It's been a few days, hopefully this chapter helps.

Ranger's POV

I shook my head at Stephanie, amazed that she could make jokes when she was obviously in so much pain. I got out of the car and quickly walked around to her side and lifted her out gently. She rested her head on my shoulder; her breath was hot on my throat and my pants got uncomfortably snug. Crap. "Uh babe? Can you stop breathing on my throat?" Her eyebrow went up. "It makes me happy…very happy…"

Stephanie giggled and then groaned as her ribs protested, "Sorry, it's not funny." She paused for a second as we walked into the ER, "Okay it's a little funny." I shook my head at her. Her tongue darted out and caressed my jaw line and I damn near dropped her. What the hell was she trying to do to me?

"Christ Babe." I walked her up to the admitting counter, "Hi, this is Stephanie Plum, she was in a little accident, I think she has a broken leg and some broken ribs."

"Alright, fill out these forms," she handed me a clipboard which Stephanie grabbed, "A doctor will be with you as soon as possible."

I stared at the nurse for a minute but she didn't seem to see that making us wait was bad. Steph pulled on my sleeve, "it's okay Ranger, let's go fill out the forms." I gave the nurse a look that should have made her reconsider but she wasn't paying attention. I sighed and sat down, keeping Stephanie on my lap. Stephanie looked at the top form. "I don't have health insurance."

"Yes you do."

"No I don't"

"You have health insurance through Rangeman. Good health insurance. I put the card in your office mailbox."

"I have an office mailbox?" Stephanie asked. I sighed, pulled out my phone and dialed Cal.

"Boss?"

"Can you go into Stephanie's mailbox, get her insurance card and read me the info?"

"On my way." A few minutes later Cal came back on and gave me the info. I filled out the form quickly and moved onto the next one. I filled out all of Stephanie's personal and medical history without thinking about it. I paused when it asked about her last period and looked at Stephanie.

"Okay, I'm a little freaked out that you knew all that. And I can finish it, thank you." She filled in the date quickly and I did some mental math.

"Babe you're late." My mind was running a million miles a minute. She was pregnant. With Diesel's baby.

Stephanie looked at me like I was crazy. "No I'm not." She thought for a second, "Okay. I'm late but only a few days, and I'm not pregnant." We looked at each other for a minute. "Seriously. No way."

"Okay," A lady in pink scrubs came up to us and I handed her the newly finished paperwork. She led us back to a curtained room and took Steph's vitals.

"Can you tell me what happened?" The nurse asked. Stephanie shot me a glance and I shrugged.

"There was an accident." Steph said with a shrug. The nurse gave me a dirty look.

"Why don't you go wait in the other room sir?" It wasn't a question. It was a command. I gave Steph a quick kiss and started to step away but she grabbed my arm.

"No! Ranger! Don't leave. Cripes. A few bikers beat me up and tried to rape me. Batman here saved my ass," she said angrily to the nurse. I almost smiled.

"Oh, ok, sorry. The doctor will be in shortly." She left and pulled the curtain behind her.

Stephanie squeezed my hand, "did you mean it?"

"Yes," I said.

"Okay." She sent me a smile and I smiled back. I wanted to keep her distracted somehow but I couldn't think of anything to say.

"Can I ask you a question?" She finally asked.

I nodded, "Anything babe." Anything to keep you from remembering that you've got broken bones.

"How long?"

"How long what?"

"Have you loved me?" She had to ask that question.

"It's difficult to pinpoint. The first time I saw you there was a pull that I've never felt before. I think I realized I loved you when you were trying to capture me. God Steph. You amaze me." I earned a smile from her.

"So what are we going to do now?"

"Can we just see what happens?" I asked. I wasn't sure about how to work a relationship right this second.

"Sounds good to me." She bit her lip, "I hurt."

"Is there anything I can do?" I asked. I hated that she was hurting.

"Kiss me." Now that I could do. I gently pressed my lips against hers and she moaned and slid her tongue into my mouth. I heard a throat clearing behind me and I pulled myself away from her silently and turned to face the doctor.

He poked and prodded her and they set her leg and put a cast on it. Her ribs were wrapped and she was given a large dose of pain medication. By the time I wheeled her out she was giggling happily. "Steph? Where do you wanna go babe? My place or yours?"

She looked at me with wide eyes. "I don't know Ranger. What if Diesel's not home? What if I need something to eat? I won't be able to get it myself. I'll starve!" She sounded genuinely worried.

"Babe. I'd never let you starve. You do need someone with you. Why don't we stop and see if Diesel is home?" Stephanie drugged up was faintly amusing.

"I want you to stay." I raised an eyebrow. "You keep doing that and your face might be frozen stuck that way."

"Even if Diesel is there?"

"I need cake." I shook my head at the change of subject. Stephanie babbled about cake the rest of the drive and I sighed. It was going to be a long night.

Stephanie wasn't sure where her purse was and I realized we'd never grabbed it from the building. I knocked and Diesel opened the door wearing boxers. That was the cherry on top of my fucked-up sundae.

Yay?