AN: Standard Disclaimer.

I hope to finish this story soon, please drop me a review and any ideas that you have and they may just show up in the story. Thanks for all the reviews!

I opened the front door for Tank and Ranger to let them in when Cal came limping down the stairs. I smiled up at him and he grimaced taking another step. I looked into the living room and saw Bobby and Lester walking into it. Guess they slept here last night.

Ranger and Tank walked in the house, Tank carrying a box of donuts while Ranger carried the coffees.

"Set it on the coffee table, please." I told them as I went in set down only wearing my tank top and panties.

I've gotten a lot more comfortable with my body especially since it's toned. I grabbed a coffee and Boston Crème. I looked around and all the guys were staring at each other, Ranger shooting daggers at them and Lester with a smirk on his face.

I looked at Tank, "What brings you here so early?" I questioned.

"Just wanting to check on you and Cal and bring you some breakfast." I nodded, grabbing another Boston Crème.

I finished my second donut and looked at the guys who were still staring each other down.

"Are you all about finished with your stare down?" I asked.

Tank looked at me and grinned while the others continued staring. Lester still had that smirk on his face. I got up and went to my room throwing on some shorts so I could go down to my gym. I went down to the gym and Tank followed. I started on the treadmill and yes, I wore my sling since Nurse Bobby was here.

I did three miles on the treadmill, some crunches using my exercise ball, leg lifts and one arm push-ups. I couldn't do a lot of my normal routine and I couldn't spar but I could practice some kicks on my bag and punches with one arm.

Tank had hopped up on the treadmill and was doing his time on it while I finished my workout. The rest of them slowly made their way down and watched. Bobby giving me the evil eye the whole time, I just smiled at him. Once I was good and sweaty I went back to the treadmill and did two more miles.

I finished up and with a finger wave headed back upstairs to shower. I wrapped my arm so it didn't get wet and hopped in the shower. I had just gotten out when I heard my phone ring. I grabbed it off the Bathroom Vanity and answered without looking at the readout.

"Plum."

"Plum, I know you just got shot but I also know how fast you heal. I got a mission for you, you leave in one month if you accept."

"Have you sent the intel on it?" I questioned.

"Yeah, you should be able to pull it up. Tripp won't be going with you, he has declined the mission. He is actually changing his contract there will be no more missions for him."

"Damn, who will I be partnered with?"

"I'm not sure yet, I'm checking with a few different Agents I've got. You probably won't know until you leave. This won't be a problem will it?"

"No Sir."

"Let me know if you want the mission."

"Yes Sir." He hung up.

I threw on some cargo shorts, tank top, and flip flops and made my way downstairs. The guys were sitting at the table talking when I walked in. Guess they were done with their pissing contest.

"I'm going to be in my office for a few going over something. Holler if you need me." They all nodded.

I walked into my office and sat down behind my desk, turning on and logging into my computer. I pulled up the email Boss uses when sending me anything and pulled up the intel for the job they are sending me on. Seemed fairly easy, I go in as a couple with my partner to buy a child and then nail their balls to the wall when we find out who is heading the baby smuggling.

They have been stealing babies from numerous countries and selling them to the highest bidder. That alone is enough to make me say yes to the mission. I kept reading on and they were stilling them from everywhere, parks, hospitals, stores, wherever they could get them. Mostly infants but a few older children, I was truly disgusted.

I picked up my phone and called Boss back, "I'll go."

"I'll call you with a date." He said before hanging up.

I got up and went back into the dining room where Tank, Ranger and Cal were but I noticed Lester and Bobby were missing.

"Where did Les and Bobby go?" I asked them.

"They had to head out for a takedown. They didn't want to disturb you but said they'd be back later." Tank told me.

"Steph, can I talk to you?" Ranger questioned, I nodded and got up and walked toward my office.

I sat down on the couch in my office and Ranger set on the other side of the couch.

I waited staring at him. I could see he was trying to put his words together.

"I need your help." He told me, I raised an eyebrow that.

"I think Alexis is trying to steal from me." I nodded for him to go on.

"I've noticed money missing from my company and personal accounts. Small amounts at a time but I think it is all tied into her."

"What do you want me to do?" I asked.

"I want your advice on what exactly I should do. If she was a man I know what I'd do but she's not."

"First, you need proof." I told him, he nodded.

"I can't take her debit or credit cards because I think that would make her suspicious."

"Flag your accounts. All of them, if she uses them you'll get an email telling you where or how much. Also, tap her phone so you know all calls she makes."

"Thanks, Babe." I nodded and he got up and walked out.

At least we talked without yelling at each other or getting mad. I got up and walked into the living room where the guys were sitting, Ranger was on the phone, Tank and Cal were both watching TV. I plopped down beside Cal and smiled at him.

"How are you feeling?" I asked him.

"I've been better, they said eight weeks of this."

"That sucks, you can stay here as long as you like but I have to leave in a month for a mission."

"You don't mind me staying while you're gone?"

"Not at all, just no parties!" I said laughing. He chuckled and went back to watching TV.

"Leaving again Bombshell?" Tank asked.

"Yep, got a call from my Boss, it'll be about a month before I leave."

"Busy woman."

"What can I say, I'm that good." He laughed and turned back to the TV.

We sat in silence for awhile, all of us watching the TV. After an hour Tank and Ranger both left, leaving me and Cal to our own devices. Cal was the one to break the silence.

"So Steph, what are your plans after you heal?"

"I'm not sure I've got my mission which will keep me busy for as long as it takes. After that, I'll probably keep bounty hunting and going on more missions. It's the life I lead."

"Why not talk to Ranger about coming to Rangeman full time?"

"I'm not sure I'm wanted there, honestly." Cal wrapped his arm around and pulled me to him.

"We never stopped wanting you there."

"It's not you guys I'm talking about, it's Ranger." He nodded looking thoughtful.

"Ranger never stopped looking for you, he wanted to find you and bring you back. Even after him and Alexis, most people don't know that but I caught him still looking for you about a month after him and Alexis got together." He set for a minute looking like he was trying to get his thoughts in order.

"Alexis hated it, she knew all along his heart wasn't with her, no one likes her especially Connie and Lula. They felt she was trying to take your place and they weren't about to let that happen. She thinks she is above all of us guys, even though we've been there for a long time before she was. It's almost like she feels that she is entitled to everything." I nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"Anytime your name was brought up, Ranger would get a far away look on his face and that just made her more pissed. She has hated you from day one before even knowing you. She once told us that if you were half of what we said you were that you wouldn't have left. We of course stood up for you knowing that wasn't true."

"She usually doesn't let Ranger out of her site I'm surprised he was able to come here without her. She sticks to him like glue and he hates it. I'm hoping she won't stick around long now that you're back, but who knows, she may stick around just to piss you off or at least try. She's the complete opposite of you, cold hearted, spoiled, and thinks she shouldn't have to work. When Ranger hired her she worked with us, we didn't even like her then but put up with her. When Ranger and her got together she started slacking like it was below her to work now that they were together."

I didn't know what to say, she sounded worse than I originally thought.

"Do all the guys feel that way?" I asked.

"Yeah." I nodded and went back to watching TV.

Ranger's POV

Steph's house was a lot nicer and secure than I expected. She was just hanging out in a tank top and panties which shocked me, she has always been so self conscious about how she looks. I was surprised at how well our talk went, even though it wasn't I really wanted to talk about. I don't know how to get her to open up to me again.

She's the same person but she's different at the same time. I'm going to have to watch her and see if I can find the best way to get her to open up to me. I've also got to get rid of Alexis I know she is trying to take money from me. I'm not stupid you can't be in this business and be stupid. After I talked to Steph I went and called my bank and then Hector, I had the accounts flagged for her card use and then Hector put a tap on her phone.

After a while Tank and I needed to get back so we could go over contracts that had come in. It was weird being around Steph and her not acting like she used to. Her gym surprised me, she had the best of everything, then again, looking at her you could tell she put a lot of work into looking that way.

We got to the office and Alexis was there waiting on me. She smiled at me and I could tell something was up.

"You want to go upstairs?" She asked.

"I've got contracts I need to go over with Tank I'll be up for dinner." She huffed and then walked out.

Tank came in and set down right as my phone rang.

"Yo." I answered.

"Manoso, I'm sending some info on a mission if you're up for it. You won't be leaving for about a month. Let me know if you accept it."

"Yes Sir." I answered and he disconnected.

I pulled up my email and looked over the info that was sent to me. Pretend couple interested in buying a baby and catching the baby smugglers. This would be easy I wondered who I would be partnered with. I called Boss back and told him I accepted, he refused to tell me who my partner would be just that a helicopter would pick us up here and he would call with a date.

Tank and I went over contracts and scheduled takedowns before I headed up to my apartment for the night.