The light was too bright and I groaned as the nurses came in yet again, poking and prodding me. I knew that it was their job and my injuries needed to be monitored but god it was annoying. I'd been awake off and on for 24 hours now after what I was informed was a 13 day coma but exhaustion still dragged at my body. The doctor told me I was lucky to be alive, that the crash had crushed the right side of my body and only the quick response of some of the first responders had stopped me from bleeding out before the ambulance got there. Cannon hadn't been so lucky.

So far I'd been swarmed by medical professionals, my family, Connie, Lula, Mary Lou and Joe. It was nice of them to visit and fuss over me but no one would tell me anything important. Just constant assurances that it was all ok and that my only job was to rest and heal. I'd caught a couple glances of black outside my door and based off the flustered nurses' faces I assumed that at least one rangeman was lurking in the hallway but there was no response when I called out to them. Thankfully Joe told me that Ranger was alive or I would have found a way to crawl out of this goddamn bed.

I drifted off to a fitful sleep and lost track of time but stiffened when I sensed another presence. "Seriously? Don't you guys believe in sleep here?" I moaned. A chuckle responded and my eyes shot open. "Les." I breathed in relief, fighting to sit up and grab his hand.

"Ah ah let's just take it easy for a bit." He said as I grimaced in pain. His hands gently pressed down on my shoulders before taking my hand and squeezing it softly. "I'm glad to see your eyes again Beautiful. You had us all worried."

My lip trembled and I sniffed back some tears. "Not sure if Beautiful is the right word for me right now Les. Two weeks without showering and beaten black and blue, I'm a train wreck."

His hand cupped my cheek and brought my gaze up to meet him. "Nah, trust me. Beautiful is definitely the right word."

A tear ran down my cheek and he carefully brushed it away with his thumb. "Is he alright?" I managed to whisper.

Lester's lips tightened for a second before he relaxed again. "Yeah Steph. He's beaten up. It's going to take some time before he's back on active duty and he's a complete idiot but the hospital released him into Bobby's care and he's getting around with help."

My body felt lighter with relief and joy. "He's alive. Worth it." I mumbled aloud. "Thought Joe was lying about how bad it was. How are the rest of the guys? No one else got hurt right?"

"Everyone else is fine. They're all dying for my update on you and fighting to be put on bomber duty."

"Yeah about that. Can you tell those idiots to say hi to me during their shifts? I feel like a prisoner in here knowing that they're just standing guard."

Lester shook his head. "Sorry Steph. Orders from my idiotic big cousin. No one is allowed to approach you. I had to practically fight him to come see you."

Cold seeped into my body but I swallowed and grit my teeth. "He's mad at me. I got one of his guys killed and him tortured… and then traded myself for him. We'll talk and I'll apologize and then he'll stop the cold shoulder."

Les groaned. "What is with you two? Seriously the amount of guilt you both insist on taking. It's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong. Some sick twisted individual decided to hurt you both. His fault, not yours or Ranger's. So why do you both torture yourselves?"

"Why would Ranger think it's his fault? He saved me! He got hurt protecting me."

"His man, his past, his capture led to your sacrifice..blah blah."

I glared angrily at Lester. "That's stupid! His past was him risking his life to save people and he was captured after getting me safe. And sure one Rangeman was a bad guy, but dozens of you guys have saved me. Without Ranger, Ricky kills me, or one of my other fucking numerous monsters."

Lester held his hands up. "You don't have to tell me that Steph. It's how Ranger thinks, and it doesn't help that your mother threw it at him when he dragged his body out of his own hospital bed."

Les actually raised his brow in shock at the string of curses that I spat out. "God how many times do I have to tell her to stay out of my love life. I've told her she doesn't know what she's talking about and that he is my hero but she still has to spit this poison. And we were finally going to try! Now he's back to the whole 'my life doesn't lend itself to relationships' bullshit and having his men follow me like shadows. No! You know what, I'm not letting him run away this time. He has however long I am stuck in this bed and then I'm coming to kick his ass."

"We're all betting on you Steph. He needs to get over himself but he isn't going to listen to any of us." His phone vibrated and he grimaced as he pulled it out and hit a key. "I'm sorry. Time's up and bossman is calling."

"You aren't coming back are you?" I asked exhausted.

Lester shook his head. "It took all of us pushing to get this visit. We had to convince him he couldn't leave you with no information after what you both went through but now we're on orders of no direct contact."

I sighed. "Tell all the guys I'm ok, that I love them and I'll see them all soon." Lester gave me a kiss on the cheek and left the room. I listened to him check in with the guy outside my room but the door shut before I could hear anything and I was left alone.