Ranger POV

I was tired, not just a little tired, but that bone deep exhaustion that tells you the minute you stop moving you are going to fall over where you stand. Yesterday never actually ended for me, one of the disadvantages of being the boss was you needed to be available when the shit really hit the fan. There was a huge take down last night, that resulted in two of my men ending up in the hospital, and then first thing this morning there was a break in at one of our largest clients. By the time I got everything sorted out, it was time to start the day, now just when I thought I was free to go home and crash, I got a call that Steph had found a dead body. I wasn't that far away, so I thought I should check on her. I knew the cop always blew these little things way out of proportion.

When I arrived on scene, the cop was already there, Morelli and Steph were so involved in screaming at each other, neither one noticed my arrival until I was already approaching them.

"Babe." I said as she looked at me.

"It's not my fault!"

I felt the corners of my mouth twitched as I tried not to smile. I knew it would piss her off. I guess she must have noticed though, because she gave me a glare, and I couldn't help but smile then.

"You never disappoint."

I offered her a ride but she declined. I decided to go, there was no need to stick around if Steph didn't need me. I climbed back into the car and headed back to Haywood. Tank was waiting in the garage for me as I pulled into a parking space. This was probably not good, Tank never waited to tell me good news. I parked the car and got out. I nodded to Tank and took that as a signal to hit me with the news. He handed me a folded piece of paper. I unfolded the paper and read it over. I folded it back up and pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Tank… Ever feel like the universe is just out to fuck you?"

"All the time why?"

"Because you just handed me proof."

I walked up the stairs and let the door slam behind me. I was truly on empty, I didn't think I had anything left in me to find a solution to this latest problem. I lowered myself down on my couch, and stared at the notice in my hands. If I just paid the fine it wouldn't look good to my clients and if I hired the wrong person in all of this mess it wouldn't be good for the company as a whole. I leaned back and closed my eyes wishing I could just make this all go away.

I don't know how long I sat there, but suddenly I had my answer. I knew who could help me, now I just had to convince her. I stood up and called down to Tank's office and asked him to book me a seat on a flight to Fort Lauderdale for the next day.

Once I got off the phone with Tank, I crawled into my bed needing to catch up on a few hours of sleep before I did anything.

When I woke up the next morning, I showered shaved and threw together an overnight bag. After I dressed, I grabbed my bag and headed down to the garage. I threw my bag into the passenger seat and slid in behind the wheel. I wanted to take Steph with me, but I needed Ray to focus on helping me and not on interrogating Steph about the details of our friendship.

The flight from Newark to Ft. Lauderdale was only about 3 hours, but it alternately felt like 3 minutes and 3 days. I just wanted to get this entire trip over with and get home. Home… that was a strange way to think. I had never really called anywhere home, at least not until a certain curly haired brunette turned my life upside down. I shook my head to clear thoughts of Stephanie from my head. I concentrated on thoughts of assignment rotations and scheduling for the remainder of the flight.

One of the benefits of having Tank as my own personal travel agent was there was a Rangeman SUV waiting for me just outside of baggage claim. It spoke to the discipline of my men when I was handed the keys with out any questions as to why I didn't fly into Miami. I took the key with a small nod and the young man returned my nod before climbing into a second Rangeman vehicle and pulling away.

I got myself settled in the SUV and glanced at my watch. If I didn't hit much traffic I might actually beat Ray home. I pulled away from the curb and merged into the flow of other cars heading towards the interstate. I drove about 30 minutes before I got off the interstate and headed inland a few miles. I never understood why one of my oldest friends choose to live out here so far from her job in Miami. I parked the SUV in the driveway making sure to leave room for Ray to park. I opened the old wooden gate wincing at the loud creaking sound it made as I pushed it open. I latched the gate behind me before walking to the back door. I pulled a keychain out of my pocket and found the key I was looking for. I let myself into the house and turned off the alarm.

Making myself at home, I went to the fridge to get a bottle of water and found myself cringing at all the soda and junk in the fridge. I grabbed my water and shut the door trying to shut out the thought that Steph would be in seventh heaven. I walked through the doorway to the dining room and stood at the sliding glass doors looking out towards the pool. I almost wished I had brought Steph. She would have enjoyed just relaxing and swimming in the pool. I turned away from the glass doors and headed to the living room and the book shelves near the TV. I picked up a copy of a book on Terror Attacks. I sat down on the couch and started to read while I waited for Ray to come home. I had just finished reading about the Assassination of Julius Caesar when I heard the engine of a car idling in the driveway. I shut the book and returned it to the shelves, just as I was turning away from the shelves I heard the back door open. I waited a few moments just standing there, my patience was rewarded as I saw Ray standing at the entrance of the living room.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" She demanded.

"Can't a man drop in to say hi to an old friend?"

She grinned and took the badge hanging on a chain around her neck off and tossed it on the end table as she walked closer to me.

"You can, but you never do." She pulled me into a tight hug, and I couldn't help but hug her back.

"You're right… I came because I need help."

She pulled away and looked at me for a minute. "Of course you do. Tell me all about it while I get changed."

She didn't wait for a response she just walked down the hall toward her bedroom. I followed her but stayed outside the room with my back to the door. I could tell she was changing because I heard the sound of Velcro being ripped apart, and I assumed she was removing her vest.

"Ray, I want you to come work for me in Trenton."

She laughed as I heard her open a drawer and shut it quickly. "You're kidding right?"

She walked out of the room in a pair of red sweat pants and a grey T-shirt that said USMC across the front. "You want me to leave sunny South Florida and come to the armpit of the US?" She snorted as she walked past me towards the kitchen. "I'm not sure that would be a good move for me."

I followed behind her trying really hard not to beg her for her help. "Ray please. I've got the EEOC on my ass. I need someone field trained. Please." I added the second please because I was desperate.

Ray opened the fridge and pulled out bread, cheese, bacon and real butter. She set them on the counter near the stove before hopping up on the counter near the sink. She gestured towards the food and I realized she wanted me to cook one of our childhood favorites. I just straightened my shoulders and dug out a frying pan to start the bacon knowing Steph would never believe this if she could see it.

"Ok, so what, I quit my job here, a job I am only 7 years away from retiring at by the way, and move to Jersey to run around with a bunch of boys half my age to what prove to Uncle Sam that you know that girls can do anything boys can do?"

I sighed and turned so I could look at her and still keep an eye on the bacon. "You are the one who used to tell us growing up that 'Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, only backwards and in high heels.' are you afraid you can't keep up with those boys that are half your age?"

I knew I hit my target when she growled a little and crossed her arms over her chest. "You know I could still kick your ass if I had to. I guess I could help out, I might even be able to take my accrued vacation time in lieu of notice. But you my little brother are going to owe me BIG time, I'm not talking a huge check either…"

I tried to keep my blank face intact. When Ray never accepted money in return for doing anything except her job. She was going to have something else up her sleeve, probably something I wouldn't want to agree to. "And what may I ask is it you want in return."

"I am naming a price to be determined later." she said with a grin as I pulled the pan off the burner.

"Deal. Whatever it takes Ray. I'm serious. I've worked too hard for too long to let something like this tarnish the reputation of Rangeman."

A comfortable silence fell over us as I finished making the grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches. I knew they were completely worthless as far as nutrition, but they were good. I just promised myself to add an extra mile or so to my run the next morning.

We ate standing in the kitchen. There was no need to actually use plates for just sandwiches, so Ray pulled a couple of paper towels off the roll. That was good enough for me. When we finished dinner we went outside and Ray started a fire in a small fire pit in the back yard. I grabbed a couple of beers from the mini fridge behind the Tiki bar while she nurtured the tiny flame into a good sized fire. I sat down in one of the lounge chairs and handed Ray a beer before opening mine. Ray sat down between my legs and leaned back against my chest before opening her beer. There was nothing even slightly sexual about us sitting this close, It was a habit we had gotten into when we were younger and there were always so many people around that there weren't enough chairs. Ray always sat with me. She said it was because I was the scrawniest so she had more room.

"Ray, when we get back to Trenton , we can't do this. It would hurt Stephanie's feelings."

She leaned her head back and looked up and me. "You're kidding me right? The same Stephanie who has an on going sexual relationship with another man?"

I nodded my head and she rolled her eyes. " So she can sleep with someone else, but I can't sit in the same chair as my brother because it would hurt her feelings?"

She rolled her eyes again and turned her attention back to the fire. "I'll be on my best behavior, only because it matters to you."

"Thank you." We sat in the silence just watching the fire for a while before Ray spoke again.

" We could be on the road back to Trenton tomorrow if you want. I can give my resignation in the morning, and we can be ready to go by early afternoon."

I took a swallow of my beer and set it down on the patio next to the chair. "I have a flight out tomorrow morning. I don't want to rush you."

Ray laughed and shook her head "Didn't think I'd actually want to help huh?"

I couldn't help but smile. She knew me so well. "I'd hoped but I wasn't counting on it. So I'll fly back tomorrow and you can follow when you are ready."

She sighed and sat up a little. "I'd rather not make the drive alone. Call Tank and tell him we'll be back in Trenton no later than…" She glanced at her watch "1300 hours on Thursday."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. I had wanted to get home to make sure Steph was ok after her argument with Morelli, but it seemed I was driving back to Trenton.