Chapter 22-

Stephanie woke up to quiet arguing, she could just hear the rumblings of Bobby's, Tank's and Ranger's voice in the hallway but not what they were actually saying. She decided to take a moment to see what her body was going to let her do. She wiggled her fingers and then her toes.

"Ok I have moving fingers and toes," she thought "that's good."

And warm, I am finally toasty and warm…. "almost to warm and I have to pee" she thought.

She tried to slowly sit up until she found that her body felt like it had been hit by a Mac truck, then she remembered that it had been hit by a huge explosion. She ached everywhere, every single muscle in her body hurt to move. In fact, it hurt 10 times more than when she had been in the hospital. As slowly as humanly possible she rolled to her side towards the edge of the bed. Then biting her lip so she wouldn't cry out she pushed her upper body up off the bed, she moved like a snail until she was finally sitting at the edge of the bed. The pain was so overwhelming that she had a tear running down her cheek when the guys walked into the bedroom.

As soon as Ranger saw her, he sprinted over asking, "What's wrong?" gently whipping the tear off her cheek.

She grinned up at the guys because as long as she wasn't moving there was no real pain and said, "It feels like I flew through the sky and instead of landing gracefully, I slammed down and slid a few feet. Then I was completely crazy and only iced the pain and never used any heat!" She laughed at the expression on Rangers and Tanks face, evidently they didn't like her humor. But when she laughed, she gasped because evidently her body didn't want her laughing either.

God, she was so freaking sore! She looked up at Bobby to see him grinning at her, "Well at least he thinks I am funny!" She said to the guys, "I am going into stand up and I need some support!"

She watched as Ranger narrowed his eyes at her and Tank suspiciously looked like he wanted to roll his.

She gave a slow and gentle shrug, "What? You don't like my jokes."

"NO, because they are not funny." Ranger said with a grim straight face.

Stephanie gave another grin up to Bobby, "I need to laugh or I am gonna cry from the pain. Bobby why do I hurt more now than before?"

Bobby grinned down at her and said, "Because you slammed down and slid instead of landing gracefully."

Stephanie gave a shout of laughter before cringing in pain, "Don't make me laugh!" she cried out.

Bobby squatted down in front of her, "You are in more pain now than when you were in the hospital because your meds wore off. I am going to give you some muscle relaxers and a pain killer and it should help a lot." Bobby reached over and gently began to take her pulse. "You should feel better within 15/20 minutes. Are you hungry because you need to eat with these meds, ok?"

Stephanie gave a quick nod, "I am STARVING! It feels like I haven't eaten in days." She grinned over at Ranger, "Wait, it has been days…. Kidnaping is a good diet plan."

Ranger stood up and crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. "Still not funny." He said tightly.

Stephanie looked up to see Ranger clenching his jaw in anger and felt bad, "Sorry Ranger, I know you don't think it's funny. But I am home now and I am fine, just super sore. Think of my jokes and laughter as a good thing, I am really ok." She said as she reached her hand up to grab his then gently squeezed it.

Ranger looked down at her for a moment before giving a small nod down at her. She gave him a true and genuine smile, "I really am ok… I love you."

Ranger looked down at her for a moment then leaned down to kiss her forehead before leaning over and whispering in her ear, "I love you, too."

Stephanie looked over at Bobby, "So is my heart still beating?" she asked with a grin.

She glanced over at Tank to see him roll his eyes, so she flashed him a quick grin too.

Bobby looked at her grimily, "No your heart is not beating anymore, I think we need to call the undertaker."

Stephanie looked at him for a moment before bursting out in a hysterical laughter, she had to hold her side in pain but she couldn't stop. "I LOVE you Bobby, SO much!"

Bobby grinned back at her while Ranger narrowed his eyes at Bobby, "Bobby mats at 0500 tomorrow." He said angrily.

This time Stephanie rolled her eyes, "No Bobby….no mats tomorrow! Ranger will be much too busy taking care of me. Can I have meds and food now? Pleaseeeeeeeeeee." She said with a smile.

Bobby gave her another grin, "Yes food and meds, I am gonna give you a shot so it kicks in faster and then a bottle of pills with a time schedule. If you stay on schedule your pain should be manageable for the next two days until it fades away."

Bobby looked up to see Stephanie's smile disappear and her eyes narrow, "Shot?"

Bobby gave her a look, "I can give you a pill but it will take twice as long to kick in, I am trying to get you the fastest pain relief."

Stephanie narrowed her eyes, "What's twice as long?"

Bobby gave her a grim look, "Shot your pain should be better in 10-15 min…20 at the longest…. Pill could take up to an hour."

Stephanie closed her eyes and frowned, "Fine I will take the shot." she muttered.

Bobby pulled over his kit and began to get the meds ready and as soon as Stephanie saw the needles she closed her eyes and turned towards Ranger. Ranger could see she was no longer relaxed and sat down beside her and gently pulled her into his arms.

"Babe, it is going to be ok. You won't even feel it." Ranger murmured into her hair.

"Bull." She whispered back, "Bobby is rough."

Ranger looked up and gave a small smile to Bobby over her head, Bobby rolled his eyes in response.

"Don't you think you are being a little dramatic Stephanie?" Bobby said carefully cleaning her skin with a cold alcohol pad.

"NO, you take pleasure in torturing me." She muttered into Rangers chest refusing to look out at what was going on."

Bobby grinned and said, "I do not, you are just a big baby." He watched as she pulled her head away from Ranger and narrowed her eyes at him. "See I just gave you the shot and you didn't even feel it."

Stephanie glanced down to see Bobby pulling the needle away from her, "Ohhhh you are good, Bobby. I didn't even feel it. Thank you." She said with a smile. She leaned over carefully to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Ok I am going to use the wash room and then come out for food… comfort food please."

She looked at Ranger who stood up and slowly helped her into a standing position, "Shit I still hurt. So much for instant pain relief."

Bobby narrowed his eyes at her, "I said faster… not instant. Now hurry in the bathroom you need to eat with these meds or you can feel sick."

Stephanie grinned down at him, "Sir yes sir." She said mockingly and began to slowly shuffle towards the bathroom after waving Ranger away, "I can go by myself." She whispered to him. "Go get my food sexy…" then as an afterthought said, "at the table. I want to sit like a grown up and I want to talk to you guys about what happened."

Ranger looked at Bobby and Tank and nodded towards the door, the men followed him to the kitchen where Ella was setting food up.

"I am setting up enough food for all of you." Ella said looking over at Ranger with a look. "You all need to eat too."

Ranger gave her a small smile, "I will eat."

Bobby gave Ella a big grin, "Is there enough for me?"

Ella smiled at him, "Of course dear." She said as she set up the table with 4 spots.

Ranger narrowed his eyes at Bobby and Bobby grinned at him, "What Stephanie said she need to talk to us!" as he sat down at the table, "Plus I need to go over her med schedule with you."

Ranger just shook his head as Tank sat down too and began to pile food on his plate, "I haven't eaten in days." He said in defense.

Ella smiled at him and set another plate at the extra seat that had a cover, Bobby eyed it, "What's that." He asked pointing.

"These are for Stephanie, Don't touch it." Ella said setting another smaller covered plate next to larger one.

They all looked up as Stephanie slowly shuffled into the kitchen, "Food!" she said with a grin. Ranger walked over and helped her to the table slowly pushing her in then walked over to get her water.

Stephanie grinned up at Ella as she lifted the cover on the large plate, "Homemade macaroni and cheese!"

"Hay," Bobby said, "Why does she get Mac and cheese and I get grilled fish?"

Ella gave Booby a small smile, "Ranger's rules." Bobby frowned when Stephanie grinned at him and took a big bite.

Ella laughed and whispered to Bobby and Tank, "I have some small plates for you too if you eat your fish." She said as she set down a small covered plate in front of each guy.

Both men smiled up at her, "Thanks Ella" They said together.

Ranger looked like he wanted to roll his eyes as he sat down at the table. Ella pick up the empty dishes and turned to Stephanie, "I am glad you are home dear." She said with a quick smile and began to walk to the door, "Let me know if you guys need anything else." She said as she left.

Stephanie was halfway through her plate when she looked up to see the guys looking at her, "What." She said with her mouth full of noddle's. Bobby just shook his head and grinned, Tank gave a small smile and took a big bite of grilled fish.

"I do think it's a little unfair that the smallest person in the room gets all the carbs, and the biggest guy in the room gets grilled fish." Tank said with a big grin.

Ranger leaned back in the chair and looked over at Stephanie, "So you wanted to talk to us about what happened, do you remember anything new?"

Stephanie looked at Ranger then at his plate which was still full, "No talking until we eat…. we ALL eat." She said pointing at Ranger's full plate, then took another big bite of noddle's.

Ranger narrowed his eyes then began to eat, Stephanie smiled at him then looked over to Bobby, "I am feeling a lot better, not so sore… less pain when I move."

"I told you so," Bobby said with a grin, "I wrote down a time table with the meds you need to take so the pain stays away. You should be good in a couple of days, just tell me if anything changes."

Stephanie nodded and pulled the small plate in front of her and uncovered it, "Brownies and ice-cream." She exclaimed and dug in. Bobby and Tank looked over at her plate then grabbed their plates and uncovered them to see bigger brownies.

"I am always eating with you Bomber." Tank said as he took a huge bite of his brownie.

Ranger really did roll his eyes this time, "Ok plates clean Babe." He said, "What did you want to tell us?"

Stephanie took the last bite of her brownie, sighed and leaned back in her chair before turning to look at Ranger, "All right, all right, all right!" She said with a small frown,

Ranger just looked at her and raised an eyebrow,

Stephanie rolled her eyes, "I think it would be better if you called a meeting with the core team. That way I can tell everyone at once."

Tank and Bobby out down their forks to stare at her, "What's going on Bomber?" Tank asked.

Stephanie started to wipe the table off with her hand refusing to look up at them, "Like I said it will be easier if I tell you all at once. I have a lot of information and you guys will just make me tell it again later."

"Fine." Ranger said briskly, "How are you feeling? Well enough to do it now before your meds wear off?"

Stephanie looked up startled, "Like right now."

Ranger gave a small scary grin, "Yes, right now because I know that you have information and you are trying to think of a way to word it. You have been evasive and quiet but your eyes say that you know…. A lot more then you are saying."

Stephanie looked at Ranger then at the other guys, "Ummmmmm, well I do know some stuff, that is what I just said…. but I don't need to think of how to say it because I am just gonna say it!" She finished with wide eyes.

Tank gave her a large grin, "You are the worst liar ever!"

Stephanie sat up straight, "I am not a liar, I didn't say anything that was a lie!"

Bobby raised an eyebrow, "Ohhhh she does know more than we do….and she is trying to figure out what to tell us and what not to…. look at how red her face is around the blues and purples!" He grinned at her.

Stephanie narrowed her eyes at them, "I am not a liar and I am not evading and I AM NOT RED!" She growled.

The men just looked at her with a small grin, "Sure" Tank said.

Stephanie slowly stood up, "I am going to get dressed and I will meet you on 5 for the meeting!" She said with a light growl.

Ranger went to stand up to follow her and she held her hand up, "NO, I will get dressed by myself. I will meet you down stairs." She said with an irritated voice.

Ranger just sat back down with a raised eyebrow, which only made Stephanie narrow her eyes at him then flip them all the bird as she walked into the back bedroom. When she came out about 20 minutes later dressed but carrying her shoes, she saw Ranger still sitting at the table but he was alone now.

"Why are you still here?" She asked no longer irritated but worried about how mad she was going to make them all in the meeting. She shuffled over to the table still slightly sore even with all the medication Bobby gave her.

Ranger looked up at her from the papers he was looking at, "I wanted to go down with you, make sure you were not hurting too much."

"Ughhhhh" Stephanie said putting her head down on the table, "Why do you do that?" she exclaimed.

She waited for an answer but was only met with silence, after a minuet she picked up her head to see him just looking at her. "Really, why are you so prefect?"

Ranger stood up and walked over to chair and squatted down and started putting on her shoes so she wouldn't have to lean over. "Seeeeee, you always do that!" She said again.

Ranger looked up at her, "Do what?"

"Be prefect, do just what I need before I even ask. Be there when I need you. Know that I am about to tell you stuff that is going to make you mad but still staying to make sure that I get downstairs ok." She said as she looked down at him.

Ranger looked down and put on her other shoe then rubbed her leg up and down. He leaned forward and kissed her knee, "Because no matter what you tell me, I still love you. The only thing that would worry me was if you said that you were leaving."

Stephanie raised her eyebrows, "It would JUST worry you if I said I was leaving?"

Ranger kissed her other knee, "Yes, just worry, because I would never let you actually leave."

"You would lock me up?" she said with a small smile.

"Yes, I would chain you to my bed and wait for you to understand that you are never leaving." Ranger said with a real grin.

Stephanie gave him an eye roll and grin, "All right. Let's go down stairs and see how fast I can make you all mad."

Ranger gently squeezed her legs, "Is it bad Babe, did he hurt you more then we know?" He asked tightly.

Stephanie's eyes widened, "NO." She exclaimed loudly. "I promise you I am fine and he didn't hurt me." She leaned down gently cupping his cheeks. "I am ok, we are ok. I love you." She gave him a light kiss.

Ranger leaned his head on hers, "Ok, let's go talk to the guys. I know most of them are dying to see you. They have been worried." He looked up at her, "You cause all of us so much stress, more than anything else we have ever been under."

"I find that hard to believe, all of you have been to war and third world countries….and you go out and catch bad guys every day…. But you are saying that I cause you the most stress?" She said with a grin.

"Yes." Ranger said as he stood up and held his hand out to help her up, "You are the one thing that we cannot control."

Stephanie Rolled her eyes as she let him help her stand up straight, "You and your need to control everything."

Ranger wrapped his arm around her and gently steered her to the front door, "When I don't control things you get hurt." He said with a frown.

Stephanie squeezed his waist where her arm rested, "Well I don't get hurt often so you should be fine." She said as she leaned her head on his chest after they stepped into the elevator.

Ranger snorted as the doors slid closed.

-/-

The conference room on 5 was bustling with activity when Stephanie and Ranger walked in, and everyone stopped to look over at the door then yelled at the same time, "Beautiful, Bomber, Stephanie!"

The room rushed over to her at the door before she could get all the way in and Ranger gently pushed her behind him, "Stop… Sit." He growled.

The men stopped and immediately turned to rush to seats, when they were all sitting down and questions began.

"How are you feeling?"

"What's up Beautiful?"

"Can't we get you something?"

"Can we help you?"

Stephanie burst out laughing, "I love you guys! I am fine. Nothing is up right now. I don't need anything. I am good!" She said as she walked over to one of the empty seats at the front of the table, once Ranger helped her sit down he stood at the seat next to her.

"Stephanie wanted to see all of us at once so she could tell us what she knows about her kidnapping." Ranger said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I am assuming she doesn't even want to tell us based on her behavior so everyone keep silent until she finishes."

Ranger looked down at Stephanie, "Ok it's your show Babe." He said as he took a seat.

Stephanie looked from Ranger to around the table, she saw the men who just days ago were scrambling to find her. She could still see some of the stress and fatigue in their faces. She knew they were going to be a mixture of upset, angry, frustrated and don right PISSED at what she was about to tell them.

After clearing her throat…. she paused. Shit how was she going to start this. Should she tell them about what happened…. should she tell them she told him to go... no better slip that in later. She looked around again, the room was full of men that she considered family. She needed to make them see that helping Timmy was the right thing to do, she needed to help them past the fact that Timmy took her.

She took another deep breath, "So like Ranger said no interrupting me because I know that you are gonna have questions…. Maybe ask me after I am done." She sat a little taller when the guys around the table started narrowing their eyes at her.

She took one last deep breath, "Sooooooo, one quick question… do any of you have any new information?"

All of the men just stared at her for a moment before Lester tilted his head and said, "Why does it sound like you are trying to get more info out of us …. So you can decide what you are going to tell us?"

Stephanie grinned, "Because I am trying to find out what you know, so I can decide how much to tell you."

Lester Rolled his eyes, "Spill what you know sister."

Stephanie crossed her arms, "Only if you all promise not to get mad."

One by one she looked around the table until each man nodded at her, Cal, Hector, Lester, Hal, Tank, Bobby even Hector gave her a quick small dip of his head. When she got to Ranger he shook his head NO.

"Ranger" she said.

"Not promising anything Babe." He said arms crossed leaning back in his chair.

She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, "Fine, then I don't say anything."

Ranger and Stephanie had a staring contest that last a few minutes and for the first time ever she won when Ranger closed his eyes and took a deep breath. She also could tell how much she was pushing him… or breaking him with each deep breath. He gave a slight nod so she leaned over and gently grasped his hand. "Thank you." She said with a smile.

She looked back at the table, "Soooooo, I think the biggest thing you should know is that his name is not Mikel."

The room erupted in chaos, questions where being thrown at her from every direction, so she held her hands up until they all quieted down. She looked around and said, "AND I helped him get away."

Then the room began shouting.

Hay everyone, Sorry it took so long to update. We are finally back in the US and in our new city. We are living a hotel for the next few months until our house is done being built so that is sooo much fun…. Not! lol

I already know what I want to put in the next two chapters now and have already started the next chapter. Updates should be much faster now! I LOVE your reviews and your questions! I hoped I answered all of them with this chapter, if not let me know. :)

Melissa