Disclaimer: These are Janet's characters.

Note: While I'd love to make this strictly a love story, it seems untrue to the pattern of the books. Had to throw some angst and energy in the mix. Hope you enjoy. Please review!

Chapter Eleven

Ranger was silent during the drive to my parent's house, not a total surprise there. I managed to stop crying in the shower, but he was aware there had been tears. Men and tears don't mix, especially when the men are the big, tough men I tend to hang around.

We pulled up in front of the house and noticed that Morelli's car was already there along with a black and white. Morelli worked Vice or Homicide, not Missing Persons, so I was surprised to see him here. I ran up to the door where Grandma Mazar was waiting.

"Good, you're here. Maybe now we'll see some action," Grandma grumbled. She was dressed in a velour-jogging suit of pale pink, white tennis shoes with pink socks, and hair that was nearly the same color as the suit. Her skin hung loosely from her small frame, the fuchsia lipstick making her face paler than normal. "Your mother is really worried about your father, Stephanie. Me, I think he just went for a drive and got lost. You know how men will never admit they don't know directions."

Grandma probably said a lot of other things too, but I blocked her out when I saw Joe sitting on the couch next to my mother, who was wringing her hands. She saw me and her Burg housewife facade nearly crumbled.

"Oh, Stephanie, I don't know what I'm going to do if something happened to your father," she cried.

I went over and held her. Joe and I exchanged places, me taking the couch beside Mom and Joe moving to talk to Ranger. I tried my best to soothe my mother's escalating emotions, knowing that Ranger and Joe would discuss Willard Noble and determine the best way to handle the situation. I still couldn't believe that this one man was responsible for burning out my apartment, dislocating Lula and me, and now possibly kidnapping my dad. Something didn't make sense. I wasn't even the one who took him in. Why was he fixated on me? I planned to pose that question to Ranger as soon as I could.

My mother and I went into the kitchen, mother to make coffee, me to find cake. In times of severe stress, I had to have cake. It was my drug of choice. I don't know how long I had been standing at the kitchen sink when I felt a hand at the back of my neck.

"Why?" I asked Ranger. "Why is this guy fixated on me? I haven't been working at Vinnie's for quite a while. I only assisted Lula. It was supposed to be no big deal." I turned and laid my head on his chest.

"Babe," he whispered, "we'll figure this out. You have to have faith."

The sound of a man clearing his throat brought my head up off Ranger's chest. Morelli stood at the entrance to the kitchen, his eyes dark and menacing.

"Anything new, Joe?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral. Being with Ranger around Joe was something that would take time to adjust to, for both of us.

Joe looked at Ranger, who didn't move other than to turn us both to face Joe. Ranger's arm was around my waist, a fact not lost on Joe.

"I came here at your mother's request. I will have to turn all the information over to Missing Persons, but I think the angle with Noble is viable. I will see about having a patrol car over here tonight."

"Not necessary," Ranger responded. "I'll take care of security around the house."

Morelli nodded and left the room.

"What are you planning?" I asked Ranger. "Do you think Mom and Grandma are in any danger?"

Ranger released me and moved away a bit before answering. He was removing his cell phone from his pocket.

"I'll have a few guys on stake out just in case, but I don't think anyone will show up here." He dialed and the phone was answered in the typical fashion, "Yo."

I knew Ranger was talking to Tank, but he kept his voice low. My own thoughts were so loud that I wouldn't have paid attention to the conversation anyway. I found that I was terrified for my father. I had no idea why anyone would kidnap him or want to harm him, but I did have a way with ticking people off.

"This isn't your fault," Ranger stated flatly. "Don't start blaming yourself or you will lose focusof the real issues. You hold yourself together and you can work like any other Rangeman employee on this job, but you start to fall apart, I'll pull you from the field. Got it?"

I knew he was trying to help me, but I was too emotional to really focus on that. I wanted to lash out and he was handy.

"Damn it Ranger, this is my father. Don't put conditions on my participation in this!" I fought back tears.

"You can't stay here tonight, Babe. You need to come back to Rangeman with me." He had read my mind. I didn't want to leave my mother.

"Why the hell not?" I snapped.

Morelli entered the kitchen unannounced. "Because you're the target, Steph. You can be the bait, right Manoso?" His tone was sharp and venomous.

Ranger's face was a mask, but his eyes reflected restrained anger. "I'll protect her. She's not yours any longer."

Morelli and Ranger stood face to face.

"That may be true, but if anything happens to her, you'll be the first person I look for," Morelli responded. "If I find you, it won't be as a cop, either."

I watched them size each other up and before I could scream at them for their macho antics, Ranger spoke up.

"Fair enough," he said simply. With that Morelli left the house.

Two Rangeman employees were positioned at the house, one inside, one outside. My mother was none too happy about the arrangement, but finally consented when Grandma and I double-teamed her. She had wanted me to stay, as I knew she would, but I explained that I was going to assist in the search and she finally relented.

It was after noon before the team sat assembled in the Rangeman conference room. Lester had run some computer searches and made the usual phone calls. No one fitting my father's description was admitted into any of the hospitals within a hundred miles of Trenton. The cab company Dad drove for on a part time basis reported that his last check in was around 11:00 pm the previous night. He stated he was coming back to the garage and then going home. No one had reported seeing Willard Noble at any of his usual haunts.

I sat there listening to this intelligence report, becoming more and more frightened. I thought I heard Ranger issuing assignments, but wasn't really focused on what he was saying. I realized belatedly that he had dismissed everyone and only he and I remained in the room.

"Babe, did you happen to hear any of that?"

He knew I hadn't and gave me a brief summary of what they would be doing next.

"What can I do?" I was suddenly very tired.

"Right now I think it's best if you and Lula stay here. Tank says she's anxious to see you. He told her about your father."

I didn't have the energy to argue. I simply nodded and followed Ranger out of the room. He escorted me back to the apartment on the seventh floor and waited as I settled down for a nap. I thought for sure that there would be no way I could sleep, but I bet I was out before he ever left the room.

Sometimes sleep is the conscious brain's way of avoiding unpleasant events. Unfortunately, the subconscious doesn't always take a break while you're out. I didn't feel like adream, as it seemed so real, but sometime during that nap, I saw my father talking to Old Willard. Willard had a gun pointed at Dad. I tried to distract him. I yelled, but it was if neither one of them could hear me.

I woke up yelling, Ranger holding me and trying to calm me down. Slowly my conscious brain took over and I realized that it had to have been a dream. Over Ranger's shoulder, I could see Lula standing in the doorway, concern written all over her face. It was odd to see them both in the same room and Lula more concerned about me than Batman.

"It's okay," I offered to both of them. "The dream was so real. I saw Dad with Willard. Willard had a gun aimed at him."

Ranger hugged me close. "We'll find him, Babe. I'm on my way back out. Lula's going to stay with you. I don't want either of you leaving this building." He headed out the room, but not before glancing my way one more time. The mask was in place, but the eyes showed concern.

Lula sat on the edge of the bed. "Girl, is this Batman's bed?" Lula's hand caressed the sheets.

"Yeah, I guess it is," I replied. I wasn't sure if I could handle the conversation that would undoubtedly follow, but Lula surprised me.

"You're one lucky skinny white chick. That man cares about you in the worst way. I saw that look in his eyes. He's got it bad."

I saw that look too. Maybe there was a chance for something for us besides wild sex and groping in garages. When Dad was home safe and sound, I wanted to sit down with Ranger and talk, but first I needed to help find Dad.

"Lula," I began as I got out of bed and pulled back on my jeans, "you and I have to find Noble."

"Oh, no," Lula sighed. "I figured you wouldn't stay away from the action for long."

"You got that right. It's my fault if Willard took Dad. I'm the crazy daughter who always finds trouble. I never wanted it to come home to him though. I never considered that anyone would want to hurt my family." I headed out the bedroom door.

"Come on, we have to get out here somehow."