Well, my loves, I'm back.

Sequel to Reckless Endangerment.

I really hope you enjoy. I've been working on this for a long time, and I'm very proud of it.

Not sure when the next chapter will be posted. Sometime between the next few days. Before next Friday, for sure.

Happy New Year, everyone :D

~kj

It had been a year since the incident with Frederick Menlo.

Ranger and I moved out of the Rangeman building and into his house. We still worked together and worked in the Rangeman building, it just involved a commute. In order for this to happen, Ranger promoted Tank. Since Tank was always there, and Ranger obviously wouldn't be, Ranger needed someone there prepared to make a decision, should something come up. Ranger admitted that he wasn't used to it, but it was worth it to him to spend more time with me and less working.

Ranger and I were still taking it one day at a time. We were in love, and we went from there. We were just working on making the relationship work. Talking when we were angry, giving each other space when needed.

Ranger and the Merry men trained me in the security business. It had been six months since they started, and I was still just catching on. It was complicated and difficult, but I was still working on it. I helped when it came to suggesting security plans to clients, but I was still learning how to install the security plan. Ranger claimed that he was taking in new business because of me, because I didn't scare customers away the way the Merry men used to.

Every morning, Ranger and I woke up and got ready for work, and drove forty minutes to work. Except this morning.

I was lying in bed, awake before the alarm clock went off. My eyes were closed, and I was completely willing to deny the existence of morning and the obligation to get up when my stomach started to churn.

I knew that feeling.

I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. I collapsed in front of the toilet just in time. I vomited until I was dry heaving, and didn't realize until I was done that Ranger was behind me, holding my hair and rubbing my back. I put the lid down on the toilet and flushed it, then leaned back against his legs.

"Babe."

"I'm fine." I lifted my arm so he would help pull me up. He did, and I pushed him out of the way so I could wash my mouth out and brush my teeth.

"Babe."

"Really. I'm fine. Still a little nauseous, but it will pass. Ranger go get me crackers?" I asked, tilting my head and giving him puppy dog eyes.

"You were completely fine last night."

"I know. Maybe it's a one time bug or something."

"Isn't your monthly visitor late?"

I turned bright red. "Ranger, don't concern yourself with my monthly visitor."

He went to the bed and got his phone from the charger. He opened it and was playing around with it when I walked back into the bedroom.

"Do I have to get my own crackers?"

"Yes. Last month you got your period on the fifth, it's the nineteenth."

"Ranger, why do you keep track of that?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

"So I know when not to piss you off or give you bad news."

"Stop concerning yourself with that! Really, Ranger. I'm not that terrible during PMS."

He scoffed.

"You know that couch in the living room? I hope you like it. You'll be sleeping there for awhile." I assured him before going down to the kitchen and getting some crackers.

I went back upstairs and took a shower and got ready for work as usual while Ranger took a shower. I went back down to the kitchen and tried to eat toast with peanut butter spread over it, and it went down fine, but the nausea remained.

"How do you feel?" Ranger asked when he was ready for work.

"Don't talk to me, I hate you." I checked my pockets to make sure I had my cell phone.

Ranger leaned against the kitchen counter and pulled me into his arms. "Babe, you have to admit, even for you, it's late."

"But it's impossible. You always use protection."

"Well…"

"Well what?!"

"There was that time in my office…"

I could my face turning bright red with the memory of that.

"I'm just stressed. Sometimes that makes it stop."

Ranger kissed my forehead and took my hand and lead me to the front door. He picked a pair of keys out of the dish while I grabbed my jacket. We walked out to the truck and started to drive to work.

"You're going to the doctor tomorrow, right? You should-"

"Ranger, I'm not pregnant."

We were silent for a lot of the way to work. I was thinking, and he was in his usual Ranger zone.

What if I was pregnant? What would he do? I don't think he would leave me, but I don't think he would react well. He always said that he didn't want any more children. So what if I am pregnant? What would I do? Abortion is out of the question, but could I be a good mother?

"Ranger, what if I am pregnant?" I asked, turning towards him.

"Babe." He glanced my way, then turned back to the road.

"No, really. I want to know. If I am pregnant, how would you feel? Why are you so concerned with it?"

"So we can find out what color to paint the bedroom next door." He said in a soft voice.

Tears formed in my eyes. My heart swelled with happiness and love. This man sitting next to me was my match in every way, that much I already knew. Just now, he gave me so much confidence in our relationship, just the fact of knowing that nothing would change, should I become pregnant. To be honest, I don't really want children, I never really thought about them, and it wouldn't go over well with my job to be pregnant, but knowing that Ranger would be there in that way, it made my heart happy.

"I'm not pregnant." I told him, convinced.

"Babe."

We glanced at each other and I blushed slightly and smiled. I took Ranger's hand off the consol and kissed it lightly, then held it in my lap.

"Still not pregnant." I told him.

"Anything is possible."

"No. It's not possible. Are you aware of my job? It really isn't possible."

"It's not possible, or you don't want it to be possible?"

"Both. Wait. I don't know. Go away. Stop confusing me. It's too early in the morning."

"Wouldn't you want a little Stephanie running around?" He asked, laughing, as he pulled into the Rangeman garage.

I thought about that for a minute. "Um. No. Have you met me?"

"Of course."

"So a little kid running around with a gun, always losing her handcuffs, rolling around in garbage, eating nothing remotely healthy. Also, out of control and crazy. Sounds like a bad idea."

"But think of the eyes that kid would have." He parked and turned the truck off. He reached over and caressed my cheek for a moment before getting out of the truck. He came around to my side of the truck and opened the door for me. I slid out and he wrapped his arm around me as we walked to the elevator.

Up in the control room, Tank and Lester were watching the screens, while several other merry men were in front of computers or sitting at desks.

"What's the plan today, boss?" Tank asked, leaning back in the chair.

"I need Stephanie today to help set up a new client with a plan."

"Oh. That's not going to work. I need Bombshell while I install a specific plan she set up." Lester hesitated slightly to say, not wanting to argue with Ranger.

"Ranger, you've been able to set up plans without me." I told him. "I really need to help Lester with this. New client, and they're paying top dollar for this plan, we have to make sure it's done right."

"Bombshell, you're so popular." Tank grinned.

"Guys, we can work it out. Ranger, what time is the appointment?"

"Noon."

"Okay, well, it's eight. Lester and I can go over now and start, I'll come back for noon, then go back afterwards and fix everything that Lester screwed up while I was gone."

Lester scoffed and Tank laughed.

"You two get going." Ranger squeezed my hand lightly, then went into his office. Lester got ready to go, and I went into Ranger's office. He was sitting at his desk with an open folder in front of him.

"Hi." I said, closing the door behind me as I walked in. He looked up as I walked around his desk and pushed his chair so he wasn't pulled into the desk. I sat on his lap and kissed his cheek.

"Babe." He put his hand behind my head and kissed me.

I pulled away before it got too heated. "You know, this is how the office incident started."

"You really should-"

"I'm not pregnant!"