Oops. Stephanie doesn't visit the Manoso's in canon. Just the neighborhood where he grew up. I guess I've read that scene enough in fanfiction I figured one of them was from the books. I re-read both 12 and 24. And then remembered that I hate 24.

Recap: Stephanie is sleep deprived. Ranger can't get an MRI because of shrapnel in his body that might react to the magnets. Still, he is moved out of the ICU. and we see his mother storm in.

Stephanie

I've never met Ranger's family. Well, aside from Julie, and Lester, and his sister. But not his mom. Meeting your boyfriend's mom is supposed to be a formal affair, held over pot roast in the living room. You spend at least an hour getting dolled up. It is not supposed to happen in a hospital room when you haven't slept in 48 hours and your hair looks like you styled it in a wind tunnel.

Not that she was paying the slightest bit of attention to me. RangeMom barreled into the room, shoving aside men who were twice her size like they were bowling pins. "¡Mi bebé! ¡Mira lo que te han hecho!" (My baby! Look what they've done to you!)

She threw herself on him, holding him tightly. He was doing the same, wrapping his IV-filled arms carefully around the frail woman. "Estoy bien mamá, estoy bien. No necesitas llorar." (I'm OK mom, I'm OK. You don't need to cry.)

They held each other for a few moments. Then I saw out of the corner of my eye that Lester was sneaking out of the room. "Don't you move a muscle." came RangeMom's voice from the bed. Everyone stopped moving, but Lester looked like he was about to get shot. No, it was worse than that. I've seen him when he's in danger. He's cool as a cucumber with a case of hypothermia. But now he had that deer-in-the-headlights look people sometimes get before fainting.

"You!" RangeMom shouted at him. "How could you not call me when he was hurt? I had to learn it from watching the news!"

Everyone glanced around nervously, still afraid to move a muscle. Lester looked absolutely terrified, his skin almost as white as mine.

The tension was broken when in walked in a hispanic woman who was a dead ringer for Ranger, had he been more feminine. Same skin, same bone structure. Same intelligent eyes. "Hey bro. Seems you've had a pretty bad day."

"Hey Celia. It's been an eventful one. Any chance of calling Mom off of Lester?"

She shook her head. "Nah, Mom's furious that noone told her. We didn't know anything had happened to you until a neighbor called and said she'd seen you on Telemundo tackling the president. We called you, and Tank, and Lester, but noone picked up the phone."

"Y este estúpido bastardo no nos llamó para avisarnos. ¿Cuánto tiempo ibas a dejar que mi hijo se pudriera aquí sin decírmelo?" (And this stupid bastard didn't call us to let us know. How long were you going to let my son rot here without telling me?) RangeMom yelled at Lester.

"I couldn't use my cell phone in the hospital. You know they don't all...OW" Lester had just been whacked upside the head.

"Mamá, please stop."

Ranger had said please. He didn't do that very often. And he pretty much always got his way when he did. From me at least. It seems I wasn't the only woman who would do anything when he asked nicely. His mom deflated and suddenly looked very tired.

"Let's let the family have some time." Tank said, shuttling the black-clad mob out the door. I had planned to stay, but he gently took my wrist and led me out as well, shutting the door behind him.

"Thanks Tank, I owe you one." said Lester, looking relieved.

"I don't understand. Why did you pull me away?" I asked Tank. I hadn't been out of Ranger's room to do more than pee since he came out of surgery. I turned to Lester. "And why didn't you call his mom?"

We were still in a crowd of Rangemen, so Tank signaled for both of us head to a deserted alcove. Once there, he pointed to a sink and mirror. "I gather you haven't met Ranger's mom yet. To be blunt, you look like you've been in a hospital with no sleep for 2 days. I thought you might want to wash your face and brush your hair before meeting the potential Mother in Law."

It was probably the most I'd ever heard out of Tank's mouth at one time. And it was surprisingly thoughtful. I stepped over to the sink. Yikes! Tank wasn't kidding about my appearance. I've looked better after rolling in garbage. Sadly, that was direct knowledge, not conjecture. I turned on the water and went to work washing my face, and wondering if the hospital gift store sold hats, nothing short of a gallon of conditioner was going to tame my hair properly.

"OK, thanks for giving me a chance to clean up. But Lester, you really should have called her."

Lester shook his head. "Nope. ICU only lets in two people. I know my Tia, she'd want one of her kids to come with her. If she was here, you might not be allowed in the room. And I knew both Ranger and you needed it to be you in the room."

I stared at him, open mouthed. I ignored the faucet spewing water behind me, or the lather on my face from the hand soap. Lester looked sheepish.

I tackled him in a bear hug, surprising him enough to rock him back on his heels. He wrapped his arms around me as I cried. I was kind of embarrassed, but I just had no filters left. Exhaustion had taken a lot out of me.

"Hey, hey, it will be OK Beautiful." he said while stroking my back. "It will all be OK."

I hoped he was right.

"Wait, why didn't you call her once he was moved to post-op?"

"That's simple. I'm terrified of her and chickened out."

20 minutes later I looked much better. My face was clean, I'd washed myself as best as I could in the bathroom, and I'd been lucky enough to find a curly-haired nurse with a bottle of Friz-ease. I didn't look my best, but I no longer looked like I'd been hit by a truck. I took a deep breath and did a little knock on Ranger's door.

"Come in." said an older female voice with a strong Cuban accent. I steeled myself, and opened the door.