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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 48 - Endless Night

Ranger remained stationary in his position knowing Tank was only a few feet to his right and the others were nearby in their own positions.

Many years of participating in and commanding similar operations had taught him no matter how much it seemed to be an endless night, dawn would always come sooner than expected and the action would come with it.

Unlike so many of those other nights, however, there was a faint thread of anticipation that crept near his conscious mind every now and then, disturbing his focused stillness. It was just one more sign he had been right to step down from active participation in operations a few years ago.

The thread of anticipation had less to do with successfully completing the job than it did taking revenge upon those who messed with him and his.

Not only had they chased Stephanie from his life, but they also had found a way to penetrate his security. With any luck he would be able to get one or both of them away from the rest of the group and one of them would live just long enough to give him the answers he required.

Such thoughts had no place in this or any other operation.

Even two years ago, despite the personal nature of the mission, he would have had a more secure emotional lock-down on such thoughts. It was not a positive sign that this thread of thought was reaching high enough in his conscious mind to disturb his mental state, no matter how small a ripple it caused.

A small portion of his mind shunted these thoughts to a portion of his sub-conscious to be dealt with when there was time.

Right now, this increased anticipation made no difference in Ranger's ability to execute. It made no real difference in his focus. It made no difference in his determination or readiness. But it did make the night seem endless.

Stephanie shut off her car and leaned forward, resting her head on the steering wheel and allowing her eyes to close.

Her endless day of handling the regular calls in addition to the Federal government had almost been too much. Granted, the majority of her contact with the various alphabet-soup representatives had been telling them to speak with Jed, Jim or Bob before giving them the appropriate phone number, but some of those agents just didn't know how to take a hint. Sometimes it wasn't even a hint they refused to take. Sometimes it was a flat-out statement that she wouldn't be able to answer their questions and to call Jed.

Eventually, her endless day merged into what started to look like an endless night of complaints.

Fortunately, she was able to free herself fifteen minutes ago at about two-ten a. m.

Her night was finally done and she could finally rest.

With any luck, she wouldn't get paged and would be able to sleep until at least nine.

Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to sit up and leave the car.

As she stood, she felt the tension in her muscles and stretched in the hopes of easing it.

Another deep breath at the end of the stretch provided enough energy to head toward the house.

She could see the dim glow of the light over the stove shining in the kitchen just as Mandy had promised. A smile curved her lips as she thought of her friend.

Glancing upward, Stephanie took in the clear night sky, knowing Ranger and her friends were out there, under those same stars, waiting for the dawn.

Anxiety caused her stomach to clench for a moment before she was able to force those thoughts away.

Thinking about it, allowing her thoughts to drift in that direction, was a dangerous temptation. The promise of a future that just a few weeks ago seemed impossible was almost hers. The danger that stood between her and that future was deadly. The knowledge that her dreams could be destroyed forever as easily as they could be accomplished made it necessary to keep herself from daydreaming. Getting her hopes up only to lose everything would be beyond devastating.

Staring up at the stars, she closed her eyes for a moment and prayed, “Keep them safe.”

She then entered the house as quietly as possible.

She smiled as she read the note Charlie had left her on the table. He practically ordered her to eat the food on the table.

Unfortunately, Stephanie knew she didn't have enough energy to make it through the entire meal.

Picking a few bits off the plate, she ate those and placed the rest in the refrigerator before heading to the den where the pull-out was located.

It wasn't until she began unbuckling her gun belt that she realized she had forgotten her overnight bag in the car.

A moment was all the time it took her to decide to leave the bag until morning.

Removing her gun and its holster from her belt, she slipped it under her pillow. It certainly wasn't the most comfortable place for it, but, without a gun safe, it was the safest place she could think of for it. After all, it was highly unlikely that anyone would be reaching under her pillow.

Stripping down to her shirt and panties, Stephanie managed to stay awake just long enough to set her watch alarm before drifting off to sleep.

Continued In Part 49 - 030. Speed

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