*hiding behind Ranger's yummy buns* Don't hate me for this chapter. She's still got a lot to figure out with these two... I mean, would you throw out a two year relationship so quickly?

Finals are over and I'm free for a whole month! Woohoo! Hopefully, I'll update a few more times before the new semester starts.

And I just realized that we have had 16 chapters and our main characters haven't had much interactions! Well that'll change. I had planned one more before they began to have more contact, but it just might be one long one. We'll just have to see what happens.

The mistakes are mine, but I can't take credit for the characters.

Ranger's POV

The elevator dinged on the fifth floor. Jeanne had impeccable timing. I wasn't sure what was about to happen before she called, but now I'll never know. And then she called her boyfriend. My stomach clenched painfully.

I needed to stop letting my dick think for me. All he was doing was getting me into trouble. She wasn't mine. Would never be mine. The cloud around my mood darkened as the elevator doors dinged open.

The chatter died on the floor and the work productivity increased. Sometimes it was good to be the boss. Everyone was scared shitless of you.

"Ranger." Jeanne said from her cubicle. She stood and followed me into my office. I sat down and stretched my legs out. They were stiff from the day. It sucked to get old.

"What." I said when she had closed the door.

She took a seat in front of my desk and I crossed my arms. She stared at her hands for a second, and then finally sighed. "Look, I know what we are, but if you're in some kind of trouble, I want to help."

"What are you talking about?"

"You disappear almost every night. Where do you go?"

I felt my eyebrow tick up. "Are you my mother?"

She reddened a little. Well, as much as Jeanne allowed her face to redden. "No, but…"

"But nothing." I sighed. "I don't track your movements, Jeanne. Why are you tracking mine?"

"I'm worried about you."

I blinked. "Jeanne…"

"I know. I know. We don't have a "relationship". You don't have to tell me that."

"Then why are you acting like a jealous girlfriend?"

She looked me in the eye. "Do I have something to be jealous about?"

I didn't respond to the question. To be honest, I wasn't sure how to answer. "I have duties to work I have to fulfill. I don't have time for… this."

"And I want to help with that. You used to share everything with me. Now? Nothing."

"I don't have to..."

"Are you involved in something illegal? Is that why you won't tell me?"

"No." Not technically.

"Then what?"

I looked at her. I could tell her. I was surprised to find that I did want to tell her. Jeanne was the person I went to so I could get another perspective on the case. We were a team in pretty much every sense of the word.

Except the one that I was sure that she secretly desired. But we both knew that our lives didn't lend themselves to relationships.

But it didn't stop her from dreaming. Jeanne may be a mercenary, but deep down, she was still a woman.

I looked at her for a moment.

"What?" She asked.

"Where is the snark?"

"I'm worried about you." Jeanne leaned back. "Can't I worry about you?"

"You're acting a little…"

"Clingy?" She wrinkled her nose. "I know, and I hate myself for it. It makes me want to take a shower."

There was the old Jeanne. I smiled. She smiled.

Stephanie's POV

"I'm glad that we're doing this." Joe said as he pulled out my chair. I assumed that he would take me to Pino's, but instead, Joe took me to Rossini's. It was a little romantic Italian place on the outskirts of the Burg. The tables were small and cozy, with tea lights on every table to enhance the romance. Personally, I would rather have more light. I couldn't read the menu. But that was beside the point. He was trying to make an effort and I should do the same.

"Me too," I said, surprised to find it true. We had been together for over two years. It would be silly to throw that all away without at least trying to fix it.

The waitress scurried over and took our order. "Okay," he said. "Ground rules." We weren't allowed to talk about work or the firebomb or even Ranger (though Joe didn't acknowledge him out loud). I readily agreed. I wanted a fresh start this time and it wouldn't do to argue.

We started off in silence, but quickly, the conversation began to flow. We laughed and teased and it felt as if we were on a first date again. The food was delicious and dessert was better. I moaned my way through a big piece of Tiramisu while Joe's grin widened.

"What?" I asked.

"It's been a while since I've heard those noises."

I blushed. "Shut up."

That just made him grin more.

Before I knew it, Joe was driving me home. "I had a great time tonight." I said.

"Me too."

I looked at Joe underneath my eyelashes. "Do you want to come up?"

Joe leaned over and kissed me sweetly. I pulled him closer and we made out for a few minutes. Before I knew it, Joe was sighing and pushing me away. "Not this time." He said.

"What?"

"I want to go slow. We're starting over, remember?"

"Sure. Of course." I was surprised, and a little touched. He wanted to go really slow. We were truly starting over. Butterflies flipped around in my stomach. "Okay, well thanks for dinner."

"I'll call you."

"I'll be waiting."

Ranger's POV

"Mmm," Jeanne moaned as she stretched like a cat. "That was unexpected."

I nodded, unable to speak. I wasn't sure how it happened. One minute we were talking in my office, the next we were going to her apartment and I was stripping the clothes from her body. We fell quickly onto her bed, skipped foreplay and slid right into the main event.

But something had changed. Usually I loved the sleek lines of her body, but I was suddenly wishing for soft curves. Instead of straight blonde hair, I wanted to lose my fingers in brown curls.

I wanted Stephanie. It floored me.

Quickly, I rolled to the side of the bed to sit up and retrieved my pants. This would be the last time Jeanne and I would be together. I wouldn't be that guy who imagines someone else while they fuck their partner. I was an asshole, but not that big of an asshole.

I just needed to get Stephanie out of my system and I'll move on.

Jeanne rolled with me and pressed her naked body to my half clothed one. "Where are you going? I was just getting started with you."

"Look Jeanne…"

She turned my head. "It's over, right? We're not having sex anymore"

I blinked, surprised.

"It's not you…"

She barked a laugh. "You don't have to spout that bullshit. We agreed that when one of us was done, it was over. I get it. That was a goodbye fuck."

I was surprised at how well she was taking it. She slid out of bed and walked to the bathroom. "Well it's been real. I've got to shower for work. My boss is a real stickler."

And just as easily as it began, it was over. I was relieved that there was no fighting or crying (not that I expected her to cry or anything…) or anything that would make it unbearable to work together. Now it was time to focus on the job and Stephanie.

I knew she had a boyfriend, but what could a little pressure hurt? I am a mercenary after all.

At least one of them has figured it out... Leave the love :D