Freedom

Chapter 16

Previously:

SPOV

Several couples were dancing while they waited for the line to die down and by the time we were done eating, we had the dance floor to ourselves. Time is going by too quickly. We've already been partying for almost two hours and it felt like just one. If I'm dreaming, and this is heaven, I don't want to wake up. Carlos is the perfect dance partner and I am Cinderella at the ball. My feet didn't even have to think, they just glided across the dance floor with ease, following each step of my perfect dance partner. After several songs, however; I had to stop and clutched my side, bending over, I caught my breath, but the pain was increasing where my stitches were.

"Babe…" I looked up at Carlos and felt a tear escape my eye. No, no, no, this isn't supposed to happen. My perfect, beautiful night…

I was picked up off my feet and carried to our table, sitting on Carlos' lap as Bobby hurried to my side. I could see Carlos visually turning his men away as they started to approach, trying not to draw attention, ore more like embarrass me any more than I already am.

RPOV

I knew it might be too much. The activities of the day, the big meal, the dancing. And when I saw my love bend over clutching her side in pain, I came undone with worry. Bobby, who I noticed had been keeping an eye on Steph all evening came over immediately and knelt down at our side. "Steph, where does it hurt, honey?"

"My side, where… where the stitches are."

"Let's go to the back where we have some privacy and you can let me take a look, alright?"

Not waiting for Steph to answer, I picked her up and followed Bobby out, noticing the looks of concern on everyone's faces. Tank joined us and I asked him to make an announcement that Steph was fine, just overexerted herself and we'd be back out momentarily. Happy to have a way to help, he left us to do his task. We stepped into a storage room and I sat on a crate with Steph still in my arms.

"Steph, I need to lift your dress to see the stitches, alright?" Again, she nodded. She hasn't spoken a word since the dance floor.

When he lifted the side of her skirt up to her injury and peeled back the wound dressing, her stitches had been pulled slightly and the area looked red. He put the dressing back and put his hand on the wound, and looked up at me, eyes dark with anger.

"Steph, honey, I'm afraid your injury has gotten infected and when the stitches started to pull a little, it just set the pain off. You'll be fine going back out, but let me give you a stronger pain reliever than you've been taking, and we can start an IV antibiotic when everyone leaves. Your forehead feels warm too. When did you feel it coming on?"

"I've been dancing and hugging so many people, I thought it was just exertion. I didn't know…"

I could feel her sobs get stronger as she spoke, "I don't want to ruin the night. It's so perfect."

"You haven't ruined anything. We knew yesterday when we decided to move forward that you'd have to take it easy, and your body is telling you that that time is now, that's all. You haven't ruined anything."

"We can go back out?"

"Of course, I wouldn't let you miss watching your friends and family having fun celebrating our future."

She clutched my arms around her tighter and looked up at me, her voice shaky. "You won't leave my side?"

"Nothing could tear me away, babe."

"Can I have another piece of flan?"

I threw my head back and couldn't hold back the laughter. Neither could Bobby apparently.

"Let's get you out to your adoring fans, babe. Bobby will get you your flan, as much as you want."

I carried her back out and the silence that fell on the room caused Steph to bury her face in my neck.

"It's alright, they love you and just want to see that you're going to be fine."

"I'm… I'm just embarrassed."

Sensing her insecurity, my men proceeded to step onto the dance floor, drawing the attention away from Steph, allowing her some privacy. Frank and Edna joined our table since half of its inhabitants were dancing.

"Pumpkin, how's it going?"

"I'm fine, Dad. Just pulled my stitches a little and Bobby thinks I have the starts of an infection."

"We're going to go ahead and head out." He put his hand on her arm and looked at me stearnly. "You'll call?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you both for coming. It means so much to both of us to have you here."

"Grandbaby, we wouldn't have missed it for the world!" Mrs. Mazur answered with gusto. She had been on her best behavior tonight and I was proud of her for it, not even grabbing one of my men once. That I could see anyway.

We spent the next half hour or so silently watched the crowd of people that we hold dear in our hearts. I looked down in my arms and Steph was oozing happiness and contentment. If I could freeze this moment, or come back to it in the weeks ahead, I would pay any price. Watching Steph's eyes light up as she watched the action on the dance floor was an experience in and of itself. There are times I think she see's through our physical beings and right into our souls, finding our goodness and reveling in it. If I didn't know before how much she loved my men, watching her this past half hour in my arms showed me the adoration she feels for each and every one of them as she followed them around the dance floor with her eyes.

My family came by and told us their goodbyes, all of them telling how much they enjoyed their enchanting evening in our makeshift wonderland. I promised to bring Steph by one of the family barbeques soon. My mother and father had talked with Celia and know the situation with Steph's safety and security detail. I had expressed to Celia that I didn't want to put any of them in danger as Steph would never forgive herself if something happened to one of them because of her.

Steph must have sensed me watching her for when she tried to lean up to cup my cheek, she winced in pain.

"Babe, there's nothing I wouldn't do for you, but I can't watch you endure pain. And since I can't take it on myself for you, I have to do the next best thing and that is to take it away." I picked her up and started making my way towards a group of my men to tell them goodnight. Lula and Connie stopped us on our way over and gave us both a hug and kiss, thanking us for the fun afternoon getting ready as well as the party itself.

"Let's go upstairs and get you in bed and let Bobby do his thing. I have plans for you tomorrow that don't include pain… the good news is we won't even have to leave our bed… except to eat that is… and we have leftovers for that."

Hearing Steph giggle is music to my ears. "I'd like that. I hope there's leftover flan."

"You never disappoint, babe."

"I can walk, you know."

"Ya, but I like carrying you."

We walked up to greet Bobby, Hal, Hector and Lester and their dates. Lester stroked Steph's cheek and told her to feel better, that he'd check on her tomorrow. Hector dropped a kiss on her forehead and wished her sweet dreams, Hal kissed her cheek and looked her in the eyes, silently communicating before winking and squeezing her hand. Bobby came up and put a hand to her forehead and confirmed my feeling of needing to head upstairs. I could feel her getting warmer as well and before her fever rose, she needed to rest. Her fragile little body was crying uncle.

I nodded at Brown and told him, "Give us twenty minutes for me to get her changed and comfortable and we'll meet you in our room."

"Affirmative"

Hector met us on the elevator and helped us into the apartment. When we walked in, I saw Connie and Lula had set up votive candles in sparkling crystal votive candle holders all over the bedroom. Steph noticed their gesture and tears dripped down her face. "Babe, we have a lifetime of romantic nights, and we just had a perfect night downstairs, would you mind if we held off on the candles until tomorrow night? I really just need to hold you tonight."

She sniffled and cupped my face in her delicate hands. "Thank you. You take such good care of me!"

"Let's get changed before Bobby gets up here. I don't want him seeing any more of my woman than absolutely necessary."

I laid Steph on the center of the bed and stripped her down until she laid before me, naked. "Carlos…" I can't take my eyes off of her. "Carlos!"

"You're so beautiful. And you're mine. All mine. Forever."

"And you're mine, all mine, forever. And don't you forget it! I love you Carlos!"

I pulled one of my t-shirts over her head and gently slid it down her body. Her body was feeling warmer by the minute. I quickly changed myself into sweats and a loose t-shirt and grabbed us a couple of bottles of water and Steph some Tylenol.

Hearing a knock on the door followed by a door opening, I knew Bobby was here. What I didn't expect was Tank, Lester, Hal, Hector, and Ella. Ella had a plate of the more simple leftovers from downstairs, a couple slices of bread with pesto spread, grilled chicken, pasta salad and strawberries.

"I hope you don't mind me coming up, I thought with the meds Bobby would give Steph, that maybe some solid food in her tummy would help. It's been several hours since you ate dinner."

"Thank you Ella." I took the plate from her and kissed her on the cheek. "I appreciate your thoughtfulness." Her smile told me she was glad she could help. Before she walked out the door she turned and told me to give Steph her love and then she was gone.

"So what are the rest of you doing up here?"

Hal spoke up. "We uh…just wanted to see Steph. You know, make sure she's alright and everything."

"Why don't you come in to the bedroom, you can distract her while Bobby puts the IV in."

They bounded into see her, pushing for who got to walk through the doorway first, like kids in a candy store. Steph looked up and immediately turned red with embarrassed. Shit, I should've gone first. I didn't warn her they were here.

I picked her up and asked Tank to pull down the covers before replacing her in the bed and covering her up, propping her up on pillows, setting her upright against the headboard.

"What are you guys doing here?" She finally asked, probably more comfortable being able to keep her modesty. The guys have seen her in a bikini before, but not half naked in such an intimate place as our bed.

Hector moved forward from the wall they had created at the foot of the bed. "We need to see you ok. We love Bonita."

"Thanks guys, I love you too."

Bobby had the IV stand ready and the bag of saline with the antibiotic in it hanging from the hook on top. When he pulled the needle out, Steph started visibly shaking, her eyes as wide as saucers. I went to her side and laid beside her, holding her hand. For as many times as she's been admitted to the hospital, you'd think she wouldn't fear the needles anymore.

Hal started talking to the guys. "Did you hear the joke Cal was telling everyone tonight?" Catching on, they shook their heads no, even though they most likely had. "Well, here goes… A man walks into a bar…"

A minute later, the joke was over, my babe was laughing and Bobby was standing up, done with inserting the IV needle.

Steph snickered, acknowledging the distraction job the guys had just performed on her. "Thank you… you guys are good." She drew her hand up to her mouth, covering her yawn.

"Ok, party's over, we'll see you tomorrow, I'm sure." I walked them to the door and thanked them for coming up and that I'd call them tomorrow when they could come back, giving Steph as long as possible to rest. I took the snack Ella brought up into our bedroom and helped my one armed wonder eat a little bit of food before I gave her another of the prescription pain relievers Bobby had brought up. We talked about what a magical night it had been and I told her what a gift she had given me, explaining that I used to be so closed off, only living to work before I met her and then she turned my world slowly upside down. And now I can't imagine living without her and our life the way it now is. When I visit the offices in Boston, Miami or Atlanta, I see teams working efficiently, but here in Trenton, I see a family working for the greater good… together as a unit. This little dynamo that has now fallen asleep beside me doesn't have a clue as to her power.

After the bag has emptied, I called Bobby up to pull out the IV and he said he'd contacted Dr. Albritt and he'd prescribed an oral antibiotic for her to start in the morning. We'll get her back to full strength in no time.

After Bobby was done, he stood and just watched Steph, again feeling her forehead and bent over to kiss her cheek.

"She's been through a lot, Ranger. Like Dr. Albritt said yesterday, she's a miracle. We need to keep her here at Rangeman for a few days at the least after what she's been through this past 24 hours. Her poor little body has been through so much. You offline?"

"Ya. Tell Tank I'll touch base with him in the morning… late."

"I'll get her prescription filled and drop it off early while you're sleeping so you can give it to her when she wakes up."

We knuckle bumped and he was gone. Too restless to sleep, I laid down with my babe, spooning her body, reflecting back on our night. It was an absolutely perfect night… more than I could've imagined. Steph and Ella did a phenomenal job planning every last detail. I can't wait to get the pictures back and to reminisce with Steph tomorrow. She made me proud with how well she held up. She was truly a vision to behold in her red dress and the FMP's I'd helped her pick out. I'm one lucky man and I'll never forget that. No, one lifetime would definitely not be enough…