Disclaimer: Not Mine. I am making no money, just filling up some free time.

This is my first fanfic... Be gentle!

"One dozen Boston Cremes, please." I told the counter girl at The Tasty Pastry. Hmmm, Lula's gonna be there. "Better make that two dozen." While the girl gave me an eye roll, I glanced around the shop. Well, that's weird. My Spidey sense is going off the charts. I looked out the window, and saw a man that could pass as a Merry Man crouched down in front of a green Honda civic, aiming a gun. Now, normal people might be shocked by this, I however was just curious. I guess I've been through this one too many times. I looked to see what he was setting his sights on, and that's when the panic set in.

Ranger was in his sights.

I realized that I couldn't call Ranger fast enough, and the guy hadn't noticed me watching him. I decided to get closer, and see if Ranger would "be aware of his surroundings" soon.

I crept up behind him, just in time to watch him take the safety off of his gun. I didn't think, I just jumped. I tackled the man, and screamed, "RANGER!" as loud as I could. I plastered myself to him, and struggled to get the gun. We started rolling around, and I heard a gun go off. I figured Ranger had come to the rescue, and sighed. Well, I tried to. That's when I realized I couldn't breathe too well. Probably the guy was just squeezing my lungs. Come on denial, don't fail me now!

I blinked, and the guy was off of me, and Ranger was kneeling beside me. Tank had the guy cuffed, and I knew Ranger was safe.

"Babe, please! Hang on! The ambulance is coming! Don't give up!" Ranger seemed scared. I reminded myself that Ranger doesn't do emotions, so it must be bad. Well, if I was dying, I wasn't dying without telling him what I feel! I didn't want any unfinished business following me into the afterlife. I'd make a horrible ghost!

"Ranger," I croaked out, "I love you. I'm in love with you. Have been for a long time. I guess it's okay to tell you now. I just wanted you to know that. I love you, Ranger." And with that, I let the darkness take over.

Ranger's POV

Beep, Beep, Beep… This was the cadence of my life now. My Babe, Stephanie was laying here in a hospital bed, because she saved me. She had just come out of surgery an hour ago, and was brought into ICU. There were so many wires coming out of her that I was afraid to touch her.

Bobby had come to the hospital to translate what the doctor said. He said it was touch and go for a while, and she still had a bunch of hurdles to overcome, but he was "cautiously optimistic".

My babe had a huge gathering in the waiting room. Half of Trenton P.D., everyone from Rangeman that was off duty, some FBI, CIA, and a few more alphabet soup agencies, Connie, Lula, Mooner, and about six more of her skips were all huddled around speaking in hushed tones, and praying for her.

Her family charged in about a half hour after they wheeled Stephanie back for surgery. Mrs. Plum started demanding answers from the nurse at the desk. I decided to make my presence known by clearing my throat. "Mrs. Plum, Stephanie is in surgery right now. She was shot in the chest, at point blank range."

It took all of my years of training to not break down when talking to Mrs. Plum. Her face crumpled, and it looked like she couldn't stand on her own anymore. I caught her, and brought her over to a bank of chairs.

"Why?" Mrs. Plum screamed. "Why couldn't the 'Burg be enough for her? I tried! Why couldn't she settle down when Joe asked her to marry him! No! She chooses to do a ridiculous job where she gets beat up, and shot, and hangs out with losers and thugs instead of marrying Morrelli and settling down!" she ranted.

"Ellen, SHUT UP!" Mr. Plum barked. "My baby girl is in there fighting for her life, and you have the nerve to criticize her choices! Look around! If YOU were in the hospital, would you have so many friends here to support you? Sure you'd have a few, but would they be here for you, or to get the latest gossip on why you were in here? My god woman! Grow up, and see what an amazing person you raised!"

I tried to find my blank face, but it was gone. Totally gone. I had never heard Mr. Plum say more than two words strung together, and now, he said what had been on my mind since I met Mrs. Plum. I quickly regained control when Mr. Plum turned to face me.

"I want to know who is responsible for this, and I want to know that whoever it is will suffer."

I squared my shoulders, and took a deep breath. "Sir, I'm afraid I'm responsible for this. Stephanie got shot protecting me. I am suffer-"

Mr. Plum cut me off. "You misunderstand me. I know she got shot protecting you, I was already told that. Who was the shooter? Is he in custody, or do I get a crack at him?"

"Sir, the man who shot your daughter was one of the FBI's most wanted. Stephanie took him out, and now, he is property of the feds. Your daughter is not only my hero, but our country will be safer because of her actions. If you want, I can have one of the agents over there fill you in on the suspect." I motioned to a few of the feds whispering in the corner.

"No, thanks. I was just hoping to get some 'face time' with the guy. Now, more importantly, are you going to get your head out of your ass, and start a relationship with my daughter when she wakes up?"

"Sir, I-"

"Stop with the 'Sir' crap! My name is Frank! Now you had better tell me that you plan on dating my daughter when she wakes up!"

"Si- um, Frank, as today should probably show you, my life doesn't lend itself to relationships. I sometimes deal with some pretty bad guys, and they could use her to get to me. I love your daughter, but I'm not good for her. It has to be this way."

"Let me tell you what I just heard. 'Blah, blah, blah, I'm a coward, blah, blah, blah!'"

Oh. My. God. I have killed people for saying less. Tank saw my dilemma, and stepped in. "Mr. and Mrs. Plum, Mrs. Mazur, why don't we go to the cafeteria? The doctor said it would be at least 4 hours before we know anything."

Frank gave me a stern look, and marched off with Steph's mom and grandma. Tank looked like he wanted to laugh, but decided against it. Instead, he went over to Lula, and whispered something to her. She just threw her arms around him, and he sat down and held her.

I guess I was on my own now. Mr. Plum had given me some things to think about. I knew the cop was out of the picture, but I didn't know he had proposed before he left. I guess they are truly done. Well, I admitted my feelings to my Babe's dad, how much harder could it be to tell her? She knows I love her, but I don't think she has a clue how much I care. She is everything to me. She's the reason I came home from some of my missions. Oh how I love her!

Come to think of it, whenever she is in trouble, I pull her closer. Okay, Manoso. Let's do this. I love my Babe, and I'm going to make her mine. Everybody thinks we're in a relationship anyway. Might as well reap the benefits. Now, all I have to do is get her to wake up.

Beep…beep…beep…beep

"Come on Babe. Wake up. I need you." I had been saying my mantra for about 20 minutes now. The nurse came in and said that Stephanie would be waking soon. I know it's selfish, but I wanted her to see me first when she woke up. I needed us to have that moment. Together.

Stephanie's POV

Beep…beep…beep…

Ugh. I feel like I've been hit by a truck! What's that noise?

"Come on Babe. Wake up. I need you."

Wow. That sounds like Ranger. Ranger doesn't need anyone, though. Couldn't be him.

"That's it, Babe! Open your eyes! Come on Mi Amor! I need to see your eyes when I tell you!"

Ranger wants to tell me something! I'm too curious not to open my eyes! Ungh! It's too hard. Maybe he can ESP it to me.

"Come on Babe! I have so much to tell you! Open those beautiful blue eyes for me!"

Now he's playing hardball! Fine!

"There you are! Babe, you had me so worried! The doctors said it was touch and go for a while, but everyone knew you'd be fine! Those doctors must have never met you! They didn't know how stubborn you can be!"

It looks like Ranger, but Ranger has never put that many words together at once. Maybe he has a twin.

"Babe."

Now it sounds like Ranger.

"Ranger?" I half croaked. "What happened?"

He made a confused face a split second before the blank one slammed down. "Babe, you were shot."

Well, that would explain the pain I felt. Oh. OH! I remember! The weird guy, Ranger - not aware of his surroundings, the tackle, and the gun going off. Me, telling Ranger I love him…

"Oh crap!" Ranger just kept looking at me. He was going to let me work through this. "I'm so sorry Ranger! I-"

"What could you possibly be sorry for?" Ranger asked, incredulous.

"I didn't mean to tell you! I'm so sorry! Pretend you didn't hear it! Please! Don't send me away again!"

"Babe, Stephanie, Querida." Ranger said softly. He bent down to kiss my lips gently. When he came back up, and looked at me, his blank mask was gone. He looked at me… tenderly. Now I was really confused. Maybe not too late to look into the twin theory.

"Babe, I don't have a twin! Where do you come up with this stuff? Stephanie, I will NEVER send you away again. I love you so much! I have waited forever to hear those words from you! You are my everything! Please tell me again! I need to hear it from you!"

I had to be dreaming still. Or dead. There is no way I heard what I think I heard. Maybe we should call a doctor in here. I got shot in the chest, but maybe there was still a way I got brain damaged.

Ranger chuckled. I must have said it out loud again.

"Yeah, Babe. Out loud. Now tell me what I want to hear." He growled.

"I love you, Ranger" I whispered, looking at my sheet.

I felt his fingers under my chin, pulling my face up to his. I finally looked into his face, and what I saw there took my breath away.

Ranger's eyes were swimming with tears.

"Carlos, Babe. For you, I'm Carlos." He whispered, resting his forehead on mine.

I brushed my tears away, and, hardly believing this was happening, I said the words that we both wanted me to utter for a very long time. "Carlos, I love you."

A/N: Should I go on, or stop here?