A/N: Character thoughts are in italics. All recognizable characters belong to Janet E.; I am just borrowing them for an adventure or two. Thanks to Susan for fixing my boo-boo's! Also, I am leaving on vacation, so there will be a slightly longer time period between this post and my next one, but hopefully absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Chapter 5

Ranger's POV

He became aware of sparkling flickers of bright light dancing all around him. Intense heat engulfed him, followed by the feeling of every fiber in his body being pulled apart, then snapping back in place. There were sounds bouncing all around him, but he couldn't make out where it came from. He forced his mind to still against the onslaught of stimuli, going blank. Words and phrases began to unfold, then gently wrapped around and wove through him like silk threads, infusing themselves into every inch of him. The feathery softness of the words relaxed him as their intent enveloped his hyperaware senses. Snatches of thoughts that seemed so familiar pervaded every inch of him as he drifted.

…..just not good enough….

…..best friend….

…..love him more than he knows….

…..need him…so much…..

…. doesn't want me….

As he felt himself floating towards a tunnel composed of swirling bright light, he swore he heard Stephanie's heart beating and her soft whimpers of discomfort. He frowned, turned his focus towards his Babe, and willed himself to drift back towards her. The rhythmic beating anchored him, lulling him to the deep sleep of unconsciousness.

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The jostling of the gurney that Ranger was on brought him closer to awareness; he felt like he was looking up from the bottom of a deep pool of water toward its opaque surface. He could hear the loud voices of whomever was pushing him calling for assistance. Feeling as though he was wrapped in a lead blanket, he was unable to move against it. He gradually became aware of an intense, throbbing pain in his left upper leg and shoulder; if he could grimace he would have. He tried to turn his head to take in his surroundings, but it wouldn't move despite his best efforts. His chest was on fire with millions of pins and needles snaking across it, yet all he could do was lay there and breathe. He assumed he was in some emergency room based on the flurry of faceless people poking, prodding, and moving him. The strain from trying to move any part on his body began to wear at him. As he felt himself give in to the ever-present lull of the heartbeat he knew was his Babe's, Ranger felt her presence envelope him while her voice said loudly "Oh, Batman. I need you to be okay". His last thought before he slipped back into unconsciousness was anything for you, Babe.

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Two hundred and twenty. Two hundred and twenty-one. Two hundred and - Lester's attention shifted from counting each time Tank turned to pace a different direction in the waiting room, to that of an approaching physician. He stood up and poked Tank's back to let him know someone was coming.

An older physician with slightly graying hair nodded at them and gave a half smile. "I was told you are Mr. Manoso's next of kin as well as Ms. Plums?"

Tank stepped forward. "That's correct. We're still waiting for updates regarding Ranger, er, Mr. Manoso."

The physician nodded and motioned for them all to sit down. He put Ranger's chart on his lap, opened it and looked over a couple of pages before lifting his head up to look at Tank and Lester. "I'm aware that the physician that is in charge of Miss Plum's care has already come out and updated you regarding her condition. I can share with you that Mr. Manoso's condition is very similar to Miss Plum's. He also sustained significant injuries from falling from the tree. He has multiple abrasions and we found a deep laceration on his left shoulder that I stitched up. It appears he took the brunt of impact from the fall for both himself and Miss Plum. There was also a piece of tree branch that impaled his left thigh, causing significant damage to the area that will require surgical repair once he is more stable. Mr. Manoso was extremely lucky that the branch missed his femoral vessels and the major nerves in that area. It's my understanding that the same branch that caused the trauma to his left thigh also impaled Miss Plum's right thigh?"

Tank and Lester both nodded in response.

The physician continued. "I believe that Miss Plum's physician explained about our concern of acute hemolytic reaction developing—meaning Miss Plum's blood may start trying to break down Mr. Manoso's. At the time, there is no indication that it is occurring, but we will be monitoring him closely for this." The physician paused and rubbed the back of his neck and grimaced.

Tank and Lester both leaned forward, tensed with anxiety.

After rolling his shoulders, the physician continued on. "Mr. Manoso was also struck by lightning that was deflected from the tree that he was in. It looks like the voltage was focused in his chest region, which is a concern for us right now. If there is a positive here gentlemen, it's that he has never lost the ability to breath, which in my personal opinion is nothing short of a miracle considering all his body just went through. However, the paramedics reported that in the ambulance his heart rate became extremely weak and erratic to the point of almost stopping, but self-corrected before they were able to defibrillate. I am sure by now you two are very aware of the critical nature surrounding what can occur when a body is struck by lightning." Making direct eye contact with Tank first, then Lester, the doctor motioned towards the chart. "We will be monitoring his cardiac status for any further issues, but are very concerned with his neurologic status at the moment. Mr. Manoso is in a deep coma at this time, and quite frankly, we are unsure how long this will last."

Lester stood up, took a couple of steps and turned his back on the physician. Dropping his head while putting his hands at the back of his neck, he blew out a breath of frustration.

Tank looked at Lester, then turned toward the physician. "So, Doc, it seems to me that both Ranger and Steph have almost the same injuries, and pretty much the same prognosis here. What happens now?"

The doctor gave a half smile of understanding. He recognized a close-knit family whether they were related by blood or not, and recognized the emotional turmoil both of these men were dealing with. "What happens now is that once Mr. Manoso and Miss Plum are stable, we will be admitting them to the intensive care unit for further care of the injuries they have sustained. We will be able to closely monitor them for further evolving complications should they arise. Beyond that, I honestly can't say what will happen."

Tank nodded in understanding. "Make sure to let the staff know that I want them both either next to each other or else in the same room for security reasons. We have all the documentation allowing this already on file."

The physician glanced over at the doorway leading back to the triage area, then back at Tank. "I suspected something like that when the four large men in black uniforms positioned themselves outside of the triage rooms where Miss Plum and Mr. Manoso currently are. I know that rooms have been assigned to both, and they will be transferred shortly to their rooms. I am positive there won't be any problems with your request. If there are no other questions, I feel like I should go on back in to see if anything else needs to be done before we start moving them to the ICU." The physician excused himself and left.

Before either Tank or Lester could do anything more, their attention was drawn to a commotion at the front desk of the ER. The Plums had arrived with Morelli in tow. "Better get your hip waders on Santos, it's gonna get deep before this is done and over," Tank muttered at Lester. Lester's mouth set in a grim line remembering the phone conversation with Morelli. He just shook his head and watched. Karma's gonna be a bitch, Morelli.

Stephanie's parents and Grandma were gathered around the front desk attendant. Helen Plum's voice rang loudly over the rest of the noises. "My daughter, Stephanie Michelle Plum is here. I was told she was here. I want to see my baby now! I want to know what's wrong!" She turned towards where Morelli was. "Joseph, please! You have to do something here!"

The flustered front desk attendant tried without success to explain about the policies and rules relating to patient information but it fell on deaf ears. Taking pity on her, Tank stepped forward and put his hand on Mr. Plum's shoulder to get his attention.

"Mr. Plum, I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm a friend of your daughter's. Name's Tank."

Mr. Plum took Tank's offered hand and shook it. "I remember you. Do you have any idea what's going on here?"

Tank did his best not to sigh. "I have information for you all. Why don't we go over to the waiting area so that I can explain?"

Mr. Plum took hold of his wife with one hand and his mother-in-law with the other, leaving Joe to follow behind, much to his aggravation. Joe was inwardly seething that he wasn't allowed access to Steph's status, but that didn't stop him from taking a minute to look down the scrub top of a busty blonde nurse who was bent over the desk writing on a chart.

-tbc-