Disclaimer: Not mine, I make no money.

A/N: I am still looking for a Beta for this particular story, so any mistakes you find are mine. I have through Chapter 6 done on this story, and I won't be seeing the spinal surgeon until after the first of the year, so hopefully I will get the story finished before then.

I would also like to thank everyone who reviewed! You guys blow me away with your eagerness to see what happens next.

Steph POV

I woke up Thursday early, it was my regular day for going into Rangeman to do searches. I crawled out of bed and stumbled through my morning routine. The only part I hated about working at Rangeman was getting up early. The day shift was supposed to start at 7, but Ranger let me come in at 8. I brewed a pot of coffee and poured half of it into a large travel mug. I added milk and sugar before tightening the lid. I grabbed my purse and headed to work.

When I walked out of the elevator onto the fifth floor and it was strange, there was a palpable buzz of excitement going through the staff. I headed towards my desk and I could hear Cal and Hal talking.

"Man, did you hear that this new guy Ranger is bringing up from Miami has actually taken TANK down sparring?"

"There is no way, Hal. I called down to the Miami office and no one down there had ever heard of this guy. So I bet it's just a regular new hire he hired when he was down there."

"I'm serious Cal, I guess Ranger's known this guy since they were kids or something."

I didn't hear any more of the conversation because I arrived at my cubicle and sat down. I wondered why Ranger needed to go all the way to Miami to hire someone for the Trenton office. I looked at my in box and realized how full it was. I put thoughts of the new guy out of my mind as I settled in to do searches.

"Officer on Deck!" Vince shouted about 12:30.

I hadn't realized it had gotten so late. I must have just gotten absorbed in work. The hush that followed Vince's announcement was pretty funny. It was always like that. There was always a hum of conversation going on, except when Ranger was on the floor.

I stood up from my chair and stretched. I caught a glimpse of Ranger standing near his office next to someone, but I couldn't see who because Tank was in my way. I stood up to go over and introduce myself, as soon as I got out of my cubicle I saw Tank pick someone up in a huge bear hug and laugh. I shook my head at the booming laughter. Tank was even more quiet and reserved than Ranger most of the time, so I was really surprised at the greeting he was handing out. Just then he moved and I caught sight of the newcomer. Ranger had brought a woman back with him! I watched her laugh and Joke with my guys while I walked towards them. The closer I got, the more I wanted to turn and run. Ranger hadn't just brought back a woman he brought back a beautiful woman. She was dark skinned, a little lighter than Ranger but not much. Her figure was one that any woman would love to have. The defined muscles of her arms could be seen because she was wearing a tank top and the way her jeans fit her on her hips accentuated that she also had a flat stomach. Her face was probably the most gorgeous thing about her. She had high defined cheekbones, and dark eyes, that sparkled when she laughed.

I hated her. I hadn't even met her, and I hated her. I hated how comfortable she was with Ranger and the other guys. I hated that she was so pretty. I hated that Ranger had gone to Miami and specifically brought her back with him. I started to turn back to my desk before they saw me but I was too late.

"Babe? Come meet Ray. She's agreed to work here at Rangeman."

I took a deep breath and made sure there was a smile on my face as I walked over to Ranger. Once I got closer, I noticed that the woman standing next to him was older than I thought. She had slight wrinkles around her eyes and in the corners of her mouth. I thought that I might have also caught a few tiny streaks of silver in her jet black hair. I stood next to Tank across from Ranger as he introduced us.

"Babe, this is Ray."

"Ray this is Stephanie."

Ray stuck out her hand, and I shook it. She smiled and pulled me close for a hug. I was really not the hugging type, but she did it anyway.

"Nice to finally meet you Stephanie. You coming to lunch with us? I don't know about you but I'm starving. And if I know Ricky here, this place only has nutritious stuff."

I tried to raise an eyebrow as she called Ranger Ricky. I couldn't imagine anyone having the guts to do that. Just then Lester and Bobby came around the corner. Lester came over and grabbed Ray in a huge hug.

"What are you doing here?" he asked while he was still holding her in the hug.

"Uh.. Les, I can't breathe."

He let her go and she took a deep breath. "I work here now."

"Awesome! The old gang back together again."

Ray nodded, but there was a small shadow of sadness that passed over all of them Ranger included. Tank was the one to break the silence. "Ray, why don't you and Ranger take half an hour to get showered and cleaned up the we'll go grab some lunch."

"Sounds good. Just show me my rack and lets get this show on the road."

Ranger wrapped an arm around my waist and hugged me close as he looked at Ray. " That's part of the reason I wanted to fly back. I've got an empty apartment on 4, but It's not furnished yet."

Ray just shrugged. "No problem. I've slept in worse places."

Lester jumped in with a glint in his eye. "Why don't you bunk down at Bobby's place for a few days till your stuff gets here?"

Bobby finally jumped in. "Yeah, crash at my apartment. I can bunk with Lester for a few days."

Lester gave Bobby a strange look but before he could say anything Ray nodded and bent over to pick up her sea bag and tossed it at Bobby who caught it like it was nothing. "Sounds like a plan. Show me the way."

Bobby led Ray towards the stairs and Lester waited until they were out of earshot before he said. "Damn! I was hoping he'd stay in his place so they could get their shit together."

Tank just nodded his agreement and Ranger shrugged. "They'll figure it out on their own Les, or she'll kill him, Either way. It will be settled."

Tank, Lester and Ranger all laughed at that while I just looked at them not quite sure of what was happening. The group broke up after that, Ranger had to go shower, and the rest of us had a few things to finish up before we took off for lunch.

Everyone met down in the garage and after a few moments of discussion it was decided that we would go down to the diner where Ranger and I met. Ranger, Tank, Bobby and I got into a Rangeman SUV. Lester and Ray were going to follow behind in her car.

The air of enjoyment continued in the SUV as we headed towards the diner. "So how did you guys meet Ray?"

I wanted to know. It must have been something special that kept them so close for so many years. We pulled into the parking lot of the diner before anyone had a chance to answer my question. We sat in the SUV until Lester and Ray parked next to us. The six of us all walked in together and found a large table that would hold us.

Everyone took a seat and graciously left me the space right next to Ranger. I looked across the table at Ray and asked quietly. "Why do you call Ranger Ricky?"

Ray laughed and gave me a smile before answering. "Because no matter how bad ass he thinks he is, to me he will always be the scrawny little kid we adopted into our ever growing family. He was 14 when I first met him and the smallest little bugger I think I'd ever seen."

Ray stopped talking while the waitress took our drink orders. Ray ordered coffee, I got a coke and the guys all asked for water. When the waitress walked away Ray continued talking.

"Let me tell you, he and my brother were thick as thieves back in Junior High… I'm sorry Middle school is what they call it now.. Anyway the eighth grade. I swear once Ricky there met my brother, it was like having TWO annoying little brothers, and that number kept growing all the time."

It seemed that was all she was going to say on the subject. None of the guys looked like they were going to jump in either. I felt like I had to say something to get conversation going again. I wanted to ask about her brother, but something in Rays eyes when she talked about him told me it might not be the best topic.

Luckily I was saved from saying anything when the waitress brought our drinks and took our order. It took a few tries for her to get it all. She kept getting distracted by the good looking men at our table. Ray finally took pity on her and ordered for all of us.

"So Ray, what did you do for work in Miami?" I asked, wanting to at least try to get to know her better.

"Huh? Oh I worked for the Miami Dade police department on one of their tactical teams."

"Like SWAT?"

" Sort of, My team did mostly high risk warrants rather than things like hostage situations. I'd rather bust down doors than wait for a negotiatior to try to work it out. Before I worked for Miami I was in the Marine Corps. I took a bad shot to the leg, and took a medical discharge. I should have gone back and done by 20, but hindsight and all that."

Lester blew the paper from his straw at Ray and grinned. "Why you would ever go become one of Uncle Sam's Misgided Children I will never know."

Ray just smiled. "You're just jelous Lester. I enlisted in the Marines while you had to settle for Ain't Ready For the Marines Yet."

I must have looked a little confused because Ranger leaned over and whispered. "ARMY babe. A-R-M-Y." I nodded and giggled a little as Ray and Lester continued their good natured ribbing of each other.

"Hey Steph," Lester said. "do you know what Marine stands for?"

I shook my head no so Lester continued. " Muscles Are Required; Intelligence Non-Essential."

Ray just laughed and shrugged her shoulders. "I can still kick your ass Santos."

"Anytime, any place girlie."

"Tomorrow morning then." Ray told him with a smile. We were spared any more of their bickering because the waitress brought our food. The guys had different kinds of soup and salad. It seemed like Ray and I were the only ones who had any real taste for food. We both ended up with double bacon cheeseburgers.

We were about halfway through lunch when Bobby spoke up. "So Ray, you never did tell us why you decided to come work at Rangeman."

Ray just looked up from her plate and shrugged. "That's above my pay grade. Talk to the boss."

Suddenly we all looked over at Ranger who just calmly took a sip of his water before speaking. "There has been a complaint lodged against us with the EEOC. I aksed Ray to come up and work here in response to that. I don't know what is going to happen to this investigation but I'm sure it is nothing to worry about."

No one quite knew what to say to that, so we continued to eat in silence.

"So, what's the plan for the redecorating job scheduled for tonight?" Tank finally asked.

Ranger looked at Ray. "I thought if you were ready you might want to run the op. It is pretty similar to what you used to do for the PD."

Ray shrugged. "I'll take a look when we get back to the office." She turned her head to look at me. "Will you be going with us?"

Before I could explain, Tank, Bobby and Lester all burst into laughter. Bobby took over telling Ray about my first and only redecorating job with Rangeman. Ray didn't laugh, but she smiled before looking at me. I knew I was red in the face with embarassment at having to her my exploits recited.

"Don't worry Steph, it was an easy mistake to make and someone" she said while glaring at Ranger. "should have explained better. If you want to go, I'll be glad to figure that into the plans for tonight."

I promised to think about it. The waitress brought the check and laid it on the table in front of Ranger. He pulled out several bills and handed them as well as the check back to her. "Keep the change."

The waitress smiled and thanked him, nearly running over a bus boy as she walked away.