Disclaimer: Not mine, I make no money.

A/N A special thanks to Joyce on Perfectly Plum for finding the names of Tank's cat's for me.

Chapter 6

As soon as I left the gates of the safe house, I pulled off to the side of the road and called Ella. I had no idea where I could find half the stuff on Angie's grocery list.

"Ella? It's Tank. I need help."

"Of course, what can I help with?"

"The witness we have in protective custody wants to cook dinner tonight, and she gave us a list a mile long. I have no idea where to get this stuff."

Ella laughed softly "Don't worry, I'm sure I can handle her list."

I read Ella the list and waited while she wrote the whole thing down. "Can you stop by the office in about two hours? I should have everything ready by then. I know Stephanie brought back some clothes and things for her too."

"I'll be there Ella. Thank you!"

I hung up the phone and pulled back onto the road grateful that Ella could help. I headed towards the nearest store. I had a few things I needed to make Operation Make Angie Happy a success. I pulled into the parking lot, and got a spot a few spaces from the door. I almost smiled when I thought about how Steph would react to that. She hated it that we always seemed to have parking luck. I jogged into the store and grabbed a cart. I walked through the store grabbing my items quickly. I went through the express lane, and some old biddy tried to tell me I couldn't be there since it was for 20 Items or less and I had 21. I silenced her objections with a look, and checked out with a minimum of fuss after that. I hauled my bags back to the SUV, and drove to my house. I needed to pick up the biggest component of my surprise here. It took me the better part of an hour before I finished this part of the plan. I looked at my watch, and I realized my trip to the store took longer than I thought, and it was almost time to meet Ella back at Rangeman.

I parked in the garage with just a few minutes to spare. I thought I would check with Steph on the 5th floor before I headed up to see Ella on the 6th. I walked to Steph's cubicle and waited for her to notice me.

"Oh Hey Tank. Ella called and told me you were coming. I took all the stuff I got for Angie to the 6th floor."

"Thanks Bombshell. I know she'll appreciate it."

I turned away and headed for the stairs to take me to Ella's apartment. I wondered if the control room called her because she was waiting for me. She gestured for me to follow her into her apartment. I walked in behind her and I felt my eyes get wide. It looked like between the two of them they bought the entire friggin mall. Ella had put all the cold items into a large cooler, and to make things easier she put all the other things into several boxes. There were still paper shopping bags from several stores in the mall where Ella had folded and stored the clothing Stephanie had bought.

"I picked up a few things you didn't have on your list that I figured you could use."

"Thanks doesn't seem like enough Ella."

"Don't worry dear. You just get that young lady out of her funk. She's bound to be having a rough time of it."

I nodded my agreement as I helped Ella load her cart full of boxes and bags to get it down to the garage. I carried the cooler as we headed for the elevator. On the ride down to the garage, I kept thinking to myself that I hoped that Angie was in a much better mood when I got back. Ella helped me load everything into the SUV, and when she caught a glimpse of the supplies for my surprise she patted my arm.

"You are a good man Pierre."

I smiled at her and continued to help Ella load the truck, as we finished she gave me another pat on the arm and told me to call her if we needed anything else. I thanked her once again and climbed into the vehicle.

When I got within 5 minutes of the Safe house I called Bobby to let him know I was going to be pulling into the Garage. When the garage door closed I climbed out of the SUV and grabbed my surprise from the passenger side floor board. I knew Bobby and Lester were waiting for me, so I opened the door slowly and poked my head in. Sure enough the guys were waiting there, guns out and ready should it have been someone else. I raised my eyebrow silently asking where Angie was. Bobby gestured to the living room. I stepped completely through the kitchen door shutting it silently behind me before moving quietly to the living room.

Angie was sitting on the couch completely absorbed a TV show. I cleared my throat to try to get her attention, she waved at me but didn't take her eyes from the screen.

"Angie?"

"Hm?" She looked up and put the TV on mute. "What's up?"

I gently set my soft sided carrier on the coffee table and stepped back a little. "I couldn't get your cat on short notice, but I was hoping my cat might help you feel better."

I think my ears were bleeding from the excited screech she let loose, and before I knew it she had launched herself at me, her arms wrapped around my neck and her legs clinging to my waist. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou! Seriously Thank you!"

I wrapped my arms around her very carefully, I didn't want her to fall after all. "It's not a problem. I just thought it might help."

Bobby and Lester walked into the living room and Bobby coughed a little to try to get Angie's attention while Lester stood there smirking. I saw them standing there over Angie's shoulder. I barely held in a sigh as I slowly let my grip on her loosen even more. "Hey Angie… We have witnesses, I think they are starting to get the wrong idea." She glanced over her shoulder and saw Bobby's knowing look and Lester's smirk. She rolled her eyes and unwrapped her legs and slid to her feet.

"Oh for Heaven's sake you two! He brought over his cat, that is just the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. I think that deserves a hug."

Lester leaned over and stage whispered to Bobby. "If I'd known it would get that kind of reaction, I would have gone to the pound and adopted a fur ball myself this morning."

Bobby chuckled and smacked Lester as Angie walked over to the carrier and squatted down so she could see the cat. "Oh hey there you sweet little thing, you must be so scared. Here you are in a strange place. Don't you worry we'll get you taken care of. We sure will." She looked up at me as she gently stroked the cat's fur. "do you have a litter box and stuff?"

"I'll go get it out of the garage."

She nodded and kept softly talking to the cat. I walked back out to the garage with Bobby as we began unloading everything that Steph and Ella bought, as well as the cat supplies. We dropped the groceries off in the kitchen before I took the litter and litter box into the living room.

"Angie, where should I set this up?"

She stood up and took the litter and box from me. "I'll set it up in the half bath down here. Go upstairs and get one of your dirty shirts please. Bring that and the kitty to the half bath when you can."

She headed off to get everything set up. I ran up the stairs to go get my T-shirt. I wondered what she needed that for, but I did as I was asked. When I came back down stairs I saw Angie coming in from the kitchen with food and water bowls. I picked up the carrier and met her in the powder room. She finished setting up the food and water as far away from the litter box as possible. She looked up at me and smiled as she reached for the shirt in my hand. She set the shirt up in another spot, and did her best to fashion it into some sort of bed. When she was done, she stood up and gestured for me to set the carrier on the floor. "I'm just going to step outside. Why don't you just open the carrier a little so the cat can come out when it's ready."

"Her name is Miss. Kitty." She gave me a blinding smile and nodded. "ok, just let Miss Kitty come out when she is ready. I left your shirt in here so he has your scent while he gets used to the idea of not being at home."

She slowly stepped out the door and closed it part way behind her. I unzipped the carrier a little knowing Oscar could muscle his way out when he wanted. I joined Angie outside the bathroom and shut the door tightly. "I never would have thought to leave him my shirt."

She shrugged as she walked towards the kitchen with me following her. "I just know it helps to have some familiar things around when you get used to a new place. Give him a few hours to adjust and learn that this is where his potty and food are, and he'll be good to go." She moved to the sink to wash her hands and when she was done she started to sort through all the groceries. She laughed when she pulled an apron from the bottom of one of the boxes. She slipped it on over her head and turned around so I could read what it said. Ella had found an apron that read "A good cook is like a sorceress that dispenses happiness." I laughed and went to help her unload the groceries.

"Something tells me you may not have been the one grocery shopping."

"Guilty as charged. Rangeman has an amazing housekeeper, and she was more than happy to help when I called."

Angie laughed and started to put away what she wasn't going to use right away. "I didn't figure you for the cute sayings kind of guy." She pulled the cooler closer to the fridge and began putting away the cold items. As we finished putting away the groceries she started pulling out measuring cups, bowls and some pans. Bobby and Lester must have heard the noise because they headed into the kitchen. "Isn't it early too start on dinner? It's only like 2 o'clock" Lester said as he headed to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water.

"Not really, I need time to make the bread. It has to rise twice, so it takes a little while."

"You're baking bread?" Bobby asked incredulously.

"Of course. It's better for you than the crap you can buy in the store." She turned around and grabbed her measuring cups and started filling them with flour, salt, water, and other ingredients. Once she had everything lined up neatly on the counter she began mixing her ingredients in a large bowl. She stopped about half way through and looked at us. "You three don't have to stand there and stare at me all afternoon. I'm sure you have better things to do."

None of us said anything we stayed silently where we were. She held her mixing spoon in one hand and put her fists on her hips. "I meant it. You boys go find something to do. Now scoot!" She turned back to her bread muttering under her breath. "Now I know why grandma always sent us outside."

I looked at the other two, raised my eyebrow and leaned over to whisper to them. "Scoot? What are we…six?" They both laughed and shook their heads. "I'm going to check outside, and Lester is going to do another security check on the gates."

I nodded and pulled out a chair at the table. If they were going outside, then I needed to stay close to Angie, for security reasons. I watched Bobby and Lester head out for their patrols. I settled into the chair at the table and listened to Angie start to sing softly to herself as she worked.

It ain't nothin' but a small frame house on an acre lot
It ain't that much diff'rent from any other house on the block
And it may not look like we got all our share of the promise
But at least one thing's for sure, I got it honest

Roll out of the sack every mornin', head on down to the mill
Give 'em all I got for eight, 'cause that's the deal
If you'll check out my paycheck
Well, you'll see that there ain't that much on it
But ev'ry single penny I'm paid, I got it honest

I never had to hang my head in shame
For puttin' a price tag on my name
Never turned my back on what I believe
Or let my heart be ruled by greed
'Cause buddy if I didn't earn it, I don't want it
That way I can always say, I got it honest

Now you ain't looking at some dude
That was born with a Silver spoon in his mouth
And I might seem like some kind of low-life
To that high-falutin' crowd
But I'm plain spoken, straight talkin'
And damn proud of what I have acomplished
Some folks appreciate that and some don't
But, I got it honest

Now when I die, I may not leave my kids a fortune
But I hope they know'd my life stood for things that were important
And I'll hand out the same sturdy old values of my daddy and my momma
It made me every ounce of what I am and I got it honest

I never had to hang my head in shame
For puttin' a price tag on my name
Never turned my back on what I believe
Or let my heart be ruled by greed
'Cause brother if I didn't earn it, I don't want it
That way I can always say, I got it honest
Friend there ain't no doubt about it, I got it honest1

I listened to the words of the song she was singing and it struck me as how appropriate the song was, and how it seemed to fit her. She wasn't exactly ignoring me, but she didn't really seem to care that I was there, watching and listening. I guess she really felt comfortable in the kitchen. I watched as she sprinkled flour on the kitchen counter and started kneading the dough. She reached over and turned up the oven and went back to kneading. She put the dough into a bowl and covered it with a dish towel and set it on top of the stove. She began wiping down the counters and stacking dishes in the sink. When she was done, she washed her hands and gestured to the bags Bobby set in the corner. "Are those the things Steph picked up?"

"yeah. Did you want to take it upstairs?"

"Might as well, I don't want to keep it underfoot."

We each grabbed a couple bags and lugged them up the stairs. I could see a shoe box peeking out the top of one of Angie's bags as I followed her to her room. It seems Steph was determined to make a Jersey Girl out of Angie. We set the bags on her bed, and Angie started pulling out the clothes. She hung up a few pairs of Jeans and T-shirts and reached into the bag to pull out another item. She held it up to put it on the hanger and let out a scream. "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS!"

1 I Got It Honest by Aaron Tippin