Author: Tiina

Song: All That I Am by Rob Thomas

Rating: PG 13

Spoilers: Through TBO

POV: Ranger

All That I Am

I fucked up. No excuse for it. I let Stephanie's nearness distract me and put the whole team at risk. She can really think on her feet, though, my Babe. She improvised and got our carefully orchestrated plan back on track. At great risk to herself.

I am the one winged bird for flying

Sinking quickly to the ground

See your faith in me subsiding

See you prime for giving in

I give you all that I am

I wasn't sure how to feel about that. Disgusted with myself, surely. But also proud and amazed at how she handled it. She had the biggest gun runners in the area eating out of her hands. After the takedown went smoothly, I waited for words of recrimination. They never came.

I am the sound of love's arriving

Echoed softly on the sand

Lay your head upon my shoulder

Lay your hand within my hand

I give you all that I am

She was waiting for me patiently by the truck. The guys' were gone, turning the SOBs over to the FBI. I needed to get it together. We should probably talk about this.

"Babe." She turned to me. "Dinner?"

She smiled. "That would be nice."

And I breathe where you breathe

Let me stand where you stand

With all that I am

We were been seated before I mentioned it. "Babe. Thanks, and well done. You saved this whole deal, after I nearly cost us four months of work."

She shrugged. "You'd have done the same."

She astounded me. In the six months since she'd broken it off with Morelli and come to work for Rangeman full-time, her skills had grown. She was a natural, and no one ever saw her coming. She was brave beyond belief. I'd tried with varying degrees of success to keep a professional distance between us. It was hard to be professional when she was close to me. Hence my distraction. She seemed more amused than angry. And she immediately picked up my slack.

I am the white dove for a soldier

Ever marching as to war

I would give my life to save you

I stand guarding at your door

I give you all that I am

"Babe. I never intended for you to be lead on this. There may be trouble from their clientele, or their suppliers, or their rivals. I should never have put you in this position."

She smiled a little. "Ranger. Whatever complications there are, we'll handle them. Just like we always do. And if you recall, I put myself in this position."

I shook my head. "You shouldn't have had to."

Her smile widened. "Apology accepted. Now get over it. Plans need to be flexible, because something always derails them. You know that. Hell, you're the one who taught me that."

I am the one winged bird for flying

Sinking quickly to the ground

I am the blind man for a watchdog

I am prime for giving in

I'll show you all that I am

I never thought a woman could handle my lifestyle. But she... Not only could she handle it, she was living it. It was time to rethink some old assumptions. She once asked me how much I could give. I had avoided answering. Maybe it's time to finish that conversation.

And I breathe so you breathe

Let me stand so you'll stand

With all that I am