Steph lay on her front, head turned to the side so she could still see Ranger. Usually from the bed she wouldn't have been able to see out, not to mention the curtain is usually closed, but in her shock she hadn't wanted to be separated from her batman, and there was not room for him, so they left the curtain open and moved the bed longways so both could still see each other.

The triage nurses, yes there where three of them, were working over her back. They had cut the dress off, not that she wanted to ever see it again, but the flimsy material had not protected any of her from the sharp rocks, glass and whatever else had been forced into her back when Cal had fallen on her. It had already been 15 mins of slivers of glass being removed, rocks and dirt being cleans from her skin. Every inch of skin on her back had suffered trauma of some degree. Yet she could barely feel it.

In the 'room' (not that the curtained off suction could be classified as a room really) next to her, she could hear Woody's breathing, deep and steady, hitching slightly every now and then. She hadn't realised he's been shot. She honestly wasn't aware of much that happened after Cal had bravely returned for her.

Cal was one of her closest friends. For such a large intimindating man he was surprisingly caring, sensitive and knew just what to say to make things seem brighter,

Their friendship started in earnest when he had approached her as she was leaving for the night, asking if she might have time free the next day to help him. Of course she said yes, he had helped her often with skips and she loved being able to feel useful.

The next day he picked her up in his big black truck, with a window decal that matched his tattoo, and drove her towards the mall.

"It's my mum's 55th birthday and I'm not sure what to get her. I thought maybe you could help?"

Steph was overjoyed, she got to help a friend plus learn more about a merry men's family, double win in her books. They spent the whole day talking and shopping and two weeks later Cal had come into the office, plucked her out of her chair and spun her around, thanking her, saying his mum had loved the present.

Now the two were good friends, he had helped her a lot when things with Joe had come to a head and they had broken up for good. He helped her become mentally strong, physically as well. He offered her hope that possible Ranger might step up but also took her clubbing, weeding out the bad seeds (which was most of them).

Steph looked at Ranger, talking to Tank; both men had dark eyes and blank looks. She knew they were pissed, so was she. She had told them! Anger was replacing the numb shock. She had bloody told them, and they hadn't listened. The beeping on the heart rate monitor was quickening and her temper rose. Why couldn't they have listen to her for a change. Why did they just dismiss her feelings?

Ranger heard the change in the heart monitor and returned his eyes to his babe. He winced at the fire he saw in her glare, yep Babe was mad.

"Shit" he mumbled, not quite low enough for Tank not to catch it. Tank looked towards Steph's cubical and saw the glare being sent their way. He put a hand on Rangers shoulder in sympathy, "Yep, shit is about right."

Finally the nurses painted the entire back half of her body with the antiseptic lotion, and covered her with a night gown, saying that the doctor would be in but nothing seemed to require stitches so she would be free to go when the doctor signed off on it.

As the nurses left, Ranger walked over to sit in the chair next to Steph's bed. He picked up he hands and held tight as she tried to pull away glaring.

"Why didn't you listen to me?" She all but yelled. "Why couldn't you have trusted me!"

"Babe" he replied, mostly because there was not correct answer that would help here, he had trusted her, doubled the men but it hadn't made a difference.

"Don't babe me Ranger," she screamed at him "If you had of just trusted me for once…" and then she dissolved into tear. Not delicate female tear the movies try to tell you happen, but huge gulping, snotty, shaking tear that spoke of heart break and regret.

Ranger pulled her into his lap, holding her tightly against his chest as she cried, occasionally hit him and babbled. Her heart rate monitor was going crazy but the nurse just quietly snuck in to turn the sound off and left.

Tank and Woody (having now had the bullet removed and the hole sown up) stood just outside the curtain, standing guard. It killed them to watch their friend break down. To see this darkness touching her, when she should be bathed only in light.

The doctor walked in, took one look at the hysterical female and decided to just sign the paperwork, rather than disturb her, once the nurses assured him that there wasn't anything majorly wrong with her back. The ankle on the other hand was broken, they had already taken an x-ray, and the cast would be put on when the patient was calmer. The doctor dictated that once the cast was on, that she could go.

10 mins later Steph had cried herself asleep and Ranger gently cleaned up her wet blotches face. His shirt was drenched and he rather not think about what else, other than tears, was on it. The nurse came in and prepared the cast, all the while Steph slept. After wards, Ranger striped off his top and gentle put it on Steph, covering the gown that was given to her when her own clothes had been destroyed.

When everything was done, Ranger gently lifted her off the bed and the four of them (Tank and Woody still standing guard) went towards the sea of black in the surgical waiting room, to wait for news on their friend.

It was three hours later when a tired looking woman approached the swap of black. Her hospital ID attached to her clean scrubs, said Helena.

"I'm looking for the family of Calvin Harrison" she said.

Bobby stepped forward, "I hold his medical power of attorney, I'm Bobby, the Rangeman Medic."

She glanced at the notes on the clip board in her hands, "Yes, I see you're the person to thank for giving him enough time to make it to my table." She smiled at him warmly "It was touch and go, but the blood you supplied him reduced strain on his heart, and that helped when it got dicey on the table."

"I've fixed up the mess that was made when the bullet torn up his neck. He's lucky a few millimetres over and I wouldn't have been able to fix it at all. He's in recovery and I've been made aware of the protocol of keeping a Rangeman in the hospital. I wish him all the best, but from my end it looks like he'll make a full recovery."

Steph had slept through the announcement, and Ranger thought it was best to take her home, actually he was taking her back to Rangeman, which he wished she would call home. There was an empty apartment on 4 for her, and she was always welcome in his.

"Tank, assign two guards, the rest of you back to Rangeman, I want every resourse available working this. They took a shot at Steph, but I have a feeling that this was an attack on Rangeman. Until further notice Steph is not to be left alone, or out of the building. I will be telling her this when she wakes up but if you see her trying to leave, stop her! I want four men to drive with us, two in the front, one on either side with me and her in the middle. Any Questions? DISMISSED."

Everyone knew that the morning would bring additional fireworks, Steph hated being on house arrest, and with their reputation anyone going up against them must be serious or stupid, but for now they all just counted their blessings, everyone was ok and as a team they would take out the threat.

Okay, so i've ben trying to write something for a while now.. and nothing i was righting was something i was willing to show anyone else, it was all HORRIBLE CRUD! This is better, but still not to the standard i usually write to i think... I'm not sure but im hoping its at least okay. PLEASE REVIEW and let me know if its decent or not...