Chapter Three: Forced Family
A half an hour later, they were outside Sandra's office. "Okay, come on in." Stephanie looked at Ranger before entering the room. She looked at the soft cream walls and the brown carpet.
Stephanie noticed the couch and took a seat on the black leather sofa. Ranger sat next to her. Sandra didn't miss Stephanie grabbing Ranger's hand.
"Okay, you two holding hands is a good sign. Stephanie does not blame you for what happened, Ranger," Sandra explained her observation.
"I could never blame him for this. Both Morelli and Ranger saved my life, by doing what they had to do," Stephanie told Sandra. Ranger closed his eyes as Stephanie told Sandra that.
Once everyone was seated, Sandra said, "Okay, this is how our session will work. Both of you tell me how you feel, one at a time. Just get it out in the open, and then go from there. Explain what happened for the past month and a half."
"I was tracking an FTA named Stevens. I hoped to catch him with Ranger and Morelli's help. We followed him into an underground maze. Morelli was first. I was second, and Ranger was the last in the line. We got hit from behind. I woke up, and I saw Ranger and Morelli in shackles. Stevens entered the room. He ripped off my clothes and then threatened to rape me. If it had not been for Morelli telling him that he wanted Ranger to have sex with me, I don't know what I would do if Stevens actually did rape me. After Ranger entered me for the first time, Steven's men put him back in shackles. Stevens came in once every day and repeated the process. I am guessing that once every week, his men would let me go pee in a cup, and then I would use one of the pregnancy tests provided to find out if I was pregnant. When the test was finally positive, I was relieved because Ranger and I would be released."
"I know why Morelli chose me to do that to Babe, but I am still pissed that we got caught. We should have been more prepared. Neither Morelli nor I thought Stevens would have access to a concussion grenade. I am happy that we both made it through this mess, but if I ever get hold of Stevens, I promise there will be hell to pay. I will protect Stephanie and the baby, and I will not give up. I will get Stevens, and he will be in a jail cell," Ranger told Sandra. Stephanie squeezed Ranger's hand. He turned and looked at her.
"I am scared for myself, Joe, and Ranger. I know that I am pregnant, and Ranger is the father, but we left Joe behind. I grew up with Joe. After we broke up, Ranger helped me heal from that. Now I don't know if my closest childhood friend is still alive," Stephanie said and then started to cry again. Ranger took her in his arms and held her while rubbing her back to calm her down.
"Okay, I am going to tell the both of you. What you are feeling is natural and normal. I know that you want to get Morelli back, and that is commendable. But you two need to also concentrate on yourselves. Prepare for the fact that Stephanie might be pregnant, and that you, Ranger, will be the father. Both of you need to take care of yourself. Do you two understand?" Sandra asked.
"Yes," Ranger and Stephanie replied at the same time.
"Okay, I am not clearing you both for full duty yet. You two still have a lot of work to do. So we will frequently meet during the next couple of weeks too," Sandra said.
"Got it," Ranger and Stephanie got up and left Sandra's office.