A/N: Poor Steph!!

So I started a new job today (Monday) that I am SO excited about, and picked up the newest SP book yesterday(started and finished already!)… expect some more chapters ASAP!!

Chapter 7

After a quick stop at Pino's to grab (and eat)my meatball sub, I told Tank and Lester they were off babysitting duty and let myself into my apartment. Stopping first to feed Rex I sunk down into the couch and contemplated life. This whole "Stephanie in danger" shtick was getting old really fast. I had no sooner decided I was going to go to bed when my phone rang. Checking to make sure it wasn't my mother, I saw it was an unlisted number so I answered.

"Hello?" I was met with silence. "Hello? Is anyone there ??" I said with a more insistent tone, but still got no verbal response, although I could hear breathing coming across the line. And it wasn't the whole "perverted heavy breathing "… it was creepy and made my spidey senses tingle. I was getting angry. "Listen whoever you are. I'm not in the fucking mood okay? So if you want me, come get me you asshole!" After my rant and subsequent disconnect of the call I felt somewhat better. The phone rang again immediately and without looking at the caller ID I answered. "You heard what I said! If you want me come get me I dare you!"

"Stephanie?" Oh hell, it was my mother.

"Mom? Sorry about that, what's up?" Like I didn't know.

"Angie Morelli called me a few minutes ago, she said Joseph was hurt today, and that you went to visit. So is it true?" My mom was exhausting.

"Yes, Joe was shot and he's in the hospital. Yes I went to visit. Anything else ?"

"So you're getting back together? Are you finally moving out of that scary man's apartment?"

I took a deep breath and let out a long drawn out sigh. Ranger would be getting a kick out of this conversation. Usually my mom calls him a thug, he's now graduated to scary man. "First off mom, the scary man's name is Ranger. You know this. You've met him, on multiple occasions. Second, I don't live with Ranger, I live in his building. My own place, big difference." I can hear her gearing up to interrupt so I just keep on talking. "Third, I came to the hospital to see Joe because I was concerned yes, but also because the guy who shot him was one of our FTA's. I needed to know what happened. And fourth, we are not getting back together." There was no way on God's green earth I was about to reveal his parting words to me. I finally take a breath and wait for her response.

And I hear nothing. No quick witted retort, no exasperated comment. No typical Helen remark… silence. This is concerning. "Mom?"

Finally she whispers "I just want a grand baby from you, is that too much to ask?" And she hung up the phone. There ya go ladies and gents, Helen gets the last word. She never knows when to give up.

Here's something you should know about me. I have never, and I repeat NEVER thought about having kids. The whole I attract shit lifestyle isn't conducive to children. Now I won't lie, I like my nieces a whole bunch. My sister Val, the good daughter, has three kids. I saw what she went through, and I like my messed up life the way it is, sans children. Rex is enough for me to handle.

The phone call I got previous to mom's made me a bit nervous , so I decided to see if there was a way to trace it. I'm no tech expert, and I figured it was a long shot , but if anyone could trace an unlisted number it was Ranger. I check the time and know he'll be in his apartment, so I head out my door to the elevator and hit the button to go up. As the elevator doors open I end up being face to face with Bobby.

He didn't even say anything, just opened his arms and I fell into them sobbing. Why is it that he's always right where I need him when I need him? I didn't even realize how much I had bottled up until I saw him. He gently guided me back to my apartment and sat with me , letting me cry. He just rubbed my back and waited until I finally calmed down before saying anything.

"Tell me… what's going through your head." I was tucked into his side as he made comforting circles between my shoulders with his hand.

I didn't know how to answer that. Between Bowman escaping, Joe getting shot, and telling me he loves me it was all too much. The crazy phone call was the straw that broke my back though. I needed a break. "I don't suppose you would want to go on that date sooner?" I looked at him through tear-filled eyes.

"You still want to go? I figured we needed to cancel." Bobby looked surprised but extremely pleased. "Of course! We can go whenever you want."

"I need to look forward to something. There's enough shit going on in my life, I need some happy."

"Well then consider it done. Pack for an overnight trip, and we will leave in the morning. " He turned me towards him and leaned down to kiss me. The moment our lips touched I felt like the whole world disappeared. I leaned in to him, and felt his hands settle on my lower back, pulling me closer. It was just what I wanted and needed. When we broke apart we sat, foreheads touching, just being near each other for a moment .

"Where were you headed when I saw you?" he broke the silence after a few minutes.

"Oh. Rangers office. " I pulled away and handed him my phone. "I got a call from an unlisted number that didn't have anyone on the other end, just some heavy breathing. I wasn't see if it could be traced, or tracked. "

He glanced at me, and I could read the anger that flashed over his face. I'm sure he was probably questioning whether he wanted to get more involved in my life.

"Steph, I'm here for the long haul. Whether we work out as a couple or stick to just being friends, I'm not leaving you." He squeezed my hand before getting up.

"Out loud huh? Bobby are you sure? I mean I am kind of a walking disaster. I totally get it…" he pulled me up and kissed me soundly, making me forget what I was saying.

"I'll take this to Ranger if you want." He said, gesturing with the phone I had handed him. Sweet man, he probably thought he could spare me some pain.

"Oh no, really it's okay. You guys have done such a fantastic job of protecting me that Ranger and I haven't actually gotten to discuss what happened, and I think we probably should, sooner rather than later. I'll take it to him, and then I'll come back and pack. "

Bobby flashed me the smile I loved. "I'll come pick you up tomorrow morning at 0800." He handed me back my phone and we walked to my door. "Sleep well Bomber." He kissed me again and went on his way.

I was feeling like a million bucks. Still had no idea where we were going , but at the moment I didn't care. I was getting out of Trenton overnight, and spending time with someone who really genuinely cared about me. Not when it was convenient, but all the time. I realized that was what hurt the most about Rangers rejection. It wasn't he didn't care, he did. He loved me, it was just the way he did. His love came with a condom, not a ring, it was something he told me over and over again, so it shouldn't have surprised me when he pushed me away… but I had fallen hard. Putting my brave face on I made my way back to the elevator and hit the button for 7.

Rangers POV

Stephanie has a way to know when I'm around, the back of her neck tingles. I know when she's around because my protective instinct kicks in, doesn't matter how far away she is, or what she's doing. I knew she was coming to see me, I could feel it. I opened the door and leaned in the doorway waiting for her. The elevator doors opened and there she was. "Babe."

She handed me her phone. "I got a call from an unlisted number. The person didn't say anything, there was just heavy breathing on the other end. I need you to track who called me."

I know I pride myself on being good, but even I'm not that good. "Babe." I say again. "I can't track an unlisted number once they're off the phone. Best we can do is if he calls again, try and trace it." Her face fell and I felt that protective instinct kick in. "You want to stay here tonight?" She got that look on her face, like she was over thinking things. "Just sleep babe. No funny business."

She shook her head. "Bobby and I are going out of town tomorrow, overnight."

Oh yes, the dreaded date. My heart clenched a bit but I saw how happy she looked when she mentioned it, so I forced myself to smile. "That's great Babe. Why don't you leave your phone here, and I'll see if Hector can check into it if they call again ?" She agreed.

"Can we talk when I get back? I mean... really sit down and discuss what happened between us?" she looked hopeful and I decided it was time.

"Yes. Absolutely. Come find me when you get back." She placed a kiss on my cheek and walked away. As I watched her go I smiled. Things would be okay.