Chapter 22

SPOV

I knew I was alone when I woke up, the pillow in my arms wasn't convincing, it was too soft. I rolled onto my back and even though some muscles were aching like mad I smiled. I felt happy for the first time in ages because Ranger had said that this apartment was as much mine as it was his and that no one else was allowed up here.

Somehow him saying that and then us spending the night together made me feel special and more confident and that maybe I'd been totally wrong about that woman, Tali. Ranger had said all the right things to convince me that I was the center of his attention. Though that niggle came to my mind of what would happen in the future. Somehow, I had to beat those charges and help to find the bad guys because only when everything was resolved would I know for sure.

Normally when I'd stayed here at Rangeman I ended up going back to my apartment when the danger had gone away, and Ranger had retreated away from me. That was something that I'd have to deal with when the time came.

I knew that I needed to get up and start the day, follow through with the names of those soldiers that Ranger had found.

I pulled on the robe from the back of the door and collected some clean clothes to wear for the day before going through to the bathroom, thoroughly enjoying a long hot shower. Afterwards I spent time drying my hair and covering up the slight yellow from the fading bruises with some makeup. All in all, I felt so much better, whilst I still had the remnants of bruising there wasn't any pain, and I could walk without limping on my ankle. Dressed in leggings and a long shirt, that covered my backside, I dropped the robe on the bed, slipped on some flat pumps and went through to the living area, suddenly wondering if Mylo was still here.

I came to halt as I looked into the lounge area seeing someone bent over the table with my laptop open in front of them. I recognized the long blonde hair as she suddenly turned and looked at me, obviously aware that she was being watched.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't realize that you were here"

I didn't reply because to be honest I didn't know what to say. Hadn't Ranger said that no one came up here unless they were invited? Had he asked her to come up here?

"Carlos said that you might have some more information on Manning and that the laptop was up here"

I still didn't say anything, slightly stunned at what she'd said. Surely Ranger wouldn't have told her to come up here and look at the photos that I'd found, would he? I was half mad and half deflated. Mad that she was up here trying to look at my laptop and deflated because Ranger had sent her up. I didn't know what to make of her being here.

I walked slowly to where she was and closed the lid of the laptop, pleased to see that she hadn't been able to get past the password to operate it. Not knowing if this woman was trying to hack into my laptop, I picked up the laptop from the table deciding that I needed some answers as to who the hell she was.

"I need to go downstairs and get some work done"

I said as I turned and headed for the door. I wasn't surprised when she kept up with me so opted for the stairs instead of the elevator. I thought being on the move was preferable to being stuck in the elevator with her. I couldn't believe it when she was suddenly at my side, keeping pace with me and talking.

"I'm really sorry about what happened at the zoo"

I'm sure she was if her intention had been to stick me in a safe house. I suppose that way I wouldn't be anywhere near Ranger.

"No problem"

I replied hoping that would be the end of her talking.

"Carlos wasn't pleased with me, so I'd like to help out, you know, work with you with what you've found out"

I stopped to look at her wondering if she was serious. She certainly looked genuine as she stood there next to me. Maybe I was overreacting, maybe she was being genuine in wanting to help me. It still didn't account for why she was in Ranger's apartment, though I suppose if she wanted to help then maybe my laptop would be the first place to start. Hell, it's something that I would do.

Then I remembered all the things that she'd said. First at the zoo and then her voice as I'd listened in on that meeting. Why the hell was she trying to get close to me? Maybe I needed to talk to Hector first, he might be able to tell me more about her because I was sure that Ranger had said that she was working with him. I'd quickly dismissed the idea of talking to Les, yeah, we spoke a lot, but I had a feeling that he wouldn't tell me anything about Tali and that his loyalty would be toward Ranger. Hector though, whilst scary as hell, had always spoken his mind so I was sure that he wouldn't lie to me, whether it hurt my feelings or not.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt"

Was all I said in the hope that she'd leave me alone.

"Great"

As Tali went through the door that led onto five, I carried on down to three where Hector's office was. Tali obviously hadn't realized that I hadn't followed her through the door so hopefully I'd managed to lose her. Knocking on the door I was surprised when Hector didn't answer me and trying the handle found out why. He wasn't there.

Maybe it was Ranger who I needed to see then, maybe if I confronted him, he'd at least not lie to me. I wanted to know if he'd really sent her up to the apartment and whether or not he expected me to work with her. I'd thought that how Ranger was behaving with me at the moment seemed as though he actually wanted me around him, or was it just until this case was sorted out? It still didn't explain Tali's behavior though.

I took the elevator back up to five, hell I'd done more exercise in the last ten minutes than I usually did in a week. I went straight to Ranger's office finding the door open slightly. I could see Tali leant over the desk toward Ranger, what the hell was she up to now.

"Tali"

"Carlos"

"Why are you here?"

The tone of Ranger's voice made me stop, he was annoyed, and I wasn't too sure if I wanted to walk into his office and have that voice directed at me. That he was annoyed at her made me feel more confident about broaching the subject and asking who the hell she was.

"She knows more Carlos, let me work with her. You know that makes sense, we'll make a good team"

Okay, I'd had enough of this, so I slowly pushed the door open and started to walk into Ranger's office. Ranger saw me immediately, but Tali was ignorant to the fact that I was stood behind her.

"Come on Carlos, she needs some help, and I can work the systems"

Ranger looked at me now, which had Tali turning around, oh yeah, she didn't expect to see me stood there. I watched as a shocked expression crossed her face.

"Oh crap, you heard didn't you?"

I crossed my arms over my chest and tilted my head to the side so that she was under no illusion that yes, I'd heard what she'd said.

"I'm sorry. I just want to, I feel guilty for us losing Manning so I thought if we worked together we'd find him faster"

I could understand where she was coming from, but I wasn't exactly the best person at working with someone else. I had an unusual way of finding things out that most people didn't always understand. It still made me feel inferior, as though she was better than me. I looked past her to Ranger who was now leant back in his chair watching me.

"Let me talk with Ranger"

I said as I stood to the side for Tali to leave the room. I watched as she left, and as the door closed behind her before turning back to Ranger. Somehow, he'd moved without me noticing and was leant against the front of his desk with what could be a slight smile on his face.

"So, Carlos?"

I said trying to raise one eyebrow and failing miserably.

"She does it to annoy me. I've known her since my early days in the army, before the name Ranger became the norm"

Any annoyance that I had been carrying seemed to frazzle away. Now I was feeling jealous because she hadn't been lying when she had said that she knew him so well. My shoulders dropped and I was looking down at the floor, afraid that Ranger would see how I had just reacted to that bit of news. I suppose the fact that Ranger could read me so well didn't help my dilemma and he was soon stood in front of me with his arms around me. As he pulled me closer to him, our bodies molding together, his hand came to the back of my head and his lips were on mine, teasing and tormenting until I opened for him.

I forgot whatever it was that had me worrying as my body melted against his, relishing the heat that spread through me. As I made to wrap my other arm around him that was when I became aware that I still had the laptop in my hand, resting against my side. I was the one to pull away, resting my forehead on his chest as I sought to get myself back in control.

"She was in the apartment"

I said, as a way to explain why I'd been annoyed, okay it upset me as well on so many other levels. I felt hands on my shoulders pushing me away slightly and instantly regretted what I'd said. Maybe she was someone that Ranger allowed in his apartment and maybe what I'd said sounded a tad bit like whining. Was this when Ranger would say that she was always welcome in his apartment?

I saw the frown cross Ranger's face as though he were disappointed in me for even daring to question Tali's comings and goings. I felt like a kid who had told tales to the teacher and was waiting for being told off.

"Tali?"

I nodded my head not daring to look back at his face.

"Babe. You are the only woman that I allow close to me. Did you think there was something more between Tali and me? Is that what she implied?"

I thought that through, had she implied that? Maybe, the way that she had talked about Ranger and her behavior when she was near to him certainly had the green in me coming to the surface. Oh shit, had I just betrayed myself to Ranger?

"I won't lie and say that I haven't slept with her but that was years ago. Why did you break off with Morelli?"

The change in direction of what he'd asked threw me and caught me off balance.

"I wasn't in love with him because"

I stopped myself from saying that I realized that I was in love with another man, him. Even if Tali wasn't another woman that he saw, it still didn't change what he'd said to me about him not doing relationships.

"Babe, I was waiting for you to make a choice, but I was too stubborn to push you into making that decision"

I looked up now and saw the slight smile across his face wondering if I had the guts to just blurt out what my choice would be if it was possible.

"I wasn't in love with him because I was in love with someone else"

Ranger's hands came to cup my face as he looked intently at me, my heart was doing flip flops as I ran through the words that I'd just said, what if he worked out that I was talking about him? I didn't want to have to hear the words that he'd said before, that he didn't do relationships and neither did I want to scare him away. His friendship was too important to me for that to happen. Shit, why couldn't I keep my thoughts to myself.

"I love you too Babe, always have done and always will"

You might think that I would be jumping up and down at what he'd just said but I was stood there looking at Ranger waiting for him to add his usual disclaimers. When he didn't say anything more, I looked down to let him off the hook.

"Babe, I know that I've made some stupid mistakes when it came to what I said to you and maybe I thought my actions spoke louder than the words. When I couldn't find you and then when I thought you were dead; I knew that I should have used the words that I wanted you to hear. I don't want to lose you again"

I heard what he'd said but wasn't sure what he was saying. I mean I knew that he was always there when I needed him. Hell, he lent me cars and helped me with skips when they were violent. He'd jumped off a bridge to save me and I was pretty damn sure he had something to do with Abruzzi's suicide.

But he did more than that, when a car blew up, he was there to make sure that I was okay and consoled me by simply holding me. When I was short of money, he gave me a job, but most of all he let me be myself. He never really shouted at me or lost his temper and he always said that he was proud of me, even for the smallest thing. How had I never seen that before, how had I never read more into his actions?

A tear fell from my eye and down my cheek as the full impact of what he'd said hit me. He loved me and saw us as already being in a relationship. As I lifted my face once more to look at him, I saw the concern in his eyes, he was worried, was he waiting for me to say something? Of course he was, he'd just laid open his heart to me, a heart that he'd protected for so many years.

"I. The other man, the one that I love, is you"

Came as a whisper from me as my hand rested gently on his jaw and I leant forward to move my lips across his. The laptop slipped from my hand and landed on the carpet making me jump slightly but it seemed that Ranger wasn't concerned about it. I found myself being picked up, so I wrapped my legs around his hips and my arms around his neck and allowed the kiss that I'd instigated deepen. It was slow and sensual, yet passionate and hungry and it seemed so different to how we normally kissed, it held hope and promises but most of all understanding and love.

It wasn't me this time that pulled away, and even though I needed to breathe, I almost groaned at the loss of contact. I unwrapped my legs from around Ranger's waist and slipped to the floor, suddenly aware that Ranger had turned his head toward the door. I have to admit that I hadn't been aware of it opening or of someone stood there watching us.

"Sorry, but I thought you'd like to know that Manning has turned up"

Looking at Les he didn't look pleased about that, which had me wondering what the problem was.

"Santos?"

Was all Ranger said as he looked at Les, even Ranger could tell that something wasn't quite right with the way Les had told us about finding Manning.

"He's dead. His body was discovered this morning"

I felt myself deflating after Les had said that. I'd needed that man alive because he knew who had shot Charlie, now we had nothing.

"Where?"

"In one of the skips at the mall. Looks like he'd been there a while"

That meant that he'd probably died when he went there to the mall. The question was did he go there to meet someone or was he followed.

"I need to talk to Hector"

I blurted out as I bent down to pick up the laptop.

"Babe?"

"I need Hector to download those photos and run some of the faces against ones at the mall through that program he has"

I didn't wait for a response because I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes and didn't want Ranger or Les to know just how upset I was with that news. Instead, I was heading out of the door toward the elevator as fast as I could. I just hoped that Hector was there now. As I walked toward Hector's door, I was so pleased to see it opening with Hector stood in the doorway. As I walked inside, he closed and locked the door behind me, which I had to admit made me feel more comfortable.

"Ranger messaged me, he said you had some photos"

I nodded as Hector sat me down in a chair in front of a computer. I felt more composed sitting there with Hector and bless him, he must have seen that I was upset but he never said or did anything to acknowledge it.

"They're on an email account"

"The one Ranger had me set up?"

I shook my head, feeling a little guilty that I'd set up a different one, don't ask me why, maybe it was me trying to protect Ranger and Rangeman. Who knows. After I opened the account and Hector took over, he downloaded the photos to one of his secure systems and also had everything printed out. An hour later he was running the faces through the facial recognition program to try and identify who the men were and looked to have more than one screen running through the footage from the mall. As the papers were printed, I collected them together, Charlie's writing was put into a wallet, but I looked more carefully at the faces on the photos before placing those in a file.

I left Hector to keep watch over the programs and with my laptop and the files went straight up to seven. The apartment was empty, but I was still a bit wary of Tali walking in on me so went through to the bedroom hoping that she wouldn't dare to walk into there. I was sat against the wall in the corner of the room with the bed between me and the door, studying the photos. I knew as the door opened that it was Ranger, that tingle on my neck so attuned to when he was near, so waited for him to find me. Seeing me he didn't seem surprised and instead of saying anything he came and sat down next to me. I passed him the photos for him to look through on the chance that he would recognize someone.

"That man is setting up an online gambling site. He used to be a co owner of a night club and was the one who Watson's girlfriend went to after she finished with him. The man he's talking to, I'm not sure. It doesn't show his face clearly because he's hidden in the doorway"

I remembered seeing something about a night club and a gambling business on the boards in the conference room surprised that there were two names associated with the owner on the boards.

"Anansi, wasn't it?"

"Yes. The nightclub was closed down and several people were arrested. He went by the name Rodney Carpenter then, but records show that he died. Jonathan Denby is the name that he's using now"

The next photo showed the two men who I'd seen at the warehouse when Ranger had been there, but the background showed an older building behind them.

"They were at that warehouse down on Lamberton Road"

"Jackson"

Ranger said as he held the next photo for me to see.

"He asked us for security which I refused. The business was packaging dried food. I didn't like the way he wanted to dictate where the surveillance cameras should be situated"

The next photo that Ranger held up I tried to ignore. Dickie Orr, my nemesis of an ex husband.

"Charlie said that he was the lawyer who brokered the deal for an apartment block"

"We found that link but knowing Dickie, he probably doesn't know what's going on"

True, Dickie would only be interested in the money he would get out of it.

The next one had Ranger looking at it for a few moments. I recognized her from the

photo that Ranger had shown me, the one of Manning when he was in the army.

"Emma Becket talking to Manning"

"He's in a Rangeman uniform as well"

I added as I looked more closely at the photo. Was it a coincidence that he was talking to Emma, maybe she'd been in town and they were catching up with each other? I wasn't feeling too optimistic about that and Ranger was moving onto the next photo. This one had two men stood on the street talking to a woman.

"That's Katy Jerome, Mylo's mother"

I looked more closely now seeing her as a woman who looked downtrodden. Her clothes looked big on her and her face seemed gaunt. Katy Jerome, I ran that name through my head sure that I recognized it. Then it came to me, she'd been a year above me at school. She'd been a pretty girl then and had always seemed so happy, not someone that I had knocked around with, but she always seemed to have a lot of friends.

"What happened to her?"

I asked, knowing that she'd died. Charlie had written about her being found in an alley by her apartment building.

"She was beaten up badly. One of those men turned up at that apartment where you were shot"

I didn't recognize either of them but the memory of me meeting with Jenny and what she'd said came back to me.

"Jenny said that her boss Walter was at the door when I was there. Maybe one of those men is Walter"

I felt Ranger's arm go around me as my voice trailed off. Hell, that day had been horrible. First finding Jenny dead with a gunshot to her head and then getting shot at on the roof.

"Why were you there Babe?"

As I thought it through, I knew now that it hadn't been to find information about who had shot Charlie.

"Ramos organized it, he said that Jenny might have information on who had shot Charlie, but I think he was setting me up to get information on this new organization. Jenny worked with her boss Walter, in property acquisition, but she got suspicious when one of the properties hadn't had any work done to it and looked to be where working girls lived"

"We found that one, along with a house that had been bought by a judge, a renovated block with apartments which was the place where Manning was hanging out"

Yeah, I'd read about that one, sure that it was the place that Charlie had written about. It seemed that we had some places and faces, a few names but I wasn't too sure where we'd go from here. It seemed that Ranger did though. I watched as he moved the papers to one side and then as his face came close to mine.

"Now that we seem to be in agreement, I'd very much like to show you just how much in love with you I am"

I'm sure my eyes opened wider as I fully internalized exactly what he'd said. It felt to me as though he was trying to use words instead of actions, not that I didn't like the moves that he usually used, but it was nice that he was making the effort to talk. I knew I was smiling as I took in his words and my reply to what he'd said was to use my hands on his shoulders to push him back against the wall, allowing me to shift myself so that I was straddling his legs. Ranger allowed to let me take control as I leant toward him, brushing my lips across his before nipping and biting his lower lip, demanding entrance.

My hands found their way to the bottom of his T-shirt, before starting their path up and over those wonderful muscles. Not wanting to, I pulled away slightly and pushed his T-shirt over his head to reveal the skin on his neck and shoulders, too irresistible to ignore with my mouth. I could feel the effect that I was having on him from the bulge that was now very pleasantly rubbing against me.

I could feel as one of his hands reached behind me to hold me under my backside as the other one slipped down the front of the leggings. A deep moan left my throat as his fingers worked their magic and my hands dropped from his shoulder to unfasten his cargos. The orgasm swept through me as I pushed down onto his hand and clung to the waistband of the cargos. As the sensations waned, I knew what I wanted to happen next so kneeling up I finished the task of freeing him. I wasn't aware of my leggings being pulled down but was glad they were out of the way as I slowly sank down, relishing the feel as he slid inside of me.

"Christ Babe"

I heard as I slowly lifted myself up before slowly sinking down again. My movements were slow and fluid replicating the movement of our mouths as we deepened a kiss. My mind felt euphoric and so in tune with the absolute extasy building up inside my body. I felt complete and whole, like this was where I was meant to be. I felt myself building up higher and higher until I was screaming out with the sheer pleasure that erupted through every cell of my body. I felt my hips being lifted and dropped before Ranger's voice was joining me.

I had to rest my head on his chest as the trembling continued to roll through me. I'd never before experienced an orgasm that was so intense. I felt hands on the side of my head, lifting it until I was looking into the near black eyes of Ranger.

"You complete me Babe, mi alma gemela"

I had no idea what that meant but I like the sound of it so attempted to repeat what he'd said.

"Mi alma gemela"

I saw the smile grow across his face and also felt as he hardened inside me.

"My turn"

Was all I heard before I found myself being lifted before sinking into the soft mattress of the bed.

Laying in my favorite position, yeah you guessed, with my head on Ranger's chest, I hadn't a thought in my mind. It was as boneless as the rest of me. Unfortunately, it was my treacherous stomach that broke the silence followed by a short rumble that sounded like a laugh coming from under my ear,

"Time to feed the beast, Babe. I'm sure that Ella will be here soon with Mylo"

I had no idea what the time was, but Ranger's reminder had me moving to get up and get ready. I headed for the shower, not surprised when Ranger joined me, to conserve water of course.

After we'd had our meal, I spent my time with Mylo reading while Ranger went down to his office. He still needed to keep up with the day to day running of Rangeman. I was surprised when not an hour later Ranger came back up to the apartment and so stopped reading out loud to Mylo to watch Ranger as he came and sat next to me.

"Has something happened?"

Because his arrival was starting to worry me.

"Good news Babe. Charlie Watson is more responsive, so it could mean that he's coming out of the coma"

I was so overcome with what I'd heard that I didn't say anything. Instead, my thoughts went instantly to what that meant for me. Charlie would be able to tell the police that it wasn't me that shot him.

"Babe, it's still early days yet"

I looked at Ranger as he said that knowing that I was probably being optimistic, but at least if Charlie was coming out of the coma, then the police couldn't add murder to my charges. A tug on my arm had me turning to see Mylo looking intently at me and then pointing to me and himself, over, and over again. I had no idea what had gotten him so agitated so looked to Ranger for some help. Ranger was just watching Mylo but somehow, I felt that he was thinking something through.

"I'll phone the hospital tomorrow Mylo and find out if you can visit him"

The smile that came to Mylo's face had me smiling with him and I turned to Ranger and wrapped my arms around him as I whispered a thank you to him.

"Don't thank me yet Babe. We'll have to see what the doctors say and then we'll need to make sure that the visit is secure"

I suppose I knew that if Mylo and I went outside of Rangeman then there would be additional men with us and to be honest I'd put up with as much security as Ranger wanted if it got me out of the building and I could be with Mylo when he visited his father.

It was nearly 11 in the morning when we eventually left the building. Ranger was driving the SUV with Mylo and me in the back and Les sat up front. Ella had provided the clothes that Mylo and I were wearing so I assumed that every article of clothing had a tracker in it. To add to that we each had a new watch that also had a panic button in it. I watched as Mylo kept looking at it probably not sure if he could believe what it was or frightened that he'd set it off by accident. At least that's what I'd felt like the first time that Ranger had given me one to wear.

As I watched the exit for the garage, I saw another SUV pull out ahead of us and turning realized that we had one behind us. It made me feel really guilty that Ranger was using so many men just because of me. As we drove all I could do was to look out of the window. I knew that both Ranger and Les were focused on what was going on around them and of course Mylo still hadn't said anything to anyone, which reminded me that he had his first meeting tomorrow with the child psychologist. I had to admit that I had no idea where we were going, only that the hospital was private and specialized in treating patients that had serious head injuries.

I was impressed as we pulled through gates and drove up a drive that was lined with trees, with areas of grass beyond. The building that we came to a stop in front of wasn't like anything that I expected. It looked like something from the future with lots of glass and curved roofs over a steel structure. I waited for Ranger to open the door for me before getting out surprised that the other two SUVs weren't in sight. Les and Ranger were by us as we walked up the steps toward the main entrance. The glass doors slid open and there to greet us was Bobby.

"The doctor is upstairs with Watson"

Was all Bobby said to Ranger before he led us through another door that needed a code before it opened. Once through that door it seemed so quiet with just a woman who looked to be greeting people. She smiled at Bobby as we passed her and then we were soon inside an elevator. I looked down at Mylo as his hand tightened around mine making me wonder what was going through his mind.

Once the doors slid open, we were walking down a short corridor that had doors on either side. Each door had a name on the outside, but I didn't need to read a name to know where Charlie was because stood outside of one of the doors was a man in a Rangeman uniform. As Ranger spoke to the man the door opened and two men with white coats and stethoscopes around their necks came out.

It was Bobby that they spoke to but by then Ranger was with me so we could hear what was being said.

"He's in and out of consciousness but so far he's remaining stable"

"Is he still on the anti-seizure medication?"

"We've been reducing that. The swelling that we were worried about under the skull has reduced significantly"

I looked down at Mylo wondering if he understood what was being said because from what I was hearing it seemed that Charlie was much better, even on the road to recovery.

"Family only, I'm afraid"

I looked up to the doctor as he said that surprised that he wouldn't let us in to see Charlie.

"This is his son"

I said as I stepped forward, looking straight at the doctor. I'd accept if I couldn't get in to see Charlie, but I was going to do my best for Mylo to see his father. I watched as the doctor looked at me and then at Bobby. I had to listen really carefully as Bobby lowered his voice to explain something to him.

"I have the paternity results if you need to see them. Mylo, here, was living with his father, he's the only parent that he has"

The doctor nodded his head as he looked down at Mylo and it was Bobby who took hold of Mylo's other hand. I bent down in front of Mylo to explain to him what would be happening.

"Mylo, Bobby is a friend. He's going to take you inside so that you can see your father. I'll be right here when you need me. Okay?"

I could see that Mylo was nervous with what was about to happen, but he reluctantly let go of my hand. I was surprised when the door to Charlie's room opened again, and a man stepped from the room. I had a vague recollection of seeing him before but couldn't remember where from. As he stepped toward me, I felt a cold shudder run through me setting every nerve in my body on edge. I wasn't even aware of Bobby and Mylo going into the room as that man started to walk toward me.

"Miss Plum. Not somewhere you should be"

I took a step back, feeling Ranger come to my side, because for some reason this man in front of me was making me feel almost scared.

"Detective Rosbourne"

I looked at Ranger unsure of why he was here and suddenly worried that maybe I remembered him from being in the police station.

"Mr Manoso. Miss Plum, you look better than the last time I spoke to you. Maybe we need a conversation to finish your interview"

"Not happening without her lawyer, detective"

"At least for the moment we won't have to be adding murder to your charges Miss Plum, though it seems that Mr Watson still has a long way until he is fully recovered, if he ever does"

With that said he turned and walked away from us leaving me puzzled by what he meant.

"Who was he?"

I asked, even though I had a pretty good idea.

"Detective Rosbourne and Detective Jeffreys are the ones investigating Watson's attack, they were the ones who arrested you Babe and probably questioned you"

"I, I don't really remember much about that"

But that was probably why I had such a strong feeling come over me when he appeared. I suppose if he knew that Charlie might be awake then he'd want to try to and ask questions about what had happened. What had me worried was what he'd said as he left.

"What did he mean when he said that Charlie still has a long way until he is fully recovered, if he ever does?"

"It's early days yet Babe. You heard what the doctor said, Watson is only just regaining consciousness"

I guess that Ranger was right but then why was that detective here? Did he expect him to just wake up after weeks of being in a coma and give a statement? Something didn't feel right to me, but then again maybe it was the idea of having been arrested and charged that was making me feel this way.

We found some seats just down the corridor so sat and waited, my arm around Ranger's waist as he held me against him. I couldn't think straight so tried to clear my mind instead. It felt so right just being held, as though my troubled mind was being cocooned in a feeling of calm. The steady movement of his hand through my hair dispersed those feelings of anxiousness that had threatened so strongly a few minutes ago. I wasn't even sure how long we sat there for, but it was when that movement stopped that I opened my eyes and looked down the hallway. Bobby was walking toward us but not with Mylo, where was he. Bobby was supposed to stay with him.

Both Ranger and I stood up and started to walk toward Bobby, my heart rate had picked up and maybe my expression showed that I was worried.

"He's fine Steph. He wouldn't let go of his father's hand, so I think he wants to stay longer"

I couldn't blame him for wanting to do that but wasn't sure what length of time we were talking about.

"Santos is here, we'll bring him back to Rangeman when he's ready to leave. He'll be fine with us Steph"

I looked up to Ranger, in a way asking him if he thought that would be safe or whether or not we should stay and wait.

"They'll look after him Babe. Maybe we need to start planning out how we move forward"

I suppose he was right, it reminded me that at the moment we didn't have a lot of evidence to actually prove or disprove what was going on or what roles different people had. I nodded my head to Ranger and looked at Bobby, consciously trying to convey to him to look after Mylo.

It was only as we came out of the building that I realized that I had no idea how Charlie actually was. With a head injury anything could have happened, he might not know who he was or have any memories or worse he may not be able to function properly with the damage that may have been done to his brain. Right now though, I wasn't sure that I wanted to know, I had to keep hoping that Charlie would make a full recovery if I was to be vindicated of the charge that was hanging over my head.

"Babe?"

Looking up I realized that we'd reached the car and that Ranger was stood waiting for me with the door to the car open. I climbed in and fastened the seatbelt while Ranger walked around the car and got in. As we pulled out of the driveway, I noticed a black SUV that had been parked pullup behind us and tail us as we turned onto the road. It wasn't just Ranger who was in his zone, for some reason I was as well. I kept looking in the sidemirror and scanning the road ahead of us, what for I wasn't sure, only that my nerves were going into overdrive.

"Babe, what's wrong?"