A/N: I'm so sorry to those who have been reading. I don't know why I've abandoned this story! But last chapter was the end of Misty Plum's point of view and we're back to Alyssa. I hope that you enjoyed Misty's view of the whole situation. This is the final chapter of this installment and I have started the next one already. It will be holiday driven and a light happy one and for all of you Ranger fans. I finally promise you some yummy Ranger debut for those who have been waiting oh so patiently and willing to stick out the frustration. =)

Previous Chapter: "Can you explain to me how in the world Vinnie ended up being found in the middle of the duck pond at Westfield Park, tied to a post, stark naked with a sign saying, 'I fucked a duck' this morning?" Alyssa's voice squealed over the phone.

"Really?" I feigned surprise. "I guess it was about time he had it coming to him."

"Uh huh," she replied unconvinced. "Anyways. Hope you're enjoying your evening with Bones."

"Oh I sure am. I'm happy to give you a play by play," I said with a growing grin.

"Thanks but no thanks. Bye, Mis."

Click.

Bones rolled me onto my back and brushed my hair from my face, "What was that about?"

"Oh nothing — just a little justice Misty Plum style. Let's just say, you should learn never to mess with me or my friends," I grabbed his head and pulled his lips into mine.

CHAPTER 37 - Alyssa's POV

I stared down at the last slice of pizza sitting in the box on the coffee table and darted my eyes over at Joe sitting next to me who was taking another pull of his beer. His eyes were totally focused on the game. If I moved quietly enough, he probably wouldn't notice me snagging the remaining slice, right? My body slowly gravitated towards the pizza box when a hand clamped down on my arm.

"I don't think so, Cupcake," Joe threatened.

"You had six slices already!" I cried. "I had five. That slice is mine! It's only fair."

"You are such a little liar! The minute I set the box down you inhaled two slices. It was clear that you already ate six by the time I caught up with you. Speaking of fairness…why are you trying to cheat a man who just came out of a coma?"

"Don't play the victim card with me, Joseph Morelli! I went to jail for almost a week for you! And may I remind you of how I was beaten brutally by my cellmate and then kidnapped and beaten once more! I have two cracked ribs!"

"Cupcake, you wouldn't have been in that situation if you had a different job."

"Oh, don't you dare start with the job thing. If it wasn't for this job, you would've been beaten to a bloody pulp and left for dead and then blamed for crimes you didn't commit. Think of your family and what their last memories of you would have been. I saved your stinking life!"

"You're right. That you did. And I will forever be in your debt," he grinned back at me.

"Damn skippy you are," I huffed sitting back and crossing my arms. "I'm not even hungry anymore. You can have the stupid pizza."

"Suit yourself," he reached over.

"Wait! I changed my mind, you don't deserve it!" I pulled him back down onto the couch.

"Uh uh. You said you weren't hungry anymore, it's mine," he reached back out.

We both started screeching like a bunch of wild chimpanzees grabbing at the last slice of pizza. Well, at least we know that a coma, a few bruises and cracked ribs doesn't change a single thing in our relationship. We're both as fiery and hot headed as ever. My fingers were inches from the motherland when a ball of orange fury popped up and snagged the slice and swallowed it whole.

"BOB!" Joe and I shouted and collapsed back onto the couch.

Bob sat staring at us, smiling with his tail whipping back and forth happily.

Joe burst out laughing. He pulled me into him and kissed the top of my head, "I love you, Cupcake."

"You owe me another pizza," I answered indignantly snuggling into his chest.

It's been about a week since Joe was released from the hospital, and all charges against me were dropped. Rizik and a handful of his men were arrested for the act of terrorism. It turned out that Joe was contracted by the FBI to go undercover with the Cardinelli's for their involvement in selling illegal firearms to the terrorists.

Rizik and Joseph Cardinelli schemed to split the money from the deal and letting Tony Banana's cartel take the fall along with Stratton. Joseph hated his father's constant belittlement of him and found his way out of the family business by double-crossing his own father. Stratton for years was trading off government intel to various local mobs from plugging into the various agencies his company built through the secret tunnels. The Federal Government contracted Rangeman to help clean up Stratton's mess and go after those involved with Stratton over the past decade.

Stratton kept his dealings local to stay out of the Federal radar, leaving the spotlight on the mobs. The Mobs bought from Stratton, and in turn, they made the deals overseas. Terri Gillman provided the cover for Joe in return for immunity for her family's involvement with Stratton.

Our involvement with one of the largest terrorist take-downs the investigation against Joe was closed. Turned out Joe had dated Mancini before meeting me and broke things off with her. Some people just don't take being dumped very well. She requested a transfer which was granted.

There are no words for what Misty did for me in my time of need and killing a man on top of it all. Her love and loyalty as a friend will never cease to amaze me. But her statement to me about Ranger admitting his love for me left me bewildered. She's always been really blunt and straight up with me but every time I try to ask her about that statement, she just grins at me like a Cheshire cat and tells me I have to figure it out for myself.

But how could I figure things out? Once Joe came out of his coma Ranger disappeared into the wind, telling me he'd be gone for a few weeks. I didn't have enough time to ask questions or even utter a single word. He kissed me gently and disappeared. I'll have to learn that trick someday. It may come in handy.

As for Misty, love has got her changed in all sorts of ways. I was happy for her and Bones. Who knew there was someone out there that had the ability to reel in Misty Plum? Don't get me wrong, she's still the same old Misty and that's what's so great about Bones. He's supportive of her and her wild ways but has her tamed at the same time.

"I'll give you something much more satisfying than a simple slice of pizza," Joe said huskily breaking through my thoughts.

I moved out of his embrace and looked over at him with disdain. "Don't you even dare, Mister! You just got out of a coma and I have TWO — count that TWO — cracked ribs. I don't want your boys anywhere near me. You shouldn't be exerting your energy."

He wagged his eyebrows and licked his lips, "Cupcake, use your imagination a little."

I scrunched my nose. "Oh boy," I breathed out as he grabbed my legs and pulled them towards him causing me to lie on my back.

I immediate began panicking as I frantically kicked him away trying to ignore the piercing pain shooting up my spine. I stared into the eyes of pure evil looking back at me. No longer looking into the soft brown eyes of Joe, tears clouded my eyes and suddenly I was in a cold large metal container.

After Ramirez grabbed me from the Courthouse, I passed out from the pain of being juggled around with my cracked ribs from my prison fight it was too much for me to bare.

I woke up in the cold damp container chained down naked in the dark. Ramirez must've left me there for what felt like hours in pure utter silence and darkness until he was ready to come back and collect me. That was when the nightmare began. He slapped me around and touched me with his disgusting calloused hands. Going through what I did the past few days, not just with the first night fight with my cellmate but attempting to dodge blows in the courtyard, cafeteria, and bathroom left me pretty stoic. His blows barely fazed me as I was already feeling as if I was no longer inside of my own body. I felt numb.

My apathetic response was less than desired by Ramirez, so that's when he furnished the whip. It broke through the skin at my collarbone, which Bobby informed me sadly would develop a whelp there that may never fully heal. It's not like I was going to be entering any beauty pageants anytime soon. I'll just add it to my job collection of battle scars. Now it complements the ugly scar on my stomach from where Ramirez sliced me open the first time he caught me. Because the stitches tore so many times, the scarring was inevitable.

I felt like my time was up after the first blow. The hours I was left alone, I tried with all of my might to break free of my restraints, I yelled and screamed, beat my head against the wall, but there was nothing I could do. And even if there was hope for Ranger to find me, I remember how many shipping containers there were at the shipyard. There were too many to search through. The odds of anybody finding the one I was held captive in would be a miracle. But to my surprise my miracle came by the name of "Misty Plum," my savior.

"Cupcake," Joe shouted shaking me back to the present.

"Joe?" I blinked a few times as his face came back into focus.

"Fuck," he cursed. "Your eyes glazed over and you started crying out, flailing your arms and legs about—" he stopped mid-sentence and pulled me into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry. I should've known better than to play that rough with you."

"It's not your fault," I said gently.

"It feels like it is. I should've been there to protect you but instead I was asleep. He should've never laid a hand on you," he growled softly in my ear.

"I-I'm just not ready for that kind of intimacy yet, Joe," I paused, "I'm really sorry."

"Cupcake, you don't have to be sorry. I don't want to do anything you're not comfortable with. I understand. I just want to be there for you. We'll get through this together, ok?" he tilted my chin up and gazed into my eyes.

I nodded.

"I'd do anything for you. Even break my bank and buy you another pizza," he smiled tenderly down at me and laid a soft kiss on my lips.

"I do like pizza," I replied.

"Yeah, well, if you liked me as much as you like pizza, I'd be one lucky man."

"Oh so you don't find yourself to be lucky already?"

"Well…" he sat back pretending to think.

I socked him in the arm.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me back into his chest and held onto me. "I'm the luckiest man on earth."

I smiled into his chest. Even through the darkest of moments, Joe was always able to plant a smile on my face. I'm glad that I have luck on my side. The cast of characters who've entered my life, I count myself to be the luckiest girl in the world.

The End

I know I know...you don't like Joe. But I promise you more Ranger in the next.

I hope that you'll join me for Alyssa's next installment which will appropriately be holiday themed called, "Ring-a-Ding-Ding!" Have a wonderful weekend!