Bad Decisions

Karen

The usual disclaimer applies – all Janet's, only playing, will return, except for you know who.

A/N: Thank you Lisa and Stephannie for your help and suggestions.

Rating: R – Adult situations and language

Chapter 10

I felt his lips covering mine and wallowed in the exquisitely sweet feeling of a simple kiss without mental strings. I skimmed my hands up over his biceps, reaching up into his tousled hair and he deepened the kiss, his hands sliding down my back and pulling me closer. And then I heard the voice.

Slut, slut – what are you doing?? Don't you have enough problems??

And even though Cat could give Ranger a run for his money in the kissing department, I reluctantly stepped away, shaking my head to clear the lust-filled fog that surrounded me.

"I'm sorry, I just can't." For some reason I found it necessary to begin apologizing, but he interrupted me.

"Steph, you have nothing to apologize for. I shouldn't have been so forward, but I couldn't resist, and, well, it just seemed like the thing to do. However, we are on a stakeout and I am supposed to be in charge, so we should probably cease and desist. Can I have your cooperation on that, Ms. Plum?" He pretended to ask sternly.

Wow, I like this man. Gorgeous, funny, dimples, not too full of himself. Oh, my God, down girl! What's the matter with you?

I shook my head. "I think I can resist if you can."

"Okay," he whispered, "but once we nail this scum all bets are off."

We lost ourselves in the darkness and I couldn't see anyone but Cat within seconds. The piers are huge concrete docks that extend into the harbor. There were stacks of shipping containers as far as the eye could see, and the docks had huge sodium lights hanging from the tops of the pilings that cast an eerie, yellowish glow.

Soon we could hear a low hum from across the harbor and could just make out a long, sleek boat easing its way through the water, its running lights extinguished.

"Word is that Suvajian will meet tonight at this pier – he's bringing the launchers in by boat."

"At this pier? Why didn't you have Ranger here?"

"You mean instead of you?" Cat questioned. "Ric doesn't have anyone on his team that he couldn't rely on. You're part of the team; therefore, I can rely on you like I would on Ric. You know he trusts you completely, right?"

"He trusts me with information, yes."

Cat looked at me for a minute. "Not to sabotage my own interests here, but Ric trusts you with a lot more than information. You know he loves you, right?"

"Really?" I said somewhat petulantly. "And you can tell this from the loads of words that regularly pour out of his mouth?"

Cat chuckled softly. "Shit, Ric does have his work cut out for him. No, Stephanie, not from what he says, but how he acts and what he doesn't say. Have patience. I've never seen him this torn up over a woman."

And my curiousity shifted into high gear as I remembered that Cat had known Ranger as a kid and I wanted to grill him on every detail when he put his finger to my lips to indicate silence. We watched silently as the boat was docked at the pier and a man climbed out and walked to the end, a cell phone held to his ear. We slowly followed, keeping to the shadows and finally stopped about 30 feet from the end, hiding behind a parked forklift.

Suddenly, we could see two dark figures facing each other, the second having been hiding.

"Is that Suvajian?"

I strained my eyes to see through the haze. One of the men moved to the side and I caught a quick profile.

"I'm pretty sure – it's dark, but it looks like him."

Cat whispered to me that he was going to go further on the dock and for me to stay at this end. He melted into the shadows and disappeared. I heard a voice in my ear through the mike.

"Babe, I'm right behind you." Ranger reached for me and I whispered that Cat had gone closer. He nodded and followed him. I could see nothing and the waiting was driving me crazy. I knew there were FBI agents all around the harbor, but I didn't know where they were. I wanted to follow Ranger and Cat in the worst way. Just as I had made the decision to move my feet, I heard gunshots and a voice exploded in my ear.

"Team member down, team member down!"

§§§§§§§§§§

I heard Cat through my earpiece as he let me know the deal was happening. I gestured to Tank to follow me and we backtracked to Pier 36. I saw Stephanie standing at the beginning of the dock and she was a study in indecision. I could tell that she was debating whether to follow Cat and I chuckled to myself at her inability to embrace any iota of patience. I told her I was behind her so she wouldn't be startled and then followed Cat.

"That's Suvajian." I spoke quietly to Cat.

"Steph ID'd him already. He's with Mark Birdsong, charter subscriber to Soldier of Fortune."

"One of those, hmm?"

"Yeah, has all his followers address him as 'General'.

We shared a low laugh, then watched closely as the men high-fived each other, then separated; one going to a boat on one side of the pier, and the other heading to the opposite side.

"Shit, he's headed right for Steph. They must have brought another boat."

"Babe, move slowly ba-" my words were cut off as Birdsong turned and saw me, firing almost instantaneously. Twin shots rang out and I fell back, then Birdsong ran past my body and toward the waiting second boat.

§§§§§§§§§§

Cat leaped toward Ranger and tore at his mike. "Team member down, team member down!"

"Fuck, Ric, you okay?" he swore as he checked Ranger's pulse and found it strong and steady, but a little fast. He looked at his head and saw blood underneath coming from a wound at the back.

"Ranger!" Steph ran down the dock and stumbled to a stop. Tank followed her and looked down at Cat.

"Tank, we'll take care of Ranger. We need the guns – I think they're on the boat with Birdsong."

"Ranger, do you hear me? Please, tell me you hear me." Steph was crying and tears were dropping on Ranger's face. He slowly reached up a hand and smoothed away the tears on her cheeks.

"I'm okay – I got hit twice in the vest and the impact threw me back. I must have hit my head on the dock and it knocked me out for a second."

The muffled roar of three large outboard engines igniting simultaneously drowned out any more conversation.

Cat looked dubiously, at Ranger, clearly wanting to stay with him.

"Go – get him. I need him – need to find out what's going on with Morelli."

Steph turned and caught Tank out of the corner of her eye. He was trying to restrain Birdsong, who was trying to jump in the water after the boat that had he had untied and that was now floating away. Tank finally reached out and gave Birdsong a roundhouse punch to the side of the head, following it with an uppercut jab to the chin. As Birdsong fell to the dock, he leaned down and cuffed him, then looked out at the boat floating away. He reached behind his back and pulled out the rifle that was secured there. He aimed at the boat, and fired four shots into the side.

KABOOM! The harbor lit up as the bullets penetrated the gas tank on the boat and the boat and cargo exploded. Pieces of fiberglass, metal and Stinger missiles rained down into the harbor.

"You know they're gonna blame this one on me," Steph commented to Ranger, as she saw the flashing lights of a dozen police cars come screaming down the road to the harbor. "That boat was at least 200 yards away – how'd he make that shot?"

"Lots of practice, Babe – you know, firing range? Dark place, loud, guns? Outside that, he's holding a Heckler & Koch PSG 1A1, one of the finest sniper rifles made."

Steph gave him her patented pissy stare, then jumped as two figures appeared.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Bombshell Bounty Hunter in the flesh. How you been, sweetheart? How's Rex?" Suvajian's voice reached out tauntingly to Steph as Cat directed his steps toward the beginning of the pier.

She grabbed Ranger's arm as he lunged at Suvajian. "The cops are watching – he's not worth it." She gestured toward the battery of cops that were swarming the piers toward us, then looked back at Suvajian.

"What the fuck did I ever do to you?"

"Needed a way out of the mess, Steph. I knew that if I got caught, I would die in jail. Some idiot kid puts ten lines up his nose instead of one and it's suddenly my fault he overdosed! And it had to be a Family member?" Suvajian appealed to Ranger and Steph, who didn't seem at all sympathetic.

"So when Morelli comes to me and tells me he heard that I was being picked up by RangeMan that night, he tells me that he'll arrange for the charge to be dropped if I would help him with a personal problem. What the fuck – all I had to do was let Ranger know that I had his woman in my sights. If I could get Ranger to cave, bonus points for me, I wouldn't have to sit locked up until the trial. But noooo, hardass here wouldn't budge. So I had to wait until the trial – and it all worked out in the end."

"Until now – now you're going away for a long time. You're up on federal charges now, dumbass. You screwed with my life, Greg. You earned what's coming to you now."

"I got Morelli on tape making the deal. Connections, baby." He snapped his fingers at her.

"The FBI doesn't give a rat's ass about some dirty Trenton cop. You attempted to sell missiles – the federal government strongly disapproves and I don't care if you've got the governor on tape giving you a blow job, it ain't gonna matter." Cat grabbed Suvajian's arm and roughly dragged him down the dock and to a waiting car.

Steph looked up at a familiar new car that was making its way to the pier, its bright new paint sparkling even in the dim lights. Morelli had just purchased a new T-bird convertible and was enormously proud of it, spending much of his spare time polishing and waxing it. It had been the first time he had spent serious money on a car and it was his baby. An idea began brewing in her head. A little taste of payback.

§§§§§§§§§§

I watched the swarm of police officers as they converged on us. To my surprise, Carl and Big Dog arrived first in front of us – what the hell were they doing in Newark? My puzzled expression must have been evident because Carl explained without any prompting.

"We were at the station house picking up some lab reports for a case we're working on with Newark when we heard the call come in about Suvajian. We got curious."

Then they both turned to look at the burning pieces of boat, then to me, and frowned.

"No one had a boat," Carl muttered. "Do you think a boat counts?" he asked doubtfully. "I had a vehicle – is a boat a vehicle?"

Ranger cleared his throat and they looked at him, then at me.

"It's a reasonable question," Carl said defensively.

"It is NOT!" I yelled. "You're not supposed to be betting on me!" But then a thought struck me, and I could feel a calm settling over me and a smile began on my lips. "How much is the pot?" I asked. I could see Ranger watching me speculatively and I wondered if Mr. ESP could tell what I was thinking this time. A grin broke out on his face. Yup, he was right on it. How the hell did he do that?

"Pot's up to four big ones. You haven't blown up a car in a while." Carl had seen my smile and deemed it safe to answer. "No offense, Steph. We don't bet to make you feel badly – it's just, it's just…"

"Entertainment?" I finished dryly, sneaking a look at Ranger.

"Yeah, entertainment. We don't get much chance to laugh in our job – you know that."

"Yeah, someone once explained that to me."

Joe Morelli ran down the dock in a flash of blue denim and stopped in front of us, growing pale at the sight of Suvajian cuffed and held by Cat.

"Cupcake – let me get you out of here," Joe spoke quickly, reaching out for my arm.

I shook him off and stared at him coolly. I didn't know how he could stand there and pretend. He must realize that I know at least something, considering I left him at my parents' house without a word.

"Joe," I shook my head at him.

"Come with me, Steph… please," he stared into my eyes intently. "I can explain everything."

"Who took the picture of me that Suvajian gave to Ranger?" I interrupted.

Joe's eyes darkened with emotion, and he looked around. "Don't make me do this in front of him," tipping his chin toward Ranger.

"Him?" I asked softly. "Him? The man who has always supported me unconditionally, who has always been there for me?"

A sneer split his face. "Always? Where's he been for the past couple of months while you were getting engaged to me?"

"Yes, Joe, let's talk about that. He left because someone dropped a picture outside my door – do you have any idea who that could have been?"

Joe had the grace to briefly look ashamed before the anger took over.

"Do you think it's been easy, watching you look at him like he's God? Seeing him give you cars like they're candy, watching him look at you just like I do, hearing you mumble his name in your sleep?"

"I could think of a worse time to say his name," Lester chose that moment to speak, having walked over with Bobby right after Joe arrived.

Joe's eyes turned black and he stepped toward Lester.

"If I even thought for one second…" he shuddered, but then stood straight and glared at Ranger. "Steph wouldn't cheat on me. No matter how much you give her or how much you pressure her, she wouldn't."

Ranger slid a glance toward me and I shrugged. Joe had burned this bridge.

"No she wouldn't," he responded softly, eyes focused on Joe. "But you haven't always been together…"

He watched as the knowledge wove its way into his brain, shattering Joe's dreams and his reality, much the same as the knowledge that he had colluded with Suvajian had done to mine.

I expected anger and yelling. What I got was heartbreaking, at first.

"I watched you…with him. The alley – you were there. I could tell it wasn't just flirting. I knew he wanted you, but I didn't know he wanted all of you. I saw…just by how he touched you…it wasn't just lust… I could see…You smiled at him and touched your lips as he was leaving, like you were remembering."

Joe spoke in pieces, like the words were being torn out of him. I ached for him, for our shared history, for hurting my friend. I remembered all too well that day, the thrill of hearing Ranger's words: "You make me want more, Babe." And how I wished that he meant he wanted to be a bigger part of my life.

"I had to do something. I had to stop him from taking you."

I had heard enough. "Why, Joe? Things weren't so great between us anyhow. Why did you have to stop him? You can't keep me locked up."

"I couldn't let him win."

"Win? Win?" My voice escalated along with my anger. "You piece of shit. This was my life you fucked with and you're only concerned with who gets the prize at the end?"

"He'll never give you what you need, Cupcake. You're some trophy right now, but when he drops you for the next bimbo, don't come crawling back to me."

I shoved him in the chest and walked away, needing some air. The rest of the police had consulted with Cat and were leaving the harbor. Ranger walked toward me and leaned in.

"Steph, what do you want to do about Morelli? You know Suvajian's gonna roll on him, and the feds will have to pass it on, but without corroboration, I don't think he'll get far. Do you want me to talk to Juniak?"

I had thought enough for one night. I knew what I wanted to do and it didn't require any decision-making. I stalked over to Tank and grabbed one of the finest sniper rifles ever made. I shouldered it, pointed it in the direction I wanted, and pulled the trigger, drowning out the sounds of Joe's outraged screams. I emptied the clip into Joe's shiny new T-bird convertible, eventually hitting the gas tank and making that car go BOOM. At least Carl will have a big smile on his face. It didn't look like there were many pieces left, so maybe he would get bonus points for total annihilation.

I looked at Ranger, lowered the rifle and blew across the tip. The grin appeared, lighting up his face and my insides.

"That," I noted, "was definitely my fault."

"Proud of you, Babe."

I turned to Joe and smiled. "I think that makes us even. Don't call me. What you did to me sucks, big time, and it was all related to your ego. That sucks even worse."

I spun around and started walking to the car.

"Uh, Sugar, you know you just exploded a vehicle in front of a federal agent?"

Cat wrapped his arms around me, drawing me backwards into his body.

Shit, he smells good. Polo, mmmm. An oldie, but a goodie. It's like the George Clooney of cologne.

I inhaled again deeply and wallowed in the smell of warm, gorgeous male and Polo.

Mmmm, does it get any better than this? Well, yeah, it does, and it's walking toward you right now.

I tilted my head to Cat's, ignoring his words. I figured if he wanted to arrest me he would have done so. "I want to hear about this groveling."

He laughed and his dimples flashed and his green eyes gleamed with merriment. "I knew that wouldn't slip by. I would like to hear more about you. I get little bits and pieces, but I am having a serious attack of jealousy after meeting you tonight. Did you know that Ric and I are as close as brothers – brothers share, you know."

My eyes danced with mischief. "Really? I might be able to arrange something if you promise to tell me stories about Ranger's childhood."

Ranger just stood there, looking as black as a thundercloud.

"Jesus Christ," Lester whispered to Bobby. "Morelli's gone and he's already got more competition. Poor Ranger just can't win with Bombshell."

I waited for him to say something, to acknowledge that we were "something", even if we hadn't decided quite yet what that was. As the seconds ticked by, my hopes faded and my need to protect myself took over. He had hurt me enough and I was waiting for him to make his move, but he didn't.

I shrugged out of Cat's embrace and walked to the car. My hand was on the handle when the breath whooshed out of me as I was picked up, spun around and slammed against the car door. Ranger lowered his head to mine and kissed me like his life depended on it. His mouth branded me, taking from me my acquiescence to his power over me.

"Where did you learn to shoot a rifle?" he whispered in between kisses.

"Sunny's" I murmured after a minute, intoxicated by his smell and the effect of his kisses.

"We have unfinished business. Unless you'd rather go home with Cat?" he whispered playfully.

I didn't really want to know about the unfinished business, since I remembered Ranger doing the Mr. Freeze thing when I mentioned being together.

"Maybe you should just take me home tonight. If you still want, we can talk in the morning."

After I conveniently take off for the mall.

"Can't get rid of me that easily, Babe."

He popped me in the car as easily as he would a sack of groceries and the rest of the team piled in. They left the Navigator for Bobby after he finished checking the area. I would have bet that they usually were more boisterous and on a high after a successful capture, but imagined that they were quiet in deference to me and my feelings. And because it was so quiet, the ride lulled me straight into dreamland.

§§§§§§§§§§

I laid her down on my bed and she didn't even stir. The sleep of the innocent, I thought, and smiled. My Babe could sleep through anything. I stripped my shirt and boots off and laid down next to her, my fingers gently stroking along her arms and drawing patterns on her soft skin. I drew her body close to mine, alternately pressing my lips to her shoulder and murmuring to her in Spanish. It felt safe; she was asleep.

"Tu eres mi vida, mi amor y te he extrañado terriblemente."

"What does that mean?" I flinched as she spoke because I hadn't paid attention to her waking up. So much for being aware of my surroundings.

I hesitated and I grabbed her wrist and brought the palm up to my mouth, stealing some time.

Here I am – a Ranger, best of the best - I had gone in first, been abandoned, lost buddies, etc.. but here I am just a man in love – naked and helpless, my heart on the chopping block and I am doing everything I can to protect it. But protecting it has meant that I've hurt her.

I looked over and stared into her eyes. And I knew that I was worrying for nothing, that I was being stupid.

"It means you are my life, my love and I missed you badly."

Her eyes widened in shock and I chuckled to myself. Every little thought is so plain on her face. She thought I magically figured out she wanted to blow up Morelli's car? How could I not, when her eyes went from the car to the rifle right after Carl mentioned he had bet on the next vehicle explosion.

"But what does that mean?"

Oh, good Christ, she wants me to explain. I'm no good at this.

"Why don't you ask me what you want to know?"

"Oh. Um. Well, it might be easier if you explained."

Shit, between the two of us we have the communication skills of donkeys.

"Well, it means I'm glad you're here."

Her expression indicated that wasn't enough.

"And that I'm sorry I acted like an ass – I thought it was the best way to protect you. I couldn't stand thinking I had brought a crazy to your doorstep."

"Ranger, between you and me, we have collected enough crazies and pissed off enough people that the odds are that one of them could come crawling back. If we stick together, maybe we're stronger that way?"

"I can live with that, Babe." I opened my mouth, closed it, then opened it again. Taking a leap of faith, I continued. "What I can't do, Babe, is live without you anymore."

A smile as big as Texas flashed across her face.

"That was hard to admit, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, it doesn't come easy."

"Ranger? Proud of you, man."

"Smartass."

I rolled over and settled myself between her legs.

"You're mine, Babe, if you want to be. I made a mistake and I almost lost you. She grabbed my shoulders, pulling me down to her, our mouths fusing together and our hearts beating against each other.

She pulled her mouth away and stared at me. "So you mean, like you and me?"

"Yeah, Babe, you and me. As much of me as you can handle."

"Oh my God. All Ranger All The Time." I grinned, then felt her shiver.

"Cold?"

"No," she whispered. "Hot, burning hot."

I shot her my best grin and crashed my lips into hers, her body tight against me, my hands sliding into her hair and holding her head at the perfect angle to conquer her mouth. Her tongue slipped into my mouth and played with mine, while her arms reached up to my shoulders and luxuriated in the feel of hard-as-steel muscles. I shifted slightly so she could feel my arousal and she groaned. I wanted her so much. Dipping my head, I licked my way down her throat. God, she tasted like heaven.

"Dios, mi amor. You're mine."

I leaned into her and pressed hot kisses against her neck, and I could feel her body tingle in response. She was writhing underneath me and I knew exactly how she felt. It had been too long. The sensations were driving me crazy with wanting her. I had one arm around her waist and slid the other to her throat, pressing on the pulse point and sucking at the sensitive spot with my mouth.

"Ranger, oh my God, please."

"Please what, Babe? Please kiss me?" I purred, sampling how good her kisses felt. "Please touch me?" I suited action to word and the buttons of her blouse flew across the room as I ripped the blouse off her shoulders. One quick movement with my fingers and her breasts were free, the nipples already hard and pointing at me angrily, demanding attention. I took a deep breath.

"God, you are so beautiful." My hands came up under her breasts, caressing them, my fingers rolling her nipples and making both of us insane with need.

"Now, Ranger. I can't wait for you anymore," Steph begged, panting from the need that was building inside her.

I knew how she felt. Quickly I shucked my pants and slid between her legs as she automatically opened them to welcome me. She wrapped them around me and tilted her hips and with one quick thrust I was buried in her wetness. I stilled as a tidal wave of feeling swept over me and I captured her eyes with mine.

"Steph, Babe, do you feel it?"

Tears appeared in her eyes as she nodded.

"It's…special…it's…indescribable."

"I love you, Babe. Truly, completely, forever, to the end of my days."

She closed her eyes for a minute, then opened them, the blueness intensified by the tears swimming in them.

"I love you, Ranger. I have for a long time and I will until I die."

I leaned down and kissed her, then she moaned in pleasure as my mouth traveled over her jaw and down her neck, then fastened on to a waiting nipple. I sat back and lifted her hips, bringing her body to mine, pulling all the way out, then sinking all the way in. Her walls caressed and pulled at me and I could feel her orgasm building from her quickened movements and the cries coming from her mouth. I reached between us and felt her explode around me, the sound of her screaming my name sending me over the edge and off the cliff. I collapsed on her and rolled, tucking her against me, both of us breathing heavily. No words necessary – what we had was perfect.

The quietness was disturbed by my cell phone vibrating on the night stand. I reached up and grabbed it, checking the number, then flipping it open.

"Yo, Cat, what's up?"

He listened for a minute, then a somewhat feral smile appeared on his lips.

"No, that won't be necessary. I've got it under contol…..No, not so much…Bye, Cat."

Steph just stared at me and I knew she wanted a recap, but I liked making her wait. I could see the steam building, and I relented.

"Cat wanted to know how you were and if you needed his assistance at all. Seems you made quite the impression."

"And?" she prompted.

"He wanted to know if you made me grovel a lot," I replied reluctantly, knowing she would take this and run with it.

"Hmmm, I'm thinking there hasn't been enough groveling – you did treat me shamefully, you know."

"Babe – you got engaged; don't you think hearing about that was punishment enough? And besides, groveling? I do have an image to maintain, you know."

"But you brought that on yourself! Maybe I should see what Cat has to offer… those dimples are calling me… It doesn't seem like he worries about his 'Image' too much."

I sought her eyes and grinned at the mischief that was dancing in them. She was laughing at me and I knew that I would do any amount of groveling necessary to keep her, but fortunately there was an easier way to make her happy…

"The only thing calling you is me, and I'm calling you again. Seems I can't get enough of you."

"I can help you with that," she said seductively, her hands gliding over my stomach and down further. "Because I have the same exact problem."

Finally, The End

Thank you so much for reading and for the reviews.