Okay, here is chapter eight. Something got confused early, sorry about that. Thanks to everyone who let me know! Hope you all enjoy this chapter.
I did get a review stating that this story isn't cannon. I'm not well versed in fan fiction lingo, however I havent changed anything in JE's world, I've just added new plot after the last book. I'm sorry if I should have posted some sort of warning that it was little more dark than what JE usually writes. :)
Sue: Yeah I love me some Dory!
Angie: Sorry, please don't hate me.
Sasha: I really don't know. I personally love Jell-O. It just popped into my head. Lol. That tends to happen. Hehe.
Thanks for all the looooooove!
A week later I was going crazy. The antibiotics had done the trick and I was feeling better but I wasn't at one hundred percent. Truthfully I wasn't even at seventy-five percent. I wasn't above pretending to be at one hundred percent though.
"I need real food. Please? Ranger?" I was pleading. I'd been living on hospital food for much too long. "Come on, one burger Ranger? I've eaten a hospital burger!"
"And you threw up on me!" He was getting ready to go out really quick and I wasn't above pleading.
"That wasn't my fault. It had onion. I hate onion." Okay, so I hadn't thrown up because of the onion, but what he didn't know couldn't hurt him.
"Babe. Don't lie. No burger. I'll bring you chicken strips though."
"Really?" Ranger nodded and brushed a kiss over my lips before he left. Ranger was still being very careful with me. He'd occasionally start to flirt but he would catch himself and stop before anything got too serious.
Ranger had been gone for about ten minutes when the day nurse bustled in. "Mrs. Morelli you have a visitor, a Mr. Scott?"
I nodded, "please send him in." I pushed the button on my bed that would raise it so I was sitting more. It made my neck hurt a little but I knew it would adjust. Joe's lawyer walked in.
"Stephanie, it's good to see you, but not like this," he said.
I grinned, "Yeah I'm not too happy with it either. What brings you to my neck of the woods?"
"Well two things actually, one I brought all the papers for you to sign." He spent a few minutes explaining things to me and I signed everything, taking control of Joe's assets. "The second thing is more of a personal question. I was wondering what you were going to do with the house?"
"I'm going to sell it. A house is a lot of upkeep and it's not my thing. Why?"
"Well, my daughter is looking for her first house and I think it would be perfect for her. I was wondering if you'd let me know when you put it on the market?"
"No problem, it should be soon." Jason said his goodbyes and I sat and waited impatiently for my chicken. The doctor came to check on me and was impressed with my improvement.
"Well I think you're going to be ready to leave us in a few days. I want you on IV antibiotics until the two week mark and then you'll be free to go."
"Ranger got to take pills," I pointed out. The doctor chuckled.
"Mr. Manoso wasn't sick, his antibiotics were just precautionary." I gave her my best Ranger impersonation and she sighed, "Three more days. Where is Mr. Manoso? I need to talk to him about the men."
"What men?" I asked.
"Your security, they're starting to scare the other patients."
I gritted my teeth, "I'll let him know." She left the room after making a note on my chart. So far I'd only gotten up to go to the bathroom, but I was getting stronger. I unhooked myself from various machines and got up, pulling my IV with me. I walked to the door and looked out to see Bobby and Hal guarding my door.
"Bomber you're not supposed to be up." Bobby said nervously.
"You mean I'm not supposed to see you!" I was angry, Ranger had made it seem like I wasn't being guarded. I didn't mind being guarded as much as the fact that he hadn't told me.
"Well…yeah…you weren't supposed to know. Ranger didn't want you stressed out."
"Is there an actual threat?"
"No."
"Oh wonderful, so basically he's just bleeding money for no reason. That is just great." I went back into my room and got back in the bed. Ranger walked in a few minutes later.
"I got your chicken." He said with a smile. Oh that was so not going to work. One smile was not going to melt me. Even if Ranger smiles were as rare as a four leaf clover.
"I'm not hungry." I gave him a pointed glare.
"Babe. I just want you to be safe." He gave me a sad glance. One that made me melt a little.
"I don't like you bleeding money for me. And I don't like you not telling me about it. You want to put security on me for no reason? Then we walk about it. If we're going to be friends, or more, than you can't just do whatever you want without asking."
"I would have done it whether you approved or not Steph." Hey at least he was honest.
"But at least I would have been known to be pissed at you," I said.
"Are you pissed at me?" He asked. I nodded yes and he came closer, stopping only when his lips were an inch from my ear, "You know I only do it because I care right?" he whispered. I nodded again. "Don't be mad babe." And he kissed my neck, "Please?" He moved and pressed his lips against mine, his tongue seeking entrance. I moaned and he pulled back. "You still mad?"
"Yup," I answered. Ranger slammed his hand down on the bedside table and started muttering in a mixture of Spanish, English and what I thought might be Italian. "Are you speaking Italian?"
"I only know the swear words." He said. He pulled my tray over and laid out my chicken, fries and various dipping sauces and a coke. I ate quickly and Ranger threw away the evidence.
"Are you getting into bed?" I asked and scooted over. Ranger sighed.
"Just sleep Steph." He settled himself into the chair next to my bed and closed his eyes. I stared at him, watching him try to sink into his zen zone. "Go to sleep Stephanie." I kept staring until he opened his eyes. "Fine, what's it going to take?"
"Send them home. There is no threat and you're here with me. I don't need you wasting money and wearing out the men. You can call someone to replace you when you leave."
"Fine." He got up and went to the door, "Come say hi." Bobby and Hal ambled in and said hi to me. "No more body guarding Stephanie while she's here. I'll take care of it. I'm officially offline. Go home, get some sleep. Regular duty starting tomorrow." They nodded and left.
"You happy now?" Ranger asked.
"Still pissed you didn't tell me." I watched Ranger's face darken a little, "Thank you though. For caring. I love you Ranger."
Ranger's face lightened again and he rose gracefully from his chair and came over to me. "I love you too Babe." He brushed a light kiss over my lips, "now go to sleep."
I closed my eyes and was out before I heard him settle in his chair.
Let me know what you think. More later today or tomorrow. Off to work on Bad Idea (which is the new shortned name). :)
