Disclaimer: Oh, snap! I forgot this in the first chapter, but here it is; all of these almost shamefully awesome characters belong to Janet Evanovich. Just playing around with them, because honestly, who wouldn't want to? Moreover, the songs mentioned in this fic (Break Your Heart and Pretending) belong to Taio Cruz and Glee, Lea Michele and Cory Monteith (Rest In Peace). Just borrowing the lyrics because they felt apt.

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Chapter 2

Hector POV

When Ranger suggested we go through our intel, I immediately sat down, as did everyone else. This was a problem of top priority.

Mi angelita…my little angel…was sad. I didn't know why- whether it had to do with that dumbass cop, or whether my friend and brother had something to do with it- but I didn't care. Whoever it was would face me as their jury. Nobody hurt my angelita and got away with it.

I sensed her goodness from the get-go. The moment when she first looked at me and smiled, I saw it. Instead of running scared and avoiding me because of my obvious past, she saw me, smiled and gave me a hug. I was shocked, to put it mildly. Nobody had ever just walked up to me and hugged me since I was 7 years old. The day at the diner, when she stood up for all of us, just re-affirmed my belief. She was our angel. No, she was my angel. She brought light to the darkness that's been in my soul.

The incident that humbled me most, the one that made her my angelita, happened a day before her confrontation with Detective Dumbass…

###FLASHBACK###

I was driving her home after she was done at her parents. Her latest car got blown up, so I offered to drive her home. I was excited, picking her up. I had been taking some lessons from an old friend who owed me a favour; he was teaching me how to speak English. I wanted to learn, for my little angel, so that we could understand one another. She got in and hugged me, sending a brilliant smile my way.

"Gracias Hector," she said carefully. I was pleased; she was trying to thank me in Spanish!

"De nada, Steph," I replied, with an almost-smile.

"Hector…" she trailed off, indicating she wanted to ask me something. I raised an eyebrow, silently inviting her to continue. Fleetingly, her fingers brushed the teardrop tats on my face. "Did they deserve it?"

"Si," I nodded. "No kill for no reason."

"Hector!" she squealed, and I grinned inwardly, my heart swelling as she realised I was speaking in albeit broken English. "When did you learn?"

"Take classes," I answered proudly, carefully. "Talk to Angelita. Understand well…still learn to talk, no?"

"You took them so that we could communicate?" she asked, her eyes getting bright. I nodded the affirmative. She flung her arms around me, burying her little face in my neck.

"Oh, Hector! Gracias! That's so sweet! Thanks so much!"

"De nada, Steph," I repeated, embarrassed by this affection but equally pleased. She pulled away from me slowly, then reached up and with her fingers, pretended to wipe the tears away.

"I won't wish that I could wipe them away for you," she said softly, "because I believe you did it with good intentions. If they are ever real, though, let me wipe them away, okay?" She looked at me, her beautiful big blue eyes imploring. Imploring me to allow her to take care of me. Me! This innocent, white bread little girl from the `Burg wanted to take care of a tough former gangbanger like me. My heart, which had been stone a long time, began to feel again. It warmed.

"Gracias, Angelita," I gently took her hand from my face to place a kiss to her knuckles.

"Angelita…that means little angel, right?" She asked me with a smile.

"Si," I nodded. "You are mi angelita. Bring light to me, though I am dark."

"You're not dark Hector," she protested. "You're good. You protect me. Tu eres mi hermano, Hector," she said each word carefully. (You are my brother.) My heart swelled. I was losing my badass, gangbanger card, but her words had touched my heart like none others.

"Tu eres mi hermana, Angelita," I replied. "Sister."

And with a last, brilliant, bright smile, I knew I was under her spell.

###END FLASHBACK###

Since then, I had considered her personally under my protection, and I knew that my brother did too. Ranger loved her…it was obvious in the way he almost attacked Lester. In the way he followed the order to meet us here so easily, fearing something had happened to her. In the way he was always there for her. In the way he looked at her when she wasn't looking. In the panic- yes, panic- that this hardened military man went into when she had a stalker, or her car blew up, or she was kidnapped. He was just too atemorizar to admit it to her. I decided to talk to him later, after we had tried to ascertain the problem. (Scared)

"Ok," Ranger looked at each of us in turn. "Who knows what?"

Bobby POV

I looked around as Rangeman asked us for our Intel. I knew, personally, what I wanted to point out. It was something I noticed a while back with our Bombshell. I waited patiently, to see if anyone would speak up before I did.

Bombshell was like a sister to some of us, a best friend to others, and the rest of them were pretty much in love with her. Not that they stood any kind of chance. The Boss and Bomber were so madly in love with each other, they hardly noticed anyone else, not that either of them would admit to the other. I swear, sometimes I think that the only two people in the world that don't know how they feel about each other, is Steph and Ranger themselves. Even the cop knows- which is probably why he's been trying so hard to get Bomber to marry him. After the disaster when Ranger told her to go back to the cop- which we all were ready to cheerfully beat his ass for- things haven't been the same with Bomber. I wondered if Ranger even knew that that was the moment when things changed for her. Maybe I noticed because I was very sensitive to changes in Steph's behaviour.

This was mostly because I had become fiercely protective of our Bombshell. Like Tank, Santos, Hector and many others here, I saw her as my little sister. I noticed the little things because, having treated Steph for injuries far too many times, I tended to watch her very carefully. Healing her and taking care of her and making her feel better had become a big part of why I was so protective of her. I hated seeing her in any sort of pain. Before I could speak up, Manny did.

"Do you guys remember that time we apprehended Alan Taylors?" he asked. A handful of us nodded. "I noticed a change from then to now."

"Go on," Ranger prompted when he stopped. I leaned forward slightly to listen.

Manny POV

When I announced that I had noticed a change, I noted how several people leaned forward in their chairs, ever so slightly. My Wifey, though she may not have known it, had touched the hearts of so many tough ex-military men, it wasn't even funny anymore. Any one of us, myself included, would take a bullet for her in a heartbeat.

Ranger looked at me expectantly. I knew how much he loved her, and it was moments like this where it was even more evident. Looking at the men around me, I recounted what happened the night of the Taylors apprehension, for the benefit of those who weren't there.

###FLASHBACK###

As she walked into the bar, the comms burst out with all the comments. Wolf whistles, catcalls, some groans, a few whimpers and the occasional "Jesus Christ" filtered through.

"Hey," I protested playfully, "that's my hot wife you'll are ogling." I grinned as Steph hid a laugh behind her hand.

She looked absolutely stunning in a halter neck, shimmery plum dress that hit just above her knees. It hugged every curve in just the right way, and the deep v-neck showed enough to cleavage to make us all shift our positions in discomfort, but still allowed Steph to keep her secrets to herself. The matching FMPs made her legs look miles long. When she reached up, removed the grip holding her hair in place and shook out her curls, among the renewed groans of appreciation and additional sounds, I could swear I even heard a muttered "Dios Mio" from the Man in Black himself.

Of course, that takedown had probably been the fastest ever in the history of Rangeman. After we had the guy in our SUV, Steph walked up to us.

"Guys," she called, immediately drawing all our attention at once. "Why don't we hang out? The job is done, and we could all use a little fun. You guys always go straight home after distractions," she complained.

Unable to refuse her, we all ended up staying. Lester and Ram joined us after dropping Taylors off and collecting the body receipt. We had a few drinks and almost all of us stole Steph for a dance. While I was dancing with her, the music suddenly stopped.

"Damn wifey," I complained playfully. "Whenever I try to dance with you, something always interrupts us!"

"Yeah," she grinned, playing along. "It's like our wedding day all over again, Honey!" I chuckled and glanced at the man now at the DJ booth.

"It's karaoke time!" he announced. Several whoops punctuated the air. We started to move back to the booth when the guy suddenly called out. "How about the sexy little lady in red?" and the spotlight fell on us.

Steph turned around slowly, red flooding her cheeks.

"I'm sorry," she smiled shyly. "I don't sing."

"Ah, come one, Wifey," I cajoled. "Give it a shot!"

"No," she protested again. "I don't sing."

Several Rangemen began cheering her on, which prompted the crowd to begin chanting "Bombshell". I watched as she caught Ranger's eye. He was wearing an almost-smirk, and raised an eyebrow at her in a silent question. She tilted her head to the side then sighed. Ranger's smirk became a full-on grin and she pouted.

"Fine," she muttered under her breath.

"And you shout at us about having ESP, Wifey," I teased. "You just had a full, telepathic conversation with the only man in the world we can't read!"

She blushed again, and headed reluctantly to the booth, cheers and whistles erupting around her. She told the DJ her song, then took the mike with a deep breath. She looked down as she began to sing.

Face to face

And heart to heart

We're so close, yet so far apart.

I close my eyes. I look away.

That's just because, I'm not okay.

She looked up now, looking directly at Ranger. The crowd was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

But I hold on…I stay strong

Wondering if we still belong

Will we ever, say the words we're feeling?

Reach down underneath and tear down all the walls?

Will we ever, have our happy ending?

Or will we forever, always be pretending?

We were all captivated, not a single soul making a sound as we all listened to the angelic voice pouring out around us. It was as though my darkness was being lifted from me. Still, she looked at Ranger, and I saw the awe and love and so many other emotions on his normally blank face.

Keeping secrets safe, every move we make,

Seems like no one's letting go.

And it's such a shame, coz if you feel the same

How am I supposed to know?

Here, she dragged the last word, and lifting her head slightly, she held the note taking it higher and higher, stealing our breath. As she sang the last chorus, she closed her eyes, as though letting her own words wash over her. With the last note, she opened her eyes and looked again at Ranger, her eyes suspiciously bright. As the last sound died from her lips, and the music stopped, the silence in the club lasted a second or two longer. Then, the whole place burst into raucous applause. Whoever was sitting was now standing up and I saw some people swiping tears surreptitiously from their eyes. The guys from Rangemen were all on their feet, whistling and cheering. All, except Ranger. He was also standing, but he was silent, his eyes locked on her form. His eyes, I could see from here, smouldered with love, awe, and no doubt, repressed desire. Steph was smiling at the people around her. Lester made his way up to her and enveloped her in a huge hug, spinning her around.

"Encore!" a few people shouted. Steph laughed. Santos leaned in and whispered something in her ear. She giggled then nodded. He grabbed a mic from the DJ and dragged her to the make-shift stage. Music filtered through the speakers again, fast this time, and the crowd went wild.

"You know I'm just gonna hurt you?" she started into the mike, glancing at Lester with a sultry look on her face.

"You know I'm only gonna break your heart, right?" he answered.

"You wanna bet?" she challenged. Evidently, this was part of the song.

"Bring it on," Les grinned, and the music started. Before he could sing his first note, Steph walked a bit away. As she predicted, he followed her, and at the last minute, she turned around, swinging her hips, and she brushed against him. Due to his groan, he missed his first line, but quickly picked it up, an evil look promising revenge in his eyes.

Before I love and leave you

They call me heartbreaker

I don't wanna deceive you

If you fall for me, I'm not easy to please.

I might tear you apart

Told you from the start, baby from the start

I'm only gonna break

Break your

Break

Break your heart.

Steph laughed as the chorus continued, getting ready for her part. As he readied for her part, she strutted over to us, positioning herself behind Hal.

There's no point trying to hide it

No point trying to evade it

I know I've got a problem.

She scraped her hand, from behind him, down Hal's chest, as she sang the next line:

A problem with misbehaving!

All the men hooted and whistled as Hal turned beet red. Ranger looked on stoically, his jaw tight and his eyes screaming jealousy and repressed rage.

If you fall for me

I'm not easy to please

I might tear you apart

Told you from the start

Baby, from the start

I'm only gonna break

Break your

Break

Break your heart

As she sang, she became more animated, dancing and shaking and twirling with Lester. Each time he touched her, I think the boss became just that much angrier. When they sang the last note, Les twirled her into him and dipped her low, bending her back at waist and following her down to plant a hard kiss to her lips. I may have been imagining things, but I could swear I heard Ranger growl.

"Damn, Angel!" Cal called as they made their way back to our table. "I thought you said you couldn't sing?"

"I said that I don't sing," she corrected with a smile. "Not that I couldn't."

"Christ, Beautiful," Les squeezed her around the waist, and Ranger's grip on his glass tightened almost imperceptibly. "Where in the world did that voice come from?"

"Yeah," I called out with a mock pout. "I'm supposed to know everything about you, Wifey! Why on earth did you hide such a beautiful voice?"

"Thanks, guys," she laughed, "but I'm not that amazing. I can hold a tune," she shrugged.

"You were amazing, Darlin', really," Woody winked at her.

"Si, Angelita," Hector agreed. Steph smiled brilliantly and tugged Cal to the dance floor as Les took his place between Ranger and I.

"Mats, cuz, 0500," I heard Ranger growl. "And keep your lips to yourself next time."

###END FLASHBACK###

A few people grinned at the memory, and others nodded in acknowledgement of what happened.

"What changed?" Ranger asked.

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A/N: Thanks so much for all the positive reviews and feedback! I'm over the moon about it and this is my way of saying thanks! The flashbacks will stop soon, I just wanted to show distinct differences in Steph. So glad you'll are enjoying it! Please read and review and I'll update soon! Reviews to me are like Tastykakes are to Steph! Also, isn't Hector, Bobby and Manny total sweethearts? -JazMitch