Diclaimer: You know the drill, I own none of the characters recognizable to JE.
Ranger's POV
Steph called me. I was so overjoyed to hear her voice I never figured that she would be telling me to bring money and meet them at the place they dropped the car. Who the hell was 'they'? Steph would never go along with this, would she? I was reassured when she whispered something to me about, 'bringing fake money because she would be collecting it'. I got the 'money' ready in a couple black duffel bags. I loaded up the car with the bags and I brought a couple guys. She didn't say I couldn't bring anyone. We drove to where we found the car and got there at ten twenty. The guys hid and I took the car back out to the street and waited for them to get there. I wasn't going to flaunt it that I had arrived before them, bringing extra man power. Nope, I was going to try everything so I wouldn't spook this guy. I saw a dingy dark green Yugo come down the street.
I spotted a man in the driver's seat and from what I could tell Steph was in the passenger seat. I checked the clock, it was ten twenty-five when they came through. I waited in the car five more excruciating minutes and an extra before I drove down the lane. I came to a slow stop to see Steph standing outside the car in the same outfit we went to dinner in. She was missing her shoe and her hair was a mess, and yet, I thought she looked sexy. Next to her stood the man she had described. He had blond hair and brown eyes, he stood towering over my babe. I sighed, grabbed the duffel bags and angled out of the car. I stopped when he motioned with his hand. I saw him put a hand on her shoulder and whisper something in his ear while keeping his eyes on me. I then saw the essence of evil and not to mention insanity. She nodded and started walking forward. She started to grab the duffel bags when she ducked behind me.
"Get him!" I yelled. Before I could react he had his gun out and a shot rang out. I felt myself start to fade.
Steph's POV
"Ranger! Ranger!" I screamed desperately as I sank to the ground. I saw him crumple down only moments before when the shot rang out. I sat cradling him. He looked up at me and I saw the faintest smiles on his lips.
"Stay with me. Please stay with me," I murmured while rocking him. I kept pressure on the wound as best I could. I saw Bobby on the phone and he started to come over. Tank had Alan, that was the bastard's name, held in cuffs. I saw a bruise starting to form on his cheek and he was on his knees. He deserved it too. Bobby knelt beside us and kept pressure on Ranger. I looked back down.
"Carlos, stay with us," I said as his eyes started to drift closed. He got shot in the chest, and I didn't know how bad it was. I was so scared, he couldn't die; not now.
"Babe, Steph, I love you," he whispered and I almost couldn't hear it. I sobbed.
"Carlos, I love you too. Please hang on, please," I choked out as another sob came, "you can't go now. We need you." I saw him look at me with those delicious chocolate brown eyes. He brought his hand up to mine and with that his eyes drifted shut.
"Carlos! Carlos! Open your eyes! Open your eyes! Please, I can't do this alone, I need you! God, how I need you," I said frantically although to no avail because his eyes didn't open.
"Ranger man! You gotta stay with us," Bobby said, not staying quiet anymore.
A/N: I had tears in my eyes when I wrote this one. I really am one of those people who cries during movies and books when something like this happens. Sorry about the cliffy...actually no I'm not. I'm evil, I know. I should update soon though. Thanks for reading.