Nothing left to lose
Chapter one: The Beginning
Warnings: Spoilers and adult content ahead. I own nothing and it's sad.
Lately, she found herself running on autopilot more often then not. It seemed like she was watching her life go by on television and had no effect on it whatsoever, even the remote didn't seem to work. Weeks had past and she had very little memory of it. She had often found herself in the car and really could not remember where she was going or why, but her body seemed to know the destination or at least her car did. But this time she was sure she was not supposed to be trapped inside a garbage truck. She looked down at herself, her jeans were covered in muck, her once white t-shirt an unidentifiable collection of colors, and well she couldn't even see her CATs, they were buried in the mess.
'Stephanie Plum you have gotten yourself into one big mess. Who am I kidding; my life is a mess and today was just more so than usual.' She found herself standing inside of a garbage truck surrounded by the trash of Trenton natives and boy, they are messy! For the pat ten minutes, she had tried to escape, banging and screaming for attention with no avail except for a sore throat. 'Think through this Stephanie' she tried convincing herself she could get out of this mess with little to no attention from anyone else. At least she hoped she could. 'Maybe if I just think this through, I could find something that would help.' She was fighting to get her mind off her current situation.
Since didn't exactly know where her life went astray she thought she should start at the beginning. She had spent her life in Trenton, growing up with her head in the clouds, in an area called the Burg, which is short for Chambersburg. The Burg had unspoken rules, like coffee cake, hospitality, clean windows, and taking care of their own. Growing up in the Burg had its advantages and disadvantages. Her aspirations were high while growing up; dreams of being Wonder Woman and flying away occupied most of it. Boy that would come in handy right now wouldn't it?
An expectation in the Burg for girls was to grow up like Barbie, marry, and then raise your own children in the Burg. She kind of fell short of that expectation. When she headed off for college, something she was forced into she knew she would rebel. Did Wonder Women need college? No, but she managed to graduate without much effort on her own part. After college she landed a job as a lingerie buyer. Sexy, huh? In reality, not so much. She worked for a low end retail company and often found herself in uncomfortable positions with sweaty bald men. She had ended up getting laid off, which leads to the predicament she was in now.
One of her best attributes is her ability to deny anything, one of the traits the Burg instills in its inhabitants at a young age. Yes denial was her friend. But sometimes denial didn't work, like when she found herself looking at the possibility of moving back in with her parents because she couldn't pay the rent. She had denied her unemployment for months before the realization finally hit. Her parents were shocked, but they helped her through it. Her mother had urged her to apply at the button factory and the personal product plant, but buttons and tampons weren't her thing. Then her father suggested she check in with her cousin Vinnie who owned Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. Her father was a man of very little words, so when he spoke everyone listened. The next day she took her fathers advice and went to Vinnie's business to see if he would hire her on.
That's where she met Connie, Vinnie's office manager. Connie is a short Italian women in her late thirties that had more hair and boobs than her poor body could handle. Connie's family had mafia ties and Connie knew everything about everyone. She had blood red lips and nails to match. Connie informed her they were no longer in need of a file clerk but they were in need of a fugitive apprehension agent aka bounty hunter anyway. When Stephanie inquired about the pay she soon decided she was more suited for the apprehension agent thingy. Connie was convinced, but Vinnie saw things differently. After a hot conversation between the two, Stephanie pushed Vinnie in his office and reminded him of his secret love. No big deal for a normal person, but Vinnie was far from normal. Vinnie had once been in love with a duck and found animals very interesting. Since he was married to Harry the Hammers daughter, Vinnie would do just about anything to keep his love of animals hidden, including giving Stephanie a job.
Stephanie had worked for Vinnie off and on for the past few years and had made a lot of mistakes along the way, but she thought she was getting pretty close to competent. Then again, given her current circumstance she thought maybe she was wrong. A sigh passed through her lips as she surrendered and sat in the garbage. She was already covered in muck and this truck must have just finished its rounds because it had not made a stop in what seemed like forever to her. Besides, she was struggling to keep her footing in a mound of garbage. Luckily her nose had stopped working or dissolved on her face, which ever case she was thankful for.
"I give up. My life sucks" she sighed as she chucked a can in the back of the truck. She almost said 'why me' but stopped herself, not wanting to sound like her mother as her body shuddered at the thought.
Yeah, her mother wasn't too happy with her situation either. Her mother hated her job, lost sleep over her being single, and was constantly reminding her of the success of other Burg daughters. Her mother was an ironing fool and she can see her mother now ironing the neighbor's toilet paper after she got wind of her current predicament. One thing about the Burg, call it an advantage or disadvantage, but news spread like wild fire and she was sure someone would soon recognize her and start the spark. 'My poor mother.' She had put her mother through a lot, not intentionally, but she knew her mother had faced some horrible gossip because of her.
She sat pondering over her marriage. Yes she had been married once, for about a second and managed to embarrass the hell out of her mother during her horrific divorce. Her mother had been so happy when she managed to catch a lawyer and convinced him to marry her. Dickie Orr, her ex, who she found with her arch nemesis Joyce Barnhardt fornicating on her brand new kitchen table minutes into their marriage. Actually, in reality Joyce had done her a favor, but she would never admit it. Stephanie was just not suited to live the Burg life and Joyce wasn't the first Dickie had "investigated" after their nuptials. Still, being that Joyce had plagued her all her life; she was an easy target for Stephanie's anger.
Since Dickie, the only man Stephanie had openly and consistently given her heart to was Rex, her hamster. She had some men in her life since Dickie and even came close to marriage once again.
Stephanie's thoughts turned to him. To the man who was brave enough to stick by her. He had started plaguing her life at the ripe age of six when he introduced her to a game called choo-choo in his father's garage. He was the train and she was the tunnel. She let out a chuckle, thinking about that day, she had wanted to hold the flashlight, but he never let her. Since then he had been in and out of her life reeking havoc in so many ways. He swooped in again at age sixteen and took her virginity on the Tasty Pastry floor, wrote a poem about her in the boy's bathroom at Mario's Sub Shop and flew out until a few years later when she actually wreaked havoc in his life out of revenge. She remembered seeing him over the steering wheel of the Buick. She still swears she temporarily went insane seeing him standing there so full of himself, watching girls as they passed, the long sad hours she spent hoping he would call flooded her brain as the car jumped the curve and tapped him. 'What can I say, he should have called.' She remembered hearing from her mother that some lunatic ran him down and broke his leg, relief washing over her that her mother didn't know she had been the lunatic. Of course her mother was the one who sparked her obsession with Joe, warning her to stay away from him, filling her with innocent curiosity that bloomed into desire.
Stephanie had been shocked to find out he was her first case. She tried to convince herself she was hunting him down for money, not revenge and to prove to everyone including Vinnie she could do the job, but she could hardly deny that it wasn't fun getting a little revenge too.
Joe Morelli was a cop and her on again off again boyfriend, her first FTA and nearly her husband. FTAs are what they call failures to appear in the bond business. The way it works is you're accused of a crime and go to jail. Instead of sitting in jail until the court date, the court sets a monetary amount the accused can pay to insure they will show up at court, kind of like an insurance policy. If the accused does not have the money, Vinnie steps in and fronts the bond. He of course needs some sort of deposit like a house, car, or something valuable. If the accused goes to court Vinnie gets his money back and gets to keep a percent of the deposit. If the accused doesn't show up for court this is were Stephanie comes in or another fugitive apprehension agent. They are assigned to find the skip. In order to get their paycheck they have to find them and bring them back to jail, but if they can't find them Vinnie looses the money and the agents don't get paid. Vinnie really never looses the money, the insurance fronts it but the agents don't collect unless they get there man. Vinnie's business is just outside the Burg and serves the community. That is how she got mixed up with Joe Morelli. He was a cop who got charged for killing an unarmed man. As it turns out Joe was innocent and did not appear because he had to prove his case. After some mishaps, including being handcuffed naked to her shower, Stephanie finally got her man, in more ways then one.
He hated her job and thought she was a mess. He had told her more than a few times that he could not deal with it. Sometimes hearing things over and over again you actually start believing them and well today she was a believer. Still she was no ordinary girl. She would never be happy with the Burg lifestyle; being a housewife, a mother, something Joe wanted her to be.
Not too long ago she finally confessed her love to Joe. They had been engaged but she could never tell him how she felt. After a very traumatic event in her life she finally confessed. Joe was drop dead gorgeous. Women openly stared at him, he was movie star hot. He was tall with dark hair and a great body, she was a lucky girl. But since her confession things got worse instead of better. She had admitted her love to Joe openly, but hidden the fact that she was in love with another man as well. And well, her gift for denial had slipped away with her confession of love. Since that night in her apartment, the last couple of weeks had been pretty rough to deal with.
Denial had always seemed to work for her in the past, but it snuck out on her during her sleep and nightmares snuck in. She had lost her energy, her ability to sleep, and her appetite. Yes, it is true. Stephanie Plum had not been hungry in weeks. Not bad for loosing some weight, but it was taking a toll on her body and her mind.
Her sleep was restless and staggered, in between nightmares and cold sweats. She tried fighting the visions that haunted her with no avail. But she kept up her facade, something she learned in the Burg, one of its many advantages. Only, Joe knew something was wrong. Since that horrible night she had managed to push him completely out of her life. Not that it was his fault; she just didn't know how to deal with him. Besides she didn't blame him for shying away from her. It's hard having your girlfriend wake you up in the middle of the night screaming another mans name.
The other man is Ricardo Carlos Manoso, better know as Ranger. Her thoughts shifted to Ranger, to his body, not one ounce of fat on his entire sculpted physic. He was tall, dark, handsome, and belonged on the cover of GQ. He had dark skin, dark silky hair to his chin that he usually kept in a ponytail. A Cuban American retired Special Forces turned security specialist that made women walk into wallsYes, she had actually seen it happen.
Ranger was her mentor. Their relationship started out as a Professor Higgins and Eliza Doolittle mimic a joke of sorts. She had met him when she first started working for Vinnie. He had shown her the ropes in the beginning and well, had rescued her far too many times throughout her career as a bounty hunter. From cars, to help with take downs, lending her body guards and giving her jobs, he had turned into her savior of sorts, her superhero. At first he was the man of mystery, in fact he was often referred to as Batman, but over the past few years she had found out more about him and his life. She had even sot refuge in his apartment when she needed a safe place to hide. Of course she kind of snuck her way in without him knowing, invading his privacy while he was out of town on business, but he didn't kick her out when he returned.
Together they had shared one glorious night together that still lingered in her mind. It actually came about as a result of a debt. Ranger had offered his services with one of her uncooperative FTAs in exchange for a night with her. Since she had wanted him deep down inside it was a no brainer right? Wrong, she was with Joe, but she sold her soul to the devil anyway. Eventually Ranger collected on his debt when she was in the off again stage with Morelli. But the next day he told her to go back to Morelli, she didn't spend anytime thinking about it, just covered it up with denial trying to avoid the pain it had caused and ran back to Joe.
But not long ago Ranger had been the one who needed help. After all he had done for her, she jumped at the opportunity.
He had been a victim of identity theft and in result his daughter Julie had gotten kidnapped. Stephanie ended up being stalked by his wife, which strangely enough was the wife of the deranged identity thief. During the escapade, Ranger moved in with Stephanie, she ended up being kidnapped too, and Ranger had gotten shot. Stephanie thought he had died that night. Thinking about the incident sent Stephanie into cold sweats and wavering on the edge of blackness almost immediately. After that night she had been experiencing blackouts, nightmares, and what she had come to believe were panic attacks, but she would never admit it.
That night she felt like she had to choose who would die and she was grief stricken for it. She had been told by everyone that she had no choice, even Ranger, but deep down inside she knew that she had. Maybe not at that particular moment in question, but perhaps if she had chosen earlier in her life between Ranger and Joe she never would have had to play God that night, or felt that she had.
Since that night Morelli had a hard time dealing with her current state. She had denied him sexually every time he propositioned her and she soon realized their relationship was based solely on sex, good sex, but sex none the least. She had emotionally shut down pushing him far away in the process.
The night Joe tried to convince her to let him stay fluttered across her mind. It had been four days since the fiasco in her apartment, four days since Ranger had almost died. They had been watching a movie, well Joe had been watching. She had been trying desperately to get the visions that haunted her out of her head. She had felt trapped in her apartment, finding herself staring at the spot on the floor were Ranger body laid in a pool of blood. She could still see it, everyone else denied it was there, but she saw it, the blood ring on the floor was still clearly visible to her. She often found herself hovering over it, seeing his eyes, his face, his body heaving. Joe hadn't noticed her staring at the spot and when the movie was over she tried escorting Joe out, but he stopped at the door. The door that Ranger had opened seconds before he was shot multiple times. She closed her eyes willing the vision to leave her. She opened them trying to focus on Joe, trying to concentrate on the here and now.
"Cupcake let me stay with you tonight."
"No Joe I'm just not ready," looking at the floor unable to look at him. She was instantly flooded with the visions of that night, her eyes always seemed to find that spot.
His fingers found her chin as he lifted it until their eyes met. "Stephanie please I just want to hold you, I miss you. I won't try a thing I promise."
She honestly had no energy left to fight she was exhausted so she nodded and turned to the bedroom.
They had gone to bed, he held her as she fell asleep and it felt nice. She woke up the next morning tangled in the damp sheets alone and exhausted.
He had tried on too many occasions to talk to her about that night, but she skirted around it. She knew something bad happened and didn't want to face it. She could see hurt in his eyes when ever he brought it up, so she just pushed him away. She told him she needed some time. She bet he had no idea what hit him; one minute she was confessing her love to him, the next she was telling him to get lost. She had little to no recollection of that night or any of the others these past couple of weeks and she was scared.
Which leads to her current predicament, she was still working for Vinnie after a short stint of pursing other career options. She had worked at the button factory, a dry cleaners which she managed to blow up one of the owners and worked at the Cluck-ina-bucket which she managed to burn to the ground. Then she started working for Ranger at Rangeman as a researcher. Rangeman was Ranger's business that specialized in security. He had offices in other states but managed to run most of the operations from Trenton with a few out of town trips. She enjoyed her job at Rangeman, but she ended up going back to work for Vinnie. He was in need of apprehension agents and Ranger was doing less and less for Vinnie due to his own business obligations which left her as the primary agent. But after Ranger was shot he asked her to come back to Rangeman to help in his absence, she of course wanted to help.
So she was working both, which was not a big deal seeing as both the jobs complimented each other. She could research the skips from Vinnie at Rangeman and still help out Ranger. She had been doing some of the research and helped train a new researcher when she first started. Then she had concentrated on organization for Rangeman. The organizing job was great. She helped set up security for businesses and helped plan for take downs, she also did a lot of the leg work and research. Tank, Ranger's right hand man was running the big part of Rangeman while Ranger recovered, but she was happy to take some of the smaller business off of Tanks hands.
In the past few weeks work had consumed her life, which was fine by her, less time to face what was really going on. She had effectively pushed Joe away and didn't have to worry about Ranger, he had left town the day he got out of the hospital to recuperate.
Today she was investigating a new business Bloomington Imports Incorporated that had requested Rangeman services. She had set up a meeting with the owner and was on her way in to meet with him. When she entered the building she found herself following one of her FTAs. She followed the skip through the building and ended up chasing after him onto a fire escape after she identified herself. She had bent over the edge looking to see what direction he had gone when he pushed her off. 'Well at least I figured what direction he had gone, he had gone up and I went down.' She ended up inside a dumpster that unfortunately had a date with the garbage truck. She didn't have enough time to escape before being dumped and now she assumed was on her way to rendezvous at the dump instead of meeting with the client.
She sighed 'Damn, nothing to help me out of here nothing seemed any clearer.' She huffed and managed to stand just as the truck jerked to a stop and threw her straight to the back of the bin. Her body slammed hard into the back of the truck which happened to be where the cab was.
The next thing she knew, she was having trouble breathing like something was over her mouth. She opened her eyes to Morelli's eyes staring back at her. An oxygen mask strapped across her face. She reached up and removed the mask fighting to sit up.
"You all right cupcake?" He let out a sigh of relief knowing she was okay.
As she sat up the memory of her day started to overwhelm her as well as the smell she was radiating. She managed to push out "peachy," before the smell and nausea grabbed hold of her. She rolled to the side and got sick right on Morelli's shoes.
'Great another segment of embarrassing moments in the Stephanie Plum show. I can hear it now the cops and the Burg will be busy tonight talking about how I managed to push the man I loved out of my life and preceded to puke on his shoes after he rescued me.'
She managed to mumble a "I'm sorry" out. But she got no response, well not from Joe anyway, the Paramedic started giggling like a school girl, but Joe just walked away.
Stephanie couldn't watch were he went because she was terrified to move her head. She just wanted the earth to swallow her up. Maybe if she just laid there someone would eventually run her over. Everyone would go away and she could just pretend this never happened. 'Come on denial you have been such a great friend, where are you when I really need you?'
The paramedic was still giggling and she finally mustered enough energy to ask him to shut up. He did as she asked after he slapped the mask back on her face. 'Reminder to self, don't be rude to people who have masks, needles and medicines.' She managed an "I'm sorry" out and he just chuckled and said "You'll be alright Miss Plum. Did you want to go to the hospital?"
"No I think I will be okay after I sanitize myself." He was tall with brown wavy hair and a nice comforting smile. He had the usual uniform on and was working out of what looked like a tackle box.
"Well be careful, you don't want to burn your skin off. My advice is to soak in some baking soda, but I could have the firemen hose you off if you like." He gave her his best smirk trying to hold in his laughter.
Her thoughts immediately snapped on Ranger, he had once told her he had an urge to take her home and hose her down, after another one of her mishaps. Emotions ran over her, she missed him but boy was she glad he wasn't around to see her like this. She smiled at the man shaking her head 'no' when suddenly she heard someone say, "That's my job."
She looked up and there was Ranger, 'damn.' He was in black SWAT pants and the usual black t-shirt, his arm still in a sling and a bump in his shirt from the bandage that covered his wounds. She was drawn to the red inflamed lines on his neck; they were healing but still served as a reminder of that terrible night. He had a wicked smile on his face, but his eyes were covered by sunglasses. Her breath hitched in her chest. He looked deadly sexy and here she was covered in garbage.
"Babe, you never disappoint."
Suddenly her usually remark slipped through her lips, "It wasn't my fault."
And with that Ranger said "It never is" and started laughing.
"It's not funny you know, I think he's mad at me."
"Babe."
She 'humfed' and crossed her arms over her chest. Funny how her nausea went away when Ranger showed up. She was too busy trying to still her rapidly beating heart to pay attention to things like nausea.
"Well Babe, should I go get the hose," he said bending down to pick some unidentifiable piece of garbage out of her hair.
She shot him her best eat shit look, "No, can you just take me back to my apartment so I can shower?"
"Sure babe" giving her his 200 watt smile. She always amazed him, how one person could have such bad luck was beyond him.
The paramedic touched her hand drawing her attention from Ranger, "I suggest you soak Miss Plum, do you have a bath tub?"
"No, but I will be fine. Thanks a lot for your help and again I'm sorry" flashing him her biggest smile and handing him the oxygen mask as he helped her to her feet.
"Hey my pleasure" he laughed out.
'Great I'm a joke not only to the Trenton PD, but now the EMS system too. Oh well I guess I have the Fire Department left. Oh wait, I forgot, the Fire Department already knows me from the fire bomb in my apartment, the multitude of cars that I managed to exploded into car heaven and when Joe's garage exploded. I guess that leaves the National Guard.'
"Come on Babe, I'll take you back to my place, Ella will have an idea on how to get you all cleaned up." He could barely contain his amusement.
She had no energy to disagree and besides Ranger was right Ella could make the garbage truck smell nice. Besides she was dying to see Ranger, she had so many questions for him.
She shuffled her way behind Ranger thinking about what to say to him. There were so many things, she was afraid to open her mouth, afraid everything would fly out at once. Then it hit her. 'Oh no, I will have to get into Ranger's vehicle.' She was scared she would ruin another one of his immaculate vehicles. She was fretting over what to do when they reached their destination and Ranger stopped in his tracks. She ran right into the back of him but he didn't waiver.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hurt you did I?" But she got no answer, Ranger simply side stepped. When she brought her eyes up she was staring into Morelli's again. He was leaning against Rangers truck, arms crossing his chest.
He had his cop face in place and she barely heard herself whisper out "I'm sorry about your shoes" and couldn't help but sneak a glance at them. They were shiny from water; he must have cleaned them off.
"Where are you going Cupcake?"
"I am going to go clean up" never breaking their eye contact.
"You feel okay? Need any help" he said stepping towards her.
She noticed Ranger walking around the truck and opening the door.
"I'm fine and no, I can take care of myself." She flinched hoping they wouldn't start roaring with laughter.
Morelli laughed and said "suit yourself; you know where to find me." He then turned and looked at Ranger "Good luck with this one man."
Ranger nodded and walked around the truck with a piece of cloth, he used it to cover the seat.
As Morelli walked away they heard, "It's your turn to clean her up."
She ignored the comment not wanting to go into rhino mode while covered in garbage. But to be truthful she really had no emotional response, which was a little alarming. She would have to think about that later, she was sure she wouldn't be able to give it her full attention now even if she tried.
Ranger helped her in the truck and they road to Haywood Street with the windows down. Ranger's business Rangeman was on Haywood. A few floors were dedicated to the business, two floors had apartments that housed his employees and the pent house served as Ranger's apartment. Ranger stayed in the apartment when he was working, but he owned other property, she just didn't know where. They went over what had happened and by the time she finished explaining her day they were pulling in the garage at Rangeman. 'Damn I hadn't had a chance to ask him when he got back or how he was feeling.'
They stepped in the elevator and she had a strange urge to sneak behind Ranger. She knew the guys spotted her the minute she got out of the truck and she could just imagine the jokes that were being cracked as they rode to the seventh floor. Instead she resorted to giving the camera and the guys her best Italian hand gesture as she exited.
They entered the apartment and she just stood still on the tile in the entranceway, she didn't want to get his floors dirty. Ranger came over with some plastics bags and slid off her boots.
"Just toss them, I'll go and get new ones" she said looking down at him, she felt a blush sneaking its way across her cheeks.
"Babe, I have no intentions on keeping them. I will have Ella pick you up a pair the next time she is out." He took her socks off and threw them in the bag with the shoes. He stood up and told her to take off her pants and head for the bathroom. He handed her a bag for her clothes and sent her on her way.
Ella soon arrived and started helping her in the bathroom. Ranger had excused himself back to work and headed to the fifth floor. She was relieved. This had been quite an embarrassing day. Not how she wanted to see him for the first time in weeks.
Ella immediately went to work, picking out the big pieces of garbage. Stephanie turned her back to the mirror making certain she could not see herself. It wouldn't be hard to deny if she didn't know how bad it really was. Ella finished up her hunt and sent Stephanie to the shower.
Stephanie jumped in the shower when Ella left eager to clean up. She could hear Ella shuffling around and then heard her knock on the door as she finished rinsing her hair.
"Stephanie, can I come in to get some stuff out of the bathroom?"
"Sure Ella thanks again for your help."
"Anytime dear, I am glad to help."
The sound of Ella opening up cabinets and drawers filtered through the room. She was finishing up her final scrub down when Ella finished and excused herself.
Ella told Stephanie to dress in the robe she laid out for her and that they would head down to the Jacuzzi tub for a soak.
She finished up in the shower and did what she was told. Ella had taken her disgusting clothes off the floor. She opened the door and saw Ella waiting for her.
"Ella, don't even try to clean those clothes, just throw them away okay?"
"You sure dear?"
She nodded in response watching Ella pack a towel. She wouldn't be able to wear them again without thinking about what had happened, besides she had her doubts they would ever get cleaned, people in Trenton were filthy. Ella continued to mill around packing a duffle bag full of cleaning gear and clothes. She felt dirty still and was sure she still smelled like that garbage truck.
Ella looked up and smiled at her, "Finished dear?"
She nodded and followed Ella out to the elevator. They ended up on the second floor. Stephanie exited giving the boys her regards through the camera. When she stepped off the elevator, she could not believe her eyes as she took in her surroundings she had never been down here. There was a full gym here with trainers, weights, and equipment. Some Rangeman employees were down here working out as they passed, thankfully separated by glass. Stephanie tried to hide her face not wanting to be recognized and scurried after Ella. Ella led her into a back room and had her sit in the sauna while Ella rushed off to prepare the tub. 'A sauna! I love this place more and more.' She didn't really have a chance to take in her surroundings but at first glance they were lavish.
She relaxed in the heat. It felt good on her tight muscles. She was definitely stressed and her body had been through the ringer the past few weeks. She was practically starving herself and walking around completely sleep deprived. Her body relaxed and she closed her eyes. Just when she was ready to fall into slumber land Ella opened the door to tell her everything ready. Stephanie smiled and followed her. She was thankful Ella was helping her.
Ella hurried her into the Jacuzzi tub and went to work on her grimy hair. Stephanie felt comfortable with Ella; she was like a mother figure for her. It was quiet between them, Stephanie was working at cleaning her body and Ella was concentrating on her soiled hair. She felt bad for Ella, she was a mess.
She turned to look at Ella, "Ella, thank you for helping me. I know I'm a mess and I appreciate your help."
Ella smiled back at her, "I like having you around even if you stink, dear."
They both chuckled and Ella went back to work. Stephanie took in the room. It was immaculate with brown, white, and black marbled stone walls and stainless steel fixtures. The room had a lounge area to the side consisting of a few chairs, two chaise lounges with a few tables scattered around. The sauna was in the back corner built into the wall, the door exposing its existence. It was brown wood that matched the walls.
There was a vanity and a few sinks along one wall and a door she assumed lead to a bathroom. The Jacuzzi tub was on the same wall as the sauna and had stairs curling around it leading to the top. The side of the tub was the same as the walls a marbled black, white and brown stone. Next to the tub was a beautiful walk in shower that was deep enough to not need a shower curtain. The shower head was stainless steel, it was big and round like the rain showers with two heads on the side about half way down.
Stephanie was absorbed in her surroundings as Ella worked at her hair. After what seemed like seven washes Ella told her everything was out and she felt Ella lift a strand of her hair to her nose.
"I think I got the smell out. Can you smell anything?"
Stephanie leaned in and sniffed the strand Ella had in her fingers delighted to smell only shampoo. She shook her head 'no' and Ella went to work one more time on her hair, "Just in case."
"Ella, what is this place?" She wondered why it was even here.
"This is the ladies locker room for the gym."
"Is the gym part of Rangeman?"
"Yes, it is dear; the whole building is Rangeman's."
"Is it used often; I never knew it was here?" She wondered if there were other women besides her and Ella at Rangeman.
"No it's not. It is unfortunate really. It is such a beautiful room. Now the men's equivalent is a different story"
Stephanie chuckled, "I bet it is."
A few minutes past as she finally mustered enough courage to ask more questions, she wanted to know why this room existed, there were no other women in the company, why would they even think of including this? "Ella?"
Ella 'hummed.'
"Has anyone but you used it?"
"Well, sometimes the wives or the girlfriends of some of the employees come and use it after they use the gym. But it is rare."
"Yeah, I bet it is intimidating to work out with some of those guys." She was still curious; she would have to ask Ranger about it later.
Ella chuckled and went back to work. Ella coated Stephanie's hair in another layer of baking soda and started to massage the chemical in. Stephanie leaned in to her touch, finally feeling her body relax, she had almost fallen asleep when Ella's hands left her head and she heard the door click. She felt warm hands on her shoulders. She turned around to find Ranger standing behind her.
Thank you for taking the time to read please let me know what you think! Thank you to Amanda for your help, suggestions and support. Jenn, thank you for helping clean this up and for your words of encouragement. Dawn, thank you for all your wonderful comments. I am glad I hogged your attention. You rock ladies!