Steph and Ranger aren't mine. But I can't complain 'cause Julian, Maddie and Sophie are!

This takes place sometime around "Sophie Learns to Fly".

A Trip to the Principal's Office

Ranger Manoso sighed as he pulled his Porsche Turbo to a stop in front of the elementary school. Anybody looking at him would think he just didn't care; that being there didn't bother him. But inside, he was most decidedly uncomfortable.

The school functions were Stephanie's territory. Granted, he attended the school plays because it was his children up there on stage, but when family presence was demanded at a PTA meeting or the school nurse called to let them know that one of the children was being sent home sick, his wife took care of it. It wasn't that he didn't care. He just wasn't very good at dealing with the stereotypical Burg mothers who usually attended such functions. And the school nurse had a crush on him and having the fifty something year old woman drooling after him had as much appeal as his grandmother in law grabbing his ass.

Unfortunately, though, Stephanie had to take Julian to the doctor for an ear infection, leaving him screwed when Sophie's principal called him at work, demanding his presence.

Ranger sighed again as he walked into the school. He couldn't imagine what his little girl had done to get sent to the principal's office. He knew she wasn't a perfect little angel and he was glad of that. He was proud that his children had their own opinions and weren't afraid to speak them. He was proud that when they wanted to do something, they did everything possible to do it. And he was proud that they stood up for themselves when it was necessary. Nobody would walk all over the Manoso children and take advantage of them. Even at such young ages, they knew how to take care of themselves.

The generic smell of chalk and dirty gym socks assaulted him. Would it kill the school board to spring for a little air freshener? The sound of his boots hitting the linoleum echoed in the empty hallway as he walked straight for the principal's office.

Once inside, his eyes found Sophie right away. She was sitting in the chair closest to the door, glaring angrily at her scuffed Mary Jane's. It was spring picture day and to his daughter's disgust, she had to dress up for the occasion. Ranger wouldn't have minded one bit if she'd worn her favorite raggedy jeans and tee shirts for the day and he knew that Stephanie wouldn't have minded either. Unfortunately, the school board and the principal declared that for such events, the little girls must wear skirts and the boys must wear nice pants and shoes. Students who refused to abide by the rules were sent home to change or they wouldn't get their picture taken.

It was a stupid, archaic rule in Ranger's book. He entertained the idea of paying a little visit to the school superintendent to have it changed.

Sophie looked up when he shut the door behind him. Her big brown eyes were full of anger and contempt and he was relieved when he realized that her fury wasn't directed at him.

Ranger took a moment to study his daughter. Her long, curly brown hair was pulled back in a slightly mussed ponytail and she had dirt smudged on her blue skirt and top. His eyebrow arched slightly at the sight of dried blood on the knuckles of her right hand. At the sight of her injury, he immediately kneeled in front of her.

"What happened, querida?" He asked softly, reaching out to run a finger over the blood.

She opened her mouth to answer, but the door to the principal's office opened. They watched as Mr. Shumacher walked out, followed by a bruised and bloodied Paulie Morelli.

Ranger's eyes narrowed at the little punk. He wasn't a fan of anybody in the Morelli family, but Paulie was a little shit just like his Uncle Joe and every other Morelli male. There were a few times when Stephanie had to go to the principal's office for Julian after the two boys got into a fight. Ranger had never minded his son fighting the kid. Julian only threw a punch when he was defending someone, usually his sister or Maddie Elliot. And since most of the other kids were afraid of Julian's wrath, they never bothered either girl. Except for Paulie Morelli. The little bastard never knew when to give up.

As Paulie walked out of the outer office, Ranger noted that his nose was a little off center and covered in dried blood. Definitely broken. He looked from the kid's broken nose to Sophie's knuckles and held back the grin.

That's my girl, he thought to himself.

"Mr. Manoso," Mr. Shumacher's high pitched nasally voice brought him out of his reverie. Standing up straight, Ranger looked down at the wiry little man.

"Mr. Shumacher."

The principal glared at Sophie and she glared back defiantly. "Please come in. You too, young lady. We have a lot to discuss."

Ranger reached his hand out and Sophie immediately reached out to grasp it. She followed him into the tiny office silently, but Ranger could still feel the anger rolling off of his daughter.

Once seated, Mr. Shumacher jumped right to the point.

"Mr. Manoso, I called you in today because your daughter found it necessary to physically abuse another student."

Ranger already figured that. His blank face remained in place as he stared at the little man. "What did Paulie Morelli do to deserve it?"

The principal sat back in surprise. "Sir, nobody deserves to be punched in the nose. I'm afraid that Sophia is a serious discipline problem."

A low growl sounded from deep in Sophie's chest and Ranger reached out to pat her hand reassuringly.

Ranger raised an eyebrow. "She's never had a problem before."

"Well she does now," Mr. Shumacher declared, pointing his finger at Sophie. "She pulled Paulie Morelli into a janitor's closet and punched him in the nose! He's on his way to the nurses station to wait for his mother to pick him up and take him to the emergency room!"

Sophie jumped forward in her seat, her eyes nearly black in anger. "I didn't pull him into the closet! He pulled me in there hoping to look up my skirt! He's a dirty boy and he deserved to be hit!"

Ranger's blank face melted into a mask of rage at his daughter's words. Turning toward the principal, he was pleased to see the sniveling little man jump back in terror.

"That little bastard tried to molest my child on school property and you have the audacity to blame her for defending herself?"

Mr. Shumacher trembled at Ranger's deadly tone. "There's no proof of such happenings, Mr. Manoso. If there were, I would certainly do something-."

Ranger's hand slammed down on the desk in front of him. Mr. Shumacher released a high-pitched squeal. "No proof? My daughter doesn't lie and her word is proof enough. I'm sure you've been in the Burg long enough to know that every sick, perverted Morelli male has played this game with every girl in the school. I think it's high time that somebody do something about it."

The principal swallowed convulsively, eyes bugged out. "I agree, b-b-but there has to be proof. There's only p-p-proof that Sophia assaulted him."

Ranger got to his feet, placing his hands flat on the desk so he could lean closer to the principal. The man whimpered, shrinking back in his chair. "If you don't do something about the Morelli boys, I will go to every newspaper and television station in the country and let everybody know that you allow your female students to be sexually molested on campus. And that you punish the girls' who defend themselves. You'll never find work in this country again, I guarantee it."

With each word, Mr. Shumacher's complexion grew more and more pale. By the end of Ranger's promise, the man was paler than the white shirt he was wearing. "M-Mr. Manoso, I assure you-."

"Your assurances aren't enough," Ranger growled, standing up straight. He reached for Sophie and she immediately placed her hand in his. "I'll give you until the end of the week. Until that time, Sophia and Julian will remain at home with a tutor. If Paulie Morelli isn't expelled and turned in to the proper authorities, I will go to the school board and the media and your ass will be thrown out in the street. Do I make myself clear, Shumacher?"

"Y-Y-Yes, sir."

"Good." Ranger turned to his daughter, the rage on his face melting into a reassuring smile. "You ready to go home, querida?"

Sophie grinned up at him. "Darn skippy."

Without another word to the sweating, trembling principal, Ranger led his daughter out of the office.

00000000

Sophie buckled herself in the seat and glanced over at her father. "You really aren't mad at me, Daddy?"

Ranger grinned, reaching out to squeeze her hand. "I'm proud of you for defending yourself." His smile faded and his expression turned serious as he studied her. "Are you alright? Did Paulie get the chance to hurt you?"

Sophie shook her head. "Everybody knows what playing 'choo choo' means. The second he closed the door, I hit him."

Ranger sighed in relief, leaning over to kiss the top of her frizzy curls. "That's my girl."

He buckled himself in and pulled the Turbo out into the street.

"Do you think Mommy will be upset?" Sophie asked quietly.

Ranger grinned. "Mommy will be as proud of you as I am."

"Really."

Ranger nodded. "Trust me?"

Sophie rolled her eyes. "Well, duh."

He chuckled, turning left at the light. After a few more turns, Sophie's eyes widened in excitement.

"Are we going to the farmers market?"

"I thought we should reward your actions with a smoothie. What do you think?"

She bounced in her seat, rewarding her father with her thousand watt smile. "Blueberry and flaxseed?"

"Is there any other kind?"

Hello, my name is Jaime and I'm a Manoso fanfic-a-holic. Seriously, I can't stop writing about these kids. They freaking rock! I want to take them home and feed them blueberry muffins!