Sadly, I don't own them, JE does, and I'm not making any money. This isn't related to the song "Catch a Falling Star" at all… It's just something that popped into my head when I heard it. Probably spoilers through TS so be warned. I hope you like it!
Catch a Falling Star
Chapter 1
"Ouch," I bit out, fighting back a string of curses as I balanced on one foot and held the other in my hand, waiting for the throbbing in my toe subsided.
That's what I get for feeling ambitious and deciding to get up early, I thought. This is why human beings are not meant to be awake before it is properly light out.
Gingerly setting my injured foot down, I shuffled to the bathroom, despite my urge to crawl back into bed. Flicking on the light, I flung an arm across my eyes, not able to stop the cursing this time. Then, with eyes squinted, I striped out of my t-shirt and panties as I brushed my teeth and started the tap for my shower.
Forty minutes later, I was cursing winter once again. Why, on top of frigid temperatures and dark mornings, did it feel the need to produce static? Giving up the fight with my electric hair, I pulled it into a pony tail and finished dressing in jeans, flannel shirt and CAT boots.
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't hate mornings so much if they didn't hate me first, I decided as I exited my bedroom. This one was being particularly difficult. In the kitchen, I grabbed a Pop-Tart and gave the icing-free edges to Rex, then grabbed my bag. Checking my arsenal, I decided to leave my gun at home. I wasn't off to a good start and I just might shoot someone today.
So, gun safely deposited in my cookie jar, I headed for the parking lot only to have my mood dampen a bit more when my eyes landed on Big Blue. I'd been driving it for a week now, but every night my brain seemed to erase the memory of my adorable Mini going Kaboom.
You'd think I'd remember when I woke up in my apartment seeing as my latest car explosion had triggered the fight with Joe that led to me moving out of his house. Guess my early morning brain just didn't think like that.
Once at the office, I felt myself immediately cheer up when I spotted the box of Boston Crèmes on Connie's desk. Snagging one, I flopped into a chair as I waited for the sugar to hit my blood stream.
"Morning, Connie," I said once I was feeling a bit more human.
"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, not looking up from her nail file.
"What's up?" I asked. Connie's usually a bit more social than that.
"Joyce," she said, jerking her thumb at Vinnie's door.
"Ahhh," I said. I'd be cranky too if I had to deal with that first thing in the morning. "So, any files for me?"
"Nope, no one's skipping bail," she said, waving her hand to indicate her empty desk.
Suddenly, her hand stopped mid wave and her jaw dropped a bit. I heard the door open and shut softly, and I would be willing to bet large amounts of money it wasn't Lula who had just walked in.
"Anything?" I heard Ranger's rich voice ask as a warm hand settled on the base of my neck.
"Nope," squeaked Connie.
"Okay, thanks. Babe, can I talk to you?"
"Uh, sure," I said, turning to look up at him.
"Outside," he said, removing his hand from my neck and stepping away.
Suppressing a shiver as the cool air hit the newly exposed skin, I stood and followed him.
"What's up?" I asked once we were outside.
"Need your help with a job, if you're interested," Ranger said, leaning back against his truck.
"Who, what, when and where?" I asked. I knew I'd do it, I can't tell him no.
"I'm having a team meeting at the office at 9:30. I'll explain everything there, and then you can decide if you want to help."
"Alright," I said, pulling out my phone to check the time. It was 8:37, so I had nearly an hour to kill.
"Wanna go grab some breakfast before the meeting?" Ranger asked.
"Sure," I said, neglecting to mention that I'd already had breakfast… Twice.
"Good," he said, smiling as he opened the truck door he was leaning against and boosted me up to the bench. Guess I'm riding with him.
He drove a couple of blocks towards the office, and I was beginning to think we were heading straight there for a breakfast courtesy of Ella, when he pulled up outside a dinner I'd never noticed.
"It's new," he said at my questioning look. "Tank's been bugging me to try it
"Tank doesn't share your eating habits does he?" I asked just to be safe.
"Only when faced with starvation," Ranger replied, giving me the almost smile.
In the diner, Ranger secured a booth where he could keep his back to the wall and an eye on the door. I sometimes wondered if he ever forgot to be all vigilant and just flopped down in any booth or seat. Somehow, I doubted it.
A waitress brought menus and took our drink orders. Ranger ordered orange juice then shook his head when I ordered chocolate milk. Mid eye-roll, I caught sight of our waitress and grinned as I saw her fanning herself with the pad she'd used to take our orders. I had to give her credit for being calm and cool when right in front of Ranger, though.
Looking over the menu, I saw lots of yummy sounding food, but figured I'd try the omelets. It didn't take me long to select the ham and cheese, so I sat my menu down and Ranger signaled the waitress. He ordered a veggie omelet… figures.
We ate our breakfast in relative silence, but as we finished up, I couldn't contain the curiosity any longer.
"So, what's the job?" I asked, in what I thought was a cajoling voice.
"You'll see in a bit, Babe," he said, doing the almost smile again as he stood and took my hand to help me up.
"Ranger." I whined, I didn't think it would work, but I had to give it a shot.
"Meeting's in fifteen minutes. I promise you won't die of curiosity in that time."
"I might be seriously harmed, maybe even emotionally scarred," I pouted.
"You're tough. You'll be fine," Ranger teased me.
"Meanie," I said, unable to resist sticking my tongue out at him.
"Babe, keep that up and the no poaching rule goes out the window."
"Wouldn't be poaching," I muttered.
"Explain."
"Joe and I are once again experiencing a difference of opinion."
"I thought you two were all 'lovey dovey' since you said those three little words," Ranger said, flicking his eyes to me.
"That's a bit of a stretch, but things were good. Then he went all macho, Italian caveman when the Mini blew."
"Babe," Ranger said, smiling and shaking his head.
"What? He started in with the 'quit bounty hunting' then progressed to 'you can't handle real jobs, so we should get married and you can stay home.' I stormed out when he started in on 'we have to have kids soon anyways since you're not getting younger.' A woman can only take so much."
"Feel better?" Ranger asked when I was done with my little rant. Guess I'd been letting that build…
"Yes actually," I said, inhaling deeply and letting it out.
"Guess this means the poaching rule is gone," Ranger commented speculatively.
I wasn't sure what to say to that. I'd invoked the poaching rule shortly after the Scrog incident. I'd admitted I loved both Joe and Ranger, but had only said the words to Joe. Ranger had made it perfectly clear that he wasn't bending on the relationship issue, so I decided to make a serious go of it with Joe. That meant no more stolen kisses with Ranger. When I told Ranger, he agreed for as long as things were going good with Joe. Looks like it's open season on Stephanie again, I thought, trying to ignore the sudden fluttering in my belly.
"Hmmm," was all the answer I gave Ranger, though.
It was enough. As he parked the truck in the Rangeman garage, he pulled me to himself for a hard, fast kiss then jumped out. It had been awhile since my last Ranger kiss, so I was still sitting there stunned when he opened my door.
"Still curious about the meeting, Babe?" he asked, grinning at me.
"Uh, yeah," I said, snapping myself out of whatever trance I was in and hopping from the truck. It would be too much to hope he didn't see the affect he had on me.
"Let's go then," he said, taking my hand as we headed for the elevator.
Damn, I needed to focus on something other than the tingling where our hands were entwined. Over the last few weeks, I'd been trying to expunge the feelings I had for Ranger, and I thought I'd made progress. I clearly hadn't, since with one kiss, the feelings came flooding back and I was just as confused as before.
We took the elevator to the third floor and Ranger led me to one of the conference rooms. I'd never been on this floor, so I was looking around with curiosity at all we passed. It looked like any other business office, I thought.
In the conference room, I took a chair between Ranger and Bobby and watched as more Rangemen filtered into the room. After a few moments, Tank stood up and everyone grew silent. Obviously everyone was present and accounted for and the meeting was starting. I leaned forward, waiting to find out what this was about.
"We have been contracted to work with the NYPD in apprehending Dane Gerick…" Tank began.
And that's where I zoned out. Dane Gerick, the name sounded very familiar. He was no one from the Burg, because I would never forget anything having to do with Burg gossip, but why does he sound so familiar? College maybe? E.E. Martin? I didn't think so for some reason.
"… eluded law enforcement agents for the last month and has been harassing other members of the cast on a regular basis. Because of that, and the obvious threat level, we are also still contracted to provide security," Tank said, sitting down, obviously finished.
"Any questions?" Ranger asked.
I had a bunch, but I'd wait until later to ask him. He probably knew I'd been dazing out.
"Alright, your assignments are in your folders, so everyone begin preliminary work and we'll meet back here at 1600 hours," Ranger said when no one had questions.
The guys filed out of the room and I turned my attention to the folder I found in front of me. Flipping it open, I found the standard picture and stats on Gerick. His appearance again looked vaguely familiar and it was really beginning to bug me that I couldn't remember where I knew this guy from.
"Deep thoughts, Babe," Ranger said, causing me to lift my head and find we were the only ones left in the room.
"Uhhh, not really."
"So, any questions, Babe?" Ranger asked, now grinning at me.
"Yeah," I admitted on a sigh.
"Thought so."
"First off, where the Hell do I recognize this guy from?" I said. I knew Ranger would have his back story and know any point where it had crossed with mine.
"Remember back when we were kids and there was a TV show called Changing Places?"
"You mean the one where there was a kid and his family moved and each season was him at another school?" I asked, feeling something click.
"Yeah," said Ranger. "Gerick was the kid."
"Wow, Val used to watch that show all the time. He hasn't done anything since that has he?" I asked.
"Nope, and that seems to be the problem. He doesn't seem to be dealing well with being a former child star turned failed actor."
"So what's he wanted for? Drug charges?"
"You weren't paying any attention to Tank were you Babe?"
"If I admit I wasn't will you answer my questions?"
"Sure," Ranger said, then sat and looked at me.
"What?"
"Waiting for the admission that you weren't paying attention."
"Fine. I wasn't paying the least bit of attention. Now tell me."
"Babe," Ranger said smiling, before beginning to speak. "Gerick is originally from New Jersey, did you know that?"
"Nope," I said, I didn't really know anything about him, Val was the one with the crush on him.
"Well, he was doing auditions in Hollywood and kept loosing parts, so he announced that he was returning to Jersey to be closer to his family and maybe take some time and do theatre in New York."
"Uh huh," I said to indicate that I was listening this time.
"In the last season of his 'Changing Places' his character had a girlfriend, played by Violet Johnson. She's no longer acting, but is producing Broadway plays."
"Uh huh," I said again, not liking the sinking feeling I was getting.
"Well, Gerick auditioned for one of her plays and didn't get the part. The experience did rekindle an infatuation he had with Ms. Johnson that bordered on obsession. When he crossed that line recently and began sending threats and harassing her crew, her production company contracted Rangeman to provide security."
"And the NYPD is involved because?"
"A Jane Doe was found two weeks ago and is assumed to be the victim of Gerick based on a letter he sent Ms. Johnson. NYPD is now searching for Gerick, but not having any luck. They know he's still around because he is still delivering threats, he's also sent two more letters indicating that he's killed two additional women. The woman that was found bore a striking resemblance to Ms. Johnson, so Rangeman will continue to provide security and because we were involved already, NYPD has asked that we assist in finding Gerick."
"So she's got a psycho?"
"Looks like it, Babe," Ranger replied.
Nodding, I opened the file again and flipped through it a bit more thoroughly. I found everything Ranger had just told me along with copies of the notes, pictures of the victim and Violet Johnson. I have to admit, I was more than a little relieved when I saw that she was 5'2" with red hair and brown eyes. The last thing I needed was a resemblance to her to attract myself another psycho.
"When do we start?" I asked.
"Thanks, Babe," Ranger said, giving me the half smile. "Probably day after tomorrow. I have a team up there now and they're providing security, but since there's not much going on here the guys and I thought we'd go take care of the apprehension ourselves."
"Bored?" I asked, grinning at him.
"Babe," Ranger replied in a flat enough tone that I knew I'd hit the nail on the head. The guys didn't like it when things got slow like they had been lately.
"I won't tell," I whispered, leaning in closer to him.
"Good," he said back, before turning his head and brushing his lips against mine.
Not good, was my only thought as I felt my belly go all squishy once again. My feelings for Ranger were definitely alive and well and here I was going off with him to New York.
It's not like we're going alone, I argued with myself. The guys would be there and we'd be working. I could handle myself. And it's not like he's really interested in me anyway…
"Babe?"
"Huh?" I said. Must have drifted out.
"Making sure you're still with me."
"Sorry."
"Not a problem. Why don't I drop you off at the office so you can get your car and let the girls know you won't be around? Then you can take care of anything else you need before we leave. I'll call you later with a definite departure time."
"Okay," I said, shaking off my thoughts.
Heading for the elevator, I decided not to worry about my feelings. I'd tried to fight them, but apparently there was nothing I could do about them. I could control myself around Ranger since I had for so long anyway, I thought as I watched the muscles of his back ripple slightly under his tight t-shirt as he walked.
Just as I was reconciling appreciating Ranger's back muscles to myself, I felt my phone vibrate and found I had a text. I saw it was from Manuel and felt myself go a bit pink as I read.
We have muscles, too. Manuel and Vince.
They must be in the control room. So, I did the most mature thing I could think of. I stuck my tongue out at the nearest camera.
We made it the rest of the way to the garage without incident and with a little prodding from me we climbed into Ranger's Mercedes for the ride to the office. I live that car. The trip was silent as usual, but I was used to it by now. I was even learning to use the time to think. Too bad I was still preoccupied by Ranger.
At the office, I climbed out of the car and headed in. I was very thankful for Lula and Connie's chatter, because I did not want to think about the sudden disappointment that Ranger had only tucked a curl behind my ear and reminded me he'd call before I'd exited the car.
"So, what'd Batman want?" demanded Lula. Apparently Connie had filled her in on me leaving with Ranger earlier.
"He was just telling me about a job," I replied.
"You were gone a bit long for him to tell you about a job," Connie accused.
"It was a full meeting," I explained.
"Oh," they said in unison.
"Sorry to disappoint," I said, laughing.
"What's the job?" asked Lula, not down for long.
"Nothing big," I said. "Just an out of town apprehension in New York."
"You're going out of town with Ranger?" asked Lula in awe.
"An apprehension?" asked Connie at the same time. "Not for us."
"No, Rangeman is working with the NYPD, and that's all I can say since NYPD doesn't want the stuff leaked and you two can't keep a secret."
They looked like they wanted to press me, but when I gave them a Burg glare they shrugged and let it go. They knew they were gossips. I kind of like to think my glare was getting better.
"But you are going out of town with Batman?" Lula said, not able to be sidetracked.
"Yes, but we're working. And the Merry Men will be there too."
"Tank?" asked Lula.
"More than likely," I replied.
"Huh," responded Lula, pulling out her phone. Looks like I found a way to derail her.
"Hey, Baby," she was saying into her phone. "My girl says you're going out of town," pause, "In two days huh?" pause "Dinner sounds great," pause "I'll see you tonight."
When she hung up, she had a huge smile on her face.
"What do you say we hit the mall," Lula said to me. "I got a date tonight and gotta look good enough to keep my man with me until Batman's calling threatening to drag him away."
"Sounds good," I said. "I need to get some stuff for the job anyway." I'd looked through my file and my assignment was pretty vague. From the looks of things I could be doing everything from surveillance to distraction type stuff.
"Damn Skippy!" replied Lula, grabbing her purse and abandoning the massive pile of files behind Connie's desk.
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A/N: So, should I go on? Review and let me know!