Author: Feather (Flightf)

Warnings: Spoilers all the way through Twelve Sharp.

Disclaimers: I own nothing…JE owns it all…I will return everything when I am finished

Rating (K-M) M (for language)

A/N: This was started from a challenge sent by the 'Twelve Sharp' group: "Ranger in the hospital of any point of view." This is 3rd in a series of around 9. J Thanks to everyone who gave me feedback…it is always appreciated.

Also, a very HUGE thank you to Melle who has been acting as my editor extraordinaire. Without her my story would be full of creative grammar and would consist of the never-ending sentence. I think that I am trying to set the record for the most use of "and", "but", "or" and of course just the plain commasJ in one sentence. MagnificentSin…I salute you! Thanks for being my second set of eyes. I really appreciate your tough loveJ.

MagnificentSin, loveshi, Cokkii, Rangerette, monroe-mary, Hunnybunch: Thanks for the great reviews…I can only hope that this chapter lives up to expectation. It was a challenge! Grandma Mazur is one tough old lady!

On and off since arriving at St. Francis, I studied Stephanie. When we walked through the door, I barely recognized the girl standing in front of me. She looked like Stephanie, but her big blue eyes were glazed and empty. Every once in a while, she would come out of her stupor and her eyes would search until they rested on a big black man they call Tank and quietly ask, "Any News?" He would shake his head no, and she would return to the world of the zombie. She was sitting in the waiting room surrounded by people, but you could tell that she wasn't really there. She was wearing a black tee shirt that was 3 sizes too big, sweat pants that obviously belonged to a much bigger person, and socks that belonged on huge feet. They probably belonged to the bounty hunter with the nice package or maybe one of his men. The socks give it away even if the size of the shirt didn't; Morelli doesn't have feet that size; I know I've checked. The doctor finally came and informed them that Ranger was out of surgery and bare of any complications. He should make a full recovery in time. The relief in Stephanie was evident in her whole body. You could see the life coming back into her.

When they finally rolled Ranger into the ICU room, they told us that three visitors at a time were allowed. Nobody said a word when Tank led both Stephanie and Julie into the room. He directed Stephanie on the side of the bed by the windows, Julie on the side by the glass and then took the seat in the back corner of the room. This was four hours ago. In that time the trio hadn't changed much. Tank had shifted a few times Julie put her head on the bed and went to sleep. Stephanie had continued to stroke his cheek.

From where I sat I had the perfect vantage point, I could see everybody in the waiting room but I could also see straight into the clear glass of the ICU room. I had the best seat in the house. I must have been a good girl this week.

Immediately after Tank and the girls entered the room two hot guys pulled up metal chairs and positioned themselves to guard the area. Nobody in their right mind would approach that room without a really good reason. In a few minutes I would go and check on Stephanie.

Across the room was a string of other cops; they were all talking in hush tones about what happened tonight. Eddie was there I needed to corner him to find out what to tell the girls at the Cut and Curl tomorrow. I have a reputation to uphold and this is a wingdinger of all incidents.

Sitting amongst the cops was Morelli. He was in full Italian male brooding mode. Every woman from the Burg knew that look from a thousand meters away. His eyes were riveted on Stephanie there was no question as to whom or why he was in a snit. A couple of times he had gotten up and walked over to the glass wall. He would stand with his hand on the glass and just watch Stephanie. She never even noticed that he was there. Every time that he returned to his seat he would throw himself down and he would look a little more ominous.

I knew that I was watching a defining moment in my granddaughter's life. The question is what does it all mean? Well, I will just have to lean back and wait for it all to happen

This was better than television.