On Sunday night, Joe called me after the children were in bed. "How's Trace?" I said. I had been worried about her over the weekend.

I could hear Joe smile into the phone. "She hasn't run a fever since Friday morning, and she says her throat and ears are no longer sore."

"That's great news!"

Joe laughed. "I know. I'm relieved as well. Bob is going to miss her when she goes back to your place tomorrow."

"She can always bring Bob with her if she wants. The kids love him, and it might be better for him rather than staying home alone. He might eat fewer sofa cushions."

Joe laughed. "I'll mention it. She is counting down to see the children again though. She has really missed them."

"They have missed her too. Every day they ask me whether they are going to see her again that day."

Joe chuckled. "If I tell her that, I think it will make her cry with happiness. She adores those kids."

I laughed. "And you're any different?"

Joe laughed again. "No comment."

"I think it's good that you and Trace adore the kids so much. The kids know that, and that's why they adore you as well."

"Trace and I were talking. We are actually thinking of adopting. We wouldn't have to have a baby. It could be a child that is a bit older. We just thought that we have a lot of love to share and, if they are school-aged, we thought that we would put them into the ASE program. It is an excellent program and the kids can learn a lot from it."

"That would be awesome! You two would be excellent parents to a troubled child, to a child that has gone through a lot and been bounced around a bit. You would provide the support and structure and love that they need."

"That's kind of what we were thinking. Not all children have a great start to life."

"Look at Lula. There is so much potential there, and she has done well with what she was given. But her grandmother was feeding her pot brownies at the age of three to keep her calm and easier to manage. She had sex for the first time when she was thirteen. She needed the money because she was hungry. She dumpster-dived for food as a seven-year old, and her mother frequently asked her who she was and why she was in her mother's apartment when she was growing up just because her mother forgot that she had a child. She is so food-oriented now simply because she was starving through most of her early years. She had a terrible childhood and I often wonder what she could have become if she had been given the proper support."

"I never knew that about Lula."

"She doesn't like to talk about it. She's an optimistic person and she doesn't like to think about negativity."

"I can see that." He paused. "So, would you support us applying for adoption? It's a bit of a lengthy process, from what I understand."

"I think you should go for it. Trace is only thirty-nine, and you are only thirty-seven. You are still young, and I personally think you would find it rewarding and that you would make a huge difference in someone's life. You two have so much love in you, and I think that a child would benefit greatly from it."

"From what I understand, you need references from people. Would it be possible for you to write a reference for us?"

"As soon as you need one, let me know. Ranger and I would be thrilled to write a reference for you."

I could hear Joe get choked up. "Thanks, Steph. On another note, I talked to Cal. Thanks for the reports and the ideas for us to use when talking to Todd's parents tomorrow. You tend to get in the heads of people much more than anyone else I know, and you have an incredible ability to connect with people. Your tips were good and I know that Cal and I will both be using them."

"Thanks, Joe."

"We have meetings set up at the jailhouse for ten in the morning for Sandy, and one in the afternoon for Charlie. To stop you from blowing your brains out, Cal and I will come to Rangeman for lunch, and will tell you what went on. We'll call you when we get in the building so that we can meet in the lounge."

I smiled. "You know me well."

Joe laughed. "You are also the most curious person I know. I have to go. Trace is ready for bed, and she is feeling better."

I laughed. "I actually feel like a shower myself."

"A shower?"

"Yes. When you adopt, you might be taking a few more showers as well. And you know what they say. Showers are a hell of a lot more fun when you have a partner."

Joe laughed. "Partner showering is always an enjoyable activity."

I saw Ranger come to the door of my office. I smiled. "Hooyah", I said. My smile turned into a grin as I heard Ranger groan. "Gotta go. Ranger is ready for a...shower."

Joe laughed again. "I'd say 'have a good evening', but I don't think you need the wish."

I laughed. "Neither do you." I said goodbye and hung up the phone, and turned to Ranger.

"You know, it is kind of weird for you to be talking about our sex life with Joe."

I smiled. "All I said was that I felt like a partner shower, and that showering with a partner was fun. In fact, he said he might do the same thing."

Ranger sighed. "How is Trace?"

"Apparently much better, if they are planning on having a partner shower." I grinned as he sighed again. "Relax. I wasn't giving details, and neither would I. That would be uncomfortable for both Joe and me."

"Thank God."

"So do you feel like a partner shower?"

"I don't know if I am in the mood now that I know that you were talking to Joe about it."

"Spoilsport."

Ranger smiled. "I guess you'll just have to get me in the mood."

I grinned. "I have some ideas…"

"Knowing me, just taking off your clothes will do it."

I laughed. "Did Joe tell you that he and Trace are thinking of adopting an older child? They asked us whether we would be willing to write a reference for them."

"They would be excellent parents. They have so much love to give."

"That's what I said. What they thought they would do was enroll the child in Ase, since they thought that Ase was a great program, and Trace would still take care of our children."

"That would be awesome for us, but they have to do what is best for them and that child. That is what is important."

"I know, but the kids will miss Trace if she doesn't come."

"Alternatively, the child can come here after school. Somehow, I think the munchkins will like having another child to play with, and sometimes the love of a toddler can help a child immensely."

"That's true. I also told Joe that, if Trace wanted to bring Bob with her when she came, that would be acceptable. He had said that Bob had really enjoyed her staying at home with him. While I think it is good for kids to learn how to treat a pet, I don't particularly want a dog or cat myself."

"I'd agree with that. However, Bob is a good dog and he is gentle with the children. He is definitely more interactive than Rex is and, although the kids are gentle with Rex, he isn't a very social animal. He spends most of his time hiding in his igloo."

"That's true. Besides, Rex has always been mine. He doesn't come out much for the kids, and I think - no matter how quiet they try to be - they are too loud for him."

"I know."

I walked down to the bedroom and, as I walked, I stripped off my top. By the time I got to the bedroom, I had also stripped off my bra, and by the time I made it to the bathroom my yoga pants and panties were gone as well. Ranger followed me in. "I'm in the mood", he said. I laughed as he quickly stripped off his clothes and kicked them out of the way, locked the door to the bathroom, and came up behind me. He pulled me into him, gathered my hair on top of my head, and kissed the back of my neck. That was the money shot, and seconds later I had goosebumps, my lady bits were perking up, and I was moaning.

We didn't make it into the shower.