Written as a special request for Nola96 - hope you enjoy!

Thanks Margaret for the read through.

JE owns the rights to anything familiar - mistakes are all mine - and sorry in advance for those.

"I want to be there."

I looked up from the bag I was stuffing clothes into and found Ranger leaning against the frame of my bedroom door with his arms crossed over his chest and his expression unreadable. Of course, that was nothing new. Ranger never let anyone know what was on his mind. Exceptions were rare, and when they did happen, it was usually for me. The thought made me smile.

I've done nothing but smile for that past few hours because he'd finally decided he wanted me just as much as I've always wanted him. It took both of us a long time to finally figure it out but now that we have, I don't think I'm ever going to be able to stop smiling.

"That is not a good idea. This is going to be hard enough as it is," I told him as I grabbed a handful of panties and added them to the bag.

"You're not going to need those, Babe," he said and that brought my head up again. Not a muscle had moved on his face but there was a hint of amusement in his voice and his eyes were blazing with undeniable desire. I swallowed hard knowing if he kept that up we would never make it out of my apartment and I had to talk to Joe before anything else happened. I wouldn't be able to handle the guilt and Joe deserved an explanation.

But the thought of being alone with Ranger, in his luxurious apartment without any panties, or any clothes at all, was very distracting.

"Stop looking at me like that," I pleaded. "And you can't come with me. I won't be able to concentrate on anything else if I know you're outside waiting for me." I turned back to my dresser so the heat in his eyes couldn't burn a hole right through my jeans.

"Have you forgotten there are two very determined assholes trying to kill you?" His voice was quiet and right in my ear. I hadn't even heard him move. His fingers settled on my hips and I automatically leaned into his chest, tipping my head back against his shoulder.

When his lips came down on my neck a small fire started in my lower extremities and threatened to burn up all my good intentions. Ranger's kisses tended to do that. "Moe and Shorty are already out on bail. Let me go with you, Steph." He said it softly, against my skin, and the warm puff of breath sent a shiver down my spine. The good kind of shiver. The kind that makes you wish you were naked.

"Ranger." Even I couldn't tell if that was a protest or a plea, but he removed his devilish mouth from my neck and took a step back.

"I'm uncomfortable with you going anywhere by yourself until the threat has been neutralized."

"I'll be careful, and I'll be with Joe. He won't let anything happen to me." I didn't turn around but I knew there would be a tightening of the muscles in Ranger's jaw. He did that when he knew he wasn't going to get his way.

"Does Morelli know you're coming?"

There was something odd in his tone so I spun around to look at him. "No, but…" Now that I thought about it, I hadn't heard from Joe all day. He hadn't come by to check on me and he had to know about my dunk into the river. Why hadn't he at least called?

"He was here earlier," Ranger informed me, apparently reading my thoughts again. I needed to learn how to do the blank face thing he and Joe and pretty much every man I'd ever met seemed to have mastered.

I raised both eyebrows, waiting for the rest of that sentence. He let out a small breath and for a second I didn't think he was going to go on. "You were sleeping and he didn't want to disturb you. He said to tell you he's glad you're okay."

"That's it?" Ranger lifted one shoulder and didn't say anything else. Hmm. That didn't sound at all like Joe. For the first time today, I felt a frown tugging down my lips.

Ranger once again invaded my personal space bubble and tipped my chin up with his finger. His serious brown eyes bore into mine as he spoke. "I know you want to do this on your own and for the record, I don't like it, but I'll concede…this time. Remember I'm only a phone call away and take this with you, just in case."

He held out his hand and there was a small black fob resting on his palm.

"Panic button?" I asked but didn't take it.

"Yes. Please, Stephanie."

Please and my full name. Ranger was playing hardball. "Is this for Moe and Shorty, or Joe?"

"Both," he said simply, kissed my lips softly and pressed the panic alarm into my hand before leaving my bedroom and then my apartment. I heard the deadbolt click back into place and tried to concentrate on Joe and exactly what I was going to say while I finished packing.

We'd broken up before, and it was usually instigated by a fight over something stupid, one that usually would end in a screaming match and then we wouldn't speak to each other for weeks, but this would be different. Joe and I had been getting along fine for a while now. The truth was, I loved him, but there were all kinds of love and what I feel for Ranger, what I've always felt for Ranger has been so far out of the orbit of what I've felt for Joe that there couldn't even be a comparison.

If I ever stopped to analyze it, I'd admit I stuck with Morelli because he was safe and comfortable and because I knew deep down we would never commit to each other so it was easy. I don't want to take the practical or easy road anymore. I want Ranger and all that goes along with him and I think in some part of Joe's mind, he knows that. And he knows we were never going to end up together. At least I think he knows.

Honesty is probably the best option at this point. I'll just tell him how it is and hope he can be understanding and calm. I really don't want to end our time together with a lot of yelling and Italian hand gestures. When he gets going I can't seem to stop myself from screaming right back.

Ranger and I have never had a shouting match. Something to think about.

I filled the rest of my bag, leaving the panties where they were. I might not have them on for very long, but I was really looking forward to all the different ways Ranger was sure to utilize in getting them off my body.

I grabbed Rex's cage from the counter on my way out and locked the door behind me before heading to my car and then to Joe's house.

His truck was in the driveway when I pulled up at the curb and when I killed the engine, all the air left my lungs. This was really it. The end of what, at times, had been a pretty satisfying relationship. At his core, Joe was a good guy and although I usually got the impression he wanted me to be something I could never be, lately he'd been softening his stance on my job, the biggest contention between us. He'd even helped me more than once to bring in a skip - without complaint or even a comment about how much my chosen profession sucked. We hadn't fought in months and there wasn't any doubt he loved me.

But he wasn't Ranger and Ranger is who I wanted - practically from the first time I met him and although I never thought it would be an option, I still held a kernel of hope deep in a corner of my heart and that is why I could never give myself fully to Joe. That wasn't fair to Joe…or to me.

I took a deep breath and went to face the music.

The door opened just as I raised my hand to knock and Joe was standing there with a duffle bag in one hand and his keys in the other. Relief and something else flashed in his deep whiskey eyes and then I was yanked into his chest. The bag and keys fell to the floor as he wrapped me in his arms.

I distinctly heard his breath catch as he crushed me in a tight hug and for a second I thought he was going to cry. "You're here," he murmured into my hair as he held me. The Joe I was expecting would have grinned, made a lewd comment about my breasts and then would have tried to drag me upstairs for a quickie. This Joe was gentle and seemed slightly shaken up, and if I wasn't mistaken, that was shock I saw in his eyes when he'd opened the door. Why was he surprised to see me?

"Are you okay? I didn't think I would see you for a while," he said, pulling back to look at me. Now I was getting more confused. Why wouldn't he see me?

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't you?" He gave me that little half smile, the one that makes perfectly intelligent woman do stupid things just to see it again. I wasn't falling for it today.

He pulled me into his house, closed the door behind us and guided me to the couch. I sank into the familiar soft cushions and stared up at him. "I figured after Ranger talked to you that would be it… I was going out of town but since you're here, I'll have to make other arrangements." He smiled at me again but I was frowning. Again. He knew about Ranger?

"Joe…what's going on? How do you know Ranger and I talked and where were you going?"

He pushed his overly long hair off his forehead and lowered himself onto the coffee table so he could face me while we talked. "I was requested for an undercover assignment with the PD in Boston but I'll let them know I can't do it. I saw Ranger when I went by your place earlier today. We had a discussion and I didn't think…" He trailed off and searched my face for something. For the first time, his smile started to slip and he rubbed at the five o clock shadow coming out on his jaw. "Why are you here?" He asked slowly, too slowly, as if he finally understood something I was still clueless about.

"Well," I started but then didn't know what to say. He obviously thought I was here for some other reason than I actually was and now I didn't know how to proceed.

"Shit," Joe said and his chin dropped to his chest. "You did choose him."

Well, crap. What exactly did the two of them talk about? I still didn't know what to say but the sudden and deafening silence in the room was making me uncomfortable. "Joe," I began but he cut me off with a raised hand.

"Don't. It's okay, Steph. I get it." He lifted his head and met my gaze. The sadness in his eyes made my heart ache. The last thing I wanted was to hurt him. "I always knew if Ranger ever got his head out of his ass about you, I wouldn't stand a chance."

I wanted to argue, but truer words had never been spoken. "I didn't…It wasn't intentional, you know? I never meant to…"

Joe grabbed my hands from my lap where I'd been unconsciously twisting them together. "I realized something today," he said, squeezing my fingers gently with his. "When I heard Ranger dived into the river after you I spent a lot of time thinking about what I would have done if I'd been there instead."

He took a slow breath as if gauging the next words he wanted to say. "I'd like to think I would have done the same. I'd like to believe I'm the kind of man who could do that – potentially face my own death to be the hero but…" Joe swallowed and squeezed my hands once more before letting go and then pushing his fingers through his hair.

"Ranger loves you, Stephanie. Without question, without any ounce of doubt. He's proven time and time again, I'm sure not with words, but with actions how much you mean to him and there just isn't anyway anyone could ever measure up to that." Abruptly, he stood and moved away from me and I had the distinct feeling this would be the last time I saw Joe for a very long time.

"Joe…I…"Never have I been more at a loss for words. How do you respond to something like this? "We're still going to be friends, aren't we? I don't think I could stand it if we weren't in each other's lives anymore." I watched as what I call his 'cop face' fell into place. It was the same expression Ranger had when he didn't want to telegraph to anyone what was in his head. If there were trophies given out for the best blank face, Ranger and Joe would probably tie for first place.

"Sure Cupcake," he said with a grin that didn't even come close to reaching his guarded eyes. "Look…I'm going to take off – they're expecting me in Boston tomorrow morning."

I could spot a dismissal when I saw one so I slowly got to my feet. There was a painful ball churning in the pit of my stomach but I wasn't going to push anything with him. I'd hurt him, that was clear, and although I hadn't meant to, that wouldn't lessen the pain. I had firsthand experience with that. I would just have to hold onto the hope that given time, we could be friends again. And if not, then I would have to be okay with that.

"Alright," I said moving toward the door. "Hey, where's Bob? I can watch him for you, if you want." Yeah, like Ranger would want that crazy orange fluff ball eating his way through the Rangeman building.

"Thanks, but I left him with my brother, Anthony. He'll be fine." Joe ushered me out the door and locked up behind us.

"Well, if something changes, let me know and I'll take him until you get back." I pointedly didn't say if, even though I wasn't sure anymore that he would be back.

"Yeah, I'll do that," Joe replied automatically even though we both knew he wouldn't. We walked in silence to our respective cars and when I reached mine, I turned for one last look and found him staring at me.

"Take care, Stephanie," he said softly and then I watched him get into his truck and drive away. He didn't look back. Not once.

I sat in my car for a long time before I finally let it go. Joseph Morelli would always have a place in my heart, but that chapter of my life was over and I was ready for the next one.

I was ready for Ranger.

*#*#*#

I spotted the black SUV on my way out of the Burg. I wasn't even mad at the tail, not really. Sometimes I found Ranger's tactics annoying, but they've saved my ass on more than one occasion and I'm grateful he cares enough about me to use his resources to ensure my safety. Half the time I thought it was overkill but who was I to try and dictate how he spent his money? If I could figure out how to do it, I'd track his every move too. Not that he needed rescuing, but I'd give my left boob to know where he went those times when he vanished without a trace.

However, I was fairly certain if Ranger didn't want to be found, not even a tracker would help.

I thought about having a little fun with the poor suckers assigned to my surveillance, especially if Lester was in the car but in the end, seeing Ranger was higher on my priority list. I didn't know what was going to happen between us, but now that I had him, I was going to try my damnedest to keep him. Not messing with his staff was probably a good first step.

I entered the Rangeman garage using the fob I'd never given back and pulled into the open spot next to Ranger's Cayenne. Two minutes later a company SUV also entered the garage. I tried not to roll my eyes as I got out of my car with my bag and Rex's cage under my arm.

Hal and then Lester exited the vehicle and I started to regret my earlier decision not to screw with them. Santos especially needed to be brought down a peg. The man was too damn cocky for his own good.

"Well hello there, Beautiful," he drawled as he swaggered toward me and flashed a smile that rivaled some of the best I'd seen. That's the other thing about Lester, he's also incredibly charming. Lucky for me, I was immune. Not even that dimple in his right cheek could tempt me – how could it when I knew Ranger was upstairs waiting for me. It probably took me longer than it should have to realize there is no contest where Ranger is involved.

Lester took my bag from my hand without asking and slung it over his shoulder as he draped his other arm across the back of mine. Hal took Rex's terrarium with a small smile and Lester said, "You brought the rat - this must be serious."

I shot him some side eye as we made our way to the elevator. "You know, if you're going to pretend you have no idea why I'm here and that you haven't been following me around for the past hour, you might want to turn that grin down a notch." I tried to keep the smug gloat from my face at his slightly widened eyes, but I didn't go to the Rangeman School for mastering the blank face. Apparently Lester needed a refresher course and I also spotted a quirk in Hal's lips before he could hide it.

"I hope you're staying a while," Lester said after a beat, "I like my women challenging." Yep, Lester wasn't short on charm.

"If you take my stuff up to the penthouse, I won't tell Ranger you just intimated that I'm yours." The elevator opened onto the fifth floor and I hopped off, giving the boys a small finger wave. I only felt a little bit of satisfaction as the door closed on Lester's panicked face.

I was still smiling when I reached Ranger's office door, which had been left open, and I didn't stop after I leaned in the doorway and he met my gaze with eyes that clearly stated exactly what was on his mind, although I didn't think anyone but me would be able to decipher the look.

I was wrong about that.

"I guess that's my cue to get the fuck out of here," Tank muttered and I started, not realizing he'd been in the room. That said a great deal about my focus, since Tank is really hard to miss. The only thing that dropped my grin was the wink I was sure he'd tossed me on his way out the door. I think Tank winking would even rattle Ranger.

I slowly closed the door after him and Ranger was already on his feet, stalking toward me as fluidly and silently as a predatory cat. Normally, being Ranger's prey would be a bad thing, but I was looking forward to what would happen after he caught me. I didn't have to wait long.

"Are you okay?" He asked as his arms slipped around my waist, drawing me against his body.

"Yes," I managed to say before his lips crashed onto mine. He kissed me with a single-minded focus and I was sure that goal was to make me forget any other man had ever come close to holding my heart. Mission accomplished. That kiss not only made me dizzy with want, it marked me inexplicably, irrevocably as his. It was an indescribable feeling, mostly because I knew, without a doubt, he was mine too.

He touched his forehead to mine after separating our mouths and said with a lustful rasp, "Here or upstairs?"

His expertly maneuvering fingers were already making their way under my clothes and all I could muster was an eloquent, "Ummm…"

"I need you. Right now, Stephanie."

He held my eyes, his brown ones like laser beams, igniting a fire inside me with only that look. "Here it is then," I said and before I could take another breath my shirt and bra hit the floor. The cool temperature of the air-conditioned space immediately hardened my nipples but Ranger had them in his mouth so quickly I didn't even shiver, not from the cold anyway.

The divesting of the rest of our clothing happened in between frenzied kisses and desperate caresses and when he buried himself as far and as deeply inside me as he could, I said a silent prayer his walls were soundproofed.

Along time later, after we made our way up to the seventh floor and did all that again, on the kitchen counter and then in his bed, I lay plastered against his side, with my head resting on the muscular contours of his chest. He was absently fingering a strand of my hair and I was pretty sure it was going to be really easy getting used to being here with him in this way.

"I have a bone to pick with you," I said when I felt myself drifting off. I wasn't ready to sleep yet.

"I'd be glad to share any bone with you, Babe, but I can think of at least ten things that would be way better than picking."

I smiled against his muscles, betting twenty or thirty would be more accurate but I wasn't going to let him distract me right now. This was serious business.

"I don't have any doubt about that, but that wasn't what I meant. You had me under surveillance today."

Ranger flipped over, dislodging me from his side so he could see my face, and propped his head up with his palm. "Was there a question in there somewhere?"

Smartass. "Now that we're…together, are you going to be even more annoying than normal about keeping tabs on me?"

He didn't even hesitate with his answer. "Yes."

"Ranger…"

He gave me a small smile and bent his head to brush his lips across mine. "I'm not an unreasonable man, Stephanie, but when it comes to your safety, I refuse to take any unnecessary risks. Now that I have you here with me, I'm going to make damn sure that's where you are every night for the rest of our lives."

That was a good answer and it made me a little teary so I snuggled into his chest and murmured, "Okay" against his skin. I felt a little rumble of laughter as he wrapped me in his arms.

"That's it?" He questioned. "No protesting? No whining about invasion of privacy? No argument at all?"

I could of course, and later we'd have to come to some sort of comprise about the level of security we're talking about but this morning I'd nearly plummeted to my death and because of Ranger's diligent and sometimes sneaky habit of planting trackers in my clothes and accessories and because the thought of living without me nearly crippled him, I'm here in his bed instead of in a grave so there wasn't a single argument to be made.

"Nope," I told him and then I was pinned beneath him, looking up at the sheer perfection of his beautiful face.

He nudged my legs apart with his knees and fell between my thighs. "I think I should take advantage of this suddenly agreeable mood."

"I was hoping you would," I said against his lips as he pressed them to mine.

I was hoping he would every day and every night. For the rest of our lives sounded like just the right amount of time.