Let me know what you think, WARNING: Gory stuff contained. – Heather x

'Thank you.' Lester said in all seriousness.

'Ditto.' Said Tank.

They stood up and each gave me a massive hug and a kiss on the cheek, then they murmured their goodbyes and left me alone with Ranger.

Chapter 9

'Wanna watch a movie or something?' I asked.

'Sure.' Ranger said. 'But no chick flicks.'

'How bout The Day After Tomorrow – it's a disaster movie.'

'Sounds good.' He said. I put the DVD in the player and turned out the lights. I settled down on the couch next to Ranger.

The film was basically about a kind of third ice age, it was a good film, but I found myself shivering in sympathy for the characters.

Ranger laughed softly and wrapped an arm around me, drawing me close to him, 'better?' he asked.

'Better.'

By the end of the film I was sitting on Ranger's lap, my back to his front, with his arms round my waist.

The first time I'd seen Ranger watching TV it had been pretty surreal, but I guess I've had time to get used to the idea. And I had spent a few days living with him, so I guess the truth is I just feel more comfortable around Ranger.

Maybe comfortable isn't the right word – an old jumper is comfortable – what I feel is not afraid. But no, not comfortable – I don't think comfortable has this amount of sexual tension thrown in.

'What are you thinking about Babe?'

I answered automatically, without really thinking; 'Sexual tension.'

His arms tightened around me, 'Really?' He whispered into my ear, sending shivers down my body.

'Um…'

His lips grazed down my neck, and I let out a soft moan. His arms released my waist and then his hands started massaging my shoulders.

My earlier massage had been good, but compared to the way Ranger touched me it felt like the other guy had spent an hour poking me with a fork.

Ranger's skilled hands moved up and down my back, manipulating my body deliciously.

'Thank you.' he breathed in my ear.

'Hmm?'

'For my present.'

'It's ok. You beat up Joe for me.'

Ranger kissed the shell of my ear but didn't say anything.

The credits had finished rolling up, but I didn't want the evening to end yet.

'You wanna watch another movie?' I asked.

'Sure.'

'Die hard or The Wizard of Oz?'

Ranger laughed softly, 'whichever you want Babe, but if we watch The Wizard of Oz you can't tell anyone, ok?'

'Ok. Do you mind watching The Wizard of Oz? It's my second favourite movie to Ghostbusters.'

'It's fine Babe.' He said.

I hopped off his lap and changed DVDs. I turned and walked back to the couch, hesitating; did I sit on Ranger's lap or on the couch? Ranger Esp'd and held his arms out to me. I leaned back into his body and pressed play.

Half an hour into the movie and I could barely keep my eyes open, guess I was more tired than I thought.

'This movie always reminds me of you.' I told Ranger, yawning.

'The Wizard of Oz?' He sounded startled. 'Because Connie calls me The Wizard?'

'Mmm, and before I met you my life was black and white: it was all routines and schedules. And then I met you, and like Dorothy, my life turned upside down and I tumbled into the world of colour.'

'Not sure I can take all the credit for that Babe.' He said softly. 'You got yourself the job, not me.'

'Yeah, but I would never have stuck to it if you hadn't helped me. And Ranger?'

'Yeah Babe?'

'Through all the psycho's, all the explosions and fire bombings – I never once wanted to go back to black and white. I'd rather die in colour than live in black and white. Joe never understood that.' I said, resting my eyes for a minute.

I felt Ranger lay me down on my bed – I hadn't even been aware he was carrying me.

He removed my jeans and my socks, and then he tucked the covers around me.

'Goodnight Babe.' He said, kissing me on my lips.

'Night.' I think I said, and then I was asleep.

I threw my alarm clock across the room, but it didn't stop ringing. So, with several muttered curses, I got up.

Then I noticed that my keypad was on the other pillow; it was shining green and attached to it was a note.

Babe,

Hope you slept well, I locked your door and set the motion detectors in the living room and then I climbed out down your fire escape – well that's the plan. I'm going to send Hector over later to put something in place to make sure no one can come in via the fire escape, but you can still get out if there's a fire.

Thanks for the present, and thanks for the great evening.

Love R

Love R? Love? Ok deep breath Stephanie, he's told you he loves you before. It's fine. It's nice – it's friendly. It doesn't necessarily mean anything, just like his goodnight kisses.

Only the kisses didn't feel friendly…they felt sexy.

I mental head thunked as I remembered telling Ranger that he made my life colour.

I'm such a dope.

I showered and got dressed in jeans, a white stretchy top and a new black leather jacket. The jacket was fun, and it covered a gun if I had one in my waistband…ok, so that didn't happen much, but right now with the severed hand guy around, carrying concealed seemed to be the way to go.

I triple checked the safety on my Smith and Wesson .38 special and shoved it in the back of my jeans. I had my mini defence spray in one pocket, and cuffs in another. My cell was in my jacket, and I was ready to go kick Fta butt.

Or politely remind them that they missed their court date, whichever works.

I grabbed the keypad and was ready to go. I opened the door and froze.

There was a package on the floor by my door, with 'to my dearest Stephanie' written on it.

I opened it with gloved fingers and looked inside.

Shit.

Once again I phoned Ranger…and once again his cell was off. I phoned Ella and was informed that Ranger was in the conference room in Haywood. I thanked her and grabbed the box, practically running out of my apartment.

I drove to Haywood, my mind blank, then I ran up the stairs to the conference room. I knocked once and let myself in.

Ranger was at the front of the room, clearly giving a lecture or something but he stopped the instant I ran in. I was barely aware of anyone else in the room.

'Babe?'

I held out the present and he swore softly.

'Where?'

'In the hall, but the keypad was still green.'

He pulled on gloves and opened the box. He made as if to lift the contents out of the box and I squinched my eyes shut.

'Did you look inside?' asked Ranger.

'Yeah, but I just saw blood and I put the lid back on again.'

'Ok.' Ranger said, 'I put the lid back on, you can open your eyes.'

I opened them reluctantly and Ranger snapped off his gloves. 'What was it?' I asked.

'Have you eaten breakfast this morning?'

I swallowed, hard. 'that bad?'

'That bad.'

I squared my shoulders and fixed my eyes on his, 'Tell me.'

'It's human skin.'

'Human skin.' I said faintly. 'Someone was skinned? Were they dead?'

Ranger paused and I saw the hesitation.

'Skinned alive? Shit. I'm either gunna throw up or I'm going to faint. I can't decide which way to go.'

Ranger quickly guided me to his chair: gently pushing me down and easing my head between my legs, 'deep breaths. Push against my hand Babe.'

'Ok.' I said after a minute. 'I'm all better now.'

Ranger's jaw tightened, 'I wish I could believe that.'

'No, really, I'm fine. I've been sent a finger, a foot, and a penis before. Not to mention the thing with Louie D's heart. What's a pair of hands and some skin?'

Ranger opened his mouth and them paused, 'a penis?' he said finally.

'I didn't spread that one around.'

'I can understand that. Was it Mancuso?'

'Yeah. He liked chopping things off dead people.' I thought about that for a second, 'I didn't like him.'

'Was that the time you burnt down the funeral home?' Lester asked.

'It wasn't my fault.' I protested, turning to him.

Lester, Tank and Cal were at the desk, as were two other men.

'Hey, they look like you.' I said to Ranger.

'My father and my cousin.' Ranger said.

'Your father?' I said, shocked, 'no way could he be that old! Wait, how old are you?' I asked Ranger, 'Twelve?'

Ranger smiled slightly, 'I'm thirty three Babe.'

'Wait.' I said to Lester, 'did Ranger just volunteer personal information about himself?'

'It's the first sign of the apocalypse.' Said Lester, deadpan. 'We're all doomed.'

'Wiseass.' Said Ranger.

'That's what my hat says,' said Lester, grinning and pointing to his new hat.

Ranger's father looked amused at the exchange, 'Gracias Querida for your compliment, but I am near my sixtyth year.'

'Are you sure?' I said doubtfully; he could easily pass for his early forties.

His smile widened, 'quite sure, Querida.'

'Huh.' I turned back to Ranger, 'are you going to age that well?'

'You'll have to hang around and see.' He replied. Ranger took a deep breath, 'Babe, you're doing denial again. Putting my father's age aside for a moment, we need to discuss the contents of the box.'

'I'm not doing denial,' I protested, 'I'm doing avoidance.' I explained.

'Semantics, Babe.' Ranger said, 'in this context, they mean the same thing.'

'Well listen to you Mr Wall Street.' I muttered.

'Babe. The box.'

'What do you want me to say? It's gross.'

'I want you to say you'll let me put you in a safe house.'

'No.' I said instantly.

'Why not? Please, explain to me why not.'

I thought about it, trying to put my feelings into words. Safe houses were hiding; letting the baddies win. Safe houses meant restriction and routine.

'Safe houses are black and white.' I said finally to Ranger.

He froze. 'Shit.' He swore. He rubbed a hand across his eyes; if he tried to put me in a safe house now, then he knew he was condemning me to what I hated, just like Morelli.

'Fine.' He said eventually, 'no safe house. But I want to put my men on you, and not just following from a distance this time, I want them body guarding you; one to one, by your side.'

'Ranger, that's not necessary. Really. The weirdo is just leaving me icky presents, he hasn't threatened me directly – no notes or phone calls.'

'You don't call leaving you bits of people threatening you?'

'Well…'

My cell rang and I seized on the opportunity for a diversion, 'Hello?' I answered.

'Did you like it?' Said a man's voice I didn't recognise.

'What?'

'I spent hours getting it.' He continued.

'Um…'

'You should have heard her scream, Stephanie; it was beautiful - but not as beautiful as your screams will be. I can hardly wait, I've already planned what I'm going to do; I'm going to fuck you until you bleed and then I'm going to hang you up by your beautiful hands and whip your skin from your back. It won't be long now.'

Disconnect.

The phone slid out of my hand, my knees went weak, and I got tunnel vision…

'Ranger.' I heard myself saying distantly.

Then I fainted.