Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot. JE owns the characters and A Great Big World owns the lyrics to the song.

I heard this song one night and thought of this one-shot. I guess you could call it angsty but it was something I could see happening. I hope you all enjoy. This is my first attempt at writing so please let me know how I did. I tried my best to edit, but sometimes I miss things. I hope there isn't too many mistakes.

Say Something

"Ranger! Say something!" I looked at Stephanie as she stood with her hands perched on her slim hips glaring at me. For months, I've seen this confrontation coming. I know she saw it happening differently in her mind, but what she wants is never going to happen. "Did you hear what I said? Lester asked me out on a date. Are you fine with that or would you like to say something to me?" When I didn't say anything, I watched in horror as tears filled her gorgeous eyes. I knew I was breaking her heart and that the pain in her chest was too intense to hold the moisture back. Much to my discomfort, she let the tears fall. Her small voice broke into a sob as she whispered in my quiet office. "Say something, I'm giving up on you."

Outwardly, her words invoked no emotion in me. Inwardly, I was a frantic mess. I hated that she was giving up, but maybe it was for the best. I couldn't give her what she needed. She needed someone who could talk to her and who could be beside her for the rest of her life. She needs someone who wouldn't be called away for months at a time. She needs someone who doesn't have a hole where their soul used to be. She is light and purity, and I would only mar her with my darkness.

I could tell she was getting frustrated as Stephanie angrily wiped the tears away from her eyes, ran her hand through her hair and let out a growl. Her blue eyes met my dark brown when she turned back around. I could see the desperation written in her look and seeing it nearly broke my heart and my resolve. "Ranger, please. I'll be the one if you want me to be. I'll be whatever you need. Wherever you go, I will follow but you have to say something to me."

You're already everything I need, Babe. You're perfect just the way you are. I want you to be mine more than you'll ever know but the places you'll be following me to are hell. I can't...no, I won't lead you there. I love you too much to lead you into my personal nightmares.

When no words escaped my mouth, Stephanie hung her head in defeat. In a small voice that trembled with all the emotion coursing through her, she whispered, "I'm going to take from your silence that you don't want me so I guess I can say yes to Lester." Stephanie turned away and wiped away at the tears falling from her eyes again. I wanted to scream and correct her. I wanted to tell her how much I wanted her; how much I will ALWAYS want her. Every time she's close to me, I feel her. My body craves her and my heart aches for her, but I can't tell her that. "I feel so small, Ranger. You're not saying anything even though I'm begging. I thought you at least cared about me. I guess I was just in over my head with us, huh. I guess I don't really know anything at all."

My heart was screaming, "You're not over your head, Babe. I care about you more than my own life. I LOVE you and I would give anything to tell you that", but my mouth didn't budge and the office fell quiet. All that was heard was my steady, even breathing mixed with Stephanie's sniffles and quiet sobs. After several tense, silent minutes; Stephanie turned back around to face me. "I really need you to say something. I don't want to give up on us. I don't want to give up on you, but you're leaving me no choice."

I still stood unmoving and unspeaking even though inside my heart was breaking. I knew this day was coming. Les informed me earlier this week that he was going to ask her out. He told me I had four days to pull my head out of my ass and do what was right or I was going to lose her. He gave me six days but I did nothing. I knew she'd be better off dating Les or one of the other guys rather than me or Morelli. I am broken and always would be.

"Ranger!" I shook my head and turned my hard gaze back to her tear-stained face. Dios, how I wanted to kiss those tears away, but I knew that wasn't a good idea and it would only confuse her more. "I'm laying everything out on the line tonight. Right here, right now I'm giving you everything. My heart is yours for the taking. I love you! I love you so much that it hurts. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone."

My heart stuttered when she said those three words. The words that I'd been both dying and dreading to hear. My heart screamed YES as my brain screamed NO. They were in a constant state of war since meeting Stephanie and tonight, they were both prepared for battle. The deck was heavily stacked in my brains favor though. It was the one winning the war. It was the one that HAD to win. There was no other option.

The look of pain on her face when I didn't respond or even react to her words was almost enough to tell my brain to shut up. It almost made me pull her into my arms and tell her everything that my heart wants to say. But instead of doing those things, I stiffened my back and kept silent. She would thank me later. After the pain was gone, she would understand.

I saw the minute she gave up. Resignation filled her face and Stephanie looked down and nodded her head. "Okay, Ranger. I'm done. I can't do this to myself anymore." She picked her eyes up to mine and the crystal blues were swimming with tears. "You're the one that I love and I'm saying goodbye. I can't be your toy any longer. Lester asked me out and I'm going to tell him yes. I'm going to try to move on from you and I'm going to try to live my life."

Stephanie took a step closer to me and started to reach out to cup my face. I longed to feel her touch just one last time, but she stopped and dropped her hand, taking a step back. I watched as she shook her head before turning and walking toward the door. She stopped with her hand on the knob and turned around to look at me one last time. "Goodbye Ranger. I'm sorry that I couldn't get through to you. You deserve happiness, whether you believe it or not. I hope one day you find it. I will probably always love you, but I won't wait for you." She stared at me for several minutes, wishing and praying for me to talk, but I didn't. Finally, she shook her head. "Goodbye, my love."

With that last whisper, she opened the door and stepped through. My heart was screaming at me to stop her. To tell her the truth. To take her into my arms and never let her go. My heart won the battle for a brief second, and my mouth opened to utter one word, "Babe". But I was too late and she was already gone.

A/N - I know it's not a HEA for the Babe's but they can't all end with forever. Hopefully you don't stone me.