Disclaimer: See first Chapter.

Author's Note: Hi! Thank you all for the reviews... I love them so much.

I hope you all enjoy, the next chapter should be ready soon.

Thanks for reading andpretty please review!!

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2:29

The clock is mocking me. I swear it is. It's sitting glaring at me with its bright neon green numbers.

We'd kissed.

Just thinking about it, made me warm everywhere and curled my toes. I think if I died right now, I'd be okay, as long as I had the image of that one kiss in my head.

He'd pulled me closer.

"This may not be a good idea," his voice had rumbled through me, making me shiver, making me melt.

Bruce Wayne.

I'd said it out loud and he'd blinked a little, leaning back. I'd groaned. I really needed to learn to keep my mouth shut.

"No," he'd said, "…opening your mouth seems like a pretty good idea."

And then he'd kissed me. Suddenly, his mouth was on mine and I was tasting him and not breathing.

But who the hell needs to breathe when they're being kissed by Batman? Or better yet… by Bruce Wayne….

I sure as hell didn't. I was on his lap, my hands wrapped around his neck; his arms were wrapped around me and I lost all sense of reality.

Nothing existed but him, and the growing frenzy that was filling the both of us. The kiss was going from sweet and tender to hot and fast.

I wish I could say that I was a mature responsible adult and remembered that this was not a good idea.

I can't.

Ranger can't either.

Probably neither of is a mature responsible adult.

Probably we would'a done the dirty right there and then if someone hadn't knocked.

It's amazing how fast and far two people can pull apart. If there'd been something in his way from me to the wall, he would've broken a bone.

As for me, I flew off his lap and slammed against the headboard so hard it's surprising I didn't give myself another concussion.

Ralphie poked his head in the door, "We need you downstai-"

He cut himself off, taking a good look at us as opened the door completely, "Sorry did I interrupt something?" He asked cheekily and I would have happily flung something at his head.

Ranger glared at him, "I'll be there in a minute." He told his little brother, the leave-now message clear in his voice.

Ralphie grinned from ear to ear; he looked really pleased as if he'd just gotten some prize or something, "This is great," he said happily, "I really needed that money."

My eyes widened. I swear Ranger growled.

"I'm goin, I'm goin, just hurry up. Marcus is on a roll."

He surveyed us once more with smug eyes before leaving, closing the door behind him.

Silence.

Again.

We did the silence thing pretty well.

Ranger cleared his throat; I looked up, "You should get some sleep." He said.

He was blank again.

I hated it when he did blank.

"I'll see you in the morning." He headed for the door.

That was it?

We'd just been two seconds from tearing our clothes off and that was it???

Hell no.

I moved off the bed quickly, a little too quickly, my head protested but I ignored it. I'd deal with it later. Right now I wanted to thank him, to tell him that I knew how hard this had been, that I was happy he'd finally let me in; that he could trust me to keep his secrets, that I'd never let him down.

I touched him, just as he reached for the door-knob.

"Kiss me goodnight."

What??!!

Where had that come from??

By the look on his face, he was thinking the same thing.

I said nothing more, it was up to him now.

There was no smirk this time as he reached for me, nothing but seriousness. His dark eyes were fastened on my face and I felt that surreal feeling falling over me.

How could one look do that?

I was pressed again him now, but he had yet to kiss me.

He leaned in close.

"So you and Morelli are over for good?" He asked his voice deep.

I blinked a little, my mind not fully registering why I could be in Batman's arms and he'd be talking about Morelli.

The words did eventually register, Why is this such an issue??

"Yes," I said as firmly as could, discounting that I was breathless just from having him look at me.

He smiled then, and I got that warm feeling I was now beginning to associate only with Ranger.

His lips touched mine softly, gently, "Good," he said, before pulling me closer and deepening the kiss.

I was pretty sure I was ready to implode when he pulled back, "I'll see you later, enjoy your nap."

Then he was gone.

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And here I am at 2:29 not asleep.

I really like to sleep.

Why couldn't I sleep?

I should be able to, I'd staggered over to the bed, scooped up the pajamas, went into the bathroom and taken a quick shower. I'd climbed into the pajamas and crawled into the bed. I'd tied my hair back so it wouldn't be in face. I was ready for sleep.

Instead though, my brain tried to figure out the hell had just happened.

It was trying figure to organize his story, to understand what he'd said; to work out where we'd go from here; and it's just really exhausting.

"I'll see you later, enjoy your nap."

That phrase kept ringing in my head, a nap meant to sleep for a little while and see you later meant… see you later. He was letting me sleep a little and then coming back.

That thought in itself was enough to keep me awake.

The bed is big and comfy and soft and I want to sleep; to block out the thoughts.

He'd told me everything. Everything about his family, about his history, but still… if it came right down to it I didn't really know about him.

And I wanted to.

I really wanted to.

Tonight I'd gotten a glimpse of Bruce Wayne and I liked him. A lot. Maybe even more than Batman.

Batman was great.

Batman was sexy and hot and mysterious.

But that got old.

Well... not the sexy and hot part.... butthe mysterious part... absolutely. Mystery was fun for a while, but it could get really irritating after bit.

In fact, it was irritating now. I was sick of mystery; I wanted to know where the black cars came from.

I was falling asleep. I could feel myself drifting; the bed was so soft and warm.

Tomorrow I was gonna get through the day without getting hysterical, tomorrow I was going to ask exactly where I am, tomorrow I was gonna ask about Rex.

Tonight I was gonna take a nap and hopefully, maybe, probably, Ranger was gonna wake me up…

It was good a thought to drift away to, I was at the edge of dreamland when I remembered another thought: those kisses and the warm feeling and his eyes; there'd be sweet dreams tonight.

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It was sunny.

Even with my eyes closed, I could tell. I pulled the blanket over my head. The sun would go away when I slipped into unconsciousness.

Wait a second… sun??

Sun???

Sun meant daylight; daylight meant it wasn't nighttime, which meant that I'd slept all night; not a nap, but all night.

I shot up in bed, where was Ranger?

The panic that followed that thought was squashed by simple thought of, he didn't come.

How disappointing.

I sighed, laying back again, staring at the ceiling. I was looking forward to a nice late-night…. encounter.

I decided that maybe I didn't want to just lie there. Maybe I wanted to get up and go see him, and maybe I wanted to test out all this new information I had.

I stood and noticed that there minimal dizziness as I did it, that was probably a good sign. I waited till it passed and than headed for the shower.

So he hadn't meant I'll see you later, in the way I thought he had. The water was soothing against my skin and I saw that the bruise on my shoulder had turned from a deep purple to a lighter purple with some yellow. Was that a good sign?

I stayed in the shower a long time, feeling kinda left out again. It took me a minute to pin-point why. Ranger hadn't come back probably because he was busy because of his family.

But the bigger picture was that I missed my life… or pieces of it. Mary-Lou and Lula and Rex and hell even my mother and grandma Mazur… I wanted contact with my people… even if they were a little different.

I needed a phone.

I was dressed and brushed and shoe-ed - I was ready for the world… but what I wanted was a phone.

And maybe a donut.

A donut and a phone; there's plan.

Now all I had to do was open the door, take deep breath and open the door.

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It would be hard to explain exactly how I knew something was wrong.

I just did.

It was probably due to those instincts Ranger always talked about.

Anyway as I maneuvered my way to the kitchen I sensed that there was a problem.

The kitchen looked normal, but the tension in the air was almost palatable. The kids were sitting at the island with food in front of them; food that didn't look as if it were being consumed. Still they all smiled when I walked in.

"Hi Steph," Richie called, "… come sit by me."

I started walking towards him, noticing that the other three were back to staring at their plates.

Mama-Bat and Lacey were in the kitchen too. "Hi," I said in general. Mama-Bat smiled at me, and my suspicions were confirmed. It wasn't nearly the 1000-mega-watt smile I was used to getting from her.

"Hi, honey, cereal again?" she asked.

I shook my head.

"What would you like?"

"You really don't have to make me breakfast; I can manage."

"Mama makes breakfast for everyone who's in this house every morning. She likes it." Lacey said, softly, her smile was wane too.

I looked from one to the other, "Cereal is fine."

Mama-Bat nodded, Lacey looked at the boys, "You guys almost done there."

"When's dad getting back?" Alex asked.

Lacey shrugged, she tried to make is look careless, but I saw she was tense… worried, "When he's finished with the job, baby."

Alex nodded, the answer didn't satisfy him, it didn't satisfy anyone.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Just an issue with security." Mama-Bat soothed.

Hmmmm, she obviously doesn't know that I know.

"Does it hafta do with De Ruiz and his Uncle and his uncle's family?"

Both women froze.

"Boys, living room, now."

Mama-Bat's command was obeyed instantly as all four boys scrambled off their stools, formed an orderly line, and left the kitchen.

"We're working on discipline." Mama-Bat explained when I looked back at her; my eyes had followed them out of the room.

I nodded, at some point in time I was going to ask what that meant.

"How much do you know?" She asked me.

I shrugged, "From great grandpa to De Ruiz and pretty much everything in between."

She stared at me, then sighed, "I hope you took what I said to you seriously, Stephanie."

I nodded meeting her gaze, "I did."

Her gaze held mine steadily, as if looking for something; she must have found it because she answered my question, "Veronica ran away last night."

My eyes widened, "Marcus, Tony, Rick, and Eddie are out looking for her. Luke, Richie, Lane, Lacey, Suzie and I are holding down the fort."

This said she turned around and headed back to the counter she'd been working at.

I stared after her a moment before shifting my gaze to Lacey who was still staring at me.

"How is that possible? This house is like… I don't know… a fortress. How could some get out?"

"The house is designed to keep people from getting in, not to keep people from getting out." She shrugged, "Veronica knows the codes to the systems, the places to avoid, the guards she could sweet-talk, and the dogs know her… it would only take a few days to plan."

I took that in, it made sense… sort of… except…"Why would she want to leave?"

"She and her father aren't getting along right and if the truth is told, we're all strangers to her. She grew up in Florida and when Rick wanted to see her, he'd go to her. There were phone calls and stuff like that… but she's not close to us."

"But… does she understand that her grandfather is… an asshole."

Lacey smirked, but it did nothing to lessen the worry in her eyes, "She's not going to her grandfather. She's not going anywhere but away."

"She's a sitting duck."

"Yeah."

"When did they leave?"

"About two-thirty this morning."

I nodded, a knot forming in my stomach, "Have you heard anything."

She shook her head. I walked over to the island and sat down. Lacey followed suit. "Her grandfather's men are looking for her too, right?" I asked her.

She nodded, her eyes clouded.

"We have the advantage though." I stated.

She smiled a little, "Depends how you look at it. Yeah, we know the area she's in, but we're also the ones she's trying to avoid."

"Rang- Rick's good at finding people."

"They're all good at finding people, which is why they should have been back by now."

The knot got tighter, "No one's called?"

She shook her head, Mama-Bat placed the bowl of cereal in front of me, I stared at it; I wasn't hungry. In fact I was suddenly feeling kinda nauseous.

I picked at it for a little while, waiting for it to get soggy, before complaining that I didn't want anymore because it was soggy.

Neither woman commented. They both seemed very busy, cleaning an already immaculate kitchen.

I wandered into the living room and found the boys sitting on the couches, the television was on, and they were all quietly watching.

"Don't you guys go to school?" I asked as I sat down with them.

"Paul and Clark are home schooled and today's Sunday, so the tutor doesn't come. I go to school at home, and when I'm here I get tutored too. Richie's just four, he goes pre-school." Alex answered me in a monotone voice.

These kids knew what was going on. That sucked. No kid should have to worry about stuff like this, no kid should even know about stuff like this.

I watched them watch TV and pictured the things Ranger had told me last night. He'd said he and his brothers did target practice. Target practice! As kids! It was a sobering thought. Reality intruded too early in the lives of these kids.

Way too early.

"How 'bout that game?"

Richie's face lit up, the others turned to look at me in surprise.

"Oh really Steph!? You mean it?"

I nodded.

"Awesome!" He jumped off the couch and headed for the system.

A few minutes later, I was presented with a controller. Of the other three Paul and Clark got the other two controllers and soon we all embroiled in a four player race, of which I was the loser. Alex took the controller from me and they played while I watched. It was like that for the next two hours, the fourth controller kept being rotated and the talking got louder and louder.

The boys laughed every time I played; apparently it was pretty funny that I kept crashing that little car.

There was popcorn suddenly and I looked up to find Lacey placing two bowls on the coffee table.

Our eyes met, I asked the question that hadn't left my mind since they'd told me what was going. She answered me with a barely perceptible shake of her head, before disappearing.

I went back to playing with the kids. I'm not much of a kid person. My nieces were peripheral objects that hung around and occasionally provided entertaining moments. I loved them, but I never made much effort to know them.

Mary-Lou's kids or my cousin Shirley's kids were the equivalent of the spawn of Satan and I tried to avoid them at all costs.

These kids were different though, they were like… people -- short people with odd voices… but people.

Richie was my favorite. He was so sincere, so sweet and he looked so much like Ranger that I really couldn't help but melt every time I looked at him. He did his best to teach me how to play; offering suggestions and encouragement.

Clark was the second favorite, almost as sweet as Richie, but not quite as demonstrative he had caramel colored eyes that fixed themselves steadily on me when he talked.

Paul was the wise-guy of the group. He had a witty mouth and sparkly caramel eyes like his brother.

Alex was Marcus. Sure he was Tony and Lacey's kid, but he might as well have been Marcus. He was quiet and serious and his smiles were rare. I understood though, he was the oldest. I got the feeling that in this family the oldest was always under a lot of pressure.

I got the feeling that the oldest never really got a chance to be kid.

So for that reason I focused extra attention on Alex as we played; for my efforts I was rewarded with several brief grins.

I spent the entire day with the boys; they took me on a tour… imagine my surprise when I found that the house had three floors. The second floor held a library, a family room, a Rec room, what looked like a ballroom, a conservatory, and several other closed doors, that led to rooms whose uses I could only guess at. The bedrooms were on the third floor and the boys took great delight in showing me their rooms, and their books, and their games, and their DVD's and countless other things.

There was a stair case that ran from the third floor to the security room; it was normal, no glass or curvatures; but still wide with carpet and a glossy wood banister.

Every hour that passed made the knot in my stomach tighter and tighter. Lacey was right, they should have been back now. Whenever I ran into someone I asked and the answer was always a subtle shake of the head. They obviously didn't want to worry the kids, which was the major reason why I hung out with them.

I didn't want to see those faces I'd seen this morning, at least when they explaining the concept of some video game they weren't thinking about their dad's.

I drew the line though, when they wanted to drag me outside to meet the dogs. It was going on seven-thirty; I hadn't eaten lunch, I'd picked at dinner – one very different from yesterday's; this one had been quiet except for the constant chatter I kept up with the boys.

I'd tried to put food into my mouth, but it just hadn't worked… what if something was wrong? They could've been ambushed… he could be hurt…

The thought made me want to sob, but I didn't… the boys tagged after me all day and I kept a smile plastered on my face.

Yeah, I know I'm not usually keen on baby-sitting, but these… kids, if this is the product of working on discipline, I'm doing it to mine. They're polite and usually kind, and most of the time they actually listen to you.

Except when I said I didn't want to meet the dogs, with barely no food in my system and having not a taken a nap all day, my head wasn't just pounding it was throbbing and if I moved to quickly the world moved with me. I was also quietly but determinedly working myself into hysteria.

Hysteria that made itself known when Paul grabbed my arm and started pulling me towards the Security Room door.

"Come on Steph, it'll be fun."

"No… no… maybe later… tomorrow… it's dark outside... No… I don't want to…" my voice was rising and I was pulling away from him.

"You'll like the dogs, Steph." Alex offered quietly.

"Yeah, I'm sure… I just… don't…"

"She said no, boys, let go of her Paul." Lane said quietly, she was coming from what I'd dubbed the staircase room. (The one with the glass and curvatures; the main staircase the boys called it.)

Paul let go immediately.

"Go up and get ready for bed."

Alex frowned, "It's only-"

"Now, Alex."

The boys moved to do her bidding, "Goodnight guys," I said.

They stopped, turned around, and as one came and hugged me. I stood there in shock for a minute, before wrapping my arms around the group and patting a few heads.

"Goodnight Steph," they chorused.

Then they left.

I watched them leave then lifted my gaze to Lane who was looking at. "You made quite an impression on them today." She said softly.

I shrugged, "Have you heard anything."

"Nothing."

"But that's not possible; they should've been back by now. Why aren't they back? Haven't you sent someone to check on them? To see where they are? Why haven't they even called?"

The hysteria was showing again.

Lane shrugged, "Come on you need some coffee."

"I need a drink."

"Can't have one, I'm putting you on medication again."

We were walking to the kitchen.

"What?"

"I've seen you wince seven times in the last hour and a half."

I blinked at her.

"How? When?"

She smiled, it didn't reach her eyes, but she did, as we entered the kitchen. "I was the living room, while you guys were playing Simon."

I frowned, following her lead and sitting. I noticed Mama-Bat, Suzie, and Lacey were also sitting at the island.

"I didn't see you."

"I know," she said as she poured two mugs of coffee, "You didn't see Mama and Suzie upstairs in the library either."

"Or me in the Rec Room," Lacey piped in.

I looked around at them. There expressions said this would be amusing if it weren't for the fact that we were all beyond worried at the moment.

"I guess I've been kinda out of it. Has this happened before?" I asked.

Silence.

Silence was never good.

"Once before." Lane answered me.

"It didn't end well." Mama-Bat finished.

I didn't ask, didn't want to know. I felt very tired.

"You need to eat something." Lane said, "Then I'm giving you something and you're going to bed."

"No, not till they get back." I said it immediately.

Silence again.

Suzie stood, "I'm going up to the boys. Buzz if you hear something."

"Buzz if you need help." Lacey countered.

She nodded and left.

Lane placed a plate of reheated paella in front of me. I stared at it, but I didn't really see it.

"How far would they go? Would they go… someplace… dangerous?" I asked hesitantly.

Lane sat, looked at her mother and Lacey than back at me, "Worst case scenario…" she said, "… she was picked up by De Ruiz first and they went in after her."

"How probable?" I had to know.

Lane met my gaze steadily, "At this point, it's safe to say that this is very likely what happened."

Okay forget the knot in my stomach, my heart dropped. My mouth went dry and a wave of nausea hit me. I pushed the plate of food away and lowered my head into my hands.

I'm not gonna cry…

"What was that honey?" Mama-Bat.

I lifted my head, "I said I'm not gonna cry. I feel like all I've done while I've been here is cry and have fits. I'm not gonna cry."

"You should." Lacey said softly, "I did. It makes you feel better."

I shook my head, "No, it's going to make me feel like a loser."

"You need to eat." Lane said.

"I can't, just thinking about it makes me nauseous."

"How long have you known my son?"

That came out of no where.

"Ummmm, about two years, almost three." I answered.

She said nothing, just nodded.

"Why?" I asked.

She shrugged, "Ricky's not as forthcoming about his professional life as I'd wish he'd be. When he started to… mention you in stories it perked all our interest. I just wanted to see how long he'd known you before he started talking about you."

I nodded, "How long?"

"Less than a year."

"Oh."

"Why he can't just get a normal job, is beyond me." Lane complained suddenly, "It isn't enough that we get shot at just 'cause who we are, he's gotta go out and get shot at professionally too."

Mama-Bat smiled at her daughter, "If it were up to you all the boys would be accountants."

"In a firm she owned," Lacey added, smiling too.

Lane huffed, "I'm serious, we have enough drama without Rick having to go out and make friends with half the underworld."

"We're related to half the underworld."

"Not funny Mom," she scowled.

In an amazing feat I found myself smiling at them, the nausea resided and I let myself get drawn into conversation with these women who were just as nervous as me, if not more, and were managing to keep it together, "Rick, told me Marcus was a seal." I commented.

Lane nodded, aggravation showing on her face, "And Tony was a freakin Marine."

My eyes widened, "A seal, a Marine, and a Ranger… my god."

Mama-Bat grinned, "My boys are good." She said, pride evident in her voice.

"What about Ralphie?" I asked.

"Lane got her claws into Ralphie, before he could walk, as the youngest she had no problem with it." Mama-Bat stated.

"He just finished up law school and is working in the city." Lane said, this time she beamed with pride.

"He'll probably end up prosecuting a mob boss and get shot at too." Lacey said, wryly.

Lane glared.

She shrugged, "It's true, these guys just draw it to them."

We sat in silence after that. Waiting. It was a nervous silence, but it was companionable.

After about twenty minutes, a panel buzzed, Lane got up.

"Yes?"

"They've pulled up." A manly voice said, probably from the security room.

A collective sigh rose up.

Lane pushed a few other buttons, "They've just pulled in Suzie."

"Thank god. I'm coming down; tell Tia the boys aren't all in bed."

Lane turned around, all business now.

"Mom, go up the boys. Everyone else we'll stick to the routine, with Stephanie taking fourth.."

I stood with them, completely confused. Lane had already left the room. Mama-Bat was gone too, I turned to Lacey.

She had an understanding expression on her face, "The routine is she's got the one who's hurt the worst, Suzie gets the one who's second worst, and I've got third… usually fourth waits but with you here… you can take fourth."

The first thing that registered in my head, was that this

I panicked.

"I can't… I don't know how… I… maybe they're not hurt."

"Don't worry Steph, if it were really bad for Rick, Lane would know. She would've felt it."

I'm sure she meant to comfort me with those words…pretty sure...I mean I'mnot comforted… but I think she meant to, she gave me a quick smile andheaded for the living room.

I followed slowly, hoping I wouldn't have to test my ER skills… mostly cause I didn't really have any.

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