Chapter 9
Homecoming
Disclaimer: Still not mine, still not making anything, might give them back.
Thanks to my great BETA: RangerBabeFan.
Also a special thanks to Cara, for everything. Love ya, Babe!
"I love you, Babe. Thanks for staying here with me. You're the most beautiful sight to wake up to."
SPOV
Cathy, the day-shift nurse who's taken care of Carlos since our stay here, and whom I've had several conversations with, walks into the room, a smile on her face as she proceeds to the side of the bed to check his vitals. "Glad to see you've decided to join us, Mr. Manoso. Steph, you want to step from the room while I check his bandages and do a quick exam."
"She doesn't need to leave, I'd like her to stay". Carlos's voice holds a note of finality as he tightens his grip on my hand. I wasn't going anywhere.
Just then, Bobby walks in, several bags of food from McDonalds in his hand. "Hey Bombshell, I brought you some lunch…oh, Hi Boss! Glad to see you're awake."
"Hey, Bobby. Yeah it's great to be awake, I'm not much for sleeping." So Batman's gained a sense of humor during his coma.
As Cathy finishes checking the bandages and making notes in the chart, she looks up at Carlos, an understanding smile on her face.
"I'll be reviewing this information with your doctor, and he'll be by later to examine you. Of course, we'll be running a full battery of tests, but if those have positive results; I'd suspect you'll be on your way home tomorrow or day after at the latest."
"That's great!" I exclaim excitedly, looking over to Carlos. He gives a nod and a small smile.
"It's probably going to be difficult to walk with your leg injury and fatigue in your muscles from being idle so long. The soreness of your broken ribs in addition to all the other bruising you have will make moving around a bit uncomfortable. You'll need assistance when you go home, getting up from a sitting position, leaving bed, those sort of things. It's imperative that you allow others to help you. A fall would greatly impede your recovery. She must have realized a man like Carlos isn't going to accept help willingly. I'm sure Stephanie will be a big help to you when you get home. I mean I don't think she's left your side for more than a few minutes at a time since she got here."
At this declaration from Cathy, Carlos tugs on our clasped hands, pulling me down towards his face and whispering incredulously.
"That true, Babe?" I can see love and emotion shining in his dark chocolate eyes.
I look up at him through my eyelashes, grinning a little sheepishly. "I just wanted to be the first person you saw when you woke up, to let you know I was here for you. I've missed you, Carlos."
He reaches up and fists his hands in my hair pulling me up the rest of the way to his lips. The passion and love of the kiss we're sharing must be making the other occupants of the room uncomfortable because as we come up for air, I hear Bobby give a small whistle.
"Um…well…I'll just go call the doctor, now" Cathy stutters as she scurries from the room.
Bobby clears his throat, then grins and speaks teasingly. "I'll go call Tank and your parents to give them an update on your status as I can see you two just need to be alone." The door closes softly behind him.
"Thanks again, Babe. You've always been there when I needed you."
We start kissing again, I can't believe how good he is with his mouth. Carlos puts so much of himself in his kisses it's not just love, it's an intimacy, a connection that I've never shared with another man. We're becoming lost in one another when I hear someone near the doorway clearing his throat. He politely disguises it as a cough, but it's clear he's embarrassed. I actually hear a sigh escape from Carlos. I stop for a moment looking down at him with a shocked expression on my face. Who is this man, and what has he done with the real Ranger?
As I straighten up and slide to a sitting position on the edge of the bed, I hear Ronald Henderson chuckle and speak chidingly to Carlos.
"So Sleeping Beauty, you decided to wake up, huh?"
"You're timing's shitty as usual, Henderson."
"Well, I do have standards to live up to. So, how are you feeling, Manoso?"
"Believe it or not…I'm tired and the leg's throbbing, but it's not unbearable."
"Carlos, I can get Cathy if you like. They have standing orders for pain medication if you need it."
"No, Babe. I'll be fine for a while. You've met Ron, right?"
"Yes, he's the one who brought me to your room when I first arrived at the hospital. He's been by a couple of times since then." I may not be too happy with him since he's interrupted Carlos's kisses, but having been raised in the 'Burg, manners demand that I maintain a polite façade.
Ron stayed for a while; it was nice listening to them reminisce as he and Carlos shared a few stories of their tour together. Ron also spoke affectionately of his family, relating several amusing snippets about their move to the Washington DC area when he took office. He is called away after about an hour or so.
"Alone at last," I sigh in relief after seeing Ron out. I turn and sweep my gaze over to Carlos, only to find he had fallen into an exhausted sleep. After I check on him I decide to take advantage of the opportunity and devour the lunch Bobby had brought me earlier. What? I'm famished!
Later the doctor comes in to examine Carlos and counsel him about the extent of his injuries and his prognosis for recovery, telling him how lucky he is to even be alive after the blast. When he's done with his examination, he pronounces Carlos well enough to leave tomorrow morning. He'll be leaving with crutches, and have strict instructions on his recovery and limitations which will be supervised by Bobby. Since Bobby lives on site at Rangeman, and with his extensive medical training, the doctor seems comfortable releasing Carlos into Bobby's care. The relief is evident on Carlos' face at the news, apparently he shares my aversion to hospitals.
Going home
The sun is up and shining as I slowly surface from a deep slumber, having slept fitfully in the chair at Carlos' bedside.
"Good Morning, Babe" I hear coming from the bed next to me.
I turn my head, pushing my hair from my eyes and mumble,
"Mornin'."
"Steph, do you think you can help me get up and to the bathroom? I'd like to wash up and shave."
"Sure"
I throw back the covers and walk to the bedside, moving to his left side. He throws his arm across my shoulders with only a small wince from the pull to his ribs as we slowly make the short trip to the bathroom, fortunately without incident. I pull a guest chair into the bathroom so he can sit at the sink and leave him to his morning routine while I go to the closet, picking out a set of clothes for each of us to wear home. I go back into the bathroom and help him get dressed in a t-shirt and long black basketball shorts, working with quick efficiency since I don't want to get too caught up with a naked Carlos. We'd never make it out of the bathroom if I did! By the time we make it back to the bed he's exhausted, electing to lay down and take a short nap.
About an hour later, Bobby comes into the room with a wheelchair and a nurse following closely at his heels.
"Ready to go home, Boss? I've got your ride." Bobby looks at Carlos with a big smile. We all know that he isn't overly fond of the idea of being wheeled about in a wheelchair… it just doesn't scream 'Bad Ass'. Thankfully he admits defeat gracefully, easing down into the chair as I grab our duffel bag and Carlos' crutches. He signs his discharge papers, grimacing as the nurse hands Bobby the orders to be followed at home.
We paraded down the hall to the elevator and then out into the garage where Ron's waiting for us in the black Suburban parked near the elevator exit. As we make our way to the airstrip, the guys share a few war stories of their time together in the Rangers. I listen for a while, and then eventually drift off into a cat nap against Carlos' right shoulder. I come awake when we pull to a stop near the waiting plane, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes as we exit the vehicle and stand at the base of the plane's staircase. Ron reaches into his briefcase and extracts a legal size envelope, handing it to Carlos. Their eyes lock and hold, doing that silent communication thing that drives me crazy. My eyes drift to the envelope and my spidey sense starts tingling, making me wonder about it's contents.
"I'm going to miss seeing you around, Manoso. You be sure and stay in touch, and call if Rangeman business brings you to town. Stephanie, you take care of this soldier, ok?"
I nod my head as Ron steps up and embraces me in an affectionate hug. He grabs Carlos' hand and does that manly one shoulder hug then one of those complicated handshakes I'll never be capable of doing. Ron calls good-bye to Bobby and climbs back into the Suburban.
We board the plane, Bobby all but carrying Carlos up the few stairs, and then Jim has us quickly in the air in no time at all. When we finally land in Trenton, we find several black Rangeman SUVs, waiting silently for us at the terminal. As we step from the plane, a cheer goes up and suddenly we're surrounded by most of the Merry Men, eliciting a comment from Carlos about "Who's running the shop?" Everyone laughs, and after a short visit on the tarmac, we all load into the SUVs and form a convoy back to Haywood. We finally arrive at the underground garage at Rangeman, slowing making our way to the elevator and exiting on 7. Bobby helps me get Carlos settled into bed before excusing himself and leaving the apartment, but only after instructing me to call him if we needed anything.
I take note of the strained look of discomfort on Carlos' face, only mildly surprised when he reluctantly requests his pain medication. He takes the medicine and lays back on the bed, patting the spot to his right as he looks up at me. I mouth "just a sec" and run into his dressing room, pulling on one of his big T-shirts before dashing into the bathroom for a quick answer to Mother Nature's call. In just a few short minutes I'm back in the bedroom to find Carlos relaxing back into the pillows, patiently waiting with an almost smile on his face. I crawl into bed next to him, immediately feeling his warmth as he places his arm around me and pulls me close to his hard body.
"Dios, it feels so good to hold you in my arms again, Babe."
I lift my head a little off his shoulder so that I can look into his battered face. It is healing, but it would be a few days before he is back to his normal handsome self.
"Welcome Home, Carlos." I lean down to brush a soft kiss to his lips; his eyes are heavy with exhaustion from the day's events, coupled with the pain medication that is finally kicking in.
"I love you, Steph" he whispers as he surrenders himself to sleep.
"I love you, too" I whisper back to him as I gently lay my head back down on his bare mocha colored shoulder. I give a sigh of contentment and a silent prayer of thanksgiving that he's home safe. I slowly close my eyes and drift off to sleep as a calm peaceful feeling settles over me.
TBC
