A/N: I was able to get this written before I took off on vacation, so surprise! Character thoughts are in italics. All recognizable characters belong to Janet E.; I'm just taking them on a little adventure. Thank you Susan for proofing this – I'll drink a mojito in your honor! All mistakes are mine. Let's see what's going on in the waiting room now….

Chapter 6

Joe Morelli was a man on the edge. He didn't know how much more of Stephanie's crap he could handle. She just wouldn't learn to grow up and act like a responsible adult. He stood in the emergency department's waiting room watching Manoso's muscle explain to the Plums the cause and extent of Stephanie's injuries, and to a lesser extent that of Ranger's. As he watched Tank put a hand gently on Grandma Mazur's shoulder in empathy while calmly repeating himself to Mrs. Plum, Joe almost snorted in derision. Calm and caring my hairy ass, he thought. What a fucking act.

He figured he had a part to play too. Personally, he couldn't stand the Plums. All of the drama and crazy antics that surrounded Steph's family made it hard for him to look past in order to be with her. His mom and grandma repeatedly told him how he was bringing himself down in everyone's eyes by associating with Steph and her unorthodox choice of a lifestyle. He tried to explain that he felt kind of responsible for her, since he helped tarnish her reputation and standing. He was careful to avoid the details as to how he did; after all he didn't want to tarnish his reputation with his family. He insinuated to his mom that it was more or less a pity relationship. After all, who in their right mind would want her? Hell, there were times when he had enough and was ready to walk away from her. However, he couldn't deny the chemistry that sparked between them; he would never be accused of turning away a willing bed partner.

He frowned a bit, thinking that her willingness had certainly been absent in the past few months. He had tried to push the issue outside of Pino's, thinking a little assertiveness might turn her on. A man has needs, he told her, after pinning her against his car with his body. It's just not natural to have them denied, Cupcake. You need to think about the boys. He wasn't expecting her indignant glare, followed by her knee connecting harshly with his boys. He could still hear Steph coldly growl at him "Maybe the boys need to grow up and figure out it's not always about them, Joe!" Just thinking about that made him wince inwardly. He figured after that last blow up, he was owed some spectacular make up sex. He caught himself before he outright smirked, thinking that if he played his cards right and milked the 'poor Joe, victim of another Stephanie Plum outburst' role, he might even guilt her into butt stuff this time.

His attention was pulled back to Tank and Santos. He caught the tail end of the conversation that lit a fire of pure outrage inside him. "…..signed an agreement granting the CEO of Rangeman or designee to be their medical proxies. But we will keep you informed of any changes."

While Mrs. Plum nodded and smiled at Santos, Mr. Plum shook Tank's hand, and told him "I want to thank you gentleman for taking such good care of Stephanie. It means more to us than you know that your company is paying for this and will cover her expenses."

Narrowing his eyes at the men and leaning in toward them, Joe glanced in disbelief at Frank Plum. He fucking thanked them for almost getting her killed then picking up the tab. What the hell?

"Excuse me? I need to speak with the medical proxy for Miss Plum and Mr. Manoso." All eyes turned toward the charge nurse. She paused a moment, debating if she should pull the large men in black off to the side for her update. Sensing her internal debate, Tank cleared his throat and told her "This is Miss Plum's family and, uh, friend. It's ok for them to be here."

The charge nurse looked around. "Right, then ok. I came out to tell you that both Mr. Manoso and Miss Plum are being moved up to their rooms in intensive care. As per your instructions, Mr. Manoso is in room 11 and Miss Plum is next to him in room 12. You should be able to go on up and they will be there by now." Smiling at them, she handed Tank a packet with directions, then returned to her station.

Tank took a minute to process the events of the evening, then raised his eyebrows as he looked at the motley group gathered around him. "Okay folks, looks like we're moving this party." He offered his arm to Edna Mazur as Frank Plum supported his wife by gently guiding her with his hand in the small of her back. They all completely missed the glare coming from Morelli as he trudged behind them.

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Tank helped the Plums get situated in the ICU waiting room. "I would like to make a request. Let me go back to make sure both of them are settled and that all security measures are in place. Once that's done, I'll be glad to let you all go spend as much time as they'll allow with Stephanie." While the Plums readily agreed, Joe moved to block Tank from leaving.

"I get that you think you have some kind of right dictating what's going to happen to Ranger, but you're outta your mind if you think for one minute I'm going to stand by and let you do that for Steph. I'm her boyfriend for Chrissakes!" Joe crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at Tank.

Tank looked down at Joe. I wish to God Ranger would've just let me squish his ass like a bug on a windshield. I wouldn't have to be dealing with this shit now, he thought with distaste.

Mirroring Joe's stance, Tank crossed his huge arms over his chest, making his biceps bulge against his black t shirt sleeves. "Stephanie was completely aware of what she was signing when she was given the medical proxy document. I would be glad to show it to you, since I think you would be really interested in the special clause she had added of her own accord about a month ago that spelled out explicitly who she would and would not allow to serve as her medical proxy representative." Tank smirked at Morelli. "Want to guess which group you're in?" he said with relish as he watched Morelli's face turn a deep red. Tank stepped around Joe, then looked back at him. "I thought not. Now, I'm going in there and you're gonna sit your ass down over there by Santos and the Plums like a good boy and wait until I come back."

Leaving Morelli standing there red faced with steam threatening to come out of his ears, Tank went back to make sure Ranger and Steph were settled.

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After checking in with the nurses assigned to Stephanie and Ranger for any further updates, Tank stopped to make sure Rangeman guards were in place outside of both of their rooms. He nodded at Hal after reviewing the rotation schedule with him, and headed back out to the waiting area.

He sat down next to Mr. Plum. "No new updates. Both are settled in their rooms and their guards are in place. I've told them you all would be back to see Steph."

Tank got special permission to allow both of Steph's parents and her Grandma to go back together. The waiting area became tense with silence as Morelli glowered at Santos and him. After about twenty minutes, Steph's family came out. Morelli stood up started walking toward Steph's room. Pausing, he turned around and challenged, "You might have medical proxy, but you can't keep me from seeing her. She'd hate you for it. Now it's your turn to sit your ass down and wait on me." Not waiting on a reply, he went on back to her room.

In Stephanie's room, Joe stopped at the foot of the bed and took in the beautiful train wreck he decided to tie himself to. The multitude of monitors displayed rhythmic wave patterns amid other machines with blinking lights that controlled various IV drips. Stephanie was a mass of scrapes and contusions.

Joe worked hard to tamp down the ambivalence he felt overwhelming him as he continued to look at Stephanie. How could she not trust me with making decisions for her? He started to reach out to touch her foot, but hesitated. Instead, he ran his hands through his hair and sat down in the chair by her head. He leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees.

"Dammit Stephanie. You just don't ever learn." He reached to gently move a wayward curl off of her forehead. "Jeez, Cupcake. I seriously don't think I can deal with this any longer. I don't want to have to worry constantly about you getting hurt and that's all you seem to do these days." Joe looked out the window in the door way. "I need stability in my life, not this. I tried, Steph. I really did, but I can't be in a relationship where I'm the only responsible one. It was great while it lasted." He sighed and slouched back in the chair, kicking his legs out.

The door to Steph's room opened. Joe recognized immediately the nurse who was currently checking Stephanie's vital signs. Straightening himself up, he gave her a slow up and down full body scan and then slowly grinned at her. "What a surprise seeing you here, Marie."

Marie recorded Stephanie's vital signs, then made her way around the bed to stand right in front of Joe. "What brings you to my stomping grounds, Detective Morelli?"

Morelli put his hands on both sides of her waist and pulled her in between his legs. He gave her a seductive smile. "I'm tying up some loose ends here. You know, the shutting of one door and all that?"

Marie smiled back. "So if one door shuts, then isn't another supposed to open?"

Joe stood up keeping his hands on Marie's waist. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Yeah, something like that. The question is, are you gonna let me open it up and enter, or do I have to knock?"

Marie shook her head. "This isn't the place for a conversation like this to happen, Joe. I'm on break in 10 minutes, so you can meet me in the lounge then."

Joe snorted. "Come on. It's not like she can hear us. She's out cold. Even if she did, it wouldn't matter. There's nothing here for me anymore." As he followed Marie out of the room, neither saw the single tear slowly slide down Stephanie's cheek.

-tbc-

A/N: Oh yes she did stop it there! And yes she is going to make everyone wait until her vacation is over before posting again! And….yes she is so very thankful and appreciative of all you that have read and reviewed and left such encouraging messages. Thanks so much and hang in there with me!