CHAPTER FIFTEEN Tank got off the elevator on 7 and just stood for a moment. What exactly was he doing here? Stephanie Plum and Carlos Manoso needed to start communicating with each other. He was done being both of their sounding boards. He loved Carlos but the guy held being an ass to the same standard as everything else he did—to the highest order. He wasn't their go-between. This was pointless.

If Carlos was willing to give up on Stephanie because of some stupid idea that he needed to be a fortress of privacy and isolation, well, then what the hell was he supposed to do about it? He wasn't into skinny-assed white chicks, but being Stephanie's partner for the last few months made him understand what Ranger saw in her. But it also made him positive that Ranger was being a jerk.

Oh, hell, if I'm up…and he got back onto the elevator and went down to the control room. "Hey, Lester, gym in five."

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Ella brought breakfast at 8, and Tank arrived moments later, looking satisfied and tired.

"Knock knock… you guys decent?"

"Come on in Tank, Steph's just gotten into the shower."

"Hey sorry you weren't told she was here, the guys were distracted when you arrived. By the time I realized you were in the building, well…" Tank glanced at the bedroom doors. "You do something about it yet?"

"I've told you before…not while she's still with Morelli."

"She's not anymore. She tell you about last night? Damn it man, if you don't tell her how you feel soon I'll….."

"What?" Ranger looked at Tank. He was covered with a sheen of sweat, and looked like he had torn into someone this morning. "I'm sure I don't want to know what that's all about?"

Tank shrugged. Let Lester explain it later. "I'd like to ask her out."

"Forget it Tank." Ranger growled. Ranger's eyes became tiny slits of white hot anger. What the hell!

"She kisses fine."

Ranger's eyes went black with fury.

Just the reaction Tank was hoping for. Tank's laughter was like a sonic boom. "Then get your ass in gear Manoso. Ask her about last night, Carlos. That girl has our backs. All of us. I'm glad she's my partner, is all I'm sayin'. Call me when you want me to set up the morning meeting. Oh, and welcome home boss. Hope you're staying this time." And Tank was gone.

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Stephanie walked into the kitchen dressed for work a few minutes later, to find Ranger staring into his mug. She pecked a kiss onto his forehead and whispered "It was nice waking up in your arms" into his ear. She poured herself some coffee and sat down to a delicious Ella breakfast.

"It was, Babe, it certainly was." He looked up at her intently. He smiled his imperceptible smile, recalling how he woke to find her draped over him, legs entwined. It certainly was.

"I've missed you Carlos. Are you home for good?" Stephanie's mind had been racing since she woke up. She had dozed after he got out of bed. When she woke again, she saw the indentation in the pillow next to her, and realized last night was not a dream. The good or the bad parts. She groaned inwardly, thinking about the fight at the restaurant.

Looks like she needed to get a move on. Tank certainly didn't seem like he was going to let her continue with Joe, even for just the few more weeks she had figured she'd give him. And did Ranger really call Ella in the middle of the night to have an apartment prepared? Oh, damn. It really was real.

Stephanie didn't think seeing Ranger again would impact her like it had. She'd managed to see him downstairs without incident during the fall. Well. Without much incident. Those few times he backed her into a corner and ran his hands over her and kissed her lips off notwithstanding, they'd done ok.

But waking to see him sitting in the easy chair, staring at her while he stroked himself, wow. That has to be what sent me over the edge. I shouldn't have said anything. I should have just gotten out of bed and gone over to him.

She had thought she had put him in the past. All the feelings they had had should be gone. Ranger had obviously spent the last months avoiding her. She had gotten used to, though not comfortable with his distance. They could be friends, really, if he ever showed his face in Jersey again. Couldn't they? She had spent these past months trying to work it out with Joe. But now she was finding it wasn't going to work out. Ever. The things they wanted were too different. He didn't understand her. He didn't respect her or her choices. So, now what?

She was tired. Her defenses were down. She was defeated, burned and vulnerable. She woke in Ranger's arms this morning, and every crazy feeling she had ever had about him, about them---they were back. And now, here they were, sitting down to breakfast, treating each other like they did this every morning of their lives. It felt right.

Ranger didn't answer. She's still calling me Carlos. He wanted to sit like this forever, with no consequence, no distance between them. He could see their future, someday, this morning, sitting here at the table, sharing breakfast. Their eyes locked for a short while, before he broke eye contact.

"So, Tank tells me I'm supposed to talk to you."

"About what?"

"He said last night."

"Oh."

"What happened Babe?"

"Ranger. Carlos. Do you really want me to move in here?" Nothing like a shot of avoidance with your coffee early in the morning.

"I'd prefer the 7th floor but yeah, I do."

She didn't answer. The 7th floor. Ohmygod. Batman's back.

"Babe. I know you are trying to change the subject. If you are finished with Morelli and maintain you can't leave because you have no home, well that's something I can fix. But, if you were done with him, you wouldn't use that as an excuse. This feels like short hand that you are on another break. But not like you're over."

"So, are you over, or on a break?" Ranger locked eyes with her while he spoke, and he could see emotions flitting across her face while he talked. She wouldn't look him in the eye.

"Now, about last night?" He raised his eyebrow at her in question. "Or I will ask Tank. But he feels that I should be hearing about it from you.

Finally, Stephanie looked back at Ranger, and said "Joe and I got into a fight last night at Restaurante Italiano."

Like that's news. When weren't they getting in a fight? "Subject?"

"He was drunk."

"And? Babe? The fight. What was it about?" Ranger's voice was soothing, and he held her hand in an encouraging fashion while he waited for her to continue.

"About Tank and you and how I would leave Tank like I walked on him and on you."

"Babe. More specific maybe?" Ranger suggested. He was confused. There's something missing here.

"Joe accused me of sleeping with Tank. He called him King Kong, and told him I'd be out of his bed just like I left Joe and you. And he called you a spic." Her voice was low, embarrassed to be repeating it.

"Sticks and stones. You sleep with Tank, Babe?"

"I can't believe you'd even ask!" She glared at him but didn't break eye contact.

Ranger let go a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Just gathering facts. Continue."

"I yelled at him and bitched him out, and then I threw my margarita at him and was going to go over the table and wring his neck but Tank held me back. He took me back to his apartment because I couldn't go back to Morelli's, and he held me most of the night while I whined and cried on his shoulder."

"Proud of you Babe." The corners of his mouth curved the tiniest bit. She was so sexy when she was incensed. He was sorry he missed it. "So, break or over?"

"Break. Huge, life-long break, Carlos."

Ranger stood up, and took her hand in his. He pulled her out of the chair, and into his arms, and he just stood, holding her, breathing in her scent, and brushing his hands through her hair. "Very proud of you Babe."

He led her to the couch and sat down with her. "I've missed holding you." He pulled her to him and they sat curled on the couch. His hands were slowly running up and down her arms, rubbing her, sending shivers through her body. She could stay like this forever.

"What would have made Joe think you and Tank were together?"

"Tank was telling me about Daisy and Antoinette. That was so sad, Ranger. I had no idea."

"Daisy was my god daughter; Tank is Julies. They were born 3 months and 3 days apart. It's been hard for him to watch Julie grow up. This summer is the first time he's spent any time with her in years." Ranger's blank face had cracked for a moment, and Stephanie saw love and sadness there. Stephanie reached over and gave him a squeeze and held him close.

"Anyway, I got up and hugged him, kind of like what I'm doing now. That's when Joe came over."

"Because you were comforting Tank? Seems a little 'jealous-guy,' even for Joe. I've been gone a long time Babe, what am I missing here?"

"I'm not sure what you mean."

"Babe."

"What?"

"Tank said he likes how you kiss. How would he know that? Morelli flips because he sees you embracing Tank. Did I screw up by walking away? Is there something happening between the two of you that I don't want to know about?" His eyes held hers, he willed her to say no. My god, what have I done. I walked out on her. I abandoned her.

"He's my friend Carlos. My partner. Nothing more. Ok?"

"Ok."

"So how does he know what your kisses are like?"

"You obsessed or something? Oh." Suddenly light dawned. Tank never told Ranger. He must have been afraid of Ranger's reaction.

"He never told you about that night on the wharf, did he??? We were in this POS Chevy in the cold. Our FTA almost made us, so Tank grabbed me and kissed me, and Gaspick walked up to the car while Tank was holding me. Oh man, I can't believe he didn't tell you that. He must have bought off the guys big time to keep them quiet. They were on his case for a week!" Stephanie was laughing at the idea that Tank thought Ranger would never find out. He was the Batman for chrissakes!

Ranger leaned down and kissed Stephanie, long and deeply, until he felt himself on the edge of losing control. Oh it's been too long since I kissed her. He looked at her with hooded dark eyes. "His kisses do that to you?" Stephanie was breathless. She could do nothing but shake her head no. Language had gone missing. He grinned slightly then, and pulled her back into his arms and held her till he heard her breathing change and he knew she was asleep. He put his head back and closed his eyes as well.

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Steph sat down with her coffee and email in her cubicle. She was only going to be working a few hours today, and then needed to head to Macys to find a dress for the RangeMan Christmas party next week. Now that Ranger was back, she needed to worry about what she would wear. She hadn't even given it a thought until this morning.

This venture sounded like a Lula and Marylou excursion. They needed to go with her; to make sure is choosing the right dress, for the right reasons. She hoped there weren't too many involved searches to do.

She scrolled through her mail while leaving a message for Marylou. Oh, another email from Julie. That kid is so cute. How am I going to tell her that her dad and I have no future? This morning—well, what had happened this morning? Ranger was acting like the jealous boyfriend himself. Tank and her? Ewww!!! He's like the big brother she never had.

She choked on her coffee as she read the end of Julie's message. 'Are you moving to Miami with my father in January?'

Tank was walking by her cubicle and heard her sputter and cough. "Little girl. Careful there!" He handed her a napkin, and grinned at her while she wiped coffee off her chest and the keyboard. He sat on the edge of her desk, waiting for her to compose herself. She looked distressed. "What's wrong, little girl?"

Stephanie showed him the email. Tank gave her a small scowl, but admitted that he knew about Miami. "Ranger just told me this morning after the meeting, Steve. He hasn't said anything to anyone else yet; can you keep it quiet?"

"Why is he going, Tank?"

"I don't know little girl. He wouldn't tell me. He's putting the Trenton office in my care. He said that he'd tell everyone at the Christmas party, and that if anyone wanted to follow him, they could. Except me. I get to stay here. Will probably need to find a whole new staff. Who would choose Trenton over Miami?"

Tank leaned over and pecked her cheek, ruffled her hair and left. "He didn't say he was running from you---you could follow, ya know" he mentioned casually as he walked away.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Ranger had the Merry Men move Stephanie's belongings into her apartment on the 4th floor while Joe was working day shift. Stephanie chose to ignore the multiple messages he had left on her cell phone. She can't talk to him. Or her mother.

She's only left six messages. How in god's name will she explain this to her mother? She's moved out of the frying pan and into the fire? Even if it's not the 7th floor, mom won't be all that concerned with the minor details; just with the fact that I'm slowly trying to kill her through embarrassment.

Ranger is lying on the covers of Stephanie's bed two mornings later, mindlessly running his fingers up and down her arm to waken her. He whispers in her ear, "It's so nice that I can do this again; I have missed breaking into your apartment. I didn't think Joe would appreciate me joining you in his bed like this."

Stephanie rolled over, and gave him a tiny smile. "You're right about that, Ranger." She propped herself up on her elbow, and leaned over to kiss his cheek.

"Babe. We need to talk. We need to figure out what's happening here. What is it that you want? I can't keep being your safe house for when things go wrong with Morelli. When you've got a psycho, when you need help, I'm here for you. I want you to come to me."

"But I can't continue being the safe corner you hide in until things blow over in your personal life. It's not fair to you, and it definitely isn't fair to me. I am not just a disinterested party, you know? I'm not a couples' counselor and for damn sure I'm not interested in becoming a marriage counselor."

Ranger lay there quietly, holding Stephanie. He didn't think that any more needed to be said at the moment, so he just enjoyed the feeling of her in his arms, of the way her body fit next to his. He didn't try anything more; he willed his hands to stop roaming before they went too far. She had denied him the past few times he tried to get closer.

Stephanie was torturing him. She would let him hold her; she would say things that made him believe she loved him, but then as soon as he tried to show her he felt the same way, she pulled back. He was getting aggravated by her behavior. He loved her. Why was this a problem all of a sudden if Joe was really out of the picture?

He thought back to the conversation he had with Tank late last night after a strenuous workout.

"I've never seen you so unsure, Ranger." Tank handed him a bottle of water and a towel and plopped down on a bench in the corner of the gym.

"Tell me what's going on. Steph found out from Julie that you're leaving… you said you were telling staff at the party…I didn't think that included her."

"I didn't know how to tell her, Charlie. Maybe I'm not going to Miami anymore. I had decided to make the change because of Morelli."

He ran the towel over his face, wiping the sweat away. "If she's over Joe why does she rebuff me? She pulls away whenever I get close to her. I am so sexually frustrated, I am going to explode. What do I do, Charlie?? I love her. I've never felt like this before."

"At least you admit it…to the wrong person, but at least you've said it out loud. Do you see her always in your life? Do you imagine a time in the future that she's not in your life?"

"No."

"Then you want a relationship with her. What kind of relationship do you want? Can you accept her friendship only? Can you see her with someone else? You didn't like her with Morelli because of how he treated her… or was it just because he had her and you wanted her?"

"What if she found someone else who made her happy? Could you still be in her life? Would you be able to handle me falling in love with her?" Tank looked at Ranger carefully as he said this.

"You have a thing for her don't you?"

"She's gotten under my skin, yeah. But man, she's not mine. She's crazy in love with you. She's yours. I know how to respect that boundary."

"She has a way of doing that…welcome to the club."

"I love you Carlos, and so that's why I'm telling you to give the girl some room right now. Don't pressure her. Let her process Joe, mourn this loss. Have it be over." Tank put up his hand to fend off Rangers response.

"Carlos. Think on this. Every morning, just getting out of bed is an unspoken acceptance of your life as it is. Whether you hate your world or love it. Getting up in the morning is clear recognition of how the world is right now, for you. Let Stephanie mourn all of the things she looses by walking away from Joe. All the future she might have had. Even if you believe that she didn't want half of those things; even if she didn't really want them. Getting up each day, at some level she accepted that as her life."

"I'm not a rebound Charlie, we've been together before."

"Yeah, your little deal… I've heard a lot about that. What the fuck were you thinking man? No, don't bother to answer me; I don't even want to know. You slept with her one night, what, almost two years ago?"

"That's not enough for you to just jump back in. Give her time. I'm telling you as a friend. If you want this to work you need to let her get over him. Be her friend. Let her mourn him. Her future has changed. Don't push now. Show her you truly are the friend she believes you to be."

"How can I be sure that this break is for real?"

"Ask her. Tell her how you feel."

"I have."

"And what do you want from her? Do you want to marry her, have kids, grow old together? Man, these are things she's got to be told. She shouldn't have to read your mind! What do you want from Steph? After you sleep with her. What is a relationship Carlos, do you know? What do you plan on doing tomorrow, next month, next year?"

"The other day you were after me because I hadn't made a move, Charlie."

"Making a move doesn't indicate you sleep with her. It means you tell her how you feel. You open up to her. Relationships are work, Carlos and they are risky. But you are risk taker. Why are you afraid of this risk?"

"Carlos, go for it. No matter what; even if it's just for tomorrow. Be with her…don't let life pass you… believe me; I am glad I didn't, as much as I have to suffer now at being left behind. I wouldn't give up one moment of the pain I suffer every day ---because I had the chance to love and be loved."

I think I have decided how I want my life to be, Ranger thought, lying with his babe beside him. I hope she agrees.

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"Tank. Meet me at the garage in five, ok?"

"Sure man, what's up?"

"Christmas, you fool, that's what. Got Christmas shopping to do and I am NOT going alone!!!!"

"Aw, come on I went with you last year."

"Yup, and you get to go again this year, lucky man. Just another benefit of employment."

Ranger clicked the phone shut.

Tank was standing in the garage, not too overjoyed about this little adventure, when Ranger appeared.

"I need your help. I have to get Julie stuff, and Stephanie too this year. I need to make sure I get the right thing."

"Ranger's in love, or whipped, or something!!!"

"Get in the damn truck Charlie."

"So, what are you getting Stephanie?"

"I have absolutely no idea. It has to be special, though."

"Gonna be tough Ranger, finding some thing special for someone who you give cars to on a bi-monthly basis, don't you think?" Tanks laughter filled the cab.

Ranger ignored the comment. "And I have to make sure that Julie gets something special this year. There's no more Santa, she knows it's us. And Tank, we've become close. I really am enjoying being around her. I can't believe I have allowed myself to miss out on so much of her life. I'm sorry for ever giving you grief when you used to tell me to pay more attention…. I should have realized where you were coming from."

There was nothing to say to that, so Tank remained silent.

"Jewelry will work, right? And Victoria's secret. And I should buy her her own shower gel too…" Rangers mind was wandering, he was thinking aloud. "You need to shop too don't you?"

"Nope. I finished last week. Stevie and I hit the mall. She's a brutal shopper, my friend."

"What did you get her?"

"Chocolate, man, chocolate!!!" Tank guffawed, as if there were any other choice than sweets for Stephanie.

Tank thought a moment. "Jewelry. Yeah, that's always safe."

"I don't want it to be safe, I want it to be Stephanie."

They parked the Explorer in outer Siberia, and hoofed through the mall for over an hour. Nothing seemed right. Ranger picked up a few things for his mother and for Julie, but nothing so far screamed Stephanie.

They wandered into their fourth jewelry store. Their faces must have indicated severe shopping overload, because the girl who greeted them was gentle. "Hi there gentlemen, can I help you find something today?"

The sales girl was young, and had a genuine smile. Ranger decided he would ask her opinion. Usually these were decisions he made on his own, but this gift, this had to be special.

"Actually, yes you can. I need a gift for a very special woman. She is unique and beautiful and I want to find something that expresses those things."

"This woman, is she young; your daughter, or your wife? Or she's your mother? Your girlfriend?"

Ranger stood for a moment. What is she to me? Heaven and earth. My beating heart. The sunshine in my day.

"Well, actually she's my employee, but…."

"She's his girlfriend. She's your girlfriend you dufus!" Tank smacked Ranger on the back of his head and laughed when the sales girl smiled.

"I guess she….she's my Babe."

The sales girl grinned; she recognized a man who didn't know he was in love when she saw one. "A ring? Earrings? A necklace, or did you want a set?"

"I have a ring in mind already, thanks. I think I want a necklace. Her eyes are blue. Like the sky. Do you have a stone that would match her eyes?"

She brought him over to the display case that was full of gorgeous necklaces. As he was watching her take some from beneath the glass top, he noticed her ring.

He took her hand, and she blushed as he held it closer to his face, so he could examine her ring.

Ranger looked up at the girls face. "Your ring is beautiful. Is there some significance?"

Oh, my, this man's eyes are beautiful. This lady is very lucky. She was flushed, but recovered quickly.

"Why yes, actually there is. It's called a claddagh. It's a Celtic ring; the designs represent love, loyalty and friendship. See? The heart is love, the crown on the heart is loyalty, and the hands holding the crowned heart represent friendship. You should never buy a claddagh for yourself. My dad gave this ring to me, before I moved away from home."

"And when you wear it, the bottom of the heart points out if you are not spoken for, or towards your heart, if you are in love. There is a legend that it was designed by a man taken captive on a ship, for his true love."

"Beautiful. Do you have any for sale?"

"You said you had a ring for her already sir?"

"Yes, I do. But that could be a wonderful gift for my daughter as well."

"I do. We have a wide variety of claddaghs, in silver and in gold. Let me show you."

She went to the counter that had them displayed, and her voice rang out, "Oh, sir, look. I just remembered this necklace! It is designed with all of the elements of a claddagh ring. It is part of the Platinum World collection that we started carrying last month. You might really like this."

Ranger was sold. The necklace was perfect. The symbolism struck a chord in his heart. Stephanie was nothing if not loyal to him. Being there when he was FTA proved that beyond a doubt. And her friendship was true. The fact that she put her life on the line to save his daughter showed him that. He hoped he would have her love, as well.

"We received 6 of these necklaces, each with a different stone for the heart. I have the ruby on display; look this over, while I find out what else we have." The girl squatted down and started rummaging through the locked drawers below the case.

"Oh sir, I think you are in luck. We have the ruby, and aquamarine and the diamond left."

She pulled out the aquamarine necklace and gave it to him to inspect. "Perfect. Sold. I will take this, and I'd like a gold claddagh ring with a ruby heart for my daughter. She's eleven years old; I have no idea what size her hand would be." He grinned at Tank, and Tanks' smile indicated that he approved of Ranger's choices.

"This should be fine; if it's a bit big you can have it sized after Christmas." Ranger paid for his purchases and they gladly left the mall.

"Well, that's out of the way. Thank goodness Christmas only comes once a year!" Tank and Ranger were loading up the Explorer with bags full of wrapped gifts. Ranger's shopping mentality where Christmas was concerned was easy. If the salesperson was convincing he would buy one in every color and have them wrapped and gift giving was done, in one day and one day only.

"Lunch?"

"Lunch."