Disclaimer: No they're not mine, if they were you would know my name instead of Janet Evanovich's. But I sure wish Ranger was mine! ::sighs dreamily:: ahhh the things I could do with that man!

A/N: This story was inspired by the song 'It Was' by Chely Wright.

Warnings: There will be some bad language and definitely some smut! I'm not very nice to Morelli or Steph's mother, but I could definitely have been worse.

It Was… It Is

My name is Stephanie Plus. I am a Fugitive Apprehension Agent aka Bond Enforcement Agent aka Bounty Hunter and last not least, an incompetent moron who should just give up and find another job. Well that last one I don't agree with. However, my ex-boyfriend just said. Joe Morelli and I broke up a month ago. It doesn't seem like he got the message yet.

From my seat on the curb I looked up at him. He was flapping his arms, doing the angry Italian male thing while he yelled at me about my latest catastrophe.

Let me back up a couple of months, better make that closer to three months.

Ranger was in the wind. Ranger would be one Ricardo Carlos Manoso. He is also a Bounty Hunter, but his the best. He owns his own security company, has lots of shiny black cars, many gorgeous men that work for him and he's my good friend. Probably he's my best friend, but don't spread that around because I wouldn't want Mary Lou to hear that. Did I fail to mention that he is extremely FINE? He is! When they voted Morelli's ass the finest in Trenton, Ranger must have been out of town! Oops! Yes, I must confess I've seen it and it is the finest. I saw it one night a while back and what a night it was. Okay, better get back on track with the story cuz… HOLY HOT FLASHBACK!!

Sooo… Ranger was in the wind and had been for several months. I was missing him and the encouragement and courage that he gave me. I succumbed to pressure from my mother and Joe. I tried to give things with Joe, the rat bastard, a real chance. I did try. I swear I did.

Anyway, a few months ago I started getting suspicious of Joe. My spidey sense was tingling like crazy. I decided to investigate.

Ranger can be very protective so when he is out of town I have strict instructions to call Tank for anything I might need while he's gone. Now, normally, I try not to take advantage of the offer, but this time was different. I dropped by the RangeMan building to see Tank, Ranger's second-in-command. I asked if I could borrow some equipment. Of course, I had to explain what I wanted it for. It seems that the Merry Men, as I call Ranger's employees, are almost as protective of me as Ranger is.

I must admit to going into rhino mode when Tank started laughing. Then I found myself grinning when he explained why he was laughing. He said Morelli wouldn't know what hit him if what I suspected was true. I had to agree.

Tank lent me what I needed but there were conditions. I had to have a Merry Man with me for any and all surveillance my investigation required. After a bit of discussion (fine… after we argued) I agreed with his conditions. They would also be available to help with any technical assistance I needed. We discussed who I felt comfortable having with me and decided on himself, Lester, Bobby, Cal, and Hal.

I swapped out Morelli's cell phone with one identical that had a bug in it so that I record his phones, read his text messages and track his locations. I installed bugs in his house and in his car. I even installed hidden cameras in his bedroom with the help of my Merry Man of the day. I, actually we, did surveillance on Joe and his activities.

It wasn't that much of a surprise when we found evidence of cheating right away. After getting the first proof and pictures, I used every trick in the book to keep from having sex with him. Headaches, stomach aches, too tired. You women know what I'm talking about. I also had something worked out with the Merry Men. Whenever I was at Joe's house, someone would monitor the bugs and if it looked like I needed a quick escape they would call me pretending to need me for a job or pretend to be Mary Lou, Lula or my grandmother. Otherwise, I acted as if nothing was wrong. It was difficult spending time with the rat bastard (can you tell I had issues?) but somehow I managed. I suppose that I could have just broken up with him then, but I wanted more info. Something drove me to gather more information.

During that time, I did more and more work for RangeMan, in addition to collecting skips, so that I could fund my investigation. I needed to eat, feed my hamster Rex and be able to pay bills. Turned out that I really liked the worked and was pretty good at it. I also started training with the guys. I was getting in shape and started to feel better about myself.

Tank and my Merry Men didn't understand my need to wait. I wanted proof and lots of it. I wanted to be able to wave it in his face and use it to ensure that he would stay away from me once and for all. I didn't want him trying to weasel his way out of it and sweet talk his way back into my bed. He couldn't, the rat bastard, but I didn't want him to even try.

I also wanted proof that I could use to keep my mother off my back about getting back together with Joe. For some reason, my mom had picked the rat bastard as my one and only hope for marriage. Well, if he was, then I was gonna be single for the rest of my life, because I was not taking him back.

It didn't go exactly according to plan, with me it never does. Joe and I didn't fight. One night, I just explained to him that the relationship wasn't working for me anymore and I walked out. That was just over a month ago. I don't know why I chickened out, well not exactly. I didn't want to be humiliated by having everyone in the Burg know that I'd been cheated on… again. My first husband cheated on me on my dining room table even before I had a good herd of dust bunnies built up under the marriage bed. I also just didn't feel up to the fight I knew would happen. I avoided Joe to the best of my abilities and I tuned my mother out when she got started.

I was depressed over the situation and although the Merry Men tried, I couldn't seem to get out of the funk I was in. I think it probably had more to do with the fact I was missing Ranger so much.

I tuned back into the rat bastard as he waved his hand in front of my face and continued on with his rant.

Did I forget to mention that I had another car pass on to glory in a burst of flames? No? Well I did and that explains the ranting.

Behind Joe, I saw three black SUV's pull up. I felt the tingle on the back of my neck just before I saw him get out of the lead vehicle. Ranger was back!

"Damn it Cupcake, are you even listening to me?" Joe asked angrily as I got up and walked past him.

"Nope." I told him.

"I could hear Joe huffing and puffing behind me as I walked over to where the guys were standing. Ranger took off his sunglasses and met my eyes after giving me a quick once over to make sure I was alright. He didn't say anything, but then again, he didn't have to. I was happy just to see him. I felt my funk begin to lift.

Bobby, the RangeMan medic, stepped forward to look me over for injuries. "You okay Cutie?"

I nodded but kept my eyes on Ranger. "I'm fine."

"When did you get back?" I finally asked Ranger.

"Couple hours ago. I was going to come see you later."

"You still can if you want." I smiled at him.

"Babe." That one word always said so much. This time it said he definitely wanted.

He nodded to the smoldering remnants of my car with raised eyebrows.

"It wasn't my fault." His eyes crinkled as if he was thinking of smiling. "I got my skip though."

"Proud of you Babe."

That was it. The four words that blasted me right out of the depression I had been in and had me feeling like Wonder Woman again. And it was time to claim my life and what I wanted out of it. Time to go after what I wanted.

Too bad for Morelli that was when he decided to walk up. I knew he was there before he spoke just from the way Ranger and his men tensed.

Before I turned around I looked at Tank questioningly. "Did you bring it?"

With a nod, he reached behind him into the SUV and handed me a large manila envelope.

"Thanks Big Guy."

"This is gonna be fun." Lester muttered and rubbed his hands together gleefully.

"Babe?"

"Later." I told him. Behind me I heard the rat bastard speak and I turned to face him.

"I would like to finish our conversation Cupcake." He ground out.

"That wasn't a conversation and I would appreciate if you wouldn't call me that anymore. I've asked you more than once." I said calmly.

"Fine… Stephanie. Could we please talk for a moment?" He didn't wait for an answer but grabbed my arm and began to drag me away. I jerked my arm out of his grasp and looked back over my shoulder. Sure enough, the guys were advancing towards us.

"It's okay." I held up my hand to stop them.

"It won't be if he puts his hands on you again." Ranger said quietly. His voice low and rough and likely to cause loss of bladder control in weaker men.

"You have no say in what I do or don't do with my girlfriend." Morelli, idiot that he was, shot back at Ranger.

"Except for the fact that she's no longer your girlfriend and hasn't been for the past month." Lester piped up. I saw Ranger's eyes widen slightly slightly at that comment. I guess the guys hadn't filled him in yet.

"Lester's right Joe. I'm not your girlfriend anymore and won't be again."

"You always come back Steph." He tried to be charming. Before when he did that, when he used that voice and let his eyes soften I would melt. This time it made me queasy.

"Not this time Joe." My voice was firm and I saw the surprise in his face. Then there was anger.

"What so you're with him now? Or is it one of his goons?" He began and I cut him off.

"What's with you Morelli? You think you're God's gift to women or something? I can't have left you just for the fact that I don't want to be with you? That I don't want to put up with your shit you rat bastard?" I asked hotly.

"We're good together Cupcake." He cajoled. "If you would just quit this job and marry me things would be great. Once you're away from these goons we'll be…"

"Shut up!" I jabbed a finger in his chest and shocked him into silence, but I could see the anger in his eyes. "If you would come with me, I'd like to talk to you privately."

I saw the triumph in his eyes and couldn't wait to squash it. I started to step away from the others and felt Ranger start to follow us. I turned back to him and put my hand on his chest to stop him. For a second, I lost my train of thought at the feel of his hot, hard muscled chest beneath my palm and my fingers began to itch to stroke him. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I let the heat from his body and the strong beat of his heart seep into me and give me courage.

"Babe." His voice was soft and so were his eyes when I looked into them.

"I need to do this Ranger. I don't want you to hear this, not like this, but I promise I will explain everything later. I've got some things to say to him and something to show him. He'll leave me alone after this." I pleaded.

"I don't trust him." He said quietly.

"I don't either. I'll take one of the guys with me."

"Babe." I could hear the hurt in his voice that I didn't want him with but wanted someone else instead. The blank face dropped into place.

"Carlos." His eyes widened when I used his first name. I guess he liked it.

"I need to do this on my own. You know how he feels about you and having you there will only make the situation worse. We'll get together later and I'll explain. Just trust me on this okay? Please?"

"Not fair Babe." He studied me carefully and then gave me a minute nod. I smiled up at him.

"Thank you." I looked around him and grinned at Lester. "Come on Santos, you got Bombshell duty."

I'm sure if it wouldn't have ruined is image, he would have skipped over to us and done a happy dance. Lester and I had gotten to be very good friends over the last couple of months. He was anxious for me to drop my bomb on Joe and was happy to be able to witness it.

"Is it time?" He asked excitedly when he reached us.

"Yes and you have been rewarded with a backstage pass." I grinned at him and removed my hand from Ranger's chest to give Lester a fist bump.

"Santos." Ranger warned.

"Don't worry Boss, he touches her and they won't be able to find his body."

"Our yours." Ranger growled. I started to protest.

"It's okay Bombshell, I know what's important."

"Me?" I squeaked. I was important to Ranger? Good to know.

"Babe."

I took a deep breath and turned to face down my past once and for all.

"You ready for this Beautiful?" Lester whispered as we walked to where was standing alone across the street.

"Yup." I said bravely.

"Why now?"

"It's time." I told him. I didn't want to explain that it was because of Ranger coming home and that it gave me the courage to do what needed to be done. Lester already gave me enough grief about me and Ranger getting together. Then there was the fact that this wasn't going to be my first confrontation of the day, only the first of three.

Tank's POV

I stepped up to stand beside Ranger and watched Bomber and Santos walk towards the cop.

"She knows what she's doing man and Santos won't let anything happen to her. Besides, the dumbass cop won't try anything with all these people around."

"What's going on? What happened while I was gone?" He asked, but he never took his eyes of Bomber.

"I think that it's best if you let her tell you." He didn't like my answer but he didn't have a choice. This was Steph's show and I was proud of her for finally taking her stand. I didn't want to steal her thunder. I think the timing was because the boss was back and I hoped that they would both get their heads of out of their respective asses about each other.