Some more, let me know if you're enjoying this, or whether I should lay it to rest in the 'bad fan fic's' graveyard. I'm not sure at this point. So let me know what you think! Thanks to all my reviewers so far! Hugs to you all!–Heather
Sleepless in Trenton
Chapter 2
I awoke feeling warm and safe, which momentarily confused me as it had been a while since I'd last woken feeling like that. Then I remembered – Ranger was back.
I turned, and met Ranger's chocolate brown eyes, 'Better?' he asked.
'Yeah. Thank you.'
'No problem.' Ranger replied.
'What's the time?' I asked.
He smiled slightly, 'four in the afternoon.'
'OMG, but I was meant to meet Lula at ten!'
'I know, she came here when you didn't show.' He paused, 'she's been worried about you Babe.'
'I know.' I said, feeling like a sucky friend. 'Have you been here all this time?' I asked incredulously.
'Yes.' Ranger said simply.
'Oh.' I couldn't believe he'd wasted so many hours, just holding me so I could sleep. 'Did you get some sleep?' I asked.
'Yeah, I grabbed a few hours.'
'Oh.'
'Why don't you shower? I'll get us some brunch.' Ranger suggested.
'Good idea, I could do with some food. Although it's more like brunner.'
'Brunner?
'Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Brunner.'
Ranger smiled and eased out of the bed. He stretched and I took full advantage of this to ogle; he was just wearing his combats, his shirt had gone and his hair was down. He was the definition of delectable.
'You're staring Babe.' Said Ranger, amused.
I blushed.
I showered quickly, scrubbing the night's sweat from me, I got dressed and then quickly pulled the sheets off the bed, before replacing them quickly and efficiently with clean sheets. I put the dirty sheets in my washing pile, all ready for another trip to Kan Klean's.
Ranger was watching me from the doorway, his expression blank. 'You been doing that a lot?'
'Yeah.' I shrugged. 'you sweat and stuff with nightmares.'
His jaw tightened. 'Why didn't you tell anyone?'
'That I'm going crazy? Sure. That pops up in conversation all the time.'
'Babe, you are not crazy. It's understandable that you've been having trouble sleeping. You should've had someone to help you. Where's Morelli?'
'We had a fight. He left on police business, apparently.'
Ranger frowned, 'I didn't know that. If I had I wouldn't have gone to Boston and left you. As it is you should have called my cell.'
'I didn't want to bother you. Besides, you might have been doing your thing in Africa.'
'What?'
'Uh…never mind.'
Ranger looked like he might pursue it, but then he shrugged slightly, 'Brunner's ready.'
He'd set the table, and there was a Pino's pizza and some salad on the table, as well as some bottled water. As long as I had Pino's, I could deal with some salad and water. We ate in comfortable silence.
'I have to go Babe. I have a re-decorating job later tonight, but I should be done around midnight, want me to swing by after that?'
'Um…' Yes, please please come here! 'You can if you want, but don't bother if it's inconvenient.'
Ranger studied me for a minute, 'I'll be here.' He said. He tucked an errant curl around my ear and gave me a kiss on the forehead, 'Later Babe.' He was still wearing his clothes from yesterday, but damn, he still looked fine.
I called Lula and arranged for her to pick me up in ten minutes.
'Girl,' said Lula as I angled into her car, 'your skinny white ass be looking much better. Batman deserves a medal.'
'Ranger just helped me sleep a little.'
'There weren't no just about it. When I came by to check you were ok, he answered the door. And you know what? He was carrying you in his arms because anytime he put you down you started tossing and turning, but if he so much as touched you, you settled right back down. But when I touched you, you just carried right on, but when he did it, you just relaxed. It was freaky. It was awesome.'
I was gaping, I didn't know what to say.
Lula continued, 'He an important business man, but he cancelled three meetings while I was there, just so you could sleep some more. I hate to say this, but Supercop ain't got shit on Batman, I bet if Supercop had been the one there he would've woken you up himself to go to his meeting, and I bet he wouldn't have been able to stop you tossing and turning neither. Batman rules supreme. He rocks.'
'Yeah.' I agreed, 'he does.' But I didn't really want to examine this new information. He'd cancelled three meetings? After being away for two weeks? And then only his touch could calm me down? Lula was right; that was freaky.
Lula and I spent the rest of the afternoon ferrying Mooner to the cop shop…as soon as we could drag him away from the Charlie's Angel's repeats. Ok, so we sat and watched one episode. Fine, two episodes, but then we dragged his stoned ass to the pokey.
Lula dropped me back at my apartment, I cleaned out Rex's cage and I ate a few tastycakes. I watched Ghostbusters and then at eleven I got changed for my run. I was feeling really tired but I wanted to wait up for Ranger. I wanted to avoid the nightmares if I could.
I stretched out for a few minutes, then I set out for my run. Forty-five minutes later and I took the stairs up to my apartment. Ranger was on my couch, watching the TV.
'Hey,' I said, 'you're early.'
'Yeah.' He agreed. 'Running?' he asked, surprised.
'Yeah, it helps keep me awake,' I explained. 'I'll just take a quick shower.'
When I came out of the bathroom I noticed that there was a duffel bag by Ranger's side of the bed.
Ranger's side? Where did that come from? Yeesh, a guy sleeps there a coupla nights and it becomes his side? Get a grip Stephanie.
'Ready for bed?' Ranger asked from behind me, making me jump.
'Sheesh Ranger! Can't you make some noise when you do that?'
'That would spoil it.' Ranger smiled.
I rolled my eyes. I was dressed in my equivalent of pyjamas: a t-shirt and some panties. I slipped between the sheets.
'Back in a minute.' Said Ranger, grabbing his duffel and going into the bathroom.
When he came back out he was wearing nothing but those silk boxer shorts, his hair was down – it looked brushed out. He slid into bed, putting his back to my front, spooning me from behind. He clicked off the bedside light.
'Night Babe.'
'Night Ranger.'
He put his arm around my waist and held me close to him. Five minutes later, I stared at the wall opposite and asked, 'Ranger?'
'Yeah Babe?' He said softly.
'Is it true?'
He paused, 'what?'
'That when you touch me I calm down, but when Lula does, I don't?'
'Yeah.'
'Ranger?'
'Yeah Babe?' He repeated.
'Is it true?
Ranger paused again, 'What?'
'That you cancelled three meetings?'
He hesitated, 'Yeah.'
'Ranger?'
'Yeah Babe?'
'Thank you.'
'No worries, now go to sleep Babe.'
I snuggled against him; his scent and his body surrounding me. I closed my eyes, and, feeling warm and safe, I felt myself drift off.
