I do not own any of these characters

Can't Be Really Gone.

Ranger's POV

I am sitting in first class on a flight to Trenton, New Jersey from Miami. I haven't been there for last 3 months. I have been trying to forget that the only woman I ever loved I drove away because I was hard headed. I have a terrible problem with keeping secrets and hiding my emotions. I really love Stephanie and I really want a relationship with her but I'm not very good at the relationship thing. For the last 3 months, I kept replaying how the whole thing went down and I know it is my fault. I know I need to see my Babe when I get back and apologize for what I did and hope she will take me back and forgive me. I just pray to god she didn't marry the cop while I was gone.

Everything was great in the beginning. We lived together for 8 months and granted there was a adjustment period, but we really were happy until my secretive ways. I justified it by saying I was keeping her safe. I know Babe can't stand for me to keep secrets. I can remember the day she left. She was really mad. She knew that something was wrong and she kept asking me if everything was alright. I lied to her. That was my first mistake. I never lied to her before and now I did convincing myself that the least she knew the better off she would be. However, Stephanie is like a bulldog with a bone if she thinks you're keeping something from her, she won't stop until she knows..

The moment she asked me if everything was alright and smart me said "Sure, Babe" our lives were over as we knew it. I had a good reason to keep her out of it. Tank, Lester, Bobby and I were working on a big case and it was just too dangerous for Stephanie to get involved. These guys were really nasty and even nastier to women. Trenton PD were investigating them for drug trafficking and human slavery. Several women in Trenton and the surrounding areas had gone missing and word on the street is they were sold overseas for sex slaves. Stephanie has really bad lucky with psychos. If there is one within the city limits they find her.

Flashback

Babe said "Ranger, is everything alright because you look really worried about something?"

"Sure, Babe. It all good." I said.

"Ranger, you are telling me the truth aren't you because I would hate to find out I couldn't trust you."

"Babe, you know you can trust and I would never do anything to hurt you."

Stephanie looked at me like she could see right though me. I started to look away and pretend I reading the paper work on my desk. I finally looked up to see her looking like she just figure out what I was keeping from her. She turned and walked out of my office and got on the elevator. I turn my computer to see where she was going. She went to the seventh floor. I called Tank, Bobby and Lester into my office to discuss their latest findings when Hal knock on my door. I said "Enter".

Hal said "Um...Boss, Did you and Stephanie have another fight because she is in the garage with her suitcase."

I switch screens on the computer to see the garage cameras. Stephanie was driving out of the garage.

I called her on her cell.

"Yo"

"Babe, where you going?"

"Home"

"Your Home is upstairs"

"Not anymore"

She hung up. I couldn't figure out what just happen. But I think she just left me. We argued but she never moved out like she did when she was with Morelli. I looked up at the guys when Tank finally broke the silence.

"You didn't tell her about the case?"

"No, it is too dangerous"

"Ric, she has been training hard for a year. She is on the mat with one of us three times a week working on hand to hand combat. She is just as good as anyone else on this team. Are you sure that is because it is too dangerous or you don't want to take a chance on her? If you have no confidence in her than how is she gonna have any in herself. I hope for your sake that she comes back because she is a part of this team and we all love her. You really screwed up the best thing that has ever happen to you."

"Fuck you, Tank"

"You better go after her before Morelli finds out because he has been stiffing around lately. Lester caught him trying to talk to her a Pino's yesterday. He was begging her to come back to him."

"She wouldn't go back to him. She doesn't cheat and she won't forgive cheating. I have never cheated on her and she knows that."

Lester said "She doesn't like lying either and that is exactly what you did in the hallway. She has gotten good at reading facially expressions and your face was screaming. She picked up on it. Hell, I saw her pick up on it."

"Whatever, I'll let her cool down and than I will go get her. She loves me. She come back. I still don't want her on this case. I don't want to risk anything happening to her."

Tank said "How safe do you think she is out there without one of us. You know she can attract all and any psychos."

I got up and went straight to the garage and to the Porsche. I drove over to Babe's apartment breaking all the speed limits. I was glad I wasn't pulled over. I parked in her apartment building lot and took the stairs two at a time. I picked the lock and opened the door. Babe was on the couch. She was looking like she just lost her best friend. I hate that I made her sad. I walked over and sat next to her on the couch.

"Babe, I love you and I am sorry if I made you leave. Please come back to Rangeman so we can discuss this."

"No"

"Why"

"Because you lied right to my face. I thought we were finally in a good place and then you lied to me. Ranger, do you think so little of my trust in you that you don't care to risk losing it. You are keeping secrets again. I understand some secrets you have to keep. But this case is not a secret you have to keep. It is a secret you want to keep. I tell you everything even when I didn't have to. I answer all your questions regardless of what it is. You can't do the same for me. So, I guess your not ready to have a relationship with me. I feel like we are right back to the beginning."

"Babe, that's not true. This case is very dangerous. I don't want to risk anything happening to you. I just couldn't survive if I lost you. That is why in the past I said my lifestyle doesn't lend itself to relationships. I couldn't afford to risk the emotional pain. Babe, I can't live without you now. I know what it is like to wake up in your arms every morning and how it feels to hold you in my arms at night. Please don't end us over this case."

"Ranger, I didn't even want to be part of the case. All I ask was for you to tell me what was bothering you and you lied to me. I never lie to you. I know that you are concerned about my safety but I am concerned about you too. I just want to be able to say 'Baby, what's wrong' and you tell me. I want to know when you are hurting and if I can help take the hurt away. It comes down to trust. You didn't trust me to tell me what was bothering you. I can't live with that kind of relationship where we don't believe in one another. I am sorry Ranger, but I am not coming back and I am not sure we can see each other anymore."

"Please Babe, don't do this."

"I didn't, you did?"

She got up and went into her bedroom and close the door. End of discussion. How could I be so dumb.

I tried to talk to her many times but she wouldn't change her mind. I missed her a lot. She didn't even come back to work at Rangeman. She went back to the bonds office. I could tell she was disappointed. I asked her to come back to Rangeman, but she just shook her head no and left me in the alley.

Tank said Lula told him that Stephanie was acting weird, like something was really wrong with her. I was guessing that she was still upset over the break up. Hell, I am still upset. After the case ended. I tried to get her to come back to me. I begged that's right Big Almighty Manoso begged. She won't change her mind. So I left for Miami. I couldn't stand seeing her and not being able to touch her. It was just too much.

I ask Tank about her when I talked to him. He said that she had quit the bounty hunting again but that she didn't come back to work at Rangeman. I asked him to check on her to see if she needed anything. I tried to call her but that didn't go well either.

"Yo"

"Hey Babe. I miss you"

"Is that all Ranger?"

"Yeah, I was wanted to tell you that and I love you. I heard you quit the bonds office. Is everything going alright? Are you alright?"

"Peachy Keen"

"Do you think about us?"

"Ranger, there is no us. Look I have to go."

"Alright Babe, I love you. If you need me call me anytime."

"Yeah, okay."

"Promise?"

"Sure, if I need you but it doesn't seem likely now that I'm not bounty hunting anymore."

"Okay, bye Babe"

"Goodbye"

This morning when I got up, I decided that I WAS GOING TO GET HER BACK. I hopped on the first flight home and here I sit. I will be back in Trenton within the hour and I am going to see her. I am not taking no for an answer.

The plane touched down and Tank had my Porsche parked in the short term parking. He text me with the parking spot info. I found the car and drove over to her apartment. Her truck was in the lot. So I went upstairs. Normally, I would just pick the locks but today I thought I should knock. I knocked several times. I heard her saying "Just a minute Mary Lou, you know it takes me longer to get to the door now." She opened the door. She had a scarf tied around her head. She was still in her pj's and She was very pale. She looked like she had lost a lot of weight. She didn't weigh much to begin with.

She stood there looking at me with a blank face. I broke the silence "Babe, are you going to ask me in?" She nodded and step back to let me in. She walked in the kitchen and reached to get two bottles of water out of the frig. I noticed pills bottles on the counter. Lots of them. At least ten different prescriptions.

I said "Babe, are you alright? Are you not feeling well?"

She broke out laughing. She laughed so hard she started to cry. I reach over and put my arms around her. I held her until she stopped crying. Something was very wrong with my Babe. I could feel her ribs. She wasn't eating but why and whats with all the pills. I decided to ask.

"Babe, what's with all the pills? Are you sick?"

She looked up to me and smiled her brave smile when she doesn't want anyone to know how she is really feeling.

She said "I am dying"