I wanted to avoid this call, but knew the sooner I took it, the better off I'd be. Hitting the button, I took a deep breath, "Boss."

"You want to tell me why the fuck I'm being told that I have to speak to you regarding Stephanie?"

Damn. Who the hell threw me to the wolf? "Well, she's staying here while she recuperates."

"Why? What exactly happened?"

Well, how much did he already know? How much do I tell him? He's the one that left her and didn't look back. Yeah, he left on a mission, but I know he could have turned it down. He's not had a contract with the government for over a year. He picks the ones he goes on and I know he called and asked for a mission when he broke things off with Steph.

"She was in a car accident. Banged up, but healing." I laid back on the bed and closed my eyes. I needed to get my emotions under control; he was not part of her life except for a friend now. She was my wife.

"Injuries?" he barked out.

"Spleen removed, broken ribs, leg in a cast, arm with rod and screws."

I heard him take a deep breath and wondered how much longer he had on the phone. "Can I speak with her?"

"She's on the phone with Les right now. I can let her know you called and pass along a message." I knew he wouldn't leave a message with me, but figured I'd try.

"Tell her I'll see her by the end of the week."

Shit… what the fuck does he mean by the end of the week? It's already Thursday. "Pardon?"

"I'll be home by tomorrow night. She can move up to seven on Saturday and I'll take care of her until she's healed."

Oh hell no. I don't think so. I'm not moving my wife up to his apartment. Even if she and I weren't married, I'd still not want her up there. He'll take care of her until she's healed; then what? Throw her out on her ass?'

"Ranger, things have changed since you've been gone. She's not the same Stephanie as she was when you left. You hurt her and she took a while to heal. But when she healed, she became a different person."

"We'll deal with that when I get back. I need to go."

He hung up the phone and that was that. Well fuck me. Now I get to tell my wife that Ranger is coming home tomorrow, and he expects her to be moved to his apartment on the weekend so he can care for her. That isn't going to go over well. Well, time to get it over with so we can have a relaxing evening here together.

I walked back out to the living room and saw Steph hanging up her phone. She turned to me and smiled, "Les said to say hi."

"Did you find out where he was?" I questioned as I carefully sat down next to her.

"He's in Maine. Said he had a get-a-way house there," she replied as she tried to figure out a way to curl into me without hurting herself. There was no way that was going to happen, so she gave up and just sat there next to me.

"How is he? Did you find out what was bothering him?"

Shrugging, she said, "Well, he said that he was hurt that he wasn't at the wedding. I told him that no one was there, but us and the minister. He wanted to know how long we'd been dating and why he didn't know." She blew her hair out of her face and took a deep breath, "I told him the truth."

I was surprised but figured it would happen at some point. Les was her best friend, and I knew she didn't keep secrets from him. So, I guess I should be expecting an ass kicking sometime soon. Wonderful. First one will be from Ranger; most likely by Saturday morning. Next one will be from Les as soon as he gets back to RangeMan.

I must have been silent too long because Steph took my hand and squeezed it. "He was upset with how the wedding happened, but when I told him that I was very happy and I didn't feel trapped, he was okay with it. I told him that I didn't want him coming back here and threatening you. He said he'd try to respect my wishes, but he couldn't promise anything."

I smiled at her. I knew I'd be facing him on the mats. He may come up with a different reason to tell her it is for, but I'll know what it's really for. Now, she's been honest with me, so I suppose it's my turn to be honest with her.

"I had a phone call as well while you were talking to Les." She turned her head and looked at me.

"Who? Don't tell me your brother has already called your parents and told them."

I wish it were only that easy. I could handle that with no problem. My mother would be thrilled that I was married. No, she might not like how it transpired, but she'd be happy with a daughter-in-law none the less.

"No, my family still doesn't know. The call was from Ranger."

I watched as her eyes widened and her mouth set in a thin line. One thing was sure… I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I don't ever want my wife pissed at me. I've seen her pissed a few times and it isn't a good thing.

"What did he want?" she growled.

"Well, I guess he called in for a report and found out you were injured somehow. No one would tell him what happened or how you were, just that if he wanted answers he needed to talk to me. So, he called and demanded to know what happened and why he had to call me."

I watched as she closed her eyes, leaned her head back against the back of the couch, and rubbed her temple with her right hand, "What all did you tell him?"

"I was honest with him. Told him he had to talk to me because you were staying with me right now. I told him what your injuries are."

Turning her head to the side, she looked at me, "Did you happen to mention that we're married?"

I shook my head, "Nah, figure he'll find that out when he gets home tomorrow night or Saturday morning."

"He's coming home? Now?"

I nodded. "He said, and I quote, "I'll be home by tomorrow night. She can move up to seven on Saturday and I'll take care of her until she's healed"."

I saw the emotions fly across her face. Disgust, anger, and finally hatred. Man she was very pissed at the moment.

"Take care of me until I'm healed? What the fuck is he thinking? That I'll just accept his request for me to move up to the seventh floor, stay there while I heal, and then leave? Fuck that. I'm not leaving this apartment unless it is to go somewhere with you. I'm surprised you didn't yell at him over the phone that we were married."

I wanted to, believe you me. I wanted to. But, I knew that was information best delivered in person. "I figured we'd tell him together in person."

"Yeah, probably better that way." She tried to hide the yawn that crept up on her, but I could see it and decided that it was nap time. Picking her up, I smiled when she yelped in surprise; at least I hope it was in surprise and not pain.

"Nap time for the two of us," I explained as we headed to the bedroom. I knew we needed to discuss Ranger and what to do when he arrived back here, but at the moment all I wanted was to hold my wife some while we rested.

I woke up about two hours later to the feeling of an intruder in the room. Carefully, as to not disturb my wife, I reached for my gun under my pillow. Releasing the safety, I had it pointed at the intruder before I even opened my eyes.

"DUDE," he whispered, "put the damn gun away so I can do my job."

"Brown, what the fuck are you doing?" I asked as I put the safety back on and tried to keep my voice low.

"It's time for me to check on her and I didn't want to wake her. I need to check her incision site and make sure it's not infected," he stated as he looked for a way to move her without disturbing her.

"Get the fuck out. She's asleep. I was asleep. She doesn't need to be woke up every few hours. You can check her site when she's awake later."

"No need to do it later," I heard her mumble and knew we'd woken her up. "I'm up now, so might as well get it over with."

"Sorry, Bomber," Bobby said as he moved for me to get out of bed. "I know you're released from the hospital and you don't have a concussion, but I just want to make sure you don't end up with an infection."

"It's okay," she grumbled, "take a quick look." She lifted the hem of her shirt for Bobby to look. The site wasn't red or swollen, so she was good.

"Okay, looks great. I'll leave you alone unless you come to me. But, if you notice anything different let me know ASAP, got it?"

"Got it, Doc!"

I laughed at Bobby's expression and escorted him out of the bedroom. "Next time, knock man. Don't break in because I'll shoot first and ask questions later."

I locked up, not that it mattered, and returned to the bedroom. Crawling back in bed, I kissed Steph and smiled.

"What's the smile for, Matthew?" she questioned as she watched me.

"Honestly?" She nodded. "I've not been able to erase this smile since I woke up married to you. The only thing that stopped the smile was when you were in the hospital. I love that I can touch you anytime I want. I can kiss you anytime I want. And, when you're fully healed, I'll be able to make love to you anytime I want."

"Mmm, I like the sound of that," she purred as my fingers began running through her hair. She closed her eyes and then suddenly tensed up. Searching to see if I was bumping her arm or leg somehow, I was about to ask what was wrong when she spoke. "What is the chance that Ranger won't make it back tomorrow?"

"Not a very good one," I told her. I had been thinking the same thing earlier, but knew this was an inevitable meeting that needed to happen. "He's going to come here tomorrow night and expect to see you Saturday morning." Letting out a deep breath, I asked her, "What do you want to tell him? And do you want me there when you talk to him?"

"I have nothing to hide from him. He was the one that ended our relationship or whatever you want to call it. He told me to move on with my life; and I did. Honestly, I don't think I've ever been as happy as I am with you."

She stopped talking for a minute, but I could see there was still a conversation in her head, so I waited. "I do still love him," she said, and my heart skipped a few beats. "But it's more like a love that you share with a friend. I'm not in love with him; hell, I'm not even sure I ever was. The love I feel for you is so different from what I feel for him. I'd be upset if he were hurt or something. I'd be upset if he decided he didn't want to be part of my life any longer. But I know I'd get over it. If I lost you…."

She couldn't go on and I didn't pressure her to. I knew what she wasn't saying; it was the same thing I felt when I found out she was in the accident. I loved her and she loved me. We were meant to be together and nothing was going to stand in the way. At least, I hope not. Only time would tell, but for now, I was content just lying in bed next to my wife and not worrying about what would happen in just over twenty-four hours.