Family Ties

Chapter 2

I shook my head to clear it. I couldn't think of anything I had done that would put that look on his face.

"Ranger?" I sat up, and pulled the blanket over, giving him room to sit beside me. "What are you doing here at..." I looked over at the clock above the TV, "Five in the morning!"

"Needed to talk to you. Something you want to tell me?"

I just looked at him. I couldn't imagine what he was talking about. "Like what?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Babe, every light you own is on, as well as the stereo, and the TV. You always sleep like this?"

"Did you come over to discuss my sleeping habits?" Okay, I was a little bit defensive. I had barely seen him in the last couple of months, and I didn't want to talk about my dreams.

"Stephanie." His voice was a warning.

I sighed, might as well get this over with. "I had a bad dream, okay?"

Again with the eyebrow. "You doing a lot of that?"

I looked up at him, deciding on how much to say to him. I shrugged a little. "Comes and goes." Truth was, I could use a little more going on the part of the dreams. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"I wish you had told me."

I was starting to get a little angry. He made it clear where he stood. Our one night was one night, nothing more. One extraordinary night did not give him the right to...whatever the hell he was trying to do. I took a deep breath to calm myself before I answered. "I'm not your responsibility."

The not happy stare was still there. I had a feeling it wasn't about my dreams, or about me at all really. I asked again. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

He stared hard at me for a minute, tension radiating from every part of him. Finally, he nodded. "Take a quick shower Babe. I'll start the coffee. I want you alert."

I nodded. Whatever this was, it was serious. I stood up from the couch and placed my hand on his forearm. I think it was the first time I had touched him since the playground. "Ranger, are you okay?"

He stared through me this time, and I was getting really worried. Finally he gave me just the barest of head shakes, saying "Take your shower, and we'll talk about it."

I couldn't help myself. I put my arms around him and hugged him, hard. I was surprised when he hugged me back just as hard. There was nothing sexual about it, well, except that I was hugging every woman's walking wet dream. But you know what I mean.

I whispered "Okay" into his chest, and slowly let go to take my shower.

I think it was my fastest shower ever. I didn't know what was going on, but I was worried. I finished up and threw on jeans and a T-shirt. I took a couple of deep breaths, trying to relieve my own tension.

The smell of fresh coffee hit me as I made my way to the kitchen. Ranger had made coffee, fed Rex, and folded the blanket on the couch. He was pacing in the living room as I entered it. Pacing is not normal Ranger behavior. He was a master of a Zen-like calm. He looked up as I walked into the livingroom, and headed to the kitchen. He got there a few steps ahead of me and poured me a cup of coffee.

He walked back to the livingroom and gestured for me to follow. He sat down on the couch with less than his usual grace, and I suddenly realized he was exhausted. I wondered if his constant motion was simply to keep him from collapsing. I set my coffee cup down on the coffee table, and sat on the arm of the couch. I reached over and started massaging his neck and shoulders. They were like iron. Yep, definitely tense. We sat like that in silence for a few minutes. He dropped his head forward, allowing me better access, and closed his eyes.

"Whatever it is, I'll help if I can. I hope you know that." I told him quietly.

He placed his hands on mine, currently on his shoulders, and squeezed them gently. "Thanks."

"I need your help with an apprehension." He handed me a file. "His name is Michael Brennan."

I flipped through the file. Brennan had been arrested before, on minor charges. Drunk and disorderly, aggravated assault, a couple for domestic violence. This didn't seem like a Ranger file, it seemed more like one of mine. I looked questioningly at him.

"His latest charge isn't on there, because he hasn't actually been arrested for it yet, even though the charges have been filed. Attempted murder."

Okay, Ranger wanted my help to apprehend this guy? "What aren't you telling me?"

In answer, he handed me a picture. A beautiful little girl with a strong resemblance to Ranger. I looked up at him, not understanding. "My niece, Samantha. My brother Tomas' daughter. His victim."

I caught my breath. I handed him back the picture with shaky hands. "Why me?"

"He's on the run with his girlfriend, Sam's mother, Lydia. We need to bring them both in." He shrugged. "When apprehending a woman, especially if you have to cross state lines it's helpful to have another woman along. She won't be able to claim I...mistreated her in any way."

I nodded. "Was she involved?"

"There's no evidence to suggest it, but at the very least she covered up for him, lied for him, and tried to clean up and get rid of the evidence. As of now, she's been charged with Failure to Protect. The investigation is still underway."

"You said something about crossing state lines?"

"We have reason to believe they ran to her family in Arizona."

"When do we leave?"

"Don't know, how long will it take you to get ready? Does this mean you'll do it?"

"Hmm, I need to pack a few things, make a few calls, let my family know where I'm going, get a sitter for Rex...a few hours, I guess. I'll do it on one condition."

"Name it."

"While I'm getting ready, you get some sleep. You need to be at your best, and you're not. When's the last time you ate?"

"Taking care of me Babe?" Some of the tension had left him, and he looked amused.

"If you won't take care of yourself, someone has to."

He ran his hands through his hair. "You're right, I'll eat and sleep while you get ready. It's almost six o'clock now, pick you up at noon?"

I nodded. "I'll be ready."

He stood and turned toward the door. Suddenly he turned back, gathered me into his arms, and kissed me just below my ear. "Thank you." he whispered. And he was gone.

Well, I had a lot to do. Might as well get started.