Dark, but involves naked Ranger!

Ranger stopped by the yard sale Saturday morning to tell me he had to go out of town for a few days. He was picking up a skip that had fled to California. I could tell he was torn so I made sure he knew it was no big deal and that I would be fine. He brushed a kiss over my lips before he left and promised to call that night.

The yard sale made for a long hot weekend but I came away with a tan and a good bit of money. We gave anything that was left to goodwill and by the end of the weekend Joe's house was empty. Monday dawned bright and early; Jason came by to show the house to his daughter. She loved it and offered me $450,000 as is. I hired a real estate agent to handle the sale and felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders.

I jolted awake, still screaming bloody murder. I couldn't remember what my dream had been about. My door burst open as I stopped screaming. Ranger flicked on my light and scanned the room quickly. He sighed and relaxed as he saw it was just me.

"You okay babe?" He asked. He was still wearing his clothes and I figured he must have gotten back recently.

"Yeah, I'm fine. When did you get back?" I asked. I got out of bed and Ranger followed me into the kitchen. I bent and got a bottle of water out of the fridge. I looked at Ranger, he was staring at me oddly. "Earth to Ranger? When did you get back?"

"Oh…uh…just recently. Uh babe? I'm going to apologize for this now." He stalked towards and pushed me against the counter. He pressed his lips against mine and I felt his hand run over my abdomen and to my breast.

I looked down and shrieked, "I'm naked!"

"Yeah? I kind of figured you realized that," Ranger said sarcastically. He was still pressed up against me, "So I guess this wasn't an invitation." I shook my head slightly and Ranger backed up a few steps. I sighed. I needed to make a decision about Ranger. Maybe I was forcing myself to do it too early, I didn't know. But I knew I wanted Ranger, I wanted him to help me forget the pain.

"I didn't say you had to stop," I said in a low voice. Ranger's eyes darkened and took a step towards me and paused. I waited for him to move forward but instead he gave a slight shake of his head and walked out of the kitchen. I heard his bedroom door close softly and I slid down the kitchen wall. Tears stung my eyes and swiped them away with my fist. He'd gone from hot to cold so fast that it confused me. I stood up, walked back to my room and crawled into bed. I tossed and turned for an hour.

What was wrong with him? He told me loved me, he obviously wanted me. The minute I tell him I want him back and he just backs off? Cripes. No wonder my life is complicated. Well fuck that.

I got up and walked to Ranger's room. He would just have to tell me what the hell was going on. I opened the door and walked to his side of the bed. He was sound asleep, probably tired from tracking the skip all over hell and gone. I poked him in the bicep.

"Ranger! WAKE UP!" He shifted and opened an eye.

"What's wrong?"

"You! You are what's wrong! What was that about huh? You say you love me and then back off when I want to have sex? What the fuck Ranger?"

"Calm down."

"No! I have been calm. I haven't done more than have a few crying jags and you know what? I don't want to be fucking calm anymore! I'm angry and hurt and confused and I just want to punch something!" I was breathing hard and I was suddenly so angry. Not just at Ranger but at everything. I was angry that Joe had died, I was angry at how I had handled it and most of all I angry at Joe for dying. "Why'd he have to die, huh? It's not fair."

Ranger stood up and grabbed me, trying to pull me into a hug. But I was still angry and I tried to push him away and when he wouldn't let me I started punching and hitting him. He stood there and let me pound my fists into his stomach and chest until I was shaking so hard all I could do was cry. I finally let him pull me into the hug and we stood like that for a long time.

"That's why Steph. We can't be together until you're over what happened. You need to be happy first." Ranger said, dropping a kiss onto my hair. "Steph, I'm thinking maybe you should go to a therapist." I froze before looking up at him. His dark eyes were full of concern and so I nodded.

"Okay." I agreed because it had dawned on me that I wasn't handling this right. I still loved Joe and I always would. Pushing it to the side wouldn't help anything. Being with Ranger wouldn't solve my issues.

Ranger walked me back to my room and I slowed half way there, "You're naked."

"So are you."

"Okay then." I saw the corners of Ranger's mouth tilt up. He tucked me in and turned to leave. "Can you stay? I haven't slept much the last few nights." Ranger nodded and slipped in beside me, keeping a sheet between us. I laid on my stomach and Rangers hand found my back, tracing patterns onto the bare skin. I finally fell into the deep sleep I'd needed since I'd come home from the hospital.

Ranger was still asleep when I woke up in the morning. He was pressed against me and the feeling of his warm skin on my chilled body was wonderful. Ranger's alarm was going off down the hall and I got up as quietly as I could and turned it off. I turned around and Ranger was right behind me.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

"I'm going to get you an appointment for today. I have a friend that owes me a favor," Ranger said. I nodded and went back to my room to shower. I gave Rex a hamster treat, made sure the kittens had water and then left the apartment.

I went down to the fifth floor and walked by everyone without talking to them. I went to my office and logged onto my laptop. My inbox was full of searches and I started in on them, trying to make a dent. I'd been working a few hours when Ranger knocked and then entered my office. "Are you ready?"

"No." I got up though and followed Ranger down to his Porsche. We didn't go far before Ranger pulled into a parking garage. He opened my door for me and held my hand as we went into the building. He signed me in and came to sit with me.

"It'll be okay Steph. This will be good for you." I nodded and Ranger squeezed my hand. The secretary called my name and I walked back and met the doctor. I sat down and got ready to face myself.

Let me know what you think.