AN: Not mine, not making any money. This is my newest story, a new chapter will be posted daily during the week. Weekends are mine and I will not be posting. I hope everyone enjoys this story, I have enjoyed writing it. Please be sure to read the author notes at the beginning of each chapter as it may have information you would like. This story is not Beta'd so all mistakes our mine and mine alone.
Read and Review, they keep me going! Happy Reading! ; )
Steph's POV
I woke up to my damn alarm clock going off. Sometimes I wondered why I even had one. I threw it across the room where it bounced off the door but the damn thing just kept beeping. I got off the bed and grabbed that damn clock and turned it off and then looked at the time.
It was 6:30 and I realized I needed to be at Rangeman by 7. I did my morning business minus shower, put on my gym clothes and grabbed my purse before heading to Rangeman. These days I have to be at the Rangeman gym for training at 7 and I will say I'm still not a morning person but my body looks amazing.
I've been working out for the last four months with the guys. I have gym at 7 where I spar/self defense with Lester, and do weights and other exercises with Bobby, and then I have gun range with Ranger, and defensive driving with Tank. Three days a week I spend time with Hector who works with me on computers and lock picking.
It has been working well for me, my body is in the best shape it has ever been in and I've gotten extremely close with all the guys. Joe and I had broken up a while back when he came home from one of his undercover assignments. While he was gone we both realized we just weren't meant to be. I needed someone to support me and he needed a housewife.
We still spend time together eating pizza and watching games. His girlfriend had a tough time accepting our friendship at first because of our past but since has realized that Joe and I will never be anything more than good friends. I get along great with his girlfriend and we have even gone shopping together. I shared stories of Joe and she told me about her, they really are perfect for each other.
Ranger and I are still best friends and after a long talk we both realized that's all we'll ever be. He doesn't do relationships because of the danger and said that just us being best friends is hard for him because he is scared someone is going to come after me due to him. I love Ranger but quickly realized I wasn't in love with him, he was a wish. I wished I could have him and knew I couldn't.
It took time for me to get over him and the fact that we would never even try a relationship but I did and I realized that we waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love. I'm not looking for the perfect man just the perfect man for me. I've done some dating and all of it has been a disaster, it seems most men can't seem to handle my job.
I've decided that I was just going to go with the flow. I started working full time at Rangeman three months ago before that it was all part time work. I quit bounty hunting for Vinnie except the skips Rangeman picks up.
I was promoted quickly at Rangeman to Head of the Skip Apprehension Department
and I handle searches, takedown plans, and going over takedown reports. It's a rewarding job and I love it. I have an office next to Ranger and it seems we are always in each other's offices but there are no more kisses or caresses.
I made it to the gym right on time and started with a 5 mile run before going to spar with Lester and maybe learn some new self defense moves. When I started sparring with Lester I called it 'Kick Stephanie's Ass time.' I have since gotten better and now we actually spar. After 30 minutes of sparring I moved on to free weights with Bobby before doing my final 2 mile run to wind down.
Next it was off to the gun range and then defensive driving before I made it up to my office. This was the last day of defensive driving since I had been able to do anything Tank told me. I could spot a tail, lose a tail, and shoot while driving. I grew up in Jersey defensive driving is a way of life.
My mother and I still didn't see eye to eye but my dad and I have gotten a lot closer. I found out he was a Ranger and all Ranger's want to be like him. His nickname while in the Rangers was smoke; he was in and out of places like smoke and had a knack for blowing things up. Guess it runs in the family. He excelled in everything while a Ranger and became known as the best of the best. He is a legend.
I still haven't told the guys who my dad is and that some of the men I grew up with and call uncles are also former Rangers. My uncle Leon his nickname was ghost and dad still calls him that sometimes then there is my uncle Henry whose nickname was Hawk and he is now the general. It's kind of funny to think that all this time I knew and loved some Ranger legends and never realized it.
I had finished up all my daily training and was making my way up to the office when I ran into Hal.
"Hey Hal."
"Steph, Ranger's looking for you. He should be in his office." I nodded and walked to Ranger's door.
I knocked on his door and heard his gruff reply of "Enter." I walked in and sat down in own of his guest chairs.
"What's up?" I asked him.
"You got a suspicious package today."
"Okay?" I began fidgeting nothing good ever came from packages.
"Would you like to go look at it?" I nodded and he got up and led me to the second floor where Hector was.
"Hola Hector." I said as soon as we walked in.
"Hola Chica." He replied.
"Hector, did you get that package checked over?" Ranger asked Hector.
"Si, Usted no se va a gustar." (Yes. You aren't' going to like it.) I guess I should tell you I'm also learning Spanish, Hector teaches me Spanish and I teach him English. We are both doing well with it.
"Where is it?" I asked.
Hector pointed to a small desk that had a small box on it. I walked over to it and looked inside. He was right I didn't like it, inside were a bra and panty set from my apartment, a rose, and note. I put some gloves on that were sitting next to it and opened the note. It read,
Bombshell Bounty Hunter,
I can't wait to see you in these. When the time is right I will come for you and we can be together.
I looked at Ranger and Hector, "What is it with people wanting to come after me? Why not just ask me on a date. That would make more sense."
Hector smiled and Ranger shook his head.
"Babe, we're running prints on it and hopefully we'll know who it is soon." I nodded and walked out after kissing Hector on the cheek and making my way up to my office.
I had to go over the takedown report from last night's takedown and then I needed to head to the Bond's Office to pick up any new files. I would need to grab Ram, who is my partner before leaving and I had a skip for us to pick up since I hate being in the office any long period of time. I had just set down at my desk when my desk phone rang.
"Rangeman, this is Stephanie." I answered.
"How is the most beautiful niece I have?"
"Uncle Henry?" I questioned.
"It's me sweetie."
"Uncle Henry, how are you? You never call me anymore; I'm beginning to wonder if I'm still your favorite." He chuckled into the phone.
"You will always be my favorite. I have been busy though. I'm in Trenton and was planning on going to lunch with your lazy dad and was going to see if you wanted to join us."
"I would love to. Will Uncle Leon be there?" I asked.
"No, he is still in California with his new grandbaby."
"Okay, what time and where will our lunch date be?" I said looking up and seeing Ranger looking at me with that damn blank face that I hate.
"How about Shorty's at 12:30?"
"Sounds great Uncle Henry. I'll see you there and don't break too many hearts." I laughed. He chuckled before hanging up.
Uncle Henry had never been married and always claimed to be a playboy and heartbreaker. When I was old enough to understand what exactly that meant I would always end phone conversations with don't break too many hearts. I looked up to see Ranger staring at me.
"Ranger?" I said to him.
"Who was that babe?"
"My uncle Henry. I'm having lunch with him and dad today. I don't get to see him often since he lives in D.C." Let's see if Ranger picks up the clue I'm leaving him.
"Make sure you take back up especially now that you have a new stalker." I nodded.
"Ranger, why don't you come with me, you might even enjoy yourself." He nodded before walking back to his office.
I decided I would just do paperwork and then after lunch I would go by the Bond's Office. Ranger was coming with me as well as Vince and Woody to be our backup. We pulled in the lot and I noticed Uncle Henry's car and dad's taxi, I got out and walked inside with Ranger, Vince, and Woody behind me.
As soon as Uncle Henry saw me he stood up and I ran to him and hugged him. We only saw him about once a year now where before it was about once a month.
"You get more beautiful every time I see you sweetie." I smiled.
"And you are still all talk." I replied while we laughed.
I looked at Ranger, "Dad you remember Ranger, Uncle Henry this is Ranger or Carlos Manoso." He nodded.
"I know who he is." Was all he said before sitting down.
I looked between the two and couldn't figure out what was going on.
"General, what brings you to town?" Ranger asked him.
"Family." He tersely replied.
I looked at my dad for help and he just shook his head. All these damn Alpha males. I smiled at Uncle Henry.
"So how have things been going?" I questioned.
"They've been good other than one of our best operatives in only taking half the missions he was." He said looking at Ranger.
So Ranger is doing fewer missions I knew that because he wanted to spend more time with Julie and Uncle Henry is pissed.
"Smoke, how is Helen?" He asked dad. I noticed Ranger's eyes go wide.
"She is good. Valerie is pregnant with number five now."
"That girl ain't figured out what's causing that yet?" Dad and I laughed.
This is why I was the favorite; I didn't want to be a baby making machine nor a housewife. Uncle Henry told me how proud of me he was when I began bounty hunting. He was one of my biggest supporters and he hated Morelli. He was fine with Morelli as long as I wasn't with him.
We finished lunch with small talk and Ranger actually seemed to enjoy some of dad and Uncle Henry's old exploits. We were walking out side when the bronco we drove to Shorty's exploded. Ranger pushed me down and Uncle Henry and dad both got beside me. Damn stalker.
We got up and looked at the fireball that was our bronco while we waited on the police and the Rangeman that were sure to show up.
"You know Sweetie, you and your dad are a lot like. He used to always blow things up." I smiled while he hugged me and looked me over.
We gave our statements and the men all shook hands before we walked out to head back to Rangeman to try to get a lead on my stalker. At least I got to see my dad and Uncle Henry today but I'm putting off going to the bond's office until tomorrow.
Back at the office we found that there were no fingerprints on my package but the bomb on the bronco Hector might be able to get some info on. I went to my office and worked on my never-ending amount of paperwork.
