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: Okay Cupcakes, you are not going to like this one. I usually have a favorable opinion of Joe, but I'm using him as a catalyst for Ranger to get off of his ass. Don't anyone shoot me, okay. Language and violence warning.
Don't Blink, Chapter 5
"Ranger, I didn't tell you I love you to change your mind. I told you because I had to, because I wanted you to know. You can do whatever you want to, it will be okay, but Ranger, don't blink."
He just looked at me stunned.
I was watching him to see what he would say, see what he would do when we heard raised voices outside my door. Ranger walked to the door and opened it slightly. "Fuck." He muttered under his breath. "Morelli." He said to me over his shoulder. Joe was apparently informing Cal how he was here to see me and wanting to know why the fuck he was stationed outside my door.
Ranger stepped out into the hallway to diffuse the situation and I whispered that it was okay, I had some things I wanted to say to Joe. Ranger raised his eyebrows in a "Are you sure?" gesture and I nodded my head.
Joe looked up to see Ranger. " I should have known." Joe said.
Ranger stepped out of the door after letting Joe in. He looked me in the eye as he pulled the door closed. Not sure what he was trying to tell me; I haven't got the whole Rangeman ESP thing working yet.
"Joe," I whispered, "I have something I need to talk to you about. Why don't you have a seat."
"Cupcake, what the hell are you thinking?" Not bothering to sit. "I knew it was only a matter of time before this happened if you continued to work with him." He spat the word work.
"Joe, I'm not discussing Ranger with you. We have been through this too many times. Ranger and I work together, that is not going to change."
"So you are going just let him RUIN you like this?
"Ruin me? I gasped "What do you mean ruin me? Nothing has happened to ruin me. I have a lot to deal with from last night, but I don't want to talk about that right now." And not with you I thought to myself. "I have something else I need to say to you."
"He set you up to be RAPED by that maniac! Can't you see that? He has done nothing but use you since the day he met you. And yes he has "ruined you". What kind of man will want you now?" His voice rising as he continued. "Everyone knows about how he has you whore for him to lure these skips." He was yelling now.
"Whore?" I whispered. Tears were running down my face, I was gulping air. I couldn't catch my breath. What the hell brought this on? Why would he say these things, I could understand he was upset about what happened. I was upset but I had decided not to deal with it yet. Why was he attacking me?
The monitor started to beep. Ranger yanked the door open to see what was going on.
Joe just kept yelling, not noticing the open door. "Don't you think everyone knows, or will know. They all know what HE did to you. How can you show your face again? "
I had my hands to my chest, and had pushed up to sit, lowering my head toward my knees trying to slow down my gasps.
Ranger stalked over to the bed and pushed Joe out of the way. He pulled my feet off the side of the bed and pushed my head between my knees. My ribs where screaming in pain from the sudden movement and my lungs were burning.
"Slow down," he whispered in my ear. "Take it easy, Babe, breathe slowly. Slow down. It's alright."
The nurse had also scrambled in and was in the process of checking on everything else attached to me. Cal was right behind her, hovering at the door, unsure what was happening. I was slowly getting control of my breathing. After a few more moments, I could nod my head to him that I was okay. He eased me back to a lying position and gently adjusted my blankets back over me. Tears were running down the sides of my face. I was trying to just keep my breathing steady until the pain in my ribs dulled. He stroked my cheek.
"The nurse shot Ranger a glare. "What happened, why did you have her sitting up? Did she get sick?" she demanded.
"She was hyperventilating. She couldn't get her breath."
"Why was she hyperventilating. I told you she needed to be quiet and still. " She looked at the rage coming off of both men. "I think the two of you need to leave. Now."
"I'll have Cal to sit with you for a while Babe, I'll be back a little later." Ranger said as he leaned close to my ear and rubbed his hand over my hair. He turned and grabbed Joe by the arm and pushed him out of the door.
A moment later, Cal stepped into the room and came over to the chair by my bed. "You need anything Bomber? You okay?"
Tears were still silently running down the side of my face. I shook my head back and forth and closed my eyes. Cal reached to his belt for his phone. "Hey man, I think you need to get over here. Things are about to get ugly. Fast."
Ranger's POV
After I told Stephanie I would wait outside, I immediately regretted it. I did not want to leave her alone with Morelli. He is always such a hot head, on the attack, especially with Steph. I couldn't understand the constant attacks on her, always when she needed support the most.
"Cal, man why don't you take a break. I'll call you when he leaves." I said. I leaned against the wall next to the door.
"Shit." I whispered to myself. "She diffused all of my defenses. Left me no excuses. She will take whatever I decide. What now?"
I never thought there would come a day I was glad to see Morelli. Well, to say I was glad to see him would be stretching it a bit. But I needed a minute to replay what Steph said. Alone, without her eyes looking into my soul. It has been a long day that turned into a long night. I can barely think. From the strain of searching for her, then finding her by a miracle, the site of Andrews lying on top of her. My God, I can't believe she's not a wreck. One more in the never ending surprises that is Stephanie Plum. I thought I would be apologizing and supporting her, her clinging to me; she can't deny what happened last night forever. And I know her well enough to know the day will come, when we all least expect it. But I'm not going to push her.
But what to do about this turn of events? I just don't want to hurt her anymore; I can't take seeing the disappointment in her eyes again, not like the disappointment after I sent her back to Morelli. That was the hardest thing I have every done. Well, if I'm honest, I didn't have to do it; I did it because I was a coward. Couldn't bring myself to make the sacrifice that it would take to love Stephanie, to put someone else ahead of my plans. I have never had a real relationship with a woman; I've had nights. I don't know what it takes to have a relationship.And until I met Stephanie I never cared. It didn't matter. She is right; I am a fool, a fool to let her slip away from me, to push her away from me. I took a deep breath to steady my thoughts. It's now or never, man.
I can hear Morelli's raised voice through the door. What the hell is his problem, can't he think of her feelings first, just once? My God, now he's actually yelling at her. I move to the door to go in and throw him out when I hear the monitor alarm going off. I yanked the door open, and Steph is sitting in the middle of the bed, tears running down her face, gasping for breath. "Whore?" I see the word on her lips rather than hear it. Morelli, hasn't stopped his tirade yet, oblivious to the dangerous situation she is in.
"Don't you think everyone knows, or will know. They all know what HE did to you. How can you show your face again? " He says to her. What the fuck is that? SHE didn't do anything. But he knows how that will effect her, how the rumors will torment her. Bastard.
Stephanie had her hands to her chest, and her head lowered toward her knees.
I rushed over to the side of the bed, pushing Joe out of my way as I go. I pulled her feet off the side of the bed and pushed her head between my knees. I know that this must be horribly painful, but I have got to get her to slow down her breathing.
"Slow down," I whispered in her ear. "Take it easy Babe, breathe slowly. Slow down. It's alright." I say as my hand is making slow circles over the open back of her hospital gown. I'm thinking I'm going to kill him.
I see the nurse rush into the room. Cal has stopped at the door, waiting for instructions. Probably preparing to pull his weapon. Not a bad idea.
The nurse is giving me a death glare. "What happened, why did you have her sitting up?" she demanded.
"She was hyperventilating. She couldn't get her breath."
"Why was she hyperventilating. I told you she needed to be quiet and still. " She's looking between Morelli and me. "I think the two of you need to leave. Now."
"I'll have Cal to sit with your for a while Babe, I'll be back a little later." I tell Steph leaning close to my ear and rubbed my hand over her hair. I am doing everything I can to keep my voice calm and soothing. I don't want to leave her again, but this has got to be handled. Now. I grabbed Joe by his arm and pushed him out of the door.
I don't let go of his arm until I have pushed him in the stairwell. I figure that Steph will not be able to hear us from here.
"What the fuck do you think you are doing? What exactly is your problem?" I'm not yelling, but my tone makes my point. I do not want an answer to these questions. Then like someone turned on a light, things became crystal clear. "Morelli, as of this moment, you are not to have contact with Stephanie unless she initiates it. Do not come back to visit her, or attempt to see her once she goes home."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" He says as he steps into my personal space. Oh, please, please, make a move, I thought. I would love the honor of ripping him to pieces. "What gives you the right? His jaw is clenched. "
"Because from this moment on, Stephanie belongs to me. I am the man that will protect her and be there for her. You had your chance, and this is what you did with it? You added to her pain and humiliation by throwing it in her face. "
"Funny way of protecting her so far." He smirks. "You did this to her! You may as well have raped her yourself. You have used her as your whore; everyone knows it. But I guess pimps always protect their investment."
The words had not even cleared his throat when my fist rammed into his face. I felt the satisfying crunch of bone as I made contact. With my other hand, I threw an upper cut to his ribs. Let him know what if feels like to try to catch your breath with cracked ribs. As he bent to try to pull air back into his lungs, I grabbed the back of his shirt and threw him against the stair well wall.
As I was about to yank him from the wall and heave him over the stair rail, down a couple of flights, a hand grabbed onto my shoulder from behind. I was in such a blind rage, that I released Morelli and spun around to take on the next comer, only to be starring in Tank's face.
"Let it go, man. You made your point."
"I'm not even close to making my point."
"Stephanie won't like it, no matter how good it will make you feel."
True. I really did not want a voice of reason. I wanted to pummel Morelli.
A/N Thanks for the reviews. I hope this came off the way I intended it. I really struggled and it just never felt quiet right.