Steph POV

I know I was driving Tank nuts about Ranger being alive. But after reading his journal again, for probably the thousandth time, he was on his way home. He was on the plane and he wrote of our future. Marriage, children, everything he ever wanted to have with me. I just knew he wasn't dead. I still didn't feel it. The journal had a spot on the bookshelves in the living room, where I could see it all times and pick it up if I needed to feel him.

I was only a few days away from my due date and now had Lula here to keep an eye on me. Tank and Lester went somewhere and wouldn't tell me. Bobby stayed here in case I went into labor. If Ranger wasn't here for the delivery, I was going to have my mom and Bobby. My mom, I know. We've gotten closer during this pregnancy and were now even closer after getting the duffel bag delivered.

I got up and walked around the apartment, checking on the nursery again. I thought I had everything I needed at least in the beginning. My back had been hurting all day and walking seemed to help it. Lula kept following me and finally I snapped at her to back off. She went back into the living room and I went out to apologize. "I'm sorry, Lula. I'm just crabby today. My back is bothering me and I'm anxious about Tank and Lester's unplanned day out of the office." Before she could say anything, I had a bad contraction, almost doubled over from the strength of it and gasped. She jumped up and came over and held onto me so I didn't fall over. Right then, my water broke. She jumped back and yelled. "Well, I guess it's time to go. Can you get Bobby and call my mom? I'm going to get my bag." I walked into the bedroom, grabbed the picture of Ranger and I and my bag, which my mom had packed months ago. I put the picture in it and went into the bathroom and got the bottle of Ranger's shower gel. If he couldn't be there with me, at least I could pretend and smell him.

When I walked back into the living room, Bobby, Lula, Cal and Hector were waiting for me. I looked at Cal and said, "My water already broke so no reason to faint." I started laughing at him until the next contraction hit. Bobby asked how long it had been and I looked at Lula. It was her job to time them. She sputtered, "I don't know. I forgot to look. I was too excited and busy calling people." We headed for the elevator and headed down to the garage. When we got there, a group of RangeMen were waiting for us. They wished me good luck and said to keep them posted. Many hugs and kisses later, we were finally in the car and on the way. Most of the guys ended up at the hospital waiting for the baby, and I had heard a few of them talking about using an answering machine for the first time.

The next twelve hours were awful. Truly awful. I have on other way to describe it. The contractions got stronger and closer together. I was upset that Ranger wasn't there with me and would burst into tears and sob over him being gone. Bobby hovered over me so much that my mom actually kicked him out of the room for a while. Lula kept trying to call Tank, but got no answer. Surprise of all surprises, my mom actually was my rock. She kept me going, breathing through the contractions, debating the use of pain medications and reassured me that I wouldn't be in labor for the rest of my life, although it felt like it.

In the end, it was all worth the pain and tears. Alejandro Carlos Manoso was born at 5:30 am weighing in at 9 pounds even and was almost 23 inches long. He had black silky hair with a bit of a curl and all ten fingers and ten toes. I would know because I counted them multiple times. He had my blue eyes, which I hoped would never change, and his skin color was the perfect shade in between Ranger and myself. He seemed to take the birth all in stride. Never really cried, just alert and looking around. He seemed to have Ranger's blank face, but I didn't care. I couldn't stop crying and holding him to me. Our baby was here but Ranger was not.

We were able to go home two days later, but it seemed sad without Ranger with us. My mom stayed with us during the day and Bobby or Ella stayed with us at night. I was still doubting my mothering abilities and felt better with them in the apartment. I was nursing Alex, but still, having someone with me was helpful, just by holding the baby while I showered or ate. By the end of the third day, I was more comfortable and my mom was able to go back home. My dad was thrilled to finally have a grandson, but he didn't function well by himself at home, and there was always the worry in the back of my mind that he and grandma would fight the entire time mom was gone.

Ranger POV

Nurse Becca got a phone for me to use and when I called RangeMan, I got a recording that the office was closed and if this was an emergency, please call 911. What the hell? We always had someone to answer the phone, even when things got crazy. We don't treat our clients like this, a fucking answer machine? My email account still wasn't working and now no one answered the switchboard? Tank's phone went unanswered, so did Lester's. I give up. I hope to get this leg fixed so I can go kick some asses in Trenton.

I was finishing up therapy and would be able to leave in a few days and would head back to Trenton. I needed to get to my babe. Becca had been able to help me track down my rental car. It had been towed from the gas station and was currently in the impound lot across town. Calls to the car rental agency had resolved the problems, and the car was going to be taken to the airport, but before it went back to the airport, I went to the impound lot time to find my duffle bag. Unfortunately, the bag wasn't in the car. The impound lot knew nothing about the bag and it wasn't on the list of items in the car when it had been impounded. Someone must have taken it out of the car at the gas station before it was towed. They did have my wallet and cell phone, but after so much time, the phone was dead, the charger had been in the duffel, but at least I had money and credit cards again. I ordered a car with a driver to take me back to Trenton because it was easier than trying to drive with my leg in a cast. Plus, I was still on some pain medicine that made me a bit loopy at times. Thankfully, my credit cards still worked so I was able to order some flowers for Becca and had them delivered as a thank you for all of her wonderful care and extra work while I was in her care. The car arrived and I got in and promptly fell asleep. It would take about two or three hours to get to Trenton, depending on the traffic.

Hector POV

I finally got the information on the computer that had been used to try and get into the Ranger's email account for RangeMan. It was from a suburb of Washington, DC. I tried to call Tank and Lester with the news, but they were not answering their phones. While I was trying to find an owner's name for the computer, I heard a ping. I looked at one of my other computers and saw that there were a few hits on Ranger's credit cards. The cards had been used at an impound lot, a florist and a car service company, all on the same day. Someone had gotten ahold of Ranger's wallet and he needed to put a stop to it. He tried to call Tank again.

Tank POV

God damn it, how much government bullshit do we have to go through to get some answers. Lester and I had been down here for almost a week and still had no answers. We had contacted and met with everyone we knew, except for Ranger's handler. The man's assistant still would not let them in to meet with him. No one would answer their question as to if Ranger was alive or dead. Every time we went into one of the government building, we had to leave their cell phones in the car so they weren't taken away.

We came out from our latest attempt and found a message from Hector. The computer was used outside of DC and now he had gotten some hits on a credit card of Ranger's, in the same area as the computer. He gave us an address and we decided to head out to it. I plugged the address into the GPS in my car and we took off. We pulled up to the building and I looked over at Lester. He had the same express on his face that I was sure I had right now. "Well, shit", I said. Lester hummed in agreement and I parked the car. We got out and headed towards the door and walked in. A woman was sitting at the desk and looked up and smiled when we walked in the building. "Welcome to Johns Hopkins Hospital, how may I help you?"