EDIT: I've been using Google Docs and I forgot that all the formatting would be weird so when I published it it was basically just HTML code. Sorry about that! It should all be fixed now :)

A/N: Hey guys! Today is the last day of my school holidays so updating is definitely going to slow down. I have the whole story planned out now so at least I know how this will be resolved! Why did I make my first chapter fic have such a difficult conflict?! If you have any suggestions though, feel free to let me know and I might be able to squeeze it in there if I like it! Also, MY LAPTOP DIED! It's dead. Completely dead. R.I.P laptop of five years. Is it pathetic that the thing I'm most sad about is that I lost what I had written of this chapter? Probably. But thankfully my brother is letting me use his laptop until I can afford a new one and I like this version of Chapter 3 more anyways. ALSO! If you happen to be reading my collection of Babe oneshots: 'You Just Love My Ass', I am stuck for ideas! I want to write another one but can't think of any good ideas. So let me know what you want a oneshot of in the reviews for that story and I'll try to update before the end of the month! As always, thank you for all the reviews for the last chapter! I'm glad no one was offended by the name of the chapter!

Standard disclaimer applies

Rating: T

Spoilers: up to Top Secret Twenty One (finally got around to reading it!) just to be safe

Chapter Three - Rangeman Policy

I had arrived in Trenton. Lester had stayed in Miami for a week, doing the core team member duties he'd been neglecting by refusing to see me. We'd sat down and talked at the end of every day. Not just about Stephanie, but about family too. By trying to distance myself from Stephanie, I had also distanced myself from my family as well. I was scared that if I went to Newark to visit, I would then convince myself to go to Trenton to visit Stephanie. I'd missed my niece's 5th birthday that I had completely forgotten about. I'd have to make that up to her. Lester also made a point to remind me how stupid I had been in regards to Stephanie. I loved her more than anything and I had just thrown her away. I thought I had been doing the right thing. Apparently not.

I walked onto the control room on five and the whole floor went silent. I could feel every set of eyes on me and knew they were all planning my death. The Trenton office thought of Stephanie as a little sister, there's an unwritten policy here that anyone who hurt Stephanie would need to be taught a lesson. I could only imagine the amount of employees ready to teach me a lesson for hurting her. I ignored their stares and continued walking towards the back of the control room, where her cubicle was.

The plan was to sit down next to her and see how it went. Play it by ear. I didn't know if she would ignore me, slap me, hug me, kiss me. I could and would take anything she threw at me. She had every right to attack me for what I'd done.

I knew every employee was watching me as I sat down next to Stephanie in her guest chair. She didn't look at me, she was doing a search. She looked the same as when I'd left. Same crazy brown curls I used to bury my face into when she slept on me. I used to wrap my finger round the ringlets as she talked to me about nonsense. Her slim figure was gorgeous as always. I assumed from the empty Tastykake wrappers that she still had the same unhealthy diet. The walls of her cubicle were covered with funny gifts from the guys. 'Rangeman's Best Researcher', 'Sexiest Employee', a 'one free booty call' coupon from Lester, a photo of her with the core team -minus me- at Pino's, a photo of her and her friends at her hen night. I noticed there was an absence of wedding photos or...anything that would indicate Morelli had a presence in her life. I also noticed the photo of us at Point Pleasant that she made me take with her, I was kissing her cheek and she had a bright smile on her face. I remembered that day. She was down because her latest attempt to capture a skip had left her covered in garbage -again- and the grapevine wasn't being kind to her. So I took her out to Point Pleasant, bought her gelato, and we stayed in one of the safe houses I have there. It was the best weekend of my life. I was surprised that my photo was on her wall unscathed. I was expecting some pins stuck on my face, or maybe a crude drawing, but there was nothing. I was also surprised it was on her wall at all.

"I've had to replace that photo at least once every week since you left," she said quietly. She didn't turn to look at me, but reached into the drawer next to her desk and handed me a stack of photos. I flipped through them. They were all the same photo. Most of them had crude drawings over my face, the rest had carved my face right out. Each one was signed by one of the guys. The only ones that were missing was Tank, and a few of the newbies.

"I never knew my men were so artistic," I said sarcastically and placed the photos on her desk.

"I'm going to stick them up in the break room."

She didn't seem at all phased by my presence. "How was the wedding?" I asked casually.

"It was lovely. The happiest day of my life," she said unconvincingly. The way she said it made me think that maybe it was her automatic response to that question. She was supposed to be beaming and telling me all about how perfect it was. Instead, she sounded like the subject bored her.

"I'm sorry I missed it."

"How was Miami?" she asked just as casually.

"Lonely," I said in complete honesty. "I missed you."

She spun around in her chair, finally looking at me. Her eyes were full of anger. You leave for eight months, ignore all contact and you come back and tell her you missed her? You fucking dumbass. I knew what she was going to do before she did it and I didn't try to move. The sound of her open palm connecting with the side of my face could be heard across the silent control room. I had to admit, I had expected from the second I'd sat down.

"I deserved that," I said quietly and rubbed the side of my face.

"Yes, you did," she said. I could hear the sadness in her voice; the tears bubbling below the surface.

What she did next, however, caught me by surprise. She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly. I froze momentarily, before wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her over to my chair, settling her sideways across my lap. I could hear her sniffling into the crook of my neck as she clung to me. "I'm so sorry, Babe," I said into her hair. My heart physically hurt when I found she didn't smell the same. She didn't smell of herself, or my Bulgari; she smelt of Morelli.

"You should be," she said as she clung to me.

We stayed there for a minute or so. I heard a few people walk past, slowing as they passed her cubicle. "If I let go will you slap me again?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light and joking. In reality I was actually worried she'd slap me again.

"No, I think once is enough," she said as she released me, but stayed sat on my lap.

I placed my hands either side of her face and used my thumbs to wipe her tears away. "Why are you crying, Babe?"

"I missed you so much. And you're such an asshole." It was strange for her to say these things while sitting on my lap.

"Can I take you out for lunch?"

"Sure."

"I'll meet you at the cafe at 1300 hours. Is that okay?"

Since when have I asked if it was okay? Since she belonged to another man, asshat.

"I'll probably be able to get another search in by then," she smiled, went back to her seat and got back to work.

I stood up, and walked towards Tank's office. I opened the door, ignoring his glare, and sat down on his couch. That was strange. There was no screaming, no cursing, just a slap in the face. Once she'd got that out of the way she'd hugged me and happily accepted my invitation to lunch without any argument about Morelli not liking it. It's like she didn't see me as a threat to her marriage. Does that mean she doesn't see me as anything more than a friend taking her out to lunch? Well, I suppose that's what it is. I am just a friend, because she's married now. She obviously still thinks I don't want her.

Well no shit. You've had one conversation with her since you told her you didn't want her. It's gonna take more than a muffin and a lunch date to convince her she's wrong. Dick bag.

"You gonna sit there staring into space all day?" Tank's deep voice cut through my inner monologue. "Was there something you wanted?" he asked when I looked up at him.

"I noticed you didn't deface the photo of me on Stephanie's desk."

He smirked at me."Nah, it's my turn this week. I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet."

I raised my eyebrow.

"I made a roster."

"Of course."

"I didn't know you were coming back," Tank said, leaning back so far in his chair that I was worried it would break. He goes through at least five chairs a year.

"I like Miami, but it's not the same a Trenton."

"Did you come back for the city or the people?"

"I know what you're getting at and you can keep your nose out of it," I warned him.

"I don't know what you mean," he feigned innocence. "How long are you here for?"

"Permanently."

"And what if she rejects you? Which she really should have done the second you sat your ass down in her guest chair," he said, not keeping his nose out of it like I'd suggested. "You okay, man? You're cheek's lookin' a little red," he chuckled.

"Go fuck yourself," I threw a pen from the front of his desk at him. "I'm here permanently," I repeated.

"Man, she ain't gonna forgive you that easily. I'm not sayin' that she won't, but you hurt her. She hasn't been the same. But what she has with Morelli is secure. It's a safety thing. She ain't gonna give that up because you're back and showing some interest in the forbidden fruit."

"She's not forbidden fruit. She's the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."

"I'm glad you finally figured that out. It fuckin' took you long enough. You should have seen Lula when she found out you'd left, man. Came chargin' in here demanding to see you, calling you all sorts of shit. Fuck, I love the woman but Christ she was terrifying. Yellin' some shit about going to the paper. I have no clue what she was on about."

"About a year ago Lula said she'd help hide mine and Steph's ...relationship… from Morelli, but only if I didn't hurt her. She said that if I did, then she'd go to the paper about some of the 'grey area' things we do here. It would ruin Rangeman," I told him. "I have to admit, I'm surprised she didn't."

"I think she was prepared to," Tank told me. "Had an interview set up and everything. The only reason she didn't was because Stephanie talked to her. Lula said that she told her that if it wasn't for Rangeman, half of us wouldn't have jobs. No one wants to hire a guy with a criminal record or gang tatts, but Rangeman does and gives them an honest job and a nice paycheck. It gives people like us a chance to redeem themselves," Tank paused and played with a pen in his fingers before continuing in a quiet voice. "I've never heard someone stand up for us like that. Ever. Let alone a white girl from the Burg. She's special and I won't let you hurt her," he finished that with a glare.

"I'm not going to hurt her."

"You've said that before and then you hurt her. You of all people should know that we don't take well to people that hurt Stephanie."

"Are you going to call me to the mats?" I asked sarcastically.

"Sure am."

"You can't do that."

"Yes I can. I'm sure there'll be a long line of people waiting to teach you a lesson."

"Fuck you," I said without much venom behind my words. I knew I deserved this punishment, but I wasn't going to take it without a fight.

"Ranger, you can't expect to come back here and expect everyone's respect. You lost that when you treated the woman we all love and care for like she was nothing but a convenient fuck."

At that, I stood up and left his office. I didn't need him to tell me what I'd done. I was well aware of what I'd done. I was currently trying to fix it. And I didn't treat her like a convenient fuck. I treated her like the woman I love had just agreed to marry another man.

I have made a lot of mistakes in my life. I have done a lot of things that I regret: stealing a car at fifteen, getting involved with gangs, many things I did during my time with the Rangers. But none of them compare to all the things I regret with Stephanie; sending her back to Morelli after the DeChooch deal, telling her I love her 'in my own way', calling her entertainment. However, I regret nothing more in my life than letting her marry Morelli. It was obvious that she was miserable. Her entire manner had changed since I'd left. Her shoulders were slumped as she'd walked towards the cafe, her feet shuffling on the ground. Her eyes lacked the emotion they once held. God, I loved those eyes. I used to be able to read all her emotions as they flashed across her face. Her eyes were dull. Any emotion she allowed onto her face was fake and rehearsed, it seemed. I could tell because it never met her eyes. Letting her go was supposed to make her happier. She was supposed to get married, have kids and be happy. She was supposed to forget about me. Seeing her now in front of me in the cafe we used to frequent, she didn't look happy.

"Are you going to fire me?" she asked quietly as she picked at her muffin.

"What? No. Why would you think that?"

"Well, last time we were here you gave me your blessing and then left for eight months. Now you've come back, asked to have lunch with me in the same cafe...nothing good could come of this."

"I'm not going to fire you, Steph."

"Then why are we here," she was looking at me with those damn dull eyes. It was like she was not only hiding her emotions, but guarding them from the people around her. As if, if I couldn't see them, I couldn't hurt them.

"I wanted to have lunch with you," I said and sipped my water. She raised an eyebrow at me. "And I wanted to apologise."

She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I'm listening."

Come on, soldier. Time to man up.

"I'm sorry for being such an ass last time we were here. I was hurt an-"

"You were hurt?" she looked at me disbelievingly.

"Yes, Stephanie, I was." The shock of me using her full name flashed across her face for a second, before she covered it up. "Those months when I was with you … I hadn't felt that good for a long time. I felt like I could actually have a slightly normal life one day...with you."

"Ranger, we hardly had a relationship," she interrupted. Those words didn't sound like her own. The way she said them was monotone and like she'd rehearsed them. Where had my Stephanie gone? She used to be so happy and full of life. She used to be so stubborn and confident. She looked so defensive here and full of hatred.

You did this to her.

"That's bullshit and you know it. You had more of a relationship with me than you did with Morelli. You spent more nights with me than you did him an-"

"A relationship involves more than sex," she interrupted again.

"You're right. And what we had was more than sex. I took you out on dates, if you remember. Hell, I even went shopping with you. Multiple times. That was an experience, allright." I had hated shopping. She'd drag me from store to store and I'd just be holding her bags. Who knew a woman could buy so many kilograms of clothes. It was like a workout.

"If you didn't like it then why did you do it?" she spat at me.

"Because it made you happy," I replied with no hesitation. She had no response to that. I was trying to keep my voice even and not yell at her. "You used to complain that Morelli never did anything like that for you. So like I said, it sounded like you had more of a relationship with me than you did with him."

"You've never called what we had a relationship before," she responded quietly, her eyes glued to the table in front of her.

"I've had eight months to think about it and now I can see it for what it really was."

She sat there quietly, staring at her muffin.

"As I was saying; last time we were here, I said some things that I regret. I was hurt. And I think I had every right to be. You'd gotten engaged to Morelli, when we'd had this... relationship for almost a year. You treated what we had like it was nothing. Like it didn't affect you at all. However, what I didn't have any right to do, was to say the things that I said… or didn't say."

"Didn't say?" she questioned.

I let out a long breath and watched my fingers wipe away some condensation on my water glass. Get it over with, Carlos. Be a man and admit your mistakes. "I didn't say that I wanted you," I looked up and met her eyes. "You gave me the chance to say it, to stop you from going ahead with the engagement, and I didn't take it. Instead I was an ass and left for eight months. I am so sorry, Steph. I should have told you. I should have told you that I wanted you and fought for you," I watched her face closely as I said it. Hoping for some emotion.

"I accept your apology," she said, her eyes had tears in them but I couldn't tell if they were from joy or sadness. "But I also have some apologising to do," she continued.

I nodded and sat back in my chair, watching her as all her emotions flashed across her face. She wasn't guarded anymore. She was letting me see everything.

"I'm sorry that I threw away our relationship. You're wrong; I didn't think it was nothing. What I felt for Joe is nothing compared to how I felt for you. It's just that… at the time my mother was going on one of her rampages over Joe being my last chance at happiness and how no one else would marry me. The Burg thought something was wrong with me because Joe didn't want to marry me. When it's all you hear, wherever you go, you start to believe it. So when he asked me to marry him, I said yes," she shrugged. "It was to prove the Burg wrong, that there's nothing wrong with me. Then I learnt pretty quickly that I don't need marriage to be happy. In fact, it's not all it's cracked up to be. But I guess I'm stuck with it now," she shrugged again and continued to pick at her muffin.

I was about to respond when my phone signaled I had a text. I checked it quickly and cursed. Medical emergency at Rangeman.

"Babe, I'm so sorry. I have to go, medical emergency at Rangeman. This conversation isn't over." I stood up and threw enough money to cover both meals onto the table. The action brought back a sense of Deja vu from the last time we were here and I wondered if she too had felt it. She stared at the money on the table for a few seconds before looking up at me.

"You're not going to leave this time, right?" she asked lightly with humor in her voice.

"Not this time, Babe," I said and kissed her hair. "You're stuck with me now."

She gave a breathy laugh and waved at me as I walked out of the cafe.

"Brown," I barked at the company medic when I got to the gym where he'd told me to meet him. "Who's hurt?" I looked around and noticed a lot of employees in the gym for 1400 hours.

"You. Soon," he said. At that moment all the men stood up from their respective exercise equipment and turned to face me.

"Did you guys rehearse that?" I couldn't help the small smile playing on my lips.

"Get on the mats, Ranger," Lester's voice said from behind me. God forbid I add a bit of humor to my life before my own men kill me. I sighed and removed my shirt, weapons, boots and socks. There had to be at least fifteen men in here, all waiting to 'teach me a lesson' for hurting Stephanie. I know for a fact that I can take on all of them, but not directly after each other.

"Okay," I said when I was standing in the middle of the mats. "Who wants to teach me a lesson first?"

Both Tank and Lester stepped forward.

Fuck.

A/N: Please review and let me know what you think! This chapter was a pain in the ass to write and I'm not 100% happy with it. But I didn't think it was going to get any better. Remember to give me some ideas for oneshots for my other story You Just Love My Ass! Or any ideas for this one, if you prefer!