Gee Janet, do I have to give them back AGAIN? Isn't there a program that if I borrow them x number of times, I get to keep one?

Chapter 26

Stephanie was snapping back fast, maybe too fast.

She had been moved out of ICU and into a private room and she was starting to get a bit whiney.

The hospital staff had let her sit in a chair for twenty minutes, although she had been exhausted by the end. After a nap she had petitioned to be allowed out the door for a trip up and down the hall by wheelchair.

Ranger was trying to convince Stephanie that she had to stay in bed. He pulled out his handcuffs but she surprised him with a key in her hand. He threatened that the bed rails would be locked into place. She pulled a hidden phone from under her pillow and called her dad. He one upped her and called her mom to talk some sense into her. Stephanie began to cry and Ranger rushed over to give her a hug.

He promised that if she could stay there at least another day, he would ask Ella to send something special to eat when she was cleared for solid food.

She promised to think about it, but the twinkle in her eye made him question her motive. His eyes narrowed and he vowed to be more vigilant about watching for contraband.

Her chest tubes came out for the second time. She had enjoyed Jello for lunch, but deep down she hoped that some kind Rangeman would sneak a donut into her room when Ranger was not looking, which would be next to impossible as he barely left her room.

She beseeched Tank to convince Ranger that she could cope for a few hours and he could head back to Haywood to get some work done, or to sleep.

She asked Bobby to knock his ass out and they could then stick him in her bed to sleep.

Her parents came to visit and marvelled at how fast she was improving.

Grandma Edna had shown up alone and spent some time with her baby grand daughter.

Joe had dropped in earlier with news that the last few had been rounded up. The two inner circle of June's gang had been picked up sneaking out of town in a stolen mini-van with signs declaring they were from a children's camp. Unfortunately they had not taken into account that the children's camp was not open until summer and a passing patrolmen had noticed and called it in. He chuckled as he related that the van had a gigantic heart on it and the sign that stated it was from the Simple Hearts Summer Camp for Children. He thought it was quite ironic.

They had been surrounded by a SWAT team waiting for them when they came out from having lunch at a diner. Joe thought it was interesting that they had chosen the same diner where Lula had met him just a few days before.

He related that Lula had admitted her share of the blame for her part in the drug scene and the judge had imposed the agreed upon sentence. Joe was quick to mention that he had vouched for her integrity and that she had assisted with flushing out some of the suspects.

Vinnie had petitioned the court that he was holding a job for her upon her release and that she was a valued employee. Lula would never know that Connie had threatened him with her resignation and had placed the paperwork in front of him handing him a pen and pointing where to sign.

Adding insult to injury, Connie had advised Vinnie that she would call Lucille to do the filing while Lula was incarcerated if he balked.

Tank had stood by her both at the arraignment and the sentencing. Jason had represented her and had bargained the bond amount down to a manageable level. Over her protests, Tank had put up the bond money himself and she was able to get out to put her affairs in order.

Joe had sent a personal letter to the warden where she would be held and had requested that if possible she not work in the kitchen. That had been one of her worst fears.

Her mother had worked every sentence in the kitchen and placing her in the same position might make her feel that she was following the same footsteps she had vowed never to do.

He chuckled when he heard they earmarked her for office duties, specifically, filing, knowing that she was employed in that capacity with the bond office. He chose not to dwell on the fact that it might take some time to find the files after she was released. She had her own unique way of filing.

Les dropped in. He was off his crutches but walking with a decided limp.

He sat on the edge of her bed, with his leg resting on the chair by the bed.

He was careful not to mention how Rangeman had run while she had been unconscious. He didn't want her to worry that once again she had made Rangeman bleed money. Work efficiency had hit rock bottom as the men had waited for word. To outward appearances they were their usual efficient company self, but all life had been sucked out of them as they waited with baited breath for word.

The celebration could be heard practically country-wide when word came in that she had regained consciousness.

Les looked at the tiny wisp of a person in the bed. Admitting it or not, she was the heart and soul of Rangeman.

Instead, he mentioned that when she was better, he suspected that she would be inundated with flowers from all the other branches. Ranger had forbidden them to be delivered until she was more alert to enjoy them.

He looked at her and his smile faded.

He was fairly cognizant of her struggle to survive and how she had scared almost everyone who knew her.

He had seen enough combat injuries that involved chest injuries to suspect that she would not be chasing skips anytime soon or ever again. Bobby had given few details, citing patient-medical confidentiality but Les had read between the lines enough to know that one heart valve had been damaged and Stephanie might be on reduced duty for the rest of her life.

A heart transplant might be in her future with all its complications and medical needs. Bobby was already reading up, just in case.

He shrugged. She had bounced back before and would again. Just seeing her smile that radiant, happy-to-see-you smile was enough for now. He would take it one day at a time.

He regaled her with stories from Rangeman. Tank and Ranger had Luis take down the new cubicle and had it removed. There were so many wrapped gifts and personal messages on it that the area was over flowing. Everything had been packaged up and was waiting for when she came out of the hospital.

The men had taken it upon themselves and had now decorated her old cubicle with Welcome Home signs and more presents.

He heard that Ella was already stocking up and preparing her favorite foods and Ranger had found a fresh stash of TastyKakes in a cupboard in the break room. Ella already had Luis prepare the apartment on seven for an injured occupant.

They were all waiting for her to return.

Les had left after giving her a hug. He had whispered in her ear that he would have missed her. She nodded and gave him a hug back. She was realizing how serious it had been as she lay there fighting for her life oblivious to the world around her. She vowed to give everyone a special hug the next time she saw them.

Lula had visited her in her room. She had come in alone and they managed to spend a few minutes together. Ranger had left but stated that he was right outside the door making some phone calls.

Lula mentioned that she had given up her apartment. She and Tank would be discussing her living arrangements when she returned.

Lula figured that three months would not fly by, but she was prepared to bounce. With good behavior she might be out sooner.

Tank had promised to visit her as often as it was allowed and had already started the paperwork approving him for visitation rights.

Lula spoke. "I won't be able to see you for awhile, Steph. The guard received permission that we could make a quick detour. While I hate that I am going to jail, I'mma glad that I made the deal with Morelli before it all went down."

She huffed. "That scumbag, Donny tried to pin a bunch of shit on me and if I hadn't'a already confessed my part in it, I might'a been looking at the 20 years he is. He tried to tell them that I was the dealer and he was the mule!"

Lula looked at her friend.

From all indications Stephanie would be in the hospital for some time yet, although she was steadily and more aggressively petitioning the medical staff that if she could go home, Bobby was more than capable to look after her medical needs.

She had not divulged that Ranger could look after her other needs.

Lula and Stephanie had a final gentle hug and although there were tears, she left on good terms.

Joe was waiting outside along with a female corrections guard. He had petitioned that she be uncuffed and allowed to go in alone. She was on her way to the women's correctional centre in the next county.

Joe stepped in after Lula was led away and Ranger continued to wait outside the door. This was between them.

He looked at her. Stephanie's color was better and she looked more like the Cupcake he knew and loved. He gave her a gentle hug and sat down on the edge of the bed.

She smiled as he pulled out a Tasty Pastry bag from under his jacket and handed it to her. She quietly opened the bag and took out a Boston crème taking a small bite. A tiny moan erupted and she could hear Ranger growl and heard him say on the other side of the door, 'Babe!'.

She tried but after a few bites she admitted defeat and Joe finished it.

Joe took her hand in his and he looked at her. He knew that he had lost her to another but he was hoping to remain friends. They had so much history between them.

"Do you think that Ranger will allow us to have lunch together sometime, Cupcake?" came the tentative question.

Stephanie smiled. They were friends and always would be. Stephanie had her eye on one of the nurses looking after her. She was Italian, single and loved kids. She wanted to settle down and was coy about her cooking skills. Stephanie cursed her luck. Sophia had just gone off shift. She was pondering how to get them to meet.

Joe took the now empty bag and stuffed it in his pocket. He gently wiped a few sugar grains from the side of her mouth as he stood up and prepared to leave.

"Will I be invited to the wedding?"

Stephanie smiled.

She knew that she and Ranger needed to talk, and really talk. So much had not been said and they needed to spell out where they wanted to take this relationship.

She wanted to talk to Ranger about a dream she had had. She remembered standing and watching as they dragged him away from her when she had been shot. She had told her Grandma Edna about it and she had nodded knowingly. Edna had called it a Near Death Experience and promised to bring her a book she had read on the subject.

Her furniture was in storage in one of the Rangeman storage rooms. Time would tell if she would be needing or wanting it. Her independent streak still wanted a place of her own, but on the other hand, she felt that it might be time to act her age and decide what she really wanted in life.

Did she want to continue living like an undergrad taking handouts and living from paycheck to paycheck, bumming meals off her parents? A car that lasted more than a few days or weeks would be nice. Her wardrobe could use a bit of a make-over. Less t-shirts and scruffy jeans and more dress clothes.

Stephanie grimaced. Naahhh! Too much, too soon.

Right now, she was content to stay at Haywood. Ella was there. Her Merry Men were there, and especially Ranger was there.

They had not talked about marriage, but that was for the future, right? She wanted to believe that they might have a future, and it was going to be good.

A/N – Well, another story ends. I really must thank Megan for her never-ending patience as I sent her chapter after chapter. Quite the rainbow of colors as you corrected, questioned, or made suggestions.

Thanks Cindy for your expertise with my medical inquiries. Left to my own devices I might have stuck something in sideways or something!

I mentioned to Margaret that I had worn the letters off my keyboard. She told me to suck it up and buy a new keyboard! Thanks, Margaret for being in my corner.

Thank you everybody for your reviews. Insightful, hilarious, thought-provoking and encouraging come to mind.

Was it not Martin Luther King Jr. who said, "I had a vision"? I wonder... Hmmm.

Myrna