The Long Road Home.

Virginia Safe house

Ranger

Stephanie was driving him crazy. He could finally perform, and now Stephanie was flat out refusing him her bed. A week ago, she told him that if he was not going to marry her, she was not going to have sex with him. And a week ago he was determined to wait- he would not marry her until he was at full strength - so he was not a burden to her.

But that had been a week ago.

And he was starting to weaken.

It was that damn bikini- straight out of the old song- barely more than a couple of strings and a Band-Aid for Christ's sake.

Stephanie was beautiful. And he loved her with all of his soul. She was the light to his darkness. And she was sexy… his damn erection was painful just thinking about her in that damned bikini.

She was not fighting fair.

And now, of course, the men closest to him had taken her side. His men… but they were her "Merry Men".

They had taken to wearing those fucking t-shirts.

It had started as a joke, but within a few hours, his useless cousin had them made.

Ranger shook his head. He would have to kill Lester for this one.

Tank, Bobby and Lester were now proudly wearing hot pink t-shirts that fit like a second skin. The front was emblazoned with the image of a donut and cup of coffee and "Team Steph" lettered on the back.

They looked ridiculous. And Stephanie loved them for it.

Yesterday, "Uncle" Lester got all the kids in the compound "Team Steph" t-shirts that were light pink and had a image of Rex on the front.

It was getting out of hand.

But there was a benefit to the levity. There was little enough joy since the Russian mob troubles started. It had been a struggle for all of them.

The days, weeks and months could not have been longer than the time since he had been shot. He had worked harder than he had ever before in his life. And he was still not better. Still not back to his fighting weight and strength. And mentally, he acknowledged he was struggling.

Still, he wasn't dead. And he would be if not for the titanium flask.

Kinsey's gift.

Kinsey tucked the flask into the flak jacket breast pocket before handing it over for Ranger to put on.

The flask saved his life by deflecting the bullet's path. But that had been the purpose of the gift. He again felt the burning at the back of his eyes, the burning of the tears that simply did not come.

Kinsey's betrayal.

When Charlotte confirmed Rob allowed the shooter's entry to the Virginia facility, Ranger wanted to know why. He just could not understand why his friend, his brother, had not come to him when he knew he was in trouble, why he had not trusted Ranger to help. Why he had chosen betrayal.

When Tank "spoke" to Kinsey, it came out that Kinsey's father-in-law got in too deep to the Russian Mob, and they were threatening Amanda's life.

Ranger understood… there was nothing he would not do to protect Stephanie. Nothing.

Since the shooting, Kinsey and his family have been in a safe house, being interviewed and protected.

Lester said it was the hardest decision in those first few days… Protecting the man who betrayed the team. But they knew it was what Ranger would do.

Ranger pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes. Because Robert was a brother in arms. A friend.

Tank arrived after physical therapy. In the hot pink nightmare.

"We got a message from Gabriela Rose." Tank started without elaboration, opting to hand Ranger the note. "She has been busy."

"It's hard to take you seriously in that shirt." Ranger read the note quickly. Gabriela had been busy in the two weeks since she had received her information from the Rosolli clan. Then she visited Charlie Shine. Who was able to confirm some of her suspicions about what had happened to Ana after she left Newark. She would be here in a day or two and requested a private meeting with Ranger and Tank.

Tank shrugged. "Marry the girl, Ric. Life is too short to waste time."

Ranger indicated the paper in his hand. "You've read this?"

Tank nodded. "And you are ignoring me. Even if you don't improve from where you are now, you are in love with her and she loves you. You have money enough. What else can you be waiting for?"

Ranger had no answer.

Gabriela sat at the table with Ranger and Tank. She faced the yard of the next house. Stephanie was over at the pool behind the Martine's house, in what Gabriela could only describe as the smallest bikini she had ever seen. Ranger had practically growled as he saw people take notice of his fiancée. Stephanine looked toned and had good muscle definition. Her new work-out routine was showing.

Lester had given Gabriela the heads up on the drive from the airport about the pink t-shirts, so she didn't mention it. Lester was convinced that Ranger was nearly ready to cave. With the information Gabriela was about to share, she wasn't convinced marriage would be their next step.

"Gentlemen, I asked to meet with you privately because it is my understanding that not many know about the relationship you had with Anoushka Smirnov. And everything that has happened thus far is tied to the effort to identify the man with whom Ana spent her time when living in Newark."

And with that, Ranger's ancient history crashed into his current life.

He swallowed hard. "Tell us everything you've learned. From the beginning. Leave nothing out."

And as Gabriela Rose spoke, tears long held back finally fell.