A New Girl In Town

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot. Blah, blah, blah.

Summary: A whole new mess arises for Steph when her little sister finally comes home, and little sis finds more than one reason to stick around.

Warning: This story will not be Morelli friendly. In fact if there's the smallest possibility that in some alternate universe you might be a cupcake, you probably shouldn't read this.

I walked out of the bonds office with three brand new files in hand. I could have done without the third one. Assault, rape, murder, grand theft auto, resisting arrest…gee, that last one was a real shocker. Why the file didn't go to Ranger I don't know, but no amount of arguing with Vinnie would change his mind. I take the file or I don't come back tomorrow. Hmm…give into my mother and get a new job or die on my current job. It was a no-brainer. I'd taken the file.

I threw the files on the passenger's seat just in time to answer my cell phone. When I heard the voice on the other end I nearly fainted. My little sister, the one nobody ever talked about. The one that ran away from home when she was 16 to be with Paco, the boyfriend my mother dreaded. She was at Trenton airport and needed a ride and a place to crash. I just knew there would be a long story behind this.

20 minutes later I was at the airport greeting my sister. She was wearing black low-rise jeans and a black tank-top. CAT boots and a not so well concealed gun finished the outfit. Gun, how did she get on a plane with a gun.

"Jess, over here!" I called from my parking spot and she looked up, heading over.

"Hey sis, good ta see ya." The obvious bulge of her gun was driving me crazy, so before any other pleasantries could be exchanged I asked her about it.

"Ok, I give. How the hell did you get on a plane and through airport security with a gun?" She smiled and shook her head.

"Private charter, Stephie, how else?" I gave her my very best burg glare, and might have even growled a little.

"I told you to never call me that." She threw her bag in the backseat and we both got in. "So what brings you back to Trenton? Last time we spoke it was on the very top of your shit list."

"You know when I first left it was because of Paco. He was killed about nine months after we left, I got over it pretty fast. I was 17 and way to proud to come back home so I stayed around with the gang and lived the average gang life. The same guy who took out Paco started taking us out one by one. There was this one other girl, I don't know how she got messed up with us, but she couldn't handle it, she couldn't get out either. I made it my goal to protect her. About a year ago she was killed. I've been tracing the guy who did it everywhere trying to catch him, but he keeps eluding me. I got a tip that he was in Trenton, it was a hard decision to come here. I almost waited it out, till he moved on again, but I didn't want to take that chance."

I knew my sister, well I knew what she told me in the occasional call or letter, but that was enough. If she couldn't get this guy then he was good. I also knew there was information missing from her story, and that she had changed some stuff, because it didn't fit in with the stuff she had been telling me whenever we would talk. I didn't bother asking her about it though, she was like Ranger in that sense, monosyllabic when it suited her. I thought about my files.

"Well since you're here," my phone rang, "hold that thought," I said before flipping open my phone and answering with a "Yo."

I listened to the caller, who didn't bother with a good-bye, before turning around and heading to the office. Jess gave me a look at my surprise U-turn.

"Friend needs to see me at the office." She gave me the raised eyebrow.

"Friend?" I blushed, well we were friends, among other things, but she didn't need to know that. The rest of the ride was silent and when I parked, a shiny black Porsche was already there. I didn't see Ranger leaning against it so I assumed he was inside. I looked at Jess and told her to wait in the car. I didn't want to deal with the Lula inquisition just yet. Sure enough Ranger was sitting on the couch and Lula and Connie were fanning themselves. He nodded to the back door after a quick glance at the girls. It almost made me laugh. Once we hit the alley, I was pushed against the wall with his lips devouring my mouth. If he called me down here for this… He chuckled as he broke the kiss.

"No that wasn't why babe. I need you for a distraction tonight but…"

"You couldn't just ask on the phone?" I asked incredulously.

"But," he continued and I could hear a very definite eye-roll in his tone, "there's a couple problems. One it's in New York, two this guy is a lot more dangerous than the ones you're used to and three I'm down a team member which means while it will still be safe it won't be as secure as usual."

"Which team member?"

"Hal." Hmm, I wonder what Jess would think about helping out…

"Not a problem, I'll do it and I have someone who can take Hal's spot." He raised an eyebrow and gave me the inquiring look.

"My sister." Ranger started to laugh, yes he was actually laughing, "I don't think Val is quite RangeMan material, babe." Hah, I knew he would think that. I gave him my best duh look.

"Obviously Ranger," I gave him the eye-roll, "I meant Jess." He raised his eyebrow again.

"Who is Jess?" I gave him another duh look.

"I just told you, she's my sister." Uh-oh Ranger was annoyed.

"Explain."

"She ditched Trenton when she was 16 to be with Paco, who by the way is dead now, and this is the first time she's been back since." He gave me an assessing look.

"And she's good for this? She know how to shoot a gun?"

"She's never without one. You wanna meet her?" He gave a nod and we walked through the office, without stopping to answer questions, and straight to my CRV. I knocked on the window and Jess stepped out, giving Ranger an assessing glance, and I noticed Ranger doing the same to her. I introduced them, although I was sure Jess had guessed who he was. Ranger asked the first question.

"You accurate with that?" he asked, pointing to her gun.

"No," she answered sarcastically, "I just carry it for decoration." I think I saw him smile at that.

"We need another person for tonight's job. You in?" I asked her, figuring Ranger wouldn't care about her going as long as I vouched for her.

"Where?"

"New York." She shot me a look.

"Who?" she asked tersely, no doubt wondering if it was someone she knew. I looked to Ranger.

"Santiago Panchelo." The second he said it I noticed her eyes grow cold and her face turned to stone, it made me wonder how she knew this guy. I asked her with a look.

"He tried to kill me a few times."

A/N: So what do you think, is it worth continuing? For those of you reading it, I promise to update Shattered Images soon, I just had this story floating around in my head, and it was distracting.