Disclaimer: You know what is mine and what is JE's…. I hope.

OoooOooooOooooOooooO

My day went by incredibly slow and I was on edge for most of it. I searched our online web databases for anymore leads into my case- but came up with nothing. So just to have something to do to show I was getting work done I sat at the desk and did paperwork all day. None of it was fun and it really just made me crabbier- Joe had been out of the office all day and called to see if I needed a ride home. When I told him I'd be fine he asked if he could hang out with Aly, so I told him to take my mother's spare key and the two of them (and Bob) could go back to my place. I hitched a ride with one of the other cops to the repair shop and that's where I was now.

When the problem with your car is you need a new battery, and you're a woman- well you better expect to sit and listen to the mechanic explain things to you as if you were a 2 year old. By the time I finally got my keys back from him- Aly would have understood what to do if the battery was going bad again. I made two calls in the parking lot before driving off- the first was to Suzanne to see if I could come stop over- she said yes. The second was to Joe to make sure everything was going okay and tell him I still had work I needed to do. Which he was completely fine to hang out with Aly more. So even though my house is next to Suzanne's I still pulled up in front of her house and knocked at her front door. In my mind I was still in detective mode- if I were to go home and see Aly, Bob and Joe- my mood would change. And since I had pretty much snapped at everyone who talked to me today- I decided that I wouldn't go home until I had calmed down a little.

"Hey Steph, come on in." Suzanne said opening the door, and sending a quick text to Lester.

"I need to ask you some questions." She could see right away that I wasn't here just to sit and gossip. I promised myself I wouldn't ask her awful questions and then just leave- I'd smooth things over by asking about how the rest of her date went after. But this was important.

"Okay, you can ask me anything." I pulled out a little Memo pad and pen from my purse and flipped it open.

"Has there been anyone that you have had artistic disputes with? Either a buyer or a competitor- someone that would have any reason to hurt you." Suzanne looked around for a second and shook her head.

"It doesn't have to be someone who gave you a death threat- just someone who may have been unhappy. There are a lot of crazy people out there- that are really good at hiding that side of them."

"No- I haven't had anyone upset with my work. Well there was one time- it was an older woman and I fixed the painting a little for her and dropped the price- she was so happy after that. But that was like 5 years ago- and the woman was so old I doubt she's even alive now. Other than that- I mean I really haven't stepped on anyone's toes to get here. I was a struggling artist, that finally had all my hard work pay off."

"Have you received anything else- or felt like you were being watched by anyone since we got the gifts?" A rosy red color crept into her cheeks and her head hung down a little.

"I haven't got anything, but…"

"But what?" I asked as nicely as I could after a few minutes of waiting.

"I'm a wreck Stephanie, I constantly feel like I'm being watched. I mean I can hardly do anything anymore, like this morning I hopped into the shower and kept feeling like I was hearing things. My body kept jumping out of fear that I couldn't stop crying." I reached out and put my hand on hers.

"It's okay, I promise you're safe here."

"I don't feel safe here. I mean I know Lester and Ranger did all of this security stuff but that didn't do anything to secure the bad thoughts in my mind. Those have free rein in my head."

"I know how it feels- trust me I really do. Have you had Lester stay with you here at all?"

"No- he's been so busy with work lately. Besides, I don't want to look like a big baby."

"Suzanne! Never say that- this isn't one of those things those guys think of as a big joke. Don't ever feel like that, just keep your doors and everything locked up."

"I do." A deep breath slid out of her, causing her shoulders to slump down some more. I knew I had to get somewhere with this- I couldn't simply just sit around while the attackers were still out there. It wasn't just me and Aly I was worried about- but I saw it in Suzanne's eyes that she was a prisoner in her mind. Nothing was going to heal that- until they were found. I pulled out the tube of paint that was given to me in the gift box and held it out to her.

"Did you know anything about this kind of paint?"

"Yeah- that's top of the line stuff right there. Only a couple places around here sell that. It is incredible but very expensive, no average painters buy that stuff."

"Well I definitely know about the expensive part."

"Why are you asking about it?" I forgot I hadn't told Suzanne anything about the paint print in my yard- and my attempts at trying to figure out anything I could about it.

"I can't say much- but I know the person that was trying to hurt us had this paint. Did you own any of this kind?"

"No- I mean I love it but I don't buy it that much, and I don't have any red paints here."

"Why don't you use this stuff if it's really good?" She just shrugged her shoulders.

"Because for almost all of my life I couldn't afford it- and now that I can I have things I prefer since it's what I've grown up using. For a big piece for a big client- I will splurge and get it because I know I'll make the money back."

"Do you know the names of the places that sell this stuff?"

"Yeah, I can text them to you later when I find the paper I wrote that information down on- once I find it,"

"Okay good- yeah if you can."

"Anything else?"

"I don't know- every time I think I have an answer to one of my questions- I come up with 20 more questions."

"Well you know where I am if you need to reach me."

"I know- oh so how did the rest of the date go with Les?" Her face beamed.

"Amazing- I had so much fun. Thank you for coming, you know it's funny though when we were leaving I was telling Les that you didn't want to even come with. All he said was you'd thank him later." The way she looked at me I knew that was my cue to explain what happened between Ranger and I. But I didn't want to talk about it. I could tell that Ranger was irritated with me- which he had every right to be. Right? Or was he overreacting? Either way- talking about this magical moment didn't feel quite so magical when we were in this position right now.

"What'd he mean by that?"

"Just probably that getting out of the house is always a good thing."

"Uh huh… sure. Are you seriously gonna leave me hanging here! I mean what if I told you that Les is an amazing kisser- would you share something personal about your night?" I couldn't help but smile.

"Yeah- that one night can't erase everything else." I got up to leave, Suzanne remained seated on the couch but before I could reach the door she spoke up.

"Maybe it doesn't have to erase anything, but one night can define a lot of things that maybe you didn't know about before."

"Or confuse a lot more." I added, walking out the door. I know Suzanne wanted to know about this and not just because she was nosy, but because we really were friends now. But I just couldn't talk about it- I didn't even know how I felt about this whole situation. The last thing I needed was someone else's feelings about it influence my opinion.

I pulled my car into my driveway but didn't get out just yet. After a few deep breaths I picked up my phone and dialed Ranger's number. The voicemail picked up- I didn't bother leaving a message. I had a pretty good feeling the call wasn't going to be returned. So instead I called Lester, at least he answered my call.

"What's up sweets?"

"Where's Ranger?"

"Not sure- said he had some things he needed to do but didn't say where at or when he'd be back."

"Super." I said with a sigh.

"Do you need something?"

"Yeah- I uh, just wanted to know what you guys are doing about the information I provided. I don't want to try and follow up on a lead I may have and realize we're going at this thing from the same angle."

"Understandable, he actually gave me some notes incase you asked."

"Oh so he had all this time to write out notes but not even answer my damn call."

"Wow- you're in a good mood." I really hadn't meant to say that outloud- but I had just been in one of those moods all day.

"What'd he write?"

"He wrote…" Lester let out a loud laugh and it took him a few minutes for him to call down enough to spit out what he was trying to say.

"Jesus, Les! I really don't have all day here!" God- why was I so damn irritable today! It's not like I was getting my period- I knew exactly when that time bomb was coming and that couldn't be it.

"Sorry- it just said, don't go off by yourself and do something really stupid."

"Seriously- that's all it says."

"Yup." He said with another chuckle.

"Well didn't you read it when he gave it to you- so you could have told him how huge of a help that was going to be."

"Nope, he just said it has no use to me unless you ask for it."

"Damn him- if you hear from him- tell him to call me."

"Well what if you've already talked to him by the time he calls me?"

"I can almost guarantee he won't call me first." I hung up the phone- I was having a hard enough time being nice to him on the phone. Lester was going to sooner or later get into the date and ask me what happened.

I went inside and saw all of them running around in the backyard. An evil smile spread across my face- that gave me a great idea.

"Hey Joe." I called out to him from the back door.

"Yeah?"

"Mind hanging out for a little while longer- I'd like to go for a run."

"Sure no problem."

"Thanks, be good Aly!"

"Okay mommy!"

Fine- if Ranger was going to try and avoid me I was going to avoid his rules. I am a grown woman- simply going for a run. What could be so dangerous about that? A lot! I shoved that thought into the back of my head changed into my jogging clothes and took off. I ran almost in circles checking out everything around me- trying to decide where these guys may have had a car waiting. Maybe they lived around here, maybe someone in the neighborhood knew them and were protecting them. About an hour into my run I suddenly spotted a black SUV pulling up slowly behind me- I quickly whipped around ready to face whoever was following me. Instead a deep sigh left my chest, it was Lester. I could tell from his expression that he was pissed.

"Get in." My feet were about to take off in the other direction, but I had no doubt in my mind that Lester was going to chase me and drag me back to the car either way. So instead I listened and got in.

"How'd you know where I was?"

"I've been driving around for you."

"How'd you know I left my house?"

"Suzanne."

"She called you!"

"No." His anger came back, "Well sure at first she did- and I didn't answer because I was away from my phone. So she called Ranger and left a message that said you were going for a run and she was told to let anyone know if you ran off on your own. Your car is tracked as is Morelli's, but your running gear isn't. Well anyways so I got a call from Ranger pretty much ripping me apart."

"He has no right! Good God! I called him and he didn't answer- where does he get off acting like this!"

"Christ Stephanie! You don't…" He quickly shook his head back and forth. "You know what- no. I'm not getting into the middle of it, don't go running off again. I have 8 million other things to do right now and if I had any spare time I'd rather spend it with Suzanne, not getting caught in the middle of this ridiculous lover's feud."

"Hmph!" I crossed my arms over my chest and stared out the window. I needed to stop yelling at Lester, and the only way I could do that was by not saying anything. Maybe I just needed to go home and go to bed. Lester stopped a few houses away from mine.

"You can get out and pretend you didn't get picked up by me- I'm sure Morelli would wonder about that." I nodded, this was going to be much easier. Morelli had become much better about not asking everything about what I was doing- but I didn't know how long that was going to last. Besides, I was keeping him out of my entire case- a case that I had immediately involved Rangeman in. If I wanted to keep him out of it- I needed to make sure he had no reason to suspect anything else was wrong.

"K."

"Steph, I'm sorry okay. I really didn't mean to yell- it's just between you and Ranger I'm going to go crazy."

"Why?" I turned to face him and saw a battle of wills going on behind his eyes.

"We have more accounts now than we ever have before- we can't hire guys fast enough to take up all this extra slack. Well now with this case too- we're working even more."

"Oh- I'm so stupid I shouldn't have even brought it to you guys. That wasn't fair." Wow- what was I thinking! I wasn't a bounty hunter anymore, I had this entire office of detectives ready to help me- but here I choose the company that has their own problems.

"It's not that."

"Well then what is it?"

"It's the fact that for the first time in 4 years you've been in danger. He doesn't know what to do with himself- I mean he knows how to handle the company and still handle protecting you. I think it's hitting him harder than it ever has before though. He doesn't say anything about it- so it's just all what I've picked up on my own."

"I'll be careful." Was the only response I could give him.

"Thanks." He gave me a kiss on the cheek and I left the car and ran home. Joe left with Bob before Aly's bath, he didn't pry into what was distracting me- but before he left he gave me a goodbye kiss.

But since I got out of Lester's car I had been distracted with thoughts, even now at 10 at night with Aly sleeping next to me in bed I still couldn't shut my mind off long enough to fall asleep. If I said I didn't think Ranger still loved me- I'd be a fool. I knew he did, but it wasn't until a few nights ago that he actually made a move since I moved away. So what was this- does he not see any hope for me surviving this attack and just wanted to enjoy the time he still had with me? Had he been drinking more than I thought? I mean did he even have any reason to be angry about me staying at Morelli's last night? Sure the night before I had kissed Ranger, but the entire time I was in Wisconsin and Morelli wasn't in my life at all- he didn't try to take me on a date. Maybe Lester read his cousin's signals wrong and Ranger really was stressed out that I added another thing on his to-do list. I mean Ranger had always listened to me if I needed to vent about something, but I don't remember the last time I sat down and just told him to tell me what was on his mind. I guess what I really wanted to know right now- was what was in my head. Stephanie Plum, the walking disaster.

OoooOooooOooooOooooO

The next few days went by very much the same way. I was beyond distracted by my own thoughts and I worked morning and night on this case. Each day that went by with no results I could see in Suzanne's eyes that she became more and more afraid. I wasn't sure if Joe had seen the distraction in my face and wanted to help me out in anyway he could. Or if he just simply wanted to spend all his time here, but everyday after work he'd pick up Bob and Aly then they'd all head for my place. I had set up my basement into a huge office. Newspaper articles spread out everywhere- pictures of different people that may be suspects. After Suzanne gave me the names of the 3 places in the area that sold the same kind of paint I needed I called every single place. I told each of them I needed the records of anyone who had used a credit card and bought this kind of paint. Which produced a ton of names that I went through slowly- crosschecking Suzanne's name with each of them in the system. The most frustrating part was I could spend the next week looking into all of these names and the guy could have paid cash- or had someone else buy it for him.

Joe didn't press into my case, I'd make an appearance to eat dinner with them- but then I was back at it. I even made a couple more searches around the neighborhood to talk to the neighbors. See if someone remembered anything since the last time I was there. I made Suzanne come around with me and see if anyone looked familiar- and plus this way I wouldn't get Lester in trouble. Plus I knew although they were swamped with work- if I kept making things difficult for them I would constantly followed by a Rangeman employee. I didn't want that- Suzanne seemed really bummed that she didn't recognize anyone. I wasn't too worried- I didn't expect to find anything new- this just felt more productive then going through an endless list of names that bought this kind of paint. The more I thought of all the time I wasted looking for something about the paint- the more angry I got. I was wasting valuable time that could have been used on just about anything else! But there was something in my head that was telling me there was something significant about it. There was some reason he gave it to me as a gift- I had intrigued him enough in what I was doing to try to figure it out. That just seemed too coincidental to just ignore.

I still hadn't talked to Ranger or heard anything new from him or Lester. For all I knew- they could have easily just given up on working with me completely. Ranger probably just decided to wash his hands of me and all my issues- I sort of wished he would. Even if Ranger was truly just a friend- he deserved a much better friend than me. Since I knew him, everything he had done- was for me in one way or another. What had I done for him? Confused him- frustrated him? Then there was Joe who everyday played with Aly and leave after she was asleep. He too was waiting for me to get my act together, I just wanted to tell him to run away from me while he still could. But he wasn't here for me- he was here for his daughter. Every night though before he left he would ask me if everything was okay. Which I would respond, everything's fine- this case was just wearing on me. He would say he knows what that's like and tell me if I needed any help to not be afraid to ask him. I would always say thank you, and there was always a good night kiss.

Even if it was just this case getting to me- I still didn't want Morelli's help. I had been the world's worst bounty hunter that no one took seriously. I didn't want to have my first case back in Trenton- that I fought Eddie for- be solved by Morelli- a vice cop. Plus, I would have to tell him about pieces of information I had very conveniently left out. No- I had to do this alone, and just assume Rangeman wasn't going to help me.

I kept telling myself it was just the fact that I couldn't find out anything about who these guys were that was eating me alive. The way they had been right there while I was trying to figure out who they were- and they were watching me. Mocking my pathetic attempts at this job. So Thursday night I stayed in the office until 7:30 searching the database for anything that might help me. Really- I was just avoiding something. Joe was once again over at my house with Bob and Aly- I had told him I'd be working later than usual. But I had spent all day with something else on my mind. A bomb could have gone off next to me- but I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I wouldn't have even noticed it. I was fed up- fed up with no answers only questions. Well I wasn't standing for this anymore. I drove my car to the source of all my problems, hopped in the elevator and even though I had pressed 7 the elevator stopped at 5- but the doors didn't open. My phone was ringing- it was Lester.

"What!"

"He's really in a mood right now- if I were you I wouldn't go up there."

"Well lucky for you- you're not me. So I'm going up there." Lester sighed.

"Good luck." The line disconnected and the elevator opened at 7, I barged into Ranger's apartment and saw him standing across the room from me. Arms over the chest, eyes cold, face was definitely more angry than it usually was- but then again I wouldn't be surprised if there was smoking coming from my ears right now.

"What is your problem!" I yelled to him, stepping a few feet in slamming the door behind me.

"Excuse me?" He asked his voice was even and laced with anger.

"You heard me- why are you avoiding me!"

"I haven't- I've had a lot going on."

"Bull shit! You have never not called me back before." I didn't realize until that moment that what I was really feeling was hurt- I wasn't nearly as angry as I was upset. Ranger had always been my rock- I have always needed him and in some way he has needed me. But right now standing across from him it felt like all of that was gone.

"I'm surprised you even noticed."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I don't want to get into this right now." His voice was stern and final- well too damn bad.

"No- we're getting into this right now!" I stomped closer to him.

"You know your car is being tracked and so is Morelli's. Do you really think I wouldn't notice that every day since Saturday your cars have always been parked at the same house."

"He's spending time with his daughter! I've been trying to work shit out!"

"What shit?"

"Everything." Let him sit and figure out what it was I was talking about. Because I sure as hell didn't even know.

"You know what I don't get?" I finally said after a few seconds of silence, he remained silent but I could tell by his face that he wanted to know what I had to say.

"For four years while I lived in Wisconsin you didn't do or say anything that made it look like you wanted more than a friendship with me. It wasn't until I moved back and Morelli came back into my life that you did! Then you get pissed off because Morelli is around me!" I could see the line of his jaw tightening, the muscles in his arm bulging out. "What was all that! Some kind of game to you? Because when you went there to help us move back I practically threw myself at you- and you made me feel like a fool!"

"Stephanie- Morelli didn't come back into your life because he never left!" I don't think I've ever heard Ranger yell at me before- until now.

"Yes he did!"

"No he didn't, who are you trying to fool? I knew sooner or later you would be thrown together again."

"So why would it matter!" I screamed at him

"It mattered because I'm in love with you!" He yelled back and I stood frozen in my spot. "I've always loved you in my own way, but the second I drove away leaving you behind in Wisconsin I knew it was much more than I thought it was. Not having you here everyday- you were the only part of my life that meant something. Before you my life was order and control- you brought out that only side of me that made me feel real!"

"So why didn't you say anything!" I was on the verge of tears- but I wasn't going to just simply drop my anger.

"Because I would of rather had you in my life as just my friend, than not at all. But with things still unresolved with Morelli I wouldn't let myself be anything more than just your friend."

"So what was that talk about it being a date on Saturday night?"

"I know you think of me as this sort of superhero with unlimited amounts of power and control. But that's not true, I couldn't just sit back and watch the woman I love slip through my fingers without doing a damn thing. Then the next day when I saw you with him it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was a slap in the face to see you running right back to him- because you didn't just go pick up Aly- you stayed the night."

"I told you it was nothing." My anger was escaping- and so was the air in my lungs. It's not that I couldn't have guessed this- but hearing it really hit me hard.

"It was something, Stephanie. It was the woman I love- still in love with someone else."

"I'm not."

"Don't even tell me that- I know you better than anyone. Don't lie to me." I threw an arm around my stomach, I felt like I could pass out right here and now.

"I don't know how I feel, okay! Maybe I never did let him go, and maybe I do still love him. But incase you haven't noticed- I haven't let you go either. I never stopped loving you either." He shook his head and looked away from me. I couldn't take it anymore- I needed to know. I closed the distance between us wrapping my fingers into his shirt and pressed my lips onto his.

At first I was kissing an immovable object- but then the soft lips I had been no stranger to, started kissing me back. It was like nothing I had ever felt before. Our lips moved as one, not rushing the other- but needing more. His arms wound around me pulling my body closer to him. The kiss deepened, our tongues tangled, and they only time we broke apart was when he whispered, I love you. I traced my nails up and down his back and his shoulders. But the sound of beeping broke us apart. He let go of me with one arm and looked into his pocket at his phone. I saw him mouth a swear word and look at me.

"I have to go."

"Figures. You know why Batman never ends up with the love of his life? Because he will always help the world- before he helps himself. How is someone ever supposed to love him- when he is nothing but a man hiding behind a mask? Who saves Batman, huh? So go ahead and blame me- but I'm not the one who has hid every important piece of my life deep in the shadows." I turned and ran to the elevator- he didn't follow. By the time the doors shut I was balling- the worst part was I didn't even know why.

Maybe it was because Ranger would always have someone else to go take care of. Maybe it was because I don't know why I even went there and kissed him. Maybe I was just clinically insane. I got to my car and drove home. At one point I had to pull over and finish crying and wipe away my tears. I flipped down the vanity mirror and did what I could to make myself presentable. When I pulled into my driveway and started walking into the house, I stopped. I looked in through the front window and saw down the hallway where Joe had Aly and was swinging her around. Both of them were laughing and Bob sat by them- watching with excitement. Why did I go to Rangeman- why did I need to kiss Ranger, again. Standing in front of me was the beautiful image of what was my family, maybe that was what upset me. I have yet to stop hurting them- two of the men in my life that I love and care for. And for some reason- they both loved me back. Joe looked over and saw me at the window and waved. There was no point standing out here anymore, if I did Joe would know something was wrong.

After Aly was asleep and Joe left giving me another, undeserving goodnight kiss I went to bed. I cried to myself until finally sleep came to me…

OoooOooooOooooOoooO

Something woke me up- I didn't know what it was at first. But when I opened my eyes I saw the masked face I had seen every night in my dreams- the one I had been trying to find.

"Surprise." My attacker said, I tried to do something to fight back. But I felt the sudden sharp point of a needle going into my arm and slowly my body couldn't fight back anymore and my eyelids slowly closed. I was in trouble.