Author's Note

I know this one is a little shorter than you are used to, but I hope you will still enjoy it.

I have had this unfinished in my box for a few months now, and only ended up adding a little bit today.

Thank you for all your support and comments. They mean a lot.

Enjoy!

Steph's POV

The helicopter sets down on a field next to a building which looks like a school. With what I have seen so far off New Zealand from above, I can determine that it is beautiful. Definitely greener than anything else I have ever seen.

We are greeted by an imposing dark skinned man in a police uniform who is leaning against a cop car, with his arms crossed over his chest. "You must me Mr and Mrs Manoso" He says and smiles. If he queries our choice of clothing he isn't voicing it and he still looks imposing, but a lot friendlier.

"Yes" Ranger nods. "But you can call me Ricardo."

"But I am not his wife. I am a friend" I explain and extend my hand. "Steph."

"Nice to meet you both" He nods and shakes our hands. "My name is Chief Blake. Julie is at the station. When I left she was asleep and I didn't want to wake her."

"That is fine." Ranger nods. "So what actually happened?"

"I will let Julie tell you the story" He grins and motions to his car. "After you."

"Julie" I gently shake her shoulder.

"Not now Steph...five more minutes" she says and slaps my hand away, making Ranger, the Chief and me laugh.

"Nope...you gotta get up now. You have some explaining to do young lady" I grin. It only took us a few minutes to get from our landing spot to the Police Station. The town is tiny.

"Urggg" Julie groans, pulls the blanket tighter around herself and turns around. She opens her eyes and closes them just as quickly. "Nope...I am still asleep."

Ranger's grin expands. He steps closer to the couch, lifts her feet, sits down and places them into his lap. "We are glad that you are ok...but we want to know what happened. When I received the call…" He swallows hard.

"I am sorry Dad" Julie sits up instantly and takes his hand. I look around and see that Chief Blake left us alone in the office, which would explain why Ranger's blank face is nowhere to be seen and his emotions are on clear display. "I didn't plan this to get the two of you here...I swear."

"It wasn't even remotely what I was thinking." Ranger assures her and pats her leg.

"Wait...why are you guys so dress up?" Julie looks confused at our get up.

"We went to a charity ball." I explain. "We didn't have much time to go shopping and the airport we fuelled up at half way to New Zealand did not have clothes shops. Then when we landed in Auckland, we wasted no time coming here." Those were the most uncomfortable 24 hours of my life. This tight dress is not made for long distance travel.

"You two were at a Ball together?" Julie starts smiling, but I instantly shake my head to stop her thought. Nothing has been talked about and I don't want Julie getting excited for no reason.

"So what happened?" Ranger probes, ignoring her excitement over the two of us being at an event together.

"A lot of things actually at the same time." Julie sighs.

"Start at the beginning" I encourage her and finally take seat in a nearby chair. My feet and the bottom of my dress look dirty from walking barefoot on the streets of Washington. There were flip flops on the plane which I borrowed, but only now it occurs to me that I could have showered on the plane as well.

"Well I was driving north to Cape Reinga and stopped to stretch my legs, when I saw this hiking trail and the sign said it was leading to Te Kao Bay. I figured it would take more than a couple of hours, grabbed my small backpack with food and drinks, locked up the car and started walking." Julie explains. "Turns out it was more than a couple of hours. It was amazing...so beautiful" she continues and her eyes light up.

"I didn't stay long, but it was already getting dark and I only had the flashlight on my phone. I thought I took the right trail, but I didn't. I got lost, didn't have a signal and my maps on my phone were leading me the wrong way.

It took me ages to find the right path and get back where I thought I had left the car. But it was gone. By that time my phone had died, so I couldn't call anyone."

"The police searched the nearby area...they said they couldn't find you." Ranger tells her.

"Maybe that was while I was napping?" She questions sheepishly. "I was tiered, so found a spot away from the street, laid down and napped. By the time I woke up it was way into the morning. Eventually a car past me and I was able to get a lift back to the city, where I went to the police station to report the missing car, only to be immediately guided into the Chief's office. I talked to Tank and he told me to stay put. So here I am"

"I am just glad that you are alright" Ranger draws her into a tight hug.

"I am sorry I worried you Dad" Julie's voice is muffled by Ranger's shoulder and she draws him even closer. "And I am sorry I left like this...I just…"

"I know" Ranger nods. "It's ok."

A few days later

"I will see you in a few months" Ranger hugs Julie tight. "Just keep that tracker on you."

"Ok" Julie nods into his shoulder. "I will, but you have to promise not to track my movements every second. I need some space and independence."

"I promise" Ranger says and adds "I hope you will have the time of your life kiddo." before letting he go.

Tears pool in my eyes and I draw a deep breath to keep them at bay. The last few days were fun. After an extensive shopping trip, we drove Julie up to Cape Reinga and spent the sometime there. Relaxing, looking around, and hiking. But the time has come for Ranger and me to go back to the real world.

"I hope you will join Dad in a few months" Julie whispers in my ear when she comes to hug me.

"No guarantees" I answer and draw her closer. "I love you, but you have to stop meddling. If it is meant to be, it will work itself out."

Julie snorts and withdraws from my embrace. "Call me when you land."

Both of us nod and get into the hired car to drive all the way back to Auckland. We decided against the helicopter and instead decided that we could use that time to talk.

A couple of hours later, the silence in the car is deafening. There is so much to say and I do not know where to start.

Ranger suddenly slams the breaks, he of course insisted on driving, and pulls up on the site of the road. "What are you…" But before I can get the full sentence out, he is already out of the car and slams the door with so much force that the whole car shakes.

I scramble to get out of the car and stare at him pacing up and down next to the vehicle. "I don't know how to do this Steph" He stops and looks at me.

"Do what?" I question.

"Talk" He huffs in frustration. "I have never been good at it...After...After what happened I didn't know how to talk to you, didn't know how to make you see what I was going through." He takes a shaky breath and just as I am about to say something he continues. "You did the right thing by walking away. Thinking back, I wouldn't have wanted to live with me either.

Before you came into my life, I used lock myself into my apartment for a week or two, depending how bad it had been, and drink. The guys used to check in on me regularly to make sure I hadn't drunk myself to death, or god forbid put a bullet through my brain."

I am standing completely still. My heart is hammering into my rib cage, I stopped breathing just so I can hear his words more clearly. He is finally letting me in!

"And then you came along." His gaze softens and his lips curl into a smile. "Wanna-be bounty hunter, afraid of holding and shooting guns, but not afraid to get down and dirty. You made me smile when I didn't feel like it, caused me more grey hairs than Uncle Sam ever could, never questioned my methods and always trusted me blindly. You always get back up on your feet and you possess an inner strength that I have only seen in the toughest of soldiers. And I am sorry that I repaid you by locking you away."

"Ranger…" I start, but he holds up his hand.

"Let me get this out Babe" He says and I only nod in response.

"Within me there is this need to protect you and Julie, to shield you from anything bad, and it is stronger than anything else. I love the both of you. You keep me sane and grounded. You keep me from going down a very bad path every time I come back from one of my missions.

The last time I came back, I wasn't in a very good frame of mind and Bobby putting me on bed rest didn't help. Then you got injured and I couldn't do a damn thing. It was way worse when they managed to storm our building. If I hadn't been injured I could have helped, could have killed the bastards myself... You wouldn't have been hurt and Cal would still be alive."

I carefully walk around the car, as if I am approaching a wild animal, and come to stand in front of him. "Look at me" I demand quietly, since he is still staring at the spot where I was standing a few seconds ago. He turns his head and for a moment I get lost in his eyes which show a copious amount of pain, worry and uncertainty. It breaks my heart to see it and all I want to do is make it better for him.

He is such an amazing person and shouldn't have gone through what the military or I have put him through over the years. Ranger deserves so much better.

"All of that wasn't your fault...you have to let go of that, or you won't ever be able to move on" I say softly. "It took a while, but I had to let go of the hurt that I caused myself by walking away. I doubted myself more times than I could count and in the beginning I missed you so much that I nearly came back, but I didn't.

Like I said on the plane, I know I would have been just as unhappy and it wouldn't have taken long for me to run again. I just wasn't strong enough to help you through everything and I am sorry."

"Don't say that" He growls and when I look at him confused he clarifies. "Don't say you weren't strong enough. You were and you are. It takes a great deal of strength to walk away from someone or something you love."

"Maybe" I shrug. "But we need to move past this guilt. If we want to ever be more than acquaintances.

"Come with me back to Trenton" he suddenly changes the topic and looks at me hopeful. "Come home with me and let's see how it goes."

"Ranger..." I start, but he stops me.

"Just for a couple of weeks. We will take it day by day." Ranger steps closer and grabs my hand. "Just for a little while." He almost whispers.

My head screams not to do it, but my heart shouts louder. I need to go with him. I need to see where this could lead.

What did you think?