." she said.
"How are you feeling overall? Still super sore or stiff?" He asked.
This time she gave a nod, "I forgot to take my pills I was in such a hurry to get down stairs. And now it's full on pain." She said with a grimace.
Bobby nodded while he cleaned the rat bites and scratches murmuring an apology when he saw her flinch. "Want a shot for the pain? It will kick in faster."
She quickly shook her head no, but then thought about all she had to do. She knew if she was stiff or walking funny it would only make the guys madder and she needed them to calm down and be nice. "Can you make it not hurt like last time?" She whispered.
Bobby frowned knowing that she had to be in a good deal of pain to agree to a shot. He had only offered it out of habit. He never thought she would actually take it. "I will try to make it 100% pain free, gorgeous." He whispered to her.
She gave him a smile as he finished wrapping her hands and began checking the scratches on her face. After a few minutes he declared her all bandaged and ready for some pain meds.
When he walked over to the gather the shot she sent Timmy a small smile. She knew he had been watching the entire time when he whispered over to her, "I am so sorry. I am so so sorry."
"It's ok." She whispered back. "You didn't mean to hurt me and you are sorry. That is more than anyone else has ever done." She reached a hand out for him to take. "Let's not worry about what happened in the past because we can't change that. Let's worry about the future for both of us. And show us all you can make better choices, ok?" She watched as he gave a nod a tear running down his face.
"My mom would be so disappointed in me." He whispered.
"Yes, she would." Stephanie said back firmly. Timmy's head snapped up because for once she had used a firm tone with him. When she had his attention she continued, "You made really bad choices and instead of changing your path you kept making even worse decisions. So now is your chance to make good choices. Now you help stop these guys and then make yourself a good future." She watched as he began to nod. "Good" she said in a nicer tone.
Bobby had been watching out of the corner of his eye for the exchange with wide eyes. He began to see what Stephanie did. This kid, this child had made some stupid choices and fucked up big time. But so had he once and if people had not given him a break he might have been lost. He walked over to Stephanie and gave her a small smile.
"This will pinch gorgeous, but I will be fast." And true to his promise she hardly felt it. As he rolled her sleep back down she asked him quietly, "Can I talk to you alone for a minute?"
With a nod he helped her down and over to the door, "What's up." He questioned already knowing what she was going ask him.
"Be nice to him please... For a couple reasons. One he's already completely and utterly terrified, and he is going to mentally and physically shut down before he can help us." She said as she grabbed Bobby's hands. "Two he has already been terrified by the guys who picked him up. Be nice to him, for me?"
"Alright Stephanie, I see what you mean. He really is just a kid and shit, mentally, I think he's still 12. I will be nic-ER." Bobby stressed the er in nicer, "to him…. but I am gonna talk to him about what he did. He needs to know that there was no excuse for hurting you. NONE. I can forgive his stupidity but not your pain and fear."
Stephanie nodded understanding that was the best she was gonna get. "Thank you, I think you are the only one who really listened to me." She shook her head. "I knew it was gonna be hard but I didn't think they would flat out refuse to try."
Bobby shook his head back at her, "I didn't understand until I saw him and heard him talk. I was gonna secretly kill him behind your back." He said with a grin.
Stephanie shook her head and laughed, "Thanks Bobby. I love you." She whispered as she hugged him. She looked out the door that was open to the hallway and saw the guys standing there watching them. She signed deeply, "Now to deal with them."
This time he straight up laughed, "Good luck."
She glared at him, "ha ha ha." She stated with a frown. She looked back at Timmy who looked like he was gonna pass it any minute from pure exhaustion. She walked over to him and gave him a gentle shake. He gave a startled scream, which made her jump. The poor kid was losing his mind!
"Hay." She whispered when he finally focused on her. "Bobby is gonna help you and fix you up ok?"
He gave her a look then looked over at Bobby and took a deep breath, "Are you gonna leave me here…alone?" He asked in a small voice.
She looked over her shoulder at Bobby and saw him standing with his arms crossed and a glare.
She rolled her eyes at him and he gave her a scary smile. Stephanie turned back to Timmy, "Yes, alone, Bobby is gonna be nice to you I promise. But he is gonna talk to you so answer him truthfully and quickly. He is one of the few people or maybe the only one besides me right now that is willing to listen ... Ok?" she said with a firm voice. "Don't fuck it up by lying or trying to create a story. Just pure honesty because he has a low bullshit meter." She watched as Timmy bobbed his head up and down. "Good, I will see you upstairs in a bit." She turned back to Bobby and as she walked past him whispered, "Not too tough ok, he might pass out again. He's done it twice already that I know of."
Bobby rolled his eyes at her and watched her walk out to deal with the next group. He was glad he wasn't on her shit list cause the look she gave the door was ugly.
-/-
As Stephanie walked out into the hall way she looked over at Cal and asked him nicely, "Hay do you think you can be his watch while I talk to Ranger?"
He glanced at Ranger who gave a quick nod of his head and walked into the infirmary where Bobby and Timmy were talking quietly.
Stephanie looked over at Lester, Tank and Hector and said, "Hay you guys I need to talk to Ranger alone for a moment. Want to meet us upstairs in the conference room?"
All three turned to Ranger who looked over at Tank, "You stay with Cal and Bobby, the rest wait on 5." He said stiffly.
They both waited as the men left, going in different directions. When the elevator door closed and the infirmary door closed the hallway was silent as they both looked at each other tensely.
Finally, Ranger looked down at her and said, "It's not my fault the guys were ruff on him."
Stephanie shook her head, "Is that why you think I am mad…...well it is part of the reason I am mad. But not why I am UPSET with you." She said emphasizing the word upset. She shook her head again and slowly uncrossed her arms.
"Ranger, I am not mad at you, I am upset and hurt." She knew she had him confused based on the small twitch on his eye. "Is it true you told the guys to hold me outside the room like I was a child that was supposed to be told what to do?"
Ranger narrowed his eyes at her, "I didn't call you a child." He stated firmly.
Stephanie tilted her chin up, "But you did tell them not to let me in…... that I was to wait for you to come."
Ranger gave a slight nod, "Yes."
"And you don't think anything is wrong with that?" She asked him.
Ranger stood still for a moment thinking about his answer first the replied, "No."
Stephanie raised both of her eyebrows but said nothing.
Ranger uncrossed his arms only to hitch his thumbs on his sides, she knew this conversation was nothing he ever thought he would have and so she was trying to be patient but she also couldn't let it slide. If they were going to work, then they both needed to make comprises and to work on what the other needed; and she needed to be able to talk to him when things bothered her. She needed to know he wasn't going to put her in a box or safe house and lock away the key whenever he saw fit.
She watched in his eyes as he struggled to get the words out without offending her. "That man took you…he hurt you. I wasn't letting you anywhere near him ever, let alone without me."
She gave a small nod, "Yes that BOY did hurt me." She said back. "But I also know that you are not my father Ranger, I am not a 10-year-old who can be told what to do. You need to ask me what you need from me. You could have asked me to wait for you to see him. You could have asked me to not see him at all." She shook her head at him. "and that doesn't mean that I am just going to listen to you. You have to have a good reason if you want me to listen."
He gave a quick jerk of his head, "That is not how this works. I am the security expert. I will make these kinds of decisions."
Stephanie actually took a step back and had to take a deep breath before she continued, "Maybe for your workers that is how it works Ranger, but not for me." She had to shake her head again, it was giving her a headache. "As far as I am concerned Ranger we are equals; we need to make decisions together. We need to decide if I can see someone or even if YOU can see someone. We need decided what we both can live with." She lifted her hand to silence him when she saw he was about to speak. "And more than anything Ranger, you need to TRUST ME! You need to trust that I know my limits! When have I ever gone into see someone who hurt me after I have been saved? When have I ever asked to talk to one of my kidnappers. I always trust you to take care of them and me. Yet you can't trust me to know what my limits are. I wasn't alone Ranger. You had 3 OTHER guys in the room and never once did I ask to speak to him alone. I knew that was more then I should ask."
She took a step back and gave him a small watery smile, "Look I know that this is hard for you. Its hard for me too. To find a balance for both of us. I always rush in and jump in. You always look once, twice and a third time. You and I are so different in every way. But I know that we can make this work. I know that we can find a balance. But you need to learn to trust me the way that I trust you." She held her hand up to silence him when he went to speak again and knew she was asking for a death wish but forged ahead anyway. "I know you trust me with your work and thoughts, but you need to trust that I am trying and that I know what's best for me…. because without that trust Ranger, we are not going to make it."
She turned and walked over to the elevator and got in silently, she looked up to see him processing what she said as the doors slid silently shut.
-/-
Hay guys sorry for the super long delay. I lost where the story was going and hed 3 different pathos…to be honest I am still trying to decided…mostly if I am going to let Timmy live or die at the end.
What would you guys prefer, death or life, lol
I have a rough outline and will try to update at least once a week from now on. The end is near soonnnnn!