Disclaimer: Please see chapter one.
Just For A Moment…
Chapter 2
RANGER WALKED OVER TO her father, quietly explaining, uncharacteristically at length, where he was taking Steph. He reassured the man that his daughter would be protected and well cared for.
"Bobby, one of my men, was a medic when we were in the Rangers. He'll keep his eye on her, and if he deems it necessary, I'll have a counselor brought in to help her through it, if she shows any symptoms of PTSD." He paused for a moment, and then seemed to make up his mind what to say next. "Do you think it would be all right if Steph held off calling you for a few days? I know she'll feel guilty if she doesn't talk to your wife, but I honestly don't think she's up to a conversation with her right now. I'd much rather wait until Bobby can look her over, but it's up to you, sir."
Frank Plum nodded in agreement, confident that his little girl was in good hands. He spoke just as quietly, "I'll tell her mother and the rest of the family that she's safe, and keep them from bothering her until she's comfortable with calling them." He also said he would deal with the police –specifically Detective Morelli. "I want you to get Stephanie away from here as soon as possible; Morelli's getting on my last nerve, and I refuse to let him browbeat her tonight, especially after what's happened here," he finished, his tone hardening as he turned to stare at the detective. He could no longer stomach sitting on the sidelines, while she was berated for her choices again. By anyone.
Ranger nodded his agreement and turned back towards the Porsche, ignoring Morelli as he called out, "Manoso! I need to speak with Stephanie before she leaves! She needs to give her statement!"
Over my dead body, he thought. She doesn't need a damn thing from you tonight, Morelli. Especially more of your bullshit!
The last thing Ranger heard before climbing into the driver's seat of the Porsche was Frank Plum informing the cop in a firm voice that his daughter would be making her statement later, when she was feeling more herself and less likely to panic. Maybe not even then; they'd consult a doctor first. Until he was comfortable as to how his daughter was faring, Frank told him, "I don't want anyone else near Steph, and I expect my wishes to be honored."
Ranger didn't hear the cop's reply, but grinned anyway. Frank Plum wasn't someone he wanted to underestimate, like Morelli had continuously done. Until Morelli became a father, he'd never understand.
Ranger glanced at his passenger and smiled inwardly. She'd already fallen asleep, and he knew she had slipped into 'Denial mode,' as she normally did after going through a traumatic experience such as tonight. It was her way of coping, and although it wasn't considered 'normal' by most people's standards, it worked for her. He was all for letting her work it out in her head in her own way. It was better than the alternative.
Tank watched as Ranger buckled himself in, glancing his way as he sat in the SUV he'd parked next to the Porsche when they arrived and catching his friend's nod for the big man to lead the way. Tank grinned approvingly, seeming to understand the message his boss was conveying: Get going … now! He started the SUV and pulled out, the Porsche following him as he focused his attention on his driving, while keeping an eye out for threats or delays. Any more surprises were bound to have a negative effect on the Bombshell's psyche, until she was able to come to terms with the night's events, and Tank liked her too much to chance the risk. It was the reason he was driving point.
The drive took nearly thirty-five minutes, since Tank had taken several detours to avoid known road hazards and streets that were bound to be congested at this time of night. Who knew when they would need a quick getaway, just in case there were more Slayers lying in wait? There hadn't been time to determine the number of gang members that had survived tonight's debacle, as well as ascertain if anyone had escaped the scene before RangeMan and the authorities arrived. Best to be cautious.
Pulling up to the underground garage at RangeMan, Tank gently maneuvered the SUV down the ramp and into an empty parking space, while Ranger pulled the Porsche into his usual spot, right next to the elevator. Both he and Ranger exited and closed their doors noiselessly. Tank heading over to the elevator to call it down, while Ranger opened Steph's door and unbuckled her seatbelt. He lifted her easily out of the seat, holding her firmly, yet gently, against his body as he entered the elevator.
Tank pressed his keypad, sending the car swiftly to the seventh floor, and then moved out ahead of them as the doors opened. He unlocked the apartment door, stepping aside as he held it open for Ranger to enter unhampered with his precious 'cargo.'
Nodding his thanks, Ranger walked directly through to the bedroom, laying her down on the bed so gently, she never stirred. He went over to his dressing room, grabbing one of his shirts and a pair of sweats. Then, he walked back over to the bed and set the clothing down, bending to remove her shoes and socks.
As he gently pulled the blanket from around her, Stephanie stirred, opening her eyes and asking groggily, "Ranger? Is everything okay?" She looked around the room, recognizing his bedroom, before swinging her gaze back to Ranger's face.
His lips tilted up in an almost-smile. "Yeah, Babe. Everything's fine now. Did you want to take a shower before Ella gets here with your food?" He pointed to the T-shirt and sweats on the bed next to her. "I got you something comfortable to change into."
Steph's face softened and she smiled. "Yeah, thanks. I would like a shower."
He helped her sit up, steadying her as she rose shakily to her feet, and watched as she grabbed the clothes, slowly making her way to the bathroom. She stopped at the doorway, turning to face him.
"Ranger?"
He stopped in the doorway, turning partially around to face her. "Yeah, Babe?"
She blushed, and then smiled again, a little self-deprecating this time. "Thanks for taking care of me. I'm sorry I'm such a pain in your ass."
He shook his head, an almost-smile twitching his lips. "Go get your shower, Babe. Too warm, and the bruises will be uglier, but your muscles will thank you." He turned back around and left, closing the door behind him softly, as she walked the rest of the way into the bathroom.
Steph hurriedly stripped out of the torn and filthy clothes, dropping them into the wastebasket, before turning on the shower. She didn't want to see that outfit ever again. Deciding to take Ranger's advice, since it stood to reason he'd be extremely knowledgeable in the treatment of bruises, given his lifestyle and employment, she turned the water on to hot, just a shade cooler than scalding, and stepped underneath the spray, groaning as the hot water sluiced over her stiffening muscles. She was in for a world of hurt tomorrow, that was for sure, but for now… absolute bliss!
She applied Ranger's shower gel to the sea sponge generously, scrubbing herself vigorously, until she felt almost raw from the roughness of the sponge. She rinsed off, and then stepped from the shower, drying herself in one of Ranger's soft towels, before wrapping her body in his robe that was hanging on the back of the bathroom door. She wrapped her hair, turban-style, with another towel, after pressing as much water out of it as possible, and then proceeded to pull on the sweats and T-shirt that Ranger had loaned her.
Once dressed, she unwrapped her hair and finger-combed it, deciding to let it dry on its own, rather than try to dry it with the blow dryer. She didn't feel up to wrestling with the curls tonight, and Ranger did promise to have Ella make her some happy food…
She walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, giving it a cursory glance, before heading through the living room to the kitchen, where she spied a tray of covered dishes on the counter, but no Ranger. She lifted the lid from one of the dishes, inhaling the aroma as she identified the contents. Homemade macaroni and cheese…Yum! How could Ella possibly have known that this had been her favorite happy food since she was a small child? She'd never made it before, to her knowledge – at least, not while Steph had been staying here at Ranger's.
She covered the dish and lifted another lid, almost swooning at the generous piece of 'Death by Chocolate' cake that lay in the center of the plate. Ella definitely had her number! Putting the lid back on the cake, she checked the other dishes, smirking when she identified one as chicken and rice, and another full of several kinds of fruit. After covering all the food back up to keep warm, she walked out into the living room, frowning when she still couldn't locate Ranger. Had he left?
"Ranger?" Her voice was a little louder than normal, and held just a hint of panic – unreasonable, she knew, but she couldn't seem to tamp down the images of the Slayers that suddenly appeared in the silence. Ranger's presence earlier had held them at bay, but now, with him nowhere in sight, they started to crowd back in, pushing back all her efforts to kick them out. Denial was becoming a little harder to grasp tonight.
He came charging out of his office, clad only in a pair of sweats, feet and chest bare, hair loose, and a Glock in his hand. "Babe?" He looked around, confusion on his face as he tried to pinpoint the reason for her distress.
She suddenly felt foolish for overreacting, and to cover her embarrassment, nonchalantly indicated the tray on the counter. "The food's getting cold."
She shrugged and settled herself at the counter, keeping her gaze averted as she emptied the tray of its contents and placed the food at their respective places. Don't be such a baby, she silently scolded herself.
Ranger set the gun on the counter next to his food and moved to the refrigerator, pulling out a bottle of water and a Coke, which he set in front of her. He took his place next to her, frowning as he observed her out of the corner of his eye.
He knew her well enough to guess that she'd panicked when she came out of the bedroom and he couldn't be found. He'd been so wrapped up in checking with his sources on Steph's status with the other factions of Slayers that he hadn't realized how much time had passed. He couldn't make that mistake again. He'd made a promise to her father, and Ranger never broke his promises.
Steph tucked into her meal, moaning as the flavors of the different cheeses Ella had used in the creamy dish burst on her tongue. How she loved Ella's cooking! No matter what she cooked, everything seemed to taste so much better, even if it was healthy. It was a safe bet that tonight's meal wasn't healthy at all, though. It stood to reason that food that tasted this sinful couldn't possibly be on Ranger's list of 'must eats.'
Ranger kept watching as he ate slowly, methodically, shifting in his seat every so often to alleviate the tightness in his groin as Steph's moans continued. He really shouldn't put himself through this, but he couldn't help it.
He'd gotten used to her presence in the few days that she'd been here; he already felt like she'd belonged here, and he couldn't think of a plausible enough excuse to keep her there with him, except acceding to her request to 'hide' at his place for a while. The possibility of more Slayer retaliation would be good, if she would believe it. After tonight, he mused, that idea wasn't too far-fetched.
Finished with his dinner, he sat back on his stool and watched as she devoured the cake, taking the time to savor each morsel of the rich dessert, before forking in another bite. He loved to watch her eat Ella's desserts, even if it was pure torture to listen to the sounds she made with each mouthful. He couldn't help but feel relieved that he was getting the opportunity to do so now. If Sally had been just a minute or two slower in reaching the playground…
Feeling replete, Steph leaned back on her stool, sighing her satisfaction at the meal she'd just consumed. Ella is a Goddess! Not even Mom's cooking stands a chance next to Ella's creations when it comes to comfort food. I wonder if she'd adopt me…
Ranger chuckled, amused at the direction of Steph's thoughts. Tonight, she'd been beaten, possibly almost raped, and had narrowly escaped a horrific death at the hands of some truly unsavory characters, and her uppermost thought was Ella's cooking. He really needed to give his aunt a raise!
Steph looked at him sheepishly. "I said that out loud, didn't I?" It was more of a statement than a question, and one she knew the answer to before he confirmed it, gifting her with a nod and one of his rare smiles. Good going, dumbass! It was worth it, though. He was breathtaking when he smiled like that.
"Yeah, Babe, you did. I might be persuaded to keep it to myself, though." He almost laughed out loud again when he noticed the stunned look on her face. He just grinned mysteriously and stood up with his dinner dishes, moving over to the sink to rinse them, before returning them to the tray.
Steph stood up and followed suit, moving almost mechanically, as her thoughts swirled around in her head. He seemed almost playful, and it was confusing the hell out of her. Ranger didn't do playful - at least that she knew of. After almost three years of knowing the enigmatic man, it was a trait she'd never witnessed before, and seemed oddly out of character for him. Endearing, but definitely from out of left field.
She stood next to the counter, fiddling with her half-empty glass of Coke. She wasn't sure if she was expected to sleep on the couch, now that the danger from the Slayers was over, but didn't think she could handle sleeping alone tonight. Would he expect sex from her now that she was just a guest, as opposed to someone who'd hidden herself in his apartment until the danger was over? Should she turn him down if he did? Could she turn him down?
Ranger had been studying her face, accurately guessing the dilemma her thoughts reflected. As much as he would love to offer that type of physical release for the both of them, tonight it wouldn't be healthy for her or him.
He had something else in mind, and sex didn't figure into his immediate plans. Tomorrow, he was going to begin rectifying one of the many oversights he'd had concerning her. No more sloughing off his responsibilities. For the time being, he'd give her a pass and let her deal with things her way. Her coping mechanisms were sleep and denial, and they worked for her. He couldn't imagine altering that ritual, just because her method differed from most others, nor because it wasn't his way. She knew more than anyone else how to bring herself through this with minimal scarring, both emotionally and mentally. After all, this wasn't her first brush with death…
Later, after she managed to deal with the aftermath and emotional repercussions, there would be time enough to sound her out about the possibility of a closer relationship. His recent epiphany at the playground and what he was going to do about it was going to have to wait for a more opportune time to commence. He prayed that time would be soon, and that she would be receptive. He'd told her so much shit over the years...
He held out his hand, murmuring encouragement as she tentatively placed her small hand in his. "C'mon, Babe. We need to put something on those bruises first, and then, let's get you tucked in. It's been a long night, and we've got a lot to do tomorrow." He tugged her towards the bedroom, turning out the lights on the way.
He urged her in front of him, ignoring the questioning glance she shot him at his last comment. What could they possibly have to do now? It was over, right?
"Um, what do we have to do tomorrow? I'm not running with you in the morning!" The last she'd added on huffily, remembering too late how he preferred to start the day. She had stopped and turned to glare at him, her hands fisted on her hips. No way was she getting up at the butt crack of dawn to run, even if she did get to ogle his ass when he ran in front of her!
He just grinned and smiled enigmatically. He loved it when she tried to intimidate him. "No running. At least, not tomorrow, so don't lose any sleep over it. You'll find out in the morning."
With a mollified "Huh," she shucked the sweats and climbed into the bed, scooching over to the other side to leave him plenty of room. He went into his dressing room and stripped down to nothing, before donning a pair of black silk boxers, and then headed into the bathroom. He came out with a small jar and a bottle of Ibuprofen in his hands and motioned her to sit up, setting the painkillers on the bedside table, before opening the jar and scooping out some of the substance onto his fingers. He applied the goop to the bruises on her face and arms, rubbing it in so gently, she barely flinched.
"What is this stuff? It smells kind of minty." She sat still as he smoothed it into her skin, carefully avoiding the open cuts and scratches.
"It's called Arnica gel. It'll help with the pain, and your bruises will heal faster." He finished applying the gel and set the jar down on the nightstand, returning to the bathroom to wash his hands. He came back with a glass of water, picking up the bottle he'd left on the nightstand and shaking out two pills.
Steph grimaced as she took the pills, drinking over half the glass of water, before handing it back to Ranger. She watched as he set the glass on the table next to the bottle of pills, raising his eyebrow, as if asking her if she needed anything else. She shook her head 'no' and settled back into the bed.
He smiled and climbed in under the covers, pulling them up over both of them and switching off the bedside lamp. Once settled, he turned on his side and pulled her into his arms, her back against his front. With a sigh, she relaxed against him, secure enough to drop off to sleep almost immediately.
Ranger lay awake for a long while, absentmindedly running his fingers lightly in small circles over her shoulder and arm as he collected his thoughts, going over everything that he'd learned tonight while on the computer in his office.
Before he'd returned to Trenton a few days ago, Tank had been keeping a close eye on the Slayers, going so far as to have Lester hack into a website that the majority of the gang members from across the country posted messages on. He'd created a 'backdoor,' to allow them to monitor the site at will, and Ranger had taken advantage of that tonight.
From what he'd read in the most recent postings, it seemed that the only members who had been actively hunting Steph were the ones from the Trenton faction, and although they received plenty of encouragement from the chapters scattered throughout the country, the leaders of those groups strongly recommended not becoming involved in what they considered a 'local matter.' That might change after tonight.
Junkman was from the LA chapter – the largest chapter on record in the country – and he was considered a very important and high-ranking member of the gang nationally. It would be safe to assume that other gang members who were considered close with him would seek retribution for his death, so for the time being, they would continue to act as if the danger still existed. He would put out feelers, and even go so far as to meet with them personally if they wished – especially if it meant that the matter would be closed and Steph no longer considered a target for payback.
He was brought out of his musings by her increasing restlessness; he'd expected Steph to have nightmares after tonight, so he was prepared when she began to thrash around and mumble. He cuddled her close and began whispering in her ear, "It's all right, Querida. You're safe now. No one can hurt you."
She immediately calmed and ceased her movements, burrowing deeper into the shelter of his embrace; even in sleep, he still made her feel safe and protected.
After a while, when it seemed as if she would continue her restful slumber, he allowed himself to drift off, secure in the knowledge that no one would be breaking in on her tonight. They could both use the rest.
tbc