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Realigning Destiny
By TT

Sometimes chance intervenes in our lives and causes destiny to jump the tracks. When this happens, fate steps in and realigns destiny’s course to bring us to where we need to be. But, as with the course of true love, the road of realignment doesn’t always run smooth.

Part 42 - Desolate

Tank drove along the road, wondering what exactly they would be facing when they arrived. Ranger had called earlier that morning directing him to gather four others and head out to Montana. Bob needed them.

That in and of itself was enough to set off warning bells in Tank’s head. After all, there wasn’t that much that Ranger and Bob couldn’t handle together. The fact that he had specifically requested Cal and Manny had him more than a little uncomfortable. Both men had experience with chemical weapons. Whatever Bob had stumbled across, Tank hoped they would all walk away from it.

Of course, the fact that this was happening on American soil meant there would probably be an entire host of alphabet soup agencies involved. That was never a pretty thing, especially when the locals got involved. With any luck, they would be able to do what needed to be done before the target found out they were there. That was a best-case scenario, though.

Shying away from further thoughts of the nightmare that was working with multiple government agencies, he felt a different sort of worry for his friend.

He and Ranger had known each other for years. When Stephanie disappeared, he had changed. The fire and determination that had always defined Ranger were still there, but the spark and life that Stephanie had brought to him seemed to dim. Over the years as Stephanie stayed missing and Ranger began to lose hope, a desolate look seemed to take over, seemed to dwell inside the shell that was his friend.

Ranger didn’t show it often, but every now and then Tank would see it and feel a shiver of dread race down his spine. He prayed that he would never feel that way, never know what it was like to lose so much of yourself, never know what it was to be that desolate.

He had been lucky that, despite his fumblings and fears, Lula had stuck with him. They finally got around to getting married last year. Ranger had stood up for him and Lula had Connie stand for her. They had all silently agreed not to mention the fact that Stephanie should have been there.

It was a beautiful ceremony and the reception had been fabulous. Ranger had seemed happy for his friends. It was only as Tank went to search him out before leaving that he saw what the day had cost Ranger. He almost didn’t recognize the man who stood staring out the window at the night, his shoulders slumped and his eyes empty.

Chiding himself for his maudlin thoughts, Tank turned his attention back to the road in front of him. They were meeting at Bob’s, but would be staying at the same bed and breakfast where Ranger was. They would have to share rooms, but it was doubtful that more than one of them would be sleeping at any given time. Of course, they would find out more once they actually arrived.

What had triggered his thoughts about Ranger, though, was the sound of his voice.

For the first time in recent memory, Ranger sounded alive again, as he had when Stephanie was around. Whatever the man had found in Montana had certain done wonders for restoring his spirit.

That was definitely a good sign, especially if the upcoming mission. It was always better to go into something with a positive frame of mind rather than a negative one.

As Bob’s house came into view, Tank noted the sheriff’s car parked outside next to a truck that was obviously Ranger’s and one he recognized as Bob’s.

“Looks like the locals are already here,” Manny grumbled in the back, his voice betraying his lack of enthusiasm for such a turn of events.

Tank made no response, but pulled up into the yard.

As he shifted the Expedition into park, he saw Ranger step outside. The change he had heard in his friend’s voice was evident in Ranger’s presence as well.

Ranger had always been commanding and even intimidating, but there was a life to him now that had been missing for far too long.

Once they were done with this mission, Tank promised himself that he would get down to the bottom of the changes he as seeing.

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