Playing The Game Of Life

A/N: Special thanks to my super secret Beta. LOL! Please Review!!!!

Disclaimer: Not mine. I might return Ranger but I'd really like to keep him. Also, I have taken creative license with the legal aspects of the this story. It was needed for my plot. Please remember it's fiction.

Previously: "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.

The doctor informed Steph that she would have to spend a week in the hospital so they could monitor her closely. The look she gave the doctor had him leaving the room fairly quickly. I spent the first two days never leaving her side. She finally threatened to have Bobby drug me if I didn't leave soon; she said I was driving her crazy. I assigned Lester to stay with her while I went to the office to check in and find out the latest news on Morelli.

It turns out that the DA wanted to speak with Stephanie about the situation and was waiting for her to leave the hospital to speak with her. That was probably a good thing. Morelli had been charged with a minor gun charge with more charges pending. The Judge released him on his own recognizance. The chief had suspended him without pay until further notice. I knew that Morelli was pissed. Because I knew that my guys were following his every move. We were not going to let him get near Steph again.

My phone rang and I was surprised to see it was Lester.

"Yo"

"Boss, I'm going to kill her."

"Not if you want to live and you value your life."

"I need you to send one of the guys over to run an errand and I need you to okay them buying her some thing's."

"I'll send Hal over and he'll buy her whatever she needs."

"Thanks." He hung up on me and I swear Stephanie giggled in the background.

I made it back to the hospital several hours later and was shocked by what I saw in her room. They had set up a 32" Plasma TV. I could see a PS3 and stacks of games and movies all over the room. Hal was playing Guitar Hero in front of the TV. Steph and Les were holding hand held videogames in their hands and were completely unaware that I had walked in the room. They were shouting at each other and their fingers were furiously punching buttons. I cleared my throat and no one even looked my way.

I walked up closer to Steph and her Spidey sense must have kicked in because she told Lester to pause his game and they both looked up at me.

"What the hell, Santos?"

"You told me to get her whatever she needs."

"And this is what she needed? It looks like you bought out Best Buy." I was really just giving him a hard time. I wouldn't have cared if he bought out three stores if it made her happy.

"Well we needed variety to keep her entertained."

"I think you were trying to keep yourself entertained."

Steph looked at me and gave me a big smile. I nodded to Les and Hal and they reluctantly made their way out of the room. I leaned down and kissed her softly.

"Got a surprise for you Babe."

"Really?"

"Yeah, Ella will be here in 30 minutes with food for you."

"Yum."

"Babe, we need to talk."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing really, but I wanted to keep you informed about things with Joe."

"He's in trouble isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is and we need to discuss what you want to happen. You can make things easier on him or harder. It's going to be up to you. Personally, I want his ass in jail cell for a long time."

"It's my fault he reacted that way. He wouldn't have done that if I would have been honest with the both of you from the start."

Babe, don't blame yourself. All three of us made mistakes and mine were the worst. I never should have sent you back to him. I will regret that for the rest of my days." I sat down on her bed and put my arms around her.

"I don't want him to go to jail. I don't want him to lose his job." That was my Babe, always concerned about everyone else's needs with no regard for her own.

"Steph, he needs to be punished. He tried to kill me and in the process shot you."

"Maybe, they could transfer him away from here. Then he would leave us alone." It was an idea. If she decided not to press charges and convinced the DA to not prosecute him. I would want him as far away from here as possible.

"We'll see Babe. Let's not worry about it anymore right now."

The next few days went by fairly quickly. It was the night before Steph was being discharged. We needed to talk about where she was going to stay when she got released. I wanted her to move in with me on seven but I wouldn't pressure her. I would offer her an apartment on four if she wanted. I walked into her room and she was playing her Nintendo DS. I was starting to be concerned that she was becoming addicted to that thing. But it did keep her entertained this week, so I would not complain too much.

I sat down beside her on the bed. She looked up at me and gave me a beautiful smile.

"Babe, where do you plan on going in the morning when you're discharged? I know you gave up your apartment when you moved in with Morelli. I want you to move in with me but I don't want to pressure you. You could also have an apartment on four if it would make you more comfortable."

"Carlos, I think I'd like to move in with you if you don't mind?"

"Babe! I told you at Shorty's that I want our someday. I meant it."

I leaned down and kissed her. It was decided she was coming home with me. It was where she belonged.

"Carlos, how am I going to get my stuff?"

"It's all taken care of Babe."

"What do you mean?"

"After we left for the hospital the other night, the guys went in and took all your belongings and Rex over to Rangeman. I don't want you to have to be around Joe. I didn't want you to have to go back to that house."

"Thank you." She fell asleep in my arms and I held her as I drifted off to sleep.

Steph was bouncing on the bed as the nurse came into discharge her. Bobby was there to take care of all of her discharge papers since he would be in charge of her care at Rangeman. Tank had called a few minutes ago. It seemed that Morelli heard that Steph was being released today and was sitting outside in his SUV. Little did he know that I had insisted on using the back way out. Tank would make sure Morelli didn't find us there. A Candy Striper came in pushing a wheel chair. Steph was being difficult.

"Ms. Plum, It is hospital policy."

"I don't care. I'm walking."

I decided to save time and scooped her up into my arms.

"This should fulfill the requirement. She's not walking."

Steph cuddled into my chest. I bent down and whispered to her, "You are right where you should be."

She sighed and kissed my check. We left the hospital and went straight to Haywood. I got her settled in my bed and she immediately fell asleep. I went down to five to get an update on Morelli.

"Report."

"Morelli, went in and spoke to a nurse. She told him that Steph was already gone. He went back out to his car and went home." Tank informed me.

"Tank, I want a new cell phone for Steph with a new number, panic buttons, and refit her with all her equipment."

"Already done." he handed me all the items. He asked for my cell and programmed her new cell number in my phone.

"Is Bomber staying?" Hal asked looking hopeful.

"She is staying here. I plan to make it permanent." I can't hide the smile on my face. I knew now that she was mine I would propose soon.

The guys looked at me like they couldn't believe what I was saying. I left them staring with their mouths hanging open as I made my way back up to Steph. As I climbed up the stairs my mind drifted to the Morelli situation.

I knew after my conversation with Steph that she was going to ask the DA not to prosecute Morelli. I had already spoken to the DA and I was making arrangements for Morelli to be transferred to the Atlanta PD. I had sold the Atlanta office but they would keep tabs on him for me. I wanted him transferred near a Rangeman office and Atlanta was my only choice. I will be traveling to the Boston and Miami offices and Steph will be going with me. I didn't want him transferred to a city I knew my Babe would be traveling to.

TBC …