EIGHT

I woke with a startled gasp. I'd managed to fall asleep sitting up, my fingers still intertwined with Ranger's. Outside the room, I could hear two people talking softly.

"I don't really think she's his wife" a woman said skeptically. "I noticed she doesn't wear any rings. And I talked to one of the EMT's from the scene, and she told them she was just a friend."

"I don't think it matters," a man replied.

"But the rules say…"

"There are all kinds of family, Beth. When he came up from surgery, his heart rate charted all over the place, blood pressure kept dropping. It was touch and go there for a while. The moment she walked into his room, his heart rate stabilized and his blood pressure hasn't dropped once. You know what the presence of a loved one can do for a patient. She's good for him, whether they are legally married or not."

I feigned sleep as the doctor walked into the room to check on Ranger, but once he left I opened my eyes, sat up, and stretched. My back and neck cracked painfully. Nature called urgently and my stomach grumbled so badly it hurt. I wondered vaguely about the time. There weren't any windows to let in daylight, but looking around the room I found a round clock mounted above the doorway. It read 10:03.

I walked out to the nurse's station and asked an RN where I could find a bathroom. She pointed out a set of closed double doors. "Go to the end of the hallway and take a right. The bathrooms are right there. If you keep going, you'll find the public elevators. The cafeteria is on the fourth floor if you need something to eat."

I glanced back at Ranger's room. I had to pee. Eating seemed optional.

"You need to take care of yourself if you want to take care of him," the nurse added, following my line of sight.

I sighed. "Is the food in the cafeteria actually edible?"

The nurse grinned. "Stay away from the breakfast burritos. But the pancakes are pretty good. And the coffee isn't half bad."

I pushed through the double doors and hurried down the hallway. Turning the corner, I ran into a brick wall.

"Sorry," I apologized before realizing I'd run into Tank. "What are you doing here?"

"Bringing you some supplies," he replied, hefting a black backpack into my arms.

I unzipped it to find a change of clothes, my hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, purse, and cell phone. A small box sat on the top. I pulled the lid off to find a simple gold wedding band and matching diamond solitaire ring.

I gaped at Tank. "I thought you were just backing me up when you said you'd bring the rings. I never meant for you to actually get some!"

"If the surgeon checks, I wanted to make sure I followed through. Ranger will kill me when he finds out I bought them at Walmart, but it was the only place open this morning."

"I don't think he expects you to go to Tiffany's," I joked.

Tank gave me a stone-faced look in return.

"So, are the guys mad at me?" I asked.

"For what?"

"For lying to get in to see Ranger, when they can't."

Tank grinned. "Steph, if any of us could have convinced that doctor we were his wife, we would have done so. Better to have one of us here than none of us."

My heart swelled with pride to hear Tank refer to me as "one of us."

"So, how is he?" Tank continued.

I relayed what I'd overheard the doctor saying about his heart and blood pressure. The prognoses seemed to have improved greatly since earlier this morning. "Hopefully, they can stop the sedation today. Have you heard anything from his mother?"

Tank nodded. "She called me an hour ago. She's stuck in South Carolina, waiting for the airport to reopen from an ice storm. I'm supposed to call her with any updates."

By this time, I practically hopped from one foot to the other, fighting the urge to urinate. "You should do that, then," I said. "Thanks for bringing me some supplies. I'll call you if I get any more news."

Tank gave me a gentle hug and disappeared back toward the elevators. I hurried into the bathroom to finally relieve myself. Then I changed, throwing away my blood-stained clothes. I didn't want them as a reminder of the morning's horrific events. I washed my face in the sink, combed out my hair and pulled it back with an elastic band. Finally, I brushed my teeth. As I reached to zipper the bag closed, I remembered the rings. I slipped them onto the ring finger of my left hand. Tank had guessed well, they were only one size too small, but with a bit of wiggling they finally slid over my knuckle. It felt strange to wear rings again after so long, and I found myself instantly drawn to fidgeting with the jewelry.

Slinging the bag over my shoulder, I headed for the cafeteria, finding it half empty. Tired looking residents hunched over their coffee mugs or talked quietly in small groups. Several nurses walked by carrying take out containers, hurrying toward the elevators. I grabbed a tray and silverware before entering the ala carte chow line. I selected a plate of fluffy pancakes, along with a side of bacon. Bacon makes everything better. I added a cup of cubed fruit to my tray, thinking Ranger would approve. Finally, I got the largest size coffee they offered and headed to the cashier.

I took a seat by the jumbo windows overlooking the city. The sun shone brightly outside, but the tinted glass kept it from blinding the diners. Outside, New York bustled. Yellow cabs zipped by on the street and the occasional ambulance pulled up to the front of the hospital. People rushed past, most with their heads down and hoods up against the cold.

I nursed my coffee long after my food was gone. I could feel the caffeine starting to perk me up. It would be a long day. Throwing out my trash, I returned my tray and silverware to the wash station and headed back to the elevators. I passed a small gift shop, so I swung in and bought a trashy romance novel and a book of word finds to keep myself from going completely insane while I waited for Ranger to wake up.

The ICU remained much the same as I'd left it. The lights glowed a bit brighter in a feeble attempt to mimic the natural cycle of daylight. I dumped my bag in a corner of the room and pulled out the romance novel. Sitting on the edge of my chair, I brushed a stray piece of hair away from Ranger's face and gave his hand another gentle squeeze. Then I settled in to lose myself in my book.

A new doctor came in a little after two in the afternoon. He was tall and lean, and by the gray streaks in his hair, seemed to be in his middle sixties. "Mrs. Manoso, I'm Dr. Whintle," he introduced, offering me his hand.

I shook it, saying, "Please, call me Steph."

Dr. Whintle checked all of Ranger's vitals and wrote them into a chart that hung on the foot of the bed. He looked over all the entries carefully. "It seems Carlos' vital signs have been stable and improving for the last eight hours. I think it's safe to start bringing him out of the sedation."

"Really?" I asked, unable to hide my excitement. I put my book down and took Ranger's hand.

"Really, but the process will take several hours. And I must warn you, he'll likely be very disoriented when he wakes and in quite a bit of pain."

"Can't you give him pain medication?"

"We will," Dr. Whintle assured, "but it will only help take the edge off. Unfortunately, sedation is the only way to allow him to remain completely pain free." The doctor fiddled with one of Ranger's IV's, causing whatever was dripping into it to drip more slowly. "A nurse will check on him every half hour."

I sat with Ranger for a few minutes before deciding I should call Tank and give him an update. I grabbed my cell phone and headed out into the hallway. Turning on the screen, I found several text messages waiting for me. Lula, Connie, my best friend Mary Lou, and my sister Valerie had all wished me a happy new year. So had Morelli.

I tried not to think about Morelli and my promise that we'd talk after New Year's. Life suddenly seemed way more complicated than a few days ago. Not to mention my current charade as another man's wife.

I closed my text messages and called Tank.

"What's the news?" he immediately asked, sounding tense.

"His vitals have been stable and improving, so the doctor is stopping the sedative. Ranger should wake up in a few hours. Anything new from his mom?"

"She'll be on a four PM flight out of South Carolina. We should have her to the hospital by ten tonight."

Once Ranger's mom arrived, I could go back to the hotel and take off the fake Walmart wedding rings. I could head back to Trenton and have make up sex with Morelli.

So why didn't that seem appealing in the least?

After talking with Tank, I used the bathroom again then walked to the cafeteria. I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast, so an early dinner was in order. I found a pasta bar and loaded up on spaghetti, red sauce, meatballs and garlic bread. Nothing like carbs to improve my mood. After I ate, I swung by the gift shop again to buy a pack of gum. I didn't want Ranger to wake up to my hideous garlic breath.

Just after six, as I found myself deeply absorbed in the adventures of my slutty heroine, Ranger groaned. I dropped the book immediately and grabbed his hand. The beeps on the heart monitor suddenly became alarmingly close together. The hand I wasn't holding reached for his throat, scrambling at the ventilator taped to his mouth.

"Nurse!" I shouted, trying to pull Ranger's hand away from his face. Cripes, how could he still be so strong? "Ranger, you're on a ventilator. You can't pull it out or you'll hurt yourself."

His hand stilled and I pushed it back down onto the bed.

"Ranger, can you hear me?" His fingers squeezed mine lightly and my breathing hitched. The nurse hurried into the room. "He was trying to pull out the ventilator," I told her, "but he stopped when I told him he'd hurt himself." She quickly scurried from the room.

The beeps on Ranger's monitor slowed again and his eyes gradually opened. After a few blinks, his brown eyes locked with mine and I breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm so happy you're awake," I told him, blinking back tears.

Dr. Whintle strolled in, followed by the nurse. "Mr. Manoso, it's good to see you finally awake. I'm Dr. Whintle. I'm going to remove the ventilator tube. It will likely cause some mild discomfort, but I'd like you to try to remain calm."

I had to avert my eyes or risk losing my dinner while Dr. Whintle removed the ventilator tube, but I kept my hand firmly around Ranger's. Once the tube was out of his throat, the nurse brought a plastic cup of ice water over. She put a straw through the lid and gave Ranger a few sips.

"Your throat will likely be sore for the next few days," Dr. Whintle warned. "Try not to talk." Then he guided Ranger's other hand over to a small button taped to the side of the bed. "This is your morphine button. If you feel you need an extra boost for the pain, you can press it and it'll release more into your IV."

Ranger moved his hand back to the mattress without pressing the button. "Don't be a hero," I scolded. "If you need to push the button, push the button." He rolled his eyes at me.

Dr. Whintle chuckled. "Your wife has remained by your side since you came out of surgery. Listen to her."

I held my breath, but Ranger kept his face blank of any surprise. Dr. Whintle left and Ranger turned his head toward me, amusement tugging on the corner of his lips.

"Wife?" he rasped.

My face flushed. "Only family is allowed in the ICU. They weren't going to allow any of us in to see you, so I might have told a little white lie."

A small smile lit up his face. "Babe." He squeezed my left hand and paused when he felt the rings. Slowly, he lifted my hand up to his face and raised his eyebrows at me.

"Tank thought it would sell the wife thing better," I explained in a rush.

Ranger squinted at the rings. "Not what I would have picked out," he croaked.

It was my turn to roll my eyes. "Do you remember what happened?" I asked. He didn't seem to be curious about why he was in the ICU, but you could never tell with Ranger.

"Got shot," he grunted.

I nodded. "You stepped in front of Chantelle, took a bullet for her."

Ranger shook his head slowly. "No, Steph, I took a bullet for you."

My face must have registered my shock, because Ranger chuckled lightly. "You were the one standing between Chantelle and Aaron," he rasped.

I thought back to the wee hours of the morning, trying to picture the subway station in my mind. I stood on Chantelle's right, and Aaron appeared to my right. Ranger was correct. I had stood between the mad man and his target. Tears welled in my eyes.

Ranger slowly lifted his hand to my face, brushing away an errant tear. "Babe."

I carefully took his hand in mine again, laying it on the bed. "You're talking too much. You need to rest."

Ranger's mouth twitched into a small smile, but he didn't argue. Instead he curled his fingers with mine and closed his eyes. A few minutes later, I heard his breathing become soft and slow and knew he'd fallen asleep.

I let go of his hand just long enough to text Tank an update.

Ranger's mother arrived just before ten. Tank texted me when he picked her up from the airport, so I knew to expect her. She signed in at the nurse's station, then came immediately to Ranger's room. I stood up, offering her my chair.

"No thank you, dear. I've been sitting for the last four hours." Her words rang thick with a Cuban accent. Even though she stood a few inches shorter than me, with a petite frame, I saw a lot of Ranger in her appearance. They shared the same cheek bones, mouth, and eyes. She leaned over Ranger's sleeping form, gently brushing hair back from his forehead before kissing him lightly. Ranger stirred and his eyes cracked open.

"Mama?"

"You gave us all quite a scare, hijo."

"You shouldn't have come."

She gave him a stern look. "I'll have no more of that. I'm here and that is that."

Ranger smiled and sank back into sleep.

Mrs. Manoso looked over at me. "Dear, you look dead on your feet. Call Tank and have him take you back to the hotel." I nodded. Ranger's real family had arrived, no reason for me to stay.

I picked up my bag and gift shop purchases, then texted Tank. He replied that he'd be on his way in a few minutes.

The real Mrs. Manoso stopped me on my way out, pulling me into a motherly hug. "Stephanie, thank you for staying with Carlos. Tank told me you had to lie, but I'm very glad you did it. I'd hate to think of him here alone."

I blushed. "I meant no disrespect," I began but she shushed me.

"Family isn't just blood ties or legal bindings. It's a shame this hospital doesn't recognize that. Go, get some sleep, then come back in the morning. I'll take the night shifts."

I signed out at the nurses' station and rode the elevators down to the main lobby. Tank waited in a black Rangeman SUV outside the main doors. I crawled into the passenger seat and dropped my bag at my feet.

"Any news?" Tank asked.

I yawned before answering. "He refuses to take any extra morphine. And he says the rings aren't what he would have picked."

"Fuck. I'm going to have to go into witness protection before he gets out."

We reached the hotel and Tank walked me to my room. "I'm just down the hall if you need anything."

I slid my key card and walked into the room. A maid had left a table lamp on, so I didn't have to fumble in the dark. I dropped my bag on the bed and slogged into the bathroom. I turned the shower on, letting the steam fill up the bathroom as I stripped. I stood under the hot water until I started to prune.

I took the time to blow dry my hair, only because I knew I would never tame it again the next day if I went to bed with it wet. I opened my suitcase and pulled on a t-shirt and yoga pants, then crawled into the empty king bed. The suite felt too large for just one person. As I slipped into sleep, I couldn't help but think how much warmer the bed would feel with Ranger next to me, consequences be damned.