Previously-
"I don't guess you guys have rested much in five days, have you?" They shook their heads. Ram said, "We tried on the plane on the way back, but Lester would wake up growling and yelling and fighting constantly. It was tense. He's still in full on battle mode, man "
"Oh no. Well you are all home and Les is alive. We'll get him through this. Go shower now." They both nodded and walked away.
Chapter 12
A couple hours later Ranger called to tell me that Lester was in surgery. I told him that Luis and I would be there shortly with more food and Hal and Woody could ride back with Luis. I told him I knew how tired the guys were.
When I got there Ranger reached for me and I put my hand up and shook my head no. I whispered, "Ranger, we can work together sometimes and we can help Les together. No more. We're no longer in a relationship of any kind." He just stared at me and I turned and walked away from him to see the other guys.
The guys looked every bit as bad as Hector and Ram and Ranger and Bobby even worse. "Bobby, I would really like for the rest of you to go back with Luis now since Lester is in surgery and there is nothing you can do anyway. If the hospital staff needs to consult with you, I'll call you immediately. I'll stay."
"I need to stay..."
"No you don't. You and Ranger need rest too. You're in no shape to make any critical decisions right now. It will be at least twenty fours hours before you need to think about Lester from this point on. He will have recovery after the surgery and he'll be sedated and sleeping. It's the perfect time for you and Ranger to rest. You know I'm right." He sighed and swiped his hands down his scruffy tired face.
He said, "I know you're right sweetheart. Our boy will be out for a while. He's had the psych consult. If they have to sedate him, they'll do it. We'll have a meeting with our own Rangeman psych tomorrow to talk about Lester's future recovery."
Bobby argued with Ranger and finally he agreed to go back to Rangeman too. I said, "Good guys. There's not enough downwind to keep you from offending the other people in the hospital." I wrinkled my nose. "Definitely showers first. Ella might have to burn those clothes." They all grinned at me and headed out the door. I was relieved and a little surprised that Ranger had agreed to go rest. I went to the gift shop and bought a couple magazines and settled myself in back at the waiting room.
It was a couple hours later and Tank and Lula had just joined me and then a doctor came in asking for family or friends of Lester Santos and we stood up and met him. He told us that he had removed all the shrapnel and dressed the wounds and they were giving him strong antibiotics via his IV. He had reset some delicate bones in his hands and casted them and had wrapped his ribs. He had been burned and a plastic surgeon was scheduled to come the next day and look at those wounds. The worst was the last part. He wanted to speak to Tank alone to mention the rest. I told the doctor that he couldn't offend me or Lula.
Lula already knew what hell was like because she had survived it too and I was aware of what evil people can do from some of my own associations and experiences. So he told us that he had repaired damage to Lester's rectum.
The doctor told us that because of the rapes and his state of mind when he arrived that he would most likely stay sedated until he was ready to leave this hospital and go into further treatment under psychiatric care. Tank asked when we could see him. The doctor told us that he would be moved into a private room in about thirty minutes and a nurse would come get us.
We were silent and solemn when the nurse did come to get us and led us to Lester's room. I was shocked at how he looked. I couldn't believe that he had not had more broken bones because he was entirely covered in bruises and cuts. Tank growled and Lula put her hand over her mouth. I looked at Tank, "He fought hard, didn't he?"
"Yes, Bomber, he did and he's still in fight mode. My boy's still got the battle boner too." He pointed to the tented sheet and grinned. I punched him in the arm and Lula stepped over to examine that further.
I reached my hand out to touch Lester's arm and he began getting agitated. I wanted to comfort him. I looked at Tank. "Try talking to him."
"Lester, it's Stephanie. You're home with us now and you're safe." He turned his face toward my voice so I continued. "Les, I'm going to touch your face with my hand so you know it's me. There is nobody here to hurt you anymore. They're all gone." Just as my hand touched his face, his arm flew up lightning fast. Tank grabbed it just before it would have struck me.
"Lester, it's me Stephanie touching you." I put my hand on his face again and this time he flinched, but didn't strike out so I put my other hand on his face and began to rub him gently and whisper in his ear. His tense muscles began to relax and Tank saw it and let go of his arm. Lester reached out toward me and I rubbed his arm and kissed it while still talking to him.
"Bomber, he's responding to you. I don't want to leave you alone with him though. He could hurt you without realizing it. I'll call Rangeman and we'll have a guy sit with both of you in shifts. I nodded and kept gently rubbing Lester. Tank stepped out to make his call. I put my cheek against Lester's and gently kissed him on the lips. He moaned and lifted his head like he wanted more. So, I gave him another kiss and he stuck his tongue in my mouth and growled and put his casted hand around me and roughly pulled me down to him.
Tank walked in and grabbed his arm. "This and this is why you need somebody in the room with you at all times." He pointed to the arm he was holding and the tented sheet again. "He's going to be seeking relief for that hard-on and he's not going to be gentle. Believe me, all of the guys including myself have been there. That's why brothels are so lucrative around military bases."
"I'm surprised he's letting me touch him at all after what he's been through. Do you think that's a good sign?"
"I think it is. He loves you, Bomber. I think this boy has always been a little in love with you. Wouldn't surprise me if half the Rangeboys' are." He smiled at me and I rolled my eyes.
"I love all of of you guys too, Tank. Poor Les, he didn't think he was going to come home and he almost didn't. I wish you guys didn't have to do those damn missions."
"Little girl, somebody has to do it. Just think what this world would be like if it didn't have a few heroes willing to do the job, fight diabolical minds and get rid of the really bad guys? It's not just comic book stuff, it's real."
"I know you're right. I just hate it that's it's my guys that have to do it."
Cal came through the door and walked over to Lester. His face was so sad. I told Tank and Lula to go on and enjoy the evening and rest. I reached out to Cal and touched his arm. "Don't go there, Cal. You were in danger yourself, alone and didn't know where to look for him. The mission was completed and they made you leave. So, stop beating yourself up. That won't help him." He nodded, but I knew he was going to be feeling guilt until his friend's mind came back as well as his body.
I nodded off one time and let go of Lester and he became incredibly agitated. I made contact again with his arm and rubbed his face and he calmed immediately. Cal and I looked at each other. "Honey, you can't touch him 24/7. You have needs to take care of. This could pose a problem."
"I'm thinking you could be right, Cal. We'll have to see how things go and come up with a solution later, maybe."
It was a long night. I would nod off and Lester would get agitated. Finally, Ranger and Bobby came in early in the morning looking and smelling much better. I raised a weary eye to them. Ranger said, "Go back and rest Babe."
"I can't." Bobby asked, "Why not?"
"This is why." I let go of Lester's arm and he growled and got agitated. Ranger and Bobby both raised an eyebrow. Cal said, "This could be a problem for our girl. She has to take care of personal needs, man. She's been through this all night."
"Babe, you need to use the bathroom?"
"Like bad."
"Then just go. He'll have to be agitated for a few minutes. Cal, go get her some coffee with cream and sugar and then you can go back to Rangeman."
I let go of Lester and sprinted towards the bathroom. I took care of my needs and washed my face. I heard an awful racket back in the room and ran out. Lester was fighting both Ranger and Bobby. I ran and put my hands on his face and began talking to him again and he instantly calmed. Bobby said, "I'm going to go visit the nurses' station and tell them he's ready to get that sedative topped off again. Damn."
"Babe. This is not good. I know you want to shower and eat and rest."
"Well eating is no problem. I can do that right here. Maybe when he gets more sedative, I can run in there and take a quick shower. He should be less agitated and if I have to, I'll crawl in his bed with him to rest. He won't hurt me, he's just trying hard to get that itch there scratched." I pointed to the tent still very apparent through the sheet. "Ranger, has he had that since you guys found him?" He nodded. Yikes! That's a long time for a guy to have one like that. "Ranger, is he in pain?" He nodded again.
I looked at poor Lester and at the tented sheet. I could try to help him.
Ranger said, "I already know what you're thinking." He pinched his nose between his eyes and then spoke.
"We're not talking about rubbing one out or even one quick ride. It would be savage and one time might not even be enough and he could hurt you. I know because I've been there."
I looked at Lester and wondered if I was crazy for even thinking it and then resigned myself. I just wasn't stupid enough to think I could do it by myself. I thought for a couple minutes and then an idea came to me and then I spoke.
"Ranger, how would you feel about calling the woman in that club to come help with Les?"
He didn't speak.
"If two of us are working to help him then we would both get some relief. Do you honestly think that a mental hospital could take care of his needs better? After being raped and everything he's been through wouldn't he be better with us at Rangeman?" I didn't realize it, but Bobby had been standing in the doorway and heard most of the conversation.
"She's right, bro'. It's a fucking miracle he's letting anyone touch him. The question is, could two women really help with bringing him back? When brass finds out we have him, they'll be here to scoop him up and he'll be assigned some bored, overworked, government, shit for brains shrink and they'll keep him sedated and let him just lay there and drool and piss himself."
Ranger growled, "I don't want her even thinking about doing this!"
"You...You fucking hippocrate! After what you...This is our friend! I...am...doing...it!"
Bobby grinned, "Personally, in his shoes I would say hell yes to try that first. As a professional, I can say it's worth a try under the circumstances and if it doesn't work then we try traditional means. There is no harm except to you Stephanie. Are you absolutely sure? You're making a personal sacrifice."
"Bobby, have you guys not put yourself in danger and made personal sacrifices for me? I would for you or any of the guys I care about that needed me. At least giving myself for something like this has real meaning to me, has purpose. I can do it."
Ranger glared at me. "If that's what you want, Babe. Her name is Ariana. I'll call the club and leave a message for her to call me."
"Thank you."
"Babe, this is serious. You or Ariana could get hurt. I want this supervised."
Fat chance kinky voyeur. It won't be you! He raised an eyebrow at me like he knew what I was thinking and turned and stomped out.
I got my shower and some hospital scrubs sans underwear, then food. Ranger spoke to Bobby and they both headed off to have a consult with the Rangeman therapist and it was unanimous that Lester should return to Rangeman, rather than a psych hospital first.
TBC-
Remember that this Steph is a little more liberal and she has been exposed to the Ranger/John stuff for a while. It wasn't hard for her to make a decision to help her friend. What do you think about Ranger's reaction?
