*Gasp* No, you're not hallucinating! I really did get a chapter out in a week (see? It can be done ;)!). I think I'm finally finding my groove (Gods be praised...)

So I have one more midterm tomorrow (which I should probably be studying for, but I'm not) and a whole lot more clients scheduled at the center (I have to be available for 5 hours and as of right now, I have 3 ongoing and one that's a possible...) so my days are getting busier. But have no fear, I will finish. I hope to have more consistent postings, but if I don't, please remember that there is a lot is going on this semester. But we are halfway done (the semester, not the story... I honestly have no idea how long the story is...) so it'll get super crazy and then break. I can't wait for break...

Not mine (except the plot and any mistakes), but I wish for my birthday I could have Ranger handcuffed to my bed.

Stephanie's POV

"What are you up to today?" Joe asked me as he toweled off his hair. I was sitting on the side of the bed, waiting patiently for my turn in the bathroom.

"The fire marshal is going to let me in to my apartment so I can see the damage. I'm meeting the insurance guy there so he can get me a quote." It had been three days since the bombing. Three days I've been borrowing clothes and wishing I had my car. I miss my independence.

"I was thinking…" Joe started as he shaved his face. "Maybe you could pick out a nice dress and we can go out to dinner tonight. Might be nice, right?"

I was stunned. I thought he had given up on that since the last time he asked I said no, but here he was, dogging me about it. I sat there, unmoving and didn't answer.

"Steph?"

"Hmm?"

"Would you like to go out on a date with me?"

Here's the thing. Joe and I have been together for a quite a while. And before that, we grew up in the same town. Our parents are close. There is a lot of pressure to make this relationship work and after Dickie, I wanted to make sure he wasn't the same guy before I even thought about marriage.

But he lied to me. He lied and pushed me out of the way of a job I really wanted. I loved Joe, yes, but…

And that was stopping me from going anywhere with him.

"I don't know, Joe. You'll be tired from work and I have my apartment to think about…" I sighed. "I don't know if this is a good night."

"Are you avoiding this? Avoiding me?"

"What? No!"

"But I feel like you are." He pulled on his shirt. "Remember, we made a deal. I gave you Ranger, you give me another chance."

Just like Joe to throw it in my face. The ass. "That was not the deal! I said we'd go on one date, not another chance."

"Same difference."

"No, not really. You told me I could do it. You told me that I would be good at that job and then you went behind my back!"

"Because I wanted to keep you safe! Is that so terrible?"

"Yes!"

"How so?"

"You didn't consult me. If you even once said 'honey, I know you want this job, but I'm worried about your safety', I would've thought about it!"

"Would it have changed your mind?"

Probably not. "We'll never know now."

"So you want to throw away all this time and effort because I lied to you, what, once?"

I bit my lip. This is where things got hazy. I may hate him for what he did, but that didn't make me want to throw everything away. "I don't know," I said honestly.

"That's why we need that date. To get back to that good point."

The problem was, you can't go back. Once you cross a line, it's hard to cross back over. Joe crossed a line and now I had to decide if we can create a new start. I shook my head. Too many thoughts right now. "You're going to be late for work."

He hesitated, then nodded. "We'll talk some more when I get home tonight."

"Sure. Sounds good." I grabbed my clothes and ran to the safety of the bathroom.

Joe left and I sighed in relief. I wasn't ready for that conversation. I wasn't sure how I felt about Joe.

Or how I was starting to feel about Ranger.

Stepping into the spray, I thought about him. I was surprised when Ranger showed up at the fire. I was more surprised at how… how worried he looked before his eyes locked on mine. When they did, I saw his shoulders visibly relax.

What the heck was that about?

And then he tells me his life doesn't lend itself to relationships? Why did that make me sad?

Why did I care so much?

There was something there, but I didn't know what it was. Was I the only one feeling it? He did show up when I didn't even call him. But he has a knack for doing that.

Round and around my brain went. The only way I'd get the answer to anything is to ask the man himself. And just as soon as he called me, I'd know those answers.

Until then, I was going to put it with the rest of my problems. I wanted to deal with my apartment first and now.

I met the fire marshal at my door and we walked through the place together. My couch and club chair were gone and the living room probably needed be gutted. My bedroom and bathroom had pretty bad smoke damage, but for the most part were okay. I grabbed a bag and started to fill it up. I'd do laundry at Joe's later. The marshal took my adjuster through and we talked. He'd put the paperwork through and get me a check as soon as he could.

All in all, not a bad morning.

After I finished packing, I locked up and headed back to Joe's. As the laundry did it's business, I called Lula.

"Sup Girl." She said when she picked up.

"What's going on today?"

"Too hot to get any shit done, girl. Just standing around, trying not to die."

I grimaced. She had an awful job. "Have you ever thought about doing something else?"

I heard her pause. "Like what? I got no diplomas."

"I don't mean to…"

"Girl, I know what you mean. But some people can't be saved." She paused. "Look, you need to watch out. There is something stirring on Stark lately. Be careful."

"You too." I stopped. "Lula…"

"Don't worry, girl. I know you weren't trying to offend me."

"Good. But if you ever want to get out or need anything, let me know."

I felt her shock. "Really?"

"Sure."

"Well I could use a burger. With extra fries."

I smiled. "I'll be by soon."

"It's a date."

We hung up and I looked back at my folders. Something big was going down. Bad things were going to start happening. This case needed to be closed yesterday.

Ranger's POV

"What up, holmes." Romeo said to me when I entered the house. He was sitting on a raggedy couch with a girl on each hip. The smoke from his cigarette was cloying. Romeo had dark hair and darker skin than I did, but his eyes were a unique shade of grey. It made you feel as if he could see right through you. Many a person got dead because they believed that

"Nothing new. Where's Bobby?"

He shrugged. "Haven't seen him lately. Maybe his holed up with his woman." He chuckled. "Maybe someone found that white puta that was sniffing around and he's… playing with her."

I felt my stomach drop, but didn't show anything. I hoped that Stephanie was keeping safe. "Maybe." I said noncommittally.

"Either that or she was turned into a crispy critter."

"I saw that on tv. You do that?"

"Me? Naw, man. But I know who did." He turned to the woman on his left. "Christi, why don't you go over and give my friend a nice welcome."

Christi nodded and smiled wickedly at me. She sauntered over and before I could stop her, she dropped to her knees. I took a huge step back. Romeo frowned.

"Come on, man. She'll make you feel real good."

And lose whatever leverage I could get? No thanks. "What do you know about that bombing?"

"I wouldn't call it a bombing. The bitch kept putting her nose where she doesn't belong, so I some guys to scare her a little."

Got to love gang members. So full of pride they'd spill to anyone who listened.

He shrugged. "She needed to learn her place."

I ticked my head up. "She must be on to something."

Romeo's eyes narrowed and he shifted on the couch. "That kid knew the risks. It's his own stupid fault he walked onto someone else's turf. He got himself killed."

"Did you help him along there?"

"I did what needed to be done." He glared at me now. "And I don't need some lackey to question my decisions."

I held up my hands. "I'm just here to help out Bobby. Just like you. I want to do what's best for the gang."

He looked me up and down. "Yeah, we'll see about that. I'm just wondering who you're really loyal to."

"Look…"

"Ricardo, man. There you are." Bobby said, coming from the back of the house.

"Bobby." We did the manly handshake- patting of the back.

"I have a job for you." He said, grinning.

I just raised my eyebrow.

"I need you to kill Stephanie Plum."

I locked my knees and made sure that no emotion was showing on my face. "Done." I said.

Tee hee. Yes, I know I'm evil *ducks for cover*. But have no fear chickadees, things are not what they seem... And yes, the Joe thing is coming to a head soon. Hint: VERY, VERYYYY soon. Leave me some love!