Steph's Bad Day
Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money from this. Just writing it the way I want it to be.
My name is Stephanie Plum and I've been a Bond Enforcement Agent (BEA) for the last three years after blackmailing my cousin Vinnie for a job. I'm not really good at my job but I get the job done. I usually wind up rolling in garbage or some other lovely substance that I'd rather not identify usually. I get assistance from my sidekick Lula, who's a former ho and a worse BEA than I am. There are two men in my life and I love both of them, but I'm going to have to make choice sooner or later.
The first is my on-again, off-again boyfriend, a detective with the Trenton PD, Joe Morelli. Morelli grew up two blocks away from me and was my first FTA. He took my virginity at the age of 16 on the floor of Tasty Pastry. Morelli wants to marry me but only if I give up my job and friendship with the other man in my life Ranger. Morelli wants me to be a housewife and have children. I on the other hand don't know how to cook, hate to clean and after my divorce from Richard "The Dick" Orr am not sure if I ever want to marry again and lastly I'm not sure if I want to have children ever. We break up all the time when he is going undercover and it is always over my job and friendship with Ranger. I'm not sure, but I think Morelli has been having an on-going sexual relationship with Mafia Barbie, Terri Gilman. Gilman and Morelli dated in high school and often work together undercover. I love Morelli, but I'm not in love with him.
Then there is Ranger, Ricardo Carlos Manoso. He is Cuban-American, former Special Forces and all around bad-ass. Ranger is my fellow bounty of hunter, mentor, best friend and for one night my lover. The night I spent with Ranger was amazing and after that we set up boundaries, mine physical while his are emotional, and we have tried not to repeat that night. Ranger is my hero; he's saved and protected me. Whenever, I destroy my car Ranger is there with another one and never asks for anything in return. I could never repay Ranger for everything he has done for me. Ranger rarely needs help but on the occasions he does I would do anything he needed. When Scrog kidnapped his daughter Julie, I let myself be bait. He was caught but only after shooting Ranger and Julie attacking and shooting him to save her father. Then there was the time someone was robbing Rangeman clients, I worked for Ranger and found the guys who did it and he said I saved his company. I'm in love with Ranger, but I have no idea how he feels about me. I'm afraid that if I tell him he will cut me from his life forever, I don't know how I could live without him in my life. I'm not the Queen of Denial for nothing; I deny my feelings for Ranger even to myself. Joe has never understood my relationship with Ranger. Well maybe that's not true, maybe he understands my relationship too well. Joe knows that Ranger and I are attracted to each other and I'm pretty sure he knows we slept together even though I've never told him.
Today started out pretty normal and it was a good day until I went after first time offender, Bruce Greenfield. Greenfield was arrested on a drunk and disorderly when he staggered into a bridal shower at the VFW where he'd spent the day drinking after his divorce was finalized. He then proceeded to piss all over the bridal party and cake then called the bride a slut. I found out Greenfield was working one of the fireworks stands in town and Lula and I pulled up in my latest POS, a 2000 Silver Ford Explorer that had seen better days.
We parked to the side of the fireworks stand and Greenfield was smoking a cigarette. Lula said "Not the smartest is he? Why's he smokin' in a fireworks stand?" Just as she finished that question, Greenfield tossed his still lit butt into a box of fireworks in the corner of the stand and they started to go off. I'd left my window open and one of the fireworks landed on my front seat. The seat caught on fire and then the car exploded. There were two cars parked next to mine and they caught fire and exploded as well. Greenfield looked on in shock and started to run. I ran after him yelling "Hey stop, bond enforcement!" I tackled him to the ground and cuffed him.
First on the scene was my childhood friend, Eddie Gazzara, a uniform cop with the Trenton PD. He was laughing and said "Not another one Steph, what happened?" I gave my standard response "It's not fault." Lula took this opportunity to disappear because cops give her the runs. Eddie said "Yeah, that's what you always say."
I saw a black Porsche and then Ranger walking toward me with a 200 watt smile, "Babe." Ranger can make the word 'Babe' mean hundreds of different things with his tone of voice. This time it was 'I can't believe you toasted another POS but it's always amusing to see.'
"It wasn't my fault. That idiot threw a lit cigarette butt into a box of fireworks."
"Babe, are you okay?" Ranger replied as he looked me up and down to see if there was any physical damage.
I blew out a sigh, "Yeah, I just got the insurance check from the last car I destroyed. I'll go with Lula tomorrow to buy a new car."
Just then Morelli runs up with his hands flying and screams in my face "What the hell did you do this time, Cupcake? You're an embarrassment, when are you gonna give up this job and marry me?" I stood there stunned and speechless and whispered "an embarrassment?" But Morelli wasn't finished with his tirade, he looked at Ranger who had moved closer to me and had placed a hand on the back of my neck, soothing me. Joe didn't miss this action and narrowed his eyes on Ranger's hand and yelled at Ranger "And you, why do you encourage her? She can't do anything right. You're gonna get her killed one of these days. Cupcake, he's a thug."
That was it, I went full on rhino. Not only was he pissing me off and being hurtful to me but now he went after Ranger. "What did you say? No one tells me what to do. And read my lips Joe: RANGER IS NOT A THUG. He's been a good friend to me. If it wasn't for him I'd be dead. How many times has he saved my life? While all you do is scream at me. You didn't even ask if I was ok."
Joe looked at me with disgust and his tone implied the same. "You need to make a choice, Cupcake, him or me." With that he stalked off muttering to himself and it sounded like crazy mercenary. During this loud exchange, everyone had stopped working and watched the drama unfold. You could see cell phone camera's snapping pictures and video while others were texting or calling the respectable members of the Burg. The grapevine was in overdrive.
Eddie was still standing there waiting to take my statement. I gave him my statement while Carl and Big Dog took Greenfield down to the station. Ranger stayed there with me, not saying a word but his presence and silence had a calming effect on me. Eddie said "Listen Steph, all the guys at the station have been ragging on him about all the cars that explode and crazy shit you do. If a call comes in about you Joe gets 20 calls within five minutes. He doesn't mean what he says and he worries about you."
I looked up to Eddie and softly said "No Eddie, he meant every word. He wants to control me and I'm tired of taking all his abuse. If he was worried he would offer to help me or suggest training or give me tips. He's never done that. After I solved his case when he was charged with murder, all he wanted me to do was quit. He's lucky his ass isn't in a maximum security cell. You don't treat people you claim to love like he just treated me." Eddie shook his head and walked away.
Ranger pulled me closer to him and wrapped his arms around me, my back to his front and said "Babe are you okay?"
"Yeah Ranger, can you drive me to my parents house? I said I'd be there for dinner."
"If that's what you want" was his soft reply.
The drive to my parent's house was quiet as I stared out the passenger window thinking about what a train wreck my life was; too much drama. Ranger was in his zone but kept glancing over at me. I was being unusually quiet. I looked at the clock 5:45 at least I'd be on time for dinner and my mother wouldn't blame me for ruining dinner. Ranger broke the silence "Babe, are you sure you want to go to your parent's house? Your mother makes you crazy."
"I'm expected and if I don't show up she'll call me all night. When I don't answer she'll come over and demand an explanation. It's better to deal with the pain now." My cell phone had been going off since Joe walked away from me and I'd turned it off. I wasn't in the mood to deal with the Burg gossip mill.
The car slid to a stop in front of my parent's house and parked behind Morelli's SUV. "Great, this should be a pleasant meal; more of his shit to deal with, plus my mother." My mother was standing on the porch with my Grandma Mazur, from the car I could see my mother's lips pursed into a tight line. She was angry.
Ranger's voice broke into my thoughts asking "Do you want me to stay?"
I looked at him, clearly shocked "You would do that?"
Ranger replied softly "I would do anything for you, Stephanie." He got out of the car and opened my door.
I whispered to him "I have to bribe Joe to come to dinner with my family." He walked me to the door with his hand at the small of my back. Ranger leaned in and whispered to me "I'm not Morelli, Babe."
My mother's tone was curt "In the kitchen now!" She turned on her heel and stormed into the house, leaving us on the porch with grandma. Grandma sadly said "Joe's been here for over an hour; he's on the warpath and got her all riled up about your job and your friends. He told her if you don't give up everything he won't marry you. I don't know why she's got it in her head you should marry Joe or your life will be over. He told her how you blew up a fireworks stand and 2 cars besides your own car and they are gonna sue you."
I was shocked "He said what? He has no clue what happened, he didn't even stay to find out. He just screamed at me, gave me an ultimatum and left." I was going from shocked to enraged in about 30 seconds. Grandma walked into the house without trying to grab Ranger's ass, you could tell she was really upset. Ranger and I walked into the house and I didn't see Joe, he must be in the kitchen with my mother.
My father was sitting in his chair watching the news and looked up "Pumpkin, are you ok? Did you get hurt?"
"I'm fine Daddy. You remember Ranger don't you?"
My father extended his hand and said "Of course I do. How are you son? I want you to know I've always appreciated the way you watch out for my little girl." Wow, my father never said the much in a week let alone five minutes.
Ranger shook my father's hand. "I'm doing fine, sir. It's always a pleasure to work with Stephanie. Her methods are unorthodox but she always gets her man."
"Please call me Frank."
My mother was calling me to help her with dinner. I'm useless in the kitchen, like Ranger isn't aware of that or my father. My father grimaced and muttered "Fucking Morelli."
"Ranger, why don't you sit with Dad and Grandma?" He just looked at me with his blank face and sat in the other chair, avoiding Grandma and the couch. I slowly walked into the kitchen to meet my fate.
RANGER'S POV
I'm sitting in one of the Plum's armchairs and I feel really uncomfortable. I know Babe is going to get chewed out in the kitchen by Morelli and her mother. I know she can handle herself but she always caves when they gang up on her. Mrs. Mazur looks out of sorts sitting on the couch. I mean she didn't try to grope me, not that I'm disappointed but she must be really upset.
Frank's sitting there looking like he wants to kill Morelli so I say to him "I know what you're thinking and if you need help hiding the body and cleaning up the mess I'm more than willing to give you a hand."
Frank chuckled "Son, I don't need help. I was in the Ranger's myself in the seventies. Stephanie doesn't know, she was little when I got out. I've done some checking on you and your superiors said you're the best they ever saw. They also said you're an honorable man and a highly decorated soldier. If they didn't I wouldn't let you near my baby girl."
I was stunned, my files are sealed. People can get killed for getting into my file. "My file is sealed and needs has 'eyes only' clearance."
Frank smiled "My code name was Cep saatı, the hunter in Turkish. I was almost as good as you. Stephanie's a lot like me Ranger, but she tries too hard to please Helen and lets everyone else put her down. You're good for her; you let her try but step in when she's over her head."
I was surprised that Frank was Cep saati, the core team would be shocked when I told them. He's a fucking legend in Special Forces circles. I'm even more surprise Frank's basically given me his blessing to be part of my Babe's life. "Frank, it's not just me that helps her; my team would die for her. They love Stephanie because she accepts them for who they are and is not afraid of them. When I'm on a mission they watch over her."
Before Frank could respond to my latest statement we could hear Babe raising her voice and the three of us got up and went into the kitchen to save her.
STEPHANIE'S POV
I slowly walked into the kitchen. Joe was standing next to my mother and started yelling right away "What's Ranger doing here?"
My mother broke in "What am I going to do with you? Another car destroyed; why me? Why can't you be more like your sister? She has 3 beautiful little girls and she married a lawyer within a year of her divorce. And you still haven't remarried and you don't have any children. Myrna Granderson's daughter never blows things up and has a good job with a beautiful family. You're going to tell Vinnie you quit first thing tomorrow and start planning your wedding to Joseph. You're lucky he's still willing to marry you after you've embarrassed him and his family. That is final, if you don't do this you are no longer welcome in this house or this family."
Joe stood there with a smug look on his face; I wanted to wipe it off his sorry face. So much for the ultimatum, I don't get to choose he does. I saw clearly for the first time how Joe has manipulated my mother into thinking he's such a great catch. "No, I won't be quitting my job and I won't be marrying a man who hasn't even asked me to marry him," I said, my voice rising in anger as I spoke the word. "I don't see a ring on this finger and I don't recall a proposal. You never take me out; all you ever wanted was sex. I had to promise sex just to get you here for dinner. I'm through with you and if marrying him is the only way I can be part of this family then I'd rather be alone." By the end of my speech I could feel Ranger standing at my back, the anger was rolling off of him and he had his arm around my waist possessively.
My father was standing next to me and said "What is your problem Detective Morelli? Gazzara called and already told me what happened. You've stood in here telling Helen lies about our daughter, manipulating her into thinking the worst and that you're saving Steffie. You caused a scene by screaming at her and now you want to force her into marrying you? Get the fuck out of my house and never come back!" We all stood there doing an impression of a fish while my father strolled out the back door. I looked up at Ranger who had the corners of his mouth tilted up in an almost smile.
"My father is right Joe, you should leave. You gave me an ultimatum and I've made my choice."
Joe's face twisted into a bitter smile, "He's a fucking mercenary Cupcake."
"And he's a better man than you" I replied.
Joe walked out and said "I won't take you back when he gets tired of you and throws you out."
My mother looked at me and said "That was your last chance at happiness."
"Mom, he'd never make me happy, I'd just die slowly each day while he took everything I could give, while giving me nothing in return. Marriage and children aren't what I want, why can't you understand that?"
My grandmother had been uncharacteristically quite through this entire scene. She finally spoke up "Helen stop being a horse's ass, let her alone. Joe was always a spoiled child. Angie and Bella let him get away with stuff because of the way his father treated him. He needs someone to teach him a lesson."
My mother sat in a chair and said "Well dinner is ruined now."
I couldn't believe that was all she could say. I turned to Ranger and asked "Will you drive me home?" He did one of his barely nods and he let go of my waist and we walked out of the house. Ranger buckled me into the passenger seat and drove me to my apartment. He was in his zone and I looked out the passenger window wondering if my life could get any worse. What must Ranger think? I'm one screwed up individual. As we got closer to my apartment building I could see smoke and said "Oh shit, it can get worse."
