Disclaimer: I don't own anything, I'm not making any money, and all the wonderful characters belong to the lovely JE

Rating: R

Warnings: I'm a babe. Not cupcake friendly, but no Joe bashing in any way.

Thank you very much Stayce for editing.

Title: Welcome Home

Hurt

Ranger unlocked the door to the fourth floor apartment, and opened it for me to enter. I stopped in the entryway and let out a sigh. I turned back to Ranger as he closed the door softly. He placed the keys to the apartment on the side table, and gave me a soft smile. I wanted to smile back, but I was just too tired. He took two steps forward and wrapped me up in his arms. He was warm and friendly.

"Ella should be by tomorrow sometime with some groceries. Let her know what you want so she can get it for you. There's ice cream in the freezer already," Ranger whispered, lips brushing against my temple.

My face was snuggled into his neck, drawing warmth from him. I pulled back just enough to see his face, and looked at him curiously. "Ice cream?" I questioned.

"The guys thought you might like it," he said, touching his forehead to mine. "I'm three floors up, Babe, if you need anything."

I nodded my head, unable to speak. I was quite undone.

Ranger brushed a kiss across my forehead, and pulled back. He watched me for a moment longer before heading for the door.

"Call Ella in the morning when you get hungry, or you could join me, it's your choice. Get some sleep, Babe," he said. And he was gone.

I had stayed in an apartment on the fourth floor for an hour a long time ago. The queen bed was in the sleeping alcove. The soft tan leather sofa was positioned in the small, but comfortable living room, in front of the large plasma TV. I didn't remember a plasma TV last time, so maybe that was a personal item, or possibly Ranger traded up. Rex was on the counter in the kitchenette running in his wheel, completely oblivious to his change in environment. I didn't see any of my baskets, so I assumed Ella put all my clothes away. There was nothing that outwardly personalized the space as having a previous tenant, but it was still warm and comfortable. Somebody lived here. And I was taking somebody's home, so that I could fix the mess I made of my life. How fucked is that, I thought.

I headed for the ice cream instead of dwelling on the person that didn't have a home anymore. I reached for the handle and noticed a note attached to the front of the freezer. 'Stephanie, I slipped some ice cream into the freezer for you. I wasn't sure what you liked, but one thing I've learned about women is that they don't seem to be particularly prejudiced when it comes to ice cream. Feel free to make yourself at home, and stay as long as you need. I wasn't here much anyway, so I was happy to volunteer my place.' It was signed 'Lester Santos' at the bottom.

I felt slightly better knowing that he volunteered the apartment, instead of being kicked out. I opened the freezer. There were two pints of Ben & Jerry's. The two men I could always count on. I took out a pint of Chunky Monkey and started pulling open drawers in search of a spoon. I popped the lid open and took my first spoon full. I was standing leaning against the counter, eyeing the couch. I took another spoon full, and flicked my eyes to the bathroom. Hot bath or good movie? Hot bath!

I found the bubble bath I brought with me in the bathroom cupboard and filled the tub. I stripped out of my clothes and decided to get my ice cream so I could finish it in the tub. My cell rang just as I was headed back to the bathroom. I let out a slight groan and grabbed it. I flipped the phone open as I slipped into the hot, soothing water.

"Yo," I said, as if it was something I did everyday. I felt my eyes instantly fill with tears. I hadn't answered the phone that way in a very long time. It felt good, but I knew the person on the other end wouldn't appreciate it.

Silence.

I didn't say anything for a few beats, but patience was never my thing. "Joe?" I said in a whisper.

"If you knew it was me, why," he said harshly, "did you answer the damn phone like that?"

I had the feeling his jaw was tight and his teeth were clenched in hopes of keeping his anger under control. I understood why he was on edge, and I got that it was my fault. But it didn't seem to stop me from getting pissed. My mouth was open before I knew it and I was on the verge of full rhino mode. "Joe, believe it or not I didn't even think about it when I said it. It just came out and truthfully I'm glad it did. I used to answer the phone all the time like that up until seven months ago. It felt good. I'm sorry if you can't understand that. I'm sorry that you don't understand anything that I used to do. You never understood me. You should be happy that you're finally free of me," I said.

Okay so I might have gone too far, but damn if I didn't smile a bit to myself that the real Stephanie was making an appearance. I hadn't spoken my mind in a very long time. Too long! I wasn't meant to be calm and patient. I was meant to speak before I thought, jump in head first type of thing.

Joe's voice was labored and the further he got, the louder he got. "Happy? Happy! Oh yes, Cupcake, I'm ecstatic to finally be rid of you," Joe said.

"Okay so that last part might've been a bit over the top," I said. "I'm just tired and emotional."

I tucked the phone between my ear and shoulder and reached for my ice cream. The water splashed a bit as I settled back in.

"What was that? Was that water?" Joe asked.

"Yeah, I'm in the bath."

More silence. I could just picture him, hands fisted, jaw clenched, steam leaking out his ears.

"I'm here, pacing. Frustrated as hell, and trying to figure out what went wrong. I came home after a long night at a crime scene to find out my fiancé left me and went to another man's place. Now you're naked at his place and you called off the engagement. What the fuck am I supposed to think, Stephanie?"

"Joe, I realize this came as a huge shock to you. I'm sorry that I just left and didn't have the guts to tell you it's over to your face. It was real shitty of me, but it's not just you that's frustrated. It's not always just about you. Yes you work hard and you have a sucky job, but you chose that job. Just like you chose for me to give up my job. Your expectations of me, of us, are too much. I can't do it anymore. And I should have said something a long time ago. I shouldn't have accepted your proposal. I accepted it for the wrong reasons. I lied to you. I lied to everybody. I made myself move on with you, when I wasn't really ready to do that. I wasn't ready to give up the life I had. But I was hurt, so I stupidly thought I could replace my life with something new," I explained.

"Hurt?" he questioned.

I went over what I said in my head again and realized I said too much. I was in a really bad spot now. Joe didn't know about Ranger and me. Well if he did it wasn't because I told him anything. He didn't know I went to see Ranger after he proposed. He didn't know I was hurt by Ranger's reaction and said yes because of it.

"What?" I said, trying for avoidance. "Look I'm just really tired, Joe. I planned on taking a bath, finishing my ice cream, and going to bed. Can you just give me some time? I really just need a few days to myself."

"Why him? Why did you have to go to him? You could have stayed in a hotel, anywhere, but where you're at," he said, completely ignoring my request for some time.

I felt my anger spike again. "Because, there are no expectations. He accepts me for me. Just as I am. Even this Burg robot that showed up here," I said. "He lets me have my space, and he doesn't drill me for answers that I don't have," I spat out.

"Everybody expects something sooner or later, Stephanie," Joe said.

"Joe, Ranger's expectations don't have anything to do with this conversation. He offered me a place to stay until I'm ready to face the world again. I'm in my own apartment and I plan on staying locked up in here until further notice," I said. "Please, just give me some time to myself. That's all I'm asking. Just give me some time." I ended the conversation on that note and finished my ice cream. I didn't want to think anymore. I just wanted to soak in the hot water and drown my sorrows with Chunky Monkey.

After an hour of soaking I was extremely pruney and ready for bed. I was exhausted, mentally and physically. I dried off and draped a towel around my body before wandering out into the rest of the apartment. I stopped at the bed when I saw a black folded T-shirt lying on the pillows. A note was on top of it with one word only 'Babe.' Heat ran through my body from my head to my toes. My eyes welled up with tears as I dropped the towel and slipped the shirt over my head. I pulled the blankets back on the bed and climbed in. I snuggled into the pillow and caught a familiar scent. A tear slipped from my eye. He brought me one of his shirts and gave me his pillow to sleep on. I wrapped my arms around the pillow, breathing in Ranger's scent, and cried myself to sleep.