Disclaimer: Don't own them. Not making any money.

A/N:

Hope you like it! Thanks for reading.
-Cyn

For The Love Of Another
Chapter 3: Faded Memories

I took the cowards way out and climbed in the back of Hal and Woody's car. They looked at me in surprise but didn't say anything. I could feel Ranger watching me as I closed the door. Miraculously he didn't yank me out and drag me to his car and make me explain everything on the long ride home like I expected him to. He was giving me time to collect myself. It kind of made me hate him a little bit that he understood me so well.

I took my ear piece out and pulled out the mic hidden in my shirt. Adding the panic button Ranger insisted I wear to the other unnecessary equipment, I dumped them into the center car console Woody had opened. He gave me a small smile before turning back and waiting for the go-ahead to move.

We were the first car out. Junior and Cal drove behind us. Ranger, Tank and Franc were in the third car. Manny and Binkie were next with Lester and Bobby bringing up the rear. Personally I thought the ten of us was a bit overkill. It was as if Ranger wasn't comfortable in the home of the biggest arms and drug dealer on the east coast. The situation wasn't funny but I found myself smiling about it anyways.

The ride back home was quiet and uneventful. It was almost nine o'clock when the guys finally pulled into the Rangeman garage. I was out of the car before Hal even shut it off. Tank and Ranger went to drop off Franc at the police station but everyone else parked in the garage then moved to stand behind me where I was admiring my new baby. She definitely stood out in this sea of black cars. My Spyder was perfectly polished just begging to be ridden.

"Nice one," Bobby said before kissing my head and heading upstairs.

Cal popped the hood open, without even asking I might add. The guys poked and prodded at only who knows what before simultaneously nodding their approval.

"Al did good," Lester said and moved to run his hand over the trunk but I slapped his hand hard and glared. "Don't touch her. God only knows who you've touched with those hands today."

Lester gave me a sly grin. "Anytime you want some first hand knowledge, you let me know Beautiful." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

I looked him over slowly. My eyes took in everything from the tip of his black CAT boots, to his tight fitting clothes, right up to the bright green of his eyes. Leaning in closer, I placed a hand delicately on his chest, right over his heart, and moved so that my lips were next to his ear. The tension in the other guys was so palpable I had to bite my tongue not to smile.

I let out a slow breath against his ear that made Lester tense under my hand. Then in a loud shout I said, "Only in your dreams Santos," and quickly backed away laughing.

Lester groaned as the guys started cheering and clapping him on the back. Phrases like "he'll never learn," and "better luck next time," floated around before the guys started making their way up to the control room.

Lester was the last to leave after he kissed my cheek and told me to be safe. Before we came back from Noah's one of the guys in the building must have grabbed my purse off my desk and put it in the front seat of my car. I smiled my thanks at the cameras and waved bye.

Just like I expected, the car drove like a dream. The ride home was smooth. It was easy not to think about what would happen later with the stereo cranked up on a rock station. Besides stuffing my face with my mom's pineapple upside-down cake, denial was my happy place. And I was in a very happy place right now.

The building was quiet when I walked up to my apartment. All the seniors were cozy and snug in their beds already. Rex stopped running on his wheel when I flipped the kitchen light on after dumping my purse on the counter. His whiskers twitched in annoyance but he quickly forgave me when I dropped a baby carrot into his cage.

I grabbed a beer out of the fridge before flopping down on my couch. I didn't bother turning on another light since the kitchen light spread through the living room.

Sitting in the semi-darkness, I sipped at my beer and watched the car lights move across my walls. I counted thirty seven of them before I got up to get another beer. Just as I reached the fridge my apartment door opened so I grabbed a second beer. I handed one to Ranger, who was longing in my wingback chair, before taking a long pull of my bottle and settling back onto the couch.

"Francesco was quiet," Ranger said, twisting the cap off his bottle. "Too quiet."

"He won't try anything," I said confidently. Ranger just raised his eyebrow so I said what I knew was the truth, "Noah would kill him." I watched as his eyes hardened at Noah's name. "He's a good guy Ranger," I said softly. When he laughed I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Ok so he's a drug dealing, gun totting mobster with anger issues. Deep down though Noah really is a good person. He grew up in that life. That's all he knows."

"I dealt drug when I was younger but you don't see me doing that now," Ranger commented.

With a groan I put my bottle on the coffee table before running my hands over my face. "Could we please not do the whole 'my dick is bigger than his' routine?"

Again his eyebrow went up and a small smirk twitches at his lip. "You already know it is."

"No I don't know actually," I said standing up, downing the last few sips and angrily tossing it in the trash.

I stood in the kitchen with my back to him, trying not to do anything stupid like punch him. Instead of asking if Noah and I were together once, he just assumes I've fucked him. God. Nothing makes my night more than having my best friend basically call me a whore. Ranger wasn't even here five minutes and I'm ready to kick his ass out.

He got up and walked over to me slowly, probably realizing how on edge I was. He stood in the doorway and stared at me. We stood like that for a few minutes before I finally managed to push back my sudden temper. So maybe whore was a bit of an overreaction on my part but he shouldn't just assume I've slept with someone.

I crossed my arms and stared at the floor. "It wasn't like that between Noah and me." My voice was quiet but the meaning in it was clear. "I would appreciate," I said with a hint of frustration, "if you wouldn't assume things that you know nothing about."

"So tell me," was all Ranger said.

And I did. Part of it anyways. The rest would have to wait.

"I was halfway through my second semester in college. It was after midnight on the weekend after midterms and I was walking back to my dorm after a party . . ."

I shivered against in the cool night air and stuffed my hands into my jeans. My right heel caught in a crack in the sidewalk and I barely managed to right myself before I did a face plant. That was the fourth time that's happened. I groaned and paused to rip my heels off and shove them into my purse. The concrete was freezing against my feet. I wish I had just taken a stupid cab.

Sure my dorm was only seven blocks away from the frat house I was just at, I was now just two blocks away, but it was getting colder and my bare feet weren't helping to keep me warm.

Before I could continue walking there was a noise to my right that sobered me right up. I froze, not even breathing, and stared at the opening of an alley a few feet away. There was a grunt and muffled voices. As quietly as I could I reached into my purse and pulled out the stun gun that my dad had given me when I moved on campus.

I turned it on and cautiously walked against the storefront that led to the alley. Still listening, I could hear more hushed grunts. Then a man spoke barely loud enough for me to hear. "Don't worry about it. He ain't going anywhere. Just go get the car and bring it around before someone see's us. We need to get him out of here."

Another man spoke but I couldn't make out what he said. Guy 1 laughed. "He's too messed up to try anything and even if he did I sure as fuck can handle him by myself, ain't that right Denison?" There was a slapping sound and another loud grunt. Guy 1 kept talking, his voice taking on a harder tone. "Go get the fucking car Thomas."

There was a moment of silence and I prayed that Thomas would get the car from the other end of the alley. I breathed a small sigh of relief when I heard the sound of feet scurrying away from me.

I waited a minute before peeking into the alley. There was a dumpster blocking most of my view but I could make out a large white man with an apparent fascination for steroid use – I mean come on! The man was a muscle machine – wearing a freakishly tight blue shirt.

I pulled my head back quickly when I saw him look at something hidden beside the dumpster. "We're gonna have so much fun Denison. I got big plans for you. Your poor mother won't be able to recognize you when I'm done with you."

My heart was hammering away in my chest. I should just turn around and pretend I didn't see or hear anything. That would be the smart thing to do. Then I could call the cops. That would be even smarter.

I chewed on my bottom lip when there was another long groan.

Shit.

Chancing another look, I saw Guy 1 with his back to me and his phone up to his ear. Taking a deep breath I turned on my stun gun and gently placed my purse on the ground.

This is stupid. So very, very stupid Stephanie! I mentally yelled at myself.

Still I couldn't stop myself from putting one foot in front of the other, slowly creeping up behind muscle man as he talked quietly to whoever was on the phone. I heard him say, "We'll be there in half an hour," before I touched the stun gun to him and pressed the button.

He jerked twice before his body collapsed to the ground. I winced when his head smacked pretty hard on the ground.

A sudden sound to my right had me spinning around fast. Without thinking I threw the stun gun towards the noise.

"Aw, fuck," a guy groaned. My eyes widened when I got a good look at him. The man was a couple years older than man. He had a natural tan that any girl would kill for. His black hair hung in soft curls just barely reaching the tops of his ears. His eyes were a deep chocolate, almost black looking color.

If he hadn't just gotten beaten up I was sure I would have jumped all over him. As it was the poor guy was sitting on the ground in a bloody white shirt and jeans looking like an angry little puppy. His bottom lip was busted and the beginnings of a black eye were already showing. God only knew what other injuries his shirt and jeans were covering.

"You got one hell of a throwing arm, Princess," he said rubbing his forehead softly. The guy moved slowly and picked up the stun gun beside him, paused to take a deep breath, then was suddenly standing on his feet. He started tilting to the left so I rushed forward and steadied him.

"Take it easy," I said softly, wrapping his left arm around my shoulder. He was a foot taller than me but we made it work. "Come on, we have to get you out of here before that other guy comes back. I don't think he'll be very happy to find muscle man unconscious."

The man laughed but it quickly turned into a grimace as we began walking out of the alley. I grabbed my purse, still supporting him, and then we got the hell out of there. Our pace was slower than I liked but it was as fast as he could go so I didn't want to push him.

I peeked up at him through my eyelashes. His face was clearly showing the pain each step was causing him. I was struggling between wanting to clean him up and just dumping his ass at some house before calling the police.

Guessing at my thoughts, he man spoke softly. "If you could just take me somewhere and get me a phone I could be out of your pretty hair in twenty minutes." He still sensed my hesitation so he added, "I'll even pay you for your time and help. I've got three hundred in my pocket right now with your name on it Princess."

Damn. . . three hundred would make a serious dent in my credit card bills. When I realized he was trying to pay me off I scowled at myself for almost falling for it. "I don't want your money."

I could feel him watching me. "Four hundred then."

Rolling my eyes I kept walking forward. "I don't want your money," I repeated a little louder.

"Five hundred? Seven fifty? A thousand?"

"I don't want your damn money," I yelled and threw his arm off my shoulder. I watched as he wobbled for a moment but I made myself stay put. He glared at me when he straightened himself and I sure as hell glared right back. "I don't know who you are but if you want my help then shut up and stop offering me money like you're paying for some hooker."

His glare quickly turned into a frown. He watched me with a gaze much steadier than his feet. After a moment he grinned wide. "I like you. You're a spitfire, Princess."

I rolled my eyes, wrapping his arm back around my shoulder and started walking the last block to my dorm. "Stop calling me Princess. It makes you sound like a pervert."

"What makes you think I'm not a pervert?"

Surprisingly that question didn't freak me out like it should have. It did make me roll my eyes again though. "I will drop your ass right here if you don't shut up."

He stayed quiet for a few precious seconds. "So where are we going?"

"My dorm. You can get cleaned up and call the police from there."

His response to that was pretty much what I thought it would be. "Now Princess, we don't have to go bothering the cops. The guys who did this won't bother me again so there's really no point in getting our overworked and underpaid men in uniform involved in this little scuffle."

Instead of commenting I just kept walking. I knew exactly what he meant when he said those guys wouldn't be bothering him anymore. Less than a minute later I keyed my way into my dorm building. The halls were quiet. Everyone was still out partying. The five story building didn't have an elevator so it was a good thing I was in a first floor room.

'In NY for weekend w/bf. See you Monday.' Laura, my roommate, had written on the small message board on our door.

Good, I thought. One less thing to have to be concerned about. Now I didn't have to worry about her asking question I didn't know the answers to. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to know the answers.

I settled the guy in my desk chair. The room was big enough to hold two beds, two desk, and two dressers and not much else. There was a small bathroom off to the left. Apparently the school doesn't trust freshman not to burn the building down so there was no kitchen.

I tossed my phone to my unexpected guest then grabbed a towel, a washcloth, and Laura's first aid kit before walking into the bathroom and started filling the tub with warm water since the sink didn't have a water stopper. I turned the water off after it filled a few inches and tossed the washcloth into the tub.

Just as I was about to walk back out my mystery man walked in and sat down on the closed toilet seat. "My brother will be here in about fifteen minutes. He said to thank you profusely and apologize for troubling you, honeybunch." He grinned at the face I made. "I'm testing out names since you seem to be against Princess."

I was going to leave him to take care of himself but when he yanked his shirt over his head I gasped and settled on my knees beside him. The whole right side of his ribs was purple and swollen. My fingers ghosted over his tender chest. I was hurting just looking at him.

He sucked in a ragged breath when I pressed a little too hard but tried to cover it by grinning widely. "If I knew getting beat up would get such a beautiful woman to touch me I'd have don't it sooner."

With a very ladylike snort I reached into the tub and pulled out the washcloth, ringing out the excess water. "Your bother better hurry up so I can get you out of here already." Tentatively I reached out and ran the wash cloth over his chest, trying to get the blood off of him but still trying to avoid the worst of his wounds.

"Aw you know you'll miss me, darling," he said and opened up the first aid kit, starting to work on the scratches on his arms.

"Oh yeah, because I miss all the thugs that I save from other thugs in dirty alleyways."

He stopped moving but I rinsed out the washcloth before continuing to work on his chest. "A thug huh?"

"Well it's just a guess but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be trying to buy me off with a thousand dollars and asking me not to call the cops if you were just some random mugging victim." I chanced a look at his face and was surprised to see that he was smirking.

"Christ. You know if you said all this shit to anyone else they probably wouldn't be as nice about it as I am."

"Well then I guess it's a good thing I'm saying it to you."

With his chest clean – just extremely swollen and bruised, maybe even a cracked rib or two – I rung out the washcloth again and stood up to working on his face.

He was quiet for a couple minutes as I worked. Then he asked, "Why are you helping me? I mean I'm extremely grateful but you're going above and beyond the duty of a concerned citizen."

"I don't know," I answered quietly. "I'm a good judge of character and so far, no matter how irritating and pompous you might be, you're not setting off any warning bells."

He continued to watch me work, considering what I said before speaking again. "I'm not a thug but I'm no saint either. The family business isn't what I would have picked out for myself but it's what I know and what I'm good at."

I hesitated but asked anyways. "Are you a drug dealer?"

"I do supply drugs, and other things, to people but I'm too high up on the food chain to be considered a dealer."

I placed a butterfly band aid on a cut above his right brow before draining the tub and rinsing my hands. "How high up exactly?"

He gave me a wide grin. "The highest, sweetheart."

I looked him over for a minute before leaving the bathroom. He followed me out and watched as I began rummaging around in my roommates neatly folded laundry for a t-shirt her boyfriend always keeps here just in case. Finding it, I tossed it to him and he, thankfully, pulled it on without comment. "What are you, twenty-two? Twenty-three? Aren't you kind of young to be the boss?" I grabbed a bottle of Aleve from my purse and a water from my mini fridge, handing both of them to him.

"Actually," he said taking a seat at my desk chair after dutifully swallowing two pills, "I'm twenty-five. And my father made sure I earned my spot. When he died a few years ago there wasn't much of a struggle for power. Most people just accepted me."

"Most?" I asked.

He gave me a humorless smile. "Most," he repeated. When I sat down on my bed but didn't say anything else he rolled his chair over and stared at me as if I was a puzzle he couldn't solve. "You know you're kind of worrying me with how calm you are right now."

I laughed and shook my head. "Oh trust me I'm sure as soon as you're gone I'll start freaking out."

He relaxed into the chair and nodded. "Good." We sat in a comfortable silence before he suddenly tilted his head to the side. "I have no idea what your name is."

The wonderment in his voice made me smile. "Then we're even cause I have no idea what your name is either."

"I'd stand and bow but that shit will hurt too much so I'll just settle for taking your hand." No sooner had he finished speaking his hands were holding tight to mine. He lowered his head but his eyes stayed with mine. "My name is Noah Samuel Denison Jr. and I am forever grateful to you Princess. I am now in your debt. Ask me for anything and it is yours." With that said he softly kissed both of my hands before leaning back with a huge grin. "How was that?"

"Corny," I said with a smile that could match his. "So unbelievably corny." I pulled my hands out of his when my phone rang.

He looked at the caller id before answering it. "Hello Eli." He listened for a minute then grinned. "Yes of course brother. My fearless Princess has taken very good care of me." Noah winked at me and I rolled my eyes. "Fine," he said and ended the call before slowly standing up. "Time to say goodbye Princess."

"Oh no," I said dramatically, holding my hand over my heart, "however will I go on now."

He scowled playfully. "Smartass."

I hopped off my bed and walked him the eight feet to my door. "Try to avoid alleys from now on, please."

"Why am I putting up with you and your insults?" I swatted his hand away when Noah flicked my nose.

"Cause you owe me now," I said opening my door for him.

"Very true." He smiled, but this time it wasn't his fake playboy smile he'd been showing me for the past half hour. It was 100 percent genuine. It made him go from hot to beautiful in 1.5 seconds flat. Damn him. "I'll catch you later. . ." he looked at me expectantly.

"Stephanie," I said holding out my hand for him to shake. "Stephanie Plum."

He grinned. "Princess Stephanie. I like it." And with a quick wink and a soft hand squeeze he was gone.

"I found him waiting for me outside of my first class on Monday. We got some coffee together and became close friends. He was like the annoying older brother that I never had."

Ranger sat across from me as I finished my story with a blank expression on his face. His voice was just as blank. "You became friends with a mobster when you were 18 after you saved his life while you were drunk."

"Something like that," I agreed with a frown.

Ranger grinned unexpectedly and shook his head. "Only you Babe."

A/N: So what do you think? Was their meeting what you expected? Or completely off the map? Reviews are very much appreciated!

Chapter Four: Dance of a Lifetime