Disclaimer: The characters are property of Janet Evanovich and I am not making any money from this story. The story line is mine.
Challenge # 3 Tank and Ranger ConversationBy, Elissahara30
"We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more." - Madame Swetchine
I closed my eyes briefly aware that Tank was sitting next to me keeping watch on the house down the street. It has been a hellish two weeks and I just wanted to go home and sleep. I opened my eyes aware that Tank was staring at me and I raised my eyebrow.
"What?"
"Man, you want her but you're too fuckin' afraid to have her." Tank said.
"Where in the hell is this coming from, you gossiping with Lula again?"
Tank's eyes grew sharp and as he turned away from me, "At least I'm honest enough with her to let her know where we stand."
"You know how I feel about relationships man," I replied.
"Then do her a favor and let her go."
I felt like I was suckered punched and I met my eyes in the reflection of the windshield and I didn't like what I saw there. I don't think I could let Stephanie go anymore than I dared to keep her. Maybe I should let her go. My heart started to beat faster and for once in my life I couldn't find the quiet peace I usually did on a stakeout.
"Then again, you can be man enough to admit the fact you need her," Tank mumbled under his breath.
"You're an ass you know that," I grumbled.
"Damn straight I am," Tank chuckled then he sobered and shifted in the SUV to look at me squarely. I tried to ignore him, but I could feel his gaze on me like a lead weight.
"Now what?"
"You're aware that she told Morelli she loved him right?"
I was and it killed me to know it, and it killed me more to know that I was the one who pushed her away. "It's too late to change anything now."
"I don't think it's ever too late to change anything," Tank said, "You know she'd do anything for you. How many people let alone woman would do that for people like us?"
I could ask Stephanie to do anything, for anything. Except for her heart. And it wasn't that she wouldn't give it. I just wouldn't know what to do with it once I had it. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I should let her go."
"Then I guess you need to stop taking her calls. You should think about leaving Trenton for a while. You know to make she understands you don't want her anymore."
Shit he hits below the belt. I could I walk away and make her think I didn't want her anymore. No. If I was honest with myself no, I could never do that. I respected Stephanie more than that and she deserved to be treated with the same kind of respect she gives me.
"We have work to do," I said.
"Yeah, and when you pull your head out of your ass, remind me to knock some sense in to it." Tank replied.
As the hours went by, we sat there in silence. My thoughts kept circling back to what Tank had said. How could I undue everything I told her. I wasn't ready to have her yet. Then there was Morelli. If I stayed idle too long he'd take her away from me for good, and that would be on undoing. No matter how hard I tried, I was emotionally invested in Stephanie Plum. She was my Babe, and I needed her like I needed to breathe. I found my peace in her.
I looked at the house down the street and all was quiet still, no sign of our skip. As much as I wanted to deny it, I had to make her aware she was needed by me. Wanted by me, loved by me. I and prayed once I did she'd wait for me to be ready.
"After where done here I'll be offline for a few days," I said quietly.
Tank nodded his head and then smiled ever so slightly, "Tell Stephanie I said hello."
A/N: Hey so I took up the challenge and I wrote a scene. Hope you guys liked it and please review. They make me smile. J