This is an AU story. I hope you find the characters still themselves even if their world is different.

Thanks so much to Rach who makes the writing better and so much more fun.

Sally

The Good Wife

Chapter 11

Tank, Bobby and Lester joined us on the 7th floor for a quick meeting. It had only been twenty four hours, and it had been a Sunday, so there wasn't a whole lot of progress. But if there had been any developments at all, I wanted to know. I felt like we were all playing catch up thanks to the State Police and my father in law. We gathered around the dining room table and everyone took turns giving their report.

Bobby had done some research into the threats from the local unions. He agreed with the earlier assessment that they were most likely coming from the Grizolli family, a mid level family in New Jersey. They worked mainly with the unions, but that doesn't mean they didn't dabble in other areas. Bobby was scheduled to meet with Terri Gilman tomorrow. Hearing her name again prompted a memory.

"She dated Joe Morelli all through high school, when she was Terri Grizolli. She was married once, but it didn't last long. Joe is still a ladies' man. I don't know if there is anything between them, but it wouldn't hurt to find out." They all look surprised.

"A mob princess and a State Police Lieutenant?" Bobby asked.

I shook my head, "I didn't say they were still together, just that they have a history. I can ask around, see if there is anything there." The burg grapevine was a powerful thing, I should know.

Ranger nodded his approval and Bobby continued.

"There is also this Ramos thing." Ranger sat up.

His face was blank, "Explain."

"There seems to be some rumblings about Steph coming from the Ramos camp, like someone has been asking around, but has been really quiet about it." Bobby was cautious.

Ranger looked at me, "Any ideas?"

I shook my head, "None. I mean I know who they are, who doesn't? I've met the old man a few times at the occasional social event. He seemed charming, if not all together there." I thought for a moment, "In fact, I think he proposed to me once. I politely declined." I smiled at the memory before the smile dissolved into fear, "Wait, he's not that crazy is he?"

Ranger smiled, "Doubt it, but we'll look into it."

Tank was set to interview my family today. He was going to take one of the smaller and he hoped less intimidating guys along. Good luck with that I thought. I can just see my mom's neighbors peering out there windows taking in the scene of two ex military men strolling up the walk. It will be all over the burg within minutes that there is a hostile takeover at the Plum house.

"Watch out for her grandma," Ranger warned.

Tank's eyebrows shot up, "What?"

"She's unique," I offered.

Ranger scoffed, "She grabbed my ass." I think he was offended. I should've felt badly for him, but I couldn't help myself.

"Don't forget she said you had a nice package and looked like sex on legs." I reminded him. The guys all busted out laughing. Tank had tears in his eyes.

Ranger barked, "Enough."

I patted Ranger on the shoulder, and advised Tank, "Talk to my dad. He's ex military and he's the sanest. My mom is alright, but status is very important to her, so she won't tell you anything that would make us look bad." He nodded. "Get what you can from them and then we can talk. Hearing what they have to say may jog something I might have overlooked."

Moving on Tank informed us, "I won't be meeting with the Orrs for a couple of days."

I rolled my eyes, "Too busy?" He nodded. "Let me call and see if I can move it up. I will give you the cliff notes version of what to look for before you go. I don't know where all of the bodies are buried, but I know the general location of the cemetery." He looked impressed.

Lester looked a little green when it was his turn. I knew he met with Dickie yesterday.

"Um, I met with the Governor yesterday. We discussed his um, contacts." He looked at me warily, but I motioned that he should continue. "He couldn't give me a complete list. He said most of them were a onetime thing. There were a few who were repeats, mainly because of convenience." Again he looked at me and muttered something under his breath that sounded like "fucking moron." Lester sighed and continued, "He said they all knew the deal going it, no strings, not to get attached. There were a few women who got a little clingy. I will be meeting with those women this week." He looked visibly relieved when he was finished.

When it was time for our report, I had nothing so Ranger reported. He had the pertinent cases from the law firm sent over. They were the ones that I was involved in with particularly dangerous people or where things got messy and someone may hold a grudge. We would go over the files later today. Tomorrow we would visit the Foundation. Ranger wanted to pull all of the video recordings and move them to Rangeman for storage so they would be more secure. It made sense. But I really didn't want anyone seeing what was on the tapes. It had been humiliating. Ranger must have sensed that I was uncomfortable because he put his arm around my shoulder and dismissed all of the guys. He told Lester that he would bring me down to the gun range in a few minutes.

Once we were alone Ranger pulled me out of my chair and into his lap, wrapping his strong arms around me. I felt safe. I let my head drop onto his shoulder. "You okay Babe?" I nodded against him. He pulled me up so I was looking at him; he studied me while his fingers caressed my jaw. He leaned in and kissed me tenderly. It was sweet and reassuring. I just let myself enjoy the feeling of safety his arms provided.

Finally I said, "I'm fine, I think I need some stress relief. Take me down to Lester so I can shoot something."

He chuckled and guided me to the door. I thought he was going to open it, but instead I found myself backed against the door. Ranger's hands were on either side of my head and there was very little space between our bodies. His brown eyes were fixed on mine. "You know it's not your fault, it isn't about you." He took his right hand away from the wall and caressed my cheek before settling on my neck. I didn't answer him, so he continued. "You don't deserve any of it, your husband's infidelity or being attacked by your father in law." I nodded, I knew all of this, but it didn't really make it hurt any less. I must not have looked convincing. "You're so strong," his voice was soft; we were so close I could feel his breath on my cheek. "Proud of you Babe," his voice was still soft, but somehow more intense. Those four little words made my heart soar with something I didn't really want to examine.

I didn't have long to think about it. His lips came crashing down on mine in a needy kiss. My lips parted for him and his tongue slipped into my mouth, caressing my own. I moaned at the invasion and brought my hands up to caress his muscled chest through the thin knit of his black t-shirt. My tongue tangled with his as all thoughts of real life flew out of my mind. This man could kiss. My hands slid around and down to his ass as I pulled him closer to me, feeling that any space between us was too much. I could feel him harden as I ground my hips against him, he groaned. He angled his head to deepen the kiss. My body was tingling and I felt a vibration travel from my center outward. He released my mouth and leaned his forehead against mine. I was still vibrating, shit, it was his phone was vibrating. He stepped back with an apologetic look and answered, "Talk."

I grabbed my purse and headed to the bathroom to survey the damage. My face was flushed, and my lips were swollen. I fixed my lipstick and tucked the curls that escaped back into place. I forced myself to not look at the bed as I scurried through the bedroom. I was in a state and there was a part of me that wanted to rip off my clothes, climb in and wait for him to come and find me. I resisted and made my way back to the hallway. Ranger was off the phone and waiting by the front door. I felt awkward, but his smile put me at ease. We took the elevator down to the basement or one of the basements, this building was huge. After leaving me in Lester's capable hands Ranger returned to his office.

"So Steph, can you shoot?" Lester asked me with a grin.

He seemed to be in a teasing mood, so I thought I would play along, "You mean like a gun?" I used my ditzy voice.

"No a camera. Yes, I mean a gun. Have you ever shot one?" I think he was looking forward to playing teacher.

I smiled at him, "Yeah, a few times."

He proceeded to pull out a variety of handguns and explain the differences to me. Lester seemed to have an almost unnatural love of guns. His eyes were kind of dreamy and I wouldn't be surprised if he drooled a little. I understand guns and know why they are necessary, but I don't love them.

"Why don't you pick one of the smaller ones to start with Steph?" He acted like he offered me a variety of Tastykakes to choose from.

I chose a .38 revolver. "This one's kind of cute," I smiled at him.

I think he wanted to roll his eyes when I called his gun cute, but he didn't. He showed me the proper stance and how to release the safety and how to fire it. He set up a paper man for me to shoot and told me to give it a try. I put on the protective gear and picked up the gun, quickly emptying it into the target with ease. I took off my glasses and earphones and turned to my teacher, "How was that?"

Lester reeled in my paper man who had a bunch of holes right where his heart would be. Lester's jaw dropped. I grinned at him.

"Where does a beautiful woman learn to shoot like that?" I think he just developed a crush on me, based solely on my marksmanship.

I smiled, "With a bunch of rich white men at an overpriced gun club upstate. The men played with guns while the ladies gossiped over drinks. I'd had enough of the gossip one day so I joined my husband in the gun range. Apparently I am a natural."

"So you can shoot the .38. Can you shoot anything else?" He was all but salivating.

I proceed to show him, with the Sig Sauer, Smith and Wesson 9 mil, and a Baby Glock. Now he was really impressed. I was having fun. Lester seemed like a nice guy and very easy to be around, he wasn't a hardship on the eyes either. When I asked him about what rifles they had he looked like he might ask me to marry him. I just laughed.

"I always liked the skeet shooting. We would do it out at the house in the country of on the yacht too." I liked shooting at something that was moving, but not living and breathing. No hunting cute furry animals for me.

After we made our way through the weapons Lester gave me my choice of guns to take with me. I already had a .38 in my office, so I chose a Baby Glock. He told me Rangeman would take care of a permit to carry concealed for me. Armed with my new gun and ammunition we headed back up to find Ranger.

The man in question was in his office. When we walked in Ranger was on the phone, he motioned for me to have a seat on the couch. Lester headed to his own office, closing the door on the way out. Ranger finished his call and joined me on the couch, throwing his arm over my shoulder. He had a huge smile on his face, the full 200 watts. "Babe,I knew you were a dangerous woman, but I had no idea that included handguns."

"Were you spying on me?" I laughed.

He shrugged, "Just checking out your progress. That was some pretty impressive shooting." His look made me feel tingly all over, like when he had told me he was proud of me. His fingers were tracing circles on my arm, it was hypnotic. I didn't feel like my mouth would cooperate with words, so I just smiled at him.

He squeezed my shoulder, "We need to spend the afternoon going over files, but I thought you might want to get out for a while first, have lunch."

"Sounds good, I have a few errands I need to run. The burg's gossip mill is a powerful thing; I want to see if there is anything out that could help us." I knew my best friends were always up on the most current topics. I also knew Mary Lou had an appointment at Lula's today and I could kill two birds with one stone.

He planted a kiss to my forehead and stood up, pulling me with him. "I have to check in with some informants and stop at the bonds office. Do you want to meet me at that little café with the green awning downtown, the one next to the candy shop?"

"Meet you? I don't have a car here." He smiled and pulled a set of keys out of his desk drawer and placed them in my hand.

"Take Lester with you. They'll be two guys following you in an SUV for backup." He was suddenly serious.

I didn't like thinking about the fact that there was someone out there who wanted me dead, but it didn't seem to go away on its own, so I would have to deal with it. We left Ranger's office and collected Lester. Back in the garage Ranger headed to the Turbo. I clicked the unlock on the keys he had given me and in the spot next to the Turbo a Porsche Boxter lit up. Omigod. Ranger was standing next to the Turbo waiting for me to approach the Boxter. "Seriously?" I asked my voice squeaky.

He just gave me the 200 watt smile and shook his head, "Babe," was all he said as he climbed in and drove out of the garage.