AN: I'm writing as fast as I can think it up... thanks for the reviews!

Chapter Twenty One

I awoke with a splitting headache and Ric's dark brown eyes searching my face.

"Babe, can you hear me?"

How did he get here and where the hell was I? "Yeah."

"You're in the ambulance. You were assaulted in the parking lot. Do you remember anything?"

The look on his face right now told me all I needed to know. If I did remember the guy, there was going to be hell to pay... for him.

"A black sedan, a big guy like Tank's size, a huge fist coming toward my face. Oh, and he said the boss wanted him to tell me something."

Ranger searched my face. "That's pretty much what Lula said. You have to go to the emergency room. I'm coming with you." He climbed into the ambulance, daring with one look anyone to tell him he couldn't.

The emergency room visit was just like the many others I had endured before. Ranger was allowed to take me home as long as he didn't leave me alone. I had a concussion from my collision with the pavement and a huge bruise was raising up on my face. I could feel it although I hadn't seen it. All I wanted was a shower and the bed.

"Come on, Babe, let's go home," Ranger whispered as he pulled me close.

I was exhausted and I didn't know why. I remember that I never got the information I wanted from Lula. She never got her lunch either.

"What time is it?" I asked as we exited the hospital. Joe's car pulled in front of us.

Ranger tensed a little as Morelli came around the car to see me.

"You all right? The concern was evident in his face.

"Sure, it's not like this kind of stuff has never happened to me." I was trying to be glib, but in truth I was pissed that I was once again a victim. I had been pretty safe living with Ranger and working at Rangeman. Maybe I let my guard down.

"Babe, this wasn't your fault," Ranger offered, reading my thoughts as fast as I thought them.

"Ric, that guy singled me out. He's part of the big picture here with Joe. I can feel it."

Ranger looked at Joe. "I know," he stated flatly.

Morelli seemed to know it too. He stared at Ranger and then at me.

"Christ, Steph, I had no idea anyone would come after you because of me. I figured that Anna would be a target. I kept her with me last night, just in case."

Ranger didn't appear surprised by this. "Obviously, Vito knew he couldn't get to Anna without involving you directly, but that he decided to go after Stephanie is a bit out of character. He knows better than to piss me off."

I looked at Ric. His eyes were menacing.

"Ric, you told Joe to keep Anna safe, didn't you."

"Yeah, Babe, I did." He took my face between his hands. "I honestly didn't think he'd pull anything with you, especially in broad daylight. I'm sorry, Babe. I failed you."

I heard and felt the hurt in his voice. Morelli must have realized that this was a private moment.

"I'm glad you're all right, Steph. I have to go pick up Anna. She stayed with Lester today.

It wasn't until then that I realized that the day was actually over.

"Ric, take me home," I whispered. Take me home and hold me and never let me go was what I was really thinking.

I feel asleep in the car. The next thing I could actually remember was being put in bed and Ranger climbing in next to me. I woke up around 2:00 am with a huge headache.

"Babe, you're head hurt?" Ranger was leaning on one arm looking down at me.

"Yeah, a lot," I told him.

He went to the bathroom and came back with some medicine that the doctor gave me.

I took the medicine. "I thought I wasn't supposed to be allowed to sleep?"

Ranger's mouth twitched into a little grin. "Babe, you can sleep as long as I know I can wake you. You don't have a lot of swelling of your brain, but there's some. I was told to wake you every couple of hours, which I have been doing. You just don't remember it."

I snuggled against him and promptly fell back to sleep.

The sound of a ringing cell phone interrupted my dreaming.

"Yo," Ranger responded.

I realized that he was no longer in bed.

"Tell Lula that Steph is taking it easy today, but that she's okay. She might still have a headache."

He was talking on the phone from the bathroom. He walked back to the bedroom to find me laying there eavesdropping.

The cell phone snapped shut. "How's it going, Babe?" He bent down to kiss my head.

"Fine, but then I haven't tried to get up yet." As I said it, I made an attempt to sit up. It wasn't as bad as I feared, but it wasn't a walk in the park either.

"I've got the medicine and doctors' orders are to take it easy. I don't want you to leave the building. I mean it, Steph. You need to stay inside today."

"You're going after Vito, aren't you?" I realize that I was really worried. I knew instinctively that he could take care of himself, but damn it, I was in love with the guy.

"Don't think about it," he replied. "Morelli wants to stop by. You up to that?"

I really didn't want to see Joe, but didn't have an excuse other than that.

Ranger was doing the mind-reading thing. "Listen, Babe, you don't have to see him. It's totally your call." He leaned in for a kiss. "I will have Ella bring you breakfast in bed, if you feel up to it."

Since when didn't I feel up to eating. "Donuts... please..." I was playing on his sympathies.

"Sure, but once you feel better, that's another couple of laps added on to your run!"

After I finished the donuts, I tried to get out of bed and shower. My head was pounding. I made the mistake of checking myself in the mirror. That huge fisted brute did a real number on my face. I was purple on the right side. The shower felt wonderful, especially since I was practically drowning myself in Ranger's shower gel. I stayed under the water until I was pretty water logged then ventured into the closet for an outfit for the day.

I spent most of my time now dressed in black. Granted the color was slimming, but there were times when a girl needs variety. I chose a red shirt and jeans. Once dressed, I had to figure out how I was going to spend my day. Since there was no disguising the damage done to my face, I hadn't bothered with makeup. What the hell, I didn't care who saw me anyway. I decided to venture down to the control room.

The first person I ran into was Tank. "Damn, Bomber, someone got you good."

"Any word on who that someone was?" If anyone heard anything, it would be Tank.

"Nah, nothing yet, but the boss is pulling out all the stops on this one. If Vito is involved, there will be hell to pay."

"I figured Vito for a bit smarter than to screw around with Ranger," I offered.

"Yeah, so did I."