Okay, so I am not a big Morelli Basher. BUT I have this great idea that I want to write. Guys to me this is taking some freedom with Morelli I never see him being like this. I am sure it will, eventually be a BABE fic. There is going to be some brother, Lester here because I just love him in that capacity to Steph. But I am not going to let a lot go. But this is going to start out with Steph being broken and then slowly growing to become something stronger. So enjoy guys.

Chapter One

Joe had been undercover for almost seven months. I felt like something wasn't right with him, even though he hadn't kept in touch much. I wasn't sure why I was worried. I did miss him. I knew these jobs were stressful for him. I was happy when he called from New York City to tell me he was coming home. Our relationship had been doing ok before he left. Yes I was still in love with Ranger, but he went in the wind last night. Joe wanted a relationship and he wanted to be with me. I took a deep long breath and put on a beautiful dress. I drove to the restaurant and ordered his favorite meal and beers for both of us. I drove over to his house with our dinner.

When Joe walked in something felt wrong and my spidey senses were going crazy. I stood and walkd to the door. I could smell it on him from 5 feet away, he was drunk. I saw Carl nod to me as he headed out I smiled to him gave a wave. I smiled at Joe.

"You want to eat dinner, I got at Michelle's I can heat it up it's your favorite."

Joe looked at me, the look in his eyes was scaring me and I had no clue why. He growled low and threatening in his throat as he looked at me. Before I could realize what was happening he slammed his fist into my face and I dropped to my knees.

"You need to learn to cook the food you stupid bitch. I mean, if you're ever going to marry me you have to at least have something more going for you than just sex. Though with that in mind."

The next thing I know I was literally dragged up the stairs by my wrist. My head was still shaking from the punch. There was a lot of force behind that punch. He lifted my by the same wrist he had dragged up the stairs by and threw me on his bed. He ripped my dress off of my baring my mostly exposed body to him. Apparently my sexy thong and panty set did the trick because he growled in appreciation at them before tearing them to shreds as he ripped those off me as well. I was terrified and helpless. My brain was foggy still from the strength of his punch and there was nothing I could do to resist him.

Joe proceeded to hold me down to the bed and rape me. I screamed for him to stop and told him no over and over again. The more I fought the rougher he was with me. I whimpered no, no, no and yanked my head away from him.

Joe's response was to tell me "This is all you're good for Cupcake, so just shut the fuck up."

After Joe used my body until he came, he cuffed my arms and legs to the bed. Joe forced my mouth open and shoved something into it, using a piece of duck tape to close my mouth over it. That's when he started to beat me. He rained blows all over my midsection. I thrashed around desperately trying to avoid any of the blows and find a way to escape. He punched me in the face again and started talking.

"So I hear from Mooch when he drove by the Bond office that Ranger had his tongue down your throat. I know you've cheated on me a more than a few times. So tonight I am going to show you exactly who you belong to."

Joe continued beating any part of my body he could reach. He finally exhausted himself and passed out. At some point Joe couldn't reach all of my body and had undone the cuffs to move me into a better position. Then tell he passed out he beat the living crap out of me. He had undone the cuffs. The moment he passed out I ripped the duck tape off my mouth and spat out the gag. Joe was out cold.

I stumbled to the shower and slid in. I couldn't go to the cops, who the fuck was going to believe me when I said that Joe of all people had just done this to me. They would probably blame me thinking I was breaking up with him and trying to get revenge. Everyone would assume it was some skip that did this to me. I washed all of Joe's filth off my body praying the entire time that Joe wouldn't wake up.

I got dressed in some of the clothes I always left at Joe's house, shaking so hard it made dressing myself difficult. I grabbed everything I could that belonged to me and snuck down the stairs as quickly and quietly as I could. I glanced in the foyer mirror as I was leaving. I saw the beginnings of a black eye and several bruises on my neck and shoulders. My cheeks and lips were swollen and red from the duck tape. My ribs and stomach were screaming in pain and I was having to walk slightly hunched over. Joe hadn't even spared my lower body there were bruises up and down my legs. I refused to think about the bruising between my legs I was sure to have.

I got to my apartment. I practically ran to my apartment door slamming it closed and locking the dead bold. During Joe's ranting I remember him saying something about having to go in today to talk to the chief and that he would make sure we had more fun later. That started my shaking all over again. Thinking about what he considered "more fun". What the hell had happened to Joe in the seven months he was on this assignment to make him consider raping and beating me fun.

I took another scalding hot shower trying to burn away the disgusting filthy feeling I had on my body. I scrubbed until my skin bled in places. When the water was completely cold I stepped out of the shower and dried myself with shaking hands. I took a breath and I leaned against the wall. I heard my phone ring and nearly jumped out of what skin I had left.

I answered my phone with a steadier voice than I thought was possible "Hello"

"White girl," Lula said, "Did you hear Morelli was just shot? Someone did a drive by and shot him when he took Bob out, he died instantly" she rushed out like she couldn't get the words out fast enough.

I froze still leaning against the bathroom wall in my towel. I tried to take deep breaths as I felt the blackness trying to creep in the edges of my consciousness. I couldn't believe the amount of relief I felt at that moment. I didn't have to be afraid of Joe coming after me now.

My next thought was who had killed Joe and why? Was I next? What if whoever it was saw me leaving Joe's house earlier? I wasn't sure if I was being paranoid because of what had happened with Joe or if I was just scared of everything right now.

I realized while I was being silent Lula was still talking and I hadn't said anything. I answered Lula. "Oh my god, thanks for telling me Lula. I'll see you later okay?"

I hung up as fast as I could without upsetting Lula. I hurried to my bedroom and I threw all my clothes into a large duffle bag and a suitcase. I packed both bags into my current POS el Camino. I grimaced at the fact I owned an el Camino at all. I ran back up to my apartment and carried rex's cage out to the car. I needed to get somewhere I was safe. There was only one place that came to mind, Rangeman

I drove to Haywood as fast as I could without drawing attention to myself. I pulled a baseball cap on my head over my curls. I was definitely not ready for the guys to see my fac. I got out of my car slowly trying to plan out what I would say to any one I ran into. Once I had my duffle bag, suitcase and rex from the car I moved as fast as I could to the elevator. I punched the button and prayed I wouldn't run see any of the Merry Men before the elevator got there.

I made it into the elevator and up to seven without running into anyone. I unlocked the door and set rex's cage on the kitchen counter. My cell phone rang in my purse, I retrieved it from my purse and answered it.

"Steph you okay? We heard about Morelli being killed." Tank said.

I took a deep breath fighting back the blackness again. I sank to the floor not sure what I should do o how I should respond to Tank. I leaned against the couch and realized again how much my body hurt. I felt like I was going to throw up. Here was the moment of truth do I tell the Merry Men or not? I trusted every man here to protect me and I knew they cared about me, they were my family.

"Can you send Lester up, please? I need to talk to him."

I heard the grunt and then Tank hung up. I hadn't locked the door, I was not sure how long it was before I heard Lester come in.

"Yo Beaut..." Lester froze mid-sentence and rushed over to my side. He kneeled beside me and brushed my hair away from my face. I could tell the moment he saw the extent of the damage done to my face. One emotion after the other rushed across his face.

"I want a name Beautiful, now." All the charm was gone from his voice he was deadly serious.

I collapsed in his arms sobbing. Lester wrapped his arms around me and stood. Lifting me into his lap on the couch. I buried my head into his neck still sobbing. Lester whispered soothing words into my ear until I began to calm slightly

"Joe came home drunk and..."

At some point my body started shaking again, I still felt Lester's body tense up around me. Lester stroked his fingers through my hair and held me while I lost it again and cried. I felt Les slide a blanket around my shaking body. His next words were spoken with nothing but anger.

"Then I am glad the bastard is dead if he did this to you. I am going to call Bobby I want him to look you over. No fighting me on this Beautiful."

I kept my face buried in his neck but nodded. A minute later I heard him talking to Bobby.

"Brown man get up to seven, bring your med kit, and something to calm beautiful down."

For once I didn't argue. I knew Bobby wouldn't give me the sedative unless he really thought I needed it, and obviously all my crying had gotten to Les. I felt Les lift me and carry me into Ranger's bedroom. Bobby must have come in the apartment while Les was carrying me because he followed us into the room. Bobby came to my side and stroked my hair gently.

"Bomber, is it ok if I check you over? You know I will be a professional as I can but I need to check for any internal bleeding or broken bones. You feel like you have a fever as well."

I had not told Lester that Joe had raped me. Bobby felt my cheek and around my blackened eye, He ran his hands over my scalp checking for knots. He moved down to the bruising on my neck and upper shoulders. When he reached for my shirt to check my upper body I panicked. I shoved his hands away and moved to the center of the bed. I took deep breaths trying to calm my racing heart; I closed my eyes as tight as I could hoping if I couldn't see him it would all just go away.

"Joe... Raped... Me." I whispered out, almost to softly for him to hear.

I opened my eyes when he didn't respond. I saw his face change from barely contained fury, to concern. I watched him as he reached for his phone.

"I'm taking you to see a friend; she's a female doctor and I want you to let her look you over at the hospital okay?"

I knew that there was no way he and Lester would not let this go. I was scared, but nodded knowing it was the best thing to do. I stuttered out my next words

"You and Lester will wait outside the door while she's checking me, right?"

I got a nod as he opened his cell to make the call. Bobby left the room to make the appointment. Lester came back in the bedroom his face filled with rage over what Joe had done. He wrapped me in a blanket and carried me past Bobby to the door of the apartment. Bobby finished talking to the doctor and called Tank letting him know to meet us at the hospital.

I finally spoke up "Tell him that he can't tell Ranger what happened while he is still on his mission". I didn't want Ranger distracted and upset when he needed to focus on coming back alive.

They both looked at me and said nothing. Les carried me down to the SUV and buckled me in. We got to the hospital faster than I thought possible and I was again carried into a private room. There was a pretty female doctor that followed Les and I into the room. Lester stayed while I told her what happened with Joe. She sat beside my bed nodding listening to what I had to say. She sent Lester out and brought in a nurse. She told me just to tell her if I got overwhelmed and needed to stop.

I felt bad because I had to make her stop so many times it took over an hour. Then she wanted to get some x-rays on my ribs and my right ar. She said she felt something wrong in those two places. She also wanted one done of my back, Joe had wailed on my back after he un-cuffed me from the bed and it was hurting. The doctor walked in the hall to Bobby. Lester came in took my hand and laid his head down on the bed next to me.

"I wish I could have protected you Beautiful. I always wanted a sister and you have become that for me. I love you Beautiful."

I have never seen Lester like this he was breaking down. I reached over and I stroked my hands through his hair. I loved him like a brother. I never had a brother and always felt like he filled that role in my life.

"Lester I love you big brother."
He looked and me and gently dragged me to his chest hugging me tight. Someone might think it was amazing how I was able to allow a man close to me after having just been raped and beaten by Joe hours before. The Merry Men were my family and I trusted them to never hurt me. It surprises me that I could say that with so much conviction; I never though Joe would hurt me either. There was always a small part of me that worried with his family history that something might happen.

I got the x-rays done and out there was three hairline fractures in my arm. The doctor told me that a cast would be put on and I needed to wear it for 4-6 weeks. She prescribed some muscle rub ointment for the bruising on my ribs. She told me I needed to rest and drink lots of water for the next few days. She made me promise in front of Bobby and Lester that I would take it easy for a few days. She also made me promise I would let Bobby check me over in a few days.

The guys had driven me to a hospital in Newark so the burg grape vine wouldn't be alerted. I knew my mother would not call, asking what happened. Along with a slew of other people. I didn't want to tell them I didn't want anyone to know. I had decided not to tell anyone outside the Merry men because Joe was dead. I decided that things should just be kept quiet. I was not even going to tell Connie and Lula.

I finally relaxed and breathed normally again when we got back to Ranger's apartment. This was my safe place, this is where I always wanted to be when I was scared. Lester got me in bed and Bobby gave me a sedative knowing that right now I needed the sleep.

I woke up and felt a presence in the room, Tank was sitting in a chair in the corner Rangers room. I looked at his face and he looked back at me for a moment, then he spoke, meeting my eyes the entire time.

"Bomber you need anything you need to call okay? I won't tell Ranger because you're right he's on a dangerous mission this is information that might make it tough for him to focus and he could get hurt."

I nodded, and leaned against the pillows as I moved to sit up. I had been thinking about something today while I was in the hospital that Ranger had offered me. I took a deep breath.

"Tank is that spare apartment on four still available and is that job still open for me?"

Tank met my eyes again and nodded. "He offered this to you a week ago, so we have not looked to find someone else yet. You will be in the apartment across from Lester's. Ranger and I discussed what we wanted to have you doing. We would like you to do your normal searches and we would also like you to deal with some customers when you're ready for it."

I ran my hands through my hair and thought. I felt safe here and I knew that I wouldn't feel safe away from Rangeman and my Merry Men. I looked at Tank and took a breath.

"Tank I... I don't know if I want to go out there. I don't want to leave Rangeman right now."

Tank walked towards me and sat on the bed next to me. He pulled me gently up and I rested my head on his chest as Tank ran his huge hands up and down my back.

"You are family Stephanie and you won't start working with clients until you're ready. No pushing yourself. You have been though a lot. I will get the contract ready for you to sign."

I had to breath and nod this was the most I had ever heard Tank talk. I felt my eyes drift shut as Tank laid with me providing silent comfort. The next time I woke up Tank was gone and Lester was asleep in that chair. I sat up, looked like I was going to have guys watching me for a while. I breathed out and leaned back against the pillows thinking while I watched Lester sleep.

The most important thing in my mind was for me to be moved in to my new apartment on four by the time Ranger came back. I knew Ranger wouldn't think of me the same way when he got home and found out what happened. I let Joe rape and beat me. Ranger wouldn't want me now, no one would. Maybe that wasn't a bad thing. I'm not sure I ever want another man to touch me that way.

I heard a soft knock and Ella entered the room. She had a softness in her face as she sat a tray of food down on the bed with me.

"Now you are to eat all this. We are going to discuss what we're going to do to your new apartment."

I smiled. Ella was so sweet. I was still not feeling like me, but we sat there talking about the colors for my new apartment on four; my favorites was purples and blues. She said that she would have the place painted tomorrow and I was not allowed to argue. She wanted to make the apartment unique just for me. She left as soon as I had finished all my food.

Lester was awake and looking at me worried. I smiled a little. Bobby came in and did a short exam of my arm and ribs then he handed me another sedative. When I looked at him like I was going to argue he simply explained that for the next twenty four hours I need to sleep and let my body heal.