Chapter 2

May 2nd

"Okay do we have everything that we need guys. I need you to double-check everything."

My other 5 teammates verified that everything was good, and we had plenty. We would each be carrying a backpack some with supplies some with clothes for the hostages. I had Ranger's backpack. Also, as much water as we could possibly carry. Each one of us wore Operation Ranger camo shirts. (Yes, I know I had them made so sue me!). black cargos, black utility belt. We all carried at least 3 guns and several knives. We also had a pouch on the belt that held flash bombs and grenades.

In Ranger's troupe, he was Bravo one. Tank was Bravo 2. Lester was Bravo 3. Bobby was Bravo 4 and then it went from there. Well now, I am Bravo one after much reluctance on my end. I felt like that was Ranger's title, not mine. But Tank reminded me that this was my mission I set it up they were just along for the ride. Alex was Bravo 5 and Stone Bravo 6. We all wore communications in our ears so we could communicate with each other and communicate with the pilot of any plane we were using.

After everything was loaded, we stood at the front door hugging everyone. I held Ricky in my arms and kissed and loved him. Told him how much I loved him, and that mommy was bringing daddy home. After handing Ricky to Mama Tia. Kissed her on the cheek. Operation Rangers Unit walked out the doors loaded up into the SUV and headed to get my man.

18 hours later…

The 6 of us were put in a field of 8 feet tall wheat. We had on night-vision goggles headed north. We had black face paint under our eyes. We all had Ak47 in our hands and Glocks strapped on our sides. I motioned with my hand for everyone to spread out. We reached the compound at 10:05 pm shift changed 5 minutes ago.

The plan was as follows:

Bravo 3, 4, 5, 6 take out the guards on each end. Bravo 1 and 2 high tail it inside and take out the other guard. Our timing had to be perfect. We wanted to make sure the guards that just came on duty were good and relaxed. We squatted down behind vehicles. I had Tank to my right we were at one vehicle. Lester and Alex as at another. Bobby and Stone were at a truck with a long bed that can hold gurneys. We were taking this truck probably going to need it for the hostages.

I spoke into my com mic to make sure everyone was ready. At 11:05, 1 hour after we found the compound, all hell broke loose. The guards on the outside were easily taken down. Tank & I went into the middle through flaps and caught the guard there sleeping. Tank easily broke his neck. It was easier than we thought.

There were 4 stalls 2 on the left 2 on the right. Each stall had a man hanging by his arms with a black cloth bag over his head. I knew instantly which one was Ranger. I walked over to the second stall on the left.

"Carlos, can you hear me?" I pulled the bag gently off his head. His eyes were closed, and he had cuts and bruises all over his body. He was wearing only pants and no boots. I placed my hand gently on the side of his face and I brushed it up and down. "Carlos, baby I'm here are you okay?" He opened his eyes when he heard my voice, and he whispered my name. "Babe?" "Yes, it's me. We came to get you out of this hell hole."

Tank found the keys to unlock the cuffs that were shackled to their wrist. One by one each one was unshackled. Bobby started IVs on all of them. I helped Ranger to sit down on the ground while he waits for the IV to help get him mobile.

"Babe, how did you find us?" he stares at me while he puts his palm on my cheek.

"Let's just say that right now the military is the highest person on my shit list. I need you to relax and drink this water." I help him change into his clothes while trying to avoid bothering Bobby while he was putting the IV in Ranger's arm. Then I gave him an apple and a banana. By this time he is on his 3rd bottle of water.

While I'm working on getting Ranger ready, Bobby is trying to get the hostage with no name (going to call him Doe) with an IV and check his vitals.

"Bravo 1, Doe is not looking so good."

"Brave 3, 5, and 6 prepare to move Doe in the covered truck. Help Bravo 4, if need with medical for the patient."

Ranger is getting hydrated and starting to gain his senses. He is listening and has a smile on his face as he listens to me give orders back and forth. "Bravo 2, prepare Jon and Thomas for departure."

"Roger that Bravo 1"

"Alright, Carlos how are you doing? You better?"

He grabbed me by my waist and pulled me to him and kissed me like he was starving, and I was his last meal. "I am great now Babe." He smiles his wolf-grin.

"Alright come on let's get you finished suited up." I gave him a com mic and put his utility belt around his waist.

"I've had flash bombs and grenades added to your belt. You have a Glock also, here is a knife and you can take my AK and I'll grab the guard's gun." He grabbed me again and pulled me to him. "When we get home, we need to have a serious talk about the badass outfit you're wearing and why you are in this hell hole rescuing me. But for now, thanks Babe, I appreciate it and I love you."

We were in the middle of kissing when Tank (Bravo 2) says "Damn, guys can you two not do that right now, I know you missed each other but SHIT!"

We laughed and flipped him off and started grabbing stuff to leave with.

"Thomas, Jon the two of you good?" they both nodded. Doe has already been loaded in the back of the wagon truck. "Alright guys, Ranger is miked up. He is now in charge."

"Negative Babe, this is your mission, not mine, I'm a rescued hostage." The guys just laughed and went about their business.

"Alright, then it's 0415 in the morning folks time to move out. Make sure you all have your vest on I don't need anyone getting shot on my watch. Everyone grabs what you can a let's go."

We all run to a vehicle. Bobby is in the back of the covered truck with Doe and Alpha 5 is driving that truck. Ranger took one of the other vehicles and is driving it. I'm riding shotgun. Thomas is in the backseat along with Alpha 3. The 3rd vehicle is Alpha 2 driving Alpha 6 in the passenger seat and Jon in the back seat. Next to him are supplies strapped in with a seatbelt. Hey, you do what you must do right?

"Okay guys, our CI advised us there is a plane 2 miles from here that we board. It's gassed and waiting on us. We must get there by 0600 hours. Move it." I yelled in the mic as everyone started driving off through the field.

Next thing we know we got guys shooting at us from all sides. They are on what looked like small dirt bikes. Everyone is shooting. Even the drivers. There were about 20 men on bikes. We were able to kill all of them and only a couple of us got hit myself included but we had our vests on. Still stung like a Bitch though.

"Everyone one, okay? Bravo one has been hit but I'm okay vest took it, anyone else? I yelled into my mic hoping we had no casualties.

"Your hit, Babe" Ranger was looking at me worriedly while still trying to drive.

"Yeah, I know hurts like a Bitch, but the vest got the brunt of it. I'll live. That was a real good clusterfuck if I've ever seen one. where the hell did those guys come from?"

"Good question Bravo 1 might want to ask the senator when we get back," Bravo 2 said laughing.

"Oh, he is already on my shit list he just moved up a notch." I laughed as I remember how many people are on the list. It's getting longer and longer.

We finally came to the plane with the pilot outside smoking a cigarette. I walked up to him to let him know who we were and to give him the safe word: Ranger.

After 15 minutes everything is loaded, and we take off to Washington DC. Tank, Lester & Bobby will take a plane to Trenton, Alex & Stone will ride with them and be dropped off in Boston, and Ranger and I will ride with them and be flown to Miami. He has a son to meet.

Finally, we can relax a little. I removed my vest to check the area where I got shot in my lower left side. I get the area washed and cleaned by Bobby and I lean back against my seat. There are only 10 seats in the plane and then an open area for a stretch or gurney. That is where Doe is at. He has an IV connected to him and is alive but barely.

"Bobby, call ahead to DC and have an ambulance waiting to take Doe to a hospital. He doesn't look so good." "Roger that Bomber I'm on it."

Ranger sat down in the chair next to me and pulled me into his lap. I wrapped my arms around him, and we kissed. I felt like I was home. God, I love this man. He is my world and I'm so glad that we could bring him home. We just sat like that and kissed and held each other.

"Alright you two, don't start ripping off clothes or anything. We don't need a show." Tank laughed as we both gave him an Italian hand gesture.

"Come on Tank, we never get to see the two of them make out." Les was laughing too and he got an Italian hand gesture as well.

I pulled apart from Ranger, "Got something to show you, Carlos." I took out my phone and showed him a picture of Ricky that I took the day that we left for the mission.

He stared at the picture then looked at me then back at the picture. He was shocked. I shocked Batman. Go figure! He asked while still looking at the picture "Babe, who's baby is this?"

"That is Ricardo Carlos Manoso IV, but I call him Ricky. That is our son Carlos." I watched his eyes as he absorbed that information.

"Our son? You were pregnant when I left?"

"Yep, found out right after you left. He will be 3 months old in less than 2 weeks. He looks just like you he is so handsome. He is with your Mama and family. That's why we are going to Miami. I've been staying with them since he was born. I wanted him to know your family."

He grabbed me and hugged me. I could tell he was emotional he just didn't want the other guys to see it. "Babe, I'm so sorry I wasn't there." He said into my neck.

"Honey, it's okay he is fine and I'm fine. I can't wait for you to see him. He is just like you." I kissed his neck and whispered I love you in his ear.

We just sat there and held each other no one saying anything. Ranger pushed his seat back so we could be reclined. Bobby gave him a blanket and him and I slept with me laying on top of him his arms around me and my phone still in his hand. We slept the whole flight close to 17 hours. I guess we both were tired.

We didn't wake until Tank shook us and told us that we were about to land. Damn, we slept the whole 17 hours. I stretched and got off Ranger. Didn't want too but I did.

I started grabbing my stuff I looked out the window "Sonofabitch."

Ranger walked over and looked out "Why is the Coronel here?"

"Because he is a fucking idiot. He wants us to debrief in Washington. I told him Hell no. He had no intentions of getting you out so he can bite me. Let me handle this, Carlos."

"Hey, it's your rodeo I'm just along for the ride." He chuckled and started stepping off the plane.

The runway is basically a square. There are 4 runways. We are on the left side runway and the plane that we are taking to our destinations is on the top runway. We all start walking to that runway, but I paused in front of the Coronel.

He was about 6'2" with just about all gray hair. His eyes were a piercing blue. He was in full uniform. He wasn't ugly but he wasn't gorgeous. He was nice looking in an older man kind of way.

"Ranger, good to see you man you made it." He extended his hand, but Ranger didn't shake it.

I just looked at the Coronel I stood in front of Ranger where the outstretched hand was. "Are you fucking serious? You act like you are glad to see him? When 7 days ago he was what were your words an "expendable expense" you have a lot of nerve. Here's what is going to happen now. We are all going to get on this plane behind us and we are going to be flown to our destinations and then we are going to live our lives. Ranger is done. The contract you have in your hand. Hang on I'll do it for you." I snatched the contract out of his hand. I looked at Ranger he nodded so I tore it up into little, tiny pieces then let it fall all around the Coronel.

"Oh, and as for as the debriefings go, debrief this." I punched him square in the nose and heard a crack. With a grin on my face, Ranger and I walked hand in hand to the plane and boarded.

We boarded the plane, and everyone took their seats. The first stop was Boston, Ranger shook Alex and Stone's hands then they both hugged me. I thanked them for the help, and they left the plane.

The next stop was Trenton airport, well actually a hangar for private planes because that's what we were in, was the Rangeman plane. Tank, Bobby, and Lester, all hugged me and said they hope to see me soon. They patted Ranger on the back and told him that he needed to get his head out of his ass and marry me.

After the door of the plane closed, Ranger placed me in his lap in the chair. As the plane started taking off down the runway, we kissed. It was ever so magical. His lips brushed mine. My lips brushed his. I pulled his head down even further and enjoyed the pressure of his lips as he worked his tongue in my mouth and our tongues collided. That's all we did was kiss, but damn did we KISS. Ranger was a master with his tongue. He never ever disappoints.

We made it to Miami that night a little after 8 pm. I had someone from the Miami office waiting on us in an SUV. When we pulled up to his family's house, everyone came running out. There was hugging and tears it was quite the spectacle.

Finally, I had Ricky in my arms I brought him to Ranger placed him in his arms looked in the eyes and said:

Welcome, Home Carlos! Welcome, Home!