Just another chapter ~

" She'll what?"

" She's…"

I waited, my nerves on high alert form the overdose of fear that was shooting straight to my heart. In that moment I studied every line of the man cupcake loves, in explicit detail, I saw every line, and all the things in his expression that could possibly tell me what was wrong with Stephanie.

" She's in an induced coma because her blood pressure is too high and they don't want to risk her going into shock and having a heart attack. The doctors are optimistic that she'll be fine, but her injuries should keep her in physical therapy for a few weeks."

I turned to Stephanie. She will be okay, she will be fine, everything is okay. I didn't turn around, just kept my eyes on the sleeping woman in the hospital bed, the woman I love.

" Thank you, you can go, you said it yourself, she'll be fine."

I heard an uncharacteristic snort of indignation coming quite uncharacteristically from the man behind me.

" I'm not going anywhere Morelli. "

I whirled around in disbelief.

" Excuse me…? "

I stared Manoso straight in the face. I vaguely heard Stephanie's grandmother yelling " Cockfight!" excitedly behind me and had the urge to roll my eyes like Stephanie did so often. Stephanie, this wasn't at all about me. This was about Stephanie and as much as I hated to admit it, Stephanie would want 'Ranger' here. He raised his eyebrows, waiting for me to finish.

"Nevermind."

He nodded, as if I had chosen the right thing, I hated him for that. I couldn't believe that this was my competition. He was so full of him self. ALL THE TIME! I could only hope that one day soon, Stephanie would see through the mother fucker and see that all I want is to be with her. I watched as Ranger went over to her and immediately took her hand whispering something in her ear and kissing her forehead. I had to try very hard to restrain myself from throwing him out the door. I settled for touching her foot and consoling her mother, who was sobbing silently, rocking back and forth with relief and worry on her face. I held Stephanie's mother while she cried, and after a ling time, she was done, she whispered into my ear:

" Stephanie is so lucky to have you Joseph, I hope she has you for the rest of her life."

I looked over at Stephanie and Manoso.

" Me too."

Stephanie POV ~

I couldn't remember things, things that had happened to me so clearly before, I was right back to the night I had called Ranger to get me out of the handcuffs that had attached a very naked me to the shower rod. And then it was every other moment, every other feeling, look or touch he had ever given me. And then I was swamped with visions of Morelli. There was just so much, and I didn't want to think about it anymore, this blackness was a relieving break, maybe I could stay here forever.

Ranger POV ~

I sat by my Babe's bed side for several hours (enduring vicious glares from Morelli the whole time), until Tank pulled me aside and told me I his most regretful tone, that we had to leave because there was the meeting I had with my partners about selling out all my shares in the other office braches of Rangeman. I had decided to go through with this a few months ago because I had decided to settle down and fight for my babe. That was when she had told me that she couldn't see me anymore. This whole thing was just so messed up. I got up to leave and I saw Morelli smirk in triumph. I went to Lula who was standing in the back of the room looking worried.

" Call one of us if anything changes, please."

" Of course."

This was the most serious I had ever seen Lula. I didn't want to leave Stephanie, but this couldn't wait.

" I'll be back."

I announced to the room, talking to know one inparticular.

A/N: I know this is a REALLY short chapter, but I didn't want you all to think I was forgetting about this story. I've been on vacation for the last week and now I'm about to start school and there is serious other craziness in my life but I WILL try to update as soon as possible.