I guess I started this because I wanted to make an angst story. I never said I excelled at it though. ^_~ Oh ho. I torched myself.

Hey, did I put a warning about that already? If not; this story is very angsty.

Disclaimer: Do people even add this in anymore?

Chapter One

The very first thing I realized, when I cracked open my eyes, was that I wasn't in my own bed or in my apartment for that matter. Momentary confusion hit me. I raised my head and glanced around the room drowsily. The sheets were smooth and comfy and the clock on the bedside desk glared nine fifty my way.

I was at Ranger's house.

I turned towards the other side of the bed and saw that no one beside me. I rubbed my eyes and rolled out of bed to see that I was completely naked. With a squeak of surprise, I dove back into the bed and curled up in the covers. Last night's events started to replay over in my head: Knocking on Ranger's door, kissing him, him pulling me in, dragging me to the bed, stripping my clothes off....

My hands came up to cover my face and I groaned. What had I done?

You slept with Ranger.

Why?

To get back at Joe.

I silenced my subconscious and started to tug at my hair. Stupid. I was so stupid. Actually, I think I had evolved from stupid. I was something completely different now. I was a combination of idiotic, simpleminded and insane. I tried to go back to my state of mind from last night, the cold, numbing pain that propelled me towards Ranger's bed but I couldn't delve it back up. My common sense was screeching loud and clear and it was heated.

I cheated on Joe. For revenge.

I used Ranger to do it. And, to add insult to injury, the man wasn't even here. I could always count on him for that though. Why would he be here? He wasn't obligated to lay with me until I woke up and he probably had more pressing matters. He was probably traveling to some third one country and was going to be 'in the wind' for a few months. One part of me was glad he was gone. I don't think I could face him at the moment.

While the other part of me was hurt. And that hurt was burrowing into my earlier ache from last night and digging a painful hole in my chest. I was pitiful.

A ring suddenly pierced the quiet of the room and I jumped. I felt my heart beat and my eyes traveled to the source: my cell phone. I crawled cautiously towards the end of the bed, reached to pick up my pants lying discarded on the floor and retrieved my phone. Although I didn't want to answer it, I put it to my ear without looking at the caller ID and asked, "Hello?"

"Stephanie?"

I put a hand over my mouth and closed my eyes tightly at the man's voice. "Hi Joe." I wondered if he heard my voice waver, if he could sense my deceit.

"Hey." He said softly. "Where are you?"

In Ranger's bed, naked. "Out." I blurted. "At my mother's house."

He paused, sighed and said, "Listen Steph.....I'm really sorry about last night and-Can you meet me? I want to talk."

I'll be right there, Joe. Right after I get dressed and try to wash Ranger's scent off of me. I pushed my subconscious away again and replied, "Sure. I'll meet you at your place later on tonight." That'll give me time to think of more lies and try to justify my act of betrayal.

There was a pause. "Alright then." He hesitated and for one sick, terrifying moment, I thought he was going to tell me he loved me while I lay in another's man bed. But, to my relief, he just hung up.

I sat the phone down slowly on the bed and stared at it for a long minute. I waited for the guilt to come. I waited to feel horrible about lying to my boyfriend about my whereabouts and I waited for the gut wrench in my stomach from cheating on him.

But nothing came. I just felt hollow and exhausted.

So I laid back down on the pillow, closed my eyes and drifted off, praying for a happy dream to get my mind off the nightmare that is my life.

*******

Ranger

One. Two. Three.

I felt the force as it jolted me back slightly. I stood my ground, kept my position and aimed.

Four. Five. Six.

Relax. Concentrate. I flexed my fingers, squared my shoulders, aimed again and held my breath.

Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten.

The tenth bullet shot right through the target dummy's head and made a neat hole in the plastic. I straightened, set the gun down and took off the protective goggles. I waited for the dummy to trail down the shooting range and ripped it off the hook to investigate.

Ten shots. It took me ten damn shots to get it in the head. Two hit the leg, one hit an arm, another hit the gut and five completely missed.

I never missed.

I threw it on the floor, sighed and rubbed at my forehead. I could have blamed my lack of focus on the time of day, my requirement of food or having gotten only three hours of sleep but I knew that none of those things were bothering me.

It was Stephanie. It was always Stephanie.

She was either still upstairs on the seventh floor in my apartment or she had left, I didn't know. I had an unbearable urge to go check but forced myself not to. I had a feeling that she wouldn't want to see me right now and I couldn't blame her.

I knew, more than anything, that last night had been a mistake. If only because of the exterior factors. One of them was Morelli. She was still with him. I knew it, she knew it, everyone knew it.

Yet I didn't take heed of that last night. I ignored the knowledge that she was obviously hurting, pushed any other thoughts aside and took her. Because of me. Because I wanted it. There had been nothing on my mind but getting what I wanted.

And what I had wanted was Stephanie. But instead of waiting patiently like a civil, gentlemen, I went and lost control like a savage.

I took advantage of her and then left because I couldn't bear to face her when she got up.

So not only was I a good for nothing bastard but I was coward. What a great role model I'll be. And let's not forget the exterior factor on my side.

I reached in my pocket, pulled out my cell phone and scrolled down to a number.

Selena's number.

I stared at it while it glared back at me. As if it was taunting me, telling me how wrong I was and that even if I called, I'd still be pathetic. Damn phone number. I put my phone back in my pocket, strapped my goggles back on and grabbed the gun again.

I could feel my phone in my pocket, weighing me down with guilt, telling me that I needed to be a man about it and talk to her. Talk to them both.

But my cell phone's internal mock went on deaf ears while I drowned it out with the deafening shots of my Glock.

********

Stephanie

When I woke up for the second time that day, Ranger still wasn't around. I glanced at the clock and saw that it was close to two pm now. Why I had remained at Rangeman and not went to my own apartment, I didn't know. If I was going to be convincing to Morelli then I probably should have gotten out and covered up the evidence.

But I wasn't in a real rush to cover anything, I realized. I wasn't sure why but I still wasn't feeling very guilty. Or ashamed or mad or anything. The empty callousness remained and I liked it. I'd rather be hollow than dizzy with remorse.

I hurriedly got up, took a quick shower and got dressed in my clothes from last night. I skipped past eating and ran out. Running into Ranger was one thing I'd rather avoid. It'd just complicate my life and further confuse me. I made it down to the parking lot without being spotted by any one and tip toed my way over to my sky blue Buick. It was still parked in the same space, same angle, nothing changed.

While I fumbled in my purse for my key, I felt a hand drop on my shoulder. I instantly shrieked, spun and swung my purse.

Hal stood staring at me, a square indent of my purse on his cheek. "Jeez, jumpy much?"

I blew out a sigh and forced a tight smile. "Sorry. You kinda...caught me off guard."

"No prob." He eyed me up and down. "You're in a hurry."

He must have knew that I stayed overnight. I could tell by his probing gaze. Ranger had someone on guard of the Rangeman building at all times and Hal had gotten yesterday's night shift. "Yeah, I have to go."

"Well...alright. Just call if you need any help."

I nodded shakily, turned and then froze. I bit my lip and blurted out, "Where's Ranger?" I was going against my plan of ducking out of here quick but I was more than curious about his whereabouts. A part of me thought that if I confirmed what I guessed, that he was 'in the wind', then I'd feel better at being deserted.

The next words from Hal's mouth was like a punch to the stomach. "He's down in the shooting range."

He was here? In the building still? I felt an unwanted surge of dejection and tried to shake it off. So what? So, what if he hadn't came up? So, what if he'd rather shoot people than spend time with me? I already knew what to expect. I knew that Ranger wasn't going to attest to my feelings. That was the reason why I had went to him last night. I wanted sex, no strings attached and I knew Ranger wanted that as well. We both got what we wanted. There was no reason to feel sorry or sad.

But, as I slid into my car and drove off, I couldn't ignore the pain fluttering in my chest or the churning of my stomach.

And the sudden, ironic realization flashed in my mind: While trying to dull the pain of Morelli, I had received a wound from Ranger.

^_^- I use that smiley too much, I know. Anyway, I hope this chapter was enjoyable! There shall be more soon.