I wouldn't even care if I made money if Ranger could be mine, but he's not and never will be. He and the rest belong to JE.

Ranger finally allowed that this story has come to a fitting end. I hope you all agree with him. Many thanks to the readers out there for putting up with my fits and starts and to the many faithful reviewers for providing your comments and encouragement.

Back In The ER Again

by

SueB

Epilogue

"Bomber! Steph ! Come on! Get off him!"

"I'm not finished yet!"

"Ohhhh! Owwwww! She's killin' me!"

"You're gonna get us arrested for excessive force."

"Beautiful, don't ya think you better check on the Boss?"

"Oh! Ranger!"

Thunk!

"That's for almost killing Ranger!"

"Help meeee!"

I started to laugh as the conversation from outside filtered through the door. Started and couldn't stop.

"You are one sick son-of-a-bitch," Morelli snarled.

He was probably right.

Before he could call me any more names, Steph barreled into the room. She landed astride my lap, threw her arms around me and buried her face in my neck. She was shaking all over, but I was still cuffed; I couldn't hold her. I nuzzled her ear instead.

"Proud of you, Babe," I whispered.

"I was so scared," she said, taking two deep breaths - shuddering with each one.

"You were outstanding," I assured her.

She sat back enough so she could see me, her big blue eyes luminous with tears.

"I can't lose you, Ranger," she said. Her fingers tangled in my hair as she pressed her lips to mine.

I couldn't lose her either. It would be the death of me. Her kiss had me shuddering too for entirely different reasons. I returned it with all my love and longing completely ignoring Morelli's presence beside us.

Reluctantly, I broke away and asked, "Uh, Babe? You have keys for these cuffs?"

She jumped up sputtering, "Keys? Keys! Omigod! Ranger, I'm so sorry."

"Lookin' for these?" Tank walked in jingling the item in question.

He released me and I pulled Steph back into my lap. Settling my hands on her shoulders, I drew her in for a proper kiss. She melted into me and my body responded in a way that left no doubt about how much I wanted her.

"Christ," Morelli bellowed, "this is my goddamn house! Get a room why don't ya!"

"He has a point, Babe," I said. "We should get back to Haywood. Bobby filled a prescription for me and I need to get it started."

"But Ranger," Steph replied in wide-eyed confusion, "the only thing Bobby brought you was a box of ...! Oh!"

Yeah, she'd looked in the bag.

She clapped her hands over her mouth in embarrassment.

As we headed for the door, Morelli yelled, "Hey! Hey! What about me? You can't leave me here like this?"

Tank looked at me. "Rangeman?"

I looked at Steph. "Babe?"

Steph looked at Morelli.

"Tank," she said, "when you drop Bernie off at the station tell them an 'officer needs assistance'.

Tank chuckled and dropped the keys in his pocket. It was going to be a long time before the cop lived this one down. It was better than any punch Steph could have landed.

a number of days later...

Although we'd been up into the small hours, I woke up refreshed, alive, content...

Steph lay sleeping in my arms - warm, sweet and naked. If she would have me, I planned to start every remaining day of my life exactly this way.

She slept with abandon, like she did a lot of things, her wild curls spilling on my pillow, her arm thrown across my chest. She stretched and moaned, twining her legs with mine. My body answered with a raging need.

"Woof...Woof...Woof!"

A shaggy orange head popped up into sight. Steph smiled, her eyes still closed, but not asleep like I'd thought.

"Sounds like Bob might need to go outside," she observed.

Two paws hit the bed. "Woof! Woof! Woof!"

Grumbling at the interruption, I stated, "No question about whose animal he is."

Steph's smile faded and I immediately regretted my words. She reached out to give the big dog a hearty scratch.

"Babe," I said quietly, "you know you don't have to take him back. You can keep him. He can stay here."

She turned to look at me with something like wonder in her eyes. "You really do love me."

"Do you doubt it?" I asked, concerned.

"Not any more," she replied.

I shook my head, not understanding.

She was smiling again as she gently caressed my cheek.

"You just told me Bob could stay," she explained.

I was still in the dark. "Yeah?"

"Let's see," she went on, giggling, "so far he's eaten your remote control, the better part of your largest client's file and a pair of your boots."

Now I got it. Those were not any ordinary boots. Those boots were worn, broken in, comfortable - my favorites. Together we'd walked a lot of miles. Chewed beyond recognition. But, after all...

"They're just boots, Babe."

"I love you, Ranger."

We showered together. It took longer than it would have if we had done it separately. By the time we finished, Bob had peed in the middle of the kitchen floor. I didn't blame him. After all, he'd warned us.

We were in the garage. "Cal can take him," I told her. "The two of them seem to have a connection."

"That happens when someone saves your life," she said, giving me a quick kiss. "Believe me, I know."

"I could go with you," I offered.

She stopped me, her hand splayed on my chest. "No, Ranger, I have to do this. There are some things I need to say to Joe." She stopped, studying me. "Do you have a problem?"

"Not with you," I mumbled.

"I'll be back," she promised. "In fact, you're stuck with me."

She called Bob to her side, picked up his lead and loaded him into the Cayenne.

She gave me a finger wave and laughed when I yelled, "Don't let him munch the leather!" as she drove out.

Once she cleared the door I took the stairs to the Control Room two at a time. The men went silent when I entered ordering, "Hal, bead on Stephanie."

"I want to know when she gets there," I instructed and marched into my office.

Several minutes later, Hal stood uncertainly at my door, "Boss, car's stopped. A few seconds ago."

"Thank you, Hal."

She would be walking to his door. I pulled out my cell and hit the speed dial for a number I had programmed in earlier in the day. The cop answered on the second ring.

"What?"

"You get the dog, Morelli, but Stephanie's chosen to stay with me. Whatever it is you have in mind? Don't even think about it. It won't be me in the ER this time."

I disconnected before he could reply, sat back and waited for my Babe to come home.

The End.