Usual Disclaimer: Not mine...not making money

RANGER POV

It's been three months since I had been home. I walked into the elevator at Rangeman exhausted. I had gone over to Steph's to tell her I was back and she hadn't been home.

When the elevator reached the seventh floor I got off and made my way to my apartment. It felt good to be home. I couldn't wait to see Steph but I was too tired at the moment to go find her. She was probably at the cop's house.

I felt my anger boil just thinking about him. He gets to fuck her ever night. He gets to hold her. He gets to say I love you to her.

I put my stuff on the sideboard and fell into my bed fully clothed.

The next morning I showered and got ready for my day. I was on my way to my office when I stopped by the control room. On the screen was Steph going into Lester's apartment.

"Status." I said just loud enough for my men to hear me.

"All accounts are good."

"Why is Stephanie is Lester's room?"

"She arrived last night at 2100 and went up to your apartment then came back down ten minutes later. She met up with Lester in the hallway and she went back to his apartment."

"Why was she here?" I barked.

"She seemed visibly upset. We don't know what the problem is."

That was the end of the conversation. I walked down to Lester's apartment a knocked on the door. A minute later Lester came to the door in nothing but a towel, hair still damp.

"Hey Rangeman, your back." He said.

"Where is she?"

"She's on the couch; she passed out while we were watching Ghostbusters last night." Was his response. He moved aside for me to come into the apartment. I walked in to see Steph asleep on the couch.

"Why is she here?" I asked scared for the answer.

"She was upset so I brought here back to eat ice cream and watch a movie." Was his only answer.

"But why was she upset?"

"I think that is something you two need to talk about."

"Just tell me "

"Well…"

"Santos." I said in most menacing voice.

"Alright man just sit down." We both went into the kitchen and sat at the counter.

"Is it really that bad?" I asked.

"Are you gonna let me tell you or are you gonna keep interrupting me?" he asked. I shut my mouth and waited for him to continue.

"She came in last night and asked if you had come back yet. I of course told her no, because I didn't know you were back."

"I just got in this morning." I said and he game me a look that told me to shut up. Once again I shut my mouth and waited.

"When I saw how upset she was I brought her back for some platonic cheering up. She curled up on the couch next to me finished her ice cream and she started dozing. At first I couldn't tell if she was asleep or not so I tried to pick her up and put her on the bed but she started talking. She was said, no I have to wait for Ranger, and he has to know. So of course I pushed I mean, she was in such a state that I know I shouldn't have but…" Now he was babbling, I knew this time I had to step in.

"Santos, what's wrong man?"

"She mumbled a lot. Something about a stalker, then about her car, which got blown up this week, and something about getting hurt? I didn't catch all of it man, that's why you two should talk it out."

I got up and went back into the living room. My Babe was still asleep. I bent down and picked her up and turned toward the door. I turned to Lester.

"I am offline except for dire emergencies."

"Until when?" he asked.

"Until I decide." With that I turned and left Lester's apartment and went up to my own.

I placed my Babe in my bed and climbed in next to her. I couldn't believe that she was still sleeping. It was almost nine in the morning; I guess she really was upset last night. I laid there with her for about twenty minutes before I heard Ella come in.

I got up and asked her if she would make breakfast for Stephanie. I put the coffee on and went to go wake her.

"Babe." She moved a little, but she was obviously still asleep. "Babe." I tried again. I kissed her on the cheek and she moaned a little. "Babe, time to get up." I gave her kisses down her neck and back up. I could tell the moment she woke up because she stiffened instantly. "Babe, Ella is going to be here with your food in about ten minutes, get up and take a shower and by the time you get out it will be ready.

She got up and went to the bathroom while I returned to the kitchen. Ella came in and set the table and left the food. She had just left when Steph came out of the shower. She sat down in the seat that I pulled out for her and started in on her food. Moaning with every bit, I felt my pants tighten, but I knew that she was in no condition. I had to find out what had her so upset.

"Babe." With that one word I saw so many emotions flash across her face. Fear, Anxiety, Lust, and Love. "Babe." I said again when she didn't answer me.

"What?" She asked trying to play cool, but failing miserably.

"Babe, why did you come here crying last night?"

"I…well I…you see that…" she stuttered. She looked down into her lap and just sat there. I put two fingers under her chin and made her met my eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"Well it doesn't matter any more."

"Why not?" I was hoping that her problem really did go away but with her denial is her best friend.

"Because your home."

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