Betrayal

Chapter 8

Stephanie´s PoV

October 14, 2011 1830 hours

Quantico, VA

I stepped in the room and before I even could set down the tray with the fresh coffee Ranger barked "Lawyer" at me, his expression absolutely thunderous.

I sighed and set the coffee down; straightening my posture I looked him square in the eye, silently willing him to listen.

"That won´t be necessary Ranger, I´m here to…."

"Lawyer" Ranger, Bobby and Lester hissed together before I could finish. In their eyes I saw nothing but hate.

That was what I feared the most. That they won´t even listen before they shunt me.

In that very moment the last glimmer of hope in me died, I became an empty, functioning shell; sheer force of will kept me upright and on my feet.

In a shallow voice I spoke:

"As I said that won´t be necessary. All charges against you are dropped, you are free to go. The FBI apologizes..."

As soon as I said the words `free to go` they started walk.

"…for your inconveniences… "

One by one they rushed by me.

"…and thanks you for your cooperation." I finished in an empty room.

This scene was repeated eleven more times except that I didn´t try to explain anything anymore.

After the last man, with a last hateful look, left the room I sat heavily on the floor, leaning against the wall and closing my eyes, shutting out this cruel world.

What could be minutes or hours later a well-known body slid down next to me and gathered me in his arms.

"They are gone, Cupcake. They are all gone. We are alone. You can let go now." And I did. I let lose the iron-grip I had on my emotions for the last hours, days, weeks, months, years and I wept. I grieved about the despair I brought; for the colleagues, friends and family I lost but mostly I mourned the love of my life.

Joe held me tightly through all the tears until I had no more. He carried me to the bathroom and gently cleaned my face, and then he carried me to the observation-room and laid me down on the couch. He brought me a peanut butter and olive sandwich and a pint of Ben & Jerry´s. He really is a saint.

I spoke only after I was half-way through my Chunky Monkey.

"Thank you, Joe for everything."

"You´re welcome" he smiled and his eyes were warm like melted chocolate.

"No, I don´t mean just for this," I gestured with my B&J`s "but for the last three years. I.."

I had to swallow the tears first, before I could continue.

" I wouldn´t have made it this far without your unwavering support and trust in me."

"You did all the work, Steph I just lent a hand here and there." He waved me off.

"But you and …"

"Terry understands and she has a lot of respect for what you did and that you sacrificed everything to capture him. She might not agree with the method but she also knows it was the only option you had and you did it with the best intentions at heart."

"The road to hell is paved with good intention." I snorted

Joe took the pint and spoon away, grabbed my hands and looked at me sternly.

"Not all was bad. Hey, we had a lot of fun, too." And with a mischievous grin he plunged right into a recollection of ´The tales of Stephanie Plum: The Bombshell Bounty Hunter`.

Joe had just finished another colorful description of a blown up car laughing his ass of, when he suddenly turned all serious.

"Give him time, Steph. He will understand. They all will." Here it comes. Well, he had told me that the last word wasn´t spoken about the final part of my plan when I laid it out to him. Only to him.

"Eventually, yes. But he will neither forgive nor forget. Not only did I break his rules, I also lied to him and hoodwinked him. I BETRAYED him. He will see everything that was between us, every look, every word, every touch and every kiss as a ploy to get what I needed. Ranger is a man of honor with a strict moral code and unshakable rules and I betrayed him."

"But as soon as he knows the truth certainly he will come around, won´t he?" Joe was close to pleading.

"He might forgive me as a fellow soldier who had to accomplish her mission at any and all costs; but he will never forgive me as friend or his woman. Under all the black clothes and badass attitude he too is nothing but a man. He let me through all those walls he had erected around his heart and loved me. Not that he ever said it this plainly mind you, but his actions always spoke louder than his words."

I got up and started to pace. Arms waving I went on.

"This morning he was kneeling there in his own secure building. His hands and feet were shackled. Guns were pointed at his head and heart. But all that couldn´t break him. He was kneeling strong and proud, his head held high like some venerable king of ancient times and then I stepped through this circle of SWAT agents and I saw him shattering before my eyes. And now there is nothing left but hate for me." Tears were running down my cheeks.

At that point Joe went all Italian on me.

"Damnit, Stephanie. You saved his men, his company, his family and his life. What the hell does he want more? You risked everything so that he and his damn company can come out of this mess unscathed."

"That´s quite enough Joe! " I roared.

"My decision is made. I´ll conclude this case and make sure that every t is crossed and every i is dotted. I´ll warp it up in shiny paper and hand it over with my resignation on top and that´s final."

"Cupcake, please. Let me bring him the package tomorrow and give him time to process all. Stay here until he cools down or let the Marshals take care of you but don´t serve him your head on a silver platter. I agree with you that he should hear the truth form you, ´cause we both know that the powers that be will tell him nothing and will hush it up. But you can´t be sure that he won´t shot first and ask later and then it´s too late."

"Oh, but I am sure."

I know that Joe understands Rangers honor code, he too works in a similar brotherhood, but I also know that he wants to protect me.

"Listen Joe, I appreciate your concerns but have you ever seen me running from the consequences of my actions?

Resigned he shook his head no.

"And I won´t start now."

I got up and hugged him tightly. I whispered in his ear.

"Go home to Terry Joe. Marry her, have a couple of kids and don´t fret about me. You have earned your Happy End.

So live it. For me, please. I love you."

What I didn´t tell him was that I will not allow Ranger to have my blood on his hands.

A/N: See, I told you nothing is like it seems at the first look. Ranger will speak up in the next Chapter…