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 6: The Next Morning

RPOV

My eyes pop open on alert, I was instantly aware of my surroundings, what woke me? The apartment was quiet. A little light was streaming thru the window so it was early morning. I was on my back Stephanie was curled up in a ball to my left. I heard her whimper, that must be what woke me. I turned to my side gently and reached for her. When I touched her I could feel the tension leave her body. She was having a dream. From the tension in her body and her whimpering it wasn't a good dream.

I silently wished I could chase away all her bad dreams. I gently guided her body back next to mine and wrapped my arms around her. Her body immediately molded into mine and calmed. I smile at how even in her sleep her body knows my body and responds. Just as my body knows her body and automatically responds. Just having her in my arms and pressed against me makes me so hard. But I would never act on that. At least not now, not until after our talk not until after I tell her that I want her to be mine and that I want to be hers.

I held her for a while longer. I just loved the feel of her in my arms and I wanted to be greedy. Relish in the moment as long as I could before waking her. I knew today was going to be hard for her and I knew that she had not had a whole lot of sleep in the last twenty-four hours.

I knew the guys were still asleep on the couch. I know them well enough to know that they wouldn't leave until they laid eyes on her with her eyes opened. At nine a.m. I decided to wake her up. There were things we needed to do today. One of which was I needed to bare my soul to her. Two she needed to have her ankle checked. Three she needed to deal with the burg, Joe, and her bitch of a mother.

I needed to remember Tank's piece of advice support her. Allow her to stand on her own two feet. Allow her to make the decisions for her life and just be there for her. Damn this was going to be hard for me. When it comes to my Babe I can get narrow sited on her well being, her safety and forget to give her options or allow her to make decisions. I need to change that.

I rub my hand up and down her side. God she feels so good in my arms. I close my eyes just cherishing every second of the feeling. I continue to rub up and down her side then I whisper "Babe" into her ear. She turns over towards me throwing her arm and leg over me. I lie back on my back and pull her to me she snuggles into me damn that feels good.

I could lie here all day long and be a very happy man just having her in my arms. "Babe, you need to wake up" she stirs "hmmm…ime is it?" I chuckle "Babe it is after nine" "morning?" "Yeah babe it's morning, come on wake up." "hu..hafta" "yeah it would be easier. Bobby needs to check your ankle and we need to talk." "mkay giv um a inute" My babe loves to sleep, maybe I will give her a little incentive. "Babe if you get up and get dressed I will have Ella make you your favorite breakfast." "eally" I chuckle "yeah babe eally." Of course I was already going to ask Ella to make her favorite meal for all her meals today including desert. Hell she will have desert for every meal. She bounces up and goes to bound off of the bed. I laugh grabbing her "easy Babe, watch the ankle. I don't want you to put any weight on it until Bobby has a chance to look at it." She looks down at it "okay, it's still a little swollen and stiff feeling."

I get up and pick her up and take her into the bathroom. We go thru the same routine as the last time I wait outside the door for her. When she is done I take her out and sit her on the bed while I make a trip to the bathroom. Then I pick her up and carry her out to the living room. When we walk thru the door she instantly covers her mouth to prevent from laughing out loud.

She motions for me to be quiet and she makes the signal for cell phone. I know what she wants to do. So I walk back into the kitchen with her in my arms and picked up my cell phone. She had such a mischievous look on her face I couldn't help but play along. I knew she wanted pictures. I walked back into the living room and we took a few pictures.

Then she motioned for me to take her around behind the couch. So I did and put her down. She was standing on one foot holding on to the back of the couch. She motioned for me to go around front. So I did, She got down and held her arms out across the back of the couch putting V's up behind Bobby's and Tank's head. She had the biggest grin on her face. I snapped a few pictures. How she kept from making any noise and waking them I don't know. The slightest noise would wake them up. I am sure them having a late night was helping her but I was surprised they hadn't even stirred.

Bobby was sitting on one end of the couch with his head back his feet up on the coffee table. Tank was in the exact same position on the other side. The thing that made the whole scene hilarious was Lester. Lester had at some point laid down with his head propped up on Bobby's thigh and his feet over Tank's. We had just taken perfect blackmail photos and don't think for a second my Babe didn't realize the power she would now have over those three.

I quickly emailed her the pictures so if they stole the phone and erased the pictures she would still have them. After the day she had yesterday, and the day that was to come it was nice to see her happy and having fun for a few minutes. She smiled really big again and then held her finger up. I watched as she put her hands shoulder width apart on the back of the couch. She steadied herself for a second. Then in one swift move she launched herself with her one good leg up in the air pushing with her arms she flipped herself and landed squarely on Lester's stomach.

The second she hit Lester's stomach he was in motion "What the hell?" Lester jumping up off of the couch launched Stephanie up in the air and then they both crashed down into the floor between the couch and coffee table. There was a "OOF" from Lester as my Babe landed on him again. Soon as Lester moved Tank and Bobby were in motion startled you could see it on their faces. I just gave them a raised eyebrow.

Inside I was ready to burst out laughing. Stephanie was the first to speak thru her laughter which was ringing thru out the apartment. "Damn Lester, startle much?" as she was trying to get up off of him without putting any pressure on her ankle. "Beautiful I wasn't expecting for someone to jump on my stomach." She was still laughing and by this time Tank and Bobby had joined in. Then she said something that made us all loose it "Lester, you need to be more aware of your surroundings."

LPOV

Tank, Bobby, and I had been sitting on the couch waiting to see Beautiful when she woke up. We all wanted to see her before going to our apartments. We had all had a long stressful day but we knew that seeing her awake would really help our ability to sleep. At some point we must have fallen asleep waiting. The next thing I am aware of is something landing on my stomach.

I'll admit it here to you it startled me and I jumped, But I am not saying that out loud because big bad asses like myself don't do startled. At least I didn't scream like some school girl. When I say I jumped. Well I completely launched myself off of the couch and Stephanie up in the air. I mean here she is probably weighing in at a hundred and ten pounds. I have a good one twenty on her in weight she is like nothing to me. Hell I bench more than double her weight. Well I hit the floor and seconds later Stephanie lands on me. "OOF" For a second I think maybe she's hurt but she starts laughing.

Damn you don't know how good it was to hear her laughter thru out the room. I would do this a hundred times if it would keep her laughing. It wasn't like she hurt me. "Damn Lester, startle much?" she asked and I just gave her a look that I was pissed but she could tell by my smile that I was far from pissed. I was having just as much fun as her. Tank and Bobby joined in the laughter then she said something that took the cake. "Lester, you need to be more aware of your surroundings." I could no longer hold my pissed face I busted out laughing along with her and the guys even Ranger was full out laughing.

Continuing to play I started tickling Beautiful as she was trying to get up. She was twisting and turning laughing. Finally Ranger came over and lifted her up off of me and just held him to her. Her arms went around his neck as they were looking at each other laughing. He sat down in the chair across from the sofa with her in his lap. "Babe, are you ready for Bobby to take a look at that ankle now that the three sleeping beauties are awake." Fuck you Ranger. Beautiful laughed "yeah I guess so." Bringing the fun we were having to an end. We knew today was going to be a difficult one might as well take the bull by the horns. I get up brush myself off and sit back down on the couch.

SPOV

"Bomber, why don't you try to stand up first and let me know how that feels?" "Okay" I stood up off of Ranger's lap. At first I didn't put any weight on it, then I gradually added weight on my leg. "Bobby my ankle is a little stiff feeling and the more weight I put on it the more uncomfortable it feels but it isn't really painful." Bobby looking at my ankle "Good try to take a step Bomber. Let's see how it feels for you to take a step."

"Okay" I went to take a step and it was difficult and it hurt slightly. Instead of really stepping it was more like a step with a hobble. "Taking a step was more painful not too bad but definitely more painful than just standing." Bobby pierced his lips "Bomber try walking to the door way and back" "okay" I started to walk hobble but I made it to the door way and back. "Bobby that wasn't bad, I really think a couple of days and it will be fine."

"Bomber I agree I think you just managed to twist it when you missed the step. We will watch it make sure it doesn't get worse, use ice to help with any swelling, and heat to keep the joint moving. I think in a few days you will be back to normal" Whew I was glad to hear that. I really didn't want to deal with a walking boot or crutches.

Ranger spoke next "Babe I promised you, your favorite Ella breakfast. Why don't you take a shower now that we know you can put weight on your ankle and get dressed for the day? I will call Ella and get breakfast sent up for all us. I also need to check in with the control room. Then we can talk, okay" as much as I didn't want this part of the day to begin I knew it was time.

"Okay Ranger that sounds good. I want Blueberry pancakes, with Ella's Blueberry syrup, and bacon." I knew he knew my favorite Ella Breakfast but I wanted to tell him just to ensure I would get my favorite. He smiled and picked me up holding me to his strong chest and carried me towards the bathroom, I love being in his arms.

As much as I didn't want this day to begin I love Ranger's shower, and his body wash. This was definitely going to be a day where I would need all of the strength I could get and I didn't know anyone that was stronger than Ranger. I had made my mind up that today was the day that I was going to learn to stand on my own two feet so channeling my inner Ranger is a necessity.

RPOV

Soon as my Babe was in the bathroom I called Ella to ask about breakfast. "Ella, I need for you to send up breakfast to 7 this morning. I know I am late in asking but we had a rather long night. Stephanie is here and if you could make her favorite breakfast I would be grateful. Blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup, and bacon. Oh and Ella make sure it is the real bacon not the turkey bacon. I don't know if you heard but Stephanie had a really bad day yesterday and today isn't looking too promising so I hope by having her favorite things for meals today will help her."

"Carlos, that poor girl has some hard days. I am glad to see that you are there for her. She needs you, you know." "Thanks Tia" "I will have breakfast up for everyone. I assume that Tank, Lester, and Bobby are up there and will be joining you for breakfast?"

"Yes Ella the gang is all here" She knew if Stephanie was having a tough time that none of us would be far from her. "I will have breakfast ready in about 20 minutes." "Thank you Ella, I appreciate it" Great about the time Stephanie is done her breakfast will be here.

I hung up with Ella and called the control room. Ram answered the phone. "Rangeman" "Report" "Ranger everything was quite last night with all accounts, Hector is working on the security install for the Mason house, Hal and Cal are out picking up the latest batch of skips, your appointments for today have already been rescheduled for next week, and progress is being made in tracking down Sanchez so we may be ready for a distraction or a takedown in a day or so depending on how accurate the latest intel is. Vince and Binkie are out in the field getting specs for installing a security system for two new accounts." "Good. The core team will be offline unless there is an emergency until further notice. You know the procedure." "Yes sir" with that I closed the phone.

Lester looks at me "Rangeman how is she? Has she said anything?" I just shook my head "no man she hasn't said anything about what happened yesterday or last night. She woke up last night about four a.m. and I brought her into the living for Bobby to look at her ankle. You were all sleeping so she made me take her back to the bedroom. She said that her ankle could wait that she didn't want to wake you up as you all looked like you needed your sleep."

Lester was a little worried he knew how she liked to live in denial land but we all knew denial land would get her hurt more in this instance. "I asked her last night to promise me she wouldn't run this morning. I told her that we needed to talk and she agreed. I think she will talk to us. It may take some prodding, and encouragement on our part but I think she will open up and tell us what happened yesterday."

I looked at Tank I knew he would remember where this came from "I want Stephanie supported in anything she says today and anything she may decide. These decisions are hers to make. I have thought about this and I am going to offer her some options, and listen to any ideas, desires, or wants she has. In the end what she decides today goes. I don't want any criticism, judging, or negativity brought into any conversation, I don't want her to have a reason to second guess herself today for anything she has done or anything she does today. I want you to offer her support in any way you feel she needs, give her ideas, thoughts, and even give her suggestions but that is all." I eyed each of my men to let them know I meant business.

"Do you understand me? Stephanie will be supported a hundred percent without any judgments or caveman antics. Do I make myself clear? Because if any of you are unclear and fuck up we will be clearing it up on the mats. So if you have questions about what is appropriate and what isn't I suggest you ask now while she is still in the bathroom. I know we all love Stephanie and I want her to know that and understand just how much by the end of the day."

Tank just stood there smiling. I knew that most of that was said for nothing and that of the four of us I was the one that was more at fault when it came to making decisions for Stephanie and being closed off with my emotions and feelings more than any of them. But I wanted for them to fully understand that a new day was dawning between Stephanie and I and I was going to start it on the right foot.

SPOV

Have I said how much I love Ranger's shower? I hobbled out of the shower, dried off wrapped myself in Ranger's soft fluffy towel and went to the dressing room where I knew Ranger kept clothes for me. Channeling my inner Ranger today was easy because my clothes here were all black. So I pulled on my Rangeman under ware, bra, my black cargo pants which hung low on my hips, and my black fitted t-shirt with Rangeman embroidered over my left breast. I didn't bother with shoes.

I went back to the bathroom where I pulled my hair up into a ponytail, brushed my teeth, and put on a touch of makeup lord knows I am going to need mascara for courage today, I think it is going to be a five coat day. I added a little lip gloss that is good as it is going to get. God bless Ella she keeps everything for me here right down to the brand of tampons I use. I swear Ranger doesn't pay her enough and I would give anything for her to adopt me. Just as I was finishing up I heard the apartment door open. Speaking of Ella, here comes breakfast. Yum!

I hurry out of the bedroom to meet the guys in the dining room. As I walk in everyone is sitting waiting on me. I hurriedly sat down and started eating. The second those luscious blueberries hit my tongue I let out a most appreciative moan. I couldn't help it. It was too good. Oh god.

I opened my eyes to see three pair of darkened eyes locked on me. "Uhh guys, what's wrong?" I looked at each of the guys, then around the room in case I missed something. I heard throats clearing as they shifted in their sits. "Babe" I rolled my eyes and went back enjoying my favorite breakfast in blissful happiness with every bite. They are just going to have to deal with it. I moan when I enjoy my food get over it guys.

RPOV

When Stephanie walked into the dining room wearing her Rangeman uniform, smelling like me I couldn't stop the smile. Her smelling like me just did something to me. It was like she was laying claim to me and it made my cock harden with desire. I wanted to pick her up and run back to the bedroom and keep her there all day worshiping her body.

I wanted to show her how much I love her with every touch of my fingers, every kiss of my lips, and with every lick of my tongue against her beautiful body. Damn these thoughts have left me in such a state I am thankful for the table to block the view of my solider standing at full on attention dancing with anticipation pressing against my pants to the point I am afraid the zipper is going to bust.

Just when I think I can't get any harder my Babe lets out a soulful moan. A moan that reminds me of the one night we spent together. When her body writhed under me and the wonderful noises she made as I pleasured her. I am not going to be able to stand up for a while.

The table is completely quiet everyone has stopped eating and all eyes are on my Babe. From the looks on their faces I am not the only one supporting a massive hard on. Of course if I catch them even attempting to have their way with Stephanie they won't be supporting a hard on for long or ever again. I can't fault them for being affected. There isn't a man in all of New Jersey that wouldn't be affected listening to my Babe eat but they just better never act on it.

Stephanie looks up "Uhh guys, what's wrong?" then she looks at each of us and then around the room like she is trying to figure out what is going on. Almost like a choreographed move we all clear our throats and shift in our seats trying to get more comfortable. "Babe" She then rolled her eyes and went back to her breakfasting moaning thru the bites.

TPOV

Hearing my little girl laugh this morning was like music to my ears. I know big tough guys don't normally say sissy shit like that. But she had such a tough day yesterday. I was really worried about her mental status this morning. Not to mention all of the injuries. I know she is hiding out in denial land and for a while we all will let her. But we know that she can't keep denying what happened last night, it won't do her any good to just deny what she saw and pretend it didn't happen.

When she went to take shower Ranger pulled us together and basically told us, no demanded from us that we support Stephanie no matter what. I just had to smile. He had finally gotten his head out of his ass. He had listened to me. He has a plan, I am not sure what choices he is going to offer her but he said he had some choices and that her decisions regarding those choices were to be a hundred percent supported.

If we didn't understand how to do that then we needed to figure it out before we fucked it up. If we fail to support her then we will have our asses handed to us by none other than a major fucking pissed Cuban. Well I wasn't going to have to worry about that. It was never my intention of not supporting my little girl regardless of what the big bad ass Manoso said.

I had to smile when she walked into the dining room for breakfast she was dressed in all black like Ranger, even smelled like Ranger. She knew she would need courage to face the day. I knew by her dressing this way, she was channeling her inner Ranger at least that is what she told me once before.

The first time she told me about that I had to laugh, but it seems to works for her. Ella had made her favorite, no surprise there that Ranger had planned that. This was going to be a difficult day for her. But we were all going to be with her today and help her thru it however we could. When my little girl started to eat the noises that were coming from her had us all in a state.

Not that I would ever act on it or vocalize anything and embarrass her about it. But damn my pants are about to bust and I don't even have feelings like that for her. I look around and all of the guys including Ranger are having the same problem. Whew so it isn't just me. She looks up "Uhh guys, what's wrong?" Jesus doesn't she already know what those noises do to a man?

She looks at each of us than looks casually around the room like she thought she was missing something. We all shift in our seats while clearing our throats to try to get some comfort from what is happening in our laps. "Babe" she then rolls her eyes and goes back to eating her breakfast moaning. This breakfast is going to be the longest breakfast in fucking history. I don't know about the rest of the guys but I am going to have to sit here for a little bit after she is finished to get a handle on the situation in my lap.

Normally Santos would make a joke at this point to alert Stephanie to his state, but he knows Ranger is in no mood for toying with her even if its intent is harmless. He wants her supported not made fun off. I see him biting his lip to keep his mouth shut. Maybe he has a brain after all, or maybe it is a healthy fear that is making him keep his comments to himself no matter how funny he finds it to tease her with the innuendos.

Oh I know he hasn't stopped for good. That wouldn't be normal for Santo's and my little girl relationship but I think he realizes how hard today is going to be he doesn't want to start the day making fun of her, even if it is for a laugh to lift her spirits.