Disclaimer: See four.
Ok, so you know how, in the first chapter, I said this thing was plotless? Well, I'd figured it out up until chapter 8. I have no clue what's going on with the stalker. Obviously, there has to be some kind of confrontation with said stalker, but I don't know what. I do have a few ideas, but I don't really like any. So, if anyone has any ideas, please tell me. However, I might not use any of them. So, if you post one, don't feel insulted or rejected or any such feeling if I don't use your idea. Danke.
Chapter 7
Ranger just looked at me with narrowed eyes for a few seconds. His jaw was clenched, but other than that, it was hard to tell what his feelings towards me were at the moment. Based on the jaw clench, however, I was going to go with angry.
My guess was confirmed a few seconds later, when he started speaking. His tone was quiet, but lethal sounding. "So. The baby is mine." He shook his head, then repeated himself. "The baby is mine, but you didn't think that maybe I might want to know? As far as I can tell, you told Lula, and Connie, probably your family as well and two other men, one of which hates me, and the other which seems determined to annoy me whenever possible." I was pretty sure Morelli was the first and Diesel was the second. "You didn't, however, think that I would want to know? Were you planning on ever telling me? Or you were just going to see if I noticed and then, when I commented on the fact that you were pregnant, you were just going to say 'Oh, surprise! I'm carrying your child!' You know, Babe, I was joking when I said I could help you with your maternal urges by getting you pregnant." (A/N: That's in reference to TTN, btw)
I shook my head. "I was trying to tell you. I was going to, and then I got shot."
"But you've been pregnant about two months. You could have told me before that."
I shook my head again. "I only found out yesterday. That's why Connie threw the folders at you."
"Then you should have told me yesterday. Instead, you told your friends about it, then you avoided me. I don't even mind that you told them before me. I think that's some kind of female thing, to tell best friends everything first. However, you should have told me when I came into the office, instead of running away." He was silent for a bit, and I think he was thinking about Diesel, because that was the topic when he started speaking again. "And, if you're pregnant with my baby, why are you living with another man?" It was hard to be sure, but I think I sensed a bit of possessiveness in his tone.
I shrugged. "I don't know. Diesel just randomly showed up. I didn't even know he was anywhere nearby until he interrupted you trying to make me talk to you."
"I wasn't trying to make you talk to me. I just wanted information. But I'd never force you to do anything. You know, that, right, Babe?"
I hesitated, thinking of safe houses. Then I realized that, even the time when he'd handcuffed me and said he was taking me to a safe house, he'd never actually forced me. I nodded.
"What was the hesitation?" He was looking at me closely.
I told him. Then I added. "Also, when you handcuffed me to Tank, that was pretty much forcing me to leave."
He paused a moment, then nodded. "Ok, that's true. If you remember, however, you did eventually agree to go." I nodded. "And it would have been for your own good. So, I amend my former statement. I'll never force you to do anything unless I deem it absolutely necessary for your safety and you aren't cooperating for whatever reason."
I gave him a glare. But I wasn't actually angry. I'd been told often enough that I was too stubborn for my own good that I believed it. I sighed. "Fine."
Now, he added onto it. "Now that I think about it, I'll also force you to do something if it endangers our children."
I tried to raise an eyebrow and failed. "Children? I'm probably only having one."
Ranger looked startled for a second and then recovered. "Right. I meant child. And it's not definite that you'll only have one. You could be having quintuplets for all we know."
I grimaced. "I hope not."
Ranger smiled, then grew serious. "But speaking of our child, why didn't you tell me right away?"
I looked away for a bit, then back to him and I shrugged. "I wasn't sure how you'd react. I was just coming to terms with it myself, I wasn't ready to deal with your reaction. Plus, I was angry. You just left right after we had sex." I glared, warming to my subject. "Which is what you did last time, too. I don't expect a huge declaration of love and a proposal of marriage." I tried to keep wistfulness out of my tone at the mention of a declaration of love from Ranger, and I think I did a very good job at it. "But it would be nice to at least get a proper goodbye. All you said, both times, was 'I have to go.' It seems like with you, we can either have a friendship, or sex, and you seem incapable of both. When I was in your apartment, we had breakfast together and talked and all that, and you didn't seem to be completely exhausted by the effort." Aware that I was sounding like I wanted a relationship (which I did, but I wasn't going to tell him that), I stopped.
Ranger opened his mouth to speak and I quickly cut in. I didn't want him responding to any of that. In fact, I sort of wish I could take it back. It had felt good to get it all out, but now, looking back, I realized that it was the kind of discussion I might have had with Morelli before we broke up. It was the kind of discussion so often termed as 'The Talk.' And I didn't want to be giving Ranger The Talk. "Plus, I know that you don't do relationships. And if I told you about the baby, you'd pretty much be forced into a relationship."
Ranger waited a second, I think to make sure I was done, and then he spoke. "Look, Babe. When I said that my life doesn't lend itself to relationships—"
He was cut off by someone knocking on the door. I'm not sure if I was relieved or not. On the one hand, this could be getting close to some kind of commitment, and I really did want a relationship with Ranger. On the other hand, I knew that Ranger didn't do relationships, so this conversation wasn't going to end happily for me, I'm sure.
I called for the knocker to come in, and a nurse walked in with a large vase of flowers. She set it down on the little table by my bed. "That was just delivered." She walked out.
I looked at the flowers curiously. I had no clue who had sent them. Then I noticed the small envelope nestled among the flowers. I plucked it out and looked at it. My name was written on it in large, loopy letters. I opened the envelope and pulled out a card. On the front, it said "Get Well Soon!"
I flipped it over and read the back, which wasn't nearly as nice as the front. I didn't miss. Next time, I'll kill the baby. Or you. I haven't decided yet. Get well soon!
I met Ranger's concerned gaze and silently passed him the note.
