A/N: Sorry for the long wait, I've been out of town. So I'll be nice and post two chappies.

My heart instantly plummeted at the mention of his name.

Okay so maybe he's going to tell me he's getting death by lethal injection.

"No babe, although I would suggest a firing squad."

Damn I said that out loud. I hated when I did that.

"So what's the what?"

"Word on the street is that he's going to be a free man very soon."

"How reliable is this info. This is the Burg after all, I mean really it's just as bad a gossip right?"

Ranger gave me the look.

Crap.

"So what do we do? and how scared should I be?"

Ranger grabbed my hand, "You don't have to be afraid. My team's keeping an eye on you."

"What about you, are you keeping an eye on me?"

A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Always"

Hummm?

"So who's got first watch?"

"Lester and Bobby."

"Wow two men, is that really necessary?"

"You're a dangerous woman babe."

That was a compliment…I think.

Ranger stood up and started walking towards the door

"Call me if you need me for anything."

With that he was gone, off to fight crime and make the Burg a better place.

The next morning I woke up to the sound of incessant hammering on my door. I grabbed my gun and stomped to the door, and flung it open. Lester and Bobby looked down at the gun in my hand and smiled back at me, I gave them my pissy look and slammed the door in their faces. I stomped back to my bed and climbed back under the covers. A moment later loud footsteps headed toward my bedroom.

"Go away." I mumbled into my pillow.

"Com'on Bombshell time to get up."

"No."

There was silence for a few moments and I figured they had left. All of a sudden I heard my drawers open and snickering. No way they wouldn't, would they? I flipped the covers off and spotted Lester waving a pink fuzzy thong in front of Bobby's face, when the realized they had an audience they froze comically.

"You guys are scum." I jerked myself out of the bed, and then instantly regretted it when my stomach lurched in protest I dashed into the bathroom and rid my stomach of it's contents. I was just realizing how friendly I had been becoming with my toilet, when someone knocked on the door.

"Hey bombshell you aright."

I mumbled something close enough to yes stood up and washed off my face. When I was done I looked into the mirror and almost screamed when I saw my reflection. It's a wonder Lester and Bobby hadn't run when they first saw me. I took a quick shower, then jumped out and spent a while trying to tame my hair. Then I did the full make-up thing, blush, lipstick, eye-shadow, and mascara. Partly because I was going to be rolling around with Rangers men, and partly because I didn't want people to think I was letting go of myself, because of my low-down-cheating-boyfriend Morelli. I threw on a pair of hip-hugging jeans and a black baby-tee.

When I walked out I found Lester and Bobby had migrated from my bedroom to the living room.

"That didn't sound so good Bombshell you sure your okay." Bobby asked concerned.

I nodded then wrinkled my nose. "What's that smell?"

Lester frowned. "Bacon and eggs, I thought it was your favorite?"

I shrugged. "It is I just don't feel much like eating."

Bobby looked at me thoughtfully for a beat and then shook his head.

"So boys how do you feel about taking a shopping trip." I said brightly

Twin looks of horror crossed their faces and I smiled evilly.

"Oh come on boys I thought you were supposed to be all around badass-bou"

I was cut off by someone knocking on the door. I automatically jumped up and headed towards the door, but Bobby grabbed me and pulled me behind him while Lester pulled out his gun. Playtime was defiantly over.

Lester checked the peephole and unlocked the door, taking a moment to nod at Bobby. I suspected there was some kind of silent communication going on between the two. Lester threw open the door, looked left, then right, and then finally looked down. I struggled to peer over Bobby shoulders, and see what Lester was crouched in front of, but he kept me safely tugged behind his back.

Lester stood up holding a red gift bag in his hand. "Ranger's not going to like this."

"Hey what about me, am I not going to like this." Common sense told me no, but in the past I never really listened to common sense, so why start now. Finally feeling quite certain that no immediate danger was going to pounce on me Bobby let me go. I shot out from behind his back and stormed up to Lester and snatched the bag out of his hand.

"What the-" I raised my hand and cut him off.

"Look buster if anyone should be mad it should be me. Yes Ranger did tell you to keep an eye out for me, but he did not tell you to invade my privacy, so back off."

I turned my attention back to the gift bag leaving Lester and Bobby momentarily stunned.

Before I could talk myself out of it I reached into the bag and pulled out a black lace teddy. There was a note attached to it, which I stupidly read out loud.

"I've been thinking of you, have you been thinking of me? Wearing nothing at all, but this black teddy. Love Mike. P.S- I'll be seeing you soon." I reached farther in the bag and pulled the photos. There were four in total, all of Ranger and his men, all with their faces marked in crosshairs, as if someone had been targeting them with a high powered gun.

Shit.

My ears began to clag and darkness swarmed my vision. I plopped down on my couch, only I missed and hit the floor instead.

"Ouch."

Lester grabbed me by my shoulders and pulled me upright and set me on the couch. A few seconds later Bobby appeared into my line of vision holding a cup of water.

I drank it greedily.

"Okay guys, no reason to get bent out of shape, I've had worse things sent to me."

I grimaced as an image of a foot in my refrigerator swam my head.

"Well none of them were really threat's against you. Oh God, you need to get away from me, I'm like a freakin' black widow. I'm bad luck. Head for the hills while you still can."

Bobby ignored my babbling and whipped out his cell phone. "Yeah it's me boss, we've got a problem."

I went into my bedroom and closed the door and locked it. Then I quietly opened my window and slid onto the fire escape. The rational part of my brain was telling me I was a dumb ass, but the part of my brain I normally listen to was cheering me on. I could deal with people threatening me, but I draw the line at people threatening the people I love. Even if the people I love could single-handedly invade and destroy Columbia overnight.

I clamored down the ladder and dropped to the ground. I took a quick scan of the area making sure there was no one around sulking in the shadows, sporting an 'I'm going to kill you Stephanie Plum' T-shirt, and then took off to my jeep. I was fumbling with my keys when someone grabbed my arm, spun me around, and yanked me forwards. I stumbled forward, slamming in to the wall of Rangers chest. I let my gaze travel up as slowly as I could to his eyes.

"Where the hell are you going Stephanie." Uh-Oh, we were back to Stephanie, never a good sign.

I just stared.

"Never mind, let's go. I'm going to get Lester and Bobby, then I'm taking you to the safe house."

Ranger began dragging me harshly towards my apartment. No way was I going back up there without a fight. I dug my heels into the ground tried to twist away from him. Ranger glanced back over his shoulder. "Your not going to make this easy, are you?"

I shook my head, and Ranger sighed. I could practically hear him saying "Why me." In his head. He loosened the grip on my arm, and I took off in the direction of my car. He caught up with me almost instantly. I opened my mouth to scream, but his palm covered it before I could let out more than a squeak.

"Damn-it Steph hold still, I don't want to hurt you, but I'll knock you out if it means keeping you safe." My squirming intensified, and Ranger reached in his pocket and pulled out a white cloth. "Sorry about this Babe." I knew what it was just by looking at it, it was chloroform, I been knocked out enough times with the stuff to recognize it anywhere. Ranger removed his hand from my mouth.

"No Ranger, please don't do this." I gasped out.

I was still struggling when his placed the cloth over my mouth. I tried to hold my breath figuring maybe I could fake it, but then Ranger said.

"Como'on babe don't fight it."

I was running out of air quickly. As soon as I took a breath my vision began to fade and I felt dizzy. He took the cloth off my mouth and caught me as I fell limply into his arms.

I heard myself weakly saying. "You promised…you wouldn't hurt…me." Then I passed out.