Disclaimer: The characters are property of Janet Evanovich and I am not making any money from this story. The story line is mine.

The Upside of Down

Part Four

By, Elissahara30

I sat there as sat as one by one, I met Ranger's family. I had been so curious about all these people, and now the only thought that was running though my mind was, I'd gladly give up ever meeting them only to have him back.

When we arrived back home, I went straight up to bed. I was so emotionally exhausted that I don't think I could stand another minute around anyone, including my family. I undressed and got into my bed, and drifted off to sleep.

It was the tell-tell beeping of the heart monitor, that first told me I was back in that hospital room. I slowly opened my eyes and noticed Carlos sleeping in the chair by my bed. I really couldn't call him Ranger, because I had a feeling this wasn't my Ranger. I wondered why my mind had conjured this person. Who are we, to really know?

I laid there and just visually memorized his face; he looked the same to me. No difference from the Ranger I knew. He looked like he did when he was staying with me before Scrog. The relaxed under cover Ranger version. I reached out my hand and touched his face, and he started awake. He immediately smiled, which made me smile sadly in return.

"Hey," I said. Burg etiquette didn't cover conversations with mental delusions.

"I'm sorry I got angry at you before." Carlos took up my hand and kissed the palm. I choked back the tears that threatened to fall. "Babe, why so sad?"

I took his hand and laid it over my heart, "I'm just happy that you're here."

"Where else would I be?" He seemed briefly confused by my comment, but I could tell by his expression that he was going to let it go, "The doctor said that you can go home tomorrow."

Home.

My mind drifted to thoughts of my apartment and after having lost Ranger, it could never be home again. The memories of shared experiences were there, the time he rescued me from the shower rod. The times he broke in, and dragged me out running. The times he just popped to see me, the one time that we had been lovers. Those memories I could live with, it was the one of Ranger being shot to death, that I could never be able to wash away.

I pulled from my dark thoughts as I looked at Carlos, "Jack and Ingrid will be happy to see you. They've been so worried about you." He said as he started to rub his thumb softly against the knuckles of my hand.

I felt a moment of panic as I tried to discern who Jack and Ingrid were, and in what relation they were to me. Dear God, please let them be our dogs. Carlos stopped rubbing my hand and looked at me with a pensive expression on his face, "You do know who Jack and Ingrid are don't you?"

How do I answer this, I wanted to lie and say, 'Sure, I do." But if Carlos was anything like Ranger he could sense a lie a mile away. I let out a frustrated sigh, "I'm so sorry Carlos, I don't even remember the last eleven years at all."

He sat back and seemed to absorb what I said, and I watched as he seemed to mentally put himself together. "How do you even know me, if you don't remember us?"

I would know you anywhere. You are my island, and sanctuary. I was always too scared to tell you when you lived. I closed my eyes and let the grief overwhelm me again, "I remember you because you're my heart." I whispered softly, "Where ever you are, I'm home."

I could feel his hands cup my face, they felt so warm and strong, and my heart broke all over again. I started to cry in earnest and this prompted Carlos to get in the hospital bed with me and held me. He felt so real, I could hear his heart beat, and I could feel his warm breath on my cheek. I clung to him and prayed that I never wake up again. That I just stay in this moment and be with him.

Carlos kissed the side of my face and I moved my head so he had easier access to my lips. "Babe, you need to calm down or they'll make me leave." He said in between kisses.

He even kissed liked Ranger, and I was breathless for more. He pulled back and tucked my securely at his at his side. I protested but this only prompted him to chuckle at me. I just made myself just to be content to be at his side and I worked hard at pushing all the unsettling thoughts away. I threaded my fingers with his and turned my head and breathed him in and he even smelled like Ranger.

"So who are Jack and Ingrid?" I asked still hoping they were our dogs. Or hamsters, I was very fond of hamsters.

I could feel his smile as he said, "Stephanie, Jack and Ingrid are our children."

I think I must have stopped breathing because I felt Carlos nudge me and I sucked in a unsteady breath. "Children!" I squeaked.

TBC . . . . .