I wasn't asleep, but I was floating. The pain was there, but I wasn't concentrating on it the same and, because of that, it was a little more manageable. Ranger was holding my hand and kissing my knuckles, and every time he kissed me, I would smile. Kai was writing a text to the strike team and to the Gurus to let them know of the newest danger. He explained a bit about the personalities and about Grandma's rare form of dementia, and how they were not to be left alone with me.

A bit of time later, I don't know how long, my grandmother walked into my room. "Howdy, folks", she said with an impish smile. "Val and I came to see you. It's not fair that we were left in the US while you all went on a Scottish holiday."

I gripped Ranger's hand tighter in fear as my breathing ramped up, but I couldn't open my eyes. They felt like they had weights on them.

"Easy", said Ranger in a low, soft voice. He started smoothing my hair back from my face, and I sighed with relief.

"I'm sorry, Edna", said Kai. "We are trying to keep this room as a quiet zone. The only people allowed in the room are Steph's medical team, Ranger, and the kids. You are not allowed in the room."

"I can be quiet. Besides, you have to let me in. Steph is my granddaughter, and I get to see her because of it."

"No, I don't have to let you in", said Ranger. "We are keeping the visitor list short to help Steph get better faster. That is for two reasons. It allows Steph to get the sleep she needs to recover, and two, it's to minimize the germs entering her room and potentially causing infections."

"We talked about this", said Kai. "When we were outside, I explained that you couldn't come into Steph's room, Edna."

"Yes, but that doesn't apply to me. I'm her grandmother."

"I know you are her grandmother", said Ranger. "However, if you don't follow the rules you will be sent to a hotel to stay until the next flight back to Trenton can be booked."

"You wouldn't do that to me", said Grandma.

Ranger sighed. "Try me", he said. "I have very little patience right now, and if people don't do what I tell them to, I won't allow them to stay. Steph is severely hurt. Your presence in this room is putting her health in greater jeopardy. If I have to get a four hundred-pound Bubba to sit on you to keep you out of this room, I will. Now get the hell out."

Val walked in and sounded gleeful as she looked at me. "Is Steph okay?" she said.

"She'll be fine. It'll just take her a bit of time", said Kai. "She's getting there."

"Her face isn't marred", said Val. She sounded disappointed.

"That's usually true with people who have burns on their feet", said Kai drily. I snorted softly, and Ranger kissed my hand again.

Val sighed. "I told her that God would punish her for cheating on Ranger."

I could hear the fury in Ranger's voice. "Val, first of all, Steph did not have an affair. Second of all, even if she had, God would not punish her. Steph is love personified, and God would never punish someone like that. Third of all, if you ever say something like that again I will take your luggage, dump it out on the forecourt, throw you out and lock the door behind you. Do you understand me?"

I guess Val could hear the fury as well. She looked at Grandma. "Come on. They don't want us here."

"That's true", said Ranger. "That's why you weren't invited."

Eduardo walked into the room and handed Kai a sub sandwich. "For Steph", he said. He turned to Grandma and Val and smiled at them. He put his arms around their shoulders and guided them out of the room. "In case you don't remember my name", he said, "it's Eduardo. The last time I saw you, Val, you were attacking Steph. And you must be Edna. I've heard Val takes after you. Have you had a tour of the castle yet?"

"No. We just got here and Steph couldn't even get up to greet us", said Val.

"I'm not surprised. She's quite injured and, having had a bad burn before, I know the agony that she is going through. She is shocking the team by how well she is doing. Me? At this stage I was screaming every time the pain relievers stopped working. I basically had to be knocked out for two weeks solid. Stop being a bitchy brat and let her heal." He shut the door behind them, and Ranger breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought you were going to jump up and slap her silly", said Kai with a smile.

"She doesn't need any slapping to make her sillier", said Ranger. "She's quite silly all on her own."

"Are you talking about Val or Edna?"

There was a pause. "I think I am talking about both."

Kai laughed as I fell asleep.

I woke up as Ranger was getting ready for bed. I had been changed into sleepwear, the IV was back in, and although I was uncomfortable, I wasn't in the screaming pain that I was in earlier.

"I slept a long time", I said.

Ranger looked at me and smiled. "You did. Your sub is still here, if you are hungry."

"Maybe a little bit?"

"How much do you remember of what happened?" said Ranger as he retrieved the sub and handed me a piece. In typical Rangeman thoughtfulness, they'd had the sandwich cut into four sections, and Ranger handed me one.

I felt like that was a loaded question and thought hard for the answer. All of a sudden, I remembered. "Val and Grandma are here."

"Yes. They came into the bedroom and we threw them out. They were told, again, that we weren't letting them stay in the room to stop the input of germs. We have let the men all know what is going on, and they are all furious but are being polite. Your parents are beyond furious. They came back from sightseeing with the kids to find the house in an uproar. Your parents took Val into a room in private and lost it on her. I'm surprised your mother's yelling didn't wake you up. Your parents told them that you needed peace and love around you, and that Val was giving neither. Val said that, if we wanted her to leave, we would have to pay her way. She said that she had put her trip on her credit card and that, in coming over to support you, she was unable to get a job and she knew we would fund her so that she could be here and help.

"So your mom and dad are furious, and the kids are furious as well. None of them wanted to give up their room, so I told them that they had to all sleep in Tia's room whether they liked it or not. Val is mad because the kids refuse to call her Aunt Val any longer but, as Tia told her, Aunt is an honor that you have to earn and Val has done nothing to earn it. Lindsay came to visit and I had to tell her that you were down and out. I told her how the takedown went though, and Lindsay was happy about that. Then, when Lindsay sat down Tia climbed into her lap for a cuddle and called her Aunt Lindsay. You should have seen Val's face. She was angry, and Tia knew it. When Val looked away, I saw Tia's little smile of triumph. So did your mom and dad, and I saw your mother swallow back a giggle.

"So the kids are fighting back, your parents are fighting back, Lindsay has offered whatever help that she can give, and she is fighting back, and the strike team and your Gurus are fighting back. Nobody is taking their crap. Especially Val's. People aren't taking it from Edna, but they also recognize that she is ill."

I took a bite of my sub as I listened, and I smiled. The shop put the perfect amount of olives on it, and enough mayo and sub sauce. I liked it gloopy, and this was incredibly messy to eat. It was absolutely perfect. I finished the first quarter, and Ranger handed me the second quarter with a smile.

"Kai and Grant sat with you over dinner, and just brought their dinner in to eat with you. I sat with the family over dinner, and it was interesting watching the interplay of emotions going on. The only person happy with Val was Edna, and Val knew it.

"Val brought up the castle, and said it was a lovely spot. I told her that it was amazing what you could rent these days, which wasn't a lie. It is amazing what you can rent these days. It's just that this castle isn't one of them. I saw your parents open their eyes wide, but they went with it after they thought about it for a few seconds.

"I asked Val what she did with the kids, and she said she had sent them to Albert's and explained what was going on, and that Albert sent his love, wished you better faster, and said that he'd be thrilled to look after the kids for as long as is needed. She said they hate her anyway, and would be quite happy to live with Albert."

"That's sad", I said. "I would die if my kids felt that way about me, and I would do anything to make things better. Our kids are everything."

"And that's why you have a good relationship with your kids. Lindsay brought over a big bag of presents for you. She asked you to open it the first time you felt up to it, even if she wasn't here. I told her that she should become a professional shopper and she laughed. She said that she hadn't had as much fun in years, and she appreciates you letting her spoil you." He looked at me, and I looked interested. "Do you want to open them now?"

I smiled. "Maybe some of them?"

Ranger laughed. He retrieved the bag. Ranger was right – it was enormous, and I was curious to see what was in it. I put it aside.

"Do you not feel like opening the presents?" said Ranger, concerned. I always felt like opening presents.

I smiled. "I changed my mind. I was just thinking that tomorrow morning, when I wake up, perhaps we could bring the girls in and open them together. I think they would like that. Besides, it's something that is not focused on being sick that they can share in."

Ranger smiled. "You are such a good mom." He paused. "What is your pain level?"

"My lungs don't hurt any longer, my abdomen is a seven, and my legs are a twelve. Very uncomfortable, and I'm looking forward to my next dose of morphine, but I'll live. I'm enjoying having some time to just talk to you."

Ranger smiled. As I descended into a thoughtful silence though, he started to look a little worried. "What are you thinking about, babe?"

"I was just giving myself a pep talk. I was telling myself that, if I could walk across fire to save a stranger, surely I could put up with my sister for a few days. When is she scheduled to go home?"

"That's an interesting question", said Ranger. "She hasn't scheduled a go-home time."

"Oh boy."

Ranger sighed. "Exactly."

"Remember that we married for better or worse?"

"Yes?"

"I'll give you one guess as to which Val is."

Ranger laughed hard.