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Trying To Go Forward (Chap 2)
Jun. 17th, 2012 12:00 pmHappy Fathers Day!!!
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I was just putting on my shoes when I heard a knock on the door, seems like I was just in time. I wasn’t sure I was at all ready for this, but like Les said baby steps together. I opened the door and had to catch my breath. Les stood there in black dress pants with a deep green dress shirt that made his eyes pop; he looked amazing. I had to shake my head to center my thoughts.
“You look great Les.”
“You look breathtaking Beautiful.” I had on a sapphire blue silk wrap dress that came two inches above my knees combined with a pair of silver FMP’s.
“Thank you. You ready to head down?” I grabbed my purse, keys and a light wrap and was ready to go.
“We’re taking the Limo so we can all go together. Everyone should be waiting in the garage.” He led me through the door, closed it and we headed to the garage.
I was met by a sea of very handsome Merry Men. All of them looked like they could have stepped out of GQ. After being greeted and hugged, we climbed in the limo and headed out.
The ride was actually quiet and subdued. This was the first time we’d all been together socially since Ranger’s funeral and he was missed.
We arrived at Rossini’s and were escorted to a private room; Tank apparently deciding that we needed space and privacy. We sat at the table, ordered drinks and then Tank stood up to speak.
“I brought us all together to celebrate the growth of RangeMan, but there is another reason I felt it necessary. We’re all having a tough time moving forward after the Boss man’s death so I thought we’d try something. Tonight, let’s talk about him. You can share a story, or things that you loved, or miss about him. “
“I remember when he brought a white girl from the Burg on a redecorating job, I thought he was insane, no offense Little Girl. But he insisted that you be a part of it all, the look on your face when I tossed the guy out the window.” Tank smiled and continued. “But you stuck it out and didn’t back down. After that I started to see what he saw in you.” He looked at Steph with a huge smile on his face, “Ranger’s instincts were right as always.”
He sat down and Les spoke up. “I was 9 and Santa had left me a skateboard and I wanted to show my smooth moves to Ranger. I, of course, was not near as cool as I thought was.” He smiled the sweetest smile and laughed, “Ranger tried to show me some moves he knew and you know what? That bastard had grace and skills even then! I tried to copy what he did and all that happened was I fell on my ass! But he didn’t laugh at me. He helped me up and showed me again and again until I could do it. He never gave up on anyone. Ever.”
Hal chimed in, “When Steph stunned me with my own stun gun, he took me in his office to talk with me. I thought for sure I was going to be fired. But after a firm talking to about handing over my weapon, he looked at me and laughed. He said that no one was immune to her charms; that she had a way of disarming you before you knew what hit you. I felt such relief after that moment that I relaxed around everyone and took the ribbing everyone gave me in the vein it was intended.”
We ordered dinner and continued to share and laugh together as the walls of pain we’d all erected started to slowly come down. After our food arrived we continued to tell our stories as we laughed and cried.
“I remember how scared I was when I had to tell him that the Porsche blew up and that a garbage truck fell on it! I felt certain that he was going to kill me or send me to some third world country.” I laughed as I said. “But all he said was that he was glad I was alright and that there was only one me. A car could be replaced.”
“He always made me feel like I could do anything. The words, ‘Proud of you Babe’ always made me feel accomplished and fulfilled. His support was unending.” I looked around the table. “And he brought me to all of you. Your love and support means the world to me and, as always, Ranger gave us all what we needed; Each other. Together we are a family”
Tank agreed, “Little girl, I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but I feel better than I have in a very long time.” I admitted. “I think I was trying too hard not to think or talk about Ranger. I was burying myself in work, and denial land trying to get through the days.” I admitted.
“I agree Beautiful; I know I’m guilty of the same thing.” A chorus of men agreeing filled the room. “We all need a swift kick in the ass and we’re going to give it to each other.”
Cal spoke up, “Damn straight! I know I need an ass kicking. It’s time to start living, no more just going through the motions.”
“Did we get that new contract for Tactical Planning with the FBI?” Ram inquired
“Yes,” answered Tank. Along with the contract for occasional Black-Ops planning. None of us will be going on missions, but we will be lending our skills and services for training and planning.” Tank looked over and smiled at me, “That was negotiated by Steph. You might want to ask her how she managed that.”
I looked down at my hands for a brief moment, then around the table at my family. “With the shares Ranger left me in RangeMan, it put me in the position of being able to do the negotiating with the government. I can’t say they were happy with what I proposed, but I wouldn’t back down and told them to take it or leave it.”
“All of your contracts were up in three months at the time I was dealing with negotiations.” I took a deep breath. “I know how important the work you did for the government was to each of you, and I have always been proud of what all of you accomplished on those missions.”
I looked around the table with a gleam in my eye, “I don’t need to ‘know’ what you do on your mission to understand the importance or grasp the gist of what you are called on to do for our country. I didn’t want to take that away from any of you, but I also knew I couldn’t handle the loss of another member of our family.” A tear fell down my cheek, “So I negotiated, stating the previous contract had been fulfilled and no one would be called out for a mission. Instead you would lend your vast knowledge to train and plan future missions for an undisclosed amount of time.” I looked up to see all their eyes on me in awe.
Ram was the first to find his voice, “Steph, that’s incredible. I can’t believe you went in to battle for us like that.”
Vince stood up, walked over to me, took me in his arms and held me, “Thank you. One, for seeing us the way that you do. Two, for understanding why we do what we do. And three, for loving us and trying to keep us safe.” He kissed the top of my head and walked back to his seat.
The rest of my guys followed suit, each placing a kiss on the top of my head and returning to their seat. We raised our glasses in the air and as if on cue exclaimed, “Family.” And I could swear I’d heard the words…. Proud of you Babe….
******************************************************************************
I was just putting on my shoes when I heard a knock on the door, seems like I was just in time. I wasn’t sure I was at all ready for this, but like Les said baby steps together. I opened the door and had to catch my breath. Les stood there in black dress pants with a deep green dress shirt that made his eyes pop; he looked amazing. I had to shake my head to center my thoughts.
“You look great Les.”
“You look breathtaking Beautiful.” I had on a sapphire blue silk wrap dress that came two inches above my knees combined with a pair of silver FMP’s.
“Thank you. You ready to head down?” I grabbed my purse, keys and a light wrap and was ready to go.
“We’re taking the Limo so we can all go together. Everyone should be waiting in the garage.” He led me through the door, closed it and we headed to the garage.
I was met by a sea of very handsome Merry Men. All of them looked like they could have stepped out of GQ. After being greeted and hugged, we climbed in the limo and headed out.
The ride was actually quiet and subdued. This was the first time we’d all been together socially since Ranger’s funeral and he was missed.
We arrived at Rossini’s and were escorted to a private room; Tank apparently deciding that we needed space and privacy. We sat at the table, ordered drinks and then Tank stood up to speak.
“I brought us all together to celebrate the growth of RangeMan, but there is another reason I felt it necessary. We’re all having a tough time moving forward after the Boss man’s death so I thought we’d try something. Tonight, let’s talk about him. You can share a story, or things that you loved, or miss about him. “
“I remember when he brought a white girl from the Burg on a redecorating job, I thought he was insane, no offense Little Girl. But he insisted that you be a part of it all, the look on your face when I tossed the guy out the window.” Tank smiled and continued. “But you stuck it out and didn’t back down. After that I started to see what he saw in you.” He looked at Steph with a huge smile on his face, “Ranger’s instincts were right as always.”
He sat down and Les spoke up. “I was 9 and Santa had left me a skateboard and I wanted to show my smooth moves to Ranger. I, of course, was not near as cool as I thought was.” He smiled the sweetest smile and laughed, “Ranger tried to show me some moves he knew and you know what? That bastard had grace and skills even then! I tried to copy what he did and all that happened was I fell on my ass! But he didn’t laugh at me. He helped me up and showed me again and again until I could do it. He never gave up on anyone. Ever.”
Hal chimed in, “When Steph stunned me with my own stun gun, he took me in his office to talk with me. I thought for sure I was going to be fired. But after a firm talking to about handing over my weapon, he looked at me and laughed. He said that no one was immune to her charms; that she had a way of disarming you before you knew what hit you. I felt such relief after that moment that I relaxed around everyone and took the ribbing everyone gave me in the vein it was intended.”
We ordered dinner and continued to share and laugh together as the walls of pain we’d all erected started to slowly come down. After our food arrived we continued to tell our stories as we laughed and cried.
“I remember how scared I was when I had to tell him that the Porsche blew up and that a garbage truck fell on it! I felt certain that he was going to kill me or send me to some third world country.” I laughed as I said. “But all he said was that he was glad I was alright and that there was only one me. A car could be replaced.”
“He always made me feel like I could do anything. The words, ‘Proud of you Babe’ always made me feel accomplished and fulfilled. His support was unending.” I looked around the table. “And he brought me to all of you. Your love and support means the world to me and, as always, Ranger gave us all what we needed; Each other. Together we are a family”
Tank agreed, “Little girl, I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but I feel better than I have in a very long time.” I admitted. “I think I was trying too hard not to think or talk about Ranger. I was burying myself in work, and denial land trying to get through the days.” I admitted.
“I agree Beautiful; I know I’m guilty of the same thing.” A chorus of men agreeing filled the room. “We all need a swift kick in the ass and we’re going to give it to each other.”
Cal spoke up, “Damn straight! I know I need an ass kicking. It’s time to start living, no more just going through the motions.”
“Did we get that new contract for Tactical Planning with the FBI?” Ram inquired
“Yes,” answered Tank. Along with the contract for occasional Black-Ops planning. None of us will be going on missions, but we will be lending our skills and services for training and planning.” Tank looked over and smiled at me, “That was negotiated by Steph. You might want to ask her how she managed that.”
I looked down at my hands for a brief moment, then around the table at my family. “With the shares Ranger left me in RangeMan, it put me in the position of being able to do the negotiating with the government. I can’t say they were happy with what I proposed, but I wouldn’t back down and told them to take it or leave it.”
“All of your contracts were up in three months at the time I was dealing with negotiations.” I took a deep breath. “I know how important the work you did for the government was to each of you, and I have always been proud of what all of you accomplished on those missions.”
I looked around the table with a gleam in my eye, “I don’t need to ‘know’ what you do on your mission to understand the importance or grasp the gist of what you are called on to do for our country. I didn’t want to take that away from any of you, but I also knew I couldn’t handle the loss of another member of our family.” A tear fell down my cheek, “So I negotiated, stating the previous contract had been fulfilled and no one would be called out for a mission. Instead you would lend your vast knowledge to train and plan future missions for an undisclosed amount of time.” I looked up to see all their eyes on me in awe.
Ram was the first to find his voice, “Steph, that’s incredible. I can’t believe you went in to battle for us like that.”
Vince stood up, walked over to me, took me in his arms and held me, “Thank you. One, for seeing us the way that you do. Two, for understanding why we do what we do. And three, for loving us and trying to keep us safe.” He kissed the top of my head and walked back to his seat.
The rest of my guys followed suit, each placing a kiss on the top of my head and returning to their seat. We raised our glasses in the air and as if on cue exclaimed, “Family.” And I could swear I’d heard the words…. Proud of you Babe….
