Ranger POV

My first thought was that my left leg itched like nothing I had ever felt before. I could hear the beeping of a machine and figured out quickly that I was in a hospital. I tried to open my eyes but it was too tiring. I sighed and fell back asleep.

The next time I woke up, my leg still itched and I could still hear the beeping. I was able to open my eyes for a moment but the lights were too bright so I shut them again quickly. I didn't hear anyone in my room and soon fell back asleep.

I kept this up a few more times before I heard someone in the room with me. "Babe." I choked out. Someone grabbed my hand and brushed the hair off of my forehead. "You're okay. You were hit by a car and are in the hospital. Just relax and the doctors will be here soon to see you. You're okay." The voice was gentle and reassuring but it wasn't Stephanie. I didn't know where I was and I couldn't remember anything. I knew I had gone on a mission, was I injured during the mission? I soon fell back asleep.

I woke up again and opened my eyes. Yep, I was in the hospital, but it didn't look like the one in Trenton. Where was I? A nurse walked over and picked up my hand. "Welcome back to the land of the living. You've been asleep for quite a while. You're in a hospital outside of Washington, DC. Do you remember what happened to you?"

I looked at her and gave a small shake of my head. "You were hit by a car and have been unconscious ever since." I looked at her questionably and she said, "It's been almost six months since it happened. You've been through a couple surgeries on your leg and have one more to go but the doctors decided to put off until you woke up. I need to go tell them you're finally awake. Don't try to sit up or get out of bed until I come back, okay?" She looked at me and I gave a slight nod. She started walking towards the door when she stopped and turned around and smiled at me. "By the way, my name is Becca."

She came back in a few minutes later with two doctors. They came over to my bedside and started checking me over. They explained about the accident, the injuries and about the mystery sleep for almost five months. They moved the bed to a sitting position and checked me over again. I felt a little dizzy for a few minutes but it passed. They talked about the next surgery and wanted to schedule it for the next week. Once they left the nurse came back in and walked over to me. "Feeling better sitting up?" I nodded my head. "Let me get you a cup of water and we'll get a bit in you before you try to talk, okay?" I nodded again and let her help with the cup of water and straw. A few sips later, I could swallow without cringing. "Thanks." I choked out.

"So I told you my name, which again is Becca. Do you know what your name is? You came in without anything – no wallet, no ID, nothing - and have you listed as John Doe." She looked at me and I said, "Ranger." She smiled and said, "Nickname I hope?" I smiled and nodded. "Can I call anyone for you?" "Babe." "Babe your girlfriend?" More nodding and then I smiled, closed my eyes and drifted back to sleep. Becca stayed for minute and brushed the hair off his face. "Well, Ranger, we'll figure out who your Babe is and we'll call her. She must be worried about you."

This was the pattern for the rest of that day and the next. I'd wake up enough to answer a few questions, drink some water and fall back asleep. Becca was with me during the day and I had a couple different nurses during the night that checked on me. I had no idea what happened to my rental car and bag that was left at the gas station. Most likely it was towed and sitting somewhere not too far away. Hopefully my bag was still in it and could get returned to me. My cell phone and IDs were in the car. I had some cash in my pants pocket so I didn't take my wallet with me when I walked towards the gas station store. I was starting to remember the accident and when Becca came back in the morning, I'd have her contact Tank.

The last surgery on my leg happened soon after and once I woke up from that, I felt like I was awake for good. Sleeping was the last thing I wanted to do. Becca had found a lap top for me to use and I tried to email Tank, but I couldn't get logged into my RangeMan account. It kept saying invalid user. What the hell?

Tank POV

I was sitting at my desk getting more pissed the longer I was kept on hold. The music was horrible and I had been getting the runaround for the past hour. I was trying to get through to Ranger's handler in DC to find out where the duffel bag came from. Bomber was convinced Ranger was still alive and for now, we were all just going along with her. I knew that if Ranger had that message in that notebook aboutwhat to do with it in the event of his death, then he was dead. While on hold, Hector came in and said that someone tried to access Ranger's email account. He was going to trace it and find out where it was coming from. Hopefully Ranger hadn't left any RangeMan information in his bag and that it had been stolen.

I finally got through to the assistant to the assistant to the handler. I told my story, again, and asked for confirmation of Ranger's death. I was once again told that the information regarding an operative was classified and was not allowed to be given out over the phone. I left another message for the handler and slammed down the receiver.

Lester came in and said, "Anything?" I shook my head and said, "Dumbasses won't release information about an operative over the phone." I looked up at him and said, "Feel like taking a road trip?" He quickly agreed and said, "If it brings closure for Steph, then let's do it. She's due any day so I'd like to do it sooner rather than later." I agreed and asked him to make arrangements. I called Lula to ask her to come over and stay with Steph, but didn't tell her why. I didn't want to give Steph any false hope.