Thanks for the encouragement. I will try to update as quickly as possible. Oh, when will 12 be out? Janet... here's to your fine work!

Chapter Four

It had been an impossibly long day. I did whatever I could on the computer to help Tank and the guys with the Gilman search. Tank actually acted concerned regarding my involvement; worried I suppose that I might end up with Morelli again. I couldn't say anything to reassure him until I had that same conversation with Ranger. I sensed that he was hesitant to help Joe, not because of the mob connections, but because of Joe and I, our history. I guess I understood that. I had reservations about Joe and Terry during our relationship. Damn, I was having reservations right now about Ranger and his wife.

Ranger explained that he wanted to talk to his daughter, Elena, alone and that in the summer he would bring her to visit or we would go to Florida. Part of me understood, but another more selfish part was railing at the fact he left me behind. I was willing to bet that his ex-wife was a real knockout, and she had a hold over Ranger I didn't, namely Elena. I was trying to learn more and more about the secretive Ranger through his sisters, some of whom still lived in New Jersey. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know. Celia had been a godsend when she called the second week I was living in the apartment (was that only 3 weeks ago?). She offered to fill me in on anything not otherwise classified. Ranger caught wind of this idea and quickly put a stop to it. He explained that anything about him I wanted to know, I simply had to ask.

The problem with open access to your mentor turned lover when his public personae was something like Batman, was that you could be afraid to ask questions. I was afraid. Funny, but I could share the shower with him, share my bed with him, and yes, even share a cake with him (although that was pushing my limits), but I couldn't freely share my feelings. I had a suspicion that the reason I couldn't was that he couldn't respond in kind. We had only been a couple for what… five weeks now. In that time, I felt like I understood him more than I did before, but I'm not so sure I really know him any better. I certainly don't know him the way I knew Joe Morelli and that bothered me.

My cell phone rang in the elevator on the way to the apartment. It was Ranger.

"Hi," I tried to make my voice sound light and sexy. I don't think it came out that way.

"Babe, you sound tired."

Yeah well, he sounded wonderful. I started to talk without really thinking of the consequences of what I was saying. "I was just thinking about how I really don't know you that well. I know the Ranger that helped with the bounty hunter business and the Ranger that operates and controls Rangeman, but what happened to Ranger, the early years?"

I could hear him laugh softly. "I never know what you are going to say when I call, but I certainly didn't expect this. Ok, what inspired these recent deep thoughts?"

"Hell if I know," I quipped. "I guess maybe I just think too much."

"About what?"

"About how you are now spending time with your ex-wife. I have no clue as to how beautiful she is, but I do know you owe her for giving you Elena."

"Showing your jealous side, huh? Well, its obvious that I haven't done a very good job of making sure you understand that you are the only woman in my life. I mean it, Babe. I'm not interested in anyone else. It's been you and only you for years."

"Even though the Morelli trials?" I felt my heart softening and instantly wished I could see his face as he revealed these secrets.

"Yeah, especially during those trials. It nearly killed me to send you back to him, but I thought you really loved him. Sometimes, I think you still do."

"Ric, please don't say that. We had an agreement where Joe was concerned. You told me that you believed me when I told you that it was over. I swear, Ric, it's over." I took a deep breath. "That doesn't mean that I can't have Joe as a friend. It just means that we have to find a way to get used to that type of relationship."

Ranger was quiet for a time. Finally he said, "Babe, I do love you."

"I love you too, Ranger." Shoot, I meant to say Ric.

Ranger promised to call again as soon as he could to catch up on the progress or lack thereof in the Terry Gilman search. He also wanted to fill me in on his visit with Elena, which apparently didn't last as long as he would have liked. I figured he would call something during the night, probably because neither of us could sleep. Who knows, maybe I would call him.

I ate the wonderful meal that Ella left for me. She surprised me with a pineapple upside down cake, which made me instantly realize that I had forgotten to call my mother. I hastily made the call.

"Mom," I began when I realized my mother was the one that answered. "I'm sorry I didn't get back to you about dinner."

"Stephanie, so nice of you to call." My mother was laying the guilt on really thick.

"I know, Mom, I'm a horrible daughter. It's just that Ranger had to go out-of-town and I was putting in more hours than usual at the office. I'm sorry I missed dinner, but when Ranger gets back, we'll both come."

My mother had mixed feelings about this new relationship Ranger and I had. Dad thought it was a good plan, while Grandma Mazur thought that Ranger was a 'pip' with an excellent package.

"How's Dad?" I asked.

"Your father's fine. He went back to driving the cab part time. I suppose he's over his kidnapping incident, but God knows when I will be."

My mother was more distressed that I realized when my father disappeared. Granted, I knew that she was upset, don't get me wrong here, I just didn't know how well she concealed from us the depth of her anguish.

"Mom, that was an isolated incident. You know that. Dad will be fine with the cab. Believe it or not, since I've been with Ranger, I've had very few attempts on my life." I tried to joke, but Mom could see through that.

"Stephanie, what is so wrong with being a wife and mother? Even with Ranger to protect you, you can still get into trouble because of the type of work you do. I just want to know that you will be safe. I never want to go through again what we went through with your father."

I thought my mother was nearly in tears. "Mom, I promise I will be careful. Believe me, Ranger wouldn't let anything happen to me." Okay, so maybe he didn't prevent all those car bombings, but that was only because I wouldn't let him.

We ended our conversation after a few more pleasant subjects were discussed. I felt emotionally drained, as I usually did after a conversation with my mother. I had promised to take my grandmother to Louis Wells's funeral tomorrow night. Oh, excitement. See what happens when you get the most popular undertaker in Trenton arrested, you pay dearly.

I climbed into the big, comfy bed and forgot all about calling Ranger. It wasn't that I didn't want to, because I did. I was just too tired. I must have been asleep several hours when a noise startled me awake. Instantly, a warm arm held me down across my waist. Sometime during the night, Ranger had come home.

"Umm," I sighed and snuggled up closer. "When did you get home? I thought I wouldn't see you until the weekend." I know I was mumbling.

Ranger held me close, his face buried into my hair. Finally, he spoke up. "I missed you like crazy. I'm going to have to rethink this traveling business. If you can't go with me, maybe I just won't go."

"That's nice," I sighed, totally content to lie in his arms and fall back to sleep.

"Babe," Ranger whispered, "I noticed the cake. Was that some sort of way to replace your need for me?"

Now that got my attention. He was referring to the jelly donut analogy I had used on him before. "Ric, nothing can replace my need for you."

"Oh yeah, well this would be the perfect time to prove you mean what you say," came his husky reply.

All I can say is what a way to wake up!