Chapter Thirty-Eight
"Ranger didn't really want me there for lunch, Les. Now he wants me to stay there?" The disbelief was evident in Steph's voice.
Lester pulled her into a warm hug. "Don't worry. The one place that you will definitely be safe from Alec is at Tia's. Alec would never do anything there."
"Keep up, here, Les," Steph sighed, but didn't bother to pull away. Strong, friendly arms around her were reassuring right now. "I wasn't safe at a SAFE house. And I was more concerned with the fact that Ranger doesn't want me around Tia. I only met her because she insisted. He would never have taken there on his own." She melted into Les. She was tired and scared, and Ranger wasn't here. Les would have to do.
Chuckling, Lester brushed a kiss against her unruly curls. "Don't think too much. You might want to get a couple hours of sleep before we move, so that you can keep the cover story straight."
"Cover story?"
"Ranger doesn't want to tell Tia that the psycho hunting you is her son. He would prefer Tia think it's your usual-type stalker, just a little better at it than most." Lester looked her in the eye. "I think we should just tell her, but Ranger is stubborn about this. He doesn't want to break her heart."
Steph pulled away and rubbed her tired eyes. "She's pretty astute. Does he really think Tia can't figure it out?"
Tank rumbled something under his breath about Ranger, but Steph couldn't quite catch it. It sounded sarcastic and fed up, so she figured she probably would have agreed with it.
"She probably will, but Ranger isn't listening to me." Lester tugged one of her curls playfully. "But he's the boss, so-"
"Got it," Steph muttered. "So what's the rest of the story? Where'd I pick the psycho up?"
"Don't over think it too much." Tank shook his head, still trying to clear it. "Tia won't ask details."
Steph nodded tiredly, smothering a yawn. The adrenaline had been depleted, and she had begun to feel the effects of her earlier fight. She would have a bruise or two in the morning. "Right."
Lester nodded to the sofa in the living room. "Go lay down until Ranger gets here. I doubt anything else will happen to night, but Tank and I will be right here."
Steph went, docile, sending a silent prayer heavenward that she would have no more dreams tonight. She did not want Les or Tank to see first hand just how bad they were. Opening up about them was one thing; letting the boys see them in action was something completely else.
She did not get her wish; she had been asleep for less than fifteen minutes when the dreams kicked in. She must have cried out in her sleep, because large hands were shaking her shoulders gently and an insistent "Steph! It's a dream, just a dream" was repeated over in over in a soft voice.
Tank's concerned face met her eyes when she finally opened them. The tears she felt swimming in them blurred his face and she gulped in air noisily. "I know, Tank. I know. I'm awake now."
He brushed a tear that had fallen away with the pad of his thumb. "You gonna be okay, Bomber?"
"Yes," she half-whimpered. "I'm just so tired…"
Tank motioned her to move over. "Lester has first watch. I'll stay with you for a while, until you can get some sleep.'
Steph sighed. She hadn't asked for help, but it had been offered. She was too tired not to accept. Moving over, she made room, allowing Tank to settle down next to her so that she could rest her head on his shoulder and his arm could wrap around her back. Closing her eyes, she murmured, "Thanks, Big Guy."
That was the last thing she remembered until she awoke with a pale pink sun streaming in the window and a different shoulder serving as her pillow. His scent clued her in before she even opened her eyes again. "Good morning, Ranger."
Gathering her in his arms, Ranger brushed a kiss on her forehead. "Babe. Heard you had some bad dreams."
Holding back a sob by sheer force of will- the dream had updated itself to include tonight's situation as well- she stuttered, "Y-y-y-yeah."
Ranger sighed. "Les told me you've been having these for a while. I'm sorry, Babe."
Suddenly annoyed with Les, Steph ground out, "For what?"
"This situation is my fault, Babe. There's a reason I didn't want to involve you in Alec's takedown. This is what I was afraid would happen." Ranger still held her, but Steph felt the need to pull away. Her desire to see Ranger warred with his over-developed sense of guilt. His guilt won.
"Everything in the world I not your fault, Ranger. I wanted to help, I helped." She pushed him off the sofa and stood shakily. "I'm going to shower and get dressed. I want to be presentable for Tia's." She turned away and stalked up the bathroom, firmly shutting the door behind her and hoping that Ranger would not follow. The hot water washed over her and the steam slowly relaxed her. She felt much calmer by the time she was finished, and ready to confront the situation of her next few hours.
What the hell was she going to talk to Tia about?
