Disclaimer: JE owns the characters. Also, references to V For Vendetta and Batman.
A/N: Here's my sequel to Bombs Away! I hope that you enjoy it. A big THANK YOU goes to Rangercraving. I'd be lost without you, Linda. Kisses!
August 15th 4:15 P.M.
"Hey, Handsome," I said into my cell when the other end was picked up.
"Bomber! Christ! It's been three weeks! Are you okay? Why did you disable the GPS tracker?"
"I'm perfectly fine, Ram," I said on a sigh. Leave it to a Merry Man to be concerned over GPS. "I turned off the tracker because I didn't need you guys watching every move that I make. You know exactly where I am. I'm sorry that I haven't called before. I've been kind of busy. How are you doing?"
"I'm fine. It's the rest of the guys that you should be worried about," Ram said quietly.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"You didn't say good bye to any of them. They are a little pissed."
"You know that I couldn't," I said as I slouched in the large leather chair that sat behind my desk. "I wouldn't have been able to leave if I saw them."
"I know that. They just don't understand why you left."
"I left because I had to. I need to find Stephanie," I said as I felt the back of my eyes start to burn. "Look. I just wanted to call and touch base."
"You should really call Ranger."
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I just think that you should call him."
"I'll think about it," I said on a sigh. I know that I should call him. I was just having a hard time getting up the courage to do it. That was one conversation that I was dreading more then calling my mother. She thought that I was completely off my rocker. "I miss you."
"I miss you, too, Steph."
"I'll call you later."
"You better."
"Bye," I sighed and then closed my phone.
August 29th 10:37 A.M.
"It's about damn time!" the voice boomed on the other end of my cell.
"I'm sorry, Ram."
"God damn it, Steph! I was waiting to get a call saying that they found your body in the river!"
"You're being a little over dramatic, Ram," I said with a smile as I looked out my office window at the beach. "I'm perfectly fine."
"Great! Then come home."
"You know that I can't right now," I said as I hit my head on the wall next to the window. I had just had the same conversation with my mother five minutes ago. "I'm not ready yet."
"Why haven't you called Ranger?" Ram demanded.
"Because I'm not ready for that either."
"So, you're only talking to me?"
"For now. How are the guys?"
"Tank has been hammering me because Lula is freaking out. You should at least call her. She is one of your best friends."
"I'll call her tonight. Would that make you happy?"
"As long as it gets Tank off my ass," Ram laughed.
"That sounds like a personal problem," I said with a real laugh. Damn, I can't remember the last time I really laughed. "I gotta go."
"Try to call more often. I'm not the only one worried about you."
"I know. Bye," I said sadly and then closed my phone.
September 10th 2:58 P.M.
"This is not keeping good contact, Steph," Ram hissed at me when he answered his cell.
"I've been busy."
"What? The world of gun running can't take a time out for you to call home and check in? Does Ramos have you chained up in the cellar? Is there a goon holding a gun to your head twenty-four hours a day?" he shouted.
"Calm down, Dad," I laughed.
"This isn't funny, Stephanie," Ram said flatly. "Why haven't you called Ranger?"
"I'm just procrastinating on that call. Is he really pissed?"
"The longer you wait the more pissed he gets. It's not exactly a secret that you call me."
"I don't know what to say to him."
"Then try calling one of the other guys."
"I'll try. I've gotta go. I have a budget meeting," I said with an eye roll and a sigh.
"Nice," Ram chuckled. "I didn't know that the mafia held budget meetings."
"I'll try to call more often," I said, ignoring his last comment.
"I wouldn't be all that pissed if you were at least calling the other guys."
"I'll try," I said with exasperation. "Bye, Handsome."
"Later, Hot stuff."
September 23rd 9:48 A.M.
"Hey, Love Muffin," I said with a smile into my phone.
"Sugar Pie?"
"That'd be me."
"Holy Hell!" He whispered. The he did a one-eighty and shouted, "What in the hell are you doing?"
"Well, I'm at work right now."
"That's not what I meant and you know it!" he shouted.
"Calm down, Hal. Take a deep breath and sit down."
"You want me to calm down? You took off and haven't called."
"That's not true. I've called Ram. He knew where I was going and what I was doing," I reassured.
"Well, that's not good enough. I may be your fake husband, but I'm still your husband and you ran out on me," he said flatly. I could hear a smile peaking through. "I'm filling for fake divorce. Expect to hear from my fake lawyer in a week to ten days."
"Please don't divorce me, Love Muffin. I'll do anything," I said in fake horror.
"Come home."
"I can't. Not yet. Can you tell Ram that you heard from me?"
"Yeah," he said on a sigh. "Anything else?"
"How's Bobby?"
"Not good, Kiddo."
"That's one more call to put on my list of people I don't want to talk to."
"He misses you. Did you know that he won't let anyone in your room?"
"I didn't know that," I said as I sadly shook my head. I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I had spent a lot of lonely nights thinking about Bobby. "I miss him, too."
"How are you doing?" Hal asked after I fell silent.
"I'm actually doing okay."
"Good. Do you need anything?"
"No. I'm good. I've got a meeting that I have to get to. I'll keep in touch."
"You better. If you don't… I will find you," Hal threatened with a laugh.
"You already know where I am," I laughed. "Bye, Hal."
"Bye, Sugar Pie."
October 7th 1:13 P.M.
Ranger's voice mail.
"Yo. I'm just calling to let you know that I'm okay. I'm sure that you already know that I'm in Deal working for Alexander Ramos. He owns a men's clothing store that I'm helping turn around. The place was a mess when I got here. Things are slowly turning around. I think that I might actually be happy. I'll try to catch you later. Bye."
October 7th 1:17 P.M.
"Tank."
"Yo," I said with a smile.
"Bomber! How the hell are you?"
"I'm doing pretty great. How are you?"
"I'd be better if Ranger wasn't 'in the wind'."
"How long has he been gone for?" I asked as I checked my e-mail.
"About three weeks."
"Bad business?"
"Is there any other kind?"
"Not really," I laughed. "I'm just calling to check in."
"And you're calling me?"
"Ram suggested that I start calling some of the other guys."
"That's a good idea. None of us were all that impressed with the way that you left," Tank said flatly.
"It was hard enough leaving with Ram standing there. It would have been even harder leaving with the rest of you guys there," I said quietly.
"I know, Bomber."
"I've got a meeting in a few minutes. I just wanted to check in. Can you tell Ram that I called you?"
"Sure thing, Steph."
"Later," I said to dead air.
October 20th 7:45 A.M.
"Ram."
"Hey, Handsome," I sang into the phone.
"I was beginning to think that you forgot about me."
"Never," I laughed.
"You hanging in okay?"
"Of course," I said with a smile. I've found myself smiling more lately.
"You haven't called Bobby yet."
"No. I haven't."
"He's getting worse," Ram said quietly.
"What do you mean?" I asked as I leaned forward and started rubbing my forehead.
"He's depressed. He almost got himself killed two days ago during an apprehension."
"Why didn't you call me?" I said as I stood up and started pacing my office.
"He didn't get hurt."
"Ram. Why didn't you call me?" I asked again as I stopped in front of the window that looked out into the store.
"How's work?" Ram asked avoiding my question.
"It's going great," I said after I decided to let the issue drop. "I really like it here."
"You aren't thinking about staying, are you?" Ram asked nervously.
"Not in a million years," I said with a laugh as I started gathering up reports to take to Alexander. "Trenton is my home."
"When are you coming home?"
"Soon. I gotta go. I'll keep in touch."
"Fine. Call Cal. He's pissed that you haven't called him yet."
"Okay," I said with a laugh and closed my phone.
Noveber 5th 3:27 P.M.
"Cal."
"Remember, remember the fifth of November," I recited in my sad attempt at an English accent.
"The gun powder treason and plot. I know of no reason why the gun powder treason should ever be forgot," he recited back with a laugh in his own sad English accent.
"What's Shaken?" I asked.
"God, it's great to hear your voice."
"Miss me?"
"More then anything," he said on a sigh.
"Things have been that boring?" I asked on a laugh as I walked up the steps to the Ramos mansion.
"You have no clue. When are you coming back?"
"Everyone keeps asking and I still don't know," I said as I nodded at the man that answered the door with a riffle in his hand.
"You doing okay?"
"I doing great," I said as I made my way down the hall towards Alexander's home office. "I'm on my way into a meeting. I just wanted to touch base. Can you let Ram know that you talked to me?"
"Sure. Anything that you need to pass on?"
"Tell Love Muffin that I haven't received my divorce papers yet," I said with a laugh as I walked into Alexander's office.
"I told him that fake lawyer was a dunce," Cal said with a laugh.
"I'll talk to you later."
"Later, Evey."
"Later, V."
November 22nd 2:15 P.M. Thanksgiving Day
"Santos."
"Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?" I asked quietly.
"Of course," he said with a chuckle.
"How's it hanging?"
"A little to the left. You?"
"Straight," I laughed. "Are you on duty?"
"Yep. It's me and Woody in the control room. Brown and Brett are out on the street."
"Sounds kind of lonely," I said sadly. I really missed the guys.
"It ain't to bad. I've got Woody and Ella said that she'd bring us some dinner."
"Damn! I miss her cooking," I laughed.
"She misses your eating," he laughed. "I miss the moaning."
"I wasn't that bad," I said as I felt my cheeks start to burn.
"Where are you?"
"I'm out on a balcony watching the waves beat against the beach."
"Alexander sure does have a great place, huh?" he said on a sigh.
"Yeah, he does," I agreed as I turned and looked at the mansion that sat on the beach.
"You okay?" Lester asked after I fell silent.
"Yeah. I just wanted to hear a friendly voice," I said sadly. "I kind of miss you guys."
"You know where we are," he said gently. "Or did you forget your way home?"
"I could never forget my way home," I said. I saw Alexander peek his head out the door and smile over at me. I smiled back and held up my hand asking him to wait a moment. "I have to go. Alexander is waiting for me. Can you tell Ram that we spoke?"
"Sure thing, Bomber."
"I'll catch you later, Les."
"Call me any time, Steph."
"I will," I said quietly and then closed my phone.
December 3rd 10:45 A.M.
"Ram."
"Miss me yet?" I asked playfully.
"Every second of every day," he said quietly.
"I haven't been gone that long, Ram," I said with an over exaggerated sigh.
"It seems like years. It's like time stands still around here."
"You guys need to come up with a form of entertainment other then my misadventures," I joked.
"It's more then your misadventures that we miss," Ram said sadly.
"I know, Buddy. I'll be home soon."
"When?" Ram asked with a sudden boost of happiness.
"I'm not sure," I said calmly. I already knew when and I had already talked to Alexander about it. "I'll let you know."
"I guess that's better then saying that you're never coming back."
"My home is in Trenton. You know that," I said lightly, trying to reassure him. "I've got another damn meeting. I'll call you later."
"Try calling Bobby."
"I'll try," I laughed and then closed my phone. I was getting really good at not saying good bye on the phone.
December 25th 9:00 A.M. Christmas Day
"Brown."
"Hey, Bobby," I said with a smile on my face.
"Bomber?"
"Yeah, Honey."
He was silent for a moment before he finally spoke. "How are you?"
"I'm doing really great," I said as I climbed out of my Bronco. "How are you?"
"I guess I'm okay. What are you doing?"
"Not a whole lot right now. Are you working?" I asked as I leaned against the front for my vehicle.
"Yeah. Ella just called us back to the office for breakfast, so Lester and I are headed back right now."
"I'm jealous," I said as I looked up and down the street. "I miss her waffles."
"She does make great waffles," Bobby agreed. I could hear the smile in his voice. God how I have missed his voice. "You know that she would make them for you if you came back."
"Yeah," I said quietly as I eyed the approaching Bronco. I moved into view of the Bronco and smiled. "Do you think that she might do that this morning?"
I could see Bobby's face light up when he saw me standing in the street in front of the RangeMan office. He jumped out of the Bronco before Lester got it completely stopped at the gate to the garage. I watched as he sprinted over to me and threw his arms around me. I screamed as he lifted me off the ground and whirled me around. I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in his neck.
"God. I've missed you," he whispered in my hair.
"I've missed you, too, Bobby," I whispered as I felt a happy tear fall down my face. "More then anyone else."
"Are you gonna let her go?" Lester asked as he walked over. "Or, do I need to get the jaws of life?"
I felt Bobby's arms tighten around me and didn't need to guess that he wasn't about to let go of me. I pressed a button on my keys to pop that back door on my Bronco. "Why don't you make yourself useful and grab the blue bags out of the back?"
"Do I look like a pack mule?" Lester laughed as he opened the back door. He was silent for a moment before he leaned around the side and smiled at me. He had to reach over my duffle bags to get to the blue bags that I asked him to grab. "What about the duffle bags?"
"Duffle bags?" Bobby whispered in my hair.
"I'm home, Bobby," I whispered with a smile as I winked at Lester over Bobby's shoulder. "I'm home."