The Night That Changed Everything

by misty23y

When Ranger comes pounding on Joe's door early one morning, no one could predict his reason for needing Stephanie. Stephanie agrees to help Ranger, but it turns out that the person she is there to help will help Stephanie more than she ever could have imagined. Criminal Minds crossover, Babe, part 1 of a 3 part series. Adult language, situations, sexual assault, and smut.

15. Chapter 15

Disclaimer: Everything familiar belongs to JE.

Warning: Adult Situations

Chapter 15: Sunday, August 21st, 0430-0800

Miami Rangeman

Ranger's POV

My body wakes up at my normal time, 0430, but I feel anything but rested. I open my eyes, hoping to see a certain curly-haired form lying next to me, but no such luck. I still can't believe that my Babe chose to sleep in the other bedroom last night. Dios, I need her. I even slept with my boxers on, hoping that she would join me in the middle of the night. I get out of bed and take care of business, pulling on my shorts and a tank top, all black of course. I pull on black athletic socks and tie my sneakers.

I sneak into my Babe's room to watch her sleep for a few minutes. I feel better, seeing Stephanie lying on her stomach, with her hair a riotous mass of curls to the right side of her head. The sheet is down around her thighs. The t-shirt she's wearing, which is one of mine, rose up to just below her perfect breasts. I see the scrap of material she calls underwear, feeling my lose gym shorts get tight — Dios, what this woman does to me. I want nothing more than to join her in the bed, to trail kisses down her exposed back, to taste her once again. I want nothing more than to wake my Babe up with my mouth on her center. I quickly adjust myself, as my cock is painfully throbbing. I need to get out of here before my self-control snaps. I reluctantly leave her room, while trying to put the images of Rachel's kids, Joselyn, and RJ in my mind. There, problem solved, temporarily.

I head down to the gym. Today is my upper body day, so after I warm-up, I hit the weight machines and bench press. By the time Lester comes down, the weight-lifting portion of my workout is just about complete.

"Hey, Boss. Do you need to spar?" Lester asks me, knowing that I work off my frustrations, anger, and insecurity through action.

"No. I may kill someone if I try sparring today."

"You're a little cranky today. What's the matter? Didn't get any last night?" Lester asks. I swear if he weren't my cousin, he'd be dead already.

"Santos." I bellow. Bobby, who entered a few minutes after Lester, slaps him upside the head.

"Ouch. Come on, Boss that was an innocent question."

"Bobby, take Lester to the mats for me," I order.

"Yes, Bossman."

A few minutes later Javier joins us. While he's not as well-defined as my men and me, my brother is in excellent condition. I watch as he heads over to the stationary bikes. After he warms up he asks me. "What time are you heading to the hospital to see Julie?"

"I'm hoping to be there at 0800. It depends on Stephanie. We're going running soon. Once we get back, we'll leave when she's ready. I know we need to stop in a drug store for nail polish for Julie. Maggie packed a bag for Julie with some clothes for the next few days. Javier, will you be available today to accompany Stephanie to the mall? Julie needs a whole new wardrobe. I'm sure Stephanie will love shopping for Julie, but she doesn't know her way around Miami, and I'm not sure if she's safe. I know she won't feel comfortable with any of my men here, and they don't understand the importance of keeping her safe. Lester and I will be working with the feds and Miami PD most of the day. I need Bobby at the hospital, working with Julie's doctors."

"No problem, hermano. I look forward to getting to know your woman better." Javi answers.

I finish my run, part one, and head back up to my apartment after grabbing a bottle of water and a towel. When I arrive in the apartment, I hear my Babe moving around.

"Babe, are you ready?" I call out, not wanting to startle her.

"I'll be out in a minute." She responds.

I wait for her in the kitchen, finishing my water. When I lay eyes on her, I must use all my strength not to throw Steph over my shoulder and take her to my bed. She's wearing a purple sports bra that accentuates her perfect breasts under a lighter colored purple tank top that hugs her torso. She's wearing short shorts, also in purple. Dios, she's sex walking. Her hair, which is messy and tousled from sleep is up in a high ponytail on her head. She has on ankle socks and sneakers to finish her outfit.

"See something you like?" Steph asks, teasing me.

"Playing with fire, Babe," I reply as I pull her against my chest. I lean down and kiss her. My body is reacting and wants me to take it further, but I know that now isn't the right time. I reluctantly break off our kiss before grabbing my keys and her hand, leading her out of the apartment.

I scramble the cameras once we get in the elevator, making sure to send it straight to the garage. I push Steph up against the elevator wall and kiss her senseless. I feel her knees start to give out as she wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me closer to her. I run my hand down her back and firmly grip her tight ass, pulling her center towards me. Finally, the need to breath becomes overwhelming, and we break our kiss.

Steph looks at me with her beautiful sapphire blue eyes and asks. "What was that for, Carlos?"

"Good morning. And motivation." I reply.

"Motivation?"

"Yes, a hint at your reward after we finish our run."

At that moment, the elevator doors open to the garage. I unjam the cameras, and we walk out onto the street.

"The beach is about four blocks from here, so there's no need to drive over. The blocks are short." I answer her unspoken question. "Babe, would you mind going shopping this afternoon for Julie? I know that she needs a whole new wardrobe. I don't want her wearing anything that Rachel or Ron purchased for her. If there is something specific that she wants, I'll get it from the house for her, but otherwise, I want to give her a fresh start."

"No, that will be fine. Will you be coming with me?" Steph asks.

"No, I will be working with the feds and Miami PD. I've asked my brother, Javier, to accompany you. I know you are unfamiliar with Miami. I also know that you are not yet comfortable with my men here in Miami, save Silvio. But I need Lester with Bobby and me at the hospital, so I figured Javier would be a good companion for the day. He knows the city and can take you wherever you want to go. I'll give you my credit card to make the purchases. Feel free to buy anything you want for yourself, as well."

I thought Steph was going to argue with me, protest having someone accompany her around the city, but instead, her response surprised me, "that's a great idea, Carlos. I don't mind going with Javier. You're right; I don't know this city and I feel a little overwhelmed. It seems that all I hear around me are people talking Spanish. I don't know what I'd do if I got lost and couldn't communicate with anyone to find help. You're right, I don't know your men down here yet, but I'd be comfortable with your brother. Maybe he'll give me some dirt on you." She finishes, with a devilish smile.

I groan. I didn't think about that happening. Oh, well. I know that whatever Javier tells Stephanie will not be shared with anyone. I trust her more than I trust anyone else in my life. We finally reach the boardwalk, and I lead Steph to the sand, so we can properly warm-up. I don't need to warm-up at this point, but Stephanie does. Once I determine she is adequately warmed-up, we start the run. I set the pace slower than I'd normally go, but not too slow to make it easy on Stephanie. I want her to work, but not work too hard. I'm hoping that this can become a routine with us; running on the beach in the morning. It's my favorite activity here in Miami. I decided last night, while I was tossing and turning hoping that Steph would join me, that once Julie comes home, we're going to my house. It's on the beach in a much better neighborhood and will afford both Stephanie and Julie the privacy they need. I know Steph will love my house.

We hit the mile and a half mark, and Stephanie is doing great. She's keeping up with me. Her breathing isn't too heavy yet. I decide to extend the run another half mile minimum. If she's still doing well, we'll turn around at the two and a half mile marker. I see her taking in the scenery, and I can tell that she is enjoying her time near the ocean. Maybe I can convince her to wear a bathing suit tomorrow on our run so that we can cool off in the ocean; down boy. That image, of Steph in a bikini, flashed into my mind as memories of Hawaii creep in, causing my temperature to rise even more.

We reach the two and a half mile point, and we turn around. Steph is still going strong. I wonder if she's been working out recently. I was away, on my last mission, up until three weeks ago. Knowing Stephanie's unpredictability, anything is possible. When we finally reach our starting point, I can see that Steph is winded. Steph has flushed cheeks, sweat dripping down from everywhere, and all I can think about doing is making love to my Babe. I grab her around her waist from behind, making her stand straight, helping her catch her breath. I inhale her scent, getting turned on by her pheromones. No other woman has ever had this effect on me.

"Babe, proud of you. You ran five miles with me today. You did great."

"I knew you pushed me. I was running three every day back in Trenton." She responds.

"What prompted you to start running?"

"First, I couldn't get my jeans buttoned. My mother, Lula, Connie, Val, and Morelli all thought I was pregnant. Bobby offered to get me a pregnancy test. Secondly, Jean Baker, a seventy-five-year-old skip outran me. It wasn't even close. Third, Tank offered me a position at Rangeman again. I was considering taking the position, but I knew I'd need to get in better physical condition. I needed to see if I could do some form of exercise every day. I discovered I didn't mind running if it was outside and, in the morning, but the sun had to up. I usually ran at eight."

"It shows. However, your strides are a little awkward. I can help you run more efficiently, making a smoother stride that will save you energy."

"You'll train me?"

"Babe, you always knew I would train you. All you needed to do was ask. Hell, Bobby would create a whole program customized to you."

"Well, maybe we could start with the running and some self-defense?"

I can't help but smile. My Babe finally wants some training. "Of course, Babe. When do you want to start the self-defense training?"

"How about after Julie's out of the hospital. We'll have a little more time on our hands not having to go to the hospital every day."

"Proud of you. That sounds perfect. I'm going to ask Lester to start you on self-defense. He's one of our best martial artists." I tell her. We finish our cool down before we walk back to Rangeman. While we're walking, I decide to tell Steph about our living arrangements when Julie leaves the hospital.

"Babe, when Julie is cleared to leave, we're going to go to my house here in Miami."

"You have a house here? In Miami? You mean I'm going to see the Batcave?"

"Yes, Babe. It will be easier for Julie to recover there. I'm inviting Bobby and Lester to stay with us, and my brother as long as he's here in Miami, though I'm sure Javier will choose to stay at Rangeman. He knows I like my privacy, and with Lester and Bobby there, it can seem a little crowded. I have a gym at the house so that you can train there. I'm sure Julie will need physical therapy so that Bobby can take care of that at the house as well. It's on the beach, in a good neighborhood, with the top of the line security, as well."

"That sounds fabulous. I can't wait to see your house. Do you have one in Jersey?"

"No. I own property in Jersey that I'd like to build a house on someday. But for now, my only house is in Miami."

We arrive back at HQ at 0715. We head up to my apartment, where Steph runs into the bathroom to start getting ready. I call Maggie to order up breakfast for Stephanie and myself, along with food to take to Julie. Then, I get in the shower. I finish dressing then head into the kitchen to get ready to eat when Stephanie emerges, with her wet hair in a bun, wearing a pretty fuchsia colored sundress with spaghetti straps that end slightly above her knee. She's wearing a pair of flat beige sandals and has a white sweater. She decided against make-up, to my enjoyment.

"Babe, you look beautiful. I don't know if I want you around my Miami men. They may try to steal you away."

She blushes before noticing that breakfast consists of omelets, toast, and sausage. Once she sees her meal, she sits down to eat. "Thank you, Carlos. I'm sorry we didn't leave as early as you wanted to leave. Tomorrow I'll get up earlier for the run so that we can be with Julie earlier."

"Babe, it's fine. I'm glad you're working out. It's only going to make you that much more formidable."

We finish our food without talking, but my Babe makes her moans of appreciation. It seems that Maggie can feed her as well as Ella. Once the dishes are in the dishwasher, we gather our belongings and head to the garage. We meet Lester, Bobby, and Javier in the garage. Next to my Cayenne is my Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster, in black, of course, and a white Ferrari Portofino convertible, which is Stephanie's car, though she doesn't know it yet. I watch as Steph first drools over the Lamborghini, but when she sees the Ferrari, I swear she almost faints.

"You have a white car, Ranger? Talk about standing out in a crowd." She says as she gingerly touches the car, almost afraid to damage it.

"Which do you like better?" I ask. Even though I bought the Ferrari for her, if she prefers the Lamborghini, then it is hers.

"The Ferrari. I've always wanted one but can't afford one." She replies wistfully.

I place the keys to the Ferrari in Stephanie's hand. She looks at the keychain and sees that it's a Wonder Woman keychain with her keys for Miami HQ and the Batcave on the ring.

"You can't be serious! You are not letting me drive that Ferrari. It will be in car heaven in a matter of days."

"Babe, the Ferrari is yours. Look at the registration. It's registered to one Stephanie Michelle Plum."

"You bought me a Ferrari! Are you FUCKING CRAZY! You bought a Ferrari for the Bombshell Bounty Hunter. I can't even remember how many cars I've sent to car heaven."

"Babe, it's only a car. Besides, you need wheels here in Miami. Black cars get too hot too quickly. The car will give you safety and comfort while you are here with me in Florida. If you want, I can ship it up to Trenton."

With that statement, Steph runs into my arms, giving me the biggest hug, she ever gave me. I was hoping for a kiss, but I guess I'll have to wait longer. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, Carlos. No one has ever purchased such a wonderful gift for me, ever. I don't even know how I could ever repay you."

"No price, Babe. Do you want to drive her to the hospital?"

"Yes!"

I head to the passenger seat while Steph gets in the driver's seat. The top is already down. I toss my keys for my Cayenne to Javier. "Javi, drive my car to the hospital, please. Santos, Brown, take an SUV."

We start on our journey to the hospital, which is only a few minutes away. About a block away from HQ, Stephanie asks the question I was dreading. "Carlos, why did you buy me a car?"

"Babe."

"No, don't Babe me. Why?"

"I bought you the car because when I saw it, I thought of you. I know how you love a sports car, but always complain that my cars are all black. I wanted to get you a blue one, but for Florida, I thought white was a better color option than blue, though I'd get you a blue one for Trenton if you want. There was a good deal on the car, so I purchased it, hoping that someday you'd be here in Miami with me so that I could give you the car."

"But what happens if I kill the car?"

"I'll buy you a new one. Stephanie, do you like the car?" I ask, getting impatient.

"Yes, Carlos, I love the car."

"Then consider it three years worth of birthday and Christmas presents if it makes you feel better. Babe, you saved my company from destruction. The money I could have lost if you didn't figure out how those kids were fucking with my company paid for this car and the Lamborghini."

"Really?"

"Yes, Babe. Really."

All too soon for Stephanie, we arrived at the hospital. She snagged a prime parking spot and put her roof up. After engaging her security, she kissed me. I finally got the kiss I wanted earlier. "Thank you, Carlos." The guys parked their cars then walked to the entrance where we are waiting.

"I can't wait to go shopping with you later Steph. Do you think I could drive your car?" Javier asked hopefully.

"Sure, why not. You're putting up with me on a shopping spree. You deserve a little time behind the wheel."