Let me know what you think! In order to tap into Steph's tiredness I'm burning the midnight oil for y'all, so I hope this works, cos I'm tired now, and am definitely going to sleep! – Heather

Sleepless in Trenton

Chapter 3

I awoke to the annoying and repetitive beep-beep of my alarm clock. I stretched out an arm and knocked it off the bedside table; it stopped beeping as the batteries fell out. Excellent.

I felt Ranger's chest vibrate with silent laughter against my back. Ranger, huh? Oh, yeah.

'Why set the alarm if you're going to ignore it?' Ranger asked.

'Because it wakes me up, so you don't have to waste another day holding me, you've got business stuff to do, you can't just waste your time on me. Besides, you don't recover from sleep dep. that fast, I need to get back into the swing of normal sleeping times.'

'True, but Babe?'

'Yeah?'

'It's not a waste of my time. I don't mind spending the day holding you so you can sleep.'

'I know. Thanks Ranger.'

'Sure. I'm going for a run, wanna come with?'

'No thanks, I'm going to shower and grab us some breakfast.'

'Ok, I'll be back in forty five.' Ranger pulled on some sweat pants and a painted on shirt and disappeared.

I showered, shaving my legs because I didn't want Ranger to see them getting hairy. I hopped out of the shower and got dressed, leaving my hair to dry naturally. Then I grabbed the car keys and went to the bakery where I got a donut or two for me, and a couple of croissants for Ranger.

I heard the shower running as I returned, so I sat down at the table and ate my breakfast. Ranger emerged a few minutes later, his still damp hair tied back, smelling deliciously of Bulgari. Mmm I love the smell of Ranger.

He sat down and ate his croissants, I got up and soundlessly fetched him a bottle of his water, he flashed me a smile and took it gratefully, 'Thanks Babe.' He said, gesturing to the croissants and the water.

'Sure.' I replied simply. It was such a small thing to give him when he was helping to save my sanity.

I got up and moved to the couch, switching the TV on to news. I tried to drag a brush through my wind-snarled hair, but it was a fairly painful experience.

'Up.' Ranger said. I obediently got up, he sat down on the couch behind me, spreading his legs and then he patted the couch between his legs, 'down.' I sat down between his legs and he took the brush from me and gently started working the knots from my hair. He was much better at it than me, he had more patience and he was far more gentle. After five minutes I wasn't paying any attention to the news at all, just the feeling of Ranger brushing out my curls.

'Done.' He said, running his fingers through my now dry hair that, for once, was falling in near perfect curls around my face.

He rested his hands on my shoulders and then he started rubbing my shoulders, 'you're tense Babe, try and relax.' I tried, really I did, but it's been a hard month. 'You have more knots in your back then you did in your hair Babe.' Said Ranger, sounding…concerned?

I didn't know what to say to that, so I said nothing. Ranger's hands firmly massaged my shoulders and my neck, forcibly removing the tension from my body.

'Better?' he asked after a while.

'Mmm.'

He laughed softly, 'Good. I'll be finished work at around six tonight, do you want me to swing by at six or wait until later so you can have some space?'

'Six is fine, but whenever you want.'

Ranger kissed my hair, 'six it is. What food do you want me to bring?'

'You don't have to bring food…'

'Pino's?'

'Pino's would be good.' I admitted.

'Pino's.' Then Ranger kissed my forehead and was gone.

The day flew by. I was still feeling tired, but not nearly as bad as I have been the past few days. I didn't realise how truly shattered I've been until I started feeling better. I still ache in my bones, I'm still weary, but I'm getting better.

Lula spent the day telling me how fine Batman is. She doesn't need to tell me, I know. He brushed my hair. I didn't know what to make of that, in a weird way it was very intimate, not sexual exactly, but intimate. Though I suppose him sleeping in my bed is pretty intimate if you're being picky. But then I wasn't 100 sure what that meant either.

It was nice, he was looking out for me…and no one else could stop the nightmares. I don't know what to think of that either.

So mostly I've spent the day strenuously not thinking about things; it's a Jersey skill.

Lula and I lost our skip, for now anyway, he gave us the slip at the transvestite bar. Still, I did a little bit of not-so-legal entry and found some information on his relatives and friends addresses, so I know where to look if he holes up.

Lula dropped me off at my apartment at five thirty, and sure enough, Ranger was there.

'Early.' I said.

'Yeah.' Ranger agreed. I think either he's getting off early to come look after me, or he's telling me a later time than he really expects to be finished so that he won't be late.

We ate Pino's silently but companionably, me with my sub, and Ranger with his salad.

'Movie?' Ranger asked, gesturing to the blockbusters bag I hadn't noticed.

'Cool!' I investigated the contents of the bag, 'wow, did you rent the whole store?'

He grinned, 'you gotta have a good choice Babe.'

I smiled, I picked out Independence Day, it's a great film: lots of explosions for Ranger, lots of Will Smith for me.

We settled easily on the couch, and I curled up next to Ranger, his arm naturally slinging around my shoulders. By the end of the credits, I was feeling extra tired.

Ranger must have noticed, 'Bedtime?' he asked.

'Not yet. How bout I go for a run, and then get ready for bed, and then we watch another movie?'

'Ok, mind if I run with you?'

'Sure.' I answered, smiling.

And that's the routine we settled into with out really seeming to. The morning would start with breakfast, and Ranger's run. Then he'd say what time he expected to be back whilst brushing my hair. On of us would organise food and a movie, then we'd run, shower, and sleep.

When we were together we were in almost constant physical contact, holding hands, an arm round a waist, sitting on his lap, stroking my hair - it seemed we were always touching, but never in a contrived way. Our constant contact helped to reassure me and keep me calm, and also I just enjoyed touching Ranger. You'd have to be dead not to enjoy touching Ranger.

But after a month of Ranger sleeping in my bed, there was a sharp reminder of why Ranger was there; he said he'd be back by midnight. He was on a redecorating job, and the hours weren't great. So I sat up and waited for him, preferring to being tired than trying to sleep and having nightmares.

By one AM I was getting worried, but I knew Ranger had told Tank to keep me informed if anything happened to him; so I doubted anything really bad had happened.

As worried as I was, by two AM I could barely keep my eyes open. I was fighting to stay awake, but I was loosing.

By three AM my eyelids slid shut and I tumbled into dark dreams.

The black Hummer came out of nowhere, swerved around me and pulled in front. I leant on my horn and reached for my gun. I did all the things I knew I was supposed to do, but it didn't matter. In seconds I was yanked out of my car and dragged to the back of the Buick, the trunk was open and I was shoved in. The world went black.

Please no, make it stop, make it stop, Ranger, where are you?

The gun had fallen out of my pocket in the scramble, and I couldn't get out of the trunk of the car. I was twisted in the fetal position, I kicked at the trunk and started yelling; maybe someone would hear me at the intersections.

The car stopped and the trunk opened, I was yanked out and dragged to the centre of the playground, there was a circle drawn on the ground and inside the circle was a big guy, his face lost in the shadow of his hooded sweatshirt. Junkman.

Please no, I'm sorry, make it stop.

'This is the circle where we try the enemy,' he said. 'If you're not a member, you're the enemy. We already disposed of three of the enemy. This is your night. Are you the enemy?'

I didn't say anything.

Junkman's fist swung out and caught me on the side of my face; I staggered back. A roar went up from the group, and hands grabbed me.

Grasping clawing snatching hands, seizing my arms painfully, spinning me around, making me dizzy. Cruel laughter arose from the group and I couldn't stifle the sob. At last the spinning stopped, but as Junkman raised his gun to my head, I wished I could spin some more, anything to delay what was coming.

Make it stop! Ranger!

Junkman started to pull the trigger, and like it was in slow motion the bullet moved towards me, and with terrifying certainty I knew I was already dead – all I was doing was waiting for the bullet to hit. I screamed.

I sat bolt upright. I was on the couch, shaking and trembling, rocking back and forth, unable to stop the tears streaming down my face. I was gulping in breaths trying to slow my racing heart, but the fear was still rolling through me in thick nauseous waves.

A part of me was aware that my door was opening, and that I should be worried, but I could already feel it was Ranger, and besides, I think I'm all feared out.

I couldn't really see whether it was him or not, my tears were obscuring my vision, and I couldn't stop crying enough to see.

I felt Ranger's arms envelope and enfold me, his voice rising and falling in a soothing voice, rocking me gently.

Eventually I got my tears under control, but I couldn't stop the shaking.

'I'm sorry Babe, the job got FUBARed, the police detained me, I got here as soon as I could.' I could hear the guilt in his voice, but I was too tired and emotionally drained to deal with that.

'You ok?' I asked.

He looked at me blankly.

'You get charged for anything?' I clarified.

'No, just hauled in for questioning, it's all sorted out now.'

I nodded, burying my head into the crook of his neck. He lifted me easily, carrying me to bed.

He held me tightly, but it was a long time before I stopped trembling.