Standard Disclaimer: Not mine, not making money, yadda yaddacakes. I didn't put this in part one, but spoilers up through LMT.

Overheard Part 4

I looked blankly out the car window at the building in front of me. Mmm, when did I get home and why don't I remember the drive home from work. Maybe getting into my thinking position would help to clarify things.

Steph got out of the car. Had any of the seniors who lived in her building been in the parking lot at that moment, they would have thought she was one of them. She walked hunched over, as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. She knew she didn't want to deal with Mrs. Bestler, so she walked up the stairs to the second floor. Fishing out her keys, she managed to unlock the door even though her hands were trembling like the leaves on a tree in a high wind. Her apartment was undisturbed and Rex was sleeping with his butt sticking out of his can. Steph ignored the usual indicators that she had not picked up the psycho of the week. At that moment, she couldn't have processed anything anyway. Dropping her purse and kicking off her Vans, Steph made it to her bed and flopped down in her thinking position.

It wasn't working the way it usually did. Steph tried to figure out why she couldn't remember leaving work and driving home. The last thing she could remember was leaving a voicemail message for Joe. Figuring maybe there would be a message on her answering machine to explain what was going on; Steph heaved herself up from the bed. She went out into her living room and looked over at her machine. Yup, the light is flashing like a disco ball. Must be something going on. She pressed play and stood there listening to the tinny voices.

Beep. "Stephanie, this is your mother. Are you coming over to dinner tonight? Since you have been working at That Place, you have only been over to dinner twice. We are having roast chicken and pineapple upside down cake. I expect you at 6."

Beep. "Steph, it's Mary Lou. You have to call me; I have some juicy gossip about Joe."

Beep. "Cupcake, it's Joe. I've left messages everywhere for you. I need to talk to you tonight. Please call me."

I realized I had to pee, so I left the machine running and went into the bathroom. Finishing up my business, I washed my hands. I made the mistake of looking in the mirror. Maybelline's waterproof mascara definitely wasn't as I had raccoon eyes. Continuing to stare into the mirror, it suddenly slammed into my conscious what exactly had driven me from Haywood. The knowledge that Ranger wanted to move on without me wasn't the most devastating part of it. It was that apparently he wanted to end our friendship as well. So this is how it feels to have your heart torn out but still be alive to feel it. Suddenly I heard Ranger's voice coming from the machine. "Babe, you left before I could talk to you. Can I come over later tonight?"

It was like a shot of adrenaline to my system. I didn't want to be here tonight when Ranger came over. I wasn't ready for it. I knew I would break down and bawl like a baby. I didn't want to embarrass myself by begging Ranger to let us stay friends and promising not to call him. I just couldn't do it. Running out of the bathroom, I slammed my hand down on the answering machine. The rest of the messages could wait. I had to get out of here.

Tearing through my dresser like a possessed Tasmanian devil, I threw some essentials into a duffle. I grabbed another duffle and did the same frenzied run through the bathroom. Hefting both bags, I went into the kitchen to grab the emergency duffel I had prepared for Rex. It contained a fresh bag of shavings for his cage and a bag of his favorite hamster nuggets. There had been too many psychos I have had to deal with. It was easier to remember to only have to grab one thing for Rex when I had to flee my apartment. Shouldering his backpack, I managed to grab his cage and the rest of my bags. As I was locking the door, I discovered I had forgotten my purse. Darting back inside to grab it, I failed to notice that my cell had fallen onto the floor. Once I was in the car, I took a moment to try and gather myself. I needed to figure out a place to hide, one that Ranger wouldn't find me.

Elsewhere

Joe pulled into his driveway. With a smile, he noticed her car parked on the street. They hadn't made any definite plans today, but after the day he had he was looking forward to spending time with her. Walking into the front door, he waited for Bob's thunderous charge. When it wasn't forthcoming, he threw his jacket on the couch and keys on the coffee table. Following his nose into the kitchen, he stood in the doorway for a moment, staring in amazement.

Bob was sitting calmly in front of the stove, staring adoringly up at the woman at the stove. His tail gently thumped the floor and there was a slight quiver to his body. He was very un-Bob like. I figured he had been captivated by the woman currently stirring something that smelled delicious-much like his master had been captivated. "So why the dinner beautiful?"

Robin turned from the stove and smiled at Joe. "I heard you caught a bad case today and figured you would need some company tonight. I'm making my mother's chili. Hope you are hungry."

"Do you want a beer?" Joe was reaching into the refrigerator to snag one to drink before dinner. Robin was right; the case was going to be especially hard. Ones involving kids always were.

"Sure, thanks. Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes. Did you get a chance to talk to Steph yet?"

"Not yet. I left her a couple of messages but she must have something going on since she hasn't called back after her last message. We've been playing phone tag." Joe opened both beers and handed Robin hers. "Has Bob been out for his walk yet?"

"I took him out when I got here. I figured I would feed him when we sat down for dinner and by the time we digested it, he would be ready for his evening walk."

Joe leaned over and kissed Robin on the cheek. "Thanks, I am going to try Steph again. Maybe she will come over after dinner and we can talk."

Robin suddenly looked serious. "Joe, do you think she will be okay with us being a couple. I know that out of respect for Steph, you wanted to wait to let everyone know I am moving in before it became general knowledge. I like Steph and don't want her to be hurt by the tangible proof you have moved on. I know you say she will be fine with it, but I just don't want to hurt her."

Joe smiled at Robin. "Darling, Steph and I realized a long time ago that we made better friends than lovers. The trouble is we are too much alike to have ever made a go of it."

Robin snorted. "Plus there is the fact that you are too macho. It is one thing to have a girlfriend who is a cop, as long as said cop isn't a psycho magnet. I don't attract the wrong kind of attention and I don't have a knack for being able to pull disparate pieces of the puzzle together to solve a crime the way Steph does." Holding up her hand to forestall the comment she knew was coming, "I know I am a good cop, but face it. I will never be anything but a beat cop. That is fine with me, since being a cop isn't a bone deep necessity like it is for you and like being a bounty hunter is for Steph. I will be perfectly happy when the time comes to marry the man I love and have a family with him. Steph never would and your macho Italian maleness would have butted heads with her for the rest of your lives."

"Yeah, I guess we are too much alike. I'm just glad you are okay with Steph and I staying friends. Have I told you today that I love you?"

Robin smiled mischievously. "Not since that wonderful wake up call this morning. And unless you want dinner to burn, we need to hold off that kind of avowal until later. After Bob's walk."

With that, Robin dished up the chili and placed their bowls side by side on the coffee table. Nodding her head towards the cornbread cut into squares, she told Joe to bring it along with another beer for each of them. They sat side by side, thighs touching, and ate their dinner in a companionable silence. Bob sat on the other side of the table, continuing to gaze adoringly at Robin.