Chapter 23-
Stephanie just sat back in her chair and watched the chaos of the room… the men demanded questions from her, began to talk to one another, all yelling over each other to be heard. She finally turned to see Ranger just staring at her, he was the exact opposite of the room. His face had a blank stare on it, unmoving, unflinching. He could have been a statue and she shrank back in her chair just a little bit.
She gave him a very small hesitant smile, "You promised you would listen, I will tell you everything and you will understand why I did what I did…I promise. You still might not like it but you will understand."
She watched him process this, then she jumped in her chair when his fist flew out, slammed on the table and he bellowed, "Silence!"
Then men all stopped to stare at Ranger until finally Lester spoke up, "Stephanie you can't be serious."
Ranger looked over at him, "We will be silent and listen to her." He said in a stiff frim voice.
Lester's head wiped over to Ranger, "You are ok with what she said?"
Ranger looked back at him, "We told her we would be quiet and listen to her, so we keep our word…" Ranger turned to look at Stephanie, "We will yell at her after she is done."
Stephanie narrowed her eyes at him, "Ha, ha, ha you are sooo funny."
"Who said I was joking." Ranger said with no humor.
"Whatever." Stephanie muttered, "SO do you guys want to hear what I know or are you going to keep interrupting me?" She looked around the table to see the guys sit back in their chairs with a mixture frustration, irritation and anger. Arms were crossed, eyes were narrowed at her, and everyone was so tense you could cut the tension in the room with a knife. Shit this was gonna be a long conversation.
"So I know that all of you are wondering what I know, the truth is I know a lot more than any of you. I had a few conversations with Timmy. I know why he took me and I know why he let me go."
"TIMMY?" Lester growled tightly, "That seems like a very nice name to name conversation you had…while on the floor freezing and being bit by rats AND bleeding from the explosion he set that hurt you." Lester finished by slamming his fist on the table making some of the guys look at him with concern.
Stephanie wanted to be mad at Lester for interrupting her again, but her normally super happy and excited friend was so angry. She had never seen him like this and she knew deep down he was angry for her, not at her.
"Lester, you are right…. I am still super mad at Timmy for the rats…I can handle almost anything but rats are a hard NO." She said gently, "I told him it wasn't ok and he did try to fix it."
"Ohhhh I am so glad you told him that it wasn't ok!" Lester practically yelled before standing up so hard his chair flew out behind him and hit the wall. "I can NOT listen to this anymore."
Stephanie watched as he stalked out of the room and when she saw Ranger about to yell after him she laid her hand on his arm and shook her head, No. "He's upset; I know that all of you are upset with me. Please just listen, I know that you won't agree but you will understand. Give him a minute to calm down."
Ranger gave a quick nod and Stephanie turned back to the table. "I know that it is hard to understand but I have forgiven Timmy for what happened. He is just a kid you guys, he is stumbling through a situation that he has barely any control over."
Stephanie shook her head and looked down, after a moment she took a deep breath and looked up again. Her eyes were glassy and her lips trembling. "Timmy is a kid you guys…. Just a kid!" She whispered. "He is sooo smart with electronics but with life he is not doing well. He made a lot of mistakes, we all make mistakes, and he is sorry for them and scared for his life. That is why I am not mad at him anymore."
She looked over at Ranger when she felt his hand gently brush her arm, "Babe, your heart is so kind, that's why we all love you. But he hurt you and that is something we can't just forgive."
"I know." She whispered, "But I am begging you to help him…. For me."
"Only you Bomber." Tank said shaking his head, "Only you can be kidnaped and want to help your kidnapper." He sighed deeply, "Tell us what happened and how you want us to help."
Stephanie gave a big grin, "Thank you guys!"
Bobby held up a hand, "Don't thank us yet."
Stephanie nodded seriously, "Ok so starting with the explosion, it was an accident…. Well, he did it on purpose but I wasn't supposed to get hurt. He hates my bad cars as much as you guys do, evidently he put in the bomb to get me stranded. He was going to blow it up when I was in the office but when I slammed the car door it set it off." She said with a slight grin.
She watched as a few men shook their heads at her, "Any way he was going to take me to another location that he had set up that had a room with a bed and blankets and stuff. However, you guys are just too fast for him, and the chase in the van had him terrified that you knew his next place."
"We did, WE raided it and it had nothing there for us to go on." Bobby said with a frown.
"Of course you guys found it." Stephanie said with a laugh, "So he took us to his SUPER" She used her fingers to quote SUPER, "hide out that had blockers to hide us and my tracker from you. Unfortunately, his hide out was not ready for me and the best place to block the tracker in my shoe was to put me in the basement. In his defense he didn't know there were rats until after they already got me, as soon as he knew they were there he tried his best to keep them away from me."
She watched as the men just looked her with blank stares, evidently she was going to have to do some more convincing. "So the reason he took me… a few months ago a group of guys recruited him to create a computer chip that does something special. I am not really sure what it does; you know I am not into that computer stuff. I do know that the chip will not be used for good and that Timmy is super scared of these guys. Timmy was using the name Mikel and didn't know that there was a real Mikel and Joe raided and arrested Timmy for the real Mikel's crimes. When Joe arrested him he took all Timmy's computer chips including the one he was building for the bad guys. When Timmy got out of jail on bail the bad guys beat him up and told him that making the chip was not an option. That's when he thought of the plan to take me and have Joe get him the chip. Poor Timmy thought he would grab me quick and Joe would just walk into evidence grab the chip and give it to him, then he would just let me go." Stephanie shook her head in humor. "He really has no clue of the world of bad guys and kidnaping."
Ranger just blinked at her and the guys just stared at her in astonishment, so she gave them a big grin, "So my ideal is that you can find out who the bad guys are that are hurting poor Timmy and help him so he can stay alive… what do you think?"
Silence, the room was completely silent…until Bobby busted out in hysterical laughter, like loud from the bottom of his gut roaring laughter.
Stephanie narrowed her eyes at him, "What's so funny, Buster?"
Bobby tried to get a sentence out but was only able to stutter between the snorts of laughter, "Only… only…. only…." He snorted again. "Only…. you …help… kidnap…" Bobby just broke down and laid his head on the table. The other guys at the table just looked at him with a blank stare.
Stephanie on the other hand was not impressed, "Yes I want to help him, he is a super sweet, completely clueless kid." She said growling and crossing her arms.
Lester choose that moment to walk back into the room, after a glance around he asked, "What did I miss?" He asked as he looked over at Bobby. When he turned to Stephanie, she just looked at him with a small frown. "I am sorry for yelling at you, I was just so upset…. I was…am worried about you."
Stephanie stood up and walked around the table to give him a big hug, as she tightly embraced him, "It's ok Lester, I know. I love that you care so much." She whispered into his ear.
"I will help you, help him." He whispered back to her.
"You didn't even hear the whole story, and you are just willing to help." She asked quietly.
"Yea" he whispered back, "You are the best person I know, and if you think this kid deserves to be helped…. then I believe you."
She tightened her arms and smiled, "Thank you." She whispered.
She pulled back to look at the rest of the room, "Lester said he will help me, anyone else willing to help."
Bobby abruptly stopped laughing, "Really?" he questioned.
Lester took a breath and said loudly, "Yes, Stephanie has stood by all of us. Each of us are trouble makers …... and we have done bad things. Yet she still stands with us. If she says this kid needs help and is worth saving, then I am gonna try and help her save him."
One by one the men around the table gave a small nod, when it got to Bobby he gave a deep sigh, "Fine, you are right Lester. Sorry I laughed Stephanie. You have the biggest heart and I shouldn't laugh at that."
They all turned to Ranger who still hadn't said anything and waited.
After a moment he looked at Stephanie, "You think this kid is worth saving?"
Stephanie walked over and kneeled down in front of him, "I think Timmy has made a lot of mistakes and needs to be shown the real world. But, yes. I think that he is scared and over his head. He is not malicious or mean, he is alone in the world and trying to survive. I think that he is worth saving."
Ranger looked into her eyes for a moment, "Fine we will find and help him. Then I am going to kick the shit out of him for what he did to you, it's not ok and I don't forgive him."
Stephanie gave a small giggle, "Ranger, he's like 100 lbs. of scrawny no muscles…. You punch and he is gonna be out."
Ranger gave a small smirk, "I also plan to lock him in the basement with some rats for a few days."
Stephanie rolled her eyes, "Not nice Ranger, Not nice."
"I am not nice." Ranger said back.
Ranger sat back and looked at the table, "Looks like we are finding him to help him… not kill him." He turned to Stephanie, "Tell us everything so we can find him."
"Well when we were talking before he left I asked him to email me that he had gotten away and he was ok. I am really worried about these people after him…. I know that he took a gray car, I saw it when he took me out of it. BUTTTT, I also know that you can track him…."
"How?" Asked Tank gruffly.
"Wellllllllll, do you remember how I told you guys that I would try harder to stay safe?" She asked with a grin.
All the guys nodded at her.
"I put in an order for some special trackers… in a pair of earrings. I picked them up that morning and put them in my ears." She said with a grin. "They are not turned on yet."
Hector started to grin at her knowing where she was going with this.
Stephanie gave a huge grin, "and when Timmy gave me a hug goodbye I slipped them in his jacket."
Bobby burst out laughing again.
-/-
Stephanie and Ranger entered the elevator a few hours later to head up to 7, Stephanie was moving slower now that her meds had started to slowly wear off.
As soon as they entered the kitchen Ranger sat her at the table and gathered her meds, water and dinner out of the stove where it was warming. Nothing was said as he set the table and handed her all of her medication.
Once he sat down Stephanie cleared her throat, "Are you gonna say anything."
Ranger looked at her for a moment before he sat back in his chair. "What do you want me to say?"
Stephanie sat back also no longer interested in the food in front of her, "I want you to tell me what you really think and feel."
"I am not sure that you do." Ranger said stiffly.
Stephanie looked down for a moment then said softly, "Yes I do."
Ranger tapped a finger on the table top, his body stiff, "I am angry... angry at him for what he did, angry at you that you want me to just let it go." He gave a soft shake of his head, "I want to kill him Stephanie, kill him for even taking you…. let alone everything else."
Stephanie gave a small smile, stood up and walked over to Ranger gently sitting on his lap. Ranger's posture immediately softened as he wrapped his arms around her. Stephanie gently brushed her hands down his cheeks until she gently cupped his chin. "I know what I am asking you is going against everything inside you. I know that you want to hurt him the way that he hurt me. But you can't punish or kill everyone that hurts me." She watched as he raised his eyebrow in a way that said, are you sure about that.
She shook her head, "You can't protect me from the world, and you can't save me from everything." She whispered as she brushed a kiss over his lips. "Timmy made mistakes and I paid for them, but I really do think he is a good person in his heart. I also know that you will never forgive him for what he did to me, but I also know that you trust me, and that you will listen when I tell you he is worth saving."
Ranger shook his head and gently kissed her, "No, I don't know if he is worth saving…... but I know I can't deny you anything." He whispered.
Stephanie gave a brilliant smile, "No you can't, and I love you for it." She leaned in a gave him a slow sweet kiss her lips lingering on his as she gently ran her fingers through his hair. "Promise you will be kind to him.'
Rangers hands carefully but firmly grasped her hips and turned her so she was straddling him in the chair. "That is not playing fair." He whispered against her lips.
Stephanie slowly moved her hands down his chest until she reached the bottom of his shirt, carefully she inched her hands under it to run her nails gently over his abs, making them jump in anticipation. "I am not playing fair; I am playing to win." She whispered as she slowly moved her hips over his.
She felt his moan start low in his chest until it rumbled out in a deep echo, "It's working." He said almost out of breath.
He bit her lip hard enough to get her moan in response, his hand sliding up her back pulling her in so close there was no space between them. Her nipples growing hard as they rubbed against his chest. "God…. I mean Good," she moaned out.
Ranger gave a small chuckle until she pulsed her hips against his making him abruptly groan "Babe, I need you. I need to be inside you…. It's been so long…. I need to feel you surrounding me." He groaned as he kissed and licked down her neck to bite her collar bone.
She let her head fall back and gasped.
"Babe." Ranger begged into her neck, "Are you ok, can I have you?"
Stephanie just tightened her hands in his hair and steered his face to her nipple.
Ranger bit it hard and demanded, "Stephanie, are you ok?"
"Ranger if you don't shut up and kiss me… I swear." She demanded right back.
"Yes Babe." He said as he sucked her nipple through her shirt. "Wrap your arms around my neck."
Ranger slid his arms under her ass and slowly stood, her legs wrapped around his waist. He carefully walked into the bedroom and when he was next to the bed he gently let her legs down until she stood in front of him.
He stepped back and as gentle as a soft wind let his fingers run down each cheek, looking deep into her eyes. "I love you." He whispered. "You are my world…. I can't lose you."
She looked back and smiled as his thumbs rubbed across her cheek bones in a sweet soft rhythm, "I am yours… just like you are mine." She said tenderly back to him.
He tilted his forehead until it gently rested on hers, "It hurts me when you are hurt."
"I know." She whispered.
"Try not to get hurt anymore." He asked.
She smiled against his lips, "I will try my best."
He gave a deep sigh, "I guess that is the most I can ask." His hands gently brushed down her side until they reached the bottom of her shirt. Slowly, carefully he pulled it up until her arms lifted and her shirt was off. His thumbs tenderly brushed the underside of her breasts making her arch into him.
"Please." She groaned out.
"Please, what?" he demanded as he achingly slowly hooked his fingers in her pants and carefully pulled them down.
When she stood naked in front of him he took a step back to look her over. She could see the anger returning as he took in each bruise and scrape.
She took a step forward and pulled him into a deep kiss, "Don't" she whispered.
"Don't, what?" he asked against her lips
"Don't get mad." She whispered as she pulled his shirt off.
"I am not mad." He said as he lifted his arms to help her get off his shirt.
"Sure." She laughed as she unbuckled his jeans and pushed them down. When they hit the floor she pushed him back until he was sitting on the bed. "You are a bad liar."
She slowly straddled him again until their centers met up again, and moved her hips to gently rub him until he arched into her.
"I am the best liar you have ever met." He groaned out as he slipped inside her.
Stephanie grasped his hair and pulled his head back and bit his lips, "Ummm, no you are not…I can see it in your eyes when you lie." She gasped as she slowly she moved up and down, she clenched her muscles making him groan deep in his throat.
"Babe, please" Ranger whispered and his arms tightened around her until there was no room between them again.
She bit his neck hard enough to leave a mark starting to ride him faster, "What Ranger?" she pushed him back until he was lying flat on the bed.
His hands grasped her hips firmly, "Babe please." He said again voice strained.
She stilled her hips looking down at him, "What do you want Ranger." She asked grinning down at him.
He grabbed her hips and moved her up and down. "Move Babe… right now."
She smiled down at him, "You are demanding" as she clenched her internal muscles again making him groan.
"BABE." He demanded and pushed his hips up into her making her groan back at him and her head drop back in ecstasy.
She slowly started to move again, scraping her nails down his chest roughly. As he slid in and out her world began to shatter. "Ranger." she whispered as she slid up once, twice more before she exploded and she clenched him over and over again. Her breath was coming out in ragged bursts, her back arching as she saw stars on the celling.
Ranger grabbed her hips and slammed up once, twice more before he exploded after her. She slowly melted down onto his chest and his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. He rubbed his nose into her hair, gently kissing her curls.
"Babe." He said with a with a ragged breath.
"Carlos." She whispered into his chest as she rubbed her nose back and forth on his neck.
Suddenly her stomach growled loudly making him chuckle, "Babe."
"Shut up." She laughed back.
"Let's feed you, and talk about our plan." He said as his hands rubbed up and down her back.
She brushed one last kiss across his chest as he sat them up, "Fine, I could eat."
-/-
After they were both dressed and back at the table Ranger looked at her as she dug into her dinner, "So what would you like me to do after we catch him?" He asked.
Stephanie thought about it for a moment, "I am not sure really. I am just worried about the immediate future. I want to make sure these guys leave him alone, maybe after everything settles you can teach him about real life."
Ranger just shook his head at her, "So Hector said that he tracked him about 4 hours from here, some of the men will pick him up in the morning. I want you to stay inside until we have him secured in the building." He said as he looked at her with serious eyes.
Stephanie rolled her eyes, "One, Bobby said I can't go out anyway. I am supposed to rest at least a few days. Second, He won't hurt me, in fact I want to see him when you bring him in. He is gonna be terrified and I want to reassure him that you guys are gonna help him."
"We will be nice, Babe." Ranger said taking a bite of food.
Stephanie put down her spoon and started laughing, "See, lair!... I can see it in your eyes. You are going to purposely scare the crap out of him."
Ranger flashed her a grin, "Nope, I am gonna be a Boy Scout…. So nice." He said as he took another bite.
This time Stephanie burst out laughing until her side hurt.