Ranger and Mia got there at the same time. Mia scowled at him and Ranger came to me. He stood next to my side and looked at the car, not saying a word. She just accepted him for the moment and went to work on examining the scene.

"Have you had any threats lately?" She asked in a business-like tone as she dialed a number.

"Besides this?" She allowed a break in her cop face for an eye roll.

"Send me a CSI team and I need a photographer." She spoke into the phone then she gave the address. "Threats?" She reminded me.

"It's been quiet."

"How about you, Mr. Manoso? Has anyone threatened you?"

"Not lately." He said dryly. Mia did a double take, just to make sure she had been insulted.

"Have you been in contact with any dangerous people? How about-"

"Mia, this is us."

She sighed and shook her head. "You don't know anything and you surround yourself with criminals. You know how hard it is to help you?"

I smiled. "I need to get home, Mia. Can you release us from the crime scene?"

"Let me print you." She did her job and Ranger called his seedy, but damn good garage to pick up the car when the police finished. He looked at me as we were getting out of the car at my apartment building. Naturally, he found an amazing parking spot close to the building. I would normally park in the back, next to the dumpsters.

"I'm not going to Haywood." I answered his unspoken thought. "I have survived plenty of stalkers here, I'm not leaving."

"Okay, babe." I looked at him in surprise. That was easy, even for him.

"What's the catch?"

"Keep a bodyguard with you."

I almost argued, but then I remembered Jenna Carter. One of Ranger's big, bulky guys could come in real handy with Military Barbie.

"Deal."

Ranger raised an eyebrow. "Who's the skip?" I laughed and led the way to the door. Ranger took my keys from me and did a quick walk through. When he returned unharmed, I walked in and dropped my stuff by the door. I needed sleep bad. Ranger made a few phone calls, probably informing the Justice League of the few snags his girlfriend had stirred up and I slipped into a baggy t-shirt and girl boxer shorts. I was curled up on the bed when I heard Ranger moving around, locking up the door and checking the windows. He curled up behind me and just held me as I fell asleep.

I was almost asleep when I mumbled half to myself. "Someone wants me dead."

"Not gonna happen, babe." He squeezed my waist. I drifted off to sleep feeling completely safe.

XxXxXxX

I rolled out of bed pretty late, even for me. I was headed to the kitchen when voices stopped me. Tiptoeing closer, I could make out what they were saying.

"How long have you known Steph and Ranger?" It was Andy.

"Stephanie, well, I've known about her longer than I've known her, you know?" Lester chuckled. "I guess I met her about a year or so ago. She was having trouble making ends meet and Ranger had her tag along on a 'redecorating' job. Oh, man, you should have seen her! She wore a pink scarf, at least, I think she did. She had no clue what she was doing and I think what we did scared the hell out of her."

"What did you do?"

"Evicted some low lifes. She just didn't know what to expect. Got to give her credit, though, she hid it pretty damn well. I don't know how many woman could still be around us, knowing what she knows, but she acts like its no big thing. Maybe for her, it isn't. I mean, how long has she been around Ranger?"

"How did they meet? She never explained that. I mean, it seems strange, doesn't it? A girl from the 'burg being that tight with a guy like Ranger."

"From the outside, maybe, but come on, man. You've seen how they are together. It's just who they are."

"But how did they meet?"

"Ah, yeah, that's a good question. From what I've heard, she got the whole bounty hunter gig and had no clue what she was doing. She somehow managed to find Joe Morelli, her first skip, when none of the Trenton PD could or the other bounty hunter on the case. And then, she let him walk away."

"You kidding?" They laughed.

"She didn't have a gun. Or cuffs. She had nothing to stop him with. So she goes to Connie and tells her that she needs some help. The chick didn't know shit about her job. Connie calls Ranger and calls in a big favor. I was actually in the car with him when he got the call. He was different back then, you know? I think Steph has changed him more than he's changed Steph. He was quieter, untouchable. He was a good guy, but damn, you didn't mess around with shit around him. He got the call and I saw more expression on his face than I think I ever had before that. Course, I was a newbie, so what did I know?

"He got the call and he just rolled his eyes. He didn't like some young blood bounty hunter trying to get herself killed. Tank dropped him off and he pretty much told him that he was going to blow the chick off, maybe get her to reevaluate her life choices. Next thing I hear, he takes her under his freaking wing and he drops everything to help her. I don't know what she did, but she gave him some kind of impression. Personally, I like her. She's good for morale. She would probably hate to hear me say that, but then again, she probable doesn't understand what that means."

"What does it mean?"

"Oh, c'mon, you know. She's bright, she's weird and smart and she gets into the craziest shit. She's different. She does everything different from us, you know, the professionals? And she still gets her man, every time. I don't know, she just never disappoints."

"How long was that?"

"That Steph came into the picture? It's been a few years. I met Ranger when I was on the streets. See, his guys are mostly either ex military or old criminals. I come from the criminal element. Born and raised on the streets. It was a freakin' tough life and I was real sick of it when Ranger and Tank did a bust in my area. That was back before Rangeman, Ranger's company, you know?, wasn't very big. He needed some local talent to help with the take down and I got involved there. I guess he saw something in me too because he offered me a job and a plane ticket to the East Coast. I took it and never looked back."

"Where you from, Lester?"

"San Diego."

"Ever see your family anymore?"

"Everyday. The guys at Rangeman, they're my family. Yeah, it sounds sappy but they've always had my back. They have been there in the good times and through the worst shit and they get me. How many families can really claim that? The family I was born into sure as hell never did that."

The guys fell quiet after that. I heard one of them stand and walk over to the coffee pot. Now would be a good time to make my entrance, I decided. I was trying not to think too much about what I had just heard. I would think about that later, but right now, I needed to be able to act convincing.

I stretched and yawned, padding into the kitchen. "Hey, guys."

"Morning, sis." Andy nodded to me. He finished filling his coffee cup and walked toward me. "I was just waiting for you to get up. I'll, uh, catch you later." He handed me the coffee and kissed my head. "You okay?"

"Working on it." I nodded.

"How about we go shopping tomorrow? I still need my costume."

I nodded, thinking about it. "Sure, we can hit all the stores." Oh c'mon, I know I sound like an idiot, but my mind was a little busy. I had just learned a lot in a very short time.

"Okay, after work?"

"Sure," I nodded again. I feel kinda like a bobble head doll by now.

"You sure you're okay?" He turned around at the door.

"Peachy. Really, I'm okay. I'm just not much of a morning person." I pulled on my biggest smile.

He grinned back and nodded to me. "Good luck today."

After the door closed, I turned back to Lester. "Morning, Les." I padded into the kitchen and sat down across from him. He brought his chair back to the floor.

"Morning, beautiful." I quirked an eyebrow at him. He just waggled his brows back at me. "What's the plan?"

"Find a body snatcher and take down Military Barbie."

"I love working with you."

I am not JE, just in case you were wondering.