A/N: Okay, here it is. I hope you guys like this one!

Chapter 1 – Girl's Night Out

"White girl you better get your white ass up!"

I groaned and pulled my blanket over my head trying to block out the sounds of Lula screaming over my answering machine.

"I mean it girl. Connie and I will be by to pick you up in two hours. You better be dressed because we're going to have a girl's night out. You need some happy after the past week." And she hung up.

I sighed into my pillow and threw it off the bed. I knew better than to ignore her order. If I wasn't dressed and out of bed by the time Lula got here then she would just shoot off my lock and drag me to the club in my pajamas.

I glanced at the clock and noticed it was just after 7 and I must have fallen asleep after stumbling home from the bonds office this afternoon. The last thing I remembered was lying in my bed in my thinking position trying to figure out how my life had ended up such a mess.

I forced myself out of my bed and tripped over a laundry basket as I tried to exit my bedroom. When I bent over to move it I couldn't help but feel my heart break again. It was my 'Joe' basket. The basket that was constantly being moved between my apartment and his as we went between our on again and off again stages, but this time it was home for good. There wouldn't be any new on again stages.

I sighed and kicked it across the floor watching as it bounced off the wall and toppled over spilling its contents all over my bedroom floor. I knew I should go over and clean it up, but I just couldn't find it in myself to care. So instead I just left it there and moved into the bathroom ripping my clothes off and jumping into the shower.

I stood silently with my head under the spray allowing the hot water to trickle down my skin and help me to wake up. It wasn't long until my small hot water heater began to run out of hot water and I was forced to rush through the rest of my shower to keep from freezing.

Once my shower was done I spent a few minutes doing a fast wax and applying some minimal make up before walking into the kitchen and grabbing a bottle of water. I wasn't generally a water drinker, but it was a habit Bobby had gotten me into when I started going out with the guys on Friday nights. I had learned that if I started with a bottle of water and drank one between each of my drinks then I didn't get a massive hangover the next morning. I also tended to be less of a light weight.

My phone rang again and I glanced at the caller ID to see it was my mom calling. There was no way I was answering that tonight. There was no doubt in my mind that the 'Burg grapevine had somehow managed to pick up on the final break up between Joe and I. The last thing I needed was to fight with my mother over whether or not I needed to force myself to be the perfect 'Burg clone and start my life with the only man who seemed willing to settle down with me.

The answering machine beeped and my mother's voice cut through the silence of my apartment.

"Stephanie Michelle Plum! How dare you break poor Joseph's heart again! If you ever want another pineapple upside down cake you will drive over there right now and make it up to him. I expect you to be married by the end of the year."

I heard the click of her hanging up and let out the breath I'd been holding. Honestly, for my mother that was pretty mild. I'd been expecting worse. I finished guzzling the bottle of water and tossed it into the recycling bin before moving back into my room to find something to wear.

I wasn't really in the mood for dancing with strange men so I just settled for a pair of low rising jeans which hugged my curves and a black sequined tank which I paired with a pair of peep toe black FMPs.

I had just slipped on my shoes when Lula started banging on the door. I made my way over to it and when I opened the door to let her in and couldn't help but wish I had her confidence. She was wearing a lime green micro mini skirt that was two sizes too small and a bright pink tube top. It wasn't a style that would work with anyone else, but for Lula it did.

She looked me up and down with a critical eye before sighing. "You sure you don't want to let me know what happened between you and supercop? You know I won't judge."

I did know that, but I just wasn't ready to think about it yet. "I will, but not tonight. I'm ready to forget tonight."

"That I can definitely help with!"

I laughed at her enthusiasm and grabbed my license and some cash before stuffing them both in a small black wristlet. Then I followed her out and into Connie's waiting black Honda Accord.

An hour later, Lula and Connie were well on their way to being wasted, but I just couldn't get my heart into it. I was a little buzzed, but nowhere near the level of wasted I normally was by this point.

Connie tapped my shoulder and pointed to the other side of the room and I couldn't help but grin.

Apparently a few of the Merry Men had also chosen to go out tonight as well. I could see Tank clearly from this side of the room as well as Lester, Woody, Zero, and Manny.

Lester noticed us and gestured to the guys and they made their way over to our table. Tank threw his arm around Lula and said, "Well, I think we found some dance partners!"

Lula blushed and led him away leaving the rest of the guys to surround the table. Lester sat down next to me and waved down one of the girls selling jello shots, when she managed to make her way over to us her bought her whole tray then flirted with her until she gave up her phone number as well.

Once she was gone I elbowed him in the ribs and grabbed us each a shot, "You're such a man whore, Les. Do you even keep track of how many phone numbers you've managed to get off innocent girls?"

He rolled his eyes and threw back his shot when I did. "She was anything but innocent, Beautiful."

Manny laughed and handed me another shot, "Les doesn't do innocent, wifey. He likes his women to have experience in how to please him."

I rolled my eyes at them. "You guys are horrible."

They laughed and then Lester threw back one more shot before standing, "I think I might see my bed buddy for the night. Remember kids, there is safety in numbers."

The guys laughed and Zero pulled me from my chair leading me onto the dance floor. For the next few hours the guys passed me around until I couldn't dance anymore. Lula had taken off with Tank, Connie had surprisingly left with Zero, and Les had picked up some random girl at the bar.

I collapsed into the chair at our table feeling a happy buzz settle over me. "One of you guys is going to have to take me home since my ride ditched me."

Woody laughed and threw his arm around my shoulders. "I'll take you. Manny's meeting up with his girlfriend when she gets off work."

I looked over at Manny, "You have a girlfriend? Does this mean we have to get a divorce?"

Manny laughed, "You'll always be my wifey. Carla's a nurse at Trenton General, she's only been here a few months and it's not too serious yet."

Woody made sound that indicated he didn't agree with Manny's statement. "They practically live together, and I caught him checking out rings when we got called in for a false alarm at Franco's Jewelry last week."

Manny blushed and I gave Woody a little shove. "I think it's sweet, and if she makes you happy then you should go for it."

He kissed the side of my head and punched Woody in the arm. "I'm off to meet her, you guys have fun."

We waved goodbye and I took the last sip of my margarita. Woody looked over at me and frowned, "I'm too keyed up to rest. Do you want to go grab some coffee and pie? I know this great diner a few blocks down the road."

I was happily buzzed and slightly hungry so the promise of anything sweet would have encouraged me to go with him. "Sure!"

Woody grinned and led me out of the club and into a black Ford F150. I couldn't help but stare at the door when he opened it for me to climb in. I'd never seen any of the Merry Men drive anything but black SUVs. I knew Ranger owned other cars, but I guess I always just assumed the other guys always drove the SUVs.

My face must have shown some kind of confusion because Woody laughed before giving me a slight nudge to get into the car. "Sorry, darling. You can take the man away from Texas, but you can't the Texas out of the man."

I laughed as he closed the door and jogged around to the driver's side. His phone rang right as he started the car and he answered it with a brief "Yo." I tried to follow the conversation but with his one word responses it was hard so I gave up and just watched the buildings fly by as we made our way to the diner.

He hung up just as we pulled into a parking space and jumped out of the car to come around and open my door. When he opened the door my curious nature couldn't help but ask, "Who was on the phone?"

He grinned. "Manny. He wanted to be sure I knew the consequences of mistreating you in any way. I have very strict orders to keep my hands to myself."

I rolled my eyes at Manny's overprotectiveness but in truth I was used to it. All the guys were pretty protective of me and treated me like a little sister. For the most part I enjoyed it, but sometimes it was a little irritating.

He led me into the diner and into a candy apple red booth in the back corner. He slipped in the far side allowing his back to be against the wall and give him a good view point of the entire establishment and I slid into the bench across from him.

There were laminated menus already sitting on the table so I picked one up and then asked, "So, what's the best pie they have here?"

I half expected him to admit he had never had any pie because I'd never seen most of the Merry Men eat anything that wasn't rabbit food, but he just grinned at me. "Lemon meringue or cherry. I have a hard time deciding most of the time."

My stomach let out a growl and I blushed. "What if we get a slice of each and share?"

He grinned again and I couldn't help but think he was a handsome man. He wasn't handsome like Ranger or Joe. They both had a sense of danger and pure testosterone mixed with a toned body that no woman could help but appreciate, but Woody was handsome in a rugged boy next door kind of way. When he actually let out a full smile he had dimples on each cheek which could easily make a girl swoon and while he wasn't as built as Tank he was definitely well muscled. His eyes were a deep green that reminded me of a forest and his hair was dark brown and shaved into the standard military buzz cut.

He waved down the waitress and ordered our pie and coffee, once she was gone he turned to me and I noticed the care free look that had been on his face all night shifted to one of concern. "Are you alright?"

I glanced down at the black and white checkered table. "Sure, why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know, you haven't really been yourself tonight. You put on a good face, but whenever you thought we weren't watching you would get this devastated look in your eyes and you seemed sad."

I was still looking at the table and refused to glance up at him. My buzz was starting to wear off with the change in conversation.

I was trying to think of something to say, but I had always been horrible at lying to the guys. I must have taken too long to consider it because he reached across the table and placed a finger under my chin forcing me to look up at him. "You know you can trust me right?"

I responded without even thinking about it, "Of course I do."

That was one thing I had always known. Over the past few months as my relationship with Joe had started taking its final nosedive, I had been hanging out with the Merry Men more and more. They all seemed to understand me in ways no one else ever had.

We were silent for a few seconds and the waitress returned with our slices of pie and coffee. She placed them in the middle of the table and handed each of us a fork before turning away and going to serve another customer.

"My life is a mess." I hadn't meant to say that but it seemed like tonight my mouth might just have a mind of its own.

He frowned and forked a piece of lemon meringue pie as I took a bite of the cheery. "How so?"

He was right the pie was amazing and I couldn't help the small moan that came from my throat as I chewed. "Everything I do ends up a disaster."

"Is this about Morelli?"

"No. Yes. Maybe. I don't know. I think it's a little bit of everything lately. My relationship with Joe is finally over and while the way it ended hurt, I'm actually more relieved than sad. Well, maybe I'm a little pissed too."

He laughed.

"Then there's my job. To everyone around here I'm a joke, but I really do try and when I do succeed the only people that notice are you guys. My mother, Joe, the 'Burg all they see is the failures and the mess ups. No matter what I do I'm always going to be a joke to them." I sighed and took a sip of my coffee.

"Do you believe them?"

"Sometimes. It's hard not to, because they're everywhere. The problem is that they are at least partially right."

He frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I try and I get my man 99% of the time, but I hate my gun, half the time I forget to charge my stun gun, and I use my hairspray more often than my pepper spray to get away from my skips."

"Are you happy with that?"

I looked out the window and watched the cars drive by for a few minutes before turning back to him.

"No."

"You know all of the guys would be happy to help you train if you asked."

I sighed. "I know, but when I walk into the gym at Haywood I feel overwhelmed and it just seems impossible that I will ever be even half as good as you guys are."

I didn't like admitting I was insecure and part of me wanted to take back my admission, but I knew it was the truth. Walking into that gym had always intimidated me and I had never felt secure enough to work out when all the guys were in the gym. I just felt as if they were constantly watching me even when I logically knew they were all focused on their own work outs.

Woody was silent for a minute and the waitress came back over to fill both of our coffee cups. "I guess I can understand that. What if it was somewhere else? Would you be willing to do some training if you felt more comfortable?"

I picked up my fork and took another bite of pie before nodding slowly, "Sure."

He looked at me thoughtfully, "Would you be willing to come to my house? I have a full gym in my basement and I could train you there."

I felt my eyes widen in astonishment, "Why would you do that?"

He rolled his eyes, "Because I want to help you. Plus every time we hear your name on a police scanner or one of your trackers goes offline we worry. I think if you put your mind to it and really do the training then you'll be great."

I knew it was going to be hard, but I also knew it was something I needed to do if I was planning on continuing my job as a bounty hunter. "Okay."

He gave me a huge grin and I could literally feel his excitement from across the table. "Really?"

I nodded and another thought crossed my mind, "Wait. You don't live at Haywood?"

He shook his head. "No, I grew up on a huge cattle ranch in Texas. I can't handle being confined to one building with no outdoor space for a large amount of time. I own a house in Hamilton Township."

I finished off the last bite of pie. "Do you mind if we keep this a secret? I don't want the guys to get all excited and then be disappointed if I don't do well."

He sighed and grabbed my hand from across the table. "I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to, but I know you can do anything you set your mind to. Not to mention, the guys would support you 100% if they knew what you were doing."

He threw some cash down on the table and I followed him out the door and into his truck. I knew he was right and the guys would support me, but I also felt like this was something I needed to do on my own. It had been a long time since I did something for me. I was going to do this and when I was done I would show everyone who had always said I couldn't do it that they shouldn't underestimate me.

When we got to my apartment he followed me upstairs and cleared my apartment before walking to the door. Just as he was walking out the door he turned back to look me in the eye, "Don't think I forgot about Morelli. I know you didn't want to talk about it tonight, I hope you'll be willing to tell me soon. I'm off tomorrow so I'll come by and pick you up around 10."

Without another word he walked out the door. I locked it and then changed into one of Ranger's t-shirts that had been left behind when he stayed with me previously. My love life was still a mess but at least I was moving forward professionally.

I thought it would make me feel better to know I was finally going to get the training I needed, but somehow everything still felt empty.