Disclaimer: JE owns all the characters in this story.

A/N Thanks again to Dyanswan for editing and encouraging.

Chapter Three

I have been living with Ranger for two weeks now and it has been surprisingly easy. Especially surprising since Ranger is such a neat freak and I am a consummate slob. Of course, it helps that Ella likes me so she pops in to the apartment several times a day to make sure I didn't leave my pantyhose on the shower rod. Of course, I don't wear pantyhose and Ranger doesn't have a shower rod. He has beautiful glass doors that wouldn't dare ever streak. But, that's beside the point, because I am sure I inadvertently leave things lying around that would drive Ranger crazy. Probably I should try to be neater but, sometimes his precise neatness drives me a little crazy. I want to run around and strew clothes and shoes everywhere. So far I have abstained and there hasn't been one cross word between us.

Tonight Ranger has a takedown planned for a high bond skip. He got intel that he was going to be at a sleazy bar on the outskirts of Trenton. So I'm getting slutted up to be the distraction. Ranger came in just as I was putting on my last layer of mascara.

"Babe, I want you to attract the skip, but I am going to have to put ten extra men in the bar to keep every other man in there away from you."

"Oh, Ranger," I said as walked into his arms. "You really know how to boost a girl's confidence."

He hugged me and said, "Don't sell yourself short, Babe. You're one terrific woman. My woman."

"And this is why I love you," I said, blinking back tears. Ranger knows how much Morelli and my mother have eroded my self confidence. And he seems to be on a mission to give it back to me. When you come to think of it, any one who is loved by Ranger should have self confidence because is so hot and good looking and hot and talented and did I say hot?

But we had a job to do and soon we were pulling in the parking lot of the bar. Lester, Bobby and Cal were already inside when Ranger and I arrived. Woody and Hal were at the back door, just in case he tried to get out that way. Tank and Ranger were waiting by the front door for the take-down. I went in and did my thing and half an hour later I led the FTA out the front door and into Tank and Ranger's waiting hand cuffs.

While they were dealing with the skip, I went to the parking to wait by the Porsche. I always felt a little grossed out after dealing with a scumbag so I wanted to be alone for awhile. I was very surprised when Morelli came walking up to me.

"Hey, cupcake, isn't this kind of a rough neighborhood for you to be out alone in?"

"Morelli, what are you doing here?"

"I was driving back from a stake out when I saw all the Rangeman vehicles so I thought I would stop and see what's going on."

"Rangeman had a FTA in the bar, so I did a distraction and got the skip to follow me out the door with no one getting hurt," I said proudly.

"So this is what you used to do when you would tell me you were working for Ranger and went out late at night, huh?"

"Yep, this was it."

"And you dressed up like a slut like this?"

"I dressed for whatever was needed. Sometimes it was slutty and sometimes it was classy. What the hell does it matter now, anyway?

"I just don't like knowing you were doing this when you were with me"

"You know this is one of the reasons we are not still together. I could never tell you about doing distractions for Ranger because you would have blown a gasket. But I like doing distractions. And do you know why I like doing them? Because I am good at it. And I like feeling like I am good at something."

"Well, I can think of some other things you were good at," he said smirking at me. "But I have something else to talk to you about. Listen, cupcake, I heard an unsettling rumor the other day and I am hoping you'll tell me it's not true. I heard you moved in with Ranger."

"Yes, I moved in with him two weeks ago."

"Are you nuts?" Morelli shouted at me. "The man is a loose cannon. He's a mercenary, for Christ's sake. He kills people for a living. It's bad enough you work for him. Now you're living with him, too!"

"Listen, buster," I said poking him in the ribs. "Number one, you don't have any say in my life anymore. Number two, Ranger is not a loose cannon. He plans meticulously for every field operation he runs. He has back up plans for his back up plans. I am the one who always rushes in without thinking or planning. I really am a loose cannon. So just keep your remarks about Ranger to yourself. Besides, I'm sure he only kills bad people."

While Morelli and I were yelling and glaring at each other, Ranger came up behind me and slid his arms around me, "Babe, you don't need to defend me. But, thank you, anyway." He nodded at Joe an said stiffly, "Morelli."

"Manoso," Joe said as he turned to leave. "See you around, cupcake."

Ranger felt pretty tense so I turned in his arms and put my hands on his shoulders. "Are you upset because I was talking to Morelli? He saw all our vehicles and was curious as to what we were doing."

"Babe, I don't care about that," he said pulling me closer. "When I saw that you had gone out to the parking lot by yourself I almost had a heart attack. This is a very dangerous area.

"Geez Louise, Ranger. Get a grip, will ya? You guys were just a short distance away."

"But not close enough to save you if some scumbag tried to grab you.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think there was any danger with all of you being so close. I just wanted to put some distance between me and the skip and that sleazy bar. I just needed some fresh air."

"I can understand that, Babe, but in the future, make sure you have a man with you."

Our ride home was very quiet. Ranger was quiet because he was in his zone. I was quiet because I was I was scared shitless that Ranger was mad at me. But, when we got home and went to bed Ranger showed me that he wasn't mad at me. He showed me just how much he had been worried about me. He can really be creative after almost having a heart attack.

The next day Ranger and I were in the Cayenne on our way back to Rangeman when Ranger got a call from Tank. Hector had gotten a tip from a snitch about a skip that had been evading us for days. Tank told Ranger where the skip had been seen a short time ago. Ranger told him to send a team to meet them there and then pulled an illegal U turn and sped off to the location. We circled the block to check it out and then Ranger parked across the street and two doors down from the address Tank gave him. We got out of the Cayenne and Ranger told me to stay here to wait for the back up while he went to do some reconnaissance. So, wouldn't you know it. Three minutes after Ranger left I saw the skip shimmying out of a window. Ranger was out of sight and the backup team hadn't arrived yet, so I did what I always did. I didn't think. I didn't plan. I went after him.

"Bond enforcement," I shouted as I ran after him.

The skip turned his head when he heard me shout. Lucky for me, he didn't see the tree stump in front of him and he tripped and fell right on his face. I took a flying leap and landed on his back. I sat up and straddled him and was trying to cuff him when he got to his knees and tried to buck me off. I was holding on for dear life as he stumbled to his feet. I had my legs wrapped around his middle and my hands were around his throat, squeezing as hard as I could.

"You bitch!" he shouted, trying to get my hands loose. "Get the hell off me."

He backed into a tree and slammed me into it so hard the air was knocked out of me. Ranger reached us just as I tumbled to the ground. He twisted the skip's arm behind his back and pushed him to the ground, where he quickly cuffed him. I was struggling to get to my feet when Lester got there and took over the skip. Ranger came to me and pulled me to my feet and into his arms.

"Are you hurt, Babe?" he said as he started checking me over for injuries.

'No, I'm fine, Ranger. Just got the wind knocked out of me," I said still breathing heavily.

"Do you want me to take him to the cop shop?" Lester asked.

"Affirmative. We will meet you there with the paper work."

I could feel the anger rolling off of him and I couldn't imagine why he was mad. I caught the skip, for God's sake. What does he want.

"What I want is for you to follow orders and procedures."

I guess I said that out loud. "But-"

"No buts. And I don't want to discuss it right now."

The drive to the station was deadly quiet and you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. Every time I tried to say something Ranger would say, "Not. Now."

By the time we got to the station, I was furious. After all, he wasn't being fair to me. As we walked in the door I couldn't hold back anymore.

"You know what your problem is, Ranger?" I said a little louder than necessary. "You are a control freak. You want to make all the decisions and tell everybody what to do."

"I am the boss, Stephanie. That's what I am supposed to do," Ranger said in his scary, quiet voice.

But, of course, after my outburst every one in the station was straining to hear.

"Well, you're a God damn tyrant. A despot. A freaking Fidel Castro."

"I am a leader. I have rules and regulations in place for safety. And there are consequences for not following them."

"Well, here's a consequence for you," I screamed. "I quit."

"You can't quit, Babe," he said raising his voice.

"Why the Hell not," I yelled.

"You signed a contract," he countered.

I turned and marched toward the door. "So sue me."

"Don't think I won't," he yelled at my retreating back.

Ranger took a deep breath and saw Morelli laughing. In the mood he was in he would like to knock some ones head off. But it's probably not a good idea to beat up a cop in the middle of the police station.

"What's so funny, Morelli," Ranger growled.

"Well, I have to admit, The Stephanie Show is a lot more fun from this side of the relationship than from yours."

Ranger sighed, "What do you think she's doing right now?"

"Oh, I know exactly what's she's doing," Morelli said smugly. "She's throwing some clothes in her laundry basket, grabbing Rex and hightailing it back to her apartment."

"Shit," Ranger barked as he handed the paperwork to Lester. He ran out the door and stood looking around. Naturally, the Cayenne was gone, but he saw Tank idling at the curb. He jogged over to the SUV and got in.

"Stephanie called and said you needed a ride," Tank said stone-faced.

"Where is she now?"

"When she called me she was on her way to Haywood."

Ranger pulled his phone off his utility belt. "Where is Stephanie?" he asked brusquely.

"I saw her go up to seven and I haven't seen her come down," Hal said nervously. Ranger ran a tight ship, but he had never heard that tone of voice from him before.

"Her trackers?"

"I am pulling them up now. On seven."

"What do you mean you are pulling them up? Stephanie's trackers are supposed to be up 24/7."

"Yes, sir, but-" disconnect.

Oh, shit, Hal thought. I'm dead meat. I might as well call my Mama and tell her to order my casket. After Ranger's done with me on the mats tomorrow morning, I'll be done.

Tank drove into the garage and Ranger jumped out of the SUV before it was even stopped. He raced up all seven flights of stairs, not wanting to wait for the elevator. He burst into the apartment, afraid of what he would find. What he found was me, sitting dejectedly on the couch.

When he came into the room I jumped up and looked beseechingly at him. "Ranger, I am so sorry. I know-"

He cut me off by grabbing me and kissing me almost violently.

"Babe, I thought you'd be gone."

"Gone? Gone where?"

"Well, Morelli was at the station and saw our argument. He said you would be grabbing Rex and going back to your apartment."

"But, Ranger," I said looking bewildered. "Did you forget that promised you I wouldn't run away?"

"No, I didn't forget. I just wasn't sure-"

"You thought I would break my promise to you," I said, disbelief in my voice. "You are the one who taught me how important it is to keep promises. I would never willingly break a promise. Especially not one to you."

"Good to know, Babe."

"So, does this mean our first fight is over?" I said slyly.

"Yeah. We still need to talk about what went down today, but I'm not up to that discussion right now."

"Oh, goody! That means we get to have our first hot make-up sex."

Ranger just laughed softly and pulled me to the bedroom.