I wouldn't even care if I made money if Ranger could be mine, but he's not and never will be. He and the rest belong to JE.
Warning: Language
Back In The ER Again
by
SueB
Chapter 11
I heard the door open. No knock.
"Somebody's dead, right?" I snarled. "'Cause I told you guys that was the only acceptable reason to barge in here."
I'd put out the word I was not to be disturbed.
Silence. Shit. Could only be one person. He hadn't been on this floor for three weeks.
I'm not small, but there were so many files piled on the desk I had to raise up off the chair to see over them. Damn paperwork.
"As I remember," Ranger said coolly, "this is still my office." He came on in and gave the door a shove. It closed with an authoritative sound I knew would discourage any further visitors.
"Yeah, and you can have it back any time," I growled. Standing up. Facing off.
I stared. He stared.
I gave up. "Sorry, Rangeman," I said shrugging. "Paperwork makes me grouchy. You look better," I lied.
He still looked like hell.
Ranger's premature escape from the hospital might have been good for the soul, but it had taken a toll on his body. Recovery was slower than he had anticipated and Ranger didn't thrive on inactivity. As I looked into his eyes, I could see his soul wasn't all one either. I'd been hoping Steph could put that particular puzzle together. Guess it wasn't that easy.
"You have my car keys?"
This wasn't going to be a good a conversation.
"Rangeman, you know you shouldn't drive until the doctor releases you. The appointment's today, isn't it? Just let Bobby take......"
"It's a yes or no question, Tank," he interrupted.
"No."
He gave me the look that made grown men cry.
I handed it right back to him. "You know I don't scare. Don't even try that shit with me."
His eyes narrowed while his mouth thinned out to a hard straight line.
"You been practicing that face in the mirror, Rangeman? 'Cause it's lookin' pretty damn good for bein' out of commission for so long."
"Tank!"
I swiped my hand across my face. I had too much work to do. I didn't need this aggravation.
"Hell, Bobby has them all," I muttered. "He wouldn't tell me what he did with them."
"Because he knew you'd cave," Ranger grumbled as he pulled out his cell.
"Look," I said, "Bobby only has your best interests at heart. He's been beatin' himself up ever since he let you pull that stunt at the hospital."
Ranger called up his speed dial menu, ignoring me. Bobby was No. 3. I was No. 2. Used to be I was No. 1, but that was before he met Steph -- before she became his center. Whether he knew it or not.
"Steph goin' with you to the doc's?" I asked.
He pretended not to hear me, pushed button No. 3 and scowled as the call went straight to voice mail.
I suppressed a smile. Bobby was no idiot.
"Brown," he barked, "you damn well better pick up this message! My office! Now! With my Turbo keys!"
Naturally he'd want to drive the most challenging vehicle.
"Steph goin' along?" I repeated my question.
Ranger's phone snapped shut with enough force to crack the case. He moved his head infinitesimally side to side.
No.
Suddenly all the bravado left him like air out of a punctured balloon. He took the two steps to the couch and eased into its soft leather depths. He closed his eyes, throwing his head back, breathing hard.
I sat down in the desk chair. "What's up, Rangeman?" I asked softly.
Together, Ranger and I had seen more than our share of successful missions. Solo, he was legendary -- an elite fighting man of action and decision, honed and hard -- his skills on display and his feelings under wraps. When he opened his eyes, I saw he was a soldier at war with himself. And he'd been ambushed by a little white girl from the 'burg.
Spilling his guts wasn't going to be easy. It was a while before he spoke. When he did his voice was husky with emotion.
"I wanted her from the first day I met her and after that every time I saw her courage, her determination, her tender heart, every time she trusted me, my wanting changed from something physical to something more."
He stopped, dropped his head into his hands.
"Something more wasn't possible -- not without showing her the parts of me I knew would dim the light in her eyes. I couldn't live with that, but I couldn't stay away from her either. I took every advantage, exploited every opportunity. And then I'd catch myself, throw her a curve."
He looked at me with misery in his eyes as he said, "Tank, the worst thing a guy can do is make a girl fall for him and not catch her. I let her fall hard when I came back six months ago. She called me on it when she moved in permanently with Morelli."
"She's not with Morelli now," I pointed out. "She's with you. Has been from the minute you were shot. Stuck like glue as a matter of fact. Looks to me like she's made her choice."
"You don't understand," he replied. "That night? She'd already told Morelli she was leaving him. She's with me because she feels guilty -- thinks my getting shot was all her fault."
"You're wrong, Rangeman. She's with you because she loves you. Has for a long time. And here you are, still with your head so far up your ass you can't see it. My mama used to tell my sisters, 'A woman's got to love a bad man once or twice in her life to appreciate the good one'. My mama knew a thing or two about that. Steph's had her bad one or two. You are the good one, Rangeman. She knows it. You know it. Now go do something about it. Hell, take her to bed. Make some magic."
Ranger turned a little red. "Yeah, well," he mumbled, "where ever Bobby put the car keys...............that's where he put the box of condoms too."
I was roaring with laughter as I dialed up Bobby. He must have thought he was safe when he saw it was me because he answered right away.
"Bobby, bring the Cayenne keys," I ordered. I held up my hand to halt Ranger's protest. "It's a compromise. And Bobby, bring the condoms too."
I listened patiently while Brown chewed my ear on how sex could rip stitches, etc. etc.
"Mental health, Bobby. Sometimes mental health is more important." I disconnected before he could respond.
Ranger was smiling as I hung up. He looked better already.
There was a soft scratching sound at the door.
Shit, just when things were looking up.
With a new spring in his step, Ranger reached the door and opened it before I could react.
The big orange dog jumped up and slopped a large wet tongue across Ranger's face.
"The fuck!!!" he roared, stalking into the Control Room. "Somebody care to explain to me why Morelli's dog is wandering around my building!!!"
*****
Peace and quiet. Hal and Manny had rationalized Bob's presence at Haywood. Bobby had turned over the Cayenne keys and promised a brand new box of Trojans if Ranger played nice and listened to the doctor. I was finally getting some work done.
I heard the door open. No knock.
"Somebody's dead, right? I snarled.
"Tank," she said, "I need to talk to you -- about Ranger."
Ah, hell. Screw the paperwork. Think I'll hang out a sign – Advice for the Lovelorn.
TBC
