Disclaimer…Only Ryan is mine and technically he's Eddie Cahill's…I'm just playing!

A/N: This chapter is well…read it for yourself, but still no Ranger! Sorry guys!

Warning: Spoilers for All Books

Talking and Soul Searching

We enter my apartment and I take my stuffed Rex to my bedroom and place it on the bed. Ryan takes all the carnival foods to the kitchen. He is grabbing us some water when I enter the kitchen. I grab a container of funnel cake and start shoveling it in my mouth.

"Take it easy, Steph. I know whatever you have to say is tough for you. Take your time." He kisses my forehead and takes a piece of funnel cake. He nudges my arm with his.

"Does this have anything to do with that Ranger guy?" The look on his face is just open, trusting and full of concern before I can stop my eyes fill up with tears. "Oh Angel, I'm sorry." He gathers me his arms and carries me to the living room. He sits down on the couch cradling me like a child. He rubs my back as I cry and my heart breaks.

As I finally dry my tears, he hands me a Kleenex. I don't even ask where he got it. I blow my nose and explain myself.

"When I first became a bounty hunter, I needed help on what to do. So Connie, a friend of mine from the Bond's office, called Ranger. She said he owed her a favor. From the day we met he has been my mentor, my protector, my friend, and my lover for one night. He has helped me so much through the last couple of years. He has protected me when needed, given me a job when needed, and given me cars or a place to stay when needed." I pause for a moment to get myself under control.

"That night when Scrog held us hostage in my apartment, I just knew that either Ranger or my ex was going to walk thru that door. I knew from that moment that I loved Joe, my ex, but only as a friend and when Ranger walked in. I knew I had already fallen completely in love with him. I knew that I had been in love with him for a long time."

"Wow, have you told him?" I shook my head.

"You slept together. If you don't mind me asking what was that all about."

"That was more of getting out our sexual frustrations out because there is a lot of chemistry between us." I really didn't want to tell Ryan about the deal. "I haven't told him. He told me he loves me in his own way. He also told me that his life doesn't lead itself to relationships."

"Oh Stephanie, that's bullshit. I'm sorry but it is. My life doesn't lead itself to relationships either."

"Huh?"

"Steph, my job takes me all over the United States and hell I have even had to go to China, Japan, and Italy. Sometimes I'm gone for a couple of days, a couple of weeks, months...hell one time I was gone for a year and I was in Japan at that time. I don't want to drag my girlfriend thru that, but if I find a girl that I care enough about I'm going to tell her and let her decide if my job is too much for her. Don't get me wrong, I don't know Ranger so I am by no means judging him, but shouldn't you tell him how you feel?"

"I don't want to, Ry."

"Why?"

"Because I'm scared."

"Of what, Angel?"

"What if I tell him and then because it either scares him or something, we lose our friendship. I can't lose Ranger, Ryan. I just can't." I'm practically in tears again.

"Angel, baby, calm down please I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you." I started crying again and he rubbed my back. I got myself under control.

"I'll understand if you don't want anything else to do with me."

"Angel, I like you a lot. You make me laugh, just being around you, makes me happy. You have something special about you."

"So where do you want to go from here, just friends?"

"Of course, we can be friends. I feel comfortable hanging around you. Maybe just maybe something can develop between us."

"But what if it doesn't? I don't want to hurt you."

"Steph, I'm walking in with eyes wide open. Let me take you out, let me pamper you. We can go to dinner, to the movies, to the park, and to the carnival. Or we can just hang out here or my apartment."

"Why?"

"Why what, Angel?"

"Why would you want to take that risk? What if all we ever are is friends?"

"Then that's enough for me. Come on, Steph, take a chance."

"What about…?" I couldn't get it out and I swear my face heated up.

"You're blushing again, Angel. I love it when you do that. Do you mean kissing or sex?"

"Well, yea, you're well hot and you need that right. I don't do casual sex."

"I would never ask you too, Angel. I can promise that I won't pressure you into anything. Whatever happens..just happens and I promise you if anything happens it will be your move and if at any time you tell me to stop, I won't hesitate to stop. Now kissing…I won't be able to keep myself from kissing you. As long as you let me, I'll kiss you and enjoy it."

"I like kissing you too. I just don't want to hurt you."

"Let me worry about myself. Okay?"

I snuggle deeper into chest and nod my head. He smells so good. Like pure male and something woodsy.

"Ryan?" I felt his chest rumble when he said mmmmm. He felt so good.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course. I'm an open book for you."

I really wanted to know because he never said anything. "What do you think of my job?" It was the one thing that Joe and me disagreed on and where Ranger let me fly.

"The question is Angel, do you like your job?" I'm curious about the way he answered. Maybe he's trying to avoid the question.

"I do most days. Some days when I have a stalker or when someone blows up my car, I hate it. But then I have my good days where I get the bad guy off the street and I know it's worth it. So yea I do."

"Then I like your job just fine. I don't like that you get hurt. I will probably hate it when you get a stalker or when someone blows up your car, but I'll support you in the best way I know how."

"How's that?" I needed to know.

"How would you like me to help?" I think for a minute.

"By being there for me. If I need a shoulder to cry on or just some one to talk to. Sometimes I just need a buddy to help me pig out on cake."

"Then Angel baby, I am your man for the job." I laugh and snuggled deeper into his arms.

A/N: The next chapter will show how Ryan & Steph's relationship evolves and how they become closer as friends...and I think Ranger is insisting on making an appearance.