AN: So, while I work on Summertime Antics, I'll also be working on this one. The idea popped into my head and has been going to war with SA's characters! I hope you guys enjoy this one also. It's not a sequel to either story, so hopefulyl no one will be confused. Also, I'm not too familiar with the FBI, so I'm using a bit of creative license with it, but I am doing a bit of research to try making it plausible. Anyway, please Read and Review!

Rediscovery Chapter 1

Tank sighed as he watched Stephanie sag down in her chair. The last few months had been tough for her. Ranger had one last mission to go on then his contract would be complete. He knew his friend was not planning on renewing his contract and would be able to focus entirely on RangeMan and hopefully Stephanie.

Pillow talk between himself and Lula lately had consisted of their shared concerned over Steph. There had been about a month after Ranger left that had her going to Vegas again to bring in a skip. The only problem was that Joe Morelli had followed her to Vegas, plied her with liquor and married her. Tank could still feel the utter fury in his blood when Stephanie called him in tears the next morning. She didn't know she had been married the previous evening and was frantic to annul it. She wanted nothing to do with Morelli. They had already been in their off again phase, and the stunt he had pulled with her in Vegas had thrown her into a completely off faze. She wasn't going to give him an inch.

Unfortunately, Morelli wasn't being all that helpful. The marriage had been annulled quickly, especially since Stephanie had locked herself in her hotel room and refused to come out until she heard Lester and Tank on the other side. They had gotten the marriage annulled on the grounds that Stephanie was intoxicated and was therefore mentally incapacitated and was not able to make a sound decision.

The Merry Men had known that had been the straw the broke the camel's back for Stephanie. All of them already knew that she was in love with Ranger, had been for a long time, but like their boss, shoving her head up her ass seemed to be a good way to deal with things in regards to the two of them.

When they had returned from Vegas, Stephanie had moved into one of the apartments on the fourth floor. Tank knew Ranger would have wanted her on seventh, but they could see something cracking around the edges for Stephanie. The question he, Lula, and everyone else who loved her was what?

Most of the men were surprised to see that she had moved in and was usually keeping at least one of them with her. Bobby commented on it, but said he couldn't blame her due to the fact that Morelli was claiming to anyone who would listen that she was his wife. Because he was such an upstanding citizen who would doubt him? Luckily for Stephanie, there were plenty who knew she would not get married in a drunken stupor. Since she always seemed to run into him whenever she went out, she had decided keeping Merry Men with her was the best idea. He was less likely to get physical if there was someone there to keep him from touching her.

Tank knew Ranger was due back any day and was going to really enjoy having to explain this situation to him. Lula had confided that she was seeing something fade from Stephanie's eyes lately. Almost like the Burg was getting their claws into her and latching onto her for life. Anyone who knew Stephanie knew that become the Burg Stepford Wife was not something she could mold herself to. But they could see parts of her cracking. The last big defiance was getting them to annul that false marriage.

"Boss is back." Ram's voice came over the phone's speaker.

"Thanks."

Tank was still watching Stephanie when Ranger came into his office. He saw her hand go to her neck in the way that told her Ranger was near. She looked over and saw him. He was watching her. His lips curled up at her. She flushed and suddenly bolted.

Ranger looked back at Tank. "Explain."

"Sit down, man." Tank sighed. When Ranger sat across from him, he proceeded to explain everything about Vegas and what kind of hell Morelli was causing. He told him that Stephanie moved into an apartment on four and that she was rarely out of RangeMan without someone, or out of the building at all.

"Why the hell wasn't someone with her?" Ranger demanded his eyes narrow and deadly.

Tank held his hands up in defense. "Honestly, none of us thought she'd need it. She even asked if it would be a good idea, but since you'd finally talked her into getting better training, we figured she'd be fine. Besides, Steph was more likely to get her FTA back here without a big scary man. The woman was just a flighty airhead who suddenly decided a trip to Vegas was a great idea. Steph got her back here once the situation with Morelli was fixed. In fact," Tank grinned at this part, "Her skip went ahead and helped Stephanie out by kicking the cop so hard in the balls on our way out that he was almost comatose on the floor."

Ranger felt himself relent a little. He had been thrilled when Stephanie finally agreed to let him and the men train her a little more. They'd all noticed she didn't have to call them for help as much anymore. Still. When he'd left, she and the cop had been on again. Hearing now that she was refusing to have anything to do with him made hope creep its way tightly around his heart.

"Ranger, man, there's more." Tank explained to him about what most of them had seen going on with Stephanie. "We're not sure what's causing it, past the Burg, but I thought you should be prepared."

"Thanks." Ranger stood and saw someone waiting for them. He cursed slightly. He'd forgotten to tell Tank about this. "You remember Jace Nelson?"

"Yeah. Good man. FBI now, isn't he?"

"Yeah. He's here. He needs to speak with us in a RangeMan capacity." Ranger motioned with his head toward the man walking to Tank's office.

Tank raised an eyebrow. "What about?"

Ranger didn't answer. Instead, they waited until Jace was in the office. They shut the door so they wouldn't be disturbed.

"Tank, Ranger, it's good to see you guys again." Jace nodded at them. They'd all served in the Rangers together. Jace had stayed in less time than they had, but he'd been a good comrade. Ranger could honestly admit he'd been sorry to see Jace leave. He would have liked to keep him in his unit longer and would've tried getting him for RangeMan afterward.

"You too, man." Tank stood and shook his hand. "How's the FBI?"

"Not quite as much fun as jumping out of planes into jungles." Jace chuckled. "But entertaining enough."

"What can we do for you, Jace?" Ranger asked leaning back against the wall with his arms folded over his chest.

Jace grinned at him. Ranger never beat around the bush. "We may have a new case coming our way and they want me at the forefront of the investigation. We won't have all the intel we need until next week at the earliest. They trust me to enlist people who could help solve this." He nodded towards both of them. "Luckily for both of you, I trust you more than the Trenton P.D."

"Why's that lucky for us?"

He pulled out a slip of paper from his jeans. He handed it to Ranger. "That's what they're prepared to offer you for your help."

Tank waited until Ranger handed him the slip. His eyebrows nearly shot off his head at the large figure. They could all retire on that. Whatever this case was, they were clearly in need of some large help. "We have a feeling it's a white-collar crime," Jace said, "But like I said, I don't have all the details and my superiors have already agreed that having RangeMan would be the best in the way of resources here in Trenton."

"We'll let you know." Ranger said.

Jace nodded. "I figured as much." He looked at his watch and grimaced. "I have to go. If I don't come back with a car filled with groceries like Shelia asked for I'm in for a dry spell."

Tank and Ranger chuckled as Jace let himself out of the office. He didn't get far though as he spotted someone. "Stephanie?"

Stephanie had walked back on five and was feeling more composed. She knew she was going to have to sit down and have a long talk with Ranger, but she had panicked when she saw him. She's taken a few moments to compose herself, but when she heard an old voice say her name, she'd whirled around. "Jace?"

"Stephanie Plum." He chuckled as he walked over and hugged her. "I haven't seen you since…"

"Yeah," She murmured hugging him back. She leaned back and grinned at him. "How's Sheila?"

"Good. Going to be right pissed as hell when she finds out I saw you." He teased. Jace stepped back and took a good look at her, taking in the edge in her eyes that he had seen in them almost ten years ago. He cupped her face in his hands. "How are you really?"

"Right as rain." She said with false cheeriness.

"Uh-huh." He gave her a brotherly peck on the forehead and hugged her again. "Steph, we're having a barbeque out at the old beach house. All weekend. You should meet us there."

"Oh, I don't think that's a good idea." Stephanie said. "I haven't seen you guys since we were twenty-one. I doubt they'd all want to see me."

"Stephanie." Jace looked at her with a firm look. "We've missed you like hell. Sheila and Pen, they're going to rip me a new one when they find out I've seen you again. And let me tell you, Ranger scares me less than those two!" Stephanie burst out laughing at the mental image that gave her.

"Wait, how do you know Ranger?" She asked.

"I was in the Rangers for a while. After…" His voice drifted off and she nodded. "Are you still doing gymnastics?"

"No." She shook her head. "Not in years."

"Like riding a bike, I bet." He teased, then got serious again. "Steph, come out with us for the weekend. It looks like you need it."

"I…"

"Mary Lou and Lenny are going to be there."

Her eyes narrowed at him. "Oh! Jace! You know sometimes you hit the right buttons!"

"Yeah, it's a gift." He chuckled. "So, yes, you'll be there?"

"Yes, I'll be there." She laughed. "Are you going to tell them?"

"Nope. I figured you showing up would make it more fun," He laughed. "I've got to get going. Grocery shopping or sleeping on the couch. Decisions, decisions!" Jace hugged her again. "Head out tomorrow. We'll let you leave Sunday. I'll even take the spark plugs out of your car."

Stephanie laughed. "Yes sir."

When Jace turned to leave, he saw the possessive look Ranger was giving Stephanie. Interesting, he thought with an inner grin. He could see the old pain sitting in his friend's eyes and knew that this weekend would hopefully help her some. Of course, what he'd failed to mention was that Ranger and his core team were also going to be out at the beach house. He had a feeling, a strong one, that there were some things Ranger didn't know about Stephanie that he probably should.

Ranger came over to Stephanie. She had a faraway look on her face. "Babe."

"Ranger." She breathed and hugged him tightly. He returned the grip, breathing in the scent from her hair. He wanted to haul her up to seven and make wild, passionate love to her to make up for the time gone and the misery she seemed to be feeling.

Stephanie buried her face in his neck for a moment, then pulled away to meet his eyes. "Welcome home, Batman. I've missed you." And I hope you don't hate me for what Joe did, she thought miserably.

"Missed you too, Babe." I'm going to kill Joe for making your life miserable, he thought determinedly.