Birthday Wishes

By: amkp

Chapter 7-Come back to me

Disclaimer: They're Janet's, not mine. Damn it!

Thanks, RangerBabeFan. You ARE the best BETA!

Also my special thanks to: Kat Starlish for your support with this story.

RPOV

The grenade has gone off prematurely. "Stephaine!" my mind screams as I fall to the floor covering Jason with my body as the shrapnel falls all around us.

SPOV

I'm having a very erotic dream that includes me, Ranger and a very large Jacuzzi tub, when I feel someone lightly shaking my arm.

"Bombshell" I hear in a voice that is just above a whisper.

"Tank," I squeak. "What are you doing here in Ranger's bedroom?" Alarmed at Tank's presence, I glance at the clock on the nightstand, seeing it is only 3 o'clock in the morning. I quickly sit up clutching the sheet to my chest, while trying to clear my sleep hazed mind.

"Stephanie, I need you to get up and get dressed while I pack a bag for you, we need to leave immediately." Tank delivers in a voice that means all business.

"What is it?" I'm instantly fully awake.

"Just do what I ask, please. We need to go. I'll tell you everything once we're on the road." Tank says quickly, as he urges me out of bed and delivers a small shove to my back propelling me towards the bathroom.

I have no idea what's going on, but I can feel myself starting to fill with panic. I've never seen Tank like this before, whatever it is, it has to be serious to shake the Big Guy. I'm moving quickly, pulling on my clothes that I'd left lying on the floor here in the bathroom. I grab my toiletries bag from the counter by the sink and leave the bathroom in a sprint. Tank's waiting for me holding my duffel bag in one hand, holding the door to the apartment with the other. He ushers me into the elevator that's open and waiting for us. We're both tense as we wait for the elevator to arrive at the garage. When the elevator finally stops, he practically drags me out and over to the black Rangeman SUV Bobby has idling near the elevator doors. Tank opens the back door of the SUV and pushes me inside, following me in and settling into the seat to my left. We rocket out of the garage and head down Haywood Street, almost flying as we hit the interstate onramp, at several miles over the speed limit. I can't take it anymore. I nearly shout:

"What is going on? You guys are really scaring me!"

Tank leans over and grabs my hand into his big strong one.

"It's Ranger" he says softly.

I can feel my eyes instantly filling with tears. "Tell me." I beg, feeling the fingers of hysteria starting to work their way insidiously though my body. My breathing becomes labored and I start to hyperventilate, a picture of Ranger lying hurt and bleeding, or worse yet, dying, flashing through my mind.

"Ok, just try and stay calm, Bombshell. I'll tell you everything I know. Please, just take slow deep breaths and listen." Tank urges in a sincere voice, I will myself to do as he asks, slow…deep…breaths. He continues, "The details I've got on the mission are lacking in some parts, but we'll learn more when we get to Bethesda. Ranger was air lifted to Bethesda Naval Hospital late last night. It appears he was hit in an explosion that was initiated by a hand grenade."

"Airlifted! Last night! Omigod!" Suddenly I understand why I couldn't get to sleep. My 'spidey sense' was sending me a signal that Ranger was in trouble. Tank notices the puzzled expression on my face, lifting an eyebrow in question. I'm too focused on how I'd been feeling last night to get irritated.

"Sorry," I explain. "Last night I couldn't sleep in my apartment because I felt something was wrong, that's why I was on 7. It was the only thing I could think of to calm myself."

I notice Bobby and Tank do that silent communication thing that all Rangeman employees seem to use.

"What?" I ask petulantly, frustrated that I don't speak the 'silent' language.

Bobby takes over speaking from the front of the SUV.

"Whenever you've been in danger or needed help in the past, Ranger always gets restless, exactly just like you described. He was worse during the Scrog thing, and again right before he found you in that closet at Stiva's. It's just weird how you two seem to sense each other."

Tank nods his head in agreement and continues with his knowledge on Ranger's condition. "He has some superficial wounds to his face, arms, chest and back along with three broken ribs. His left knee was dislocated, which damaged some tissue surrounding the knee; he also had a large piece of metal shrapnel in his left thigh. All of these things have already been taken care of in the OR, so that's not what has the doctors worried. He came through the surgery fine, but he hasn't regained consciousness, yet."

"Apparently, he was dragging an injured member of his team out of a block building when the explosion occurred, leveling the place with the blast. He and the other guy were buried in the rubble."

Tank pauses, and I can tell I'm not going to like the next part of his story by the expression on his face and the tightening of his hand that is holding mine.

"The doctors seem to think that he was struck in the head by one of the blocks causing swelling in his brain. He's in a coma, Steph, they don't think there is any neurological damage, but they won't know for sure until he regains consciousness." My tears are falling in rapid succession now, I just let them trail down my face.

"Ranger has you listed on his government file as next of kin and you also hold his Medical Power of Attorney. Since this was a military mission, and Ranger is a contract worker for the government, he was transferred to a military hospital, Bethesda it's one of the best for head injuries, so he's in good hands for the moment. All of his treatment at that hospital is the decision of its staff though. The Medical Power of Attorney really doesn't have a lot of weight there, since it not a civilian hospital. However, Ranger's a personal friend of the Secretary of Defense, and he asked that you be contacted and brought to the hospital immediately." I'm stunned by the fact that Ranger has taken these steps and leveled such a responsibility on me. Tank's ESP must be tuned to my frequency, because his next comment was if I had spoken out loud.

"Bombshell, he had those papers drawn up shortly after the Scrog incident. I guess I shouldn't be surprised he didn't tell you, but he's always felt a deeper connection to you than he's probably let on. He trusts you…completely."

Somehow, in the midst of all this emotional stress, I feel a little stronger knowing Ranger felt this way long before his birthday night, when we had made our decision to be together. It's amazing to me that I resisted this man for so long…what WAS I thinking?!

Tank gives me a few minutes to take all of this information in before he continues.

"We have a flight on a private plane waiting for us. As soon as we land, we'll be taken directly to the hospital and you can see Ranger. Just keep it together, Steph. He'll pull through this just fine. He's in excellent physical condition and his recovery will be quick once he regains consciousness." He hesitates seemingly unsure if he should say any more. There's a long pause and then a sigh from the Big Guy before he evidently decides to finish his thoughts.

"He's a hero, Bombshell. He used his body to cover one of his men who had taken a bullet in the leg, and this just after he and his team executed and completed the mission successfully. Because of this, Ranger will be receiving a special commendation from the President, it was an important mission that could've jeopardized National Security if it was unsuccessful. Please, Steph, just focus on the positive and not the negative and you'll both get through this just fine."

At Tank's mention of the 'positive/negative' thoughts, my mind flashes back to a similar expression Ranger had once said to me. "Don't get weighed down by negative emotion, Babe--focus on the goal." So with that thought in mind, I think of our goal: to be in a committed relationship, giving ourselves the chance to love each other without anything or anyone standing in our way. Something we've both denied ourselves for far too long.

The next couple of hours pass in a blur of motion. Tank and Bobby ushering me on to the plane, the flight passing quickly before we disembark at a small airfield and into a waiting black Suburban. The streets and buildings flash by and then we are pulling to a stop in the hospital garage. The guys flank me as we step onto the elevator and then emerge onto the floor of the ICU. We are instantly surrounded by several people. Tank and Bobby seem to know these people and I begin to hear greetings. Most of the people are being introduced to me, but I'm too caught up in my thoughts of Ranger to hear their names or remember their faces. A very distinguished looking man approaches me and offers his hand.

"You must be Stephanie Plum. I'm Ronald Henderson. Manoso told me about you when he arrived in D.C. a couple of weeks ago. It's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."

I stand absolutely still and look at this man with what I am sure is a shocked expression on my face.

"He spoke of me? To you?" The confusion I felt was evident in my voice. Ranger doesn't share personal information with just anyone.

"Yes, I know how surprised you must be by this. I was sort of joking when I asked him if there was a woman in his life, I mean Manoso has never had what I'd term a serious relationship with a woman. At my question, he delivered me his blank stare, I'm sure you know what I talking about, but there was something he left showing on his face and I pounced on it." He chuckled, obviously recalling Ranger's expression at being 'found out.'

"When I questioned him further, he gave me your name. I don't know much more about you other than I know you've worked together for the bond's office. Manoso isn't a fountain of information on personal matters, as I'm sure you are well aware."

I realize that this man must know a massive amount of information regarding Ranger, and seems more than willing to share. Although I'm curious to unravel my 'Man of Mystery', it's not as important as simply being here with him right now. Ronald Henderson must have attended the same ESP school as Ranger and the Merry Men because he gives me a small smile and continues, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"I'm sure you are overwhelmed by all this right now, so you'd probably you'd just like to see Manoso, huh?"

"Yes!" I say in a voice filled with desperation.

Ronald gently grabs my arm and steers me down the hallway to the last room on the left. There is a large window in the hallway that looks into the room. My heart skips a beat as I look in at Ranger, his still form surrounded by equipment and tubes running from his face, arm and leg. His left leg is immobilized by a large white soft splint and secured to a device suspended from a metal frame hanging from above the bed. His head and chest are a study of bruises and scratches, and there are large white bandages on his head and around his ribs. They are in such stark contrast to his mocha colored skin. Ranger's face appears almost peaceful as he rests; a study in contrasts considering all the trauma of his injuries, and I suddenly realize that I've never really had an opportunity to witness him in sleep. In all the times we've slept together, he's always been awake before me, the Queen of Sleep.

I straighten my spine, and with a lift of my chin, I ask Ronald if I can go into his room. With a small nod, he releases my arm. Suddenly free of restraint, I can't grab the door knob quick enough as I open the door and bolt inside, arriving almost instantly at Ranger's side. I reach out and take his right hand in mine, using my left to smooth a swath of hair not covered by the bandages. With my shaking hand I push a tendril back that had fallen over his face, feeling suddenly calmed by the simple act of touching his hair and skin without the former guilt or hesitation. A tear escapes unnoticed as I lean down to bring my mouth to his, brushing my lips lightly over his as I whisper softly "I'm here, Carlos. I love you. Please come back to me."

Still hanging on the cliff, huh? Don't worry, I promise to behave with the next chapter!….Maybe? Love all your reviews, please keep them coming!