Unapologize

By: PricklySare

A/N: After this many chapters I'm sure you understand that the names are not mine. I refuse to say the characters aren't since they are so far from Canon. LOL. The reviews I'm receiving from this story are amazing and I appreciate each and every one of them. I'm incredibly glad that everyone is enjoying this story as much as I am. Thank you for your support!

As always, special thanks goes out to M and Stayce. You guys continually catch my mistakes and help me make this story even better. Thank you!

Now on with the show. :)

Sare

Chapter Fifty-Five: Steph Gets Payback

Steph's POV

It was almost noon and Ranger and I were in his office going over the last minute details of what I privately referred to as Operation Beat the Psycho Bitch. Lester was in position at the front desk in the lobby, ready to signal me to head down the elevator when Rissa arrived, and Tank and Bobby were in the garage prepping the transport vehicle. Everything was set and we were just waiting for Tracto to make her appearance.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"It needs to be done, so, yeah," I said.

Ranger was lightly brushing his hands along my arms, and the slightest touch was making it hard to breathe. I didn't really want to go downstairs and deal with a psychotic woman who was hell bent on destroying not only me, but Ranger as well. I would much rather have stayed in the office with him and enjoyed the tremors that were beginning to course through my body.

His lips were only a breath away from mine, and I stretched up to meet them with my own. The second they touched I melted against him, a moan slipping from me. His hands tunneled through my hair, holding my head steady as he slanted his mouth over mine, nibbling on my lips before laving them with his tongue.

I opened my mouth inviting him in to explore and felt fire run through me as our tongues slipped smoothly against each other. He had just started to lean back onto his desk when my phone buzzed. Straightening I looked at it. She just pulled up.

"Looks like it's show time," I said, giving Ranger one last quick kiss. I inserted the ear piece and headed toward the elevator as Ranger headed toward the monitor bank.

Before the doors to the elevator closed Ranger locked eyes with me and softly said into his mic, "I love you, Babe."

I mouthed, "I love you," back just as the doors slid shut, and I headed down to take care of a psycho with too much power.

When I reached the lobby Tracto was waiting for me, and I gave her a bright smile as I stepped off the elevator. I knew that Lester was wound tight and ready to launch himself at her if the need arose, but I knew she wasn't going to be a problem. Bobby had explained to me once the way to deal with people who had an overly high opinion of themselves. He said that most of the time, they wouldn't even realize you'd outsmarted them until it was too late for them to do anything about it.

I also knew enough about psychos to keep my eyes focused on theirs, and not to let my true thoughts and emotions show. I did let my happiness show, because regardless of all the bullshit that was going on, happiness was the strongest emotion running through me. I was marrying Ranger, the Man of Mystery himself. Just as soon as we took care of a few little problems.

Tracto waved at me in what I could only assume was supposed to be a friendly manner, but her acting skills were not on a par with mine. There was a reason I was good at my job, and why for so many years my mother and Joe were able to ridicule me without realizing that I didn't actually care what they were saying.

"It's her, Babe," Ranger said, his voice coming through the ear piece. "Proud of you."

As I stepped closer I made sure that the lipstick stun gun was ready, and I leaned in to air kiss her cheek, an action that I'd always thought was pointless and rather stuffy. However, in this case it was just what I needed. I saw the venomous look in her eyes before she closed them, a sick smile crossing her lips. Now was the moment I'd been waiting for. "I'm really not sorry to have to do this to you...Tracto," I said as I pressed the stun gun against her bare wrist and watched her drop to the floor.

The look in her eyes, the last brief moment of consciousness after I'd stunned her, had told me everything. She knew what had happened, that I had outsmarted her, and there was nothing she could do about it. With a grin I looked over my shoulder at Lester. "Got a pair of flexi-cuffs I could use?"

"Sure thing, Beautiful," he said walking over and handing the plastic ties to me. "Want me to do that?"

"I'm good. This one is all mine," I said before trussing her hands behind her back. Lester returned to the desk and contacted the control room to send down his replacement. While we waited I stunned Tracto again for good measure, and felt as giddy as a kid on Christmas. "So this is Ranger's handler," I mused.

"Yeah, I knew I'd seen her somewhere before," Lester said. I looked at him a curious expression on my face. "I saw her with Ranger once while I was still working for the Agency. My thought at the time was that she might have been sexy, but she was a real Ice Queen.

I looked down at the woman in question and smiled, "Well, she's not very sexy now, but she is most definitely frigid."

When his replacement arrived Lester hefted Tracto's body over his shoulder, and together we stepped onto the elevator. Ranger was waiting for us in the garage, and he wrapped his arms around me drawing in a deep breath. I relaxed against him and let his warmth wash over me. I heard a thump from the direction of the SUV and figured that Lester had deposited our ... guest … rather unceremoniously inside. "Try not to get blood on the leather," I said to him.

"No promises," he replied with a smile. "She sure is a clumsy lady."

I ran my hands over Ranger's chest, his shoulders, and into his hair pulling the leather thong from his ponytail. "I love you," I said.

He pressed himself against me so I felt every hard inch of him, and fervently wished that we were already done and could get on with our lives. Preferably alone, in bed, or hell, against a wall for all I cared. Ranger rubbed his cheek against mine, and said, "Let's finish this."

"Okay," I said on a sigh. We climbed into the SUV and took off for the warehouse I'd chosen for the last part of the plan.

An hour later we pulled up to the seemingly abandoned building that Rangeman owned, and I jumped down, stretching my legs. It looked old and dilapidated on the outside, but I knew that on the inside it was reinforced and would probably be able to withstand a nuclear blast. Like so many things in life, looks could be deceiving, and it was common for people to only see what they expected to see. The human brain's a tricky thing.

Lester walked around to the back of the SUV and opened the doors. Tracto was still unconscious courtesy of a few additional zaps with my stun gun, and her hair was showing the effects of too much voltage, or at the very least a ride in the back of an SUV. My inner bitch did a little happy dance at the knowledge that someone who looked like an exotic Demi Moore was having a bad hair day. Tossing her over his shoulder he headed toward the large wooden door that Bobby was holding open.

I knew Ranger was behind me even before he lightly touched the back of my neck. The tell tale tingle only got stronger as he gently ran his thumb back and forth along the base of my hairline. "Ready?" he asked me.

"I'm ready for this to be over so we can get on with our lives," I said.

"It's almost over."

"I know," I said on a sigh. "I want to get married."

He cocked an eyebrow at me and said, "I'd hope so."

"No," I said, stepping away from his magic hand and turning to face him. "I don't mean in six months, or a year. I want to start our lives now. As soon as possible."

Ranger was silent as he stepped toward me and cupped my face in his hands. His eyes took in every feature of my face, and they seemed to be looking straight into my soul. "I'll get right on it. Will tomorrow be soon enough?"

Only in my dreams. "You do know there is a three day waiting period before we can get married. Right?"

He smiled at me and said, "Trust me."

What was I thinking? Ranger was magic. He had the ability to make things happen. Waiting periods probably didn't apply to him.

"If we're getting married tomorrow we should probably get this over with," I said.

"After you," he said. I gave him a cocky smile and headed inside.

Tracto was in the middle of the cavernous room, secured to a large wooden beam. She was on her feet, but I didn't doubt for a minute that the only thing keeping her upright was the thick chain wrapped around her body. Her head was drooping forward like a wilted flower, and her hair hung in a frazzled mess against her shoulders.

I walked over to her and did a few mental neck rolls. Even though I knew this needed to be done, and she deserved everything that was going to happen to her, there was a part of me that wished it could be different. A part of me that wished I could be a different person, one my mother would be proud of. Unfortunately, that ship had sailed a long time ago, and now it was time to move on with my life.

Lifting my hand to her cheek I gave her a few light smacks to rouse her. When her eyes started to flutter I said, "That's right. It's time to wake up and face the music."

She opened her eyes and focused them on me. The second she realized her situation she struggled against the chains. "You stupid bitch!"

My lips curved into a smile. "I can deal with 'Bitch' as a name," I said. "Though, stupid doesn't really fit. I managed to capture you didn't I?"

"You're nothing but a worthless slut, and Nychta was stupid to ever let you near him."

"Worthless?" I asked stepping closer to her. I placed my lips to her ear and said, "Carlos doesn't think I'm worthless. In fact, he thinks I'm worth a whole hell of a lot. As a matter of fact, he quit fucking you because I'm worth more to him than you ever were.

"When's the last time Carlos actually fucked you?" I asked raising my left hand so she had no choice but to look at the ring adorning my finger. "I had his cock buried deep inside me this morning, and I will have it every night for the rest of our lives. Tomorrow he gives me his last name. How's that for being important?" I patted her cheek and gave an exaggerated sigh, "It's a real shame you won't be able to attend, but only important people are invited."

She lifted her chin and her eyes hardened. "I'm important, I'm so important that Nychta's life was in my hands. Who do you think brought him home each and every time he disappeared?"

Anger flowed freely through my veins and I narrowed my eyes at her. "Who do I think brought him home?" I asked my voice deceptively soft. "He brought himself home. Not you. You were never there with him, you never faced the dangers. All you did was sit behind your desk wearing your slutty power suit and playing god. Anyone could do that."

"You couldn't do it. All you'll ever be good for is popping out disgusting little brats."

I shook my head and sighed, "You're right; I could never do your job." Triumph shown in her eyes right before I said, "I'd be bored to death in minutes. Carlos and I are alike that way. We're meant to be out there doing something, not trapped behind a desk...pretending to be important."

"That's a lie! You're nothing like him. He was greatness until you came along and turned him into just another worthless man."

I knew Ranger was close by, my body was reacting to his nearness, and I was ready to be done with this. "He is far from worthless," I said. "In fact, if you truly believed that, you wouldn't be jealous of what he and I have."

"I'm not jeal-" I spoke over her.

"It doesn't matter. After he and I leave here, we will get on with our lives and never think of you again. Your life ends here today, while ours is just beginning."

"You're not going to kill me."

"True, I'm not going to kill you," I paused, moving so that Ranger could stand beside me. "He is," I said.

Fear ran through her eyes, and her tan skin drained of color. "You wouldn't let him kill me. You wouldn't stand by and let him kill any woman. You don't have it in you."

My voice was strong, when I said, "That's where you're wrong. I wouldn't stand by and let him kill an innocent woman, but you're not innocent. Whatever he does to you, trust me when I say, I fully support it." Stretching up I placed my lips against Ranger's and poured all my feelings into the kiss. "Do what you need to do. I love you."

He brushed his hands along my cheeks and down my arms to my hands, linking our fingers. "You are the most amazing woman I've ever known. You're strong, beautiful, and I love you too."

"I'll be outside when you're finished," I said, slowly backing away. I looked at Tracto one last time and said, "You messed with the wrong bitch this time. How does it feel to know you lost to someone you feel is beneath you?" Without waiting for her answer I walked away.

When I reached the door Lester was there, pushing it open and helping me into the sunshine. My stomach was queasy, and my head was pounding. I knew she was going to die, and I felt bile rise into my throat. I made it to the side of the building before I bent over, tossing up everything I'd had to eat, which granted, wasn't much. I felt Lester's hand on my back rubbing in soothing circles.

"You did good in there, Beautiful," Lester said handing me a bottle of water he must have grabbed from the truck.

I gave him a watery smile over my shoulder and said, "Thanks," before uncapping the bottle and rinsing my mouth out.

"You going to be okay?"

I nodded my head, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. "Yeah, I'll be fine."

"Want to talk about it?"

The laugh that bubbled out wasn't a happy carefree sound, "Talk about what? The fact that I just walked away knowing that Ranger was going to kill someone?"

"There's that," he said.

"What would be the point? I did it, and I'd do it again."

He didn't say anything for a moment, and I turned around so I could rest my head against his chest. "It's normal, you know," he said, breaking the silence.

"What is?"

"Getting sick."

"Oh. That." I closed my eyes, trying to match his breathing. "Does it get easier?"

"Yes, but I hope to god you never find out."

Me too. "Shouldn't you be inside with the guys?" I asked.

"No. I'm right where I need to be," he said, laying a kiss to my curls.

"Okay...okay," I said, letting out a sigh. I could deal with that.

I don't know how long we'd been standing there, Lester silent, and me listening to the beating of his heart; when the calm was broken by the echo of gun shots. Even though I was expecting it, I felt tears prick my eyes, and I took a shuddering breath.

"It's done," Lester said, his words rumbling in his chest.

"That's good. What's the next step?"

"You'll go back with Ranger, and we'll clean up the mess."

"How will you get back? We came in one vehicle."

"We'll get back, don't worry."

Sometimes I forgot how inventive the guys could be. I knew they'd get the job done and get back without any problems. Hell, Ranger would probably send them a car, or one would just magically appear where they needed it. I shook my head. "Okay, just don't get arrested. I'm getting married tomorrow and I kind of need you there."

"Speeding right along, aren't you?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Yeah, well...what can I say? I've got a need for speed."

"You've got a need for something, that's for sure," he said laughing. "You sure you're not pregnant and just trying to make it legit before you start to show?"

I punched him in the arm, which undoubtedly hurt me more than it did him. "No, I'm not pregnant. At least, not that I know of."

"Would it be a bad thing if you were?"

I didn't even need to think about it. "Nope. Not at all."

"Life will never be dull with a mini-you running around."

"Yeah, but those are thoughts for another day," I said when I felt the tingle run down my neck. "Ranger's coming."

"That is the strangest thing."

"What?"

"How you guys can tell when the other is nearby without even looking."

"It's how it's always been. I've quit questioning it."

"How you doing, Babe?" Ranger asked from behind me.

I turned around and stepped out of Lester's arms and into his. "I'm okay."

"Good. Let's go home."

"Okay," I said. I looked at Lester over my shoulder, "Thanks, Les."

"Anytime."

We climbed into the SUV, and headed toward Rangeman. The sun was getting lower in the sky, but all I wanted to do was get some sleep. "When are we going to talk to Hades?" I asked as we merged onto a road congested with cars.

"I figured we'd let him sit until after we're married."

I smiled at the thought of being married to Ranger. "You do realize that you'll be stuck with me. There won't be any easy quickie divorce, and if I catch you with your pants around your ankles I won't be as nice to you as I was to Dickie."

Ranger laughed out loud, and a smile spread across his face making my mouth dry. "Stephanie, there will never be anyone else but you, and I have no doubt that what you did to Dickie would pale in comparison to what you'd be capable of now."

"Just as long as we're on the same page," I said with a grin. I looked at the clock on the dashboard and said, "I think we should pick up some food, and then celebrate our upcoming nuptials."

His smile got wider, and there was a wicked gleam in his eye, but his only response was to increase the speed of the SUV. Tonight was going to be a good night, and tomorrow I would shed the name Stephanie Plum, and never look back.