Disclaimer, I don't own anything. I wait until my mind plagues me to write and manipulate these poor charaters to my will.

Thanks for the reviews it is certaintly encouraging and inspiring to hear that people like your story. Do not fear to give criticism if you have any, all ideas are worth considering.

Twitch in my eye – Thankyou

Chex69- Cool name by the way, I will try and update at least once a week, hope you keep enjoying the story.

ecstacyrain – thankyou

farieangel – Thanks, I agree with you on Steph jumping straight from Ranger to Joe and back again. I wondered what could happen if she did take some time out and what it would mean for her and the guys. I hope you like where it is going.

TheBrassPotato – I like the last comment as well, took a while to think of one that would have the right effect.

F. Thanks, I hope my writing style doesn't disappoint you in further chapters. More coming soon

Swapneshwari – Are you Austalian? Thanks glad you like it.

Pissy Poet –Blush! Thankyou lots and lots that is VERY encouraging I hope I don't disappoint and let my writing style fall ether. I am new at this so sometimes its hard to know what people will think. I hope you continue to like it.

Fiona Mckinnon – Don't worry lots more to come

HildaG – Wow thanks, glad like the idea, I have thought about this for a while, probably ever since reading hard eight and Steph first got involved with Ranger. This chapter is a little slow, but it sets up an important issue for the rest of the story so bear with me as I will be updating again in a few days. Just have to edit the next couple of chapters before placing them here.

Thanks to everyone else who had read my story, hope you enjoy

Chapter 4

After Ranger left and I my feelings of anxiety down, I called my dad and asked if he could bring the trusty old Buick around for me.

I was still waiting on my insurance cheque for the last car I blew up.

Damn insurance company

Once Dad picked me up and I had dropped him back home, I found myself feeling a little hungry so I swung by McDonalds on the way to the office and picked up a large coke and some fries. Comfort food.

I pulled up out side the office and parked behind Lula's Firebird. I also noticed Rangers black bronco parked out the front.

Great I wasn't ready for this.

Sighing I turned the engine off, locked the car and headed into the office. As usual Connie and Lula were painting their nails and gossiping about the latest happenings in the Burg.

Ranger wasn't anywhere to be seen.

Connie looked up upon my entering and smiled.

"He's in the office with Vinnie, said he had something important to discuss with him'

I shrugged trying to act uninterested the information. I casually picked up some of the files on Connies desk and started to rifle through them.

Lula grunted at my lack of response 'What's with you'

I shrugged not looking at Lula I casually answered 'Nothing'

Lula frowned and walked over so she was standing directly in front of me. I looked at her trying to figure out what she was going to do.

She surprised me.

Looking me up and down her expression changed from annoyed to somewhat concerned

'You look like shit, Spill it' she demanded

Shit I must have vibes coming off me in waves if Lula could read me that easily. Come to think of it Lula could always read my moods pretty well, she had this knack of being able to tell if I had been having sex or not.

It was strange.

I still felt tired this morning and didn't feel like getting grilled by Lula when Ranger could walk out at any moment. I sighed and slumped down onto the couch Vinnie kept in his office. I looked up at Lula

'Not here' I said quietly

Lula's eyes widened in surprise, she whispered 'Does it have to do with batman'

I nodded 'Sort of'

Lula jumped into action

'Well lets go and get some skips then' she hurried behind her desk and grabbed her bag and paced over to me. She had a hold of my arm and was trying to pull me up when we heard the sound of Vinnie's office door opening. Lula stopped pulling and plonked herself onto the couch next to me. She snatched one of the files out of my lap and was pretending to look it over.

I was curious to what she was doing 'Lula, what are you doing'

She looked at as if to say 'Duh' but said 'Pretending to be busy'

I found myself smiling 'you've never cared before'

Lula looked up from her file and looked thoughtful, after a few moments she frowned at me 'I care, I just want to keep myself occupied, on account of you getting me all excited with news on you and batman'

Lula just had the last part out when I felt someone approach

'What news Babe'

Shit, now Ranger was going to think I had been talking about him. I swallowed and looked up, my eyes met Rangers and held

'Not important' I replied

His expression was a little questioning as if he wasn't sure if he should stay or go.

I took the choice out of his hands and stood up.

I smiled at him and started heading to the office door.

Halfway there I stopped and turned back to Lula.

'You coming' I asked

She practically leapt out of her seat and charged towards me.

'Sure am' and she was out the door in a flash.

I looked at Ranger who was still standing in front of the couch looking amused. His eyes met mine for a second time and I found myself smiling 'Later Ranger' I said and headed out the door just in time to hear Ranger reply softy.

'Later Babe'

Lula and I took the Buick skip hunting, it seemed to be a lucky car and I was feeling in need of some luck today. Our choices consisted of an automobile thief, a domestic violence repeat offender, or a possession charge first time offender.

We chose the automobile thief.

Lula was yet to start questioning me about Ranger, thank god

I pulled up outside the skips house, which was just around the corner from Joe's house (sigh).

His name was Ricky Smart. In his file it said he didn't have a car so I was hoping this would be an easy pickup.

Remember me saying nothing goes as you planned. Well this was one of those occasions.

At first everything was going smoothly. Lula and I knocked on the door introduced ourselves and Ricky agreed to come and get rebounded. I had him cuffed and ready to hop into the Buick when Lula tripped and dropped her bag spilling the contents everywhere.

Unfortunately Lula's glock found itself at Ricky's feet.

I felt my heart contract and skip a few beats, I froze watching to see what he was going to do.

At first he seemed shocked, then recognition must have sunk in cause he picked the gun up (cuffed) and held it to my head. Now this wasn't the first time I had been held at gunpoint and I was pretty sure it wouldn't be my last so I managed not to mess my pants.

He looked me directly in the eyes and said 'Give me the keys'

I was a little puzzled, did he mean to the cuffs or to the car, I didn't want to piss off the guy who was holding a gun to my head, but hell I wasn't a mind reader. I felt a bit of anger rise and used it to speak 'To what'

He sighed and looked at his hands 'The cuffs moron'

I reached into my pocked and tried to find the keys, nothing there. I was trying to remember when I had last seen them. Shit they were in my cookie jar with my gun.

'I don't have them on me'

At first he looked annoyed, probably thinking I was bluffing, but after a close scrutinisatsion he seemed to believe me because he started cursing. (Words that I won't repeat).

'Of all the dumb idiotic things…..' he stopped mid rant and smiled.

Ohh ooo

Pointing the gun in my face again he gestured towards the car 'Get in'

No way was I getting in that car with a gun happy thief. "Why'

'Because I need you to drive dumbass'

'Drive where' I asked

'Anywhere, just get in the car or I will blow your head off'

Ok this was enough incentive for me, so I caved and got in the car.

I guess you are wondering where Lula was during all this.

After she had picked up all her belongings off the ground and placed them back in her bag, she had been watching the interaction with her mouth hanging open.

Now that Ricky was motioning me into the car she went into action and pulled out her pepper spray and sprayed him in the side of the face as he was getting into the car next to me.

Problem was he yelled in pain flopped into the passengers seat and closed the door after him. He was waving the gun around cursing and yelling in pain.

After a few seconds he realised I wasn't driving and started yelling at me.

'Drive or I will start shooting not caring who I hit'

I stayed still and found myself feeling a little sorry for the poor guy. I know what its like to be sprayed with the stuff and it hurt like hell.

'Stop rubbing your eyes it will make it worse' I tried to help.

'Just shut up and drive' he yelled back at me.

I looked up and motioned for Lula to hop in. She eyed me like I was crazy but jumped in the back anyway.

Taking advantage of my skips inability to see for the next few minutes I flawed the Buick and drove straight to the police station.

As soon as I pulled up in my usual spot, out the back of the station things flew into action.

Standing outside the back entrance with a donut in his hand was my old friend Eddie, he smiled as soon as I pulled up and started towards the vehicle. But I silently motioned for him to stop and made a gun gesture with my hand. He stopped and turned signalling to Carl and Big dog. They both pulled out their guns and headed towards the Buick.

I glanced back over to Ricky, he was still rubbing his eyes and was moaning in pain, He hadn't noticed that I had stopped driving.

Quietly I opened the car door and hopped out. Lula did the same.

Eddie and Co opened the passenger side door and reefed Ricky out of the car and onto the ground.

They managed to disarm him, but not before he got off a few shots with Lula's glock.

I felt a sudden pain in my right shoulder and was fighting the desire to slump down to the ground.

Next thing I knew Lula was screaming something incoherent and slumped the ground next to me. I knelt down beside her and noticed blood pouring from her left leg. I yelled for help and all of a sudden we were surrounded by people. I looked around and everyone seemed to be yelling but no sound was coming out.

I couldn't hear anything.

What was going on?

I looked at my hands, they were covered in blood.

Lula's blood.

An ambulance pulled up and the crowd dispersed. They placed Lula on a stretcher and piled her into the ambulance.

She was moaning in pain.

The ambulance drove off sirens blaring.

I just stood staring as it disappeared out of sight.

Eddies face came into view. He was waving his hand in front of my face and saying something to me. I mentally shook myself. My vision was starting to blur. I tried to concentrate on his face but he seemed to be moving further and further away. I felt his hand on my arm but couldn't seem to respond. I was tired, so tired.

I should sleep, just a little nap,

I closed my eyes and lay down on the concrete.

The last thing I heard was Eddie violently swear 'Fuck she's been hit".