The Best I Could Give
Chapter 6
Ranger was in his office early after spending the night with Stephanie and a baby. That seemed foreign to him. She always expressed that she wasn't sure of the role of children in her life, especially when it came to Morelli and her mother applying pressure. Last night and this morning when she fed and changed the baby, her body language told him she was comfortable in the role. Lying beside her in bed, Ranger felt the emotions radiating off her and his arms provided his Babe no comfort. She broke down a couple of times as she related what had happened while he was gone and what she had discovered about Austyn's mother.
Would he and Stephanie ever get a break? They were at a place, which Ranger would consider them on the brink of becoming a couple. Now, this was a major step back in his mind and new territory. He knew next to nothing about babies and more importantly how he felt about them. His life didn't give him much time or room to contemplate them. Julie was there, but yet she wasn't. Morelli was an ass where Stephanie was concerned, so Ranger bided his time until it was finally over. This was a baby with big trusting eyes and smelled like baby powder who was dependent on his Babe, how could he compete with that? Bad Ass and Baby Blue didn't mix.
Also, he was angry. There was the issue with the situation being kept from him, while he may not have been able to do anything while in Miami, Ranger should have been informed and he was stewing about it.
He read over a copy of the search Stephanie ran on Krystal Meyers and already had in a telephone call to one of the best oncologists in the country.
"Ranger, you're back," Tank strolled into his office and stopped short of his desk.
Not glossing over anything, Ranger spit out, "Something about 15 pounds happened. Why wasn't I brought up-to-date?"
"What would you have done differently that we weren't doing? Nothing!" Tank challenged back. "You're mad because Stephanie's involved."
"Tank, Stephanie's a magnet for the crazies!"
"This is a baby! He can't crawl or talk! Let me guess, it's a disguise!"
Ranger glared at his best friend.
"You're jealous!"
"Am not!"
Tank laughed leaving the office, "Jealous! Maybe you'll get off the pot now because Stephanie needs you. This isn't going to be easy for her."
"What are you talking about?"
"She's in the middle of an emotional whirlpool. We've all been affected these last few days." Tank became frustrated with his hard headed friend and threw his arms down at his sides, "Hell, look up a sloth, you're picture is there!"
"Are saying I'm slow?"
"If the sloth fits?" the big guy called over his shoulder going to his office.
Right before the morning update, Stephanie slipped into a chair in the back of the room with Austyn in her arms. Ranger saw it, he couldn't miss it when his men where tickling and wiggling toes. It irritated him those simple actions. Tank even picked him up flying him like an airplane making happy sounds come from the baby. When did he become a baby expert?
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Stephanie was heading to the elevator, a diaper bag over shoulder and Austyn in the carrier for his car seat in her grasp when he stopped her..
Taking the baby bundle from her, Ranger asked, "Babe, where are you going?"
"I promised Krystal that Austyn and I would visit her everyday, Ranger, so the mother-child bond stays intact."
The words came out without him thinking, "Babe, you can't keep doing this." Stephanie appeared to wilt before his eyes, her growing confidence regarding Austin was deflating.
"I hoped you would support me in this, Ranger. Krystal is sick. She may die and has no one, but I guess I was wrong!" Stephanie grabbed the carrier from Ranger stepping on the elevator as it closed in his face. "I can do it myself."
"That was brilliant!" Tank said from behind Ranger. "I bet a sloth would think first then speak."
Ranger glared but Tank stood there with his arms folded across his massive chest. "Stephanie didn't ask for this, Ranger, but she cares about people, even strangers. Krystal saw that in Bombshell, and, no, she may not be big on children, but she's trying her best. We will support her and if I were you, I'd fix this. She's attached to Austyn. Stephanie may not admit it, but she is. I'm afraid what may happen if Krystal dies."
"What do you mean?"
Tank scowled now, "Stephanie is watching over the baby, but if his mother dies, Social Services is going to come for him I bet. His mother told her caseworker, a friend had him. Stephanie will crumble. I know it and so do you."
Ranger nodded aware his best friend was right. His Babe would be devastated.
"Does Austyn change your feelings for Stephanie?"
"No."
"Then, what is the problem?"
He couldn't meet Tank's eyes, "Stephanie didn't ask for my help."
"I beginning to think a sloth is smarter than you, too! You fed her all that 'no relationship' crap!"
"It was mostly talk."
"Out of your Macho Ass! Go do something about this!" Tank pointed down the hall towards Ranger's office.
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Stephanie found a parking spot a few spaces down from the 'Women's House'. After releasing the carrier portion of the baby car seat, Stephanie and Austyn made their way up the few steps. A tall woman older than Stephanie opened the door.
"Come in, Stephanie," she greeted.
She would have guessed the woman was around forty. She was tall, thin, and her face was pleasant but she was upset about something.
Krystal was sitting in a comfortable over-stuffed chair and her face immediately lit up seeing her smiling son. "Hi, Bubby. Carol, this is Stephanie Plum. Stephanie, this is my case worker, Carol Harris."
"Hello," she extended her hand after placing the carrier beside the ill woman and placing him in her lap.
"Hello, Stephanie. Krystal told me you are keeping Austyn at the moment for her. I'm not overly excited about this. Social Services had a few prospective families to foster Austyn, but Krystal objected to them. Are you able to support him? Do you have a place to live? A job?"
"I have an apartment, Carol, and I work for Rangeman. I've been taking care of Austyn to the best of my abilities. I don't have any children. I have a hamster and nieces so I'm not totally clueless about children. My best friend, Mary Lou, loaned me a crib, clothes, and car seat for Austyn. I take him to work with me so I'm with him all day and I want to keep the bond between Austyn and Krystal."
The social worker shook her head, "I don't like this, but I can't go against Krystal's wishes. Would I be able to verify your employment at least?"
Not having a problem with that, she dialed her cell phone. "Thomas Sherman or Tank as he is called is the office manager and he can verify everything. Ask him anything."
"Yo," came the deep voice over the speaker.
"Hello, is this Mr. Sherman, the office manager of Rangeman?" Carol asked. "My name is Carol Harris and I'm with Trenton's Social Services."
"Yes, it is. How may I assist you, Ms. Harris?"
"Does Stephanie Plum work for your company?"
"She does. Stephanie is a full-time research analyst with Rangeman."
"And, you are aware she is caring for a child?"
"Yes, Austyn. The office is acquainted with him. He has been with her everyday since Miss Meyers placed him in Stephanie's care."
"Can you verify she does have a place to live?"
"She does. I have been there."
"Thank you, Mr. Sherman."
"My pleasure, Miss Harris," Tank said disconnecting the call.
Krystal's case worker studied Stephanie and the anxious mother holding her son. "Krystal says how kind you are and that is a quality that means quite a bit to her and she believes you will care for Austyn just like she would if she was able. Stephanie, I am impressed you showed up today. You could have disappeared with her baby."
"I promised Krystal Austyn and I would visit her. I gave my word." Stephanie laughed at herself, "And, my picture has been on the front page enough that anyone would know where I was. But, I'm not chasing after skips like I did, so he wouldn't be in danger."
"Carol, I want Stephanie to care for my son. She is my choice," Krystal spoke quietly.
She watched the two woman a moment more, "OK, I'll go along with this for now. If this will give you some comfort, then I'll support it. Will you agree to be Austyn's chosen foster mother?" Carol picked up a binder and placed papers in front of Stephanie to read. "There is also a copy of his pediatrician's record and his medical card in case he becomes sick and he will have immunizations coming up. You will have a child care allowance as a foster parent."
"I don't want that," Stephanie told Ms. Harris signing the papers. "I am paid well. Please, use it for someone else. I'm honored Krystal would place her beautiful son in my care until she is able to herself."
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Just like the night before, Ranger let himself quietly into Stephanie's apartment. She avoided him when she returned to Rangeman, but he saw she had been crying. Rex was running and the sound became faint walking into her bedroom. Austyn was sleeping in the crib beside her bed. Ranger watched him in the dim light for a few seconds. His small hand rubbed against his cheek as he stretched. Her curls were all over her pillow as Ranger liked it sleeping with wild abandonment, one leg was out from under the sheet, and he could see she was wearing one of his T-shirts.
Ranger sat down in the chair. He was watching Stephanie sleep and listening to small sucking sounds Austyn's lips made every so often. He wasn't jealous of the baby, but it tugged at his heart that Stephanie didn't ask for his help and he didn't think she would.