EYES WIDE OPEN

Ranger POV

Chapter 3

oOoOo

Stephanie was worn out. The drama, the trauma and the injuries finally caught up with her. I carried her upstairs, in the elevator, of course. Bobby and Tank were with me. Lester ran up the stairs to open the door ahead of us. Ella jumped in at five and gasped at the sight of Stephanie in my arms. She was shocked to see Stephanie so banged up that she almost cried.

"Was this, all these injuries from a skip? Or from that Italian jerk?" She whispered, so concerned, the second part with a vehement edge.

"No. A car crash."

"Oh. My poor niña."

As we reached the sixth floor, she kissed my Babe's temple, "Take good care of her. She's special. Call me if you need me, no matter the time," leaving us with her eyes glistening.

We all nodded. Ella was so right. I'd do anything for her. My core team, Lester, Bobby and Tank, would bend over backwards too, no doubt about it. That went for all of Rangeman, especially a certain IT specialist. We all knew how special she was. By the time we reached the seventh floor, Lester had the door open with the lights on, ready for us to go straight in. I took her straight to my bedroom and gently laid her on the bed. While the guys waited outside, I gently removed her shoes and socks, her jeans, and undid the knot at the front of the t-shirt so she'd be a bit more comfortable, pulling it down to cover her thighs. I tucked her in carefully, placing her left hand on her tummy and being mindful of that shoulder. She sighed as she snuggled in, making me smile. Yes. She was out for the count. I left the bathroom light on, just so she wouldn't be too disorientated if she did wake up, keeping the door ajar so only a small sliver of light came into the bedroom. I kissed her temple softly.

"Rest, Babe. Peacefully."

I shook my head, seeing her lying there, so serenely, in my bed, despite being all bruised and banged up. The vision tugged at me, right at my heart. Even with her injuries, she was beautiful. I sighed, shaking my head. She was lucky to survive that accident. She could have died. I could have lost her. That couple in the other car were most fortunate that Stephanie kept her wits about her, saving them as she did. Saving herself. Madre Dios.

"You are amazing, Babe. Truly, you are Wonder Woman," I whispered to her.

A gentle knock at the door brought my attention to Bobby. I signalled for him to come in. He smiled indulgently at Stephanie. Under his arm he had some extra pillows. I nodded. He recommended a pillow near her left shoulder for support. He also had a cervical pillow, to help support her neck. Together we gently rearranged her position. Thankfully it worked well with the soft collar. He advised, that I sleep on the opposite side in lieu of her healing collarbone.

I smiled. Despite the steri strips on her forehead, the swelling on the bridge of her nose, her matching black eyes blooming, her strapped wrist, the shoulder sling, plus that cervical collar for the whiplash, she looked peaceful, still beautiful. Bobby was cataloguing her appearance in the same way. We left the bedroom quietly and sat down with Tank and Lester.

"She's damned lucky she didn't break any bones or incurred more serious injuries," Bobby said with a sigh of relief.

"Hooah!"

"She's damned lucky she survived." Lester said what we were afraid to admit out loud.

"Hooah!"

"She'll need these painkillers for when she wakes up this evening or during the night." I nodded my thanks.

My phone rang. They waited, expectantly, as they could hear the rapid fire Spanish. I grinned at my men. They knew who it was. Tank raised an eyebrow. Lester quickly whispered to Bobby who nodded in reply.

"Hector, hermano," I placated. "She's asleep. Her injuries look bad. She was lucky."

I listened to his next response.

"No, Hector. You can't kill him. He was not responsible for her injuries. Tell everyone she's sleeping and recovering. It will take some time. I will update everyone at the 0800 meeting."

I listened to him some more before he disconnected.

"He wanted to kill the cop," Tank grinned. I nodded. Lester knuckle-bumped Tank. Lester held his hand out to a petulant Bobby. I figured Lester won that bet.

Hector is very protective of Stephanie. He has watched over her since Ramirez had set his sights on her, and literally put her into his cross hairs. A Morelli fan he is not. After all, if she had not been after Morelli as her first skip, she would never have followed his movements, which led her to the gym where Ramirez trained. He was a psycho boxer with a penchant for "playing" with the girls, girls who suspiciously disappeared after he maliciously hunted them down. There were no witnesses nor evidence. Any opportunity that Hector could wield his knives and blades would make his day.

After a quick glance at Stephanie, looking in on her sleeping so peacefully, shaking their heads in wonder, and a touch of sadness, they left. Tank's message ten minutes later, indicated the concern and agitation for Stephanie on the fifth floor. I decided an email explaining Stephanie's present injuries would settle the tone on the fifth floor. So, before a lynch mob was formed, I spelled it out simply.

While I was in my home office, Ella knocked and came in with dinner. I went out to thank her. She had thoughtfully made a healing vegetable broth for Stephanie, with some crusty bread. Her specialty was adding miso to the final serve of the soup, so she suggested I stir it well before serving. Dessert was a selection of small sweet treats, just like a tasting plate of mini morsels. I smiled at her.

"How is she, Carlos?"

"Thankfully she's been sleeping. She's got a lot of bruises as you can see."

I explained the extent of her injuries and she was devastated, her eyes glistening, shaking her head in anguish. "Madre Dios. I am amazed that she survived such a double collision. Those deer just come out of nowhere. What the hell are they doing in Trenton?"

"Who knows. They could be from a deer farm for all we know. Suffice to say, she's –"

A scream from the bathroom interrupted our solemn reflection with both of us rushing to the bathroom.

"Babe? Are you okay? May I come in?" I said as I knocked on the bathroom door.

Sobs came from within followed by the door opening. I had my arms open and she walked right into them, with a slight wince. Ella was patting her back gently, rubbing circles and making soothing affirmations in Spanish to her.

"What happened to me?"

She was in shock after seeing herself in the mirror. She probably went to the toilet in a daze, until her body reacted to the limitations of the soft collar and the sling. Upon seeing herself in the mirror I suppose that would have been the reason for the scream.

"Come. Come into the sitting room, Babe. What do you remember?"

I directed her to the couch and she gently eased down, with Ella and I bookending her. Ella grabbed her right hand and patted it soothingly, using a handkerchief to carefully dab at her tears.

"Um …" Her breath hitched with a sob. "I saw some deer. It was strange. Deer … running across the road … near the bridge! The Delaware Lower Bridge."

I nodded reassuringly. "That's right, Babe," I said encouragingly. Inwardly I sighed with relief. Thankfully not amnesia, but definitely shock in seeing herself with so many bruises and injuries.

She closed her eyes for a bit, then flinched. "The other car … my car, both cars caught fire!"

I nodded, rubbing her back sitting her carefully in my lap, her right shoulder leaning into my chest.

"Oh crap! That's another car gone to car heaven," she sighed despondently.

I chuckled. "Better the car, Babe. We can always replace a car. You are so much more precious, Stephanie." It drew a sweet smile from her. Ella was nodding in agreement with my statement.

"Oh, my head hurts," she groaned, "and my neck. My shoulder aches. Oh my God! Everything is aching," as she looked at her bandaged wrist in confusion.

I whispered to Ella to get the pain medications from the bedside table. Discreetly I texted Bobby to say she's awake.

A quiet knock on the door moments later and Bobby entered looking at me hopefully.

"Stephanie just woke up and was shocked when she saw herself in the mirror," I explained to Bobby, as Ella set the medications on the coffee table with a bottle of water. "She's starting to remember the deer and the cars in flames."

He nodded, already in medic mode, while silently asking her permission to check her pulse. An oximeter on her index finger told him her oxygen levels were in the high percentage range. That's a good sign. I could feel her relax some more, Bobby noting the change, the reading showing her pulse easing down after that initial panic.

He explained the full extent of her injuries. She was speechless.

"You're a heroine, Bomber. Did you know that?"

"I am?" She paused, confused while contemplating his admiration. We all nodded with warm smiles.

"That couple … in the other car? They're okay?"

"Yes, thanks to you, Babe. You rescued them, even though you were injured, you saved their lives."

Ella listened in awe, beaming in pride at our girl.

"I checked with the Morrisville PD. They are both fine. The driver is being kept in hospital overnight for observation and some other tests. Normally they wouldn't pass on such information, but the Chief of Police was full of praise for you for saving his brother and sister."

"Oh."

Ella took her into the bedroom to change. But Steph said she desperately needed to freshen up, especially with the smoke and the acrid lingering smells in her nostrils. Her hair also needed a good shampoo to remove the smells and the soot. That was a task too tricky with one arm. Ella was only too glad to help as she assisted getting Steph in the shower. From the wardrobe, Ella pulled out some yoga pants, some pretty lacy underwear and one of my t-shirts. A bra was a no go, of course.

Quickly she stripped the bed putting fresh clean bed linen in rapid time. Knocking quietly on the bedroom door, Bobby passed some Hirudoid cream to Ella, to rub into Steph's bruises, especially across her chest from the seatbelt bruise, her shoulder, and for her wrist. "It's like Arnica, but better. Only on skin that has no cuts, just bruising."

Coming back to me, he further explained, "The Morrisville PD Chief was so impressed by Stephanie's astounding first responder skills. When he asked if she was trained, I proudly said she wasn't, but that she was familiar with the routine, and in that sort of situation, which of course surprised him. I had to qualify that with her car bombing experiences in her role as a bounty hunter. I took the liberty of confirming we would bring Stephanie over to make her statement sometime tomorrow."

"Thanks Bobby. Wow, eh? The MPD Chief's brother and sister. She never ceases to amaze me. You know how she calls me Batman," Bobby grinned at me, "well, she has proven time and again that she is Wonder Woman." He nodded fervently in agreement, still grinning.

Ella smiled when she heard that. She had dried, brushed and braided Steph's hair so it was more manageable. That's a task which would certainly be tricky to do one-handed, especially with her beautiful curls. After brushing her teeth, Stephanie emerged from the bedroom smiling gratefully at Ella.

"Thank you, Ella. I feel so much better, and fresher. I couldn't have done it without you." She sniffed her skin and smiled at me. "I love your shower gel. It smells so nice, just like you always do." That last statement was supposed be said internally because she blushed with that confession, as she quickly covered her mouth when we all chuckled. Ella just smiled. "Anything for you, niña."

Bobby checked her eyes, using his penlight and gave the okay as he handed her the meds and the water. Painkillers and anti-inflammatories. He checked the position of the sling for the right support to lessen the weight on her collarbone. He adjusted the cervical collar a bit. Then with fresh bandages he rebandaged her bruised, and slightly swollen sprained wrist.

"Thank you, Bobby. Ohh," she sighed gratefully,

"Now remember," Bobby said, "if you get any blurry vision or pain behind your eyes, let me know, immediately."

She nodded.

"Would you like something to eat, Stephanie? I have made some soup for you, just a light broth," Ella suggested, "and some nice freshly baked, crusty bread, if you're up to it." I smiled since she omitted the "vegetable" part, and I winked at her.

Stephanie thought about that but then her stomach made an answer on her behalf. She tried to roll her eyes but that caused her to flinch a bit, so she just nodded coyly with a sigh. We chuckled.

"Well, that's a yes if ever I heard one." Ella smiled as she went into the kitchen with a happy bounce in her step. I could tell she was enjoying being there for her poor, brave niña.

Bobby departed shortly after, saying that if she has any nausea, or worse, to call him immediately. Stephanie thanked him.

I stood up with her still in my arms and carried her to the dining table.

"I can walk, you know."

"Indulge me. I know you can," and kissed her on the tip of her nose.

Ella served our meal, mine was arroz con pollo, a tasty Cuban chicken and rice. Stephanie enjoyed her soup, dunking her crusty bread in, slathered in thick hard butter, eating heartily. She even had a couple of mouthfuls of my rice.

"A bit hungry, Babe?"

"I don't think I had lunch today with all that went on."

Well, that figures. At least her appetite is up to par. That's another good indication.

I cleared the table and set the dessert plate in front of her. Her smile was radiant.

"Oh, I love Ella!"

Stephanie offered me a taste of each one, but just to please her I did, just a nibble. It was that cute pout that made me give in. Seeing her smile was giving me hope. Hope for a lot of things, at the forefront was for a solid recovery. She sat on the couch while I rinsed and loaded the dishwasher, before joining her on the couch.

I was curious. Something puzzled me.

"Can I ask you a question, Babe?"

"Sure. Fire away."

That confidence told me the pain was starting to go away, especially after a hearty meal.

"Why were you on your way to Morrisville? On that bridge?"

She looked down, as best as she could with that cervical collar around her neck. She blew a wispy stray curl from her forehead as she is known to do when trying to avoid a question.

"Confession time," she muttered. I didn't let on but waited patiently while she organised her thoughts.

"I was escaping. I just needed to get away. From the Burg. From Trenton and all the crap from this morning and over the last week or so."

I looked at her for elaboration, gently rubbing up and down her arms.

"I just thought I'd go for a drive, you know, to Newtown Farmer's Market, just for a change. I found out they have a great selection of doughnuts, and, you know, I wanted to check them out. It was a shorter, more direct route on that bridge. And, I really needed a doughnut, or two, or more. Let's say it was the culmination of a lot of crap. Doughnuts were essential. But … well, as you saw, I never got there."

I smiled at her honest response. I gestured with my hand for the rest of the details. She sighed.

"I deliberately avoided the toll bridge and went via the Delaware Lower Bridge crossing. As I said, it was a more direct route to the Markets. Simple as that. I guess I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

She sighed forlornly.

"Ah. But that's where you are wrong. That couple, whom you saved, might have been in more dire circumstances had it not been for your initiative and amazing reactions. For them, you were in the right place at the right time. Bobby found out that the driver was related to the Morrisville Chief of Police, his brother, and the passenger was his sister."

"Oh." She was cute, when rendered speechless. Then she yawned.

"Time for bed, Babe. It's been a mighty eventful day. Rest, and recuperation, is the order of the day. You can tell me the rest tomorrow."

"Yessir," she saluted with a cheeky grin which quickly turned into another yawn.

"You don't mind sharing my bed?"

"That's a bonus for me, Batman. Thank you for taking such good care of me. I'll try to keep my hands to myself."

I grinned. That's a bonus for me.

"De nada, Babe. Go brush your teeth and I'll tuck you in."

oOoOo

TBC