Disclaimer: I don't own these characters and I'm not doing this for money. I'll return them to JE after I'm done but maybe Ranger will get lost on his way back...

A/N: Thank you everyone for you reviews! I love reading them! And also a special thank you to Heather (Txbabefan) for volunteering to Beta for me and helping me with this chapter and putting up with my atrocious spelling. BTW I think this is the first chapter I've posted in a while that hasn't been posted in the middle of the night lol

Chapter 5

Fluff

A date and Confrontation

Ranger POV:

I opened the penthouse door and Steph walked in. I followed her and shut the door behind us. She had settled onto the the couch while I poured us both a glass of wine, she tanked me as I handed her, her glass.

"How was your mission?" She asked. "I know you can't tell me what happened but you got out okay? All of your men did, right?"

"We did." I sipped my wine. "I've got good news."

"Oh yeah." She said curling her legs under her and turning her body to me. "What is it?"

"I'm free. I'm not under contract with the government anymore." I said.

Her jaw dropped. "What?" She asked.

"I didn't sign again."
"Why?"

"I'm getting too old. It's a young man's game. I don't want to die in the middle of the jungle somewhere and my body never be found."
She cringed but nodded. "That's good."

"You said you wanted to talk Babe. Do you want to go first?" I asked her. She let out a breath and nodded.

"Something I've learned over these past couple months is you can't run from your issues. Tank taught me that actually."

I chuckled. "Tank and you have a lot more in common than you think." I said. She rolled her eyes.

"I love you Ranger. I've been in love with you since I set eyes on you. I knew there was something about you. At first I thought I was crazy but as we got closer and you got shot by Scrog I realized I was in love with you. You never let me believe you were an option but I think that's my fault. I was always back and forth with Joe. I led you on. I would let you take a bit and then pull away.

"I know what I did was wrong. I hate that I acted like that. You gave me anything I could have ever needed. Cars when I needed them, protection, support, you let me have everything you could give me and I'm really thankful." Steph said wiping away a tear.

"I called Tank today before I got on my plane. He told me he hired an office manager. I was pissed; I was going to come home and fire whoever he hired. Do you want to know why, Babe?"

"Why?" She asked softly.

"Because I've been saving that job for you. I had a instant connection to you as soon as I saw you. I couldn't have been happier when Tank told me you had the office manager position. I've been in love with you for a while Steph.

"I had to wait for you to be done with the cop. There was no way after I had you, you would be going back to him. I wanted you to decide that you wanted there to be an us." I said. I brushed my hand over her cheek and she leaned into it.

"I'm scared." She said softly. "What if in six months you decide you don't want this? You've built this life for yourself, with all the luxuries. I don't belong in this kind of life Ranger..."

"Hush." I said. I took the wine glass from her hand and set it on the table pulling her into my lap. "You deserve all this and more Babe. You deserve a better man than me but I'll be damned if I can let you go. I would if you told me you wanted to be with another man but it would kill me."

She looked up at me and I leaned down to claim her lips in a kiss. She opened her mouth to me as I deepened the kiss. She tangled her hands in my hair pulling me closer.

"I missed you, Babe."

"I missed you too, Ranger."

"I want to take you out on a date." I said. "I want to do this right. Take you out, show you off, treat you right."

She blushed. "You don't have to do that."

"That's the thing Babe. You deserve it. I won't treat you like Morelli did. I don't want to sit on the couch and eat pizza with you and watch the game for a date. I want to take you out, and treat you like a queen. You would be my woman Babe and my woman will be spoiled rotten."

She was hesitating. "Have you ever treated another woman like that?" She asked softly.

"Babe I haven't been out on a date since I was sixteen." I said. "Much less had a girlfriend. This would be new to me, too, Babe but I'll do everything I can to make myself worthy of you."

"I'm not worthy of you Ranger." She said.

"That's one of the things I love about you; You always see the good in everybody although we are going to be working on you image issues. Your a gorgeous, smart, tenacious, caring woman."

She smiled at me. I leaned down to kiss her softly. "Tommorow night?" I asked her. She smiled softly.

"That'll work for me." She said softly.

I grinned. "I'll pick you up at Tank's."

"How should I dress?"

"Something flirty, and sexy." I said nipping, at her neck.

Steph POV:

I could hardly sit still all day at work. For the next two weeks I would be working with a partner on patrol and monitors to get me used to the routine and then after the two week period we would be paired with our permanent partners.

Tank drove me home and I flew up the stairs going in to my room, and straight into the bathroom. I shaved, buffed and exholiated every inch of my body.

I headed for the closet, wrapped in my robe and pulled out a dress I picked up on sale at Macy's months ago. It was a dark blue backless halter dress with an A-line waist, tapering in and then flowing back out. It stopped right above my knees. I looked at the shoes in my shoe organizer (Tank insisted I needed one after he saw how many shoes I had) and picked out a pair of dark blue four inch FMP's to match the dress.

I quickly styled my hair in loose waves using the blow dryer, a curling brush, some gel and hair spray before doing minimal makeup. I knew Ranger preferred the less makeup the better, a more natural look, so I put on some lipstick, just enough eyeshadow to make my eyes pop and four coats of mascara for courage. I let out the breath I had been holding. I had known Ranger for years, it wasn't like he was some strange guy, but he was the love of my life.

There was a knock on the bedroom door as I strapped a small pistol to my thigh. I opened the door and Tank smiled down at me. He still towered over me even with me in four inch heels. "Ranger's here and he's downstairs waiting." He said before pausing. "You packin' heat?"

"Of course." I rolled my eyes. "With how much trouble I find, of course I am."

He chuckled. "I'll see you downstairs."

I threw my lipstick and mascara in the clutch along with an extra mag for my gun. Digging through my purse I pulled out a credit card and a switch blade. A girl had to be prepared.

I walked carefully down the stairs and into the Livingroom where Ranger stood in the enter talking to Tank, waiting for me to come down the stairs. He stopped mid-sentence.

Ranger looked gorgeous in a black suit, black silk dress shirt and his hair hanging lose around his shoulders, his trademark diamond studs in his ears. I smiled at him and crossed the space between us.

"I brought you this Babe." He said when he regained his speech. He held a single red rose in his hand. He pulled me close and kissed me softly.

"You look gorgeous Babe." He said. I smiled softly.

Alright kids, that's enough. None of that in my living room. No getting handsy. Have her home by eleven. I'll wait up to make sure you drop her off at the right time," Tank said. I laughed and Rager glared at him.

"He'll have me home by eleven, I promise." I said to Tank. "Let me go find a vase for this."

Ranger let me take the rose as he stared Tank down. I walked into the kitchen and I could hear hushed arguing. "She's a grown woman Tank." Ranger growled.

"And? I won't let you hurt her Ranger. She's come a long way, don't fuck this up." Tank said. I found a vase in the cabinet and filled it with water letting the long stem of the rose settle in.

I walked back into the Livingroom and it looked like Tank and Ranger calmed down. "I'll see you later tonight Tank." I said standing on my toes to kiss his cheek. I took Ranger's offered arm as we made our way to the door.

Ranger of course brought the Turbo. He opened my door for me and I slid in. He leaned in to give me a chaste kiss on the lips before walking around to get in. The Turbo roared to life and he took my hand. Placing our interlocked hands on his thigh as he pulled out of Tank's driveway.

"Where are we going?" I asked him.

"Rossini's." He said. "I know you love their Tiramisu."

I bit my lip. I had been avoiding my mother since I moved out of my apartment. I had changed my phone number, moved in with Tank, and basicly avoided the Burg altogether. Tonight though, we would be traveling into the heart of the Burg.

"Is that alright Babe?" He asked squeezing my hand.

"It's perfect." I said smiling at at him.

"What was going through your head when I told you?" He asked.

"I haven't talked to my mother or my family since I dumped Joe. I haven't been back in the burg, I changed my number and have been avoiding everyone." I said. He squeezed my hand.

"Then let's shake up the burg Babe." He said. I smiled at him.

He pulled into the Rossini's lot and got the best spot. I shook my head as he shut off the Turbo. He walked around and opened the door, offering his hand. I took it and he used it as an advantage to pull me close. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he lowered his lips to mine in a long hard kiss. He pulled away leaving me panting. Ranger wasn't unaffected. His hard length pressed into my stomach, his breath slightly labored, and his eyes were as dark as obsidian.

"Come on Babe." He said. He tugged me by the hand into the reastraught. The hostess batted her eye lashes at Ranger, as she led us to a table in the back. Ranger motioned for me to sit in the side with my back to the wall and slid in along with me.

"You're on the same side as me." I said.

"I know." He said. "I read that you should sit across from someone to have a conversation and sit next to someone to touch and seduce them."

This made me laugh. "And where exactly did you read that Mr. Manoso?"

"A magazine." He said, earning a him a smile from me. We were interrupted by the waiter coming to take our appetizer order.

"Want to do something Babe?" He asked. I bit my lip.

"What is it?"

"How about you order for me and I order for you? I won't order anything I know you won't eat and you don't order me the fattiest thing on the menu." He said.

I smiled. "Alright, no leaves and bark." I said. He chuckled.

When the waiter came back over he asked us what we wanted. Ranger explained, "We'll be ordering for each other." Ranger said. "She'll have the fettuccini alfredo, with wheat pasta and grilled chicken.

"He'll have the Vegetable lasagna and the caeser salad." I said. Ranger chuckled.

"Will do." The waiter said.

Most of the restaurant was silent, with most of the diners were staring at us. Ranger pulled me close into his side and kissed my neck.

"You know I think we're supposed to be talking not necking." I moaned softly as his hand roamed over my hip. "Considering this is our first date."

He chuckled against my neck. "What do you want to talk about Babe?" He asked.

"Have you seen the weather lately?" I asked him causing him to laugh.

"Alright Babe, I get it." He said. "I've been gone for almost six months, why don't you catch me up on everything?"

I let out a breath. "Well it started when I got kidnapped by some goons of a skip I went after. Anyway Tank came to my rescue and I told him I was done with it. I wanted training and that's when he offered me a job at Rangeman as the office manager. That way I could have a job along with training at the same time." I said.

"What about the cop?" He asked.

"We're over." I said. He raised an eyebrow and I sighed. "How much did Tank tell you?"

"I'd rather here it from you Babe." He said. I blew out a breath and stared up into his chocolate brown eyes.

Ranger POV:

I knew my Babe didn't want to talk about it but I didn't want to leave anything unspoken. I wanted to make sure she was completely done with the cop. After everything Tank had told me I was pretty sure she was but you could never be sure with my Babe.

"Tank took my to Morelli's house. I had already made up my mind that I was done with him. I was just going over there to formally break up. I went inside and the house was empty, but his truck was outside along with Joyce's. I could hear moaning from upstairs, Joyce was fucking Morelli with a strap on." She said. She paused and took another deep breath.

"We of course fought, yelling as usual. Then he slapped me." She said, in a voice so small it broke my heart. I had to take a deep breath. My fist clenched and Steph took my hand opening it and threading her fingers through mine.

"How long has he been hurting you?" I asked softly.

"Since you left." She said. "He saw us outside the bonds office. He came to my apartment drunk that night and hit me. He only hit me when he was drunk."

I clenched my jaw and closed my eyes, angry that she was making excuses for him. Steph cupped my cheek in her hand and kissed me softly, brushing her lips over mine. "It's over Carlos. He won't hurt me again, I won't let him." She said with conviction.

I felt myself calming down. "He won't ever touch you again Babe." I said through clenched teeth.

She kissed me again, but this time she lingered, and I opened my mouth to hers. She moaned as my tongue touched hers. Someone cleared their throat and we broke apart. The waiter set down our food and left, Steph kept my hand in hers while we ate. Her moans went straight to my cock.

"I know you can't tell me about the mission but everything went as planned right?"

I smiled and looked at her. "We all made it out alright Babe. The worst thing was a scratch here and there and some bruises."

The waiter was back again, taking away our plates. "Would you like coffee and dessert?" He asked.

"I'll have the Tiramisu." Steph said, causing me to chuckle.

"I'll have a cup of coffee." I said. It only took him a few minutes to bring them to us. Not long after our desert and coffee were served, we heard a familiar voice.

"Look it's Cupcake and her thug Manoso." Morelli sneered. I turned to glare at him, and I found Helen Plum standing next to him.

"Morelli, Mother." Steph said greeting them both.

"Stephanie Michelle Plum! What are you doing here with this man?" Helen screeched. Steph sighed.

"I'm on a date." She said.

"With Manoso?" Morelli asked before laughing. "How much is he paying you?"

I went to stand and Steph squeezed my hand. "He's not worth it. Let's just get out of here." My Babe said loud enough for her mother and Morelli to hear. I nodded and stood fully. I didn't need to worry about paying the bill, it would be put on my tab.

My Babe stood by my side and kept her hand in mine as we left, her mother and Morelli throwing insults. I opened her door and Steph slid in but not before Morelli came out of Rossini's to challenge me.

"Cupcake you need to come home with me. Leave this thug. Has he brain washed you?"

"Go fuck yourself Joe." Steph spat. "Carlos please let's go."

I nodded; my jaw tight. I closed her door and walked around. "Looks like she's got you trained just like a little lap dog." Morelli said as I opened the door. I took a deep breath and slid into my seat closing the door.

"Thank you." Steph said softly.

I took her hand and kissed the back of it. I pulled out of the spot and into the street, merging with traffic. "We can go back to Tank's and watch a movie." She offered.

I glanced over at Steph and grinned. She was trying to salvage the night and I had no doubt that Tank would let me lounge on his couch for a while with Steph after I tell him what went down."

"That's a good idea." I said. She beamed at me.

I pulled up in front of Tank's house and he stood on the porch with his arms crossed. I went around to open Steph's door and took her hand.

"What happened?" He asked, kissing Steph on the cheek and staring at me intently.

"I'll let Carlos tell you." She said. "Is it alright if we take over the living room and watch a movie?"

"Of course." He said.

"I'll go change." She said. I watched her walk up the stairs and Tank motioned for me to follow him into the kitchen. I took off my jacket and slung it onto the back of his recliner on my way through.

"What the hell happened?"

"Morelli and her mother showed up." I said.

I saw his jaw clench. "Did he lay his hands on her?" He asked.

"If he had, I would be in jail for murder." I said. He shook his head.

"This is the first time she's seen her mother since she broke up with Morelli." Tank said.

"She told me."

"I hope this doesn't set her back."

"She didn't seem to affected by it." I said. "She was more concerned about me and Morelli coming to blows."

I heard Steph coming down the stairs. Her makeup was gone and she wore one of my t-shirts and a pair of sweats. She had clothes folded in her hand. She smiled at me. "Here change into these." She said.

I looked at the clothes and then at her. "These are mine." I said with a raised eyebrow.

"You left clothes at my apartment after Scrog." She said blushing slightly. I did leave clothes at her apartment but only one pair and since she was wearing a pair, it didn't line up. It looked like my Babe had raided my closet while I was gone.

I walked into the guest bathroom on the first floor and stripped off my slacks and dress shirt before folding both and pulling on the clothes my Babe had given me. I shook my head with a slight smile. In the Livingroom my Babe sat in front of the entertainment center looking at movies with Tank sitting on the coffee table. I was suprised it was holding his weight.

"What do you want to watch?" She asked.

"Whatever you pick Babe." I said. She rolled her eyes. I saw her staring intently at ghostbusters, but she picked up a action movie. I walked over and picked up Ghostbusters.

"Get a blanket, I'll join you on the couch Babe." I said. She smiled warmly at me and grabbed a blanket from the basket next to the entertainment center.

"I'll leave you two alone. Carlos you better behave yourself in my house." He said. Babe laughed and I shot him a glare. Tank went upstairs and I picked up the remote and went to the couch to cuddle with my Babe.

XXXXXX

My Babe walked into my office when I motioned her in. She shut the door and sat in the chair across from my desk. Today she had finished her two week probationary field period rotation with a veteran member of Rangeman. The core team was meeting to make partner assignments after lunch. From there the new recruits would be on probation for the next six months and under field evaluation to set in stone partner assignments along with patrol, monitor and office work.

"What is it Babe? I can smell smoke." I said. She looked up at me.

"This might be out of line but can I make a request?" She asked. I set my pen down and closed the file I had been reading.

"Always Babe. You know you can ask me anything." I said. I was a little nervous that this had to do with our relationship. We had been on a few dates since the first one and they had all went smoothly, with me dropping her off at Tank's after each one. We had agreed to take this slow but I didn't know how long I could take it slow.

"Can I be partnered with Rage?" She asked. It threw me off. That was definitely not the question I expected.

"Babe?"

"Its just that I know I can trust him. Nothing against any of the guys, but I worked with him during my training. He was there for me and he's taught me allot. I feel like he would have my back in the field."

"Is there some reason you're more comfortable with him than any of the other men?"

"I didn't say I was Ranger." She paused. "I love all the guys, but they have already started to fight over who gets to be my partner. I don't want to break up any partnerships."

I let out a breath. "I'll think about it Babe. I'll bring it up in the meeting today if you like."

She nodded. "Thank you Ranger." She went to stand but I motioned for her to come over to me. She came around the desk and I pulled her into my lap and nuzzled her neck.

"I prefer when you call me Carlos, Babe." I said kissing under her ear.

"I thought Ranger would fit the workplace better." She said softly turning her head to look at me. I kissed her softly.

"You can call me anything as long as you yell my name in bed." I whispered huskily in her ear. She moaned and turned to straddle me. There was a knock on my door and she groaned standing from my lap.

I pulled my chair under the desk to hide my raging hard on as Babe adjusted herself. She had a hickey on her neck that she didn't notice yet. Oops that was going to get me in trouble, I thought to myself with an evil grin.

She opened the door to reveal Santos who gave her a eyebrow waggle. Babe didn't blush, making me proud. She walked past him after a quick greeting. He turned as she walked out. "Nice hickey Steph." He said, earning him a glare and then she narrowed her eyes at me. I would be paying for it later, but oh, what a lovely punishment that would be.

Les stood in front of my desk. "Tank wants to do the meeting during lunch. He's trying to get all of his paperwork done today so he can work with Steph this weekend."

"On?"

"I have no idea. He's being tight lipped about it." Les said shrugging.

Looks like I need to talk to my second in command. "Get Bobby and Tank in here." I ordered. A few minutes they returned.

"Do we need to bring in Cal, Hector, and Ram?" Bobby asked.

"No they want to leave it up to us to determine partnering." I said. They nodded.

"So we all know who's up. First up, Dallas." I said.

"I think he'll work best with Cal, at least for his first couple months." Les said. I nodded.

"Austin?" Tank asked.

"Binky. It would also work out so we don't have to break up another pair. Especially since they're both from the south." Bobby suggested.

I nodded in agreement. "Steph made a special request for her partner." I said. The guys looked at me waiting for me to elaborate. "She wants to be partnered with Rage."

"I can understand that." Tank said. "Since you've been gone Bomber and I have grown close and so have her and Rage. I know he really helped her during training."

Bobby added, "Every time she wanted to quit he pushed her, just like you would have. He never put up with her bullshit either. They were partnered together for training and they always got along. They both have incredible minds and would make a great team."

I nodded and kept my sigh internal. "Don't get me wrong I trust Rage with my life and Babe's. But they are both new to working here. Rage only came in second to me in Ranger training. I think they will make good partners I'm just hesitant because I haven't seen him in the field in a while."

"I think they'll be a great team. We were thinking about having Bomber help out with our female clients and client relations but also letting her assist in investigations and bond enforcement. They will be doing more office work than field work." Les said. I nodded.

"Looks like we've made our decisions."

Steph POV:

Everyone sat gathered in the gym aside from the guys that were sitting on monitors or patrolling. Ranger stood in the front, with us recruits sitting in the first row.

"We've got the partner assignments for the recruits." Ranger said. "Austin you will be partnered with Binky, Cal with Dallas. Rage you and Bomber will be paired."

There was clapping and congratulations. Some of the guys seemed confused that two recruits were paired together. Rage turned to me with a slight smile.

"You had something to do with this." He said. I just smiled at him.

Ranger walked up and wrapped an arm around my waist. He looked at Rage. "You take care of her, man."

"Of course. She's one of a kind." Rage said. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself guys." I said.

"I know that Babe and so do every one of these guys. I just want to make sure that Rage has your back." He said. I smiled up at him and he kissed my temple.

"Boss." Tank said. We turned to look at him.

"Morelli is downstairs with a bunch of uniforms saying that he has a warrant because we kidnapped Bomber."

"What?" I growled. Ranger squeezed me with his arm.

"Let's go reassure them Babe that you haven't been. Rage, Tank, Bobby, Cal and Dallas you're with us. Cal, Dallas, Bobby head down the stairs. Tank, Rage, Bomber and I will take the elevator." Ranger said.

When we reached the ground floor Morelli stood with six uniformed officers and four detectives along with the precinct Captain. "Miss Plum we're here to check on your welfare and also arrest the people that kidnapped you." Morelli said. I rolled my eyes.

"I haven't been kidnapped. I'm here of my own free will and will testify to that in court."

"Then explain why you randomly moved out of your apartment." Robin Russell said.

"Not that I have to justify it but, I had an altercation with a skip earlier that day. I had Tank pick me up form the crime scene, and drop me off at Detective Morelli's house. I walked in to find my boyfriend at the time fucking another woman. So I decided to make a life change and moved out of my apartment." I said.

"Where are you living now?"

"In a secure place." I answered.

Joe by now was beet red. "Why won't you tell us?" He growled.

"Because it's not any of your business, especially after you raised your hand to me. I refuse to give the man who abused me the address where I'm currently living." I said.

Morelli was now purple. He lunged for me and was caught by a few of the uniformed cops. "Miss Plum I would like if you would come down to the station so we could talk." The Captain said.

"Could we do that tommorow? I've been training rigorously to pass my physical evals and I'm tired."

"Yes, does nine o'clock work for you? Discussing these accusations on both sides are a high priority for me and the department. I would like to get these issues resolved as quickly as possible."

"Yes it does." I said.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed. I should have the next chapter up in the next few days or week.

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