Disclaimer: The characters you recognize as J.E. are hers. Any other character is a figment of my imagination. Kallie is my own creation and I take full credit for her. Guess who else is coming into the Rangeman fold.

Spoilers: Possibly any book from 1-18.

Chapter 21: Years Pass By

Stephanie's POV:

As I sat at my desk waiting for the search I was waiting on to come up with the information I needed, I worked on the list of all the things Ranger and I would need to take with us to Miami. Julie and Kallie were both graduating from Florida International University in two weeks' time and Ranger and I were going down to spend the next two weeks with our girls. Although Julie was now 23 and Kallie had just turned 18, they were both leaving University with Master's degrees. Both girls were super smart and Julie had managed to complete 3 different Masters Programs in the five years she'd been at University. Kallie was something of a genius. By the time she was 14 she'd made it through high school and the local colleges. She'd come to us four years ago and pleaded with us to let her go to the same school Julie was attending. We talked with Julie and found out that Kallie had already asked her permission to attend the same school. She didn't want to cramp her sister's style by always being around if Julie wanted more freedom. Of course Julie promised to watch out for her little sister and after Ranger had made arrangements for both girls to be monitored by Rangeman Miami, we gave our okay.

Kallie had managed to not only get 3 Master's Degrees, but she also had a PhD. The girls came to Trenton at every break and we spent quality family time. It was hard letting my baby go so far away, but knowing Julie was there with her made it slightly easier. Plus, anytime I missed her too much, Ranger would surprise me with a long weekend in Miami. It also helped that Kallie knew how I was feeling and would often call when I started missing her too bad. She'd know just what to say to help me get through the rough days. After so many years of fighting against marriage to Joe and having a family, I found marriage with the right man and the family of our choice was exactly what I wanted.

I glanced at my computer to check on my search before looking again at the list in front of me. The only reason I was down here today instead of on seven going through the bags that we had packed, was because today we were getting three transfers from Boston. Drago, Ranger's counterpart in Boston had hired three young men in their mid to late 20's. Although the guys had all the skills and had great potential, there had been a few problems. Drago had asked Ranger if he'd let the three transfer here and work with the core team to iron out the kinks…or rather attitudes.

I knew that Ranger was going to put the three on as my bodyguards. We had talked and after rolling my eyes I had to admit that Ranger's reasoning was sound. If they could survive Babe detail, they could survive anything. After all, Ranger said his guys had nothing on me if I was determined to get away from them. Just last week Gray, an ex-navy seal Ranger had hired three months ago, was charged with Babe detail and he tried to stop me from leaving the building. We argued and after several minutes of getting nowhere, I threw my hands in the air and turned away. When I turned back around Gray was standing there grinning ear to ear at getting me to back down. I gave him a wry smile and watched as his eyes widened with stunned surprise before he slumped to the ground when I stunned him.

When I got down to the garage, Lester was just pulling in and when I got in the Cayenne, he jumped in the passenger seat. I gave him my best Burg glare and he just smiled and folded his arms over his chest. I sighed before starting the vehicle and pulling out of the garage heading to the store so I could get the Tastykakes I had been after before Gray tried to stop me. When we returned to the 5th floor after I had my desired treat, a more subdued Gray was coming out of Ranger's office. When he saw me he blushed. He stopped in front of me and told me he would never under-estimate me again. Then he shook his head and told me he had been so sure I would never get the upper hand on him and that he was sure he'd never live it down. I smiled and told him to ask Hal how he dealt with it when I stunned him. Gray's eyes grew wide and his gaze went to where Hal was sitting at his cubicle. He just shook his head and walked away.

Although I didn't always need bodyguards, Ranger insisted it was the best way of training his men. He said if the men could survive Babe detail they could survive anything. When I glared at him he just smiled and said I was the best training his men could get. My computer finally let me know my search was complete at the same moment that the doors opened and three young men walked off the elevator. I stood to get a good look at the three men walking towards Ranger's office and my eyes widened. I swear, I couldn't find anywhere in the handbook where it said the guys had to be good looking and built, but the three new men were definitely HOT! I sat down and lifted a folder to fan myself. The last had been the hottest. My spidey senses were on high alert. Looked like I was going to have to warn Julie and Kallie that the next two weeks might be very interesting indeed.