Chapter 15

Tank and Bobby went to the hotel that Hector and Binky were staying at. Tank and Hector were going back to Trenton the next day. They were getting backed up on new security contracts. I went to the house with Justine, Lucas and Lester.

Justine went to the kitchen and began cooking. Lucas was sitting between Lester and I in the living room. It was tense.

Lester, "Thank you for looking after Steph. Can you tell me what happened before…the hospital?

He glared at me. "You should have never left. Did you honestly think that leaving her would help anything?"

"You should have seen her. She was more than fucking Wonder Woman. She was a giving loving mother to a bunch of fucked up guys and damn good at your job. She was brave like a mini-Ranger. She was trying to save a mother and a litte girl with cancer when this happened. She was way under weight for this point in her pregnancy and she'd been so tired lately. She wouldn't slow down. I think her stress and emotions finally took her down. I was with your baby when she woke up in the hospital alone. That's why I wasn't there. Justine and Lucas were on their way."

"Thank you Lester."You're my brother and I love you. Thank you for being there for Steph and my son. I didn't lose my shit in Pakistan. Tank, Bob and Ram helped me to rid this earth of some nasty scum before we came home.

I was thinking of Stephanie when I stayed. Those sadistic bastards were cutting that poor journalist's head off when the team got there. We were just a minute too late. That's how the mission had gone. We were just finding the bodies. I was with him when he died. I met his wife at the transport. She was ready to have a baby and her husband was dead. We were so close to the rest of the cell. I just couldn't leave it unfinished. I was staying in Lahore. I was hiding."

I said Lester, "I wasn't in a good place when I left. I was feeling on the fringe and she wouldn't let me get very close to her. I wanted to give her some time. You know how shocked I was when she told me she was pregnant. I was already comitted to the mission and I had to go.

You know how Stephanie is capable of bringing out some intense feelings in all men. I didn't mean to hurt her. I didn't realize what I was doing and how I was doing it would effect her until it was too late. I tried to turn it around but she was scared and she wouldn't respond. Please help me to help Steph. We all love her so much." He nodded. I reached for his hand and he looked at me and took it. Then we fist bumped and hugged it out.

Just then Justine called for dinner.

"Boys, lets's just give thanks tonight that we still have two people that we love that are alive. Ranger and his boys are home and well. We will take one day at a time. With love and care they will be healthy and home with us soon. We are a family now.

Lester's POV

I was trying not to be angry at Ranger. I was just lost without Steph. I wanted her well and home again. She was my best friend and I loved her so much. I walked into the office the next day with my head down.

Oomph! I looked up in enough time to see a small figure falling.

I reached out and grabbed her hand and pulled. The most beautiful girl landed against my chest.

I started to speak. "Santos, get your horny paws off my sister." It was Bing.

I grinned. This is your sister? Please forgive me for almost knocking you down. I'm Lester and I just happen to be Bing's best friend and winked at him. He snorted and she giggled.

My eyes nearly crossed when I really looked at this girl. She had silky beautiful almost black raven color hair nearly to her waist. Beautiful aquamarine green eyes and the most sensuous smile.

She smiled, "Nice to meet you Lester" Then she took my hand and it was like electricity running through it. I looked in her eyes and I know she felt it too.

"What is your name beautiful?" She said, "Jasmine like the flower or the Disney character." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Your eyes are so pretty. What do you do? Where do you work?"

"I just got out of college. I studied law enforcement. I want to go to work for the FBI here in Virginia, "she said.

"That's impressive pretty girl. Do you have a boyfriend?", I asked.

Not at the moment I don't. Do you want to be my boyfriend?, she asked.

"Oh good grief", Bing, mumbled.

I beamed, Good God she was something. "Jasmine, would you consider going out with a bad boy like me?"

She smiled a big beautiful smile. "I can handle bad boys, I'm professionally trained to deal with any situation having to do with bad men. A little bad is acceptable."

I looked at Bing and he just shrugged. "If I said no, you'd both still do it. I will beat your ass if you get out of line! You keep that flag in check. My little sister is a good girl. You hear me Santos?"

"I can't hear right now. I just hear a beautiful siren by the name of Jasmine."

Ranger's POV

Two days later the doctor had finally agreed to let me see Steph and try to talk to her. I walked through the door and took a look at her and froze. My poor Babe. She was curled up in a ball on the bed rocking slowly.

I walked over and picked her up. She was so small and light. I sat down and placed her in my lap. "Stephanie I'm here. We have a son and he's alive and he's beautiful. I held her head up and gently kissed her. Look at me Babe. Please come back to me I need you so much."

I promise I won't hurt you or burden you again. I just want to love you and take care of you for the rest of your life. Our son needs a name and I won't do that without you. Please Babe, I love you. I won't leave you again. Our son needs you.

I turned her head back and kissed her sweet lips again. Lester was right there was no light left in her eyes. I sobbed into her hair. I'm so sorry I hurt you. I stayed in Pakistan because bad men were hurting good people. I didn't realize how much you needed me. I need you. Please forgive me, please.

A tiny voice said," Pl…ple...please don't cry. I ca…can…help…you. Are…ar…you…hurt? I…will…get…you…some…help."

I smiled at her. "I know you can help me. You're the only one that can help me. I love you so much." I hugged her and kissed her. I held her head up and looked in her eyes. "Come on Babe, let me see the light. Come back to me."

"R…anger? Is that you?"

"Yes, Babe and we have a baby boy and he's tiny but he's going to make it. You gave me a son. Thank You."

"I'm not alone?"

"No, Every one is back. Every one is safe."

"Mm…my baby?" She began to cry.

"He is tiny but so beautiful."

"He? A boy and he..he's alive?"

"Yes, he is."

"Steph, I swear as long as I live I will never leave you or hurt you again. You are my girl, my partner and my lover and there will never be another for me.

You scared me Babe." I kissed her with passion. "I thought I lost you."

She focused on my face then and said, "You didn't come home. You went to a brothel."

"Yes and no. I was still on the mission. I hid in a brothel but I didn't use them. The women hid me and were under my protection. They didn't have to take men and they protected me as well."

"It was a succesful mission except I didn't make it in time to save a journalist. He died while I was with him."

"Ranger I'm so sorry I doubted you." She touched my face.

"It's all good now. I'm going to get you out of here and take you home. I'm going to call for your doctor okay? I will only leave you for a few minutes." She nodded.

An hour later we were headed home to Justine. I had to scare the doctor into releasing her but I knew that her being with us at home was better than in a dreary white room alone.

I carried her to the bedroom and put her in the bed. We wrapped arms and legs around each other and fell into a deep sleep. We slept like the dead until almost noon time the next day.

Stephanie was the first to awake following her nose.

I followed her down the stairs to the kitchen and watched as she jumped in Lester's arms and then hugged Justine and Lucas.

Lester and I locked eyes and he nodded and smiled at me.

Stephanie's POV

All I remember was slowly waking up from a really bad painful dream. I had lost something precious to me and I couldn't find it. I was alone and the pain and darkness were unbearable.

I thought I heard crying and a voice asking for me. I needed to try to get to that person. It's a man's voice and I have to help him.

I began coming into the light and I thought I recognized the voice. Is that Ranger? Is he in trouble? I need to get to him.

"R…anger? You are here?"

"Yes, Babe and we have a baby boy and he's tiny but he's going to make it. You gave me a son. Thank You."

"Mm…my baby is alive?" I began to cry. My baby. That's what I had been looking for.

"Steph, I swear as long as I live I will never leave you or hurt you again. You are my girl, my partner and my lover and there will never be another for me.

You scared me Babe." He kissed me. "I thought I lost you." Oh he felt so good. Then I remembered the brothel and he didn't come home to me after his mission.

I focused on his handsome face then and said, "You didn't come home. You went to a brothel."

"Yes and no. I was still on the mission. I hid in a brothel but I didn't use them. The women hid me and were under my protection. They didn't have to take men and they protected me as well."

"It was a succesful mission except I didn't make it in time to save the life of a journalist. He died while I was with him." I had doubted him. He didn't do the things I had accused him of.

"Ranger I'm so sorry I doubted you." I touched his face.

He got the doctor to release me. I wanted to go home. I wanted to see my son. I have a son. Ranger's son.

We were both so tired. He carried me up the stairs to the bed and we held each other and fell into a dreamless sleep.

I woke up to the smell of something good cooking. My stomach was growling. I kissed Ranger and ran down the stairs. I threw myself at Lester and hugged Lucas and Justine. I was so glad to be back with them.

Lester said, I'm glad your back gorgeous. It's not the same when your not around. You scared the shit out of me though and I'm not going to let you forget it missy!, he huffed and gave me a big slobbery smooch. I giggled.

"And by the way, you're smelling a little ripe this morning sweety. You better go test drive that turbo", Lester quipped. I gasped, turned red, pointed at him and smacked him.

"Oww!", he chuckled.

"Suck it up, hold your nose, whatever. I'm hungry then I'll go drive the turbo. Stupid man."

Ranger had raised an eyebrow. "What are you two talking about? What turbo? Do you have a new car?" We both looked at him and burst out laughing.

Big stupid Lester says, "It's her shower massager. She made me install one in every bathroom in the house. She was a raging hormonal terror."

This knowing smile began to spread across Ranger's face. Justine and Lucas were trying to repress grins too.

"Oh how embarrassing!" I glared at Lester. "I think we are even now!" Then every one busted out laughing.

"Let's eat. I want to go see my baby boy."

TBC