Disclaimer: All characters are borrowed from JE, the title is borrowed from Bon Jovi

Warning: Just language, no spoilers

Thank you very much for your wonderful reviews, I appreciate each and every one of them, just in case I didn't thank you in person!

1000 Dank to Stayce for helping me no matter how late it is, how stressed she is or how much I whine.

Keep the Faith

Chapter 12

As soon as we turned onto Hamilton, Bobby picked up his Nextel and announced where we were going. Probably they always did this, I was just used to having them follow me and not sitting next to them. But I couldn't help wondering if this were special instructions from Ranger so that the control room, and he by proxy, would always know where I was.

"10-4," came the response and that was all the conversation until we got to Vinnie's bonds office, so I didn't know if Bobby had been talking to the Merry Man behind us or headquarters.

I stiffened when we parked at the curb directly behind a black Porsche Carrera. Granted, it could have been anybody's car, it wasn't that rare, but what were the odds of a car like Ranger's parking in front of Vinnie's office.

Just the thought of running into Ranger, right now, right here, made my heart speed up. What would I say? What would he say? What if he didn't say anything and just gave me the blank face? With everybody there?

I could only come up with one thing to do, and I knew that would mean taking the coward's way out, but there was no way I was going to face Ranger with Connie, Vinnie and probably Lula there. Lula could already have spoken to Tank, and even if she hadn't she would see right through me as always. I didn't want her to go all rhino on Ranger, as funny as that might have been, I was just not ready for that.

Okay, forget everybody, I told myself. I couldn't handle seeing him.

I rummaged through my shoulder bag. "You know what, I changed my mind. Let's visit some of the FTA's first," I suggested when I found the files Connie had given me and pulled them out.

Bobby didn't comment but I could feel his eyes on me, probably waiting for some kind of explanation, so I made a show out of opening the first file and studying it to avoid looking at him.

I didn't know how much of the previous night Bobby knew and I didn't want to give him any additional information. I didn't really see Ranger sharing his feelings with the Merry Men, or Tank for that matter, but I didn't know how much the rumor mill had already produced.

Bobby took the Nextel out of its holder on the dashboard and gave the update. Junior responded from the SUV behind us and I was relieved to learn not everybody at RangeMan had just been informed about the change of plans.

I met Bobby's eyes when he disconnected and sent him a smile, I was sort of grateful he hadn't said anything or asked questions I couldn't answer. He returned my smile and there was no pity or understanding in them and I decided he probably just thought I was Stephanie being Stephanie.

I opened the first file. "122 Spring Street," I told Bobby. "That's off…"

Bobby interrupted, "Bergen, off Hamilton?" He cut his eyes to me and grinned when I nodded. "Who's the lucky winner?" He started the car and peeled away from the curb. I glanced over my shoulder, Junior was following us, not making any effort to hide his presence.

"Charles Spoffort," I read off the file, grateful for the distraction while we put distance between me and the Porsche. "Just a shoplifter who was probably too busy to remember his court date."

I turned to the picture on the file and groaned. "He's a geezer," I told Bobby.

"So?" Bobby asked, making the left turn onto Bergen.

There was no way to look good when arresting a senior and Charles looked like he was in the triple digits. Either they came willingly and neighbors couldn't wait to call my mom to tell them about it or I had to chase them down and they might get hurt through no fault of my own and I'd still look like the bad guy.

"Oh never mind," I said. Like it mattered. I could do a good job whoever I had to apprehend, and I could embarrass the hell out of me whoever I had to apprehend, the FTA's age didn't make a difference. I think Ranger once told me it was all about my attitude towards it or something.

What the hell. I needed to think about something besides Ranger and the Mafia and Charles would have to do for now. Maybe I'd get so exhausted chasing after him that I'd forget everything else, or he'd knock me unconscious and I'd sleep for a week. Hey, it could happen.

I gave Bobby a thumbs up and he grinned.

"Go away," a man shouted from inside after I'd knocked on the door marked 2B in the Riverview Apartments. Riverview was a middle-class complex consisting of red-bricked two story blocks that housed eight apartments on each floor. It didn't look like the kind of place habitual shoplifters lived, it was too pricey and well maintained. A world away from the run down complexes on Stark Street or Comstock.

Charles had attempted to steal a fishing rod at Wal-Mart, not even a crime worth mentioning, but he hadn't shown up for his court date, so here I was, trying to earn my $60 share of his bond.

I rolled my eyes at Bobby, thinking 'Here we go' and straightened my shoulders.

"Bond Enforcement," I yelled through the closed door. "Open up." I tried to give my voice the same tone Ranger's voice had when he said it, authoritative. Of course, Ranger was able to back up his voice with stature and attitude, but I was learning. Now I was pretty sure Ranger had said it was all about my attitude towards it, the other side hardly mattered.

So I made an effort to think positive. I was pretty sure Bobby and I were blocking the only way out. The apartments had no fire escape, and I didn't think 87-year-old Charles was going to jump out the window.

So maybe I was a little too sure, I was new at this positive attitude thing. I was thinking old man, fragile, harmless. I was not thinking shotgun. Had Lula been with me, I might have been thinking weapons or freaky pets maybe, with Bobby, I felt safe.

So in the split second between hearing the unmistakable racket of a shotgun being loaded and the actual shot, I only had time to look at Bobby with wide eyes.

Bobby had nudged me to stand a little to the side and behind him while he was right in front of the door after I'd knocked. He now turned and reached for me to pull me away at the exact moment I got moving and I slammed into him and he lost his footing and landed on his ass.

He pulled me down with him so I landed right on top of him just as the door burst into splinters. I landed softly and was able to detangle myself from Bobby in time to watch Spofford disappear down the hallway.

"What the fuck?" Bobby summed up the experience. He got up and brushed splinters off of him.

"Are you okay?" I asked him, giving up on Spoffort when the door to the staircase slammed shut behind him.

"Yeah," Bobby said and looked me up and down. "You?"

I just gave him a dismissive wave of my hand and shook my head, looking at the destroyed front door. Why does stuff like that always happen to me? Ranger would have stepped aside and picked Spoffort up by his collar as he ran past. I had not only let him get away, but also made sure that Bobby was unable to help.

"Skip is good and gone," Bobby said. "I didn't see that one coming."

I shrugged. It could have been worse, at least no one got hurt. Look at me thinking the glass is half full, I thought sarcastically. But it did feel good to hear Bobby admit he would have made the same mistake without me.

"Do you think maybe Junior got him?"

Bobby shook his head. "He's on Steph duty," he said and punched my shoulder jokingly. "Unless someone comes at you, we don't take our eyes off you."

Doors up and down the hallway opened, everyone wanting to know what happened.

"I called the cops," an elderly lady said importantly, leaving her apartment to get a better look. She was still wearing rollers in her hair and pulled the belt on her robe tighter as she approached us. Oh goody. It seemed to be a floor full of seniors. One of them was bound to know Grandma Mazur.

With my luck, Carl Costanza and Big Dog would pick up the call and laugh at me the whole way over so the humiliation would be complete when Mom asked me about it at dinner.

"Do we have to stay and wait?" I asked Bobby. I figured technically we hadn't done anything, we just happened to be standing in the hallway when Spoffort shot the hell out of his front door.

I must have looked quite pitiful because Bobby smiled and draped his arm around my shoulders.

"Let's go downstairs. We just give our statements real quick and leave. Beats going to the cop shop later." He led me to the stairs as he spoke and opened the door for me.

"We have the authorization to apprehend, and we didn't do anything," he pointed out. "We're the good guys here." He smiled at me reassuringly and nudged me into the stairwell.

Still, property had been destroyed and I was present. That was usually enough to let the cops have a field day. Next, they'd be asking where my car was because they'd probably seen the report on the vandalism.

On the other hand, I trusted Bobby and Junior. If they were with me, the cops might not dare to tease me. Unless the cops were Eddie or Carl, nothing would stop those two. I've tried everything.

I stopped dead when I stepped out onto the building's parking lot.

There was Spofford, leaned over the hood of Junior's SUV, his hands cuffed behind his back.

I raised my eyebrows and looked at Bobby, but he only shrugged and pushed me into motion. Just as we reached Spoffort and Junior, a blue and white pulled into the lot.

This is it, I thought. Wouldn't have helped to run away, I had a feeling Bobby would have grabbed me by my collar if I had tried.

An hour and a half later, I left the Trenton cop shop with my body receipt for Spoffort. As it turned out, Junior had meant to guard my body, he'd left his car after he heard the shot.

Spoffort had literally bumped into him and Junior had subdued him on a whim.

"Old farts don't run like that if they're innocent," was how he put it, grinning from ear to ear. For some reason, the Merry Men always did the right thing when they improvise.

The uniform had turned out to be Officer Gaspick, whom I knew by name but not personally. And I knew from Joe that he'd never made friends with any of the other cops, he was actually on more than a few shit lists, so he didn't grin at me knowingly or called dispatch to tell them whose aid he'd been called to.

I told him what had happened and he jotted it down, he never moved a face muscle. I thanked my lucky stars and answered all his questions, showed him my authorization to apprehend when prompted, and the whole thing took less than ten minutes. He was even grateful when Bobby told him we'd take Spoffort, no need for a police escort.

Thanks to my bodyguard, I'd made the capture. So this protection plan was actually working for me. I hadn't picked up anybody following us either, and I was sure Bobby or Junior would have mentioned something, so with any luck I'd be declared out of danger soon.

Bobby got off the phone when I opened the passenger door and I didn't bother asking him who he was talking to. Probably giving Ranger an update, although that could have been my paranoia guessing.

"To the office to get the check?" he asked me when he started the engine. Probably Ranger was no longer in Vinnie's office, it had been over two hours. But why chance it? My motto is if you get a chance to procrastinate, take it.

I waved the FTA files. "Nah, plenty left where that one came from. Let's go to the office last so Connie only has to pull out the checkbook once."

"Too late for that," Bobby said, leaving the municipal parking lot. "Boss brought in a big fish this morning, probably picked up the check first thing."

Ranger had brought in an FTA this morning? "How early this morning?"

Bobby shrugged and stopped for a light. "Don't know, I wasn't on the team. It was a pretty long stake-out, I think. I ran into Cal just as they came back, right before I left for your house. So maybe six-ish? Where are we going here?"

Clearly, the topic was done in his opinion. I opened the top file and gave him the address, then I sank back into my seat.

I hadn't expected Ranger to take a week off to get over our fight, but it was still sobering that he obviously had gone on a job right after he'd left my house. Back to business as usual.

Of course, I was doing the same thing, I realized. My bodyguards weren't assigned to me so Ranger could follow my every move, they were supposed to protect me.

On the other hand, if Ranger had been on a stake out…"So who decided I needed two bodyguards then?" I asked, confused.

Bobby sent me a sideway glance. "What do you mean?"

I sighed impatiently. "You said Ranger was out all night. Who called the meeting and ordered backup for me and the surveillance on the mafia guys?"

Bobby sent me another look and now I could see I was confusing him. "The boss did…during our first conference call when the intel was reported."

All of a sudden I felt cold. It was one thing to be treated as a case by Ranger, it was even worse to be one item on the agenda on the daily 6 AM call. It hurt more than I wanted to admit and I felt the urgent need for a dozen doughnuts.

I believe I muttered something like, "Ah, okay," to close the topic once and for all and picked up the FTA file to distract myself.

"Let's get something to eat then and discuss the next case."

I thought that sounded sane and reasonable, and a lot better than 'take me to the bakery so I can stuff myself with comfort food'.

Bobby dropped me off at my apartment building at a quarter of four after we'd made the bonds office our final stop to pick up the checks in exchange for the two body receipts.

We got Spoffort and Caroline Keller, the other two FTAs hadn't been home and needed more detective work.

Connie was the only one in the office and I couldn't stifle a relieved sigh when I learned that Vinnie was home and Lula was out shopping, so my timing was right for a change.

Tank got out of his parked SUV when Bobby stopped at the back door. He was one half of the second shift that would release Bobby and Junior.

I thanked Bobby and gave him a finger wave as I got out of the car, then I was lifted off the ground.

"What's that all about?" I asked when Tank sat me down after spinning me around and giving me a quick hug.

"Just happy you made it through the day unscathed even though I wasn't here," he quipped and held the door open for me.

Ohhh-kay, I thought and realized too late that I didn't know if Bobby had witnessed that little display.

Tank jogged back to his car to retrieve a take-out bag when I called the elevator. "I got dinner," he announced grinning when he stepped into the car.

"Not that I didn't enjoy it," I said when I pressed the button for the second floor and the elevator doors closed. "But since when do you twirl me around to say hi?"

Tank was still grinning. "Since I overheard Santos instructing Junior to report any and all exchanges between us," he said and winked at me. "He's going crazy being on desk duty and he has his suspicions. Ten bucks says my greeting will get back to him within the hour."

Tank was enjoying this game way too much. "We need to talk," I said, but I couldn't keep a straight face because Tank was still wearing that goofy grin.

We got to my apartment and I practically ran into the kitchen to check my answering machine. I didn't know if it was going to be worse not hearing from him or hearing his emotionless voice on the machine.

Of course Ranger would have probably called my cell phone to talk to me, but it was still disappointing that the only message was from my mom.

I got plates and divided the food between Tank, Bob and myself. It was easy to determine Tank's sandwich. He'd gotten what looked like turkey breast on bean sprouts with no condiments whatsoever, whereas Bob and I each had gotten meatball subs. I love my friends.

I got a beer for me and water for Tank, probably he didn't want to sully his temple anymore than necessary, and carried everything over to the dining table.

Tank finished his inspection of my apartment, taking a lot longer in the bedroom than usual, and sat down across from me. He gave me a thumbs up and took a bite out of his sandwich.

"Do you think this is working?" I asked him between bites.

"Define 'this'," he said and took a sip of his water.

I gestured towards the kitchen. "What Ranger saw…"

"What Ranger thinks he saw," Tank corrected me. "I thought that's what you had in mind when you started this?"

"Yes, but do you think it's working? If I'd seen what he saw I wouldn't exactly come running back to him."

"The plan is not to make him jealous," Tank explained around another bite of his sandwich. "The idea is to get him thinking. And from the look on his face last night, I'd say that's what he's doing now."

Well, when he put it that way it made more sense. I'd come to realize that it would be both childish and deceptive to have Ranger be jealous. Okay, so first of all I didn't think Ranger even did jealous, but either way, at some point I'd have to tell him that it was just a lie.

But if we didn't do anything good friends didn't do and people happened to see it…that I could live with. Especially because Lester would most likely put his spin on it. I smiled and took a long pull from my beer.

"Okay. I think," I said. "Have you seen him since last night?"

Tank shook his head as he finished his sandwich. "I checked in with the control room this morning, he was out all night doing surveillance."

I nodded, "Bobby told me. I figured maybe you ran into each other at the gym or something."

"Ranger was in his apartment only to be disturbed in emergencies," Tank said. "Whatever that means."

That wasn't unusual for Ranger. What did I expect? This was Ranger, Master of the hidden emotions.

I finished my sandwich and balled up the napkin. "What do you suggest we do now?"

Tank emptied his glass before he replied. "No news yet from the surveillance teams. They're going about their business, but they're not talking to anyone. Two more informants confirmed you're now on the list. So for now, everything stays the same."

I blinked. Did he do this on purpose or did he really think I'd asked about 'the case'? Then I realized I didn't really want to talk about Ranger anymore either.

"So I'll keep my bodyguards?"

Tank nodded as he got up and piled up the dishes. "If he don't show within twenty-four, we ease up again."

I frowned at him but he winked. "Are you saying that if DalBo doesn't make contact today I can pee without a watchdog again?" I said it with no heat so Tank knew I was teasing, and he rolled his eyes. I wondered if he'd picked that habit up from me, because he was doing a great job for a guy.

"Something like that, yeah," he said. "You'll have one of us in the parking lot though."

I didn't know whether to be happy about this news or scared. Probably Ranger had overreacted anyway, there'd never been any danger. I liked that theory a lot better than the other one I could come up with, because this one kept asking if maybe DalBo was aware of my bodyguards and was waiting for them to give him an opening.

I shook my head to clear it. "Does that mean you won't bring me dinner anymore?"

Tank threw his head back and laughed. "You want your cake and eat it too, don't you?" he asked when he recovered.

"Well duh," I said, getting up to clear the table. "Why would I want cake and not eat it?"

Tank's laughter followed me to the kitchen and I chimed in. It felt good to laugh. And it felt good to have a friend like Tank around.

And I loved having the other Merry Men around too, I just wanted some alone time every now and then, especially when I was at home, so I couldn't wait for this one to be over.

After dinner, Tank went down to synchronize his watch with Cal or something, and he took Bob with him to give him some exercise. I had some time to myself and called Lula.

"You hoggin' my man again?" she asked when we'd said our hellos and I could hear the smile in her voice. I plopped down on my bed.

"Hey, it was your idea," I pointed out and she laughed.

"I didn't know he'd be staying over. It gets kinda lonely when you're used to having such a big love machine next to you!" I heard her suck in her breath and there was a brief pause, but before I could say anything she continued.

"God, Steph, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…oh forget I said anything! I was just thinking out loud, really."

I didn't know if Lula was referring to Ranger or Morelli, or my love life in general, and I didn't want to find out why she was apologizing. "Don't worry about it. But are you sure you're still okay with the plan?"

Best keep the conversation going before Lula got a chance to ask how I was feeling about the lack of a love machine in my life.

"I'm not saying I don't miss my man," Lula said. "But you probably need him for more than the plan from what I hear."

I sighed and told Lula about the latest developments and realized it had almost been six months since I'd been in this kind of danger. That was sort of a record for me. I couldn't say I'd missed the feeling.

"And then I have a favor to do for someone that I need your help with," I told her after I finished rehashing the last couple days.

"Hold on," Lula said. "Ranger was at your house yesterday? I thought he went to Boston for the week?"

I sighed and told her that part of the story in more detail. And by the end of it, I had to swallow hard to breathe around the lump in my throat. I took a deep breath.

"Hunh," Lula said and that was her only comment. I could imagine her standing with her hand on her hip, her lower lip protruding, the 'don't fuck with me' Lula, as Ranger called her.

I lay on my back spread-eagled, staring at the ceiling while I talked. "Yeah," I agreed.

"So you gonna do me one more favor?" I asked.

"I only have the one lover," Lula chuckled. I rolled my eyes even thought she couldn't see me.

"I need you to call me whenever you see Joyce Barnhard in the office," I told her.

"Why the hell would you want to know that?"

I blew out some air. "I have this favor to do and…"
Lula cut me off. "You said that. If I'm gonna help you with it, I need the details."

Oh what the hell. "Remember when Harry the Hammer let me stay in his suite in Atlantic City?" Fine, I'd told Lula everything else, she might as well know about Harry. After all, I wanted her to be my lookout in the bonds office so I didn't have to be there all the time hoping Joyce would show up. Of course one could argue that Joyce showing up at the office wasn't crucial to fulfilling my promise, but it was where I wanted to start. I wanted to see Vinnie's reaction to her, that was going to be my starting point. Or something, because I hadn't worked it out yet.

"Girl, I don't know how you get yourself into theses things. It's uncanny," Lula said when I'd told her everything.

"So let me get this straight. Your boyfriend broke up with you because he loves you too much, and my boyfriend is pretending to be your lover. Meanwhile some foreign Mafioso is after you and you have a favor to do for another?"

Trust Lula to make my life sound like a soap opera.

I heard my front door close. "Tank is back," I told Lula. "I haven't exactly told him about that favor…"

"What do you mean?" Lula wanted to know. "Didn't you say this Mozzarella guy worked for Harry?"

"Yeah," I said. There was a pause and all of a sudden, I knew where Lula was going. "But I haven't actually talked to Harry about Guzzarella and DalBo…"

"See, this is the reason why you should call me more often. It's dinner time now, so it's not polite to call him, but I'll come over first thing in the morning and we do this together." She made some tsk-ing noise. "Girlfriend, it's a miracle you survived until now. We talk to the Hammer and straighten this whole thing out."

Now that she mentioned it, I felt quite stupid. That was the first thing I should have thought about. Mental head slap.

"Okay," I said. "I'll let you know when the dayshift arrives."

"Dayshift?" Lula asked. I told her about RangeMan's bodyguard schedule.

"You know, if I didn't trust you as much as I do, you'd be in trouble," Lula commented on the sleeping arrangements and we disconnected.

Oddly enough I felt like I had accomplished something. Over all, the day hadn't been half bad. I'd gotten the checks for two captures, I'd had dinner delivered and I had sort of a plan on what to do about my Mafia problem.

I stayed on my bed a little longer, enjoying the solitude I hadn't had all day. It was nice to feel protected, but it was something else to be watched every minute of the day, it had felt weird to go to the bathroom with company who waited right outside.

I realized I was starting to whine again and shook my head. I had a plan now! Lula would come over, I'd call Harry and he'd clear it all up. Then there would be no more need for bodyguards and I could go on as usual.

Well, as soon as I'd paid Harry back, that was.

I pushed myself off the bed and went to the bathroom to wash my hands and my face. Maybe I'd ask Tank if he was up for a round of Monopoly, that usually distracted me.

I caught a glimpse of me in the mirror and grimaced. Maybe I should have paid a little more attention to makeup that morning. I shrugged and made a mental note to make extra sure in the morning.

I checked my alarm clock when I left the bathroom, it was just after six. Perfect for several rounds of mind-numbing Monopoly, I decided.

I could hear Bob yipping in the living room, probably Tank was teasing him with one of his squeaky toys, Bob could go nuts if you kept dangling it in front of him and pulled it away at the last second.

"About time you're back," I joked, making my way over to the living room. "For a minute you had me worried I wouldn't have anyone to kiss good…" The words died in my throat and I stood frozen in the doorway.

Bob grabbed his toy from Ranger's hand and scurried away happily while Ranger's eyes found mine.

"Sorry to disappoint," he said toneless after a long minute.

I'd never joked about kissing Tank, not to him or anybody else. I chose the moment I was actually talking to Ranger and not him to start. If I ever wished for the earth to open up and swallow me it was now.

I was frantically searching for something, anything, to say while still trying to get my feet to move. Both efforts failed and I stood rooted to the ground, staring at Ranger.

"Do you want me to call him up?" Ranger finally asked and all I could manage was a slight shake of my head.

My thoughts were racing. Did I want to do the unexpected and hug him? Did I want to turn around and barricade into my bedroom? I still like option number one best, where I just disappeared altogether.

"What are you doing here?" Oh, smooth Stephanie. Real eloquent.

Ranger's eyes never left mine. "Sit down," he said.

TBC

A/N: Why do you think Ranger is at Steph's house? Do you want him to apologize? Change his mind? And if he does, do you think Steph should hear him out?

I love to hear from you, whether you loved it or hated it, I welcome all feedback!