I don't own the characters Janet Evanovich does.
I had a plot change and I had to rewrite this chapter sorry for the confusion.
I'm here Babe
I walked into the ICU and immediately saw Steph. I quickly walked into her room and by her side. She was so pale. "I'm here Babe." I told her. I reached up and brushed a wayward curl away from her face and softly kissed her cheek. I pulled a chair over so I could be closer to her and took her small hand in mine. I knew there were monitors around her and that her arms were bandaged and restrained but I ignored it. All that mattered was Stephanie. That's all I cared about right at this moment.
"You scared me bad Babe. I don't want to ever feel that way again. We're going to get you better. I promise. I screwed up a lot of things with you but I'm going to make it up to you. All you have to do Babe is wake up. Let me see those beautiful baby blues Babe. Come back to me Babe."
I waited but she didn't wake up.
What were you expecting? I told myself. This isn't a fucking movie. She's not going to wake up just because you told her to. She'll wake up when she's good and ready.
"That's OK Babe just sleep. I'll be right here. I'm not going anywhere."
That's for sure. Fuck the rules. I was here and I was staying here. Just let them try to make me leave.
I leaned over and kissed her on the lips. I settled myself in the chair. I rested my head against her bed and closed my eyes.
****************
I was so mad when Helen and I left the hospital that I did not say a word the whole ride home. As soon a the door closed I turned on her. "What the hell is your problem Helen?"
She sat down on a chair and put her head in her hands. "I've tried so hard and still Stephanie's life is such a disaster. Now this, attempted suicide. I'm so ashamed. What was she thinking? What will we tell the neighbors? I though the last rumor was bad enough."
"What rumor?" I asked dangerously.
She looked up at me with tears down streaming down her face. "Oh come on Frank surely you've heard!" She exclaimed.
"I'm sorry Helen I'm not in the loop with the Burg gossip line." I told her.
She blew out a frustrated breath. "Everyone is talking about how Stephanie is just playing with Joe and she's always hanging around that Ranger thug. If that isn't bad enough they are saying that she is sleeping with Ranger and all his men. All of them Frank! Why can't she just settle down like Valerie? Settle down with Joe? He'll never have her now. Its hopeless! We've failed as parents! Do you realize how this reflects on us? I won't be able to show my face again! We should be so proud of her! Our girl Stephanie the whore!"
I have never hit a woman but I was so close at that time. I grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
"You take that back! Don't you dare call her a whore!"
I realized what I was doing and I let go. I had to step back to keep me from losing it completely.
"Sometimes I wish she wasn't my daughter." She whispered and then she started crying.
"I can't believe you! All you care about is yourself and what people will think! I'm proud to have Stephanie as a daughter. She's caring, independent and the strongest person I know. Sorry, I can't stay here tonight, not like this. I'm leaving! " I turned to go to our room but I turned back and looked a Helen. She looked at me in shock. "I will say one more thing. You better think long and hard about this. I'm not living with you like this so either straighten up and get help or I'm leaving you for good. What do you think the Burg bitties will think about you then?"
I went to our room and grabbed a bag shoving clothes into it. I zipped it up then walked out the door..
I drove back to the hospital to check on Steph again before I found a room for the night. I got to the doors of the ICU and was stopped by one of Ranger's men. "Can we help you Mr Plum?" one of them asked. I think his name was Hal. "You're the one Stephanie stunned when she was late for Valerie's shower, Hal right?" I swear I thought I saw him blush a little. The other one chuckled a little.
"Yes sir." he replied sheepishly. Yeah I'm sure Ranger gave him hell for that one.
"How is she?" I asked him.
"Still out. Ranger's with her but if you want to see her I can go get him."
I looked through the window and saw Ranger by Stephanie's bed. I saw him talk to her then kiss her on the mouth before settling down and laying his head on her bed. I was right he wasn't leaving. Steph was safe at least for tonight.
I looked at Hal "No that's fine. I'm not going to be at home tonight and I wanted to give Ranger a number he could call me at when Steph wakes up." I handed him the paper with my cell number.
"Yes sir. I will be sure he gets it sir."
I thanked them both and then went to find a room for the night.
*******************
All those nights sleeping in the jungle taught me to sleep light. I knew when every nurse came in to check on Steph, even though I never opened my eyes. I half expected for someone to come in and try to make me leave but no one did.
Next thing I knew it was morning. It was early. I stood up and stretched. I went and looked out her window and saw the sun start to rise. Suddenly I heard a rustling sound from Stephanie's bed. I turned and saw her moving her head around. I went over to her bed and ran my fingers though her hair.
"Shh Babe it's alright. Wake up Babe. I want to see your beautiful eyes."
She turned her head toward me and stilled. Her eyelashes fluttered then opened her blue eyes looking into mine.
"Ranger?" She replied hoarsely.
I grabbed the pitcher from the table beside her and poured some water into a cup for her.
I stuck a straw into it and held it so she could drink it.
She looked up at me.
"Man my head hurts. I must've hit it harder than I thought when I went into the oil pit with Mike. Is that why I'm here?"
"No Babe that's not it."
I reached over and pushed the call button.
"What's wrong with me why can't I move my arms?"
She looked down at her arms.
"It's OK Babe. The doctor will be here in a little bit. Just calm down."
"Why am I tied to the bed. Untie me Ranger. I want to get out of here."
"I'm sorry Babe I can't."
The door opened when Jane and Susan came rushing in.
Jane turned to me.
"I'm sorry Mr Manoso but you need to leave for a bit so we can examine Miss Plum."
"I'll be back Babe, I'm not going far just outside the door." I leaned over and kissed her forehead then left.
************
I was so groggy. My body felt so heavy and I couldn't seem to open my eyes. I heard voices around me but I couldn't distinguish who they were or what was being said. My head hurt and my arms burned. What was wrong with me?
I noticed the voices had stopped. I was quiet for what seemed like a long time. Then I smelled the familiar scent of Bulgari. Ranger was here with me. I heard his voice but I still didn't know what he was saying. He's suppose to be with Jeanne Ellen. What was he doing here? My head hurt too much for me to try and figure it out now. I'll worry about that late. All I did know was if Ranger was here I was safe so I allowed the darkness to overtake me again.
The next time I became aware I noticed my body was lighter and I wasn't as groggy. I couldn't believe it. I turned my head a few times to see if I could move it.
Suddenly Ranger was by my side.
He told me to wake up and that he wanted to see my beautiful eyes.
I tried to open my eyes but couldn't at first. Then I tried again and I found myself looking into his deep brown eyes.
"Ranger" I croaked out, my mouth was so dry. He must have known that because soon he had a cup of water for me to drink.
I asked him why I was there. The last thing I remembered was going head over heels into a oil pit with Mike.
I asked him if that was it and he said no.
I couldn't move my arms and I was getting scared. I looked down and they were tied to the bed
What the hell was going on?
I begged him to untie me but he said he couldn't. Why the hell not? This was Ranger we were talking about the master of bending and breaking the rules when necessary. What was going on?
Then some nurses came in one of them looked familiar and they told Ranger to go. He told me he would be back and that he was just outside the door then he left.
"Miss Plum, my name is Jane." the older one said. "I need to know if you feel like you are a danger to yourself or to me?"
What the hell was she talking about?
"I don't understand what you are asking?" I told her
"Stephanie, are you going to try to hurt yourself again or try to hurt one of us?" The younger one asked.
"No. I wouldn't do something like that. I'm not going to hurt anyone." I told her. I noticed Jane walk out of the room leaving me with the younger nurse.
"You look familiar." I told her.
"You should we went to school together. I use to be Susan Lewinsky but now I'm Susan De Luca."
"You married Angelo."
"Yep that's right been that way for five years now."
"Susan. I promise I'm not going to do anything. Can you untie me?"
"I'm sorry not until the doctor says it's OK. Jane has gone to talk to him now."
"Why am I here?"
"You don't know why you're here?"
"Nope. Not a clue."
"Stephanie what is the last thing you remember?"
"I fell into an oil pit chasing a skip named Mike."
She looked at me for a minute. "Stephanie try to think back to that day. What happened after that?"
I started thinking. OK ,I fell in with Mike and I was so mad that I ruined my jeans I just bought. Suddenly my memories flooded back. I took him to the station and Carl was there he laughed at me and called everyone in the station to come look at me. Then I went to the bonds office and talked to Lula and Connie. Then I walked into Joe's house intent on cleaning up and digging into some cake. I turned the radio on and put in a CD.
"The last thing I remember is walking into Joe's house and playing a CD. Why? What's going on Susan?"
Jane came back into my room. "The doctor wants to evaluate you before we can do anything. Just be patient Miss Plum."
"Stephanie are you sure that's all you remember?"
I shook my head trying to think what had happened. "That's all I can remember. Can you tell me whats going on?"
Susan looked at me like I was making stuff up.
"So Stephanie you are going to sit there and tell me you don't remember trying to kill yourself?"
"What are you talking about? I've never tried to kill myself! That thought has never crossed my mind!"
Susan grabbed my right arm at the elbow adjusting the restraint then carefully removed the bandage showing stitches across my wrist where it had been sliced open. "If you didn't then how do you explain this?" She asked me.
I stared at my wrist unable to speak from shock. Surely I would remember trying to kill myself? I mean I know I live in the land of denial most of the time but as good as I am in that department I knew I couldn't convince myself that I tried to kill myself. Something wasn't right but how was I going to fix it when no one seemed to believe I hadn't done it. I needed someone who believed in me more that anyone else.
I looked up at Jane "I need Ranger." I told her.
"OK" She said and then went to get him.
Susan looked at me as she re-wrapped my bandage. "You are going to have to stay here for forty-eight hours for evaluation." She told me.
I nodded my head. I wasn't able to speak just yet.
Yippee!! Finally Steph's awake!!!! Thank you for everyone who voted. Thanks for the reviews.
