Disclaimer: The characters you recognize as J.E. are hers. The rest belong to me. Thanks to Knitter (Sandy) for the basic idea for the story.

Spoilers: Anything from the first 18 books.

This is probably more AU than canon. Although there may be material from any of the 18 books, I have changed the reality of Stephanie and the rest of the characters from the Plum series.

I would like to thank all of you that have reviewed. I try to respond to all reviews, so for those of you that reviewed as guests or have your PM turned to off, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for your reviews. Special thanks to mandyh for her help with it's and its for future reference.

Chapter 36: Paybacks a Bitch

Woody's POV:

I opened my eyes and blinked several times to try and make sense of what I was seeing. I shot upright in the bed, or tried to, and looked around with widened eyes. SHIT! Damn that Lester! I turned and tried to work myself free but it was no use. I was lying in a bed in the middle of the hallway stark naked with my hands handcuffed to the bedposts and my ankles were shackled as well. What was worse is I could hear the sounds of people starting to stir and I knew this hallway would be crowded with people at any moment.

I heard a muffled, "Help me! Get me out a here!"

I tried once again to get free but I had nothing available to pick the lock. I sighed, knowing who I had to thank for this. I smiled as I thought about the pictures I had from last night and what I was planning to do with them. After this stunt, Lester would be lucky if every Rangeman office didn't get a set to pass around. Just then who should walk down from the third floor but Stephanie. She stopped on seeing me au-natural and her eyes got huge. Her face turned bright red and she turned and ran back up the stairs. I vaguely heard the sound of laughter and closed my eyes as I pictured her telling Ranger about the sight that met her eyes.

As if to add insult to injury another door opened and then there was a sputtering and a voice I knew belonged only to Lula exclaiming, "Tankie, get yo ass over here and see what those fools are playin' at now."

I closed my eyes as I heard the heavier footstep of Tank coming into the hall. His shadow fell over me and I looked up with a resigned grimace. Tank smiled and turned around and headed back to join Lula. When he closed the door my eyes widened and I groaned. Come on man! Somebody had to help me out of this. About then Ram and Jeanne Ellen's door opened and Jeanne Ellen screamed as she got a look at me. I would have loved to have pled my case with someone, but the joker that put me here duck taped my mouth shut.

Ram struggled not to react but lost it and was laughing hysterically for a Rangeman. I glared but all it did was make the bastard laugh all the harder. Just about the time Jeanne Ellen got Ram back into their room Les's door opened and he sauntered out. He smiled and his eyes widened. He looked around and then scratched his head. I glared at him but all he did was bend over to look under the bed.

I saw his shoulders start to shake at the same time I heard a pleading voice cry out, "Help me! Get me out a here!"

My eyes widened and I wondered where that voice was coming from. Les sat down on the floor and folded his hands under his chin and grinned, "I don't know. I kinda like how everyone is positioned right now."

Again the muffled voice, "But I'm old and you'll give me a heart attack."

Lester chuckled, "What about what you did to me last night? Did you think about my poor weak heart then?"

I could swear I felt the steam rising from under the bed as the muffled voice once more spoke saying, "Stephanie won't like it if she finds out you are playing cruel jokes on me."

Les nodded, "You got me there Grandmazilla."

For several seconds there was complete silence and then from beneath me I heard laughter. "You're a fine one to talk Lestinator."

I could see Les smile at the reference to the Terminator. "I'll make a deal with you Granny."

I heard the sigh, "What's the deal?"

"You put me on your endangered species list and I'll get you out of there."

There was a pause. "And if I say no?"

Lester smiled, "Then I can think of lots more places to put you. Of course if I forget where I have you stashed it could take days before someone finds you. Remember, I work for Ranger so I'm one of the best."

"Yeah well you're not so good about keeping those intruders out."

"I'm working on that one. So do we have a deal?"

"What about Woody?"

"Do you care?"

A pause, "Well, I guess he's a big boy and can take care of himself."

Lester laughed and my eyes narrowed. All I could do was think to myself, 'When I get out of this Lester you are so dead.' Grandma's voice seemed much weaker suddenly and she coughed. Then I heard the wheezing and had a feeling something was going on.

Les's eyes narrowed and he asked, "You okay Granny?"

The wheezing got worse and there was no answer. I could see Lester sweating now. If anything happened to the old lady Stephanie would rip Lester a new one. Lester leaned in to try and reach Grandma but she was in a spot he couldn't reach the way he was going about it. The only way he was going to get to her was if he let me loose and lifted the mattress. Once Lester realized that he lost no time in setting me free. I wrapped the sheet around me and called for Stephanie. Les sent me a horrified glance and worked all the harder at getting Granny out from under the bed. Stephanie came running down the stairs to see what was going on and Ranger was right behind her. Not only that but Tank and Lula came out of their room and Ram and Jeanne Ellen came out of theirs too. Lester was working frantically to free grandma and I had to admit she looked pretty pale.

When Stephanie saw where her Grandma was she put her hands on her hips and declared, "Lester Santos you went too far. Anything happens to my Grandma and you will answer to me buster!"

By now Les had Grandma free of the ropes that had her tied to the bed. At just that moment Bobby topped the stairs and hurried over. He checked Grandma over and shook his head. He looked up at Les and said, "We need to get her to the hospital. She's having a heart attack."

Les's face went white and I kinda felt sorry for the bastard. Here he was just trying to get a little of his own back and everything backfired on him. Ranger grabbed Stephanie who went to lunge at Les before narrowing his eyes and saying in a deadly soft tone, "Santos! You better pray she pulls through. Get your ass downstairs and get the Cayenne ready to roll."

Lester lost no time in flying down the stairs and out the front door. At the sound of a splash, everyone around me started smiling and laughing. I about freaked myself when Grandma opened her eyes and winked at Ranger. Ranger turned to me, "No more pranking."

I wasn't stupid. "No sir."

Ranger indicated the bed, "You and Santos get that back where it belongs."

"Yes sir."

They all went downstairs and a few minutes later a totally soaked Lester came upstairs. Without a word we moved the bed back where it came from and cleaned everything up. I asked Les, "Uh, can you tell me where my clothes are?"

Les glared at me, "I could, but I don't feel like it."

I narrowed my eyes and was going to say something when Ram came back upstairs with a bundle that looked like my clothes. Unfortunately they were soaked. I grimaced but figured it wouldn't hurt to wear them back to Rangeman. I sighed and went into get dressed.

Stephanie's POV:

I wasn't sure what woke me but I grabbed my gun from the night stand and silently as possible I made my way down to the second floor. I saw Lester setting up the bed and then watched as he got Grandma and tied her to the underside of the bed before getting Woody and stripping him down and attaching him to the bed. I waited till he went back to his own room before creeping forward and asking Grandma how she wanted to get him back. When she told me the plan I had to admit it was brilliant! I slipped back upstairs and got Ranger to help me set things in motion.

Once we had everything ready, I made sure Grandma was comfortable before we headed back for the third floor. I set the alarm early enough so Grandma wouldn't be too uncomfortable. I knew I would set things in motion. I headed downstairs and upon seeing Woody in all his glory I headed back upstairs laughing. I had made sure to call everyone and tell them what was happening and what we were planning. Plus I called Rangeman and asked Bobby to come out and play his part. When Woody called my name I knew Grandma had set events in motion and I headed down to do my part.

I almost felt sorry for Les when I saw how he reacted to Grandma being in distress. I knew this was for his own good, but I felt bad about this plan seeing how it affected Les. Of course, what Grandma and Woody did the night before was pretty bad too. I was hoping this would take care of Lester's penchant for pranks. Of course Ranger intended to let the guys know the pranks stopped here. Now I just had to get Grandma to behave. I sighed. Talk about the impossible.

Ranger had set it up so as soon as Lester went through the front door he would be soaked. As soon as we heard the splash we knew Lester had his first clue this was a put up job. Ranger let Woody know in no uncertain terms that the pranks stopped now. I helped Grandma to her room where she cleaned up and got dressed before joining the rest of us downstairs. I was the first one to the kitchen and even though I didn't do it often I got the ingredients out to make breakfast. I almost had everything set up when I noticed something odd as I looked at the ceiling on the back entry where our keypad was situated. I went over to get a closer look. Grandma came in while I was checking it out.

"What you looking at Baby Girl?"

"It looks like the paint is chipped up there."

"Maybe that workman did it the other day when he was here."

"What workman Grandma?"

"Don't know who he was. He was wearing the black uniform with Rangeman on the shirt so I let him in."

"What day was that?"

"The day before those yahoos broke in and that Chipotle guy bought the farm."

I left Grandma in the kitchen to get breakfast while I went into the dining room to tell Ranger I might know how the intruders got in. The others were all sitting around chatting and I went over and threw my arms around Ranger's neck. I leaned in and whispered, "I think I know how the intruders got in."

To say I had the guy's attention was putting it mildly. "How Babe?" Ranger asked.

"Grandma said there was a worker here the day before those guys broke in. I noticed some chipped paint in the back entry. I think they put up a camera to get the code from the keypad."

All the guys gave me a funny look and they made their way to the back entry to check it out. Ranger had his phone out and was calling into Rangeman. He said he wanted a team out here ASAP. Once he put the phone away he gave me the almost smile and said, "Proud of you Babe. You never disappoint."

WOW! This is a 3 chapter day! How about that?