"Hello Joe." I inched closer to Tank and he put a protective arm around my shoulders.

"Where's Manoso? No, wait, let me guess. I was right. He didn't want you, threw you away like a whore. I wanted to marry you, Cupcake."

I felt Tank tense and put a hand on his chest. "Relax." I turned to Joe and stood with my hands on my hips. "Look, Morelli. This isn't your baby. So, if you cannot be civil, we have no reason to speak to each other; besides isn't Terri waiting for you?"

I gestured to a table across the room where she was glaring at us. She grabbed her purse and came to stand next to Joe. "Well, well, well. What are you doing here, Stephanie?"

I rolled my eyes. "Well, there's this thing called food and I kind of need it to survive. So if you'll excuse us."

I went to push past her and she blocked my way. "I'd be careful if I were you. You wouldn't want to piss off the wrong people."

I heard Tank snort behind me. "Like you?" He leaned down so that he was almost an inch from her face. "I think you and Joe better leave, before you make a threat you can't cash."

Tank put a hand on her shoulder and Joe's then gave them a small push towards the door. Everyone in the restaurant was staring at the four of us. Joe put his arm around Terri and left. Tank and I made our way to an open booth at the back of the room. I slid in and he sat across from me. I could still feel everyone staring at me and I was sure my mother's phone was ringing off the hook.

A new waitress, one I'd never seen before, came over to our booth. "Are you two ready to order?"

Tank nodded. "Bring us two baked manicotti marinaras, a Coke, and a beer."

I smiled at him. "Thanks for back there."

He grinned. "Anytime, but I have another reason for dinner, too." He produced a manila folder and slid it across the table to me.

I glanced up at him and flipped it open. Staring back at me from the page was a candid shot of a man. He was wearing a white t-shirt with a blue and white plaid button up, blue jeans and a ragged baseball cap. He was leaning against the side of a jacked up black truck, grinning at the man next to him. "Who is this? FTA?"

Tank shook his head. "I guess you could say he's your body guard. Permanently."

I slid the folder to the side as the waitress brought our drinks. "Your food will be up soon." I smiled and thanked her.

"What do you mean, "My bodyguard"?" I asked, making air quotes around 'bodyguard'.

"Ranger hired him before he left. He talks, a lot, so Ranger picked him for you. He just wants you to be safe and this way you will always have a ride." Tank was watching me closely, studying my reaction.

"Ranger hired a personal bodyguard for me?" Tank nodded. "He thinks I need a bodyguard? That I'm not smart enough to take care of myself?"

Tank shook his head quickly. "No, he wanted you to have someone available to help you at anytime. Someone with a car and skills with a gun. Besides you will need a bodyguard now, especially if you are going to do field for work a few more months."

I chewed my lip. "I've been trying to decide that. I know I can't chase skips and take falls and hits like I do now. I might miscarry and I really don't want that." I paused and Tank nodded. "But I don't really want to be cooped up in an office all day."

The waitress reappeared with our food; she sat the plate in front of me and then one in front of Tank. "You need anything just yell."

Tank speared a piece of manicotti and popped it in his mouth. "Steph, I know you don't want a bodyguard, but you need one. Word will get out that that is Ranger's baby and something bad might happen. You have your bodyguard to protect you."

I didn't really want a bodyguard, but I didn't want to take the chance of anything bad happening either. I'd always have a new shiny car to ride in AND somebody who could help me with captures. Lula was great, sometimes, but she wasn't Ranger or a Merry Man. I shoved a piece of manicotti in my mouth and nodded. "Okay. I'll take him."

*~*

I threw my bag in my closet and resisted the urge to kick the door. Within an hour of landing in Miami, I received a phone call from Uncle Sam. I sat down on the edge of the bed and scrubbed my hands over my face. I could hear Bridget talking in the next room and sighed again. This was going to be hell, pure hell. Marcus had messed up in hiring and there were no apartments left. The penthouse had an extra bedroom and I reluctantly gave in. I toed off my boots and stretched back on the bed. I turned my head and glanced at the clock on the bedside table; 10:45PM. I had a flight to DC at 7:30AM for my orders.

I gave a small sigh. What a day. What a shit of a day. My thoughts drifted a couple hundred miles away to a curly haired brunette with blue eyes. She was pregnant with another mans baby, but damn it I couldn't be mad at her. I couldn't get her off my mind, but I had to. I had to focus on the mission at hand and ignore the fact that Morelli had, at this moment, cornered my Babe into a life she never wanted. I stood and made sure my bedroom door was locked, and then pulled back the bed covers. I picked up my phone and hit speed dial 1. He answered on the second ring. "Tank, I'll be offline until further notice. In the wind."

*~*

Bridget says she's sorry! And I'm sorry for the long wait! Real life hasn't been kind to writing at the moment. Really short but the next chapter is almost ready, sooo you know the drill. Reviews=Love=Updates!!! && I'll tell you a secret…this is a Babe HEA!