Not sure how long I want to make this story, but I've needed to get that first chapter out of my head since last June. I've thought of many different scenarios, but when that came to me yesterday it seemed right.

Chapter 2

Joe and I stayed like that for a while, neither of saying anything. I was about to get up and leave when Joe pulled me tighter to him.

"What are you going to do?" His voice was laced with concern.

"I'm going to stay at my parent's house till my apartment is ready."

"Cup-Stephanie what are you going to do about Ranger?"

"Nothing." I replied sheepishly.

"I know you don't like to talk about your feelings, but don't shut him out. I can't believe I'm giving you advice on this." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "All I'm saying is give him a chance, and don't run away every time things get difficult. Maybe things would have worked out differently between us if we actually listened to each other instead of yelling and taking time outs."

"I'm sorry, your right. We didn't give each other the decency to try to understand each others point of views. You would yell and I would scream and run off. I don't know if I can change, but I need to try."

I got up to leave, Joe walked me to the door. He gave me a hug and a quick kiss on my lips.

"We're going to be ok, aren't we?" I looked up at him.

"Yeah we are." He said smiling.

I walked out to my dad's taxi and felt like a weight had been lifted off me. I drove back to my parents house. When I entered the door I heard my dad and grandma arguing over the tv, my mother was in the kitchen. I had Rex's cage in my hand.

"Stephanie you missed dinner, but there are leftovers in fridge if your hungry."

"Thanks mom. I think I'll make a sandwich."

"I'll make one for you. You can leave the cage on the far corner of the table."

I set him down and waited while my mom made me a roast beef sandwich. I ate it then took my basket of clothes up to my old room. Lula had left and went back to her apartment. I laid down and thought about everything that happened. I don't know how to tell Ranger I'm in love with him. I don't even know if I can tell him.

I heard everyone go to their bedrooms to turn in for the night. I tossed and turned, my thoughts on Ranger. I kept looking at the clock, I must have finally dozed off around 2 A.M. At 6:30 I heard my grandmother yelling at my father to get out of the bathroom. They were yelling back and forth. My mother was in the kitchen yelling up that breakfast was ready. The smell of coffee and bacon wafted up to me, between that and the yelling I knew I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep.

I stumbled down the steps. I went over to say good morning to Rex, and saw that mom had already fed him.

"Stephanie your up early." My mom said to me. My father was finishing his breakfast.

"Thanks for bringing back the cab pumpkin." He said to me. "I have an early morning pick-up."

"Dad do you think you can drop me off at Rangeman later this morning, the Buick is there."

"No problem. What time do you want me to pick you up?"

My grandma came downstairs dressed in a tight bright green workout pants with a hot pink leotard over the top that was riding so far up her butt that I didn't know how she was walking. My mom started yelling at her, and the morning fun was in full swing.

I looked back up at my dad. "I'm going to eat and shower, I can be ready in 30 minutes."

My dad smiled. "It will be about an hour before I can be back, but I'll try to hurry." He left looking at my grandmother mumbling "Crazy old bat." on the way out the door.

My mom had placed a plate with two eggs over easy, three pieces of bacon, and two slices of white toast in front of me. I ate quickly, and ran up the steps to get ready. I don't have many clothes, since I haven't had much time to go shopping. I decided to dress in Rangeman black. My dad was going to drop me off there, so I figured I might as well put in a day of work while I'm there. Ok, I want to see Ranger too.

I was waiting at the door when my dad got back. I ran out to the car before he could even put in park. I couldn't take one more minute of my mother and grandmother. I think my mom had already started her tippling.

My dad shook his head, he was no fool and completely understood having to get out of the house early. He dropped me off and told me to have a good day.

I went through the front door. Cal was working the desk and smiled at me when I entered. I never use the front door since I park in the garage.

"Good Morning Stephanie." He said all chipper.

"Morning Cal." I said.

I took the elevator up to five, and went straight to the break room. I needed more coffee. I only had four hours of sleep, and I needed a donut bad.

I grabbed my coffee and turned to walk out of the room, but hit a black wall. It reached out and held me, steadying me so I didn't fall. I looked up into Ranger's eye's.

"Babe." He said amused, before he leaned his head down and kissed me. After he pulled back from the kiss I held on for dear life. I was tired, and his kiss left me dazed.

"You look tired." He told me.

"I didn't get much sleep last night." I told him.

"Morelli keep you up all night Babe?" He asked.

"I slept at my parent's house." I looked down at the floor.

"I smell something burning." He said.

"Um, well, ugh Joe and broke up last night."

"I'm sure you'll be back together soon." He sounded distant.

"Um no we won't. We talked a lot, and decided to just be friends. We're not getting back together."

"You don't seem upset." He took my chin in his hand and tipped my face up so he could look into my eyes.

"No, I guess I'm not." I didn't know what to say, I couldn't just blurt out that I'm not sad, because I realized I don't love Joe the way I love him.

Something flashed over Ranger's face so quickly but then it was gone.

"You sure you want to work today?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I smiled at him.

"I have meeting out of the office all morning. If you need to sleep just head up to seven."

"Thanks."

He kissed me quickly, and walked me over to my desk before leaving.

Of course my in-box was full of searches from Rodriguez. I finished three by noon. My butt was sore, my eyes were drooping, and I was hungry. I went to the break room, grabbed a chicken salad sandwich and a water. I took it upstairs with me. I ate it sitting on the couch, I fell asleep right after. I woke up when Ella came in an hour later.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you Stephanie." She said sweetly.

"It's ok Ella, I really need to get back down to work. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

I went back down and started on more searches. The guys must have noticed how tired I was because they left me alone. Bobby came over around two.

"You ok Steph? You look like your about to fall asleep."

"I'm fine Bobby. I stayed at my parent's and it's hard to get any sleep there."

"If you need some sleeping pills just let me know."

"Thanks for the concern, but I'll be fine." I smiled at him.

Around three I noticed the men were unusually quiet, and I felt tingle on my neck. That could only mean Ranger was back. I sat up and leaned back in my chair, and my head hit bounced into Ranger.

I looked up at him.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were behind me."

"Did you get any sleep Babe?" He asked.

"About an hour."

"Why don't you take off now."

"No, I don't want to go back before dinner. I wouldn't be able to sleep anyways. Val's kids will be there, and my grandma and mom."

Ranger grimaced at the sound of my grandma. "You know you can stay with me." He said.

"Thanks, I know, but my mom is expecting me." I said.

"I've got to head out to another meeting, but it's a standing offer if you change your mind."

He leaned down and kissed me.

My brain was even fuzzier after he left. Of course I wanted to stay with him, but I can't do it. I'm so tired and there's no way I'd be able to say no, and I can't just have casual sex with him.

Somehow I managed to work till 5:45. I turned off my computer and rushed down to my car. I made it to my parent's house with a minute to spare. Dinner is at six sharp. If you're a minute late my mom would yell that everything was ruined, and put the guilt trip on you throughout the whole meal.

Great Valerie, Albert, and the girls were over too. We all sat down. I tuned everything out. I ate without tasting my food. I needed to block out the screaming. I looked up when the pitcher of water was thrown at me, well I guess it was at the table. I don't know why my mother bothers to put candles on the table when Albert is over. I guess he reached for something and knocked one of the taper candles over, setting the table-cloth on fire. I didn't notice anything till I was soaked from the pitcher of water that was thrown on the table.

I went upstairs to change. I laid down, but all I could hear was kids screaming, and my grandma and father fighting. I went out to take a walk. I walked over to Mary Lou's house, but she wasn't home. I walked back to my parents. Val and Albert were leaving. I said goodbye, and went in the house. My mother asked me to go pick my grandma up from the funeral parlor. She said she went to a wake with Ester, but Ester left early because she was having intestinal problems. My grandma stayed, and needed a ride home.

I didn't want to hear another thing about Ester's problems so I gladly left to pick grandma up. Of course she was still inside and I had to go in to get her. I found her in the corner, clacking her dentures at some guy that had to be at least 108 years old.

"Grandma you ready to go?"

"Oh Stephanie. This here is Morton. He just moved here from Florida. He's living with his daughter in the burg."

"Hi Morton. Grandma can we go now?"

"My granddaughter is a bounty hunter. She gets to chase down criminals with a hot black man."

"He's not black grandma, he's Cuban."

"Well whatever he is he's got one heck of a package on him."

"Oh the stories I can tell you." She sat down next to Morton getting ready to tell him all about my escapades.

"I'm sorry Morton, but my mother is expecting us at home and we're late. It was nice meeting you." I grabbed my grandma's arm, hauling her out of the chair.

"Call me." She yelled back to him on our way out the door.

When we got back home, I went straight to my room. Then the fighting started. My father was in the bathroom and my grandma had to go. I tried to tune them out, but it wasn't working. My cell phone rang, it was Ranger.

"Yo." I answered.

"You sound down." He stated. "Where are you?" He asked.

"I'm at my parent's."

"Is it always that loud?"

"Sometimes it's louder."

"Babe."

"So what's up Batman?"

"I have a client meeting I was hoping you'd attend with me."

"Sure."

"It's business attire, Ella went shopping for you, she put everything in my apartment. Can you be here by seven-thirty?"

"No problem, I can't sleep past six here." I sighed.

"You can stay here." He said.

"Thanks, I'll think about it." I lied.

"Night Babe." He said and was gone. Wow, that was equivalent to him saying goodbye.

The fighting finally stopped. I tossed and turned again, thinking of sleeping in the same bed with Ranger. I fell asleep around midnight, only to be waken up at five-thirty by my mother.

"Stephanie are you going to be awake to eat breakfast with us?" She asked. I could not believe she woke me up to ask me if I was going to be awake. Then I heard my father in the bathroom. I knew my grandma would be up any minute to start yelling at him.

"I'm up now mom."

She smiled at me. "That's good, but you do look tired. I'm going to go make pancakes."

I got up and went downstairs as soon as I smelled the coffee. I couldn't get into the bathroom. I ate pancakes before my father even came down. I grabbed my purse, and left to go to Rangeman. I knew I looked scary with my hair in rat's nest, but I figured I'd use Ranger's shower. I don't think I would make it there by seven-thirty if I have to wait for my dad and grandma to be finished with the bathroom.

I went straight up to seven. Ranger wasn't in the apartment, and I let out a big breath of air I was holding in. I ran to the bathroom, took care of business and jumped in the shower. I was standing at the sink in a towel, doing my make-up when Ranger walked in all sweaty from his workout. He looked a little surprised at first, but then he eyed me up and down.

"You weren't here when I got up this morning." He said.

"Well my mom woke me up at five-thirty. I couldn't get into the bathroom, so I came here."

Ranger walked up to me, pulled me by the top of my towel so I was plastered to him. He leaned down and kissed me. I heard his phone ringing in the bedroom. Ranger put his head down, and I could have sworn I heard him sigh. I made a quick exit out of the bathroom, and went into the dressing room. By the time Ranger was finished with his call I was dressed in the suit Ella bought me.

It was a nice black skirt and jacket with a cobalt blue blouse. She also bought me black dress pants, a white blouse, a green blouse, a purple blouse, a couple bra and panty sets, and black pumps.

"Nice." Ranger said, giving me a quick kiss before heading to take a shower. I waited to Ranger was finished in the bathroom before going back in to do my hair.

We left to go to the meeting. We actually had to meet with three of the customers that had break-ins. They were happy to retrieve their property back, and that we were able to catch the kids who were responsible. Ranger and I assured them that this would not happen again. All three clients were happy when we left.

"Thanks Babe. You made all the clients feel comfortable. They really liked you."

"I didn't do anything." I told him. He looked over at me. I couldn't read his look this time.

"Do you want to go to lunch?" He asked. My stomach growled. "I'll take that as a yes."

We had a nice lunch at Rossini's, then we went back to the office. It was two by the time we made it back. Ranger went up to change, but I was stopped by Bobby.

"How are you doing Steph?" He asked. I could see him looking me over.

"I'm fine Bobby. I'll be even better when my apartment is finished."

"Let me know if there's anything I can do." He said walking off.

Ranger came back down dressed in his usual uniform of black cargoes and painted on t-shirt. I went up to seven to change. Ella had left me some more uniforms. I quickly changed and went down to my desk.

Ranger met me when I exited the elevator. "Babe it's Friday, your tired, why don't you take the rest of the day off."

"I do need to stop at the bond's office." I said thinking how I haven't been there all week. Ranger was helping me with my skips on the weekends since I was helping him figure out who was doing the break-ins.

He pulled me to him and gave me a quick kiss. I leaned into him.

"Babe, your tired, get some rest." I looked up at him. He knew that wasn't going to happen. "Please." He said. Damn, I hate when he uses that word.

"I'll try Ranger."

I went to the bond's office. Connie was filing her nails.

"Do you have any files for me?" I asked plopping down on the couch.

"I have three, but there not very big ones. One is a first time offender that got caught whacking off in the multiplex, the second is a drunk and disorderly, and the third is Dougie. He got caught selling knock off Prada purses."

"Who arrested him?"

"Officer Picky." She told me shaking her head.

"Where's Lula?" I asked.

"Vinnie's out of town for the next week, so she left early. We've been pretty slow."

I stayed and talked to Connie till I had to go eat dinner at my parents. My sister's van was there again. I walked in as Val was leaving.

"The kids are staying overnight." She told me in passing.

At dinner my mom asked if I would take Grandma and Morton to the movies. I said sure. I'd do anything to get out of the house. There is no way I could handle three screaming children tonight. Grandma and I picked up Morton and went to the movies. I insisted they could not see the x-rated movie. We went to see Remember Me with Robert Pattinson.

I fell asleep before the movie started. Grandma was a couple rows in front of me. I woke up when I heard someone yell. "Hey lady put your clothes back on." I knew it was my grandma. I managed to get her and Morton out of the movies before they called the cops. I made sure they put all of their clothes back on and dropped Morton off. I went back to my parents dropped my grandma off, and told my mom I wouldn't be back tonight.

I drove to the bond's office. I had an extra key that Ranger had lent me, I turned off the alarm and laid down on the pleather couch. I fell asleep, but about thirty minutes later I felt a tingling feeling. I grabbed for my purse, confused in my sleepy state.

Ranger squatted down in front of me. "Come on Babe, we're going home." He picked me up and carried me to his truck. Wait did he say home?