All characters of the Stephanie Plum series belong to Janet Evanovich.

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Chapter 27

The next morning Stephanie had another meeting with Jack. They talked at length about her dreams and how, even though they were disturbing, they could possibly be helping to 'exercise' her memory by tapping into her personal unconsciousness, or sub-conscious mind. Jack revealed to her that he had been spending time with Ranger, talking and gathering more information on their relationship since it seemed to be the most frustrating hurdle she faced. They also discussed Stephanie's greatest fears about her confusing identity. She found it very easy to confide in Jack, because she felt no worry about offending him with her inability to remember. She had a clean slate with him. There was no history between them that was missing from her memory. Toward the end of their session she told him about the decision she needed to make concerning where to stay after her release.

"Where do you want to stay?" He asked, in what had quickly become his familiar probing voice.

"I don't remember the RangeMan building or my apartment in Trenton. But evidently that's where my real life is. I only remember the house here in Philadelphia, but that's where my false memories are based."

"It's also where you developed a very personal relationship with Ranger. It could be very helpful for you to go back and spend some time there."

"I thought about that." She hesitated. "He wants to see me."

"I know."

"Do you think I should? See him…I mean."

"What do you think?"

"Damn it, Jack, I don't know." She snapped. "That's why I asked you! I…I…." She hopped up out of her chair and stood facing the window. "Yes! I should see him. I want to see him…but I'm afraid."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid that I'll see him, and I still won't remember a damn thing. I'm afraid that it will hurt so badly to be disappointed that I won't be able to stand it, and I actually will go crazy! I'm afraid…I'm afraid he'll walk away."

"Why would he walk away?"

"Why wouldn't he? My god, my life's a mess. I'm a mess. I'm dependent and needy. I'm injured and lost." She spun around and looked at him with tears welling. "I wouldn't know my own mother if she walked in that door." She pointed to her threatening tears. "I cry at the drop of a hat! Who wants to deal with that?"

"He hasn't left yet. Why do you think he stays?"

"I don't know. Maybe he feels guilty. Maybe he's a glutton for punishment. Maybe he has a thing for lost causes."

"Do you think you're a lost cause?"

"Sometimes." She dropped her head in despair.

"I have to say, Stephanie. I have never met anyone with as many fiercely loyal friends as you seem to have. I know you don't remember them, but they remember you. And they won't abandon you, or give up on you. Especially Ranger."

Jack stood and took her a tissue. She accepted it and dried her eyes.

"I'll tell you what." He continued. "I think one big change will be enough for you today. Tell me where you really want to go when you leave here. Don't worry about anyone else's opinion or concerns. Just tell me where you would feel most secure."

"The house."

"The house it is. Today you go to the house. You get settled in. Walk around every room. See what happens, what it sparks. Eat a good dinner and get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, I'll come to the house to see you again. Then we'll talk about seeing Ranger. Is that okay with you?"

"Yes." She breathed a sigh of relief at having made a decision. "Thank you."

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Just after lunch Stephanie prepared to leave the hospital for the first time in over a week. Before she left, Bobby came in to re-introduce himself to her. He gave her a big hug, and they talked briefly about how he planned to follow up on her care once they got to the house. Stephanie was immediately taken in by his strikingly intense brown eyes, muscular body, and his amazingly gentle hands. There was something so familiar about him.

"You helped me." It wasn't a question. It was a memory, or part of one.

"That's right, Steph." Bobby gave her a smile and took her hand in support.

She looked down at their joined hands. The action jolted her thoughts and caught her off guard. Her head snapped up to meet his eyes. "I burned my hand. You treated it. You wrapped it."

Bobby nodded. "You're my friend, Steph. I'll always take care of you."

"I know." She smiled at how good it felt. Stephanie was encouraged by the quick revelation she experienced when she met Bobby. She felt some of her anxiety, for a possible meeting with Ranger, lessen at the prospect of having the same response with him.

"Are you ready to go?" He rubbed one of his long gentle fingers along her chin.

She closed her eyes, took in a deep breath and replied with all the determination she could muster. "Absolutely."

Lester picked up her bags, Bobby picked up her prescriptions and medical supplies and Stephanie picked up her vase of flowers.

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When they arrived at the house, Stephanie felt like a whole new person. Everything inside seemed familiar and she sensed that she really belonged there. She did as Jack ordered and slowly took a tour of the house. Some rooms held nothing for her; others brought back bits and pieces of images and feelings. She saved the master bedroom for last. Lester offered to accompany her, but she insisted she needed to do it alone. It was just like she remembered; it was large, warm and inviting. She went immediately to the closet and looked for the blue dress. The image had been nagging at her for days, but she couldn't place it with anything other than a connection with her birthday and a warm beach. She was so focused that she never even noticed that on the other side of the closet several items of men's clothing were hanging as well. She sorted through the hangers until she spotted the dress. She lifted it off the closet rod and carried it over to the bed. She laid it out and looked at it. Nothing. Not a single memory was sparked. In frustration she picked up the dress and threw it on a chair.

"You're trying too hard." She told herself. "Take it easy, and give yourself a break."

She left the room and went downstairs. She spent the next few hours watching a movie with Lester and Bobby. On a couple of occasions, during the evening, she had small flashbacks that included images of Lester and Bobby. The situations were unfamiliar, but when she described them to the two men, they carefully led her through the details, filling in missing information. They ordered Chinese food for dinner, and by the time they were finished, Stephanie was exhausted. She went upstairs, took a long hot bath in the Jacuzzi tub, threw on a pair of satin pajamas, and climbed into bed. The instant she fell asleep the dreams started.

She was running through a musty, dark warehouse. She had the feeling she was being chased. A large dog came from out of nowhere and leaped up against her, not in a frightening way, but in a friendly, playful attempt to gain her attention. She grabbed his dangling leash, and he led her outside. When she turned around and looked back, the warehouse was gone and in its place stood a small two-story house. She went back and tried to open the door, but it was locked. She heard footsteps coming up the stairs to the porch, and a deep male voice said. "It's too late, Cupcake. You can't go back."

"But where should I go? I don't know where I belong," she asked the tall stranger that approached her. He just smiled sadly at her and walked into the house. The dog followed him. She knocked several times, but he never answered. She backed off the porch still watching the house. As she retreated down the sidewalk, the house got smaller and smaller until it disappeared. "Where am I?" She called out.

The sound of a car racing down the street made her turn. A shiny black sports car pulled up to the curb. The windows were heavily tinted, and she couldn't make out whom the driver was. The passenger door slowly opened, and she found herself being drawn toward it. Just as she reached for the door, a familiar woman's voice floated passed her. "Be careful, Stephanie, you'll break your leg if you jump off that roof again."

Stephanie spun around, searching in vain for the source of the voice. "Mom? Where are you?"

"She went home, Beautiful. It's six o'clock. Dinner can't be late. Get in the car. He'll make sure you're safe."

She swung around to face the new voice. It was Lester. He was standing with his arms around a nurse. He smiled down at her and they kissed. Stephanie tried to get closer to the pair, but the distance between them never changed, no matter how fast she ran.

"Where will I be safe, Lester?" She stopped running when her head started to ache. Lester had vanished, but the black car remained, the open door still inviting her to enter.

Faced with no other options, Stephanie tentatively approached the car and slowly folded herself inside. It was so dark that she still could not see the driver, but there was someone there. She could feel his presence. There was a slight tingle at the back of her neck, and she absently reached up to touch it in response.

"Is this where I belong?" she meekly inquired of her unknown companion. "Is this where I'll be safe?"

"Babe." The dark figure began to lean toward her. There was no fear on her part; there was only anticipation as his mysterious form neared her field of vision. She waited anxiously for the revealing moment…

Stephanie eyes opened, and she shot up from her prostrate position on the bed. Her heart was racing, and she was covered with a light sheen of sweat. She was confused. She couldn't remember where she was, and the panic began to build. She had a pounding headache, so she climbed out of the bed and stumbled toward what she hoped was the bathroom. She groped for a light switch and slowly came to her senses when she recognized the now illuminated room. She clumsily procured and swallowed two Advil, then made her way back to the bed where she sat on the edge holding her head until she started to feel some relief from the throbbing pain. She glanced at the clock on the bedside table. 2:00 am. Stephanie's stomach grumbled, and one all-consuming thought governed her next action…Pineapple Upside Down Cake.

She quietly made her way down the stairs and stealthily entered the kitchen. She raided the pantry for all the ingredients she thought she would need and began measuring, mixing, and preheating. She worked herself into a frenzy as she cracked eggs, poured oil, and dumped flour. Her aggravation began to build as she struggled, one handed, with the can opener. Pineapple. She needed pineapple. Tears began streaming down her face as she studied the ingredients in her bowl and realized she had no clue what she was doing. She had no recipe and no memory of ever having made a cake before. In a fit of frustration she threw the opener, still attached to the errant can of fruit, across the counter where it crashed into a set of ceramic storage canisters. The impact shattered the glass sending shards flying everywhere. Stephanie slid to the floor cradling her head.

Lester raced into the kitchen with Bobby close behind; both with weapons drawn. Lester immediately scanned the room for an intruder as Bobby instantly attended to Stephanie.

"Steph, what the hell is going on here? Are you hurt?" Bobby was running his hands over her curled up body, looking for possible injuries. "Steph, talk to me. What's wrong?"

Stephanie was fast approaching hysterics. Her body was shaking with its attempts to capture air between sobs and she couldn't speak.

When Lester was convinced there was no impending danger in the house, he closed his cell phone, went back to the kitchen and crouched down in front of Stephanie and Bobby.

"Is she hurt?"

"Not that I can tell. I can't get her to answer me."

Recognizing the familiar need, Lester gathered her into his arms and carried her to the living room. He sat down on the couch, held her on his lap, and wrapped his arms around her. "Beautiful," he whispered into her ear. "Tell us what's wrong. Why are you crying?"

"I…(hiccup)…I was…hungry."

"Okay, Sweetie, what were you hungry for?"

"I…(sniffle)..wanted…(hiccup) pina..(hiccup)…pinapp…(sniffle)…I wanted cake."

"Is that what you were doing in the kitchen? Trying to make a cake? Cause I gotta tell ya, Beautiful, it looks like the Pillsbury Doughboy exploded in there."

"That's why…(hiccup)…I'm crying."

"Are you saying that the Pillsbury Doughboy actually did explode in there?"

"NO! I'm...crying…(sniffle) because I…can't…I can't cook."

"No, Sweetie, you can't." He kissed the top of her head with a smile on his lips. "In fact, I believe it's a misdemeanor in three states for you to even step foot into a kitchen."

"Why didn't…you…(sniffle)…tell me that?"

"The subject never came up." Stephanie looked up at him like that was the weakest excuse on the planet. Lester took the opportunity to wipe away some of her tears. "Listen, Steph, why don't you let me carry you upstairs so you can take a nice hot shower. You're completely covered in flour and…," he licked her hand, "pineapple juice. Bobby brought you one of those waterproof cast covers, like the one you used in the hospital." He stood up, still holding her in his arms. "I'll call Ella in the morning, and she'll be happy to make you a cake."

Stephanie nodded and Lester carried her past the kitchen, where Bobby was already cleaning up the mess, and up the stairs to the master bedroom. He gently deposited her on the counter in the bathroom and turned to start the shower for her. When it was all ready, he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you." She quietly uttered.

"You're welcome. I'm leaving this door open, and I will be sitting right here in the bedroom if you need anything." He opened a small drawer next to the sink, pulled out the cast cover and carefully slid it over her cast. "Are you in any pain?"

"I took some Advil earlier for a headache. I'm a little better now."

"I'll talk to Bobby; he might have something a little stronger you can take when you get out of the shower."

Lester left the room to make his quick inquiry to Bobby, and Stephanie undressed and stepped into the shower. The warm pulsating water felt good on her face and head. She stood for several minutes just letting it work its magic on her pain. She blindly reached for the shower sponge she had seen hanging from the caddy and grabbed the first bottle her hand came in contact with. She opened it and liberally squeezed the gel onto the sponge. As she produced the lather by working it with her good hand, the fragrance filled her nasal passages. This wasn't the same stuff she used in the hospital. It had a more masculine, earthy smell. She opened her eyes and looked at the bottle she had just placed back in the caddy.

"Hmm. Bvlgari. How the heck do you pronounce that?" She wondered out loud as she started washing her body.

Almost instantly Stephanie was besieged by images. She could see herself riding in a sleek, black, expensive car. The leather seats were butter soft. She was wearing knee high boots and a black, low-cut dress. Her right hand was wrapped in a gauze bandage; her left cradled in the hand of the driver, an intense, sexy, Hispanic man. The next series of images were with the same man. He was sitting with her at a restaurant, stunningly handsome in a suit and tie. His look was one of total reverence as she blew out a sparkling candle. He had her in a tight embrace against a door, their faces inches apart. They were in bed together, his gaze so intense that his dark brown eyes were nearly black with lust. The images became more intimate. She was back on that plane…she was flying. His touches were gentle and erotic. His mouth…god, his mouth. They were in the shower; his dark chocolate eyes imprisoning hers. His hands and body taking her over the edge repeatedly. His long silky hair…his powerful chest…. His lips on hers, hands joined, mouths joined, bodies joined. He called to her…"Babe".

Stephanie froze. "Carlos." The word came out in a breathless murmur of realization. "Oh, god, it's Carlos." Her heart began to race. Her memories of him were finally lucid. They had form and meaning. He loves her. She loves him. She pulled the sponge to her face and inhaled it deeply. "It's him…It's Carlos." She couldn't decide what to do. She was shaking with excitement as she hastily rinsed. "Lester…." She called, but it wasn't loud enough. "Lester!" She called again, and this time with a hint of panic in her voice.

The door swung open so fast it hit the wall behind it. "What's the matter, are you hurt?"

"No! No! It's Carlos, I need to see Carlos." She cried as she reached in vain for a towel.

Lester's heart sunk, and his tone became patronizing. "Beautiful, we already talked about this. Carlos isn't real. He was your make-believe son for the mission."

"No! You don't understand. I need to see him. I remember him." Stephanie was so uncontrollably eager she couldn't get the words out the right way to make him understand.

"Honey, you stay right here, and I'm going to go get Bobby. I think he needs to look at you. Did you hit your head in the shower?"

"Lester, STOP!" She grabbed him by the shirt to prevent him from leaving the room. She took a deep breath and began again slowly. "I need to see Ranger. I remember him. Oh, god Lester, I remember him!"

Lester grinned. "You mean Ranger? Big guy, about six feet tall? Long dark hair, brown eyes, no sense of humor?"

Stephanie enthusiastically nodded her head. "Yes…Carlos. I remember him! Where is he? I need to see him."

"You're not talking about little Carlos. Three feet tall, snotty nose, killer smile, big fan of Bob the Builder?"

"Lester, quit! Call him! Get him here! I need to see Ranger now!"

"Well why didn't you say so, Beautiful? He's downstairs."

Stephanie's eyes widened in surprise. "He's here? In this house? Downstairs?"

"Yep."

"But how?…when?…never mind." She pushed past him to run out of the bathroom.

"Steph?"

Stephanie stopped and turned at the address. "What?"

"You may want to put this on." He held up her bathrobe. "Personally, I'm fine with the whole nudist philosophy, but Ranger? Not so much."

Stephanie looked down and for the first time realized she was still naked and wet. "Um…thanks, Les." She sheepishly took the robe from his hands and wrapped it around her body.

"Why don't you let me go and get him for you? You guys will probably want your privacy any way. That will give you about thirty seconds to get ready. Because when I tell Ranger you want to see him. He's going to break the land speed record getting up those stairs."

Stephanie took those thirty seconds and tried to at least get a comb through her wet hair. She was so nervous she kept dropping the comb into the sink. She was just about to spray a detangler into her hair when she felt his presence at the door. She turned and tears of relief welled up in her eyes.

"Babe."

"Carlos." She dropped the comb and the bottle and rushed to his arms. "I'm so sorry, Carlos. I'm so sorry I couldn't remember you." She threw her arms around his neck and refused to let go. Tears were running freely down her cheeks and soaking into his shirt.

"Babe, don't apologize." He pulled back from their embrace and looked straight into her eyes. "Dios, Babe, I've missed you so much. I don't ever want to be away from you like that again." He pulled her close and they kissed. It started softly and reverently with each taking little nips at the other's lips. Ranger lifted her and placed her on the counter where she had started out earlier with Lester. He tightened his embrace, and, as her lips parted, he took full advantage, pouring the release of every agonizing second of their days of separation into their new connection. For several minutes there were no words, just touches of reassurance, kisses of elation and tears of joy.

They hugged fiercely, and Ranger carried her to the bed. He gently set her down, kicked off his shoes, and climbed in next to her. Stephanie couldn't take her hands off him. She kept one hand touching him the entire time. When he was settled, she climbed into his lap. She placed her hands on either side of his face and kissed him sweetly. "I've missed you, too. I know it didn't seem like it, but my heart missed you. Everything felt wrong and incomplete until this moment."

"Dios, Babe. I would watch you every day. I wanted so badly to be the one to help you through this. To give you the comfort you needed when you were so lost and frustrated." He ran his hands through her damp curls, never taking his eyes off her face. After so many days of stealing touches while she slept, afraid to cause her harm by his presence, he savored the recognition and love he saw in her eyes.

"I'm sorry I wouldn't see you. I was so afraid that…"

"Sh, sh, sh, Amada. I know. I know you were afraid."

"But I should have known. I should have known you!" The tears that had slightly abated began to fall again. "You should hate me. I hurt you!"

"I love you, Querida. I could never hate you. You didn't hurt me. You were the one that was hurt. I'm the one that is sorry. I promised to keep you safe, and I didn't."

"Carlos, don't you dare blame yourself!" She berated him. "I don't remember everything about the accident, but I know it wasn't your fault. Andrew told me that it was his fault. He gave me that bracelet that sent Giordano off his rocker."

"We could hear that you were in trouble, Babe, we couldn't get to you in time."

"If I ask your men, would they tell me that you failed? Would they say there was something you should have done differently?"

"No."

"Then you didn't. I could never believe that you would fail me if it was within your power to help." She leaned into him for another kiss. "Carlos."

"Yeah, Babe."

"Can you just hold me for a while?"

Ranger sat up looking concerned. "Are you all right? Lester said you had a headache. I could get Bobby…"

Stephanie cut him off. "Carlos, I'm fine. I just need to touch you. I need to be close to you."

"I can do that, Babe. I can hold you all night."

Stephanie settled into his arms. Ranger drew lazy circles down her back as he thanked God for the woman in his arms once again.

"Carlos, how did you get here so fast? Where were you? It's the middle of the night."

"I was outside."

"Outside! It must be forty degrees out there. What were you doing outside?"

"I was in my car."

"How long have you been sitting outside in your car?"

"Since you left the hospital this afternoon."

"You've been sitting in your car for ten hours?"

"I promised you I would never leave you. I promised you I would always be there for you. I knew you would remember us, Querida. I wanted to be here when you did."

Stephanie was once again in awe of the unwavering devotion he continued to show for her. "You never left me. You never gave up on me." She ran her fingers over his face, tracing his jaw line, his forehead, his lips. "I don't remember everything. There are a lot of things that are still foggy." She sat back and looked away to recapture a thought. "Did we go someplace warm, near an ocean or beach?"

"I took you to Miami for your birthday. We visited Julie, my daughter."

"Julie?" Stephanie frowned. "I don't remember that."

"Its okay, Babe. Those memories will come back. And if they don't, I'll take you back to Miami and we'll start over again."

"I have a feeling I'll be doing a lot of that."

"What?"

"Starting over."

"Jack is here to help you for as long as you need him. And I will be by your side the entire time. I love you so much, Babe."

As Stephanie looked into his eyes, she knew he meant every word. She leaned into him and rested her head against his chest. The strong rhythmic beat of his heart was soothing and reassuring. It was constant, like his loyalty to her. "I know you will." She whispered. "I can't do this without you."

Ranger resumed his affectionate stroking on her back. "Babe? What exactly do you remember about our trip to Miami?"

She sat back to explain. "I don't really recall specific events or places. It's more like a series of random images and feelings that pop into my head."

"What was it that made you call for me? What sparked your memory?"

"I was in the shower, and I grabbed a bottle of this really great smelling gel. The minute I inhaled its scent, I was transported. It was like a slide show going off in my head, and you were in every picture." She blushed and avoided his eyes. "Some of the images were very…intimate."

Ranger took her chin in his hand and guided her eyes to his. "Amada, Miami was a special place for us. We were intimate…a lot."

"That's what I gather." She shyly smiled. "Like I said, though, I don't remember everything." She started unbuttoning his shirt. "You may have to repeat a few things for me…I mean…to jog my memory, of course."

He grinned. "Of course." His voice became low and sexy. "If it's for the sake of your recovery, how could I refuse?" He slid out of his shirt, dropped it off the side of the bed and slowly lowered her onto her back. Covering her with his body, he dropped within inches of her mouth. He reached in between their anxious torsos and slowly untied the belt on her robe. "I think I should start the refresher course from the beginning, on the plane."

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The man focused intently on the chessboard. His slightly graying hair was perfectly styled and held in place with a touch of gel. His fine Italian silk shirt was exquisitely tailored to show off his broad shoulders, trim waist and long strong arms. Despite his advancing age, he was a handsome, healthy specimen. A glass of scotch sat just beyond the reach of his well-manicured fingers, which were slowly tapping a rhythm of contemplation on the table. The next move was his and he was taking his time. It had to be a good one. He didn't like to lose.

There was a courtesy knock on the door and then it opened without waiting for a response. The man that entered bore a striking resemblance to his father. His clothes were more casual but obviously well-fitting and just as expensive. The strong, silent confidence, his father exuded, was absent and in its place a certain amount of anxious cockiness and immature angst emanated from his younger but towering, athletic frame. He crossed the room and poured himself a drink. He threw it down his throat, grimaced at the burn, and poured another. He knew better than to speak. He waited for his father's attention.

A slow, satisfying grin formed on the older man's face as he moved his game piece.

"Check."

There was a groan from the young woman across the table as she realized his play had left her with only two moves, both of which would secure his victory.

The atmosphere in the room changed instantly from that of intense concentration to one of a more lighthearted, playful nature. "Don't worry, my dear, you're skills are improving nicely. It took me more than ten moves to defeat you this time."

"You don't play fair." She pouted. "You should let me win every once in a while."

"You'll have to get better if you want to beat me. You know I never let anyone win." He looked up at his son. "Well?"

The son shot a wary look to the beautiful, young woman who had her back to him. The older man acknowledged the message.

"My dear, why don't you go paint your nails. Or better yet, go upstairs and put on that lovely little dress you bought earlier today." He ran his fingers down the side of her face and then lower, as they teased her cleavage. "I'll be up later for a private fashion show."

The young woman stood, gave him a sexy smile, and seductively kissed him on the lips. She turned, winked at the son, and sauntered out of the room.

When the door closed, the son downed his second drink and put the glass on the table. "She's out of the hospital."

"Good. Where is she now?"

"Still in Philly. At the house on Juniper Court."

"Does she have her memory back yet?"

"Not that I know of. My source said she was still 'confused' but was undergoing therapy." He glanced at his father. "What do you want me to do?"

"Is Manoso still with her?"

"Yes. A couple of others as well. Her security is as tight as it was in the hospital."

"Don't do anything. Keep an eye on her. Don't lose her. I want her healthy and well before we move in."

"But…"

"Patience son, revenge is no fun when the victim doesn't know why it's happening." He picked up his scotch and drank it quickly. "Manoso can't protect her all the time. I can be a very patient man. Stephanie Plum will get better…and then…." He set his empty glass on the table. "No one interferes with my family. We take care of our own."

End.

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Author Note: Thanks a million to all of the people who have been reading my story and encouraging me with your wonderful reviews. I would invite you all to Thanksgiving Dinner if we didn't live in the wonderful world of fanfiction where everyone is anonymous and spread out all over the world (I had to pull up a map to locate the Isle of Man. Fanfiction is not only entertaining, it's also educational).

It's not over yet! There is a sequel! A Total Eclipse of the Heart continues where this story ends, and trouble for Stephanie is not far behind.

Again, thanks for taking this journey with me. I learned that writing is tons more fun than housework,