This story started out as just a little fantasy that I had in my head, but it has developed a life of its' own. I love all of the reviews. Hope you enjoy this chapter!!! It was originally supposed to be "The Picture" but alas, the best laid plans sometimes go awry. Instead, chapter 21 will become "The Picture". I don't own any of the characters –if I did do you really think I would share them?

My attacker leaned close to my ear and said, "I know what you are up to. Stop. Or the next time won't just be a warning." Lester was drawing near telling the man to release me. I saw his evil grin through his mask right before he jerked his arm cutting me and pushing me toward Lester. I heard Lester shoot but I was too busy trying to block out the pain to know if he got him or not. I just needed to lie down to quiet the pounding in my head. So, I just lay down on the pavement and waited for help to arrive. I couldn't keep my eyes open; maybe I will just take nap. With that, I closed my eyes and blacked out.

Chapter 20

"Statements"

"Steph, c'mon Beautiful, open those baby blues for me." From deep within the recesses of my brain, I could hear the pleading in Lester's voice. I tried to open my eyes but it was so damn hard. Uhgg. I tried to open my eyes but the burning in my side was making me nauseous. I felt Lester shaking me slightly. "I'm alright Les. Just give me a minute." "Oh God, Ranger is going to kill me." I wanted to open my eyes and roll them but it just hurt too badly.

Finally, I got my eyes open so that I could reassure him. His face was pale and he was kneeling beside me stroking my face and hair. "Lester, Ranger is not going to kill you. There was nothing you could do. Besides, we all know that shit like this happens to me all the time. Did you call Ranger?" Lester shook his head no. "You haven't been out long and I wanted to get something on your wound to slow the bleeding. I just called 911 but was hoping you would wake up before I had to call Ranger."

"That's fine give me the phone and I'll call him." I could hear the sirens of the first responders in the distance as the phone rang. Ranger picked up the phone on the second ring. "Yo" I tried to sound normal as I responded "Yo, yourself". "Babe, I hear sirens in the background. I'm on my way. Are you ok?" I heard him moving and knew that he would be here in a matter of minutes. "I'm fine. It's just a scratch. Umm…could you bring Bobby? I really don't want to go to the hospital. And Ranger, stay on the phone with me?"

"We're on our way, Babe. What happened?" I could hear his turbo crank and clipped voices in the background. "Oh, you know the usual. Some psycho tried to threaten me and cut me with something sharp. I don't think it was a knife." I heard what sounded like a sigh. Guess he was going to start needing Maalox like Morelli. Speak of the devil. I saw Joe's SUV pull up to the curb. When he got out, I could see his mad cop face as he started to stalk towards me. Jeez, we aren't even dating and I am going to get chewed out by him. Maybe I would just let Ranger take care of this, because I really wasn't up to dealing with a ranting and raving Joe.

"Uh, oh, here come Joe and he doesn't look happy." I could see the steam billowing out of his ears. "Babe, put him on the phone. The last thing you need is for someone going off on you right now." Joe was now standing in front of me with his hands on his hips. Before he could open his mouth, I handed him the phone. Joe looked at the phone then back at me questioningly. I just shrugged my shoulders and leaned over to lay my head in Lester lap. He was still stroking my hair. It was comforting in a non-sexual way and I just wanted to close my eyes.

Lester leaned down and murmured in my ear, "Keep your eyes open Beautiful. It makes me feel a whole lot better." I could hear the anxiety in Lester's voice so I tried to be good and opened my eyes. I saw Joe put the phone to his ear and reply, "Yeah". I saw his expression change from being pissed to being astonished in a matter of seconds. Then his facial expression changed to one of resignation. "Fine. What's your ETA?" With that he handed Lester's phone back to me and stalked away. "Ranger?" I couldn't fathom what Ranger could possibly say to Joe to make him walk away without saying a word to me. "It's ok. He will leave you alone until I get there. Are you sure that your ok?"

"I'm fine, just tired. What did you say to him?" I was worried that Ranger would get in trouble for threatening a police officer. Ranger chuckled, "You're hurt and worrying about me. Will wonders never cease? I just told him that I would appreciate it if he waited to interview my girlfriend until I could get there. I also told him that I didn't think you would appreciate a scene in front of everybody." "Oh." Now that was a statement!!! Ok, so even though I was hurting like hell, my insides turned to mush. My eyes were burning with the threat of tears, so I squelched my eyelids shut to stop them. My heart was burning just a little bit for Joe too. It was hard to hang onto the sadness though when the man of your dreams calls you his girlfriend. It just felt too good. "Thanks," I replied softly, "Have I told you today that I love you?"

"Yeah, but not lately." Ranger's voice was husky and dead sexy even though I could still hear the tension behind the words. "I'm here Babe." We both shut off our phones and I watched as Ranger made his way over to me threading his way through all the cop cars. I also saw Joe out of the corner of my eye and could see the hurt cross his face. Nothing could be done about that. I knew he would be hurt by our break-up and my relationship with Ranger, but it really was for the best. He needed to find somebody that he could settle down with that wouldn't always be in the middle of some disaster. And that girl wasn't me.

In no time Ranger had transferred me to his lap and was pressing soft kisses to my forehead. God, I loved this man. No yelling and screaming. No threats and ultimatums. Just reassurances and comfort. How could I possibly not love him? Ranger lifted his head and looked me in the eyes, when he found his reassurance he looked over to Joe and nodded his head silently communicating that it was ok to talk to me now. As Joe made his way over, Ranger whispered in my ear, "You don't have to talk to him right now if you don't want to."

I just shook my head. Better to get it over with. I gave my statement to Joe, watering it down a bit. I didn't really want to tell Joe exactly what my attacker had said because my spidey sense was buzzing and I needed to figure it out for myself. I also had a sneaking suspicion that it had something to do with mine and Ranger's investigation. I didn't want to screw up things for Ranger. I must have satisfied Joe because he sighed, rolled his shoulders and closed his notebook. Ranger though could tell I was holding back. He just squeezed my shoulders.

I saw when Joe switched from cop mode back to concerned ex-boyfriend. He really was trying to control his emotions. I had to give him that. "Are you ok Cupcake?" I felt Ranger tense. I nonchalantly patted Ranger on the thigh trying to let him know that Joe and I were just friends. I am sure that Ranger didn't like the "cupcake" reference. But, old habits die hard. I waved Joe off, "I'm fine. I really just want to go home. Ranger can Bobby patch me up back at Haywood?' Oooops. I didn't really mean to stick the knife in further. However, better Joe heard from me that Ranger and I were living together than from the Burg.

I could see the hurt and anger in Joe's eyes. There was nothing that I could do about that though. Healing would take time. Maybe if he realized it was really over, then he could get on with his own life. I saw Joe run his hand through his hair and start to turn to leave. Before he walked off he turned and said, "If you need anything, Steph, let me know." When I heard him call me Steph, I knew that he realized that it was over for good. My heart broke for him a little bit and I could feel the tears start to come again. I steeled myself against them because I didn't want Ranger to think that I was still in love with Joe. Ranger just leaned down and kissed away the single tear that had escaped.

Ranger waved off the paramedics and gently placed me in the turbo. The ride to Haywood was silent. Nothing unusual about that, but Ranger never let go of my hand. It was comforting. As Ranger pulled into the garage, I thought about the attack. The voice reminded me of Stivia, but the build of the body wasn't right. This person was more toned, maybe even what you would call buff, and taller. My spidey sense was telling me that my attacker had disguised his voice so that I would think that it was Stivia. I knew that it wasn't Stivia. This was just another ploy to frighten me into thinking that all my past ghosts were haunting me. While all these thoughts were rambling around in my head, Ranger had already scooped me out of the car, carried me into the elevator and up to the 7th floor.

Bobby was already waiting in the apartment with his medical bag in his hand. Ranger laid me on the bed and Bobby started the task of patching me up. Ranger never left my side. He held my hand as I squeezed tight. I felt the burn of the antiseptic and felt Bobby place the butterfly bandage in place. "It didn't need stitches. I just glued it shut and put on a butterfly bandage. I am concerned about infection because we don't know what he cut you with. I am leaving you with some pain meds and some antibiotics. Get some rest and take it easy tomorrow. I will look at it again tomorrow. If it looks ok, you should be ok to return to work after that." Bobby patted my hand and left the bedroom.

Ranger picked me back up and took me to the bathroom where he started the shower. He undressed me and placed another plastic patch over my bandage. He kissed me and then got undressed himself. He was being so tender and loving that I almost started to cry again. I'm Hungarian-Italian, I don't do tender so well. Yelling and screaming, yeah, but tender makes me cry. Ranger placed me in the shower and got in with me. Tenderly he began to wash me. I could tell that he was trying to show me that he loved me and didn't hold me responsible. His actions far outweighed any words that he could have said. And he hadn't spoken, not since we were at the scene. After Ranger had washed my body and hair, he got a towel and wrapped it around me drying me off.

He cleared his throat and leaned his forehead on mine. Taking a deep breath he whispered Spanish in my ear. I don't know what he said but it was comforting. "I'm fine Ranger." I said as I place my hand on his cheek. "I know. I was just worried that's all. I'll get you some clothes and lay down with you for a bit." I nodded my head and reached for the brush to attack my tangles. When I had tamed the beast called my hair, I went out to find Ranger had laid out a pair of panties and one of his t-shirts.

I put them and crawled in bed about the time Ranger came to the room carrying a tray. "I've got your medicine and some comfort food." He said with a slight smile. Tastycakes!!! Ranger brought me Tastycakes and a coke??? "You are a God." I exclaimed brightly. I devoured my Tastycakes, drank my coke and took my meds. I stretched out under the covers while Ranger lay on top fully clothed holding me. "Ranger, about the attack…" He stopped me from my explanation. "Babe, get some rest, we can talk when you wake up." My eyelids were getting heavy so I wasn't going to argue but something was bothering me. In my fog, I remembered Lester. "Don't blame Les, it was too quick, nothing he could do." With that my eyelids couldn't take it anymore and I went off to dream land.