A/N: So that started with a bang huh? ;) yup ladies and gents, that's how this story is gonna roll. Every so often I'm throwing in a little fun stuff. Unless you all say no thanks, then I won't, so let me know with a review please ! To my guest reviewer questioning why no one said anything for three months … I explain that in this chapter :) Thanks !!

Chapter 2

Ranger's POV

I rolled over and threw my arm around Babe, snuggling up to her warm body as I kissed her crazy curls. When my hand hit nothing but coldness I opened my eyes and realized I had been dreaming. I was in a dark cell, in some god forsaken place instead of in bed with Stephanie. It all comes crashing back to me… three months ago I said goodbye to Trenton, my family and friends and set off for Miami to spend some quality time with my daughter. I remember walking out of the conference room at my company Rangeman and heading down to the garage, then high tailing it to the airport so I could leave on the next flight. Except I never made it to the airport, so I never got to call Julie and let her know I was on my way. My car was run off the road and the next thing I knew I was waking up here, wherever that might be.

I own a security company, not to mention former Army Ranger, so I am typically way better at paying attention to my surroundings. Unfortunately that day I was completely overwhelmed with the emotions I usually attempt to keep locked away. I walked away from Stephanie Plum, the most beautiful and hard headed woman I've ever had the pleasure of meeting much less knowing on a personal level. We started out as mentor / mentee… She was my Eliza Doolittle to my Professor Henry Higgins. We moved from that to what came next pretty fast. I was a bastard, I fully admit it. She was on /off with her ex Detective Joe Morelli for years, and I had no problem poaching her from him during their off period. Even when they were on I enjoyed tempting her with stolen kisses whenever I could. She attracted me like the moon in orbit, I needed to be near her. Then the whole dynamic shifted when we made the Eddie DeCooch bet (I would help her track him down in exchange for one night with her) and we slept together . I woke up with her next to me, looking down at her and I could see my future. We had a couple of kids, the house, the dog…if it had been anyone else but me that vision may have pushed them into proposing . Me? I pushed her back towards the cop. My life doesn't lend itself relationships, as proven by my current predicament , so I tried my damnedest to forget her, but it didn't work. She came to work for my company full time as a researcher and recovery specialist, working lower bonds and getting my men to help out with the higher ones. She also is a genius when it comes to distraction jobs. Those always caused me issues, Stephanie doesn't realize how killer her body actually is. She grew up in the 'Burg, a section of Trenton that is known for its gossip and mobsters. Her mother bullied her all through her life, including until recently trying to get her to marry Morelli and quit her BEA life. I had to bite my tongue on more than one occasion during Sunday dinner at her parents house when Helen Plum set in. I hope she finally eased up on her.

Things had been awkward for a few months before we finally sat down and talked. The only reason I left was because she moved on with someone new, our team medic Bobby Brown. Don't get me wrong, he's a stand up guy and I'm happy for them, but I was crushed. I didn't have any right to be, believe me my cousin made that abundantly clear, but it didn't change my feelings. When we got to a good place I decided it would be best that I leave, so I decided to go Miami. From the hole I'm in I can smell the ocean so I know I eventually made it here somehow, but after my car was run off the road things got confusing. I hear a noise outside the door so I lay down and pretend I'm still knocked out when I hear two people enter.

"You sure he doesn't need a doctor? He's been out since we got him in Jersey." Male #1 asked, how sweet it almost seems like he's concerned.

"You gave him enough ketamine to knock out a horse, it's not surprising he's still out. " Male #2 responds.

Ah. So that's why I was having those dreams about Stephanie… ketamine is a powerful sedation drug, and apparently I had enough to sleep from Jersey to Miami… at least I hope I'm in Miami, that will make it easier for my team to find me.

"Have you looked at him? He IS the size of a horse! And he was a ranger, he could kill us with his bare hands. I wasn't taking any chances. " Male #1 shoots back.

"Well, boss wanted him here any way we could get him here, so I say it worked."

Boss… so they're under direction of someone. I try to remain still while listening.

"Did Boss ever tell you why he has such a hard on for Manoso? This is way beyond the normal scope of revenge."

Yes… please tell me why I was targeted you stupid fuckers.

"Apparently some chick at a bar tricked his son into believing she was into him, turns out she was a bond recovery agent and working for Monoso. His son was arrested and they haven't seen him since. He blames this prick." I feel him give me a sharp kick to the back and I do my best to not jump up and kill the bastard.

So this all goes back to Bowman. Ron Bowman was the target of a distraction job back in Jersey, and Stephanie played it perfectly. We caught the guy, but after that it all went to hell in a handbasket. He shot Detective Morelli while escaping and then tracked down and kidnapped Stephanie while she was visiting N.Y. with Bobby one weekend. The team got her back almost no worse for the wear, and Bowman went to our holding cells. He would have made it back to lock up, but he attempted to escape again. My men did what they needed to do, and I fully support their efforts to restrain him. Okay so maybe I shouldn't have left the ex gang member who loves Stephanie almost as much as I do alone with him after he saw her injuries, but hindsight is 20/20. So this must be daddy Bowman that captured me. Well the fucker is gonna be sadly mistaken if he thinks my team isn't going to find me. Granted I have no trackers on me, but they are smart. They'll find me…. I hope.