Chapter 6

"I told you Joe, I'm fine," I snapped. Morelli was called on scene when I ended up in yet another vehicular debacle. "Jesus, when will this ever stop."

I was sitting on the side of the road, watching my car being towed away. I saw black boots enter my range of vision. Ranger was here.

"Babe," he began. "Need a lift?"

I glanced up to see both Ranger and Morelli standing beside each other in front of me. The unholy alliance I told myself.

"Yeah, I do. Can you drop me off at my house?" My house was actually Lester's house, but since he was mine for real, I took it to mean that the house was mine too.

Ranger was in the zone as he drove me home. I glanced over at him and saw his eyes flicker over to me. "Problem, Babe?"

"I was just wondering if anyone told Lester about the car," I said. I was really hoping no one did because I would pay for that once he got home. If I didn't let him know first, he was pretty pissy about it.

"I didn't call him, but I can't vouch for the control room. You'd better call him right away. Where's your cell?" Ranger probably already knew it was in the car when the bomb went off.

"I'll call him from home." I settled back against the seat. Ranger had accepted my relationship with Lester, but it wasn't easy on him. We talked a few times about it and then decided that we would be better off as friends anyway. I doubt he really felt that way, but was trying to make me feel more at ease with him. I guess it worked a little.

He dropped me off in front of the townhouse, not bothering to check the house out first. He knew Lester's security. I used the key fob that luckily had been in my pocket to open the door. The house even smelled like home. Ella's cousin, Ann-Marie, was our housekeeper. She left food in the fridge and kept the house cleaner than I could ever had done. Lester had done a wonderful job with the place. The size was surprising. There was one large living space with a kitchen and bar area downstairs as well as an office. Upstairs held a guest room and one of the largest master suites I had ever seen in a townhouse. The bathroom was designed with me in mind, or so Lester said.

I rushed upstairs and grabbed the house phone from the nightstand. I quickly dialed his number.

"Yo," came his instant response.

"Hey, baby, how's it going today?" Keep the tone light, Stephanie, I told myself.

"Stephanie Santos, you lost another car!" he blasted.

"It wasn't my fault," I shouted.

"Honey, it never is. Stay away from my truck. I love that truck," Lester kidded.

"Yes, but you love me more," I teased back.

"You know I do. Baby, I hate it when the control room calls me about you. I hate waiting for you to call to hear your voice so that I know you're all right," he sounded serious, but not angry.

"I'm sorry. My cell was in the car. I'll tell you all about it when you get home. That will be when?" I was missing him terribly.

"Tomorrow. I'll be there tomorrow when you wake up," he said with a sigh.

"Can't wait to see you," I whispered. He had been in Boston nearly a week. The guys rotated Boston assignments. It was Lester's turn and it was only fair that he took it. Of course, we had only been married three weeks, so I felt a bit cheated.

"Ranger treating you okay?" Lester's rich voice broke into my thoughts.

"Sure, fine. Of course, he sent my husband off the week after we returned from our honeymoon, so that needs to be considered as well," I pouted.

Lester laughed, "We both knew it was coming. It just makes coming home so much sweeter."

We finished our conversation with a promise that he'd call me tonight. He did agree to let me use his truck, which made me happy. I had to replace my cell phone, but figured Ranger had already seen to that.

Life was settling down for me. I never really thought I would ever get married again. I never knew I could want to, but things were different with Lester than with anyone I had ever been with. I felt Joe was trying to make me the Burg; Ranger wouldn't commit to anything longer than a week at a time. For a while, I considered that I could work with Ranger's restrictions, but in the end, I felt that something was missing. Lester fit well with my family; he even conspired with Grandma Mazur on a couple of occasions. He was fine with my bounty hunter work and even fine that I blew up the occasional car. He preferred it when I worked for Rangeman because we had more time together, but he wasn't overly possessive. He was cool with the guys hugging me and even caught Ranger kissing me once. He told me that he was secure in our relationship and that since I didn't initiate the kiss, it was okay by him. Of course, I think he said something to Ranger, but I can't prove it.

Joe married the nurse, Janet. He and Janet were settled into Aunt Rose's house and it was really taking shape. Janet had replaced all the curtains and I heard a rumor that Morelli had even painted the living room. I didn't' attend the wedding, by mutual agreement, and he didn't attend mine. We agreed to be friends, but there were some things we didn't press each other on.

Ranger was usually all business. He didn't come to the wedding either. Lester and I decided to elope. His brother and my sister were pretty much the only family present. Lula and Tank joined us as well and we spent the weekend in Vegas seeing shows and gambling. When we returned, I found a box in the living room of Lester's house with my name on it. Inside was a photo album, a plate on the front was engraved to read "Lester & Stephanie Santos". Opening the album and expecting blank pages, I was amazed to find photos taken of me and Lester at various places. I recognized that many were surveillance photos, but there were others that appeared to have been taken with a camera phone. There were even photos of me and the other Merry men, but only one of me and Ranger. I touched his face in the photo. He was smiling down at me as he was shaking Lester's hand. I removed the photo. On the back in Ranger's unmistakable handwriting read 'you made the right choice'.

Thinking back on the album and that moment, I teared up again. I was grateful that Ranger knew himself, and me, well enough to let me go. He made sure that I realized that I wasn't what Joe needed and he wasn't what I needed. He respected Joe and he loved me, just not the same way that Lester did. I touched the album where it laid on the coffee table. I looked around the room. I was finally home, I thought. I was finally in touch with who I was and found someone who both respected and tolerated all parts of me. I brushed my fingers across the names on the album. It had taken me quite a while, but I was happy with my life, my relationship, my family and my friends. I felt like I could have it all and best yet, I was still flying high.

Never the end...

AN: Okay, so I end this story here because I have a party to attend. The part about the album and the comments Steph makes at the end are all a part of my RL. I found my "Lester". Love you, Larry!