Wow! I loved the reviews I got for the last chapter. Let's face it- I'm a review slut.

I hope you enjoy this one! And if you don't: 1. I blame being sick and 2. Too bad. It made me chuckle.

Not mine.


I grabbed Julie and we headed out with the officers. They wouldn't tell me anything. No one would tell me anything! Tank had already packed a bag for me and was waiting with Lester and Bobby in one of the two SUV caravan we were taking to the airport.
"Do you at least know where he is?" I asked the officer riding shotgun.

"Bethesda."

"Is that bad?"

"It's the best navy hospital on the east coast, ma'am."

"Don't call me ma'am." I said, irritated.

"Sorry, ma'am."

Now they're just mocking me. I sighed and sat back in the SUV, holding Julie's hand. She squeezed it once and said, "it'll be okay, Stephanie. I have a feeling."

"Thanks, that helps a little." And it did. Carlos had the same feelings that Julie was having and they were usually dead on.

Oh, don't think that word. He's not dead. He wouldn't leave me now. We haven't had enough of our 'someday'. If he was, I was going to, as Lula would say, pop a cap in his ass.

One car ride, and an obscene flight later, we were pulling up to the hospital. I ran in and went right up to the nurse's station.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Carlos Manoso's room."

"One moment."

I waited silently for as long as I could. Three minutes later, I was tapping my fingernails. The nurse glared at me.

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

"Stephanie Manoso. His wife."

"I can't let you back there. His record says that he isn't married."

"He is." I gritted out. "Three months ago."

"Says you." She shot back. Clearly she thought I was going to get my man. Over my dead body.

"Look here you little slut. Carlos Manoso is married. To me. He will be married to me for the rest of his life and I'm pregnant with his unborn child. So if you don't tell me where his room is right now, so help me God…"

"Stephanie?"

I whirled around. "Roberto?" I hadn't seen Roberto since the wedding. He was a complete replica of his brother.

"What are you doing here? Carlos's room is right down the hall."

I gave the nurse a smug grin. "Thanks." I said.

He turned to the nurse at the station. "Hold all my calls, Julianne."

"Yes, Dr. Manoso."

"Sorry, she's been taken with my brother ever since he came in here." He said as we walked down to his room. "I'm surprised she hasn't tried to break in yet."

"That's okay. I'm used to it. I'm just a little hormonal these days."

He nodded. "Mama told me. Congratulations."

"Thanks. So you work here?"

"Almost ten years."

"Wow. That's impressive."

He smiled. We stopped outside his room. "Now, Stephanie, there's something you need to know…"


"YOU GOT SHOT IN THE ASS?" I screeched when I opened the door.

"Babe." He said. He was laying stomach down on the bed with his cute butt wrapped in bandages.

"YOU GOT SHOT IN THE ASS??"

"Calm down before you pass out."

I sat down and calmly waited for the story. Calmly as I could.

"We were doing the field operation and one of the guys said something funny and I smiled and then the guns of one of the cadets went off accidentally and…"

"Let me guess," I interrupted. "It was a she?"

He smiled. I rolled my eyes. Go figure. He smiles and gets shot in the ass.

We sat there in silence. I giggled once. Then again.

Until I was full-blown laughing.

"What's so funny, Babe?"

"You…" I gasped. "Got…shot…in…the…ASS!" I laughed harder now.

He was smiling and thinking about laughing.

"I'm sorry, it's not funny. But it is."

"Babe."

"I thought you were injured or dead, but it's just this!" The giggled subsided. "God, I thought you were dead for half a second and I wasn't sure how I was going to continue to live without you, let alone raise a child."

He slid closer to me and placed his hand on my stomach. "I'm okay, Stephanie. It was an accident. The job is usually safe…this won't be happening again."

"But it could!" I said. "You could be out chasing a skip and…"

"And I'll be wearing Kevlar. I'll be okay."

"Please don't die on me. I won't survive."

"As long as you don't die on me. Cause I won't survive."

I put my hand on his. "I love you."

"I love you."

Then the door barged open. "Are you okay, Ranger?" Julie asked.

"Yeah, honey, I'm fine."

"Thank God. I would've killed you if you had died."

Carlos chuckled. "I'm sure you would've been in line with Stephanie and Tank."

"Probably." I agreed. I looked over at Julie, who's eyes were starting to droop. "Julie, you should go get some rest."

"I'm okay." She said unconvincingly with a yawn.

"Have Tank take you to the hotel room I've got close by."

"Excuse me?" I asked, suddenly feeling jealous.

"For you, Babe. I had Roberto call tonight."

"Oh." I blushed. Stupid hormones.

"You're cute when you're jealous." He said, with a smile. "But you're the only woman I need."

"Good to know." I blurted out. Damn mouth! I blushed. He smiled.

"You should both go. I'm not going anywhere." He said.

I nodded. I was feeling a little tired too. "Could you get Tank, Julie?"

"Sure." She smiled. "I know when I'm not needed. Mom and Ron do it all the time when they want to be alone."

We smiled. She hugged Carlos and left.

"She's too smart for her own good." He said.

"She's too much like her father." I replied.

He smiled. After a moment, he sobered up. "I'm sorry I scared you."

I gently kissed his lips. "I'm just glad that you're okay. That's all that matters right now."

We kissed for another few minutes and then I yawned.

"Go. Get some rest. I'll be here in the morning."

"You better be."

He grabbed my neck and kissed me once more until we were breathing heavy. "I will. Promise."

"Good. Night." I said, leaning against the door with my ass facing him and giving him a saucy look over my shoulder.

"Babe. No fair." He groaned.

"Now we're even." I said, smiling.

"Goodnight, Babe."

"Night, Carlos."