Disclaimer: Everything familiar belongs to JE and the creators of Criminal Minds.

Warning: Adult Situations

Chapter 33: August 25th, 2100-2330

Liberty City section of Miami

Ranger's POV

We arrived home last night after the car bomb and ice cream and decided to take a twilight walk on the beach. It was good for the three of us to decompress. Woody and Rocco had our backs, so I didn't have to be on full alert. It felt so right, so natural, to be spending the downtime with my two girls. Once we returned to the house, Mariela took Julie to her room to get ready for bed. Stephanie and I also showered, though separately, and spend some time with Julie, sharing some of the crazy antics Stephanie found herself in while bounty hunting, including my favorite, Norville getting her with food while I stayed clean. By the time we finished reminiscing, we were all laughing so hard that we were crying. Julie was in a great mood, and I hope that she'd be able to get a few solid hours of sleep in tonight.

Once we left Julie in Mariela's care, we returned to my office, where Lester, Hector, Woody, Manny, and Bobby are waiting.

Flashback

"Report," I state.

Hector replies first in Spanish, "Boss, the BAU received some intel this evening that the men responsible for Julie's injuries will be at a building in the Liberty City section of Miami. The house is small, with only two bedrooms and one bath. From the local traffic cameras, we were able to determine that the house is unoccupied now but will be filled with the assholes tomorrow night. Agent Prentiss wants to raid the house tomorrow night. MDPD SWAT will take the lead. She asked for us to assist. She wants to brief everyone at 0800."

"Gracias, Hector," I reply. I quickly summarize what Hector said for the benefit of Woody and Stephanie, who doesn't speak Spanish.

This morning, we arrived at MDPD and developed our plan. Stephanie decided that she would be better off staying at police headquarters with Garcia instead of being in the field. I couldn't agree with her more.

It is now 2120, and we have arrived at our target location, south of NW 46th Street. The house is an unassuming, single-family residence that has seen better days. All the teams report that they are in position, but we see guards patrolling the outer area, walking down the surrounding street. Somehow, they were tipped off. Jesse Solages, the head of the SWAT team approaches Emily and me.

"At least six guys are patrolling the streets. If we attempt to go in now, there will be a loss of life. I know that tonight is our best opportunity to catch these guys, but our original plan isn't going to work.

I hear Stephanie say in my earpiece, "Ranger, something doesn't feel right. You need to be careful. I think this is an ambush."

"What did she say?" Emily asks me.

"She said that something doesn't feel right. I wouldn't discount her feelings. She has a strange sixth sense when it comes to things that could be dangerous. She stopped me from approaching the car yesterday because she felt something was off." I reply.

"I agree with her. Seeing all these men walking the streets screams set up. We need a new plan to infiltrate." Emily states.

I look at Solages, and I can tell that he's ready to take the lead on a new plan. He pitches his idea to us, but I don't see it working. As with most SWAT teams, they want to get in quickly. We need a plan with more finesse. I decide to lay out an alternative arrangement of action.

"I don't think your plan is horrible, but we need a little more stealth for us to get in that house without getting injured and giving up our location to the guys in there. I suggest that my men take the lead. We will disable the guards, putting them in sleeper holds or simply by cuffing them. Then, we will be able to enter the house without tipping off those individuals inside. Once we breach the perimeter, your men can come in to take out whoever might be their second line of defense."

"I agree with Manoso's plan. I think it's the safest way for us to get them out of there." Solages states.

"I'm good too," Prentiss replies.

We take ten minutes to explain the new course of action to everyone, and we get ready to storm the perimeter. My men go in and do their job. My men take down all the visible guards. We are about to enter the house when a trigger happy MDPD officer fires his weapon at someone leaving home to smoke a cigarette. Now, our position is no longer a secret so that the group in the house come running out with guns blazing. After about ten minutes, the smoke clears, and one MDPD officer is dead.

However, we did manage to capture about six men; all of them were on the perimeter. Unfortunately, those men know nothing. I go with Chief Toledo to the hospital to lend my support for the fallen officer.

"Ranger, your team did well. It wasn't your fault. I don't know why Cris fired that gun. He never fired his weapon in the field before. He always was the type of officer to take orders and never question them. I don't understand what changed tonight. All I know is that one of my officers is dead."

"Chief, the only thing that I can think of is that he was dirty and trying to warn the occupants of the house that we were heading inside. Once we took over from SWAT, he knows we would never be detected. I hope to God that I'm wrong, though."

"That thought has crossed my mind. It could have easily been Emily that is dead right now instead of Cris."

"You know Emily?"

"Yes, we met when we were kids in Italy. We aren't that close anymore, but at one time, she was one of my best friends. I would hate to see her lying in a hospital bed or a coffin because one of my men is dirty."

"Do you want me to look into your men?"

"Yes, Ranger and anyone else you feel looks suspicious. I want dirty cops off my force, not on them. By the way, I put in an official complaint to Chief Petrillo with TPD about Detective Morelli. He will not be welcomed in my department again."

"Thank you, Manny, but you didn't have to do that."

"I know, but I wanted to, your Ms. Plum is an extraordinary woman and doesn't deserve to be harassed by that sad excuse for a detective."

I can't help but be proud of my Babe. Everywhere she goes, except for the Burg, people see her for the wonderful woman I know that she is, the woman who I would be honored to spend my life loving and defending. "Once again, thank you for your trust in me, and your trust in Stephanie."

"Ranger, if it wasn't for her instincts, I may have more of my men in this hospital or at the morgue right now."

With that, we shake hands, and I take off to the pediatric wing, where Stephanie went to see Tommy. She has bonded with the boy, as did Julie. I don't see her turning him away from our home once he arrives; now, if I can get Stephanie to agree to stay with me.