A/N: I was almost done with this chapter when I posted the first, so I went ahead and posted tonight. Hopefully the next chapter will be done in the next few days. I had been working on this for a bit now, so I have a few almost finished. Let me know what you think in the review section, I'm always open to new ideas & suggestions ;) xoxo
**All Characters are the property of Janet Evanovich, I make no money, the storyline is mine.**
Arriving on the 5th floor, I feel my heart nearly leap out of my chest. I just went from deciding what kind of sandwich would take the least amount of work, because if I actually cooked something, I would burn my apartment building down to becoming the guardian of my sometime lover/mentor's 14 year old child all while he is in some God forsaken jungle being Batman- oblivious to the entire situation. I think I am going to vomit. I reached Tank's office in record time, beating on it as hard as I could. I heard a loud, gruff ENTER, quickly walking in, shutting the door, and sitting down. Tank's normally blank face was etched in annoyance, confusion, and a slight bit of humor.
"Little Girl... can I help you? You just ran in here like the hounds of Hell were chasing you. Is someone following you? Are you in trouble?"
"Tank... I'm not quite sure how to say this, or how to explain so I am just going to blurt it out. I got a call from a frantic Julie this evening..."
Before I could finish my sentence, I started getting rapid fire questions. In a moment of sheer bravery, I held my hand up in a STOP motion. I was either really brave or really stupid. Tank could squash me like a bug. I'm hoping I am just really brave...yup, brave. I got a slight lip twitch, and a nod of the head, apparently I am going to live to see another day.
"Anyways, and please don't react until after I finish. Apparently, Rachel and Ron have been having problems since Scrog, maybe before. Regardless, they are blaming the failing marriage on Julie, and her new-found curiosity for Ranger. They essentially don't want her any longer, and wanted to sign her rights over to Ranger. Clearly, that isn't in the cards at the moment, because he is in the wind. The situation is so dire, that I talked to Rachel on the phone, and she was a callous bitch about Julie. She wants to sign the guardianship over to me, she wants nothing to do with Julie. I refuse to let Julie spend any more time in a home that she isn't wanted. I know Ranger is going to shit a brick when he gets home, and I am prepared to deal with that. If he wants custody, I am willing to give him that under the premise that he does not abandon her. I know he isn't the same 20 year old that decided it was best to not have custody, but if he isn't all in, she will remain in my care. I will not let her live the life I have lived with a mother who doesn't understand or support her. I will step up all on my own and care for her for the rest of my life. I bonded with her during the Scrog situation, and I don't ever want her to feel unloved, or hurt. I will do everything I can to give her a life she deserves."
Tank sat across the desk from me open-mouthed, and looking like a fish out of water. Good. Now he knows how I feel. After about 2 minutes of silence, he shook his head to clear the cob-webs, and cleared his throat.
"Bomber... I am seriously pissed about Rachel and Ron mistreating Julie, and I promise they won't get away with this. I just want you to know all of us are going to support you regardless of how Ranger feels. I am going to warn you, it is going to pretty much shock the shit out of him to come home to his 14 year old child being in Trenton with you, but there is nobody better to take care of her. When she was in danger before, you were the one he called. You are his anchor, and I don't think he will let you down. He is in love with you anyways, I don't think this is going to change his love for the worse. If anything, this has the potential to make you all stronger than you ever thought possible. I just have one thing that I know would kill Ranger... if you were to pick up raising his child with Morelli, it would literally devastate him. What is your status?"
I sat and stared at Tank for a solid 30 seconds before answering him with what surprised me as very little emotion.
"The status on my relationship with Morelli is permanently off. I caught him 5 days after Ranger left with Terri Gillman in his truck in front of his house. Apparently, they couldn't wait to play hide the salami until they made it inside. The moron had asked me a few days earlier to let Bob out because he was going to be working long hours. His lust induced fog must not have realized he literally led me there to find him. He tried to say it was undercover work. Needless to say, I haven't taken his calls, nor will I...ever again. After Dickie, I thought he would respect me enough to break up with me before screwing someone else. I am too old to deal with his games, I'm just done. As for Ranger loving me, I am quite aware he loves me "in his own way" and wants no semblance of a relationship other than friends with benefits. I am in love with him, but can keep my feelings out of it for Julie. I know he doesn't want to be with me, and I don't want to make it weird for him. I will however be a part of Julie's life regardless."
Tank looked at me with a look of pure confusion in his eyes.
"Steph, I don't know what he told you about his love, or relationship status, but the man is ass over head in love with you. In his deluded mind, he was probably trying to protect himself from the heartbreak of you going back and forth with Morelli. His government contract always made him leery of being in a relationship too. His contract is ending very very soon. Don't give up on Ranger before he comes home to react on his own. Let's call in the team, and get the jet ready. I want to make sure you are both completely taken care of as far as protection. I just want you to know how proud I am of you. This is an overwhelming thing you are taking on, and you are just jumping in thinking of only Julie. You are the most special woman I have ever met, Ranger is a lucky man."
Wonderful, now I am openly weeping like a child. Seeing the big man say those things to me gave me the warm fuzzies, and I had to give him a huge hug. My Merry Men were going to be my angels during this. I am lucky to have people who care about me so much. Tank recovered from the overly emotional moment first, and called in the team. Tank took the reigns and explained the situation quickly to the team getting a large range of very angry faces when talking about Rachel and Ron, and tender sweet faces when talking about our plan to pick her up, and for me to get guardianship. As the meeting ended, everyone except the core team of Tank, Lester, and Bobby filed out of the room. Lester spoke first, rounding the table engulfing me in his arms.
"Beautiful... you are beyond amazing. I want to go with you to make sure you are protected. I love you and Julie both, I won't let Rachel or Ron pull anything with you, don't worry about anything."
Openly crying again, Bobby joined in, and gave me a huge hug telling me how proud he was of me. It's amazing to me how these big bad men in black are such caring, loving people. In that moment, I know everything is going to be okay. Breaking into our special moment, Tank let us know we would have to leave for the jet in an hour, and Ella was going to bring down dinner for us. Thank goodness, I forgot that I got that phone call before I could make myself a sandwich... good thing Ella is a cooking goddess, I will have actual edible food tonight. I went into the bathroom in Ranger's apartment on 7 to clean up using makeup, and hair products left over from my last stalker. I came back down 20 minutes later refreshed, and ready to take on the world. After eating, we boarded the jet preparing ourselves to first, get my guardianship of Julie, then have a little talk with Rachel about the treatment of her. I won't stand for anyone treating her like trash.
A/N2: Next Chapter is the trip to get Julie from Miami, and a confrontation with Steph & Rachel. ;)
xoxo-Brit*