RPOV:

I watched Steph struggle with the medication.

"Ranger…will…you…stay?" Her head sluggishly rolling over to look at me.

"Of course Babe." I placed my hands in her fingers to let her know I was here. The doctor had finished up examining her and was speaking quietly with Bobby in the corner.

"You…..won't leave…..right?"

"Steph, quit fighting the meds and rest. I'll be here when you wake up." I leaned down and kissed her fingers.

"Promise?" She whispered.

"Promise." I watched her eyes flutter closed. God I love her. Bobby came up to the bedside.

"She out?"

"Think so." I replied pulling her blankets up and tucking them in. "What did the doctor have to say?"

"I wanted to talk with him about Steph's lungs. With her being out in that storm and getting sick, then not even a week later having surgery, I was worried about her getting pneumonia. Just having surgery alone places patients at risk…and with her broken ribs, that is the last thing Steph needs."

"What did he have to say?"

"He is as worried as I am. We're going to monitor it, administer antibiotics prophylacticly if needed."

"Ranger?" I leaned down to hear better.

"Yeah Babe?"

"I…I'm sorry….I…"

"Stephanie, stop. You need to get some rest. We can talk when you are feeling better." I tried to soothe her. I ran my head through her hair.

"Ranger….I'm scared." I blew out a sigh.

"What are you scared of Babe?" She didn't reply right away, I thought she'd fallen back a sleep, when she opened her eyes and met my stare.

"I don't know." She whispered. "I can't remember but I feel like something bad is going to happen."

"Steph I promise I won't let anything bad happen to you. Ever."

"I know you wouldn't….I….trust…you. You've….. always…. saved me." My stomach clenched, I thought I might be sick. Her eyes drifted closed. I bent my forehead to hers and prayed to a god I had long since stop believing in that she would somehow find a way to forgive me.

"Ric…you can't beat yourself up. You did everything you could to save her. The fed's were running the show."

"That's no excuse! I've never let them run my ops before! I was so consumed with finally getting my hands on Bradshaw that I neglected to keep Stephanie safe!"

"She's alive and she is going to recover."

"At what expense? She may never be able to work through a brutal experience like that!" I felt like demolishing everything in sight when I thought of what Stephanie went through. How helpless and betrayed she must have felt as he forced her to the ground. I took a deep breath. "Any update on Bradshaw's where abouts?"

"We think he is still in the area."

"How soon before Stephanie can be moved?"

"A day at the minimum, 2-3 days to be safe."

"Can you provide the care she needs, or do I need to call Blake?"

"Depends on how she does with the move, if an infection sets in. Where are you planning on taking her?" Bobby asked.

"Home."

SPOV:

I slowly started working my way out of what felt like a 3 day sleep. My body still ached and my head was still kind of foggy, but things were defiantly clearer than before. I searched the room and found Ranger passed out in a chair, his head cocked at an odd angle, his hand still in mine. He looked so tired. I wondered how long I had been here. I tried to remember how I even got here. I remember having dinner at my parents and sneaking out the window….I met with Riley and after when I got back to Ranger's building, I told Bobby what happened. Ranger was so mad, I've never seen him that irate. I didn't think he would ever forgive me….he was so mad that, something was right there….something important, Ranger was so mad, so mad…that he allowed Riley to rape me. Everything hit me like a ton of bricks. Oh god….I remember now. I remember Riley calling Ranger…..he told Riley I had a talented mouth….he LET him rape me. I thought about how the pain of Riley forcing himself into me felt like nothing compared to how bad it hurt knowing that Ranger was allowing this. I LOVED him! I trusted him to keep me safe!

"Babe?" Ranger glanced up from the chair…..his eyes scanning the monitors above my bed. "Stephanie are you ok?" I couldn't answer, there wasn't enough air in the room to get even a decent breath let alone speak. I could hear myself wheezing trying to breathe. "Bobby!" Ranger shot a panicked look toward the door. "Steph calm down. Are you in pain? Tell me what's going on Babe." I couldn't even look at him.

"Joe? Where…..is..Joe? I…..need….to….see…him." I watched Ranger back off some.

"Ric? What's going on?" Bobby asked coming into the room. "Bombshell…calm down….what's going on?"

"Joe? Where…..is… he?" I wheezed.

"Morelli?" Bobby asked confused. "He is in the lobby…..Stephanie you have to calm down….the doctors will be coming shortly I am sure. Tell me what's going on."

"Get Joe…..I…need….to…see…Joe." I had to see him, I couldn't be around Ranger and his fucking merryman any longer. How could they stand here and pretend everything was ok after they let Bradshaw rape and beat me?

"Ms. Plum?" A doctor asked stepping into the room, immediately coming over to me. "Ms. Plum you need to calm down. Are you experiencing pain?"

"I need….to….see..Joseph Morelli…now." I labored to tell the doctor.

"Ms. Plum, you need to calm down first before we can have any visitors come in."

"Now….please….please." I pulled my hand from Rangers. The doctor nodded, quickly leaving the room.

"How….can…you…sit here…after…what you…allowed…to happen?" I struggled to get the words out past the pain in my chest and tears.

"Babe…" Ranger tried.

"Stephanie?" Morelli came through the door. He reached my bedside in 2 steps, glancing up at the monitors. "Stephanie you need to slow down. The doctors are really worried about your ribs and sutures. Calm down Cupcake."

"Make…..him…..leave! I…don't want….to see…him. Please….Joe…make him…go." Morelli turned toward Ranger.

"You heard her Manoso. Get the fuck out….and take your hunch men with you."