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Stephanie took a deep breath and decided to tell Lester what happened. She needed to tell someone and try to make sense of it.
"Lester, if I tell you, will you please promise not to tell anyone else? I don't know if I could take someone else looking at me differently. I really love all you guys and you're my family; I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Beautiful, nothing will change the way I feel about you. I can probably say the same for the rest of the guys." Lester was beginning to worry about what had happened.
Stephanie stood up and started pacing; it was easier for her to talk when she wasn't sitting still. "Les, he called me into his office for a short meeting. When I got in there, he seemed different, like he was trying to distance himself from me. He told me that he was tired of bleeding money where I was concerned. That he was pulling every RangeMan employee off watching me. He said he tired of having to up his "entertainment" line of his budget. I just wasn't cutting it anymore and he was done with me. He didn't want to see me anymore, wouldn't help me anymore, and wouldn't use his men to keep me safe anymore. I don't know what happened. I thought he and I had something. Hell, I had all but moved in with him and then he throws me out of his life. I don't understand. I haven't blown up a car in months, I haven't had any firebombs to my apartment in months. It was like now that things have settled down, he doesn't need me. I'm not enough entertainment for him. I tried talking to him to find out what happened, but he just yelled at me to get out of his office and to clear out my cubicle of personal items and turn in my uniforms. I couldn't do it that day; I had to get out of there. I couldn't breathe. So, I went home and crashed." She stopped walking and looked down at Lester, "What did I do wrong, Les? What did I do that was so bad that Ranger would banish me from his life? I know he said he didn't do relationships, but we had one. I just don't understand why he would hurt me like that. It's like he took my heart out of my chest, tore it into a million pieces and then tried to put it back in. It hurts so much."
Lester stood up and took her in his arms. He gave her a big hug trying to comfort her while she cried. "Steph, I don't know what to say. I never thought he'd hurt you. He loves you, we all know that."
"No, Les. He doesn't. You don't treat someone you love like that. You protect them, you don't break them. I don't want to talk about him anymore. You said he left for Miami, so maybe I need to have Bobby box my stuff up and take it to my place, and then he can pick up all my uniforms and take them back along with my GPS crap."
"No, we are not going to let you quit." Lester held her tighter and rubbed circles on her back.
"Les, it isn't me quitting, he basically fired me. He told me to get out, turn in my shit, and not come back."
"He doesn't have final say when he is being an ass. I'll talk to Bobby and Tank. We are not letting you go. You made us all a family. We have been so much happier since you came into our lives. We smile, laugh, and actually enjoy life now. It is all because of you!" Lester pulled her down to the couch and held her tight. "What happened with you and Morelli? "
Stephanie took another deep breath and figured she might as well tell him everything. "Joe and I called it quits four months ago. I caught him with Terri at the house. I already knew it was over for good, but this morning just reinforces that thought. "
Stephanie stretched out on the couch and laid her head in Lester's lap. He ran his fingers through her hair in an attempt to keep her calm. "I'm sorry he was cheating on you. I can't think of a reason why someone would do that. I'm going to ask you a question and I want the truth. How many times has he hit you, I know today was not the first."
He felt her tense up, so he kept running his fingers through her hair. He reached down with his other hand and grabbed hers and squeezed it. He felt her relax a little and was hoping that she was ready to answer. He really didn't want to ask again, but also didn't want to let it go. He had to know.
"Three times including this morning," he heard her finally whisper. Stephanie turned over onto her back, her head still in Lester's lap. He could see the tears in her eyes about to spill over. "What is wrong with me, Les? One of the men I love, cheats on me, hits me, and wants to change me. The other man I love treated me like shit and broke my heart. I feel more hurt by Ranger and his words then I do by Joe and his actions. When did my life get so fucked up?"
Lester wiped her tears away with his thumbs. His heart ached and he wanted to know how to make her feel better about herself. To make her understand she did nothing wrong and that neither of those men deserved her at that moment. Anyone that would hurt her with words or actions was not worthy of her.
"Do you mind if I take a shower?" She really just wanted to let the hot water pound on her and take away the hurt she felt.
"Sure thing, Beautiful. You can use the one in the master bathroom if you want. There should be fresh towels hanging up. Just holler if you need something." He stood up and helped her over to the stairs.
While Stephanie was taking a shower, Lester called Bobby and gave the go ahead to bring some of Stephanie's clothes to his house. He knew she would need them, but didn't think she was up for going out just yet.
Stephanie figured it was time to get out of the shower; the water had turned cold and she was a prune all over. She dried off with one of the huge fluffy towels and put on Lester's robe. Walking into the bedroom, she noticed a suitcase that wasn't there when she went into the shower. She opened the suitcase and found it filled with her clothes. She picked out some clean clothes and got dressed.
She found Lester in the kitchen putting away some groceries. "How did my clothes get here?" she asked as she took groceries out of the bags.
"When I called earlier to tell Bobby that you were going to stay here for a few weeks, he and Ella went to your place to pack some clothes and Rex. Don't worry; all Ella knows is you are away for a few weeks and that it was so sudden that you didn't have time to pack. Bobby dropped the clothes, Rex and some groceries off while you were in the shower. Now I can fix dinner for the both of us." Lester grabbed the last few items from Steph and smiled at her.
"Thanks for the use of your shower. That felt amazing. I could really get use to that shower while I'm here." Stephanie smiled at Lester wagging his eyebrows.
"You stay here as long as you want and you can use my shower every day, just don't be surprised if you find me in there; you know, to conserve water."
She tried not to choke on her water at his statement. "On that note, I think I'm going to go relax outside, unless you need help in the kitchen. But, keep in mind, I'm no good in the kitchen."
"No, I don't need help right now. You go relax while I fix dinner. I think we might eat on the patio tonight, so I'll bring it when it's done. Go, relax, and enjoy." He kissed her on the forehead and sent her on her way.
He watched her walk outside and was thinking to himself "What the hell am I doing? She just got out of a relationship, just got beat-up by her ex and here I am wondering how I'm going to leave in a few weeks. Man, Santos, get it under control…she is just a really great friend…yes, but what if…no, must not think that way, she doesn't need it…"
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