Here's chapter 13!

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Everything not mentioned in the books are mine. :)

Adam POV

No matter what Charlotte would say I knew that she was still deeply in love with Ranger. It shone in her eyes, like a light house in a storm. Her blue eyes were the window to her soul and I've seen them every day for the time we've been working together. I've seen her happy, in pain, doubtful, in her own thoughts, mad, worrying, you name it, I've seen it. And I know that she's in love with Ranger.

Since I met her she has brought joy and excitement in my life. She used to tell me about her life in the states and how she misses them all. She told me so much that I was sure I could recognize them anywhere. Lula, Connie, her grandma, all the merry-men and Ranger. I knew more about Ranger than any other and that was because I realized that talking about ranger made her happy. Even though she didn't recognize it, her eyes lit up in a special way every time his name was brought up and her hand would go to the necklace she wore everywhere. She watched RangeMan's every move all the time, analyzing them carefully.

She dreamt about him as well. I had stayed more than one time with her as she slept. My presence was calming for her as she had had a bad day. The night immediately after the shooting she had had nightmares and had cried after Ranger all night. It made my heart break that I couldn't help her in any way, I just sat with her the long hours with tears running down my cheeks, my heart breaking every time she sobbed, it felt like a hot dagger was stabbed through me over and over again.

That night had been the toughest in my whole life and I had spent many nights in combat, laying in thick terrine. I had seen death and had endures torture but her desperate cries after a man who had turned her down was crushing. It took my whole concentration not to fly, hell even swim, to the states and break the bastards neck with my bare hands. But at the same time I knew that she loved him and I couldn't hurt the person who had given me my life and future.

My life had changed so much since I met her. She had given me a job that I love, many friends and well, the life I dream of. I loved her but still it was only friendly. I didn't see her in that way, she was more like a sister to me. I loved her with all of my heart but I knew that she loved Ranger with all of hers. I still didn't know why he didn't? I mean, she was perfect, beautiful and smart, sensitive and caring, tough and loving. How can't you love someone like that?

I got my answer when she was in surgery after the attack from Petrucha. Ranger didn't stop worrying the whole time. We worried too but he worried like the love of his life was in surgery. He loved her and she loved him, they didn't see that yet. With both of them stubborn as hell I knew that they needed someone to push them. And who was better than me?

I followed Ranger with Lester. He was my eyes on the "inside", besides we both had the mission to get Stephanie and Ranger back together. He would convince him and I would work my magic on her. I proved to be an easy task. She bursted through my door a couple days after they had arrived. Her hair was everywhere and her eyes seemed to be too large for her face. She started to pace in front of my office desk and I stood there, completely confused. She continued the pacing and I turned back to my papers. I knew that she would talk when she needed too.

A couple minutes after she sunk down in the chair in front of the desk. I put the papers aside and turned my full attention to her. She looked sick, pale and clammy. She lifted her feet underneath her and sunk further down in the chair way too big to her. She looked like a child, a very sick child, seeking help from me.

"Ranger?" I asked her and leaned back in my chair, observing her. Her hand flied to the necklace and she glanced around the office.

"I can't do it, Adam. I just can't!" She said to me, her voice bursting with held anger, love and sadness. She looked out the window, refusing to look at me.

"Can't do what?" I asked her. She smiled a little.

"What do you think? Him. I can't do this thing with him."

"Why?"

"I can't be this close to him, I love him. He doesn't. Simple. My heart is breaking to be this close to him, with him not knowing it's me, not being able to go to that day and hold my mouth shut. I want to go back. I want him back." she said to me so quickly that I had to focus to hear everything.

"I've changed the pillows ten times today. I'm so confused, Adam. Everything I knew I don't know any more. My worlds upside down, like a pineapple upside down cake. even the cupcakes don't help anymore. I can't focus on anything with him so close to me. And every time I see him I can't get the words "It's me Carlos. It's Stephanie." out of my mouth. I want to tell him so bad but I can't. He doesn't love me so why am I so damn agitated?"

"Because you love him." I stated to her and smiled. "And he loves you too, he just can't say it."

"No he doesn't." she said angrily to me and for the first time looked at me. "You know what he said to me."

"Maybe he has the same thing as you, you can't say you're Stephanie and he can't say that he loves you. He's afraid to hurt you and trying to protect you he hurt you more than nobody else could. He's just scared. Give him time, he'll know it's you."

She stared at me for a long time, her head a little tilted to the right side. Nobody said anything and the clock was ticking on the wall. Then she got up and smiled.

"I hope you're right, Adam. I want to believe your beautiful words but he hurt me so bad."

"I know." was the simple answer I gave to her as I watched her back. She stopped in the doorway and seemed to hesitate a moment. Her small hand was clasping the frame and her head bowed.

"I love you Adam. I hope you know that." she said finally and sighed. I got the feeling something was wrong. She sounded sad and like she was going to do something terrible.

"I do." I answered. "What are you going to do?" I was a little scared of what she might say to me.

"I'm going to bake a pineapple upside down cake." she said to me and smiled. I smiled back at her and followed her to her apartment where I helped her to bake. This was something she did once in a month or two and then she would invite everybody up to have a small break with freshly baked goods. She seemed lost in the moment or in her thoughts every time so I was careful not to disturb her, she was in good mood after the cake was finished. It made her more useful she had told me once.

Then after a couple days she had been attacked and the bottom of my heart fell. It brought back feelings from the last time when she had been shot. Ironically by the same guy. Anyways, that night Ranger had realized who Charlotte was. I gave him the permission to stay with her while she was in the hospital wing.

My impossible mission was complete and I smiled as I made my way to the gun range with Lester. He and I had become very close and it seemed like we had known each other for years. I thanked God for the fact that it all ended well.

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