A/N: Thanks to Jago Ji who kept endlessly returning my chapters with unbelievable timeliness and held me to my posting schedule. And thanks to everyone who has followed this story. This chapter brings to an end my first attempt to write anything other than a 1st person SPOV. The comments from reviewers have been mostly positive and always thoughtful and insightful. During the posting of this story I was writing about 12,000 to 14,000 words a week and my review responses weren't always timely, and for that I apologize, but the reviews were always read and appreciated.

Chapter 36

Ranger sat behind his desk and stared thoughtfully into space, ignoring the papers stacked in front of him. Being the boss had its perks and one of those perks was he could usually find a reason to avoid family obligations. This was different. He'd already asked Stephanie to go with him and his mother and father were expecting him. They'd all be there, even his sister Rosa who was coming from the convent in Miami. He did want to see Rosa as they were close, but he would have liked to see her one-on-one and not in the middle of a big family free for all.

He'd given some consideration to his hesitancy to go. He remembered clearly discussing his isolation tendencies with his therapist, Tavia, but he didn't think it was his PTSD that was making him want to run the other direction from his family. He thought it was Stephanie. He knew his family would bend over backwards to make her feel comfortable and accepted. They'd done so the night he brought her home for dinner. But this would be her second family event and there would be questions, both discreet and straightforward, depending upon the questioner.

He didn't have answers, because he and Stephanie had fallen into a mutually agreeable rhythm without discussing future plans. Some nights she stayed at Haywood, and some nights he stayed at her apartment. Some nights they slept apart, but those nights were rare and usually happened because of late nights at RangeMan.

The last night they'd been apart was just two nights ago and it was not because of RangeMan business. Stephanie was staking out an apartment in the Burg, waiting for a skip to visit his girlfriend. She'd gotten a tip the FTA was inside the girlfriend's house and she sat all night waiting for him to come out, but she didn't sit alone. Lula had accompanied her.

Her car was equipped with trackers and Lula was wearing a personal device issued to her by RangeMan. Stephanie's purse contained a tracker, too, and their location had been monitored all night. He didn't think there would be a problem and there hadn't been. Still, he was surprised and pleased to find Lula and Stephanie in the bonds office the next morning with Connie. They'd just turned in their body receipt and had worked their way through a large box of donuts. They were laughing and on a high from sugar and lack of sleep. He hadn't chastised Lula for breakfasting outside her nutritional guidelines. He was pleased to see they'd been successful and he had hopes for their future pairings.

His thoughts were interrupted by Woody's sudden appearance in his doorway. "Ranger, Steph's car just went off the radar. And her personal trackers are gone, too."

"Where?"

"The 300 block of Stark."

Ranger stood from his desk and walked quickly through the control room to the stairway. His face was blank, but his mind was running a dozen scenarios. She'd been going to Vinnie's today because Connie had told her they had three new low-level skips. If she was going to go after anyone she was to call for backup. She knew the drill and she wasn't supposed to go alone.

By the time he was at the bottom of the stairs he was running full out and the door crashed heavily against the garage wall as he burst through it. Tank was standing next to an SUV. "Unknown explosion on the 300 block of Stark," he told Ranger. "First reports are of property damage only." The preliminary news was good, but he made his way quickly to the Turbo.

"I'll follow you," Tank told him and the two men drove separately to the scene, each hoping for a good outcome. When he rounded the corner on Stark he saw flashing lights ahead of him. He was going to be among the first at the scene, and his heart was racing. He saw her almost immediately, his gaze zeroing in on her with some unknown radar, amidst the smoking car and milling crowd. There was no good place to park, so he turned off Stark and pulled against a vacant curb. When he rounded the corner he was walking at a controlled speed, and he saw Tank waiting for him, as he stood next to the SUV he'd stopped in the middle of the road. With his emotions tightly controlled and hidden behind an expressionless face he joined Tank and they continued toward the scene together.

She was sitting on the curb watching what was left of the green Saturn burn and she had her arm around Mooner. He had his head lying on her shoulder, his eyes hidden. Probably stoned, Ranger thought. It was more likely that he was, than he wasn't. What the hell was Stephanie doing on Stark Street with Mooner? She knew better.

"Babe."

"Ranger," she said as she untangled herself from Mooner and stood. "I don't know what happened." She looked at him for a moment and he wondered if his expression wasn't as controlled as he thought, because she hurried to offer him assurance that she was alright. She gave Tank a little finger wave and turned her attention back to Ranger.

"What were you doing here?" he asked.

"I was picking up Mooner, he works at the Vitamin and Herb Shop." Vitamin shop. It was a head shop and the clientele in this part of the city was even more suspect than would normally be expected in a shop that sold drug paraphernalia.

"Picking him up as in, he was your skip?"

"Yes."

"Where's your back-up?"

She sighed. "It's Mooner, Ranger. I don't need back-up for Mooner." He wanted to tell her that she did, that she'd promised him she wouldn't go out unprepared, but he didn't say anything because Joe Morelli chose that moment to amble up to them.

"I was in the neighborhood when the call went out and I thought I'd come see the show," he said. "What happened?"

"I don't know for sure. I was in the shop over there and I heard a boom and now…no more car," Stephanie told him.

"I won, Cupcake," Morelli said. "Now that we're not together they let me join the pool. I had today picked." Stephanie's face turned red and Ranger knew it was from temper and not embarrassment.

Morelli looked toward Ranger and the men nodded at one another. Further conversation was prevented by the uniform cop who came up and started questioning Stephanie.

Ranger spoke to Tank who had been silently standing by. "Take Mooner, and run by the bonds office. Have Connie get duplicate papers and then you can take him in. I'm betting her purse and the papers went up with the car, since her personal tracker is offline. I'll wait and get her out of here."

Tank walked over to Mooner who was still lounging on the curb watching the scene as if it were a TV melodrama. "How'd you like to go for a ride in my big shiny black car?" Tank asked him, and Mooner's eyes brightened as he followed Tank back to the SUV.

Morelli left sometime during the questioning. Ranger figured it was a hard habit to break, racing to the scene of her latest disaster, so he let his irritation at seeing Morelli slide. His irritation with Stephanie wasn't slipping away as easily. When all questions were answered and the remains of the car were being loaded onto the tow vehicle she came back to him.

"Thanks for waiting," she said. "Would you give me a ride to my mother's? It looks like I'm going to have to borrow Big Blue." He turned and walked toward the end of the block in the direction of the Turbo and she fell into step beside him. He waited until they were on their way back to RangeMan before he spoke. His voice was calm. "Was your purse in the car?"

"Yes, I just left it on the seat when I ran in to get Mooner. I was only in the shop for a minute. I guess I should have taken it with me, because now I have to replace all of my ID."

"And your weapon," Ranger said. Stephanie said nothing. "Or was it on your person?" he asked softly.

"Uh, no," she said. "I left it at home."

"In the cookie jar?"

"The new gun doesn't fit." She smiled at Ranger, but his face remained stern. "Ranger, I know I promised to carry it and I will, but the paperwork for my concealed carry permit hasn't gone through yet, and it was just Mooner."

He remained silent as he made his way back to RangeMan. When they pulled into the underground garage, Stephanie sighed. "I see we're not going straight to my mother's." He didn't answer. He parked the Turbo and they opened their doors together. He took her arm in a manner that looked casual to anyone watching on the monitors, but his grip was firm enough to lead her to the elevator. When they were in his apartment he turned to her and continued the conversation where they'd left off.

"It was just Mooner?" he asked. "Mooner was responsible for blowing up your car?"

"I don't know," she said. "It might have been someone who was upset with Mooner, I just don't know."

"So maybe it wasn't related to Mooner," Ranger said. "Maybe it was Benito Ramirez or Eddie Abruzzi, or maybe it was Cesar Hidalgo." His voice wasn't calm any longer and he could feel the tightness of his features as the anger built within him.

Stephanie was shaken by his demeanor, he could tell. "Benito Ramirez and Eddie Abruzzi are dead," she said confusion showing in her eyes. "And I don't know who Cesar Hidalgo is."

"Cesar Hidalgo is the son of a man I assassinated in Mexico four years ago. As far as I know, Cesar is still rotting in a Mexican prison, but he's vowed to avenge his father's death."

"I'm sorry…" she said, but he interrupted.

"What the fuck were you thinking, Stephanie? You promised me you would take more care. If you die at the hands of one of my enemies, I won't be able to live with myself. That leaves us with one choice." He watched the confusion on her face turn to understanding. "Either you follow simple rules which are put in place to protect you, or there is no more us. No more lover, friend or mentor." He felt a sudden emptiness as all the anger and frustration left and a feeling of dread took its place. "I'm sorry, Babe. I can't compromise on this." He waited for her to say it was over and walk away.

She didn't answer. She turned and ran from the room into his bedroom and he heard the bathroom door slam shut. He sighed and removed his weapons and carefully laid them on the end table before he collapsed into the armchair. He slouched back letting his head rest against the soft leather and closed his eyes. He waited five minutes, then ten. Weariness settled over him and with an effort he pulled himself out of the chair and walked into his bedroom. He stopped for a moment at the closed bathroom door.

There was no sound from inside as his fingers wrapped around the handle. He opened the door and saw she was standing in front of the sink. From the redness of her cheeks he deduced she had just washed her face. The sight of a mascara-stained washcloth on the counter confirmed his suspicions. Tears were running unabated down her cheeks.

Ranger walked behind her and let his arms wrap around her and he pulled her back close to him. Their eyes met in the mirror. "I'm really sorry, Ranger," she said. "It won't happen again, I promise. I won't place you in that position." Her breath came on ragged sobs and still her eyes held his in the mirror. He bent his head and kissed her neck above the collar of her shirt and his embrace tightened pulling her even closer to him. They stood unmoving for several moments, and he felt his body respond to her nearness.

He raised his head and met her eyes in the mirror again. The need to possess her was overwhelming. He loosened his arms to reach out and pull her t-shirt up over her head and he quickly unhooked her bra, letting it drop to the floor. He watched his hands cup her breasts and saw her nipples pucker and harden against his palms. His gaze went back to her face and he saw the need radiating out of eyes now heavy-lidded with desire.

He dropped his hands to the waistband of her jeans. The snap and zipper gave way easily and he slipped both hands along the plane of her abdomen. One hand was flat against her belly holding her body back against his hardness. The other slid lower and found her moist heat. Her indrawn breath brought his eyes up from his hands to meet hers and then he let his gaze slide up to his own face and he was momentarily stilled.

The desire and need he saw in his own eyes was foreign and unsettling to him. He looked vulnerable, and he equated vulnerability with weakness. He pulled back and turned her in his arms. He lifted her up and carried her into his bedroom, where there was no mirror, and they made love.

He let her towel him off after their shower and then he started the conversation in earnest again. "Take a fleet vehicle, Babe. There's no need for you to drive the Buick."

"No," she said. "I don't want to be driving a RangeMan vehicle. I owe you enough already. The Buick is good transportation."

"No price, Stephanie."

"This relationship is new to me, Ranger, and I know it's new to you. I meant what I said earlier. I'll be careful not to go after skips alone, and I will carry the gun, and I will be prepared. I don't want to drive your car. I couldn't take it if I blew up another one. Let me drive the Buick, but I will need a ride over to get it."

"Are you going to go after someone else today?"

"No, I'm meeting Lula sometime around four. We're going shopping. I'm going to buy a dress for your parents' anniversary party." He found his wallet and pulled out a credit card and handed it to her. She waved it away.

"I can afford to buy my own dress," she told him. "We are together, but you aren't obligated to pay for everything I need. I won't be a kept woman."

"Letting me buy you a dress hardly makes you a kept woman," he said. He wondered if she was referring to Tulia, but there was no way she could have known about that. He'd talked to Holly and the apartment situation had been resolved.

"No," she said. "It doesn't, but it's more than I want to take from you. Today all I need is a ride to my parents. If you're busy I could maybe have my father come pick me up."

"What about Lula?" he asked. "I saw her Firebird in the garage. Why don't you have her drive you? You can go to the motor vehicle department and replace your license and then you can get an early start on shopping."

"That would be great," she said. "But first we'll go to my apartment and I'll get new credit cards ordered, and…oh." He saw her frown and then she held out her hand. "It's just a loan," she said. "I'll take your darn card. I'm cardless and that was the way I was going to pay for the dress." He smiled as he handed her the card.

It was the middle of the workday and he knew there was speculation on the part of his men regarding his abrupt departure and return with Stephanie. He thought it might not be the best thing to have Stephanie on the floor of the control room as he was pretty sure there'd been a car explosion pool among the men. Today might not be the best day for her to find that out. He called Tank and gave him instructions to inform Lula to meet Stephanie at her car in the garage in ten minutes. And then he tried to remember what he was doing when he'd gotten the news about Stephanie. He was going to salvage some part of the workday.

It was midafternoon when his mother called. "Carlos, can you come for supper?" she asked. "Your father is gone on business and I have something to give you." He wanted to say no, but he acquiesced as he had no good reason to stay away. Stephanie was going to be shopping with Lula and he'd go see his mother and stop by Stephanie's place on his way home.

His mother met him at the door and embraced him, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. "Thank you for coming, Carlos. I've got something to show you." She held out her left hand. He was expecting to see the antique platinum diamond engagement ring his mother had always worn. Instead he saw a modern looking platinum ring with an enormous ruby in the center. It was encircled with diamonds and the band was covered in pave diamonds. "Your father gave it to me for our fortieth anniversary. The jeweler finished the design early and your father just couldn't wait to give it to me. Ruby is the stone for the fortieth and there are forty small diamonds in the ring. It's very romantic, don't you think?"

"It's beautiful," Ranger told her. He was perplexed. Why would she call him and have him come out to see her new gift when he'd see it in a week anyway?

"Come," she urged him. "I've got baked chicken and asparagus for our dinner. And then we can talk." Uh oh. Now he knew. She wanted to talk and he wasn't a betting person, but he'd lay money down she wanted to talk about Stephanie. The conversation during dinner was informational. Ranger heard about the exploits of his siblings and learned of Rosa's flight plans. His mother was very excited to have her entire family together to celebrate their anniversary and he found her excitement was a little contagious. He wasn't dreading the event as much as he had been earlier in the day.

The conversation branched into different areas, but the one person that was conspicuously absent from discussion was Stephanie. He should have been relieved, but he found he was on edge waiting for his mother to start questioning him. He knew she was in communication with Ella frequently, and he was sure she knew of the many nights Stephanie now stayed at Haywood. He didn't want to be rude, but there were just some things he wouldn't discuss.

When the evening was drawing to a close he reminded his mother she'd said she had something to give him.

"I have two things to give you," she told him. She walked from the sofa where they'd been sitting to the sideboard. "Here you are," she said, handing him a CD case. "It's autographed, and the CD is dedicated to me. Isn't that lovely?" He looked down and smiled as he saw the name Leida Velasquez on the cover. "It's her first CD," his mother told him, "and it's making its way up the classical charts. I knew that girl was a star the first time I heard her play."

"Thank you, Mama. You know I appreciate Leida's talent, but surely this CD wasn't so important to bring me all the way out here. If you just wanted my company while Papa was gone, you could have asked. I'd have come. You didn't need to manufacture an excuse to see me."

"Carlos, don't be arrogant. It's one of the traits you share with your father, and I adore your confidence, but I can assure you I am not some old woman sitting here alone, missing your father and unable to occupy myself. I had a very important reason for asking you to come here tonight."

Ranger was frowning. "Now, darling, don't be upset. I do enjoy your company, and I am glad you are here." She pointed to the CD she'd given him. "That girl is still half in love with you. She could have been my daughter-in-law if you'd given her a chance." Claudia held her hands up palms out to still a rising comment from her son. "I'm not match-making. I'm just telling you the truth. With this wedding anniversary celebration and the new ring your father gave me, my mind has been on marriage. Here, hold your hand out." The last was said as a gentle command, and he knew better than to ignore her.

He held his hand out and she dropped a small black velvet box into it. He opened it to see the engagement ring he'd seen on his mother's left hand all of his life. "This ring came to the United States from Cuba on your grandmother's finger. It's tradition to be passed on to the espoused of the eldest male child at the time of his engagement. I know you aren't thinking of marriage, but someday you might, and it would mean a lot to your father if this ring was passed on through you. I won't be wearing it anymore. Put it in your safe. Ella told me you have one in your dressing room."

He was speechless. He wondered if Ella knew about the secret staircase, too. And if Ella did, did his mother? "Thank you," he finally managed. "You're right. I'm not thinking about marriage. Having someone important to me in my life is a new thing. I'm just starting to deal with that and marriage is not on the agenda." He sat in stunned silence at his admission to his mother. Where the hell had that come from?

"It's still uncertain between you and Stephanie, then?" his mother asked. He said nothing and she took that as a yes. "You are still at a time where you haven't explored the boundaries of your commitment. The balance of power within the relationship is still in question and the passion is intense." His fingers tightened around the ring box. He was not having the 'sex talk' with his mother, but he perceived she was going to have it with him whether he responded or not.

"Mother, the topic of Stephanie and me is not open for discussion," he said firmly as she was drawing in a breath to continue. His phone rang and his relief was overwhelming.

"Yo."

"Hi," Stephanie said. "Guess I might need to use a RangeMan SUV for a while after all."

"Babe, you destroyed the Buick?"

"No," she said, laughter making her voice husky. "I'm at my mom and dad's place and the Buick won't start. I'm sort of stuck and I could use a ride."

"I'm an hour away," he said. "Can it wait that long?"

"Yes."

He turned to his mother, very happy to have a reason to abandon their conversation. "I need to go," he said. It took another five minutes to assure her he was doing fine, before he could get out the door. He had a small velvet box in his jacket pocket and Leida's CD in his hand.

"Carlos," his mother called to him. "Needing someone, letting them into your life…that's a good thing. Not something to worry about." He smiled tightly at his mother and waited until she closed the door before he got into the Turbo. Did she have ESP? He sat for moment wondering what he'd said that had given rise to her last comment.

He opened the CD and slid the disc into the player. The strains of Clair de Lune filled the car and his blood pressure lowered as he forgot the uncomfortable discussion at his mother's and made his way to the Burg.

As always, driving was a time for introspection and by the time he pulled in front of the Plum house he was calmer and more at peace than he'd been since Woody's announcement of the vehicle explosion. He noticed a light on in the Plum garage and he could see the hood of the Buick was up. He walked back to speak to Frank. He wasn't even close to an expert mechanic, but he had at least one on staff and he'd see if Frank wanted the services of one of his men.

Five minutes after his arrival Frank decided the Buick was, temporarily, a lost cause and he slammed the hood down. The two men entered the Plum house by the back door and Ranger saw the surprised look in Stephanie's eyes as she forked a large piece of pineapple upside down cake into her mouth. When they left the Plum residence ten minutes later, Stephanie had half the cake in a Tupperware container. They left with the promise Stephanie would return the container.

Ranger thought about the one sided conversation with his mother several times in the days before the anniversary party. He knew talking to him about Stephanie had been her primary reason for requesting his presence that evening. He remembered her comments about the balance of power, and he remembered he'd told Stephanie he had the muscle, but she had the power. At the time, he'd been joking. Now he wondered if he'd hit squarely upon the truth.

The Mass was late in the afternoon and a reception, dinner and dance would follow. His parents were well known in the community and there were many family and friends invited. The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart was a beautiful old church and Ranger was glad he'd picked Stephanie up early. They had time to explore the various altars and look at the art work before they took their seats in the section reserved for family. During the middle of the Mass his parents were called to the altar and in clear tones, in front of family and friends they renewed their vows and exchanged a tender kiss.

The Mañoso children were used to seeing their parents exchange kisses and more than once Ranger had seen his father grab his mother's ass. He knew they were very much in love and it was obvious they still had an active sex life. He wondered if it was inappropriate to be thinking of his parents' sex life in church. Probably no more inappropriate than to be thinking of his parents' sex life at all. He turned to Stephanie to see her response to the exchange of vows and he was surprised to see her surreptitiously wiping away a tear.

She looked wonderful. She was wearing a blue dress with a high neckline. It was a simple design that dipped low across the back. She was wearing a bra, he was sure of it, but he couldn't see any evidence of it in the back. He was looking forward to solving that mystery at the evening's end. She wore a single strand of pearls which belonged to her granny, but she confided they would be hers someday, and they suited the dress perfectly. Her hair was smoothed back from her face and pulled up in a mass of curls on the crown of her head. She was elegant and beautiful and he was in love. When the Mass was over they went to the reception.

He stopped the Turbo at the curb, opened his door and went around to help Stephanie exit the low slung car. Her purse was on the floor and he reached in to pick it up and hand it to her. It was very heavy.

"Babe, are you carrying bricks in here?" he asked.

"It's my gun, my stun gun and my defense spray," she said. He laughed out loud.

"Are you telling me you came armed to my parents' party?"

"Yes," she said stiffly. "I promised you I would carry my gun always. Are you telling me you're unarmed?"

"No," he said still laughing. Then his expression sobered. "Stephanie, I love you." His lips came down on hers with unexpected force and even though the kiss was brief, it was satisfying. The valet was looking at them with interest as he waited for Ranger to hand him the keys.

The party was well attended and Ranger had a clear view of the door from their table near the front. He had positioned himself near the wall and watched the guests enter. He saw Holly Reynolds. She was accompanied by a tall thin man near her own age. He looked like an accountant, and Ranger sincerely hoped she had found someone to be happy with.

His eyes traveled to the dance floor where his parents were currently leading a conga line and enjoying themselves. He couldn't imagine a woman who would tempt his father, and he knew he was lucky to have been raised in a family where the parents were in love and loved their children. He watched as Holly approached his mother at the end of the raucous dance to express her congratulations, and he marveled at the almost genuine way his mother seemed pleased to see her.

A hand clasped Stephanie's and pulled her, protesting, from the table. His brother Ramon had met Stephanie for the first time prior to the Mass and he was claiming her earlier promise to dance with him. Ramon's wife was heavily pregnant and was apparently happy to have her husband on the floor with another woman. He knew Stephanie was not comfortable with all of the Latin dances, but she did a good job keeping up with Ramon. He would tell her so when she returned to the table.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked up to see his mother. "Dance with me, son." He rose and led her to the floor. She looked beautiful and very happy. They entered the floor just as the previous song ended, and Ramon bowed to Stephanie. Before they could make their way off the floor, Carlos' father grabbed her hand and pulled Stephanie back out to dance.

"When will we meet her family?" his mother asked.

"Her family?"

"Yes, Carlos, her family. Isn't it customary for the parents of the bride and groom to meet?"

"Mother, please."

"Please what, Carlos? I see the way you look at her. It's the way your father still looks at me. You have the chance for a long and happy life with her. Don't be afraid to make the commitment." He led his mother expertly to the far side of the dance floor. The last thing he wanted was for Stephanie to hear any of the conversation.

"You see your need for her as a weakness, but it's not. She needs you too, and if you join together, it's your love and need for one another that will make you strong." They continued the dance in silence, but as it ended he lifted his mother from the floor and swung her effortlessly around. He only did it to hear her predictable, "Carlos, put me down, this instant!" But he didn't hear it. He heard, "Your father and I are very happy for you, Carlos."

Later, Stephanie was once again sitting across the table from him. He was watching her eat. She had taken one of everything at the buffet table. "I hate buffets," she groaned. "I can never decide what not to take, and this one is fabulous. They have everything I could want."

He leaned in close to her. "There's something I want that I don't have." Stephanie looked at his plate of raw vegetables and boiled shrimp.

"What?" she asked. "Did you try the smoked salmon? That seems healthy enough for you."

"Babe."

She looked at him and noted the serious expression on his face.

"I want this." At her look of puzzlement, he continued, "I want to celebrate a fortieth wedding anniversary. With you." Her eyes were wide. She held a boiled shrimp in her hand, which was unmoving.

Ranger slid off the chair and bent one knee to the floor. "Will you marry me, Stephanie?" She popped the shrimp into her mouth and chewed carefully. She swallowed and he could see the tears filling her eyes.

"Yes."

He pulled the antique platinum and diamond ring from his pocket and slid it onto her finger.

The End (almost)

Stephanie Michelle Plum

and

Ricardo Carlos Mañoso

together with their parents
invite you to share
the beginning of their new life together

when they exchange marriage vows
on Saturday, the third of November

two thousand twelve at half after four o'clock
The Basilica Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Newark, New Jersey
at fan fiction dot net

The couple requests in lieu of gifts, donations be made to

The PTSD Survivors of America Fund

Dinner and dance to follow

at the PNL Hall, Trenton, New Jersey

No RSVP required