Chapter 9

"Let's bounce." I suggested.

Ram grinned, "Are white girls allowed to say that?"

I levelled my best 'Burg glare at him and he held his hands up in mock surrender, still smiling. He was happy to see me ok. The was one of his first rescues of me, he didn't know it was par for the course.

Ranger slung an arm around me and drew me close, he gave me a kiss on my forehead which said he was happy as hell to see me but couldn't afford to get distracted by me right now. I gave him a squeeze back which meant I got it.

We headed out. Ranger gestured for Sugar to take point and for Ram to take up the rear. I got that, I might like Raul but Ranger wasn't going to trust him at his back for a long while yet, if he'd even let him stay in town.

Ranger carefully steered me around the bodies and down the stairs, blocking most of the gore from my sight.

Tank was on guard in the hallway. Binkie was on the front door with Manny. Cal was at the rear with Zero and Slick. "Overtime." I sighed.

Ranger kissed me again on the forehead. He didn't give a rat's ass about overtime.

Ranger paused us in the hallway. The light was bright and shining down on my shiner, making it glaringly obvious. "Who did this?" he growled, touching my face gently.

I look around the dead bodies and spotted Swat dude 2. "That one." I pointed to the corpse.

Ranger frowned. "I didn't kill that one." He drew his gun and shot six more shots into Dead SWAT guy 2.

"Feel better?" I enquired.

He considered it. "Yeah."

I nodded, "worth it then." Ranger nodded.

"Tank, clear this shit up. I'm taking Steph to the hospital."

"Aw no, Ranger, come on. I'm super fine! I even had dinner and everything, there's literally no need." I whined.

"Hospital." He replied. With no give in his voice. I huffed loudly but didn't further argue. Firstly, I didn't want to back chat in front of the man, second, I recognised it was futile.

Ranger was eyeing Raul.

"Can we keep him?" I said in my best wheedling voice, "puh-lease? He's potty trained."

Raul cracked a grin at that and rolled his eyes at me. I think it was the eye roll which did it Ranger. He knew I'd found a kindred spirit.

Ranger turned to me in all seriousness and said, "Babe, he's not just for Christmas you know." The corner of his lips were turning up.

"I'll walk him." I promised. Ranger grinned at me.

"Alright, we'll see, but the first time he pees in the conference room he's out."

"Yes!" I said exultantly, giving Ranger a kiss on the lips as I flung my arms around him. "You're the best."

He gave me a smile and shook his head slightly. He indulged me in all things, even it seemed, the occasional new hire.

"Sugar," He called Raul, "with me and Ram for hospital duty. Duty one, make sure Stephanie does not escape the hospital before she is seen by a doctor."

I grinned. "You've got all these rules."

"Got to draw the line somewhere Babe."

We headed out the house and into the car. The driver of the Ford Escape came out and started speaking in rapid Spanish. I didn't catch much of it but I got the gist when Hector barreled towards me for a big hug and repeated apologies.

"No worries Hector, these things happen to me, I'm fine."

"Nunca Mas! Never again. Not on my watch. Lo Siento. Lo Siento." I gave him a kiss and a hug.

"It's done brother, I'm fine. Let's roll." I grimaced a little. "Ranger's taking us to the hospital."

"Bueno. Vamos."

Hector hopped into the driver seat and Ranger gestured for Raul to take shotgun seat whilst Ram rode in the back with us.

Adrenaline fading, I turned to Ranger and gave him a long kiss I'd been saving for him. And that's precisely how we passed the 30 minute drive to hospital.

Ram cleared his throat and abruptly I realised I'd heard that sound a few times. He'd been trying to get our attention for a while.

I drew back from Ranger a bit dazed. "oops." I said, "sorry, Ranger is…distracting." I wanted to say he was magic but I thought that might not be something he wanted the guys saying about him.

Ranger's smirk was all self-satisfied male. I couldn't even refute it. He deserved to be self-satisfied. He knew what he was doing.

"Are they always like this?" Raul asked lightly.

"They're not in to PDAs," Ram replied, "but this kind of thing happens. Their in love." He said it matter of factually with no fatuous tone. It made me smile at him.

Ranger gave me another calmer kiss of the lips and he slid us out of the car and into the hospital. He positioned me and the boys together whilst he went to check us in. Less than a minute later a nurse came to get me and led me to a private room. In years gone by I would have protested and worried about my insurance cover. Now I just accepted that Ranger had it covered, and no amount of wasted breath would change that.

I was checked over quickly and efficiently. No signs of concussion and they checked the baby over too. The sound of the heartbeat eased the one secret worry I'd been holding and the tension drained out of me.

"Take me home Batman." I said to Ranger, full of relief and happiness.

He simply nodded and scooped me up into his arms as if I weighed nothing. He carried me effortlessly to the car and we all piled in to the car and headed for home.

Ranger instructed Raul to stick about and take the guest bedroom on 5. None of us were stupid enough to think it was a suggestion.

Ram showed Raul the way and Ranger and I headed up to 7, where I spent a good portion of the night showing him how grateful I was for his rescue. I slept hard, and no nightmares bothered my dreams.

Hey so I just read Fortune & Glory, (NO SPOILERS DONT WORRY!) JE's writing is so good, I know the love triangle is getting OLD but I thought there was actual character development going on, though not much banter generally, it was a more serious book and I liked it. Didn't like the ending mind you, nor that the publishers dangled the end of the love triangle in front of us on the cover of the book, but generally - I liked it. What did you all think? I felt it was positive for a R&S future.