Coffee Time At The Diner.

Previously:

Little did Ranger know what was headed his way courtesy of his soon to be former employee.

xooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

"Steph wait!" Ranger's voice carried. Four long strides later, he was in front of the person that mattered most to him. "Could we at least have coffee to discuss our personal issues, maybe away from work for a change?"

Running his fingers thru his hair, Ranger was showing his emotional side to everyone within earshot and for once he didn't give a damn.

To hell with what my men are thinking. Still holding on to the deposit slip he was faxed earlier, Ranger said "I never expected you to pay me back for what happened with the Slayers. To me there is no price for anything I do for you, surely you know that by now.

I know I've said some things to you that need explaining, so please Babe, could we at least go out to talk about them over coffee?" Ranger asked, not giving a damn about the pleading tone in his voice.

Stephanie shrugged her shoulders while hiking up her bag and replied, "Sure, tonight's kinda jammed packed but I could meet you somewhere after our class is done tonight, how about the diner? But if it's only about business here at Rangeman, it would be best in the office tomorrow morning."

Ranger nodded, "It's more than just work-related."

"I'll be there at eight, hopefully that works for you," Steph said just as the elevator door shut on her and Hector.

A flicker of hope was what Ranger was feeling now.

"You really need to be honest with her, Carlos," Ella said softly coming up behind her nephew. "It may be true that you have bled money for her, but hasn't she done enough for you and this company as well? Helping your daughter who she never met, even risking her life on your redecorating job the first time the guys met her...not to mention helping you solve the puzzle of who was trying to ruin your company? Don't tell me she's just 'an employee' for that would be lie, would it not?"

"Only a contract employee, really Carlos how could you treat her like that? That woman willingly paid you back every cent you spent on keeping her safe and yet it was her friend Sally that rescued her, not you or your men," Ella continued on rebuking every argument Ranger was having in his head.

"Do you know where her new job is, Tia?" Ranger asked.

"All I can tell you is that it's not in Trenton and someone offered her the chance to spread her wings in a whole new direction," Ella said.

Leaving Ranger standing all alone pondering the words "not in Trenton...spreading her wings..."

Ranger sat back in his chair, feet up on his desk while he flipped through the files he had on those that were coming up for a performance review.

The knock on his door brought Ranger out of his thoughts.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Close the door, I have a offer for you," Ranger said.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Freshly showered, Steph strolled into the diner where she had met her Professor Higgins all that time ago. Catching his eye from the back booth, she let out a smile and a woosh of her breath. Maybe this will work out after all. Squaring her shoulders, Steph walked to the back booth like she hadn't a care in the world.

"I see you're early as usual, Ranger," she commented sliding into the seat across from him.

"I always try to be early, anything can happen in the blink of an eye you know," was his reply.

Ordering just coffee, each silently watched the other. Maybe for an opening to start their long over due talk perhaps?

"Why are you leaving Rangeman Steph? And why did you feel the need to pay me back that money I would gladly spend a hundred times over to keep you safe?" the questions blurted from Ranger's mouth before he could really ask her what he wanted to know...

"Why are you leaving me?"

"Let's go over the terms here why don't we and I can answer your questions for you, how's that?" Steph asked, pulling her contract out she signed months ago.

"It says that this was a short time position not to exceed the ending of this month, right here on this line. My job entails client relations and overhauling your office payroll along with formatting your paperwork to save you and Tank time, isn't that correct? I've done all that, plus I am going to show my replacement all my little files I've gotten started on your clients, the small things that make them always recommend your company."

Steph inhaled and slowly let her breath out through her nose, calming herself down. "The reason I paid you back for your men and your time is simple. I owed you. I've owed you ever since you got shot that time helping me with my early skips, remember? Now I finally have the money to do so, we're even. Not really even, but I'm trying the best I can to pay you for all you've done for me over the years."

"Would you ever come back to work for me again, back at Rangeman? No one can charm the clients like you Steph, Rangeman needs you."

"Just Rangeman, just for the job is that what you're saying that's all I am to you?"

"Steph, you're so much more to me than that, we used to be best friends not to mention we had the interlude when your couch was out in the hallway."

"Ranger, I've always been honest with myself about you and I and our lack of relationship. You're the one that was keeping me around for your 'entertainment' don't you remember that I'm just a line item in your entertainment budget?"

"Look Ranger I realize my ways of capturing someone were fun for you and your men, but did you ever stop to realize just how much those words hurt me? I know you're such a closed off person but how would you like to hear that you yourself were my own personal entertainment? You really need to brush up on your people skills."

Taking a sip of his coffee, Ranger casually mentioned another question he had that was bothering him, "Ella said you won't be working in Trenton, does that mean you're leaving town as well? Please Steph for all we've meant to one another, will you please give me another chance?"

xoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxox

A/N. All people are property of Janet.

Thanks for you in a few days...and many many thanks to my awesome Beta...