There were a lot of places in my face that I couldn't feel, that didn't transfer to the places that were throbbing unfortunately. I couldn't get over the feeling that I was being choked, it was as if a heavy weight was placed directly across my throat and there was no removing it. I've been through a lot in my years as a bounty hunter but this had to be the worst, physically and mentally. Fuzzy images is all I could barely see through my swollen eyes, some annoying string of hair managed to find the perfect spot in my limited line of vision. I lifted my hand, moving to get the obnoxious intruding hair out of my eyes and Ranger quickly stilled my hand, "that is a stitch, Babe, it'll come out soon enough."

A stitch hanging in front of my damn eye, what kind of stitches do that? My anxiety was going through the roof between the feeling of being choked not knowing what the hell was going on, if it wasn't for Ranger being next to me, I would have lost it. I reached out to my left finding his hand meeting mine and I pulled it tightly to my chest, wrapping my hand around his with one hand and the other tugging his arm like I was afraid he would disappear if I didn't hold on tight. I'm not sure what made me ask but I only knew I needed to get as much of him as I could and his voice, rich and reassuring as it always had would encompass me with the comfort that only he could give to me.

"Sing something to me," my scratchy voice whispered.

I was in too much pain to think of how it would make him feel or worry about the other people I sensed were in the room, hell, I didn't even know if he could sing or not. I was on the edge emotionally, I was prepared to beg and didn't care who heard what. There was a momentary pause, ever so slight and a velvety, soft timbre covered me like a warm blanket and I immediately recognized the words of "Amazing Grace."

Amazing grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

I haven't always been especially religious, I guess how some people are situationally religious is how you could describe me in my adult life. It wasn't that I didn't believe but I had gotten confused by the institution. Anyway, there was a time when Ranger and I were on stakeout early on in our mentorship and we just talked about anything and everything. It was fantastic, I might have done most of the talking but that is beside the point, he participated so I counted it as a win. Somehow my favorite songs came up and I told him about one of my secret weapons since I was a kid. Whenever I would get a stomachache or was scared, I would hum or sing to myself the hymn "Amazing Grace" and soon I would fall asleep or whatever I was fearing would be over. Ranger inexplicably must have remembered; I can't believe such a trivial detail I shared with him on one of our earliest stakeout parties stuck with him. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised because I think I have remembered every single personal tidbit he has ever shared with me.

His voice, a melodious baritone, was a soothing balm over my frayed nerves. Ranger must have sung the hymn to me 3 times, his thumb ran across my hand gently and I would feel him press his mouth to kiss my curls. Something felt different about the gesture this time, I felt him but not like usual, my head was numb but kinda awake, sorta like when you go to the dentist and your face is trying to wake up.

"Ranger, what is wrong with me?"

An audible sigh, not a good sign. "Don't worry about that now, you are safe and I am not going to leave your side," he kissed my hand, rubbing his cheek on the back of my hand. It didn't go unnoticed that his face had a few days of growth happening, hmm, I wonder what that is about because he's usually clean shaven. "I'll never leave you Stephanie. Now I want you to do something for me, Bobby has some pills he needs you to take, can you do that for me?"

I whisper a yes, tamping down my urge to as more questions about what is happening with me, never wanting to disappoint him.

"I'm going to slowly sit you up, Babe."

A figure that turns out to be Bobby comes forward and squeezes my knee, "Hey Bomber, I've got some good stuff for you." I hear what sounds like several pills rattling against each other in their bottles, "one is kinda big but I know you can do it, I'll get you some ice cream later." I gave him a small smile, at least I think I did because the I really did appreciate the tenderness in his voice.

Ranger tells me he is going to lean the recliner back and that I should try to rest as much as I can. I manage to croak out the word more, he asks if I am wanting more water but I tell him more songs. I hear a small chuckle and can picture his lips soft lips curling up in a grin and he starts soothingly singing in Spanish and I drift to sleep.