Disclaimer: See previous chapter.

Author's Note: Thank you all for the wonderful words. I hope you enjoy.

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Last time:

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His hand touched my face, I wanted to talk to him… but I just couldn't… my eyes were sliding shut…

I felt his lips at the corner of my mouth, they were warm and wonderful, and almost turned me on; considering I'm pretty sure I was practically unconscious that's a big thing.

"I love you so much, babe."

Huh?

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"You need to get some sleep."

The voice was firm and feminine and not directed at me.

"I'm not leaving her."

Ranger?

Someone sighed.

Should I let them know I'm conscience?

"She's not going to wake up for a while."

Naw, I probably won't be for long anyway.

At the moment the thought of forcing my eyes open, was exhausting.

"I don't care."

"Please Rick; it's been a rough week. You need to get some rest. I'll stay with her."

"You told me yourself she almost had an anxiety attack when she woke up and I wasn't here."

Again a sigh.

"Yes, but she's not going to wake up for a while. She's sedated."

"No."

"You haven't slept in over 48 hours."

Christ!

"I'm fine."

"I'll sedate you if I have to, Rick."

There was a pause; I was starting to drift off, even though I didn't really want to.

"No way you'd be able to do that."

"I'll get the guys to restrain you and I'll do it. You need to sleep."

Again a pause.

"Fine, I'll take a nap."

"Good."

"Give me another hour."

The sigh came again, aggravated, "Only one."

On that note I floated away to sleep land.

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Awareness came slowly, the faint rustling of fabric, the soft murmuring of voices, the scent of spices in the air.

I opened one eye at a time and found myself staring at a white ceiling.

Letting my eyes travel downwards I found myself covered in a midnight blue blanket and my nails painted sparkly purple.

When did I paint my nails?

I tried sitting up.

Ouch!

Not a big ouch, but still ouch.

"Hey careful, don't move too quickly." The voice was soft and kind and made me jerk around to face it.

That too was ouch.

"Where am I?" the question came out tainted with more hysteria than I'd meant it to.

The woman smiled, her dark eyes sympathetic, "Don't move too quickly," she repeated.

I looked around, the room was nice. Decorated in warm colors with plush sofas, "I… how did I get here… what happened?"

What the hell was going on?

I'd bought grapes… for Rex…

It came back to me then.

Blonde guy, big blade, puke, Carlito and Lisa, Tank, Ranger.

Ranger.

"Where's Ranger?" I swung my feet off the bed.

The woman stood, her smile gone, "No, don't get up."

"Where is he? Where am I?" I was getting very upset. I could feel it. I was beginning to lose control.

She was walking towards me.

I stood, the room spun.

"Careful…" she said, reaching out to steady me.

I sidestepped her, taking a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart… it wasn't working.

I staggered over to the window, shoving the curtain aside.

Pine trees.

A lot of them.

With Snow on them.

"Where the fuck am I???" the question was shrieked in the way only a Jersey girl can manage.

The woman winced, "Listen-"

"Last time I check there weren't any fuckin pine trees in Trenton… especially with freakin snow on them!!" My voice went up an octave.

She took another step forward, "Stephanie-"

"How do you know my name? Where am I? Where's Ranger!!!??" I wasn't getting any answers and suddenly I was assaulted with irrational fear and an immense need to see Ranger.

"Lay down, sit down whatever… I'll get him…" the woman was saying.

It was a logical suggestion.

Too bad for her I was past the logical suggestion phase. I was well and truly into the completely irrational phase.

I sidestepped her again, heading for the door, "I want Ranger!"

"Stephanie-"

I wretched the door open, even as she screamed wait.

For some reason I expected to find myself in an asylum of sorts.

A safe house.

Long hallways, lots of white, narrow spaces, uniformed men – that kind of thing.

Instead the door opened into a huge open space filled with sunlight, occupied with mismatched and comfy looking sofa's, arms chairs, ottomans, rugs, people.

Lots of people -- with dark eyes.

All of which fastened on me.

I scanned all the face quickly, none of them were Ranger.

I whirled back around to face the woman who was now standing in the doorway, a concerned expression on her face, "Stephanie please-" she began.

I cut her off, "Where the hell is Ranger!!? I want Ranger!?"

Yes, I'm being unreasonable.

I knew it too.

But it was as if I was standing outside myself, I couldn't seem to help it. I had this need to see Ranger.

Now.

"If you'll calm down," this was said in a deep voice, from behind me.

I whirled around again.

All this whirling was doing nothing for my headache.

He was tall and dark, and I registered that he looked like Ranger.

But the point was that he wasn't Ranger.

"No!! I will NOT calm down!!" I yelled at him, my head was really starting to hurt again, "I want to know where the hell I am and where the fuck is Ranger!!! And I want to know NOW."

Geez, can you say tantrum?

He grabbed me suddenly, by the forearms.

He started saying something.

But I was upset… really upset… and not actually in control of myself…

I reacted instinctively.

… by kneeing him in the groin…

He released me instantly, bending over and groaning.

I stepped away from him, ready to burst into tears. I'd just hit someone… and I was pretty sure he was related to Ranger. I was pretty sure that they were all related to Ranger.

But none of them were Ranger.

"Where is he???" I cried; much less anger and much more panic filling my voice. I could feel the tears in my eyes, could feel my breathing start to get erratic.

I was being a big baby.

And the worst part was I had no idea how to stop it.

As if in answer to my question the front door burst open and he stepped through it, his eyes wide and panicked too.

They landed on me instantly. Then moved behind me, I guess to the woman. Then to the man standing in front of me, still bent over and groaning.

He actually gave me an almost smirk, "Babe." He said appreciatively.

The tears disappeared instantly and I was furious again.

"WHERE THE HELL AM I???" The entire room winced at that and he was at my side instantly.

"And where the hell were you?" the anger was gone.

So was his smirk. He reached out gently to touch the side of my face.

Dammit…

His sweetness brought the tears back.

"I was scared," I admitted.

Was that small voice mine?

He nodded, "Come here," he said, as he reached for me.

I pretty much melted in his arms. He scooped me up and I sighed, suddenly exhausted. We headed back towards the bedroom, I saw him give a meaningful glance over the top of my head, before we entered the room.

I heard the door close firmly behind us.

He deposited me gently on the bed.

What was up with Ranger and the gentleness?

"How do you feel?" he asked.

I curled up in a ball. I didn't want to talk. I felt miserable. I hurt everywhere and I'd hit someone and I was being irrational and I didn't know how to stop.

"Babe?"

I sniffled, "I'm being baby."

Great, Steph, could you say that in a whinier tone?

God, I hate whiners!?

He sat next to me on the bed, and started stroking my hair, then my face. My eyelids were getting heavier, my head was still pounding, but it was a dull ache now, and all that yelling had left me exhausted.

And Ranger was here now.

"Don't leave," I whispered as my eyes slid shut.

"Never." He whispered back, and I felt his lips on my temple.

With that assurance, I allowed myself to drift off again, promising myself that next I woke up I was going to be normal.

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