Thanks for following this one despite its irregular updates. This one has really kicked my butt.

Recap: Steph got out of the woods and delivered Silver to the TPD before finally collapsing. Ranger and Ben made it through their surgeries, but have yet to be out of the woods so to speak.

Special thanks to every one of you for reaching out to ask about the next update for this one. Appreciate all the reviews and PMs. For those of you with questions, we're getting into the tying up of loose ends as we near the end. As for Morelli, he's just being his usual deluded self thinking that the world revolves around him.

Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE. The typos and long gap in updating are my bad.

Lester's POV

"Wait, hold up. Rewind." I interrupted the medical blah blah blah Booby, Doctor W and the neurologist on shift, Dr. Harlow, were having. "Did you just say stroke?" They didn't say stroke at first. No, they called it something different. Then at my scrunched up look, Bobby quickly filled me in. I may be the dumbest person in the room, but even I know that Beautiful having one out in the middle of the woods, plus the delay in receiving medical treatment, has the potential to be catastrophic.

"Les…" Bobby's pointed look was a reminder that we're guests in here. I appreciate the opportunity of being kept in the loop, but I can't just nod my head if I can't follow along completely. The paperwork Stephanie meticulously filed is the only reason why Rangeman is even being kept in the loop. Intellectually I know that I should keep my mouth shut, yet my heart tells me that I shouldn't.

"Yes." Doctor W was kind enough to point out a section of Beautiful's scan that showed a darker spot on the brain image. It was quite a close call with the hospital's ethics department, nearly blocking Doctor W from being Beautiful's neurosurgeon in the event that she was needed. This right here is proof enough that Stephanie needs the best of the best to make it through this ordeal. Sadly, this also means that Doctor W is putting her career on the line. If things go south during surgery, Doctor W may have to hang up her scrubs.

"Steph's in her mid thirties." She's still so young. "And her little girl is not even two years old! She needs her momma…" I was ranting, I knew. Not caring about anything else at the moment, I made sure to paint a vivid picture of who Stephanie is in hopes that it would help humanize the 'patient' for these doctors. They don't know Beautiful like we do.

"We understand…" Dr. Harlow tried to interject my rant, but I was having none of it.

"They need to focus." Bobby said to me, effectively kicking me out of their little huddle.

"Fine." I huffed out in annoyance, yet not caring how childish this made me look or sound.

"We'll do everything that we can." Doctor W assured in a whisper as I walked past her.

"I hear you're one of the country's best." My gaze leveled with her bright green one. "Prove it." I dared before I kept my boots pointed in the direction of the waiting room where everyone else is currently camping in wait.

On my trek, I mentally ran through the possibilities. Doctor W had predicted the whole hallucination thing, which the tow truck driver confirmed. According to the man, Stephanie was talking to something or someone who wasn't there. He said she even called him dad at first, a clear sign that she was quite disoriented. How she managed to keep herself moving and defying all odds, I don't know. Tow truck guy was most definitely in awe of Stephanie's strength. He described in vivid detail how it was Beautiful who subdued her captor. Even after over forty-eight hours wandering in the woods, Beautiful persevered regardless of how much of a disadvantage she had.

For some reason instead of heading straight to the waiting room, I walked to the chapel without intending to. Blowing out a breath, I reached for the door handle with a shaking hand. There's obviously a reason why I'm here.

I blinked several times as I stood inside the small room. A part of me was surprised I didn't instantaneously burst into flames. Despite my blasphemous thought, I took a step forward and then another until I was standing in front of the minimalistic altar.

"Hey." I said sheepishly as I sat on the pew directly across from the cross. "I know it's been a long time…" I choked up before I could even finish my statement. "It's been a long time." I finally said instead, blowing out a breath to keep myself from outright balling.

I haven't been to mass in ages, much less gone to confession. My time in the army tainted me and I just didn't feel like I was worthy of stepping into a church after everything I had to do. How could I waltz in knowing that I had blood on my hands?

"Please save Stephanie." I begged, knowing damn well that I had no right to ask for shit given how distanced I've been from my faith. "I understand that you have other pleads to tend to from people way more deserving than me…" There I go again choking up.

"Take me instead." I blew out in a rush, outlining why this would be a better trade. Out of the two of us, Beautiful has more to live for than me. She's got baby Mia. I have no kids. "This way little Mia won't be orphaned." The tears finally broke, streaking down my face as the reality of the situation slammed into me repeatedly. Not only is Beautiful going to be undergoing a difficult brain surgery while she fights for her life, but my cousin Ranger is also fighting for his life after the multiple gunshots.

"Why?!" I yelled in confusion and frustration, feeling so utterly raw like never before.

In my derailed state, I let my guard down and became oblivious to my surroundings. That's a mistake that could have easily cost me my life. But then again, isn't that what I'm here bargaining for?

"What are you doing here?" I asked alarmed when a quick flick of my gaze tells me it's been several minutes since I entered the chapel. "Shouldn't you be in surgery?" My voice cracked as my mind raced with dark possibilities. "Is Steph…"

"She's being prepped for surgery." Doctor W said as she sat on the pew next to me.

"Then why are you here?" I glared at her, wondering if she was going to chicken out and back out of the surgery.

"Just came to check on you, is all." She didn't look at me, instead stared straight ahead as she made the sing of the cross.

"I'm fucking fine." I lied, wincing when I caught myself cursing in the sacred place.

"Clearly you're not." Alexa West always gave me the vibe that she isn't someone who puts up with other people's shit and she's currently pointing my shit out.

"Why are you here wasting time?! I'll be fine. Go!" I know that I'm being an asshole. I know, but I can't seem to cut it out. I'm feeling raw and empty and sad and angry, all at the same time. Sadly, Doctor West is getting the brunt of the feelings I can't seem to keep bottled up.

"Doctor West?" Someone poked their head into the chapel, signaling that it's time for her to go. It sounded like the other neuro doctor.

"One sec." She said to Harlow before focusing her bright green eyes on me. "I'm going to do everything in my power to be the miracle worker you deem me to be." With that, she patted my left knee before standing up.

It was a good half hour before I felt like I was ready to leave the chapel and face the others. Taking a short detour to the restroom, I splashed cold water on my face to minimize the obvious crying sesh signs. My blotchy face will give me away regardless, yet I don't care.

The last thing I was expecting to witness upon emerging out into the surgical waiting room was to find Beautiful's mother causing havoc.

"Mom." Valeri hissed, shooting her mother a heated glare. Undeterred, Helen Plum brushed her oldest daughter's reprimand aside.

"It's my right to care for my granddaughter when her mother can't." That disgusting uppity tone and air of superiority infuriated me, not that I wasn't already off balance.

"Mia is under my care and will continue to be until Stephanie is well." Mary Lou may be small, but she's got that Momma Bear thing going for her. Baby Mia's had a vice like grip on all of our hearts from the moment she was born. We're her village and will do anything in our power to keep her safe, especially when her mother can't at the moment. Just in case Evil Spawn Mrs. Plum wanted to know who's currently caring for Mia, Mary Lou shared that her mother was helping Lenny with the boys and Mia.

Helen let out what she'd deem an inelegant snort of dismissal. "Oh, don't be silly. You have your hands full with your boys." Before anyone could even get a word in, Helen bulldozed through. Clearly, she thrives on muscling her way through with simply pure shock value. "Valerie has her four kids to worry about." With a dismissive shrug, Helen blew off the protests. "My mother doesn't have the capacity to care for a nearly two year old."

"The hell I don't!" Edna Mazur shot up from her seat like she was attached to a spring and ready for a verbal fight.

"I will be caring for my granddaughter…" Helen didn't have the chance to say anything else, because Mary Lou abruptly cut her off. Beautiful's childhood friend isn't going to sit back and take Helen Plum's shit!

"Stephanie signed paperwork. In the event that Steph can't care for Mia, I become her guardian." The flash of flames behind the dark look Mrs. Stankovic flashed was quite a sight to see. "If you want to fight me, we can do so through the courts." Beautiful chose correctly, because Mary Lou is already demonstrating the lengths she'll go to in order to protect the sunshine in our lives.

Helen's mouth opened and closed rapidly, looking like she'd short circuited as she processed the open defiance. The fake Burg manners facade threatened to crumble Beautiful's mother.

"I think it'd be best if you left." My deep voice boomed in the suddenly silent room, earning me a hateful glare from the mother of all despicable mothers: also known as Helen Plum.

Seeing as she had no support, Helen was quick to retreat. For the time being, at least. I have no doubt that she'll be back once she strategizes her comeback. Goes to show the level of love one Helen Plum has for her daughter Stephanie if all she's concerned with is earning praise from the venomous Burg snakes. Helen wants Mia solely to showcase what a martyr she is, having to step up and take in her granddaughter due to her daughter's dangerous lifestyle. Every one of Helen's moves is meticulously planned, I'm sure of it.

I patted Mary Lou's shoulder just before she deflated, sinking down into one of the uncomfortable chairs.

"Got any news for us?" Valerie asked, searching my face closely as she already put some of the pieces together.

S&R

Stephanie's POV

I blinked rapidly, an involuntary reaction to the bright light ahead. Shielding my eyes with my left arm, I used my right one to blindly feel where I was going. By the time my hand connected with the familiar metal handle of a glass door, the unbelievably bright light was thankfully dimmed considerably.

"Argh! My brovaries just exploded!" I heard a distinctively recognizable deep, masculine voice declare as I crossed the threshold.

"Your what?" I heard my disembodied voice once I fully stood inside the lobby of my apartment building. Shifting my stance a few feet allowed me to see myself standing hands on hips while shooting Lester an amused look.

I took a deep breath as I glanced around the lobby, feeling my heart pounding as the peculiar scene unfolded.

Why did this scene seem so familiar? Well, because it's one I lived through just recently.

No one seemed to notice that there were two Stephanies here, so I kept myself on the outskirts of the group to watch the interaction unfold. There's gotta be a reason why I'm here.

"Brovaries." Lester reiterated before pointing down to the center of the semi circle a handful of the Rangemen, Ella and Grandma Mazur made.

"I want one of these!" Woody pipped in, squatting to be at eye level with with something.

"Woof! Woof!" Princess barked excitedly, obviously hyped up by the group's excitement.

"Adorable!" Ella awed while also looking down at the center of attention.

"Cute as a button!" Grandma Mazur beamed.

Circumventing the others, I shuffled my feet until I had a clear view of what had everyone so transfixed. Or should I say, who?

I was unprepared for the assault of emotions I'd have when my eyes landed on my daughter. Tears pricked my eyes as the memory washed over me. The guys descended on our local Spirit Halloween store seemingly simultaneously and from the looks of the plastic bags clutched in their large hands, nearly single-handedly bought out the store of Mia sizes costumes.

"You guys do realize that she can't possibly wear all of thise costumes for Halloween and that she'll outgrow them by next year, right?" I whispered in time to the me of this vision or dream or whatever the heck this is.

"Wawh!" Mia's tiny, but mighty, roar was a near mimic of Woody's. She's currently walking from one person to the next, looking so adorable dressed in a fluffy Sully from Monsters Inc onesie. The tail dragging behind her, combined with Mia's tiny footsteps is jab to the heart. Is this what I'm condemned to do go through? Watching replays of my life?

"Mama. Wawh!" Mia headed straight for me, clearly on her way to 'scare' me with her roaring sounds. My goofy smile was full of pride and awe as I tracked my daughter's movement.

"We did the math." At everyone's dubious look, Lester clarified that Bones helped with the calculation. "Mia's got enough costumes to wear one every day until Halloween and then some!" Lester was clearly the ringleader. It was easy to imagine the poor cashiers being slack jawed when a bunch of muscular ex-military men dressed in all black descended upon a temporary Halloween store, quickly snatching every costume in sight. "Plus, some of them can do double duty as PJs."

"We even got one for little Princess." Ram had obviously used the distraction to be sneaky, somehow able to wrangle Princess into a doggy costume.

"Ghostface, really?" I laughed to myself as I heard my incredulous voice. Princess wasn't having the whole costume bit, spinning in circles until she partially shrugged off the fabric.

To prove their point, Manny showed off the Ghostbuster costume he bought my daughter. The mini jumpsuit, name tag and little backpack style equipment had me wanting to buy the adult version of the costume so that I could match with my mini twin.

"I got this one." Woody produced a Gizmo fluffy onesie type ensamble from his shopping bag loot.

"A gremlin?" Lester's scrunched up look said he wasn't impressed with Woody's choice.

"At least I didn't get the Chucky one." Woody muttered as he once again squatted, opening his arms and calling out to Mia.

"Chucky?!" Ella's eyes widened with shock, immediately reprimanding the guys for getting such a gory option.

I laughed just before Ram defended his choice. "It's perfect. Just imagine Mia popping out from behind a desk and scaring the crap out of Hal." That got a chuckle out of most of the men while Hal turned several shades of red.

"I'm not afraid of dolls." Hal muttered that he just found them creepy, is all.

"Oh yeah?" Lester reminded everyone how high Hal jumped when he found an Annabelle doll sitting in his cubicle last Halloween.

"I was startled." Hal defended, saying it was the middle of the night and he was getting ready to wrap up his end of shift tasks.

My favorite costumes definitely included the Rangeman style get up that included a matching vest for Princess. That was one homemade costume specifically made for Mia from Ella's talented hands.

Before I had a chance to get closer to Mia, who was now stuck in a laughing fit as I enveloped her in my arms and picked her up, the bright light returned. Blinking rapidly once more I found myself somewhere else.

"What the hell is going on?" I muttered as this time I found myself inside of my apartment, watching myself listening to Mia's animated baby gibberish. She's a very alert baby, already speaking more words than the average two year old. Sometimes I feel like she gets frustrated, wanting to speak at the adult level and have a full blown conversation with us. My mother would chastise me for engaging a babbling baby while at the dinning table. Thankfully for Mia and I, my mother has no say in how I've been raising my daughter. Absolutely none.

And off I kept being yanked from moment in time to moment in time, reliving the major changes in my life. Visiting Julie as often as possible has allowed for her and Mia to have a strong bond. At least twice a week Julie and I jump on a video call. Rachel loves to pop in at the end just to get a peek of Mia. She swears Mia is the mini curly haired version of Julie. As a mother, I completely understand Rachel's nostalgia. Babies change so much in a short amount time. Sometimes I've felt like all I did was blink and Mia's grown.

In rapid succession I went through my whole life in short spurts of eventful moments. From my postpartum struggles to meeting Ben to eventually switching from friends to something more. One scene after the next, boom boom boom! Without any explanation, I understood what this was. The flashes of those that have played important roles in my life from birth to present was indication enough of the end.

When the bright light return, encompassing the whole space in blinding rays, I said the only thing I could: I love you.

It's time to let go.

S&R

Morelli's POV

I kept myself on the sidelines for long hours simply to know Cupcake's status. From what I've overheard so far, Stephanie's undergoing a difficult surgery. Everyone seems to be holding their breath as we wait for news. I doubt I'm the only one who wonders if Cupcake will wake up to be the same person she was. Even if she manages to pull through, there's still a long road to recovery. Brain surgery is no joke.

I was on my fourth coffee break by the time the sun rose the next morning. While I was busy chugging the horrible cup of coffee, I watched several government suits descend into the hospital's parking lot. Shit. If a federal agency is involved now, then whatever mess Stephanie stumbled into this time is serious. I hauled ass to beat the suits inside, not wanting to miss their next move. Once they take jurisdiction citing National Security or whatnot, there'll be no way for me to get information. This already has government coverup written all over it.

The tension inside was palpable. The Range thugs already know how this is going to play out and even they're worried.

Stephanie's still in surgery, but I anticipate that the suits will make it nearly impossible to get to her the moment she's out of that OR and awake.

What kind of mess did you pull her into this time, Manoso?!