Disclaimer: Not mine - don't I wish.

A/N: This one is short, but it was hard to write… Let me know how I did.

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Chapter Ten -- The Call

Ranger was sitting in the recliner nursing a second beer when his phone finally rang. Slowly he leaned forward to sit the bottle on the coffee table, and picked up the cell. The caller ID was blocked, as he'd expected. He was almost afraid to answer it. What if he said the wrong thing?

But if he didn't answer, she might not call again.

Taking a deep breath, he flipped his phone open. "Yo."

"Ranger?" Steph's voice came through clear, as if she was in the next room. He closed his eyes and wished she was. "Are you busy?"

"I'm never too busy for you, Babe. I've been waiting for your call."

"I didn't want to bother you while you were working," she said quietly.

"Babe." His voice came out rough and he had to work to sound normal. "Hearing from you is more important to me than work. I needed to hear your voice."

"I'm sorry I didn't say good-bye," she said, and from the slight tremble in her voice he knew there were tears on her cheeks. "I was afraid you'd ask me not to go, and I really needed to get away."

"I understand. I don't like it, but I understand. Querida, I wish you'd told me how you felt…I would take you anywhere you wanted to go, for as long as you wanted to stay."

"I know. And that just makes it harder. I miss you…" She was crying now and his own eyes were burning. "I would give almost anything to have your arms around me right now."

"Just tell me where, and I'll be there by morning," he whispered, not trusting his voice.

Stephanie half-laughed, half sobbed, "That's why I don't look - if I knew where I was, I'd tell you. I didn't know it would hurt this much."

"Babe, please don't cry," he begged, aching to hold her and dry her tears. "Everything will be okay. I promise I won't push, Babe. I miss you, too, and just want to know you're okay." He could tell she was holding her breath, trying to stop her tears. If she couldn't get control he knew she'd hang up, and that fear pushed him to keep talking, trying to calm her -- and for once he didn't censor his words. "Breathe, Babe. I love you, and I only want you to be happy. If you need time I understand. I'm not going anywhere."

"Ranger? You love me?"

He chuckled in spite of himself at her shocked tone. "Yes, nena, I love you, although I wished to tell you in better circumstances. I've been in love with you for a long time. When I read in your letter that you loved me--" his voice broke, "I should have told you."

He could barely hear her whispered, "I love you, too."

It was sweet torture to hear the words and not have her in his arms. Even worse to hear her soft sobs. He racked his brain for something, anything…

"Are you on a bus now, querida?" he asked softly, forcing the pain from his voice.

"No…I'm in a hotel, sitting on the bed." She took a shaky breath and he knew she was making an effort to calm herself. "I'm wearing the shirt I stole from you."

"So that's where it went," he said with a smile. "What did you eat for dinner?" He kept his voice soft, coaxing her to talk about normal things, helping her calm down. He listened as she told him about walking in the rain. She told him her bruises were healing, and how some people wouldn't look her in the face.

"How are you carrying your money? That's a lot of bulk."

"Most if it is in a fanny pack under my clothes. Some is in the lining of a knee brace. I only keep a small amount in my wallet."

"Smart girl. You learned this shit too well, Babe. All my men are scrambling and we haven't been able to find you," he said lightly. "Gave us all quite a wake-up call."

She was quiet so long he bit his lip, wondering if he'd said the wrong thing. Finally she broke the silence.

"The guys are looking for me?" Her voice shook slightly. "Please, Ranger, don't waste your money. Call them off. I can't come back yet."

"Babe--"

"Please, Ranger!"

"Promise me you'll call me if anything happens. Promise me, Babe, and I'll stop the search."

"I will, I promise."

He let out a breath and watched his fist clench and re-clench. "Thank you."

"There's a card with the RangeMan number in my wallet, too," she whispered, "Just in case."

The ache in his chest was back, making it hard for him to breathe. "Will you call me sometimes, so I'll know you're okay?"

"I don't know," she said slowly. "It's hard to hear your voice… I will keep in touch, find some way to send messages… Okay?"

"It will have to be," he sighed. "As long as I know you're okay. I love you, Steph. Remember, when you're ready, I'll be waiting."

"I love you," she whispered, then the line went dead.

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TBC…