A/N not mine, I own nothing but the plot.

Well, you all blew me away with the amount of reviews! You went above and beyond and more than doubled the goal. I promise we'll get past the sad stuff soon. Thank you for all the reviews, I will be replying to them today.

What The Heart Wants

CalPOV

They sat there stunned at Ranger's announcement. Cal walked in with the biggest, most pissed off attitude they had ever witnessed from the hulking man. He handed Tank his letter of resignation. He was going to follow Stephanie wherever she ended up. Tank immediately knew what he was planning.

"Walk with me to my office," he told him.

He followed Tank down the long corridor. If Tank wouldn't accept his resignation he was willing to quit on the spot. His Angel needed someone to have her back. He hasn't failed a loved one yet, and he wasn't going to let her be the first. His brother had called him early this morning to say that he had received a resume from one Stephanie Plum. Anthony planned on offering her the job she was applying for, but wanted to know why she was moving from New Jersey to Maryland.

He knew that he was lucky that she had applied there. His family owned a bail bonds office right next door and they were always asking him to come work for them. He had wanted to make his own way, but for her he would swallow his pride.

They made it to Tanks office. Tank sat there and glared at him for a moment.

"Why do you want to leave the company?"

"I found out that early this morning my brother Anthony offered Stephanie a job. My family owns a Bail Bonds company next door and I thought she could use some form of back up in a new city and state."

The sagging of Tanks shoulders and look of relief that came across his face was unmistakable. Cal was confused by this. He wasn't sure what the big man had up his sleeve, but it was something. He watched as Tank heaved out a huge sigh. He could have sworn he heard him say a quite thank God, as he began typing away at his computer.

"You have eight weeks vacation time banked, Three weeks sick leave and two week paid personal leave. That's a little over three months. As soon as you go, I will give you all the time you've accrued. After that time I will put you on an unpaid leave of absence for an unknown amount of time. We don't want to lose you, but I believe Bomber is our priority. You just gave us a way to provide backup for her, as well as a friend in a new city."

He agreed. He would do anything for her. He knew that he wouldn't be able to actually tell her where he was going. He would just let her know that he was leaving Trenton to help out his family. They honestly were struggling with not having enough BEAs and now would be the best time to give them a hand. His brother Anthony ran searches for them out of his office. He was a PI, and when Stephanie's name came across his desk for a training position, he knew he had to scoop her up quickly.

It was dinner time and he stopped and grabbed some Chinese take out for both of them. He knocked on her door and found an red, puffy eyed Stephanie with tear stained cheeks. He pulled her into a tight hug and she let out a huge sob.

"Come on, Punkin, tell me what's wrong," he cajoled.

"I'm not sure I can. I may be able to tell you most of it, but not all. It's not just my story to tell. How about eat first and then you can help me finish packing? I'll tell you my story as we pack."

He agreed then helped her get plates and cutlery to eat with. She grabbed them each a bottle of water.

"I just got a job offer when you came up. I'm taking it and moving to Maryland. I just can't stay here any longer. I'm not running away, I'm starting over completely. My heart can't take all of the memories any more," she said in such a soft voice that he almost missed it.

They finished eating and cleaning up their dinner mess. She pointed out what she still had to do and it seemed like there was very little left. It was mainly bagging up donations. The majority of which he had seen her wear for distractions. A few minutes into packing she began to talk.

"Joe and I split up two years ago. We knew it was over. It wasn't working and I had caught him with a girl from Stark. We wasted years on each other and it wasn't worth it any more. The night I told Ranger about it, I made the stupid mistake of sleeping with him again. When we were done he told me that Joe and I would work it out; we always did.

"Nearly three months later Ranger called me and said he had met 'the one'. I was so excited, thinking that he meant me. My heart broke when I realized that it wasn't. He had found someone else. He had met Holly on a blind date. He told me that he was moving on from me. He was tired if the back and forth and wanted someone stable in his life, someone who actually gave a damn about him. I wasn't going to tell you about what happened next, but I need to tell someone.

"I started throwing up after I got off the phone. Around three in the morning I was dry heaving and I began cramping and bleeding. I knew what it meant. I drove myself to the hospital, knowing that I was losing my baby. Ranger's baby. The only piece I had left of him. I wasn't going to tell him that it happened at all, but like always, he found out. He told me that I was selfish because I never told him."

"He's moving to Miami, why not stay?"

"Too many memories. My family doesn't want me here, the guys have all pulled away from me. Lula and Connie use me for their own gain, and Mary Lou did too. I need a fresh start, a new job. I need out of here."

"Where are you going?"

"Maryland. I'm taking a job that will help me become a P.I. I enjoy the hunt of the job with bounty hunting, but the thrill of the hunt had me hooked. I'll be able to do the parts I liked most. They are connected with a bonds office that they do the most of the work for."

"Well, you aren't the only one leaving. I'm going to be working at my family at their bonds office. I need to get away from the mess that is Rangeman Trenton too."

He watched her nod in understanding. They both were hurting. Her, because of everything that had happened in her life and him because he didn't want to lose the sister of his heart. He wrapped his arms around her when she began to gently cry again.

It soon became apparent that she was starting to become hysterical. It took almost an hour for him to calm her down to the point of hiccups.

"Cal, if I ask you something will you answer me honestly?" She queried between hiccups.

"You know me better than that, of course I will," he replied while leaving a soft kiss on her curly head.

"In the years that you've known me, have I done something so heinous that I deserve this punishment? Am I just one of those people that is not lovable?"

"Steph, you've always gone out of your way to help people. You have taken a lot of crap from people, because they don't have the beautiful heart that you do. Everything that's been happening is not because of something you've done.

"As for being lovable, yes, you are very lovable. The guys and I have been horrible friends to you and I know that we are all disgusted with ourselves and our behavior towards you. You deserve so much better than any of us."

"Cal, all I've done for you guys is get you shot, injured, or nearly killed. trying to keep me safe. I was only an obligation because of your boss. I understood that."

"Stephanie Plum, you are not an obligation. You are my friend, despite how poor of one I've been."

"Thank you, Cal," she replied as she wiped her nose into a tissue.

A/N I know which MM she will end up with, I'd like to hear who you think it is. Some of you may already be on the right track, but then again you may not be. lol! I have to say that you are all awesome.