A Challenge – A conversation between Ranger and Morelli.
Author: Sin
Rating: R (for language)
Disclaimer: JE owns all characters and the alley.

"So this is it?" Morelli walked into the alleyway beside the bond's office.

Ranger crossed his arms over his chest, "You know about that? Impressive."

"Of course, I know." Morelli said, raking his hand through his hair, "I'm a fucking detective for crissakes. I know about everything she does in and around the Burg."

Ranger raised an eyebrow. He highly doubted Morelli knew everything, but he let it go.

"I know about the looks. I know about the kiss in the bakery and I know about all the rendezvous' in this damn alley way." Morelli stalked towards Ranger until they were standing eye to eye, "I told you to back off her."

Ranger shrugged his shoulder.

Morelli attempted to intimidate Ranger but it was a no go, so he stalked away. Ranger leaned against the building, the corners of his lips tipping up.

"She'll never commit to me until you walk away." Morelli said coming to a stop, "Stop helping her, Manoso."

"Maybe you should try helping her and she'd stop coming to me."

"Maybe you should stop making yourself available."

"Maybe you should get your head out of your ass and pay attention to her."

Morelli shot Ranger a look, "Maybe you should stop poaching where you don't belong."

"Funny-- I'm pretty sure you don't make that decision for her." Ranger leaned away from the building and uncrossed his arms, "I've told you once before, Morelli. Stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours. But we never made Steph a part of that deal. She makes her own decisions."

"Wrong." Morelli said with a sneer, "She makes the decision she thinks is best based on what she thinks you'd tell her."

"C'mon, Morelli. Give her a little more credit than that. She's not a puppet. She's got good instincts and she always gets her man however ass backwards it might be."

Morelli made a disgusted sound, "You see? It's shit like that that makes her think she can do that clusterfuck of a job with Vinnie. She sticks around doing that shit because of you."

"Sounds like you're jealous, Morelli, that she's not begging to you marry her anymore because she's found something she's good at and enjoys."

"She's got plenty to enjoy with me. I've never heard any complaints."

Ranger didn't take the bait. Instead he shifted his stance and crossed his arms again. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that. What's the point of asking me here, Morelli?"

"I want you to disappear."

"I was just thinking the same about you."

"You'll never offer her what she needs."

"And neither will you Morelli."

They stood at a stand still.

Morelli snorted, "You've got no idea what I could offer her. You're too busy undermining everything that I do."

"Maybe I do," Ranger said, "and maybe I don't. Fact of the matter is- you've fucked around with her for years and just keep fucking it up. Stephanie is fair game, Morelli and nothing you say today is gonna to change that."

"What if I told you she loves me?"

Ranger shrugged, "It's never been a question between us."

"So then why are you hanging on to something that will never be yours?"

"Because if you really knew Stephanie, you'd know that she loves in different ways."

"And when did you have time to figure this out?" Morelli huffed, "When your tongue was down her throat?"

Ranger didn't reply.

"Don't think I don't know what you were doing in her bed and don't think I happened there by pure coincidence. I called her phone six times with no reply. You think you're slick Manoso, hiding in her apartment, but I'm onto you."

"I don't have to defend my actions to you, Morelli."

"Listen," Morelli started, "I've never said a God damned thing to you before because I was waiting for Steph to tell you but I'm telling you now, leave her alone. She loves me. She finally admitted it but I can't help feeling like she left something out. I don't want to find out that something else was you or I'm going to have to do something I'll regret."

A couple of heartbeats passed and Ranger flashed Morelli a rueful smile, "Trust me. It's not like I've not thought the same thing especially when I think about you fucking her when it should be me."

A couple of heartbeats later and that seemed to hit home. Ranger braced himself as a fist flew towards his face and he allowed Morelli that one but he ducked as he threw the second punch and threw one of this own. Both men stood, staring each other down and the tension could be cut with a knife. Morelli wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and spat, "I knew it you fucking prick. Keep your hands off her or I'll fucking ki-"

"You threatening me, Morelli?" Morelli narrowed his eyes and Ranger's eyes turned hard around the edges, "I'd think hard about your next choice of words before you speak."

Silence descended the alley and neither man moved or backed down. Then the tiniest of movement caught the corner of their eyes and both men turned, looking at Stephanie standing at the entrance of the alley. The look on her face said it all.

"I think I've heard enough." Stephanie said, turning away from the alley and back out onto the sidewalk.

"Cupcake… wait!" Morelli ran up to her and Steph jerked her arm from him.

"Don't call me." She spat, "Either of you."

Morelli went running off after Stephanie and Ranger made up his mind that he would be making a surprise visit to Steph's apartment after hours. They had unfinished business to attend to.