Thirty minutes later, Lester and I had Ranger out of his clothes and settled back into bed wearing black boxers. Nurse Molly had returned to hook Ranger back up to his IV drip, drain tubes, pain medicine, and heart monitor. Lester had left, and he was replaced by Tank. Mid-afternoon sun shone in the window, warming the room and giving it a cheerful glow. We were awaiting a transport for Ranger's MRI.
Ranger had taken a dose of pain meds and collapsed into an exhausted sleep, the stress of the day's events finally taking their toll. I know Ranger is a strong guy, but his body was broken. He needed time to recuperate and heal, and I was feeling guilty I put his health in danger by wandering off to get snatched. The stress had finally caught up to me too after the adrenaline had worn off. I was sitting in the recliner by the bed looking half-awake holding Ranger's hand. I was covered in blankets, but I couldn't stop shivering.
Diesel strolled into the room looking disheveled. Worry lines creased his face near his eyes and mouth, and his clothes were wrinkled.
"Hey," I greeted him.
He crossed the room to me and tussled my hair. I sucked in some air, my tender head not liking his touch.
"Hey yourself. I'm glad to find you in one piece. I was worried sick. I had to see you with my own eyes."
He wrapped his arms around me and drug me from the chair to my feet, pulling me into a bear hug.
"Steph, you're shaking."
"Adrenaline burn-off," I explained. "Happens all the time."
"Only to you," he said. "Most normal people don't get into hairy situations as often as you. For most people, this would be the once-in-a-lifetime experience."
He held me out to study me, and his mouth formed a straight, angry line. His eyes dilated black, and if it was possible, I suspect flames would have shot out of his ears.
"Your neck," he said, venom in his voice.
"It's fine," I said. "It will heal."
"Doesn't it hurt?" he asked.
"No," I said, trying to convince myself it was true. It actually hurt like hell.
"Liar."
"Well? Where the heck were you earlier?" I accused, feeling pretty pissed off. "I figured you'd come storming into the parking garage to retrieve me. Instead, I got zapped twice, kidnapped, and chased through the streets of Atlanta by Wulf's medieval moron."
The frustration faded from Diesel's eyes, and it was replaced by hurt.
"I'm sorry," he said, his tone earnest. His shoulders fell a bit, and his brown eyes melted into pools of chocolate.
My stomach churned uncomfortably, and I think Diesel sensed my unease. He held my shivering body close, wrapping the blanket tightly around me. He rubbed circles on my back with his palms. His touch was warm and soft, and I melted into him, unable to stay mad for long.
"We were looking, but we couldn't find you."
"You were working with Rangeman?" I asked, surprised.
"Not exactly, but I was in contact with Tank."
"Then who is 'we'?" I asked.
"My partner is in Atlanta helping this weekend," Diesel said.
"Flash?" I asked.
"No."
A blank look must have registered on my face, because Diesel gave a nod, then continued speaking.
"Her name is Lizzie Tucker. She's from Massachusetts. She helped me search for you today. We were frantic, but Wulf led us on a wild goose chase. I figured you'd be with him, but he apparently left you alone with Hatchett."
I stood in his arms, open mouthed. Diesel had a partner? He seemed like the lone wolf type. And a woman, no less. Just when I thought I was figuring Diesel out, he hits me with another unexpected twist. Was she a business-only partner or a romantic partner too?
The expression on Diesel's face had changed, and so did the feel of his airspace.
"You love her," I said with certainty, a goofy grin spreading across my face.
"It's not what you think," Diesel said as if he'd read my mind. "We're not together. We can't be together. It would screw up our working partnership."
Something changed in the way Diesel held himself, and I could have sworn I felt disappointment radiating off of his body. He wanted her—bad. I wanted to be nosey and ask more about his mysterious lack of love life, but I managed to stop myself.
"I didn't know you had a partner. Why haven't I met her?" I asked, uncertain what to say.
"She's a pastry chef in Salem," he explained. "I try not to drag her out unless it's absolutely necessary, but I needed her help to find something here this weekend."
"And she's…. where?" I asked.
"She hasn't come into the hospital because she's keeping Carl outside in the car. Hospitals frown on visiting monkeys."
That thought caused me to laugh out loud, but I squashed it down quickly so as not to wake Ranger, who was still sleeping peacefully. Diesel smiled his flawless smile.
"You finally stopped shaking. You going to be alright, sweet thing?" he asked.
"Yep. Did you find what you're looking for yet?"
"No. I'm hoping we find the person carrying it around soon, because I don't think he'll be in Atlanta much longer," Diesel explained. "When he moves on, so do we. Chasing him around the continental U.S. is making me cranky."
"What exactly are you looking for?" I asked, curious.
"Nothing that should concern you," said Diesel, unwrapping himself from around me. I grabbed the corners of the blanket and held it tight.
"I can't be trusted with the information?" I asked, giving him a dirty look.
"More like you wouldn't believe me if I told you, so I'm not going to waste my breath, honey. I need to get back to Lizzie and Carl. Call me if you need anything," he said, turning to leave.
"Wait!" I said in a loud voice, then cringed when I remembered Ranger. I glanced over to his sleeping form in the bed, and noticed his eyes were fluttering.
"Crap," I muttered. "Sorry, Ranger. I'm fine. You're fine." I rubbed Ranger's arm with my hand to soothe him, since I'd probably scared the crap out of him shouting at Diesel.
"Babe," he muttered in a drug-induced state of relaxation, closing his eyes once again.
I turned back to Diesel, and he was giving me a grin. His eyes were dancing with laughter.
"Do I get to meet Lizzie?" I asked Diesel in a whisper.
"Later," he said. "She's been asking to meet you too. She wants to learn more about the badass bounty hunter chick I know from Trenton," he said winking at me. "I'm almost afraid to put you two together. Oh, and by the way, you won't have to worry about Hatchett any time soon. He's in a full body cast downstairs." Diesel grinned, then he was gone.
Ranger was carted downstairs for his MRI, and I took a nap in his room while I waited. I felt relatively safe since Tank was standing guard in the room, and I thought it was unlikely Wulf would make an appearance in the hospital room. I woke up to the sound of Ranger's bed being wheeled back into the room around 5:30 PM. Ranger was still looking drowsy, but his eyes were open. Ximena was in the room with me, having snuck in while I was sleeping.
"Buenos noches, amiga," she said, giving me a finger wave.
"Hey," I said, stretching and yawning. "What's up?"
"Here to check on the boss man, then to collect you for dinner."
"You didn't need to do that. I'm not hungry," I lied. "I need to stay here."
As if on cue, my stomach rumbled. Ximena laughed before turning her attention to the orderlies moving Ranger. They were wearing navy blue scrubs, and they looked exhausted.
"When will we hear results on the scan?" she asked.
One shrugged, but the other responded.
"Probably won't hear 'til morning," he drawled. "They'll stop by sooner if they found something serious, but everyone is pulling double shifts right now."
Ximena thanked them, and they left.
I got to my feet and perched on the side of Ranger's bed. Ximena stood as well.
"How are you doing?" I asked him.
"Fine," he said, sounding non-committal. Tension was obvious in his face, but he wasn't going to admit to being weak.
"I'm going to give you a quick check," Ximena told Ranger before pulling back his sheets.
Ranger nodded his assent, and she began studying his wounds and dressings. She pulled a flashlight from her bag and checked his pupils.
"How's your pain?" she asked.
"Under control," he said.
"On a scale from one to ten?"
He thought about it before responding. "Four."
"So at least a six, Mr. Tough Guy," Ximena said, winking at him.
He didn't look happy.
"They're talking about keeping me two to four more days," he said. "Can I get out of here sooner?"
"Depends on your MRI results," Ximena responded. "If everything upstairs is safe, you could conceivably leave earlier under the proper care and supervision provided by yours truly." She grinned, tapping her temple. "If the results are inconclusive or concerning, you really need to stay here. I can manage your wound drains, dressing changes, and physical therapy, but I'm not a neurologist. Your brain is important. Even if you do get out of here, it'll be at least a few more days before you're well enough to fly to home to Jersey."
Ranger seemed to accept her assessment. I squeezed his hand, and his eyes shifted to meet mine. Affection was apparent in his eyes, and I felt heat travel through my hand and into my chest. The corners of my mouth turned up, and my eyes fell to my shoes when I felt red creeping up my neck to my face. Even in an injured, altered state, Ranger could give me a hot flash.
"Okay, love birds, I hate to break this up, but I'm hauling Stephanie out of here for a while," Ximena said, stuffing her flashlight back into her bag. "She's been cooped up here for too long. She needs real food, more sleep, and a hot shower. Hector will come pull a shift with Tank here at the hospital."
"I'm fine, really," I said to Ximena. "I don't want to leave…"
Ranger cut me off. "She's right, babe. You've been here more than twenty four hours. Did you get lunch today? You need a good night's rest."
"Listen to el jefe," Ximena said. "You're going to make yourself sick if you don't do some self-care. Tank and Hector will take good care of him tonight, and I will take good care of you. You can come back in the morning refreshed."
I wanted to protest, but I was exhausted. My feet felt like bricks, and my body ached. My head was still throbbing too, though I hated to admit it.
"Fine," I said, pulling Ranger's hand to my lips and kissing the back. "Be a good patient tonight, mister. I don't want to hear about you chasing nurses or flirting with doctors." I winked at him, and the corner of his mouth tipped up ever so slightly.
"Scout's honor."
I heard the door to the room open and glanced over my shoulder. David from physical therapy walked in first, pushing a walker. He was followed by nurse Molly, then Hector.
"It's getting pretty crowded in here," Ximena lamented. "Let's roll."
I bent over the bed and gave Ranger a soft kiss, my hand caressing the side of his face. He laced his fingers into the front of my shirt, pulling me closer and deepening the kiss. I felt electricity move through my body, landing low in my belly. I'm pretty sure I moaned.
I heard Hector clear his throat, and I broke from the kiss, pausing with our foreheads touching.
"Take care of yourself," I said in a whisper. "I wouldn't know what to do if I lost you."
"Babe," Ranger responded. Based on the tone of his voice, I interpreted it to mean, "You too."
Ximena grabbed the back of my windbreaker and drug me to the door.
Ranger spoke. "Ximena, get her phone replaced."
I turned to stare at him.
"What?"
"Isn't your phone missing?"
I hadn't thought about it, but apparently the answer was yes. I had been using it for navigation back to Rangeman, and I hadn't seen it since I'd been zapped. Ranger was so drugged he was flat on his ass, and he still managed to keep tabs on me. I couldn't even manage to keep track of a cell phone. I was failing at adulting.
I sighed. "Crap."
Ranger nodded. "Handle it," he told Ximena before she drug me from his room, down the hall, and to the elevators.
Ximena and I buckled into a black Range Rover and exited the hospital parking ramp into the city. Ximena was at the wheel, looking ultra-cool in her Oakley sunglasses and black Rangeman uniform. She made a phone call to the control room to request a new phone for me, then turned her attention to me.
"Where to?" she asked.
I shrugged. "Rangeman?"
She pursed her lips. "What about food?"
"Maria will feed me, right?"
Ximena stopped at a stoplight, tipped her sunglasses down, and peered at me over the top of the lenses.
"You look like you could use a little happy," she said with a smirk.
She wheeled the SUV through traffic and a few minutes later, was pulling into a McDonalds drive through. She was a woman after my own heart.
Ximena ordered a Big Mac meal with fries and a coke for herself, giving me time to contemplate my order.
"What do you want?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder.
"A big mac, large Coke, large fries, shamrock shake, and ten piece chicken nuggets—no, sorry, make it twenty."
Her eyes got wide and she laughed. She placed my order, paid the cashier, collected our food, and parked before distributing the food.
I sunk my teeth into my Big Mac and moaned out loud. This was exactly what I needed to fill the happiness void in my chest.
"So, how are you holding up, chica?" Ximena asked, breaking the companionable silence.
"Eh…." I uttered, my mouth full of food. I swallowed. "I'm alright. This weekend wasn't all I had hoped it would be."
"What were you expecting?" she asked.
"I don't know. I guess a simple security job, and time to clear my head."
She rolled that thought around in her brain, chewing her fries.
"I'm grateful you were here," she admitted. "If you hadn't been here, I might have lost my cousin. I'm indebted to you."
I felt emotions try to bubble to the surface that I'd been working hard to hold at bay, so I shoved them back down with another bite of Big Mac. Some women bury their emotions with liquor, cigarettes, or prescription pain pills. I bury mine with doughnuts and drive-thru food.
"I'm glad I was here too," I replied with a full mouth.
We sat in companionable silence, eating and thinking. We finished up our food, put our wrappers into the empty food bag, and made our way back onto the street.
"Where to now?" Ximena asked.
"Home," I said. "I'm beat. I'll worry about tomorrow once it comes."
Ximena navigated through the busy streets of Atlanta. Apparently even Sunday nights were busy in downtown Atlanta. The sun was setting behind the skyline, and headlights were beginning to burn. Ximena steered the Range Rover into the secured, underground parking garage and parked it near the elevator.
I dragged my aching body out of the car and walked with Ximena to the elevator. She fobbed us up to the sixth floor and fobbed Ranger's door open, ushering me inside. She shimmied her backpack off her shoulders and onto the kitchen counter.
"Sit," she said, pointing to the bar stool.
I did as instructed, too tired to argue. Ximena let my hair down and checked my head. She asked me to follow her finger with my eyes and asked me to squeeze both of her hands. She pulled up my pant leg to check my knee, and finished by examining the handprint on my neck.
"Go take a quick shower, then I'll apply medicine to your scalp," she said. "If I put it on now, it'll wash off when you shower."
I showered, brushed my teeth, and hit my hair with a hair dryer. I could feel exhaustion tugging at every fiber of my body, and my head was screaming. My reflection in the mirror revealed dark, baggy circles under my eyes and red, bloodshot eyes. Whatever adrenaline & courage kept me running for the past two days was spent, and I needed to regroup. I pulled on bikini underwear, leggings, and one of Ranger's black, long sleeved t-shirts, then trudged to the kitchen.
"You look like hell, chica," Ximena said.
"If I'm being perfectly honest, I feel like hell," I admitted, plopping down onto the stool.
She examined my neck.
"How did this happen?" she asked, her eyes registering disbelief at the hand-shaped burn.
"Long story. It will heal," I said in explanation.
"Is it a burn?" she asked, trying to gain understanding.
"Yep."
She pulled some salve from her medic bag and smeared it on my neck. It provided some cooling relief, and I was grateful for her effort.
"You going to be okay alone here tonight?" Ximena asked, parting my hair to smear ointment on my scalp.
I sucked in air at her touch, the pain radiating through my scalp and head.
I hadn't really considered being alone tonight, but the thought wasn't a comfortable one. I'd seen too much the past two days. The memory of exploded bodies made my stomach turn, and visions of Ranger bleeding out in the middle of an Atlanta street were burned onto the back of my eyelids.
"Yeah," I spit out between erratic breaths. "Fine."
She stared at me, unconvinced. "It still hurts that much?"
"Yes," I said, grimacing as much at the memories as her touch.
She dug around in her bag, retrieving a pill bottle. She filled a glass with water and set it before me. She shook two pills into her hand and extended them to me.
"Take these pain pills," she instructed.
I complied without question.
Ximena spent several more minutes doctoring cuts and abrasions on my body.
"I think you'll live," she announced, a goofy smile on her face.
"Oh boy," I replied, beginning to feel the effects of the pills. "Things to look forward to."
Someone rapped on the apartment door, and I crossed to the foyer to open it. Eric was standing at the door. He passed me a shiny new Apple iPhone.
"I pulled your data off the cloud. It should be ready to go," he explained.
"Holy cow, thanks!" I exclaimed. "That was fast."
He gave me a small smirk before taking the door into the stairwell. I heard Ximena walk up behind me.
"Go to bed, chica. I'm across the hall if you need me."
I turned to face her and nodded, trying to put something brave on my face. I thought being alone would be fine, but as the moment was approaching, I could feel myself dreading the moment.
Ximena's face grew concerned. "You sure you're going to be alright, chica? You seem off."
My heart skipped around in my chest a little, and I decided it was now or never.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" I asked, my voice cracking. I was embarrassed to be so needy, but better to as Ximena than any of the dozen men residing in the building, right?
"Of course, chica," she said, rubbing her eyes. "Give me ten minutes to shower and change, then I'll be back."
"Thank you," I said on a whisper, giving her a small smile.
She exited the apartment, and I closed the door behind her. I glanced at the new phone in my hand and cringed. The readout already displayed a number of texts, missed calls, and e-mails. I didn't have the energy to fool with them tonight, so I switched the phone to silent, set it on the side board table, and headed for the bedroom.
Maria had made the bed with new, clean bedsheets. I chose the side that had been Ranger's on our first night here and buried my exhausted body under the covers. I tried to close my eyes, but I couldn't shut off my brain. Thoughts of Ranger wouldn't stop flooding my mind. After five unsuccessful minutes of trying to close my eyes, I went back out the foyer and got my phone from the sideboard. I took it back into the bed, buried myself once more, and glanced at the time readout.
7:19 pm. Still early.
I dialed.
"Babe," Ranger answered on the third ring. His voice was thick with sleep.
"Hi. I'm sorry I woke you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay," I confessed in greeting. "Are you doing okay?"
Silence.
"Ranger?" I asked.
"I'm ok," he said. "Can't sleep?"
"No," I admitted. "Ximena is going to stay with me tonight."
He took a moment to process that thought before responding. "Good. Let her take care of you."
"Can I bring you anything tomorrow?" I asked, yawning.
"Only yourself, safe and sound," he responded.
Ranger wasn't much for words. He expressed caring with actions, namely by protecting my body. His simple statement said volumes about his feelings for me.
"Of course," I said, my voice tight with emotion. "I'm sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
I moved to disconnect, but his voice stopped me.
"Babe?" he asked through a yawn.
"Hmm?"
"I do love you," he said.
I sat in dumbfounded silence for a minute before snapping out of my trance. "Really?" I asked, my voice coming out more disbelieving than I'd intended.
Ranger let out an airy chuckle on his end of the line.
"Babe," he admonished.
"I thought so," I declared before quickly taking it back. "I mean…. I love you too, Batman."
We sat in silence on the line for almost a full minute before I finally spoke again.
"I'm going to disconnect now. Goodnight."
"Night, Stephanie."
I ended the call, dumping the phone onto the night stand. I sat in silence processing the conversation I'd just had, working hard to convince myself it had actually happened. I resisted the urge to pinch myself. The pain medication tried to tug me into sleep, but my brain was spinning too fast to relent.
Ximena shuffled into the bedroom hauling a mountain of pillows. She was wearing her pink bunny slippers with pink sweat pants and a grey hoodie. She had removed her light application of makeup, and I could see dark circles beneath her eyes too.
"Yo," she greeted, tossing her pillows onto the bed. She threw back the covers, jumped into the bed, and tugged them up to her chin.
"You look exhausted," I told her.
"We're all running on empty fuel tanks right now," she said, her eyes finally connecting with mine. "It's been one hell of a weekend." She paused. "What the hell, chica? You're wearing a shit-eating grin." She looked amused.
I gave her my best innocent look. "Am not," I said.
"You talked to Carlos," she said, a goofy grin growing on her face.
I released a bark of laughter, and her smile only grew wider.
"You're smitten, chica. Head over heels," she said.
I shrugged, so she persisted.
"He is too," she said, winking at me.
We both busted into a ridiculous fit of girlish laughter. It felt good to genuinely laugh after the weekend we'd had. Once we'd finally settled down, Ximena spoke again.
"I'm glad he found you," she admitted. "I never thought he'd let anyone in."
"Me either," I replied. "Part of me is ecstatic he's admitted his feelings for me, but the skeptical part is waiting to be sent away again once the OxyContin wears off."
Ximena rolled that around in her head for a while before responding.
"Have faith, Steph. He's going to figure it out."
I nodded, closing my eyes and rolling onto my stomach.
"I know," I said on a whisper.
Ximena rolled onto her side, propping herself onto one elbow.
"Get some sleep," she said, reaching to rub circles on my back with her free hand. With the pain meds rushing through my veins, I had no choice but to comply. I could feel the world getting hazy around the edges and my body slowing at the medications beckoning.
"Night, Ximena," I whispered.
"Night, Steph," she responded, soothing me into a deep, dreamless sleep.