Disclaimer: I'm not making any profit, just having some fun. The characters belong to Janet Evanovich as do any recognizable settings.

I try to edit closely but there will be mistakes. Since it's just a hobby I don't take it too seriously.

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"You okay in there girl?"

"I'm fine Lula. I just need a couple minutes to think."

"Is that why you're bangin' your head on the steerin' wheel? You're gonna give yo'self a concussion."

Huh, I didn't even know I was banging my head. I looked in the rearview mirror. Yep there's big ugly red mark on my forehead. Well that's just what I need to complete my shitty day.

"I'm goin' to get me and Connie a coupla' those frozen coffee drinks you want one?"

"Mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream."

"I'll be right back, you gonna still be in the car?" Lula asked.

"Nope, I'm going inside to talk to Connie."

"Good cause if you keep sittin' here bangin' your head people are gonna think you finally done lost your mind."

I cut through the alley and into the front door of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. Connie the office manager and one of my closest friends was painting her nails and talking on the phone. She smiled when she saw me come in and fall down into the worn out sofa.

"I'll call you back…Steph just came in…Bye."

"Hi Connie, I didn't mean to interrupt."

"Hey, it was just my sister. No big deal. Sorry to hear about your car, is the damage bad?"

"Not too bad but it might be a month before I get the Jeep back. I'm driving the Buick right now, but I need to figure out something else."

"Did you call Ranger?" Connie asked.

"Ranger's gone," I said fidgeting the charms on my necklace.

"You still haven't heard from him?" Connie asked.

"Do you have any new files for me?" I asked hoping to change the subject.

"Just a couple," Connie said handing them to me.

I busied myself reading over them. Folder number one Andy Anderson arrested for drunk and disorderly skipped on $1000 bail. First of all if I was named Andy Anderson I'd drink too. Secondly bringing him in would only net me a hundred dollars. Maybe folder number two would be better. Michael Sanders arrested for shoplifting less than $250 dollars. The report says he stole a bucket of chicken from Cluck-In-Bucket. He told the judge he thought he'd paid the attendant at the window. Great if I bring in both of these guys that's only $350 dollars. I need to pay my rent, and bills plus now I need money to secure another car. Great, just great, if I got many more files like this then my savings would be a thing of the past.

"Stephanie? Hello? Helllloooo?" Lula said snapping her fingers in front of my face.

"Huh, wha-"

"I said here's yo drink," Lula said. "Girl what's wrong with you? You been actin' funny all day."

"She's got man troubles," Connie said."

"I do not have man problems," I said fidgeting with my necklace.

"Yeah you got real bad man problems in that you ain't got no man. You need a man. What happened with Officer Hottie earlier? He could always put a smile on yo face?" Lula said plopping down on the couch next to me frozen coffee in hand.

"There's nothing between me and Joe and we're not getting back together."

"That doesn't mean he can't put a smile on your face," Connie said.

"Yes it does," I retorted. "Look Joe and I called it quits. We have good reasons for it. We aren't getting back together. Besides I don't want a man in my life they just complicate things."

Connie just rolled her eyes and Lula let out a sound that told me she didn't believe me.

"Maybe you don't want Super Cop no more, but if Batman showed up you'd be thinkin' different," Lula said between sips.

"That's unlikely." I muttered under my breath; carefully tucking my necklace back inside my shirt and scratching the base of my neck.

The door to bond's office swung open and Tank walked inside followed by Ranger. It was the first time I'd seen him since that night in his apartment months ago. For a few brief seconds I couldn't breathe. He looked different. He'd lost a lot of weight and his hair was cut short. He looked so tired; like he hadn't slept in forty nights.

"Babe," Ranger said giving me a small nod of his head.

I hadn't heard that name in so long it sounded foreign. I sat frozen in place. It felt like time stopped. hoped to find a sign of remorse for his disregard of our friendship. The emotions I saw in his eyes were brief. Like a flash of light. Before I could identify them he turned his head away. He gave a curt nod to Lula and Connie and then he left the office.

"Is Vinnie in?" Ranger asked.

"He is; go on back. I bet he'll be glad to see you, he's been writing a lot of high dollar bonds lately."

"Steph? Hello? She's doin' it again Connie. HELLO? STEPHANIE? Maybe I should slap her."

"W-Wh-what? Don't slap me," I said ducking away from Lula. "I'm fine."

"Huh, you keep sayin' that but you keep doin' weird shit. First you were bangin' yo head on the steering wheel of the car. You done zoned out twice today. Just minute ago you didn't say nothin' to that fine lookin' Ranger when he spoke to you. Did you hit your head in that wreck earlier? I saw this thing on TV where a woman hit her head and completely forgot who her kids were. Maybe that's what's wrong with you. Did you forget Ranger?"

"Yes. No. I mean… I don't know. Look I'm going to head out. Connie I'll come by in the morning. I'm going home it's been a long day."

"Sure Steph. See you in the morning," Connie said.

"Call me if you go after those skips. You need backup considerin' how funny you been actin' all day."

I gathered up my files and purse. Grabbed my iced coffee and walked out to Big Blue. I needed to go home and get some rest. Maybe if I took a nap; things would seem clearer when I woke up.

When I woke up from my nap I had a killer headache. I stumbled to the bathroom and took a couple aspirin and splashed some water on my face. The reflection in the mirror was pretty scary. My curls were a jumbled mess, my makeup was ruined and my eyes were swollen from crying myself to sleep earlier. I washed my face and wrestled my hair into a ponytail. I pulled on the jeans I'd stripped off before climbing into bed and stuffed my feet into a pair of shoes. I needed McDonald's.

I noticed a black Rangeman SUV parked across the street. Part of me thought about marching over there and demand that they leave. Probably they wouldn't leave; they never have in the past when I've asked for my privacy.

Thirty minutes later I was sitting on my couch with a Supersize Big Mac meal and a bag of Chips Ahoy. I was vegging out watching a marathon of Criminal Minds. The caffeine from my supersized coke and special sauce on the Big Mac were helping to ease my headache but I knew it'd take a lot more comfort food to help me forget the disaster this day had been.

My cell phone ringing startled me and I fumbled trying to pick it up. On the third ring I looked at the caller ID, Joe.

"Hello."

"I just wanted to check on you. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, Joe. I'm just hanging out at home and watching TV."

"McDonald's?"

"Yeah how did you know?"

"I know you Cupcake. Maybe better than anyone else."

"Are we still on for dinner tomorrow night?" I asked.

"Yeah I'll pick you up at seven o'clock."

"Sounds great."

"Okay well I'm pulling up to a crime scene," Joe said. "I gotta go."

"Be careful Joe."

"I'll call when I can. Bye Cupcake."

I watched a couple more episodes of Criminal Minds before I fell asleep on the couch. When I woke up the room was dark. I had the distinct feeling I wasn't alone . The tingle at the back of my neck told me it was Ranger.

"Ranger?"

"I'm here."

I sat up and looked at the chair across the room. The light from the TV lit the room just enough to make out his shape in the otherwise dark room. Ranger was dressed in his usual black. He had one long leg stretched out in front of him. Arms crossed loosely over his chest. He looked relaxed but the energy in the room felt tense.

"What are you doing here, Ranger?" I asked.

"We need to talk."

"What could we possibly have to talk about? I haven't heard from you in months. Now you just show up here and think…I don't even know what you think. I don't care. Get out."

"No."

"It's my apartment Ranger. You might be able to control your men, and what happens in your building. Hell I can't stop you from tracking me, and from having men watch me and follow me, but I can control who comes into my apartment. Leave."

Ranger ran his fingers through his short hair, and let out a breath. We sat in silence. Of course he won, I spoke first. Ranger had the patience of Job. Me I had the patience of a toddler.

"Why are there guards watching me?" I asked.

"They are there for your protection." Ranger answered.

"The last time I checked I didn't need protection. I've been doing much better at choosing my skips. Anyone that seems too dangerous I pass on to Rangeman. When I need backup I call Lester."

"Have you heard of Ivan "The Bishop" Petrov?" Ranger asked.

"The Bishop, yeah he's a Russian gangster, right?"

"Yeah Babe, he's a gun runner."

"He's been buying and selling guns on both side of the globe. I've been tracking him for the last eight months. Finally the ATF had enough information to arrest him about two weeks ago. Since the arrest I've been in Washington debriefing and writing notes about the investigation. I got back to Trenton early this morning."

"So if the Bishop is in jail what's with the Rangeman security detail?" I asked.

"Just being proactive, its' possible that some of Petrov's associates could try to seek out a revenge for his arrest."

"Am I in danger?"

"I'm not sure Babe. We're gathering intel but until it's complete I'd like you to come stay at Haywood."

"W-wh-what?"

"It's just for a few days. Maybe a week," Ranger said.

"Let me get this straight you've been gone for months, without even telling me you were leaving town. You didn't return my phone calls and blocked my emails. Now you break into my apartment and expect me to pack a bag for a sleepover."

"Babe."

"Don't you dare call me that."

Ranger let out a small sigh and scrubbed his face with his hand. I was frustrating him. Good.

"I had to do those things for your safety. Stephanie I can't leave you here, you'll be safer at Rangman."

"Why am I in danger? I don't even know this guy. He probably doesn't even know I exist. I'll stay here but thanks for the offer."

Ranger stood from the chair and walked to stand where I was sitting on the couch. His eyes seemed to be searching my face for something. I felt his eyes travel down my face and neck and rest on my chest. Consciously I put my hand on the necklace he'd given me the night before he left. I hadn't taken it off since that night. Feeling his eyes on it now I was embarrassed. It's a silly thing to do; wearing a necklace to maintain a connection to another person.

"Like it or not Stephanie people know we're attached. Scrog thought we were involved, remember. I know you're mad at me but this is not up for discussion. You can stand up and walk out of here on your own or I can take you by force," Ranger said reaching behind him and pulling a pair of handcuffs from his utility belt.

"You wouldn't dare."

A single raised eyebrow was the only response from Ranger. I crossed my arms and glared at him.

"Ba-Stephanie; last chance get up and pack a bag."

"No."

Ranger reached out and grabbed my wrist pulling me to my feet. One of us screamed, I think it was me.

"You make me crazy," Ranger said through clutched teeth while slapping one of the cuffs around my wrist. "I know you're mad at me. Things didn't go like I planned. I wanted to tell you I was leaving but things hap…"

"Let me out of this, are you crazy?" I asked snatching my wrist from his grasp.

"Go pack," Ranger said. His voice was deathly quiet and I knew that if I didn't do what he asked he'd carry me out

"Fine, I'll pack a bag for the night, will that make you happy?" I asked.

"It's a start."

"Are you going to take this off my wrist?"

"No."

"Fine," I said and stomped into my bedroom to pack a bag.

Dammit. Just when I thought this day couldn't get any worse.

A few minutes later I emerged from my bedroom to find Ranger standing in the foyer talking on the phone. He glanced at me and then my duffle bag.

"…I'm on my way…"

Ranger pocketed his phone. Then he stalked across the apartment and took the bag from my hand. He slung it across his shoulder. Then he slapped the other end of the cuffs on his wrist.

"Let's go."

Ranger started walking and I had no choice but to keep up since we were handcuffed together. Ranger marched to the stairs and looked down at the handcuffs. He looked at me and gave a cocky smile. Then he started down the steps. I struggled to keep the pace, but I was so mad I wasn't going to give him any indication I was struggling.

Tank was waiting for us when we exited the doors. He looked at our handcuffed hands and then at me and grinned. When he looked at Ranger's face his expression turned serious and he opened the back door to the Cayenne.

Ranger stood to the side while I climbed in and then he followed. Once he'd closed the door Tank put the SUV in gear and we were on our way. No one spoke the entire trip to Rangeman. I was fuming, Ranger was his usual stoic self, and Tank was smirking quietly to himself.

We pulled into the Rangeman garage and Tank got out and grabbed my bag from the passenger seat. Ranger opened the door on his side of the SUV and I froze. I pulled my arm back toward myself.

"Ranger please don't lead me into the building like a dog on a leash. Take the handcuffs off. I'm not going to run away."

Ranger looked at me for a moment. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out the key to his cuffs. Once he'd unlocked both sides he slid the cuffs discreetly into his jacket pocket. He reached out and rubbed my wrist and tilted his head toward the elevator. I slid across the seat and Ranger helped me out of the truck.

"Ella has an apartment prepared for you. Of course you're welcome to stay on seven if you choose."

"I'll be fine on the fourth floor. Thank you."

"Tank will carry your bag up to the apartment. I need to head to the control room. If you need anything you can call me or Ella."

Ranger nodded to Tank and disappeared behind the door to the stairs.

"Ready Bomber?" Tank asked when the doors of the elevator slid open.

Tank unlocked and opened the door to the apartment and allowed me inside. I looked around at the studio apartment, there was fresh fruit on the counter and the bed had been made in linens that looked suspiciously like Ranger's. Near the bed a candle burned filling the room with the warm smell of vanilla. There was a note on the pillow from Ella.

Stephanie,

I've stocked the refrigerator with water and coke. The coffee pot is prepared for in the morning. There are fresh linens in in the bathroom. If you need anything just dial 6 on the intercom. I put a box of your favorite Tasty Cakes in the cabinet over the microwave. Just let me know when you're ready for breakfast in the morning.

Ella

I'd have to thank Ella tomorrow for her thoughtfulness.

Tank rubbed his big bald head and let out a long slow breath.

"What is it Tank?"

"Be nice to him Bomber. I know the way he left wasn't easy on you. He didn't have a choice things didn't go down the way he thought. When the call came in today that a couple of Petrov's men were making threats against the members of the task force his first order was to put two men on you."

"Why would he do that?"

"He's in love with you."