I apologize for the long wait, but as a Christmas present here's finally an update. This chapter's the fork in the road for certain characters, so I wanted it to come out just right before posting. Because I've got a lot of stories in progress, you can check my profile to see what's the plan for any story/ies you're waiting on;) Quick recap: Steph's car was totaled when someone rammed into her car outside of Giovichinni's (had to look up the proper spelling for that place and I think I finally got it right, hehehe) and after Ranger took her home, they got hot and heavy on the couch.

Merry Christmas! Hope everyone had a great time with family and friends. Here in Los Angeles it was so hot I was tempted to go to the beach, lol. It's December, what happened to the cold?XD

Julie's POV

"Look!" From the corner of my eye I spotted Eddie's outstretch arm and a tiny finger pointing out the window.

Quickly, I scanned my surroundings. "What, the pet shop?"

"Can we go in?" My little brother gave me the puppy eyed look.

I'd just called Stephanie and Dad to let them know I was on my way with Eddie. "For what?" I asked even as I pulled to the curb. Eddie said he wanted to get Buddy some toys. "Alright." I grinned at him as I turned off the engine and angled out to unbuckle him.

We looked around the whole store, with Eddie dragging me every which way. And of course, I paid for the Batman themed doggie shirt and cape Eddie picked out for Buddy along with a doggie collar with the same theme.

Running a little bit behind, I drove us to the house as soon as we were done. Stephanie greeted us at the door, instantly brightening up when she spotted us.

"Mommy, look what we found!" Eddie ran up the walk path, eager to show her Buddy's new accessories.

"That's adorable." Stephanie's eyes lit up as she followed Eddie to go find Buddy.

Dinner was spent listening to Eddie's happy chatter, which seemed to ease the tension of the day. I'm glad Stephanie's okay and that the day ended well. After dinner they thanked me for bringing Eddie home and then I was finally on my way back to Rangeman.

S&R

I spent all night tossing and turning, unable to conceive sleep. It was finally Saturday and after a handful of obligations, I'd be done for the workday. Jackson and I were meeting up today to go to the Shore and I was actually looking forward to spending the afternoon with him. But after a sleepless night and the pent up anxiousness engulfing my being, I decided to get in a good run before the only install appointment at 10am.

"Julie!" Someone shouted in the distance. I looked over my shoulder and spotted Justin headed my way, a grin on his face. He probably thought he could catch up and then dash past me. Realizing I was about a block and a half from Rangeman, I sped up. I had distance on my side and thought I could possibly beat him to the building. Just as I was nearing the corner so I could turn on Haywood a loud honk interrupted my internal musings. I looked up to see Stephanie zipping by in my Dad's Cayenne. I waved just before she hooked a right turn on the corner.

Seconds later I heard the loud sound of screeching of tires. Something prompted me to sprint the rest of the way. When I rounded the corner I spotted two armed men, their faces covered with ski masks, pointing a gun at Stephanie's car.

"Get out!" One of them shouted at Steph while the other one made a move towards the driver's side door.

"Hey!" I barreled their way, but the sound of a gunshot and a sharp piercing pain in my right thigh halted my progress. There was another shot, barely scrapping by my other thigh. I crumpled to my knees, screaming with both pain and rage as I watched Stephanie follow their orders, going with them.

"Julie!" A familiar voice shouted my name as heavy footsteps headed my way, coming from behind me.

"Justin!" I have no idea how he got here so fast, but I didn't care.

"What happened?" There was a mix of emotions etched on his face as he pressed his hands on the gunshot to my right thigh.

"Some guys just took Stephanie!" I told him to hurry, that the van shouldn't be too far away.

He looked torn for a moment, before he got up and it was then that I realized he was wearing track pants and a white T-shirt. As he drove off in the Cayenne, I reached for the panic button on my watch. For once, being monitored paid off.

S&R- Ranger's POV

I was in my office, looking over paperwork that required my signature when Woody burst in.

"Julie's on sound feed." He said, filling me in on the situation. I felt a tightness in my chest when he said she was shot and that Stephanie had been taken. "Cal was manning the lobby and he's already on his way towards the corner." He said Lester and Ram were on patrol duty nearby, that he already gave them the heads up.

I was on my feet, moving past him in a flash. "Get Bobby!"

I don't even remember running downstairs, past the lobby or down the sidewalk. By the time I reached Julie, Cal was already there applying pressure and calling it in. "What happened?" I knelt by my daughter's side, feeling torn between staying with her and searching for my wife.

"I was jogging when Steph zipped past me." Julie gritted her teeth before filling me in. "Justin went after them in the Cayenne."

"Relax." I gave her my word I'd bring Stephanie back safely.

Bobby rode on the ambulance with Julie as I stayed back to have my guys report on their findings so far. Lester found the Cayenne, but no signs of either Stephanie or Justin. Woody monitored the location of the only tracker we had on Stephanie right now: her watch. Unfortunately, she didn't wear it today. "Damn it!" I was beyond frustrated by the seemingly endless string of bad news.

While the guys worked on finding leads, I checked in with Valerie to make sure everything was well on her end. I was relieved to know Babe had dropped off our son to spend the morning with his cousins. Thanking her, I informed her Hal would be keeping an eye on them until further developments.

By the time I arrived at St. Francis Bobby was waiting for me in the waiting area. He had good news, saying the bullet missed vital veins and arteries. "It's going to be an easy extraction." Bobby said as soon as the patching up took place Julie would be released.

"Thanks." I was glad at least Julie was going to be okay for now.

"Manoso?" A familiar male voice called my name. I turned in time to spot Morelli headed towards me. "What are you doing here?"

I glared at him, not really in the mood to involve him, but from past experience I know that he could be of some help. I filled him in, keeping my words to a minimum.

"Fuck." Morelli shook his head as it hit me that he might know something he hasn't forked over.

"What is it?" I demanded.

He let out a whoosh of air, saying that bloody guy my wife found behind the chemical facility went missing. "And know she's been 'napped? I highly doubt that's mere coincidence." Morelli reached for his phone, dialed a number and started barking out orders to someone. "You're an idiot, Manoso." He shot my way as he waited on however was on the other end of the line.

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" I lunged at him, but Bobby quickly put himself between us.

"When Stephanie told me she was pregnant with your son, I didn't care." He said he offered to marry her, that he was her guy.

I wanted to throttle him, but Bobby once again stopped me. He reminded me we were in a hospital and that my daughter was currently in the ER. The reminder helped me regain my superficial cool.

"But she chose you." I could detect the heat in his voice when he added, "You're supposed to be keeping her safe."