To all my old reviewers and readers...Miss me:) Sorry for loooooong absense. And sorry for out of touch writing skills. But the latest book has prompted me to write this fic again, and if you guys aren't totally P.O'd at me for deserting yall, I'll keep writing it.

Disclaimer - Although I am also an awesome wonderful can't-get-enough-of-me person, I am not the great Janet Evanovich, and do not own any of the characters that I write about. Well, okay...the family. But they're really not all that important. Still wants Ranger

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Before I could speak again, I heard the doors to the hallway open and shut. Looking up, it was a hispanic woman, early twenties, that was heading towards us. Another hundred-watt smile was on her face. No, make that a 200-watt smile, I thought as she stopped in front of Solita and me.

"He's awake."

My heart stopped twice as the woman beamed at the two of us. Neither Solita or I moved for a full second and a half before we both got up and started to ask questions. Well, Solita asked the questions. I was too busy thanking God and listening to all the details.

"When?"

"Just a few minutes ago," said the hispanic woman. "He is up and talking. Nicolás is in there still with the doctors. They told me to tell you and wait out here until we are allowed back inside."

"Thank God" I heard Solita say and she plopped down on those uncomfortable hospital seats, resting her head on the back of her hand.

The nameless woman smiled brightly as she watched Solita take a seat. Her brown eyes flashed brilliantly as she turned and noticed me, outstretching a cleverly-manicured hand.

"And you must be Stephanie! Solita has told me you were here earlier. I'm sure Carlos would delight in knowing you were here for him."

I took her hand and shook it, trying not to look bewildered. The woman must have picked up on my confusion, however, because she opened her mouth in silent surprise and exclaimed

"¡Mi Dios! I'm sorry, I forgot my manners. I am Celia, Carlos' sister."

I had only assumed that she had been related in some way, but I do believe that I have heard that title before, out of Ranger's mouth, one day. I had just never expected to meet the person behind the name.

"Oh yes, I know you...Carlos said something about you once."

It felt awkward calling Ranger 'Carlos'. But I still wasn't sure how to talk of him to these women. Of course they were siblings, but how much of his private life did they know? Best to go with what you hear, Stephanie. Try not to make an ass out of yourself.

"I'm not surprised that it was only once," Celia said, shaking her head. I grinned, almost sheepishly, as Solita chimed in,

"Oh no, you should have seen her face when I said who I was. I'm not sure she even believed me at first. Shows you how much Carlos talks about us, huh?"

Celia laughed and the two sisters smiled at each other knowingly, leaving me lost and wordless. I didn't have to wait long, however, when another hispanic-looking man came out of ICU and made way directly to our fun little group. Both Solita and Celia were on their feet talking to him, but I was resting on the chair beside them, listening in. I knew about family time. Like whenever my sister came over and it wasn't a chaotic mess, I still enjoyed having her around to chat with once in awhile. Once in awhile.

"He's up and talking," said the man. "He even socked me one right in the stomach because I told him the family was coming in to see him."More laughs. I smiled. That was Ranger for you. He continued, "I guess he didn't want them worrying. The doctors have him loaded with pain meds, so he's kinda out of it now, but the wound in his chest looked kinda bad, and that was even under the bandages. He should be fine, though. But one of us will have to stay with him in case he tears his stitches."

Awkward glances passed through the three. I wasn't sure how to read these expressions, but it didn't seem as if any of them wanted to, or possibly could stay with Ranger. They had lives outside Trenton, I knew such from the minimal chatting I had been listening to.

"I have to go back to school this evening..." began Solita, looking down.

"I have a meeting I can't miss at four..." responded Celia, also adverting her eyes.

"Well I can't stay either. I have to get home to 'Ranza before she kills me," the male said, crossing his arms in thought. "Well damn, someone has to stay. He's our brother."

Ah, I thought. Then this must be Nicolás. The group seemed to be thinking hard of other people to stay, but Ranger's mother, father, grandmother, and youngest sisters were definately not the Rangersitting type, they concluded. And from general observation, I myself concluded that Grandma Rosa was crazy, Mama Ana wasn't to far from the tree, and Papa Carlos would just basically say if it wasn't a fatal shot then why bother. But that was only spec. I bet on brighter times, Ranger's family would be as sane as mine.

Oh God.

"I could stay with him,"I interrupted, standing up and joining the party. Nicolás looked at me strangely for a minute, but at the wordless reassurances by both Solita and Celia, he seemed to get it and smiled brightly at me.

"Stephanie," he said and held his hand out to me. "Nicolás. Carlos' brother. Nice to have finally met you."

I shook it, putting aside the fact that he knew me as well, even without introduction. "Likewise. And I can stay with him, it's no bother to me. He doesn't live that far from where I do. It would be no problem at all."