A/N: Good news everyone, I have finally managed to finish the story on my hard drive. It will be a total of 26 chapters. I just don't know right now if I'm able to post them all by the end of the month. I try my best, but life is a bit busy right now...

Babysitter Lester was a stark contrast to Babysitter Vince, and I wasn't quite certain who I preferred. Vince, at least, didn't make me think about things I had mixed feelings about. But maybe Lester was right and something needed to change. But where to start? And… the always present question of 'if to start?'

It was not like I didn't see Lester's point and wanted to be extra-stubborn in being difficult, but I still had my hangups in regard to what to do and if I really wanted to risk changes. Sure, currently I was cruising along with the flow, not spending too much time thinking about what could maybe be, but was this really what I wanted to do for the next… ten years? Or the rest of my life. I could hardly ignore and deny the chemistry between my and Carlos and while I wasn't losing my mind completely, going crazy and fighting some inner need or lust, it wasn't as if some days I wasn't thinking about what if. And maybe that was where the problem laid: the bane question was safe and allowed me to draw up all possible conclusions and what could be. It didn't actually mean change, since my daydreaming was just that: dreaming.

So, what if I thought about Carlos, storming into my office, throwing my door shut and having his wicked way with me, right on my desk? Or chair? I wasn't picky.

"You okay?" I heard Vince ask me, worry lacing his voice.

"I am, why?" I asked back, bringing my thoughts back into the present.

"You seem a little flushed there. Want me to call Bobby?"

"NO," I pretty much shouted, not even certain why. "I'm… I just feel a little hot," I said, not completely wrong. It really seemed to be a hundred degrees up here. And I was almost certain it had nothing to do with my unholy thoughts from which I needed to get away from. Right now!

"You think so?" Vince looked surprised. Usually I was always complaining about being too cold, so my complaining about the opposite was new.

I just nodded. "Maybe you could get me just some more water?"

The water he brought me didn't really help, but then again, water barely helped when hormones were involved. And that was the most logical explanation. Hormones. As a woman, you could blame almost everything on them. It was the perfect patsy. Almost like I would have been for EE Martin. If it hadn't been for Carlos…

And we were right back at the root of all evil. Well, maybe that was a bit harsh since Carlos was the root of a lot, but most of it wasn't evil.

I don't know what made me do it since I usually was not that outspoken and outgoing, but after a while of my thoughts circling back and forth, but usually always around the same topic, I asked Vince. "What are your thoughts on me and the boss?"

He looked at me confused for a moment and I wasn't sure whether it was the topic or rather the implication of there being something between me and the boss. I was about to backtrack when Vince surprised me.

"Please tell me you're finally ending that guy's misery. Please!" Vince almost begged.

"Why is everyone saying he's in misery?" I asked and maybe over-exaggerated a little when stating everyone. So far, it had only been Lester and a few hints from Cal or Zero.

"Because he is," Vince simply stated, seeming confused about my question. Almost as if it was public knowledge, and I was the only one left out. "I don't know what happened between you two, or if something happened. And quite honestly, I really don't want to know either, but to everyone with a working pair of eyes, it is obvious that he would make a move but holds back."

"It wouldn't be weird?" I asked, realizing a moment later that this had been more or less the exact same question I had asked Lester a while back.

"What? That you and Ranger have something going on? If it isn't weird for you, no." The confusion in Vince's face told me this seemed to be more of a 'me' issue than it seemed to bother anyone else. "It isn't like you'd gain an advantage in anything. Especially since your job doesn't cross into ours. And somehow, I don't see you become an evil bitch anytime soon, barking orders and expecting all of us to cater to your every wish."

I laughed at this picture, wondering if something like that ever happened. However, before I could say anything, Vince went on.

"Family aside, Ranger is the person I know longest in my life. Well, maybe Bobby, Lester and Tank as well, but I meet all of them around the same time, anyway. I have seen his good, bad and ugly faces and moods, and trust me, Ranger 10 years ago had a lot of moods," Vince laughed and somehow, I had issues seeing moody Carlos, but well. "He's usually a pretty private person and plays his cards extremely close to his chest. I could try to pinpoint times when there had been women in his life, but I might as well just guess and be as close to a correct answer. What I mean to say is, Ranger doesn't show a lot of himself to most people, not even his closest friends. Seeing him just the slightest off kilter because you managed to get under his skin is unusual, to say the least. And you are also very different from the women that I figured were at one time a part of his life."

"So, he never had a girl you guys met?" I asked, confused. While it was a nice change to meet a guy who didn't seem to see a woman as trophies, it also felt unusual.

"Not official," Vince stated and seemed…odd.

"Unofficial than?" I asked, not even sure what I was asking.

Vince laughed at my question, so I guess it was at least amusing. I still didn't know what I actually was asking about. Or why?

"There were some, not many, that could maybe have had a part in his life for a mainly short time. Though, I honestly think they weren't much more than an extended hook-up or a friend with benefits situation."

"What were they like?"

I heard Vince sigh. Not a good sign. "Honestly? Floozies that never stood a chance. Boring and uninteresting women who cared more about how they looked and how much attention they could get than about anything else. One actually hit on Woody while Ranger ordered drinks one time."

"What?" I asked, confused, to say the least.

"He didn't see them for their sparkling personalities or their opinions on climate change, political views or their stand on women's rights. It was never about anything…lasting."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" I asked, amused. I wasn't entirely sure where he was going with this conversation.

"Yes, it should. While he jumping up and down on sofas or grinning from ear to ear every time you enter a room, he might as well. I know it is hard to explain to someone who doesn't know him as well as I do, but usually he is the master of blank face, where you are left guessing what he is thinking about. Or about any sort of emotion. Those of us who have known him longer can see small changes and differences in the way he is whenever you are close by."

"I'd rather have him jump on sofas, since that wouldn't leave me guessing about everything."

"Trust me, the way he is around you, he might as well jump on these sofas. But I guess taking my word for it isn't the same as actually seeing it. Maybe what you need is a leap of faith," Vince stated, and I wondered when he and Lester had started moonlighting as life coaches.

I let out a sigh and thought about his suggestion for a moment.

"Maybe that leap of faith was a whole lot easier if I knew how to start a conversation with Carlos about what might or might not happen."

Vince smiled at me widely, making me wonder what he was thinking about. Before I could ask him, however, I saw the door open and Carlos appear. Almost as if he had heard his name one time too many and decided to investigate.

Vince turned around to look at the door as well and got up from the table a moment later, looking down at me from his standing position, still smiling.

"Maybe start with how you want him to have his wicked way with you on your desk and take it from there," he said in a hushed voice that Carlos definitely couldn't hear from his position at the door. I looked up at Vince, shocked and saw him just laugh, leaving a moment later for the door. From all the Merry Men, Vince had always seemed so quiet and even a little recluse. Guess it was true what they said in regards to shallow waters and them being deep-or dirty.

Vince and Carlos exchanged a few words before Vince left for good and it was only Carlos and me. Usually, that wouldn't have been reason for too much thought, especially seeing how we actually met, but after Lester's and Vince's thoughts I was left a little uneasy and would have liked to have at least a few moments to myself to sort my thoughts.

"Have you had any food yet?" I heard Carlos ask, disappearing moments later into the open kitchen.

"Ella brought some soup up a while ago," I replied. "But it wasn't like I felt particularly hungry. I ate a bit of it, but was mainly fighting my headache."

"Did you take any medication? Want me to call Bobby back up?"

"It's fine. No worries. I guess it is to be expected when you hot your head. And maybe Lester added to my headache just with his crazy talking," I joked and saw Carlos laugh softly at my stab.

"I hope he behaved himself."

"What would you do if he didn't?" I asked, curiously.

"Beat his ass," he replied, straight-faced. "He should know better."

"Before you have reason to go and find him, he was the perfect gentleman. Well… by his standards, anyway. How was your day after my interruption of almost drowning?"

"Way too many meetings and clients that seem to think security is a magic trick which can be done by everyone. I am not entirely sure how you can deal with our clients all day long and never want to hit someone or something."

"Maybe I go home and punch a hole in my wall," I joked and saw him laugh once more. "But…seriously, I don't mind. Maybe it is because I am not doing this for as long as you do and I still have the patience. Ask me in a few years again and I might feel differently."

"I'll make a note of it and offer my services if you ever need to punch someone."

"Before I hit you, I really will punch holes in my wall," I suggested and saw him looking at me, confused, so I clarified. "Have you seen yourself? You are a wall of muscles. I am almost certain if I hit you, I hurt myself way, way worse than what I could ever do to you. Of course, I could always knee you, but that seems a little excessive."

"I appreciate the thoughtfulness," he offered, amused.

"Ah, don't thank me too hastily. Apart from my own wellbeing, I am also not too certain how well it looks on my CV that I struck down the boss with my swift knee."

"Are you planning on including such details into your CV? And more importantly, do you plan on leaving?"

"No to both questions. But in the end, if I should ever leave, I'll need a reference. And God knows what you'll put in there in a few years. So, I'd like to do damage control before it even gets to that."

"I'm usually not vindictive. Especially not for something that I suggested myself."

"Does every employe get the benefit of hitting you?"

"No, only the special and pretty ones," he said, and the wink he threw me seemed unexpected, especially after the information from Lester that Carlos would never make a move if I set a boundary. But then again, you could hardly classify a wink as making a move. And this conversation was anything but normal. I needed to change topics since we were entering tricky territory. I hadn't made up my mind about. And while I might be willing to buy into the idea of him having a thing for me, I wasn't so certain yet whether I was on board with the idea of me going after him.

"Since I have been doing quite okay for the past few hours and not shown any symptoms that I might have a concussion, I think I should hit the road and get back home," I suggested, figuring to play this casual and just state a fact. I got up from the couch and tried to ignore the swaying that occurred a few seconds after I stood on my feet.

"I'm almost certain Bobby hasn't cleared you yet, so I would feel a lot better if you stayed and I wouldn't have to worry about a call in the morning stating you were brought to St. Francis." Leave it to him to not go for the casual acceptance.

"I… you mean, stay here? In your place?" I asked, dumbly, and all I was missing were the doe-eyes. It shouldn't have come as a surprise, to be honest. Had I really expected to state I was going home and Carlos Manoso to just roll over and accept it?

"You can have the bed and I'll take the couch," he offered, and I had a very strange Déjà vu back to when we were stuck in North Dakota.

"I… no," I said, almost outraged. "I won't throw you out of your bed in your own place. I'm technically the guest, so I'm fine on the couch. I have been fine on the couch for the fast few hours."

I heard him sigh before he spoke. "Will this be the same argument we are going to have whenever we'll end up in a situation with one bed?" he asked, and I knew he definitely remembered the Dakota-scene.

"I… don't know. You make it sound as if us being in such situations is a common thing. I am almost certain we played the 'bed'-trope to its fullest," I admitted with a laugh.

He laughed hard at my comment and I wasn't sure whether I was really that funny.

"I never thought I'd find me in that such situation to begin with. And then I was stuck in Fargo. Fast forward several months and I find myself once more in an almost similar situation. That's twice in one year, Babe, so, the way things are heading, I have this weird feeling we might not have fully used up all the 'bed'-trope, whatever that means."

I laughed at his matter-of-factly, yet confused use of my comment and had no issues believing he really had no clue about what a 'bed'-trope was.

"I'll stay if I get the couch," I finally bargained and saw him laugh once more before he shook his head.

"You stay and get the bed. Everything else is not up for debate."

As if to make a point, he disappeared into his bedroom a moment later and reemerged after a few minutes, carrying what looked like pillows, a comforter and something that might have been sheets. Or the end of the comforter.

"I would feel really much better if I got…," I started another attempt, but was shut down rather quickly when he just looked at me.

"The only offer I'll accept is the same one that I accepted back in Fargo," he suggested, and I had problems remembering what he could refer to. He hadn't accepted any of my suggestions. Expect for…oh. "You'll get the bed. The only question will be whether you'll have it to yourself."

I remember the last time we shared a bed. And how I woke up, draped all over him like his duvet.

Before I could reply, he went on once more. "Unless you feel like sharing, I suggest you drop the topic now."

As weird as it may sound, it was a very effective way of shutting me up. While I certainly didn't mind sharing a bed with Carlos Manoso as such, it was the morning after I was worried about. And until I didn't make up my mind about anything, it was something I couldn't risk. Because, waking up tangled in Carlos -or rather Carlos tangled in me-was something that could be considered as making a move and God knows to what that could lead. No, I needed to gather my thoughts, make up my mind and come to a decision, and I needed it pronto.