Disclaimer: Everything familiar belongs to JE and the creators of Criminal Minds.

Warning: Adult Situations

Chapter 21: Monday, August 22nd, 0800-1000

Miami Rangeman

Lester's POV

Fuck no. Not today, of all days. Why the fuck is Joe Morelli and that asshole Gaspick down here in Miami? I got off the phone with Tank who informed me that the two of them are on their way to Miami. He called Eddie Gazarra, who confirmed that they were meeting with the FBI to discuss Ranger. I doubt there is any reason for them to be here other than to fuck with Ranger and Stephanie. I'm not quite sure what happened, but Ranger and Steph seem to be making progress, almost a couple, but I'm not sure. Whatever headway they made, though, is going to be destroyed. Now I get the joy of telling Ranger that those two assholes are on their way here. The FBI better not bring either of them here, that's for sure.

Hector and I are also puzzled as to how those bastards prevented the alarm from sounding for twenty minutes. We went over our code, and no way should that have happened. We hope that Woody and Manny will be able to find the flaw with their fresh eyes. Hector built a laptop for Stephanie that has all of our search programs on them, and he's connected her to the secure Trenton network, so Miami doesn't pick up on what she's doing. I don't like the idea of a traitor amongst us, but Ranger is right, it's the only thing that makes sense.

As for Stephanie, I discovered that Joe was with both Terry and Connie. I shudder at the thought. I have the privilege of informing Stephanie of Joe's indiscretions. I might as well take myself to the mats, for I know I'll be on the mats with Ranger for upsetting Beautiful.

Steph comes down ahead of Ranger, who is making arrangements to pay for Thomas Goodwin's medical care. She's wearing a pair of Capri jeans and a lilac t-shirt. Her hair is in a ponytail. She has on sneakers. I can see a tan starting on her normally porcelain complexion.

"Good morning, Beautiful. How was your evening?"

"Morning, Lester. It was good, once we got home. I can't believe they got to someone else. How come we can't find the link?"

"We can't find the link because there are too many people who overlap. Hopefully, our list will narrow down considerably. I can't imagine Ron and Goodwin working on too many clients together."

"I hope you're right, Les."

"Beautiful, I got the information you asked for if you still want to know."

I watch as she contemplates her options. Finally, I see her steel herself, standing straight and looking me in the eye. "Yes, I still want to know."

"Well, Joe was with Terry and Connie. At the same time. Two mob princesses and the cop. It would make a great headline to end Joe's career."

"Lester, what's wrong with me? Why do the men in my life need to cheat on me?"

"Beautiful, nothing is wrong with you. Those men are both pigs. Stephanie, one of your greatest strengths is your ability to see the good in others. It's what makes you see us for who we are on the inside and not what everyone else sees on the outside. That trait allows scum like Morelli and Dickie to cheat on you because they know you won't believe others when they tell you because you will trust them to be true and honest with you. They know other women won't put up with their shit."

"How do I know; how do I trust that Ranger won't wake up one day and say why am I with Stephanie when I can have my pick of any women. Women who are more attractive than me, who have better bodies, bigger chests, and better hair. How do I know that he'll always stay true to me?"

"Because I don't share, Babe. Loyalty, trust, and respect are three virtues that I live by that I've used to survive. You need to be loyal to your team, your friends, your family. You must remain loyal to your convictions, or you will wind up dead in my world. Trust. I must trust the men and women I work with every day. I trust them to have my back, to keep me safe as I do them.

"Last but not least, respect. I demand that those men and women who work for me and with me respect me. They don't have to like me, but they have to respect my authority and my command. Without that, men will die. Stephanie, you have long ago shown me your loyalty, when I was FTA and involved with Homer Ramos. You have proven to me that I can trust you repeatedly by never sharing anything I have ever told you in confidence. Finally, you respect me by doing what I ask of you when it's important. Yes, you may push back, and you may fight me on it, but in the end, you respect my point of view and my feelings. If you choose not to follow, it's not out of lack of respect, but out of a desire to prove yourself worthy because everyone in your life constantly tells you that you're not worthy.

"Babe, you have my loyalty. I will never do anything to harm you knowingly. When you were a suspect in the disappearance of Dickie, had he not been found, I would have taken you away before they could throw you in jail and use all my resources to prove your innocence. You have my trust, as I will never divulge anything you tell me, nor will I do something to break your trust. You know I have always kept you safe, and I will continue to do so. Finally, I respect you more than I have ever respected a woman before, outside of my mother and grandmother. Your ability to constantly bounce back no matter what happens to you is one of my favorite qualities about you. The way you saw me as a person and not an object of desire from the beginning garnered my respect. The fact that you stuck with bounty hunting for so long despite not having the proper training or back-up amazes me. You are such a wonderful woman; I wish you'd see yourself the way I do.

"Steph, Julie loves you. She trusts you like she trusts very few. From the moment you met when Scrog took you both, she felt a connection with you and knew you were a good person. There is no one, I mean no one, who can hold a candle to you. I promise you, Stephanie, that if for some reason I ever were to tire of you, not that it will ever happen, but if so, I promise to end our relationship before hurting you or by disrespecting you in any way. All I ask is for that same promise in return."

I don't know when my cousin walked into the room, I'm not even sure how much he heard about Joe's extracurricular activities, but if those activities push him and Stephanie together, permanently, then I'll gladly take whatever punishment he wants to dole out.

"Now, what's this I hear about Morelli?"

"The other night, when I called Joe, I thought I heard a woman's voice in the background. He sounded out of breath, and I was curious. Lester asked me if I wanted to know what was going on with Joe and who he was with when I called. He was telling me what he found out."

Ranger looks at me expectantly, so I tell him. "Joe was spending the night with Terry and Connie. He was at Terry's house in Princeton." I tell Ranger, deciding I better tell him everything all at once. I hear it's lovely in Siberia this time of year.

"Ranger, Morelli and Detective Gaspick are flying into Miami as we speak. They are meeting with the feds for some reason. According to Gazarra, the Chief is not too happy about them leaving."

"Joe can't cause any trouble for you, can he?" Steph asks, concerned.

"No. Besides, Agent Prentiss and her team will see right through him. They are behavioral analysts. They study body language, spoken language, and behaviors for a living. Prentiss' team is the best. SSA Rossi is one of the first in the field. He's tracked down more criminals than any other analyst ever." Ranger responds.

"I don't want Joe to know about us. I don't want Trenton to find out. He's going to push for me to stay with him, but I will use Julie as my reason for staying with you. As far as he knows I'm sleeping in the guest room next to Julie's room. He'll calm down a bit when he finds out Mariela will be staying with us as well."

"Babe, I don't care if Trenton finds out. I don't want to hide us."

"But I care. I don't need my mother nagging me or getting hundreds of phone calls from everyone trying to stick their nose in my business. I don't want that pressure. Enough is going on right now that we don't need that added stress."

"Okay. I understand what you mean. We'll keep it on the DL."

"How are we going to handle the cop?" I ask.

"We continue what we've been doing. Depending on what time the doctor discharges Julie, I may stop at the station with her. It would probably be better for Steph to see Joe at the cop shop then for him to show up at Rangeman Miami demanding to know where we're staying. That way, Steph can tell Joe she's staying with me and why, and he'll see Julie. I don't think he'll make a scene in front of her."

"Can she handle seeing their board?" I inquire.

"Yes. I believe so, but I'll ask Julie first."

"Hector and I are going to work here for a while. Once Manny and Woody arrive, I'll head to MDPD. I'll bring a sweeper with me. I should be there by 1100 the latest."

"Sounds good, Santos. Babe, are you ready to get Julie?"

"Yup. All set." I watch them walk out hand in hand, glad that they are finally acting on their feelings.