(A/N: Ahh, thank you for the wonderful reviews, i have been told that I should write novels, but I've always been to scared to post some work. Anyways I worked all night on this chapter, chapter 2 will be started today. this is a long one, I hope you enjoy, as always there will be OOC, OCs it's an Au, there isn't enough off the wall stories like this, so I felt the need to write this one. If there are things that might scare you, I shall warn you in !)
(Disclaimer: I do not own this, I'm not making any money from this, I'm just...enjoying the characters is all 3)
Chapter 1: Heidi
Stephanie Plum sighed and wiped the sweat off her brow. Jeez! Whose bright idea was it to go pick up skips in this heat? Maybe the idea came from a woman who had barely enough money in the bank to cover her rent, and the fact that said woman's hamster was out of food, such a terrible Hamster mommy she was! That woman, you see, was in fact Stephanie Plum. The only thing in her kitchen was an empty jar of peanut butter and two olives, how in the hell could see make a proper peanut butter and olive sandwich with no peanut butter and just two olives?! You can't that's how! So she drove to her Cousin Vinnie's bail bond office and got the fourth most dangerous file, not the first most dangerous one that would be crazy! Stephanie would leave that one to the expert, a mocha latte colored expert, with molten brown eyes and black hair and full lips that purred, "Babe.." In her ear from time to time… oh yeah, that expert.
"Damn white girl, you look like you're getting' ready to melt over there, it ain't that hot out here!"
Stephanie snapped out of her daze and looked over to her partner, Lula. Lula was a heavy set, full figured woman. She was a size 16 that always wore a size 8 and today was no exception. Today she wore a spandex leopard printed mini dress and 3 inch stiletto heels. If she bent over, Stephanie would get an eyeful of something she really didn't want to see. Her hair was up in brown and gold braids that were all tied together into one big ponytail. Her nails were long and painted with leopard prints. If Stephanie thought the heat was wreaking havoc on her, then it surely was killing Lula. To Stephanie's amazement, Lula didn't have a drop of sweat on her. How?! They've been running nearly a half mile through neighborhoods looking for this skip. For crying out loud, Lula had on heels, HEELS!
"How can you not be sweaty Lula?" Stephanie asked the woman as the two sat down on the side of a curb, "It's like 92 degrees today; it feels like I've been running a fricking marathon! Aren't you hot?"
The brown skinned woman turn to look at Stephanie and said in a low voice, "It's a secret; I ain't one to give out none of my secrets!"
Stephanie groaned, placing her forehead on her knees, as Lula took out a mirror to check on her hair, "you're not human, Lula, I feel like I could melt!"
"I feel nice and cool, white girl, whatcha need to do, is think cold thoughts, like you know ice cream, or Italian ice, or an ice cream sundae." Lula said looking over to Stephanie, "If you don't think cold thoughts, then you're all hot an' shit."
"Think cold thoughts…" Stephanie mumbled closing her eyes, to think of something cold, but in this heat, she could hardly think to breath, "Aw, it's too damn hot to think Lula, look let's just find this bastard, and then we can go get something cold."
"now that's my kind of thinking, come on white girl, in this heat, that skinny white man might be passed out on the side of some sidewalk, on account of it's too damn hot out here!"
"Now that's a nice thought." Stephanie said getting up from the curb, "but that would be too kind of him to do for me."
The Fourth most dangerous skip Stephanie Choose was named Barry Porter. He was a 33 year old factory worker, who seemed to be missing a few screws in his head. He had burned down an ex-girlfriend's house due to the fact that 'voices' in his head told him to burn down the box shaped row house. Needless to say, he should have remained in the safe confines of prison, but Porter's mother turned green at the thought of her 'Baby Bookie Barry" spending another second in jail, and quickly bailed him out. No true bonds office would even think to bond out a crazy arson, but then again Stephanie's Cousin, wasn't the most reputable person in Trenton. Let's face it, if you prefer the wings of a duck over your wife well, you might not be the most trustworthy person around. The moment Porter got out of jail, he burned down his mother's house, and fled. Okay maybe going after a crazy arsonist wasn't what Stephanie really wanted to do, but seven thousand bucks would keep her happy for a bit.
After their quick on the side of the curb, Stephanie and Lula, by foot, swept through the back alleys and side roads, they were close to Stark Street, and Chamsburg, a place where Stephanie prayed that the skipped didn't go to hide from them, maybe she should call quits on this chase, but seven thousand bucks…they'll continue to search for 'Baby Bookie Barry.'
"Hey, ain't we getting' close to where your parents live?" Lula asked as they crossed another street, "this looks like the road your parents live on."
"With my luck, the skip will be on this road too," Stephanie moaned wiping her sweaty brow, "Near my parents' house too boot!"
"You should stop sayin' shit like that Stephanie," Lula said looking down the road, "It ain't right."
"What? Why should I, it could be true?" Stephanie replied looking over to Lula, "With my luck-"
"Sometimes, if you keep sayin' things like, "With my bad luck, or with what little luck", the things you talk about come true, like if ya keep telling yourself you can't do anything better than what you have, then that's all you'll have, cause you called it to come true and shit." Lula said turn to look at Stephanie, her eyes serious.
Stephanie blinked and said going over to Lula, "Who are you and what have you done to my Lula?! Geez, you hardly talk this much in one go!"
"Someone told me once, while I was down an' out, what I just told to you, they told me things get better if you stop thinking negative thoughts." Lula said putting her hands on her hips, "An' they did, I met you, I ain't a ho no mo' and I got a man who loves me to boot."
Stephanie took a hard look at Lula, and said softly, "They must have really cared about you, eh?"
"They still do, I can feel it, and sometimes it feels like they're watchin' over me an' shit." Lula said with a smirk, "Come on white girl, we got a skinny white man to catch."
Stephanie followed Lula to down the sidewalk, but paused turning to look around. She swore she could smell something, but she couldn't say what it was.
Well, they caught Barry Porter, that's the good news, that's seven thousand in her bank account. However with good news, there's always bad news, like the fact that Porter led them back to her car parked near Pino's and blew it up sky high with some matches and a canister of Gasoline. Where in the hell did he get those items from anyways?! Seriously, it was like they appeared from nothing! Now Stephanie was standing near what remained of her car, rubbing her neck and wiping her sweaty brow. It was quite hot, maybe a sno-cone would cool her down, or a Slurpee, oh yes, that sounds great right now, a large cherry one, she deserved it right? An ice cream sandwich would be-
"Uh-oh, cops, they give me the willies, I think I'll just wait inside Pino's an' order us some subs," Lula shuddered, before she hustled over to the restaurant, "I'll get ya a large coke too! Cause I'm so nice an' shit."
"You're a saint, Lula," Stephanie huffed watching as the Cops came towards her, especially one she really didn't want to deal with, Joe Morelli.
If Stephanie were to talk about her and Joe Morelli on facebook, and trust her, you don't need a computer to follow what was going on in her life, just go ask the catty ladies that shop every Monday morning down at the Stop and Shop; she would call it a Complicated Relationship.
Stephanie sighed as Joe Morelli walked up to her, he was sexy, an extra fine specimen for a man. He got the good Italian genes, full thick brown hair, soft brown eyes, a tone body (a bit hairy, but most men are anyway. Olive toned skin, on a scale for sexiness, Joe Morelli got a 10 out of 10, but when he opens his mouth-
"Jesus Christ Cupcake, you could have gotten killed or something!"
That 10 out of ten score, drops to a 5 out of ten. Geez it's like a broken record with this man, Stephanie had this mantra down to nearly a tee. Oh, first is the' nearly got yourself killed' part, next is the 'quit your job part.'
" You need to quit this crazy job, Cupcake, it's dangerous for my health!"
'Well, sorry my life is making your life so hard,' Stephanie thought rolling her eyes, 'next up on the Morelli Mantra, Maalox and lots of it!'
"Jesus Christ, I could fricking buy stock in Maalox, by the way I go through it, you're making me burn a hole through my damn stomach!"
Stephanie turned her head to the side and nearly did a double take at the sight of black hair, so black that it was nearly blue, blowing in the wind, going down the street. No one had hair that black, unless…
"Cupcake? Where the fuck are you going now?!" Joe roared, watching Stephanie walk by him and the ever growing crowd, she was just going down the street now, for no apparent reason. Why does he put up with this woman?!
Stephanie ran quickly down the sidewalk and turned the corner where had seen the black hair turn down also. She was expected to see someone she knew dearly, but instead she was met with…
Nothing…just a dead end, nothing but a brick wall littered with graffiti. Great now she was seeing things, maybe it was the heat. She should really take a leaf out of Lula's page and think 'cool thoughts.' Water, ice cold water, and ice covered brownies. Stephanie's mind drifted off to the dream she had when she was maybe 12, when her mother made her take Home Ec. Classes at the community center, that one class where she nearly burned down the building trying to make brownies.
"Hello Miss. Stephanie, my, what a treat, it's been too long since I've seen, you, you've grown into quite the young lady."
12 year old Stephanie turned to see she was in a strange looking room. It wasn't like any room she had been in, and she had been in strange places before, such as 's house which has a terrible yellow colored wallpaper with large mushrooms scattered across it. That was horrible, and ugly. This room, wasn't ugly though, it was pretty and peaceful. The walls were made of some panels, the top of the panels seemed to made of paper, with long strips of wood making little squares, from the middle downwards, the panel was solid wood, dark pine maybe. The floor was covered in mats that were soft on the bottom of her feet. There was a low circular table, with a few pillows surrounding it. There was a tea set perched on it.
Sitting on one of the pillows was the woman from the dream she had as a child, only this time, instead of a sun dress, she was dressed in a strange article of clothing, maybe a robe, but it was a pretty one, with detailed patterns of stars going along the fabric. She was as beautiful as Stephanie remembered, but this time her hair was down showing Stephanie that her hair indeed fell to her ankles. It was polled around her now, since she was in a slouching position.
"What is this place?" Stephanie asked without realizing it, "Oh, I'm sorry, it's just-"
"A Japanese Tea room, well, one of the many I have, I prefer this one though, it has such a beautiful view of the sea." The woman said sitting up, "do come in, I shall make you some green tea, Green tea purifies the body you know."
Stephanie shuffled into the airy room, and sat on a pillow close to the woman, who poured tea silently. Like before, Stephanie felt awkward around her, she was wearing a pair of bed shorts and a tank top, it had been a hot night, so less clothes was better. She was sure that her hair was wild looked like a rat's nest too. It had been a rough day and all she wanted to do was sleep it away, maybe tomorrow the grapevine wouldn't be so bad, that she wouldn't make her mother the blunt of every other woman's conversation.
"Your mind is heavy thinking about something, no? The woman said giving Stephanie her tea, "It's not good keeping it all bottle up, you can tell me anything you want."
Stephanie sighed and said, "I nearly burned down a building today, trying to make brownies, my mother was extremely angry, she yelled at me, and called me a disappointment. I didn't mean to, it was an accident, but she didn't care."
The woman took a sip of tea and said afterwards, "Children are a gift, they are never a disappointment, they may do things that their parents do not approve of, or they may do something that scares them to death, your mother has yet to see what you can gift upon her. At this rate, I am afraid she will never see it."
Stephanie shook her head, "She'll never see what good I can do, all she sees are all of the things I do wrong, unlike my sister Valarie, who is an angel in my mother's eyes, I try hard too."
"May I try one of the brownies you made Miss. Stephanie?" the woman asked leaning forward, "I would very much like to."
Stephanie shook her head and said, "Oh no, my mother threw them out, she didn't want them coming into the house, 'what would the neighbors think?'
The woman smiled and said, "Are you sure they are gone, please check your pocket, the left one."
Stephanie slipped her hand into the pocket and pulled out a small plastic baggie covered in hearts. Inside the baggie were two of her brownies, "how did these get in my pocket?"
"It does not matter how they got there," The woman said take the baggie and pulling one out, "it is how they taste is what matters."
Stephanie let out a yelp and tried to grab the brownie from the woman before she bit it. "NO! It might kill you!"
The woman took a large bite and chewed slowly, as if letting she was letting it touch every part of her tongue. "You are wrong child, they are very good, the best brownie I have ever had, and I know for a fact, Toga makes the best pastries."
Stephanie sat back down in shock looking at the woman finish the brownie. "But they were hard as rocks, and they smelt like charcoal."
"It does not matter the outcome of the food, Miss. Stephanie, it is what you put inside of it that matter." The woman said with a soft smile, "you put your heart and soul into it that is what makes food taste so good."
The woman stood up and went over to a panel wall, and slid it open to reveal to Stephanie that they were indeed near a large body of water; it felt good on her face, the salty cold air. The woman turned to Stephanie and said, "There are people who are naturally gifted in the art of making food, it is because they pour their heart and their soul into it. They will do their all to see the smiles on the faces of people who enjoy their food, because they choose to do so."
Stephanie got up and joined the woman over near the open panel door.
"Though there are people, who can make pretty dishes, but not put their heart and soul into the dish, they do it because they feel obligated to, like a robot, or someone who has given up their free will." The woman replied placing a hand on Stephanie's shoulder, "Like your mother, do you notice it?"
"Sometimes she invites over her sewing group for dinner, but I think it's because she wants to show off how much better her cake is compared to some of the ladies." Stephanie said reaching her hand out to feel the spray of the water, "I like her cooking, but it's not very filling."
"That is because she does not put her heart and soul into it," the woman said walking over to another panel and sliding it open, showing a storage area, "now it is only right I give you something in return for that yummy brownie, it is not every day I eat an item of food, that has that much heart and soul into it."
She dug around for a moment and pulled out a small brown pouch, "Ah yes, these will do just nicely."
The woman walked back to Stephanie and gave her the pouch, "Take these; they will do more good with you."
Stephanie, opened the pouch and took out two pearls, "Oh no, I cannot accept these, this is too much!"
"Nonsense, take them, these are Pearls of Wisdom, there will come a time where these will come in handy for you." The woman said waving Stephanie off, "now let us enjoy our tea, and the ocean air."
Stephanie still had those pearls, tucked away in the box that has the ivory colored rose that still looked as though it had just been cut from the bush.
Stephanie sighed but let out a shriek, feeling a hand clamp down on her shoulder.
"Babe, you need to be more aware of your surroundings." A warm chocolate voice said, causing Stephanie to melt right there on the spot, (she would if she could!)
"I'll have you know I am aware of my surroundings, if you just didn't creep like a creeper-hey, WHAT'S SO FUNNY?!"
Stephanie's Mentor and Friend, Carlos Manoso, or Ranger was looking at her with amusement in his eyes.
"Babe…" Ranger said placing a hand on the back of Stephanie's neck, "You look like you're going to melt in this heat.
I know something else that can melt in this heat.
"Babe.."
"Did I say that out loud?" Stephanie asked looking over to Ranger, who nodded his head, "Oh, my mouth and my brain aren't connected right!"
"Babe, I think Lula is eating your food too, and I know how you like your meatball subs." Ranger said leading Stephanie out the dead end.
"She wouldn't, she knows if she valued her life she wouldn't even take a nibble at it!" Stephanie huffed as they walked away, "She may be a glutton, but even she's smarter than that!"
"Babe…"
Carlos Manoso was known as many different things, by many different people. There was his street name, Ranger that put the fear into many of his enemies and adversaries. To his mother he was called frijolito, or little bean. As a child he went through a period where he would eat nothing else but green beans. He never knew why he did it, but that's what children do sometimes, change their way of life, just because they can. He's is Called Cuz, by his cousin Lester, who works at his company named Rangemen. Lester and Carlos were raised together and haven't been separated since, they were thick as thieves, you could almost call them brothers by the way they acted around each in private. Carlos would definitely be the older brother. He was more mature than Lester, even though Lester is older than him by a year. The one title he likes though is Batman. Stephanie gave him that name, due to the fact he was as mysterious as the hero. Stephanie also told him that he could things most other people could not do like break through locks, or seem to materialize from out of nothing. He is many things to many people, but right now he was just Carlos Manoso, a 31 year old man who is part of the Special Forces in the army, and a part of owner of a successful security firm.
Carlos sat behind the well his Turbo Porsche, staring silently at the entrance of the dead end that Stephanie ran into. She had told him later on in the day that she thought she saw someone she knew, run down there, but it must have been her imagination or something, because there was nothing there.
Right…?
Carlos smiled softly to himself, closing his brown eyes, he had felt something down that dead end, and it made him come back late in the night. What was this force compelling him to do this, to sit in his car for four hours, and just stare at this dead end? Carlos opened his eyes, turned them to look back at the dead end. His eyes nearly widened in surprise.
There she was causally walking up to the sidewalk. Long hair that was so black it was blue, pulled up in a high ponytail, with a few strands in her face. She was wearing a dark blue summer dress that has straps that crossed in the back, and that had a white butterfly near the hem of the dress. Her feet had sandals on them, and she was carrying a blue parasol. Amber eyes looked right him, and she calmly walked over to his car, open the passenger side, and got in.
She smelt of things that comforted Carlos, the scent of his grandmother when she would sign to him as a baby, the spicy musk, his father wore. She smelt like the perfume his mother wore when she and his father went out dancing. She also smelt of Stephanie, that was his favorite scent.
Amber eyes turned to brown and full lips, painted dark red, curled up into a smile, and then the woman said, "It has been awhile Carlos, you have grown into a fine Man, I am quite proud of you."
Carlos pictured a garden in his mind, full of scented flowers, and Cherry blossom trees that were in full bloom. He pictured a table underneath the largest Cherry Tree that had a tea server on it, and a large bowl of greens beans, just waiting for him…
"You are the woman from my dreams," Carlos said softly, turning to look at the woman, "you use to talk to me in riddles and every time I came, you fed me green beans."
"They are your favorite food, yes?" the woman asked her smile never wavered, "comfort foods always are a great start to a wonderful friendship."
"How did you get here?" Carlos asked the woman who tightened her grip on her parasol, "You're just a…dream"
"Am I Carlos, am I just a dream you dreamt all those years back." The woman said staring outside the window, "I have told you before child, I am more powerful than you believe."
The woman let out a sigh and said, "I wish I could say it was for pleasure, but there are forces in the universe that are causing a stir, and I need to prepare for them. That means I have to come to the human world and get things done."
Carlos looked outside and up at the moon, silent for a long time, before he said, "The moon is really bright tonight."
"Yes it is Carlos, the perfect time to cross in between worlds. The Moon light is a great path between worlds."
"So, what am I to call you in this world, I can't just call you woman all the time, that would be quite rude." Carlos said earning a sound of happiness from the woman.
"My you have gained lots of manners too, the Military sure did turn you around, such good changes they are!" the woman exclaimed, before she bent her head forward and said in a soft voice, "You may call me Heidi for now, I always did like that name, not enough Heidi's in the world."
Carlos started the turbo up, and smiled, "Heidi, not a name I would have chosen, but it suits you well, where to Heidi?"
"To your place, I need some rest, tomorrow, things start happening, and people began to understand." Heidi said, her eyes closing, "Do you still have the feather I gave you?"
"It's tucked away in a safe place why do you ask?" Carlos asked as he drove down the street to Haywood.
"That feather is the key to unlocking what you are, everything I have given you, I gave to you for a reason, and we shall start with the feather tonight, yes!" Heidi said staring up at the moon, "tonight is the perfect time too."
(word count 4,000...give or take /w\\\)
