Standard disclaimers I don't own them…although I wish I owned some of them

Warning for the language

And Ranger is a bit AU again

Chapter 13

I took a big breath, I think this was the most I had said to Ranger without him interrupting, "You need to start being able to laugh Ranger, because I can't ever be with someone who can't laugh at the craziness surrounding them. And damnit I love you, so will you just pull your head out of your ass."

Ranger's eyes got wider and I slapped my hand over my mouth.

I hadn't meant to say that part.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

I didn't let Ranger say anything. I just ran. I knew the Merry Men were standing outside his office creeping and listening in but I just ignored them.

I grabbed my stuff from my cube and ran down the stairs to my car. I didn't even bother turning off my computer or shutting off my desk lamp. I just bolted.

I had meant to give Ranger little hints that I had deeper feelings for him not let it all spill. I had probably made such an ass out of myself, meaning I might want to find a new job.

Shit.

I sped the whole way home, glad that I saw no cops in sight. I was pretty sure I'd break down if I got pulled over.

I ran up the stairs of my building and noticed my hands were shaking as I unlocked the door. Good thing I had that feeling last night that this was going to be bad and had come home from dinner prepared.

I went into my bedroom and put on my comfort clothes, which might not have been a good idea because they were Ranger's boxers and black t-shirt, as well as my Rangeman hoodie. After putting those on I went to the freezer and grabbed my pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Yum.

I put in Ghostbusters and sat down on the couch. Tomorrow would be the most awkward day ever. I wonder if I could get away with playing sick? Probably not, someone would come check on me and I'm pretty horrible and faking sick. I don't think I ever got one over on my mother

Before I knew it I'd finished all my ice cream and was curled up under my blanket on my couch. I was probably going to regret eating that later but oh well.

I felt my eyes begin to shut as Ghostbusters continued to play on my screen. A little nap wouldn't hurt me.

Tank's POV

Lester, Bobby, and I all were standing outside Ranger's office listening and making sure that Steph was actually explaining to Ranger what happened instead of letting him talk.

Well, we were in for a surprise. Ranger opened his mouth and got our girl in one hell of a mood.

I wasn't going to lie and say I didn't find it absolutely hilarious the image of Ranger sitting there like a puppy getting yelled at.

The words coming out of Steph's mouth were priceless and I was going to have to review them on the monitors later when I needed a good laugh.

And then came the words that had us all stopping right in our tracks. We all looked at each other. We were pretty sure she hadn't meant to lay all her cards about loving Ranger on the table like that.

Lester did a silent happy dance in place and high fived Bobby. We were waiting for this to happen since they met and now we had just achieved victory.

We only got a few seconds of celebration in before Steph ran out of Ranger's office. Uh oh, had we missed something? Ranger couldn't have said something stupid could have he?

I nodded at the guys and the silently walked away while I went in to have a chat with our friend.

Ranger's POV

I knew I had made a mistake when I told, no ordered, Steph to start speaking. I was a man of very few words for a reason, when I did speak for the most part bad things happened.

And I could tell by the gleam in her eye that by me opening my mouth I had just given her the ammo to lay into me.

And boy had she. When she told me to shut up and listen for once I was rendered speechless for the first time in a long time, which made me sit my ass down and listen even though I fully intended to speak my mind too.

Right now wasn't going to be the chance to speak my mind because she had just ran out of here after revealing probably her biggest secret ever to me.

Before I could even begin to think of what she just told me Tank walked in. Figures, I should have known him and the other clowns would have been listening. They were like gossiping old ladies.

I gave him a look that said start talking or else get out.

He took the hint and started talking. "Before you ask, yes we were listening, and yes we have strong opinions about what you should be doing right now."

"Oh yeah and what do you clowns think I should be doing right now, huh?"

"We think your ass should be hightailing it out of here to go catch her and tell her how you really feel because we know how you feel despite that fact that your scared ass won't admit it."

And with that Tank left the room.

I sighed, yes I sighed it is possible, and sat back down at my desk with my head resting in my hands. So Tank so through me because he knew me so well. I wonder how many other people had saw through me over the years? I thought I had been good with my mask.

Her explanation made sense, but what they tried to accomplish could have been done in other ways. I sure knew everything she was talking about now that she had explained it and made me go through it. But I'm sure there were different ways that she could have accomplished it without having to go through all of those pranks.

But would I have listened? That question I couldn't answer except that I had planned on making a play for her at some point. Until all that stuff got into the way. Stupid Vegas. I should have known that was never a good idea. Hell, last time I was there I almost got thrown in prison.

Steph not being involved in the wedding thing made me smirk. Excellent, I could get Lester and Monty back for that without involving her. It would be one hell of a payback.

I wonder, could I expand my exterior to allow a few bits of laughter? Maybe, but only Steph could see me laughing. Imagine if a skip caught me laughing. There would go the badass image, right out the window!

I still intended to say my piece, and while I hated someone else being right about me, Tank was right. I needed to go over there and have a talk with her. She needed so see my side. Maybe for once we could both come to a nice compromise. For some reason I had a feeling that part of her compromise would be a massive apology session with the clowns with both me and the group of them apologizing to each other.

Damn I was beginning to feel like a little girl.

Now, what do I say to her? Will she even talk to me?

She'll talk to me, but it will be difficult I know that much. I'll have to be very careful about how and what I say to her. My ordering only made things worse and I'd have to try to leave the little soldier behind at home.

That would be difficult but I could do it if I was going to have any hope of repairing my relationship with Steph. I know that even though she ran out of here scared shitless, she wouldn't be treated like one of my men.

Did I really believe that she had spoken the truth? Absolutely. I'd be a fool not to, even though it was still hard to wrap my head around.

With a plan formulating in my brain I gathered my things from my office, including the present I had bought for Steph in Vegas, and made my way out the door.

Tank's POV

As Ranger dashed out of the building, Lester, Bobby, and I resumed our happy dancing knowing that this would be worked out by the end of the evening.

Score!

XOXOXO

So sorry for the long wait! Summer is here and that means more updates from me

Also sorry that this is such a dense chapter and that it is shorter. It needs to be shorter so that there can be another chapter.

There is only one chapter left, however I need your help! I'm planning a sequel where Ranger gets revenge on all those (including Steph and Monty) that pulled the pranks on him. Any suggestions with what those should be?

Thanks to all those who review!