Freedom

Chapter 27

SPOV

I appreciate all that Carlos is doing for me. The fact that he rescued me when he did is testament to his unwavering determination. I know that he'll always do his best to keep me safe, and that's really saying a lot since he's the best at what he does for the military. But just like the other night, things will happen that are out of his control. I know Carlos is worried about me and truth be told, I'm worried too. I was instantly happy to hear we had created a new life together. Then, having time to think about it, I got scared. I can't even keep myself safe, much less a baby. I know he told me Joe is in a federal prison, but what if he escapes, what if he hires someone to get me, what if… I've spent the last few months looking over my shoulder, protected by a security detail that would rival most celebrities. My life has not been my own for so long that I don't even know who I am right now.

I'm doing my best to look within and find myself. This visit to the beach house is doing a lot to help my self-reflection. I'm lying on the sofa, the guys off to heat dinner and bring in some more fire wood. I'm mesmerized by the ocean, the way the tide comes in bringing fresh water from the sea while water that had just washed up on the shore is carried back out. What a meaningful analogy for my life. The days that turned into weeks, then months that have polluted my life, making me feel dirty, are much like the water on the shore that is heading back out to sea while fresh water comes in, washing away and smoothing the rough sandy surface of the beach, making it look fresh.

Entranced by the waves, I had to get closer and before I knew it, I was walking away from the house towards the beach. The sound of the waves crashing down, the smell of the salt in the air, the seagulls flying above, I'm in heaven. Looking to the horizon, I can see forever… there's no obstacles, no barriers. I found myself at the water's edge, walking into the water.

LPOV

I offered Beautiful a choice of three different dinners. She chose the chicken vegetable lasagna with white sauce that Ella had packed for us. Ella left us a note saying she only packed foods that she thought Steph's stomach could handle. Tank and Ranger were carrying in fire wood and Bobby, Hal and I were making a salad and garlic bread and setting the table. Hal started pouring drinks, us choosing iced tea. "Beautiful, what do you want to drink?" She's just in the next room and must have fallen asleep. "Hal, can you go wake Steph up and tell her dinner's almost ready and take her drink order?"

A minute later, he came back in the kitchen, "She's not on the couch. I asked Ranger to look in their room and bathroom."

Ranger ran in, "She's not here and the patio door is unlatched. I have a feeling I know where she is, but will one of you follow in case I need help?"

RPOV

I ran out the back door and down the steps to the beach and I could see my babe up ahead, walking into the water. I heard the guys behind me gasp as we all sprinted towards the water. Shit!

"Babe!" She couldn't hear me with the breaking waves hitting the water. What is she thinking? It's October and the water is so cold! She couldn't be trying to…

She walked out until the water came to her knees, stopped and threw her head back. I got to the water's edge and put my arms out to stop my men from running in after her, wanting to see what she would do next. We stood there, watching, waiting. She had her eyes shut and extended her arms out from her sides and slowly began spinning as if she were offering herself to the gods. She was beautiful, carefree, relaxed. Facing the horizon, she opened her eyes she walked out to her waist and started splashing, laughing and enjoying herself. I handed Tank my gun, slipped off my boots and couldn't help but walk out to join her. She stiffened when she felt me at her back, then turned to look at me.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry! I didn't tell you where I was going. I didn't even realize until I was already here, something just moved me."

"Babe, I am so glad to see you smiling and laughing. This is what I was hoping coming to the beach would bring you."

"I feel so much lighter! I'm surrounded by the love of my life, some of my best friends in the world, and the ocean, all my favorite things! Thank you!" She jumped up into my arms, putting her legs around my waist and hugged me tight. She was shivering.

"Babe, you're freezing, let's get you back inside and in a hot shower."

Bobby came over with a blanket and wrapped her up. Tank took her from me and carried her into the house. As much as I didn't want to let her go, I understand their need to provide for her as well. By the time we got back to the house, large shudders were coursing through her body. Tank ran up the stairs with her, setting her on our bed and left the room, giving us some privacy.

I turned on the tub, making the water very warm, but not too hot. I quickly stripped myself down, and did the same to her while I carried her in the bathroom, and stepped in the tub with her, sitting her in between my legs in my lap, her back to my chest. She sighed as the quivering in her body subsided.

"Thank you."

"For what, babe?"

"For rescuing me, for loving me, for bringing me here, for being you." I've never loved her more than in this moment. Fighting for her life and coming out the other side of a potentially devastating experience that she's endured for months, loving me and our child. If I doubted it before, I know now that she'll make it.

"I love you, babe. I'm the luckiest man in the world. And I already love this baby we've made because it's part of you." I couldn't help but rest my hands on her belly as we talked, gently rubbing circles over our child.

"I would like to hear the heart beat again, do you think Bobby brought the fetal doppler?"

"I bet he did, let's get washed up and go downstairs. I'm sure they're all anxious to see you." Her stomach picked that perfect opportunity to be heard. "And get you fed. I bet baby's hungry too."

"For the first time in days, I'm feeling hungry... let's hurry." We got washed up and dressed in record time. She picked my t-shirt and a pair of my sweats to put on although the sweats she had to roll up at the waist. I have to say, it's so sexy to see a woman in her man's clothes.

We ate dinner first, figuring the chatter from her stomach would make hearing the baby difficult. As soon as we were done, Steph looked at Bobby and gave her ESP transmitting a try. He caught on, although she was transparent to us all and he grabbed his medic bag. Steph excused herself and when we had finished cleaning up dishes and walked into the main room, we found Steph already lying on the sofa, shirt up, pants rolled down slightly, ready for the fetal Doppler. She was anxious, excited, and it was good to see. After a couple minutes of listening, I could see the excitement turn into worry. She looked up at me and grabbed my hand, squeezing hard. A few moments later the fast paced sound of our baby's heart filled the room and we collectively breathed a sigh of relief. "Sorry, Steph, I'm new at this. We'll have to practice more often and I'll be able to find it quicker."

We ended the night playing Monopoly although Steph opted out and chose to watch. She fell asleep soon after we started and I gave my properties and money to the 'Free Parking' space, wishing the guys good luck and good night. I carried my precious bundle to our bed and laid there for what felt like hours and watched her, simply appreciating the fading of her bruises, the effortless rising of her chest with each breath, the glow our baby has put on her face, and the happy upturn of her lips. All things most people would take for granted.

RPOV

It's been a month since those three days we spent at the beach house and a great deal in our lives has changed.

Morelli's trial date has been set for the first week in December which is just two weeks away. The burg was on fire when we got back. They all knew he was arrested, but the details weren't released. The FBI's CSI team finished evaluating the evidence from the hotel fire where Joe was reportedly seen with Missy, and when confronted with it, he admitted in the heat of anger to killing her because she would only come between he and Stephanie. Steph was pretty torn up with his confession, blaming herself for Missy's death. She realizes now that nothing Morelli did was any fault of her own, and she's worked hard at releasing the demons that he created in her life. With all the evidence already collected in New Jersey together with Missy's murder occurring in New York, Morelli committed crimes in multiple states so his trial will stay in New York where he's still in the same maximum security prison he was originally sent to a month ago. It took some doing, but because of the nature of his crimes, the position he held with the TPD and the blackmailing with the Chief of police here, the trial will be a closed courtroom. It probably didn't hurt that I also pulled a couple strings to encourage them to make it a closed trial. No media, and no spectators or gossip-mongers. To say that Stephanie was relieved is an understatement. And to sweeten the deal, Morelli is in solitary confinement until the trial is over and isn't allowed any communication with the outside. It has to be tearing him up that he has no control, no voice, no power. And I couldn't be happier about it. It's about time the tables were turned. Agent Dirks will be attending the trial and filling us in with its progress. Stephanie will have to testify, but with the nature of the crimes he committed against her and the fragility of her health, she should be able to do it via tele-conference or video tape. That will be determined closer to the trial. The doctor already said the stress of seeing Morelli would put undue risk to the baby and Steph.

Stephanie isn't showing yet, but her morning sickness has gotten much worse. She's in her 14th week and should only have a couple more weeks of feeling this way. She has a handful of foods she's able to tolerate, so our menu is pretty predictable right now. Can't say that bugs me too much since baby seems to prefer healthy foods. We're on our way to the doctor's office right now to see our baby for the first time on ultrasound. Bobby is going with us since he's been so involved with her care to date and will be up until the delivery. Tank, Lester, Hal and Hector also wanted to go, but when I mentioned it to Steph, she seemed upset.

"Babe, why don't you want the guys to go?"

"Because, I've had months of not being able to go anywhere with just my husband. I'd feel like I have a security detail. Can't this be just the two of us? I know Bobby wants to go and has a few questions, but I was hoping he could drive separately. I'm trying really hard to not be scared all the time, and that needs to start by being able to go out with you, un-chaperoned. The doctor said they'll make us a video. Maybe the guys could come up later and watch?"

"I agree babe. While me may never have normal lives, or a typical family, we do need to do some things on our own. Can I take you out to lunch after?"

"Oooh, I would love that! Can we go to Rosinnis? I love their pasta and I think I could keep it down today."

"Your wish is my command, babe."

SPOV

The ultrasound appointment was great! I saw our baby for the first time, and it was on one of those new 3D machines. We had the ultrasound teck print out so many pictures, I think they're going to charge extra for the appointment. I'm not real big on surprises lately, so Carlos and I decided we wanted to know the sex of the baby before it was born. I was pretty disappointed when we were told it was too early to determine. When the ultrasound tech was moving the wand around on the same spot on my belly for several moments, I asked her if something was wrong and she giggled. "I'm not at liberty to say, but your doctor will have some news for you in a few minutes." I'm hoping it's good since she's smiling so big, and blushing after looking at Carlos and if I'm not mistaken, her eyes drifted down to his crotch. Strange woman.

When I was cleaned up, our obstetrician, Dr. Ellis did an exam and I swear if she wasn't a female doctor, Carlos would have come unglued. He was pretty uncomfortable the way it was with a woman looking at my private parts. Something to tease him about later. Guess he doesn't have any fantasies with me and another woman. I sat up and pulled my gown back down to hear the news from the ultrasound.

"Stephanie, you're right at the beginning timeframe for beginning to determine the gender. Do you want to know?"

"Oh, yes! Please, if you can, but not if it's a guess."

"When my ultrasound tech handed me these pictures and she was blushing, I didn't have time to ask what happened. I can see from these pictures on top what had her so worked up. Looks like your baby was cooperating in it's position for us today, and he's quite well endowed for a baby of his age, so it was an easy call."

Carlos spoke up, but in a quiet, apprehensive voice after clearing his throat. "He? Did you say, he?"

"Yes, congratulations, you're having a boy!"

Carlos scooped me up and was practically jumping up and down. "Babe, we're having a boy… a son… thank you! Thank you!"

I couldn't have been happier myself. I can't wait to have a little mini-Ranger running around with him and all his uncles. Rangeman won't know what hit it.

"How does everything else look?"

"Just the way it should. The placenta is just fine, and amniotic fluid measuring according to how many weeks you are. All in all, you look perfectly healthy. I saw however on your chart from the numbers Mr. Brown gave me and where you're weighing today, you've actually lost weight. Are you able to keep food down fairly well?"

"No, in fact there's only a few dishes I seem to be able to handle. Pasta and rice if the sauces are bland, chicken, bread, cereal and fruit. Bobby told me to eat crackers at night and when I first wake up and that seems to help some, but even smells can trigger me go get sick. And I miss my desserts."

"Try some bread pudding or rice pudding if those items work for you. Stay away from acidic and spicy foods for another few weeks and you should be past this stage. Also, try drinking some ginger ale."

"Thanks Dr. Ellis. When should we schedule the next appointment?"

"Usually every month through your second trimester, but with the morning sickness, the trial coming up and your stress level, let's make it every two weeks for now, and have Mr. Brown keep me apprised of any changes or questions. He and I already spoke before your appointment with the questions he had, so you two could have some privacy. See you in a couple of weeks."

Carlos helped me get dressed. I had opted for a long denim pencil skirt since it was cold outside, a red scoop turtleneck and scarf set and suede boots. I was excited to be going on a date with my husband.

Rossinni's was busy as usual with its lunch time crowd, but Carlos had called ahead and reserved us a table in the corner away from too many prying eyes. I noticed a black SUV following us in the side mirror of the Turbo and was going to say something to Carlos, but thought better of it. I don't know if he wanted us to have some protection or the guys took it upon themselves, but it was kinda nice to know they were there, just in case. This was our first restaurant experience in all these months since the nightmare with Joe began and I didn't want it ruined by someone from the burg.

We both ordered fettuccini with grilled chicken in a lemon butter sauce, getting the same entrée for a change. Carlos ordered a side salad and I opted to wait for my entrée, hoping it would taste and settle with my stomach.

"How do you want to tell the guys?" We're both lost in our own thoughts, and I was the first to break the silence.

"I don't know. I don't think either one of us are going to be able to contain our excitement. Any thoughts?"

"How about this…" I whispered my idea into Carlos' ear and the grin he was sporting looked just as pleased as I had hoped.

"I like being on this side of your schemes for once, babe."

I laughed out loud, causing people to look our way. This first meal out together was already fun, and getting better. "I'll go to the little girl's room and make the call. Be right back."

Forty five minutes later, we'd enjoyed a wonderful lunch and Lula had pulled up out back just like I asked her to. She put her hand out to hand me the keys, then moved her hand to Carlos instead. "Can I trust you with my baby?" Carlos just raised his eyebrow at her. "What am I saying, of course I can trust you. Its white girl here that blows everything up."

"Hey! It's been a long time!"

"Only because you haven't been driving in a long time. I love you white girl, but you have the worst luck with cars, and they don't make these Firebirds anymore. Plus, I just got it detailed!"

"Thank you Lula! Tank is in the SUV in front of the restaurant, just give us fifteen minutes, then go tell him we took your car and will be back at Rangeman by eight o'clock. Tell him to have all the guys in the garage waiting for us, and that everything's alright, that we have a surprise for them."

"No problem, white girl. Maybe I'll get a little Tankie action while we wait for ya."

"Too much information, Lula!" Geesh, I mean, I know she has a sex life with Tank, but I don't want to hear about it. The visual alone is too much.

We got in the car and headed out for the mall. There's a party supply store that I haven't been to in forever and I know they'll have what I'm looking for.

As we walked through the main entrance, I stopped and needed to take a moment. "Babe, are you feeling alright?"

"Ya, it's just… the last time I was here…"

"You were kidnapped by Vince." He turned me and enclosed me in his arms, warming my body with his.

"I almost died that day. I've had so many close calls, and you're still here, you've stuck by me."

"Always will, babe. Afraid you're stuck with me for life. I love you too much."

"I love you too. I'm so happy to be going in with you, just us. Will you come back when I start showing so I can buy some maternity clothes?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world. I can't wait to see your belly grow big with our child, our son. I'm going to enjoy going through this with you."

"I'm ready, let's go in. Just… stay by my side, ok?"

We walked through the mall, just your average couple shopping on a Friday night. It felt so normal, so surreal. We walked into Party City and found what we were looking for right away. And it only took us twenty minutes. We still had time for an ice cream in the food court before going back. Of course mister health-nut ordered a sorbet… geesh!

We pulled up to the gate at Rangeman and one of the guys opened the gate for us. We parked behind a couple of the SUV's and as planned Carlos came around to my side of the car, my door still shut. He asked everyone to gather around and he opened the trunk door at the same time I stepped out of my door. I had a banner that said "It's A Boy" draped across me like a beauty contestant, and as Carlos opened the back door, he pulled out a huge bouquet of blue balloons.

The guys erupted in cheers! I found myself lifted off my feet, being passed around to all the men for hugs, kisses and congratulations. I couldn't be happier and looking over at Carlos, neither could he.