Thanks Susan for editing, encourage and supporting me. Especially after some mean malware, (don't really know what it is, but I hope I kicked its ass so it never comes back.) makes your finished chapter go in the wind, and I had to write the whole thing all over again. All that is not correct is mine. Thank you reviewers, readers, followers, and you who have favorite Faith. Love you all. :)

Chapter 12

When Stephanie arrived on Haywood, she saw a few black clad men entering and leaving the building, which made her wonder if they were changing shifts. By now she had calmed down considerably, she waited a few moments to gather her thoughts about what she wanted to achieve by coming here. Did she want a big fight and leave him before they were even a couple? Or, did she want to know why he acted as he had. Not that she excused his treatment of her, but who knows why he was so obnoxious, and she started feeling irate again. She walked determinedly into the lobby, and asked the man behind the desk if she could speak to Tank. If Ranger didn't want to speak to her, she would force him to acknowledge her. Jeez, if this was how it was going to be she didn't need a relationship.

Tank appeared in the lobby looking confused that she was there so late in the afternoon. "Stephanie? Did we have an appointment?" he asked hesitantly.

With barely concealed annoyance, she replied. "No, I'm here to see your boss, but I don't want him to know I'm here yet. Can you take me to him? I want to have the advantage of surprise here."

Tank looked at the woman standing before him and wondered what Ranger could have done to anger this otherwise good-humored woman. He was glad he was not the recipient of her ire; she looked somewhat frightening to him. The times he had seen her in the last few days she had looked sophisticated and extremely feminine, now however she eluded the vibe of indignation and wanting to kick some serious ass. It might not be a good idea to bring her to Ranger now, he had been heard cursing in his office for some time now, and nobody had been inclined to approach him. "Well Stephanie, he is not in the best of moods right now. Maybe it would be better to leave him alone for a bit. Did something happen between you two?"

She only looked at him, conveying that that was none of his business. "I am sorry he is not in a good mood but I don't really care about that, I need to see him now."

Tank wordlessly took her elbow and steered her into the elevator, "I warn you, to approach him now is not the best idea." He tried one last time.

Stephanie huffed, "don't think I am afraid of that man, I'm no shrinking violet, and I'm not afraid of bullies."

"Okay, have it your way." Replied a resigned, Tank.

"You should know I always get my way." Stephanie said with a bit of humor coming back in her voice.

Tank snickered softly. "So I have heard from your husband."

Her face softened up immediately, and she thought of how Hawk would react to the insult Ranger had dealt her. Because that was not Carlos, who had spoken so to her, or was it? Well she would see soon enough as they approached his office. Tank knocked and waited. "What the hell do you want?" Is what came back from the other side of the door, in an agitated and harsh voice.

As in a déjà vu, Tank opened the door, pushed her in, and closed it behind her. The sight that greeted her was a bewildered Carlos, hair disheveled because he had run his hand through it many times, it seemed. He looked just like his son when he encountered something he really did not understand, and tried all he could to comprehend, making him feel utterly at a loss and aggravated. He tried to uphold his blank face and cold eyes, but didn't achieve it, because he now looked like a lost puppy, trying to avoid her eyes.

God, he was worse than she was in this relationship shit by the looks of it. "Carlos, can you explain to me what I did wrong for you to treat me with so little respect?" She asked, before she had a chance to think. Maybe she should approach him as she did her son, Rick. Were men like children? She knew she could behave childishly and be annoying from time to time so why not Carlos too. Hawk was nothing like a child, but then their relationship was without expectations beyond the normal civilities you extended to a respected and loved friend. God why was this so difficult, did she really want all this aggravation? She knew she had a bond with Carlos but she was not in love with him, at least not as of yet. Although she felt she owed it to Rick and herself to try to make this relationship work, but her enthusiasm was long gone looking at the lost man before her.

He looked so regretful, "By God I don't know." He uttered defeated. "Must have been the word 'again', my father was fond of using that word. 'Do I need to punish you, again?' 'Do you need to destroy my good mood, again?' 'Again you disappoint me.' Then he would bully my mother if she had called him to get his consent for something, because if she did not call he would be angry at the fact she had not. 'Can't you do anything by yourself, do you have to call me the whole day and disrupt my work.'" Carlos did not look at her when he almost shouted the words his father had used to belittle and intimidate his family, his hands running in his hair in anguish. She stayed quiet, soaking in his despair, feeling her anger dissipate, recognizing the fact she had the same pain from her childhood, and could understand his confusion of those recollections coming back without any reason, if provoked by something that pulled that trigger on his memories. It meant that he was just as vulnerable as she was in all this, and just like that, tenderness and a wish to protect him from pain, took over her indignation.

She walked up to him and pulled him in a solid hug. "Do you want to know what I thought when I said that word?"

He pulled her tighter still, holding her almost desperately. "Yes." He whispered in her hair.

"You have been calling Rick and me these last few days a few times a day and I really like that, only I had not realized how much. Anyhow, Carla made a comment about you calling me, which was the moment I realized you had made that effort and I was somewhat dumbstruck that a man with so many responsibilities like you, would take the time to do so. No man has ever called me just for the fun of it, or maybe you did it for us to get to know each other better. So when you said you were about to call me once more I was stunned and pleasantly surprised, that's all. I certainly had no ill intent Carlos. I love how attentive you have been to us."

"I'm so sorry I reacted so cold, I heard rejection in your tone, as if I took too much of your time. It made me shut down, and I wanted to hurt you as I thought you did me. I'm so sorry, I should have known better." He pleaded.

She took his face in her hands and gave him a soothing kiss on his lips to show him she understood. That kiss soon became more than just soothing and they were latched on to each other in desperate passion, when somebody knocked on his door. Hesitantly Ranger let go of Stephanie, "Are we Okay?" He asked intently searching for answers in her eyes.

"Guess so." She replied blushing and smiling like a fool, while trying to assess the damage done to her hair and clothes by his groping hands. Forgetting that she looked thoroughly kissed for an outsider. They took a little time to regulate their breathing before Ranger barked, "Enter."

Tank came in with a cell phone, looking apologetic, until he saw her disheveled appearance, then he smiled knowingly. "Stephanie I have a call for you, it seems you have forgotten your phone at home and your son insists on speaking to you."

She blushed a little more and rolled her eyes, before she gave Tank a grateful smile. "Thanks Tank," and took Rick's call.

"Hi sweetheart, sorry I forgot my phone but how did you get this number? … Oh, Carla did, did she? … What? … How did you get her to do that? … Oh. … You're here now aren't you? … Yes I will ask, hold on."

She turned to Ranger with a stunned expression, "Rick is downstairs with Carla, his nanny, and wants to come in to say hello. Do you mind?"

"Of course not." He beamed, "I'll go and get him."

"Carlos is on his way to come get you and Carla, and you can come in, but we will have to have a talk when we get home buster. … I know you always want to know where I am and where I am going but Carla told you I was here. … I know it was unexpected for you but you cannot force Carla to bring you places by threatening to go by yourself, do you hear? … We will talk about this later." She disconnected a little harshly and gave the phone back to a grinning Tank.

"Temper, temper, Stephanie, be kind to the boy, he has fascinating DNA that kid. I'd say he can't help it." She huffed and walked to the elevator to wait for Rick and Carla to come up.

"Hey, beautiful, how are you? You couldn't stay away from me could you?" Lester said grinning from ear to ear when he saw her. Bobby and two men with tattoos on their faces that she had seen at Pino's joined them. The one with the skull on his brow was huge like Tank. The other one had sinister teardrops tattooed under his eye, and what she recognized as a gang slogan on his neck. They both used a blank face and stayed silent. If they would not have worked there and she had met them in an ally she would have been very cautious, they looked pretty scary, and she would put them in a different category then the beefcakes she had seen, especially the smaller Hispanic one with the teardrops.

"Yeah that's the reason I'm here, you found me out. What now?" Stephanie replied amused

"Nothing, I just want you to admit I'm irresistible." Lester grinned.

"I'll admit you are irresistibly funny Lester. Why don't you introduce me to your coworkers? That way you make yourself irresistibly useful." Stephanie grinned back good-humouredly.

"Let me do that Stephanie," Tank cut in. "The one with the skull is Cal and the other one is Hector, our computer and security specialist."

"Hi Cal, Hector, nice to meet you, I'm Stephanie Taylor, I'm in charge of Plums Bail Bonds, and we enlist RangeMan to apprehend our skips." Then smiled politely at them.

Call gave a nod and said, "Nice to meet you, Ma'am."

Hector only said, "Ma'am." Then the elevator doors opened and out walked Carla, Rick, and Ranger.

Lester who had been smiling now stilled and looked literally open mouthed at his boss and the boy, moving his eyes from Rick to Ranger and back. "Where did you get that mini you?" he asked without meaning to be funny but that is how shocked he was. Stephanie observed the other men that surrounded them and saw they were equally bewildered. They had obviously not thought of this and Ranger looked at Stephanie for answers not wanting to complicate things further.

She took the hint and said. "Lester, let me introduce you to my son and my friend Carla." Lester zoomed in on Carla and a seductive smile graced his lips in a nanosecond, always appreciating a beautiful woman to seduce. However, the man with the teardrop tattoo, was not enchanted with Carla, and asked Ranger in Spanish. "Dios, boss, is the little man related to you?"

Whereupon Rick proudly replied in Spanish, "he is my father."

Upon that statement, all went still, except for the occasional shocked gasp. Now the cat was out of the bag, Ranger said equally proud. "He's correct this is my son Rick."

At once everybody was talking and asking questions, which made Rick come to her and take cover with his back to her front in her arms. She heard Ranger tell Bobby, and a few of the men that had been drawn to the ruckus near the elevator, when and how he had met her, and how Rick had been a very agreeable revelation to him. Moreover, that he now was in a relationship with her, marking his territory with a possessiveness that astounded her, however, pleasantly. A rush of arousal ran through her body, making her shiver in delight.

"You're shitting me." Lester said after he had listened to Ranger's explanation.

This made Stephanie say sternly, "Mr. Santos?" While making a mental note, to keep Rick, out of Lester Santos, influence. Nice man, but what came out of his mouth was toxic for little boys.

"Oh I am sorry, forgot myself. Never use that word Rick, it's rude." He attempted to convey fatherly, which failed miserably because his eyes told Rick another story, and made the little man grin.

Tank came forward, bending to come about to Rick's eye level and gave him a friendly smile, taking Rick's little hand in his to shake it. "I am very pleased to meet you Rick, my name is Tank and I am a friend of your father, we work together."

"Oh, like daddy Hawk and Uncle Luca?" Replied a by now unperturbed Rick with a smile.

"Exactly." Tank said smiling back. "Can you introduce me to your friend Carla, Rick?" Tank did that to divert the attention to Carla and give Rick a break. While Carla saw the handsomest man, she had ever seen, she thought Carlos had nothing to him, and he was admittedly gorgeous.

"Yes I can." Rick said looking seriously at Tank and then spoke to Carla, "Carla this is Tank, and he is a friend of my father." Proud he had accomplished the task he glanced up to Stephanie who glanced tenderly back at him. Which told Rick he was forgiven, but she knew, they still had to have a talk, fascinating DNA indeed. Stephanie had a suspicion Carla had given in to come there because she was worried over her, and wanted to check if she was all right. While she considered that, Carla came her way and asked. "Are you all right Steph? I feel so guilty I made you call him for me."

Ranger who was hovering over Stephanie and Rick again, heard her and asked Carla. "What was it that Stephanie needed to ask me?"

Carla startled and blushed, "Uh, um, uh, if we could use your gym, we spar together but our gym at home is too small and has no mats."

Carlos lifted an eyebrow; "you spar?" he glanced at Stephanie and to Carla again.

Stephanie interrupted looking all innocent, "yes, we do. Hawk taught us self-defense and fight moves. Luca insist we needed to be able to defend ourselves. And we like the exercise."

"So do I, Uncle Luca has taught me some moves so I can kick ass too," Rick stated, drawing a disbelieving look from his mother. He resumed defensively. "Yeah, to kick the butts of those kids that bothered Manuel, my best friend, they pestered him because his parents are divorced." Then he sobered and looked sad. "Now since we moved I can't help him anymore, he will miss me, I'm sure."

Before anybody could say anything Hector spoke up, he smiled and had a warm look in his eyes. This had all the RangeMan men giving him shocked glances, Steph noticed. Hector never smiled, and his eyes did not convey anything but cold disdain for anybody around him. "Good of you to protect your friends Rick, if you want I will help you to learn more moves?"

Ranger hurried to speak. "That will not be necessary Hector, I'll teach him." He almost blew out a relieved sigh to have stopped that, knowing that if Hector would teach Rick, he would be streetwise and lethal by the time he was fourteen. Not an ambition he had envisioned for his son, but it was interesting to see that Hector had some affection for Rick. Ever since Hector's young wife had been raped and slaughtered by his fellow gang members, he had not shown any compassion or warmth for anybody. He had retaliated by killing the gang members that had taken away his precious wife and left his emotions closed off. As it happens, Carlos could not have found a better protector for his son then Hector, in lethality there was no equal, nor was there in computer skills.

Breaking the tension Lester asked Carla enthusiastically, "You could spar with me?"

Carla eyed Steph for a moment, seeing her approval she said, "Oh no, you should take Stephanie on, I've only sparred with my instructor and Steph. You will have more fun sparring with her." That she had only sparred with her instructor was no big lie, just a little fib she told herself, as Stephanie was her main tutor, and she had only sparred with her, Hawk and Luca.

"Okay, so Stephanie when am I getting the honor of besting you on the mat." Lester voiced confident.

She grinned, "Now if you want. Who am I to withhold you your victory."

Lester's eyes grew wide with excitement. "Really?"

"Yeah, why not. As long as Rick has something to keep him busy elsewhere. I've got my workout clothes in my car." Her eyes alight with the same excitement

Ranger did not like the thought of his woman sparring with Lester, but thought is also better not to interfere with her wishes, Hawk's warning still in the forefront of his mind. "You will need to change, why don't you do that in my apartment? Our locker room is men only, as we don't employ women except Ella, who is our housekeeper by the way, we have no need for it."

"Mom can I go with Hector; he has many computer games I want to see? Please?" Rick asked. Stephanie consulted wordlessly with Ranger and then consented.

"I'll pick you up when I'm done okay? Maybe we can go and eat some pizza at Pino's afterwards; Carla has already called Ana, to tell her we won't eat at home. Would you want that?"

Rick grinned, "Only if they have one without meat."

"Oh I think we can arrange that. Have a good time and I will get you when I'm done." She kissed his hair and went on her way to show Lester Santos he shouldn't underestimate his opponent.

She changed in Ranger's apartment with him waiting in his office, he had suggested he would come too, but she was afraid that if they were alone she would not make it to the gym anytime soon. The sexual tension between them was getting stronger every time they saw each other; she liked that, but now was not the time to see where it would lead. He had asked her out on a date and she was looking forward to getting to know him in a more private setting. His apartment was a pleasant surprise, it was Zen-like calm and understatedly masculine, she could see he did not live there as she lived in her house; she missed the knickknacks of a real home. In the future, he might want to live at her house, or maybe not, she had no idea what the future might hold, but she really needed to relieve some of her sexual tension soon.

When she was done changing, she took a black t-shirt from Ranger's closet and put the too big shirt on, which reached just above her knee and went down to his office.

"Ready to see me kick some ass, Carlos." She grinned deviously.

He grinned back, "do I have to be afraid for Lester?"

"Nah, I'll keep myself in check and not hurt him too much, he will be fine in a few days." She joked.

Ranger barked a laugh and then looked at her bare legs, "Pity we have to be somewhere, I think you look really sexy in my t-shirt. I'd rather take you back upstairs and take that off."

She gave him a naughty smile, "so would I, but now isn't the time, maybe tomorrow, after our date?" She looked him over in appreciation, before she ran out of his office giggling like a sixteen year old. His eyes had turned so dark, that they had been sucking her into his force field once more; she had to escape before they were caught up in each other yet again.

He sprinted after her and caught her before she reached the elevator, God he loved that woman. He swung her around, lifted her, and kissed the daylights out of her before he gently put her on her feet again. Ignoring the men in the office as they tried to ignore his unfamiliar behaviour, he whispered huskily. "I love it when you giggle, come let's see what you can do in the gym."

When they arrived, all the men not on duty, plus Carla where gathered there. Tank was taking bet's, giving her a sly smile for they all favored Lester and Tank had high hopes Stephanie was going to kick Lester's ass. She snickered at Tank and whispered, "you are going to pay for Pino's with your winnings, or if I lose, I'll pay, okay?"

Tank grinned widely, and replied in a low voice. "I bet I will have to pay up." She just waggled her brow in a suggestive way before she started to warm up.

Lester walked over with a cocky swagger, "So Beautiful, what are the rules?"

"No rules Lester just treat me as if you were sparring with Ranger."

Lester scoffed, "No way Steph, I can't hurt you. Ranger will kill me. So what are the rules?"

"As I told you I have no rules. Do you have any?"

An incredulous look on his face he stated, "I don't need rules, I ask for you."

"Don't worry about me Lester; I know you won't hurt me." She said while hiding her gleeful expression behind her own blank face.

She did have advantage over men like Lester, he saw a woman and thought she was harmless, and she was, she would never deliberately harm anyone, they just underestimated her, always. She knew her strength were her legs, men had much more upper body strength and she could never win using her upper body alone, she had to be swift and cunning to get the upper hand over men. Having had a thorough tutoring in street fighting besides, mixed Martial Arts Training, made her a mean fighter; if she fought seriously, she fought no holds barred; only he didn't know that.

She made serious work of her warm up and disregarded the people standing about for a good half hour working herself in a sweat, coached by Carla. When she was done, she approached Lester who had not done more than swagger about. What a confidence. Still ignoring everything around her, she asked. "Shall we?"

Lester smirked, "let me beat your cute little ass."

"All righty then," she lost the shirt and heard some gasps, which she decided not to hear, she knew she looked good in her sports bra and tight boy's boxers. Her body was toned, and all the womanly parts were well formed, she had no insecurities there.

All went quiet when they got to the designated mat and stood opposite from each other, feeling the other out. She knew she had to tire him out by making him do all the work and wait for an opportunity, and so she did. He attacked and she evaded him as much as possible, they both got some kicks and punches in before she saw her break, she gave him a restrained but powerful kick in the solar plexus, and he went down like a log. Every occupant of the gym cheered for her, and teased Lester for losing from a girl, before Ranger pulled his shirt over his head and pulled it over hers to cover her up. "You've done great Babe, I'm so proud of you." He whispered in her ear before claiming her with a soaring kiss in front of all his men.

Tank boomed, "Pino's is on me. Who's coming?"

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