Okay, first of all WOW! Thanks for welcoming me back so warmly! Honestly, it was like I was never gone. I never expected the story to be so successful already, but when I checked my e-mail yesterday, over a hundred e-mails! You guys rock! I hope you enjoy the next chapter!

Not mine. But you already knew that.

When I found the right waiting room, Ranger wasn't anywhere to be seen, which was a blessing in disguise, but it was only a matter of time. Bobby raised his head and looked at me.

"Steph? What are you doing here?"

"Ummm..." I couldn't think of any lie. So sue me! It's early.

He smiled. "Hal."

I nodded.

"Okay, but you can't tell Ranger who spilled the beans. He's already on edge. And Hal's a good worker."

"Why are you here?"

"To translate all the medical terms for Mama Manoso and moral support. She took me in and gave me a chance when my own mother didn't want me." I also assumed that 'moral support' also meant 'keep Ranger from killing/ maiming/ blowing up anyone in the hospital.'

"So it's his mother?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Father."

"Oh God…"

Bobby nodded solemnly. "He had a heart attack and they just wheeled him into surgery."

"Then where's…"

"Babe?"

Speak of the devil. I turned around and there was Ranger, looking confused.

And furious.

"What are you doing here?"

"Umm…" I fumbled around in my brain for a response. "Grandma Mazur." I blurted.

His brow furrowed. "Your Grandma's in here?" He didn't look like he believed me.

"N…no…" I stammered. "It's her new man. He had a stroke or something."

"Then why are you up here?"

I looked around and plastered shock on my face. "This isn't the Neurology floor?"

He wasn't amused. "No, it's not."

"Oh, well then, I'll be off."

"Babe."

"See you around, Ranger."

"Babe." He grabbed my arm. Hard. "Who do I have to kill?" He asked, menacingly.

"No one. Let me go and I'll go find Grandma."

But he didn't. For the first time in our friendship, Ranger looked feral. And it was all directed at me.

"Let me go find her." He said, catching my bluff.

Damn, I was caught.

"Fine. So Grandma isn't here. Big deal. You need me." I said, poking him in the chest.

"Go home, Stephanie. You're not welcome."

"The hell I am!"

"I'm sure your boyfriend wouldn't want you here." The way he sneered 'boyfriend' made me cringe. Boy, Lester was right. This isn't the Ranger I know.

"I'm sure he wouldn't, but since we're not together anymore, that point is moot."

Ranger stood still and looked at me.

"It's only a matter of time before you two start up again."

I snorted. "Only in an alternate reality."

He only narrowed his eyes. "Go home." He said.

"No." And I ripped my arm out of his grasp and sat down.

Now he looked pissed.

"Stephanie, for once in your life, do what I tell you, for Christ's sake." He growled at me.

I picked up a magazine as if I didn't hear him. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that he was pinching the bridge of his nose, tipping his head back and his eyes were closed. He looked stressed. Bobby told him to go sit with his mother and worry about me later.

That was going to be the one problem in our relationship. If you ever have one I reminded myself. We're both stubborn until the cows come home. Neither of us willing to compromise. Then we'll just have to learn.

Somehow.

A few hours later, I woke up to the murmuring of voices.

"Is he out of surgery?" I asked Ranger, who had become my pillow some time later. I wasn't exactly sure when, but the fact that he was even within five feet of me was an improvement.

"Not yet, but they say that everything is going fine. " He said softly to me.

"Good." I replied, closing my eyes.

Ranger moved something over my shoulder and tucked a curl behind my ear. "Go back to sleep. We'll talk later."

"M'kay." And I was off.

The next time I woke, Ranger had drifted off with me; his head perched on mine, and I was cuddling closer to him on the couch. Bobby was gently shaking him awake.

"Ranger," he said. "Dad's out of surgery. Everything went okay."

"Good." He replied. Then his stomach growled.

"When's the last time you ate?" I asked.

"Babe."

"When?" I pressed.

He looked at me for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders.

"Okay," I said, grabbing my purse. "I'm going for sandwiches. What would you like?"

"Anything."

"Anything? Okay, how's tuna?"

"Babe, not tuna."

"Oh, so Mister-I'll-have-anything does have a preference."

He gave me a small smirk. More progress!

"I'll be back."

Finding the cafeteria was much easier than finding the ER. I grabbed four sandwiches, condiments, chips and bottles of water, and headed back towards the cardio floor.

"What room is your father in?" I asked, giving him and Bobby sandwiches and the water.

"I don't think he can eat yet."

I rolled my eyes. "Not for him, stupid. Your mother."

He gazed at me for a second. "Room five-oh-four."

"Okay." I went off to find Mrs. Manoso.

I wasn't scared to meet her, which was surprising because I have a fear of all mothers. She was sitting in the chair closest to Mr. Manoso, holding his hand. I knocked on the door.

"I brought you a sandwich." I said, holding one out to her.

"Thank you," she replied.

There was a pause.

"Condiments?" I felt stupid for asking it and blushed easily.

She gave me a small smile. Ranger's smile. "No, thank you. I don't need the extra calories."

"Ah."

"What?" She asked.

"That's where he gets it."

"Who gets what?" She looked intrigued.

"Ra…Carlos. His healthy eating habits are from you."

She nodded. "He doesn't have much of a sweet tooth."

I nodded and headed for the door.

"You're Stephanie." She said.

"What?"

"Stephanie. You're Stephanie. Carlos has said a great deal about you."

"It wasn't my fault."

She furrowed her brow. "What wasn't?"

Damn knee jerk reactions. "Never mind."

"He loves you very much. I know he might not say it, but he's happy you're here. He seems less stressed to me now that you're here."

I nodded and gave her a parting smile, walking back towards Ranger.

"Shoot."

"What?" he asked. Bobby had wolfed down his food, but Ranger hadn't taken a bite.

"I got egg salad."

"Don't like it?"

I shook my head. "Not really."

He held out his sandwich. "Here."

"What?"

"Ham and Swiss."

"It's okay…"

"Take the sandwich, Stephanie." He looked at me with deadly eyes.

"Okay," I said. I paused. "Thanks."

There was a long silence.

"Your dad looked good." I said.

Ranger nodded.

I nodded. "Better than Grandpa Mazur when he had his."

He looked at me, his eyes crinkling slightly. "That's good, considering he's dead."

"I'd say so."

Another silence.

"Babe, I…"

His phone at that moment chose to ring. Saved by the bell. I wasn't sure I was ready for the talk he wanted to have.

"Yo." He said.

I continued to munch on my sandwich. His father was out of surgery and recovering. Was there any point to me staying anymore? Ranger has calmed down more and I think the hospital will be safe for now. Throwing my wrapper away, I grabbed my purse.

Ranger finished his call. "Where are you going?"

"Your dad's doing better so I'm going to go."

"Oh." He looked at his phone. "Do you need a ride?"

I shook my head. "Drove."

"Good."

I headed for the door. A small part of me was hoping that he'd tell me to stay. That he needed me. But the larger part tamped it down. Ranger didn't need anyone. That's why he's Batman, the Lone Ranger. He can take care of himself just fine.

Still, there was that part of me, wishing that he'd ask.

"Babe?"

I turned and looked at him.

"Stay. Please."

And so I stayed.