Everything

Disclaimer: Not mine. Never will be. Though I wish I could keep Ranger. The song is Everything by Lifehouse.

A/N: Sorry for the delay in updating. My husband has been off and real life has been hectic. Please review. Thanks to Liz for Beta'ing the chapter.

Previously: I was fighting to get my eyes open. She was begging me to come to her. I had to get to her. She was my world … my light … my angel … my everything.

I could feel the fog lifting. I felt her tears falling on my chest. I struggled but finally got my eyes open. She had her head buried in my chest. I placed my hand in her curls.

"Babe." I whispered

Ranger's POV

Stephanie lifted her head and looked at me with tear filled eyes. I tried to speak but my mouth was so dry that it was difficult. "Water." I rasped.

She took a cup of water an places the straw to my lips.

"Carlos, you came back to me." She choked out.

"Of course Babe, I had no intention of leaving you, Babe. I just got you in my life and I have every intent of living a long life with you. You lead me back to you. I could feel and hear you pulling me home."

Find Me Here
and Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place where I find peace again.

It was difficult to stay awake but I needed to reassure Steph that I was okay before I fell back asleep. I also wanted to see about getting an update from Tank. I knew that Steph would not like that but I needed to know if they apprehended the asshole that did this.

I was not surprised when I looked up and saw Tank and Bobby as they made their way inside my room.

"Hey Rangeman, glad to see your eyes open man." Tank said as he made his way towards my bed.

"How you feeling, boss?" I heard Bobby question as he started checking my chart.

"Tired." I answered honestly.

I noticed tension between Steph and the guys. I wonder what had happened while I was out. Normally they get along beautifully. There was some sort of rift between them and I would have to figure it out but it would have to be later.

I looked at Tank and he started giving a report before I even asked the question. "All offices are running at maximum efficiency. The skip that shot you was apprehended and was transported to the Boston PD for rebooking. He was charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon for shooting you. Just so you know he had a few accidents on his way to the PD."

I figured that the skip would be dead or beaten to a pulp for shooting me. I didn't expect any less. My men and I didn't like it when one of us was injured especially by some deadbeat skip. The good news is the skip would not get out anytime soon.

Bobby had stepped out and grabbed the Doctor. They both made their way into the room and told Tank and Steph to leave the room so they could examine me. I saw the look of terror flash across Steph face she was afraid to leave me. Afraid, that is she left the room that I would slip away from her again. How do I reassure her that I would never leave her? Time I guess is the only way to rebuild her faith in me.

You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose...you're everything.

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

I looked at my doctor and gave him a look that would have scared most people.

"She stays." I left no room for argument in my tone.

"Carlos, its fine. I'll just wait outside the door and come back as soon as they are finished."

"No Babe, You're not leaving me."

"Okay, I'll stay." I noticed the worry leave her face when she realized that I did not want her to leave my side. I will have her there beside me as long as breath is in my lungs and a beat in my heart.

You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall.
You steal my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?

I looked at the doctor and told him to proceed. He spent several minutes going over my injuries, my prognosis, and how long my stay in the hospital would be. I was told I would be here for at least an additional week then I could head back to Trenton to start my physical therapy.

Bobby had spoken up at this time to tell the doctor that he would be over seeing my physical therapy that way my physician would give bobby my discharge information so he could set up everything back home.

I was pleased with my prognosis. I was less than pleased to know that I would have to spend a full week here before being allowed to head home. At least Steph was here and I hoped that she would stay to keep me company. The nurse came over and started to change my bandages while the doctor finished talking. He did an exam and turned on his heel bidding us good day and informed me that he would be by in morning, Bobby and the nurse followed not too far behind him.

I immediately held my good arm out to Steph. She took my hand and I pulled her onto the bed with me. I knew that the nursing staff would not like her sitting in the bed with me but they would have to get over it. If they intended to keep me here for a week they would have to get used to it. We drifted off to sleep while holding onto each other closely. I knew that we would both sleep well because we were together which is where we both belong.

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Five days later

Stephanie's POV

I thought the nursing staff was about ready to murder Carlos. I was ready to join them in their plot. He was a horrible patient. I honestly thought he was trying to get them to kick him out. I walked into his room as a young nurse came running out in tears. I walked through the door and gave him a death glare.

"What in the hell do you think you are doing? You made that girl cry. What did you say to her?"

"She hurt me when she was changing my bandages and I told her that she was incompetent and that she should pursue a new career because she sucks."

"Carlos, I am going to have her come back in here and smack the shit out of you. You have got to stop. I know that you want to go home and believe me. I feel completely the same way. We are stuck here until the doctor decides to allow you to leave so toughen up and take it like a man."

"I'm sorry. I know that I'm being an ass. I figured that if I could make them miserable enough that they would kick me out. Hell, it was worth a shot."

I knew deep down that being this injured and dependent on others was hard for him to cope with but honestly he needed to learn that not everything goes his way. He cannot scare and intimidate everyone. Who was I kidding that is exactly what he expects? Well unfortunately he was going to learn the hard way this time and his tactics were not going to result in the results he wanted.

I walked outside and spoke to the nurse Carlos had scared. I told her to ignore him and that if it would make her feel better that I would get Tank to come in and hold him down so she could give him a shot in the ass. She chuckled and told me that she understood and forgave the ornery patient.

As I made my way into Carlos' room I noticed a woman's voice. She was slipping from English to Spanish and she seemed to be yelling. I hurried into the room and saw a woman shorter than me who had a striking resemblance to Carlos. She turned as I entered the room.

"Stephanie, I am so glad to meet you mjia."

"Babe, meet my mother Maria."

"It's so nice to meet you, Mrs. Manoso."

"Please call me Maria."

"Maria."

We spent the next few hours talking and I laughed out loud when she threatened to turn him over her knee if he didn't start treating the staff better. She informed us that Bobby called and told on him. I couldn't control my laughter at that bit of information. The next two days passed without any further complications from the patient.

We made it back to Trenton and go settled into our new routine. Bobby and Carlos would spend a few hours a day on physical therapy and Tank would train me. We traveled to his parent's house as soon as he was able. They all seemed to know a lot about me and come to find out Carlos and the guys had told them all about me over the last few years.

Three weeks after our return to Trenton; Carlos was back to light office duty. I was running searches for all the guys. While I was gone to Boston to be with Carlos, Vinnie hired a new full time BEA agent. I couldn't blame him and I honestly didn't care. I wanted to work fulltime at Rangeman and it would make Batman happy to know that I'm safe.

Carlos and I had made plans to go to Pino's for lunch. I finished the search I was working on and made my way to his office. I knocked on the door and he turned and flashed me a grin.

"Babe, give me five minutes and we'll head out."

"No problem, take your time."

I sat down in a chair in front of his desk and he handed me a file. "You mind looking this over for me? Something seems off."

I sat down and started looking over the proposal for a business. My thoughts were interrupted by the intercom.

"Ranger, you've got a call on line one. It's the DA from Boston."

I looked at Carlos and asked, "Why would they be calling?"

He picked up the phone and said "Manoso."

I could see rage as it flashed across his face. I had no idea what the DA was telling him but it wasn't good news. He told the DA that he would get back to him. Carlos slammed the phone down with such force that it broke in two.

Before I could ask him what was wrong he roared.

"THAT FUCKING COP! I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" He threw the phone across the room shattering it into a thousand pieces.

TBC …

A/N: What do you think?????