This one is a little different – A Ranger POV

The clock had just struck midnight when my phone rang. As was the case most nights, my brain was sifting through images of Stephanie, so the identity of the caller was irritatingly ironic.

I debated not answering but knew if he was calling me directly, there was probably a damn good reason.

"Yo."

"Hey," Vince replied, and I could hear the tension in his voice with just that one syllable. It got me instantly on edge and I sat up from my prone position on the couch.

"Is there a problem down there?" I sent him to Florida a week ago to train some new recruits for the Miami office. I told him it was because he was the only person I trusted to get the job done right, but I think we both knew it was because every time I saw his face I wanted to put my fist through it.

To his credit, he went without question or complaint.

"No," he said, "everything is good here. This is about Stephanie."

Fuck. I was not going to have that conversation with him. It had been bad enough when he wanted my blessing to ask her out, I could only imagine what it was now. If he tells me he wants to marry her, I will have to go to Miami and bury the body where no one will find it.

"Lost control of your woman already?" I said it just to be a dick - but again, to his credit, he didn't take the bait.

"She was supposed to call me after dinner...when she didn't I tried calling her several times...she doesn't pick up...that's-"

"Not like her," I finished his sentence for him. Sometime during that short exchange, I'd risen from the couch and begun to pace the floor. The hand not holding the phone was clenched into a fist so tightly it was starting to ache.

"No, it's not," he agreed with me. "Given her history...I just - I'm worried. Will you...will you check on her?"

I knew it was probably killing him come to me with this request. I also knew just how worried he was because otherwise he would have gone to Lester or even Tank before ever purposely asking me to be anywhere near her.

"I'll take care of it." I hung up on him and immediately called the control room.

"Control," was barked out after the first ring.

"I need the location of Stephanie's vehicle," I commanded.

I heard the clicking of a keyboard before Cal responded a second later. "It's currently in the lot of her apartment building. It's been stationary for the last ten hours."

"And her handbag?"

After the whole Abruzzi mess, and without her knowledge, I installed a tracking device in her car and another in her bag. I knew it would piss her off and she'd try to dump them so I kept that information to myself.

"In her apartment," Cal replied after some more clicking. "Also stationary for the past ten hours….is there a problem?"

I smiled a little at the concern in his voice. It wasn't surprising, the whole crew adored her and anyone of them would do anything to for her. I'd often had to break up fights between them over who got be on her protection detail. Cal had jumped on the bandwagon when all the guys followed Vince's lead and asked about dating her. I was sure he did it to protect his secret, because if I'm not mistaken, Cal would be much more interested in Hector than Stephanie.

"I'll let you know." I disconnected and dialed another number. It went to voice mail after four rings so I tried her land line. Answering machine. Vince was right; this wasn't like her.

I sorted through possible scenarios as I got dressed. She could have been kidnapped (again), she could have fallen and knocked herself unconscious, she could have cut herself and bled out on the kitchen floor….

I shook my head to clear those types of thoughts. It wasn't productive and it was making me uneasy. She probably just didn't want to talk to anyone and I should leave her alone.

I had to know for sure so I grabbed my keys out of the tray on the sideboard and headed out.

I drove way too fast on my way to her apartment, but I couldn't seem to get my foot off the gas and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. I'd been feeling off all day and I should have known it was because of her. Stephanie and I had always had this weird connection that I still didn't understand but I wasn't going to ignore it.

I had to force myself to slow down so I could turn into her parking lot without taking out a row of cars. I pulled into the first spot I found and raced up the stairs to her second story apartment. All the lights were out and there were no signs of life when I listened at the door so I let myself in.

Living room and dining area were empty and Rex was the only occupant in the kitchen so I headed down the hall to her bedroom.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw her curled up into the fetal position in the middle of her bed. She appeared to just be sleeping, but when I stepped closer I noticed she was fully clothed, including her shoes and she was shivering almost violently. There was light sheen of sweat on her face and a faint moaning coming from somewhere low in her throat.

I clicked on the bedside lamp, lowered myself onto the bed next to her and placed my palm on her forehead. She was burning hot with fever and when I called her name and tried to get her to open her eyes, I got nothing.

I pulled off her shoes, wrapped her up in the blanket that was folded at the end of her bed and then gathered her into my arms. The moaning stopped but she was still shivering. Holding her close to my chest with my left arm, I reached for my phone with my right and hit speed dial when I got it off my belt.

Bobby's smooth deep voice picked up after two rings.

"Steph's – now. And bring Ella." I didn't have to wait for a response because I knew he'd already be on the way so I disconnected and dropped my phone on the nightstand.

I needed to check her temperature to figure out how bad this was but when I tried to lay her back on the bed, she clutched at my shirt and made disapproving noises so I just held her close until Bobby and Ella arrived ten minutes later.

Bobby's eye met mine briefly when he came through the door and then he was in full medic mode, opening his kit as he crossed the room.

"She's unresponsive," I told him as he pulled out an electronic thermometer. He bent over her and stuck it in her ear without replying. When it beeped two seconds later, his lips pressed together in a firm line making them turn white against his dark skin. He dropped the thermometer back in his bag and brought out a stethoscope. He listened to her chest and took her pulse at her wrist.

"How long has she been this way?" he finally spoke.

"I don't know I just got here. How bad is it?"

"One hundred and four. Her lungs are clear but she's dehydrated and her pulse is low. We need to get her in a cool bath – now."

"I'll get her undressed," Ella said as she came around Bobby's right side. "You go get the bath water running," she added, pointing at me.

Stephanie whimpered again when I went to lay her back on the bed and my heart turned over in my chest. I did not want to let go of her. I glanced at Bobby in question and he shook his head. "We need do this."

I reluctantly detached her hands from my shirt and gently settled her back on the bed. Leaving her in Bobby and Ella's care, I headed to the bathroom.

When I reached for the taps on the tub, I was surprised to find my hand shaking. I'd seen several of my men sick with fever in the field and even knowing that some of them wouldn't make it through, it had never affected me this way. I knew she would be fine; Bobby would make sure of it, but my hands would not stop shaking.

I plugged the drain and watched the water rise. Bobby entered the room a few minutes later carrying Steph in his arms. Ella was on his heels and had thoughtfully covered her with a sheet to protect her privacy.

Together they lowered her into the cool water and then Bobby motioned with a tilt of his head that I should follow him out. We left Ella to tend to the bath.

I sat on the couch and Bobby took the chair across from me. "I gave her some liquid Advil – that in combo with the bath should bring down the fever. I think it's just the flu, but if her fever spikes again, she'll need to go to the hospital."

I nodded and ran a hand through my hair. "I'll take care of her," I assured him.

"I don't have any doubt," Bobby said. He stared at me with hard eyes and worked a muscle in his jaw.

"Something else on your mind?" I asked.

He took a breath and blew it out slowly as if debating the wisdom of what he was thinking about saying. "You wanna tell me why you're here while her boyfriend is in Miami?"

This had all the signs of a lecture – probably the same lecture Tank had tried to give me earlier today. I was not in the mood.

"Not the time to get into this, Brown." I used his last name to let him know I was pissed. Unfortunately he didn't seem to care.

"This Vince thing is eating away at you and the guys are starting to suspect you're not quite as okay with it as you purport to be."

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't bullshit me, man. I've known you too long for that. Do you really think I haven't noticed the look on your face every time you see him touch her?"

Not possible. I've spent a lot of years perfecting not letting emotions show. No one knows what I'm thinking unless I want them to.

"What look is that?"

"The one where you're clearly imagining breaking every single bone in both of his hands."

Shit. I did imagine doing that. I stared at Bobby but didn't know what to say so I kept my mouth shut.

He sighed and shook his head. "Look, I get it," he said. "Steph is…well she's special…and I know how hard it must be for you to stand aside and let someone else be there for her but that's exactly what you need to do. If you keep hanging around and giving her hope that you might actually let her in to that dark heart of yours, she's just going to end up getting hurt. All of you are going to end up getting hurt and I don't think I can sit back and watch it happen anymore."

This was only the second time in the ten years I'd known Bobby that he'd called me out on anything so I knew he was serious. Tank had said nearly the same things to me today. I could handle whatever one or the other of them thought they could dish out but the two of them together was something else entirely.

I didn't trust myself to say anything so I gave him a single nod to let him know I heard him and that I understood.

He pushed up out of the chair and stood looking down at me. "Give her the Advil every four hours and keep a close eye on the fever. She'll need liquid and food – Ella knows what to get."

I nodded again and he headed for the foyer. "Call me if you need anything else," he said over his shoulder.

"Bobby," I said, finding my voice again.

He stopped and turned around with eyebrows raised.

"I'm in love with her." The words sounded foreign on my tongue. Probably because I'd never said then out loud before. Ever.

If he was surprised by my admission, he didn't show it. Maybe I needed to take blank face lessons from Bobby since mine have been called into question.

"I know," he nodded. "But you're not willing to let her love you in return so back off and allow her to give all that love she has to someone else. Vince is a good guy - let them have a chance."

He didn't wait for a response; none was necessary. We both knew he was right.

I retreated to the bedroom after Bobby left and got my phone. I punched in Vince's number and wasn't shocked when he picked up before the first ring was complete.

"Is she okay?" he said as a greeting.

"She will be. She's got the flu with a high fever. I had Bobby here and Ella's looking after her now."

He exhaled a huge burst of air and I could actually feel the stress leaving him through the phone. "Thanks," he said.

"No problem. How's the training going?"

"Good. I don't think there is much else I can teach them." Training new recruits was a minimum three week process which I knew he was well aware of, so this was a not so subtle hint that he wanted to come home.

It was time for me to take Bobby's advice.

"I'll send a replacement immediately. You can head back to Trenton as soon as he gets there."

There was a beat of silence where I imagined the look of shock on his face. It almost made me smile.

"Oh – okay. Great...thank you, Ranger."

I disconnected and sent Tank a text instructing him to send Lester to Miami.

When Ella said it was time, I got Stephanie out of the bath and discreetly turned away while Ella dressed her in the tank top and shorts I found in her dresser. I didn't tell her how I knew what she wore to bed and Ella wisely didn't ask.

I sent her off to get juice and broth and crackers and anything else she thought Steph would need when she was able to eat. When Ella was gone I tucked her into bed and covered her with two extra blankets but she started shivering again anyway so I crawled into the bed next her and spooned her back to my front. As soon as my arm came around her she settled down and I lay there for a long time contemplating how I was going stay away from her.

###

It had been over twenty four hours since I first found her and she was finally showing signs of life. Her fever had been under a hundred for the past eight hours and she was currently tossing and turning under the blankets I had piled on top of her.

I watched her eyes slowly open and then she blinked several times.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, babe."

I think she jumped at least a couple of inches up off the mattress and her hand clutched her chest. Ooops.

"Jesus Ranger. You need to learn how to announce yourself." She settled back onto her pillow and took a couple of calming breaths.

"Sorry," I said and couldn't help smiling.

She turned and looked at me. "Are you okay?" she asked. "You look…tired."

"It's been a little rough. How do you feel?"

Her brows knitted together like she wasn't sure. "I don't know. A little groggy I guess, and hot. What's with all the blankets?" She kicked them off and dragged her legs out from between the comforter and sheets as well.

I raised an eyebrow. "It was the only thing that stopped the shivering," I said. "Do you remember anything?"

"What do you mean? What's to remember?"

"You've been really sick, Steph. Some kind of flu."

"What?" She sat up way too quickly, I was sure. "Whoa, dizzy," she said and lay back down. I was up and out the chair before her head hit the pillow again. I sank onto the mattress next to her and felt her forehead with the palm of my hand. Her skin was gloriously cool and smooth.

"The fever finally broke, but you need some food," I told her.

"Fever?" she questioned.

"Yeah," I confirmed. "It was over a hundred and four when I found you. I almost took you to the hospital." I was staring into the blue depths of her eyes and wondered if my blank face was in place. Probably not. "You scared the shit out of me," I admitted.

She opened and closed her mouth twice before saying, "Have you been taking care of me?"

I nodded and brushed some loose strands of hair back from her face.

Another long moment passed and then she said, "Did you put me in a bath?"

I smiled at her. "Starting to remember?"

"A little. Was Bobby here?"

"Yeah. I called him when I couldn't get you to wake up. He's the one who wanted you in the bath. He said it helps bring down high fevers."

She nodded and pulled her bottom lip into her mouth with her teeth. She did that when she was thinking - or when she was embarrassed. "Did Bobby see me naked?"

I had to smile. "No, Ella got you undressed. He did carry you to the bath – but Ella had you covered with a sheet."

"Who is Ella?"

"Ella is my house keeper."

Both her eyebrows rose in surprise. "So the Batcave comes with a housekeeper?"

"Can you really see me scrubbing toilets, babe?"

She laughed and I laughed with her. "No, absolutely not," she said.

"Do you think you can eat something? Ella left some food for you."

"Yeah, I'm pretty hungry actually. But first a shower – I'm all sweaty."

I got up from her side and gave her my hand to help her up. She got to her feet with a minimum of swaying so I let her go of her. "I'll get something ready for you while you shower. It will not be doughnuts." I felt I should give her that warning.

"Great," she said. "Now I have nothing to look forward to."

I smiled and headed for the kitchen.

"Ranger?" she called and I turned back to look at her. "Did you see me naked?"

That sounded like it was probably a loaded question so I decided evasive was the way to go.

"I've seen you naked before, babe."

"Mmmm," was her response and I expected follow up questions but she surprised me and closed herself inside the bathroom instead.

I busied myself in the kitchen while she was showering. By the time she emerged wrapped in her robe and her wet hair tied up in a towel turban, I had nuked her some broth and found the saltines and Gatorade Ella provided.

"Eat," I demanded, pointing at the tray I set on the kitchen counter for her. She rolled her eyes but pulled out a stool and sat down. She drank some Gatorade and nibbled on a cracker.

After a few spoonfuls of soup she said, "Satisfied?"

"It's a start," I said and she rolled her eyes again.

"What day is it?" she asked.

"What was the last day you remember?" I countered.

"Thursday. I remember coming home early because I didn't feel well."

"That might be an understatement," I said. "It's early Saturday morning," I told her after glancing at my watch.

"Shit," she said and came up off her stool. "And you've been here, taking care of me this whole time?"

"Yeah," I confirmed and she came around the counter to where I was standing, watching her eat.

"Why?" she questioned and I turned to face her. "You didn't have to do that. I'm sure there were other things you could have been doing."

"Nothing else was as important to me, Steph."

I light sheen of tears developed over her eyes and she surprised me for the second time by reaching out and pulling me to her in a tight hug. Even if I had wanted to, I couldn't stop my arms from coming around her.

"Thank you," she whispered and then tilted her head back to look up at me. My brain screamed at me not to do it but my body would not obey. I bent my head and captured her lips with mine.

She melted into me and when her mouth opened and my tongue touched hers, a bolt of heat shot straight through to my stomach and pooled low in my groin. I knew she could feel my desire for her pressing through the thin material of her robe because she let out a breathy moan and I almost came at the sound.

Somehow, Bobby's words penetrated the fog of my mind and I grabbed her elbows and pushed her back, breaking the kiss. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were full of questions.

"I'm sorry," I blurted. "I didn't….I'm sorry," I repeated and let go of her arms. I moved past her out of the kitchen and retrieved my keys and gun from the counter. "I have to go," I said not looking at her. I knew if I looked at her I would see the hurt in her eyes and then I wouldn't leave, maybe not ever, so I didn't look.

"Vince is on his way back from Miami – his plane has probably already landed so he should be here soon." I was at her door and opened it before I could talk myself out of it. I heard her calling my name as I closed it behind me but I forced myself to keep moving.

When I got into my car and drove away my lips were still tingling with the memory of that last kiss – and that's what it was going to have to be.

Our last kiss.