A/N: So people... we finally get there. To the point everyone has been waiting for. BUT... well... have I ever mentioned my love for cliffhangers? No? Well... :) And before everyone goes crazy at the end, yelling at me in reviews or PMs, there are explanations two chapters down the , in preparation for the next chapter: curb your enthusiam, I am almost 100 percent certain this is not what people are expecting :)

I let out a long sighonce the private jet touched down on the tarmac and I was finally back home. It had been one hell of a long two weeks and I was glad to just be able to fall into my own bed tonight and not some hotel bed or the semi-ready residence back at the LA office. I closed my laptop in front of me, grabbed the few open files next to me and stuck them together with my laptop in the bag, ready to get out of this tinbox the first second I had a chance to.

Leaving the plane I was expecting to see my usual fleet car to get back to RangeMan. What I didn't expect was to see Tank as well as Cal standing next to it. Vince behind me seemed to be just as surprised as I was. "That can't be good," I heard him mumble and had to agree. Either someone had died or someone was at least heavily injured. But… I am almost certain, if that had been the case someone would have actually called beforehand.

"Welcome home, boss," Tank smiled at me which was odd. Mainly because he was smiling.

"Who died?" I asked almost simultaneously, handing my bag and luggage to Hal.

"No one and nothing bad happened either. We just figured it might be a nice change to see a friendly face once back, especially after the last two weeks we heard so much bitching about," Tank explained and Cal simply just grinned bashfully.

"Traitor," I accused him and saw him smile some more. "You do realize that you are up for LA right after Bobby. So, whatever he can't fix further will be handed over to you for fixing. And I'm almost certain there will be a dozen of new issues arising by the time you get there."

That whipped the smile of his face. Though just for a minute. Cal was usually the calmest of us all and took everything as it was thrown his way.

"How's your search for a head of the office going?" Tank asked and I was actually trying to avoid thinking about that topic for a whole day.

"Not so well, I somehow had expected this to be a lot easier. But you have seen the files that land on my desk there and… all of them seem just too pretentious and not a good fit. You know, for a while I was thinking I'd name Lester head of RangeMan LA, but he declined. He didn't want the job, arguing that while he likes the City of Angles and the possibility of gorgeous women and beaches and the amazing weather, he'd miss Trenton more. And oh…. The fact that he waits for me to finally come to my senses in regards of him."

"Don't sweat it, Bomber, I'm sure you'll find someone perfectly suitable. Some things just take more time than others. And from experience I know it usually is a good idea to not just go with the first option."

"What first option? I don't even have that. I wish I actually had," I replied, seeing Tank and Cal walk towards the waiting SUV and holding the door open for me to get into and for Hal to follow. When we rolled away I wondered whether the solution to my current problem was maybe a lot closer than I was expecting.

"Okay, quick, the first name that comes into your minds when thinking about other offices and guys there who could head an office."

I heard a lot of 'um' and 'Well' and sighed. "I said quick as in, don't think about it and just give me the first name that pops into your head. So… which names pop into your head?"

After a few more moments of silence Cal named his first choice and a second later Tank, Vince and Hal followed suit. "Do you think any off these guys might be interested? I mean, I never actually made it clear that people from already existing offices could apply."

None of them were certain whether their choices were interested but I figured I had a few days to look into the names and find out why Tank, Ha, Vincel and Cal thought of their choices. And then I could still see whether any of them would be willing to relocate.

"How have you left my desk, Tank? Mountains of files and paperwork?" I teased him, knowing what chaos I came back to the last time.

Instead of replying, he just laughed and locked eyes with me through the rear-view- mirror. "Not more than usual. Though, I actually think I got a lot cleared. And I swear, I'm not sure how you actually get all that done in a day."

"I delegate. Well, sometimes. Also, a lot of the stuff handled itself after a while when you just wait long enough," I smiled back and heard all three men snicker.

"One thing that most likely won't handle itself and will still be hated by you anyway is the annual Fundraiser event from TPD which you tried to dodge and get out of and is taking place tomorrow night," Cal informed me all of a sudden and I groaned. Right, I really had forgotten about it and I knew it was technically a big deal. Of course I could just write a nice cheque and be done with it, but apparently that wasn't the preferred way. Especially seeing how close we often enough worked with these guys.

"How come you know and even more interestingly, remind me?" I asked curious and saw Cal look almost painful.

"Because the commissioner as well as the chief keep calling more or less every day, reminding us."

"Of course," I admitted and was already thinking whether the pain of getting shot would be worth me saying that I couldn't come.

"If it helps, I personally will make sure Morelli won't get even a hundred yards close to you," Cal encouraged me and as much as I liked his attitude, Morelli wasn't even my biggest issue. He probably – hopefully – had to work. And once more my mind went to getting shot and the question whether the pain was worth it.

The logical part of my brain won in the end and argued that it wasn't worth it. And that I'd better suck it up and just be the big girl and attend the fundraiser.

So the next night I found myself at the venue of the fundraiser, wearing a dress I had managed to buy by only cancelling one meeting and having a lunch break on the go. I'm certain the Burg-girl in me would have done a lot better in regards of dress shopping with a little more time on hand but I wasn't that girl anymore, a girl out there, dressed to impress people and hiding behind an armour of cloth. The business-woman and CEO had not hours to spare and I surely wouldn't call a department store to have a girl shop for me. That never worked out anyway. So, one lunch break and an additional hour to spare and I left the store with a simple, yet elegant and eloquent long black dress that included patches of lace all over the dress. It would do, despite the fact that my escort of the day – Bones – was saying it was spectacular and definitely an upgrade to the view of the last few fundraisers.

"How dry of an event are we talking about?" I asked and he just looked uncertain for a moment.

"It isn't… dry as such. Just… stiff I'd say and a lot of hand shacking and photos and the likes. Ranger always said he'd rather write a big fat cheque than attend another one of these, but… it comes with the business. And I'm certain biting that bullet helped building a certain reputation among the TPD and with communities. Not everyone was our biggest fan at times, but events like that help to just play nice and according to the rules."

I knew what he meant and I myself had heard plenty of opinions people had about Ranger, RangeMan and the Merry Men. Most of them of course unfair and unfounded, but it was something RangeMan had to technically battle every day. Good thing that some jobs came just because they had a certain reputation. While others probably didn't happen for the exact same reason.

The day of the fundraiser came way too soon for my liking, but like the good CEO I had become, I slipped on my dress, made myself up a little and put on my bravest and brightest smile. It was part of the business, just like sitting behind a desk or hitting the streets for FTAs or walk-throughs – which I still did from time-to-time despite of my packed schedule. Turned out there were people that really preferred a meeting with a female. And RangeMan apparently was pretty much the only security company that employed women. Or a woman. Me. Maybe something worth looking into. And didn't I write that down already months ago?

Flanked by Zero and Ramos, I was moving around the room, shaking hands, smiling, posing for photos and smiling some more. It seemed, at some point, everyone in attendance wanted to speak to me. Several dozen people asked about the K9 unit and how things came along, some more inquired about the Search and Rescue squad and others just asked about business in general or the latest article they had read in one magazine or another about us. I noticed a lot of people checking me out rather bluntly and couldn't help but roll my eyes at their obviousness. And then there was Morelli.

In all fairness, he or the possibility of his attendance hadn't even crossed my mind, since he never had attended any of these things while we had been dating. Quite the opposite actually. He tried always his best to get out of it when it was clear that his attendance was necessary and a must. I had spotted him a few times throughout the evening and had so far successfully avoided him. Until now.

"Cupcake," he said, walking briskly towards me.

"Detective," I said, taking a sip of whatever drink Zero had handed me maybe half an hour ago and I hadn't even managed to drink halfway.

"I see you are still giving in to your delusion of playing CEO Barbie," he remarked, taking a sip of what I assumed was beer.

"Yes, and today Barbie has not one but two Ken's by her side," I said, taking another sip and nodding towards my Merry Men for the night. Technically I had more than two, since half of RangeMan was present, but most of them were here to actually work.

"You are pathetic when you believe this will go on much longer," he almost sneered and I was barely able to stop the eye roll.

"Actually, I was just called brilliant by some magazine or another the other day. But maybe they got confused and actually meant pathetic, agreeing with you. Who knows?" I said, shrugging and looking bored. I knew how to get a raise out of Morelli and I knew what he wanted or thought he could accomplish here. And there was no way I'd give him that satisfaction of talking me down or belittling me. The old Stephanie that let people tell her what she couldn't do was no longer and left the building a long time ago. And good riddance if I may say.

"It can't be much longer until you come to your senses that all you run is a company filled with thugs who interpret the law in any which way they seem fit."

Of course, I thought to myself. Morelli was reminded me of an old record which kept playing the same songs over and over and over again, never changing its tune. Morelli had exactly three things he kept talking on and on about: The Burg and what was proper life, my failures in general and and old time classic, the Merry Men being a bunch of thugs. It didn't matter whatever argument and facts you produced, trying to prove him wrong, he wouldn't have it.

"Morelli," I started, not entirely sure what I was actually going to say, but knowing no matter what, I'd take the high road. But before I even could go on, he interrupted me.

"You know, all it takes is a couple calls from me to some people and you are shut down."

What the hell? Who did he want to call? The mob? That was pretty much the only option I could see being remotely close. Any other contact was either TPD or other law enforcement that probably had wasted already enough time and resources, following up on his ridiculous claims. Time to shut him up, and I just knew how. So I smiled widely at him, putting as much sugar into my smile as I could manage without throwing up.

"Funny, all the people you know, I know, too. And for your information…. They like me better," I replied, seeing him look at me anything but pleased. "Now if you'll excuse me, while I enjoyed this intellectual exchange on so many levels, I actually see the mayor who I had to brush off earlier when the governor was wanting to speak to me. See you around, Detective," and off I went, Ramos and Zero close on my heels.

Like the whole night I worked the room and was occasionally overcome by an odd feeling, a tingling in my neck I hadn't felt for the longest of times. Odd, very odd.

"You okay?" Ramos asked and I shook my head as if to clear my mind.

"I'm… yeah, I'm okay;" I replied, seeing both men look at me as if they didn't believe me.

"You sure?" Zero asked, looking uncertain at me. "You have been checking the room all evening, like you are looking for someone. Something on your mind? If this is stressing you out we can find some emergency and leave," Zero offered and god, I loved how he was always in my corner. Despite the fact that this time there really wasn't a corner.

"I just… have this weird feeling all evening…." I admitted and saw Ramos and Zero look at each other.

"Weird feeling? What weird feeling? Like 'Something-bad-is-going-to-happen' weird or like 'you-forgot-something' weird?"

"Neither. It feels like someone is watching me and I have this weird tingling every once in a while. But I'm probably just overworked and my mind is playing tricks on me. Or I slowly become paranoid," I laughed and saw both men joining in my laughter.

After my talk with the mayor, who wanted me to pose for another ton of photos and then shacking of some more hands of people I never heard about and never met before, I decided I needed a break and seek out Tank. Since I couldn't find him right away, but spotted Lester looking like he was talking animatedly with someone I didn't see and also like he was pissed off, I decided I would investigate. After all there were very few things that annoyed or pissed Lester off, so this could be interesting.

"Lester," I said when coming closer. "What has you so angry?" I asked amused, but a moment after I had asked and he turned towards me and I got a full view of who he was talking to, I stopped dead in my tracks with both Zero and Ramos bumping into me.

I heard them mumble a confused what before I assume their gazes landed on what or rather who I was looking at.

I heard a muffed 'The fuck?' which sounded like it could have come from Ramos and I kept just staring, wondering how I had managed to start hallucinating. Or whether I had hit my head somehow without noticing.

And then I heard the words I had longed to hear for the past eighteen months. A word I figured I'd never hear again.

"Babe"

Next thing I knew everything around me went black and I lost consciousness.