Thank you so much for your reviews, I'm so glad you're enjoying the story.

This fic is based on and inspired by the future grandmother!

Disclaimer: As per usual, I don't own anything, I'm just having fun with JE's characters

Rating: K, T, whatever. No smut. Bad language…

Who Says You Can't Go Home?

10

"Who says you can't go back, been around all around the world and
as a matter of fact
There's only one place left I want to go, who says you can't go home
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright..."

Bon Jovi 'Who says you can't go home'

I was still trying to get Morelli naked when the phone rang. Morelli grabbed my hand to stop my progress. "Guess that's Veronica," He said and smiled. How ironic. I'd been trying to get Joe's mind off of her, and here she calls.

I would have loved to just say 'Let it ring', but if she had information on Martinez, I needed to know it. Damn!

Morelli pushed himself off the bed and left, while I took a moment to get my breathing back to normal.

I could hear him talk on the phone and followed him into the office. He was scribbling things down on a notepad and he was smiling. Why was he smiling?

I positioned myself in the doorway and leaned against the doorjamb, my arms crossed over my chest. "Now, you know I would never say that!" Morelli said, chuckling. Clearly, the business part of the conversation was over. I cleared my throat and Morelli looked up.

"Listen, I gotta go, but thank you very much for this, I owe you!" He said and he laughed out loud at the response. "We'll see about that," He said, "I'll talk to you tomorrow!" And he hung up.

"That was Veronica," He said. No shit. I would have never guessed. "She got some info off the grapevine, Martinez preferred hangouts." He tore the first sheet of the notepad and handed it to me.

"Anything else she had to share?" I asked with my eyebrow raised. Morelli just grinned and walked past me, chucking me under the chin. The nerve!

I glanced at the note and didn't recognize any of the bars. Probably Stark Street dives. Probably I'd have to check them all.

I was torn because I really wanted to know more about who this Veronica was, but at the same time, I didn't want to feed Morelli's ego any more than I already had. It was one thing to be jealous and admit it to myself, I couldn't tell him!

Morelli had gone downstairs and I followed him slowly. Apparently, he didn't want to pick up where we'd left off. I'd only brought in one skip today and I really needed to bring in Carol or Martinez, but I wasn't really motivated.

Morelli was stretched out on the couch, Bob was stretched out in front of the couch, and they were watching ESPN. It would have been really easy to just join them, but I wasn't sure my landlord would understand that my rent was late because I'd rather watched TV than earn money. I sighed and grabbed my purse.

"I'm gonna go get the check for bringing in Folini," I said, "And to check in with the girls. Do you mind if I take your car?" It was a rhetorical question, of course, since my car was still at my apartment. "Do you want me to come with?" Morelli asked. I thought about that for a minute, subjecting him to a dose of Lula and Connie could be fun, but then I shook my head no.

"I may need your help later to try and find Martinez though, if you're up for it." I said and Morelli nodded. "He got me covered in garbage," He said, "Now it's personal." I laughed and kissed him lightly, pulling away before he could grab me.

I found a parking spot right in front of the office. Lula was stretched out on the couch when I entered, and it felt like a weird form of déjà vu. All that was missing was the TV and Bob. I waved hello on my way over to Connie's desk. Connie looked up and a huge smile spread over her face.

"Guess Ranger came back early, huh?"

Lula got up with a groan and checked me out. "There's only one thing that puts a smile like that on your face, white girl. You had cake, and plenty of it."

I felt the heat creep into my cheeks. I was a grown woman with a boyfriend, and I blushed when my girlfriends gave me the third degree. Jeesh!

"It's Morelli's day off," I said simply and handed Connie the body receipt. When there was no response I finally looked up and found two sets of eyes on me. I rolled my eyes and they started laughing. Now I was glad Morelli hadn't come, his ego would have been the size of a house after this.

"So Officer Hottie is back on again?" Lula asked. I sighed and plopped down on the couch. There was no way around it, I figured, Lula and Connie would keep pushing until I told then everything anyway.

"He got drunk and came to my house last night," I started and lifted a hand when I saw Lula open her mouth, "No, not like that. Get your mind out of the gutter. He'd had an epiphany…"

"So he's changed over night?" Connie asked when I'd finished my story. I could tell she didn't believe it for a second. "I don't think change happens that fast," I explained, "But he's decided the wants to change."

Lula had the same doubtful expression as Connie. "Look, I know how it sounds, I didn't believe it either at first," I said and got up to pace. "I figured it was worth a try."

"What about Batman?" Lula asked. "What about him?"

"I've seen the way you two look at each other. You tryin' to tell me there's nothin' goin' on?"

"Morelli is okay with Ranger…being my friend…" I said, sitting back down. Connie snorted and Lula scoffed. "What?" I asked, getting irritated.

Connie shook her head and did a palms-up, "I'll decide when I see the three of you together is all I'm sayin'. I know all about guys promising to change to get back into your pants."

"Amen, sister," Lula said, nodding. I laughed inwardly. Morelli might have thought I was the biggest hurdle, but he might have forgotten about Lula and Connie. I shrugged. "Time will tell, I guess. I just told you what he said. And he spent all day today convincing me."

"Yeah, we can see that last part," Lula quipped. I rolled my eyes, got my check from Connie and moved to leave. "Seriously, Steph," Connie said just before I reached the door, "You should know better than most of us, you can't trust anything a Morelli man tells you." I turned around, now I was regretting I had told them. "Men can change," I said.

"Yeah," Lula scoffed, "They can change into not calling you any more." I just rolled my eyes at her again and left the office. I should have just said I got laid and leave them guessing, I thought.

I was in such a foul mood that I blindly drove through Trenton, got a dozen doughnuts at the Dunkin' drive-thru and ate eight of them until I felt better. The problem was not what the girls had said. The problem was that I feared they were right.

Since the evening was ruined now, I decided to give Lucy Klein another try. If her husband tried to shoot me again, I might just shoot back this time!

It was almost six o'clock so chances were good Lucy was home by now anyway, I decided and turned off Hamilton towards Lucy's neighborhood.

Twenty minutes later, I was parked in front of 405 Ames Street, watching the house. Lights were on inside and there were two cars in the driveway. I checked her bond agreement again. She had been set free after posting a $5000 bond. Getting her back into the system would net me $500. Damn, I really needed that money!

I got my stun gun out of my purse and stuffed it into the front pocket of my jeans, then I took Morelli's cuffs and put them into my back pocket. I also grabbed my cell phone, just to be on the safe side. Since there was nothing else to procrastinate with, I sighed and got out of the car. I didn't lock it, because there was a chance I'd have to get to it in a hurry.

I tried to look all confident when I climbed the three steps to Lucy's house, but I hoped she would open the door this time, and not her husband.

A kid opened the front door a minute after I rang the bell and he looked at me with big eyes through the screen door. He was maybe ten years old, with a runny nose and dirty clothes. I figured he was part of the reason his mom had gotten into a fight at the soccer match. "Hi," I said friendly, putting on a smile that I reserved for children, "Is your Mom home?"

He turned around and yelled "Mooooom!" so loud that I had to cover my ears. Maybe I'd change my mind about ever having children.

"What's all the yellin' about," Mr. Klein yelled even louder than his son and my stomach clenched up. I was about to tell Klein Jr. I was coming back another time, when the boy was shoved aside. The screen door was kicked open and I found myself nose-to-nose with Lucy's husband.

"You!" He screamed and a wave of his 100 proof breath hit me. "Don't you ever stop?" He looked like he had a good 100 pounds on me, and although I was sober, I didn't' think I'd stand a chance in a fight. I backed up slowly, but he caught me by the front of my shirt.

"I'll teach you to leave us alone!" He screamed, then he raised the shotgun he'd been hiding behind his back and I closed my eyes. Two shots rang out, glass shattered, and I fell down the steps when he suddenly released my shirt. I fell on my ass before I dared to open my eyes again. Klein shut his doors with a slam and I was still wondering about his change of heart when there was an explosion behind me.

I was far enough away to not be blown up, but I knew without looking that Morelli's car had just gone to car heaven.

A/N: Now she needs to tell Morelli…how do you think he will react? Please R&R and let me know.