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

Overheard Part 10

At a Comfort Inn just outside of Springfield MO

Opening the door to her room, Stephanie shoved her duffle in the room with her foot. Setting Rex's cage down on the table by the window, she turned and closed the door. Locking and setting the chain, she walked over to the bed and plopped down with a sigh. "Rex, it's good to be in one spot. Let Momma pee and wash up a bit and I will get you dinner."

Once Stephanie had finished taking care of business, she dropped a handful of Cheerios and a couple of grapes into Rex's cage. She also changed his water and added a bit of fresh cedar shavings. For the first time since she had fled Trenton she knew she had to think about what she had overheard. Flopping onto the queen sized bed; she immediately assumed her usual thinking position. I am going to sit her down and tell her to stop calling me every time she thinks she needs help. More than half the time, if she just thought things through, she wouldn't need help. The sad thing was Ranger was right. I tended to look before I leapt, which led to getting stalked or injured. Ranger had never been anything but helpful to me and look how I repaid him. I destroyed his cars and injured his Merry Men. What really hurt though is I thought we were friends. But I plan on sitting down with her and laying it all out on the table. I want to make a life with the woman I love and I can't do it if she is calling me for help all the time. I always thought that we might have our Someday. I guess I should have listened to him when he said that his love didn't come with a ring and that his life didn't lend itself to a relationship. What I really should have known is that it wasn't all women only me. It was going to hurt like hell to see him with another woman. She was probably perfect which is what Ranger deserved. He didn't deserve to have someone like me-a crappy bounty hunter and apparently a crappy friend. The worst thing about this was losing Ranger's friendship. I couldn't stand by and pretend I was okay with not having a future with him, at least not now. Maybe in a couple of years I could but for now I had to protect myself.

I suddenly realized I hadn't called Joe back. I needed to let him know I was okay since I am sure my disappearance was all over town by now. I had a feeling that he wanted to talk to me about Robin. I was pretty sure he had asked her to move in with him. I was happy for them. I loved Joe and wanted him to be happy. Robin was perfect for him. She loved her job and was great at it but it wasn't who she was. She was ready to settle down and have a family. It would be a plus that she knew exactly what Joe was going through with his job. He needed someone to ground him and support him. Grabbing the phone on the bedside table, I had to look at the instructions to figure out how to call long distance.

"Cupcake. Where are you? Everyone is frantic here; we thought you might have been kidnapped."

With a laugh, I asked Joe "Since when would a kidnapper take Rex with him as well? Listen Joe, I wanted to call to tell you that I was going to be out of town for a couple of weeks. So what is so important that I call you?"

"Well I wanted to tell you in person and before the Burg grapevine caught up to you but I guess you found out already. I asked Robin to move in with me. You know, Ranger…"

"I didn't know about you and Robin but I am very happy for you both. You are perfect for each other. Remember, I suggested to you that you ask her out? I knew the first time I saw you together that you would fall in love with each other. Just remember, I want to be the best man. Hey, I've got to go. I will stop by when I get back. I hope I am still welcome to visit."

"Cupcake…maybe I shouldn't call you that anymore. But you are always welcome to come over here. I wouldn't have it any other way and neither would Robin. You will have to wear a tux if you are my best man though. Hey, where are you anyway?"

"I am in Springfield. I don't know if I will stay here or just get back on the road. I'll stop by when I get back. And you can always call me Cupcake."

"Steph, call Ranger. He really needs to talk to you. He is worried."

"Thanks Joe, but I can't talk to him right now. Maybe when I get back. If he asks, I'll call him when I get home. I can imagine why he is worried but he shouldn't be. I'm going to stop bothering him for help. Bye Joe." Stephanie hung up the phone. She was glad she had lost her cell phone. Right now, she didn't need to hear from anyone back in Trenton. It would only hinder her trying to build up her walls.

Back in Newark

Joe hung up the phone and looked over at Robin. "Something was odd about that call. The last thing Stephanie said was that she wasn't going to call Ranger and she was going to stop bothering him for help. That is the one thing we always fought about. He was always helping her, even when she didn't ask. I need to go see Ranger." Robin gave him a peck on the cheek. "I will see you later. While you are out, I will finish unpacking so we can spend the night doing more fun things" she said with a sultry smile. Joe grabbed her and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. With a wry grin, he grabbed his keys and left. Robin fell against the counter with a bemused smile.

At the Rangeman offices in conference room

Ranger strode into the room. Immediately everyone snapped to attention. "Report" he barked.

Lester stood up. "We checked all the motels in Newark and there was no sign of her. She hadn't checked into any of them. We also checked the hospitals and shelters and no sign there either. Maybe she told her mother Newark just to get her off her back." Ranger nodded. "I would believe that. When I was over at the Plum house, all Mrs. Plum did was belittle Stephanie. If it wouldn't have hurt Stephanie, I could have easily killed that bitch. As it is, if Mrs. Plum doesn't stop, I will make her regret it."

Ranger looked at Ram. "Sir, all the skips that would have a reason to hurt Stephanie are either still in jail or accounted for. Her only current skips are Mooner and Carol." Ranger looked confused for a minute. "Oh Carol. The chip lady. I want you and Zero to handle her skips until we find her. I am not going to give Vinnie the slightest reason to fire her." Ram and Zero exchanged pained looks but knew there was no arguing with Ranger over anything to do with Stephanie. Ram just hoped that her skips wouldn't include Norvil Thompson or Punky Balog.

Tank spoke up. "I had Hector pick up her car from Mooner's and find out what kind of car they gave her. It was a dark blue 2004 Chevy Impala. When Hector dropped off her car, he noticed another Mini parked in the lot. It looked identical to Steph's car so he asked Dillon about it. Apparently someone just moved into the building and drives an identical car. Do you want us to park the Mini here at Rangeman for the time being?"

"Yes. Send Hector back over to pick up her car. Have him ask Dillon if Stephanie's rent is due and find out how much it is. I will pay her rent so she has a place to come home to."

Cal knocked on the door and stuck his head inside. "Sir, Joe Morelli is downstairs and says it is urgent that he speak with you. What should I do?"

"Send him up Cal." Tank started at the remark. "Ranger, is that the wisest idea? I really don't think this is the time to beat the snot out of Morelli."

Ranger chuckled. "I already did that Tank. Or attempted to anyway. He and I have come to an understanding. I am hoping he has news of Stephanie."

When the door opened to Joe Morelli, Ranger invited him in. "Do you have news of Stephanie Joe?"

"Ranger, she called me about twenty minutes ago. She said she was fine and just taking vacation for a couple of weeks." Ranger interrupted him "Where is she Morelli?"

"If you wouldn't interrupt and be so impatient, I was getting to that. She said she was calling from Springfield." After a pause "Ranger, she sounded strange. Like she had lost her best friend."

Ranger glared at Joe. "Well maybe she feels like she has. After all, you are the one that moved on and has another woman living with you."

Joe huffed in exasperation. "Like I told you before, I thought she would be okay with it. She is. In fact, her words were that she was happy for us and wanted to be my best man. When I suggested she call you because you were worried, she replied that she was going to stop bothering you. Do you know why she might feel this way?"

Ranger was baffled. It was never a bother when his Babe called for help and he couldn't figure out why she would feel that way. He glared around the room trying to figure out which of the guys could have said something like that to her. When he got to Tank, he noticed a worried look on his erstwhile best friend's face.

"Damnit Tank, what the fuck did you say to her? Are you the reason she is running from Trenton?"

Tank swallowed hard. "Ranger, remember when we were talking in the office the other day? About being done with our contracts? Stephanie was getting on the elevator as we were coming out of your office. I didn't think about it at the time, but she had a strange expression on her face. What if she overheard us and misinterpreted what she heard?"

Ranger groaned. "God Tank, you have to be right. But how could she misunderstand. She knows I love her, even if I haven't told her. I thought she would be happy at knowing our chance at Someday had come. What if she didn't know how to let me down easily? Just because she had moved on from Morelli didn't mean she wanted to move on with me."

Joe rolled his eyes and smacked Ranger in the back of the head. It was a testament to how distracted Ranger was that he didn't pull his gun out and shoot Joe. "Ranger, don't be that dumb. Stephanie thinks that you want to end the friendship. She wouldn't have run otherwise. You know Stephanie loves you. Hell, all of Trenton knows you love her. So go after her."

Vince interrupted. "Ranger, there is a Newark Ohio, so maybe she is in Springfield Ohio. Of course there is also a Springfield in Missouri, Arkansas and Colorado. There are also various North and East Springfield's in New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont."

Ranger gave a Steph worthy eye-roll and said "Vince you and Hal start checking out Springfield Ohio. Check all the hotel and motels to see if Stephanie has checked in anywhere. Get the license plate number from Dougie and use that as well. She may have checked in under an assumed name but probably put the plate number down correctly. If that turns up dry, check Missouri next and then the Springfield's in New York and Pennsylvania. Keep branching out until you find her."

He turned to Joe and stuck out his hand. "Thanks for helping Joe. I really appreciate it."

Joe grabbed his hand. "Just promise you will be good for Stephanie and help her fly. That is all I ask. Well that and don't get jealous if she comes over for a Ranger's game once in a while or stops by to see Bob. I promise that is all it will be for. Robin would castrate me if it were anything else."

With that, the team scattered to go there separate ways. All determined to help Ranger find Stephanie and bring her home to the ones that loved her.