AN: Hola, everyone. I'm sorry it's taken so long to get this updated. I hit a bit of a snag trying to figure out how I wanted this chapter to go. It's a busy chapter to be honest. I've noticed this story may go a little past summer, but hopefully not too far. Thank you everyone who has reviewed. It means the world to me that you're sticking with the story. I hope all of you like this chapter. There's a bit of intensity, a bit of anger, humor, love, etc.

So without further ado...here's chapter 29! Please Review when you're done! :-D


The Impatience of Waiting

Cami sat in the chapel staring straight ahead at the cross on the wall that had Jesus on it. She looked down at her hands finally and took a deep breath, which came out as a shudder when tears filled her eyes. "God? It's me, Cami—Camille Marie Manoso. I know we haven't spoken recently, but…I really need to talk to you now if you've got a moment."

She sniffled and clutched her hands tightly continuing to speak. "I—we—need you to give Elise back to us. She doesn't deserve what happened to her. You know she only did it because Chris took me to get revenge on her." The lump in her throat began to feel like it was bruising. She closed her eyes and willed herself to calm down. "And you also know that what happened between them the first time was only because Elise was ridding the world of someone who profited from peoples' addictions that led to their deaths. He was cruel…and Elise…well, she's like Batgirl if you think about it. She rid the world of someone evil." The tears came and this time Cami was unable to stop them. "Please, God, I don't ask for Elise back for me, because I might not deserve to ask you for anything, but I ask for her back for our family, for Trevor, for her men."

Two different hands came and each grasped one of hers. CJ and Julie sat on either side of her, clutching her hands as tightly as she clutched theirs, the sibling solidarity bonding them in a new way as they sat together praying for their other sibling. Cami kept talking, "We're not done with Elise, God. I know Mac is up there, and it's probably awfully tempting for her to stay with him, but give her back. We're not done with her yet. She can't leave us now. I have to tell her how much I love her. How it doesn't matter who was involved in her conception, that's she's our sister…even if she might not want us." Suddenly a bit of anger surged through her, "And you know what? I need to kick her ass." Cami looked up at the ceiling. "You know I can."

CJ tried unsuccessfully to hide a snort of laughter. Cami gave a bashful look. "What? I could. I'm bigger."

"You're taller, sis." Julie corrected softly. Over the last several days they had all been unsuccessful in getting Cami to eat a big enough meal to help regain the weight she had lost when she was with Chris. Cami had never been heavy, and had always been slim, but it was painfully obvious the amount of weight she had lost. Richard seemed to be the only one who could get her to eat anything at all. Even then, it wasn't much.

"Fine." Cami turned her attention to the cross. "I'll verbally kick her ass. I might not be strong, or as fast as her, but I can argue with her with the best of them. God…please?" Her voice turned small, filled with unshed tears and emotions, "Please give our sister back to us. Mom and Dad can't bury one of their children. It's just cruel. And Trevor…he and Elise deserve a chance for each other. All the guys have said it took forever for them to actually admit their feelings for each other. They can't lose one another yet. They should have at least a hundred years together." Cami bowed her head, her hands tightening in CJ and Julie's grips. "God, please…we might not be the best of people but we love Elise, she's our sister. I need my big sister—both of them." Julie and CJ looked at each other over the top of Cami's head, their eyes full with tears of their own. CJ would never admit that he could be emotional, but in moments like this, when his family was concerned, he could admit it. They were the only ones who would see this side of him.

"Thank you for listening." Cami said. "Oh…and if Grandma Mazur is up there…well, sorry. We can't really explain her, but we loved her to death. Amen."

"Amen." CJ and Julie said softly after her.

"Amen." Two voices behind them said. All three of them turned and saw Stephanie and Ranger standing a few feet away from them. They were holding hands, and Stephanie had tears coming down her cheeks. CJ looked away from his parents and sisters to give himself a moment.

"Has there been any change?" Cami asked.

Stephanie shook her head. "None yet."

"Elise's vitals still look good and strong." Ranger said as he led Stephanie to the pew behind their children. "Bobby said at this point it's only a matter of time until Elise wakes."

"It's been over a week." Julie said softly. "Shouldn't they be worried a little bit?"

"Elise needs to heal," Stephanie said, "She's keeping herself in a coma. I imagine her body is taking the time to heal…and perhaps her mind is taking time to deal with everything as well."

"Oh…I didn't tell Rick where I went." Cami stood suddenly.

"He found you already." CJ said. "He told Julie and me you might need us."

Cami smiled. "I'll go find him, and we'll give Trevor a break. He's been sitting with Elise more than the rest of us."

/\/\/\/\/\/\

The pale moonlight shined through the window on the two lovers. They both lay awake, spooning together, keeping their bodies touching as much as possible. The physical connection they craved from one another was as intense as the emotional one they had shared for over twenty years. Stephanie sought the strength that Ranger always gave her, and Ranger sought the comfort that Stephanie always gave him.

Stephanie rolled over to her other side, so she was facing her husband. He pulled her close so their skin continued to touch. "Carlos…I'm scared."

"I know, Babe." Ranger reached up and caressed her cheek softly with his fingertips. "The doctors, Bobby and Alan, all said it's a waiting game. You heard her men; she's been in worse situations."

"Maybe physical." Stephanie whispered, "But what about mental? God, Carlos, how have we missed the attitude she's held all these years? How could we have missed the anger?"

"Steph," Ranger kissed her softly, "Elise protected herself in the way she figured out how. I know she loves all of us. I can see it in her eyes when she is with us."

"How can you be so sure?" She asked sadly.

"Babe, I'm a trained observer." He wrapped both arms around her tightly. "This whole thing with Ortega tore her up because it became too personal. He took Trevor to hurt her and then he took Cami when Trevor was uncooperative. There's been a lot of breaking on her sanity these last few weeks. When she's awake we can talk to her."

"Carlos…I don't think I can take it if she tells us she didn't want us to be her parents." Stephanie said quietly.

"You know that's not true, Babe." If it was remotely possible (and with Ranger everything was remotely possible) he hugged Stephanie tighter to him. "Don't you remember when we got you back from Traymon? Elise slept with us for weeks until she knew neither of us was going anywhere. And when we told her that you had complete custody of her she asked you if that made you her mommy. Babe, you have been Elise's mother for the last twenty-one years."

"She went to find Lorraine, remember?"

"Yeah, she did." Ranger nodded. "That was bound to happen sometime. She told us she wanted to understand where she came from. It was an eye opening moment for her when she found out about Lorraine."

Stephanie smiled and kissed him softly. "I know. You're right. I'm just…feeling so emotionally drained from this whole thing. Cami getting taken, then Elise trading herself to get Cami home and now us waiting for her to wake up."

"I know, Babe." Ranger kissed her. "We got through it, and when she wakes up, we'll get through her recovery."

"Carlos, how are you?" She asked cupping his cheek.

"Babe?"

She chuckled, "You can't expect me to believe you were completely unemotional watching our daughter fall through three stories of a burning building."

"Fuck, Babe, I felt like I had years shaved off my life." He admitted. "All I saw was our little girl lying there on the bottom floor unmoving. The relief when she opened her eyes and looked at me…I can't describe it, Babe."

"Was she really as magnificent as the men are saying?"

"Yeah," Stephanie smiled as she heard the pride in his voice, "Yeah, she was. They'll be talking about it for years in the Rangers."

"Do you…do you ever think you could've talked her out of joining the Rangers?" She asked after several moments of silence.

Ranger was silent for several minutes, thinking back to when they had found out Elise had joined the Rangers. "I don't know, Babe. If I had been given an advanced warning, I might have tried, but I don't think I would have succeeded. Our girl is pretty stubborn."

"Carlos…while you and the men were gone, Rachel mentioned that after the incident with Scrog she took Julie to a therapist. I think it might be a good idea for Cami to see one."

Inwardly he agreed with his wife, but he still asked, "Did something happen while we were gone?"

"Yes." Stephanie nodded. "I brought the kids back here to wait because I couldn't handle being at Rangeman waiting. Lula came to wait with us and she kept calling Cami Camille. You could see her pulling in on herself until she finally snapped at Lula and ran out of the room."

"What did she say?"

"She said her name is Cami, not Camille." Stephanie whispered. "I hate that that bastard made it so she won't respond to her full name."

"We'll take care of her, Babe."

They fell into silence. They lay there staring at one another, falling into each other's eyes. Hands began roaming, seeking comfort and love, seeking a release from the weeks that had been hell on both of them. One of her legs slid up his until she hooked it around his waist, his fingers found her wet and waiting. He stroked her gently, groaning when her teeth caught the sensitive skin at the crook of his neck in her grip. Her hips thrust against his, waiting for him to enter her. Unable to wait for the connection to his wife, he slid deep into her, burying himself fully. Letting out a delighted gasp as he moved within her, she moved to catch his mouth with hers, and together they moved fervently, seeking love, comfort and release.

When the morning light hit the skies, Stephanie and Ranger came down the stairs and found Cami wrapped tightly in Richard's arms on the couch. Ranger shot his wife a look, and she raised her hands saying, "You told them he had to sleep on the couch. You never told her she had to stay in her bed."

"Babe!" He growled.

"Carlos." Stephanie took his hand in hers and squeezed it reassuringly. "Right now, Cami feels the safest with Rick. You saw her reaction when we got her back. I would never wish that agony on our children. He's the only one who can get her to eat anything right now." She kissed his knuckles. "I know the overprotective father in you is ready to kill him and never have his body found, but think of where we'd be if Rick hadn't been there to protect Cami."

"I don't want to." He grumbled dragging his wife down the rest of the stairs past the living room and into the kitchen. "I want to kill him and bury him."

"Does that mean you're going to kill and bury Alan and Trevor?" She asked sitting at the breakfast bar.

"It wouldn't be fair if I just killed one of them. All three would have to go."

"Uh huh. And how do you plan to keep them from finding other men?" Stephanie asked.

"I'll lock them up in a tower." He decided.

She let out a snort. "Yeah, Batman, that'll work. You're forgetting Elise has had the same training as you, and would figure out how to get out of the tower, oh, and Julie and Cami are just dare devilish enough to join her."

"Babe." He knew he sound like he was whining. Maybe he was, but he wasn't ready to let all his girls go yet. He could see the connection between his girls and their loves as clearly as he could feel the connection between him and Stephanie. Much as it irked his overprotective side, he would never come between his daughters and their happiness. It would make him feel like his mother-in-law, and that thought made him shudder with fear.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

Julie walked into Elise's room. With a small sigh she went over to where Trevor had passed out next to Elise. His head was on the bed, one hand clutching her good hand. Bobby and Alan had been persistent in keeping track of his health, especially since the doctor threw a disapproving look in his direction every chance he got, which was every time he came in to check on Elise.

On the floor by Trevor's feet was a sketchbook that Billy had brought for him. She knelt down and picked it up smiling when she saw the first sketch. It was from the Fourth of July. Elise was sitting with her family laughing and looking relaxed without a care in the world. Trevor had caught all of them perfectly, she realized looking at the sketch. Ranger, the family patriarch, towering proudly over his family, but his eyes shining with love towards his wife, stood behind everyone. CJ and Cami were sitting on the edge of the pool, both laughing. Cami looked like her bubbly self, or the bubbly self she had been, while CJ looked every bit like their father. Stephanie and Elise were together on a lounge chair clearly in animated discussion. Julie traced the sketch softly as she found herself standing next to Ranger giving him an amused look. Which happened often, she thought. She got a huge kick out of her father's attitude toward their family at times.

"Trevor." Julie touched his shoulder lightly. He jerked upright.

"What?"

"Go get some rest."

"No."

"Trevor, please?"

"No."

"Will you at least get cleaned up a bit?" Julie changed tactics. "I'm pretty sure Elise doesn't want you to not take care of yourself."

"I'll be fine, after she wakes." Trevor said decidedly.

Fuck, he's stubborn, Julie thought dryly. "Trevor, please? I need some time with my sister."

Trevor looked at her and saw the need in her eyes. He nodded. "Alright. Just…"

"Don't worry, I'll call if anything changes." Julie grinned at him.

"Thanks." He looked back at Elise. Leaning down he kissed her softly. "Come back to me, love." He whispered in her ear.

After he left, Julie sat down in the chair he had occupied. She looked at her sister intently. Her left leg was broken, her right wrist was fractured, and today she still looked like a giant bruise. Her chest moved up and down slowly, and the heart monitor indicated that her heart rate was nice and steady. The internal bleeding had been stopped, and just had it had been predicted, Elise had woken swinging during the operation. It had taken a much heavier sedative to take her down than most people. Alan had explained to her that Elise had always had a high tolerance for medications so they usually had to find something that was more intense. On her good hand, Julie could see the fading bruises on her knuckles from her fight with Chris. Alan couldn't tell her anything about the fight because at that point he had been back at the plane with Bobby and both of them were working on Richard.

The doctors, Bobby, and Alan had told everyone to talk to her when they were visiting. Usually her room was filled with people. Ranger had arranged for Elise to be put into a private room. The doctors had taken one look at the unyielding look on his face and hurried to do as he requested. She could hear them, Bobby explained, so everyone had talked to her. Or around her, or included her in their conversations. The room was rarely silent. Except for now. Right now it was early and Julie knew she had a little time to talk to her sister before everyone started showing up.

She took a deep breath. "When I came up to see you graduate high school and you told me you found your birth mother and were planning to go see her before your graduation day, I thought okay." She drew her knees up to her chin. "You told me she was in New York and I knew Dad would have both of our asses if I let you go alone…but I didn't want you to meet her alone. I wanted to make sure you had one of us with you. Since you didn't want Dad or Steph to know yet, I figured it had better be me. Hell, CJ and Cami were too small to go with you on something like that. I figured the trip would be fine. We did things together just us pretty often, so what was there to be worried about? Then you gave me the folder containing everything you had found on Lorraine Donahue. It made sense when you told me you were curious. How could I blame you for that? Then I started reading the folder and I decided you weren't curious. You were just out of your ever-loving fucking mind. At that point I couldn't understand what on earth would possess you to want to meet a crack whore."

Julie closed her eyes and took a calming breath. Opening them she found Ranger standing in the door way. He simply nodded at her, telling her to continue. She had a feeling he'd heard most of it. She looked back at Elise. "Half way to New York, I was ready to convince you that it was a bad idea and that we should just go home, but I couldn't. The only thing I could think was what would I do if I were in your position? If it hadn't been for Scrog, then I would have been in your position. Dad came to visit when he was invited and it wasn't often. I knew at some point I would have wanted to understand more about myself, especially when my mom kept telling me that I was more and more like him every day. Ron is great, but I don't pick any habits up from him. If Scrog hadn't taken me then I would have come looking for dad at some point trying to figure things out.

"So I set aside my gut feeling and went with you." Julie smiled. "You probably didn't know this, but after looking at everything you had found on Lorraine, I was set on trying to convince you and Dad that you should work at Rangeman. Next to Steph you've got the best nose for tracking details, but we went to that play and you told me you had joined the Army and were planning to join the Rangers…" She glanced up at Ranger, who barely covered the surprise on his face, "…and judging from the look on Dad's face, I would say you hadn't told them when I told you to." She looked back at her sister and pretended Ranger wasn't there. It was easier for her to pretend to be alone, but it was comforting having him with her so she couldn't bring herself to ask him to leave. "God, Elise, when we saw Lorraine the next day…you have no idea how glad I was to have gone with you. I've never seen you go into any kind of shock before or after that event. I don't know if you were even aware of the fact that we had gotten ourselves surrounded by all of her pimp's men. All I knew was I had to get you out of there and that I was really glad to have my gun. Luckily the police came before things got really ugly. I don't know that I could've explained successfully to anyone why I shot up a diner full of people."

Julie sighed and gave in to some pent up anger. "Fuck…Elise. The Rangers? I could understand being in the Army because Dad and Mac had been in the army, but did you have to join the Rangers? Did you have to see the ugly in the world to appreciate the love you have at home? Or did you just want to stay away from us that much?" Tears came unbidden to her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. "It was scary for us to not know if Cami was alive or not, but it was even scarier not knowing if you were coming home at all. But it can't all be a bad thing, can it? You might not have found Trevor and I might not have Alan. I'd like nothing more than to take you down to the mats at RangeMan when you wake up, but I know you'd probably be able to make me eat the mat without much effort." When the tears wouldn't stop, she felt herself pulled into her father's embrace.

"Sorry," She sniffled after several minutes.

"Nothing to be sorry for, Jules." Ranger murmured. "It was always scary not knowing if she was coming back or not."

"Can I kick her ass when she's awake?"

"Maybe let her heal a little first."

"Was it worse for you?" Julie asked looking up at him. "Knowing what she was seeing?"

"I don't know if I'd say it was worse." He admitted. "There were things I saw that I would never want any of you to see, but Elise chose to take that path, and all my kids are stubborn. Talking any of you out of something is like asking a mountain to move." He tugged on a lock of Julie's hair. "I just knew what to expect and how to help her deal when she came home."

"I'm glad she did." Julie whispered.

Ranger nodded in agreement as his oldest child clung to him. Julie, Elise and CJ were the most like him, he thought, capable of holding their emotions down and keeping a blank look on their face. Cami had always been like Stephanie. Her face was expressive and even now, they could see the haunted look in her eyes. Elise's sleeping form gave the appearance of peace, but he knew her mind was probably anything but peaceful. He would like nothing more than for Elise to open her eyes and look at all them.

"What?" A voice shrieked from outside the room. Julie and Ranger turned and watched Cami storm into the room with a snickering CJ and JJ behind her. Richard looked thoroughly amused. Cami stopped at the foot of Elise's bed. "Elise, you need to know when you wake up Billy might be dead if I can catch him."

"Aw, come on, Cami, it's endearing." CJ said continuing to snicker.

Cami whirled around and glared at him. "Operation Baby Manoso? Do I look like a baby to you?" She looked at Richard, "Well? Do I?"

Richard could feel the glare Ranger was giving him without looking at him. He looked up at a clock. "Um…baby, I've got a check up to get to. I'll bring you some lunch." He hustled out of the room.

"Smart man." Ranger muttered low enough that Julie heard him and giggled.

"Where's mom?" CJ asked.

"She decided to deliver the care packages of Tastykakes to Elise's men. She stopped at RangeMan then she'll be here." Cami said as she took a chair on the other side of Elise. "You should wake up now, sis."

They all took seats that were spread out among the private room. The conversation moved from the intense one Julie was having with Elise to casual things they wanted to do when Elise woke. Through the window of the room, Ranger saw Richard return about an hour later. There was a man who met him in the hall. He saw Richard's expression turn dark and angry. Cami's back was to the window so she couldn't see what was going on. A folder was thrust into Richard's hands. He looked at like it was a snake ready to bite him. The mysterious man turned and walked away leaving Richard standing there. He was still staring at the folder in his hand. With a shake of his head he turned and walked away from the room.

Cami turned at just the right moment to see Richard walking away. "Rick?" She stood and hurried out of the room. "Rick!" She caught up with him and caught his wrist with her hand. "Where are you going?"

"I need to get out for a while." He said.

"What's wrong?" She looked at him quizzically. "Did your check up not go well?"

"Checkup was fine." Richard replied.

"What is it then? You haven't been like this since we were at Chris's." Her eyes widened. "Oh, god, he's not dead is he?"

"He's dead." Richard snapped. "But I still can't get away from that fuck."

"Why not?"

He leaned back against the wall and held up the folder. "This is from Chris's lawyer. He's been trying to get ahold of me for several days. I haven't been too interested in what his lawyer has to say. Seems he decided he was going to track me down instead."

"What did he want?"

"To tell me what Chris left me in his will."

"The family dog?" Cami said hopefully.

"Baby, we don't have a family dog. If we did it would have run away for its own safety."

"What did he leave you?"

"Everything."

"What?" She whispered with dread. "What does that mean?"

"It means he left me all his money, his estates, the fucking business." He spat the last part. "This is my curse, isn't it? To never get rid of him."

"No." Cami shook her head. "We're getting rid of him."

"Cami, I can't get rid of anything. He's got it tied up so tight if I try I could end up in legal suits for the rest of my life."

"Well, Chris clearly never considered dealing with the Manosos." Cami grabbed his hand and pretty much dragged him back down the hallway. She poked her head into the room. "Daddy?"

Ranger looked at the wide eyed, innocent look Cami was giving him. It was a look that had suckered him into a lot of things over the years. It was a look that made him wary of anything she was about to say. "Cami."

"We need to see you out here for a moment."

"What can I help you with?" Ranger asked coming out of the room.

"Rick needs your help."

"Cami, I'll take care of it." Richard said.

"How?" Cami asked folding her arms over her chest. "You just said if you try anything you could end up in legal suits for the rest of your life. You'll have to forgive me if I refuse to see Chris win any more than he already has."

"Cami—"

"No." She waved an arm towards the room. "Elise is still unconscious, Rick. So far, Chris is still winning. He's in Hell, but he's still winning. I'm not letting him take you from me again, so you'd better swallow your pride and talk to my dad. He's the best. He can help."

Richard looked at Ranger. "Does she always get like this?"

"When she's feeling exceptionally stubborn she does." Ranger replied.

Cami glared at him. "Rick!"

"Alright!" He said exasperated. "Damn."

"Good." Cami smiled. "I'll leave you two to it." She left them standing in the hallway.

Ranger felt sympathy towards Richard at the confounded look he was sending in Cami's direction. He didn't blame him. Cami had always been like that. Something she got from her mother, Ranger thought. "Alright, son, what's going on?"

Richard sighed and handed him the folder explaining the situation to him. Ranger looked through the file, mildly impressed with Chris's thoroughness on his will. It was almost as good as his. Almost. "I can have my lawyer look at this. I'd say you're safe when it comes to the business considering Elise confiscated everything Chris would need to get his business running the way it was. You're sure you don't want any of his money?"

"I don't want anything from him. I don't need his fortune. It's all blood money."

Ranger nodded. "Alright. I'll call my lawyer."

"Thank you, sir."

They walked back to the room. Richard was not surprised to find Stephanie and Trevor back. He had been surprised when they showed up earlier and Trevor was missing. He was sitting in his chair, holding onto Elise's hand, eyes glued to her. Stephanie walked up to Ranger and kissed him. "Carlos, you left these on your desk." She opened her hand and Elise's dog tags were sitting in her palm. "I thought we should make sure she has them. She always said they make her brave and safe."

He nodded. Stephanie went to the side of the bed that Trevor wasn't dominating and took her daughter's hand. "Come on, Munchkin, open your eyes for us." Stephanie murmured giving her forehead a kiss. She placed the dog tags in Elise's hand. Stephanie looked at Trevor, and smiled softly at the look of pure love in his eyes. At this moment, she knew he didn't care who saw his feelings. For people who had a hard time expressing how they felt toward one another, the last weeks had definitely changed that, Stephanie thought thinking of the phone that was still currently nailed to the conference room wall.

Julie sat up suddenly from her position. "Elise?"

Stephanie looked at Julie then looked to what had caught her attention. Elise's hand closed over the dog tags.