If familiar not mine. Christy and others mine. Thank you MyMerryMen for your help. Thank you guest reviewers and everybody else. I appreciate it very much.

Chapter 2

"Hi," Ranger said to the woman standing at the counter and flashed his 200 watt smile. "Need help getting that to your car?"

"No thank you, I am good," she replied looking tired. "Thanks Stella. See you next week," she said to the waitress and smiled at her.

"See you next week as usual, Christy," the waitress returned with a smile of her own.

He liked the name Christy. He and Tank walked out the door after paying the bill. Christy was getting in a new gray Ram 2500 with a six inch lift kit. It had custom graphics on the windshield, 'Bigger is better', on the side was magnets Maximum Auto Body and phone number. Ranger caught the number. He looked at the license plate 'SZEMTTRS' and laughed to himself . Someone at that body shop had an inferiority complex, if he translated that vanity plate correct, 'size matters'.

"Maybe I should call her," he said to Tank. Tank questioned him as to why .

"Somebody at that shop has an inferiority complex or they are compensating for some short comings," Ranger told him.

"Steer clear of that place for now. That shop is your Monday appointment. Your contact person is Max, probably her husband," Tank replied with emphasis on your Monday appointment.

"I promise I will leave that one alone," Ranger replied.

They headed back to Haywood. Once there Ranger went to seven. He packed a bag, but instead of going to Miami he would go to Point Pleasant. There was a safe house he had recently purchased on the beach. Tank was right, he did need to clear his head for a couple of days, he knew it, he was just too stubborn to admit it. When he was ready to leave, he stopped on five to see Lester.

"Can I use your car for a couple days. You can use the Turbo," he asked Lester.

"Why do you want to use my Mustang?" Lester asked. Time to share with his cousin.

"I am trying to clear my head of Stephanie. The Turbo was her favorite of my cars."

Lester replied, "Sure but if you wreck it, you bought it. I am sorry about you and Beautiful. I should have said something sooner but anytime you need to talk I will listen."

Ranger nodded and Lester threw him the keys.

"Keys to the turbo are in the center desk drawer of the desk in the office."

Ranger got in the car and took everything in. It was nice, black with silver trim, leather seats, GT and an automatic. Lester could be lazy, automatic, Ranger scoffed at that. He arrived at the safe house a short time later.

The medium sized single story house at the end of a cul-de-sac radiated a welcome cheerfulness with its yellow vinyl siding and white trims. This was a place to relax and clear your mind, no doubt. Parking the car in the garage, Ranger grabbed his bag and walked through the door that opened into an inviting kitchen. Tan was the color of choice here with a homey apple border going around the top of the walls. All the appliances were stainless steel, the counters were granite and the cabinets cherry. Ranger was sure that someone who would care would love this kitchen. Walking through the house he found the master bedroom and sat his bag down. With its light blue colored walls and white furniture the room exuded a calm and peace that would definitely help him to wind-down and focus on anything but Steph. Ranger was glad that he'd agreed to take some time off and come here. The tangy air coming in from the sea was refreshing and the beach the backyard opened to was inviting. All in all it was a serene place and he could definitely stay here for the weekend.

As much as he hated to admit it to himself, he needed the time away from Haywood, the Porsche, his life or at least anything that had been Stephanie related. In less than five minutes he was feeling better. There were no reminders of Stephanie in this house, no memories of her here either. She had never been here. He had a different place when he was with her, if he could even call it 'with her' now, and he had sold it shortly after she left. In turn, Mark Pardo owned this house.

As he walked around getting a feel for this new house, he decided it could use some paint. Then he could claim it for his own, and make new memories here. He dialed three on his speed dial. It rang once, twice, and then an answer.

"Tell me you did not wreck my car," Lester stated without a "Yo" first.

"No I did not wreck your damn car. Are you off this weekend?" Ranger said back.

"Yes, I am off. Why? Do you want your car instead or did you need something else?" Lester asked.

"Well, if I can get a word in, I went to Point Pleasant to the new house. I was thinking about painting in here. I thought I would get your help," Ranger told him.

"I will be up after my shift, I will drive your truck instead of the car," Lester replied.

"Bring pizza and beer. I will get the paint," Ranger said. There were two more bedrooms, so if Lester brought one of the other guys that would be fine.

Getting his wallet and the keys to the Mustang, Ranger left to buy the paint. He was trying to keep the rooms light and as Ella would say 'beachy'. For the master bedroom he got a sky blue. The second bedroom was going to be mint green and the third bedroom was to be pale yellow. In both bathrooms he went with white. While he was at the paint store he bought brushes, paint rollers, drop cloths, tape and other things he thought they might need.

About 1900 Lester showed up with a ladder, pizza and beer. At first, he had thought about bringing some of the other guys, but then he paused for a moment. If his cousin needed to talk, he didn't want any others around. It would already be hard enough for Ranger to open up. Sitting down to eat, Lester finally decided to bite the bullet and asked, "So tell me cuz, what is next for you?"

"I do not know. I left the government for Stephanie. Since she is out of the picture, my options are open again. I might see if the government wants me back, I could sign a new contract although I am enjoying not being tied to them. Plus, I am not a young man any more." Ranger looked down at his beer before taking another drag from the bottle. "I am going to have to seriously evaluate my position. I believe that part of me was ready to settle down, but a small part of me will never be able to. Without Stephanie, I am not sure which part will win, I am back to square one. I had let her in, now, I would have to find someone else to trust and finally let in."

Lester asked what had happened between him and her and Ranger told him the same thing he had told Tank earlier. When he was finished, he could have knocked Lester over with a feather. One of the few times Lester was speechless and that was not easily done, "Wow, I did not see that one coming," he finally spit out.

They ate and drank some more before either spoke again. Both were in shock maybe, Ranger at Lester being speechless and Lester for what he learned about Beautiful. He couldn't believe that his Beautiful had changed teams. Finally breaking the silence, he looked pensively at Ranger before voicing his opinion. "I would give myself some time before signing with the government. You could meet someone else. I know it is not easy, but it could happen. "

"I am not sure about that, I thought she was the one. I changed my life for her, and it was not enough. You know how most women look at us. One of two ways, either as a piece of meat or they are afraid of us," Ranger pondered quietly, causing Lester to listen closer. "At bars they are looking to hook up, at restaurants they are usually on a date. Through work we usually only see men or it is a husband and wife we are meeting. Church is out, the roof would fall in if we went there. It really does not leave many places. I met Steph through work, otherwise, I would have never known she existed."