Hi guys, hopfeully this chapter will give you lots of answers you've been waiting so patiently for.

Steph and Ranger may, ahem, do a few rude things so if you don't like reading that sort of thing, then stop reading now... for the rest of you, sorry it's all glossed over a bit!

I love your comments and judging by the length of some of your reviews you are really into this story so please continue to R & R (you know the drill). For those who read but usually leave me nothing, go on, please make my day and give me your feedback ;oP

Enjoy...

Steph worked steadily through the headings on the list Ranger had pinned up and cross referenced this against the searches she had run. She listed the names of the men who seemed to have the skills necessary against each task and it wasn't long before she realised that there were several events where she had plenty of candidates but there were a few where only a woman's touch would do. In these cases she'd been hard pressed to come up with one man who she thought had the skill set needed to perform the task in question so she just stabbed at the list in front of her with her pen and used the name nearest to it that hadn't already been picked.

Clever bastard, she thought as she looked at the list again. As she'd carried out her paper based exercise it had become clear that she would be key to the success of several of the events. Ranger really was the master of manipulation. She just hoped his machinations didn't extend to her as well. She dismissed the negative thought – no - he'd told her this morning that things were different.

That they would be different.

That he'd missed her…

Concentrate, Plum! Return to the task in hand. Which was… oh yeah, the twelve tasks of Hercules – ha ha!

Con. sen. trate…

Ahem... where was I?

Calm down...

Deep breaths...

...

Most of the men were more than capable in a car. Practically all of them would be fine on the firing range, but seeking out a skip in a tightly knit closed community or body guarding a young child, not so much.

Now as she looked at the list again she started to giggle.

Clever bastard-s actually.

She could see where Tank and Ranger had given their input but she now had a sneaking suspicion that a certain playboy and a medic might also have been involved. Looking closely she also thought that perhaps a certain ex-gang member might even have had some influence.

A warm and fuzzy feeling welled up inside her. Not only did she seem to have the backing of her favourite superhero but perhaps a few other great friends had also been keen to see her succeed. But why the female orientated tasks? After all, she really didn't see them thinking their way round the edges of the box in this way, then it hit her. Ella!

God Bless Ella!

Leaning back in her chair, she grinned. Ella had probably been the underlying strategist for the whole tournament! Now at least she had someone she could ring who might be able to give her a better understanding of how to capitalise on her own skills too.

Picking up the phone she quickly dialled Haywood reception and was put through almost immediately

"Hello Dear, I wondered when you'd ring but before you ask, I'm not going to talk about the tournament…"

o0o0o0o0o

Connor, Ranger and Chase sat round the table in the small conference room, discussing how to tell the men about the leadership changes that were about to be made public.

"I'm not sure how well some of the men will take it." Chase said "After all, most of them thought Mungo would be the next to take on the mantle if things ever changed at the top."

"I agree" Connor added. "I'm afraid most of the personnel here like the way I've er... 'encouraged' them to terrorise the locals. I'm ashamed to say that I think I've bred a monster. Or even a series of them. I don't think they'll take too kindly to any of the changes that Chase makes."

Ranger just looked at them as if they had three heads. "Do you really think they're that stupid? You know as well as I do that a lot of these men would be deemed unemployable by most companies. They need to treat the next few weeks as a training exercise. One that requires all the usual hardships that go with basic. They can either shit or get off the pot, I don't care which but I reckon we'll lose maybe 10 percent but they will be the ones who are too stupid or too short sighted to see that it's in their best interest to change."

He leaned back in his seat. "Quite frankly, I don't give a fuck about the ones we lose. But we need it to be their choice. I don't want any of them taking out some sort of vendetta against us. Atlanta needs to rebuild its reputation and it needs to be one based on loyalty and quality, nothing else will be acceptable."

Chase nodded and sucked in some air.

"Problem with that?" Ranger asked, cocking his head slightly.

"No, not really, but I think I may need a miracle in order to see this through."

"I've already given you two."

Chase looked confused.

"Stephanie Plum and a tournament. Both of which are capable to bringing the best out in people. Forgiveness and trust in the first and team building and bonding in the second. If you use these wisely I think you've got a good chance this will all work out."

Connor chuckled "You really are a clever fucker, Carlos! Why the hell didn't I ever think to trust you with my troubles."

"Because you're a total moron." Ranger said, looking pointedly at him.

Chase looked at the unspoken conversation that was taking place could see some of the supposed 'Connor of old' sneaking through. He didn't know Ranger at all and the things he'd over heard had done little to dismiss the nerves he'd had when they first met. But right now he could see a brilliant mind, a brilliant man and every physical reason why Steph was drawn to him.

He was the ultimate predator. In the field, the boardroom and obviously the bedroom. Mentally he sighed. Now if only he could feel less regret for losing his Sweetie before he'd even made her his.

o0o0o0o0o

Steph looked at her list again and nibbled on her bottom lip thoughtfully. She was certain that she was finally on the right track. She had people posted against each of the tasks but was still nervous about how things would work out. She figured that as Ranger hadn't even told anyone what the prize would be, he probably had some tricks up his sleeve and that things weren't as they seemed. Each task seemed too straightforward so there were bound to be surprises along the way.

Perhaps she could wiggle some secrets out of him – perhaps post-coitally… Ha ha probably not even then, she reasoned after all he was always aware of his surroundings. And, let's be honest, much as she hoped it wouldn't be too long before she could give up her shower massager, she couldn't assume anything right now.

Nope, she'd just have to hope she got everything right.

She looked down the list again, cross referencing everything against the search information one more time.

1 Shooting contest: Tibs

2 Driving skills: Ian

3 Suspect surveillance: Frank / Ralph

4 Skip apprehension (close knit community): Steph / Mitch

5 Skip apprehension (crowded environment): Steph / various

6 Body guarding for a young child: Steph / Various

7 Body guarding for a local celebrity: Chase / Jed

8 Planting evidence: Pike

9 Assault course and march: Mungo

10 Bomb disposal: Robo / Al

11 Building refurbishment: Steph / Chase / Various

12 Logistics:

Steph looked at the last task – what on earth was logistics?

She had eight men left over but hopefully she could use them for the last task or find another way to incorporate them into the tournament, probably during 5, 6 or 11...

If only she had someone else to bounce ideas off, it was a real shame that Connor was so unlikely to help. He would probably know the best way to play things.

She looked at her watch and was surprised to find it was after 4. Where had the time gone? She looked up and could see the tops of Connor and Ranger's heads coming out of the conference room that they'd spent most of the day locked up in.

Connor headed off towards the stairs and Ranger in a different direction. She knew he wouldn't be able to see her so assumed he was going towards the break room so returned to the papers on her desk once more.

"Babe" a soft voice, full of promise whispered in her ear as two mocha latte arms wrapped round her from behind and squeezed her against a wall of hard muscle.

"Be ready at 6.30" the voice said "We're going out on a date."

Before Steph could get over the shock he was gone. Turning round she was met with an empty space.

Yep, it was official. Ranger was smoke.

Picking up her paperwork and tidying it up into a neat pile she wandered over to Chase's new office.

"Any chance you could look through this lot?" she asked as she dumped everything before Chase.

"Better still, Connor will take a look." Came the amused reply.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. I'll pass it to him, he's keen to start making amends."

Steph looked blankly at him for a moment.

"Don't you have something to go get ready for?"

"Uh? Yeah… YEAH!" Steph said as she realised that Chase must know about her date with Ranger. Turning on her heels she started out of the door.

Things were really on the up!

o0o0o0o0o

Steph stood in the shower thinking over the things that had happened since picking up Ranger from the airport this morning.

She was now officially going on a date.

Connor was going to help her with the tournament…

She was. Going. on a date…

With Batman…

Crap! She flustered out, swallowing a load of water and spluttering in surprise. She had nothing to wear. Most of her clothes were damaged in the flooding of Chez Alcatraz…

o0o0o0o0o

Ranger grinned to himself as he stood outside the door to his apartment and mentally straightened his tie before knocking.

Moments later the door was opened and Steph stood before him. Dios she looked fucking fantastic in the deep olive green short flirty floral dress he'd organised that stopped mid thigh and went very well with the knee high black leather boots and thick tights Ella had also provided. Not only that but she looked totally edible, kissable, beautiful, nervous, beautiful, nervous… hadn't he just said that?

"Ranger, are you coming in?" Steph asked timidly as she looked at the delectable man dressed in black fitted jeans, lightweight dark cream jumper with the hint of a white t-shirt underneath and a dark gray scarf wrapped artfully round his neck. Christ he looked amazing! GQ man meets Jude Law. Not only that but she wanted to kiss his beautiful lips… run her fingers through his hair… ride him like Zorro…

Ranger walked in, sliding carefully past her. If he so much as touched her they'd not be going out anywhere soon "Babe?" he asked as he looked at her glazed over eyes. Guess she was in the same predicament.

"Sorry! Just get my cardigan." She said, dashing off. Fuck me! She thought as the scent of Bulgari and Ranger filled her nostrils. He might look absolutely beautiful in what he was wearing but if her memory served her correct, what was underneath was even better.

"Let's get out of here." Ranger said snagging her hand once she'd returned to the narrow passageway.

As their fingers entwined, time stopped.

Steph looked down at where they were joined, suddenly wanting so much more. She looked up into his eyes and gulped, loudly.

Anticipation hung heavy in the air.

"Yeah… good idea" she said, stepping closer without thinking.

Suddenly their bodies were touching.

Every part screaming for more contact.

Ranger frantically shoved the door shut with his boot. It slammed with a loud deep thud but neither of them seemed to notice. The only thing they were focused on was getting each other naked.

Clothes flew, kisses exchanged, arms and legs wove together, bodies screamed in ecstasy and desperation.

Then they were one. Bodies slid together, moaning and grasping, breath quickening as they sped towards the finish line.

Some time later as they lay on the floor in a tangle of sweaty limbs, Steph turned and smiled as she snuggled into his solid chest. "Thanks for the clothes, I guess by your reaction they looked ok on me."

Ranger chucked as he tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "Something like that."

He kissed her nose gently. "Come on, I'm sure there's a bed in here somewhere. We have a lot of catching up to do" he whispered huskily as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to his bedroom where they continued to 'catch up' for the rest of the night.