Usual disclaimer:. If you recognize the characters they belong to JE. I write only for fun and relaxation. Hope you enjoy the story.

Chapter 8 A redecorating Job Part a

Previously:

As the chopper touched down, I hit the send button on the sat-phone. Tank answered after one ring. "Yo."

"I'm out; on the way to the hospital for my leg. Report."

"Steph was hurt but will heal, everything is…"

A Colonel took the phone from my hand and cut the connection.

Damn, I knew something was wrong. What happened to Steph? How bad was she hurt? Why didn't my men keep her safe?

Ranger's POV

There I was on a stretcher, in an ambulance, and on my way to a hospital. I didn't even know what base I was on, much less the extent of my injury. I wasn't worried about myself; all I wanted was to know more about Steph. I needed to be with my Babe, not healing in some God forsaken country. The mission couldn't get much more FUBAR.

Several hours and tests later, I'd just about lost my patience, when the doctor finally walked in and introduced himself. I simply glared at him in response.

"Major, I can see you're not a patient man, so I'll get right down to business. You took a bullet in the upper thigh, which damaged the muscle extensively. Your leg will require at least one surgery to repair the muscle and, at the very least, a long period of physical therapy."

I started to interrupt, but he held up his hand to stop me. " You were very lucky; less than half an inch difference could've resulted in a torn femoral artery. If you hadn't moved when you did you'd have likely lost your leg or bled to death."

I could only look at him in stunned silence. The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause. If the team had loaded a half second later, if I'd jumped a half second too late,, if the shooter had pulled the trigger a half second sooner; I'd be missing a leg or dead. Someone had watched over me today. Tennyson wrote, knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers, this day would forever linger with all the possibilities.

I awoke hours later to find the doctor performing his post-surgery my leg.

"Glad you're awake, Major; I was just assessing your leg. The surgery went well; we were able to repair the muscle and most of the nerve damage. The deep larger nerves were repaired; the superficial ones will repair themselves over time. That just means you may experience some numbness of the skin. Your leg is warm and the color shows you have good circulation."

He moved to my foot, touching different areas to check sensation. "Now, can you move your toes?" I moved my toes and foot, which he noted on my chart, "You'll be up on crutches in two to three days and you can start physical therapy in two weeks. Tomorrow morning the wound will be checked when the dressing is changed. Tonight you'll be given pain medication so you'll be able to sleep comfortably.. As soon as you feel up to eating, the nurse will bring you some food."

I nodded in understanding and thanked the doctor. My leg hurt and I needed some food and sleep; it had been a long month. I alerted the nurse that I was ready for food and relaxed on the bed. I didn't have to worry about PT; Bobby handled all of those issues. The doctor just had to write his instructions.

Two days later I headed to DC on crutches to finish the mission so I could get home to Trenton and my Babe. I knew that Steph needed me. I felt it in my gut. I know it's against protocol but somehow I need to check on Steph. Who can I convince to bring me a phone? There's no way I can wait another day to learn she's alright and hear her soothing voice.

Babe I love you.

Chapter 8 A Redecorating Job part b

Previously:

"Beautiful, I know what you're thinking and feeling. All of us have been there at one time. It's never easy to take a life and you'll never forget it, but always remember that it wasn't your fault. You acted in pure self defense; it was you or Joey. He forced your hand when he grabbed you. You made the correct choice to defend yourself. Now," he cupped my face in his hands and looked into my eyes, "I want you to make the choice to understand, accept and forgive yourself. If you need to talk, the whole team is here for you. Don't ever forget that."

I gave Lester a teary smile and a nod of my head. My mind drifted to Ranger; I needed him to help take the pain away.

I watched over the rim of my cup as Tank pulled Lester aside to ask him some questions. Maybe, it was time for me to sit down and talk to Tank. I'm sure I can't go much longer without sleep.

Steph's POV

I had a hell of a headache and I was still dizzy. Maybe I could sleep for a while and feel better. I told Bobby my plan and agreed to call if I needed anything.

Riding to seven, I thought about Ranger. Tank said he needed his leg repaired but he didn't have more information. I could only hope and pray that Ranger wasn't too badly hurt. "Please protect Ranger. Bring him back to me. I love him and need him by my side." Ranger, please come home soon.

I swallowed a pain pill that Bobby left, put on Ranger's T-shirt and black silk boxers, and crawled into the cloud soft sheets of our bed. Wrapping my arms around his pillow, I could smell his unique scent as I drifted off to sleep.

Wrapped in the sheets, I woke from a dream screaming with tears streaming down my face. Huge arms wrapped me tightly as I struggled to get free. It was dark in the apartment and I thought someone was attacking me in a secure building. How could that be?

"Bomber, please calm down. I've got you. You're going to hurt yourself. It's okay, it's okay." Tank crooned until I was fully awake and looking into his brown concerned eyes. He helped in my struggle to unwrap myself from the sheets.

"Tank, what are you doing here?"

"Steph, I just came to check on you. You know concussion check. When I opened the door, you were screaming, fighting something off. It was a hell of a nightmare little girl. Can you tell me what you were dreaming? Why were you so scared?"

"Give me a minute to get dressed; I'll meet you on the couch."You can do this Steph, you can talk to Tank. My head started spinning once I stood up and my shoulder hurt but I went in the bathroom, did my business and got dressed. I am part of all that I have seen, and I have seen more than I want in the last two weeks.

Tank was waiting on the couch with two bottles of water as he eyed me with concern.

I plopped on the couch and he pulled me into his arms, handed me water, and waited for me to speak.

"I came upstairs to take a nap and was thinking about Ranger as I fell asleep. Somewhere in my dream, Tiny was sitting on my bed, staring at me with his cold dead eyes. Then Joey reached across the bed and was dripping blood on the sheets as he grabbed me. I was screaming trying to get away but he held me and they were both laughing and pulling at me." I started to shiver and buried myself into Tanks arms.

Tank held me tight and nodded his head. "Steph you are dealing with two deaths, recovering from a serious injury and worrying about Ranger. It's understandable; you've had a lot thrown at you in the last couple of weeks."

"Tank, I'm not crazy."

"No, Bomber you're not crazy. You're suffering from PTS and you need to talk. Let me call Bobby and we'll try to help you work though this. Do you want me to have Lester come too? I know the two of you have grown close. Until Ranger gets home, we will be your support group. You will have him to turn to once he returns, but we'll always be here for you, too"

Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't. In our dreams the subconscious twists the two together to make a strange world."