FINDING COMFORT WITH RAM

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Janet Evanovich's characters. Although, I wish I did. I am only playing with them for a while, and I promise that I will put them back when I am done. I receive nothing in return for my work, so sit back and enjoy. Please be gentle this is my first attempt at FF. I hope you like it. -Tiff

Chapter 1

"Okay, Steph. You're done." He patted my knee before I hopped off of the exam table.

"Thanks Bobby."

The takedown hadn't exactly gone according to plan. I was standing guard at the back door with Cal, waiting for Hal to take the FTA into custody at the front door. But, apparently he had other ideas. He made a run for it and ran out the back door. He ran right smack into me knocking us both down the little flight of stairs and onto the ground. What the hell? Why do they always run? That was it, this asshole was going in whether he wanted to or not. Before I knew it, I had him rolled over onto his stomach and cuffed with my knee in his back. Cal had stood by, gun drawn monitoring the takedown, chuckling. A moment later Hal ran around the back of the house, and stopped abruptly in his tracks. There I was, sitting on the cuffed FTA, rubbing my arm where I had bashed it falling.

"Bomber, you OK?" Hal asked with a smile. Looking up at him, I nodded. Ever since I stunned him 3 1/2 years ago, Hal has been teamed with me a couple of dozen times. Hal, or Halasaurus as I like to secretly call him, was a big man. Nearly 6'5", blond hair cut into a high and tight, tanned, muscles on top of muscles and a neck as thick as a telephone pole. His blue eyes sparkled and danced when he smiled. I liked Hal. He was sweet, albeit really shy, until you get to know him. I swung my gaze from Hal to Cal. He was as tall as Hal, green eyes, shaggy blonde hair falling over the flaming skull tatoo on his forehead, well defined muscles and a heart-stopping smile when he let one loose. I loved working with these guys, and they always let me make my own decisions. All the guys at Rangeman knew not to tell me what to do, but allowed me decide for myself.

"Bomber? Are you with us?" Cal asked, eyebrow raised. Brought out of my internal musings, I turned my head to look at Cal and winced.

"Yeah, I'm just a little sore from this Asshole knocking me down the stairs." I got up and kicked the FTA in the ribs. "Next time don't run, Jackass." Both Cal and Hal laughed and grabbed an arm helping the FTA to his feet. "We better get him to the cop shop and get the receipt back to the bonds office."

With our FTA being from Newark, we had an hour long drive ahead of us. On the way to the police station, the guys observed their usual quiet brooding silence, also known as being in the zone. I sat back in the seat watched the scenery out the window and sighed. This was supposed to be an easy takedown. I had Hal and Cal with me. I was supposed to observe and learn their tactics. They had other ideas, they wanted me to learn hands on. Well, they got their wish. But in the process, I had accrued bumps bruises and some scrapes along the way. Ranger wouldn't be too happy about it, but he understands the way I learn things and should allow me to continue.

My thoughts wandered to Ranger. He was my mentor, my boss, my best friend, and my former lover. I grimmaced at the former lover part. I loved him. Well, I still love him. We had what I would call a relationship. It wasn't the normal everyday relationship, no, it was what he could give me. He had closed off his emotions for so long it was difficult for him to open up and love me. He had told me on more than one occasion that he 'loved me in his own way'. I knew deep down he would never be able to open all the way. He shared his cars, his protection, the use of his men for takedowns, and occasionally his bed. My body began to respond to the thought of being in his bed. It started as a slow warmth in my chest and flushed outward. I missed making love with him. He was so damn sexy. His long straight black hair pulled back in a leather tie, his exceptionally well defined muscles, his liquid chocolate eyes, his drop dead gorgeous facial features, and the way he spoke in his native tongue drove me wild. He had been my Cuban sex god. HAD was the key word. We, well HE, decided that he couldn't give me what he thought I needed. Apparently, he thought I needed a stable relationship with a stable person. I was happy to take what he could give me, I was more than happy. But it wasn't what made him happy. I hadn't made Ranger happy. I felt rejected, and had withdrawn into myself for months.

Because Ranger realized how unhappy and rejected I felt, he sent Lester and Bobby to check on me. From the time they started to check on me, our friendships grew. I now considered Lester and Bobby both my best friends. It was with gentle manipulation from them that I realized I still loved Ranger, and began to understand why he pushed me away. I had come to accept it, not that I liked it. And eventually I forgave Ranger for his actions. It had taken me 6 months, but I was able to tell him how I felt. I still wanted to be friends and wanted to be in his life, but not as his lover, as he wished. It felt so good to be in his arms again, if only for the occasional hug. It still hurt, it hurt bad. But I knew it was better to have Ranger in my life as my friend than not at all. It took all that was in me not to burst out crying at that moment in front of the guys. As a matter of fact I had become very close to all the men at Rangeman. I had the opportunity to pair up with, or team up with one or a couple of the guys at a time almost daily. Due to the fact my apartment had been firebombed yet again a week ago, I had moved into an empty apartment on the 4th floor. Ranger was happy because he could keep a better eye on me, the guys liked it because they could hang out with me easier, and I liked it because I never had to worry about Joe coming into my apartment uninvited again.

Joe Morelli. Now there's another failed relationship. He wanted to marry me and have kids, but he wanted me to quit my job and stay at home. The only problem with that... was everything! He wanted me to quit chasing FTA's and quit working for Rangeman. Quit hanging out with the guys from Rangeman, and sever my ties with Ranger completely. I just couldn't do that. I love Ranger and the guys and I really like my job. And besides, I can't see myself cooking and cleaning and tending to a bunch of crying kids all day long. Not Joe's kids, anyway. He had a nasty habit of starting fights and we had a very unhealthy realtionship. On again off again constantly. And to make up, he would come by my apartment and tell me 'his boys' missed me. Then we would have sex. But it never really amounted to anything... the relationship I mean. I loved him, but not enough to marry him and settle down. I was not Burg housewife material.

Two days before my apartment was fire bombed by a FTA, was the last time I saw Joe. He had broken into my apartment and waited for me in the dark. I opened my door and flipped on my light to find him standing in the living room, hands on hips glaring at me. "What the hell is this?" He held out his hand, a scrap of black fabric lay in his palm. I flushed with anger.

"What the hell Joe! Why are you going through my dresser?"

"What is it?" His eyes narrowed, his eyebrows knitted together.

"It's a pair of panties. You know that." I started to wring my hands nervously, refusing to look him in the eye.

"Why does it say Rangeman on it? Why would you have a pair of black silky panties with Ranger's name on them?" His voice was deadly calm and quiet.

"It's not what you think. Ella, Ranger's housekeeper, embroidered that on there. I needed a change of clothes when I changed there a while back. Ranger had Ella pick up some things for me. And she had just got a new sewing machine, so she embelished them a little. So what?"

"Why were you changing at Ranger's? Why were you there to start with?"

"Joe. I am not going to explain myself any further to you. I did nothing with Ranger while we were together..."

"But I take it when we were in an off period, you didn't hold back!" By this time his face was beet red and he was yelling.

"It wasn't any of your business what I did with Ranger during those times. NOT THAT IT MATTERS ANYMORE!" I was screaming at the top of my lungs at this point. I pointed to the door. "Out! We're through! I can't do it anymore Joe. I can't be with you. I'm not the one to give you what you want, you need someone stable and safe. I AM NOT ANY OF THOSE! NOW GET OOUUUUUTTTTT!" He stalked towards me, anger radiating from his eyes, when my front door burst open. Ranger, Tank, Lester and Bobby rushed in guns in hand.

"Babe. You OK?" Ranger asked me, his eyes never leaving Morelli. "I think you better go, Morelli. It's obvious that she does not want you here." He growled.

"Manoso." Joe spat out. He then sneered, "Of course, coming to her rescue. I shouldn't have expected any less. And bringing your goons with you was a nice touch." He then leered at the guys. Tank, Lester and Bobby gave him their most dark and menacing death stares. Any normal man would have pissed his pants, but not Joe. He had become accustomed to their looks. "This isn't over Cupcake..." I cut him off.

"No, Joe. We are done. Over. Finished. Never again. I will never marry you. I don't love you like that. Even if I did, I still wouldn't make you happy. Now go. Leave. Don't come back." I crossed my arms over my chest. Ranger looked at Tank and Lester and motioned ever so slightly with a nod of his head towards the door. Tank and Lester escorted Joe out the building and to his POS unmarked cop car. Ranger came over to me and pulled me into a warm hug. I started to silently cry, my face turned into Ranger's chest. The smell of his Bulgari showergel made me feel a little better, and the feeling of his warm and loving arms around me comforted me enough to talk again. "Thanks. How did you guys know Joe was here?"

"Babe." Ranger looked at me. "We saw his car on the monitors, and we got a call from Dillon. He said you were having a bad fight and it was getting worse."

"We were worried about you Bomber." Bobby added, rubbing my back. "We knew as soon as we heard you tell him to get out and the door didn"t open, that you needed us."

"I should have hit my panic button, but I didn't even think about it until he started to coming towards me. I thought he was going to hurt me. Why would he want to hurt me?" I started to cry again, as Tank and Lester walked in.

"Baby girl? You OK?"

"Beautiful? Are you okay, Sweetheart?" I nodded into Ranger's chest again.

"Babe. I'm taking you back to Rangeman for the night. You'll be safe there."

"But where will I sleep? You won't sleep with me anymore." With that last statement, Tank Lester and Bobby looked absolutley shocked. "I guess I can sleep on the couch."

"Babe. You can sleep in the bed with me. Just no roaming hands." I nodded, and sniffled.

"Beautiul, you can stay in my bed. Roaming hands are required though...Ouch!" Tank had slapped the back of Lester's head with the addition of the last bit.

I laughed, "Thanks, Lester. But I'd feel better if I could stay on 7 tonight." Ranger helped me pack and we left for Haywood Street.

To say the least, I never left the Rangeman building for the next two days. I was on edge and scared of what Joe might do. But as soon as I heard from Ram that my apartment was on fire, we fled out the door and to my apartment. As he drove like a madman towards my apartment, Ram called Ranger and alerted him to the situation and said we'd meet him there. We pulled up into the parking lot to find it swarming with fire and police. Ranger was standing talking to the Fire Captain, looking up at the gutted remains of my apartment. I broke down, sank to my knees and sobbed. Ram sat down on the ground next to me, enveloped me in his arms, I turned my face into his chest. He held me, rubbing my back soothing me, "Shhh... It's ok Angel. I'll keep you safe. Shhh." He kept talking to me and rocking me until Ranger made his way over.

"Babe. It's contained to just your apartment. The perp covered everything with gas and lit it up. They caught him a block away, still toting the gas can. I understand he was one of the FTA's you were chasing last week."

"Yeah, Chucky Linn." I choked out. "The bastard flipped me into his mother's pool when I tried to cuff him." I grimmaced and sniffled.

"Well, he won't be getting bail for this one, Babe. Mrs. Bestler saw him enter and leave your apartment before the fire started. She ID'd him and with the damage done, he'll be in for quite a while." Ranger pulled me to my feet and hugged me. After releasing me, I assumed my previous position in Rams arms. Ranger raised an eyebrow and watched me. "Are you going to be okay Babe?"

"Yeah, I guess I should be used to this by now." I had stopped crying, but craved being in a strong man's arms. I liked being in Ram's arms. They were warm and soft, yet strong and protective. It was then that I realized that I didn't have to stop my life because Ranger didn't want an "us". That I could go on and be my own person, that he would protect me and support me in what I choose for my life. Or who I choose for my life.

"You can move into the empty apartment on 4, we just updated it and no one had planned on moving in. It was going to remain empty anyway. Better that you use it."

"Thanks Ranger. But what about all my stuff?" I pointed to my burned out and blackened apartment. Then my face fell and tears streamed down my face. I buried it into Ram's warm rock hard chest and sobbed.

"Shh... Angel. It's ok. You didn't want that stuff anyway. We'll get you new stuff, I'll even go shopping with you if you want." The look of utter amusment crossed Ranger's face at Ram's suggestion.

"You really have a death wish." Ranger laughed.

"I feel bad. You don't have to go with me Ram. I understand. But Ranger is right, no one can stand to go shopping with me." I sniffled, and wiped my nose with my shirt sleeve. "You don't have to go with me."

"I want to Angel. And so will the other guys. We love you and want to help you." Ranger nodded and decided that it was time for him to finish talking to the Fire Captain and head back to Haywood. "Angel..." Ram held me back a bit to look into my eyes. "I want to. If it's okay with you."

"Yeah. I want you to. But I don't want all the other guys to shop with me. It will seem like the stores are being invaded by Rangeman and I don't want to scare the other shoppers or employees. I just want you and Lester and Bobby there, if that's okay?" He kissed the top of my head and nodded. My scalp tingled where his lips had met my head. I felt warm and fuzzy. And happy. "But I'm going to need some funds first. Think you guys can help me capture a bunch of my skips? My insurance check will take a few weeks." He nodded chuckling.

We pulled up to the back door of Trenton PD to unload our FTA. I'm glad we got this Jackass off the street. He was a serial flasher and fondler. For a 20 something guy I do have to say, he didn't really look like he needed to, he was pretty good looking, probably had no trouble finding a girlfriend. But hey, who am I to judge people. A lot of people don't believe me when I tell them that I am a Bond Enforcment Agent, or BEA. My skip stood about 5'11" and in decent shape. I dismounted from my seat and helped Hal guide our FTA into the building. I nervously searched the room, from side to side. "Bomber, I'll keep a look out for Morelli." Cal reassured me, keeping watch.

We walked him to the Desk Sergeant and waited for him to finished his phone conversation. As he hung up, he smiled. "Hey Steph. What 'cha got for me today?"

"Hey, Charlie. We got Davey Ponchillio. I'll need the receipt fast though. We have to get back to the office." I urged.

"From what I hear you put Morelli in his place. Thanks, you made me $150 in the office pool. Beat out Big Dog out by 2 days. You better scoot, Morelli's due back from a 187 on Stark." Charlie handed Hal the receipt and as we were walking out the door, I heard Cal.

"Morelli, three o'clock." I turned and looked to my right. Sure enough Morelli had made his way into the squad room and was headed our direction. Both Cal and Hal moved to shield me from him. I gladly hid behind my giant Rangeman wall.

"Cupcake. Wait up. I need to talk to you." He galred at the guys. "Without Ranger's goons."

"Forget it. She doesn't want to talk to you." Cal growled at him.

Hal showingly placed his right hand on top of his sidearm still in it's holster and his left on his hip. "Get lost. Bomber is done with you. Don't talk to her and sure as hell don't call her Cupcake. Keep it up and she'll press harassment charges with your Captain."

"Cupcake I need you. I want you to..."

"Forget it Joe. Leave me alone. I don't want you, and I sure as hell don't need you! Just FUCK OFF!" I was screaming at him through my Rangeman wall. I turned around and stomped back to the SUV with Hal and Cal right behind me. Hal drove back to Haywood as Cal wrapped his arms around me comforting me while I cried in the back seat. Hal called and notified Ranger as to what happened. After a few minutes I sat up and started to rant. "Who the hell does he think he is? Why does he think I need him? He's not that great. I mean it's not like he's not God's gift to woman or anything!" Cal smiled.

"Bomber, I'm God's gift to woman." I laughed. I mean, I really laughed, hard. I was doubled over and hiccuping. The look on Cal's face was priceless.

"I'm sorry Cal. But that was the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. No offense. I love you, but you're a trip!" He smiled, obviously pleased he managed to make me laugh and smile. "Hal, you were so macho in the cop shop. It was so HOT!" Hal blushed.

"Thanks Bomber. Just hate seeing that guy around you. You get all tense and emotional around him. And it's not good for you. It makes me wanna bash his pecker head in." I smiled at their love and concern.

"I love you guys. You never fail to protect me, even from myself. Now let's get this receipt over to Connie and get back to Haywood."

After collecting our check for Ponchillio, we headed for Haywood. We pulled into the underground garage to find Ranger, Lester and Bobby waiting for us. As I got out I groaned from the effort. Bobby was instantly at my side. "Hey Bomber, you okay? Let's get you up to my office and give you a quick once over. I bought a new batch of lollipops." He whispered the last bit into my ear.

I smiled and nodded, "OK, Bobby, only if I get a red one." He winked at me.

"Babe. My office after Bobby is done." Ranger turned and strode across the garage to the shooting range.

"Beautiful, you never have it easy." Lester hugged me, put his arm over my shoulders and walked with me up to Bobby's office.

"Okay, Steph. You're done." He patted me on my knee before I hopped off of the exam table.

"Thanks Bobby."

*A/N: Sorry to all the Cupcakes out there, but I just can't help myself. My muse thought it would be a good idea to make Joe the bad guy for a change, and I'm trying to see where it will lead me regarding the storyline. I would love reviews, but please remember this is my first FF submission. Thanks . -Tiff