All characters belong to Janet. The mistakes are solely mine.

This is a bad idea, I told myself for the millionth time since I changed into my lucky jeans, burgundy silk shirt, and heels, got into my car and drove here. But my current nerves are nothing compared to how bad I felt an hour ago when I stupidly believed I was doing the right thing for everyone involved. That should've tipped me off that I was screwing up again, since most of my decisions tend to be the wrong ones ... causing me or someone else to get hurt.

I was relieved to see Bobby in the lobby of Rangeman when I forced myself to walk into the building. Tank is Ranger's best friend, so he could be a harder sell even after I explain my mind change. While Bobby is a member of Ranger's core team, he's also become a pretty good friend of mine. He'll be more sympathetic to me being an idiot again and will understand why I need to fix my mess as quickly as possible. I didn't want to take the chance that I wouldn't be able to sway Gene or Vince to give me the info I need if I called rather than hound them in the flesh.

"Hey, Steph," Bobby said, making a beeline for me as soon as I was officially inside the place. "What's up?"

I'm sure he already has some idea, so I didn't waste time with small talk. "Do you know where Ranger is right now?"

He paused to assess my mood and gauge my intentions. "Do you really need to know?"

"Yes. You could say it's critical to my well-being."

He nodded. "Hang on. I'll check." He pulled out his cell and called Vince, who I know is manning the monitors on five. "Where's Ranger at right now?" He went quiet as he waited for an answer. One came seconds later. "Thanks, Man. No ... I'll handle this."

He disconnected and addressed me.

"You're lucky the Boss isn't off our radar tonight. He's in Philadelphia. Let's go. I'm driving."

I started to protest. "You don't ha ..."

He cut me off. "Let's be real here, Steph. Do you plan on going home alone after you talk to Ranger?"

I sighed. "If all goes as planned, I won't feel - or go home - alone ever again."

He nodded. "Good answer. As I said, I'll drive. You don't wanna have to leave your car anywhere, plus it'll save two of the guys a trip."

That got an unexpected laugh out of me. "Truth is, I'm about ready to beg someone to leave it somewhere just so it can get stolen."

"That changes how we get there then," Bobby told me, doing an abrupt about-face to head to where Rangeman's fleet vehicles are parked. "I'm not letting your POS stand in the way of true love."

Lucky me, my nerves suddenly showed up again. "I'm not sure my POS is the problem."

He stopped walking and turned towards me, putting his hands on his hips. "Do you love him?"

"Ranger?"

Now he laugh-snorted. "Like there's anyone else who matters."

"There isn't. And yeah ... I do love him. So much so, I'm scaring myself on the lengths I'd go to prove it."

Without a word, he resumed walking. "Just tell him that. It's what he's been wantin' and waitin' to hear."

That surprised me. "You guys talk about mushy stuff like this?" I asked.

"Fuck, no. Some things don't need words, Steph. Ranger has a sense of humor when he's with you. For a man often accused of being a robot, he gets completely out of control whenever you're in danger or hurt. And he's scary-quiet on busy days when you two haven't even talked by phone. We've also all noticed that he's the one person who can calm you down, and the only person you'll call voluntarily for help. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that he loves you and you both need the other to maintain your equilibrium."

I sighed. "I really hope he agrees with you," I said, as he unlocked a black SUV and got the door open for me.

He slid behind the wheel and got the engine started before he spoke. "We all know how hard it is for you to share information ..."

"Hey!"

He briefly grinned my way as we left the Rangeman building behind. "That was an observation, Steph, not a criticism. You're not comfortable letting anyone in. Ranger's the same. If he allows himself to care about you, there's a reason."

I suddenly felt even shittier. "That hit me ten minutes too late. I don't want to go any longer than I have to correct my mistake."

"Hold tight, we're closing in on them."

That had me feeling better but also more anxious, since I now have to figure out exactly what I want to say to Batman.

All the key talking points I had planned completely vanished when Bobby and I walked into a place I've never been to before. My heart swelled and lodged in my throat when I caught sight of Ranger and Julie sharing a daddy/daughter dance on the small parquet floor the Cuban restaurant provided for anyone who wanted to kill some wait-time or work off their meal.

Bobby smiled. "That kid finally got him wrapped around her little finger. I'm gonna go cut in and give you a few minutes alone with the Boss to hash this out. Talk fast."

"Faster than I usually do?" I asked.

"Yes. Clock starts now," he told me before breaking up the duo.

"Uncle Bobby!" I heard Julie say even though I was still sticking pretty close to the door. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted a dance with one of the prettiest girls in the room. I'll trade ya," I heard Bobby say to Ranger, tipping his head in my direction.

Ranger and Julie turned to look at me and all I managed in return is a slight finger wave. I waved off the hostess and watched Julie go up on tip toes to whisper something into her Dad's ear. When she was done, she let Bobby take her hand and spin her around in a dramatic twirl just before a new song began playing.

Entrusting Bobby with Julie's care, Ranger left them and his long-legged stride ate up the distance between us. He slipped an arm around my shoulders and kissed my temple. That reaction had me feeling better about where we stood and I finally remembered some of what I wanted to say to him. Ranger hasn't been kidding about his feelings for me. He loves me ... faults, fears, insecurities, and all. I wanna believe that he continues to put up with me because he knows that I love him. But he deserves to actually hear directly from me just how much I do.

I curled an arm around him while he was close, and I didn't let go as he moved us towards his and Julie's table. He pulled a chair out for me and waited until I looked like I was going to settle in rather than bolt before he sat down across from me.

As always, he was the first to get to the heart of what matters. "I thought you were scared of getting too involved in mine and Julie's relationship?" He said, repeating what I'd said to him when he showed up at my apartment earlier to ask if I'd like to join him and Julie on their dinner date.

"I was ... still am if I'm being completely honest. But how I felt sitting at home just staring at Rex, was even scarier. I realized I don't want to miss out on nights like this anymore, no matter the consequences of loving you and Julie past the point of no return."

He considered that, not looking at all surprised at the answer I gave him. "You love me. That's the only thing you need to focus on, Babe. I'll take care of the rest."

I shook my head. "But that's the thing, I don't want you to have to take care of everything. I want to be able to say that I love you, that I'm going to love getting to know Julie even better, and that I want to be a major part of both of your lives, without needing to hesitate or think ahead of how I'm going to deal with your rejection or distance if I do."

After a glance to where Julie was laughing with Bobby, he took both of my hands in his. He waited until I looked up from our linked fingers to meet his dark eyes before responding to what I said.

"I know admitting that you care about someone is difficult for you ..."

"Try damn near impossible," I told him.

"Nothing is impossible. You proved that by coming here."

I sighed. "I don't want to lose you while I figure out how to admit that I'm terrified I'm going to."

"Have I ever willingly left you since the day we met?" He asked.

"No. You've been the only source of constant support I've ever had in my life."

"So you should know that I'm not going anywhere," he told me, lifting my right hand so he could kiss the back of it.

"You won't run even if you know that I love you and want to be with you every chance I get?"

"Despite what you've been taught to believe, Steph, you needing and wanting me only increases my desire to stick close to home."

"And has you wanting to share your time with your daughter with me?"

"You were Julie's partner-in-crime while you were trying to save her life. And the two of you banded together to try to save mine. That gives you certain privileges not afforded to others."

"Since we're currently in a public place and I can't do what I really want to do with you, can I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

"What did Julie whisper to you when you guys saw that Bobby and I crashed your Daddy/Mini Me date?"

"I told Dad that he was right," Julie answered for her dad.

I glanced at her and Bobby, so absorbed with Ranger I didn't hear their approach. "I told you to talk fast," Bobby reminded me. "I knew little Miss Need-To-Know would need to know if you've put us all out of our misery and are now partners off the field too."

"Things are feeling very promising," I told him and then I cut my eyes to Julie. "What was your Dad right about?"

She shrugged as she sat down on the seat Bobby stole from a nearby table. "Dad told me that you wanted to come, but you might be late getting here."

My mouth fell open as my eyes found Ranger's again. "You knew I'd show up despite my concerns?"

"Yes. That's why I purposely left my tracker on. If you didn't feel comfortable with calling me to ask where Julie and I were dining, your next option would be to contact the control room. I know you wanted to accept our invitation, but were worried."

"Worried about what, Steph?" Julie asked. "I don't know what Dad's said about me, but I promise I don't bite."

I couldn't help but let an unladylike snort escape when she said that. She had inherited Ranger's ability to make me relax and feel pretty stupid for being worried about anything in the first place.

I smiled at Julie, my fellow Scrog-survivor. "I don't remember hearing about any unusual gnawing habits, but your Dad did warn me that you both are irresistible. I was a little worried what would happen if I agreed with him. Did you guys order yet?"

"Nope. I wanted Dad to show me his moves before I tested out the Spanish I've learned."

"You really lucked out," I told her. "You got to dance with your Dad and a RangeUncle. Few girls get an opportunity to experience something as memorable as that."

She gave me a grin that had me worried again. "If you stick around, Steph, I bet Dad and Uncle Bobby will dance with you too."

Bobby tugged on the end of her Dutch braid. "Don't involve me, Short Stop. Your Daddy will put a bullet in me if I spin Stephanie around the room. I'm known for capturing hearts that way."

Her eyes darted to her Dad's. "He's not joking," Ranger told her. "Steph's all mine to wine, dine, and dip."

Clearly she doesn't believe her Dad would hurt anyone he likes, but her mind was already busy working a new angle.

"Alright, then Steph and Uncle Bobby can have dinner with us, and when we're done eating ... you can dance with Steph as much as you want, while Uncle Bobby puts his dance moves where his mouth is with me."

It's an unfamiliar feeling, but one that I think I understand. "Did I just get the Jules seal of approval?" I asked whoever wanted to confirm it.

"Yes," Julie said to me. "And I don't give my approval to just anyone. But I've known since you landed in that camper with me that you love my Dad. I can't forget how devastated and terrified you looked when he was shot in front of us. If I didn't know you were okay except for being stuck to a chair, your reaction to seeing him bleeding would've had me convinced you'd been the one shot."

"I honestly felt like I had taken a gut shot. I never want to feel that way, or see your Dad hurt, again."

"So you know what I was going through. I almost lost Dad before I got to know and love him. I don't want that for you when it's soooo obvious that you're totally into him. You've been trying to hide it, but girls just know these kinds of things."

It's humbling when a kid gets what it took years for you yourself to fully grasp. "I don't want that either," I said to Julie while my eyes stayed locked on Ranger. "So you can try out even more Spanish to order Bobby and I whatever you think we should try, because I promise both you and your Dad that I'm not going anywhere or keeping my distance from either of you anymore."