So I was hoping to get two chapters out last week, but I got blocked. Thankfully, I worked my way through it in time for the weekly update. I hope that this is also the last chapter before they finally get on with their mission... I know I'm ready for it.

Hope you enjoy! Not mine.

After my interlude with Ranger, I went home and quickly got into the shower for tonight. I was excited to go out. I needed to blow off some steam, thanks to a certain sexy Cuban.

Stupid Ranger.

I showered, shaved, conditioned, plucked and shlacked in a little over an hour. Hmm, new record.

I was slipping on my black FMP when there was a knock on my door.

I hopped on one foot to the door. "You're right on time. Of course, I really shouldn't expect anything less than… oh crap."

It wasn't Natalie standing at my door, but Joe's new squeeze, Nina. I knew her from sight because I had been in her ambulance so many times. Her brown hair was still in a pony tail and she was still wearing her uniform. I could see the embarrassment written all over her face.

"Uh, hi." I said. "I didn't do it." I blurted out next.

Her brown eyes flickered with confusion. "No, it's nothing bad." She said. "I hope you don't mind me stopping by. I got your address from one of the charts you filled out. I hope that's okay because I can go if… Oh you're going out."

I stepped aside to let her in. "With some friends. It's fine. Usually people break in. It's nice when guests knock. Come on in."

"Thanks." She took a stiff seat on my couch. "I don't mean to drop in on you like this, but I figured we needed to talk."

"About Joe?"

Nina nodded. "I know that you two were together for a long time and…"

"Don't worry. I won't want him back."

She looked relieved for a moment before doubt clouded her face. "You two loved each other for years. How can you say that?"

I sat down next to her and took her hand. "Look, I get why you're here. You even get some points in my book for coming here and having the courage to confront me. But trust me when I say that you have no competition in me. I'm glad that Joe is moving on."

She looked at me for a moment, and then nodded. "Okay. I'm sorry I'm acting like the new crazy girlfriend. It's just…"

"You really like him." I said with a small smile.

She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Yeah. A lot."

"Good. He needs that."

Nina nodded once more and got up. "I just wanted to make sure that you weren't going to be one of those women that realize that they made a big mistake and want the man back. Because I would have to fight you for him and I do fight dirty."

"Good to know. Don't worry, he's all yours."

"Except when you two hang out."

"You're okay with that? I might get all sentimental and want him back."

Her lips twitched. "I'll take my chances."

I liked her. "You're good for him."

She brightened. "Thanks. You know, whenever you get a boyfriend, maybe we can double sometime."

"Sounds good." Not that it was happening any time soon.

"What about that Ranger guy? He looks at you like you're his lunch."

Don't I know it.

I nodded and tentatively agreed to look into it and she left.

"We'll have two of the biggest and cheapest drink you have." Natalie said to the waiter. He smiled and moved over to the bar.

"Any particular reason why you ordered for me?" I asked her as we took our seats.

"You look like you could use the biggest drink in the world. I just made sure you didn't chicken out when ordering it."

"Well, gee, thanks."

She leaned in. "What happened in that office? Ranger came out looking quite pleased and you came out a few minutes later looking extremely pale. Things aren't adding up."

I smirked at her. "Using your investigative skills on me?"

"More like my snooping skills. They're very good."

I rolled my eyes. "Nothing happened."

"No, no way. Something happened."

I could see that she wasn't going to let this go. I really had two choices. One was lie; tell her he told me something I didn't want to know. Or go with the truth. Tell her about the date.

I still couldn't believe he remembered the exact date. Just when I think I have a handle on him, he completely surprises me.

"I smell smoke." Lester said, coming up behind me and putting an arm around my shoulders.

"Girl stuff. You know, makeup, hair, tampons." Natalie retorted.

I snorted, imagining the horror on Lester's face.

"I need… a beer." Lester scooted away.

"I've never seen him move that fast before!" I said, laughing into the drink that was placed in front of me. It was big, fruity and had an umbrella. I was sold.

Natalie looked at me. "You really aren't going to tell me."

"Nothing to tell." I lied. It was for her own good.

"Look, I know you're mad that I volunteered you for this, but I thought I could give you two the push you needed."

"I knew it!"

"What? So I tried to play matchmaker. Big deal."

I grinned at her. "You were terrible at it. I saw right through you."

"Damn, I should know better than to go against the spidey sense."

"Or gotten rid of the glint in your eyes."

"They go next week."

I snorted and took a big sip of my drink.

"I thought you'd be mad. Why aren't you?" She asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Because I could see what you were doing. Plus, I am the obvious choice. You two would act too much like brother and sister and Jeanne Ellen…"

Natalie shivered. "Don't get me started on her. She scares the crap out of me. Is she even human?"

"Who knows?" I said, shrugging.

Before she could go on, Lester, Bobby and Hal joined us at the table. Bobby gave me a small hug and Hal waved, blushing.

"Do you think you could learn to be less of a girl, Hal?" Lester teased.

"Leave him alone!" Natalie exclaimed. "I think it's sweet."

All this did was make Hal blush harder.

"Come on, Hal. Let's dance."

Lester sat down and clutched his beer hard. I patted his arm.

"Everything okay with you?" Bobby asked.

"What is this, check on Stephanie month?"

"Actually, that's in March." Lester retorted.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm fine dad."

He looked at me for a moment. "Because if you need to talk…"

"What I need is to dance."

"Allow me, Beautiful." Lester held his hand out to me. I graciously accepted. I knew what he was doing, but I had a feeling it wasn't going to work.

"Trying to make Natalie jealous, are we?" I joked.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Only if you're blind. Why don't you just ask her out?"

"I will."

"When? After you turn 80?"

"And when are you going to get with Ranger? Everyone knows that'll happen eventually."

I pursed my lips. "Touché."

After sharing a few dances with Lester, Bobby came over and danced with me.

"Are you going to be okay doing this job with Ranger? Because I can talk to him and…"

"Don't you dare!" I yelled. "I can handle him just fine!"

He didn't look convinced. Okay, so most of the time I can handle him. It's just those pocket moments when I can't and my tongue ends up down his throat.

"You know what I mean. Anyway, if I don't do it, who will?"

He thought about that for a minute. "Good point."

"This is what I'm saying."

We danced for a few more minutes and then another Merry Man got his turn.

And that was the last thing I remember.

The next morning, I was sitting at my desk, my head on my arms. Ugh, God, I got to stop drinking.

I felt my spine tingle before Ranger put his hand on the back of my neck. He placed a bottle of water and Advil next to my head.

"It'll help, Babe."

"My brain grew claws and is trying to escape. Nothing is going to help."

That's when I smelled the French Fries. I picked my head up and looked.

"You do read my diary!"

Ranger smirked. "Nice glasses, Babe."

I briefly looked at him over my sunglasses. "What? The lights are bright in here." I opened the McDonalds bag and dug into my fries, moaning loudly.

"You are my favorite person in the world right now."

"Ella's making you Mac and Cheese later."

"Oh my God, she's my favorite person."

Ranger smirked again. "Try not to overwork yourself today."

"Don't worry about that." I mumble to his back.

"I heard that."

God, does he have supersonic hearing? Did he get that when he was in the Army? Bitten by a radioactive spider?

I work and stuff my face full of fries when Natalie wanders over. I looked at her and flinched. "You look like crap."

She didn't answer me. Instead, she plopped down into the seat next to me and sighed. I went back to work for a few minutes. After finishing my coke, I was now able to see without needing the aid of sunglasses. Thank god. The screen looked weird.

"I'm going to ask you a question. And I don't want anything but the answer. No shocked faces, no laughing, and certainly no judging."

"God, did you get an embarrassing tattoo last night?"

"No. Worse."

I looked at her and raised my eyebrows.

"I lost my panties."

I blinked. Once, and then again.

"You WHAT?" I screeched.

"Shut the hell up! God, that hurts?" She groaned and put her hands over her ears.

I tried to calm down and gritted out, "how can you lose your panties?"

"I have no idea! That's the problem."

"Well, did you go home with someone?"

She bit her lip. "I don't think so."

I put my head down. "Jesus."

"What should I do?"

I honestly had no idea. I shrugged my shoulders as her phone rang.

"That… that… that bastard!"

"Who?"

She handed me her phone. She had gotten a picture message from Lester.

Two can play at that game, the text said.

Underneath it was a picture of what I was assuming the panties Natalie was wearing last night.

I had to hand it to the guy. When you screwed with him, he screwed back.

"Well, mystery solved."

"We have to get them back."

"No. Oh no. There is no we in this endeavor. You screwed with him all by yourself. I have enough to think about." I went back to the research I was looking up. "You two go play your crazy games away from my desk." I knew better than to get in between whatever weird form of foreplay this was.

"Fine." Natalie replied. "I can do it." She marched out of my cubicle in search of Lester.

I had a feeling that nothing good was going to come of this.

A few minutes later, my suspicions were right. There was some raised voices… then some yelling. The crescendo came when there was a big RIIIIP noise and a "YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!" I and a few of the other guys bravely peeked over our cubicles.

"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Cal asked me.

I shook my head. "Nothing good."

He looked over at Ranger's office. "Thank God it's soundproof."

I nodded again. I also made a mental note about Ranger's office. Mental head slap. We all followed with our eyes as Natalie as she stomped past us to the elevator. Lester passed a few moments later, rubbing his cheek. I raised my eyebrows at him.

"I know what you're thinking," he said. "And yes, it was totally worth it."

"Did you…?" I didn't even want to think about one of my best friends violating someone… I shivered.

Shock filled his face. "God no! I was walking her back to her apartment when she flung them at me. I decided to fight fire with fire. I no way would I ever do that."

"I know. I just wanted to make sure."

"Stephanie, you know I only look for willing participants. If I didn't we would've had sex years ago." He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

Good grief.