Chapter 28-

Stephanie watched as Joe walked up to her and she could immediately tell he was nervous. He had his hands shoved into his pockets and was biting his bottom lip. She walked over and grabbed him in a tight hug, "It's not your fault." She whispered in his ear. It took him a moment before he carefully grabbed her back and tightened his hold, "I am sorry anyway."

She brushed a kiss on his cheek then stepped back, "Not your fault. You didn't take me and you had no way of knowing it was going to happen. And as soon as you found out you went to Ranger, you did everything right. Plus, look at me, I am fine."

He looked behind her and took a step back, "Well you are the only one who doesn't blame me."

Stephanie glanced back at the guys scowling behind her, "Well I am the only one that really matters anyway. What are you doing?"

Joe tilted his head to the side a little and narrowed his eyes, "So you are really not mad?"

She smiled back at him, "Nope."

Joe smiled lightly, "And we are really still friends?"

Stephanie actually laughed out loud, "Yes, I told you, you are one of my best friends and I won't lose you."

Joe gave a nod, "Yes but I didn't think you would actually do it."

Stephanie narrowed her eyes, "Now you are pissing me off…. don't be an ass." She nodded towards that bakery. "Want to get a snack with me?" She glanced behind her to still see 3 angry guys. "Well me and the 3 stooges?"

Joe glanced behind her, "I think I will pass for today!"

She laughed out loud, "I thought you might… how about dinner Monday? We can catch up on what's going on."

Joe raised his eye brows, "And Ranger would be ok with that?"

Stephanie raised her eyebrows right back, "Why wouldn't he be? He trusts me to have dinner with a friend…. sooooooo. Pino's? I want a sub!"

Joe gave her a grin and a nod, "Sounds good, see you Monday."

She waved him off and turned in time to see Lester and Cal stare at her with wide eyes, Hector just raised an eyebrow. "What?" She asked.

Lester stuttered, "You just made a date, an actual date with Morelli."

Stephanie rolled her eyes at him, "I am at the bakery with you, right?"

Lester nodded.

She looked at him, "We are gonna get food, right?"

Again, Lester nodded.

"Are we on a date?" She questioned.

He took a startled step back, "Hell no!" he exclaimed.

"It's call spending time with friend's dork." She said as she started walking towards the bakery, "And since you are a complete dumbass you get the check."

She heard Cal chuckle behind her as she stared picking out her dozen donuts…. Hay she didn't have to pay and it have been almost two weeks since she had been there. She deserved it.

-/-

After a quick stop at the Bonds office to see that is was still a complete mess they made it back to Rangeman in less than two hours. Significantly faster then she said she would be. She was still thinking about what Hector had said to her, she knew deep down…. Wayyyyy deep down her mother just wanted what was best for her, now to convince her mother that what was best for her was not what Helen wanted but what she wanted. She took a deep breath as they pulled into the garage, "You are right… we may never agree but you are right." She said to Hector. "My mother is so old and traditional. She thinks that I need a husband and children to be happy… but I am happy right now." She paused as Hector put the truck in park and looked over at her, "Right now, with you guys here and Ranger…. I have never been so happy. How do I get her to see that?" She said tilting her head to the side.

Hector looked at her for a moment, "Well you could tell her."

She rolled her eyes, "She doesn't listen when I talk."

Hector gave her another nod, "So maybe you should write it down."

Stephanie looked at him for a second before grinning, "You mean write down everything I have to say and then she can't yell at me, can't walk away or talk over me?" She gave a squeal and jumped over into Hectors arms, "You are a freaking GENIUS." She gave him a loud kiss on the cheek and looked over the window to see Lester standing there with huge eyes and open mouth.

She rolled her eyes again and jumped out of the car, after a quick grin Hector she turned to Lester, "What?"

Lester looked at her, "You really need to stop hugging and kissing other men, Ranger might kill you."

Stephanie rolled her eyes at him, "Hector was giving me some advice, some amazing advice with my mother."

Lester looked over her shoulder to see Ranger and gave a point, "Tell him that."

Stephanie looked over to see Ranger looking at her with his arms crossed and his jaw ticking. Evidently he was pissed about something, now to see what it was. She looked back at Lester, "He was looking at you, not me. What did you do to piss him off?" She asked with a grin.

Lester looked back at her for a moment, "No he's not, it's you…" Lester looked over at Ranger again, "Wait do you think it could be me? Shit, I don't think I did anything today." Lester looked up in thought, "Wait do you think he found out about yesterday?"

Stephanie looked at him with a straight face, "I am pretty sure it was about yesterday. Maybe you should go the other way." She said pointing towards the service steps.

Lester gave her a quick and terrified nod before practically running the other way. Cal came up to stand next to her and asked, "What did he do yesterday?"

Stephanie gave an evil chuckle, "I have no clue."

Cal looked over at her a grinned, "God you are evil…. I love it."

Stephanie laughed again and leaned over to whisper, "Shhh, don't tell anyone."

Call gave a quick chuckle, "Just be nice to me, ok."

She leaned over and gave him a quick hug, "Always." She gently bumped Hector as she walked by, "Thanks amigo." She whispered. She watched him give her a quick nod then she was walking over towards Ranger who was still pissed and waiting impatiently.

As she walked up she gave him a grin but when he didn't return it, or lose any of the anger she began to try to think of things she could have done to piss him off. She came up with nothing, she did everything she said she would and had not done anything bad…that she could think of.

When she was standing right in front of him she leaned in to give him a kiss, but stumbled when he took a short step back. She raised her eyebrows, "What going on?" She asked.

Ranger narrowed his already mostly closed eyes at her, "We need to talk." He said softly.

"About what?" she asked taking a step back.

"In my office." He said turning to leave.

"Can it wait?" She asked gently. "I told Bobby I would come to his office for a checkup as soon as I got back. I didn't have time when I left earlier today."

Ranger turned back to her and gave a stiff nod, "Fine."
They got in the elevator and the silence was deafening, "Ranger, what's wrong?" she asked softly.

She could hear his teeth grinding, "Not now, when you are done come to my office and we can talk." The elevator stopped on Bobby's floor and the doors slid open, she took a step out before turning back to him.

"Are you ok?" she said softly worry in her voice.

Ranger looked at her and said in a clipped voice, "No." She looked at him until the doors closed all the way.

She went from happy and excited to stressed in worried in seconds. So far her day had been great but now it was a mess. She continued to think of all the things that could be wrong while she walked down the hall to Bobby's rooms.

When she got there she looked up to see him smile at her, "Hay your back early."

She gave him a light smile, "Yea it was fast."

He frowned at her, "Are you ok?" he questioned putting down the stuff to walk over to her. "Felling ok, something hurting?"

She looked up at him with a frown, "What?" Then as the questions procced she shook her head, "No…I am fine. Did something happen while I was gone, do you know why Ranger is upset?"

Bobby shook his head, "Not that I know of, but I have been down here."

"Ok." She said softly, still thinking, "What do you need from me?"

Bobby looked at her a second, "Are you sure you are ok?" he asked softly, "I mean do you need a second? To talk? To think?"

Stephanie shook her head and smiled at him, "No I am ok….so what do I need to bribe you with to have you put a no work out ban on me?"

Bobby gave her a grin, "Nothing because I created that plan and it is flawless, but hop on the table we are going to go over all of your injures and see if we can get you cleared."

She sighed, "Fine no bribes." She said hopping up on the table, "So what's up Doc?"

Bobby rolled his eyes this time, "Smart ass, first I am going to ask you some questions then examine you…. ok?"

She gave nod and again, "Sure thing Boss."

"How do you feel, overall…...and no lies to get a pass from working out." He said quickly when she saw her eyes light up.

She grumbled and crossed her arms, "Fine." She sighed, "I actually feel really good, except I am still tired allot."

Bobby gave her a nod writing stuff down, "That does not surprise me, you went through a lot. You might be tiered for a while, so I will say that maybe workouts should happen during regular hours. No super early because then it's just going to exhaust you more."

Stephanie gave a grin, "Really?"

Bobby looked up at her and smiled, "Yes… for now. After your next visit I might change that."

Stephanie smiled and swung her legs, "I will take it. If I have to be in pain and tortured at least it won't be at 4 am"

Bobby gave her a grin and rattled off a few more questions before having her lay back. "Let me check all your injuries."

She laid back and stuck her hands under her head, "So has your day been?" She asked.

He gave her a small smile as he began to push on her stomach. "Pretty good, no major injures for a change so I was able to get inventory done. Hay, I heard you did amazing things with lists… do you think you can help me create a spread sheet on the computer? I have everything written down."

Stephanie shot up, "Like on paper? For all your supplies?" Eyes wide in horror.

He gave her a grin, "Yes smart ass…. On paper. Now lay back down on your front."

Stephanie rolled over and said quickly, "Sure I can help you this weekend if you have time.'' Then gave a small shout when he touched a sensitive spot on her back.

She looked up to see Bobby frowning, "Are you still hurting on that rib?" he asked.

Stephanie narrowed her eyes, "I wasn't until you poked at it."

Bobby shook his head, "Well I think you just got your wish, no working out until you are completely healed."

Stephanie sat up and looked at him, "For real? Or are you messing with me?"

He gave her a grin, "For real, I don't mess with ribs, I know that you cracked one or two and if they are still hurting you can't work out."

Stephanie gave a squeal of delight, "YES!" she looked at Bobby, "but you have to tell them because they won't believe me!" she demanded.

Bobby gave her a smile, "I can tell Hector and Lester." HE stared to write more stuff down, "Now I see you have two more days on your antibiotics, I want to do some blood work when you are done but you should be ok."

She gave him a nod that he didn't even notice because he kept writing, "You can start having sex but make sure that you are using condoms for at least the rest of this month possibly next month too if I give you more meds, ok."

Stephanie gave a chuckle, "Well that ship has sailed."

Bobby looked up from his pad, "Are you serious, you were injured…. And in pain and you guys couldn't keep it in your pants?"

Stephanie gave a shrug, "What can I say…except…" She stopped when Bobby held up his hand.

"I do NOT want to hear it, tell me you at least used condoms." He said quickly.

She shook her head, "Why would we? We are both clean and monogamous." She asked.

Bobby hit his forehead to his clip board, "I should have just told you, when you are on antibiotics your birth control can stop working…. And you got both the antibiotic pills and shots at the beginning."

Stephanie eyes got HUGE, "Are you telling me I could be pregnant?"

And for the second time today she had an emotional shift in seconds from calm to utter fear and terror.

Bobby nodded at her, "Yes but we can figure this out right now." He walked over and grabbed a box from under the counter.

Stephanie's terror stopped for a moment when she asked him, "Why do you have those?"

Bobby rolled his eyes at her, "They are mandatory in a clinic set up. Every time I have to throw away the expired ones I think what a waste, today I am glad I have them." He handed her a box and pointed to the bathroom, "Go take it."

Stephanie got up and walked into the bathroom, each step like a death sentence. When she closed the door and opened the box, two tests fell out. She looked at them and started to hyper ventilate, "Ok you can do this, pee on a stick…not hard right?"

Stephanie took another breath when a thought hit her, how the fuck was she supposed to pee on a stick?

"Booby" she called out, "I need a cup or something!"

She jumped when she heard his voice right next to the door, "On the wall is some cups."

She looked over to see a stack of both used and new cups.

"Ewwww Bobby what the fuck, you got a wall of pee! Are you lying just get mine?" She yelled.

She heard Bobby laugh, "Mandatory drug testing! Now hurry up!"

She slammed her hand on the door and heard him fall back, "Back up, creeper!"

She took a breath and grabbed a cup, ok how hard can this be? Sit and pee.

Five minutes later she heard Bobby knock on the door. "What's going on?"

She walked over and opened the door, "I can't pee." She whispered.

He looked like he was gonna laugh so she narrowed her eyes, "I am being serious right now!"

Bobby straightened his face, "Do you need some water?"

She sighed, "No, I don't need allot of pee for this, do I?"

Bobby shook his head, "Nope just a little."

Stephanie closed the door back in his face and five minutes later walked out with a smile on her face.

Bobby was practically bouncing, "What does it say?!"

She handed him the test and watched his face fall, "It's negative."

Stephanie looked at him with wide eyes, "What you wanted it positive?" She asked in disbelief.

Bobby shrugged his shoulders, "You know, it would be cool to have a bat boy or super girl running around here, I think." He looked at her sheepishly, "Most of us will probably never have a wife, let alone kids."

Stephanie gave him a small smile, "Sorry."

Bobby shrugged again, "Its ok, I think you should be fine, we will take it again in a week or so if you don't get your period just to make sure."

Stephanie nodded, "Ok boss. Anything else?"

Bobby shock his head no, "Nope, just see me on Monday again so I can check your ribs. Then again Friday so I can clear you to work out the following week. If you have any questions or pain between then just let me know."

"Thanks Bobby, now to face Ranger." She said with a frown.

"Good luck." He laughed.

-/-

Stephanie spent the entire elevator ride up to 5 trying to figure out why Ranger was so pissed.

When the doors opened she still couldn't figure out what was going on.

She walked over to his office and knocked, she opened the door when she heard a brisk, Come in, from him.

She slowly pushed the door open and walked in. She paused for a moment when he looked up from the desk and his lips pushed into a flat line. She continued until she was close enough to sit in the chair in front of the desk, "What's going on?" She asked softly.

Ranger sat back and narrows his eyes at her, "I have gotten several calls today about you." He said.

She squished her eyebrows together, "About me?"

Ranger clenched his teeth, "Did you actually make a date to go out with Morelli?"

Stephanie looked at him in confusion, "I made a time to go out with a friend to catch up. I am confused why you are angry though."

Ranger raised an eyebrow, "Really, you think its ok to go out with other men? Would you be ok if I went with another woman?"

And for the third tome today she had an emotional shift in seconds from worry to pissed.

"Are you kidding me right now?" she growled, all trace of worry gone and replaced with irritation. "That is not even close to the same thing. Joe is a friend, I told you when we started this I was not going to cut him out of my life."

Ranger's head twitched to the side, "So are you just waiting for us to break up so you can go back with him later."

Stephanie looked down into her hands and took a deep breath, "Are you being serious." She looked back up at him with a blank face of her own.

"Stephanie, I got 4 calls about you hugging him, kissing him. You are fucking right I am being serious." He growled.

Stephanie stood and walked over to the window to look down, after a moment she turned to look at him, "Do you trust me?"

Ranger said nothing, so she narrowed her eyes, "I was there with three men…THREE of your men. Even if I was going to cheat on you Ranger, please at least think I am smart enough to do it without your men with me."

"Did you set up a date for later?" he demanded.

She looked back out the window trying to keep her calm, trying to think before she spoke. After a moment she looked back at him, "I am going to walk out right now. I am going to go home and you need to think about the things you are saying because right now, I am livid." She took another breath as her anger started to make her literally shake. "I will not give up Joe, not because I want to be with him, but because he is a friend, because you should trust me."

She turned to walk over to the door, when she opened it she turned back to him, "I am leaving in 20 min, if you want a man to come with me to check my apartment and stay to watch me, you need to arrange it now."

Ranger abruptly stood up, his chair slamming back, "What do you mean your apartment?" He growled.

Stephanie looked back at his desk to see a new photo and frame, this time she was sitting on his lap right here in the office. She was pretty sure it was just from a few days ago, after they officially got together. She felt a sadness coming over the anger, she looked back over at him, "Ranger right now I cannot be here, right now we are not ok."

"You can't go to your apartment, it's not safe." He said stiffly.

"Ranger you are confused thinking that I am asking, when I am telling you. I am leaving in 20 minutes." She said softly.

Ranger crossed his arms over his body and narrowed his eyes, "I can keep you here."

Stephanie shook her head softly, "Then we will be done. I will never be ok with you forcing me to do anything. I will always talk to you and spend time with you, but I will never be told what to do or forced to do anything." She turned to leave, before glancing back at him, "Ranger I love you and want this to work…. But." she trailed off softly. "Goodnight, Ranger."

She turned and walked out the door with a tear slowly falling down her face. She didn't look up as she passed anyone and hugged herself as the elevator doors slid closed.

She thought of nothing really as she packed and nothing as she sat next Lester as he drove her to her apartment. After they got to her building she waited as he cleared her apartment and gave him a small smile as she closed the door on him. Then she slid down her door and pulled over her purse. She opened it and slowly pulled out the second pregnancy test.

The pregnancy test that was positive…. a bright and strong positive.

What was she going to do now?