Alright well I have two chapters for this story in the works. And I'll be honest, I didn't spend a lot of time editing over this chapter. However, I'll post it this morning and after work I'll go back over it and re-post this chapter if I find any distracting mistakes. Okay, with that said, please enjoy!

Same disclaimers!

Chapter 14 Honeymoon Over?

I felt as if I were floating on air with two strong arms locking me in place. I was dosing in and out of consciousness and it wasn't until I felt soft familiar lips at my ear and a whispered "Babe wake up" that I fully took conscious.

"Ranger? Where are we, and why are you carrying me?"

It took me a moment but then I realized we were in my old apartment building in Dillon's—my previous superintendent—so called 'office'. Ranger had carried me from the car without me even knowing. I was so completely out of it.

Ranger had allowed me to slide down his body as I took in my surroundings. "Why are we here?" I asked.

Ranger sighed and took a seat in one of the 'office' chairs. "We need to see if Dillon has any of you're mail that hasn't been forwarded to your new address."

I scrunched my face in question. "Why? It's probably just junk mail anyway. I've paid all my bills" I said

Ranger was slightly slouched low in the seat, probably hanging on a limb after the long day he had. Reaching up to his face, his hand brushed over his face; looking outright exhausted. He turned to me, making sure he had my attention. "Did you happen to recognize anyone at the bar—an old classmate perhaps?"

I felt my face scrunch in utter confusion. Way to jump topics here bucko, and how completely random!

"Yes babe, I know. But this is important. It will make sense in a moment, but first, please just answer the question."

I thought back to the bar and besides the woman and Mike the bar tender, I didn't take any notice to anyone. Mike and Ranger had spoke in hushed tones, discussing street affairs and I sat there sipping on my coke while thinking about my pending pregnancy. Here Ranger was counting on me to take in my surroundings and I'm off in Stephanie-land. Way to go me!

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying any attention. I didn't know you wanted me to be alert and observant." I replied, sounding apologetic.

Ranger smiled, but the smile didn't quite meet his eyes. "Babe, I always want, or rather need you to be alert and observant. But I didn't expect you to do anything out of the ordinary; I'm just asking if you recognized anyone, see a familiar face perhaps?"

I shook my head.

He let out a sigh and sat up straighter in his seat. "Well how about the name Lena Wilkins? Ring any bells?"

I thought really hard, trying to connect any dots—place the name to a face.

A hand brushed my cheek and I turned into it. "Don't think to hard babe," he said, moving his hand away. "Lena was at the bar tonight. The one you saw."

I realized the woman he was speaking of and felt the jealous beast creep into place. The woman was the one trying to get-up-all-on my man. I meant to say I got his gist, but a growl came out instead.

"Babe," he replied, sounding surprised with a smirk playing at his lips. I was amusing him.

"Sorry, you bring out a very territorial side in me. Be wise at how you handle that new-found info."

He gave away a glimpse of an expression that looked as if he truly enjoyed that piece of info. As if it satisfied a hidden part of him that he kept well under wraps. Well, glad I could appease that for him.

"Okay so, are you going to explain who she was?"

Ranger looked happy as he looked on, then as he processed my question he sat up in his seat; his expression turned serious once again.

"Perhaps she doesn't seem all that familiar to you seeing how your graduating class was over 500…"

"Wait, what? How do you know that and what's that got to do with anything?" I interrupted with a mass of questions.

He smiled slightly, shaking his head before answering. "Babe, if you'd be patient I would eventually get to that."

Oh, right.

I rolled my hand in a gesture to indicate I was ready for him to carry on and I would do my best not to butt in.

"Lena Wilkins graduated in your class and it is NCIS's belief that she is back in town visiting for the 10-year-reunion in the next couple of weeks."

"Why is NCIS interested in Lena?" And has it really been ten years (more actually) since I've graduated? Why was there to be celebration now? Wow where did the time go?

He looked off, distant with his thoughts. Probably pondering how much he should reveal. He took a deep inhale before turning back to me. "NCIS is following a trail of murders that all have a connection to one another. A connection that ties them all together."

In my head I was chanting: please don't say me, please don't say me!

He smirked as if he knew my thoughts (which wouldn't surprise me). "No worries babe…at least just yet. All these murders were of men who have some form of military background."

"Okay…" I said, following his words but not getting his point.

He continued on, diligently. "The latest murder was a man who had been secretly dating Lena and NCIS has been tailing her. Last couple nights ago they found her at Larry's pub hanging all over one of my men."

Ohmygod…

"So naturally Rangeman was the next place of interest for NCIS," he reasoned, finishing his spiel, leaving me to ask the questions unanswered.

"Who was the Rangeman that Lena had her sights on?"

Ranger looked amused in his thoughts before he gave his answer. "One of my tech boys, Ram."

"I know Ram!" I exclaimed. Ram had once caught us in the stairwell while we were in an inconvenient situation. Having been strictly platonic at the time (well at first), Ranger and I were situated with him on top, after he had caught me from falling down the stairs.

"So where does this leave us with NCIS?"

Ranger let out a long drawn-out sigh and sat up straighter. "For now, they are just asking for the assistance of the Rangeman facility," he answered ruggedly. "Though I know better, NCIS is here to keep a tight eye on more than just the situation, but rather me."

That caused me to shoot up from being slouched down in my seat, alarmed by his answer. "Wait, what? Why would they want to keep a close eye on you?"

Ranger let a sly little smirk grown from his lips. "Babe, I am rather notorious on the streets, I have quite the reputation as you know."

I rolled my eyes and slapped his arm. "Okay enough of the jokes, why has NCIS found you so appealing to their case? And don't even think about sugar coding the details, I'm not some little floozy wifey of yours."

Ranger had opened his mouth as if he were going to say something, but just then the door flung open and there stood Dillon.

As it turned out, Dillon didn't have any leftover mail for me. He did however have a overdo late fee bill carried over for my early contract break charge. Apparently there was a thing in my contract that said if I ended my contract early I owed a 500 dollar charge. And because it was late he tacked on another 500 dollars.

I just starred at him with an open mouth, speechless at first before I could answer.

I blinked then replied, "Dillon, I gave you a months notice that I was moving out to live with my husband…you said," I paused to give myself a moment to collect myself. I was on edge. Lowering my voice I continued on. " You said that you would take care of it. I trusted you to take care of it not charge me 1,000 dollars!"

Dillon lifted up his hands in a don't blame me gesture. I started to rise from my seat to show him just how much I blamed him when I felt my husbands hand on my thigh to hold me in place. I turned to give him a mouth full too but he wasn't even looking at me, he was staring Dillon head on with a irritated look on his face. Well I knew this to be his irritated face, but to others it was just flat out scary. He looked like a stealth panther, gearing to pounce on his prey.

I looked back at Dillon with a taunting look on my face. Hah! Take that Dillon!

Dillon began to squirm slightly in his office chair he was currently sitting in across from us. I knew it was only a matter of time before that little fee just disappeared into thin air.

And surely enough, five minuets later Ranger and I were back in his car headed back to Rangeman with my 1,000 dollars still intact!

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