As of yet Untitled 13 Story

By Heidi

Chapter One

I awoke with a start, heart pounding, eyes wide with fright. My hair was soaked in sweat, curls clung to my face. My sheet and light weight comforter were wrapped tight around my legs, my arms caught up in their confines. As I worked my way out of the tangle I fought to clear the fog from my brain. There had been a noise, I'm pretty sure of it, something loud enough to wake me. The only light in the apartment was from the nightlight in the bathroom.

I sat up slowly, holding my breath, trying to listen for any little sound. I waited and listened. Nothing.

It must have just been the night terror. I had obviously had one, the sweat and tangled bedding was a sure sign. They were nothing new to me.

The night terrors started the night that Scrog shot Ranger as I watched, completely helpless. I've had nightmares before, after the Slayer incident and after Con Stiva locked me in a casket. Come to think of it, I have had more nightmares than I care to remember. The one good thing, if you can call anything about a night terror good, is that, although I wake up terrified, I can never remember what the dream was about. I have a sneaking suspicion that they involve Edward Scrog and losing Ranger from my life.

I stood up on shaky legs, walking into the kitchen for a glass of water. As I let the cool liquid run down my parched throat, my gaze was inadvertently drawn to that spot. The place where Ranger lay covered in his own blood. The blood stains had been washed away but the icy chill that gripped my heart each time I thought about that night, I knew would never thaw.

I dropped a few Cheerios into Rex's cage. He took a break from his midnight run long enough to load up his cheeks then went right back to the wheel. You have to admire Rex's dedication to his exercise regimen.

I clicked off the kitchen light and after a quick stop in the bathroom, I got busy remaking my bed.

I grabbed the bottom edge of the comforter and flipped it up in the air to straighten it. As the blanket settled onto the bed I saw a piece of paper flutter to the floor. What the heck could that be? The room was only dimly lit, just a small bedside lamp shone but it was enough to see what was on the page. My heart stopped and my stomach cramped into a sickening knot as I gazed down at the paper and into the soulless eyes of Edward Scrog.

It was a copy of Scrog's mug shot on the top half of the page and on the bottom, a handwritten message. The message read

Honey, I'm home. It's time for me to finish my work. We will go to the angels together. I love you.

Black dots swam in front of my eyes and the clanging in my head followed the pounding beat of my heart. Shit, don't pass out now Steph. I sank down onto the bed, grabbing my cell from the night table. I managed to hit the speed dial for #1 as I put my head between my legs.

"Yo" came Ranger's sleepy response after one ring.

I was struggling to breath, speaking seemed impossible.

"Ranger" I managed to squeak out around the tightness in my throat.

"Babe, what's wrong?" His voice was calm but more aware. I heard the sound of fabric rustling as Ranger went on high alert, probably throwing back the covers and jumping out of bed.

"Someone was here, a little while ago, they left a note, and-and a picture, I don't know if they're gone" I said in a rushed whisper.

"Steph, I'm on my way. I'm alerting my men as we speak. Do you have your gun with you Babe?"

"It's in the kitchen."

I walked cautiously back into the kitchen grabbing my gun from the cookie jar.

"I have it." My hands were shaking as I checked for bullets, I didn't think there were any in it. "It's loaded, I don't know why but it's loaded."

"Guns are no good without bullets Babe. Use your gun if you need to, I know you can do it."

"Steph, I'm about five minutes out. There's a good chance Manuel and Zero will beat me there. Where are you Babe?"

"I'm in the kitchen with Rex, safety in numbers right?" I tried to laugh but it sounded strangled even to me.

"Ok, stay right there, the guys may break down the door so I want you to stay back."

"O-o-ok, Ranger" I stuttered, my thoughts going back to another night waiting for someone to come through my apartment door.

"You're gonna be ok Babe, talk to me."

"What time is it?" I asked, not bothering to look up at the microwave to see for myself, not really caring anyway.

"It's about 3:30. Babe, I'm almost there, I'm pulling into the lot now. It looks like the guys are on their way up."

Just then I heard Manuel call out "Steph, stay back, we're coming in" followed by a loud crash and the sound of splintering wood.

Manny and Zero came crashing through the door, guns the size of bazookas raised at the ready. They took off into the apartment, searching high and low like a scene from SWAT.

"They're here Ranger" I breathed on a sigh.

"I'm on the stairs, I'll be right there" Ranger said, his voice soothing in my ear.

Manny walked into the kitchen lowering his gun. "All clear, there's no one here now Steph" he said.

Ranger rushed through the open door walking straight to me.

"Are you ok?" he asked, concern in his voice.

I locked eyes with him and nodded, "I am now." If only my shaking hands and queasy insides would get the message.

Ranger took the gun from my hands and placed it on top of Rex's cage then gathered me into his arms. I crumpled against him. He made me feel safe. Sheesh, when did I become such a wuss? I don't care, I told myself, it felt good to be held so I soaked up his strength with all I had.

Ranger held me close his face nuzzling in my tangled hair, hands rubbing my back reassuringly. I held him just as tight. I have never been as happy as I am in his arms, I thought to myself absently, only half-conscious that there were other people in the apartment. When I was with Ranger like this, nothing else mattered, no one else existed. Ranger continued to stroke my back and I continued to cling to him like a lifeline.

And that's exactly how Morelli found us some time later.

A/N - Please read and review! This is my first attempt at a full-length story and the first time I have posted one chapter at a time. Thanks!