The characters are not mine, but the story is all of my creation. Thank you, JE for letting us play with your creations.
Author's Note: I usually end my chapters with my notes, but I'm going to start this one with one instead. I have a hard time accepting Lula as an excellent friend to Stephanie in canon. She doesn't have her back and often lets her get into more trouble because of her irresponsible actions. So, I don't see it as being too hard to imagine her being a manipulative, backstabbing bitch. I know some of you are surprised, and I'm glad that I surprised you because it means that I crafted a good storyline, but I just don't love Lula. On another note, I'm not sure how much longer "Dream" is going to be. I wrote it initially as a one-shot, and it evolved from there. I hope to have at least another two to three chapters to tie up loose ends and finish the plot, but I'm not sure if it will be much longer than that. Please keep your reviews coming; they inspire me to continue to write this story. 3
Chapter 10 The Reason
Ranger's POV
We have finally arrived back in Deal, to our home. I am glad to be back here with my two girls. As much as I wish we had a backup with us, I do realize that we need time as a family, just the three of us. I know Stephanie is feeling trapped, and a trapped Stephanie is not a good thing. Julie is more used to the constant surveillance, especially after Scrog, but she's right, she has to have the opportunity to live her life without constant security. My men in Miami trained with her in Tae Kwon Do, Jui Jitsu, and other defensive strategies, she's been shooting a gun regularly for that last five years, and is acutely aware of her surroundings, especially for a teenager. My Babe has been getting better. Lester worked with her on her self-defense and take down moves, she's been training under Bobby's watchful eyes, and she is almost as good of a shot as Tank. She is much more serious about her security. Bobby told me that she always carried when she was in San Diego, and she knew how to take care of herself. The stories I heard her friends share about how she would keep the unwanted admirers at bay had me proud of her. She has come a long way since that woman I first met all those years ago.
"Babe, Julie, we're home," I announce to my two sleeping beauties. Julie wakes up and immediately jumps out of the car. Steph barely moves. I lean over and kiss my Babe. "Babe, we're home. You need to wake up now." As I touch her forehead with my lips, I feel that she is warm, too warm. I get out of the car and walk around to her side. I unbuckle her and lift her out of the car. I throw the keys to Julie and tell her to open the door. She does immediately, and I carry Steph into the living room and lay her on the couch. "Julie, run upstairs to the master bedroom and get the thermometer from the top drawer of the vanity in the bathroom. Hurry."
Julie runs upstairs while I call Bobby. "Bobby, you need to get to the house in Deal immediately. Something is wrong with Stephanie."
"What's happening, is she bleeding?"
"No, she's burning up. Julie is getting the thermometer. She's been asleep since we got back to Haywood. I thought she was just emotionally drained, but she doesn't look good."
"You need to take her temperature and let me know what it is immediately."
"Here's Julie with the thermometer. Give me a minute to take her temperature." I put the probe cover on the thermometer and stick it under her tongue. I wait for it to finish reading. Once it beeps, I pull it out of her mouth. "Fuck! It's 103.3. What do I do?"
"Get her cool, but not cold. Put a cool rag on her forehead. Try and get her to take Tylenol for the fever. I'm going to need to give her fluids. It may be better to take her to local ER, Ranger."
"Bobby, just get here fast. I don't want to take her to the hospital unless you are here to run interference."
"Tank and I are on our way. We're getting in a car now."
"See you soon." I hang up the phone. "Julie, stay her with Steph while I go get her some Tylenol. Have you noticed anything with Steph lately out of the normal?"
"She's been coughing a lot, claiming allergies. She's also been tired."
"Damn it." How did I not see Steph getting sick? "Babe, come on, you need to wake up for a few minutes."
"W-What do you w-want, Carlos?"
"Babe, here, takes these two Tylenol and drink this water. How are you feeling?"
She swallows the pills and drinks her water. "Tired. My body aches, my chest hurts, and I have a cough that won't go away. I can't take any meds, so I have to suffer."
"Babe, how long have you been feeling like this?"
"For the last two days."
"Why didn't you tell Bobby or me?"
"Because we've been wrapped up in the Dalton takedown. I figured it was allergies to all the flowers at Hector's house. I'm cold. I'm going back to sleep."
Julie and I look at each other, and we both know that this isn't good. I'm afraid that my Babe is going to be in the hospital and she's going to be pissed at me. Why can't anything go easy with her?
"Jules, why don't you see what's in the fridge and make something for us for dinner. Bobby and Tank are coming, so make sure there's some extra. I'll help you in a few minutes. I just want to get Steph settled."
"Dad, take care of mom. I got dinner. You don't need to help me. Just make sure mom and the baby are okay."
I look at my watch. It'll be at least another twenty minutes before Bobby arrives. As I'm listening to my Babe breathe, I hear her wheezing. This can't be good. I guess Tank will be staying here with Julie. I'm glad that I'm able to trust Tank. I wonder if he spoke to Lula yet?
Bobby's POV
"You know, I couldn't figure out why we were shut out of Bomber duty until today. Ranger didn't trust us."
"Do you blame him? After what that bastard did to him, I mean, six more months and Lester and Bomber would be married." Tank replies.
"I get it, but it still hurts."
"Considering that it was Lula, though, I can't blame him or be mad at him."
"I guess your right. At least we're back in Ranger's good graces now. I never want to be on the outside looking in again."
"You got that right. What do you think is wrong with Bomber?"
"She probably has some cold. Maybe the flu, hopefully not pneumonia. She may have to go to the hospital."
"You know she's going to be pissed off about that."
"Yes, I do, but she needs to think about that baby, and that's the safest place for her and her child."
"I get you. Do you know that Lula did that to Stephanie because she was jealous of her? She was jealous because I would drop everything to go and help Bomber if she needed me. I mean, we all do, because she's our partner and our sister, but apparently, I put her ahead of Lula, and she was sick and tired of it. And to think I was ready to propose to her."
"No one blames you. There was no way to know that Lula would turn on Stephanie like that. I know that it will probably kill Steph when she realized it was Lula." Bobby responded.
Tank sighed. "I don't understand how such a good person constantly gets fucked over by people who supposedly love her, first her mother, then her sister and the Burg, and now Lula. Even Morelli is a jerk to her at times, though much better than he used to be when they were dating."
"I hear you. You know, if any of us ever betrayed Stephanie, I think it would hurt her more than everyone else combined because we are now her family."
With that, Tank and I settle into comfortable silence, each lost in our thoughts about how many people screwed over Stephanie since we've known her. Finally, we pull up to the gates of the house. I put my pass on the keypad, and we are allowed entrance. Once we park, I grab my bag, and we go in the house to check on Stephanie.
Ranger's POV
Bobby and Tank finally arrived at the house. I go and open the door for them. Bobby comes in with his bag and immediately goes to my Babe. I see him checking her pulse, her heart, and her lungs. He feels her head and can tell that she has a fever. "Ranger, she's wheezing, her lungs don't sound clear. Her heart rate is a little high. I can only imagine that her oxygen levels can't be too good. I'm going to give her a nebulizer treatment before we go to the hospital, but that is where she needs to be. They need to monitor her and the baby. I'm not even sure what medication if any, I can give her that won't harm the baby. I'll try to nebulizer her while she's sleeping, but Steph may wake up."
I watch Bobby get his stuff together and set up the nebulizer. Julie comes in to tell us that dinner is ready. She made a salad, grilled chicken with salsa, and brown rice. I make myself a plate and eat it while watching Stephanie. The fact that she's not waking up with the smell of the food is getting me even more concerned for her health right now. The closest hospital to this house is Monmouth Medical Center. I hope Bobby has an in there so that he can be kept in the loop with Steph's care. Bobby finished eating at the same time as I did, so we decided to head to the hospital. He calls ahead, to let them know we are coming and to tell them Stephanie's condition. Tank is staying at the house with Julie. I texted Hector once Tank and Bobby arrived and asked him to come here as well so he can be an extra set of hands and an extra body. He should be arriving in about 15 minutes. I run up to our room and pack a bag for Steph and my self with a couple of changes of clothes for me and her nightgowns and pajamas so she can be comfortable. Bobby double checks her vitals before we leave.
"Ranger, I'm still concerned about her breathing. It's a little better after the nebulizer treatment, but not where it should be. They may need to give her a steroid, but I don't know if they can with her being pregnant. I hope they can give her an antibiotic. If this is bacterial pneumonia, which I think it might be, we're in luck, because it is fairly easy to treat and will harm the baby the least. If it is viral or fungal, we have some more issues. They may want to take an x-ray, and if they do, it's okay. One x-ray won't harm the baby and will be the best way to determine if she does indeed have pneumonia. Just be prepared for what they may decide to do. I have a friend who is a nurse there, so hopefully, he can pave the way for me to be a part of her team, but I can't guarantee anything."
"Bobby, I understand. I just want Stephanie and the baby to be okay. Everything else is secondary. Whatever help you can give will be appreciated. Remember, we need to get her out of there as soon as possible. She will be royally pissed off about being in the hospital when she wakes up."
"Don't I know it. The only person worse than Bomber in the hospital is you, Ranger."
"Very funny. Are you ready to go?"
"Yes. I'm driving, I assume."
"Yes. I'll be in the back with Stephanie." I respond. "Julie, come here please."
Julie comes into the living room and walks over to me. "Yeah Dad, what do you want?"
"Is that how you respond to me?"
"Sorry. Dad, you wanted to talk to me?" Julie responded.
"Jules, I'm bringing Stephanie to the hospital with Uncle Bobby. Tank will stay here with you and Uncle Hector is coming and should be here soon. Please be careful. I'll call you once I know what is going on with Stephanie. I probably won't be home until she is released. She hates being in the hospital. I'll make sure that you can come up and visit Stephanie."
"Okay Daddy, take care of mom. I'll see you when I see you." She kisses me on the cheek and a hug. "Bye Uncle Bobby. Take care of my mom and my sister or brother."
"I will, querida, I will."
Stephanie's POV
Ugh, what is that noise? Why does it feel like I have air blowing in my nose? Where am I? I should be in my room in Deal, but I don't think I am. Open your eyes, Stephanie, and look where you are. I finally get my eyes open and realize I am in the hospital, but not in St. Francis. I look around, and I see Carlos sleeping in the chair next to my bed. He looks like hell. How long have I been asleep?
"Carlos." I manage to whisper.
"Babe, you're awake. You had me worried, mi amor." Ranger responds while hitting the call button. "You've been here for almost 48 hours and have spent most of that time sleeping. You have pneumonia. You are being treated with antibiotics and oxygen. Your blood oxygen levels are improving. Once you hit 95 or higher, you'll be able to go home."
"Good afternoon, Ms. Plum. It's nice to see you awake. My name is Dr. Pirzada, and I am the pulmonologist on call here at Monmouth Medical Center. You have bacterial pneumonia, which while annoying, is not too bad. Your baby is doing fine, and you are doing much better. Your fever is down, and your oxygen levels are almost where they should be. If you continue to improve at this rate, you can go home tomorrow. We're going to take out the nasal cannula now that you are awake and hope that your oxygen level stays high. Do you have any questions?"
"When can I eat? I'm starving!" I respond.
"I'll have the nurses get a meal ready for you. It will be light, being that you haven't eaten in two days, but if you hold this down, you can have a normal dinner."
"Thanks, doctor." With that, Dr. Pirzada leaves the room.
"Carlos, why don't you go home and get some rest. You look like hell. I'll be okay here for a couple of hours."
"Babe, I'm not leaving here until you do. End of discussion."
"Who's with Julie?"
"Tank. He spoke with Lula."
"What did she have to say for herself?"
"She did it all because she was jealous of you and annoyed that Tank would drop everything to help you if you needed it and she felt that he put you ahead of her. She got paid well to pass along information about you."
"So Tank and Bobby are clear, right? They had nothing to do with Lula, right?"
"Yes, Babe, they are clear."
"I can't believe that she turned on me. I used to give her a part of all of my captures, even though she never had my back and was being paid as a file clerk. She never had to worry about money, but I always did, and she fucked me over. I just can't win. Why does everyone who I let get close tome decide to fuck me in one way or another? Am I that bad of a judge of character? First my mom, then my sister, the Burg, Joe, Lula, why do so many people hate me?" The tears started to fall down my face. Ranger came over to me and sat on the edge of my bed so he could hold me against him.
"Querida, mi amor, those people don't deserve you or understand you. You have everyone at Rangeman In your corner. They all love you and respect you for who you are, not what you should be. They see how wonderful and caring you are. Those other people, well you don't need them in your life." Ranger replies while rubbing my back.
"I hear you; I just don't understand," I tell Ranger after a few minutes. "Where is Lula?"
"Still in one of our holding cells. I figured you would want to confront Lula before we turn her over to TPD. Dalton is waiting to be turned over to the Army for a court-martial hearing. He will serve the rest of his life behind bars. No one is backing him anymore. We found the mole in the Army who was bankrolling him and who gave him the ability to come after me. He was found dead in his cell last night."
I know that Ranger had something to do with his death, and frankly, it didn't bother me. I have a feeling Dalton will have a similar fate.
XXXXXXXX
I was released two days later, and spend the next three days recuperating at our home in Deal. Julie was back in school and back on the bus. Dani and Lester were spending more time together. It was finally my day to confront Lula once and for all. Julie's bus picked her up, and Ranger and I got into the Turbo to drive to Trenton. While we were driving, I was thinking about all the things that I wanted to say to Lula. It seemed like we were back in Haywood before I could blink.
"Are you ready, Babe, or do you want to do some work first?"
"I want to see Lula first. I want to talk to her and then send her off to TPD. I want that bitch out of my life for good."
We entered the elevator and took it to the basement where the holding cells were located. I got out of the elevator and walked to her cell. I nodded to Vince and Binkie to let me in, and I entered without Ranger.
Lula's POV
If it isn't Queen Bee, miss high and mighty herself, the Bombshell Bounty Hunter and walking disaster Stephanie Plum. Now I get to deal with her self-righteous behavior. I'm tired of this white girl thinking that she's all that and a bag of donuts. She's nothing but a whiny, conceited, self-centered bitch. I'll be more than happy to tell her why I wanted her and that brat she's carrying dead.
"Lula, why? Why did you sell me out?"
"Why? I did it because you are a self-centered bitch. You only care about yourself and never listen to anything I say. You think you are better than me, and you ridicule me for my sex life when you do nothing more than drag around men by their dicks before dropping them when the better model becomes available. You even stole my Tankie from me. He cared more about helping you and kept you safe than he did about being with me. That's why I made a lot of money trying to help get you killed. If you were out of the picture, Tankie and I would be together forever."
"But why would you try to hurt an innocent baby?"
"Because you took away my chance at being a mom. If it weren't for you, Ramirez would never have taken me and hurt me as he did. Because you made me talk to you, I lost my chance at being a mom, and you, the fuck up who never wanted kids, is having a baby with Batman. You are a fucking bitch."
"Lula, you are seriously deranged. When we went after FTAs together, I always gave you part of my capture money, even though you were being paid hourly by Vinnie. I often went with our food or rent money to help you out, and you go against me and try to have me killed. There were so many times that you being with me put my life in jeopardy, but yet I still let you come along. I have bought you more meals than you did me, and I have always treated you better than you treated me. I never once broke your confidence and told someone your secrets, but you constantly share mine. You are not a friend, and you are the narcissistic one. I hope you have fun in jail because you will be spending many years behind bars with cops all around you. Once the inmates find out you were a whore, then I'm sure you'll be Miss Popular. But, tight, barely fitting clothes are a thing of the past along with your ridiculous hair colors. For once in our life, you will be wearing age appropriate, size appropriate clothing. Enjoy your life in prison garb. Goodbye Lula."
With that, Stephanie turned her back on me.
Ranger's POV
I'm so glad Stephnie stood up to Lula and told her off. She was nothing but a leech to Stephanie for years. I never understood why Stephanie would share her capture money with Lula, considering she did nothing and more often than not, put Stephanie's life in danger and made captures more difficult. But, that's Stephanie. She always gives money to my men when I order and pay them to help her out. She is just too generous for her good, but, fortunately, now she has me and my money, so she can afford to be generous without having to worry about where she's going to live or what she's going to eat for dinner. I know that Lula deserves more than jail, but Stephanie wouldn't let us do anything to her. With Lula having no money and no family, she won't be able to pay for a fancy attorney, and will never get off on her charges when going against a DA who has hours of video and audio evidence proving her culpability. She is in for a rude awakening. No more Cluck-a-Bucket or Tasty Pastry for her. I think that will be punishment enough for Lula, no junk food or fast food. I guess I can get behind that.
When the door opens I see Stephanie; I can tell that she will be alright. She confronted the bitch, and now we can move on with our lives. It's time for me to make this woman my wife, and I think we need to have this discussion tonight. Time to take her out to dinner. I can ask Lester and Dani to watch Julie tonight. I sure they would help Stephanie and me out.
"Proud of you, Babe."
"Thanks. It wasn' as hard as I thought it was going to be. Lula was never my friend, which is harder to get over, but I can see now how she used me so many times just to make herself happy. I don't know why I surrounded myself with so many useless people. I'm just grateful that I have you and my Mery Men now because I know that none of you will ever use me or betray me. I only wish I meet you all sooner."
"Babe, what matters is that you and I are in a good spot now. We have each other again, and I am not going anywhere anymore. I am here with you, Julie, and this little one on the way. We are in this together. I will keep you safe for the rest of my life."
"I know. And the same goes for you. You are stuck with me forever."
"Babe, I want to go out to dinner tonight, just the two of us. It's been so long since we got to do normal. I think we need a night to ourselves. I can ask Lester and Dani to watch Julie. I'm sure they will. That way, we can have time to be together alone before going back to our new lives."
"That sounds like a great idea. Do we have time to go home so I can get dressed for our date?"
"Yes, we can head to the house now, we'll go out to eat near Deal."
"Then let's go, Batman."
The elevator doors opened up, and Tank and Lester stepped out. Stephanie sees Tank and walks to him.
"How are you holding up? I know that it can't be easy for you to deal with what Lula did to all of us."
"It's tough, but she is not the woman who I thought she was. I noticed that she was always agitated when I had to leave, especially if you were involved, but I always thought that she was agitated because she was concerned about you. I never took her attitude as jealousy or envy. She even yelled at me the first time I went to visit you in California. But I told her that one of the core team had to see you make sure that everything was okay and that I was my turn. When she heard that we all were going out there on a rotating basis, she felt better, but she would always push me to cancel and send someone else. Lester was thrilled at the opportunity to go, so I would just ask him to go in my place. Which, as we know, turned out to be a good thing for the both of you, but I didn't get her animosity towards you."
"I don't think any of us realized how jealous she was. I certainly never picked up on it. But being a Monday morning quarterback is always easy."
"I just sorry that I didn't see any of the signs and that I didn't prevent this from happening to you. You had so much shit happen to you in your life, from your parents to Morelli, and you didn't deserve anything else, especially after Ranger returned to us."
"There was nothing you could do, Tank. No one blames you. Everything that happened is on Lula. You need to remember that, you are innocent."
"Thanks, Bomber. I needed to hear that."
"Lester, do you and Dani have plans tonight?" I ask.
"We were planning on staying in tonight, why?"
"Stephanie and I would like to go out, and I was wondering if you both would mind watch Julie and taking her to school tomorrow for us."
"No problem. I'll call Dani and tell her to take Julie home with her from school."
"Thanks, Lester," I say while I pat him on the shoulder.
Stephanie hugs Lester and kisses him on the cheek. "Thank you. I know I can always count on you."
With that, I take Stephanie's hand, and we walk into the elevator to start our night.
Stephanie's POV
Ranger told me to dress nicely, and I put on a black and white wrap maternity dress and a pair of black flats. My hair is cooperating, so I'm wearing it down tonight. I wonder why he wants to go out suddenly. I know that we haven't much time alone, but it's just so random. I hope that everything is alright. The door to the room opens, and there he is, looking yummy as usual.
"Babe, are you ready?"
"Yup. All done."
"Good, let's go before I find a reason to stay home tonight and take this dress off of you, Babe."
"As much as I would like that, my hair is perfect tonight, and I want to show it off. But, we can come back here for dessert."
His eyes dilate and turn black. I love that look that he gets like he can't wait to devour me. I hope that we always have that look for each other. He places his hand on the small of my back an leads me to the Turbo. We drive into town to a fancy Italian restaurant. Of course, our table is the in the corner, with our backs to the wall where we can see the whole restaurant. Ranger orders for both of us, and then we start the talk.
"Babe, when do you want to get married?"
"I guess after we have this baby. It will be hard to plan a wedding while pregnant."
"Do you want a big wedding? Or would you maybe want something small and intimate."
"I guess I would like to celebrate with the guys at Rangeman and your family. We can have MaryLou, Connie, and the few other friends that I have outside of those two groups."
"Babe, if that's what you want, then I'll do that, but I frankly don't care. I just want to make you my wife already. I've waited too long, and I don't want to wait any longer. I would like this child to have my last name, along with his or her mother."
"So then let's plan something for February 1st then. We can marry at our home. MaryLou can be my matron of honor and Julie can be my only bridesmaid."
"Are you sure you're okay with this?"
"Yes. I don't care where or when, but if it's important to you for us to be married, then its important to me."
"Would you mind if I had Lester as my best man and Tank as my only usher?"
"No, Carlos, why would I mind?"
"Well, because of what you both had. I don't want it to be a slap in the face to Lester."
"I think he'll be honored. You are his idol, his hero, though he'd never admit it. He wants to be just as good as you are."
"Well, he could never be as good as me, but he is a close second."
"Okay, so tomorrow I'll talk to Ella about helping me plan our reception," I said before changing the subject. "Carlos, did you find out anything about Mary Alice or Angie? I'm still concerned about them. And whatever happened to that business that your sister and brother-in-law were going to do with Albert?"
Ranger laughed. "Once they found out that your sister wasn't close to you and was a bitch to you, they played him along, making Albert think he was getting the job. Finally, when it came time to sign the contract, at another one of Valerie's dinners, my sister ripped up the contract and said that she would never work with Albert and will make sure to tell everyone she knows not to use him because he doesn't value family. Anyone who can disrespect their loving, caring, kind-hearted sister does not deserve to live a good life."
"Ohmigod, Valerie could not have been happy," I replied laughing as well.
"Celia said that Valerie looked like she wanted to strangle her and her husband. She said that she finished her dessert, which was good, and then they left. Albert was out a lot of money from wining and dining them."
"Remind me never to get on the bad side of ou Manosos."
"On February 1st, you'll be a Manoso, Babe." With that, he kisses my hand.