Disclaimer: Don't own of these characters or Title. The characters are Janet's. Thoughts that the song "Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney brought to mind. Not a song fic.

A/N: I refer to medical treatment in this chapter. I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. If I have made errors please forgive me; I just liked the way they sound.

Don't Blink, Chapter 3


RANGERS POV

I handed her over to the EMS crew. They were working to evaluate her condition and trying to start an IV. She was becoming agitated and struggling. The tech placed straps across her chest and legs to keep he still. She was rocking her head back and forth and the tech had to fight her to get the oxygen mask on her.

"No!" she said in a strained whisper and squeezed her eyes shut. "I love you Ranger, I'm sorry. I love you Ranger, I'm sorry."

They had loaded her into the ambulance; I climbed in beside her, took her hand and stroked her hair. This seemed to quiet her.

"What happened to her?" the tech asked.

"She was taken hostage, beaten and probably raped."

"She appears to have cracked or broken ribs, maybe even a punctured lung. She is really struggling to breathe. Good thing you guys got to her in time. She probably would have died if she'd taken any more trauma to her rib cage; it would not have taken much."

"We didn't get here in time. She took the assailant out herself."

"This is the Bombshell Bounty Hunter, right? From what I've read in the newspapers, I thought she was pretty much a joke. How is it possible that she took out the guy?"

My temper flared, and if I didn't think that he was the only thing keeping Steph alive, I would have thrown him out the back of the ambulance to let him bounce off the hood of Tank's SUV which was following closely behind the ambulance. "She is a highly effective bounty hunter, and is perfectly capable to taking out any one of her skips. She killed Benito Ramirez remember." I said through clenched teeth.

From the way he shrank back from my glare, I think he got the picture he should keep his mouth shut and make sure that Stephanie was well taken care of.

The ride was longer that I wanted and Stephanie's breathing was really shallow. The bruises on her face were looking more swollen by the minute, I was sure her cheek was fractured as well. I knew we were getting closer by the number of street lights and the way the driver was slowing to cross intersections.

"Hang in there, Babe, we are almost there." I whispered against her ear and gave her hand a squeeze. I felt the ambulance make a quick turn, stop and then back up. The rear doors flew open and they whisked her away from me into an examining room. A nurse met me, asking for the same information that I had already given the EMT. Tank had called ahead with all of the insurance information. I was handed forms and I scratched my name across them.

I turned to ask if I could go back with her when the doors swished open and Morelli appeared before me. He marched up to me, within inches of my face and grabbed me by the front of my shirt. "I hold you personally responsible for this!" he spat. "If she doesn't make it, I will be sure to make you pay. This isn't some kind of game, Manoso. What the fuck are you thinking involving her with guys like Andrews?"

Tank stepped in between us before I could respond. "Morelli, back off. Stephanie was doing her job, just like all of us. You know as well as anyone that shit happens on takedowns. We are all pissed that things happened the way they did, but it is no one's fault."

Morelli stared a Tank for a moment, turned his eyes to me, conveying that this wasn't over. Fine by me, I didn't get to beat the shit out of Andrews; Morelli would do just as well. Without another word, he turned and went back out of the door. I guess he thought he could wait out of my sight just as well as in here.

I walked over and took a seat. Tank walked over and took a seat facing me.

I looked up at him, "Thanks man. I would have just punched him in the face to shut him up. I don't have any patience for his shit right now."

"Yeah, I know. I thought you could use a break." Tank said.

"Why does he do that? He rants and raves like he cares for her so much, but.."

"But what?"

"Nothing, forget I said anything."

Just then the doors from the examining area opened and a woman in scrubs walked up to me. "Mr. Manoso? I'm Doctor Shelby. I examined Stephanie Plum." She extended her hand.

"How is she?"

"I believe she has multiple fractured and cracked ribs and a punctured lung. We are sending her to X-ray to confirm; excessive abdominal bruising; no internal injures other than the lung."

"What about the rape kit?" I asked.

"She has signs consistent with forced penetration: bruising, abrasions but no semen found. I understand the assailant is dead, so no need to collect evidence. She will be in a room in about an hour. The nurse will let you know when you can see her." She said as she turned to go.

"Thank you." I said to the doctor's back, then turned to Tank. "Did you speak to the coroner about Andrews?"

"Yeah, probably blunt force trauma to the base of his skull from the blow Stephanie gave him with the buckle. He won't know until the autopsy." He stated. "Pretty amazing that she found a weapon, that van was pretty clean. Damn amazing we found her at all, considering where he drove her. It was fucking genius that she used that cell phone."

I couldn't say anything. I just nodded my head.

"Cal wants to stay here and stand guard, he's pretty shaken up that Andrews took her on his watch." Tank said.

"He doesn't have any reason to blame himself." I said.

"Sounds like good advice. Why don't you take it yourself."

Again, I couldn't say anything. I just nodded my head.

A nurse appeared and told me where to find Steph. I told Tank to checkout and get some rest. He would be in charge at Rangeman until further notice.

Cal and I took the elevator to the 4th floor. Cal waited outside the door while I went in to sit with Stephanie. A nurse was checking the flow of Stephanie's IV and attaching an oxygen meter to her fingertip.

"We have her on a mild sedative. We want her relaxed and quiet, but not out. Her breathing will be very shallow because of her ribs and her lung. If she gets too relaxed, she may not breathe. If the monitor beeps, wiggle her foot or squeeze her hand, just enough to keep her breathing. We can hear it at the nurses' station as well. I'll be back in an hour, unless you need something before then. Use the call button if you need anything, or need to leave."

"Thank you."

I turned and pulled a chair from across the room next to the bed. I took her hand in mine and stroked her hair with my other and sat down. I sat with my chin resting on the bed by Steph's ear, just breathing her in. I closed my eyes and tried to squash the dread in my stomach. What have I done to her?

Stephanie opened her eyes, and tried to turn towards me but the oxygen tube to her nose pulled at her head.

"Babe, be still. You are going to be okay."

"God, its okay, I'm not afraid to die. The only thing is I was stupid. I don't want to die because I was stupid."

"You aren't going to die, Babe. Just be still and rest." She closed her eyes.

Then blinked them open again. "God, you let him know didn't you? I don't want him not to know, I love him and I'm sorry."

"I know." I said. "Te quiero, Bebé."

She closed her eyes again and sighed.

I just stared at her bruised face. After what I've done to her, she's saying she's sorry.

I have got to get away from her. I have pulled her in to my world and look what it has done to her. It's too dangerous for her to be with me. I need to call someone to come and sit with her, so that I can put some distance between us. Cobarde. I did this, and I want to leave it to someone else to watch over her. Fuck, I got her raped tonight, how do I fix that?

She said she was stupid. Crazy. Tank was right, it was genius calling my cell phone. What was stupid was getting her involved in this shit in the first place. Why do I get her into these things, I don't need her to distract these skips. I have a team of highly trained men that can extract dictators from their beds surrounded by armed guards.

Because I love to watch her work, that's why. She is amazing to watch. She is so unaware of how beautiful she is; her instincts are fantastic and men can't resist her. But, I should have trained her, helped her to better protect herself. I've had plenty of reason to do so, especially after her string of stalkers-of- the-week. She would do it if I asked. She would do anything I asked.

Morelli had every right to kick my ass. If it were the other way around, they would need a shovel to scoop him off the ground. I don't get him, can't he see what I see. It fucking pisses me off the way Morelli and her mother tear at her confidence. She has more natural ability than anyone I've met. But if I'm honest, I've torn down that confidence as well. I steal her kisses and give her nothing back, at least not emotionally. I don't do anything to make her feel worthy of my love. I could date her, like any other man that finds a woman attractive. But I've stole her kisses without giving her anything, accept more self-doubt.

Why? Because she makes it easy for me. She doesn't ask me for anything in return. I know she wants more, but doesn't have the confidence to ask for it. She doesn't ask me for anything. That's my fault, too. I could give her what she wants, but I don't. I know what see needs, more than she does. Not because she's not intelligent enough to figure it out, but because I can see what she can be if she hadn't been brainwashed by the criticism and guilted into pleasing others. So why don't I?

Cobarde.

A/N I used an online translator for these phrases. Forgive me if they are not correct.

Te quiero, Bebé. "I love you, Babe.

Cobarde Coward.