Disclaimer: Not Mine

A/N: Thank you for the reviews. Enjoy!

Warning: Kleenex needed…

Needing Each Other

It has been two days. Two days since we got back from Boston. Two days and Carlos and I have barely said a handful of words to each other. Every time I try to talk to him, he cuts me off and goes either to his office on 5 or the gym. We haven't even had sex. That I can't believe. Not with Carlos.

That ends today. I just got back from getting take out. A salad for Carlos and a sub for me. I packed a bag for Gracie and I took her downstairs before I left. Ella is keeping her tonight. Carlos and me are going to hash this out even if it kills us. I need my husband back. I need Ranger to leave and give Carlos back.

I hear the apartment door open and then shut. I have everything ready for dinner. I wait until I hear his footsteps come near the kitchen and I call out.

"Carlos, dinner's ready. Come eat." I hear him keep walking and faintly I hear him say.

"Not hungry." I let out a frustrated breath. I followed Carlos into the bedroom. He already stripped his belt off, put his guns away, taken off his shoes, and his shirt is gone too. He is getting ready to take off his pants when my hand on his arm stops him.

"Carlos, we need to talk." He doesn't even look at me. When did everything get so fucked up?

"No we don't." His voice carries a no non sense tone and I know I should leave it alone but I can't.

"Carlos, yes we do. Now." His fists clench and he looks at me. His eyes tear at my heart. Full of sadness and fear.

"Carlos, please talk to me."

"Where is Gracie?" That's a start I guess.

"Downstairs with Ella."

"When I get out the shower, I want her back up here."

"No, she's staying because we need to talk."

"About what?" Okay, that's different, he's pretending ignorance.

"We have barely talked to each other in two days and we haven't made love in a while. Come on, please tell me what's going on?"

"Nothing." Okay now I'm mad.

"You just lied to me. You have never lied to me. What the hell is going on Ranger?" I guess using his street name snapped him out of whatever he was in because the look on his face makes me want to cry.

"So now I'm not even good enough for you to call me by my given name?"

"No that's not it. I was just trying to get your attention. Come on you need to talk to me." I barely heard him when he spoke the next words.

"You didn't want to be with me." I'm confused.

"Carlos, I don't understand." He looks straight at me.

"From the beginning, you have never needed me. You only accepted my help when I practically had to force you to. Against everything I have ever taught myself, I married you because I love you. I'm in love with you. I can't live without you. It is impossible for me to live without you. I have to have you in my life. I need you like I need air to breathe and water to drink." He stops talking and goes into the bathroom to splash water on his face. I can't move. It's like I'm glued to the floor in front of the bedroom door. He comes back to the bathroom doorway and leans his hip against the door jam.

"Then you got pregnant. My whole world turned upside down. This little life was growing inside of you. Our baby was growing inside of you. A part of you and a part of me. I helped during the pregnancy, but never once did you tell me that you needed me for anything. The whole labor you took it like a champ. Again you pretty much did it all on your own. You are so damn independent. I love that about you, I do." He takes another breathe.

"Then while pregnant you got a FUCKING stalker." His raised voice makes me jump. "Dios I wanted to kill the mother fucker who threatened you and the life of our unborn child."

"Carlos, I'm s…" He interrupted before I go further.

"You wanted to know what's wrong, so be quiet and let me tell you, please." I nodded.

"When Gracie was kidnapped, it was like someone took my will to live. Then you retreated inside yourself and no I don't blame you for that. But it was like both my wife, my air to breathe and my daughter were taken from me in all of an hour of each other. I know at the time both you and Gracie needed me, but at that time I was barely able to function myself."

"Babe, you call me Batman, and I know I shouldn't but I love it. When I brought Gracie home, I truly felt like Batman, like your hero, like you needed me. I loved that feeling. I felt like I could do anything."

"Then Dios, the stupid thing with Rachel came about and you got so pissed off, you took off and yes that pissed me off, but not for the reasons you think. I know you trust me, I know that wasn't an issue, but you survived two days by yourself as a single mother and once again you proved that you really don't need me."

"Then I had to go to Boston and I wanted and needed you with me, but it was like you were dying to be away from me. Dios, Babe, I can't tell you how much that hurt."

"Babe, I know it sounds downright stupid, but I guess every man needs to feel needed. Myself included." He walked over to me and pulled me into his arms and just held me. I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed. I cried. My whole body shook with the sobs that over took me. I could hear Carlos' heart beating fast and I looked up at me. I pulled back slightly.

"Carlos?" He looked down at me.

"I do need you. I would be completely lost without you. I'm sorry I don't tell you more, but I promise you, I will tell you that a lot more from now on. I love you, Ricardo Carlos Manoso, more than anything. I always have and I always will." He leans down to me and against my lips he tells me, "I love you, Stephanie Michelle Manoso."

A/N: Please forgive me, there was suppose to be smut in this chapter, but I thought it was such a sweet moment that I would save the smut for the next chapter. I promise it will come soon! Don't hate me!