A/N: WOW! Quite a few of you PM'd or left a review wanting Steph to make another appearance. Luckily I had this chapter ready to go. A special thanks to Margaret Fowler for holding my hand through the end of this chapter. This is the last chapter for today. *nods* Yup, see I only cave to the first round of threats to my personal physical being.

I couldn't believe how easily Angie and I were falling into a routine. She had only been living in my apartment for a couple of days, but it seemed like so much longer. Every morning while I was in the gym, she made breakfast for us, and sometimes Bobby and Lester. I always brought some lunch down from the sandwiches Ella brought to the break room, and Angie cooked dinner. While we ate we'd talk. I couldn't believe the things we talked about. I'd told her things I'd never told another living person. She told me all about herself. She was such an incredible person. We agreed on so many things, things I would never expect to find in a woman. After dinner I would catch up on paperwork while she knitted or sewed. I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed as I sat at my desk. This was getting far too comfortable. I really needed to move back to the house, and let Angie have the apartment. I was going to drive myself crazy if I stayed much longer. I was interrupted from my thoughts by a knock on the office door.

"Enter."

Steph opened the door and peeked her head inside. "Hey, I was just checking in and wanted to see if Angie was feeling up to visitors."

I nodded. "Yeah. She's been feeling pretty good. I know she gets pretty bored being home by herself all day. I think she'd like it if you dropped by."

Steph smiled. "Thanks. I'll head down and see her now." She started to back out of the door.

"Bomber, wait. You got a minute?"

Steph looked curious but stepped inside the office. "Sure. What's up?"

"Close the door please."

Steph closed the door and walked over to sit in the chair across from my desk. "Is there something wrong?"

"No. Yes…" I just sighed and looked at Steph. "Look I just need a favor. I need you to kind of feel out how Angie might feel about me moving back into my house."

Steph tried to raise an eyebrow, but only succeeded in raising both, making her look more surprised than curious. I managed to keep from laughing at her, but just barely. "Is it not going well?"

"It's not that. Things are going fine, we have a little routine down and everything its just…" I stopped for a moment trying to figure out exactly what to say in this situation.

"It's just that She's touchy." I mentally sighed. It wasn't exactly what I was trying to get at but it was the best that I could come up with.

"Well I guess I can understand that Tank. I know how I get after only a few days of being on lock down. She's had what a couple months of not being able to do anything or go anywhere?"

I shook my head. "No, not like that. I mean she's always touching me. Sliding her hand across my back when she walks behind me in the kitchen, or touching my arm when we're talking or laying her head on me when we watch TV. That sort of touchy."

Stephanie smiled and I could see she was trying really hard not to laugh. I didn't see the humor in this situation at all.

"Tank, if it makes you uncomfortable, just tell her. I bet she doesn't even realize she's doing it. Some people are like that."

"It doesn't make me uncomfortable. It just…" I sighed and stared at Steph helplessly. I didn't know what to say at this point.

Steph seemed to understand the situation and grinned at me. "I see. The problem isn't that it bothers you, the problem is that you like it. Maybe a little too much."

I just stared at her. That wasn't what I was getting at. "Steph, I just don't think it's a good idea. Angie has a lot going on right now, she doesn't know what she wants."

Steph rolled her eyes. "Angie's a grown woman Tank. You should talk to her. Maybe you're reading into this. Maybe she's just the kind of person who touches people with out realizing it. Or maybe she really is interested in you. Don't make decisions for her though. If you aren't interested in her then tell her, but for God's sake don't lead her on." Steph stood up and walked out the door closing it firmly behind her. I shook my head. I couldn't see what Steph was so upset about.

I heard a knock at the apartment door, so I put down the project I was working on and went to answer it. I was surprised to see Steph standing there, but I shook it off and invited her in.

"Can I get you something to drink? Soda? Water?" I asked as Steph sat in the recliner.

"Soda please."

I nodded and walked into the kitchen to grab two soda's out of the fridge. "So what brings you to my neck of the woods?" I asked as I returned to the living room and handed her a drink before returning to my spot on the couch.

"I just figured you'd be going out of your mind about now. I know the guys are great, but they aren't usually the best conversationalists."

I couldn't help but laugh. "No it's not that bad. Tank and I talk quite a bit actually. Bobby and Lester too. They're usually here for breakfast in the morning."

"Tank talks? Are we talking about the same guy here? Six foot 8 350 pounds of pure muscle, scary enough to make grown men cry…"

I grinned and nodded. "Yup that's the one. We usually talk a lot over dinner. I mean there isn't a whole lot else to do."

" Uh huh" She said as if she didn't quite believe me.

"Speaking of dinner. You and Ranger should join us tonight. I'm not doing anything special, just some chicken, but it would be nice to have someone else around for a change."

"Sure. I'll double check with Ranger, but I'm sure he'll be all for it."

"Awesome." I said as I stood up and walked to the kitchen to put the bread in the oven. We ran out last night, and I wanted to make sure we had plenty.

"You sure Tank won't mind having folks over?" Steph asked as she followed behind me to keep talking.

"I'm sure he won't, but I'll call him real quick to check." I grabbed the apartment phone off the wall and dialed the sequence of numbers to get me to his extension. "Hey, its me. Do you mind if Steph and Ranger join us for dinner tonight? Cool. Would you do me a favor and pick up a bottle of wine? No I'm not drinking it." I sighed softly as he told me he didn't think that having wine in the apartment was a good idea. "Ok, then pick up some of the non alcoholic stuff. I just think good food and good company deserves something nice."

I looked over and Steph and rolled my eyes as Tank and I finished up our phone conversation. "Everything is set. I hope 7 is ok for you guys. That way everyone can have a little time after work to relax before we get together."

Steph just looked at me wide eyed and shook her head. "Damn remind me never to introduce you to my mother."

"Why not?" I double checked the timer on the oven and went to the freezer to pull out the chicken and dropped it in the sink to sit under hot water to thaw.

"Because for years all she has wanted was for me to settle down, get married and become the perfect housewife. If she saw you I'd never let it down."

I turned on the tap and looked at Steph. "I'm afraid I don't understand."

Steph sighed. "It's just look at you. You're pretty, you can cook, you're having a dinner party on short notice. You are everything my mother wanted me to be."

I nodded in sympathy. "I understand, but Steph. Having a career doesn't mean you can't do those things if they are important to you. I mean I used to live alone, so I worked all day and cooked all my meals on Sunday so all I had to do was heat something up at the end of the day." I gestured for her to head into the living room. "C'mon let's go sit down."

As we settled back in I kept talking. "Don't let your mom get to you Steph. Do you or Ranger ever go hungry?"

When Steph shook her head I patted her lightly on the arm. "Then don't worry about it. As long as everyone is fed, clothed, and happy it doesn't matter how you get there."

I gave her a small smile as she actually looked a little relieved. "Thanks Angie. I just wish my mom saw it that way."

"There is always going to be someone who doesn't agree with how you live your life Steph. The important thing is to remember that when push comes to shove they have little to no impact on your life. After all what is she going to do Spank your butt and take away your birthday? I don't know about you but I'd be ok with not getting any older."

I smiled again as Steph laughed. "Enough about me. Tell me how you're holding up and if you need anything."

"I'm doing ok. I've got my sewing and knitting to keep me busy, and the guys make sure to stop in often so it's not as bad as it could be."

"So what's the deal with you and Tank? Everyone is starting to notice that he comes down here for lunch every day."

I sat back on the couch with a shrug. "There isn't much to tell. Tank brings lunch down for me so I don't have to cook. And then since he's here we eat lunch together it's nice."

"And?" Steph prompted.

"And, there isn't anything to tell. When Tank goes to the gym I make breakfast, and then he, Bobby and Lester go to work. Tank brings lunch, and then goes to work. When he comes home we have dinner and he works on paper work and I knit or sew. It's pretty boring."

"Sounds pretty cozy to me." She said while giving me a look.

"I Know!" I covered my face with my hands. "That's the problem! I've only been here for a few days, and we've fallen into this routine like we've been together for years."

"That doesn't sound so bad you know."

"It is when you count the fact that I'm starting to fall head over heels for him." I told her as I rubbed my forehead. "I just keep trying to remind myself that this isn't real. He's here because he feels like he needs to be, and I'm here only because if I wasn't I'd be dead."

Steph leaned over and lightly patted me on the shoulder. "Maybe you should talk to Tank about this?"

I pulled my hands away from my face and looked at her. "Yeah, I can see that going oh so well. Hey Tank. I just wanted to let you know that this living together really has me falling for you, so how about we hook up?"

I shook my head and stood up off the couch. "I don't think that would be a real good idea."

"Ok, so maybe putting it to him that way might not be a great idea, but you should still tell him."

I laughed and shook my head. "What's the point? The reality is that I am going to have to leave Trenton. I mean Lester had a couple of crazy ass plans, but in all seriousness. What good does it do to tell him I care about him if I am going to have to leave after this is all over?"

"I can see your point Ang, but Tank really is a good guy under his tough exterior."

"Umm how about No. I can handle this not knowing, but I don't think I can handle him not being interested."

"Ok, so stay quiet for now. I heard him on the phone with his Mama the other day. She's planning a trip up here to see him for his birthday. It's coming up in a couple of months. How about we call his Mom, and plan a big birthday dinner party. Meet his mom, talk to her and if you still feel strongly about Tank you have to promise me you'll tell him then."

I just looked at her trying to see a flaw in her plan. "I don't know Steph, making plans with his mom? What if this backfires on me?"

"I think you mean what if this backfires on US. Just think, we'll have each other for company and there won't be any hired killers on your tail if he has Ranger send us to a third world country."