AN: Standard Disclaimer. Right now this is a one shot that wouldn't leave me alone. It has been nagging at me for a few days so I wrote it. It isn't beta'd so all mistakes are mine and mine alone. Be Kind and Leave a Review. ; )

Wednesday, April 15, 2011

My name is Stephanie Plum, The Bombshell Bounty Hunter or Bounty Hunter from Hell. I'm 32 years old and I work as a part-time bounty hunter for my weasel cousin Vinnie and the rest of the time I work at Rangeman doing searches, distractions, and occasional takedowns. Since I started more permanently at Rangeman I've also been training. I've gotten a lot better at my job because of that.

I was born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey. I left and went to college and then married Dickie Orr but before the ink was dry on our marriage license I caught him screwing my arch nemesis Joyce Barnhardt. I worked for a while as a lingerie buyer for E.E Martin but I got laid off and blackmailed the weasel into giving me a job as a Bounty Hunter.

That's how I met my mentor, best friend, and one time lover Ranger or Ricardo Carlos Manoso. He owns Rangeman and helped me get started in bounty hunting. He is an all around badass in black. We have an amazing chemistry but Ranger doesn't do relationships, that's what he told me after we slept together before he sent me back to my ex, the scum, Joe Morelli.

A couple months ago I told Ranger how I felt about him and that I loved him hoping he would us a chance at a relationship. He refused and told me he did love me but we would never be able to be together. It took a lot of alcohol, ice cream, and good friends to get me over Ranger but I did.

Joe Morelli on the other hand was a detective for Trenton Police Department. We had an unhealthy on again off again relationship for a couple years and finally called it quits for good about six months ago. I loved Joe but not the forever kind of love more a friendship kind of love. I walked in his house one night with dinner so we could talk and caught him screwing Terry Gilman, the mob barbie.

We ended it on that note and Joe moved to Newark, where I believe he is working as a detective. I'm not sure because we don't talk. Joe and I both grew up in the Burg. Most girls in the Burg grow up and become stay at home moms with 2.5 kids, a dog, have dinner on the table at six, and their house is always spotless.

A few things wrong with that for me. I'm a horrible cook, I hate to clean, I don't want to get married again, and don't want kids. Which brings me back to the present. Today was a Rangeman day and a day I needed to leave early. Ranger was out of the office meeting with clients so I went to visit Tank. I walked to his office and walked in. Most wouldn't dare not knock on his door but we had an understanding and I didn't have to knock.

I walked in and sat on the edge of his desk in front of him. He had his head in a file but looked up and smiled at me.

"What can I do for you Little Girl?"

"Can I take the rest of the day off? I have something I need to do."

"Go ahead. Do you need any help?"

"Nope I got it." I leaned over and kissed his bald head before hopping off his desk to get my things.

A part of me loved this date but another part of me absolutely hated this date. It was a double edged sword. I grabbed my purse and tucked my gun in the waist band of my jeans. I rode the elevator down to the garage and hopped into my 2006 Red Ford Escape.

I drove a few blocks and pulled into a gas station and disabled all the tracker on my car. I had taken all the trackers out of my purse and left them on my desk before leaving the office. None of the guys needed to know where I was going or what I was doing. I filled up my gas tank, grabbed a Coke and some Tasty Cakes in the store before being on my way.

I drove to Philadelphia and stopped at a Wal-Mart and walked inside. I went directly to the toy department and got a large stuffed teddy bear, I then went to their floral department and got a bouquet of Lilies to take with me. I checked out and walked back out to my car with tears in my eyes, just like I did every year.

I sat in my car for a few minutes until I got control over my emotions enough to drive. Only four other people knew this secret and I had kept it that way for 12 years and it wasn't easy. I drove to the small cemetery and parked in my normal spot.

I waved at the groundskeeper and he waved back before walking into the office and grabbing the teddy bear from last year and putting it in my car. We did this every year. I would show up, we'd wave at each other and then he would go get the stuffed animal I left at the grave site the year before and put it in my car while I visited the most special person in the world.

I made my way to the gravesite and ran my hand across the head stone before the tears began to fall.

Michael Francis Plum

April 15, 1999 - April 15, 1999

Mommy's Angel and Grandpa's Joy.

My son. My Sweet Angel who I only got the joy of knowing outside my womb for three short hours. I was a little wild in college and one night at a party I had unprotected sex which resulted in the pregnancy of my son. His dad didn't want anything to do with us so I let it go. I was going to do the best I could.

I told my dad and Grandma and Grandpa Mazur and my roommate, Lisa. They supported me during my pregnancy and I stayed a way from everyone else. My dad and grandparents came up with the money to pay for my OB/Midwife appointments in cash and we used a different name. Michelle Mazur. I gave birth in a clinic where I was able to hold my son for a short time.

I found out during an ultrasound that my son did not have kidneys. I was given the option to end my pregnancy or carry to term and deliver knowing my son would only live a few hours. I chose to carry my son to term and at least hold him.

Michael lived for three hours. Lisa, my dad, and my grandparents were with me at the clinic and they each held him for a few minutes. The rest of the time he was alive I held him in my arms and cried that I wouldn't get to watch him grow up.

Michael looked a lot like me. He had a full head of straight brown hair and was light skinned, his dad also had the same characteristics but we said it was because of me. Three days after his birth and death we laid my son to rest.

Every year on April 15 I come to the cemetery with a stuffed animal and flowers. My dad, grandma and Lisa usually come too. We are never here at the same time and I'm okay with that. Lisa always brings whatever boy toy is most popular, dad brings various sports gear, and grandma brings candy and flowers.

It looked like Lisa and my dad and grandma had already been here today which meant I could spend the rest of my day here without interruptions. I laid out a blanket in front of the headstone and set my coke and tasty cakes on it. I put his stuffed animal beside the headstone and the flowers on the other side.

Every year I tell him how my year has been and how much I love him. I imagine him laughing at some of my bounty hunting escapades and I cry. It's bittersweet, Sweet because I had him but bitter because I didn't get to keep him.

I ate my tasty cakes and drank my coke while talking to him enjoying the peace and luckily today was a beautiful day for me to spend with my Angel.

Cal's POV

Today was my day off and I had been in Philadelphia visiting family. I stopped at Wal-Mart to grab some things before heading back to Trenton when I saw Steph come out of Wal-Mart with flowers, a teddy bear and tears streaking her face. I did the only thing I knew to do and called Ranger.

"Yo" He answered.

"Boss, its Cal. I'm in Philadelphia and just saw Bomber walking out of the Wal-Mart crying with a teddy bear and flowers. Should I follow her?"

I walked back to my car just in case, since I didn't want to lose her.

"She ditched all of her trackers. Follow her and call me and let me know where you end up." He disconnected.

I started my car and followed Steph at a safe distance where she wouldn't spot me. She pulled into a cemetery and I saw her wave at a groundskeeper, he waved back, walked into a building brought out a teddy bear and put it in her car. I watched as she ran her hand across the top of a head stone before laying out a blanket and sitting on it with snacks and a drink.

I called Ranger.

"Yo."

"Boss, she is at a cemetery in Philadelphia, sitting on a blanket with snacks and a drink. Her and the groundskeeper waved at each other and then he went in a building brought out a teddy bear and stuck it in her car and went back inside."

"Cemetery name?" He barked out.

"Rosewood." I heard him clicking away on his computer and I waited silently while watching her.

"Shit" I heard him mutter under his breath. I continued to wait.

"Keep an eye on her. She has secrets we don't know about. I'm not sure I want to approach her about it today but just make sure she's okay."

"Got it Boss." I hung up.

I still had no clue what was going on just that whatever it was must really be hurting her. I can see her shaking with sobs. I sat in my car a few more minutes before I couldn't handle it anymore. She was hurting and should be comforted.

I was in love with her, I had gotten to know her really well since she came to work at Rangeman and we partnered together a lot. She is an amazing woman and I wanted to ask her out but she was so hurt over Ranger telling her they could never be together so I've waited patiently.

When he first told her, she got extremely depressed and I would go to her apartment and take her dinner and spend time with her watching movies. It was really bad at first but she slowly got her spark back and when she did she started training harder and working more.

She had quickly become one of my best friends and I slowly started falling in love with her every time I spent time with her. I don't see how Ranger could give her up, she was beautiful inside and out.

I walked toward her slowly and stopped at her car just watching her. I couldn't make out what the headstone said but she was beginning to sob harder. I walked the rest of the way to her and set down on the blanket and pulled her in my arms.

She was so distraught that she didn't even look up to see who was holding her or maybe she knew it was me.

Steph's POV

I began sobbing and the more I had try to get control of myself the harder I sobbed. Suddenly I felt someone pull me into their chest and stuck my face I his neck. I knew it was Cal because of his smell, the woodsy smell of his cologne mixed with his own unique smell.

I wrapped my arms around him and continued to cry. I didn't know how he knew I was here or how he found me. He was supposed to be off work today. I would ask later, right now I was grieving the loss of my son and the true reason I didn't want to have children. I couldn't bear to lose another child like I lost Michael.

I finally got my sobbing under control and began to calm down. I sniffled and pulled away from Cal he loosened his arms on me but didn't let go. Cal had become one of my best friends and I really cared about him. I'm not sure what was happening between us now but I knew whatever it was, it was changing our relationship.

He looked at me and all I saw was concern in his eyes.

"Do you want to talk about it Angel?" He asked me.

I nodded my head and looked back at the head stone and then back to Cal.

"Cal, this is my son Michael." He nodded and hugged me tighter as I began to cry again.

"Michael was born without kidney and passed away in my arms three hours after I gave birth to him."

"I'm sorry Angel."

"It's hard, I come here every year and tell him about my year. Very few people even know about him. Only my dad, Grandma Mazur, and my old roommate in college Lisa and now you." He nodded at me letting me think about what I wanted to say.

"I gave birth to him under a different name and his dad never wanted him. A one night stand in college resulted in my beautiful angel." I paused taking a deep breath. "He is the reason I decided not to have kids. I don't ever want to go through losing another child. It hurts to much." Cal kissed me on the cheek.

I removed myself from Cal's arms and walked to my SUV, I pulled out a backpack and brought it back to the blanket. I opened the backpack and pulled out my son's blanket from the hospital, his first outfit he wore and at the bottom was a 5x7 framed picture of me and him and at the hospital. I handed it to Cal and he looked at it and smiled.

"He's beautiful, looks just like you." I smiled and looked at the picture with him.

"He's my angel. I never knew a love could be so strong and complete until I loved him."

"Was his condition hereditary?" He asked

"I don't think so. It still scares me though." He nodded and once again pulled me to him.

We both sat there quietly for two more hours and Cal looked at me.

"Can I take you to dinner?" I nodded and we both got up. I started picking all my things up and Cal looked at me. "I'll take care of this stuff, you go talk to your Angel."

I nodded and walked in front of the headstone. I squatted down and spoke to my son.

"Michael, I'm going to go. I love you baby, always. I'll be back. You know the routine. I'll be here on Memorial Day, Mother's Day, and of course Christmas." I kissed my fingers and ran them across his name as the tears fell once again.

I walked over to Cal who loading my things in my car, he finished up and shut the back of the SUV before turning to me.

"Follow me I know a small diner with great food I can take you to."

I got in my car and waited until he was in his. I followed him about five miles and we pulled into a small diner. He walked over to my car opening the door and helping me out. He guided me in with his hand at the small of my back.

We sat down and the waitress came and took out orders. Two bacon cheeseburgers and fries with Cokes. Cal started to look nervous which is an odd thing for a big muscular man with a flaming tattoo on his head. I patiently waited for him to get hid thoughts together.

"I don't want to make you uncomfortable but would you be willing to go out with me Friday?" I smiled at him.

"A Date?"

"Yeah. A date."

"I would love to." He smiled as our dinner was brought out.

We ate quietly and I had a date with Cal and I was honestly excited about that.

The End For Now.

If you would like me to continue this and have ideas about what you would like to see let me know. Also I am working on another long story and hope to start posting soon.

The condition Michael was born with is a real condition. A friend of mines baby was born without kidneys and only lived for a few hours. It was a very sad experience but they now have a happy healthy boy and are getting ready to welcome a new bundle of joy to their family.