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Buffy and other characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, et. al and used without permission. No copyright infringement intended & no money earned.
Buffy spent the night and took Bob for the promised run the next morning. A blue and white police car pulled up along side her. She smiled when she saw Eddie Gazarra. "Hey, Eddie. How's it going? You keeping us all safe today?"
"I don't know, Buffy. I think you running in that outfit might be a moving violation." Eddie was married to Stephanie's cousin, Shirley the Whiner, but he wasn't dead. Buffy in running clothes that showed every curve not to mention the tiny beads of sweat glistening on her skin was enough to make a dead man sit up.
"You're not going to handcuff me are you, Eddie?" She teased with a naughty smile on her face. Eddie gulped almost spilling hot coffee in his lap. "Eddie, could you do me a favor? I need to find out some information on someone quietly, for a friend."
"No one knows where Ranger lives. I tried to find out for Stephanie before she moved in with Morelli."
"Please, as if that would be a problem. No, I need some info on someone in the FBI and I figured if the check went out from the police station it would just look like someone following up on something, right? Please, Eddie." Buffy pouted out her bottom lip and Eddie was lost.
"I can do that, sure. Who do you need me to check on? We have a geek at the station that loves to do that stuff. He never even asks what or why." He glanced down the road then back at the small blonde. "You need a ride back to Morelli's. You're pretty far from his place."
"Nah, Bob and I got our second wind, so we're good to go. Thanks Eddie. You're a sweetie." Buffy leaned in and kissed his cheek. She snapped her fingers and ran back the direction she had came, with Bob running happily beside her.
Eddie touched his cheek then stuck his head out the window. "Shit!" He jumped as hot coffee spilled down the front of his uniform. "I'm not sure which is more dangerous Stephanie with cars or Buffy and, just Buffy." Eddie cleaned himself up as best he could. He was glad that Shirley was related on the Plum side of the family. He didn't think his heart would hold up otherwise. Eddie pulled his car back onto the road and went back to work.
Buffy and Bob made it back to the house in time to see a small dark haired older woman accompanied by an older woman ring the doorbell. She walked up the sidewalk slowly, watching Stephanie open the door with a smile that faltered then righted itself.
"Hello Mrs. Morelli, Grandma Morelli. How are you doing this morning?" Stephanie asked in a strained voice.
Buffy decided to help. "Hey, Steph, we had a good run. Oh, we have company, how nice. Hi, I'm Buffy Summers, Stephanie's cousin from California. It's so nice to meet you. You must be Joe's Mom and Grandmother. I heard you make the best lasagna and coffee cake around. I would shake your hand but I'm all sweaty. I'll just run upstairs and change real quick. I would love to get to know you better." Buffy smiled brightly at the two women, who weren't sure how to take her over exuberant personality.
She was dressed inappropriately, true, but her manners were wonderful and she seemed like a sweet child. Mrs. Morelli was easily won over but Grandmother Morelli was a harder nut to crack. Buffy looked her straight in the eye, with no fear what so ever.
Buffy quickly showered off and changed, pulling her wet hair into a sloppy bun. Stephanie had regaled her with stories of Joe's Grandmother's 'evil eye.' Buffy had dealt with curses and gypsies; she was ready for the elder Mrs. Morelli. The three women sat at the kitchen table with coffee and an uncut coffee cake.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. Ooh, that cake looks wonderful." Buffy went to get a cup of coffee for herself and took the fourth chair. "What a nice morning for a visit. It is absolutely beautiful out there." She smiled at the three women who looked at her as if she were an alien lifeform. And, she knew she was by Burg standards.
"How come you aren't married?" Grandma Morelli threw out the first salvo.
"After I graduated from school, I went to college then my mother got really sick. Between taking care of her and my sister, not to mention never meeting the right man, I never had time."
Grandma was embarrassed but that didn't stop her. She thought it was a bad idea to have another woman living with a couple, even if they weren't married, though she was working on that. "How come we never heard of you before? You ashamed of your family?" Her evil eye started to twitch.
"My father wouldn't let my mom have anything to do with her family after they married and moved to California. She loved him, so, she let it go. After the divorce, she thought it was too late, I guess." Buffy shrugged. "I have a question for you. Are you a real gypsy or is that just a rumor?"
Stephanie and Mrs. Morelli gasped. Buffy was thankful they weren't drinking at the time or they would have drowned from a cup of coffee.
"Why do you want to know, girl? What would you know about gypsies or curses? I've a mind to give you the eye, so you could learn first hand." Her eye started twitching and the other two women held their breaths now.
Buffy let the Slayer peak out from her eyes as she looked at Grandma Morelli. "I had a friend that knew a lot about them and I learned some from her. Now, her tribe knew all about curses, no evil eye for them. Do you know they cursed a man's family that if the men felt a moment of true happiness they would lose all control and become like a monster. I saw it myself. Jenny taught me a few things, not as much as my friend, but enough to protect myself. I'd rather be friends." Buffy shrugged. "Your choice."
The older woman looked at her. "What tribe of gypsy?"
"Kalderash, do you know it? They originated in Romany."
Grandma made the sign of the cross and reached for her rosary beads. "What are you, child?"
"Capricorn on the cusp of Aquarius." Buffy grinned at her. The two women looked at each other and an understanding passed between them.
Grandma smiled, a huge smiled showing all her false teeth. "Stephanie, I like your cousin. You could learn a lot from her. See that she stays in Trenton. I think perhaps, we all might learn something." She stood and swept out of the room.
Mrs. Morelli smiled at them both. "It was nice meeting you, Buffy."
"You too, Mrs. Morelli, have a nice day."
Stephanie watched all this in shock. "Did that just happen? First, Bob, now, the Morelli women. What are you magic or something?"
"No, just good with dogs and old people. Remember, never let them see you sweat. Do you mind if I go to work with you? I think I might want to talk to your cousin about that job. If you don't mind, and I'd totally understand if you want me to look somewhere else."
"Are you kidding? There is no way you're going anywhere till you teach me how to do that thing with Bob. Maybe, even Joe's Mom and Grandmother, too. Plus, I like having you around. You think you could teach me a few moves. I hate guns. Mine's in the cookie jar. I think every time I've carried it, either I've ended up shot, I had to shoot someone or they took it away from me." Stephanie looked at Buffy hopefully.
"Sure, I can teach you some basics. Guns aren't on my list of favorite weapons. Speaking of weapons is there a store where I can pick up a few things. I couldn't bring any of my toys on the plane. How are you with a knife?"
"You're kidding? You aren't kidding. Shit. What type of toys are we talking about?"
"I'll have to see what they have. Do I have to have a gun? I mean I can shoot but I've been shot and lost a friend." Tara's sweet face flashed in Buffy's mind.
"There are times when there isn't much choice. Even Grandma Mazur has one, a really big one."
"So, let's swing by the local Bad Boys R Us and see what we can find."
Stephanie pulled up in front of Louie Tortelli's Sporting Goods and Shooting Range. "Are you sure you want to do this? There might be something else you might like better. I thought you wanted to relax." She turned in the seat to look at her small blonde cousin.
"I'm not used to doing nothing. Other than you being shot at, I enjoyed yesterday." Buffy returned Stephanie's stare, trying to read her face. She didn't want to step on her cousin's toes. She already liked Stephanie and thought they might end up being really good friends.
"What about last night with Ranger? Did you enjoy that too?"
"Ask what you want to know, Stephanie."
"Are you just playing hard to get? Or are you really not interested."
"I don't play games but I think he does. I'm the newest face and the one he wants is involved with someone else. I'm not interested in being anyone's substitute. Your friend likes to order people around according to some plan in his head. I don't work well with orders and rules - never have. Now, let's go shopping."
Stephanie watched Buffy get out and casually walk into the store like she owned the place. She thought about what Buffy said and the more she did the more pissed at herself she got. Why had she taken Ranger's word as gospel and fought Joe tooth and nail for every inch of independence. A big smile spread across her face and she rushed to join her cousin.
Buffy moved up and down the aisles, stopping to look at this or that while she threw things into an ever growing pile of weapons.
"Shit! You really are Catwoman." Stephanie peered into the basket. She pulled out a strange looking bow. "What's this?"
"Crossbow. I figured if they baddie's have guns, I can have a crossbow. I don't have to register for it and I'm hoping have some special arrows manufactured. Do you know the owners?" Stephanie nodded. "Cool, do I get handcuffs here too?"
Another nod and she followed Buffy not knowing what to think. When they got to the counter, Stephanie introduced Buffy to Louie Jr. who everyone called Jr. He eyed Buffy, thinking he'd make a nice profit from this sale until she asked her first question.
"Do you have anyone here that can fix the sights on the crossbow? I also need some special arrows made if you have a pen, I'll give you the length, weight and tip content."
Nope, no push over here. This little girl knows her stuff.
"I'll need some handcuffs, and two of those knives." She pointed to a wicked looking knife behind a glass case. "Do you carry collapsible staffs or do I have to find a martial arts store?"
"Right this way young lady." Jr. motioned for Buffy to follow him into a room Stephanie didn't even know existed. It looked like Kung Fu heaven. There was every kind of fighting weapon imaginable from staffs to nunchucks.
Stephanie's eyes grew wide - throwing stars. "Who buys throwing star?" The words burst from her curious mind.
"Mostly people use them for competition, but some I don't ask. See anything you like, little lady?" He watched Buffy move into the room.
Her fingers brushed over one weapon after another. She plucked off only the best from each category. Buffy held a five-foot slender staff in her hands. She tested its flexibility. Her audience watched in amazement as the staff moved in a black blur in her hands then disappeared from sight.
"Where did you put it?" Jr. eyed Buffy's outfit of low cut jeans and chiffon blouse.
Buffy gave him an innocent smile. "Do you have someone on-sight to fix the crossbow? I'd like to test it out and take it with me." She sent him one of her brightest smiles. Nearly blinding him with its intensity. "I'm sure with a purchase this large that it includes some of those nice roomy duffle bags I saw, right. I mean that's how they do it in California."
Jr. added in his head what she picked out so far and even without bumping up the prices, he'd do a nice sale. "Sure can, little lady. We have targets set up out back next to the shooting range."
"Aren't you going to need a gun since, I'm guessing you're going to work with Stephanie." He was a salesman, until they walked out the door.
"Not yet, but if it comes to that I'll come back. How long will it take for the arrows?" Buffy didn't want to use standard arrows if she didn't have to. The barb would do too much damage to a human. She might as well carry a gun. The arrows she ordered would have the same effect as a bullet but the impact would be smaller and cause less damage. Who ever was unlucky enough to be on the receiving end should survive if Buffy wanted them to. She was pulling off her Scarlett O'Hara impression and would think about that when she the time came, hopefully never.
Buffy looked over at Stephanie and almost cracked up. "You think they sell black patent leather catsuits here?"
Stephanie took in her words, smiled then started laughing. Buffy joined her. When they calmed down, Jr. announced that Buffy's bow was ready for testing. Stephanie followed Buffy out to practice area, where she watched Buffy shoot arrow after arrow into the bull's eye. A crowd gathered from the early risers at the shooting range. Buffy finished testing out the bow and the crowd parted like the Red Sea to let her pass. Stephanie tried to follow, but kept getting stopped by everyone she knew asking questions about Buffy. Problem was Stephanie didn't have many answers. By the time, she made it back into the store, Jr. and Buffy had bonded. It was the darndest thing, Stephanie had ever seen. Wherever Buffy went, the most cantankerous person she knew fell for the little blonde.
They pulled into Plum Bail Bonds and Stephanie switched off the engine. She turned to look at Buffy who sat there with a smile on her face.
"You have another question, Steph? You know it's a lot easier if you just ask them. You get fewer headaches that way."
"There's a lot more to you than just being good with dogs and old ladies, huh. I know, I'm not the best bail enforcement agent, but I'm not dumb either. Where did you live that you had to learn to be so good at fighting and weapons, but hate guns?"
"Let's just say the bad guys in my hometown preferred other weapons." Like fangs. "I had to learn to use all different type of stuff. Giles, my friend, he was kind of my mentor and helped me learn. Turns out, I'm a natural. After I learned how to use the first couple of things, he taught me. I can pretty much pick up new stuff after a little practice." Buffy thought her explanation was simple and straightforward, and hoped Stephanie would buy it.
"So, California is like Trenton just different weirdos and instead of everyone carrying guns, they use all that ninja stuff?"
Buffy nodded with an internal sigh that Stephanie seemed satisfied, for now. They walked into the office where Lula and Connie immediately stopped talking. Buffy had a bad feeling that she was about to be grilled. From the look on Lula's face, she wondered if it would be about last night or this morning.
"Girl, come in here. You shore know how to get people's attention. Where'd you learn to dance that way? My friend Doreen was there last night. She said she ain't never seen no white girl dance like that. You sure you're related to Stephanie? I mean she can dance aiight but not like what Doreene described." Three pairs of eyes waited expectantly. "It's no biggy. I took dance and gymnastics, plus I was a cheerleader before my parents divorced."
"Those are white girl moves that don't explain what you was doing last night. Doreen said every man in the club lined up to watch you dance. They wouldn't let no one else on the floor. Girl that ain't nothing you learn from shaking your pom-poms at football games."
Vinnie stuck his head out of his office, saving Buffy from further interrogation. "Summers, you thought about my job offer, yet?" His eyes roamed quickly over her body.
"I'd like to talk to you about it if you have a few minutes."
Buffy walked into Vinnie's office and closed the door. She had heard the rumors about him, including the one about the duck. Buffy knew how to deal men like Vinnie.
"I have some conditions to me working for you."
"I'm offering you a job, not negotiating a deal." Vinnie tried to keep his temper under control. He knew having Buffy on board would be good for business.
"Fine, I'm sure I can go to work for, oh, say, Turner and Sons. Stephanie said they were your biggest competition. Might be interesting to see how much more business I could help them bring in," Buffy challenged, smiling from where she sat seat across from him. With his slightly balding head and beady little eyes, he reminded her of Principle Snyder. She regretted the fact she had been unable to face that little Nazi then as she prepared to do now with Vinnie.
"What are your conditions? Make it quick, I'm expecting a phone call."
"One, I want an equal shot at all the FTAs you usually give Ranger. Two, you provide me with a place I can use to workout. I mostly need some open area that's private."
"Why would I do that? What's in it for me?" Vinnie hated spending money on anything unrelated to his own warped pursuit of pleasure.
"But, if I use the space to help train others, say like Stephanie, you end up with more bounty hunters able take on more high-dollar cases. It's a win-win deal and you know it. Take it or leave it. The last one, I get the same percentage Ranger does. Equal work gets equal pay."
Vinnie moved from around his desk to stand closer to Buffy. "Now, that last one, we'll have to negotiate. I know Ranger can bring in anyone I send him after. You, on the other hand, could just have the same dumb luck your cousin about being in the right place. Maybe you could persuade me to have a different perspective about this." Vinnie's ran his hand ran slowly up Buffy's arm.
She looked at him then gave him a soft smile. "Are you sure 'that' would convince you I'm as good as Ranger?"
"Oh yes, baby. It would ensure you get whatever you want from me." Vinnie's fingers kneaded her arm as he moved towards his target.
Quick as a flash, Buffy moved out of her chair and her fingers wrapped around his neck. Vinnie's eyes went wide as he tried to choke out his protest. Buffy lifted him up, stepped across the room to press him against the wall.
"How about you rethink that? I think I can prove I'm as good as Ranger, don't you?" Vinnie nodded. "Now, we won't mention this again. Any of it, nod your head if you agree."
Vinnie nodded when Buffy loosened her hold on his neck. She pinned him against the wall for a few more minutes then released him to let him crumple to the floor.
The door rattled from someone pounding on it from the outer office. "Buffy! Are you all right in there? What's going on?" Stephanie called through the door.
"Everything's fine, Steph, don't worry." Buffy looked at Vinnie, who remained on the floor. "Do I need to sign some paperwork?"
"See Connie, she handles that stuff. My father-in-law owns a lot of warehouses, I'll see if he has one you can use. That's as much as you're going to get from me."
Buffy smiled brightly, an empty warehouse was perfect. "I'll take it if that's the best you can do. Do I get a cool badge and everything?"
This woman scared Vinnie more than Ranger. She turned her emotions on and off so smoothly it was hard to keep track. At least Ranger was always scary; Buffy went from a sunny, happy girl to one scary woman.
Buffy opened the door and casually walked out, stopping at Connie's desk. "Vinnie said you have the paperwork I'll need to sign. Is there anything on the books today? I'm anxious to get started."
"No, I already gave Stephanie two of her repeaters. And, that leaves only this one for Ranger." She held the folder up for Buffy to see.
"I'll take it." She plucked it from Connie's hand.
"You can't it's a high-risk, high-rater, and those always go to Ranger," the buxom secretary protested, looking at Buffy in confusion.
"Not anymore. It's first come first serve. Ask Vinnie if you don't believe me." Buffy looked over the paperwork for one, Juan Vasquez. He killed his best friend in a fit of rage over a football bet. He crushed the other man's skull on the cement then stabbed the dead body repeatedly. Buffy flipped the papers up to see Juan was a habitual repeat customer. "Why did Vinnie bond the guy?"
"He'd bond Hannibal the Cannibal for the right amount of money." Connie handed Buffy the necessary forms to sign while they talked.
"Stephanie, what's the address of Joe's house?"
"Connie can fill that in for you and change it later when you find a place to live." Stephanie played along with Buffy, telling people she lived with her and Joe. She thought it ironic to have this long-lost cousin come to town and be able to do a job she still wasn't sure about. Especially, looking at Buffy, she didn't fit Stephanie's idea of someone tough enough to take on Ranger's cases.
Lula wanted some answers so bad, she was ready to burst from curiosity about last night. "Aiight girl, you need to tell us all about last night."
Buffy smiled at Stephanie's flamboyant friend. She liked Lula's straightforward attitude about life. Buffy respected her for the way she turned her life around and hoped to add her to her list of friends. Her smile faded when she felt Ranger enter the office.
"Yeah, gorgeous, let's hear about your night." His eyes swept over her, drinking in the sight of her.
"Ricky can tell you all about it, he was there. Stephanie come on I need a ride." Buffy moved past Ranger and he snagged her arm. She met his dark eyes and waited, with no emotion showing on her face.
"I need to talk to you, gorgeous."
Buffy nodded her head before returning her gaze to his hand on her arm. Ranger reluctantly released his hold. He had enjoyed the feel of her skin under his fingers.
"Steph, I'll meet you in the car in a minute." Buffy walked toward the door. "Are you coming or not, Ricky?"
Ranger stared at the soft swing of her hips for a few minutes. He quietly moved out of the office, ignoring the three women with their mouths open.
"Stephanie, your cousin is the bomb. Did you see the way she handled Batman? I've never seen him so distracted, especially over a woman. Even when he was sniffing after you, he played it real cool. You think she could teach me how to do that? I'd love to be like that with some handsome hunk and have him running after me." Lula was still staring at the door; she looked like an awed fan waiting for an autograph.
Buffy stopped when she got outside and leaned against the wall of the building. Ranger was only a minute behind her; he moved up close, crowding her space. His body was mere inches away, so close that Buffy could feel the heat radiating off his skin. It felt strange to be this close to a man whose skin wasn't alabaster white and cool to the touch.
"Vinnie, called me, said you wanted an equal shot at my cases, gorgeous. Now, why would you want to go and do something like that?" He studied her face for some sign of emotion and found none.
Buffy looked into his dark eyes then gave him a slow soft smile. She leaned against the wall, hips cocked to the side as she drew one leg slowly up the wall. Her easy relaxed pose subtly eased him away without an exchange of words. "Yep," she said, popping the word out in a breathy huff that drew his eyes to her pink lips. "I did. What are you gonna do about it?"
Ranger wanted nothing more than to push her further into the alley and taste her, all of her. He wanted to mark her as his. "I'm not going to stop you. When I have to rescue you, you'll owe me. I plan on you paying in full. And, there's only one thing I'll take for payment - you."
Her temper reared its head in full Slayermode. Who, the hell, does he think he is? I don't need anyone to rescue me. I'll just have to show him that, for a fact.
"What if I have to rescue you? Do I get to choose the prize?"
Ranger laughed a full-blown, teeth gleaming, deep down laugh. Stephanie stepped out of the office to go to her car and stopped to stare. She spun back to get Lula and Connie and ran smack into them. They had followed her out hoping to spy on Ranger and Buffy.
"Do you hear that? Ranger 'is' laughing. I didn't even know he knew how. He barely smiles, not a real one anyway."
"Ssh, he'll hear you," Connie warned. She was as curious about Stephanie's cousin as the rest of them. She planned to run a background search on Buffy. There had to be a reason she was so different from anyone they'd ever met. Connie wanted to know what caused those differences.
They watched Buffy's body stiffen and her fist clench. "Uh, oh, Batman done said the wrong thing to your cousin. I know what a pissed-off woman looks like - and that is one pissed-off woman." Lula shook her head wondering what Ranger had done to get Buffy so mad.
All three women sucked in huge amounts of air as the watched Buffy punch Ranger in the jaw. They were close to hyperventilating when they saw him fly backward and land several feet away.
Buffy walked over to Ranger whose face still wore a look of shock. She knelt down close to him. "You still think it's so funny? How about we bet on it? If I rescue you, say sometime in the next five days, you do whatever I say for an entire day. You rescue me and the same terms apply. If it's a tie then we spar to break it. Deal?"
She put her hand out for him to shake. He pulled her down on top of him. "You'd be my slave for 24 hours, no rules?"
Buffy nodded with a strange glimmer in her eye that Ranger should have taken into account. "You've got yourself a deal, gorgeous. My favorite color is black. Be sure you have something in lace for your master." He grinned then snaked his hand up to grab her neck pulling her mouth down to his.
Ranger put all the heat and experience he had into the kiss. Buffy didn't respond to either. He could have been kissing her or the pavement for all the response he got from her. Oh, he no doubt knew how to kiss and had lots of experience at it. If she was someone else, from somewhere, or even Burg-born, she may have fallen for Ranger the same way she had for Angel so long ago. But, her mind and body had totally shutdown. Her fight against the First and Willow's spell had some lasting affects on Buffy. Giles said she had finally come into her maturity as a Slayer, whatever that meant. Buffy knew she had complete control over her body. As a test, Giles asked her to slow her heart rate to an almost stop. The results had surprised them. And, her healing was way off the charts. The wound she received during the final battle healed almost as soon as the Turok-Han removed the sword. She lay still and waited as mere seconds passed.
Lula, Connie and Stephanie watched their mouth hung open further than before. They couldn't believe this was the same ultra-cool reserved Ranger.
"Damn, that girl has got some bad ass moves." Lula admired the show. They watched as Ranger wrapped his arms around Buffy. From their viewpoint, the kiss appeared mutual. "I think I'm having a heat flash just watching them. Did he ever kiss you like that?" She asked Stephanie without taking her eyes off the couple in front of them.
Ranger worked harder to get some response from Buffy. Her sweet mouth drove him wild as he buried his hands in her silky hair. He couldn't understand what it was about her that had him so off balance. She was unlike any other woman he had ever known and had him acting like some untried schoolboy.
Buffy wanted to create a new life here in Trenton and knew that meant working with Ranger. She had to figure out some way to get him see her as a person rather than some trophy. She knew she didn't want to get involved with another man who thought he knew what was best for her. Finally admitting to Spike that she cared for him only to lose him had opened her eyes. She knew what she wanted from a relationship and what she wouldn't stand for, from anyone. She wanted to feel loved and cherished but most of all respected for her choices. Buffy decided she wouldn't settle the way did with Riley. The next man to win her heart would have to work for it. Yes, Ranger was gorgeous but that would only get him so far with her. She'd had two of the most attractive men she'd ever seen in her life; looks weren't a bargaining chip, not this time.
Her mind had whirled with a million thought while Ranger tried to convince her he was her Prince Charming or at least Stud of the Moment. It was time to put an end to this and put them both out of their misery. Buffy's elbows suddenly planted themselves into Ranger's chest as she propelled herself to her feet. She stared down at Ranger with her hands on her hips.
"Have to say it didn't do much for me, Ricky. You might want to try that move out on someone willing." Her eyes darkened to hard, cold chips of emerald ice. "This is your last warning." She held up her finger. "If you do that again, without my permission, you will draw back a stub." She strolled over to the girls. "Steph, you ready to go?"
Stephanie just shook her head, yes. Lula had the biggest proudest smile on her face. Connie looked her up and down, sizing her up.
Ranger got up off the ground, while his eyes followed Buffy as she walked away. A half-grin turned his lips up the slightest amount at each corner. A determined light lit his dark eyes. Stephanie knew that look and could have warned her cousin, but by the time she looked up, his face wore its usual bored expression. He watched them crawl into Stephanie's SUV and drive off. Ranger stood there for only a moment before climbing behind the wheel of his own black SUV.
Stephanie and Buffy rode in silence for several long minutes until Stephanie couldn't stand it any longer. "What happened between you and Ranger, last night?"
"Not much, I went back into the club when I finished the job, he followed and wouldn't leave me there. When I was ready to leave, he made a pass at me and I told him off. He promised it wouldn't happen again, and drove me home."
"You didn't let Ranger kiss you?" Stephanie sounded incredulous at the thought. "It sure looked like you changed your mind today."
"It only looked that way from your perspective. I wasn't participating. If you don't believe me then ask Ranger. He was the one doing all the kissing, not me. He was trying to manipulate me. You know men, if they can't convince you to do what they want they think they can kiss you into submission. I know you two were involved, Steph and don't plan on playing the substitute. I did that to someone before and it's not a good place to be for either person. I'm not sure I'm ready to get involved with anyone, not yet. The last few years have been a roller coaster ride for me. What I do know is that I won't be with someone who thinks they can make my decisions for me. The next time I get involved, I want a partner, not a parent. Right now, I plan on getting to know my new family and to try and be a bounty hunter. I figure that plenty enough to figure out before I take on anything else." Buffy shrugged her shoulders, putting Ranger out of her mind.
Stephanie pulled up to the restaurant where her first FTA liked to eat. She was looking for one George Wilkins, who was FTA for robbing the Stop 'N Shop. The police caught him by following a trail of candy from the store to his apartment two blocks away. The cops found him sitting on the front stoop stuffing his face with Snickers and M&Ms when they drove up. Last time Stephanie brought him in, he had broken into the claw machine at the arcade. It had almost caused a riot when the kids started grabbing all the stuffed animals. George's defense was he won the pink dragon fair and square and the door wouldn't open and give him his prize. The arcade owner pressed charges, but let George keep his pink dragon.
Buffy was studying the papers on her FTA when the car stopped. She looked up to find that they had arrived at a little Mom and Pop's diner. "What are we doing here? You can't possibly be hungry, we just ate."
"No, this is where my FTA likes to hang out during the day. He comes in and orders pie every morning around this time."
"He eats pie this early in the morning?" Buffy loved anything sweet like Stephanie, but still couldn't imagine anyone eating pie for breakfast every morning.
"Edna's has great pie; there are over twenty different kinds. You can stay in the car if you want. George is harmless and always comes with me without a fuss. He just forgets about stuff. I should have reminded him about his court date." Stephanie shook her head as she got out of the car.
Buffy followed her after she finished hiding several of her new toys. She slid the staff down her back, knives went into her boots and she put several throwing stars in her pockets. Buffy was slipping handcuffs into her other pocket as she strolled into the dinner and immediately knew something was wrong.
Stephanie had walked right into a fight two men, with one of the men armed with a knife. He stood next to Stephanie who had stopped frozen in place when she realized what was taking place. Buffy caught Stephanie's eye and shook her head to let her know not to try anything.
She quietly came up behind the person with the knife. He was a small, slender Hispanic man, barely more than a teenager was. Pulling the staff from her back, she flicked her wrist causing it to extend to its full length.
The man turned when he heard the staff slink out and lock into place. "What are you doing, puta? This is none of your business, Stay out of it, chica, or you will..."
The other man tried to draw the man's attention back to him. "What are you waiting for, hesa? You afraid to come for me? You make excuses talking to her rather than fighting me. You chicken, Manuel. All talk no action. That's what your woman know a real man" His chest puffed up and he hit his chest while he taunted Manual.
"What are you, stupid? I don't see a knife in your hand, buddy. Just shut up while I save your ass," Buffy threw out even as she advanced on Manuel.
She started twirling the staff in her hands; it spun faster and faster until it blurred into black whirls. Manuel stepped back as Buffy got closer. She smiled at him, and then quick as a snake she lashed out with the staff. The crack of it hitting the hand holding the knife echoed in the silent dinner. The other customer's eyes grew large while they watched the petite blonde-haired person disarm Manuel. He lost the knife when he pulled his stinging hand close to his chest. Manuel's eyes narrowed as he glared at Buffy. Her smile was still firmly in place. The man who Manuel was fighting with thought it was a good time to jump his opponent while his focus was on Buffy.
She saw what he was going to do and flipped over Manuel's head to land with her feet planted on the other man's chest. Manuel went for the knife and Buffy lashed out again with the staff. This time she hit his shoulder with a hard blow then the back of his knees, causing him to go to his knees with a loud scream. He continued cussing at Buffy in Spanish. Buffy swung the staff once more lifting his chin up and slamming him on the floor with a thud. He was down for the count. The other man threw his hands up in surrender.
Buffy looked at him closely and realized he was her FTA. She burst out laughing as she flipped him on his stomach and handcuffed him.
"What are you doing, puta? I didn't do anything. Manuel started the fight. Let me up." He wriggled on the ground, trying to rise to his knees. Buffy swept them out from under him and his chin hit the ground knocking him out.
"Buffy, uh, thanks. But, why did you handcuff him and not the guy with the knife?" Stephanie looked at her cousin with confusion and a little bit of awe.
"That's my FTA. Thanks, Stephanie; you saved me from having to track him down. Do you need your handcuffs for yours?"
George continued happily to eat his pie oblivious to everything going on around him. "Hello George," Stephanie smiled at the harmless thief. "We need to get you rescheduled; you missed your court date."
He nodded, shoving another large bite of pie into his mouth. George was roughly 6 feet tall with shaggy brown hair, small green eyes and a huge infectious smile. After shoveling, the last piece of pie into his mouth, he got up from the table and waited for Stephanie to go first.
The owner of the dinner rushed over to Buffy. She had just finished putting the handcuffs on to the still unconscious Manuel. "You were great, miss. Thank you so much. Anytime you want something to eat, you just come on by. It's on the house."
The police arrived a few minutes later. The young rookie from the previous day was there with Big Dog. Joe quickly followed by Ranger and Tank was right behind them. Stephanie walked over to Joe with George following behind her like a little puppy. When she stopped to talk to Joe, he ran into her back. Stephanie's eyes rolled and Joe tried not to laugh.
He looked around her, to the two men handcuffed and out cold. Joe's eyebrows rose, "Let me guess, your cousin?"
Stephanie glared at him; even though it was true, it pissed her off that he assumed it was Buffy's doing. "And what if I told you I'd taken them down?" Her chin went up and she stared at him, waiting for an answer.
"Cupcake, I didn't say you couldn't; I said you didn't. Your cousin's standing over there holding a staff." Joe glanced back at Buffy then swung his head around to stare at the smiling blonde. "Where the hell did she put it?" One minute, Buffy held a staff in her hands and the next it was gone.
Stephanie grinned at him. "Don't ask me, she did that at the range too. I'm just glad she's working for us. Could you imagine trying to catch then disarm her? It'd probably take the same amount of time for each."
Ranger was wondering the same thing, but he wanted to investigate it himself. He walked around Stephanie and Joe to head straight for Buffy. Tank followed behind him not sure, why Ranger had wanted him to come along. He was glad he had because he couldn't wait to see what would happen next. Tank admired the feisty blonde. He would have minded making a play for her, but Ranger saw her first.
Buffy looked up after explaining to the rookie twice what happened. She was losing patience with the officer, who for some reason, wanted to know if she carried any weapons other than the staff.
"Look, I saw the bad guy with a knife, knocked it away, knocked him out then the other guy tried to join the party and now he's taking a nap. No one else was hurt and that's it. If you can't take all that in from what I've told you and the owner said then maybe you're too slow for the job."
Joe saw the anger in Buffy's eyes from his place at the front of the dinner. "Cupcake, I think I'd better go rescue my fellow officer before Buffy eats him for lunch." He walked over to where Buffy stood with her hands on her hips.
Ranger eyed the two men on the ground then looked up at Tank who nodded. "I'll be damned! You took out Juan Vasquez, gorgeous. Did you know that at the time?"
Buffy didn't turn to answer Ranger's question. She glared at the young police officer, and threw her answer over her shoulder. "Not until I had him in handcuffs; I had just finished reading his folder before coming in to help Steph with George."
"We'll take them in for you. You can collect your receipts at the front desk. Stephanie can show you where you need to go." Joe looked the young cop in the eye and he nodded, finally giving in and leaving Buffy alone.
"Do you put your handcuffs on them?"
Big Dog already had cuffs on Manuel and the rookie went over to exchange the ones on Vasquez. He handed Buffy her cuffs and they quickly disappeared from sight.
"Where did you put them?" he eyed Buffy's shear shirt and low-rise jeans.
"Used a little magic. You know women; we are all about the mysterious." She smiled brightly at the large cop.
Juan Vasquez was cussing and struggle with the cop who helped him to his feet. His eyes shot daggers at Buffy, who coldly stared back at him. Buffy started toward him and Joe then Tank then Ranger tried to grab her along the way, she dodged around all three men until she stood in front of Vasquez. She looked at the young police officer, who she now knew his name was Mark Larkin. He stepped back, leaving the two facing each other. Joe shouted at him and all three men started forward.
Stephanie and George watched all of this from the front of the dinner. George asked Stephanie if he had enough time to order another piece of pie. Stephanie wondered if she should sit in a booth and have a piece of pie herself.
Buffy stepped up to Vasquez and whispered in his ear. He took several steps away from her and visibly paled. She walked away without a satisfied smile. Ranger, Tank and Joe watched this by-play unfold, staring at Vasquez, who was visibly scared from whatever Buffy had said to him. They stood in stunned amazement not even noticing as Buffy walked right by them.
She walked up to Stephanie and George with a smile on her face. "You ready to go, Steph?" they both nodded their heads not sure if they should say or do anything to make the little blonde-haired woman angry. "Maybe, we could all have a piece of pie then take George into to be re-scheduled. Fighting always makes me hungry." And Horny. She heard Faith's voice in her head, and had to work hard not to giggle.
The owner rushed over to them. "I have apple pie fresh out of the oven. Sit; I'll bring it to you with some coffee."
Stephanie and George looked at each other and both shrugged as they went back to George's table.
"Aren't you going to introduce us, Steph?"
"What? Uh, oh sure. Buffy, this is George Wilkins; George this is my cousin, Buffy Summers."
Buffy put her hand out and George pumped it up and down as a huge smile spread across his face. He reminded Buffy of Clem. The last time she had seen her demon friend he was leaving Sunnydale. She liked Clem a lot, he was sweet and Ranger, Tank and Joe walked over to the table; the questions they wanted to ask written all over their faces.
"Gorgeous, what did you say to Vasquez? He's going to the car like a spanked puppy." Ranger looked at Buffy expectantly. Her answer shocked the hell out of him.
She looked at him then grinned. A truly evil, predatory grin. Buffy replied in Spanish, "I told him that if I have to bring him in again, I'll wear his ribcage for a hat and his balls for earrings."
Ranger and Tank felt an overwhelming urge to guard their privates. "I didn't know you spoke Spanish."
"There's allot you don't know about me. You haven't even bothered to try to get know me, Ranger," she sighed. "I grew up in LA and our housekeeper taught me when I was a little girl."
Buffy shrugged, considering the conversation closed and took another bite of pie. She closed her eyes and moaned at the wonderful taste. The men stood mesmerized as they watched Buffy eat her pie.
Joe chuckled. "Cupcake, you're definitely cousins." He bent down to give her a quick kiss. Then whispered in her ear, "I like it more when you make the sound, especially when no dessert is involved." Stephanie blushed and Buffy tried to pretend she hadn't heard him.
Ranger watched Buffy for several long moments, before he quietly asked, "Novia, will you go out to dinner with me?"
Buffy looked at Ranger, trying to determine if his invitation was sincere. "I'm not your sweetheart. Just dinner, nothing else?" She eyed him as the question hung heavy in the air. He nodded in response. "You can pick me up at 7:00." She slowly placed her fork down before sweeping from the diner in an exit worthy of well the Slayer.
Stephanie's head kept looking out the door then back at Ranger. "Don't mess with her head, Ranger. I don't know what happened to her before coming to Trenton, but I get the idea it wasn't of the good. If you're just looking for a good time then leave her alone. She's part of my family now and we protect what's ours. Come on George let's get your re-scheduled."
George followed Stephanie out to her SUV happy as a clam that he got another piece of pie.
Tank looked over at Ranger, who looked as if he'd run into a wall. "I think hanging around Buffy's having an effect on Stephanie. That girl is like a blonde tornado."
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