"Boss, you got a call on line three," Hal's voice came over the intercom.

"Manoso here," Ranger said into the speaker. Never minding that the core team was in his conference room at the same time.

"There's been an electronic deposit in your personal account, Manoso. I thought you should know, it went thru yesterday but I was out of the office with your attorney."

Tension filled the room as Ranger asked, "Who from?"

"All I have is the hard copy of a wire transfer. No name attached but it did say for 'services rendered' and the date mentioned was for last month. I just thought you should know. Per your protocol measures I've faxed it to your office as we are speaking."

Tank stood up and went to the fax machine once Ranger finished the call. The paper was laid down in the middle of the table for everyone to see.

"Do you see that amount? That matches perfectly with ..."

Smack!

Lester was expecting the smack on the head, after all he was the one that brought up the fact it was from when Steph needed help with the Slayers. Everyone had seen the internal memo on the cost of that fiasco when Hal got tased.

And all were still fuming at Ranger for his stupid 'line item in his entertainment budget line' he spouted off to Steph. Over drinks on the roof, he finally broke down and told his closest friends just why Stephanie was scarcely seen around the building anymore. Except for her office job, Steph was gone at the stroke of five PM each day.

Sitting behind his desk, Ranger felt no shame in going into Steph's personal banking account. Finding out she closed the account a month ago gave him pause.

"When was the last time any of you talked to Steph besides about work?" Ranger asked. "There's no trace of her banking anywhere here in Trenton, no new accounts are even set up going by her personal records either."

"Boss, you're the one that said treat her like 'any other contract worker', remember? "Bobby asked.

"I didn't mean for you three knuckleheads to ignore her, but it seems like its backfired on us anyway, " Ranger said holding up the fax. "I'd bet anything this came from Stephanie, that somehow she managed to find out just what she cost the company in manpower and somehow she repaid me. That isn't what I meant when I told her No Price."

Ever since Ranger said both of his careless statements, Steph seemed to withdraw even more. Taking her full time salary plus her signing bonus from her job in Client Relations at Rangeman she moved into a condo across town, as far fromthe Burg and Haywood as possible.

Letting only a few people in on her new life, Ranger was shocked to realize it was Ella, Luis, Hector and Manny Ramos of all people that knew where she lived and what she was up to. Visiting her when off the clock these four were now welcomed where Ranger was not. Hell, he didn't even know where she lived.

Her phone was still answered after all it was a Rangeman issued phone, but everyone knew there was a burn phone Steph had for personal calls, everything else Rangeman was allowed to monitor.

Trackers had been removed from her personal car as she bought it with her own money and now suddenly this 'services rendered' was in his personal account.

How Steph found out how much money he spent on her safety was beyond him but knowing Hector was mixed up in it somehow clued him in.

It was Hector that Steph turned to for her physical fitness, not Bobby.

Ram wasn't needed for her shooting either as Hector filled that role as well. Lock-picking, even more computer skills, Steph took to like a duck to water.

All of a sudden, Stephanie seemed not to be in a prank pulling or laughter mode like before with the men. Once Ranger announced at the morning meeting that Steph was now a 'contract worker' suddenly everyone treated her different. Passing the entry level tests for Rangeman, Steph was content to do office work but kept her skills up and maintained the gym and gun time that was required of her.

Ranger overheard Steph and Ella talking one day in the hallway about the new cooking lessons she was taking at the local recreation center in the evenings. Inviting his aunt and uncle over to dinner the next night, Ranger just 'happened' to come around the corner at that moment.

Hoping for an invitation to dinner as well.

"Boss, something I can help you with?" was all Stephanie asked him. Using the excuse of a client's problem Ranger was able to talk to her in the new office she was just moved into.

"Babe," Ranger said, noticing the lack of sparkle in her beautiful blue eyes when he said her pet name gave him pause.

"What do you need?" Steph asked.

Indifference was on her face, that was the word Ranger would pick seeing a blank face staring at him. No longer did her eyes dilate when he 'applied pressure' in his own way.

That damn statement was like a ticking time bomb coming between them.

"Line item in my entertainment budget." combined with his stupid "No Price" it was no wonder the tension was high between the former best friends. Ranger had crushed her heart and soul with his careless words being thrown out any which way. Now they were just Employer to employee.

Steph walked around the chair he was sitting in and made sure to keep her office door wide open for everyone that walked by a chance to see in.

"You know Ranger, you really need to talk besides these one word statements. Is this how you treat all your 'contract employee's? I wanted to talk to you anyway, since mine is about up for the few months I signed on for, I think it's best if I move on. A new job offer has come my way and I'm really excited about the chance to have a challenge and prove what I know. I do appreciate all the training Hector showed me, but I think it's for the best if I no longer work here anymore." Steph said to Ranger's blank face.

"Better for who?" Ranger asked. His heart pounding, not believing Stephanie would just walk out the door of Rangeman for good.

"Better for everyone concerned. I came on board as a 'contract employee', remember? I've fulfilled that contract thanks to Hector. I've also paid you back every cent you used spending your resources on to keep me safe and I feel pretty good about that. I'm pretty sure you just thought I'd take you and your men for granted, didn't you? Anyone here can take over this job, you have plenty of employee's to chose from plus you've just hired contract workers on as full time employees. Once you decide on who you would like to fill my spot I'll use my last two weeks here to get them up to speed and trained, how's that? Anyway, you won't have to bleed money or use your 'no price' rule you seem to have in place for only me. It's a win win situation, don't you agree?"

A knock on Steph's door broke the strain in her office.

"Chica, you ready to head out? Class starts in an hour, don't want to be late like last week do we? "Hector asked with a smirk on his face. "Manny's already in the truck waiting for us to get moving."

"You're taking classes, Babe?" Ranger asked, trying to keep her talking to him. Never mind she just handed him the bomb of moving on from his company.

"Uh, yeah. Self defense and kickboxing every couple of nights. Hector is my partner, helps me out all the time and never adds me to his expense sheet. Imagine that. It's why we work so well together, Ranger. Manny, Hector and I seem to be able to separate our business lives with our own time off to spend with each other."

"See you in the morning, Boss" Hector smirked on his way out of Steph's office.

Little did Ranger know what was headed his way courtesy of his soon to be former employee(s).

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxo

Everyone you recognize is from Janet's world.

I hope to update every few days.

Hope to see you around.

Thanks to my silent beta.