The Fallout

A/N: I am not a doctor. All medical stuff in this chapter was hatched out of my mind. Please review if you want more.

Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be.

Previously: Out of the corner of my eye I saw a blur of movement as his finger moved towards the trigger. Everything happened at once. Steph leapt towards me as I heard the roar of the gun.

Ranger's POV

I heard a second shot as I screamed, "STEPHANIE NO!!!!!!!!!!"

She slammed into my body and we fell to the ground. Morelli dropped and Tank lowered his gun. I held her tightly to me. I registered hands gripping at her trying to pull her from me. Bobby frantically tried to rip her from my grasp.

"Ranger, you've got to let go. I need to see how bad she's hurt." He yelled at me.

I looked down at Steph who was unconscious in my arms.

Bobby pulled her from me and started to evaluate her injuries. I kneeled beside her asking her over and over, "Why, Steph, Why?"

"Ranger, I need my jump bag out of the SUV. Get it now." He yelled.

I ran to the SUV to retrieve the bag. As I made my way back to Bobby, I noticed Carl and Big Dog standing near Bobby and Stephanie. Their faces showed great remorse for what had happened. The fighting had stopped and Tank had Morelli cuffed on the ground.

I gave Bobby the bag and he worked frantically trying to revive her and stop the bleeding. I couldn't help the feeling of helplessness that settled on me.

Bobby yelled, "Where in the hell is that ambulance?"

I could hear the sirens in the distance. "They're close man, I can hear them." Carl said.

"Shit, she's stopped breathing. Lester, get in here and help me." Bobby screamed as he started CPR. Lester took over applying pressure to her wound.

My legs gave out and I fell to my knees beside her and prayed to the heavens that she would not leave me now. I could not live without her.

The ambulance arrived and the EMT's began to help Bobby. They made quick work of getting her ready to transport. I tried to get in the ambulance with her. Bobby pushed me into Tank, who held me back.

"I need to be with her!" I roared in protest.

Tank yelled at me as I fought against his arms. "Bobby needs to ride with her. He will take care of her." I knew he had spoken the truth but that did little to help me in my current frame of mind. Bobby pulled the doors shut and the ambulance took off. Once they cleared my sight I turned and ran towards my car.

Hal and Hector had Morelli by a squad car that had pulled in with the ambulance. Morelli's arm was heavily bandaged. And his hands were cuffed loosely in front of him. The officers were trying to determine what in the hell happened.

I overheard Morelli as he ranted over and over, "It was supposed to be him. I love her. I had to protect her."

I had heard enough out of the asshole; I rounded on him and punched him so hard that I felt his nose break under my fist as his eyes rolled back into his head. I made my way to the Turbo and was a little shocked to find Lester behind the driver's seat with the engine already running.

I had no time to argue with him so I jumped into the passenger seat. "You're in no condition to drive," he stated as he took off towards the hospital. All I could do was sit and pray that she was still with me.

We arrived at the hospital and I jumped from the car before he pulled to a stop. I stormed through the doors and saw the doctors and nurses working on my Babe. Bobby was with her and he was discussing her condition. He turned as I approached and pulled me back.

"Ranger, before you go in there I need to explain what's going on. The bullet punctured her lung which sent her into shock and caused her to stop breathing. On our way here she came too and started breathing on her own. She has a lump on her head I'm not sure if it was caused when you two fell or if something happened before we arrived on scene. They are going to do surgery to remove the bullet and repair the tear to her lung. She will be fine and should be able to leave in a few days."

"Can I see her?"

"Yes, she's been asking for you but she's afraid you're mad at her. She's been through enough for the night so go easy on her."

I was mad but not at her. My anger was directed at the man that thought shooting me would stop her from leaving.

I walked to her room and looked at my Babe. She smiled, "Hey, Batman."

"Babe, why did you do that?"

"You came to get me and you finally decided you wanted me. I couldn't let him shoot you. I love you."

"I love you too, Babe. But don't you ever scare me like that again" I declared as I gently placed my lips to hers.

TBC.