Disclaimer: JE owns the character.

I was proud of myself for not faltering when I came face to face with Ranger. We hadn't exactly had the 'no poaching' talk. That tends to be a difficult conversation for both of us to have. Sure, I left the message, but that was the chicken shit way out. By the look in Ranger's eyes this was going to get ugly. Fast.

"Babe," Ranger said again.

"What Ranger?" I asked.

He silently stared at me. I can't take this shit anymore. I've had it. I released Lester's hand and walked over to Ranger. I grabbed his hand and hauled him out of the control room. I pushed Ranger into his office and slammed the door.

"What?" I shouted at him.

"Babe…"

"Don't fucking 'Babe' me! What the fuck do you want from me?" I shouted. Italian temper tantrum didn't even come close to describing how I was feeling.

"Lester?"

"You know what, Ranger? Why don't you come and find me when you're done with your one word questions. I'm tired of the Batman façade," I said.

I turned to leave and was quickly whirled around and pinned to the door. Ranger looked pissed. Ranger showing any emotion, other then amusement, was bad. At this point, I really didn't give a shit. Anything was better then the silent treatment he had been giving me for the last four months.

"I'm tired of the games, Babe."

"I've never played games with you. You're the one that kept sending me back to Joe. After everything that we shared, you discarded me like yesterday's underwear. I'm done."

The finality of my statement hung in the air. I watched several emotions run through Ranger's eyes. Regret, disbelief, heart break. The mask quickly came across his face and he shut down.

"That's what I thought," I said as I shoved Ranger aside and opened the door. "You missed your chance, Ranger. Don't miss your chance at being my friend."

I closed the door in his face and made my way back to the control room. Lester, Tank, Junior, Cal, Hal, and Binkie were all standing there. I had no doubts that they had heard every word of what was said. After all, Ranger's office is bugged. The whole office is bugged. I stood in the doorway and folded my arms across my chest.

"Did you guys have an update on Sugar, or did I get pulled out of bed to have a fight with Ranger this morning?"

"A package was delivered to the bonds office for you. We've already scanned it. We haven't opened it since it's for you," Tank said as he pointed at a box that sat on the floor by the wall.

"Great!" I said as I moved over to the box. "I love packages!"

I knelt down in front of the box and pulled out my pocket knife. I cut the tape on the top of the box and then put the knife back in my pocket. I pulled the flaps back on the box and peered inside. I slowly reached in and started pulling things out.

Blonde Marilyn Monroe wig. Black mini skirt. Red halter top. Black FMPs. I felt a wave of dread as I looked into the bottom of the box and saw the note.

Whore,

Tomorrow night is the start of the Marilyn Monroe Convention in Atlantic City. It will be held at Bally's. Please come prepared.

Sugar

"This is sick," I said as I handed the letter to Lester who was standing right behind me.

"This is a nightmare," Lester said after he scanned the letter and handed it to Tank. "Although I think that the wig might have potential."

"I don't care how much you like me as a blonde, I'm not bleaching my hair," I said as I instantly felt my mood lighten as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

I placed my hand on his as I picked up the wig and inspected it. I flipped it over and saw a little black dot near the edge of the cap. I slowly stood up and walked over to one of the chairs that was at the control desk. I climbed up on the chair and brought the wig to my face under the bright light that was inches over my head.

"What are you doing, Honey?" Lester asked.

"Tracking devise," I said as I threw the wig at Tank.

"Impressive," Tank said as he eyes the small devise. "Expensive."

"Can we piggy back off of that signal?" Lester asked as he helped me down.

"Let me take a look," Junior said as he held out his hand for the wig. "If not, then I can put one of ours in it."

Lester brought me into his arms as the guys weighed the pros and cons of going through with Sugar's request. Binkie and Hal were completely against me going any where near Atlantic City. The other guys were all for it. Lester stayed quiet the whole time.

"What do you think, Lester?" Tank asked.

"I'm with Steph. If she wants to do it, then I'll be there."

All of the guys looked down at me. They all wanted to know how much guts I had.

"Looks like we're all going to Atlantic City," I said with a challenging smile.

Tank started spouting out orders for the guys to get organized. I ran my fingers across Lester's forearms that were wrapped around the top of my chest. I leaned my head down and kissed his arm. I pulled my head back and closed my eyes as I leaned my head against his chest. I smiled when I felt him place a light kiss in my hair.

There was really only one thing that I could think of that I needed to do to get ready for tomorrow night. I needed to freshen up my fighting skills. Big Dog had gotten me boxing lessons as a gag gift for my last birthday. I actually went and took the classes. It had been fun and i had learned a lot. It had been a while, though. I needed two hours with Hal.

I opened my eyes and saw Hal looking over at me. I looked down at my watch. Seven thirty. I had to change. Then I should probably warm up a little. I looked back up at Hal.

"Eight thirty?" I asked.

"It's a date," Hal said and then walked off.

"Why is one of my best friends taking my girlfriend out on a date?" Lester whispered in my ear.

"It's not a real date," I said as I turned in his arms. "Hal's gonna show me some moves."

"What? My moves weren't good enough?" Lester said with a crooked smile.

"Your moves were fantastic, Lester," I said with a smile. "But you'll hold back in a fight. Hal won't."

"You planning on jumping in the ring?"

"You bet your ass."

"Be careful of his right hook. Keep your left up," Lester said and then kissed my forehead.

"I'll see you later," I said as I moved out of his arms and made my way to the door.

"Ring side at eight thirty," Lester said with a laugh.

I made my way to the fourth floor and quickly changed. I ran to the gym to get my heart pumping. I hit the treadmill first. Sweat is a good thing, right. I did a quick stop at the arm and leg machine and then I did some work on my abs. By eight thirty, I was pumped and ready to go.

I was at the CD player when Hal walked in. I looked at the clock on the wall. Eight thirty-five. I shot Hal a glare.

"Sorry."

"Would you have been late if Tank or Ranger was waiting for you?" I asked.

Hal silently stepped into the ring. Like a good little Merry Man, he refused to comment. I was okay with this. The less talk the better. Green Day started blaring over the speakers as Hal started to jumping in place to get his blood pumping.

Don't want to be an American idiot.

Binkie walked in and got both of us laced up in boxing gloves. He whispered a warning on Hal's right hook as well. I winked at Binkie and smiled as he slipped the teeth guard in my mouth. I bounced and danced my way around the ring while I waited for Binkie to lace Hal up.

"I walk a lonely road," I sand along with Billie Joe. "The only one that I have ever known. Don't know where it goes, but it's home to me and I walk alone."

"You ready, Half Pint?" Hal asked with a wide grin.

"You bet your ass, Tonto!" I shouted as we started going at each other.

I got his first few punches blocked and I landed a good kidney punch. The kidney punch was a declaration of war to Hal. I ducked his right hook and countered with un upper cut that sent him back a few steps.

"Shake it off!" Binkie shouted from the ropes.

I heard Cal make a bet with Junior that I could knock Hal out. Fifty dollar bets were flying around the ring. When did all of these people come in here? I caught sight of Lester behind Hal. He raised his fists in front of his face and I raised mine.

We danced around a bit while Hal got rid of the stars in his eyes. I saw his eyes come back into focus and the game was back on. Hal started to dance his way toward me. I watched his feet move and started to anticipate his next move. Hal likes to make you think the wrong thing by his stance. He was going to try for another right hook.

I saw the fake with his left as he pulled his right back. He left himself wide open. He fell back when my glove contacted with his chin once again. I stood over him and looked down. The lights were on, but no body was home.

"Shit, Steph! You kicked his ass!" Binkie shouted as he jumped in the ring to check on Hal.

I smiled over at Lester. He had a satisfied grin spread across his face. I walked over to the ropes and waved him over. He slowly pushed off the wall and came over. I opened my mouth so that he could take the guard out.

"How much did you win?" I asked.

"Two hundred," Lester said proudly. "I think that you just got yourself another opponent."

I looked over my shoulder to see Binkie lacing Cal up.

"Words of advice… Cal will wait you out. You'll have to go after him. He fights dirty. Watch his knees. If he starts getting dirty, kick him in his left knee. Watch his right hook, too. He'll favor his left to fake you out. Don't fall for it," Lester whispered. He kissed me deeply and the slid the guard back in my mouth. "They've seen the upper cut. He'll be watching for that. Gloves up."

I smiled at my coach and started dancing around the ring while I waited for Cal to get warmed up. I was glowing with the admiration that I had seen in Lester's eyes. I bounced up to Cal and we touched gloves. Before he could bounce away, I hit him with a right hook that sent him back a few feet.

"Shake it off, Cal!" Tank shouted.

I looked over at Tank and pointed at him. He was next and he wanted a shot. I could see it in his eyes. He grinned at me and I quickly shot a grin back. I was in Merry Man heaven. They all wanted a piece of me. I really only wanted a piece of one of them and I knew that Lester wouldn't step in the ring with me.

Cal quickly recovered and started bouncing around once again. The gleam in his eyes was inspiring. I got closer and sacrificed taking one to the head to get in my upper cut and sent Cal to the ground. I bounced around the ring.

"Come on Cal!" I shouted. "Hal lasted longer then this!"

That got a rise out of Cal. He slowly got up and shook the hit off. He started bouncing around the ring again. He decided to take an offensive approach and landed a kidney punch. He briefly left himself open after the punch and I got in another right hook. He fell right back down.

Binkie climbed in the ring and checked on Cal. He leaned down to try to hear what Cal was saying. Binkie smiled up at me. I threw my hands in the air and did my happy, booty dance. I glanced over at Lester. He was already at the ropes. He was grinning from ear to ear.

I bounced over and opened up my mouth. He removed the guard and I took a drink from the bottle of water that he offered. He reached over the ropes and strapped a helmet to my head. He was being protective. It was cute.

"Tank is big. Don't let his size fool you. He's quick. He's in incredible shape. He has no weaknesses. Watch out for his upper cut. He'll pull back for a right hook and change at the last minute. Block your ribs. That's his favorite area to go after other then your head."

I nodded as I tried to gather all of the information that I could.

"I need new music," I said after I took another drink.

"What do you want?"

"White Stripes. Seven Nation Army."

"Good choice," Lester said with a grin. He stuck the guard back in my mouth and headed to the CD player. I turned back to the ring and started bouncing around once again. Binkie was finishing lacing up Tank when Ranger walked in. I saw him out of the corner of my eye, but I didn't look at him. He walked up to the ropes and stood between Hal and Cal. I bounced over to Ram who was off by himself. He smiled down at me as I came over.

"Hey, Heavy Weight," Ram said as he leaned on the ropes. "Looking pretty good."

I opened my mouth and he took out my guard. He squirted more water in my mouth for me and wiped the sweat off of my forehead.

"Gloves up. Elbows in. Eyes up. Watch his shoulders. The one that dips is the one that throws."

"Got it," I said. I opened my mouth and Ram slid the guard back in.

I turned around as I heard the bass boom out of the speakers.

"I'm gonna fight'em all. A seven nation army couldn't hold me back," I sang out as I danced around my side of the ring.

Tank started laughing as he bounced in place. We met in the middle to touch gloves. I watched Tank's left shoulder drop as my gloves slammed down on his. His left hook came out at caught me in the jaw. I flew back at landed on the floor. I moved my jaw around and saw Ram staring down at me. I was by the ropes at his feet. That meant that I flew about ten feet. Damn It!

I sat up and looked at Tank. He had a smug smile plastered across his face as he bounced in place. I held my hand up to keep Binkie out of the ring. This was war!

"Come on, Bomber!" Ram shouted as I stood up. "Go get him, girl!"

I started bouncing in place as I rolled my head back and forth. I shook my shoulders out and then brought up my gloves. Tank quickly moved forward. I saw his shoulder drop and I weaved as his arm came around. I countered as I weaved and caught him in the ribs. I heard the crack, but it didn't seem to faze Tank. He weaved for a moment and the dropped his shoulder again. As he brought out his arm I saw the blood run down his side.