Misunderstandings and Heartbreak

Chapter 1 - Jar of Hearts

A/N: This story was hatched on an eleven hour drive to see AMKP. When I got to her house we took off the next day on a five hour drive to see the fabulous Jenrar. My summer wish is to go back and do the same thing but this time I'm going to spend a few days with Jenrar. The song Jar of Hearts was listened to on repeat for a lot of the journey and this story idea was the result.

I will be taking donations from anyone wanting to help me and Jenrar get our plot bunnies together for an extended writing session for more stories from Jengirl1179. LOL! (I'm only kidding, but it is my hope to spend some time with Jenny this summer.)

Seven chapters are already done and off to Beta. I'm planning to post twice a week.

Please review. It's the only way I know what you think.

Ranger's POV

The words fell from my lips by accident as I came inside her. Who would have thought that the words I'd feared the most would fall so easily from my lips? I'd roared the words in passion, but I'd never regret saying them. I really did love her, but would saying them out loud scare her off? Surely she had to know it was true... I'd always qualified it before, but our love had been obvious to everyone for years.

Why should we fight it? We belonged to each other...heart, mind, and soul. She was mine now, only she didn't know it yet. I would tell her in the morning. No more running, no more regrets... It was time for our someday.

I pulled her close, kissed her curls, and let sleep claim us.

A few hours later, my cell chirped. I looked at the display and swore under my breath. I had to go into the wind, and this was the worst possible time. I didn't want to repeat the morning of the deal, but it seemed I wouldn't even get that luxury. The display showed chopper arrival in forty-five minutes. Shit!

I looked down at the love of my life, sleeping peacefully in my arms. This would be the last time I had to run off in the middle of the night. The final hurrah. After this, Uncle Sam had no clear hold on me. The only thing that could claim me after this mission was this woman. I desperately wanted to wake her, to explain where I was going and when I'd be back. But telling her goodbye wasn't an option.

Goodbyes seemed final. Telling her goodbye might tempt fate.

Easing out of bed, I pulled my clothes on. I wouldn't bother taking the time to shower. I'd allow her scent to seep into my pores, knowing that this would have to tide me over until I returned.

I left a quick note, kissed her cheek, and walked out the door.

Steph's POV

I woke up the next morning to an empty apartment and fought the tears that were threatening to fall. He'd said he loved me. I tossed the covers back, and a note fluttered the ground.

Babe,

Had to go out of town. Could be a while. Call Tank if you need him. Don't go crazy!

Love,

R

The months passed slowly, and the words of love seemed like a dream. Joe kept coming around and my mother was applying pressure for me to give him another chance. I didn't want to give Joe another chance. I wanted Ranger to come back. I sent up prayers for Ranger's safe return and let their words roll off me.

Four months after Ranger left …

I walked into the bonds office, and Lula took one look at me and started fussing.

"White girl, I just don't understand you. He's been gone four months. Give it up already."

"Lula, he's in the wind, not on some damn pleasure cruise."

"No one says you can't take care of your needs while he's gone. You do not have a committed relationship. He said he loves you. But he didn't ask you to wait for him, and what if he don't come back?"

Could she be right? No!

Then I remembered his words said in passion and knew that he meant them. "I love you." He'd never lie to me about love.

Lula's words felt like knives trying to tear apart the happiness I held inside. But remembering what happened after Ranger and I made love brought a smile to my face.

He spooned me from behind. "Night, Babe," he murmured, kissing my curls before we both fell into a blissful sleep.

That night was the best and the worst night of my life. I had the man of my dreams, he loved me, but he'd been called away in the middle of the night.

I turned to face Lula. "How about you stay the hell out of my love life and stop trying to meddle in things you don't know anything about? Ranger loves me. That's all that matters!"

I turned around and stormed out of the bonds office.

Six months after Ranger left …

He was supposed to be home by now, back here with me. Tank had told me he'd be gone less than six months. I was starting to worry that he'd never come back.

I walked into the station, lugging my uncooperative skip.

"Hey, Cupcake. Need a hand?" Joe asked from behind me.

The sound of his voice startled me. I'd been hoping to avoid any drama. "Oh, hey, Joe. I've got him, but thanks."

Joe reached out to help and brushed against my arm, causing me to cry out in pain. The skip had banged me up pretty badly.

Joe was trying hard not to lose his temper. "Let me see."

"It's fine. I just scrapped it against the wall."

Joe yelled for Big Dog to come and take the skip off our hands before reaching over and lifting the sleeve of my shirt. He hissed through his teeth. "I thought Manoso's thugs were supposed to be keep you safe. A lot of help they're turning out to be. Jesus, Cupcake. I think you've taken off half the skin."

What Joe didn't know was I'd asked the Merry Men to let me try to do this without their help. I wanted to make Ranger proud of me while he was gone.

Joe led me over to the first-aid kit. He cleaned my arm, causing me to hiss in pain.

"Sorry, Cupcake."

He put some antibiotic ointment on the abrasions and covered it with gauze.

"Who are you, and what have you done with Joseph Morelli?" I asked, still not believing that he wasn't screaming and yelling at me.

"I've realized that trying to force you to change into what I want you to be isn't getting me the results I'm looking for. So I've decided that from here on out, as long as you aren't seriously injured, I'm okay with your job choice. I can't expect you to give up everything to be with me."

Holy shit! Did he just say what I think he said?

Eight months after Ranger left …

Joe had been serious when he'd told me that he was going to support me in my job. He'd spent the last two months working hard, trying to get me to give him another chance. We were friends, and this was the Joe I'd always dreamed of. But I loved Ranger. When would he come home? The waiting was slowly killing me.

I decided to call Tank to ask.

He answered on the first ring. "Talk."

"Tank, it's Steph. Have you heard from Ranger?"

He sighed into the phone. "No, Steph, I haven't. I'm not going to lie to you... He should have checked in by now. I'm not worried, though, and you shouldn't be either. It's not unusual for him to miss check-ins if he's busy."

I tried to fight back tears. "Thanks, Tank." I quickly hung up the phone so he wouldn't hear me cry.

Ten months after Ranger left …

Joe caught me before I walked out of the station. "Cupcake..." He slung his arm around me and steered us outside.

"Joe," I said, trying to fight a small smile.

"Looks like you brought your skip in without any trouble. I think this-" he motioned to my completely clean outfit "-calls for a celebration."

He kissed my curls before stopping at the door of my car to spin me around. Staring into my eyes, he hesitantly asked, "Have dinner with me?"

"Of course," I said, confused by his hesitant question.

Twelve Months after Ranger left …

Ranger's POV

Twelve godforsaken months, I'd been in the mountains of Pakistan trying to capture certain key members of the Taliban. The only thing in this world that kept me sane all that time was Steph. My Babe, my center, my world. I hopped into the Turbo, not even taking the time to turn on the GPS tracker. Within a few hours, I was nearing Trenton. I picked up my cell and called Tank.

He picked up on the first ring. "Yo."

"Where's Steph?"

"Bossman? Where the hell have you been?"

"To hell and back. Now what's her location?"

I heard him typing on the keys of his computer to pull up her tracker.

"She's at Pino's, but hey, man…"

I hung up the phone, turning it off. I didn't want anything or anyone to keep me from Steph. My mind wandered off to a vision of me throwing her over my shoulder and running away with her for month. My foot pressed down on the accelerator just a little harder at the thought.

I pulled up to Pino's and walked inside the silent restaurant, and my heart fell.

I saw Stephanie standing with her back to me and Morelli down on one knee. The words I'd feared the most fell from her lips. "Yes."

I saw red. The urge to walk over to the happy couple and beat the shit out of Morelli was strong. I turned on my heel and walked out the door. Fuck!

My grip on my control was teetering, and as I approached the Turbo, I lost the battle and struck the glass, shattering the passenger-side window. I'd finally lost her. He'd won. My heart had never hurt like this, and I could feel the darkness settling around me.

I heard her gasp as she walked up behind me.

I didn't acknowledge her presence, but I could see her reflection in the glass. She reached out to touch me as tears poured down her face, and I pulled back for fear of being burned further.

"Ranger! Please?" she begged.

I walked around to the driver's side, opening my door.

"Please, just let me explain," she tried again.

I got in the car and started the engine. "It's pretty self-explanatory, Stephanie." I slammed my door and peeled out of the parking lot, not taking the time to acknowledge the tears falling down her cheeks or mine.

TBC...

A/N: So, what do you think? Did she really just accept Joe's proposal? What is going on? Let me know what you think.

More coming on Wednesday.