Someday Arrives

Stephanie stirred. She heard the beep, beep, beep of the heart monitor equipment. She heard a chair squeak and knew Ranger was once again by her bed.

Stephanie opened her eyes. She could see him leaning slightly back on the hard backed chair. He looked so tired.

Stephanie looked around. It was daylight. She tried to keep her days straight but she had drifted off to sleep so many times she had lost count.

Bobby had been in. He had given her a complete run down of her injuries. She had a very badly broken leg. The orthopedic surgeon had spent hours putting it back together. He had not exactly told her, but she could tell from his expression that she was lucky to still have it. Right now, it was suspended in a huge cast in the air. There were rods sticking out the sides of the traction that held her in place would rival a tall ship's rigging. She had a grab bar above her, but she was only able to use it to change her position slightly and lesson some pressure points. She now knew how a trussed up chicken felt like. Her lip had taken on that droopy pout look. She did not do well sitting around. Now it appeared she would be laid up for months.

Stephanie felt totally helpless. She needed help to do anything. It was a major undertaking for the nursing staff to do everything from changing her hospital gown or the bed linens to even doing personal business left unmentioned. She hated this feeling.

She had a concussion from Terry's rifle butt to the side of her head. Once again she was missing a chunk of hair where they had shaved it to stitch her up.

Bobby was trying to arrange her transfer to his infirmary. He already had plans to convert the hospital suite for long term use with traction.

Unbeknownst to her, Ranger and Bobby had hired a female medic. She had been mustered out of the army a few months previously and was looking for work. She would start the minute Stephanie was wheeled into Rangeman.

Stephanie would appreciate the female assistance. She would need help for some time. After all these years, she still was very shy around male medical personnel. She would tolerate Bobby as he was as diplomatic and private as he could be, but this was a whole new kettle of fish all together.

Ranger was anticipating some fireworks. They both had tempers. Stephanie had her famous Jersey manner and Josie had a no nonsense army attitude. It would be an interesting time.

Ranger stirred. Stephanie could just see his face. She watched as he stirred once again. He was getting ready to wake up. Stephanie wondered how many times had he watched her as she slept over the years?

She knew that he would sit in the corner of her bedroom and watch her sleep. He would come in and then leave noiselessly. She could always feel his presence. She knew that he had been her protector for as long as she knew him.

Stephanie waited patiently. She could tell the exact moment those beautiful chocolate brown eyes would open. He would look around, instinctively checking for changes since he had last checked. He would do a neck roll massaging the kink out of his neck. He would stand up and swivel his torso back and forth to loosen his cramped back muscles. He would then head to the side of her bed, getting the circulation working again in his legs.

Ranger stood up and came to the side of the bed. He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. He smelled delicious with the hint of Bulgari and Ranger musk mingling.

Ranger spoke. "Hi Babe. Feeling better this morning?"

Stephanie smiled. Today was going to be a great day. She was safe with guards posted outside her door. She was healing. Most of all, the person she most wanted to be near was standing beside her.

She found his hand. She squeezed it. She pulled gently. He drew nearer. She gave him a kiss of love, of promise, and of longing. Her hormones would be in a holding pattern for some time.

Stephanie had missed Joe's wedding. She had sent an apology note and a wedding gift. Joe had received permission to visit her. He had taken one look at her trussed up in the hospital bed and he had visibly blanched. He was not privy to all the details but he had heard enough. He came over to her and gave her a gentle kiss. They had had a good visit. As he was leaving she wished them well in married life.

He looked at her. His eyes asked the question. Stephanie responded. "We are speaking. I understand why he had to go. He did it to protect me. How can I stay mad at him Joe? I do love him."

Joe nodded. He was happy. He hoped she would be happy too. They had both moved on but they would always be friends. He stood up to leave. He had to get back to Atlanta.

Lying in that bed, Stephanie had a lot of time to think.

She thought of their relationship. It would be great, then it would stall. The sex was always mind blowing, but there had to be more for couples to succeed together

Ever since the day in that diner, they had an attraction to each other. She could feel his presence. She suspected he could too.

She had bumbled her way through life taking advantage of Ranger and his company. She had made almost no attempt to improve herself. When he had left, she had turned completely around, putting serious effort into improving herself. At the same time, she had closed herself off from the very people who had helped her along the way; her Merry Men, Mary Lou, Lula and Connie. She had literally lost her way.

Stephanie pursed her lips. Ranger had stayed constant through their whole relationship and she had been the one continually changing the rules. He had his own moral code and although gray on some of the edges, was fair, and consistent.

It was time to put on her big girl panties and face the fact that she had been a major disruption in their relationship.

Bobby came into the room. He was brandishing the release papers. Stephanie beamed a grateful smile. She hated hospitals. At the same time she knew it would take a huge effort to move her.

It took some time, but the ambulance attendants were now standing by her bed with a gurney. There was an army of nurses assisting. They started to unhook her from the machines. Her IV bag was taken off the stand and put on her stomach for the transport. Next, they carefully took her leg out of traction. Her brow was covered in sweat. The pain was unimaginable.

She tried not to moan. Bobby had a needle ready. Stephanie shook her head no. They would talk about it when she got home. She smiled. Yes, home. She had finally realized that.

They moved her carefully but efficiently onto the gurney for the ride. Her leg was suspended in a strange tripod contraption. Binkie had designed it for her transfer. He was a closet inventor. He had a variety of interesting prototypes being considered for patents. He was hoping that this new portable traction unit would make it into forward combat areas to assist transport of severely wounded soldiers with leg injuries.

Ranger stayed by her side. He would accompany her in the back of the ambulance. He held her hand throughout the procedure.

Finally they were on their way. The trip in the ambulance was made slowly and with as little jarring as possible.

The ambulance pulled up to the Rangeman garage door. It opened and they drove in. The attendants hopped out of the ambulance and opened the back doors. They carefully lifted out the gurney and rolled it toward the elevator. They rolled her through an honor guard of Rangemen employees. Each man was holding a single rose. They put it on the gurney as she passed by.

Her tears fell. She could only smile and thank everyone. She grasped hands as they made their way slowly to the elevator. The door was open and waiting. Bobby was walking by her side. He was rubbing her arm. Stephanie realized too late what he was doing. She felt the prick of the needle. She heard him softly say, "You'll thank me later, sweetheart." She drifted off as they travelled up to the fourth floor and into the infirmary.

Josie was waiting. Stephanie was moved onto the bed and Bobby and Josie proceeded to re-traction the leg. Ranger kissed her on the lips gently and walked out the room.

Time passed. Stephanie was now out of traction. She was in a smaller cast. She had progressed to a wheelchair. When Josie turned her back, Stephanie was gone. She would hide on five, on three, in the gun range, and even in Ella and Louis's suite. Each time Josie would hunt her down.

Today, Stephanie was hiding in Ranger's office. She had sworn the men on monitors to silence. Ranger walked in. He didn't look surprised to see her. Josie was looking for her once again.

Ranger put the file folders on his desk. He wheeled her over to the couch. He gently lifted her out of the chair and sitting on the couch, held her in his arms. They had been talking and getting emotionally closer. Stephanie snuggled into his strong, muscular chest. She sighed happily.

There was a knock on the door. Stephanie tried to dissuade Ranger from responding. He chuckled. He called out, "Enter". Josie was at the doorway. She looked pissed. It was time for physio.

Ranger gave Stephanie a kiss. He laughed as she hugged him tightly. Her fingers were locked together behind his neck. Ranger gently but firmly unlocked each finger. He kissed her again. She was pouting. Once again she was being tag teamed. Ranger and Josie set her back in the chair. Josie took firm hold of the handles and pushed her out the door. The men on monitors grinned as the girls argued all the way to the elevator. Their Bomber was regaining her spirit.

True to their natures, there were fireworks, and hissy fits. Josie threatened to quit a number of times. Stephanie threatened to have her fired. They became fast friends. There came a day when Josie was not needed. Stephanie was now on crutches.

Ranger and Bobby were in a meeting in Ranger's office. How would the men react with a female medic on staff? She was one of the best.

Bobby needed to travel to the other branches on a regular basis. He was also on staff at the hospital now. He needed to keep up his certification. He loved the whole experience. He would never be able to repay Ranger for funding his schooling.

Stephanie and Bobbie had returned from the specialist's appointment. Her x-rays had finally shown enough improvement that the cast would be removed by Bobby tomorrow. This was her news to tell.

Bobby was ready to toss Stephanie out of the medical suite.

Where would she go? She had been forced to give up her apartment. The elevator in her building could not be trusted and she would not be able to negotiate the stairs for some time. The men had emptied out the apartment. Stephanie had stated that all she wanted were her clothes and her cookie jar. Everything else had been donated.

Ranger was also thinking. He was secretly hoping that she would move back onto seven. He made sure that the fourth floor apartments stayed occupied. He was playing hardball. He wanted her with him. He was hoping she would want to be with him. He planned to ask her that evening. He had already asked Ella for a special meal.

Stephanie hobbled into her room. On the hospital bed was a red rose. There was a card with it. It was an invitation to dinner on seven. She was requested to arrive anytime after 1800. Stephanie dressed with care. She exchanged her sweat shorts for long dress pants. Ella had been a godsend re-outfitting her wardrobe taking into consideration her mobility issues. She wore a sweater that bore a striking resemblance to her eye color. Her hair was down. She was wearing slip on shoes.

Stephanie made her way to the elevator. She was looking forward to more physical therapy soon. Her arms were very strong having been pushing herself around by wheelchair and now hobbling around with crutches. She lamented at the strength of her leg muscles. They had atrophied from inactivity. She would need to build them up and it would take some time to be able to run for any distance any time soon.

Stephanie had been on light duty for four months. She was used to monitoring, searches and desk duty. She had snarled threateningly when assigned desk duty the first time. The in box was stuffed full. She tore into the pile. Three files down, she found a Thinking of You card. It was signed by Les. A few files further down, she found a picture of a Boston Creme donut. It said to look in her right hand desk drawer. Opening the drawer, she found a Tasty Pastry bag with a donut in it. She knew Hal had put that there. Stephanie kept working. A few files further down was her favorite chocolate bar. A little note written in a child's handwriting said it was from Joel. Stephanie smiled. Her guys were still looking after her.

Stephanie had been driven to Maurice's home one evening for supper. Naomi met her at the door. She was sporting a baby bump now and her ultrasound showed they were going to get their baby girl. Maurice was ecstatic. They already knew the baby's name, but were keeping it secret. She would be named after Naomi's mom, Jennifer. Her middle name would be Sarah.

Stephanie had spoken to Ram. She felt bad that he had been forced to take another life but he had shrugged. He had justified it in his own mind. He had had the hogs tooth delivered to the CO of sniper school. There was no note. There was also no acknowledgement.

Stephanie stepped off the elevator. She knocked on the door. Ranger opened it immediately. He was dressed in gray slacks, a white dress shirt open at the collar, and buttery soft loafers on his feet. He stepped back and opened the door wide. She stumped her way into the apartment.

Music was playing softly in the background. Ranger gave her a kiss and hugged her gently to him. She let go the crutches and returned the hug. The crutches fell to the floor. They stood there wrapped in each others embrace. They both felt at ease. After some serious lip lock, they relaxed from their embraces.

Ranger scooped her up and carried her to the table. He gently set her on a chair. He placed her crutches on the floor beside her then walked around to the other seat. The table was set with a lovely table cloth, candles and covered dishes. It smelled devine. Stephanie's mouth watered.

Ranger took the covers off the plates. There were her favorite foods. Linguine with shrimp and alfredo sauce. There was spinach salad with tiny tomatoes, bits of cheese, red onion, croutons and dressing on the side. Ranger lifted another cover. There was grilled chicken and steamed vegetables. He left one cover in place.

They began to eat. Their conversation was casual, but lively. They discussed her therapy, her searches, and her family. She told him about the cast removal tomorrow.

He discussed Les getting on his case about adding junk food in the break room. Les reasoned that Stephanie couldn't leave the building and Rangeman should accommodate her sugar intake. Les was getting soft. It had taken Ranger less than a minute to put him down on the mats to stay.

He discussed his idea of expanding to another city. He was looking at a building that was for sale. He wanted her to come and see it with him. He valued her opinion on the matter.

Finally the plates were empty. Ranger became quiet. Stephanie looked at him. "What's up Batman?"

Ranger stood up. He came around to her side of the table. He cleared away the dishes. He put the last covered plate in front of her. He lifted up the lid. He knelt on one knee. There was a little black, velvet box. He took it in his hand and slowly opened it. He looked in her eyes.

" I once again realized that I cannot bear to live without you, Babe. I want you to be part of my life. I want to be part of your life. Would you do me the pleasure of accepting my offer of marriage?"

Stephanie looked at him. Tears sprang to her eyes. She nodded yes. "I love you, Carlos. I always have."

Ranger stood up. He carefully pulled Stephanie to her feet. He kissed her on the lips. His hands played in her curly hair. He held her tightly to his chest. Finally he scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom.

Well, last time I left them in the shower. (Margaret – Ranger will never wrinkle, even with age!)

Hope you liked it.

Myrna