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Warning: Adult language, adult situations, smut, tissues needed

Last Mission

Ranger's POV

The time is now. The moment I've been dreading for these last few years is finally here. My final mission. The key word is FINAL. I'm not going to survive. It's a suicide mission. I'm going in by myself with no support. My family will be lucky to have my body back to bury. Everything that I worked so hard to build, the future that I hoped I would have is now up in smoke. My damned contract is the reason why I don't do relationships.

But then that wonderful, sexy, caring, curly-haired brunette Stephanie Plum entered my life. Three more months. Three more fucking months before my contract terminated, and now, the future that I hoped for cannot be. Dios, Babe, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't give you what you wanted, I'm sorry I can't be your future, your forever. Dios, I need her. I want her in my arms. I want to be inside her one last time. She and Morelli broke up six weeks ago, and we've been taking it slow. We spend time alone, but we haven't made love. We are waiting until the right moment, now that moment will never be here. I hear my intercom buzz.

"Ranger, there are three government officials here. They demand to be sent up."

"Send them up," I tell Cal at the desk. The men will know why they are here, what this means for me. I call the Core Team into my office. Once they all arrive, I lay it out.

"As you surmised, the government called for one last mission. It will be my last mission because I will not survive. I expect you to continue to run Rangeman to my high expectations. But I am asking you here on a more personal level. You are my brothers, not by blood but by every way that matters. You have always been there for me, and I love each of you for that. Please take care of my Babe. Make sure that she NEVER goes back to Morelli. Help her find happiness and love. If it's with one of the men here, so be it. At least I'll know she'll be safe and she'll be allowed to fly. I will try to see her, to explain to her, but if my guard doesn't allow me, I have a letter for her. Lester, make sure my parents understand that I couldn't say goodbye in person. Let them know I love them, especially Abuela. In my safe on seven are some of my belongings, each marked for specific people. Make sure they get them. I have letters for Julie and Rachel, explaining things the best I can. Watch out for my little girl, keep her safe for me.

"I leave in six hours. I'd never thought I say this, but for the first time in my life, I regret joining the Rangers." I finish, keeping my emotions in check. Lester is the first to rise, and he embraces me. We're cousins, going back to our years in diapers. I know my leaving will be hardest on him. Second to say goodbye is Tank, followed by Bobby. They take the letters, saluting me on last time. I leave five and head for my penthouse. Since Steph and I have started our formal relationship, I've added pictures to the mantle and other surfaces. I immediately go to my favorite one, a picture of Stephanie and I taken at a barbeque we had on the roof a month ago. Stephanie is standing in front of me, and I'm holding her around her waist. She is glancing back at me, and we are about to kiss. The picture is the best one that shows our love. I take it out of the frame, placing it in my wallet to keep her close to me. I pack my go back, leaving behind my battle worn dog tags. They will issue me new ones. These will go to my Babe. I place them in my pocket, hoping my guard will allow me to say goodbye to the one person who is my life. I look at my bed, picturing Stephanie the way I found her when she snuck in during the Slayers. As exhausted as I was, I wanted nothing more than to make love to that woman. The memories are flooding my mind, threatening to take over. I need to get out of here.

I change into my jungle fatigues, knowing I'm heading to South America. I tie back my hair, enjoying it's length one last time. I stop at my safe, taking out her ring, the engagement ring I purchased for my Babe years ago. I snap the box closed in anger. Why? Why now when I finally have everything I have ever wanted? I place a few more letters inside, knowing that the recipients will never open them if by some miracle I manage to make it home.

I take one last look around before stepping out of my home for the final time.

"Are you ready, sir?" Suit one asks.

"Yes. Can we make one stop? I need to see my woman."

Suit two nods in understanding. We take the elevator down to the garage, and I'm speechless when the door opens. I see all my men waiting, saluting me as I walk to the car that will take me to my doom. I hear Tank bellow "Officer on deck." Their actions bring tears to my eyes, but bad-ass Ranger mercenaries don't cry.

"Godspeed."

"Good luck."

"We'll miss you."

"We'll take care of Bomber for you."

"Thank you for believing in us."

I hear from various men before getting in the car. I tell Suit 1 how to get to Stephanie's apartment, hoping she's still home. She should be. It's a Saturday, and we don't have plans until tonight. We pull into the lot, and I see her car. I ask them to wait in the car, at least until I'm in her apartment. Suit 3 says he needs to accompany me but will stay outside the door. I have two hours before they come in. I nod in agreement.

I walk up to her apartment door, not sure if being here is a good idea. How do you say goodbye to the one person you never want to leave? I make quick work of her locks and step inside. I don't hear a sound. Maybe she's still asleep. If so, I'll watch her sleep then sneak out, leaving her a letter. I enter her bedroom, finding her sleeping, peacefully. She's wearing my t-shirt, and it has ridden up on her body, exposing part of her breast. She's wearing bikini panties, in red. I feel my body reacting to hers. Suddenly, she starts to stir.

"Carlos?"

"Yeah, Babe, it's me."

She rubs her eyes, sitting up in bed. She takes a look at me, and I see panic enter her eyes.

"No, no, you can't be leaving. Not now, not today." She replies.

"Yes, mi amor, I am. Dios, Babe." I say as I join her on the bed, wrapping my arms around her, inhaling her scent. "I leave in less than two hours." I pull away from her and look in her eyes. "I may never see you again. There is a strong likelihood that this is our last time together. I love you, more than life itself, and I will do everything in my power to make it home to you, but I don't think it is possible. No tears, Querida. I love you."

I see her steadying herself, steeling herself. "Carlos, make love to me. I want you one last time. I want to have the memory of you and me as one to last me my lifetime. Please, Carlos."

"Are you sure, Querida?"

"Yes." I kiss her, with lots of tongue and passion. We practically tear each other's clothes off, which isn't difficult considering she's only wearing panties and a t-shirt. As much as I want to worship her body for days, I know I don't have the time. But still, I will give her multiple orgasms. I kiss her neck, her shoulder, her breast. Dios, her wonderful breasts. I think back to that night Morelli cuffed her to her shower rod. When I first saw her standing there naked, I wanted to put my mouth on her breasts; they were perfect in every way, with her nipple hard and peaked from the cold.

I move further down to her abdomen, wishing that I could give her a child, that I could watch her grow round with the proof of our love inside her. Finally, I reach her core. I taste her sweet juices that have already escaped and continue to drive my Babe wild, allowing her to writhe beneath me. After giving her two orgasms, I reach into my cargos for a condom. She places her hand on mine, looking into my eyes, "No condom, Carlos. If this is our last time, I want no barrier between us."

"Babe, what if we make a baby? I can't leave you to raise that child by yourself. It won't be fair to you."

"Carlos, if this is our last time together and we make a baby, then I'll have a piece of you living with me forever. I'll have a reason to go on, to live my life. If it is meant to be, I'll find a way. I love you."

I toss the condom aside and enter her slowly. I make slow love to my Babe, savoring every moment, every feeling. When we both cum, it's long and intense. I lay down next to her, holding her in my arms. I glance at my watch. Fifteen minutes.

"Babe, I need to shower. I'm leaving in fifteen minutes." I get up and use her shower. I take her shampoo, needing to smell her scent a little longer. I exit in less than five minutes, seeing her sitting on the edge of her bed, my t-shirt back on, with her holding a pillow to her stomach, crying. I kneel in front of her.

"I'm sorry, Querida. I knew this was a bad idea. I never meant to hurt you. You are my lifeline. Dios, Babe, I promise I'll do everything in my power to get back to you."

"Carlos, this is so hard. I love you, and imagining my life without you is hard, but I know you need to do this. I love you, Carlos. Remember, I will always love you." She kisses me, and I hear a knock on the door.

"Two minutes, Captain Manoso."

"Who's that?" Steph asks, confused.

"My guard. They're afraid I'll run. I thought about it. I thought about coming here and taking you with me, running to ground, disappearing somewhere together, where no one would ever find us."

"You know I would go with you to the ends of the Earth. Always. Go, Carlos. I love you."

I place my dog tags around her neck, kiss her once more, then say, "Te quiero, Babe. Always and forever."

I stand and let myself out of her apartment. As I enter the car, I glance at her window, seeing her watching me, getting my last look at the woman who changed my life forever. Goodbye, Stephanie Michelle Plum.

XXXXXXXXXX

Author's Note: The idea of this story came to me as I was lying in bed this morning, trying to get a few extra minutes of sleep. I planned it out in my head, knowing I had to write it. I dedicate this story to our Veterans and active military men and women. I hope that all will get their happily ever after. The story is short, and I will post each POV as a separate chapter. It is written and complete. I will publish once a day until it is all out there for you. I hope that you won't be mad at me for holding off on adding the next chapter of Metamorphosis, as I spent my day writing "Last Mission" instead. I will post chapter 21 this week, I promise.

I self-edited once again, so I apologize for any mistakes. Please review. I hope you enjoy the ride.