Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the words. The characters are the work of the literary goddess JE. All will be returned with the tags still

attached. I know what you're thinking. That's crazy, return Ranger?! Don't worry, he'll be worn and washed. Doesn't that violate store

policy? Hmmm… J Enjoy!

Rated: PG-13 - Suggested for Mature Audiences/Parental discretion advised. Lots of cursing.

Spoilers: Takes place after Lean Mean Thirteen.

Category: Babe

Hell Bent Fourteen:

-Chapter One-

In a perfect world I would be sitting in my apartment with a pint of Bunny Tracks and Ghostbusters playing while I suffered a mild tummy ache from eating the entire pint before I fell asleep on the couch in a sugar-induced comatose state. But that would be a perfect world and my world is anything but perfect. My name is Stephanie Plum and I work… blah blah blah. You know the deal.

Currently, I was sitting in the Bat-mobile with none other than Batman himself. We were watching a pale blue one story house off of Stark Street waiting for James Gonzalez, who was arrested for beating his girlfriend to within an inch of her life. He decided that going to court was beneath him and now Ranger and I had to show him what happens to bond violators. The only problem was that it was 1:30 in the morning and I hadn't peed since around 5 pm, when we showed up to stake out the house. I gave my 7-11 Big Gulp a glare and stuck my hands in my lap trying to calm myself. Ranger was watching the house with intense patience while I was squirming like a toddler.

"Sit still," Ranger said.

"You sit still!" I snapped back. I heard a low chuckle as Ranger laughed at me. "Oh yeah, you'll think its funny, until your car smells like urine."

"It's late. If Gonzalez was going to show he would've done it by now." Ranger gave way to what he calls a sigh and flipped his phone open. "Shift change." He didn't even wait for the person on the other line to respond and ended the call.

"Good to know I'm not the only one you practice your poor phone skills on," I said with a scoff.

"I can think of a few other things I could practice on you," Ranger said seductively without taking his eyes off the road. My heart started to race at the thought of being a sexual guinea pig for Ranger.

"Probably you shouldn't, seeing as my bladder is about to burst." Ranger pulled up to the 7-11 that had caused my problem in the first place and I dashed inside to relieve myself.

After the ordeal with the Dick and his partners last month, I decided to keep working for Rangeman. Skips paid the bills, but they didn't put food in my shelves or clothes on my body. Rangeman definetly had benefits. I could make my own hours, it paid well, I had insurance, and I was surrounded by gorgeous men all day. I hopped back into the SUV and was confused when Ranger drove to my apartment and parked in my parking lot. I was still in uniform and my shoulder bag and clothes were in a locker on Haywood.

"All my stuff is still at Rangeman." I barely got the sentence out before Ranger grabbed me to him, pulling me across the console to straddle him, and kissed me. Ranger's tongue traced the outline of my bottom lip, seeking entrance, and I opened my mouth in response. The kiss turned hot and our hands started exploring. He pulled back and looked at me with one of his hands still lost in my head of curls.

"If you come back to Rangeman, you won't be leaving," he said huskily and low in his throat. All I could do was nod. We sat there for another minute trying to catch our breath, just looking at each other in silence, but that silence spoke volumes.

"I don't have my keys. You'll have to let me in." Ranger started to move his thumb in small seductive circles on the base of my neck.

"If I go up with you, I won't be leaving." His eyes burned holes of passion into mine and I realized I was in quite a situation.

"You think you can control yourself?" I said playfully.

"You still with Morelli?" Ranger said seriously.

I climbed off of his lap into my own seat and sighed. This is what Ranger referred to as applying the pressure. We've been running this circle since he told Morelli he couldn't be trusted alone with me for even a minute. Ranger says something sexy, I play along, things get serious, and then he hits me with the monogamist inquisition. There isn't so much talk about this subject as there is Ranger making comments like, "I don't do second choice," and "I don't share."

"Ranger," I said it softly but with a bit of pleading in hopes he'd let it go.

"Stephanie," he said forcefully, letting me know he wasn't backing down.

I got out of the SUV, slammed the door shut and marched to my building. A few seconds later I heard another car door shut and footsteps behind me. I didn't need to look behind me to know that it was Ranger, I could feel it. He was hot on my heels up to the point when we got to my door. He leaned against the wall nonchalauntly waiting for me to ask for his help. But I knew Ranger and I knew what little his face did give away when it came to emotion. He was pissed.

I jingled my doorknob in hopes that I had left it unlocked, but I didn't. I shook it a little harder taking out my frustration on it. Giving up on it I grunted and kicked the door. I stepped aside, staring at Ranger and motioned to the door. He pulled a tool out of his utility belt and seconds later my door swung open. I walked inside and threw the door shut behind me only to have it pushed back open. The door swung hard and hit the wall behind it with a bang and it made me jump.

"Get out," I demanded. Ranger closed the space between us quickly, pinning me against the wall in the living room. He kissed me and I pulled away quickly. "Fuck you."

He kissed me again, hard and passionately. I immediately forgot I was mad at him and melted into him. One hand was fisted in his hair and the other, his shirt when he pulled away right when I wanted more.

"I'm not leaving." Ranger growled.

Oh shit…