I do not own any of these Characters. Janet Evanovich unfortunately does. I'm hoping maybe since Christmas is coming maybe she might wrap Ranger up for me. I wouldn't mind removing the bow! Anyway thanks for great reviews hope I can keep making it better.
Chapter Four "Pinos and Haywood"
By the time Stephanie's parents arrived back at the hospital and she went in one last time to visit the girls before she left for the night it was after six o'clock.
"Ranger, could we swing by my apartment so I could pick up some clothes for in the morning, and feed Rex."
"Sure Babe, no problem. We can head over there on the way to Pinos." Ranger tenderly kissed her on the lips before helping her in the car.
Once they were at Stephs house she went to get a duffle bag ready and Ranger stayed out in the living room to call Tank and check on things at Haywood.
"Report" Ranger replied when Tank answered the phone.
"No problems Boss. Lester and Ram are out on Stark Street looking for Clarence Simpson. He was Stephs FTA, but time runs out tonight at midnight. So they wanted to help her out and bring him in."
"Alright, I'm sure she'll appreciate that. Call if you need anything" before disconnecting.
"Everything okay Ranger?" Steph asked as she walked back into the living room.
"Yeah Babe, Tank said Lester and Ram are looking for Simpson for you."
"Okay. Why are they doing that he was a pretty low bond."
"Time runs out at midnight and the guys wanted to do something to help you out."
"Tell the guys that I said thanks." Steph smiled and went to feed Rex.
When Steph walked back into the living room Ranger was standing by the door holding her duffle bag. "You ready to go, Babe?"
"Yeah, I think so." As she turned to lock the door Ranger went to grab the elevator for them.
Ten minutes later they were walking into Pinos. "Ranger would you go grab a booth, I need to run to the ladies room."
"Sure Babe, I'll be in the back."
On her way back to the table Stephanie run into the one person she was hoping she wouldn't have to deal with right now. Joe Morelli and he was looking none too happy to see her either.
"Cupcake, why haven't you returned any of my calls? I called you yesterday and told you I was back in town." Joe was currently her off again boyfriend, and she had decided to make it permanent. She just hadn't gotten around to telling him that yet.
"Sorry, but I have been busy and have had a really bad couple of days and if you have forgotten we broke up, so I didn't feel it was necessary to drop everything just so I could call you."
"What the hell cupcake, Bob misses you. Lose the attitude and come have pizza at my place. We can hang out and watch the game."
"No thanks Joe. I'm having pizza here."
"Well maybe I can join you then."
"Look Joe, I am not in the mood. Just go home and share your pizza with Bob."
"Cupcake, why are you being so stubborn, I know you missed me."
"Stubborn? Look Joe if you must know my sister was killed tonight in a car wreck along with her husband and unborn child; her two daughters are in the hospital. I am just having dinner and then going to get some sleep and then head back to the hospital. To answer your other question I am not alone. Ranger brought me here, because I am without wheels. And before you asked he is taking me home not you." Steph said as she walked past him and headed to Ranger.
"Steph stop. I'm really sorry about your sister. I had no idea. When is the funeral?"
"Friday morning at 10am is visitation for both her and Albert. Then they will have a grave side service at 3."
"Do you need a lift?" he asked still trying to get a chance to be with her alone.
"No thanks, I already have a ride." She didn't, but was sure Ranger would take her. If she got to go herself. There was no way was she leaving her nieces alone.
"Would you mind if I volunteered to be a pawl barer?"
"I don't care, but my parents are the ones handling the arrangements so you will need to speak to them." By then she had tears welling up in her eyes again and she was ready to end this conversation.
Ranger must be using his ESP again. "You Okay, Babe?" he asked as he walked up behind her and placed his hand on her neck. "I already ordered for us, it should be there anytime."
"Yeah, I'm fine. I need to go sit down and get off my feet. I am starting to feel light headed. Joe I'll see you on Friday." And with that she turned and walked away.
"Yeah cupcake, see ya." But she was already walking away.
"Babe, are you alright? We can take our order to go if you want." Ranger wasn't sure what was said between her and Joe but he didn't like to see her upset.
"If you don't mind, I would like that. I am starting to get a head ache. Lack of sleep is catching up with me."
"Sure Babe, I don't mind. Take my keys and go on out to the Turbo. I'll meet you there in a minute."
Twenty minutes later they were sitting on the couch in Rangers living room, Stephanie had a plate of pizza on her lap and a bottle of beer in the other. "Ranger do you have any Tylenol?"
"Sure Babe, coming up. Do you want a bottle of water to go with it?"
"Yeah, thanks." She smiled at him then went back to scarfing down her pizza.
"Do you want to watch a movie Babe?" Ranger asked after they were finished eating.
"No thanks, I like the piece and quite here. You can't get that in my apartment building. Someone is always slamming a door, or running on the stairs, or opening and closing the elevator. I swear sometimes I want to hang a sign out front that says "Welcome to Grand Central Station." Steph was babbling and Ranger knew it was her way of denial.
"Stand up for a minute, Babe." When she did he set down on the couch with his back to the armrest and then draped one leg across the back and pulled her down to set between his legs. Then he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her hands.
"This is nice." Steph sighed a little while later."I wish life was always this simple and carefree."
"I know Babe, I wish that too sometimes. It's nice to just sit here and hold you in my arms."
When he awoke from a deep sleep a couple of hours later, the first thing he noticed was that he was still on the couch, but Stephanie was missing. He was getting ready to call the control room to find out where she was, when he heard a noise from the kitchen. What he found when he walked in their broke his heart? Stephanie was setting on the floor with her back to the bar, head in her hands, resting on her knees, and crying.
"Babe," Ranger quietly said so he wouldn't scare her. When she didn't reply he walked over an crouched down in front of her. He took his finger and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him.
"Steph, look at me. Tell me what you need." Ranger spoke almost in a whisper.
"She's gone, my sister is gone. I'll never get to see her again, or yell at her again, go shopping with her, nothing, she's just gone. I never even got to say goodbye." A fresh set of tears made their way down her face.
"The last time I talked to her was a week ago, she had gotten into a fight with Albert and wanted to come stay with me. I told her I had a distraction job to do and wasn't going to be home. She said I always put my work before family and hung up. I tried to call her back several times to apologize but she wouldn't take my calls. Now she'll never know how much I loved her or that I was sorry." By this time she was almost hyperventilating.
"Steph, Breath. Take slow breaths Babe. Easy, just breathe." Ranger kept repeating until she was somewhat calmed down. "First off Steph your sister knew that you loved her, and second I have never known you to put anything before your family. You have no reason to feel bad, what happened was a terrible accident, an accident that was in no way your fault. You have nothing to be sorry for babe, you needed to work to bring in a paycheck, and she understood that."
"What do I do now? I lost my only sister, I miss her. I want to be able to call her, hug her, and even yell at her. Now I can't." the tears started falling from her eyes again.
"Shhhh. Its ok, Babe It'll be ok. It just takes time. Just don't blame yourself, okay. Take it one day at a time." He placed a kiss in her curls and pulled her into his lap. He held her and whispered to her in Spanish, trying to calm her down. When she was quiet he looked down and noticed that she had fallen asleep. Picking her up he carried her to his room, placed her under the covers, pulled her into his arms and held her.