Disclaimer: JE owns the characters. Apologize by One Republic.

Angst and tissue warning!

Apologize

I'm holding on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground
I'm hearin what you say but I just can't make a sound
You tell me that you need me, then you go and cut me down, but wait
You tell me that you're sorry, didn't think I'd turn around, and say...

"She's just a piece, Tank."

Ranger's words froze me just outside his office, my hand raised to knock on the slightly ajar door.

"She'll never be more than just entertainment and a great lay. She's almost more trouble than she's worth."

"You don't mean that, man," Tank insisted. "You're in love with her."

"I'm not, nor was I ever, in love with Stephanie."

His words tore a hole in my heart. I had thought that things were going well between the two of us. We had been seeing each other on a regular basis for the last three months. He had told me that he loved me so many times that I thought it was true.

The door to his office opened and I came face to face with the one man that held the power to destroy my life. Our eyes locked and he knew in that second that I had heard exactly what he had said.

Babe…"

He reached out to grab me but I moved back quickly. I threw the fly that I had in my hand at him and turned, I was walking away.

It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

I could hear the Lester and Bobby calling out to me as I grabbed my purse and headed for the elevator. Over them, I heard Tank yelling at Ranger just outside his office. I ignored it all. I couldn't really hear anything over the sound of my heart shattering in my chest.

I stepped onto the elevator and turned around to hit the button. As I leaned back against the wall, I saw Ranger come running towards me.

The doors started closing as he reached out and said, "Babe-"

"It's too late," I said and the doors slid shut.

I'd take another chance, take a fall, take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat, but it's nothin' new
I loved you with a fire red- now it's turning blue, and you say...
"Sorry" like the angel heaven let me think was you, but I'm afraid...

The doors slid back open to the garage as I heard the door to the stairwell bang open. I kept my head held high and the tears at bay as I stepped out and started walking to my car. A hand came around my arm and swung me around. I was instantly pinned to a broad black chest. My instincts kicked in and I started fighting to get away.

"I'm sorry, Babe," Ranger said, his voice slightly raised with panic. "Don't leave like this."

"I'm sorry!" I yelled as I gave a Herculean push and got out of his arms. "I'm sorry? It's too fucking late to apologize to me, Ranger." A tear escaped and rolled down my cheek. "Besides, you don't need to waste your breath on 'a piece'."

It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

He flinched at my words but I couldn't come up with enough compassion to care about that. I was hurting and I wanted him to hurt too. Because no mater what he wanted to say, it was too late. The words had been said and my heart was no longer his. I was taking it back so that I could take it home and try to glue it back together. As long as I could find all the pieces under his fist, then I'd be alright.

It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

I turned from him and made my way to my car. He didn't make another sound as I climbed into my car and closed the door. The gate raised before I was even out of my parking space. I waved at the camera as I drove by… for the last time.

It's too late to apologize, yeah
I said it's too late to apologize, yeah-
I'm holdin' on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground..