Ranger's POV

I felt the hand hit the back of my head before it even came into contact.

Under normal circumstances I would have threatened and yelled at whoever had the audacity to do it, but watching Stephanie drive off, with her expression that showed so clearly her emotions, I hated myself.

"You are the biggest asshole I ever met," Lester just said behind me and I heard quiet a few agreeing noises from several men. Another sign that I had lost my respect from them – and also no fear in the world I could put into them would change that. And all I could do was admit that they were right. "And not just that, you are also the biggest idiot and most stubborn pain in the ass as well."

I let Lester behind me get it off his chest while I still watched the car drive away. Somehow, I had imagined tonight to go slightly different. And with a lot less drama.

"You know," I heard Tank, who now stood next to me. "I have seen you with a lot of women over the years and all of them were more or less the same pretty faces, but no substance. You never wanted to commit since you were at an odd time in your life, but I also think you also only always picked the rather mentally challenged beauties, so you had no reason to commit and could just break it off at your convenience. And then along came Stephanie, who wasn't just gorgeous but also smart and challenges you with every step, yet somehow also able to take your crap and not give you even more crap for it. I always thought you took a perfect woman and broke her along the way, making her bow to your mantras and doctrines and stupid reasoning. I just came to realize that it wasn't you breaking her, but her breaking you. It had always been a battling of the wills with you two, with her often enough giving in. But as she has just shown impressively, you ain't seen nothing yet."

And then he walked away to one of the SUVs the rest of my men had vanished into.

Didn't I know everything Tank has said and Lester had acted on was true? Hell, I felt like hitting myself for the crap I had just pulled and shoveled. But Stephanie could bring out the worst in me without even meaning to. As Tank had mentioned, Stephanie wasn't like my previous companions. She didn't take my shit and always had opinions I might not share, but found myself drawn to. She had a glee and joy about herself that normally would annoy me and cut my losses, but somehow in her case drew me in more.

I can't explain what it was about her that made me bring out all the reasons and excuses and justifications, but maybe Tank was onto something with his reasoning as well. Maybe I was using all the reasoning for my sake, to tell myself why it would not work, why we couldn't be anything, why I would fail at this. And that realization that came over me sucked and hurt like hell. Because it meant that when she had walked away, she might as well keep walking – straight out of my life. It wasn't like I had done an awful lot to make her stay and give her reasons to stick around. I had done the exact opposite. Even during the exchange between Tank and me, when my comm had still transmitted.

While I had said things and meant them in that moment, I don't think I believed them. It was the tough macho-act I tried to portrait to Tank who most likely had looked right through it but was enough of a best friend to not actually call me out on my crap. No, he left that to me and me alone.

Letting out a sigh, I walked to my Porsche, the last one to leave the parking lot, seeing as Steph had left maybe a good ten minutes ago and my men had followed not long after. Getting into the car that Steph liked to call something like sex on four wheels, I decided I sleep a night over it and call her in the morning, seeing how much I could salvage.

A day turned into a week, which turned into two. And I hadn't gained even an inch in this entire situation. Of course, calling her might resolve a lot of the issues or at least give me a sign of what to do next, but calling was the actual problem. I had never been known to use a whole lot of words. And while a call and a simple 'sorry' might be a really great start, it somehow didn't feel like it was enough. Or maybe that was just another excuse paired with a hope that she'd actually call. Which was ridiculous and unfounded, especially since he had more or less made it clear I was about to call.

"I remember a time when you were annoyed and angry at any of us when we were too chicken or pussy about… anything, really. And yet, here you are, struggling with just a simple phone call. How the mighty Manoso has fallen."

Sitting down in one of the guest chairs, Tank shook his head in played disdain at me.

"Do you have a reason for being here or are you just feeling like annoying me?" I asked, aggravated, though I knew he was technically right. It was a simple phone call and yet it seemed like the hardest task to ever accomplish. "How do you even know I haven't called her yet?"

"That's simple," Lester replied, leaning against the door frame. "She isn't swooshing through the office." Taking a bite from an apple, he just shrugged as if that alone explained everything. "Also, Cal fills us in every once in a while. Seeing as he is running with her every single day, he has fairly good intel."

I let the fact that Cal was running with her every single day sit for a moment. I was proud that see went through with it and seemed to still go strong. That she hadn't given in yet to quitting.

"How are things going for her?" I asked after a while and knew that they knew. They wouldn't have brought it up otherwise.

"Here's a thought for you. How about you call her to ask her yourself? And before you ask, maybe throw in a sorry. It's not that hard, you know?"

"Also, as angry as she seemed, she is a sucker for you. So, if you actually put in a little effort and move towards her, it wouldn't surprise me if she'd meet you halfway. Because that is the woman Stephanie Plum is. But she has to see some progress and something that tells her you aren't the biggest asshole to ever walk the earth."

"You said some really tough shit during that distraction job. So you better put some genuine effort into this and make her see you are actually worth the trouble you undoubtedly come with."

I let out a sigh at that statement, seeing as it was correct, but also posed a challenge.

"What now?" Lester asked. "Is it really that hard to admit for once that you are not invincible and actually can make a mistake?"

"That's not it," I admitted and saw both Lester and Tank look at me. "So much has gone down and made this situation go from bad to worse."

"Mainly thanks to you," Lester commented unhelpfully. It seemed he hadn't yet run out of ways to shift the blame effortlessly my way. "It all started with that day in my office."

"Have you actually ever wondered what were you really mad about that day?" Bobby, out of nowhere, appeared and asked, completing the holy trinity who decided on conferencing in my office. "That she didn't come running to you when she looked for a partner? Or that she actually got her ass up and started something without you having to bribe, threaten, or cajole her?"

I thought about his questions for a moment and had to admit that both of them sucked. But one option more than the other. I considered myself one of Stephanie's best friends and while I certainly did not expect her to come to me first for everything she might ever need; it was unusual if she didn't. That she actually took up running without me having to do something made me actually proud. It showed that she was willing to make a change, to improve and gain some skills that might help her be even better at her job.

"If you need talking points for that call, you will eventually have to make it is a good starting point. And while you are at it, you could explain why you made it such a big deal that Cal was her chosen choice. It might surprise you to find out that she isn't sleeping with him," Bobby went on and I wanted to roll my eyes. While I had asked her a similar question back then, it wasn't like I really believed she was sleeping with him. Misplaced jealousy at most, I was simply disappointed that she hadn't come to me. And that fact had overshadowed everything.

After they had left, I looked at a few files on my desk, realizing quickly though that I couldn't concentrate on any of them and that nothing would get done. I stared at the phone on my desk, willing it to ring but realizing I was being stupid. This entire situation was stupid and the only one I actually could blame for anything was… me.

A minute ticked by and I eventually realized this would not get resolved by just staring at my desk phone, but that I actually needed to do something. And then I picked up the phone, understanding that I needed her all along and that maybe it was time I was true to her, myself and us, enabling a future that actually allowed an us.

It didn't even ring twice before she picked up, answering warily.

"Let's sit down and lay it all bare," I started, not even bothering with anything else, not even my customary Babe or the expected I'm sorry.

Not sure whether I had just surprised her with my call or my statement and whether she really needed to think about my suggestion for a moment, considering turning me down, but until I had an agreement, I felt like time stood still and hours passed.

"Let's sit down and lay it all bare," I repeated, before adding, "because it turns out that I actually really need you."

Ball was in her court and boy did I feel queasy.


Post-A/N: You guys have no idea how much I love you. I had expected mayhem after the last chapter, but you seemed to actually love my direction. Also I believe we are moving in a very good direction? :)