A/N: I know I know… it's about time that this chapter was up. To compensate this chapter is kind of long. Now enjoy and don't forget to review. That's the only reason I continue writing this fic.

Ch. 6: New bodyguard

I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed. Just because I was feeling refreshed doesn't mean I want to get out of bed. I dragged my 130 pounds of dead weight to the shower for twenty minutes under the hot water. When I got out I got dressed in jeans and flannel. I put on some make up and gelled my hair and pulled it back into long ponytail.

Then I walked into my kitchen for some breakfast. I looked in the fridge and grabbed the milk and I got the frosted flakes out of the cabinet. I sat down in front of the TV with my bowl of cereal and watched morning talk shows.

I had the strangest feeling I was forgetting something. I slapped my self on the forehead. Nope not a mental head slap but a real one. Bob. I might have been hallucinating that one but just in case I'm going to drop in on Stevie's after go the office.

I finished my cereal, washed the bowl and grabbed Ranger's sweatshirt and flew out the door. So I was a little concerned about Bob.

I was at the office at 9:30. I went straight for a donut. I decided not to mention the late night phone call just in case I was just crazy.

"Hey Connie, got anything new?"

"Nope. It's a little show right now. How's the John Smith?"

"No luck. I'll get him though."

I sat on the couch with my donut and was munching on it when Lula walked in. Pink spandex top, leopard print spandex pants, and suede jacket that reached her calves. Nice.

She went for the donuts too. She glared at me.

"You took the last jelly."

I looked at my hand and then at her and gave her my best 'who me' look. She just grabbed a glazed and flopped on the couch next to me.

"How was your night at Ranger's?"

"I got my apartment back yesterday."

"Oh, so he spent the night at your place."

"No. There was no spending the nights done. We were both at our respective homes."

"Then what with the jacket?"

"Uh… I haven't seen him to give it back yet."

"Uh huh." Lula and Connie responded in unison.

"It's the truth!" Have I ever lied to them?

"What about the car?"

"What about it?"

Lula tried to stare me down, but I gave her my best burg girl glare. She flinched and I smiled. "Well anyway, I got to go."

"Going after bad guys? Need a partner?" Lula asked.

"Nope, no bad guys today. I'm going to go see a man about a dog."

"Uh."

I got up grabbed my bag and left. Got in my wonderful new BMW and drove to Stevie's.

Stevie's was one of many storefronts on a strip. Nothing much. I took a parking spot right in front of the store so I could watch the car, make sure no one stole it or blew it up. I walked in and behind the desk was a skinny, 5'10 balding man.

He looked up and took me in. "Stephanie?"

"Stevie."

"Jesus Stephanie, I heard you blew up another car." Hmph, I haven't seen him in years and the first thing he mentions is a car.

"It wasn't my fault." I said half-heartedly.

"Anyway, what can I do for you?" he asked.

"I heard Morelli dropped off Bob here."

"Yes he did."

"So he's here."

"No he isn't."

"What?"

"Some man came and picked him up yesterday. He said Morelli sent him, he had the ticket and he paid the bill."

"And you just gave him the dog?"

"Yep. What's it to you anyway? I heard you two broke up."

"We share custody of Bob." I said angrily and walked out.

When I got in the car my phone rang. The caller ID was blocked.

"Hello?"

"So I see that you checked out Stevie's. Bob's not there is he?" I looked around to see any suspicious cars. "No point looking around, you can't see me."

"What do you want?"

"You know what we want."

"No I don't, why don't you tell me." Why is it that creepy stalkers and dog-nappers are always attracted to me.

"Michael Kurtis, that's what we want."

"Well I can't find him."

"I'm sure you'll find a way. You have 48 hours." Click. Why is it they never say two days, why is it always 48 hours?

I dialed Ranger, I didn't know who else to call.

"Yo."

"Yo yourself."

"Sup?"

"This my sound strange but Bob was dog-napped!"

"What would you like me to do?" He sounded amused.

"Help me get this Michael Kurtis."

A moment passed, he was silent.

"Ranger?"

"I'll be there in ten."

"What?" Click.

I glared at the phone. Why does he always hang up first! Next it'll be me.

I sat in the car until he got there and when he got out he motioned me to stay. He went into to Stevie's and I got out of the car. Yeah right I was going to listen. When was the last time I did that? I locked the car out of habit and I walked into the store.

He stared at me like he was saying 'I thought I told you to stay in the car' and I stared back a 'yeah right.'

Stevie walked in from the back room and handed Ranger video tape. Ranger took it and nodded. He walked out and I followed. Outside I noticed someone was sitting in Ranger's truck.

"Who's that?" I asked him.

"Your new body guard. He's new so try not to break him." He sounded mused.

I gave him a glare. "I'll try my best not to. What are you going to do with that tape?"

"I'm going to try and find your dog-napper."

He then pressed me against my car door and leaned in. His hand found its way to my right pocket, it dug in and I was getting hot. Whoo…. He then pulled back. I was kind of disappointed. I thought he was going to kiss me.

"Do you want me to kiss you?" He asked amused. Uh oh. He then turned and walked to the passenger side of his truck. The door opened and my soon to be bodyguard stepped out, but I couldn't see who it was. He was standing behind the door. While they talked I stuck my hand in my pocket for my keys, but nothing was there.

Ranger must have taken them when I was distracted by his body. Did he really think I was going to run? Bob was in danger here!

I stood there while they talked and finally Ranger handed the new guy what I assumed were my keys and then walked to the driver's side of the truck. The passenger door closed and the man walked directly towards me.

My jaw dropped. I couldn't believe this. He walked straight up to me and stuck out his hand. I took it.

"Hi, my name is David Galloh. I'm sorry about the other day."

Recovering from the initial shock I managed to introduce myself even though he probably knew who I was. "I'm Stephanie." I took him in. He was hot. I mean the drool and trip over yourself kind of hot. If I wasn't used to being and around Ranger and Ranger's men I would be doing that right now.

I could feel him shift awkwardly. I looked at the hand that was holding my keys. What were the chances of him giving them back to me so I could drive? None.

"Ok David. Drive." I commanded as I walked to the passenger side. He beeped the car open and we both got in.

"Call me Dave." He said.

"Ok Dave. Lets go."

He started the car but didn't pull out but just stared at me. "What?" I asked.

"Where do you want to go?"

"Oh right." I gave him Michael Kurtis' address and he drove us there.

When he pulled into the apartment building's parking lot I looked around for the blue mustang, but no such luck. I guess I'll just have to sit here and wait.

"What are we doing here?" Dave asked.

"Staking out." At the mention of the words I could feel the need to pee. I hate stakeouts. I don't have the patience for this. I can't sit still to save my life.

He nodded.

"Not much chances of him showing up. I already checked out his apartment but it looked like he packed a bag and left."

"So then why are we here?"

"The off chance he decides to grace us with his presence." I smiled at him. I let a moment of silence pass then my curiosity kicked in about this young ex-marine.

"So Dave. How come you're working for Ranger?"

He looked at me like he was considering if it was worth telling me. "I'm working off the bail he posted for me."

"He bailed you out?" I was surprised by this. Ranger just met the guy and he was already posting bail for him? "You choked a guy until he passed out. It took two people to pull you off of him."

"Uh. I didn't know what I was doing." I looked at him like he was crazy, but he just stared down at his shoes. And suddenly it occurred to me how young he was. His file said he was 23.

"The doctors there kept telling me that I had PTSD. That's why they discharged me from the marines." He said quietly.

"PTSD?" I thought about it, I didn't know what it was.

"Posttraumatic stress disorder."

I've experienced that quite a few times as well, but not in the war sense. More in the post psycho killer encounters sense. Must be hard for him.

He then looked around at the car. "So you work for Ranger too?"

"Who me? Nope. No. Of course not." I was pretty sure I wasn't on the Rangeman payroll.

"Then you must be something special for him to give you a car like this."

Oh no. I knew where this was going. "Nope. Nothing like that. I'm just a line on his account that read entertainment." Whoops. That didn't sound right. Mental head slap. But he just laughed at this and it loosened him up a little.

We passed the rest of the time talking. I found out his mother was Mexican, father American. He lived in Texas for a while then moved to Jersey. He enlisted with the marines at 18, right out of high school. He had a girl friend before he left for Iraq but she couldn't deal with him after he got back and left him. And now he's just trying to work things out in his head. And as part of the deal with Ranger, he was going to work for Ranger and go for therapy sessions. Wow, Ranger was being nice again.

1:30 rolled around and my stomach was screaming.

"I'm hungry, how about you?" I asked him.

"I could use some food." He smiled. "McDonalds?"

"That'll do."

He drove us to McDonalds and we walked in. I ordered a large fries, a Big Mac, and a diet coke. He ordered something similar but not diet. This guy was young and different from all the other Rangeman employees. He talked, not much but enough and he didn't have the whole "my body is my temple" thing going on.

We sat and we ate, neither of us talked much. When we walked out of the McDonalds into the parking lot I couldn't spot the car.

"We did park here right?" I said standing in front of the spot I was sure we had parked. He nodded. "Not another one." I groaned.

He looked at me. "What do you mean?"

"I've blown up and crushed a Porsche, I've had a BMW stolen, a truck blown up, A Lincoln Towncar stolen but recovered. And those are just the cars Ranger let me borrow."

His mouth was twitching in the corner. I knew he wanted to laugh. "Don't you dare laugh!" Then I heard a dog barking and then howling. It sounded like Bob. I followed the sound to the other side of the McDonalds and stared at a black LaSabre. I could see the insides were ripped up and the white seat stuffing was sticking out and there was Bob sitting there barking at the sight of me. I ran up the car and opened the door.

Bob jumped on me and I was knocked to the ground. Bob attacked my face with licks and Dave had to pull Bob back. I picked myself up and dusted off my ass. Then my phone rang. I fished it out of my bag and answered.

"Hello?"

"Do you see what you're fucking dog did to my car? That dog is fucking crazy! I left him there for fifteen minutes and he fucking tears out the seat stuffing and tries to eat it."

I couldn't help myself I started laughing. I couldn't help but think Bob was a genius.

"So laughing bitch. If you didn't notice, your car is gone."

"You took it!" I screamed into the phone. It was his turn to laugh.

"Yup. It's a real nice car."

"It's not mine! It's a company car!"

"Too bad." And he hung up.

I cursed at the phone a little and closed it. I guess I should call Ranger. But too late Dave beat me to it. He was on the phone explaining the situation.

"… took the car but left us his with Bob inside." Pause. "Okay." He turned to me. "He'll be here in twenty."

Now I considered running, but then it hit me. The Dog-napper stole Ranger's car. Ranger's car has GPS tracking. We can find the Dog-napper. Haha! I almost did my happy dance right there in the parking lot.

Dave put Bob back in the car and we sat on the trunk while we waited for Ranger.

"So how does he usually handle these kinds of situations?" Dave asked me.

"Oh he usually laughs and gives me a new car." I answered casually.

"Gives you a new car? After how many you've destroyed?" He asked in surprise.

"Yep." What could I say, it was Ranger's bad habit.

"I wonder if that's what they were betting on?" Dave questioned out loud.

"Who? On what?" I had a strange suspicion about what it was.

"Tank, Lester, Bobby, and some others. They were betting on how many days this car would last you. They were also making bets about how long I would last. Is it true you break Ranger's men too?"

I gaped at this. "It wasn't my fault! Tank jumped off the roof, Cal was just standing in the wrong place at the wrong time, and Hal… well that one was my fault."

Dave looked a little scared. "You're kidding right?"

I grinned a little evilly. "Nope." And then I laughed.

Some time passed and the Black F150 arrived and parked next to us. Ranger got out his lips tilted into a smirk. We jumped off the back of the car and faced him.

He just stared at us. Then another black SUV arrived and parked next to Ranger. Tank got out of this one.

He nodded to us and stood beside Ranger.

"It wasn't my fault." It slipped out.

"It was just a car."

"Did you try tracking the car?" I asked.

"Someone is taking care of that." So maybe we will get the bad guys! Ranger smirked as if he knew my thoughts.

Then my phone began ringing. Is there ever time it doesn't?

"Hello?"

"Stephanie this is Albert."

"Albert, I'm kind of busy."

"That guy, Michael Kurtis is here. He's washing his clothes."

"I'll be right there." And I hung up.

Ranger raised an eyebrow. "Michael Kurtis is at the Laundromat next to Albert's office washing his clothes! Can I borrow a car?"

"Get in." Ranger said to me. Then he turned to Tank did the ESP thing and Tank nodded.

I got in the passenger side and then remembered Bob. When Ranger got in a second behind me I asked him about Bob.

"Taken care of."

As we pulled out I saw Tank grab Bob front the back seat. They really did have ESP! We were at Albert's in record time and I jumped out of the truck to get to the Laundromat, but before I took two steps past the truck Ranger grabbed me by the scruff of my sweatshirt… or really his sweatshirt I was wearing.

"You plan on going in there without a gun?" He asked.

I looked at him. I never carried a gun if I could help it and he knew it. He sighed and let go and took the lead. We entered the room and I looked around. Michael Kurtis was sitting in a corner watching a washer. Ranger and I walked right up to him.

He didn't look too dangerous and it didn't look like he was carrying.

"Michael Kurtis?" I asked him when we were standing to his side.

He looked up and then his eyes went wide.

"You're Morelli's girl, why the hell are you after me?" He asked jumping from his seat.

"Morelli's girl? I don't belong to anyone." I screamed back. "And what do you mean why the hell am I after you? You missed your court date." Then I got my anger under control and resumed my composure. "Would you please come with us to the station to reschedule?"

"Are you crazy lady? Does that line actually work?" He laughed.

"Yes it does!" I was angry again. He didn't have to laugh. I was only being nice. I could feel Ranger's smile behind me too. "C'mon Mr. Kurtis don't give me any trouble. You see this man behind me? He's ex-army. He knows 43 ways to kill you with his thumb. So let me cuff you and we can all go down to the cop shop." Kurtis eyed Ranger and nodded. He stuck his hands out to be cuffed and I didn't hesitate.

"What about my clothes?" He asked.

"I'll take care of that." Ranger raised an eyebrow to this.

While Ranger hauled Kurtis' ass to the truck I ran next to Albert and told him to take care of the clothes. Then I ran back to the truck and got in the passenger side.

Ranger immediately slipped into his zone and tried to look out the window but I could Kurtis' eyes on the back of my head. I finally turned around. "What?"

"Morelli didn't mention anything about you being this hot, but knowing Morelli he wouldn't settle for anything less."

This got me thinking. This guy has met Morelli and that Dog-napper was after him. So did the dognapping have something to do with Morelli?

"When was the last time you saw Morelli?"

"Two weeks ago."

Now I knew Ranger was paying attention.

"Where is he?" He looked at Ranger and looked at me again.

"New York, but by now they could have moved down to Texas."

I thought about this. "Is Gilman there with him?" Ok I know this isn't the perfect time to be asking but hey I'm a woman. I have the right to know.

He laughed. "Gilman got scared, left for Mexico about a week ago when I left to come here."

I gaped at him. What could scare Gilman, Mob princess? "What's this all about?"

He looked at Ranger again and this time I looked at him too. He was looking at Kurtis via rearview mirror. "Do you know something?" I asked him.

He shot a look my way and slipped back into the zone.

This was getting annoying. Everyone knew something other than me.

I looked back at Kurtis but now he was avoiding my eyes. Shit!

I stared out the window until we got to the cop shop. Ranger pulled in by the drop off area. I got out and opened the door for Kurtis. Inside I left him on a bench and did the paper work.

When I got my body receipt and I was walking out, out of the corner of my eye I spotted a suit leading Kurtis down the hall. Ok so the Feds are involved with Morelli's case. So he was in real danger. What could I do? Kurtis said that he could be in Texas. What's in Texas?

I walked back to the truck and get in. Ranger's quiet. Hmm… something is going on and no one is talking.

"Babe." He said as he started the car and pulled out.

I think I hit a zone as well because once the car stopped and I came back down to reality we were in the Rangeman building's garage.

"What are we doing here?"

"It's not safe in your apartment."

I looked at him critically. "What's going on?"

"Babe."

"Don't babe me. Want to know what's going on." I was pissed and I wasn't going to take this I can't tell you or I'll have to kill you shit from Ranger.

His face went flat. Oops. He's angry.

"Go up stairs and don't leave. I'll explain when I get back."

I glared at him, I didn't want to back down but I got out of the truck and walked to the elevator. He watched me as the doors closed and I pressed 7 but the button wouldn't light up. Damn it! I don't have the keys.

But the elevator went up the 6th floor and Ella got in. She had keys in her hand. We went up to the 7th floor and she let me in.

"Would you like something to eat dear?"

I was feeling a little hungry for ice cream. "Do you have any Ben & Jerry's?"

"I'll see dear. It's nice to see you around here again." Then she turned and left.

I tried to say something about there being nothing between me and Ranger but words wouldn't come out of my mouth. She got in the elevator and the doors closed. Why did everyone have to think that there was something going on between Ranger and me?

I closed and locked the door behind me, including the deadbolt. And made my way to the couch. Why is everyone determined to keep in the dark? I turned on the TV and started flipping. Five minutes later I had settled on VH1's I love the 80's program.

There was a knock on the door and I jumped up and was at the door in 2 seconds. I threw it open. I was Ella holding a contained of Ben and Jerry's. I took it and looked at it. 'Chocolate Fudge Brownie'. Good enough for me.

"Thanks Ella."

"You're welcome dear."

Wit that she left and I grabbed a spoon and went back to watching TV. I watched 1984-1986 before Ranger got back.

I didn't turn and greet him, I just continued to watch TV. Ok, so I was in a bitchy moon. He called down to Ella for food, which meant he wanted to talk and it was serious. He then walked to the couch, picked up my feet and sat down, putting my feet on his lap. I finally looked at him but he was watching the TV now.

I suddenly noticed the tension in his face. Maybe I shouldn't be so much of a bitch; maybe I should be nicer. We watched TV for about 30 minutes until Ella knocked.

I pulled my feet off of Ranger and he got up and got the door. Ella bustled in with a tray, put it down on the dinning table and then left.

Ranger sat down and I joined him. Today we had Spanish rice and a meet. I served myself and began eating. Ranger wasn't as quick.

Halfway through the meal Ranger finally broke the silence.

"Babe."

I stopped eating and looked up. "Ranger."

"You sure you want to know what's going on? Even if I tell you, you can't so anything about it."

I nodded. He stood up and walked to the sideboard by the door and returned with an envelope. He tossed it by me and sat down again.

Inside was an official looking memo. I read some of it.

"You mean Morelli got caught?" I asked Ranger.

"No they suspect he's FBI, so he can't leave."

"What's this about, why was Gilman involved?"

"Grizolli allowed the use of his name to make a drug deal with a major supplier in New York. Morelli and Gilman were the proof of his name. But something went wrong about a week and a half ago; Gilman left for Mexico; Michael Kurtis, their contact in New York, ran; and Morelli was trapped. If he left it would be suspicious and they would hunt him down."

"So what is the FBI doing?"

He shrugged. "Nothing we can do Babe."

Then he began eating again. I did the same. I wasn't sure what I could say or do. If Morelli was really trapped by mobsters I couldn't really do anything. If I try I might just get him killed.

"Leave it to the FBI, they'll take care of it."

I looked up. "How do you do that?"

He only smirked at this.

"I have a job for you if you'd like."

"Distraction?" Those are the only kind of jobs Ranger gave me anymore.

He nodded. Something was off. What wasn't he telling me?

"What should I wear?" I asked.

"I heard you have a new red thing."

"How did you know?" He only did more of that annoying smirking.

"We leave tomorrow at 5. It's a long drive so you can get dressed there. Tank will take you by your apartment tomorrow morning."

Leaving tomorrow? Getting dressed there? Hmm… "Where exactly are we going?"

He only flashed me a mysterious 200-watt smile.

A/N: Now you know about the ex-marine and what happened to Morelli... sort of. And Bob is safe. I'm sure you're asking questions like where is Bob and what happened to the guy who kidnapped him right?I hope you are.

Also, I've been trying very hard not to deviate from the Stephanie Plum's world, but the next chapter will, a little. I'll try to make it as believable as I possibly can. Which means I'll be taking my time and being very careful, so please forgive me ifI take too long.