Chapter 14--

Steph's POV

It felt weird being in my old apartment. It had been weeks since Ranger had asked me to move in with him, but the threat of my stalker kept him and I from actually move my stuff out. Ella had fun shopping for me the minute she thought it was possible Ranger and I would begin dating, and so far I'd had no troubles surviving without the stuff from my apartment. I just recently decided it was pointless to keep the apartment and all of the stuff in it around much longer. All it was doing was wasting space and money.

I had only very narrowly convinced Ranger to let me come here, even with him accompanying me. I understood that this stalker was getting under his skin, but I still believed him to be overreacting. This was no different than any other stalker I had ever had, except that this one seemed to enjoy targeting me right under Ranger's nose. I was beginning to think that this was Ranger's stalker, not mine.

The last thing I had heard was a few days ago when once again the stalker walked right under the Merry Men and Ranger's noses. He left another note on my windshield, only saying, "You haven't found me yet because you are ignoring the obvious." Little things that before wouldn't have made me worry were now causing massive meetings and overtime hours at Rangeman. If Ranger's ego didn't deflate just a bit in the next week, I might blow a gasket and having his breath down my neck.

Ranger, Lester, Tank, and I were standing in my entryway, Lester and Tank having just finished searching my apartment. It was quite ridiculous to have them going through an apartment that had been empty for weeks with their guns drawn like they were invading a third world country.

"Nothing boss," Lester said, opening his mouth to say more.

"Good," Ranger replied, "I want to get this done as fast as possible…"

"No boss, that's not what I mean. There is nothing but that furniture here. No clothes, not shoes, no makeup in the bathroom, nothing. It's all gone."

Silence filled my apartment as Ranger immediately tensed. The guys had reholstered their guns, so I knew there was no danger, and my body immediately filled with anger. Who the hell had taken all my stuff??!!!! How dare they, whoever the hell they were, take all of my stuff. I may have lived without all of it for the past several weeks, but there was still plenty of stuff that was here that I wanted.

Ranger only hesitated a second before jumping into action. "Tank, call the Rangeman lab technicians. I want them to go through this whole place, looking for anything out of the ordinary."

"Like that is gonna help," I muttered under my breath.

Tank paused in midreach for his cell phone but immediately continued after receiving the death glare from Ranger. Lester stood with his mouth hanging open, his reaction letting me know I said that a little louder than I had hoped, but also shut his mouth very quickly after seeing Ranger's death glare aimed at Tank.

Ranger pulled me over near my refrigerator taking slow deep breaths. I realized that I had probably upset him with my lack of confidence in his abilities. I didn't mean it like that at all; I had complete faith in Ranger finding whoever was doing this. I just thought he needed to clear his mind and stop letting it get personal, but I had to lie and not say that to him.

"Steph, why do you think my efforts are not going to help keep you safe?" Yep my suspicions were right on the money.

I put my hands on either side of his face, seeing the pain in my lack of faith, and the tiredness that came with worrying day and night. I knew that he had not been sleeping the way he should, he wasn't eating the way he should, and he was constantly on edge. I don't think that he could even concentrate on Rangeman work anymore. It was amazing how Batman could be brought down at the fact that someone was doing something right under his nose and he couldn't' figure out who in the world it was.

"We seemed to have reversed roles Carlos," I began confusing flashing across his face, "A few weeks ago it was me misinterpreting your actions and your words. All I meant was that this guy never leaves anything. It seems as though everything we do is already thought out by him. I'm frustrated not at you but by how good this guy is."

Ranger seemed to soften a little at my words, but as always, especially when we were out of the secure atmosphere of the Rangeman, he still remained quite tense. I gave him a soft peck on the lips and released him. He smiled and ran his fingers up and down my cheeks before turning and giving Tank instructions on what to do concerning the apartment. As Ranger pulled me out of the apartment I gazed back, feeling silly that I would get a few moments to say good bye to one of the few places that had ever felt like home.

Even as I walked out the door I could picture the kitchen were my cookie jar once sat next to Rex's cage. I could picture the cabinet where I kept my peanut butter. I could see myself locking the deadbolt on my door but shaking my head knowing that would not stop anyone who wanted to get into my apartment, especially Ranger. I could see myself curled up in my favorite blanket on my old tattered couch watching the Ghostbusters. I could feel the breeze on my face as I sat on the fire escape, picture my closet overflowing, now empty, and my outdated bathroom also overflowing with all my things, including my old friend the shower massager.

I felt tears come to my eyes as I realized that although I wouldn't give up living with Ranger for the world, I would miss my old apartment. I had so many memories there. From finding Lula on my fire escape, to watching Ranger risk his life for me and his daughter. Granted most of them weren't always happy, most of them were scary, but it had been my home.

When we got to the Cayenne, Ranger didn't start the car, but pulled me into his lap over the console and held me tight.

"I know that you are going to miss your apartment, Babe. It's okay to be sad it was your home for so long," Ranger soothed while running his hand up and down my spine and kissing my hair.

I felt silly. I didn't want to feel this way especially as we moved forward in our lives, toward happier memories in a different home. Knowing that I had to move on I leaned back and smiled at Ranger, "You know what would make me happier?" I said with a hint of a smile.

"Hmmm…I don't know Babe, what would that be?" Ranger smiled back at me with a hint of amusement in his tone.

"I nice shower massager to make up for the loss of all my things," I said smirking at him.

"Babe, have you know worries I am you personal shower massager only my use isn't restricted to the shower, although, have I ever told you how good I am in the shower?"

I grinned, "You haven't in a long time, but I do believe you showed me not too long ago."

Ranger chuckled a low chuckle before pulling my head in for a light peck, "Come on, Babe, let's go home and make memories that will overshadow the sadness at leaving here."

Ranger's POV

I knew Steph was getting upset at the constant guard, and I knew she noticed how stressed I was. I hoped she didn't feel guilty, I would rather have her angry with me and the way I was taking care of myself than feeling like this was all her fault. I realized my mistake, that I should have given her more time in her apartment, and that's why I took her back to our apartment and curled up on the couch with her and watched Ghostbusters. I even indulged in a little popcorn to make her laugh and smile. She had fallen asleep, I will never understand how she can sleep as much and anywhere, and I was wishing I could join her but I was still anxious to talk to Tank.

I carefully left the couch and left her note before heading downstairs. I found Tank in his office, and I quickly shut the door and sat in front of him.

"What did you find?" I asked getting right to the point.

"Nothing, boss, yet again," Tank sighed, feeling the same way I was feeling. I couldn't blame my men that this guy was so good. If he wasn't after Steph I would try to hire him.

"The only thing we found was a note in her closet that said that he had taken her stuff to where it belonged. I have no idea what that means, but everything but the furniture was gone, even her cookie jar," Tank continued, "We checked out the note, again, nothing interesting or note worthy about it."

We sat in silence for a few minutes as we pondered over this. We hadn't been keeping watch over her apartment, because it truly never crossed our minds. She lived here now, why bother with there?

"Tank, put someone on the apartment. Its unlikely he'll come back, but hey, you never know."

"On it. I hope we catch this guy soon, I can tell Bomber is getting restless."

I knew it too, and I just hoped she didn't try to pull anything like sneaking out. She may stun gun all my men this time instead of just one.

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