A/N: This is my first FanFic, so I know it isn't going to be great. This story has been in my mind for a while now, so ideas & constructive criticism is welcome, leave me a review to let me know if you think I should continue, or give it up. Remember this is my first story, please be kind ;)
**The characters of this story belong to Janet Evanovich. I make no money from this, storyline is mine.**
It was a normal Wednesday evening in my crappy rat-trap apartment. I was sitting at the kitchen table debating the merits of peanut butter, and olives, and grilled cheese when my cell phone rang with a familiar out of state number. Quickly answering, I became instantly concerned, and aware of the sobs coming from the other line.
"Steph... it's me, Julie. I...I need you. Please, come get me. I can't get ahold of Ranger, and it's an emergency."
Immediately freaked out, and running for the door I start with the obvious, trying to calm the hysterical 14 year old.
"Jules... what is going on? Ranger is in the wind, he has been gone about a month. I have no idea when he will be back, but he said it shouldn't be a long mission."
"Mom, and Ron are fighting, it hasn't been good ever since Scrog. Ron hates me, he is blaming me for all their problems. Mom isn't taking up for me, she told me if I liked Ranger so much, I could just live with him. I'm not welcome here anymore, I need out of here. I have nowhere to go, and if Ranger is in the wind I want to stay with you. Please, Steph- I need you!"
Already in my car, and headed down the road towards Haywood Street, I attempted to formulate a plan... I had to be there for her.
"Julie, try to stay calm. I will ALWAYS be here for you. I need to come up with some kind of plan. I doubt your Mom is going to allow you to come with me, I have no right to take you across state lines, I'm not a relative even. I need to speak to your Mom. I can't just kidnap you.I promise, I will find a way to make sure you are okay, we just can't get arrested trying to do it. I am on my way to RangeMan to speak with Tank. I'm going to have to tell him what is going on so that I can make arrangements to use their jet. I am going to have to set up some kind of security detail to be with me, because if something happened to you, Ranger would absolutely kill me."
Julie had me hold on the line, and suddenly another familiar voice came on the line...Rachel.
"Stephanie, I understand how this looks, but you aren't married. You don't understand what it's like to try to keep your husband, you just get to live your life, and do whatever you want. Julie isn't fitting into that equation, she wants too much to do with that piece of shit that sends a check every month, and she is ruining my marriage. If Ranger is out of town, I will gladly sign over guardianship of Julie, if that is what you want. She and Ron can't get along, and it is straining my marriage, and that is the most important thing in my life. Julie is too much like Ranger, and I can't deal with her attitude anymore."
Stunned. Stunned is the only emotion that I could muster. How can a mother that raised her child for 14 years just blame a failing marriage on the child, and agree to sign the kid over to someone they had met once like she was a used Ford Taurus? It's like I am in an alternate universe. The one time I met Rachel, I had no idea she was capable of this callousness... Ranger had said that he had a good relationship with the Martine's. Realizing I hadn't said anything as I pulled into RangeMan, I quickly agreed to be there later tonight or in the morning, and for her to have the paperwork ready. I told Julie to have her cellphone on her, and I would call with the arrangements. In the back of my mind, I couldn't help but wonder how big of a clusterfuck this was going to be when Ranger came home. I had no idea if he would be mad that I took over guardianship, happy because I rescued her, pissed at Rachel, and Ron for putting her through this... Will he want custody of her? I will happily give him custody, he is her father, but I will not allow him to walk out on her again. If he doesn't want to make up for lost time, and become a father for his child- I would step up and be a Mother figure for her. God help me, I can't even care for a hamster properly. As I jumped into the elevator heading to the 5th floor to find Tank, I let out a silent prayer that when Ranger got home, he would be the man I know he can be for Julie when he gets home.