Disclaimer: As you can plainly see…I still don't…She still does…and I never will…

Chapter 7

She leaned over and kissed his grave. "Good bye, my love." She whispered, before rising to her feet to walk away from him for the last time.

The three men saw Steph walking back to the truck. They started slowly walking toward her, giving her a little extra time to regain her composure.

She was crying uncontrollably. Her whole body was shaking. She started to wobble. Bobby was about three steps from her when she clasped to the ground.

"Steph, can you hear me? Steph open your eyes for me."

Tank and Lester heard the screams coming from the Steph's room.

"Nooooo. " Steph screamed. There was terror in her scream. "This can't be happening."

Tank and Lester rushed into the room. Steph was twisting and fighting in the bed, crying out in her sleep.

"Steph, can you hear me? Open your eyes for me." Tank instructed her.

"Shhh…Beautiful. It's ok, we're here." Lester tried to sooth her.

Steph shot straight up in the bed. She was briefly confused. Why was she back in this room? She remembered Tank, Lester and Bobby checking her out of the hospital.

She had tears streaming down her face. It was all coming back to her. She went to Ranger's grave to say good-bye to him.

Tank and Lester were talking to her, but she wouldn't answer them. She sat staring off into space, rocking back and forth. Tears were streaming down her face.

After several minutes, she laid back down. Balling herself into fetal position, hugging the covers to her. Tears still spilling down her face.

She was still rocking herself, muttering words unrecognizable to the two men standing near her bed.

Tank and Lester stared at each other, wondering if one of them should go get someone. Tank nodded at Lester and he turned to walk out of the room.

Bobby was just outside Steph's door. He was walking in as Lester was walking out of the room.

"Hey, is she awake yet?" Bobby asked.

"Tank and I were on our way to check on her. We could hear her screaming from out here. When we walked in her room, she was kicking and twisting." Lester explained. "Then she sat straight up, but wouldn't answer us when we talked to her. She was rocking back and forth, steadily crying.

After a few minutes, she laid down. Her eyes are open, but she won't respond to us. She has the covers scrunched up…hugging them to her.

She keeps muttering, but nothing understandable. Man, I don't know what's wrong. I was on my way to see if you were out of surgery or find a nurse or something."

"Sounds like she's in shock." Bobby told Lester. "I'll see what I can do. Ranger is starting to come out of the anesthesia and he's fighting everyone. He's calling for Steph. The doctor is afraid Ranger is going to undo everything he fixed in surgery if he doesn't calm down. I was hoping Steph could calm him down."

"I don't know." Lester said. "I've never seen her like this."

The two men walked in Steph's room to find her still in fetal position, clutching her blanket and crying."

"Bobby, what's wrong with her? She won't answer me. She just lays here rocking and crying." Tank said.

"I'm thinking she's in shock. I need her to snap out this. Ranger is starting to come out from under the anesthesia and he's going to rip all his stitches if he doesn't calm down. We need Steph's help. I have a feeling she is the only one that can calm him."

At Bobby's words, Steph shot up to a sitting position. "Why are you doing this to me?" She hissed.

"Doing what, Angel? Look at me. It's me, Bobby. Tell me what's happening to you." Bobby talked in a low soothing voice.

"You just said Ranger needs me. Why are you talking as if I don't know? How could you pretend he's still here? You fucking ass hole." Steph was screaming at Bobby. "You're supposed to be my friend. Why are you putting me through this?"

"What are you talking about, Bomber?" Tank asked. "What are we doing to you?"

"You know. How could you be so cruel? You watched me fall apart at his grave." She sobbed. "How could you do this to me?"

"Whose grave, Beautiful?" Lester asked.

"Ranger's you dumb ass." She muttered. "You guys checked me out of the hospital and took me to his grave."

"Angel, you haven't left this hospital. Ranger isn't dead. He's in recovery. He's just coming out of surgery." Bobby explained.

"He's not dead?" Steph asked with amazement.

"No, Honey. He's very much alive. But, he won't be if he doesn't calm down. The doctor is afraid Ranger is going to bust his stitches if he doesn't calm down. That's why I was coming to see if you were awake. I think if you talk to him, he'd calm down."

"You're telling me the truth. He's really alive?" Steph was afraid to hope she wasn't dreaming. "How long have I been asleep?"

"About three hours." Tank answered. "Steph, why did you think Ranger was dead?"

"Three hours…not three weeks?" She questioned.

"No, Angel. You've only been sleeping for about three hours. I'm sorry I had to sedate you, but you were out of control. I didn't know what else to do."

"I woke up and…oh my God, I must've been dreaming. It was so real, though. I had been out of it for three weeks. The three of you checked me out of the hospital and brought me to Ranger's grave. I went to say good…" She sobbed.

"Good bye….I went to say good bye to him. I fainted at the graveyard. Then I woke up back here. This is the same room." She told them about what she remembered so vividly.

"Steph, it was just a dream. You've been right here since Bobby sedated you, three hours ago…not three weeks. Ranger is not dead. He's in the recovery room. I need you to pull yourself together. He's really giving them a hard time. He's not completely awake yet, but he's fighting the nurses. He's been calling for you.

I think it's a reaction to the anesthesia. It sometimes makes people violent. He needs you, Steph. I know he'll listen to you."

"He's really alive? You're not playing a cruel joke on me? Please tell me you're not lying to me." She pleaded.

"Angel, we're not lying to you. Ranger didn't die. He's right here in the hospital and he needs you." Bobby assured her.

"He needs me?" Steph hopefully questioned.

"Yeah, Bomber, he does." Lester assured her.

A/N: First, I'd like to apologize for such a short chapter. I intended for it to be a little longer, but RL has really been kicking me in the ass lately and I felt like I at least owed yaw somethig. I guess even short is better than nothing.

As many of you know, my mom has been ill. On Nov. 2nd (just 2 months after being diagnosed), my mom lost the battle against brain cancer. I'm trying really hard to get my life back to normal (well…as normal as can be expected considering this is me we're talking about). So…I ask that you be patient w/me.

I have 4 more chapters after this one left to post. I can't promise any set schedule, but I do promise to get them posted as quickly as RL allows me to.

Thanks to everyone who's been so patient and hanging in there. To those who've reviewed, I'm not ignoring you. I just haven't had to the time to reply. I will though…I promise.