Stephanie turned on the TV. She only half concentrated on the TV she was looking at the teenager reclining back in the chair. Stephanie could see the deep bruises on the Alex's left side of her face. Something has to give with this girl, she needs a better life than this. Stephanie got up and went inside her kitchen, she opened the freezer of her icebox and started breaking the trays to get the ice out. Once she had all of them emptied she went to her cabinet and pulled out the freezer bags made two ice packs one for herself and the other for Alex. These urges you have, your heart pulling towards this kid. You don't even have these urges with your own nieces. This headache is getting bad, I can't just let the both of us stay like this today. Alex needs sleep and I need to stay awake. But the little shit has my chip for my cell phone. Stephanie looked over at the clock on the wall in her kitchen. It was almost nine in the morning now. She hadn't checked in with the office. Something she always did at least by ten in the morning. Maybe Connie or Lula would check on her once she wasn't returning phone calls. She figured she would have at least two maybe three hours before someone would start to wonder about why she hadn't shown up for work. Stephanie walked with the ice packs into the living room and placed one on Alex's left eye and cheek. Alex's hand had come up and grabbed her wrist quickly.

"You need the ice just as much as I do. If not more." Stephanie told her, lacing it with a little concern.

Alex's eyes opened up and looked up at the women. "Thank you, but don't invade my space again."

Alex let go of Stephanie's hand. Yeash! This kid has problems. "I wasn't hurting you," Stephanie said as she moved back over to the couch. "You said I had a trust problem and no faith in my fellow man, what about yourself?"

"I can't afford to have any trust in anyone at the moment." Alex stated and shut her eyes again as her hand came up to keep the ice pack in place.

"I haven't taken you in."

"Maybe not today, but you will eventually." Alex adjusted her position in the chair and winced at the shot of pain in her ribs.

Stephanie watched her, "You would probably be more comfortable laying on the couch."

"No, can't see the door properly."

Stephanie gave a snort, "Your eyes are closed."

"I have ears as well."

Stephanie let it drop and got up to go get something for her headache, she rummaged through the medicine cabinet and took two Advil. She stood in the bathroom looking at herself in the mirror. Not doing good here. I need to get in touch with Ranger. No cell phone though. Email! The computer is on the table. Just check the email and send him a message. Stephanie grinned at her reflection in the mirror. Leaving the bathroom she went back towards the kitchen and picked up her other FTA files. Just pretend to be doing research. Take a deep breath, you can do this without her getting suspicious of anything. Stephanie sat down at the table and opened the lap top up. She opened the files, and booted up the computer and looked over at Alex. Alex was still in the same position. Her breathing looked deep, relaxed. Stephanie wondered how long before the pain medication would kick in with the kid. Stephanie went ahead and pulled up PBUS and entered one of the skips in and had the research program going so she could flip applications easily. Stephanie pulled up her yahoo instant message program to see if Ranger might actually be online.

Ranger was sitting at his computer, he just went through all of the email he had when he saw the box message come up on his screen from Stephanie. It read: Got the girl. At home, need help. I have a concussion and four stitches in my head.

Ranger pulled out his phone and dialed Tank. "Get to Steph's place. Don't go in. Alex is at Steph's. I want the place surrounded. I'm not loosing that kid again." He hung up.

Ranger then typed a reply back, it read: On my way. Act normal, and don't do anything that will make her run.

He then closed the program and headed out of his office. He would get answers about the concussion and stitches later. No telling what she did to get those. It took him fifteen minutes to make it to Stephanie's apartment building. Tank was at the front door. "All in place."

Ranger nodded to him and took the stairs up to the second floor. He put his hand on the door knob and turned it slowly. He wondered briefly if Stephanie set any of the locks in place. He hoped she hadn't.

Alex was half dozing when she heard the door lock being released. She bolted up out of the chair and looked at Stephanie and back to the door as she saw Ranger coming through it.

"Fuck!" Alex jumped the coffee table and Ranger was already heading in the direction she was running. Alex had just made it into the bedroom and stopped short as she saw another man outside the bedroom window on the fire escape. Ranger wrapped her in a bear hug from behind. Pain sharp and intense swept through Alex and the next thing she saw was only black.

Ranger wasn't expecting Alex to go totally limp in his arms. He moved one of his arms so he was scooping her up under her legs. He turned and saw Stephanie in the doorway of her bedroom. Bobbie had seen Ranger pick up Alex through the window and started down the fire escape.

"What happened?" Stephanie asked.

"Passed out!" Ranger told her as he moved with Alex through the door and took her over to the couch. He laid her on the couch. Ranger turned to look at Stephanie, "Where are the stitches?"

Stephanie walked over to him and turned around and lifted her hair up just over the goose egg knot on her head. Ranger was looking at her stitches when the apartment door was opened and Tank, Lester, Bobbie and Hal walked in. All four pair of eyes traveled to the couch and then back to Ranger and Stephanie.

"What happened?" Lester asked.

"Passed out." Ranger answered. He put Stephanie's hair back down and then placing his hand on her shoulder he turned Stephanie back to face him. "How did that happen?"

"I was chasing after her. She went over a dumpster and jumped on the other side and I went after her and then messed everything up and hit my head." Stephanie felt real embarrassed.

"Then?" Ranger asked.

"Then she came back and walked me to a clinic, paid to have my head sewn back together, drove me home, picked up the medication and came back and was on the chair half asleep."

Alex was groaning as her breathing was coming in short sharp breaths. The pain was radiating and throbbing in her ribs on her left side.

Tank moved to the couch at Ranger's nod, he shifted Alex in a half sitting position and sat down and pulled the kid back up so she was leaning on his chest.

"Shit, shit, shit." Alex got out between breaths. Her muscles were stiffening up for lack of over use and the pain in them.

"The doctor thinks her ribs might be broken." Stephanie told them.

Ranger pointed to the chair, "Go sit down, Babe."

Ranger walked around the coffee table and noticed the medication bottles and picked them up and read them. He shook his head and put them back down, "Has she taken anything?"

"Both, just the one time though and that was about an hour ago now." Stephanie answered him.

Lester and Bobbie were off to the side talking. "I really like this kid," Bobbie told Lester.

"Oh yeah, earned points big time with Ranger, did you see his face when Steph told him about her coming back for her."

"Kid's got style." Bobbie grinned after he said it.

Ranger sat on the coffee table and looked at Alex leaning up against Tank. She went back after Stephanie, she's got ethics and a moral code. What am I going to do with this kid? She is in no condition to go in like this. He rubbed his forehead, not an easy call. The feds will put her through questions after questions. She can't hold up under that. I take her back in now and they'll eat her alive while she's locked up. If I keep her I'm harboring a fugitive. Ranger stood up and started pacing the room.

Tank was watching Ranger, he looked back down at Alex who was leaning on his chest, her short breaths still coming. He could see the see the tears starting to flow down her down her bruised cheeks. He looked back up at Ranger. "She can't be taken in like this." Tank said.

Lester looked from Tank to Ranger, "We'll be harboring a fugitive."

"We've never paid for an FTA before though." Bobbie put in.

"I already told her I wouldn't take her in today." Stephanie said.

Ranger looked at Stephanie, "So she doesn't go in today, Babe. What about tomorrow or the next day, the next week, hell even next month."

Stephanie looked at Ranger. Where is he going with this? Is he actually contemplating on keeping her? He has his own kid, what the hell is he thinking? "She has to go back in sometime."

Ranger looked at Alex. "Not with Shiropolli still out there."

Stephanie stood up, "This is crazy Ranger. She doesn't belong to you. She's not your blood, there's a difference. If this was Julie then there's a difference."

"This has nothing to do with her belonging to me. You didn't shell out a hundred grand to get her away from Shiropolli."

Stephanie glared at him, "You did it because the FBI will pay you back."

Stephanie watched and Ranger turned and walked away from her. Everyone in the room was watching Ranger except one.

Alex was listening to what was being said. She didn't need another alpha male in her life, she just ditched one. James would be easier to deal with, this one wouldn't. She knew Ranger wouldn't be easy to deal with. I won't talk to the feds, Alex thought she had to think about what to do. This was her life and she wouldn't let anyone run it but herself. They take me in and I do my time before trial. Or I can see if I can get rebonded back out and pre-trial probation again. Either way I still have to go back.

"I did it because that kid is me when I was her age, Babe." Ranger spun around. "My father was a gang member just as much as hers was. You don't know what it is like Stephanie to grow up most of your life without a father, grow up not having the protection and guidance of a father in your life. I had to look to my older brother to help guide me. The only difference is I had someone I could at least look up to and she doesn't."

Stephanie sat back down. He never talked about his family, very little. She never knew what had happened to his father. Stephanie looked over at Alex, "What are you saying Ranger?"

"I'm not throwing her over to the FBI as a sacrificial lamb just for their fucking case. It'll get her killed. Shiropolli will have her killed if she goes back to jail and the feds get a hold of her." Ranger told her.

"What about having her rebonded?" Tank asked. "Get a judge to reissue the bond and get her back out and into protective custody."

"How about we get Gaspick to just drop the charges totally." Lester threw in.

"That would solve a lot of problems." Bobbie said.

"He won't do it." Alex hissed out. "The guy fucking hates me."

Ranger looked over at her. His mind working. Gaspick drops the charges and everything goes away but for Shiropolli. The FBI is a totally separate issue. Think, there has got to be a way to keep this kid out of jail. Ranger began pacing again.

"When is her bond up, Babe?"

"Today."

"So I have to go in today?" Alex asked.

"Let me think." Ranger said as he looked at her. Her bond is forfeited at midnight, she won't have a warrant issued for at least a week. Not possible to have one faster. She missed her probation meeting only a week ago, but she has a damn good excuse for missing it. Her probation officer, her probation officer. Ranger got a grin on his face.

He tossed Tank his phone, "Get Jamie Moore on the phone."

Tank dialed the number.

"But I missed my meeting." Alex stated. "I have a bond out now."

"But you have an excuse for missing it. Moore isn't going to throw you in the court system for missing one meeting." Ranger told her, he was almost sure of it.

Tank started talking to Jamie when he answered, "Mr. Moore, Alex Ramono would like to talk to you today if you can work it into your appointment book."

"Who is this? I haven't been able to get in touch with her for a couple of weeks now."

"This is Larry Baker, I'm with Alex right now. What would be a good time to come see you?" Tank asked, he looked at Ranger, he had a pretty good idea what Ranger was thinking. They had to stop the warrant from coming into being.

"I had an appointment with the DA this afternoon concerning her. If you can see she gets here by three pm. I'll see about changing my appointment with the DA after I talk to her." Jamie said.

"She'll be there." Tank hung up the phone. "We have till three this after noon."

Alex sat fully up and moved away from Tank and let out a low slow exhale as the pain hit her ribs again. Ranger watched her, "She needs to see a doctor."

Tank nodded.

"I already saw one, I just need to tape my ribs." Alex stood up and grabbed the bag from the drug store that was on the table. "If they are broke it won't be the first time."

"You still need to see a doctor." Ranger told her.

Alex glared at him. "Been there done that, what do you think that shit is for?" Alex pointed to the prescription bottles.

Lester was trying to hold back the grin he had on his face. Bobbie had turned around and was coughing in order to cover up his laughter. Tank just shook his head.

Damn it! She's entertaining my men already and at my expense. "Where did you get the money to see a doctor?" Ranger asked her.

"Spragget gave it to her." Stephanie told him, "he told me on the phone when he called me."

Ranger looked at Stephanie, "Spragget gave her money? She had already left. You called me but not ten minutes later after I left the school."

"I never left the school." Alex told him. She walked around the table and started heading towards the bathroom. "I went up inside the ceiling, I didn't run outside with no shoes on you big dominate egotistical alpha male dickwad." I'm not being manipulated by some self serving jerk-off who wants to dominate me into being his sick whatever just because he paid to have me released from Shiropolli.

Stephanie drew in a breath, this kid was going to get herself killed, she had a death wish. She could see the sparks of anger in Ranger's eyes as they went dark. Ranger is going to kill her! Stephanie made to get up out of the chair, Ranger pointed to her, "Stay!"

She's making me look like a complete idiot in front of my men. If we were alone I would be laughing, but did she have to get it so damn right? Ranger moved towards her and followed her to the bathroom and slammed the door behind them. He didn't even want to see the looks on his men's faces.

"You couldn't keep your mouth shut long enough until we were alone, you just had to make me look bad in front of my men." Ranger hissed out at her in a lowered voice.

"You're in my space, and I think I'm old enough to go to the damn bathroom alone." Alex hissed back as she glared at him.

"To the bathroom yes, but not to tape your ribs." He smarmily told her as he took the bag from her hand. He pulled the tape out and pointed to the toilet. "Sit down!" He commanded.

Alex looked around the room and then proceeded to hop up on the sink and glared back at him. Ranger lowered his head and started chuckling. "Would you just stop this shit."

"I don't have a clue as to which shit you are referring too." Alex said in a very innocent voice. Ranger looked up quickly at that, Alex was watching him closely.

"You know good and well what shit I'm referring too." Ranger told her as he opened up the medical tape. "Raise your shirt up, so I can tape your ribs."

"What's the magic word?" Alex asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Ranger sat the tape down beside her on the sink and leaned in to where his face was right in front of hers. "I'm not playing that little game."

"I'm not going to be manipulated. I wouldn't let James do it, I'm not about to let you do it, no matter how much fucking money you have and are willing to dish out because your girlfriend asked you too. I don't fucking play that way, you want to control her than so be it. You aren't controlling me, I won't allow it."

Ranger watched as her dark blue eyes grew even darker to the point where they looked black. "She's not my girlfriend and I don't control Stephanie."

Alex gave a bark of laughter, "Stay." She told him and grinned.

Ranger lowered his head. I did fucking say that didn't I? Damn it! I do control Stephanie, he looked back up at her. "Quit making me second guess myself. So she obeyed for once in her life, but I don't really control her."

"Could have fooled me." Alex told him.

Ranger picked up the tape and started rolling it out. "Are we through now? You do need your ribs taped up." He was going to have to watch his step around this kid, she was too damn smart for her own good.

Alex relaxed and lifted the left side of her t-shirt, she watched his eyes as he looked at the dark black and blue of her bruised skin. She looked down as he started taping her ribs. "Looks like you've done this before."

"A few times." Ranger pulled off more tape. "How many times have you been taped up before?"

"A few times."

Ranger gave a bark of laughter. "Don't repeat me."

"Give a straight answer."

"Not in my nature."

"Join the club."

He looked back up at her. "You're going to complicate my life aren't you?"

"Depends on how complicated you want it." Alex lowered her shirt and tilted her head to one side. "You try to make me jump through hoops and it'll get as complicated as I can make it."

"I don't like threats."

Alex pushed him back and got off the sink and looked up at him. "Then considerate it a promise."