Author's Note: I don't know what in the world.. but I can NOT respond to any of your reviews. It tells me it can't find them. I know they should be there because I got to read them. So THANK YOU! You all are simply and wonderfully amazing. Love you guys so much! Oh and there's one more chapter.. it will be a small one. I thought this one deserve to be alone. And then... I'll be doing another tart.. Steph & Lester... Someone(she knows who she is) pushed me in that direction so I will be writing a Lester story. I don't know when yet. But soon... So.. ENJOY! And THANK YOU!
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Stephanie woke up to the annoying sound of beeping. She wanted to growl in defeat and frustration but it had been quite some time since she had seen the inside of a hospital room so she wasn't going to be too hard on herself this time around. After all, this time it really wasn't her fault.
She blinked several times before finally opening her eyes and coming face to face with Ranger.
"Babe."
Steph gave him a small smile. That was definitely Ranger speak for 'are you okay?'
She nodded in reply. "I'm okay." And she was. Didn't matter that it hurt to move or breath. It didn't matter that her brain was having a world class rock concert without her consent. She was pretty sure they were shooting off fireworks inside her head. She was alive, Hal was alive, Cayson was alive, and Maya was now hopefully in jail and for that, she was okay.
"Pain?" He asked.
Steph grimaced. "A little."
"You have a concussion and two broken ribs. Bruised kidney too."
"So that explains the rock concert and why it hurts to breath." Steph replied as she looked towards the door.
Ranger followed her gaze. "He went to grab something to eat. He's been surviving on fumes and coffee. He hasn't eaten in days. I finally ordered him to go get something to eat and take a shower. He was stinking up the place."
Steph frowned. "How long have I been out?"
"Week." Was the reply she got.
She curled her lip in disgust at that. A whole week. She missed a whole week of her life. She had so many questions, she didn't even know where to start.
Ranger's voice interrupted her thoughts. "You love him?" He asked softly. Like he was afraid of the answer.
Steph nodded. "In love with him, Ranger." She responded with a bright smile.
"He's good for you."
"He's my everything, Ranger."
Ranger opened his mouth and then closed it, a frown marring his handsome face. "He loves you." He finally said when he opened his mouth again.
Steph's grin widened. "I know." She replied smugly.
Ranger grinned back at her before his blank face reappeared. "I'm sorry, Steph."
She pursed her lips and her brows furrowed together in sadness and hurt. "For what exactly? You've been screwing up a lot lately, Ranger." She pointed out.
Ranger actually flinched. "For everything, Babe. For telling the others when I had no right. Going behind your back to take care of it for you. For bringing Maya into your life. For letting you down. For not being there when you needed me the most. Babe, I'm just fucking sorry for it all."
She had never seen Ranger look so sad or forlorn. He stood in front of her with sadness in his eyes and his hands in his pockets. He looked like a lost little boy. She hated that he was hurting, but she was still so mad at him.
Tears filled her eyes. "You hurt me, Ranger." She admitted gently.
Ranger stepped up and cupped her cheek tenderly. "I'm sorry, Babe. I know there's nothing I can say to make it better or change the past. I just hope one day I can make it up to you."
"Why? Why her? Why then?"
He dropped his hand, taking a step back. "I don't have an answer or explanation, Steph. Not one that makes sense or would make this situation any better. I regret it, Babe. I should have told the son of a bitch no or just stayed away until this marriage was over."
"But you didn't?" Steph pointed out, making it more of a question than a statement.
Ranger growled in aggravation, running a hand through his hair as he began pacing the hospital room. "I had to see you. I couldn't stay away any longer."
That only made her more mad. "You couldn't stay away, but yet you stayed away." She snarled at him.
Ranger's cry of rage filled the room, causing Steph to jump. "I don't know what to say, Stephanie. I fucked up. I wanted you, but I was too fucking scared to admit it." He stopped his pacing to look at her. "And now, I'm too late. You fell in love with another man."
She nodded slowly. "I did. I love him with everything that I am, Ranger. I love that I can be myself around him. I love that he doesn't want to change me, but I love the fact that I would change for him. I wouldn't hesitate to settle down and get married to him. He makes me a better person, Ranger."
"I can't say I'm not pissed that I'm too late, but he's a good man and he'll treat you well."
Steph grinned. "Cuz if he doesn't, you'll take his ass to the mats." She teased.
Ranger touched a single finger to her cheek. "No. I'll kill him, Babe. He hurts you and I'll will kill him."
Steph lowered her head and shivered. She knew he meant it. And that scared the shit out of her. She looked back up at him. "He won't hurt me, Ranger. You'll see."
Ranger just nodded and let his hand drop back to his side. "You must have questions. Go ahead and ask."
"How is Cayson?" Was her first question.
"He's been crying a lot lately for his mom, but Hal took some time off and they've been together. He wasn't hurt in any way. Apparently Maya had a soft spot for kids. I think."
Steph's heart broke for poor Cayson. Losing his mom in such a way had to be hard and he was so young. Thank God Hal was okay.
"And Hal?"
"He was shot in the chest but the bullet managed to miss every single organ as it went completely through his body. He got sewed up and sent home with some pain killers. He's with Cayson."
"And how did you and the rest of RangeMan respond to the discovery of Hal having a son?" She had been dying to know.
Ranger chuckled. "The guys are thrilled they have a little man to spoil rotten. I think he's gotten more stuff this week than his whole life. He hasn't really enjoyed it much, but I think eventually he'll enjoy having so many uncles. They were a little pissed at Hal for keeping him a secret, but we all can understand the reasoning behind it."
"And Hector will get his job back." Steph told him.
Ranger nodded, grinning. "Already done, Babe. I lost one damn good technician. I want him back."
"And Hal will face no mat time for any of this." Another order.
Ranger nodded his agreement. "He won't. He's been forgiven by us all, Hector included. We all understand why he did it."
Steph took a deep breath. "And Maya?"
Ranger chuckled softly. "Her father disowned her. She's in jail, facing so many charges I don't have time to name them all. And her inheritance... Well…" Ranger grinned at her. "That's mine by default so I placed it all in a trust for Cayson. He'll inherit it when he turns eighteen. And then I divorced her."
Steph laughed and then whimpered as the pain increased. But it was worth it. That was the best news ever. "You're pretty amazing, Ranger."
Ranger smiled. "Amazing enough to forgive me?"
Steph nodded slowly. "One day." She replied softly.
Ranger tucked a curl behind her ear. "I'll take it."
