*****Once, again, I have to say thanks to Angela, who is the best beta in the world. Without her…chapter 4 would never have had an ending. She stayed online with me until inspiration hit. Just borrowing!!!!! For all of you cupcakes who were upset with the ending of MVOFLF, something special is coming up just for you in a sequel one-shot. For all you Babes that wanted some of Mason's story, that's in the works too!!!! Hope you enjoy chapter five of On the Run.

Ok, this is stupid, you want to be naked, he wants to be naked, hell, you shower naked together every morning. Just get naked. "I agree." Her head jerked up at his comment, "Shit. I said that out loud, didn't I?" He gave her one of his wolf grins and started to unbutton her shirt.

Chapter 5

"On the Mend"

As she struggled from the edges of unconsciousness, she noticed something was different. Her naked body wasn't entwined with her personal heater, Ranger. She could still feel his presence by the prickling sensation at the base of her neck. When he sensed that she was awake, he threaded his fingers through her curls, over and over again. Lifting her head, she saw that he was sitting up, his back against the headboard, and the sheet pooled at his waist. He wore a smug look on his face. Propping her chin in her hands, she took him in. "Somebody's feeling better."

"Yeah, some of the soreness is gone today." His eyes darkened at the sight of the sheet that was perilously close to slipping past the curve of her breast. She saw the look, but decided to ignore it. Her sexual torment was enough to deal with, without adding his. She might as well get the best and worst part of her day over with. "Ready to shower?"

He groaned, mumbled something about torture, but started edging out of the bed. When she saw that he was making it on his own, she got up and went to start the shower. As she regulated the temperature of the water, she looked down to notice her nakedness. Huh, getting a lot more comfortable being naked with Ranger. She felt him behind her and her thoughts flashed to the heated images of them undressing each other last night.

She groaned as the unbidden images replayed themselves in her mind. They lay in bed stroking, caressing and kissing each other until both of them were in a state of acute frustration. And then, Ranger had simply said, "G'night, Babe," and pulled her close. She nearly growled at his restraint, but knowing it would be in vain, gave in to sleep, mumbling 'night' as she let sleep take her.

Already in a state, she let Ranger wash himself and tried to ignore the smoldering looks he gave her as she washed her own body. Switching places, she rinsed her hair and quickly shut off the water. Today, she simply couldn't handle her pent up desires. Edgily, she handed him a towel, dried herself swiftly, before turning to make certain he was managing on his own.

She hadn't realized that he was so close until their bodies bumped against each other. She did growl then. He laughed, "I couldn't have said it better myself." The sound of his laugh eased some of her foul mood. His eyes crinkled with mirth as he pulled her in for a soft kiss on her forehead. With the comfort of the kiss, the last of her bad mood washed away.

She still had to help him with his shorts, but his movements weren't as stiff, with the exception of one part of his anatomy. As he made his way slowly to the couch, she went to the kitchen to fix breakfast. She sliced an assortment of fruit into a bowl and toasted two bagels. The sat phone rang as she carried the tray to Ranger.

"Yo." Tank started, "Ms…uh….Steph. Just checking in. How's Ranger?" She smiled at his attempt at a real conversation. "Better. He's eating breakfast. Want to talk to him?" Handing Ranger the phone, she sat and spread their bagels with cream cheese as she listened to what they considered a conversation. It went, "Report,", "Negative,", "Affirmative" and then Ranger hung up the phone.

She rolled her eyes at him and he smiled broadly because he knew that his phone manners irritated her. "So, what did Tank have to say?" To tease her a bit, he gave her the short version. "No news……Any activity?......Injuries mending?". She threw up her hands and let out a scream of frustration.

She cleaned up their mess while Ranger flipped through the t.v. channels. He was zoned when she came back and dumped a pile of towels on the couch beside him. When he gave her an eyebrow, she returned a pointed look. "Since you're feeling better, you can fold towels while I change the sheets on the bed." "Babe." She laughed as she walked away, "Ranger, this place doesn't come with an Ella. We're going to have to be a little domesticated and do our own laundry."

He looked at the pile with disdain, but started folding anyway. When he had them stacked, she came back to scoop them up and put them away. He watched as she straightened up and realized how homey it seemed. It was the first time, in a long while that he had had any feelings of being at home. Granted, she would never be the type to stay at home and nest, but Lord knew he didn't want her to. Yet still….. he couldn't quell the feeling of rightness that came with thoughts of them working together in a home and at work.

The realization that home wasn't a place hit him square in the face. She was his home. That thought brought a sense of peace to him. He heard her on the phone and listened to the snatches of her conversation. "Mom…no, I didn't run away to have his love child. We're on vacation." There was a pause before she blurted out, "We're in California…..oh, hey, Grandma. Yes, I'm with him on a vacation and No!!!!" He chuckled at her scream of exasperation. "Yes, Mom, I'll call back in a couple of days. Bye."

She went to the refrigerator and came back with two bottles of water, handing him one. "Well, now that I have that over with, I think I'll go figure out how to drive a boat." She tugged on his hand, signaling for him to follow. "Maybe, if I get good enough and you feel up to tackling those steps tomorrow, I can take you for a ride."

He certainly hoped she would take him for a 'ride'. "Sounds fun." She gave him a playful tap on the chest with the back of her hand, "And here I always thought that you weren't into fun." He tugged her back into his embrace, "I can have fun." His look was playful and she was enjoying their easy banter. "Yeah?" He gave her a devilish smile, "Yeah, I can have fun......" he lean forward, "like this…….," he nibbled at the corner of her mouth. "And, like this…." His mouth moved to taste the length of her jaw making his way to her ear. Her hands twined in his hair as his lips traveled back to her mouth. Huskily he breathed the last 'and like this' before taking her mouth in a searing kiss that left her gasping for breath.

When they finally parted, he asked with merriment in his eyes, "Now, wasn't that fun?" A bit dazed, "Yep," was all she could manage. She clung to his arms trying to get her balance back. "Ok, well, I'm just going to dunk myself in some water, now." Yeah, he thought as she stumbled down the steps, that was 'his' kind of fun.

For several hours, he watched as she practiced driving the boat, admiring her determination. She really was amazing the way she adapted to any situation. He smiled at her squeal of delight as she made the boat weave in out of the cove. Feeling brave, she pulled out of the cove, taking a right and leaving his sight. He could hear the hum of the boat as she varied its' speed.

She was gone for about fifteen minutes, before he heard her coming back. At an alarming rate, she flew by the opening in the trees, standing at the wheel, waving wildly to him. Her speed gave him a moment of panic until he heard her throttle down, then moments later, glide back toward the dock. She jumped out and rushed to tie off the boat.

He smiled as she danced her way toward the stairs, stop abruptly and then grumbled her way back to him. Breathing heavily she flopped down on the lounge chair, "Teena was right, its loads of fun…..but, the stairs completely ruin the experience for me." He chuckled quietly at her hate for all things considered 'exercise'.

It didn't take long for her to drop off to sleep. As she napped, Ranger went to the kitchen to check out their choices for dinner. They had eaten a late breakfast and had bypassed lunch. He found two chicken breasts and a few spices that he thought would blend well. She came through the doors as he finished the seasoning and marinating. Walking up behind him, she wrapped her slim arms around him, careful to avoid his wound, resting her cheek against his back.

"Hey, I would've done that." He smiled warmly, "I can cook." She squeezed and turned to get the vegetables to make a salad, tossing back over her shoulder, "Good, then you can take over kitchen duty." He washed his hands and put the dish in the oven, turning to trap her between his legs against the bar. "I'll take over all the kitchen duties, but it'll cost you."

"Oh, yeah? What'll it cost me?" She kept chopping as his hands moved to stroke her hips, his mouth brushing her neck. "Mmmm…" He loved the smell of her, inhaling deeply he answered, "Just a promise." She couldn't think with his mouth on her, but managed on a breath, "A promise?" Easing the knife from her hand, he continued to kiss her neck, sucking at the pulse point as he turned her in his arms. "Steph?" He asked on a whisper, his tongue dancing delicately under her jaw. "Hmmmm?"

Her mind was mush and she would have agreed to any number of things at this point. His mouth was magic as he nipped and sucked a path to her ear. "Will you train with me while we're here?" He whispered it seductively in her ear making it sound like a lover's plea. Without thinking, she answered, "Yes." His tongue ran along the seam of her lips then his teeth grazed against her bottom lip, "Promise?" Desperate for his wicked tongue, she agreed, "Mmm hmm." His tongue delved inside and tangled with hers. Their hands roamed and bodies strained to get closer for what seemed like hours.

Her body hummed as he flexed and ground himself into her. She felt his warm hand dance across her bare back as he tugged the bikini string loose. With the other hand he jerked the top out of her shirt, flicked it across the room then pulled her to his chest so he could feel her nipples pressed against him. The sensation made his blood pump heavy through his veins.

His hands palmed her through her shirt as she writhed against him. Beep. Beep. Beep. She wanted to scream with frustration. Gasping for breath, he pulled from her to rest his forehead against hers. "Dinner's ready." She mumbled, "That's not all that's ready", turning to get some plates.

He stopped her with a hand to her hip, "Babe, we're going to have to have a serious discussion…… soon." She nodded as she felt the pressure on her heart, but decided to keep it light, "Yeah, but right now, I'm hungry. And Ranger, you don't really think that I'm going to train with you, do you?" He gave her a serious look, "You promised." She speared him with a glare, "Yes, but you weren't playing fair." He gave her one of his 200-watt smiles, "All's fair in love and war, Babe." She growled under her breath, but didn't argue. He was right, she needed some training, but she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of telling him that he was right.

After dinner, they went back out to the patio to watch the sunset between the trees. Ranger scooted over in his lounge, inviting her to sit with him. He felt that the time was right for them to discuss what he felt was going on between them. He had to be sure first that everything was settled between her and the cop. "Babe, will you tell me what's going on with Morelli?"

She sighed and shrugged her shoulders, not really enjoying the thought of discussing Joe with Ranger. She knew though that if she wanted to move forward with Ranger, she had to, for him as well as herself. "Several months ago, we were sitting on his couch. watching t.v. and we started talking…… You know, having a real conversation, for a change. We talked about our beliefs and goals. What I realized, was that ultimately the two would never be the same. He realized it too. It was a relief to both of us, I think, to finally know one way or the other. Joe, wants normal and since I've never been 'normal', we decided to part as friends. Don't get me wrong, there will always be a part of me that loves Joe. He was my first love, but we just didn't have what it takes for the 'forever' kind of love."

She took a deep breath and nervously contemplated his silence. If he tried to send her back to Joe again, it would shatter her heart this time. "I won't, you know." She gave him a puzzled look at the comment that seemed out of place. His eyes were serious as he finished his comment, "Send you back again." She could feel the pressure valve release and her heart felt lighter. He brushed several soft kisses across her lips before resting his head on top of her's.

She began again, quietly, "Ranger, want to know the irony of it all?" He nodded against her head. "If I hadn't taken the job with Vinnie, and I had met up with Joe again under different circumstances, then I probably would've been satisfied with the life that he was offering. But…that one decision altered my life. It snow-balled into a series of events, that led to meeting people that…. I can never let go of. Lula, Mooner, Sally Sweet, all the Merry Men…and…you are all a part of my life now. That's what I refused to give up and something that Joe could never understand."

Her words humbled him because he'd always thought that it was him that stood in the way of her and Morelli. Instead, it was her fierce loyalty to her friends that was a barrier between her and Morelli. She turned those big blue eyes on him as she took a deep breath. "I've answered your question, now I want you to answer one for me." She smiled tentatively, when he inclined his head she said, "With more than one word." He smiled widely and answered, "Ok". Rolling her eyes, she asked the big question, "Does your life lend itself to a relationship, now?"