Disclaimer: All the characters you recognize from the Stephanie Plum books belong to Janet Evanovich.

A/N: This story isn't beta'ed. Any grammar faults or spelling errors are not to be considered flaws or defects but enhance the individual beauty : )

It's done. This is the last chapter. Hugs'n kisses go to XxTartLoverxX for her daily support while I wrote this story, for kicking subby's ass (who needs him, right?) and for stroking my sensitive soul. Thank you for that, girl. You rock!

Also special thanks to each and everybody who reviewed - your words caused happiness and tons of smiles and make me want to continue this story.

The song displayed in this chapter is Have I Told You Lately by Rod Stewart ... yeah, Hal gets all mushy :)

Chapter 33 – Plans For The Future

Two weeks later, Rehab Center, Princeton

"Nah, knock it off," Steph slapped her hand over her nose, never opening her eyes.

She and Hal lay on a blanket under 'their' tree next to the Rehab Center, enjoying a beautiful spring afternoon. The sun was exceptionally warm for mid-April. A light breeze moved the leaves above them, birds chirped beautifully, little daisies bloomed all around them and the scent of spring hung heavy in the air.

"Nah, don't," she slapped her hand in the air over her face, hitting Hal's fingers, causing him to chuckle.

Steph was stretched out on her back, her eyes closed, savoring the sunshine filtering through the treetop above them while Hal had propped himself up on his side and was tracing the contours of her face with a daisy he picked up from the grass next to their blanket. Smiling he let the bloom travel from her brow, over her nose, her luscious lips, down the chin and neck and as far between her breasts as her amply V-neckline allowed it.

"Baby," she growled with closed eyes. "Payback's a bitch, you know that."

"Bring it on, Angel," he dared her, lifting his hand over her chest and circling one of her nipples through the thin fabric of her shirt.

Before he could react, Steph had moved his hand down onto her stomach and held it there. "Are you crazy?" She looked at him, her eyes sparkling. "We are in public. I don't want another incident like last week."

"That was fun," Hal laughed quietly.

"For you, Mister. I on the other hand was mortified," Steph glared at him; but couldn't prevent the smile from blossoming over her face. She loved him way too much to be angry with him.

The other week they had sat in exactly the same spot and had gotten a little lost in their necking. Hal's hand was under Steph's shirt, pleasuring her taut nipples, when they suddenly heard a chuckle in front of them. Josh, the resident flirt and Hal's new friend, sat in his wheelchair, his phone in his hand, filming them making out in the open. Steph's face had become so flaming hot, she was sure she resembled a fire engine.

"Hey," Hal leaned over her and captured her lips in a light kiss. "He deleted it in our presence."

"Yes, he did. He's a good guy; but that doesn't mean I want it to happen again. You never know where he is lurking around."

Hal balanced over her and absorbed every detail of the face looking back at him. "Have I told you lately that I love you," he started to sing quietly; his voice sending chills down Steph's spine. "Have I told you there's no one else above you. You fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness, ease my troubles, that's what you do," he kissed her lovingly, letting his tongue sweep over her lips. "For the morning sun in all its glory, meets the day with hope and comfort too. You fill my life with laughter, somehow you make it better, ease my troubles, that's what you do…" He looked down at her and couldn't help his emotions taking over and a tear glistening in his eyes. "I love you so damn much, Angel, that it feels like my heart is short of bursting out of my chest," he whispered before kissing her again, this time deepening the kiss with his tongue caressing the inside of her mouth.

"In two days I'll be home," he pressed another soft kiss on her mouth, "and then no one will be able to separate us again." His mouth found its way back to her lips and savored every detail of its exploration. Just as Steph was starting to get lost in the caresses of their tongues, moaning her appreciation into Hal's mouth, a thought crossed her mind and she tensed.

"What?" whispered Hal against her skin while placing little kisses along her jawline and down her neck. When she didn't react, he lifted his head and found her eyes. "What's wrong, Angel? One minute you are putty in my hands and the next you tense all up." He hovered over her and leaned down for a soft kiss to her lips. "Tell me what's going on in that beautiful head of yours."

"It's just," she fidgeted and looked away from him. "I just remembered something I wanted to tell you weeks ago; but I forgot because every time we talked on the phone or I was here I was so distracted that I didn't remember."

"Angel, look at me. Whatever it is, it's going to be okay," Hal said quietly, brushing the back of his fingers over her temples, trying to convey the truth of his words to her. "Why are you remembering it now?"

"Because of your words that no one will be able to separate us again," Steph looked positively miserable.

Hal crunched his brow and tried to understand what she could mean; but came up blank.

"Now, I'm curious," he smiled at her softly. "Angel, I didn't mean that we would smother each other so what is going on? What do you want to do that would separate us?"

Steph looked up into his eyes, marveling at his intuition, and lifted her hand to caress the side of his face. "Tank, Bobby and Lester offered me a job a few weeks ago and I never got to tell you about it."

"I don't understand. You know I would never expect you to stop working for whatever reason."

"But this job would be special and pull me away from you," Steph sighed and decided to just lay it out for him. "About a month ago, Tank called me to his office and when I entered Bobby and Lester were with him. They told me that the FBI has offered a very lucrative contract to Rangeman. With the branches in Boston, Trenton, Norfolk, Atlanta and Miami, Rangeman covers more or less the whole east coast. That's the reason the FBI wants the company to take over some of their criminals on the run. The pay is amazing with capture fees of minimum $1 Million and the criminals would be selected on the basis of their ties to the east coast."

"That sounds like a very promising business for Rangeman; but I don't understand what it has to do with you?"

"I don't know about Ranger; but Tank, Bobby and Lester want me to be part of the mobile task force they'd built especially for those felons and they told me their votes would outrank Ranger in case there'd be quarrels. The problem is the team's home would be Trenton; but theoretically they would work from all five branches, depending on where they are needed. Tank made it clear that to be allowed into the team I would have to pass the Rangeman recruiting tests; but that would no longer be a problem with my newly built skills," Steph rattled through her memories of what Tank had told her that afternoon.

"Wow…," Hal looked down at her. "That's just… wow," he was struggling for words. Then a smile broke over his face. "Steph, that's unbelievable. The possibilities that job is offering you are endless. You aren't seriously thinking about declining the offer?"

"But it would separate us when the team's presence is demanded in one of the other branches and I have no clue how often that would be or for how long," Steph looked stricken. She was so happy with Hal and they'd just gone through ten weeks of separation while he was in Princeton. She had planned for them to be glued at the hip for a long time after his coming home. On the other hand, now that the offer was back in the center of her mind she felt the pull to say yes and jump the train. It was so much more tempting than the idea of becoming an average employee of Rangeman Trenton though she knew she would love to work with her guys.

"You want to," Hal smiled leaning over her, caressing her cheek. "I can see it in your eyes, Angel."

"I don't know. It's tempting. The trust that Tank, Bobby and Lester are putting in me is mind-boggling and I want to prove myself worth it. Aside from that it would give me the chance to implement all my new knowledge about profiling and criminal psychology. Plus I would have you to fall back on when I'm lost."

"That you would have. I'd be most honored to help you whenever I can."

"Wait, why don't you apply for a job in that team, too? I mean, you are the one with the real profiling knowledge. We could travel and work together. Wouldn't that be cool?"

"Yeah, it would; but I don't see myself leaving Trenton anytime soon. First of all I have a custody battle to fight and for that I have to be present with stable living and working conditions. Then there is this outpatient program the Rehab Center is offering. I want to participate in that. I want to take root here in Trenton and make it my home base."

That caused Steph to press her lips together and narrow her eyes against the unwelcome tears burning in them.

"Hey," Hal immediately saw it and leaned down to press a soft kiss on her lips. "Why the tears?"

"It just feels as though we are drifting apart."

"But Angel, just because our longings differ doesn't mean we drift apart. My place is here because for one there is so much to do here and for two you need someone to come home to, to hug and love you between assignments. That is my job; to be the backbone of your operations; the one that is always there, just a phone call away, having your back while you fly," he rubbed his nose against hers and kissed her lovingly. "We aren't drifting apart; we are just letting each other soar."

Steph nodded and angrily wiped at her eyes. "Sorry, stupid whiny me."

"I love you and all your emotions sometimes buried deep down, sometimes written all over your face."

For a while they just looked at each other, each memorizing the other's face; but then Steph couldn't take it any longer and lifted her head up to catch Hal's lips. When she laid her head back down, he followed her mouth, taking the kiss deeper. Two moans could be heard and Steph's hand wrapped around Hal's back, stroking him, urging him to come closer.

"Baby, please," she whispered as they separated for a moment to catch their breath. "I want to feel your weight on me. I need you."

Quickly checking their surroundings, Hal made sure there were no people within spitting distance before placing his leg between Steph's and rolling his upper body over her. Her moan when his weight pushed her into their blanket was music in his ears. Hal was acutely aware of Steph's soft breasts pressing into his hard chest, of her hands moving up and down his back, holding him tight to her.

"God, Angel. I love you so much," his mouth found hers and he immediately plunged in, moaning at her taste and the softness of her tongue.

Steph's hands moved up his shoulders to the back of his neck, caressing him, and she felt his muscles shift under her touch as though they were following it, never wanting to be left alone again. She pulled her head back and started to brush her lips along his jaw, enticing a growl from him. Every other inch she nipped at the soft skin, pulling it between her lips, working her way toward his throat. His neck was a wonderful place to love. After their visit with Doctor Kline, Hal indeed managed to let go of the tension coming with his own expectations. He let Steph love him and soon enough they discovered how sensitive his neck and throat were to her touches, resulting in the first erection since becoming paraplegic. Moaning, he let her scrape her teeth along his jugular, sucking in the skin over his pulse point, marking him. He couldn't take it anymore. His upper body was on fire, his own moans way too loud for a public place and now he started to feel the telltale tensing in his abdomen, announcing his newest pride. Taking Steph's hand away from his neck and leading it to his crotch he let her feel his stiffening cock.

"Do you feel what you are doing to me, Angel?" He groaned, his head resting against her neck. "I can't wait for us to be at home in our bedroom and taking all our new toys for a test drive."

Steph pressed a row of loving kisses along his neck and squeezed his cock through his Jeans. "I can't either." Then she moved her hand to his chest and rubbed her fingers of his pec.

The moment of intimacy was over; but none of them felt bad about it. Where they were laying under the oak tree was hardly the right place for some heavy making out. Hal pushed himself back onto his side, using his hand to remove his leg from between Steph's.

"So, are you accepting the job offer?" He entwined their fingers and rested their joined hands on Steph's stomach. "I really hope so. It's an incredible chance for you and I know you will not just fly but soar. Your intuition, your spidey sense, your tenacity are all unique. Those paired with your new skills are making you a high profile Law Enforcement Agent. I don't want to be in the shoes of those hunted by you."

"And you think we will manage the separation?"

"Of course, Angel. All the more wonderful will be the time together, you will see. It's not that I want to get rid of you; for sure not; but I can see how much you could profit from working with that team and the happier you are the better for us. If it makes you feel better, you can restrict the contract to one year and then reevaluate the whole thing."

Steph nodded slowly and then smiled up at him. "Can you imagine little ol' me chasing the big bad guys?"

"Hell yeah," he grinned with a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "The image is so sexy that is gets me my panties in a bunch for all the right reasons."

That caused Steph to laugh out loud. "Okay, Buster. Now spill about that outpatient program. Another thing we never got to talk about because of your distraction abilities."

"It's amazing," Hal's eyes started to sparkle. "They are cooperating with Princeton University. You have to pay a small fee by yourself, the rest is covered by donations and government funds. To get into the program you must have been a patient of the Rehab Center; but that's obviously no problem."

"And what exactly do they offer?" Steph moved a little around to be more comfortable.

"It's beyond words. More than you can imagine. It ranges from painting over drawing, pottery, photography to all kinds of handicrafts. There are of course conversation groups; but also book clubs, chess clubs and debating clubs at the university that you can participate in without having to be an enrolled student. They offer all kinds of sports; swimming, therapeutic horseback riding, basketball among other things. They have the band that Rae manages and work together with the university's choir and orchestra. Plus they constantly organize trips and excursions and something called 'Living with wheels'. That is a class for wheelchair bound people divided into several parts. You learn to master all kind of daily life challenges and obstacles and in the end you get announced 'wheely of excellence'."

"That sounds amazing. Can you just say 'hi, here I am and I want to participate' or how is the procedure?"

"I have to fill out an application which I'd love to do and then there is a little hearing that won't be a problem since I'm paraplegic and qualify without constrictions."

Steph lifted her hand and cupped Hal's cheek. He was positively beaming, his cheeks tinted with a light blush, showing how much the possibilities of this outpatient program were intriguing him.

"Why haven't you applied for it, yet?" She rubbed her thumb back and forth over his cheekbone. "I can see how much you want to do it. You are positively glowing."

"Because this is something I'd never decide without discussing it with you beforehand and I guess I was just as distracted as you were when we were together," he grinned boyishly. "Seriously, I'd love to participate in some of their offers; but I would need someone to drive me back and forth. At least until I can do it by myself and take the train to commute between Trenton and Princeton."

The thought of him taking public transportation and being assaulted again made Steph's mouth run dry. "But we can organize that. You know I will love to drive you and I'm hundred percent positive that Vince, Cal, Ram and even Bobby and Binkie will jump in and be your designated drivers, too. Plus, with me and my new job we would earn enough money to pay for a cab regularly driving you back and forth. Perhaps we could make some deal with the cab company who drove you to Newark. Anything, just not you going on your own," her eyes mirrored the fear that thought was causing her.

Their eyes met and communicated all the understanding they had for each other. "I won't put myself into any dangerous situation, Angel. I promise," Hal said quietly and leaned over to kiss her, enjoying the soft feel of her lips against his.

Steph nodded and kissed him back. "I know and I trust you. I just got overwhelmed for a minute. So tell me what of the outpatient program you want to do," she smiled at him, swallowing the anxiety that had been there moments ago.

Hal's smile got blinding. "I definitely want to take the 'Living with wheels' classes. The next beginners class starts in a month and it's about learning to use the full potential of the wheelchair, how to maneuver in small places, how to overcome obstacles like curbs or smaller steps, how to be comfortable in public places; plain how to live with wheels. Then further classes will be about how to use public transportation, how to run errands on your own, going out with friends, eating in restaurants, going dancing, stuff like that. The classes are led by two social workers."

"I love that," Steph smiled at Hal's exuberance. "That's a definite go. So what else? You are smiling way too big for that being all."

"The therapeutic horseback riding," Hal grinned. "It could help me getting more mobility and strength into my pelvis and trains the balance and communication between the muscles involved. My physical therapist says I could definitely benefit from it and I would love to try. My grandparents in Sweden always had ponies and I remember that I loved riding on them. Not that I ever really learned it. We were children. We just jumped on the poor animals that had simple ropes in their muzzles and then we played cowboys and Indians."

"I like horses. We could take Mary Alice with us; she would have a blast."

"Does that mean you approve?"

"Of course," Steph laughed. "I will love to see you on a horseback. I'm sure you will look sexy as hell."

Hal growled and playfully nipped at her nose.

"What else? You are still not finished, Buster."

"Okay, a last one; but if it becomes too much it can wait until the Living with wheels classes are finished."

"Spill."

"I'd love to try playing basketball. I saw wheelchair basketball on TV during the Paralympics. Steph, it was amazing. It's rough and hard and fast. I want to be able to do that; Josh, too. The downside is, the University's team is a competitive team and they train twice the week."

Steph could see the longing in Hal's eyes. He yearned to do something 'manly' again and the prospect of proving himself in a hard and fast sport must sent his hormones in furor.

"Then I'd say we start organizing your driving schedule," she smiled at him, leaning up to capture his mouth in a loving kiss.

Before she could react, Hal had her pulled into his hard chest. "Thank you, Angel. You don't know how much that means to me. I feel like I'm getting my independence back."

"I know," she whispered in his ear. "I would do anything to help you fly."

~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#

A few hours later, Steph was on her way back to Trenton. There was just minimal traffic on the Brunswick Pike and Hal's BMW cut lithesome through the late evening light, its icy blue color shimmering in shades of faded rose and smoke. She and Hal had kept holding each other under their tree until she started to shiver forcing them to go inside and up to Hal's room. Of course Josh was waiting for them, teasing them about their afternoon escapades and to shut him up they had taken him with them. Hanging out together was fun as always and way too soon they had dinner and it was time to say good-bye. Shifting and passing a truck, Steph pressed a button activating the hands-free equipment and told the voice control to call Tank's number.

"Little girl, is everything alright?"

"Why should something be wrong?" Steph laughed. "Can't I call a friend without destruction and chaos following me?"

"Sorry; but when I see your number on my display I automatically think the worst."

Steph heard voices in the background and wondered whether she had disturbed something.

"Tank, can you talk or are you busy? I don't want to impose."

"It's all good; just the TV in the background. What's going on?"

"Have you told Ranger about the job offer you, Bobby and Lester made me?"

"Yeah."

"How did he take it?"

"You know it doesn't matter how he takes it, the offer stands."

"Tank, I want to know what he said."

"He wasn't happy; but after he saw you work I think he might have changed his mind."

"Can you call in a meeting of the core-team? I'd like to talk to you and it can't wait till tomorrow."

"Sure thing, Steph," Tank switched to her first name, realizing this was about the job and not some private talk between them.

"I'll be home in fifteen."

"Alright. Come to the conference room on five."

With that Tank disconnected leaving Steph rolling her eyes. Exactly fifteen minutes later, she drove into the garage under the Rangeman building, finding her usual spot next to the elevator. It didn't take long for her after she started driving the BMW to realize that punctuality obviously came with the right vehicle. Waiting for the elevator, she loved how Hal's car stood out between all the black surrounding it. It was like a sliver of blue sky between black thunder clouds. It suited them.

"Guys," she greeted Ranger, Tank, Bobby and Lester waiting for her.

"Well, don't you look thoroughly satisfied, Beautiful? I'm glad that Hal's handicap hasn't hindered his...talents."

"Hal's very handy-capable of handling my desires," Steph grinned, sticking her tongue out at him, "but today we were good and just made plans for the future."

"What plans did you make, Babe?"

"Ranger, I heard from Tank that he told you about the job he, Bobby and Lester offered me during your absence?"

Ranger's blank face slammed down and he nodded.

"In a nutshell," she squared her shoulders finding every guy's eyes. "Hal and I discussed the topic today and I would love to accept the offer."

Lester jump out of his chair, rushed around the table and had Steph in her arms, circling her around, before she could take a full breath.

"Beautiful, that's fantabulous. I can't believe it. We so hoped you would agree; but the more time passed the more we gave up hope."

"Yeah, about that. Somehow Hal had me always so distracted that I totally forgot about it; but today I remembered. First I feared he would have problems with it; I know I have some trouble with the idea; but in the end we decided to give it a test run."

"What are your concerns," Tank smiled at her from opposite the table. "I'm sure we can find a solution."

"I'm not sure you can, Tank. It's just the separation from Hal that bugs me a bit. We just went ten weeks without the other. Even though I drove to Princeton daily it's just not the same as living together. With this new job I have no idea how often I will have to travel to the other branches; but as said, we discussed it and we want to try; I want to try. Perhaps we can limit my contract to a year and I can reevaluate the situation then."

Bobby was standing next to Les, pulling Steph out of his arms and hugging her tight to him, lifting her up in his arms. "Honey, we don't have to limit your contract. You just do it and when at any point of time you realize you miss your man too much, we will find a solution."

In the corner of her eyes, Steph saw Tank squeezing Ranger's shoulder as he passed him on his way over to her.

"Steph," he finally stood in front of her, towering over her like … a tank. "I'm unbelievably proud of you. You dug deep after you hit rock bottom and look at you now. You are stronger and more confident and comfortable in your life than ever before. It will be an honor to have you on our pay roll." With that he opened his huge arms and Steph stepped into his embrace, completely vanishing in his bear hug.

"Ranger?" She looked over at him after eventually taking a step away from Tank. She would have liked to raise a single eyebrow at him; but she knew he understood her question perfectly without that.

"It's all so new, Babe. I want to trust you to be capable of the job; but aside from that one capture I've seen of you, all I remember is my old Babe; opposed to any exercise, always in over her head, trusting her luck instead of developing some skills. I'm scared of something happening to you."

Bobby and Lester barely masked their surprise at that open announcement of their boss and friend being scared of something. Not that they didn't know he had limits; but so far he had never admitted to them openly.

"Ranger, Tank told me that I would have to pass all Rangeman recruiting tests before being allowed on the team. How about if you personally test me and don't go easy on me, treat me just like one of the guys, and see how you feel afterwards about my abilities. Deal?"

Standing up from his perch at the head of the table, Ranger came over to her and after a moment of regarding her, pulled her tight against his chest. "Deal, Babe, and if you pass, I promise I'll be your biggest supporter. Okay, perhaps your biggest supporter next to Hal."

The End ... for now :)

A/N: This story will be continued!

In Part 2 of A Life Worth Loving we will see how Hal and Steph manage the challenges of living together. How will Steph succeed in her new job? Will Hal find his place in the middle of that? Will he follow his dreams? Will they marry and build a family? All this wrapped up in the hustle and bustle that comes with Steph and the Merry Men :)

Stay tuned and if you want put me on author's alert so you'll get noticed once the sequel is finished and I start publishing.