As I rode up in the elevator I could feel the nervous energy washing through me and it took all I had not to start bouncing up and down on the balls of my feet, much less press the garage level button, make for my car and take off. It's not that I thought Ranger would hurt me physically but he could do a lot of damage mentally.

I loved Ranger as one of my best friends, sometimes as my partner, and an amazing former lover but I…damn…he just pissed me off sometimes. Like I said I trusted him with my life. He would never hurt me intentionally, but he would do whatever he thought would keep me safe and whatever he thought would make me happy. In his mind I would eventually want that happily ever after…burg style and no matter how many times I tell him it's not true, he just wouldn't listen! If he would just stop and- Ding!

The elevator doors slid open, revealing Junior smiling down at me. Luckily that was enough to ground my thoughts to a resounding halt and effectively distract me from what I was about to attempt.

"Hey, Steph." Junior said reaching forward to draw me into a tight hug. When I looked over Junior's shoulder I smiled to see most of the guys had taken a break from what they were doing to come over and see me. These guys were quick becoming my family and I would be heart broken if I had to stop seeing them because of how things went with Ranger. Remembering my reason for coming thrust me back into reality.

"Hey, guys just here to see Ranger. I have something to talk to him about."

"What beautiful? Not here for my sparkling personality?" Lester said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him for a faux look of intensity. I wanted to laugh at Lester's antics but all I could muster was a weak chuckle.

"I'm sorry guys but it's kind of important." I said pulling away from Les.

"You alright Steph?" Vince asked quietly.

"Yeah Vince I'm fine, thanks. Think maybe you and Hal could walk me to Ranger's office?" I said giving Hal a pleading look. I didn't have to see their faces to know they would be surprised to find I had asked them instead of Lester, Bobby, or Tank. But honestly once I got to know the guys, Les and Bobby it turned out were quite pushy and Tank was just too all knowing. I just didn't want that right now. Lester was a real nosey guy and would want to know exactly what was wrong, the entire sordid tale, Bobby was a worry-wart and would think I was sick or god forbid as he always seemed to think pregnant and would want to examine me, and Tank was just too observant for his own good. Tank would know and I would know he knew and I would be mortified. Hal and Vince however were both guys I thought would appreciate my need for silence and leave me be. As well as, I hope keep the others away from me.

Vince looked a little concerned when I asked, like what I said was out of character for me. Truthfully, it was out of character, I didn't like to hide behind others if I could help it. Even if such strong capable guys like Vince and Hal were willing to do the job. But today…today I just needed it.

Vince seemed to realize exactly what I wanted and simply wrapped his arm around me and moved us away from the wall so that Hal could move to my other side. Normally if the guys I had done something like this I would have called them out for it. I hated when the guys tried to act all manly and macho when I didn't want it, let alone need it. But today I enjoyed it, I felt protected and at peace.

That is until we wade it to Ranger's office then the queasy feeling came back. I was just standing there in front of the door trying to decide what to do, when Vince suddenly grabbed me again, spinning me around to face him.

"Steph do you think we could exchange numbers? That way you could call me if ever get into trouble…or you just want to talk?" I stopped and stared at him but he didn't move, just continued to stare back unwavering.

"Alright. But only if you will do the same?" I smiled.

Vince looked unsure for a moment, a flash of emotion so short it almost seemed unreal, before he agreed and held his phone out for me program in my number.

I was happy he agreed. I'd always liked Vince. He was quiet and didn't talk often but when he did it was with confidence and intelligence. I hoped with this we would get to know each other better.

"I guess I can't really avoid it anymore." I declared with false bravado after I handed Vince his phone back. I knocked on Ranger's door and waited for the gruff voice to call out, "Enter." I quietly and slowly opened the door.

When I first walked in Ranger's face had a stiff, no nonsense expression, but when he saw me it melt off to reveal an almost grin tugging at the very edges of his mouth. Looking at his gorgeous face and feeling that little hair-raising feeling on the back of my neck reminded me of how hard this would be, even if we did remain friends. I wanted to just slip out the door and pretend everything was good. But I knew if I did that I would slide right back into Denial Land and all the changes I planned to make in my life would fall apart. And I would be back to being indecisive Stephanie Plum.

During my inner monologue I had missed Ranger standing up and making his way around the desk toward me. He made a quiet sound of appreciation that startled me out of my reverie. When I glanced up he wrapped his arms around me and leaned in to whisper in my ear how happy he was I had made it in to see him. He moved back only to lean forward again, this time putting us face to face. He stared into my eyes for a moment before his forehead wrinkled in concentration, I knew he was about to ask me what was wrong but I couldn't bring myself to do it without one last kiss. So before he could say anything I slid one hand up to his chest gripping his shirt and the other up farther into his long silky dark hair, keep him close to me as I raised my face to his for an all I was worth kiss. I knew he was startled by the fact that I had initiated the kiss, and with such ferocity but after only a moment he joined in. We stood there kissing for a good two minutes before breathing became truly necessary and we both pulled back. It took Ranger a couple a seconds of heavy breathing before he could talk. Holy Toledo! I just made Batman pant like a marathon runner after just a single kiss. Damn, I was going to miss this.

"Damn Babe. That felt a little desperate and more than a little wild. You doing ok? Got some crazies after you making nervous?" he said flashing a short lived but adorable grin.

"Nah Batman, I'm good." I said with a wince, knowing it wasn't true. "I just have something to talk to you about."

Ranger simply squeezed me tighter and raised a single eyebrow encouraging me to continue.

Binkie POV:

"Hey does anybody know what's going with Stephanie?" I heard Zip ask. Something was wrong with Stephanie? Shit, I wonder if she was going being stalked again. Whoever it was was going to get their ass kicked by Ranger. Hell, that little was quick making this place into a family we'd probably all kick their ass.

"What do you mean? What's up Vince? Is Steph ok?" I said.

"No, something's off with her but I don't know what it is. She just went into Ranger's office looking like Atlas had just shifted the sky from his shoulders to hers. I swear if Ranger hurts her and Steph wants me to do something about it, the bastard is gone." He said heatedly.

"Damn." I said softly. Vince never talked that much, not if he could help it. He was one of those strong silent types. I knew Vince cared a lot about Steph, sometimes I wondered just how much he cared. It just seemed like there was more going when it came to how Vince felt about Steph, and I think he just proved my point.

"What?" he replied.

"I don't think I've ever heard you get that angry before, hell I don't think I've ever seen you talk this much in general." Someone was going to have to talk to him, we all knew Steph was the boss's woman. Not that Steph would agree she hates when Ranger called his woman. Said, 'there had to be something going on before there could be any owning going on and Damn straight, if there was any of that down, she would be the one doing the owning.' We all knew she only said it to make us think there wasn't anything going on, but holy crap, Steph was spitfire. You just had to love her. And damn, but she's got the body for it too with those legs of hers-

"It's about Steph." He said defensively.

"True, she worth every word isn't she?" I said a little hoarsely, trying to remember where I was at and why I was asking questions in the first place.

"Yes." And we were back to the one word answers.

"You think everything is ok?" Hal asked just as Steph walked out of the office, her big blue eyes glassy like she was holding back crying. Before anybody could say anything she started toward the elevator, but she saw us heading toward her out of the corner of her eye. Rather than wait for the elevator like she would have any other time she darted into the stairwell shocking us enough that she gained a few seconds. If steph was upset enough to take the stairs just to avoid us, then whatever happened must have been bad. She was either humiliated or hurt, terribly hurt.

The few seconds she earned turned out to be just enough for her to jump in her car and take off before we could get there.

"Holy crap." Junior said. Then took a deep breath and bravely asked, "Who's going to confront Ranger?" No one had an answer. I sure as hell wanted to but knew as a younger member and not a particularly close friend to Steph I didn't have the right.

I glanced at my partner Vince and he leaned over to show me his cell phone. It was a text from Stephanie asking that Vince wait until he wasn't being watched then meet her at her apartment. He sent one in return asking if he could bring his partner, me. Steph agreed. We waited to start heading toward an SUV, until everyone went back upstairs. Everyone except Hal and Junior, who stood at the base of the stairs watching us. I didn't think much of it at the time.

A/N:

Hey guys I loved the reviews that came in for chapter 1 and would loved to here what you have to say….especially about Binkie's POV, I've never written a story with the prospective of someone who wasn't the main character.

Thanks,

Ms.M.