Not my characters. Thanks to Janet Evanovich for creating such loveable characters.
I had this idea since Stephanie loves her sweets so much! Let me know if you'd like to see it continue.

The day began like any other. I had gotten up early, at the crack of dawn, well, not really. But 8am is early enough for any living thing to be up and at 'em. I'd been feeling really sluggish lately, but just chalked it up to my busy life. Joe and I have permanently broken up and we finally realized that we were better as friends than lovers. We've been apart for about 6 months, and during that time, Ranger and I have dated. We never spoke the words that we would be exculsive, but I guess it was an unspoken understanding. He's been in the wind a couple of times, but when he's here we go out on dates. I'm working fulltime for Rangeman but I'm still picking up some low level skips. Lula still helps me, and when she can't, I usually borrow a Merry Man.

Ranger and I have been spending a lot of time together. I gave up my sorry excuse for an apartment when I went to work at Rangeman. I figure that it was wasted money since an apartment came with my full time job. Plus, it puts me closer to the guys at work. They're all like family. Except Ranger. The electricity I have with Ranger is anything but familial. Sometimes Ranger brings dinner down to my apartment on four, or invites me up to seven. We've become even better friends, and I feel like the path to us becoming lovers is going to be a destination very soon. We're trying to take things slow. Especially since his life doesn't lend itself to relationships-according to him. But I think slowly but surely he's realizing that maybe, just maybe, if anyone can handle being in a relationship with him, it's me. Our stolen kisses and heavy petting are quickly becoming unbearable, and if he doesn't make a move soon, I think I'm going to explode. Plus, there's no shower massager in my Rangeman apartment. Just my luck.

Anyway, getting back to this morning. I woke up and felt like death on a cracker. Plus I was thirsty as the Sahara desert. I guzzled down two bottles of water and took a quick shower. I'd been battling a sinus infection, and had ran a fever for a couple of days. I was trying to work even though I was sick, and I had a feeling it was catching up with me. I pulled myself from the bed, and got ready, dressing in the standard Rangeman black, and stopped by the control room. Turns out, Hal was on monitor duty.

"Hey Hal. How goes it?"

"Hey Bomber. It's going good. How you doing today?"

"Uggh. I still feel like crap. My sinuses are killing me and I can't seem to get over this fever."

Just as the words were out of my mouth, Ranger walked up. He put his arm around my waist and pulled me into him slightly, sniffing my hair. "Mmmm. You smell good Babe. What's this about you not feeling well today?"

"Hey Ranger. I don't know. I just haven't been myself lately. I'm tired all the time, and I have no energy. Plus I've got a fever and my sinuses are killing me."

"Babe, why don't you let me get Bobby to take a quick look at you. It won't take long, and I know how you hate hospitals and doctors."

"Thanks Ranger. Maybe later if I'm not feeling better. Hopefully it's just a bug."

Ranger cocked an eyebrow up in my direction but eventually sighed. It's hard to believe Batman sighs. Finally he relented. "Ok Babe. I can't make you do it. But tell me, what's on your plate for today?"

"I'm going to run by the Bonds office to pickup our FTA's and then I'll be back to do searches. Rodriguez has my inbox full again. I swear he lives to torment me."

Ranger chuckled and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. "Take it easy Babe. If you're back in time, let's go to Pinos for lunch."

"You got it!"

I left and hopped into my new Ford Flex SUV. It was all shiny and new and black. Besides the color, it wasn't the ordinary Rangeman vehicle, but it was a perfect fit for me. Kinda unusual, but comfy. And there was enough leg room for any of the hulking Merry Men that accompanied me on any given day, plus room in the backseat for FTA's. Ranger had it customized with tinted windows, and a sound system. He also had floor bolts installed for chaining up unruly FTA's and I'm sure it was lowjacked with more trackers than I could count. The vehicle was yet another perk for working here. I'd fought it for several weeks, but eventually gave up when Ranger pointed out that I was the only employee that didn't have a work vehicle, and that it was company policy. I told him he was taking his insurance rates into his own hands, but he assured me that he could handle it. Ranger wanted to get me a Porsche since I was practically in love with his, but I couldn't justify the cost when you consider how often my cars have a tendancy to go to car heaven.

I motored off to the Bonds office, stopping by the Tasty Pastry to pick up two dozen donuts. When I walked into the office, Lula and Connie attacked me and were on the pastries like vultures on road kill. I escaped without too much injury and grabbed three of the donuts for myself. We gabbed and talked as we usually did, and I finally got my folders and started to leave. I grabbed another two donuts, and scarfed them down while making my way to the door. A wave of nausea crept over me as I started to open the door and I swayed as the room began to spin.

"White girl, are you ok? Hold up! Sit down here! Connie, get her some water."

"I'm ok Lula. I just got hot and nauseated all of a sudden. I haven't been myself lately. I'll be fine. I just need to get back to the office."

"Girl, you ain't going no where. You're in no condition to be driving. Look how you're shaking. You look like a leaf on a tree! Let me give Ranger a call."

"No! I'm ok. I don't want to bother him. I'll be ok."

I started to stand up again and slumped against the wall. Lula grabbed me. "Connie, she's burning up with fever! Call Ranger quick!"

Connie picked up the phone to call Ranger, and I mumbled "Really, Lula. I'm …I'm ok I think. I don't feel so well though."

Lula was holding some water for me to drink, and I pushed it away. "I can't Lula. I think…I'm gonna be sick!"

Lula grabbed a trash can and I threw up in it several times. Connie came over with a wet papertowel, and wiped my face. "Ranger's on the way with Bobby honey. Just hold on 'til they get here."

I heard her talking but the words weren't registering. Everything seemed so jumbled. I could see her lips moving, but nothing was making sense. I slowly saw the edges of my vision creep away, and blackness filled my sight as I succumbed to the darkness and passed out.