A/N not mine, I own nothing.

This chapter is longer than most I have written. If it is too long please let me know when you review, and I will try to keep them to the size I normally have them.

The Price to be Paid

On the flight all the way to Georgia, Ranger felt nervous. The questions running through his head, had him fighting the urge to run. Stephanie had been accused of running away from things, in all honesty he did too. He put on his blank face, and pushed away all emotions. He may not physically run from what he doesn't like, but if something affects him, emotionally he shuts down. Right now, he was fighting that shut down.

When they touched down in Athens, he had better control over his facade, but the nerves were showing clearly to those who knew him, and Tank knew him well.

"Calm down. Unless you do something stupid you'll be fine," Tank said, as he slapped him on the back.

He just nodded at Tank, and continued to pick up his belongs from the carousel. He stood up and steeled himself for what may lie ahead of him. Today will be a defining moment in his life, and it could be either good or bad. There was a car waiting there for them; Tank had one of his friends drop his truck off so it would be ready for their use. The twenty minute drive into Commerce felt like days.

When they pulled through the gate, he looked up and saw the front door opening, and the most beautiful sight in the world met his eyes. He immediately felt his world right itself again, and his lips twitched into his almost smile. He was home. No matter what happens after today, their friendship would grow strong, and she would always be home to him.

Stephanie watched the monitor as they came in the gate. She took a deep breath, and opened the front door as Tank and Ranger pulled up. She was ready to face the day head on. As she watched them pull their belongings out of the back of the truck, she felt a bit of peace run through her. When Ranger looked up at her and gave that almost smile, she knew why. They were going to be okay, no matter how things turned out.

She walked over to Tank first, and wrapped her arms around the big guy as far as she could get them.

"Welcome home!" she said, then kissed his cheek. She looked at Ranger and walked over to him with open arms.

"It's good to see you. Let's get you guys settled in, then we can go get breakfast and talk. I was able to get the day off, and my next assignment is almost finished, so I can work on that tomorrow. Just let me know when you're ready to go." She hugged him, and walked into the house.

For the next half hour, Stephanie did everything she could to settle her nerves. She knew this conversation had to happen. She also needed to impress upon him the importance of her finishing her degree. She wasn't going to let him or anyone else walk all over her any longer. This was her life, and she needed to live it her way.

"Babe? Ready to roll?" Ranger asked, causing her to jump. He chuckled, "You need to be more aware of your surroundings, Babe."

"Yea, yea, I know. Let's go."

He looked at her, smiled, and tugged on one of her curls. They walked out to her Escape, and Ranger raised an eyebrow in question at the hybrid SUV.

"Tank helped me get it. Once I'm done with school, and am working full time, I am paying him back for the car. He set up a fund for me to go back to school. He says it's like a scholarship, and I'm not allowed to pay him back for my education. I wouldn't budge on the car though. Too much bad car karma."

Ranger just looked at her in shock, and asked, "How is school going?"

They got into the SUV and began their short drive before she answered.

"I love school. My classes are harder than I anticipated, but I'm up for the challenge. I am struggling with the biology course, but so far have been able to keep my gpa at 3.45."

"Proud of you, Babe."

They pulled into the cafe, and were seated quickly. They both ordered a cup of coffee and a glass of water. Once they had placed their orders, they sat back, both feeling a little awkward and unsure as to how to begin the conversation they both knew they needed to have.

"I'm not sure where to even begin with all of this," Stephanie started.

"Why don't we start with the catalyst for you to leaving Trenton. Then we can go from there," Ranger said.

"Joe and I sat down to talk, really talk about what we both wanted out of life. We came to the conclusion that no matter how hard we tried, our lives were never going to mesh. He was turning into his Father, and I was a raving bitch. We weren't good enough for each other; as a matter of fact we were very bad for each other. That night when I got home, I sat down and made a list. I also decided that I needed to sit down and talk with you. I couldn't keep being your yo-yo. I mean I was good enough for your bed, but nothing else, you made that very clear. My mother...God my Mother! I was never good enough for her. I also know that no matter what I do, I never will be. I needed to get away for me. Tank offered to help, and after a few arguments we came to an agreement. When I got here, I saw the picture of you and Aubrey together. That moment sat me back, and shook me to my core. I could see every emotion on your face, every ounce of feeling you had for her. My heart shattered in that moment. I felt like you were trying to make me your side piece; that I was the other woman. Yes, I kept going back to Joe, but you sent me there. Once again I wasn't good enough for anything but a fuck, a body to be used. I don't know why you didn't tell me about Aubrey, and I am not going to pretend that it didn't hurt. I do miss my friendship with you, and would like to work on getting that back. Maybe one day we can trust each other again."

Ranger did the unexpected and sighed. Just as he was about to start talking, the waitress arrived with their food. The small interruption was enough of a distraction for him to gather his thoughts before he spoke. He didn't want to say the wrong things, so he weighed his options carefully.

"You were never a side piece. The day I met you at the diner you blew me away. You have been a force of nature from day one. I have watched you grow as a BEA, and fell for you more everyday. Honestly, it scared the hell out of me. I never told you about Aubrey because I didn't think it was important. We had a relationship very similar to yours and Joe's. I told you I didn't do relationships because whatever she and I had was so screwed up. It made you and Morelli look stable. I figured that because we fought so much over my job, and my government work, that no one could accept me as I am.

Hell, my own daughter barely knows me. Aubrey and I had a long talk, actually we had two of them. We both knew we needed to end our relationship, and we both owed it to ourselves to find the right person, and to be happy. She knows how I feel about you, and that I screwed up where you are concerned. I told her everything, and she called me an idiot, then she gave me the best piece of advice I have ever gotten. She told me that I needed to learn how to just let myself be loved by someone, and that I needed to learn how to love myself first. You're right, we need to work on getting our friendship back on track first, and work on ourselves. If that is as far as it goes, then that is all it is meant to be. I am more than willing to work on our friendship. I hope, though, that we can find our someday, and be together."

"I think that is the most I ever heard you say."

"I'm not done either," he said with a small smirk, "I need to apologize for the things I have said in the past, and for making you feel like the other woman. That was never my intention. You brought light into my world, a light that I thought I had lost a long time ago. You've done so much for me, and yes I have helped you out as well, but you saved me from myself. Thank you."

He reached over and covered her hand with his and gave it a gentle squeeze. She wiped away the tears falling down her face with her other hand. This was cathartic for her, all the emotions were so close to the surface that she was becoming overwhelmed.

"Thank you. I'm sorry too. I am sure I hurt you by going back to Joe as well. I want you to know that I'll be staying here until I finish my degree, I may never come back to live in Trenton. I'll come back to visit, but it just isn't home to me, and no matter what I do, I will always be the bumbling bounty hunter there. I don't want to be that person any longer. I'm doing what I need to do for me, and I need to do that before I can be in any kind of relationship. I think we both do."

Ranger sat back and thought about what she was saying, and knew that she was absolutely right. Over the years, they had hurt each other, and now they needed to find themselves before they could think about a relationship with anyone.

"You're right, we need to work on ourselves first. I hope, in the meantime, we can work on being friends and regaining the trust between us."

"We can, Ranger. It's going to take time, but I think we can."

They sat there and finished their breakfast, when Stephanie looked at him, with mischief in her eyes and asked,

"So, do you want to tell me about the dumpster in India?"

He choked on the sip of coffee he had in his mouth, and she laughed.

"Who told you about that?!"

"Jason."

"Dead man, he is a walking dead man," he muttered.

"Tell me."

"We had intel that a man we were looking for was in Mumbai. We were in an alley trying to get info from our informant. The guy we were after appeared, saw us and took off. I followed him, and as he ran through an open archway, I saw a short cut over a low wall, I made the jump. Turns out there was a dumpster on the other side of the wall, and it was full. I stunk for weeks."

Stephanie laughed harder than she ever had, trying to picture Ranger covered in garbage. Ranger soon joined in.

"That is priceless!"

Soon they were on their way back to the house, and as they were getting out of the car, Tank walked out. He could see the lighter steps of his friends, and it made him feel better. Hopefully, they would work things out, and they would get their acts together. They needed each other.

A/N Thank you Maggie! 《Hugs》