Guess who came down with yet another infection? Me! The one that still wears a mask to work. You know how much shit I get from a bunch of seventy year olds that could be my grandparents for still wearing a mask in the office? Of course I would get strep throat. - _ -

On the plus side, after two days of feeling crappy the meds seem to be working. I'm feeling kinda meh today and sleep has been pretty elusive. This is what came to my mind. So, let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE. Mistakes are a product of my antibiotic filled brain.

Ranger's POV

"Hey, Dad. Got a minute?" I looked up when I heard my daughter's sweet voice.

"For you, Julie, any time." I said sincerely, flashing my daughter a friendly smile as she hovered in my open doorway. I frowned, wondering what was the matter. Like Babe, Julie's one to simply waltz in if my office door is wide open.

Sure, Julie and I didn't have the closest relationship at first. I thought I was too broken to be able to give her what she really needed: a good father. Luckily, I got a second chance with her. We've only grown closer after Scrog. Julie knows she can always come to me for anything.

So I reminded her just that.

"I know." Julie blushed as she waved me to follow after her, saying only that she had something to share with me.

I followed after her, worried about her sudden dodgy-ness.

I was even more perplexed when I saw that a few of the men not on monitor duty were hovering around the main hallway.

"What's going on?" I heard one of the men whisper to someone else off to my right.

"Dunno." I heard Lester reply, catching his over exaggerated shrug from the corner of my eye.

"What's going on?" I couldn't help but bark out as I crossed my arms across my chest. Dread settled low in the pit of my stomach as I watched Julie fidget nervously before me as her eyes darted around the men that inevitably surrounded us. That didn't help alleviate the tingling going haywire in the back of my neck. Julie isn't one to shift around nervously, too afraid to speak up.

Julie opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted when Tank wadded into our makeshift circle.

My eyes instantly narrowed when he stopped to stand beside her, the two facing me head on.

"All right, here goes." Julie muttered something under her breath before she squared her shoulders and gave me the bravest look I've ever seen from her. "We're in love." She said simply.

"We?" I roared, my teeth grinding together so hard that I was afraid I was going to break them. "Who are we?" I had a good idea when Tank's massive arm landed across her shoulders, crushing my daughter against his massive frame.

There was complete silence around us. It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room. No one dared to speak, much less move.

"What's going on?" Babe and Hal burst through the stairwell doors after what felt like an eternity. Her voice cut through the silence like a knife.

Before anyone had a chance to fill her in, I lunged.

"Ranger!" I heard Babe shout as soon as my fists made contact with Tank's face.

"That's my daughter!" I hollered in his face as we duked it out, punch for punch.

No, no, no, no, no! Wasn't the only thought crossing through my jumbled mind, but it was the loudest.

"Oh, for God's sake!" Babe's voice infiltrated my racing thoughts just before large arms wrapped around my waist. Another set wrapped around my shoulders as two large palms shoved hard against my chest.

"It's okay. Deep breaths." Lester said behind me, letting me know that he was the one that had his arms wrapped around my shoulders. I hid the smirk that threatened to escape. There's no way Lester can hold me back. None of them can. Not when it has to do with Julie!

Cal, Ram and Binkie pulled Tank back, yet I knew the only reason why he was staying put was because Julie's hand was on his shoulder.

I saw red when Tank opened his mouth to defend his betrayal.

"She's eighteen!" I bit out, shaking the guys off of me as I threw myself at Tank again. I was faintly aware that it wasn't really a fair fight since Tank was still restrained, but I didn't care.

"Ranger, Ranger, Ranger." Babe's loving voice wrapped around me as her hands slid over my shoulders.

S&R

Stephanie's POV

I was jolted awake by a sudden shift on the mattress beside me. The bedroom was dark, yet I could feel that Ranger was no longer pressed against my back. I reached out to my nightstand and turned on the lamp there, then quickly rolled over.

I frowned in my sleepy haze confusion as I came face to face with Ranger's bare back. He was seated on his side of the bed, his legs over the edge of the mattress while he swung his arms violently in front of him. He was pummeling the air, but the energy he exuded told me that he was stuck in a dream or nightmare as he was beating the shit out of an imaginary someone. From the sounds of it, they might deserve it.

"Ranger." I said softly so as not to spook him, placing my palms on his upper back.

I whispered reassuringly into his ear as I ran my hands across his skin soothingly.

He seemed to calm down, but it didn't last. When he agitated himself again, I knew I was going to have to pull out the big guns. So, I did.

My hands slipped higher on his back, shifting over his shoulders. I raised myself on my knees, pressing my front against his back until my breasts were plastered against his muscles. I was hoping that the skin to skin contact would do the trick. It almost always does.

"Ranger, Ranger, Ranger." I shifted until I could press my lips against his ear. My hands slid down his chest to his solid abs torturously slow as I tried to bring him back to me.

I knew the exact moment my efforts reaped results. Ranger's arms dropped to his sides suddenly at the same time that he moved his head to be able to look at my face.

"Hi." I greeted, pressing a soft peck against his lips. It's not the first time, nor will it be the last time, that either of us has had a bad dream. They can be unpredictable, and I'll always help re-ground him just like he's done for me numerous times. "Bad dream." I assured, further pulling him back to the present.

"Babe." He let out a whoosh of air, disturbing some of the curls plastered to my cheek. Ranger closed his eyes, shifted his head slightly so he could be able to press a kiss against my cheek. When he fully relaxed, leaning back against me, I knew that he was back here with me. Good.

We were silent as I threaded the fingers of my left hand through his hair and caressed my right across his torso.

"Stephanie." He warned with a low growl several moments later when he deemed my hand swipes a little too close to his lower half.

I chuckled against his jaw, smiling wide. "Aren't you the one that has the motto of…" His mouth found mine, kissing me hungrily before I could finish my sentence. He likes to tease that if I awake his desire, that I have to be the one to put it to sleep. Says the guy who's always in the mood.

"You're already naked, Babe." Ranger praised with his patented grin as he shifted slightly, pillowing his head against my left breast.

"Yeah, because you stripped off my pajamas as soon as I slid into bed beside you." I huffed out in faux annoyance.

Ranger shrugged, allowing himself to settle more firmly against me. I know that this won't last long. Soon he's going to think that he's crushing me, even though he's not, and will reverse our positions.

"I think you only wear clothes to bed so that I can take them off of you." He countered back as he craned his head to the side so that he could look up at my smirking face.

"Sure." I said, knowing damn well that he's not lying.

His left arm snaked up so he could place his hand against the side of my neck, plastering my wild curls in the process. "Thank you." He breathed out as he used his hold on my neck to pull me down. Our lips met halfway, sharing a very thorough kiss.

I smiled against his lips, knowing that he'll open up soon enough.

S&R

Tank's POV

I walked into the break room in search of a quick snack and spotted Lester leaning against the table closest to the sink.

"Hey." He said as I raided the fridge for something to consume. "Just a heads up. Ranger's in a mood today." Lester said he saw Ranger in the gym this morning and he wasn't his usual calm self. "He beat the shit out of the punching bags." Lester felt the need to add as I selected a cup of low fat yogurt from the fridge.

I grunted in response as I opened the cup, spooning out my first bite as I shot Lester a glare. He doesn't seem to know when to shut up.

"Beautiful should sex the Boss up some more…" Lester began and I nearly rolled my eyes.

Those two have their hands on each other so much that if they do it any more than they already do then they'll burn down the building.

"I mean, after she moved into the building I figured Ranger would be less grouchy in the mornings. I…" Lester was cut off mid-rant when a reusable water bottle flew across the break room, hitting him square on his dick and balls. It was beautiful!

"Ow!" Lester howled, cupping himself in an effort to shake off the sting.

"Great shot." I praised as I turned to face Stephanie. I'd noticed when she appeared, hovering in the break room's entrance. Guess Lester didn't notice her.

"Thank you." Stephanie beamed, sharing that she's been practicing on her aim.

She sure has mastered it, I thought as I noted the gun strapped to her right thigh. Guess she's heading out on a capture this morning.

"Sorry, Steph." Lester managed to muster. Bomber's finally gained her confidence, not one to sit by and let people talk about her anymore. Santos should know better. Glad she put him in his place.

"Heading out?" I asked her, eating more of my yogurt.

"Just about to." Stephanie confirmed. And when that little mischievous grin spread across her face, I felt my stomach clench. That's never a good thing.

"What?" I growled, already knowing where this was headed.

"Say hi to Ms. De Los Reyes for me." Bomber's teasing grin was wide.

"Who?" Lester asked, straightening as he tried to hide the fact that he was still in discomfort.

I kept my stony facade, hoping that would deter her. I should have known it wouldn't. Three months ago Stephanie's oldest niece asked her if Rangeman could be a speaker for her class. Lester and Stephanie were going to do all the talking during the presentation. I was just there to make sure everything went smoothly. Nothing good could ever come out of Lester being left unsupervised, especially if he's partnered with Bomber. While the teenage students were either pining for Stephanie or Lester, I caught the eye of the teacher.

She caught my eye too. Sure, she's gorgeous, but it was her vibe that just clicked with mine seamlessly. We've been on a few dates, yet have been very discrete as we navigate this new relationship.

How Bomber found out, it's hard to know for sure. She's great at digging and finding the truth, but of course the Rangeman rumor mill couldn't hurt when it came to Stephanie's sources.

"Oh, yeah." Lester blurted out as a sparkle lit his gaze. He was about to shift his dirty comments my way.

"Steph?" Hal stopped besides Bomber to ask if she was ready to go. She said she was before focusing on me yet again.

"Have fun with Julie Anne tonight." Bomber said as she gave me a finger wave, turning to head out to the hall.

"Oh! You and the teacher?" Santos used that tone that said he was about to become even more insufferable.

It was my turn to throw something at him, using my nearly empty yogurt cup. I aimed precisely, watching with satisfaction as the remnants of yogurt smeared on Lester's cargo pants right at crotch level.

"Oh come on!" Santos bitched as I spun on my heel. "Very mature!" He called after me as I exited the break room to head back to my office.