Chapter 14

I woke to pounding on Rangers office door and I rolled out of his arms and slammed onto the floor.

"Fuck" I mumbled "that hurt"

I heard Ranger chuckle above me and say, "Smooth Babe"

I glared up at him and asked, "Ready to start the next fight?"

He just gave me a smirk as he got up and lifted me back on the couch. I watched as he quickly grabbed his clothes, dressed and walk over to the door.

He unlocked it and opened it a few inches. He whispered back and forth with someone and frowned. I looked out the window to see that it was dark, hours had passed and a glance at the clock said it was 2 am. We slept through dinner and my stomach was letting me know it and my head slightly.

I stood up reaching for my clothes quickly getting dressed. When I was done I found my purse and grabbed the pill bottle Bobby gave me. I was in the process of taking a pill when Ranger walked up behind me and asked with a frown, "Head hurting?"

I nodded, "A little, I think because I missed dinner. Lack of food makes it worse." The hair pulling probably didn't help but Ranger already looked stressed and there was nothing he could do to fix or change that. Better not add it to his plate when it was already over flowing.

"Who was it." I asked leaning into his arms.

"Lester, he said the alarms are going off again. They are all different from last night. Hector is up running a scan to see if there is a pattern. So far there haven't been any suspects at any of the alarms." He sighed as he pulled me close.

I could tell the stress was getting to him because he never looked or sounded tired, and right now he looked frustrated and exhausted still.

"Do you need to go out?" I asked rubbing his back gently.

"Not yet, let's go to 7 and get you some food." He said grabbing my hand to pull me to the door.

Suddenly what we did in his office came crashing down and I was mortified the guys knew. I mean I wasn't exactly quiet! Ranger must have seen my face because he smiled gently and said, "It's 2 am no one is out there. They are either in bed or on shift. Halls are clear Babe."

"That doesn't help me tomorrow when I have to see them." I muttered as we walked out the door.

I heard him give a small chuckle, "They won't say a word babe."

"No they won't, but I still know, that they know, that I know!" I said miserably.

He smiled and pulled me into the elevator "I guess that is a conundrum." He whispered.

I narrowed my eyes at him, "You don't sound sympathetic."

"I'm not." He said, "You are mine and I claimed you."

"Cave man." I grumbled.

"Yep" he said as we got off on seven. "I guess it's my job to kill a beast and feed you then." I watched him flash me a wolf smile as he opened the door.

I rolled my eyes and followed him in the apartment, I hopped on the stool and watched him pull open the fridge to find us food.

I started to think about everything that happened in the last 24 hours and became a little overwhelmed. I mean were Ranger and I together? Are we a couple? Or just sleeping together.

"I smell burning." Startled I looked up to see Ranger standing in front of me as he finished making a sandwich. "I killed a turkey for you." He chuckled as he passed me the turkey sandwich. "What is going on up there." He said pointing at my head.

I looked at him for a moment trying to find the right words, I decided to use the food as a way to get out of talking. I watched him grin at me as I took a massive bite, the man knew what I was doing… he always did.

"Babe." He said leaning his hip on the counter and crossing his arms. "We talk now, remember?"

I smiled sarcastically then chewed and swallowed dramatically. "Fineeeeeeeeeee" I drawled. I pushed the crumbs around my plate taking a deep breath.

"Are we together?" I mumbled.

I watched as his eyebrows shot up, he finished chewing and looked at me through narrowed eyes. "What would you call it?"

I felt in that moment that if I wasn't carful we really would be having our next fight. I closed my eyes and took another deep breath, "I am not sure, I know what I want but I am not sure if we are in the same place."

"What do you want." He asked with a blank face.

I groaned and put my head down, "I am not saying this right." I threw his words back at him.

"Touché" he said leaning forward on the counter. "I know what I want, want to hear it?" I nodded with my head down and my forehead rubbing on the counter. "Babe, look up."

I slowly looked at him with wide eyes. "Crazy eyes?" he said. I nodded again.

"For me it's simple, I want you." He said shrugging. "What do you want?"

"You." I said without hesitation.

"Ok then." He said standing, "We are together."

I struggled for a moment trying to let it go, but I had to say the words, "Like boyfriend and girlfriend or like we only sleep together."

I watched him cringe, "Boyfriend and girlfriend." I watched him close his eyes, "That sounds like we are 10."

I grinned, "See not so easy to name is it." I put my chin on my propped up hand. "I need a name for it when my mother asks or Lula asks or Lester asks."

I watched him take a moment to think, "Well if your Mom asks, say we are fuck buddies. If Lula asks, tell her I am Batman and I will make her disappear if she asks again. And if Lester asks, tell him that he will meet me at the mats at 0500 the next morning."

I laughed hysterically almost falling of the chair, Batman had a sense of humor! "What if you are busy the next morning?"

He grinned at me, "I will make time."

"What if Lula asks again any way." I sassed

"Show her the photo of my abs you took, that will distract her."

I almost died of laughter, "And what if my mom demands that you marry me right away because she can't have a daughter with a fuck buddy?"

He looked me dead in the eye, "Then I will marry you."

I immediately stopped laughing and stared at him. "See those comments." I was waving my hands back and forth. "Truth or punch line."

"Both." He answered.

I narrowed my eyes at him, "What if I don't want to get married?"

He shrugged, "Then we won't."

I tilted my head to the side, "So we might never marry, we might just be together like this…. forever?"

He leaned forward, "I said I was simple, I want you, anyway I can have you." He kissed me gently on the lips. "But I don't share, so don't make me kill anyone." I didn't think he was joking so I nodded, I also knew I didn't have to say the same thing back.

Ok that was one thing, now to brave the other. I casually lifted my sandwich and started to munch. "Tomorrow I am going to run to my apartment and do some errands, what are you doing?"

I watched as he started cleaning the food up, "Nice try, I want you to take a guy."

I took a deep breath; I knew this was going to be a battle. "No"

I watched him turn and raise an eyebrow at me, "You said you would take someone with you."

"I did say that… when I am going after Mikel and I will. Tomorrow I am just doing some errands, checking on my apartment. Going to see the girls and get any new files and hand in my body receipt. I can grab yours too." I said sitting taller in my chair.

"The guy who hit you?" he questioned nodding at my temple.

"I haven't had any more contact, nothing. No one has sent any messages, in anyway. I am wondering now if it was just the wrong place at the wrong time and he was gonna steal my car…. I do have that kind of luck." I grumbled rolling my eyes.

"Your car?" he said with another eyebrow raise.

"What? A shitty car is better than no car." I defended.

He nodded, "You have me there."

I tilted my head to the side, "How about a compromise."

"I am listening." He said with a blank face. I knew he was waiting to see what my wild mind came up with.

"I put on a tracker that I promise to not take off, and I carry my panic button. I will go see the girls first and see if Lula wants to ride with me for the day? I need to get my check for Donaldson anyway. Hay do you think if I gave you half of the bond you could put it in Hector's pay check? I know that if I try to give it him he will say no." I said taking the last bite of my sandwich and handing the plate over to Ranger to be washed.

"Nice divert again, tomorrow's plan is FINE as long as Lula agrees to go with you, and giving Hector the bond is all on you. If Lula says no, then you come get a partner here. Is that agreeable?" he said wiping the counter.

I rolled my eyes again, "What are you gonna do when I move back to my apartment? I can't stay here forever, what if nothing happens for a week? A month?" I asked with a grim look, "I can't hide forever."

"I don't think of it as hiding…. I think of it as getting extra time with you. Besides," he said grabbing a water bottle out of the fridge, "I already told you that you can have half of my closet."

I narrowed my eyes at him, "What if I am not ready to move in yet…. I like my apartment."

"So then you don't move in." He said, "I will just make visits to your apartment the nights you are not here." I watched as he started to walk to the bedroom. "Eventually you will come back here…. my sheets are better." He called out.

I rolled my eyes again, I was gonna get rolling eye syndrome if I kept it up. "So you would sleep in my crappy apartment, in my crappy bed just to be with me?" I said leaning on the doorframe of the bedroom.

"Babe, your crappy apartment and crappy bed is not the worst place I have slept." He said walking up to me brushing his body along mine. "Its high on the list but not the worst." He smirked down at me while brushing my hair back and tucking it behind my ears.

"Really though Stephanie, what don't you understand about, I want you? I will go as fast or as slow as you want. This is your train as long as I am on it." He slowly leaned down to brush his lips against mine.

"Ok" I whispered against his lips, "Then I want to go really fast right now. Like Superman fast." I grinned pushing him back towards the bed. At the last moment he whipped us around and gently pushed me back on the bed.

"Sorry Babe I can't do Superman fast." He said with a wolf grin, slowly coming down to lay between my legs "But, I can do Batman fast."

Then he proceeded to show me the difference.

-/-

I woke up the next morning alone and proceeded to go about my day as planned. After getting dressed I went down to the garage, as I was getting out of the elevator I saw Hector coming out of the stairwell.

"Hola Brother." I grinned at him.

I watched as he slowly walked over to me, now that the second day was here so was the pain. He was way worse today then yesterday. "Hola Chica." He said at me with a small smile. When he got close I looked around to make sure in one was in the garage. "Hay do you know where my car is?" I asked. I watched as he raised his eye brow at me. "I need a car." I said in a smart ass tone.

He pointed to the Cheyenne. I shook my head no. "No, my car."

He stared at me for a moment then said, "Tu casa…. your house."

"Sweet are you leaving? Can you take me to it?" I asked with a smile.

He nodded to his SUV, I followed him and got in. After we were on the road a moment he asked, "Why did you not take the Cheyenne?"

I looked over at him. "Why would I? I have a car that runs."

He looked at me blankly, "It does!" I said with a forceful grin. "Not well but it runs."

He looked out the window for a minute, "You are independent." I nodded at him happy he got it. "Sometimes to independent."

I frowned, "What do you mean?"

I watched as he pulled into my lot and next to my car. "You are independent and that is good. We all must be sometimes, but don't always push away help when it is offered. You can hurt those who offer it to you." I took a moment to think then smiled, "I understand" he nodded with a slight grin. I watched as he got out and checked my car. I waited until he was done, gave him a gentle hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks brother.

He pulled me in and whispered in my ear, "Gracias hermano…say it."

"Gracias hermano" I said stumbling.

"Now you know more Spanish my Hermana." He said.

I got in my car and waved to him as I drove away. On the way to the bonds office I thought about what he said. It was going to be a hard balance for me to accept Ranger's and the guys help and to learn when to say no. I think we were all going to have issues with that. He and the guys always wanted to give more and more and I always want to just say no and do it myself. I guess time would tell.

As I walked into the Bonds office I waved at Lula and Connie.

"White girl, where you been?" Lula said with a grin. "I haven't see you in forever!"

I smiled at her, "I just saw you on Friday when I got my files."

"Ummmmm ya girl and now it's Tuesday. Where you been at and how did dinner with the cop go?" she said munching on a doughnut. "And what happened to your face?"

I walked over to Connie and handed her the receipt for Donaldson, "I heard you killed him." She said smacking her gum.

"Not me, a nice man shot Donaldson then Donaldson's mom shot him." I muttered, "It was a crappy day."

"Hay all I need is this." she said waving the paper and started writing me a check. I turned back to Lula, I forgot that with our quiet grown up talk no one other than Joe and I knew what happened. Plus, I had been mostly locked up/kept safe in Haywood since Friday night and the girls were dying to know everything that happened.

"Joe and I broke up. It was very grown up…no yelling or fighting." I watched as Lula's eyes almost bugged out of her head. She sat up on the couch so fast I was afraid to see if anything had pooped out of anywhere.

"Broke up? Grown up style? What happened to the almost engagement?" she rambled with a dumfounded expression on her face.

"You." I said with a grin, "Your little stunt in Point Pleasant made me reassess what I want. Also your psychic is an ass….an ass who was right, but an ass."

She grinned at me, "So you are alone now? Where have you been all weekend and what happened to your face?" she said suspiciously.

I turned to get my check from Connie, "Any new skips for me? Rangeman?" I said with a smile.

"Not for you but yes for Rangeman. But you are not getting them until you spill." She said holding the files out of reach.

I rolled my eyes. "I was attacked outside the restaurant and I recovered at Haywood. The guys have been trying to figure out who hit me. Today was the first day I was allowed out alone, and only if Lula spends the day with me." I turned back to Lula. "Want to go to lunch and grab some stuff from my apartment. Maybe go to the bank? If you do, lunch is on me…" I said trying to entice her.

"White girl you know I don't turn down lunch, I am starving and I lost 2lbs this week. I need to be able to fill out this dress for the weekend. Let's go get some food." I shuttered to think about the dress she was going to wear this weekend and turned in time to see Connie shaking her head NO. Evidently I really didn't want to see it! I nodded to Connie in thanks for the warning.

"See ya later Connie." I said walking out the door. "Come on Lula so much to do and so little time."

In the end the day was uneventful and I grabbed what I needed from my apartment. Although I swear someone had been in there before; when I questioned Ranger later to see if he had it swept before I went in he would not confirm or deny it. Men I thought, he couldn't let it go.

I got my check in the bank and it was enough to pay all the bills and rent for the month, it was a good feeling. I got a money order for half and began thinking up a way to get Hector to take it. Lula and I did lunch then I dropped her off before I went back to Haywood.

It was like that for the next few weeks. It was a gentle blur with nothing exciting happening but I had never felt so good. I got two more skips that I brought in, one with help from the guys. Honestly I think they almost had a heart attack when I asked for help and to be truthful it was not easy but later I was glad I did. A take down never went so easy, the guy practically cuffed himself. I guess a wall of 7ft muscle in black makes you not want to run; I am sure the guns helped also. The second skip I got on my own with Lula, it went ok and I only ended up a few splotches of food on my shirt that he threw at me. All in all, a good time.

Mikel was another issue altogether, his bond date passed and Vinnie was pissed because I never found him. I attempted to explain to Vinnie that there was nothing on Mikel, it was like he didn't exist outside of the bond records. Even his girlfriend said she only knew him for 3 months and that she knew nothing about him outside of the drugs he gave her and the occasional rent money. That alone was suspicious because there was no trace of where he was getting any money from. No one had NO information on them, something was going on. In the end I told Vinnie to suck it and said if he wanted to fire me to go ahead. He slammed into his office and didn't say anything else.

Ranger has been crazy busy with alarms still going off for no reason. He and Hector have been working on a system to see where the next alarm would go off. Each time they almost got the person; and then each time the person would change the routine. The alarms were going off less and less but it was still an issue and was driving the guys to crack down on everything. Workers, outside help, even who came and went from the building. I could see the stress on them and it was getting worse not better.

I wanted to help pull some stress off Ranger and the guys so I was doing searches unofficially the last week when I had no skips and nothing to do. Rodriguez always managed to keep my inbox full no matter how many I did, so it worked. If he saw them piling up, he would back down and when I got them done he added more. One day I will find him and kick his ass but not now.

I also found a balance with the guys and how they wanted to help me. After my talk with Hector I believe we both made some adjustments. The guys were helping me without telling me and I was graciously not complaining. The number one thing they were doing ... that I noticed; was fixing my car. They were smart and didn't do it all at once but gradually so I noticed it after a while. One day my car started with no extra tries. A few days later the heater turned on at the first turn. A few days after that the back window that was cracked was replaced. Then the dents were pulled out, the muffler didn't smoke and the tank was always full. The car was by no means great but it worked better than ever before. I learned to smile and say Thank You to the guys in passing. Since I didn't know who it was I said it to all of them. It got me smiles. It was a compromise and it was working. The guys also asked if they could "spend" time with me when I went out. So I almost always had a partner and after a few trips I could see that they really did want to spend time with me... They just got to protect me at the same time. It was a win-win for them.

My most constant partner was Hector, he managed to have free time during the day because he ran most of his software diagnostics then. I didn't think it was a coincidence but I also wasn't going to complain. We were getting closer and it was fun to hang out with him. He was also teaching me some great Spanish phrases. I was not gonna hold a conversation any time soon but I could go out to eat and order a beer, ask for the bathroom and say dancing and music. Hector also taught me swear words and phrases which were so much fun. The other day Lester kept asking about Ranger and I; so I told him, "Callate pendejo" which basically means shut up asshole. His face was priceless and I about died laughing.

The key to my world though, was Ranger. I was right when I said I don't need much to change. Ranger and I stayed almost the same, talking and having dinner together. I called him when I needed something and he started to slowly talk to me about his work. Don't get me wrong he was still not super talkative but I didn't care. I knew that was who he was before and I didn't want him to change. I loved him for who he was. I also know that my willingness to let the guys help me and do things both for and with me made him feel like he had more control of things. It made for a good balance because the few times I did go out alone he was only slightly upset. Baby steps ... he didn't want to change me or my independent streak he just needed to know I was safe.

In the end the biggest change was that now we both knew where we stood. We were both loving the feeling of a relaxed no confusion relationship. Going to bed each night helped, I know Ranger wanted to keep me at the apartment on 7 for several reasons. One because he actually loved to cuddle, no matter when I woke up if he was still in bed he was wrapped around me. However, I also knew it was because we still had no information on who hit me. The bruises had long faded but I knew Ranger was not letting it go. The only problem was that the person who hit me was a blank space just as much as Mikel. There were no more threats on my life. No letters or emails, no creepy flower deliveries or apartment break-ins. It was like I was never hit and no one was after me. Which was why I was going to talk to Ranger tonight about taking Rex back to his home on my counter and maybe moving back with him. I loved being here on 7 but I also missed my things and my apartment. I had been living on 7 for 3 almost 4 weeks and I knew it was time to start going back to real-real life. I knew this was going to be difficult conversation and I was not looking forward to it.

Little did I know that everything would come crashing down in just another few weeks.

I guess it true what they say, hindsight is 20/20.