A/N: The aftermath of the ending of last chapter... some new questions arise and Batman to the rescue ;) Let me know what you think. More to come soon. Please review.

Disclaimer: I own none of the recognizable characters.

Plum & Prejudice

Chapter 15:

"We do not suffer by accident."

I don't know how long I sit in the car waiting for Ranger to return. It seems like an eternity. The vehicle is off, and my cellphone is gone wherever I dropped my purse in the struggle. I'm shivering so severely my teeth ache. I've managed to clear the snot from my face, but I still look rough. I pray Ranger doesn't call the cops because I'm not sure if I can face this humiliation right now. I shift in the seat, my whole body aches. I feel like a truck hit me. I struggle. I want to get my bra back on correctly before he returns. I feel exposed enough. I twist, noticing how my neck aches in protest. More tears come.

I'm finally able to flip it around; my fingers are trembling so badly it takes me five tries to hook the bra clasp. The tears have returned full force and are blurring my vision again. I manage to get the bra right and my sweater back into place. I open the visor, and two little lights come on. I see my reflection. My lip is swollen and has blood crusted on it from where Joe backhanded me; otherwise, I'm just puffy and red from crying. I wipe away the smeared mascara with my thumb, not that it helps much as my tears are still streaming silently. When I feel that I've cleaned up as much as I can, I close the visor and sit back.

The minutes tick by, and finally, I see a dark figure approaching. I grip the door handle tightly, fear bunching in my stomach. The fear leaves quickly as the figure passes under the only working light on the street. It's Ranger. I breathe quickly, not realizing I had been holding my breath.

I hear the beep-beep of the car unlocking, and Ranger slides in the driver's door. His hands go directly to the wheel, and I can't help but notice the scratches on his knuckles...some bloodier than others. He looks over at me, and even in the dark, I can tell his eyes soften. He cranks the engine and idles.

"W...wh...what h..ha..ha..happened?" I ask as best I can, my teeth chattering as though I'm about to die of hypothermia. I'm freezing and wrap my arms around myself in an attempt to add some heat. Ranger fiddles with the controls on the car, and I feel some heat starting.

"You're most likely in shock right now. Let me grab a blanket from the back of the car." He doesn't wait for my response and is gone and back before my brain catches up. When he opens my door, I jump. I'm not used to this shakiness or feeling so on-edge in my own body. Fresh tears stream down my cheeks.

"S..s...so...sorry," I chatter out, feeling helpless and a bit mad at myself. He says nothing but moves in with the blanket in his hand. Ranger moving in like that makes my heart pound, and I jerk back as though he touched me. All I can feel is Joe's stubble across my cheek and the rank alcohol on his breath. I can tell Ranger has stepped back. I look over at the empty driver's side, close my eyes and more salty tears slide down my cheek as I let out a sob. My hands are trembling, and I clasp them together.

"Stephanie," Ranger says softly, "I'm just going to put the blanket around you. Can you sit up and lean forward for me?" The use of my full name and his tender voice catches my attention. I look up, nod, and do as he says. He moves quickly, and soon I'm bundled up in the blanket with the heat blasting. It feels nice, but I'm still cold. I feel cold all the way to my bones.

When he's back in the driver's seat, I notice he has a bottle of blue Gatorade. He opens the cap and puts it in the center console.

"Please drink as much of this as you can. The electrolytes and sugar should help," Ranger says, "can I take you to the hospital?" My eyes bolt directly to his. I shake my head no, but it causes me to wince. I bring a shaking hand to my neck. I think I must have pulled a muscle when Joe first startled me. A few more tears fall down my cheek, and my eyes are on the floor.

"Can you take me to Jen and Joe's?" I ask, surprised at how meek and timid my voice sounds. He's quiet, so I glance up at him. I see him take a deep breath, and then his nostrils flare as he lets it out. I wonder if he's still mad at me and if thinking of their house reminds him of the conversation. That conversation feels like it was a lifetime ago for me now.

"I think you may need medical attention...and it can help if you want to press charges," he explains, his dark eyes piercing mine. I reach out and grab the Gatorade. I almost spill it; my hands are still shaking badly. I can't seem to control it. I lift the bottle to my mouth and take a couple of long pulls. It feels good going down. I put the Gatorade back and look up to see him watching me intently.

"Jen's a nurse…," I say, hoping he won't force me to go to the hospital, especially not the one in Trenton. I can't bear the thought of all the 'Burg busybodies hearing about this in less than twenty-four hours. He sighs but nods. I feel the tension ease out of my body bit by bit. Suddenly, a surge of fatigue sweeps over me, and I have the overwhelming urge to sleep. My eyes droop, and I sit further back into the chair. I'm falling into blissful darkness.

"Stephanie!" he barks my name, causing me to bolt upright. My neck screams, my heart pounds, and I'm crying again. I hear him mutter, "mierda."

"I'm sorry, but you can't sleep now. I need to get to their house first so she can check you for a concussion. Please, Babe, don't fall asleep," he pleads quietly. When I look over, I see the pained expression on his face. He didn't mean to startle me. Usually, I wouldn't shake so easily.

"Okay, I'll do my best," I agree, my voice not wavering so much now, "Step on it, Batman." I even manage a little smile when I dub him the Black Night. He did swoop in and save me tonight. I don't know how far I could have made it if I hadn't run into him. That thought sends an unpleasant shiver down my spine. He puts the car in drive and pulls out. I focus all of my attention on staying awake. I can feel his eyes on me now and then. I see him pull out his phone and dial a number. I maneuver myself slowly, so my neck doesn't hurt so I can face him as he's on the phone.

"Joe, it's Ranger. Sorry for calling so late," he says into the phone, his eyes sliding to mine. I say nothing.

"I have Stephanie with me, actually... she's hurt and requested not to go to the hospital. She said Jen is a nurse. We should be there in 45 minutes," Ranger explains quickly and efficiently. I can hear my Uncle Joe raise his voice asking questions. Ranger looks fully over at me. I give him a slight shrug.

"It will be better to talk in person. See you soon." With that, Ranger hangs up the phone. Sheesh.

"Nice phone manners," I mutter sarcastically as I go for the Gatorade again. My hands are still shaking, but I notice they have subsided slightly. I am feeling a tinsy bit better. I see him raise a silent eyebrow at me. I'm surprised when I hear a ringtone go off in the car—my ringtone.

"You have the same ringtone as me?" I ask, clearing my throat and trying to sound less timid, less scared. I see a tiny hint of a smile.

"I found your purse," he states, reaching back quickly and producing my purse from behind my seat. He sets it in my blanketed lap. I rummage through it and find my cell phone. Six missed calls from Valerie. I also notice the time. It's only 10 pm which means the incident with Joe took less than an hour. My heartbeat quickens. That attack felt like forever to me. I go ahead and call Val back.

"Steph!" she screeches in my ear, "you never texted me! I'm your big sister. I worry." I cough and try to clear my voice. I don't want to worry her right now.

"Sorry. I was driving," I lie, and I see Ranger glance over at me, "I'm all safe." She's silent.

"You don't sound normal," she states matter of fact, "what happened?" I feel a lump form in my throat, and some tears fall down my face. I cough again, willing my throat to open.

"Uh..er..nothing...just beat," I reply, "traffic was unusually heavy." I feel bad lying to her, but I need time to process. I know I'll have to tell Jen and Joe everything tonight. Just the thought of that exhausts me some more. I let my head fall back into the seat even though my neck protests. After a moment, I don't feel the pain anymore.

"I don't believe you," Val says, "but I won't pressure you to tell me now." I exhale a loud sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Val," I say softly, "I love you." She returns the sentiment and says goodnight. I put my cell back in my purse and let it slide to the floor. I then grab the blanket and pull it tight around me. I'm still so cold. I have the feeling that only a hot bath will make me feel warm again. My eyes drift close, and my body aches. I can feel every bump.

"Stephanie," Ranger says quietly. I guess he's trying not to startle me. I sigh and open my eyes.

"I'm so tired. Tell me what happened," I reply, "is...is… Joe still out there?" I can't look at Ranger. I hear him sigh.

"I'll start from the beginning." I take a peek at him. He's focused on the road, but he's flexing and then curling his fingers around the steering wheel as though he's pissed and trying to calm down.

"I called Juniak this evening. I have a letter to give you," Ranger begins explaining. I look at him curiously. A letter?

"I'll still give it to you. It's just to explain some things," he continues before shaking his head. He seems upset.

"Anyways, I wanted to drop it off to you in person. He told me you were getting dinner with your sister at Pino's. I had just finished answering a call from one of our clients. It's near Pino's, so I thought I'd swing by to see if you might still be there. It was already closed. Only one car was in the lot, which I thought seemed suspicious. I parked, saw your purse, the key still in the door, and a pizza on top. I didn't hear or see anything at this point, but I was worried." I grip the blanket tightly in my hands. Joe had me in the alley at this point. My mind flashes to his hot mouth covering mine. I gag at the memory. Ranger looks over concerned, but he says nothing.

"I grabbed your keys and purse. I got back in the car and decided to drive down the street a little. I had just passed the alley when I felt a tin...I had a feeling," he explains, changing his wording at the end. Was he going to say tingle? Does he feel it too?

"I parked and got out, ready to search. I heard a faint yell and was rounding the corner when you ran into me," he finishes, glancing back over at me. I take it all in. Luck was on my side tonight. If he had been just fifteen or thirty minutes later...I shudder at the thought. We might not be having this conversation now. I'm not sure if Joe would have stopped at rape. Rape. My mind and body recoil at the word. My eyes fill once more. Haven't I used up all of my tears yet? I grab the blanket tighter, making fists with my hands. I was lucky. I am lucky. But I don't feel lucky.

"Thank you," I say quietly, leaving it at that. I try not to let my mind spiral into what-ifs. I only want to tell this story once tonight. Ranger barks out a mirthless laugh, hits his palm on the steering wheel, and shakes his head. I jump only slightly at this. My nerves seem to be calming down somewhat.

"Don't thank me." He says it so quietly, I'm not sure if I imagined it. I don't question it. I just want to get warm and have Jen wrap her arms around me.

We ride the rest of the way in silence. I do my best to stay awake, but my eyelids are heavy, and my head is pounding. I'm still cold. We arrive at their house at a quarter to eleven. I see the lights on the inside. He parks and shuts off the car. Ranger is at my door before I finish fumbling with the seatbelt. I see Jen and Joe already on the front porch. Ranger waits patiently, holding the door open for me. He grabs my purse, so I only have to worry about getting myself out. I'm stiff all over and sore. My hands are still trembling slightly. I step out of the vehicle, and my knees almost buckle. Ranger saves me for the second time tonight by putting his arm around my waist while also trying to maintain a distance between us. I appreciate his effort, and a fresh wave of tears comes to my eyes. God, Val talked about being a waterspout earlier, but now it's all me.

Ranger closes the door behind me while keeping me propped up with his other arm. My muscles all groan in protest with every step we take. I see them waiting patiently for us to get to the front stoop. Jen has her hands clasped in front of her bosom and is watching with worried eyes. Uncle Joe has his hands on her shoulders and looks anything but happy.

As soon as we get to the porch, I open my arms and reach for Jen. She's hugging me in an instant, and I'm sobbing loudly into her shoulder. Uncle Joe ushers the four of us inside. Jen keeps an arm around my waist and walks us to the kitchen.

"Oh Steph, oh Steph," she whispers over and over as she holds me most of the way up. I'm making ugly sounds, sobbing more and more. I still feel so cold.

"I'm so...ss...sorry," I blubber, feeling bad that I had to mess up their evening. She guides me to the chair and sets me down. Jen kneels and grabs my hand.

"Don't you ever say sorry to me again. This was not your fault," she says fiercely and tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear, "We are always here for you. I'm happy you felt safe enough to ask for me." I see tears in her eyes as she takes in my appearance. My hands are still shaking as I sit in front of her.

"Hon, I'm going to have to do a full exam," she states softly, "is here okay? I'll make sure the boys stay out. I have my whole first aid kit here and a camera to document any marks." I tremble more. I nod.

"Let me go get you a robe," Jen states, turning to leave. I grab her hand and shake my head. Tears leak out of my eyes, but I've quieted down some. I don't want to be left alone yet. She nods and yells for Joe. Both he and Ranger are at the kitchen door in an instant with worried looks on their faces.

"Can you go up and grab a robe for me?" she directs Joe, "I'll just start with a basic neuro check right now." He nods and darts away. Ranger lingers awkwardly in the doorway. Jen grabs her penlight and shines in both of my eyes before nodding to herself.

"I'm going to need you to stand up without the blanket so I can photograph your clothes," she tells me softly, her eyes looking so sad. I nod slowly, my ears ringing and feeling incredibly dizzy now. I slowly shrug the blanket off, and I'm shivering again.

"I... I'mmm s..s..sooo ...ccc...cold," I manage to get out between teeth chatters.

"I'll be quick," she replies and puts out a hand for me to take. I grasp it and lift myself. The room is spinning as I do. I cover my mouth with my hand. I can't stop it. Thankfully, Jen is prepared and places a trashcan right in front of me. I vomit up the pizza and beer from Pino's. It smells terrible, but I feel much better.

"Well, I'd say you definitely have a concussion, but just a mild one," Jen states matter of fact and places the trashcan over on the counter. I'm still dizzy, but I manage to stay standing as she snaps photos of my appearance. She's just finished when Joe is back with the robe. He hands it to Jen, kisses her on the cheek, and escorts Ranger out.

"Alright, Hon, this will be the worst part, but we'll get it over with as soon as possible, okay?" she soothes gently. She walks me through, taking off my shirt, my pants, and bra. She snaps photos. As she goes to undo my bra, I flinch and start crying again.

"You okay? Do we need to take a break, or do you want to take it off yourself?" she questions as she chews on her lower lip. Her almond brown eyes are big, and looking at me with compassion. At least it's not pity.

"I... I'll do it," I say, happy to hear I could get it out without chattering, "it's...it…he...he...undid it earlier." I look down as I admit the last part. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I maneuver my arm behind me. My neck and shoulder muscles protest, but I'm able to take it off quickly...much more manageable than putting it back on in the car. Jen takes it from me and can't stop the gasp from her lips.

"Oh Steph, I'm so sorry he did this to you," Jen says with her voice breaking. I can't look her in the eye. As I glance down, I see my left breast is a mass of purple. The nipple is swollen with red and purple marks everywhere, showing the bruises underneath the tissue. My right breast isn't as bad—only light purpling. I don't lift my head as she snaps photos. She asks me to turn and photographs my right arm. She asks me to lift the arm, and she takes another picture.

"That bastard left his handprint on your arm," she growls now, more angry than sad. Once she's done with those photos, I cross my arms to hover over my chest.

"We're almost done," she tells me gently. She has me stand again and helps me shimmer off my pants and underwear. I'm so relieved he never got that far. She takes the pictures quickly and brushes her hand against my stomach. I suck in a deep breath at the pain. Then wince.

"Do you have any trouble breathing?" she questions as she probes my ribs softly with her fingers. It hurts quite a lot, but I take a deep breath—no piercing pain. I explain, and she nods.

"Let me just listen to your lungs quickly before we get the robe on you." She's fast, as she stated. I take deep breaths for her. She's satisfied that he didn't break any ribs, although she says she'd prefer for me to get x-rays. She wraps me in the robe.

"Are you up for telling us what happened? It should help you process what happened, and then you can think about what you want to do." I nod slowly. I compose myself for a moment.

"I want to tell you all just once tonight and then take a hot bath," I reply, tears trickling down my cheeks, "everything else can wait until tomorrow." I'm pleased that I was able to get that out without stumbling. Jen squeezes my hand and nods. She puts her arm around my waist and helps me stand to make our way to the living room.

"Joe, I'm so sorry," I hear Ranger say from the other room, "this is all my fault." I'm puzzled by his statement. Why would he be sorry? He saved me from Morelli. I can tell Uncle Joe is about to respond when we interrupt.

"Hi boys, I got Steph all checked out. Nothing fatal, but I want to get some x-rays tomorrow. Light concussion and some heavy bruising in places," she explains quickly, "she's going to tell us what happened, and then I'm going to get her a bath before bed." They nod. Ranger paces a bit.

"I'm happy to leave if you don't feel comfortable having me here," Ranger says quietly, and he moves towards the door.

"It's okay," I respond as Jen helps me sit on the couch. I can see the tension leave his body with my words.

Jen sticks to my side, holds one of my hands, and then rubs circles on my back with the other. She's placed a blanket around my lap. It makes me feel better. I quickly go through the entire story like a robot. Somehow I manage to push back the emotions and tears from the night. I explain everything, starting from Val leaving to Ranger finding me. I stare at the floor the entire time. When I finish, it's complete silence which causes me to glance up.

"We need to get blood work done for you tomorrow. If there's any disease, you could have gotten it by biting his tongue," Jen says, breaking the silence with science. Honestly, right now, I can take any disease. If I hadn't bit his tongue, I don't know how else I would have gotten out of there. Ranger is standing beside the opposite couch, his knuckles utterly white as he grips the top of the sofa. Joe is sitting stoically with a pissed-off expression on his face. His steely blue eyes meet mine.

"That piece of shit should not be on the force. I will make it my mission to make sure he loses his position no matter what you decide to do," Joe comments, "I'd like to see you press charges and get a restraining order, but it's your decision."

At his words, I feel a tension I didn't know I was holding released from my body. The emotions come flooding back, and my crying starts again.

"Thank you," I mumble through my tears. Jen squeezes my hand and hands me a tissue.

"Anything you need, and we'll be right here." Ranger clears his throat.

"I'd like to get you a protection detail, on me, for a few weeks or at least until you get a restraining order," he says and then tacks on, "if that's okay with you." Jen and Joe both nod. I nod as well. That might make me feel better. I see Jen motion to Joe and mouth something, but I'm not sure what. He gives me a small smile.

"We love you, Steph. We're so glad you're here with us now." I give him a small smile, nod, and squeeze my eyes closed. More tears trickle down my cheeks. Joe leaves the room. Ranger shuffles forward. My eyes are drawn to him. He has a small white envelope in his hand. He comes a bit closer but still keeps a reasonable distance.

"This is what I wanted to give you," he says lamely, "it doesn't require any response. I wish you a speedy recovery. I'll talk over the security with Joe." He holds out the envelope. Jen is my saving grace and takes it from him. He leaves without another word.

I lean into Jen, and she strokes my hair. I'm crying quietly. I can't seem to stop.

"Joe is filling a bath for you. Do you want to read this tonight or have me read it?" she questions warmly, still stroking my hair.

"Not tonight," I breathe, and my eyes find her brown ones, "do you have any idea of what it is?"

"Not exactly. All I know is that he called Joe this afternoon. Ranger said he offended you in some way Saturday after dinner and wanted to give you a note," Jen says, giving me a puzzled look, "you didn't mention anything when we were washing dishes." I feel a blush spreading over my cheeks. I see a glimmer in her eyes, and she gives me the first genuine smile of the night. She wraps her arm around me and squeezes me gently.

"You can explain later. Let's get you warmed up and ready for bed."

Jen takes excellent care of me. She never leaves my side the rest of the night at my request. I take my bath, and it's like a balm for my soul. I'm finally warmed up, although I still feel a twinge in my bones. She swaddles me in sweatpants, a long t-shirt, and fuzzy socks before tucking me into bed. I know there is so much to think about and discuss, but I'm so tired. Jen gives me some painkillers and sings a low lullaby as I drift to sleep, holding her hand.