They're not mine and I'm not making any money. I'm sorry this took so long… school got busy and then I got caught up in being on break.

Thank you all for reading and for all of the wonderful reviews, I appreciate it immensely. And thanks Haleigh for the help editing, I always appreciate it!

What Happens in Vegas

Chapter 25

He was a mess. But he was my mess. I must have spent half an hour just staring at him. His hands and arms were above the covers. They were covered in bruises and stuck full of needles, but the tone of his muscles was there. Even battered he looked good.

I moved up to his face and felt my heart clench a little bit. He had two black eyes and a splint on his nose. His lower lip was swollen and split. And then there was his hair. Long in the front and short in the back where Harper had sliced off the ponytail. I gently ran my fingers through it before lying my head down next to his.

"I missed you," I whispered as I carefully slid my hand under his, needing to feel him.

For a long time, I just enjoyed lying there like that. But eventually, the lack of sleep and the relief caught up with me and the beep of the heart monitor lulled me to sleep.

oOoOoOo

I woke up a few hours later and pulled myself into a sitting position to stretch my stiff muscles. The cramp in my neck must have woken me, because it was barely light out. I glanced at the clock and saw it was only about 6:30. I was never awake this early without help. Ranger usually was though, I thought as I let my eyes drink him in. He'd have already been for a run and done God knows what else by now.

Unfortunately, this morning he was only a few hours out of surgery. I didn't think he'd be running any time soon.

I lightly touched his hand and let my fingers travel up his arm. When I reached his upper arm, I skated around the bruises before removing my hand and brining it to my lips. I kissed my finger tips and then gently touched a bruise, repeating the process for each one. I'd just finished and was contemplating giving the other arm the same treatment when I heard the door open, making me jump.

I spun in my chair, to see a middle aged man standing in the door way.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Manoso," he said as he approached the bed. "I didn't mean to startle you. I'm Dr. Turner and I just need to check in on your husband."

"Okay," I said, not correcting him on the name thing. I had more important things on my mind. "He's really going to be okay?"

"He should be fine. His injuries are extensive, but nothing that shouldn't heal with time and rest."

"When will he wake up? He's been unconscious since we found him."

"He should wake up later this morning. He'd have been awake earlier if it weren't for the drugs we've given him. Because of the surgery, combined with the deep bruising and broken bones, he's going to be in quite a bit of pain. We're just giving his body a little head start on healing." The doctor checked machines as he made notes on the chart he was carrying.

"He's not in pain now, though?" I asked, taking in Ranger's unnaturally relaxed face.

"No. He won't be feeling much of anything until after he wakes up, and then we'll back him off the drugs. Now, if you'll excuse me," the doctor said, closing Ranger's chart and making his way out of the room.

I sank back into my chair when I was alone again and tried to find a comfortable position to fall back asleep. But no mater what I tried, my mind wouldn't shut down.

The danger was over and I knew from experience that things would be back to normal before we knew it. And then Ranger and I would have to deal with our marriage. I was still having trouble with that concept.

Two weeks ago, my major relationship woe was realizing I wanted my off-again with Morelli to be permanent. Somehow, between then and now, I'd managed to marry my best friend, pick up a stalker, and plan a divorce for after we dealt with said stalker. But I didn't want the divorce any more.

Earlier, while I was waiting for Ranger to come out of surgery, I'd found my wedding rings in my purse and slipped them on. I thought about taking them back off, but having them on was comforting. I couldn't explain why, they just were. And every time the light caught on the diamond I caught myself smiling.

I'd laced my fingers with Ranger's again and after a while I realized it was his left hand I was holding. I gently traced my fingers around his ring finger and wondered what he'd done with is ring. We hadn't really talked about it, we'd both just taken our ring's off. I couldn't help imagining him putting the ring somewhere safe since that would mean it meant something to him.

With a sigh, I scooted around in my chair again and laid myself half on the bed. It was still very early. So I pressed a kiss to Ranger's empty ring finger and finally drifted back to sleep.

oOoOoOo

The next time I opened my eyes, I was staring across a broad chest and straight at Tank. He was on my chair and it looked like I'd been moved to the bed. Carefully tilting my head up, I saw that it was pillowed on Ranger's shoulder and he was still sleeping.

"What am I doing here?" I hissed at Tank.

For half a second I swear he looked amused and then he shrugged. "Boss man wanted you there with him."

"He woke up?" I began moving, trying to get a better look at Ranger, but Tank placed a hand on my shoulder stopping me.

"Careful how you move, Bomber, don't jar him."

I felt my eyes go wide and immediately froze. "Is he okay?"

"He'll be fine and you can relax. Just no quick movements."

I settled back down the way I was and fixed Tank with 'The Look.' The one my mother gave me before a grilling.

"When did Ranger wake up?"

"About three hours ago."

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"He told me not to."

I rolled my eyes at that. Getting info from Tank definitely wasn't easy.

"How was he?"

"Pissed about getting taken. Worried about how you held up."

"Did the doctor come see him?"

"Yep."

I gave him another eye roll. "And?"

"He's healing nicely. Demanded to be taken off the drugs. The doc switched him the mildest one he felt comfortable with."

"But this morning the doctor said he'd be in pain when he woke up. Am I hurting him being here?"

"You're fine, Babe," I heard from just above my ear.

I gasped and tilted my head to look up at Ranger's face.

"Ranger," I said softly as I met his sleep-clouded brown eyes. I felt so many emotions in that moment I couldn't manage anything else.

"Morning, Babe," Ranger said, meeting my gaze and holding it.

I don't know how long we stayed like that, but eventually Tank cleared his throat and stood. "Well, I think I'll leave you kids alone," he said and retreated from the room.

When I heard the door click shut again I broke my gaze from Rangers and moved my eyes over his battered face.

"How are you feeling?" I finally asked.

"I've felt worse."

I didn't want to think about what had happened to leave him feeling worse so I didn't answer. Instead, I slowly turned my head, being careful not to move any more of my body, and pressed a kiss to his shoulder.

And that simple action did it. All of the worry and fear and relief I'd been feeling broke free and my eyes filled with tears. When the first one landed on Ranger's hospital gown I told myself maybe he wouldn't notice. Five minutes later I'd created an impressive wet spot and Ranger had moved an arm to wrap loosely around me. I was glad that was all he did as he let me cry. I was using all my energy to keep from sobbing, terrified of jarring him. Any more comfort and I wouldn't be able to hold it together.

Eventually I got myself under control with a long shaking breath. We didn't speak or move until Ranger released the arm he had around me and began to trace up and down my back and along the arm I had resting on his chest. I still felt full of emotion, so I pressed another kiss to his shoulder and he caressed mine in response.

We stayed like that until Ranger's arm stilled and I felt his breathing slow. When I was sure he was out, I moved my hand and placed it over his heart, smiling as I felt the steady bu-bump keeping time with the beep of the heart monitor.

I lay like that for a long time, watching Ranger sleep and breathe and live. After a while, though, the stillness and his warmth sent me to sleep.

oOoOoOo

I was still on the bed when I drifted out of sleep again, but this time Ranger was already awake. I could feel his hands on one of mine, holding it up and turning it this way and that. I'd yawned and blinked the sleep from my eyes before realizing he had my left hand. And unless someone had removed them, I was still wearing my rings. After a few moments Ranger stopped playing with my hand and I could feel him watching me, so I cautiously moved myself to look up at him.

"Yo," I said, making it sound more like a question.

"Yo, yourself," Ranger said, giving me a slow smile. "You're wearing your rings."

I wasn't sure if I was ready for this talk, but since Ranger never took trips to denial land I guess we were having it. And he was still waiting for some response from me.

"Yep," I said. I wasn't exactly sure how I should respond though…

"Why, Babe?"

I thought for a second that maybe he was angry, but then realized he sounded more curious and something else I couldn't place. The words just began to tumble out of me.

"When you were in surgery, I needed comfort food so I was looking in my bag for a Snickers. I found the rings where I'd put them for safe keeping and they made me feel better so I put them on."

"I'm glad you did," Ranger said, smiling the soft smile I'd only ever seen him give me and only on rare occasions. Then he picked my hand back up and pressed a kiss to my palm before turning it over and pressing a kiss to my rings. "I knew that would look good on you."

My heart sped up when I realized he was staring at the diamond on my finger, not meeting my eyes.

"What?" I finally choked out.

"When I bought it."

"When we were in Vegas? You mean you remember?"

"No," he said after a long pause. "I still only remember bits and pieces of Vegas. And none of the good stuff. I bought this a while ago."

I stayed quiet as the implications of his words washed over me. Ranger had bought an engagement ring, for me, while claiming not to do relationships and maybe while I was with Morelli. And if he had it in Vegas he must have carried it around with him…

"Why? When?" I asked after a long silence.

"The day after our night together."

"That was almost a year ago," I said softly. "But why Ranger?"

"I thought that night would get you out of my system. It didn't work and I was… confused."

"Well you're not the only one," I muttered.

Ranger squeezed my hand in response before continuing. "It's not a feeling I'm used to or comfortable with. By the end of my meeting that morning I thought was going out of my mind, but forced myself to focus."

He paused for a moment and I let him. My curiosity was killing me, but I knew revealing himself like this was hard for Ranger. So I waited and let him gather his thoughts.

"There had been a break in at a jeweler I provide security for. I thought the activity would distract me and it did, but then I saw the ring. I could picture you wearing it." He kissed my ringed fingers again, "It looks better than I thought."

"But what you said later… later that day," I said. This didn't mesh at all with the speech he'd given me. It still hurt to think of it, and now he was confusing me in a way I wasn't sure my heart could take.

"You're a temptation and a distraction, Babe. Back then I wasn't quite out of the Army or done doing missions. I didn't need a distraction."

I tried not to let it, but that last statement hurt. It made me feel like an inconvenience or a burden. Ranger must have noticed a change in me because he tightened the muscled in his arm giving me a gentle squeeze.

"Don't forget I said you were a temptation too. I must have spent an hour staring at the ring trying to decide if I should leave town and never look back or shove the thing on your finger and damn the consequences."

"But I don't understand," I said. He definitely hadn't done either of those things.

"I couldn't make up my mind, Babe. So, I flipped the ring. Stone towards me and I'd pursue a relationship, away and I'd leave."

He stopped again and during the pause I felt myself getting angry. He thought he could decide my 'fate' with a ring flip? But before I could say anything, memories of a black dress and a bowl with two names in it flashed through my mind. There was no way I could be mad without being a hypocrite. After a moment, I nodded that I understood and Ranger went on.

"It pointed to the side." He shrugged one shoulder. "Deep down, I knew neither option was right. I decided to stay where I could be near you and sent you back to Morelli, which was what I thought you really wanted."

"Well maybe you should have asked what I wanted," I said. I never had liked other people making decisions for me.

"What did you want?"

I wasn't prepared for that. "I don't know," I said and got the subject off of me. "What about the stuff you said about your lifestyle not lending itself to relationships."

"I believed it when I said it."

"And now?"

I felt my heart rate pick up and surprisingly the beeping of the heart monitor did too.

oOoOoOo

A/N: Thanks for reading and please review… let me know what you thought (even if it's that this chapter took too long getting here!) I'll try very hard not to let it go this long again, especially now that the end is in sight! I think.