A/N: I just want to give a huge thanks to everyone for taking the time to read this E.E. Martin Redone. It was a lot of fun to write! I agree with a lot of reviewers who would like to see how this version of Ranger and Steph handle different events in the books, but unfortunately the muse has gone mute on the topic :)

Disclaimer: I don't own them and I'm not making any money.

Bonus Scene #2

Two months after purchasing the RangeMan building, the fourth floor efficiency apartments were complete and Ranger and I ended up moving into one of them together.

He had always planned to move into the building as soon as possible. My move was more spontaneous. That was around the time that Joe Morelli had gone FTA on murder charges. Ranger had been all for hauling him in - especially since he knew about the Tasty Pastry incident by that point. But I had found it hard to believe that Morelli had committed cold blooded murder and I'd started digging.

My digging had somehow landed me in the crosshairs of a batshit crazy boxer named Benito Ramirez and without getting into the gorey details, my apartment was no longer a safe option.

So, I'd moved into the RangeMan building as well.

I had been a bit surprised when Tank bought a house and said he wasn't living on site. That was when I found out that RangeMan was actually Ranger's dream. Tank wanted to foster cats. Who knew? Anyway, right after he moved in he got his first batch of fosters and I could barely remember finding him intimidating.

It had been four more months and the rest of the building was almost complete. Everything from the sub-basement and secured garage up to our penthouse apartment that we were planning on moving into next week. The finishing touches were just being added to the only part of the building I had a strong opinion on. My one request had been a luxury bathroom.

It hadn't been a hard sell. All I'd had to do was show Ranger some designs with jacuzzi tubs and walk in showers big enough for two while whispering things I'd like to do in them. He'd gotten on board pretty quickly.

Something Ranger had been insistent on was that I have my own office on the fifth floor. It was done and I just about had everything moved in and arranged to my satisfaction. I was just about to head for another armload of stuff from the conference room I'd been working in when I turned around and spotted two strangers standing and staring at me.

I screamed and then cursed that I wasn't carrying the gun Ranger was always trying to talk me into wearing. But the fucking building was supposed to be secure!

"Who the hell are you?" I asked, going for Jersey attitude in place of an actual weapon.

"Lester Santos," said the first guy who bore an odd resemblance to Ranger despite his green eyes and blond hair.

"Bobby Brown," said the second guy.

"Ranger's friends?" I asked, still a bit wary.

Fortunately, Ranger himself came through the door to the stairwell before they had a chance to respond. He actually froze and a look that could pass for shock crossed his face.

"What the fuck are you two doing here and how did you get in?"

I tensed up at that. Judging by the angry tone, these may not be the friends we were expecting to join our little 'family' any day.

"Roof," was all Lester said while aiming a lopsided grin at Ranger.

This guy had to be very confident or very stupid to give a pissed off Ranger a look like that.

"The roof?" Ranger asked in an overly calm voice.

Bobby stepped around Lester and did a complicated handshake with Ranger before giving an almost bashful smile of his own.

"We had Hawk drop us when we heard he was passing through this way."

Ranger relaxed a bit at that before flicking his eyes between the two of them. "How did you convince him to do that?"

"Offered to set him up with Dahlia," Lester said with another mischievous grin.

"Dahlia? As in your sister Dahlia? The Dahlia who has been dating another woman for three years?"

"Yep."

"I told him he was digging his own grave," Bobby said.

"Hawk didn't ask if she was single or even if she was into men. Just if I would set him up with her. And Dahlia agreed to go on a date with him if I would be Sarah's fake boyfriend at Christmas to get her mom off her back."

I was feeling pretty lost by now and moved to step back into my office and allow them to keep catching up when Ranger focused in on me.

"Babe, these miscreants are the guys I've been telling you about for the last year."

"Yeah," I said, letting my voice fill with sarcasm. "We were just getting acquainted before you walked in."

"I'm pretty sure she was thinking about shooting us. It was hot," Lester said, waggling his eyebrows at me.

I was just about to level a fresh glare on him when Tank joined us. He did the same complicated handshake I had seen Ranger do with Bobby and then smacked Lester on the back of the head.

"Don't make Steph uncomfortable."

"Thanks, Tank," I said, giving him a bright smile.

Ranger looked like he was thinking about rolling his eyes. There were days I was afraid I was wearing off on him.

"How about we get some lunch?" Ranger asked before Lester or I could say anything else.

"Oh, can we do Pino's?"

"I found somewhere even better than Pino's while bringing in McDaniel the other day," Tank said.

"No way."

"Yes. And I'll bet you all the data entry to get Brown and Santos into the system that you love it."

"You're on." That was a pretty safe bet. I'd lived in Trenton my whole life and there was no better pizza than Pino's.

Three hours later, I had conceded defeat to Tank. Despite it's alarming ambiance, Shorty's had amazing pizza. By the time the five of us managed to down three pies and a couple pitchers of beer, I was feeling pretty comfortable with Lester and Bobby.

"You know we're going to have to work all of this off tomorrow," Ranger said.

"You're not still on that whole 'my body is a temple' shit, are you?" Lester asked.

"Yes. And I'm implementing fitness requirements for employees."

"We just got out of the military!"

"It'll make my job easier," Bobby said, shrugging. I'd learned he was going to be our medic. Ranger wanted to be able to handle as much health care in house as possible.

"You could always be office staff like me," I couldn't help teasing Lester. He had decided I was boring when I told him I didn't like getting shot at.

My experience was still limited to when Ranger and I took fire from some Romano family goons a year ago and that was enough for me. Tank had gotten a 'flesh wound' a few months ago and it was more blood than I wanted personal experience with.

"Like hell I'm staying in the office," Lester said. "I'm ready to start busting down doors. I'm thinking about growing a mullet like Dog the Bounty Hunter."

I choked on my beer while Ranger released an honest-to-God audible sigh. I think Lester broke him. I'd learned over our pizzas that Lester was actually Ranger's cousin. The fact that they were related and had grown up together was something Ranger had never felt was a pertinent detail while telling me about Lester and Bobby and the plans for RangeMan.

He was lucky I loved him as much as I did.

Oh shit. I loved him. A million panicked questions started running through my mind and I completely tuned out Lester's monolog on other fashion tips he was planning on taking from Dog the Bounty Hunter as I felt my vision going blurry.

"Steph, you okay?" I suddenly heard.

Bobby was up out of his seat and kneeling beside me while holding my wrist. I belatedly realized he was checking my pulse just as he released me and reached up to grab my shoulder and pull my head down between my knees.

"Breathe. It's just a panic attack. Does she have these often?"

"No," I heard Ranger say. "She stayed calm getting shot at and during a car chase."

"Maybe she's worried a mullet will ruin my looks," I heard Lester say.

That distracted me enough for some clear thoughts to filter through my mind. And unfortunately, they came right out of my mouth.

"I'm in love with Ranger."

"Babe?" I heard close behind me, but I ducked my head back between my knees to hide.

This shouldn't be happening in a questionable pizza joint surrounded by guys that were about to become my close co-workers.

This was supposed to happen after a round of amazing love making. Or over a romantic dinner.

"Babe. I love you too," Ranger said behind me while gently guiding me back into a sitting position.

"You do?"

I met his deep chocolate eyes and saw him nod as one corner of his mouth hitched up in a crooked half smile. I was quickly getting lost in his gaze when Lester's voice once again jerked me back to reality.

"Are they always like this?"

"Yeah," Tank said. "It's actually pretty amazing that Ranger found the one woman as repressed as he is. I'm dreading when he decides to propose. They're both going to be a mess."

I didn't get a chance to respond to that little bombshell before Ranger had me on my feet, heading towards the door.

"Brown and Santos can bunk with you tonight since you're in a chatty mood," Ranger called out to Tank over his shoulder.

I could hear the guys' laughter behind me but couldn't bring myself to care.

Judging by the look on Ranger's face, I was about to get very, very lucky.

The End

For Real This Time