Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Author's Note: Thank you all for the reviews.
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I woke with a feeling of being very warm and very safe. It took only an instant to remember my last excursion into the world of the conscience and I instantly cringed.
I heard a chuckle above me, "It wasn't that bad."
Only Ranger would say something so stupid.
I opened my eyes slowly and found him staring at me. His dark eyes swirling with a lot of emotions… none I could decipher.
I sat up a little, noticing that my head still hurt, but that the rest of me had slid into the throbbing category. The world tilted a little as I sat, but Ranger's hand steadied me. When I looked at him again, I had no problem deciphering the emotion – worry.
"How you feelin, Babe?"
I shrugged, leaning against his hard, muscled self… why not enjoy it, "Tired, achy, irritated, upset, humiliated, and hungry."
He was silent, I looked up into his face and found him smirking, "The cure?" he asked.
I nodded, he positioned me against the headboard, and then stood going over to the door; there was a panel there, he pressed a button, and spoke.
"Get Steph, a large fry and a coke from McDonald's."
There was no answer, but I assumed who ever it was meant for heard it.
He came back and sat next to me again.
"Do you wanna sleep a little more?"
"How long did I sleep?"
"About six hours."
No one wonder I felt so much better. I felt calm and back in control and generally very relaxed.
I shook my head, "No, I'm good. I would like to know where I am."
He smirked again, "So I heard."
I waited.
"Upstate New York."
There goes the calm.
My eyebrows shot up, "What!"
"My mother lives here. This is her house."
"You have a mother?" The words were out before I actually processed them.
He grinned, "Thought I crawled out from under a rock?"
I blushed, "You know what I mean."
"Yeah, babe, I have a mother."
I nodded, before a horrific thought crossed my mind.
The horror must have shown on my face because his grin actually got wider.
"Yeah, babe, she was in that room."
"Oh god."
He laughed.
I shook my head and winced.
His smile disappeared.
"Lane cut you off the pain meds, so you'd wake up. I'll go get her so she can give you something else."
"No, no… it's not so bad, only if I move too quickly."
"Why don't you lie back." It wasn't a question.
I ignored him, "Who's Lane? What am I doing here? How long have I been here? And when can I leave?"
The questions caught him off guard, he looked down a moment and I swear he looked nervous.
"Lane is my sister," he said softly, "She's a doctor. You've been here for about five days, give or take a night."
He said nothing more.
I waited.
"How much do you remember?" His voice sounded really anxious, as if he were scared of something I might say.
"Ranger what's wrong." I asked, forgetting my concerns for a moment. I wasn't used to seeing him so… open.
When he lifted his gaze, I felt my heart drop. His dark eyes were clouded with so much… remorse?
"I'm so sorry Babe… so sorry…"
His voice was thick.
I frowned, "For what?"
He shook his head, "Christ, how can you ask that? I almost got you killed!"
"So? That happens all the time."
"I should have known better. I underestimated them; didn't think it through."
I thought on that a moment. It meant nothing to me. Maybe it would help if I knew what happened.
"So what exactly happened?"
He took a deep breath, "As close as I can figure, they didn't plan to abduct you. They wanted to terrorize you into telling them… things, but when you pulled a gun… they freaked out. One of'm hit you – hard. Then they had to take you with them if they wanted to find anything out."
He looked so upset, as if the whole thing had been solely his fault.
"See, that's why I don't like guns."
That earned me a smirk, "I'm surprised it wasn't in the cookie jar."
I shrugged, deciding to avoid answering that since it had to do with Morelli. Instead I looked around the room deciding it was really nice.
"I need to call my mom."
"I called already. I told her we were going on a vacation and you'd call when we got back."
My eyes widened, "…and she bought that?"
He shrugged, "I hung up before she got the chance to protest."
"What about Vinnie?"
"Same story."
My heart stopped, Oh god… Connie and Lula…
They thought I'd gone on vacation with Ranger…
I was dead.
My thoughts were cut off by a quiet knock.
"Is everything okay in there?"
Ranger actually rolled his eyes, -- not up to my burg standards, but still pretty good – "Yes," he hissed, "Everything's fine."
I waited a moment.
"That's Lane?"
He nodded, "Elaina."
"So you have a sister…" I said almost to myself.
He looked a little sheepish for a moment, "I have a twin."
My mouth dropped open.
"You're twins?"
He nodded.
"You have a twin and you never told me?"
He shrugged, "It never came up."
I narrowed my eyes at him, "Why exactly am I at your mother's house?"
"Several reasons: It's safest place in the world right now. I needed to keep an eye on you and my daughter at the same time. My sister's staying here at the moment and you needed medical attention. And I needed a place where I could…" he shrugged, "… get back up and let my guard down for awhile."
I took that all in.
"Why's it the safest place in the world right now?"
He was silent on that. I could tell he didn't really want to answer.
"We're all home at the moment. There's sort of a crisis going on and when that happens, we all pool our efforts. All our efforts pooled makes this place pretty damn safe."
This had to be the most informative conversation I'd ever had with Ranger. He was actually starting to sound human.
"Who's we?"
Another knock on the door.
"Food's here." It wasn't Lane.
I would've flown off the bed, but Ranger beat me to it.
He opened the door.
I couldn't see who was on the other side, but I sensed silent communication.
The door closed and Ranger came back in with a tray.
A tray.
Someone had put the fries on a plate, the coke in a glass, and the plate and glass on a tray.
I felt like I'd entered the twilight zone.
He smiled at me, like he knew what I was thinking.
"It still tastes the same Babe."
I nodded, reaching for it eagerly.
He was still smiling as he sat down, watching me stuff fries in my mouth. I couldn't stop the contented sigh from escaping me.
I looked up, smiling happily.
My smile seemed to freeze his and suddenly he looked like he was going to be sick.
"What's wrong?"
He stared at me intently for a moment before saying softly, "My heart stopped when they told me you were missing. When they said there was blood on your apartment floor… when I walked into that room and saw… what they'd done to you. I thought I'd never see that smile again."
I put the fry in my hand down – a major thing – wiped my hand on the napkin, cloth napkin, and touched his hand.
"I'm okay Ranger."
He didn't seem reassured.
I changed the subject, resuming my snack.
"So who's the we?"
He blinked a little, and then answered, again almost sheepishly, "My brothers."
This time the fry fell from my fingers, "Brothers!!"
He nodded.
"You have brothers too??"
"Three."
"Three!!!"
He nodded.
"My god…" I said in wonder.
Then connected the dots.
"OH. MY. GOD!!"
He grinned, knowing exactly where my mind had gone.
"The one you kneed is Ralphie, he's the youngest."
"Oh no…" I groaned.
I'd cursed in front of his mother and kneed his baby brother.
He laughed.
I groaned.
"It's his own fault, Babe; actually it's all their fault. I told them I had to be here when you woke up or you were gonna freak. They insisted it would be fine, and drugged me."
"I thought he looked like you… but I… I don't know… I was hysterical… I couldn't seem to control myself… I needed fries…"
That was my conclusion as I stuffed a few more in my mouth.
"So who're the other two?" I asked with my mouth full.
"Marcus is the oldest, then Tony, then me and Lane, then Ralphie."
I nodded, then groaned again, "I can't believe I did that…"
"You never disappoint, Babe."
I scowled at him.
"Where's you're daughter."
The smile faded a little, "In her room. She painted your nails." He added after a moment.
"I wondered who'd done that."
He stood up, "It's almost six. You should go back to sleep."
I looked up at him, "I'm not sleepy anymore."
He stared at me.
"Bathrooms through that door," he said pointing, "I'll send Lane in to help you."
"No!" I almost screamed.
He arched an eyebrow.
"I don't need help."
"Babe…"
"Really, I'm fine."
He stared at me a moment, but didn't push it.
"Kay, I'm going to wait out in the living room for you…"
I nodded.
He reached for the door handle.
"Ranger?"
"Yeah?"
"Is this the Batcave?"
His grin sent shivers through me, "No, Babe, this is better."
He paused.
"This is home."
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