They're still not mine, and I'm still not making any money…I want to give a big 'thank you' to everyone who's reviewed.
CHAPTER 9
"Hey! That's cold!" I protested as Dr. Cooper squirted clear, slimy goop all over my stomach.
"I know, but it'll be worth it," she said giving me a knowing smile.
"You're the expert," I said, as she came at me with a weird looking wand thing.
"This is part of the ultrasound device," she said when she saw me giving it a dubious stare. "I'll pass it over your stomach and it will send the images to the screen and we'll be able to see what the baby looks like."
"Wait! So this is more than you just checking things out? I'm going to be able to see my baby already?" I asked, excitedly, looking down at my still-flat stomach.
"Yep," she replied smiling.
"If I'd know that I wouldn't have given Hal such a hard time about missing my afternoon nap today!"
"You've been experiencing fatigue?" she asked as she started to slide the wand around in the goop…which I must say is not a pleasant sensation.
"Uh huh."
"Then I guess you'll be excited to hear that around week 13 and 14, the fatigue and nausea should ease up. Since you're 12 weeks along, you should notice it soon."
"Thank God!"
Dr. Cooper just laughed before turning her head to look at the screen.
"So, that man you come with, Hal you said his name was, what is he to you?"
Oh, how do I explain this…? Probably, the simpler the better.
"He's a coworker. The guys I work with don't want me doing this alone and Hal got elected for doctor visit chaperone."
"Well, my secretary and receptionist will be glad to hear that. Apparently he spent our last visit charming them and they've been counting the days to this visit just to see him again."
"Poor women," I said grinning. The Merry Men really shouldn't be allowed out in public…
I was still thinking along those lines and more specifically, thinking about the leader of the Merry Men who definitely shouldn't be let loose on society, when Dr. Cooper interrupted my thoughts.
"Here we go," she said indicating the screen.
"Uh huh," I said, obviously not seeing what she was seeing, because I couldn't make out anything but black and white blobs and swirls.
"See that spot right there?" asked Dr. Cooper pointing to a large grayish blob on the screen.
"Yeah."
"That's the head. And this is the beginning of the spinal cord," she said, dragging her finger along the picture before indicating what would be arms and legs. I'd just have to trust her. "Are you ready to hear the heartbeat?"
"What? Yeah!"
"Okay." Then she placed a stethoscope on my stomach and I heard a soft thumping…and it was going way faster than I wanted my heart-rate to be so I panicked. Shit, this maternal worry stuff is easy…
"It's so fast," I said, looking worriedly at the screen.
"For an adult yes, but this is perfectly normal and healthy for a developing baby."
"Okay," I sighed, feeling better as I relaxed and listened to the life inside me. Dr. Cooper gave me a few moments before removing the stethoscope and speaking again.
"Well, I'm done and we can get you cleaned up. Do you have any questions?"
"Ummm, when should I start showing?" I asked, wondering when I would be allowed to stop running.
"Within the next month you should start to feel movement and soon after that you'll start to show."
"Okay, thank you," I said, thinking dismally of a whole month more of jogging.
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Later that night, I wandered back into the apartment around 8 o'clock after dinner with Ella. We had visited longer than normal, talking about my latest doctor's visit. Ella had gushed over the ultrasound printout and apparently she could see whatever it was that Dr. Cooper saw because she pointed it all out to me again. Honestly, I still see black and white blobs.
After sticking the black and white blob photo back to the fridge, I changed into one of Ranger's t-shirts and climbed into bed intending to read, but I was exhausted. Giving up, I decided to get some sleep, I did miss my nap today, after all.
Sometime in the middle of the night I drifted awake. I didn't have to pee and I didn't have to throw up, so what woke me? That's when I noticed a heavy arm draped over my stomach and the spine tingling sensation I associate only with Ranger.
As soon as the realization that he was home hit, I was jolted to full wakefulness as waves of joy and relief washed over me. The need to confirm he was alright was overwhelming, so I sat up and ran my hands gently over his head, down his arms and across his chest to reassure myself that he was here and healthy. Just as I was debating exploring lower, he moved.
"Yo, Babe," he said, sitting up and flicking on the light as he pulled me to his chest.
"You're home!" I squealed, wrapping my own arms around his neck. I had kept my earlier touches soft, trying not to wake him, but now that he was awake I held him tightly to myself.
"Yeah, Babe. Home," he said, squeezing me tighter and rocking us gently.
"And you're okay?" I finally asked pulling away slightly and looking him over. "And the guys, they're okay?"
"Nothing but flesh wounds and bruises for the most part. Lester took a bullet to the leg while we were tying up the job, he lost a lot of blood but Bobby's staying with him. They're on the fourth floor and you can visit in the morning."
"And the flesh wounds and bruises," I dug, knowing he was being evasive.
"Babe."
"Ranger!"
"Tank took three rounds to the vest about two weeks ago and ended up with bruised ribs, Bobby got hit in the shoulder, but his vest stopped the bullet. He's got a bone bruise on his collarbone. Lester made it the entire time without a scratch till he got hit in the leg and nearly bled out. I just got grazed on the hip a few days ago."
"Let me see your hip," I said, trying to push Ranger down onto the mattress.
"Babe," he argued.
"Let me see."
Giving me a half-way decent eye-roll, he laid back and scooted the band his cotton draw-string pants aside to expose his bandage. Ignoring the salsa dance my hormones were doing, I shifted my eyes to the large gauze patch on his left hip. The tape was all peeled and I could tell the wound had been seeping and the bandaging was way past needing changed.
"Ranger! Why didn't you change this?"
"Got home and came straight to bed. I was tired and wanted to hold you," he said, proceeding to grab me back to his chest. At least he had the good grace to look slightly guilty.
"Well, it's a nice sentiment, but now you've seen me, so we're going to take care of your hip."
Freeing myself and jumping out of bed, I was on my way to the bathroom when the nausea hit me like a truck. At the excitement of finding Ranger back in his bed where he belongs, I forgot I couldn't stand up too quickly any more. Thankfully, I won the race to the bathroom before spewing my guts into the toilet.
I was still sitting hunched over, when I felt a warm hand rubbing slow circles on my back. I enjoyed the feeling as the tension slowly eased from my body. Standing back up, I remembered that it was supposed to be me taking care of Ranger for once, not the other way around, so I shooed him from the bathroom and started to grab first-aid supplies.
Walking back into the bedroom, I dropped my arm-load on the foot of the bed. Looking up, I found Ranger watching me with an amused smile on his face.
"What's so funny?"
"You, Babe."
"Great. So, I'm entertainment again?'
"No, you've just once again amazed me. I was gone for over a month and instead of pestering me about it, you've just welcomed me home and started taking care of me."
"Would you answer any questions I asked?"
"No can do, Babe."
"Exactly. And I've come to accept that. You told me you were leaving, you wouldn't be in contact and were doing some top-secret job," I said, but silently added a 'and I worried every day.' I didn't voice it, because I was acting on my decision to show Ranger that a relationship with me could work with his life-style.
"That doesn't sound like your usual 'curious to a fault' self."
"I guess I did some thinking while you were gone and realized, as long as you came back safe, it didn't really matter where you were or what you did."
"You're one in a million, Babe."
"To my mother's despair. I think she's finally realizing I'll never fit the 'Burg' mold or lead that life. Now, enough stalling! Lay back and let me change your bandage."
"You gonna play nurse, Babe?" asked Ranger with a hint of the wolf grin.
"Ranger, don't make me call Ella or Bobby to come do this."
"Yes ma'am."
"Much better," I said, with an exaggerated, satisfied air.
Peeling the tape from Ranger's skin, I slowly lifted the bandage and found a deep, nasty gash about four inches long. It had been cleaned up pretty well and stiched, I probably had Bobby to thank for that. I'd also have to thank him for teaching me 'Rangeman first aid,' which is slightly more intense than regular first aid.
I swabbed out the cut with alcohol, noting with satisfaction that Batman was clutching the sheet and gritting his teeth at the burning sensation. Once I was satisfied it was clean, I added new ointment, cut a fresh gauze strip and taped it down.
"Thanks, Babe," Ranger said when I was done. "It feels good to have someone take care of me."
"It's the least I can do after everything you've done for me," I said, suddenly feeling a little shy. "And I guess I should thank you for taking care of everything with Dr. Cooper before leaving."
"It's nothing, Babe. How are things with the baby?"
"Good," I answered from the bathroom where I was putting things away. "I had my first ultrasound today. Do you want to see it?"
"You know I do, but tomorrow. Now I want you to come back to bed, so I can get the kind of sleep I haven't gotten since the morning I left," he said. Thinking back, I remembered him waking me to tell me about the job then falling into a relaxed sleep.
Suddenly seeing the exhaustion around his eyes I felt guilty for not having noticed it sooner. Crawling into bed beside him, I leaned over and planted a soft kiss on his forehead before whispering a gentle 'goodnight.'
I was just leaning over him to switch off the lamp when he grabbed me and pulled me down to where he could press his lips to mine. The kiss was gentle as we both explored the other's mouth for long, delicious moments before Ranger pulled away. He reached out an arm to flick off the light, not disturbing me from where I lay, melted on his chest.
"Now, that's a goodnight kiss," he whispered into my hair before wrapping his arms around me and settling us for sleep.
I have to say I agree with him.
"Goodnight, Ranger," I whispered back, tilting my head up to kiss the underside of his jaw. "I'm glad you're back."
"That's good to hear, Babe. Now, go to sleep. I'll still be here in the morning."
With that reassurance against what I was really afraid of, I drifted off to sleep and felt Ranger do the same.
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A/N: Hope you enjoyed it. There were just so many ways for that homecoming to happen…I couldn't make up my mind! Let me know how you feel about the way it turned out.