Hi all. It's been a while since I've been able to post, but I finally have this update for you. This story has maybe three more chapters left, if not two.

I've had this chapter mostly done for about two weeks, just missing some edits.

Different POVs took over for this chapter, as well as a new development of what's going on at the mall.

Happy (early) Fourth of July! (The reason I'm posting today is some students (not mine) lit a firework inside a trash can at school today. LOUD BOOM!, followed by a lockdown, followed by an all clear and some students getting in trouble just before the holiday break. Summer School is never dull. Anyway, LOUD BOOM reminded me of this story, lol).

For reference in Italics we have flashback info (beginning of chapter).

Disclaimer: The Plum Universe belongs to JE. Rusty writing is mine.

My fingers threaded through her hair just before I fisted her curly ponytail, all while her head continued to bob up and down. "Yeah, that's it, Babe." I groaned with pleasure rather than discomfort as she doubled her efforts. Fuck, she's so fucking good at giving head. "Ughn, yeah, suck it just like that, baby." My sweet murmurs seemed to reignite her efforts, causing her ministrations to pick up speed. "Si, mmm, take it! Take it all, Babe." Fuck, she's so fucking beautiful. I'm such a lucky motherfucker to have this beauty sucking me dry in such a public place. On a particular deep entrance I felt the telltale signs of impending release. "Babe, I'm gonna..." For a brief moment I felt my whole body tense. "That's it, umm yeah." I groaned with relief as my orgasm roared through me and she worked on milking me dry. "Wow, Babe." I murmured with a satisfied grin as an afterthought.

There was a pounding headache along with white hot pain centered on my lower back. Aside from that, there was a heavy weight all around me. What the fuck? I tried to move, but couldn't. It felt like I'd been stuffed inside a small, way too small, opening. I opened my eyes, only to be greeted by darkness. What the hell? My survival instincts kicked in and my whole life started flashing before my eyes, quite literally.

I rushed to catalogue the day's activities, and it all came back to me. The mall!

The day started pretty standard, with a heavy workout session to start the work day. All the guys got their workout in, except one: Rangeman himself. It's super rare for Ranger to miss his morning workout, but when he rolled in to the rundown meeting with seconds to spare I had a good idea why. After the short meeting, Rangeman and Beautiful lagged behind. They weren't in the boardroom long, but that mischievous grin she exited with said it all. Her short detour to the restroom and the minty breath she rolled out with told me all I needed to know. Naughty!

"What do we have for today?" Her enthusiastic question had been the perfect deflection to my sly grin as we angled inside my SUV.

"It's test time!" My grin grew exponentially as I set our tunes for the short drive ahead of us. Beautiful has been secretly working on her Spanish knowledge these past several months. She has made great improvements with Hector, Ram and I as her teachers. The easiest and most secure way of effectively hiding this secret from the Boss Man has been to work with her during our patrols. We play a song, she learns new words and practices her pronunciation, and after we give her feedback on her highs and lows. So far she's made a lot progress. Hector uses mostly tropical tunes, Ram uses a lot of Banda, and I keep it more modern.

Her blue eyes sparkled at the familiar song blasting through the speakers. She swayed her body to the music, managing to look graceful doing it despite the seatbelt holding her in place. "Nadie sabe donde estoy!"

"Ugh!" I heard Ram complain in my earpiece when the Spanish remix of Lost in The Middle of Nowhere ended. The car's atmosphere shifted from the blasting sounds of beats for silence, if only for a brief moment.

"Hater." I beamed with pride at how well she pronounced the words. Some of her Rs can use more practice, but she's definitely on her way to Spanish fluency land.

"Muy bien." Hector chipped in, just as proud.

"Thanks, guys. Muchas gracias, muchachos." She beamed with pride.

When we all arrived to Quaker Bridge Mall, Beautiful gave us instruction and split us into the indoor and outdoor team. I got to lead the smaller outdoor team.

All day QB's finest, and I mean fine, security guard flirted with me. She would purposefully brush against me in passing during the day, to the point where I was ready to bend her over a bench and fuck her senseless. So when the work day ended and Beautiful, aka Boss Babe, dismissed us to head over to Shorty's, I was more than ready to satisfy the day's urge. I am Lester Santos after all.

The memories of the day's events rushed me all at once, reminding me that I was satisfying an urge when a loud explosion rocked the building.

Shit.

I'm buried under the rubble.

As i tried to better assess the situation I was in, I realized that my lower half was wet and sticky. It seems I'd soiled myself at some point during the blackout. I swallowed, or at least tried only to be greeted with a dry, dirty mouth. I'm not a medical expert like Bobby, but I do know losing control of bowel movements could mean a spinal injury.

Crap.

Cal's POV

After coming to I made sure to catalogue even the last hair on my body. My findings were that I was 100% unscathed. It was a momentary relief that quickly dissipated once Bomber confessed she was in pain, everywhere. Damn. I'd give anything to trade places. Ranger is not going to be happy when he finds out his wife isn't as unscathed as me. Damn. Being slowly crushed to death under this building would be a quicker, and way less painful death.

My internal musings were interrupted when Boss Babe, as Lester nicknamed our beloved Bomber, let out a very uncharacteristic groan.

"What's wrong?" Damn it! I'd switch with her in a beat if it meant not hearing that anguished sound ever again.

"Uhm, I had to pee." She said through what sounded like gritted teeth. I think I also detected a hint of embarrassment.

If there's one thing I know about being buried alive under a collapsed structure is that patience and remaining calm are key. It could take minutes, hours, days or in extreme circumstances even weeks before you can be found. The last thing on your mind should be embarrassment over something as natural as a bodily function. So, I told her just that.

She let out a strangled sound, somewhere between a groan and a weep. "See, that's the thing." Again with the embarrassment. "I didn't have a choice. I couldn't hold it."

My mind started racing with possibilities. Bobby would know with a lot more certainty than me, but loss of control of bodily fluids could very well mean a spinal injury.

Fuck.

Morelli's POV

When the call came in that everyone would be hands on deck at Quaker Bridge Mall off of Route 1, I hauled ass to get there to be one of the first on scene. It's not everyday that a potential terrorist attack of such magnitude happens in Trenton. I'd already pulled a double shift by the time the call came in, but I couldn't just go home.

The sight of the building crumbled to pieces is a sight I'll never forget. It was almost unreal that such a solid structure was currently mostly rubble.

Gazarra, Constanza and Big Dog arrived just after I did. We all stood hands on hips for a moment as the sound of nearby sirens signaled the arrival of potential help.

"Shit." Big Dog summed it up better than I could.

In a matter of minutes the parking lot went from deserted to filled with activity. I was waiting for directions from the fire department when a shinny black SUV screeched to a halt behind me.

I rolled my eyes in a perfect impression of a certain someone when I saw him angle out of the expensive car. Luckily, Eddie stepped in to greet him.

"Hey, Ranger." When Manoso ignored him, intent on making his way past my fellow cop, my jaw clenched.

"Woah there, Sunshine!" I halted his progress by blocking his path. Yeah, I hate the bastard. He's good looking, rich and he got the girl. Not all of us are perfect saints, so yeah I'm holding a grudge of sorts.

"We're waiting on the Fire Department's all clear." Eddie said by way of explanation, realizing that if he didn't step in Manoso and I might just go at it right here. It wouldn't be my proudest moment, what with the catastrophe behind us, but a man's gotta protect his reputation. I'd never live it down if I let Manoso intimidate me.

"My men are trained in search and rescue. Anything the Fire Department needs, we're at the ready." Manoso said matter of fact, making another move to get around us.

I rolled my eyes harder than Cupcake ever has. "Of course they are." I muttered.

Eddie shot a sideways glance my way, definitely annoyed. "I'll radio that in to the Fire Captain." Gazarra was doing just that, attempting to diffuse the situation, when a loud explosion rocked our surroundings. As if this night couldn't get any worse.

Manoso lunged forward, determined to get past me. It pissed me off how little regard he had for rules and the police. All the anger I've harbored for him came rushing out. Slamming my left shoulder against his chiseled chest, I dug my sneaker clad feet into the asphalt and pushed back. I felt Eddie join the mix, only to have both of us somehow pushed back. Manoso's strength was impressive, but I was determined.

Manoso barked orders to let go, as if I'd take orders from him.

"My wife is in there!"

It could have been my imagination, but there was raw emotion in his voice. And for just a moment, his facial expression showed pain. At the realization that Stephanie was under that rubble, I felt my stomach clench with familiar worry. I've been there before, worried sick about her.

"We'll get to her." Eddie, being better with words at the moment, clapped my once rival on the back. It was the universal 'I got you, bro'. I always suspected Eddie was in love with Stephanie. If not fully, at least a little bit.

Aren't we all?

"Yeah, we will." I found myself nodding in agreement, suddenly feeling my anger slugging off me.