Title: Those bloody questions!
Chapter 6: Wake up!

Author: Ann
Rating: (G to NC-17): G
Spoilers/Warnings: None
Summary: Ranger wakes up…

Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine except Aurelia, I just play with them

Another chapter has miraculously appeared on my screen! ;) Please review!

Wake up!

Steph did have to endure some teasing when they found out that she was the one with all the destroyed cars. She took it quite well, probably wasn't the first time that she had to hear that… But time flies by when you're having fun, and around 10.30 pm the door of the living room opened. A still slightly sleepy Ricardo stood in the doorway, wearing only his boxers. However, I immediately saw the look in his eyes and knew that he was awake enough to remember about the drugging. He quickly searched the crowd and his eyes landed on me.

"Aurelia!" Oops, here comes trouble. Luckily he wasn't armed.

"Ricardo, sleep well?" I asked innocently. I was going to die anyway, better do it gloriously right?

"How dare you! You know I didn't want to stay here, you said I could go home!" That would be correct. Bad, bad me, I lied to my brother!

"I told you to stay in bed for 5 days, you were obviously not planning on listening to me, so what was I to do?" This sounded very innocent, and I knew it would infuriate Ricardo. You see, if you pushed his buttons correctly, it was really easy to make him loose that famous cool composure of his. He could whine with the best of them, but that seemed to be the best kept secret! It appeared that Ricardo hadn't spotted Stephanie yet, because she was sitting on the couch next to my mother. Mother is eh… a full figured woman and she easily hid Stephanie behind her. I had caught my mothers' eye, and she knew what I was up to. I was trying to show Stephanie that Ricardo really was a normal human person. By the look on Stephanie's face, I'd say it was working. And Stephanie so far had made no move to show Ricardo that she was here. Probably she feared for her life. Macho man… But there was another thing that I hoped would happen. You see, this kitten that Ricardo brought home, it sort of followed Ricardo like a little dog. As soon as Ricardo's car would stop in front of the house, it would start meowing and it would follow Ricardo everywhere around the house, insisting on sleeping either on his bed or in front of his bedroom door if it got the chance. Ricardo was quite fond of the kitten himself (he was the one who named it Lily) and he would always carry it around the house, play with it and occasionally allowed it to sleep in his bed. (He really is a big softy, I tell you!) I didn't have to wait long, the kitten jumped off Stephanie's lap and ran to Ricardo, meowing like her life depended on it.

"Look, you upset Lily!" Wow, he must still have some of that sleeping stuff in his veins, because otherwise those words would have never left his lips. All eyebrows in the family shot up. Ricardo picked Lily up and cuddled it to his chest and then looked at us again, seeing all the raised eyebrows. He realised what he had said and actually blushed. Stephanie's eyes were growing with the minute.

"Wow, Ricardo, you are getting soft!" This came from Javier, who would never let an opportunity to tease pass him by.

"Shut up. Now Aurelia, I want to leave, so when can I drive again? What kind of stuff did you give me anyway, I had some really weird dreams. I thought I wasn't supposed to dream when I was knocked out!" Ooh, this is getting good!

"What did you dream then?" See if he bites.

"Eh, nothing… " Yeah, right. More meaningful glances exchanged between the family.

"I don't think it is a good plan for you to drive tonight. But…"

"What? You drugged me and now I have to spend another night here? How dare you, I have a business to run. I have responsibilities, I have to… to do things!" Wonder what those things would be. Maybe related to Stephanie? Let's test him a bit further.

"Maybe you can call someone to look after you for tonight?"

"No way. Tank, Lester and Bobby are all extremely busy because I am out of order."

"How about that other woman, you know, the one that worked for you?. Eh… Jen.. Jeanne Ellen?" Okay, this was low, but I couldn't help myself. I wanted to see his reaction, to have her see his reaction. Immediately Ricardo's eyes turned guarded and he focused his attention completely on me.

"You know damn well that I don't work with her anymore!" Nobody knew exactly what happened between them, but suddenly all contact had stopped and Ricardo became angry even when just her name was mentioned.

"Sorry! I just remembered that you occasionally told some stories about her, and I think that the care of a woman could benefit you." That had a double meaning, and he realised that immediately.

"Don't try to fix me up! I can take care of myself!" he practically growled at me.

"He, I'm just trying to help here! She could be your ticket out of here since you so obviously are in a hurry to leave…" Oooh, I am soooo good! Half of the family was turning almost purple trying to keep from bursting out laughing. Stephanie looked like she wanted to kill me. No worries girl, it will all turn out right. The kitten had been quiet as soon as Ricardo picked it up, but it seemed scared now. It started wriggling and moving and meowing in a very cute way. Ricardo seemed to realise how much he had lost control and fixed his attention on Lily again. He cuddled it to him and murmured some Spanish words to it. Lily lifted her head up to him and they looked each other in the eye. Ooooh, such a wonderful picture that would have made, if only I had a comera! Lily quieted down again and snuggled up to him. He gave her a little kiss and then looked at us again. He suddenly changed and his senses seem to go on full alert. Oh shit, did he see Stephanie?

"Eh… did someone visit tonight?" Would he be remembering the dream/reality?

"What do you mean?"

"Did someone visit tonight while I was asleep?" He started to sound anxious.

"Who would that be?"

"Oh, for God's sake, how difficult is this question? Did someone visit, yes or no?" And this was when Stephanie took matters in her own hands. She slowly got up and their eyes met. Ricardo seemed baffled for a few seconds. Their eyes were locked on each other and you could see Ricardo's brain working overtime.

"Yes, Ranger, someone did visit tonight," she said softly.