Thank you all for the great feedback. I hope you continue to enjoy.

Several of you have pointed out that Steph and Ranger don't really need Joe's DNA to find out who the father of the baby is. If Ranger isn't the father, they will automatically know it is Joe. However, for the purposes of my story I thought it was better this way.

Also, CVS testing can be done either transabdominally or transvaginally. When I was pregnant with my daughter I had to have the transabdominal procedure because of the location of the placenta. Since I had to go through it, I've decided that Steph does too. I'm just mean that way.

As always, all the characters you recognize belong to JE and I'm just having fun with them.

Previously:

Sigh. I wasn't going to win this battle. "Tomorrow." I said. "We can call Dr. Gordon's office tomorrow to set up the test. Once we have the date, I'll call Morelli. Okay?"

"Proud of you Babe."

Ranger scooped me up and took me to the bedroom. I was definitely running on empty, energy wise. He gently undressed me, slipped one of his t-shirts over my head, and tucked me into bed. I held out my hand and he climbed in next to me. I cuddled into Ranger's chest and he wrapped his arms around me. I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep; knowing that tomorrow would come soon enough.

I came awake slowly, when my personal heater moved away from me. I tried snuggling closer and found myself rolling off the bed before Ranger caught me, chuckling into my curls.

"You have to be more aware of your surroundings, Babe. You almost rolled out of bed." Ranger laughed.

"Well then come back here! I was comfortable," I whined.

"You've been sleeping since yesterday afternoon, Babe. You need to at least get something to eat and drink."

"What? I slept straight through? Shit! I'm sorry, Ranger. I don't know why I'm so tired."

"You're pregnant, Babe. It's expected. Have you even read any of the handouts you got from the doctor?"

I gave Ranger a guilty look. "Umm, well, not really. If I don't read them then I won't know all the stuff I'm doing wrong and what a terrible mother I am already!" I grabbed the covers and threw them over my head as I felt tears welling up in my eyes. Damn hormones!

Ranger laughed. "Pregnancy hormones, Babe. I read all about those in the handouts, too."

"Shit! I said that out loud didn't I? I've GOT to stop doing that!" I flung the covers off and sat up quickly. Ugh. Too quickly. Suddenly the room started spinning and there were two Rangers standing by the bed. Two Rangers? That could be fun…later, much later.

"Oh God," I moaned, as I leapt out of bed and stumbled towards the bathroom, just making it to the toilet in time to lose what was left of yesterday's lunch. I didn't have much in my stomach but the dry heaves continued for what felt like an hour, although I'm sure it was just a few minutes. Ranger held my hair and rubbed my back. Finally, when it seemed I had the retching under control, he left to get a washcloth and soaked it in cold water. He sat on the floor and pulled me into his lap, wiping my face and placing the cool cloth against my forehead.

"God, that's so gross. I hate for you to see me do that," I said.

"Babe, don't be silly. I hate for you to have to go through it. We'll talk to the doctor and see what she suggests to make it better, okay?"

"Okay. I think I can get up now," I told him. Ranger slowly stood up, bringing me up with him, and I moved towards the sink. Ranger tossed the washcloth in the hamper and gave me a hug. "Just holler if you need me. I'm going to call Ella," he said.

Ranger left and I used the bathroom and brushed my teeth and washed my face, pulling my hair into a ponytail. I went back into the bedroom and grabbed a pair of Ranger's sweats from the closet, pulling them on and then making my way into the kitchen. Ranger was making coffee and I groaned in pleasure at the heavenly aroma.

"You know you really shouldn't have coffee, Babe. The caffeine isn't good for the baby."

Sigh "I know. It just really smells good." I reached into the fridge for a bottle of water and gave Ranger a little salute with the bottle.

Ranger laughed, pulling me into a hug. "Smart ass." I grinned up at him and planted a kiss on his lips.

Ella came in with breakfast and we ate in companionable silence. The closer I get to Ranger, the less I feel the need to talk incessantly and the more I can appreciate the silence and just being together. I notice that this has greatly reduced the number of times every day that I blurt out something totally inappropriate, embarrassing myself in the process. Huh! I probably could have saved myself a lot of grief over the years if I'd discovered this sooner.

After breakfast Ranger called Dr. Gordon's office and spoke to the nurse about the paternity testing. We were scheduled for an ultrasound in a few days and that would enable Dr. Gordon to more accurately date my pregnancy, at which point we could schedule the CVS test, to collect the baby's DNA, which needed to be done between 10 and 12 weeks. After the call Ranger tried to explain how the doctor would use a needle to go through my abdomen to collect chorionic villus cells, which contain the baby's DNA, from my placenta. He was interrupted, however, by my mad dash to the bathroom to rid myself of the whole wheat pancakes and fruit I had just eaten. A needle through the abdomen - holy shit!

We went through the routine again, Ranger rubbing my back, and then cleaning me up with a washcloth and holding me until I was steady enough to get up. After brushing my teeth and using the bathroom, again, I rejoined Ranger in the living room and plopped onto the couch next to him.

Ranger held my hand and turned me to look at him. "We don't have to do this, Babe. We can wait until the baby is born."

"No, Ranger. I really want to know now. I don't want this hanging over our heads for the entire pregnancy. I'm going to love this baby no matter what, but if Joe is the father there will be a whole lot of things that need to be worked out between the three of us and I'd rather get it out of the way now. As much as I want to check into the Hotel Denial for the next 7 or 8 months, I really don't think that is going to work this time."

"Proud of you, Babe."

I grabbed my cell phone from the coffee table and dialed Joe's number, hitting the button for speakerphone.

"Hi Steph," Joe answered his phone.

"How did you know it was me?" I asked him.

"Welcome to the 21st century, Stephanie. Caller ID."

"Smart ass!" I smiled at the phone and Ranger just shook his head.

"Hey, I…." Ranger squeezed my hand. "I mean, we, Ranger and me, have something we need to talk to you about. Do you have time today?"

"Is this about William Conti?" Joe asked.

"No, but I'm going to try some new searches today, so hopefully those will turn up something. I don't really want to get into the rest of it over the phone. Can you stop by here, or can we come see you?""

"I'll come there. I have a department meeting at 10:00 that should last about an hour. I can come over after that. Will that work?"

I looked over at Ranger who was checking the calendar on his phone. He nodded.

"Sure, Joe. That works fine for us. Thanks."

"See you then. Bye."

I hung up my phone and just sat, staring at the floor. This was going to be hard.

Ranger got up from the couch and moved towards the kitchen. "I'm going to make you some toast Babe. We need to get some food in you."

I think he knew that I needed just a little space and time. "Thanks, Ranger."

Sighing deeply, I tried to get my mind to switch gears. I'd have to face Joe soon enough, but now I needed to concentrate on the searches for Conti and getting this wack job off our backs. I mean, come on, just how much shit is one person supposed to be able to deal with at one time? I was quickly reaching my limit.

Ranger brought a fresh bottle of water and some dry toast out to the living room. I sat on the couch nibbling on the toast and sipping the water. I ate both pieces of toast and finished all the water and Ranger took my plate and bottle back to the kitchen.

"I'm going to head downstairs, Babe. Silvio was going to download the new search programs to your computer from Miami last night. I'm going to go get everything booted up and make sure the programs installed properly. You can meet me down there when you're ready, okay? Take your time and if you don't feel up to working today, just let me know."

"I'll be down soon, Ranger. I just want to grab a shower."

Ranger came back out of the kitchen and handed me another bottle of water, moving towards the front door. "Drink that, Babe. Don't want you to get dehydrated."

Once Ranger left, I grabbed a shower and pulled on my typical RangeMan uniform of black cargos and stretchy black T-shirt. I wonder if Ella will find me black maternity cargos and maternity T's? Good God! I'm going to look like a big black blimp!

I put on a few extra coats of mascara and my favorite cherry-flavored lip gloss and made my way downstairs to the fifth floor. Ranger was sitting at my desk, typing away on the computer keyboard. I came up behind him and bent over, wrapping my arms around him from behind, nuzzling into his neck. "Hey you" I whispered into his ear. He turned his head and kissed me. Then swiveled the chair around and pulled me into his lap. "How was your shower?" He asked me. "Wet, and lonely," I replied. Ranger chuckled, turning us back around toward the computer screen. "Let me show you the new programs that Silvio has been trying out."

Ranger and I spent the next hour loading everything we knew about William Conti into a multitude of search engines, some of them legal, some in that grey area somewhat less than legal but not completely illegal, and some I didn't even let myself really think about. The computer would then spend hours gathering and storing data. My job would then be to go through all of the information with a fine tooth comb, trying to get to know William Conti better than he knew himself. This was the part of my job where I really excelled. Ranger and his men were trained to think logically, plan meticulously. Unfortunately, the entire world doesn't operate that way. Thinking "outside the box" was my speciality. In fact, "outside the box" was actually the norm for me. I could often find connections that Ranger's men missed, because I anticipated the absurd and illogical. Hell, those two words could be used to describe practically every day of my life!

Once the data was loaded and there was nothing to do but wait, we moved to Ranger's office. I settled onto the couch and closed my eyes. Ranger sat at his desk working on proposals. The scratch of his pen on paper alternated with the rhythmic tapping of the keyboard and lulled me to sleep.

I woke up to a barrage of Ranger kisses a short time later. "Wake up, Babe. Morelli called. He'll be here in 5 minutes." Ranger was crouched next to the sofa, so even curled on my side I was looking straight into his eyes. I smiled and planted a quick kiss of my own on his lips. Ranger stood up as I swung my legs over and hopped up. Crap! I did it again. All of a sudden two Ranger's were swaying in front of my eyes.

"Move!" I almost shouted, shoving my way past Ranger and into the hallway. There was no women's bathroom, but there was no way to make it up to the seventh floor. I just pushed into the mens room, past a startled Hal, and into a stall just in time to empty my stomach of the little food I'd managed to keep down earlier.

Ranger barreled into the bathroom right behind me, giving Hal a look that sent him scurrying from the room, still trying to tuck himself back into his cargos. "Are you okay, Babe?" There wasn't room for both of us in the small bathroom stall, but I could feel Ranger kneeling behind me in the doorway, his hand reaching out to touch my shoulder. Once the retching and dry heaving stopped, I leaned back and Ranger helped me up.

"God, I hate this!" I said.

"I know, Babe." Ranger said.

There was a knock on the door and Hal stuck his head back in. "Boss, Morelli is waiting in your office."

"Go on, Ranger. I'll be there in a minute." I told him. Ranger gave my shoulder a squeeze and left to go meet Morelli.

I leaned over the sink and washed my face. Ella came in with a new toothbrush and toothpaste for me. "Hi Steph. I heard you weren't feeling well. I thought you could use these."

"You're a lifesaver, Ella. Thank you!" I said. At least I wouldn't have to face Joe with puke breath. Yuck!

I finished cleaning up and then went back to Ranger's office. Joe was sitting in the chair across from the desk and it was turned towards the sofa, where Ranger was sitting. Both men stood up as I came into the room.

"Hi Joe," I said. "Thanks so much for coming over." I walked over to the sofa and we all sat back down.

"What's going on, Steph?" Joe asked.

Ranger's right hand was holding my left and he gave it a gentle squeeze.

I knew that I just had to tell him before I lost my nerve. I took a deep breath. "We wanted to let you know that I'm pregnant."

"Pregnant? Jesus, Steph!" Joe jumped up to his feet. "You always told me you didn't want kids. I practically begged you. Now you're with Manoso for like 5 minutes and already knocked up. What the fuck? That was all bullshit then, right?" His face was purple and his fists were clenched at his sides. I could feel Ranger tense up beside me and I squeezed his hand.

"Joe, sit down. Please!" I said. "You know that's not true. This wasn't planned. I was on birth control. There's more. You have to let me finish."

Joe stared at his shoes, clenching and unclenching his fists, breathing deeply. I almost smiled. I had seen Joe go through this routine so many times, usually right after I had blown up a car or had yet another crazy ass stalker after me. He was trying to get a grip, trying to reign in the infamous Morelli Italian temper. Finally, he sighed and sat back down, still staring at the floor.

I continued, "Do you remember the last night we were together in my apartment?"

Joe looked up slowly. "Yes." His head turned from me to Ranger and back to me again.

God, this was the worst part. "I was with Ranger two days later."

Joe was staring at me now, as it dawned on him what I was saying. "You don't know who the father is." It was said as a statement and not a question.

I just shook my head.

"Christ! You didn't take long to jump from my bed to his, did you?" Joe spat.

"Enough!" Ranger finally spoke. "If you cannot be civil, then I'll escort you out. Steph doesn't need to be more upset than she already is. You know what kind of woman Stephanie is and she would never do anything to purposely hurt someone she loves."

I looked at Ranger and hoped he could see all the love I had for him in my eyes. I turned back to Joe. "Joe, listen. I want this baby, whether it is yours or Ranger's. I really didn't think I wanted kids, but that changed as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I can't explain it. Ranger wants the baby, too, no matter what."

Joe was back on his feet. "What happens if the baby is mine, Steph? I'm just supposed to walk away and let Ranger raise my kid? Don't think for a second that I'm going to let that happen!"

"I don't know what is going to happen, Joe. That's something we'll all have to work out together. I would never try and cut you out of your own child's life and neither would Ranger. Maybe you don't want to believe it of Ranger, but you should know me better than that."

Joe's eyes were hard and his voice cold. "How soon can we find out?"

"I'm not sure. I have a doctor's appointment in a couple of days to figure out exactly how far along I am. The test can be done when I'm between 10 and 12 weeks along. They'll take cheek swabs from me, you, and Ranger and DNA from the baby."

"How do they get the baby's DNA at 10 weeks for God's sake?" Joe asked, rubbing his hands over his face.

I groaned at the thought. "Trust me, you don't want to know." I told him.

Joe swallowed hard and sat back down again. "Christ, Steph." Some of the coldness had left his eyes and had been replaced with sadness and regret.

Suddenly I was very tired and I must have swayed a little in my seat because Ranger stood up. "I need to get Stephanie back upstairs. She hasn't been able to eat much and she needs to rest." The tone of his voice left no doubt that the discussion was over for now.

"You'll let me know about the test, then?" Joe asked.

"Yes, as soon as the doctor let's us know when it can be done, we'll be in touch."

Ranger turned to me, "Babe, stay here for a minute, okay? I'm going to walk Joe out."

"Goodbye, Joe" I said, but realized I was speaking to his back, as he was already out the door and heading down the hall toward the elevator. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back on the back of the sofa. A few minutes later Ranger was back.

"That was quick," I said. "I thought for sure you two were headed out for a showdown in the garage or something."

Ranger smiled. "It really could have been worse, Babe. If our positions were reversed, I honestly don't know how I would have reacted."

He pulled me up and we walked out of the office, Ranger's arm around my shoulder holding me close to his side. I really felt dizzy and unsteady on my feet and was glad for the support. Next thing I knew, I was being carried bridal style. I wrapped my arms around Ranger's neck and laid my head on his shoulder. I was exhausted, but I felt warm and safe in his arms. I wished I could bottle this feeling. I had a feeling I'd be running low on happy for awhile. As my eyelids got heavier and heavier, I gave in to the exhaustion, trusting that with Ranger by my side, nothing could truly hurt me. "I love you," I murmured. "I love you too, Babe, always."