Ch. 8

"I don't like being chauffered by a blue and white Morelli. It's not good for the image."

"Yeah look, sorry about that Ranger, but I needed to talk to you and you know the phone isn't a good idea. Anyway, the best idea is to give the impression that you and I are at odds. Hauling you in might give that impression," Joe said, a wide smile creasing his mouth for the first time in weeks.

Ranger's lip quirked a half inch and he gave a slight head nod, conceding the point. What the hell. He was trying to figure out a way to get in contact with Joe anyway. "What's going on?"

"I had an interesting conversation with our friend yesterday. He's ready to deal."

Ranger frowned as he crossed his arms over his chest. "What's the deal?"

Joe filled Ranger in on his conversation with Leslie.

"So, what's stopping this guy from taking you out the minute you come from under cover?" Ranger asked when Joe finished detailing the conversation.

"Based on things he's said? My gut instincts say that isn't his plan. I think he'd sure as hell put me out of commission temporarily to get his hands on Steph, but I don't think he wants me dead. He wants me to suffer her loss, the same way he's had to with his son." Joe let out a humorless laugh. "I've gathered from our brief conversations this guy isn't dealing with a full deck."

Ranger shook his head. "That makes him even more dangerous. You're really going to have to watch your back when this goes down."

Morelli raised his right eyebrow and glanced at Ranger. "You say that as if I'm actually going to do it."

"You're not?" Ranger demanded incredulously.

"Of course I'm not!" Joe answered, scowling at Ranger as if Ranger was the one without a full deck. "I'm not bringing Steph out in the open and risk her getting hurt if the operation goes wrong."

"Well, I like it," Ranger said curtly, crossing his arms over his chest. "It seems the best chance we have to get this guy."

Joe glared at Ranger with barely leashed fury in his eyes. "No. That's final."

Ranger knew that Morelli was being irrational. Nothing to this point had worked to find this guy. And in all likelihood, between Morelli and himself, they could prevent anything from happening to Steph during the meeting. But Ranger didn't know how to convince Morelli right now. Taking in Morelli's appearance, Ranger could see this situation was taking its toll on him. Morelli looked like he hadn't slept in days and he was too agitated from not seeing Steph to hear anything Ranger had to say. After the incident with Steph vomiting last night, and Joe's reluctance to see reason now, Ranger knew the best thing for both of them was to see each other. Ranger thought Steph should be told about the idea and he was sure she would agree to do it. And once Joe was on calmer ground, the three of them could discuss this together, and hopefully convince Joe of the validity of the idea.

Ranger squared his shoulders, preparing for the next round of battle with Morelli he was sure would come when he suggested the meeting.

"I think you should come to my place to discuss this further."

Joe looked at Ranger as if he'd lost his mind. "Have you lost your mind? I can't come to your place!" Joe shouted. "You know damn good and well I most likely have a tail."

"And you know damn good and well that you can lose any tail you want!" Ranger answered, his voice tight with the struggle not to shout back at Morelli, who was being a real pain in the ass.

"It isn't worth it. I would never endanger Steph that way."

"What if I told you she spends most of her time now locked in her room? And she's constantly sending my men on covert missions to bring her junk food." And she could be pregnant with your child, Ranger thoughtto himself, unwilling to say it aloud to Morelli without confirmation and, more importantly, without clueing Steph in to the possibility first. Grinning at Morelli to try and ease his temper, Ranger continued his appeal. "My productivity is at an all time low right now."

Despite his tense mood, Joe's lip quirked in amusement.

"Glad you think that's funny," Ranger grumbled. "Look, in all honesty, she needs you Morelli and I'd venture a guess you need her too. You're acting like a real SOB right now."

"This coming from Mr. Charm himself," Joe countered with a smirk. Joe paused as Ranger's statement about Steph spending all her time in her room finally sank past the worry that constantly crowded his thoughts now. He hated to think of Steph being miserable. He shook his head to clear it. "I can't believe I never even asked how Steph was. She's really spending most of her time in her room?" Ranger nodded, feeling the tide turning in his direction.

Joe thought about Steph. What it would be like to see her and hold her again. It didn't sound like she was doing all that well and guilt churned in his gut. This was all his fault; she was unhappy because of him. She was unhappy for him. That touched him more than anything. Ranger was right. He could lose any tail. He owed it to Steph to do this. "Fine. I'll come. I'll do it for Steph."

"I knew you'd see reason. It must be my charm," Ranger said, unable to conceal the gloating in his tone.

"Yeah, yeah. Just tell me what you want me to do."

"Come looking like you're on the hunt. My man at the gate will give you a hard time. Give him a hard time back for a few minutes then push your way past him. I have offices on the fifth floor. I'll meet you there."

Ranger opened the door to leave, then thinking it wise to dispel any notion that he was on a social call, he turned back to Morelli and shouted loudly, "If that will be all Morelli, I'd appreciate you not bothering me again," then he turned back around and stormed out of the station.

Joe thought about seeing Steph after so many weeks and his heart started racing at the same time his gut clenched and his lower body hardened.