Don't own the characters so I can happily write with them darkly and kill and maim... Ok main is to the extreme...

Its midmorning the sun is shining but its raining. Yup, it's actually raining, and there isn't a storm cloud in the sky. So what can I say, my day is prefect. The take down went smoothly. It was absolutely freaking flawless. Ok so I only have a little mud on me. I think it started out as dust from that creepy old house. Oh well, right?

So now I am letting myself enjoy the day. Ranger's standing on the sidewalk under the canopy. Me, well I am playing in the rain and goading him to join me.

"Oh, come on it's perfectly acceptably to get wet." I said twirling around. My naturally curly hair had absorbed all the tender pelting drops of rain it was going to. So it now hung about framing my face, shielding my eyes from Rangers.

"Babe." Ranger said.

I was almost sure he was laughing at me or… I decided to attempt to view his focal point. I flipped enough hair back to let my eyes slide downward. Damn headlights. Ok it was time to quit playing with Ranger. Everyone knew Ranger didn't play at least not like this.

"I could." He offered as I stepped under canopy. And then his thumbs flicked over my disobedient breasts. I half assed swatted his large firm and very warm hands away.

His lips moved against my neck and shirt collar. Oh ye gods… It may have been summer but there was a cool breeze after all and well I was chilly until he got those hot hands and lips on me. Oh yeah I was heating up quit nicely thank you very much.

"Babe. We could take this else where."

I wanted to push away problem was my body didn't want to. Damn talk bout a mind of its own. I guess that's what I get when I don't get any… Yeah, Joe and I had a spat, so I'm back in my apartment again and well you know the rest of my dilemma.

"So." I began taking a shaky step back from Ranger. I was kind of hoping to have transposed a little mud to him. No such luck the man was spot proof.

"Those guys we took down."

His eyes narrowed to slits his grip tightened on my upper arms. I gasped a little shocked at the pressure. He instantly dropped his hands to his side, his face an unreadable mask.

He flicked a pair of sunglasses open and slid them on. "Babe." He waited a beat. "Those were some very dangerous people."

Damn him he had already pulled me back to him, his hands sliding down into my back pockets. I had my arms half assed draped around his neck. God what was I thinking. It's like feeding a stray cat. Shit it'll own you before you know it.

Oh man his breath was warm on my ear as he leaned down to whisper into it. What can I say I was all into the moment.

His head jerked up and every muscle tensed tight. I only caught the fleeting reflection of something black float across the lens of his shades.

"It's time to go." His voice was all commanding. His arms were about me again but this time he was guiding me. He had me nearly pinned against the wall, as we walked away.

It was late into the evening but still not quite dark. The roads were still rain slicked with the all day on and off drizzle. The large King Crew lacquer black Ford truck came careening around the curves. There was a flash as something flicked across the path of the on coming truck.

It went into a slide, tires roaring and screeching alike looking for purchase. The tail end whipped around, the front end snatched back pulling it back into another spin, going into a completely different direction.

There was the truck slipping sliding spinning out of control. It played over again and again.

The wreck played out all in slow deliberate motion. First a howling spin flowing clockwise and then just as suddenly the truck spun back in a counter clock wise position. Just when the truck appeared to be coming back under control of its driver, an explosion lifted the vehicle up off the ground engulfing both of the dual back tires and slamming it into a tree. The fuel tanks ruptured spewing gallon after gallon of gas on the all too eager fire.

There was another explosion as the windows exploded outward in not only the fully engulfed pick up but also the few local cars on the street.

Someone's mournful car alarm still wailed. Even as the EMT's worked on Ricardo Carlos Manoso, aka Ranger. They were just lifting him up into the ambulance as Joe Morelli's dark blue suv slid to a catty cornered stop, behind at least twelve of Rangeman vehicles.

"Where is he the fucking bastard?" Morelli was roaring with anger. "I'll kill him, damn him."

Tank pressed a hand against Morelli's shoulder but didn't other wise try to stop him.

"Man its, bad." Tank tried to tell Morelli.

"You have no fucking idea exactly how bad it is. He just as good as killed her. That sonavubitch." Morelli was screaming.

"Man, it's just about killed him too." Tank offered. Glimmers of tears sparkled in his otherwise dark eyes.

Morelli's glare shot all around looking from one Rangeman to the other. They all wore the same devastated look. Fuck 'em all Morelli thought as he pushed forward towards the ambulance where they were working on Ranger.

Suddenly he was beside Ranger. The mental flames of hatred licked up in Morelli. He wanted to for just a split second slam a needle full of air straight into Rangers heart push the plunger down and kill the bastard, then and there.

Ranger's lips were dried and cracked. Blood leaked out from his body, from the corner of his mouth, at a place just above his belt line in his abdomen.

Morelli watched his lips move, but no words seem to come out or if they did the mask over his face gobbled them up.

But Morelli knew what he was saying. I'll find her killer.

"We're losing him." One of the medics said as a new buzz joined that lone car alarm.

Morelli watched the ass end of the ambulance swerved away, the tail lights were like smears of blood waving goodbye.

Cop lights bathed everything in eerily blues and ghoulish reds. Pools of foam seem too slide from Rangers burnt out hull of a truck and attach themselves to Morelli's feet.

Morelli's temper was building again. Several of the police spoke to Morelli as one by one they each began pulling away giving to him their condolences at the death of Stephanie Plum. He nodded his head not really listening. He'd already seen most of them earlier when her still smoldering body had been found.

He'd went numb, hell he went off the deep end. And then he'd went to her apartment only to run into Ranger there, he suppose now what really set him off was when he was about to feed HER hamster.

"Fuck it-" he shouted out loud. His arms flailing around he was swearing, he kicked the remainder of alloy rim of Rangers truck. To fucking bad the truck wasn't a diesel model, least it wouldn't have blown up even if the bastard did wrap the truck around the tree.

"That fucking bastard even in death that sonvabitch will be with her. I swear Ranger, you fucking asshole. If you weren't already busted up I'd kill your damn fucking ass. She was mine. Do you here me?"

He broke down with hot fiery tears raining over his cheeks. He needed to vent, he wanted to pound Ranger, no he wanted to shoot him, but Ranger was in pretty bad shape so what the hell. He'd just take it out on Rangers truck.

His fist slammed again and again into the charred remains of the truck, not once or twice but over and over again until Tank and his men pulled him away and took him to the hospital.

Thirty minutes later blood still dripped from bandaged knuckles as Tank strolled in. His head dropped. Morelli nodded he looked like a defeated man. Maybe Stephanie did mean something to them after all. Maybe she was an attachment to them too. She was certainly what linked Ranger to him. He like the guy ok, he just did…… well hell Stephanie was his first and most of the time Ranger acknowledged it.

Tank looked down at his shoes even with every step he took, even when he stood there in front of Morelli.

Tank cleared smoke choked throat. "Man, we're really sorry 'bout your babe. If there is anything we can do…"

Morelli wanted to demand he bring her back, make it all ok. Make it prefect like it was this morning when she called him up telling him about Ranger's and her big bust. They had even made plans to get back together well at least for a lunch date. With any luck…

Shit he had to get the reins on his feelings.

"He's gone!" Tank spoke with a sigh. And then he stalked out.

Son of a fucking bitch. Morelli wanted to shout. The damn bastard would get to be with here even in death.

He threw himself back against the exam table.

"I might as well die too."