These characters belong to Janet I am just borrowing them for my amusement. Although I would love to keep Ranger and the merry men for myself!

This story does contain violence, and touches on dark subject matters. This story is not friendly to Morelli or Helen Plum so for Cupcake fans you have been warned.

Chapter 5: Waking up

BPOV

As Ranger was holding her whispering Spanish in her ear I was checking her additional injuries. I took note of all the new bruises. From the one on her upper right arm of a perfect hand, son of a bitch, to the ones on both her right and left side. "Ranger when she fell off of the porch did she land on her right or left side?"

He looked at me for a minute as if he wanted to say something but then stopped himself. "She hit her head on the left side of her forehead where the knot and bruise have formed." I moved her head so I could see the knot and bruise. It had already started to swell a little and a nice goose egg had appeared.

"Well then why does she have bruises on her right side that weren't there earlier today when I took care of her injuries? What the hell happened in that house?" His jaw tightened and he shook his head.

"Ranger if he caused these injuries you do realize that half this building will be out hunting him down, they will never find his body it will be in so many different pieces. At this point I would be willing to aid in that effort and Lester will be leading it." Ranger just nodded. I was certain he was thinking that he would be leading the pack.

"Bobby why hasn't she woken up, she has been out now for a while. I realize she hit her head but I don't think she hit it that hard that she should still be unconscious." I just shook my head as I went about cleaning the skin rashes on her cheek, arm, side, and thigh from the brush with the sidewalk.

"No, she didn't. I don't know when she will wake up. Her little body has been thru a lot today not to mention her mind, her emotions, and her heart and it just needs time to process everything and heel a little. She will wake up when she is ready. You really don't need to worry her injuries aren't that serious. Her ankle is probably the worse. From the looks of it she may have twisted it when she missed the step. I don't even think it is sprained at this point. Of course once she wakes up I will evaluate it further with her putting weight on it and walking."

Ranger went back to whispering in her ear. He was speaking in Spanish I couldn't hear everything that he was saying. But I did hear him tell her that he loved her, that she was the light to his darkness. If it weren't for her needing me to tend to her injuries I would have left the two alone.

Even in her unconscious state it was a very private very intimate moment between them. It was as if Ranger saying this wasn't just for Stephanie's benefit. It was as if he was acknowledging these things to be true for the first time. That he was opening up and letting her in, if only she was conscious to hear this and understand his words.

I just hope he is half as brave to actually tell her the words in English once she wakes up. "Boss that is about all I can do right now, I will go out and wait in the living room until she wakes up. When she wakes up I will evaluate her ankle and make the decision if x-rays are needed." Ranger just nods his head in acknowledgement as he continues to whisper in Stephanie's ear.

RPOV

I know when I speak Spanish to my Babe it calms her. Even though she is unconscious I need to get this out, I need to get this off my chest. I decide to try to say all the things I want her to know in Spanish that way I can test how they feel. If I can actually put a voice to all the feelings I have and if I can speak them out loud for the world to hear.

Bobby is working on her injuries I know he can hear me even though he would never comment or speak a word of them to anyone. He is still a good test candidate if I can't say them to her in his presence then I won't be able to tell her in English once she wakes up.

"Babe Te amo. Tú significas todo para mí. Tú eres mi vida, mis sueños y mis deseos. Ya no quiero estar sin ti. Te necesito en mi vida, como mi mejor amigo, mi compañero, mi esposa y mi amante. Cuando se escapó antes se sentía como que me estaban dejando. No podía encontrar la suficiente rapidez. Corrí por las calles hasta que encuentre. Yo estaba corriendo para que ruego que no que me dejes. Se sentía como si mi corazón se estaba arrancado de mi bebé en el pecho. No quiero volver a sentir nunca así de nuevo. Te necesito nena."

(Babe I love you. You mean everything to me. You are my life, my dreams, and my desires. I no longer want to be without you. I need you in my life, as my best friend, my partner, my wife, and my lover. When you ran away earlier it felt like you were leaving me. I couldn't find you fast enough. I raced thru the streets to find you. I was running to you to beg you not to leave me. It felt as if my heart was being ripped out of my chest Babe. I never want to ever feel like that again. I need you babe.)

Bobby looks at me "Ranger when she fell off of the porch did she land on her right or left side?" I looked at him for a minute thinking if he couldn't look at her and tell.., but I held my tongue I know how good of a medic he is. "She hit her head on the left side of her forehead where the knot and bruise have formed."

He moved her head to take a closer look before speaking "Well then why does she have bruises on her right side that weren't there earlier today when I took care of her injuries? What the hell happened in that house?" Shit I missed that. My jaw tightened as once again furry ran thru my veins like cold rapids of a river.

I am going to kill that mother fucker if he hit her. Before I could finish that thought Bobby's voice brought me back "Ranger if he caused these injuries you do realize that half of this building will be out hunting him down, they will never find his body it will be in so many different pieces. At this point I would be willing to aid in that effort and Lester will be leading it."

I nodded it was true only Lester wouldn't be leading, I would. I looked back down at my babe lying against me so small, so fragile with her eyes closed her body limp. I was beginning to get worried about her not having woken up. Thinking maybe we should have taken her to the hospital instead of bringing her here.

"Bobby why hasn't she woken up, she has been out now for a while. I realize she hit her head but I don't think she hit that hard that she should still be unconscious." Bobby just shook his head trying to ease my worry for her

"No, she didn't. I don't know when she will wake up. Her little body has been thru a lot today not to mention her mind, her emotions, and heart and her body just needs time to process everything and heel a little. She will wake up when she is ready. You really don't need to worry her injuries aren't that serious. Her ankle is probably the worse. From the looks of it she may have twisted it when she missed that step. I don't even think it is sprained at this point. Of course once she wakes up I will evaluate it further with her putting weight on it and walking."

What a relief to hear that from Bobby. I relaxed a little and started telling my babe everything I needed for her to hear of course I would have to repeat this in English but this was just a test run.

"Nena tú eres mi luz en la oscuridad. Haces que mi alma cobra vida, que me haces sentir cosas que nunca pensé posible después de la vida que han llevado, las cosas que he visto, y hecho. No tienes idea de lo mucho que han contraído libremente me ha dado sin pedir, esperar nada a cambio. Te amo por todo lo que dan con la pregunta a cabo y quiero darle al niño el mundo."

(Babe you are my light in the darkness. You make my soul come alive, you make me feel things I never thought possible after the life I have lead, the things I have seen, and done. You have no idea how much you have freely given me without ever asking, expecting anything in return. I love you for everything you give me without question and I want to give you the world babe.)

"Quiero que te cases conmigo nena. Quiero que tenerla algún día. Quiero tenerte todas las noches, despierta con usted todas las mañanas. Pasa días enteros buscando en sus ojos azules. Quiero pasar noches haciendo el amor con usted y explotación en mis brazos. Quiero besarte para sacar tu dolor, yo quiero ser el refugio que buscan cuando necesitan protección, yo quiero ser de los brazos para abrazarte cuando necesitan consuelo. Quiero ser la camisa se empapa con tus lágrimas cuando sólo se necesita un hombro para llorar. Nena Quiero ser tu todo. Así como tú eres mi todo."

(I want you to marry me babe. I want us to have her someday. I want to hold you every night, wake with you every morning. Spend days together just looking into your blue eyes. I want to spend nights making love to you and holding you in my arms. I want to kiss away your pain, I want to be the shelter you seek when you need protecting, and I want to be the arms to hold you when you need comfort. I want to be the shirt you soak with your tears when you just need a shoulder to cry on. Babe I want to be your everything. Just as you are my everything.)

Bobby looks at me once again getting my attention. "Boss that is about all I can do right now, I will go out and wait in the living room until she wakes up. When she wakes up I will evaluate her ankle and make the decision if x-rays are needed." I nod my head but I continue to whisper Spanish in my babe's ear.

"Por favor, nena dice que va a casarse conmigo. Despertar y decir que sí, os ruego que si, porque honestamente no sé vivir sin ti. He tratado y cada día se hace más difícil. Te necesito en mi vida, no como estamos hoy, pero completa y totalmente al punto de que pertenezco a ti y tú me perteneces. La idea de que pertenece a mí hace algo para mí que no puedo explicar a usted. No es para controlarte nena no temo que nunca lo intentaría. Es el único que no pertenecen a ningún otro que tú eres mío para que yo amo con todo mi corazón y para que me ame con todo con todo tu corazón. Por favor, decir que sí nena. Vamos a comenzar nuestro día de hoy, en este mismo momento. Por favor, despierta nena y decir que sí."

(Please babe say you will marry me. Wake up and say yes, I pray you say yes because honestly I don't know how to live without you. I have tried and every day it gets harder. I need you in my life not like we are today but completely and totally to the point that I belong to you and you belong to me. The thought of you belonging to me does something to me that I can't explain to you. It isn't to control you babe don't fear I would never try. It is solely that you belong to no other that you are mine for me to love with all my heart and for you to love me with all with all of your heart. Please say yes babe. Let's start our someday today, right this minute. Please babe wake up and say yes. )

I know I was begging, something I haven't done in a very long time. But this was my babe I needed her to wake up. I needed to see those beautiful blue eyes to know that she was okay. My soul was ready to bare to her and I needed to tell her. Having said it out loud even in Spanish made me want it even more so.

Made my desires become even more demanding. God please let her say yes. My heart is hers for the taking even if she doesn't want it, it is still hers I could never, and would never feel for anyone else the way I did for her. We were soul mates. I just held her rubbing calming circles on her marred skin. I think it was more to calm me than her.

"Babe mi corazón es para ti, que está a su disposición para mantener a cuidar. Le doy a usted libremente espero que me dará la tuya porque te prometo que nunca va a traer un perjuicio, yo nunca la hará daño. Yo tesoro para el día que muera como mi posesión más preciada. Voy a guardarla con fiereza, voy a cuidar de él con ternura, y yo lo amo todos los días. Confía en mi nena, confía en mí con su corazón como yo confío en ti con la mía. Despierta y toma mi corazón, mi amor. Di que sí."

(Babe my heart is for you, it is there for you to hold to take care of. I give it to you freely I hope you will give me yours because I promise you I will never bring it harm, I will never cause it hurt. I will treasure it to the day I die as my most precious possession. I will guard it fiercely, I will care for it tenderly, and I will love it daily. Trust me babe, trust me with your heart as I trust you with mine. Wake up and take my heart, my love. Say yes.)

I no more finish my last sentence before my babe starts to stir. For a moment her body tenses and before her eyes even open she chokes out "Ranger" my heart leaps into my throat "Babe, I am here it's okay. You are safe now. Open your eyes let me see those beautiful blue eyes, Babe."

At my request she forces her eyes open. My body finally fully relaxes and I let out a breath that feels like I had been holding forever. I smile at her and she smiles back for a second before tears form I put my arms around her and hold her against me. She seems to just melt into me. God I love that feeling.

"Babe we need to talk, but first you need to get up and let Bobby look at your ankle. We believe that you may have twisted it when you fell off of the porch but it is possible that it may be more serious." She just listened to me. She made no effort to move. Finally she asked the questions I know she was dying to know.

"Ranger what time is it? How did I get here? What happened?" I gave her a smile "Babe its almost 4:00 a.m. you have been out for a while, I brought you here after you passed out, and I was hoping that you would be able to help fill some of the blanks with what happened. Bobby is in the living room. Let's get you up, clean you up a little, change your clothes and then let's have Bobby take a look at that ankle. Then we can work on those questions, okay?" She just nodded.

I sat up bringing her with me. Not wanting her to put any weight on her ankle until Bobby was looking at it I picked her up carried her into the bathroom. I sat her on the counter beside the sink. I reached for a wash cloth got the water warm and proceeded to wash her feet, legs, belly, back, arms, shoulders and neck. I then got a clean wash cloth and washed her face. I didn't remove her shorts or bra. I just grabbed my t-shirt and pulled it over her head.

"Babe, do you need to use the bathroom?" She blushed bright pink just me mentioning it embarrassed her. Damn she is so cute when she blushes. She just nodded. "I don't want you putting any weight on your ankle so I am going to carry you over to the toilet please stand on one leg to get your pants up and down. If you need help let me know." She nodded but said "Ranger I think I can manage. I will call you when I am done."

With that I left her to take care of her business. I waited just on the other side of the door just in case she fell or needed me. In just a few minutes she called me saying she was done. I picked her up and carried her to sink for her to wash her hands. Then I carried her into the living room.

When we got to the living room I paused for moment as we walked thru the doorway. The look on her face made me smile. She was smiling at what she saw. There on the sofa were Tank, Lester, and Bobby fast asleep. They had their feet stretched out on the coffee table in front of the couch, their heads were laid back against the back of the sofa and all three were sound asleep.

My babe motioned for me to be quiet by putting her finger to her mouth. Then she motioned for me to take her back to bedroom. I turned around and walked back to the bedroom and sat her down on the bed.

"Babe, Bobby needs to look at your ankle." She looked at me "no, he doesn't need to right now, let them sleep. They look so cute sleeping there I don't want to disturb them. Besides I think it is fine." She then moves herself over the in the bed and snuggles down in my sheets, yawning.

"Ranger you look exhausted please just come to bed and get some sleep. We will deal with all of this tomorrow." I couldn't argue with that. "Okay Babe, but we really need to talk tomorrow so no running away before Bobby looks at your ankle and we talk okay" she is hesitant for a moment I see so many emotions flash across her face but she finally nodes in agreement.

"Promise me." She sighs "Okay Ranger I promise." I crawl into bed beside her pulling her to me, my front to her back. I wrap my arms around her holding her tight to me. As I start to drift off the only thought I had is this must be what heaven feels like.

SPOV

Shit. I didn't want to promise that. I was hoping to sneak out of here. I need to think. While Ranger was holding me sleeping behind me my mind was racing a hundred miles an hour. I was so convinced that I was doing the right thing going to Joe tonight. I no longer want to be the laughing stock of Trenton. I don't want to embarrass the guys, Ranger, or Rangeman.

Joe can kiss my ass because after tonight I no longer care if he gets embarrassed. We are done. He is history. I can't believe the nerve of Joe to think that I would participate or watch him fuck Terry how disgusting. I never want to see him again let alone have anything to do with him.

I don't want to ever disappoint Ranger, or the guys. I thought going to Joe I would prevent that but that isn't happening now. I will never be with Joe. But I still can't disappoint them. How am I going to not disappoint them, when I am such a major fuck up.

I can't even imagine what my mom will have to say about this latest fiasco between my car blowing up and then Joe cheating on me. I am sure somehow she will manage to make it completely my fault and in so doing I will have disappointed her and managed to embarrass her. Well nothing I can do about that.

How am I going to keep from negatively impacting Rangeman? Again being with Joe was going to resolve that issue as well. Now what I am going to do? God I need to think. Ranger's arms feel so good around me. I wish I could have this every night but according to him his life doesn't lend its self to relationships.

More than likely his life doesn't lend itself to stupid fuckups like me that negatively impact his business. Hell he is probably afraid that if he was in a relationship with me I would bleed him dry with all the money he bleeds for me. He doesn't bleed money because I spend his money no. He bleeds money because of my psychos, my cars, his cars. Yes I have blown up his cars as well as my own. Not to mention if I hung out in this building more he would probably be afraid that I would manage to blow it up some way or another.

God what am I going to do. I can't believe Joe I am so mad right now. He was supposed to love me he said he wanted to marry me and yet there he was fucking Terry while we were together. I don't know if I should be feeling hurt or just plan mad. For some reason I wasn't feeling either. I mean I was mad I walked in on him, and that he was cheating on me but I wasn't feeling the hurt that I thought I would feel if I truly loved him.

I wasn't thinking twice about letting him go. I wasn't full of rage for him hurting me as I thought I would have been or maybe should have been had my heart truly belonged to him. My heart still feels like it is beating and it doesn't feel like it is being ripped out. I realized last night just the thought of me walking away from Ranger made my heart feel like it was being ripped out of my chest. I am not sure I have the guts to face that pain again. It feels so good being in his arms.

I made a quick decision to not think about what tomorrow morning would bring but to just enjoy the moment. This very moment for what it was Ranger the love of my life holding me with that thought I went to sleep with a final thought this must be what heaven feels like.