Been a while but I'm back! I think... I'm trying to find the time for writing and that's proving to be quite the task. Anyways hope you like this one, eventhough it's a very short one.

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Not mine.

"Relax!" I said trying to fight the fear running through my veins and trying to avoid full panic as I stared into Stephanies empty eyes. She was going to kill me that I knew for sure. I'd seen that look on many men as they were trapped into corners. She would fight until death unless I could get her to realize who I was.

"Listen beautiful. I'm your friend, Lester." I said avoiding any sudden moves, my hands still high in the air. I talked slowly, with calm and what I hoped sounded like kindness. I made sure she understood that I was no threat for her. She wasn't a killer, I knew that. I prayed this move would save my life as I knew if she attacked me that I wouldn't be able to defend myself.

"Remember me, beautiful? You met me years ago. We decorated that apartment together. Tank threw that guy out of the third floor window. You were horrified but he was okay. Remember that?"

Her eyes showed the huge struggle inside her. She was trying to figure things out. I decided to continue before she snapped again.

"You and I worked together too. Remember that time when we tricked Binkie into driving in full panic after a truck because we'd thrown your tracker into it?"

"Tracker?" She asked me, her voice rough, as if she was confused. The knife shook in her hand and her beautiful lips were parted. I pushed forward and tried not to get too hopeful.

"Yeah, that Ranger put on your cars. I taught you to hide ones yourself into others cars. Remember when we followed Vinnie around as training? Turned out that he was visiting…"

"Joyce." She breathed. "He visited Joyce. We sat in the car and ate doughnuts, brushing the powdered sugar of our shirts so that we wouldn't get caught. "

Her knees gave out and she tumbled onto the soft rug in the middle of the room. The knife flew out of her hands and salty tears flowed down her cheeks. Violent sobs shook her small frame. I pushed myself over the couch and kicked the knife away, just in case and held her as she cried. I felt my shirt getting wet as she cried but I didn't care as I sat there, pressing my face into her loose curls, inhaling the sweet scent of vanilla. She gasped for air between incoherent words I couldn't understand. I kept shhing her, keeping her close until her eyes dried.

"Oh my god, I can't believe that I tried to kill you Lester! You're one of my best friends and I try to kill you. What's wrong with me?" she exclaimed as soon as she could form coherent sentences. I shook my head at her and tipped her head with my head.

"You're perfect beautiful! You're going through some tough shit but I'll be here for you. I'll try to help you the best way I can."

"But how? I don't remember anything. I can't, I must..." she stopped immediately and jumped up, her expression of pure horror. "Oh my god, where's my baby? Is he alright, oh gosh did I hurt him?"

I was surprised at her quick movements but regained myself and stood up only slightly worried about her changing moods. I kept my distance as she turned her hands and look around the apartment. It killed me to see her like this, totally confused and scared.

"Beautiful, you have not hurt your son. He's with Ella now and he is alright. I don't think it's a good idea to wake him up at this hour." I said trying to buy myself time to figure this out with Ranger. She looked at me her eyes searching for something in my eyes and face. Finally, after a few minutes she seemed happy with what she saw.

"I remember Ella" she said with a smile. "She makes the most heavenly chocolate cake in the entire universe, am I right?"

"Yes you are." I smiled at her. "I can call her to make a cake to you tomorrow."

She stood there thinking about it a while. I noticed the dark circles around her eyes and glanced at my clock.

"I think it's time for you to get back to bed, it's late and you should rest and get better for you and your son."

I knew I had her with that and put my hand to the small of her back guided her back into the bedroom, placing her on the bed. She looked at her hands and fiddled with her charm bracelet.

"Lester?" she whispered and my heart broke with the fear in her voice. I sat down beside her and pulled her into my embrace.

"Yes beautiful?"

"Are you real?" she whispered into my chest and I had to smile. Guess she was afraid that this was a dream.

"Yep, I'm as real a man can be."

She remained still, her breathing uneven. I knew that she had more on her heart but let her take her time. I stroked her hair and felt her relax a little.

"Will you stay with me?"

"Of course beautiful. Anything to help you out." IO answered without a doubt. She leaned into me and I felt her smile.

"Thank you"

I climbed beside her after I stripped my gun belt and shoes. Not daring to remove any more clothing. I laid down and pulled her close to me. She relaxed into me and I kept stroking her hair as I heard sleep claim her. Her breathing got even and her death grip on my shirt loosened. I waited a half an hour before I untangled my hand from her hair and carefully got out of the bed. It was time to make a call.

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