Disclaimer: not mine, just playing with characters

Note: one of my favorite TV reality competition shows is The Amazing Race, so I just had this idea of Steph trying to get into the show. So far it's just one chapter, but I might continue the story, if I have some time for writing (and time was scarce for that recently).
Tell me, if you like the story :)

Chapter 1

An Amazing Idea

Ranger was settled on the couch and was working on his laptop catching up on some work after his one week-long trip to RangeMan branch. Lou has already been put to sleep, and meanwhile I was watching my favorite TV show's season finale, when suddenly a wonderful thought has crossed my mind. Why not us?

'Babe, I can smell something burning.'

Uh-huh, one can always count on Ranger to catch me off guard.

I bit my lower lip uncertainly, thinking on how I should and if I should tell him just what an awesome idea had just crossed my mind…

'Spill the beans, love.'

I looked back at my husband and went for it.

'Iwannaustobethem,' and pointed to the huge TV screen.

Ranger looked in the direction I was pointing to, then turned his puzzled gaze to me and lifted his eyebrow questioningly. 'Want to repeat that once more and a bit slower this time?

I sighed and rolled my eyes in my best Jersey girl style.

'I. Want. Us. To. Be. Them,' and then once more pointed to the TV screen.

That eyebrow of his climbed even higher, and I've caught myself thinking just how high it could go. But better leave this eyebrow test in peace, for now. Total puzzlement showing on Ranger's face told me that he still did not follow my train of thoughts. Oh, sure, how could I forget that a notion of participating in a TV show could be totally incomprehensible to someone like Batman?

'The Amazing Race. It's the show I'm watching,' I started explaining myself. 'I think we should try to get in.'

'Why?'

His simple 'why' sent me off the couch as I sprang to my feet filled to the top with sudden overwhelming emotions. Duh, isn't that obvious?

'It would be fun, we could do well on that show, and we also could win that one million bucks they're giving for the winners,' I started pattering and gesticulating heavily to accentuate my words.

'Why?' he repeated once more, and that became that last drop for me. I gave him one of my patent eye-rolls and then launched into full-on assault.

'Well, cause we're going to do that and it is not open for negotiation,' I stated with a no-nonsense tone, mentally readying myself for a battle and crossed my hands on my chest sending him a clear message not to argue with me on this.

Ranger kept staring at me for a couple of long moments, which seemed like years to me, and then sighed in surrender, 'Babe.'

Wha? No battle royale? I could not believe I've got his 'yes' on that so easily. My surprise must have shown on my face or even whole stance, as Ranger reassured me with his words, 'If you're sure, you want this, then we'll do it.'

'Yay!' I exclaimed in my happiness and threw myself into his lap in such a swish leap, that I've managed to catch Ranger off guard. But I just felt this sudden urge to seal the deal with a hot kiss, and, well, who cares, if that laptop of his ended on a floor with a loud bang.

'Any other show you feel we should apply for Babe?' he teased me as we parted to catch some breath.

'No, not at the moment, but I might think of something else given how easy it is to talk you into saying 'yes' to my ideas,' I teased him back.

'Careful Babe, you're stepping on a thin ice here. And you owe me for my so-called 'easy yes'. And you know well that I always collect my fee,' he said in a serious tone of voice, but his eyes were filled with so much of melted passion that his attempt at sounding threatful was totally ruined.

'I can deal with that,' I whispered back planting one kiss on his cheek, then another on the edge of his lips.

'Then it's a deal Babe,' he returned me a soft kiss planting it on the very tip of my nose. 'But this time round I'm asking for a pre-payment,' he added then humorously and embraced me tightly into his lap before I could protest or even think about making a protest.

Yeah, right, as if I've ever thought about turning down my personal Cuban god…

'We should ask Hector,' I said in a half whisper, as we lay cozily cuddled into each other tired yet sated from our previous pleasant activities.

'Um?' Ranger's arm, which has been lazily stroking my back, froze for a moment. Well, ain't it cute that I managed to confuse my Batman for the second time in just one evening?

'To help us make a video. We need one, if we're going to audition for the Amazing Race,' I explained and went on with a sudden flow of brainstorm, 'You could do something from your Batman or SWAT arsenal to blow their minds.'

'And you? Are you going to show off your distraction skills or that of your bounty hunter's? I think we could come up with some nice garbage pile here in RangeMan…' he teased me playfully.

Uh-huh, we'll see who's gonna have the last laugh. I pouted my lips at him in a mock resentment.

'I think I'll leave that for my everyday activities. But Wonder woman could work. D'ya think I could blow them, if I'd put on some costume and tried to take down Batman?' I teased him back.

'Not happening Babe,' he replied almost purring from pleasure as I went through his hair with my fingers.

'In that case I might have to look for another superhero to join me on the quest.'

Take that!

In one swift movement Ranger rolled me over, and the next moment I've found myself secured under his pleasant weight.

'I've told you once that one Ranger is all you need Babe,' he said intently. 'Batman or any other superheroes including.'

I just smiled in reply. He might still be a man of mystery, but in two years of marriage I've learned some tricks. Trying hard not to laugh I said, 'What if you do some Batman stuff you're so good at, and I'll just be your Babe?'

A 1000-watt smile, which showed on his face, was the best possible reply I could get. Well, probably the second best thing.

If we keep this up, I won't be able to walk in the morning, was the last coherent thought I had for a while. But I knew well from my own experience that walking is overrated. Especially if one has to choose between walking or heaven on earth…

A few days later as the news of me talking Ranger into applying for TAR got around RangeMan, I've found myself sitting in a Comm Room with almost every Merry Men unoccupied otherwise and amidst a heated discussion, which topic was our application video.

So far we've reached an agreement that we should do a version of me going bounty hunting – Tank was volunteered in unison to play a role of FTA, which I had to take into – and Ranger was to play my savior. And though I was not entirely happy about some minor details of the arrangement, what worried me most was their idea of blowing my car for the sake of mind-blowing impression.

'Guys, guys!' I raised my voice, 'do we really have to blow a car for this.'

Multiple 'Sure Bombshell', 'That's the most important thing', 'Of cause we have to have a car blown up,' came from all over the room.

Uh-huh. Good thing it won't technically be MY car, but one of Ranger's, I tried to console myself giving in. I could've argued on this, but I feared that it might get worse. Some of the guys could end up with the idea of me rolling in some garbage, and I definitely did not want THAT.

'Babe,' Ranger hugged me over my shoulders, 'you've started this, so brace yourself.'

I gave him my best death glare. Unfortunately he was totally immune to it.

'You can still change your mind.'

'Not happening Ranger. We're in and that's it.'

He smiled at me and kissed me softly on my forehead before turning his attention to the guys.

'So here it is how it will go. Hector you're our cameraman, and you can choose some guys to help with the editing process. Tank will be our FTA. Babe and I will take on our usual roles. Dan and Victor, you'll be responsible for the explosives. The rest of you will have a say when Hector and his crew is finished and we can have a preview.'

'Hey, I wanted…' started Lester, but Ranger cut him off.

'As we're finished with arrangements everyone off to work,' he said, and in a minute the room was empty but him and me.

'So,' I drawled teasingly, 'will you be volunteering your Porsche for this.'

'Nope, but in your place I would not try to pluck tiger on his whiskers, or I might just let slip that whole rolling in some garbage thing.'

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at him.

'Oh, you wouldn't.'

'Wouldn't I?' he asked slightly raising his left eyebrow, and closing the gap between us in two smooth strides.

'You wouldn't,' I replied in a half whisper, trying to reassure myself probably more than to convince him. 'You love me too much.'

Ranger chuckled and lifted my chin so I'd be looking him straight in the eye. 'You're right Babe, I probably wouldn't do that, but I might need some convincing.'

'Huh?'

'You and me, on 7th,' he whispered seductively looking deep into my very soul with his dark eyes.

They say that after a longer time together couples get used to one another and their passion changes to that of tamed fire in a fireplace from that of original explosive one of initial relationship. Well, it clearly does not apply to us.

'Sounds great,' I replied wrapping my arms round his neck both for support as my legs were already giving in and for closeness it provided. 'But if you mention garbage once more you'll be sorry,' I added whispering into his ear.

'Promise?'

I frowned at him even though he could not see it. 'I'll let grandma Mazur to tackle you, if it comes to last resorts.' Take that Batman!

He laughed easily. 'Babe, I really hope it never comes to that.'