This is a short little chapter from Bobby's POV. I thought maybe you'd like to know what he's thinking about certain things. Leave me some love... I made two chapters in two days!

~AJ

Bobby's POV

After the incident at Shorty's, I sat in the back of the SUV with Stephanie leaning into me. I knew she was trying to keep from breaking down in front of the guys; she was always trying to hide her feelings in front of them. I was surprised when, all of the sudden, Steph whispered thank you in my ear. I wanted to ask her for what, but could see by the look in her eyes that she wasn't ready to talk, so I just nodded.

When we pulled into the garage, I opened the door, angled out, and helped her out. I wanted to carry her, just to feel her in my arms and prove to myself that she was safe, but I knew she'd not go for that. I told the guys that she and I were off for the rest of the day and we headed to our apartment. Our apartment… when the hell did that happen?

As we entered the apartment, I looked at Steph, "How are you really, Tiger?" I saw her try to shrug it off, but I knew it was bothering her. Not letting her look away, I saw the tears begin to fall and I hugged her to me. Once she was done crying, I carried her to my bedroom and placed her in the center. I didn't want to leave her, but I needed an ice pack for my jaw. I wouldn't admit this to anyone, but it hurt like a fucker. Morelli just happened to hit in the spot that was broken years ago.

After I returned with the ice pack, I crawled up in the bed with her and pulled her to me. When she laid her head on my shoulder, I put the ice pack to my jaw and closed my eyes. With Stephanie near me, her head on my shoulder, all felt right in my world. I wasn't completely sure what the hell was happening, but I knew if the rest of my life felt like this, I wanted it.

I must have drifted off to sleep because I woke up when I felt Steph move her head. "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you," she whispered.

I didn't want her to feel bad, so I answered, "You didn't. I was just resting and enjoying the feeling."

She looked at me with a funny expression, "What feeling? Does your jaw feel better?"

I looked at her and thought about how to answer and decided to be honest, "Yeah, it's fine. But, I was enjoying the feel of you next to me, taking comfort in my arms and resting on my chest."

She scooted away from me and headed to the restroom. I hoped like hell that I didn't just scare the shit out of her. I figured I'd best get the ice pack back in the freezer, so I headed out to the kitchen and hoped she was okay. When I turned from the freezer, I saw her standing there against the counter, "I wanted to thank you for protecting me and not letting him touch me," she said in a low voice.

I walked around the counter and pulled her to me. After I wrapped my arms around her waist and rested my chin on her head, I told her, "I'll never let him touch you again. I'll die before that ever happens." I knew I was laying it all on the line and risking her running for the hills. Hell, after all she'd been through, she needed time to adjust to things and here I was trying to tell her how I felt.

"Can we stay at the house for the next few nights? Joe will most likely figure I'm staying here and I don't feel like dealing with him right now."

I could see the concern etched on her face and she needed less stress, not more. So, of course I agreed and grabbed a few changes of clothes. I was hoping to make it out of Rangeman without a big fuss, but the wind blew the wrong direction and the Gods were pissed.

As we reached the garage, Ranger came over to her. "Leaving, Babe?" he asked. Why the fuck is he still calling her Babe? Of course, me being the stupid ass caveman that I am, I threw my arm around her shoulders and growled low enough that I hoped she didn't hear me. When he tried to get Steph to stay there, I really began getting pissed. He wasn't a part of her life any more other than a friend. When she told him we were still going to go stay at my place, a part of me wanted to beat on my chest, but I refrained.

I could tell Steph had drifted off to somewhere in her head, so I let her be on the drive. Finally I couldn't take it anymore and began talking to her but her phone rang. It was her lawyer and they discussed what happened during the day. When she begin talking about the events of the day, I saw her begin to cry as she talked about me being hit. Without thinking, I reached over, grabbed her hand, kissed her wrist, and settled her hand on my thigh. I never let go as she talked.

She told me that the divorce should be final by the end of the week. I decided to plan a celebration for her; I was thinking a trip to Hoboken might be in order. I wondered if she'd prefer a private party or one with all her friends. I'll have to come up with a strategy to find out.

I pulled into the drive, cut the engine, and turned to face her, "Thank you," I said as I kissed her wrist again. Man, I've never been one to go after particular body parts, but seeing the reaction I get from kissing her wrist is enough to make me want to kiss it forever.

I heard her whisper, "For what?" as I kissed that wonder wrist one more time.

"For trusting me to keep you safe and wanting to stay here," I told her honestly.

"I've never doubted your ability to keep me safe, I just never wanted to be a burden," she replied. A burden? She'd never be a burden.

"You never were and never will be a burden to me," I told her. "I love… I love taking care of you." Shit, where the hell did that come from? I almost said I love you to her. That really would have sent her running to woods. I had get her mind off my slipup before she realized what I'd done. "Come on, let's get inside." I opened the door, grabbed my bag, and met her in front of the SUV. Grabbing her hand, I walked up to the porch and let us in.

Steph grabbed some more comfortable clothes to change into. When she headed to the bathroom, I made a quick trip to the bedroom and slipped into a pair of black lounge pants and nothing else. In the living room, I grabbed the two new DVDs I'd picked up and opened them. Taking the knife from my end table, I sliced open the 'Security' tape. Honest to God, do they really need to put three pieces of this shit on the case? I made it back to the couch as she was finishing up in the bathroom. From the corner of my eye, I watched her approach the living room and stop.

I had to control myself; I was dying laughing on the inside. I mean, come on. She was standing there, staring at me like she'd never seen me before. Well, I guess I have been trying to make sure she wasn't uncomfortable around me, so I always wore a shirt. Tonight, I was just too hot to wear one. When I saw her discreetly reach up and check for drool, I knew she was going to be okay.

I patted the cushion next to me, "Come sit with me?" She curled up into my side as we watched Ghostbusters. When that was over, I put in Sixteen Candles. About three-fourths of the way through, Steph stretched out on the couch with her head in my lap and fell asleep. I finished watching the movie and tried to keep my mind off what she was using as a pillow. I knew if I thought about it too much, she'd wake up because her pillow would be poking her in the ear.

When the credits began rolling, I slipped out from under Steph's head and picked her up. Carrying her back to the bedroom, I placed her in bed, kissed her forehead, covered her up, and headed to my office. I'd cleared out enough space for a cot to sleep on. Steph tried fighting me on it, telling me to take the bed and she'd take the couch or the cot. Honestly, I didn't want her sleeping anywhere but my bed. I'd lain awake a few nights here just imagining her in there and me curling up to her. Sure, I'd have to take a cold shower in the middle of the night, but she never knew. I had just drifted off to sleep when I heard the most God-awful blood-curling scream come from my bedroom.