Chapter 7: Oh Dear Lord. He's OCD.

Tank half dragged me and half let me walk back to the building with Ranger in the lead. We went in the same way I had when I had returned the wallet. Ranger hit the button on the elevator and we all climbed in. The ride was slow, awkward and somewhat silent. Well it would have been completely silent but I was humming.

"And we both go down together
We'd stay there forever
Just try to get up
And I'm sorry
This wasn't easy
When I asked you, believe me
And never let go..." I sang quietly under my breath as the elevator made its way up.

"Where are we going? You know it's against the law to hold someone against their will. I have rights you know." None of the men's looks or stances changed to indicate that they had heard me. The elevator finally beeped on floor five. The floor was deathly quiet. There where people working everywhere, yet the silences suffocated you. It was kind of bizarre.

Ranger led our little group to the back of the floor and into his office. I knew it was his office, because you don't just give anyone a huge office like this to anyone. Plus the name plate on the desk didn't give it away that this was his office or anything, if that's what you're thinking. His office had nice, warm colors, but the room was huge! He had one wall that was just a window and another wall held all kinds of books and glass cabinets with guns. He had a huge dark cherry wood desk. But everything was so orderly and clean. The saying 'everything had a place and everything was in its place' was taken to extremes here.

"Are you OCD or something?" I blurted out after looking over his desk. He ignored me.

The meany.

"OK, so explain how you got these pictures." Ranger said from behind his desk as I sat in one of the two chairs on the other side of his desk with Tank in the other. Ranger had his unreadable face on as he held up the picture of him and my mother.

"Anya gave them to me." I said as I sat down slouching in my chair before putting my feet up on his desk and crossing my ankles. I don't think he had expected me to use my mother's first name.

"Why?"

Huh. I see where Tank learned how to talk.

"Because I robbed them off of her because taking money and jewelry is so last year. It's all the new rage to take personal pictures" I gave him my best you're an idiot look. "She's my mom. Want to guess who the daddy is?" My face was blank. It wasn't because I was trying to hide something; it was because I wasn't sure what I should be feeling so I went with nothing.

Ranger's face was still blank but now it was wasn't so much blank because he wanted it to be, it was more like it was blank the sheer horror of that thought.

"There's a reason they teach you how to use condoms in Sex-Ed." I hoped I looked and sounded relaxed, because on the inside, I was a mess.

He won't want anything to do with you, even if it's something simple like letting you use his address. A small voice inside told me. I told that voice to shut up or else it would have to leave.

Great Amora, now you're talking to yourself. Just dandy!

"Santos, Brown." He barked out, apparently he didn't need any more words than that. His eyes face was a mask with no emotions. Lester stood to leave and Bobby came over and plucked a hair from me.

Rubbing the sore spot I looked up at him "Owe. What the hell?"

Bobby just grimaced "Sorry, I have to take it to the lab."

"Why?" I asked puzzled

"Um, just too … uh, you know… See how healthy you are…."

Did they really think I was making this up?

"Yes, because I really just walk up to random people and give them some story about me being their child." I'm really starting to wonder if they skipped the whole learning thing and were just born rent-a-thugs.

"Beautiful, I believe you're his kid-o. Don't worry!" Lester said with a wink.

"Psh, you would believe whatever I said if you thought it would help you get in my pants!" I was smiling over at him; nothing would ever happen between us so it was fun to joke around with him. Then through the open door I saw the girl from the bathroom.

Oh crap. What was her name? It was like Stacy wasn't it? No, that's from that song… Stacy's mom has got it going on… Stacy, can't you see you're just not the girl for me I know it might be wrong but I'm in love with Stacy's mom...

I wasn't really focusing on everything since I was singing in my head so it wasn't until she walked in to the room, I realized that Ranger looked more clam.

"Hey Santos, did I hear you talking about me?" She had an easy smile and kind eyes.

Huh, so Lester really didn't have that much originality… Shocker!

Lester grinned down at her. "Sorry Steph, I gotta go. We need to go catch a skip soon though. I haven't been in any life threatening situations in the last four days; I figure I'm about due for one." Then he and Bobby where walking down the hall.

"It wasn't my fault!" She yelled after them. "Oh, hello Amora"

"Hey Stephanie" I said with a somewhat sheepish grin.

"It's nice to see you again. Um, so Ranger I actually wanted to know if you could come to a dinner with me tonight. It's black tie." She asked hopefully.

Ranger had an easy smile when Stephanie was around. The mask was gone and you could see him, the real him. He cut his eye to me before looking back at Stephanie. "What time?"

"Nine sharp"

"I'll try my best not to miss it Babe." He turned his attention back to me in a clear dismissal of Stephanie.

"Um, well there's one more thing." She looked nervous. She was chewing on her lower lip and fiddling with her hands. Ranger looked back over to her before nodding his head.

"Well, it's a benefit for the Firemen, and I ended up with a table for eight. Don't ask. And it wasn't my fault. But uh well, um, you might want to give Hal a raise. Just a thought. Or give him medical leave… Yeah medical leave would probably be best…" She said quickly before continued "But I already have Tank and Lula, Marry Lou and her husband, me and you but that only makes six."

"Babe." Ranger still had a grin from Stephanie suggesting that he give Hal medical leave.

"I need two more people Ranger! Keep up. I thought you where the smart one."

It was the first time I saw someone not be this meek little person around Ranger and it was pretty awesome.

"And?" Ranger repeated raising an eyebrow.

"Do you know of a couple that could fill the two seats?"

"OH, what about me and Amora here?" Lester said coming out of nowhere and poking his head in to the room.

"She's sixteen Santos! Dios! What the hell Santos, do you want me to kill you?"

"Oh, only a year then." Lester said with a grin.

"No you idiot. Two years! Two years Santos. And even then I'll kill you." Ranger said glaring over at Lester. Even though Lester's pants are black, I'm pretty sure I just saw him wet them.

"But that is kind of a good idea." Stephanie said while still chewing on her bottom lip.

"No." Ranger said simply.

"Who are you anyways?" Stephanie said turning to me.

"Stephanie I really need to talk to Amora alone right now. We'll talk later Babe." Ranger answered quickly, I think he wanted to answer before I could…

"Yeah. Sure… Oh, and have you seen my wallet? I think I must have lost it during lunch or something."

"Yeah, check the front desk before you leave." Ranger said looking at me with a twinkle in his eyes.

I just sunk lower into my seat.

"I want to know everything Ranger." She said before turning on her heel and leaving.

Authors Note: First, big thanks to Emilie Martel & Barb4psu for helping me edit and not look like a fool when I post these chapters! (:

Next, I just wanted to make sure that everyone understood that Lesters only 22 in this story. He's not the same age as Ranger or Stephanie and the rest of the gang. Just to clear that up! And sorry if it weird's anyone out that he's flirting with someone 6 years younger than him. My parents have a 15 year gap so I never really thought about age as being a big deal…

Thirdly, this is just kind of a filler chapter, and the next one will have a butt load of answers and will cause even more questions to come up! (:

Lastly, PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! Review and clue me in on your thoughts! Tell me where you think this story is going to go and stuff like that! (:

-LoveAngel