AN: Nothing like a little fantasy writing after a long day at work to perk up the spirits. Please review and let me know what you think. Thanks!

Chapter Fifteen

My cell phone rang. It was Carl Constanza.

"Yo, Carl. What's up?" Carl was married to my cousin Shirley and often asked for my assistance in the babysitting department, one of my least favorite activities.

"How's it going, Steph?" Carl responded.

"Not bad, but I doubt that you called just to say hi," I joked.

"Nah, I need a favor."

No big surprise there. "Listen, Carl, I can't babysit, if that's what you want. I've got company."

Carl interrupted what would have been a perfectly legitimate excuse, one of the few I ever used with him. "No Steph, it's not that. It's Morelli"

"What about Morelli?" I had to admit I was curious.

"He's really a mess. I think he's on a bender. Maybe you could check on him."

"He's not my problem anymore, Carl."

"I know, but he's still your friend, right?"

He had me there. I was just telling Ranger that Joe and I would always be friends. I guess I couldn't turn my back on him.

"All right," I sighed deeply. "Where is he?"

"As far as I know, he should be home."

I hung up after promising to get back to him later.

"Anna, I have to go check on Joe. He's taking this Terry thing pretty hard. Want to go?"

Anna considered this for a minute. "I don't think it's a good idea. I'm probably part of his problem right now."

Anna left, but not before we agreed to meet later for a longer chat.

I drove to Joe's after letting Tank know that I had some personal business to take care of. I knew that if Ranger wanted to talk to me, he would call, but I also knew that he still checked on me with Tank from time to time. My luck would have him checking now. I avoided telling Tank where I was going, but knew the GPS would place me at Joe's house. No doubt there'd be some explaining tonight at dinner.

Joe answered the door looking worse than I can ever remember seeing him.

"What happened to you?" I teased, taking in his bloodshot eyes and scraggly beard.

"Going for a new look?"

He rubbed his face with his hand and grimaced. "Very funny. Constanza send you here?"

No sense denying it. "The guys are worried about you. Jesus, Joe, this isn't like you. You've been through this before, you'll get through it now." I was referring to the way we met up again years after I ran over him with the Buick. He was wanted on a murder charge then. He was my first bounty.

"That was different, Stephanie. Terry was a part of my life. God, there were times when I treated her pretty bad. I think she cared for me, but I couldn't see myself tied down to a member of that family. It would be a really bad career move."

Joe had not always been a cop, but now that he was, he was damned good at his job. It was his career that sometimes came between us as much as mine did. I had heard rumors about him and Terry, but I wasn't prepared to believe everything I heard. Now that I was with Ranger, it didn't seem important anymore to know the truth. Of course, there was also the matter of Anna, but in my heart, I felt like that weekend was just a freak thing for him. Joe was basically a one-woman at a time kind of guy. I guess every man is tempted from time-to-time.

I found my thoughts wondering to whether or not Ranger was ever tempted since we've been together. Would he ever find someone that he would be willing to spend a wild weekend with? The thought of that happening unnerved me more than I would ever be willing to admit. It made me feel vulnerable. I didn't like feeling vulnerable. I forced my thoughts back to Joe.

"Joe, you can't change what happened with Terry. Not any of it," I added, thinking of the rumors I had heard.

Joe seemed to sense what I meant. "Stephanie, I wasn't involved with her while we were together. I guess I don't have a the right to expect you to believe me, considering the Anna thing, but I'm telling you the truth."

I wanted to believe him. I think I did. "I know," I replied, leaving the meaning of my words for him to decide. "Are you on leave?"

"Forced leave, administrative leave, whatever you want to call it. I'm not welcome at the station right now. Guess I'm not handling it as well as I should, huh?" Joe flopped down on the couch. "I feel so freaking helpless. I didn't have anything to do with Terry's murder. Damn, I considered her a friend."

I spent the next hour listening to Joe and trying to point out some positives, anything to take his mind off his troubles. We joked with each other in a friendly sort of way and parted with a kiss and hug. Joe promised to lay off the booze and even told me he would have dinner with his mother tomorrow. I wondered as I left how long the promise to avoid alcohol would last after that dinner.

It was still relatively early. I had a choice between checking in at Vinnie's or going back to the computer at Rangeman. It was nearly lunch time, so there was really no contest. Lula was always more than happy to contribute to my delinquency when it came to fast food. Living with Ranger had a lot of benefits, but the choice of food wasn't exactly one of them. Luckily for me, Ella would smuggle treats into the apartment.

"Yo," I sang out as I entered the office. I hadn't even noticed that Joyce Barnhart's ride was parked outside. I found her sitting on the couch in the office.

"Oh," I stated flatly when I saw her. A part of me wanted to flaunt the fact that I ended up with Ranger, but another part of me just wanted to pretend she didn't even exist. My history with Joyce wasn't exactly pleasant.

"Why Stephanie, slumming are you? I thought you worked for Rangeman now, you know... corporate bed warmer." Joyce had a vicious mouth and a shrill, evil voice.

"Lula, do you hear something? I have this annoying buzzing sound in my ears. Probably some insect."

Lula just grunted.

"Are you here for any skips?" Connie asked. "Ranger skips or Stephanie skips?" Connie was alluding to the fact that Ranger only took the expensive, and naturally more dangerous, skips.

"No, I'm sure if Ranger hasn't checked in already he will sometime today." I didn't hear a sound from the peanut gallery also known as Joyce.

As if on cue, I noticed a black SUV pull up outside the office. I watched in awe as Ranger walked toward the office. I would never grow tired of looking at him.

"Hey, Babe," he smiled and kissed me soundly. "Been looking for you. Can we talk outside?"

I caught the smile on Lula's face and turned around to face Joyce. "Ric, Joyce was just asking about my employment at Rangeman." I saw her face start to turn red. Ranger continued walking to the door, his arm around my waist.

When we were outside, he asked, "What's going on with Barnhart?"

It was hard to think with is arms around me, but I managed to respond. "She thinks I was hired as the corporate bed warmer."

Ranger's face was stone, but his eyes flashed. "Forget it, Babe. She's jealous."

I knew he was right. "Why were you looking for me? I thought I wouldn't see you until dinner."

He flashed me a smile. "Tired of me already?"

I had to return the smile at that one. "Never. I watched you walking into the office and thought I would never grow tired of looking at you. I love you, Ric. I can't believe how much."

Those eyes were revealing. He pulled me close and whispered against my ear. "And I can't believe how much it means to hear you say that," he moved back to lean against his truck before continuing, "especially since you spent part of the morning at Morelli's."