AUTHOR'S NOTE: THESE STORIES ARE INSPIRED BY HopelessRomantic246 AND HER SET OF FICS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD'VE BEEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSPIRATION.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I do not own Walker, Texas Ranger or any of its characters/ideas. The following stories are based on episodes from Seasons 8 & 9, transcribed by me to the best of my ability. Some text is taken word for word but I lay no claim to it. Please read and review and let me know which episodes you'd really like to see redone.

COUNTDOWN

Sydney spoke in a Spanish accent. "You're El Leon."

"In deed I am. Ramon has told me a lot about you two. Says you're our best customers and now you're looking to take a step up," he responded.

"That's right," Gage said as Alex, his undercover alias.

"If you can handle it," Sydney added, sly smile across her face. El Leon looked impassive as he spoke.

"Oh believe me, I can handle it. But before I meet with anyone, I like to know who I'm dealing with and, as a matter of fact, I checked you both out personally. You know, it's a funny thing; I couldn't find anything out on either one of you."

Gage scoffed. "What are you talking about?"

"What I'm talking about is you either don't exist or you're cops. Since I'm looking right at you, that means you do exist. "

Sydney paused for a moment then turned and gave Gage a shove. "I told you this wasn't going to work. I told you El Leon was too smart for this."

"It's not that he's so smart, it's that you're so stupid," Gage shot back.

"Who you calling stupid huh?" Sydney shot back. Gage raised his eyebrows at her and then they attacked. Gage battled with El Leon and another henchman while Sydney took care of Ramon and his goon. Just as they were in the thick of the fight, another guard rushed in, gun ready to strike. But he didn't see Walker behind him as he and Trivette stormed the building.

Once the four rangers had entered the battle, it was quickly over. Walker took a look around before approaching Gage and Sydney. Sydney had just placed the cuffs on Ramon.

"Lousy cops," he said.

"Actually," Sydney spoke with no accent. "We're not cops. We're Texas Rangers." She gave Ramon to one of the DPD officers and then she and Gage turned to speak with Walker and Trivette.

"Hey Walker, Trivette. Nice to know your timing is still excellent."

Trivette addressed them both, however referring to Sydney as "Ranger Cooke" as Walker spoke.

"Nice work," he said to Sydney.

"Thank you," she replied.

"You know the Rangers have been after El Leon for years but you two are the only ones to get this deep into his organization," Trivette added.

"It did take 9 months, but it did pay off. I owe most of the credit to Sydney. I may have got up in the door, but she really kept us in the game," Gage said, scratching his eyebrow and pointing to Sydney.

"Oh you mean considering I'm stupid?" she asked, shooting him a look.

"Hey I had to think of something," was all he could say.

"It was good work for your first assignment," Walker said, looking at Sydney.

"Thank you Ranger Walker."

Walker and Trivette turned and left, leaving Gage and Sydney to head back to that tiny, dingy apartment and collect their belongings.

As they entered the apartment for one last time, Sydney took in her surroundings one more time. 9 months she had spent in this apartment with her partner, playacting during the day and seeing their true selves at night. She had learned just about everything she could know about him, although he never did tell her much about his family. She gathered something had happened with his family that he wasn't ready to talk about yet. She slowly went to the bedroom to get her stuff.

Gage watched her as she took in the room before heading to the bedroom. He, like Sydney, had enjoyed their evenings in the apartment, even if it was filthy and the outside hallway smelled like urine. He had enjoyed getting to know the petite ranger and even though he had worked with other partners before, he had never worked with anyone like her. Sydney Cooke was something special and she would make a fantastic ranger. He would've loved to stay as her partner, but he knew once they got back to Houston, they would be separated. He just didn't want it to end.

He followed Sydney to the bedroom and stood in the doorway as she packed her clothes. Once she was done, she turned to face him.

"It was fun Gage," she said, not looking him in the eye.

"Yeah. You did good Cooke."

"Thanks. You weren't so bad yourself."

"I want you to know I meant what I said."

"When?" she asked.

"What I said to Walker and Trivette. You were the one to carry us through the past 9 months."

"I did what any other ranger would have done."

"Going to Ramon the way you did, telling him to give us more, that's what cinched things for us. If you hadn't been so bold and brazen, we'd probably still be living in this apartment and nowhere near meeting El Leon. You really were the all-star of this team, Syd."

"Thanks Gage. That means a lot."

"I'm gonna miss our time here though."

"What do you mean?"

"I've never felt so at ease with someone before like I have felt here with you. It's so easy to talk to you. You know more about me than any other partner I've had and I've had my fair shake."

"It goes both ways. You know more about me than any partner I've ever had. I'm going to miss our nights too. You've been a great friend ever since out academy days and now I would say you're my best friend."

"You're my best friend too. I'm gonna miss you Syd."

Sydney walked over to Gage, wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug before stepping up on tip-toe to peck his cheek. His arms went around her and held her tight. He never wanted to let her go, but he knew he had too.

He released her, watched as she grabbed her bag and waved a small goodbye. Then she disappeared out the door and he stood watching the door, almost like he believed is he wished hard enough, she would materialize in front of him. But he knew it wouldn't happen. So he packed his things and headed back to his apartment.

After hearing about the group of men who planted Anthrax in Dallas, the governor's office decided to have Walker lead a task force to find the Anthrax and stop the men. Already knowing he wanted him on the team, Walker and Trivette took off to find Gage.

They found him in the middle of a bar fight while he was trying to bring his perp in. After assisting in the fight and subduing the men, Gage turned to Walker.

"Not that I'm complaining but to what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked.

"You've got a new assignment," Walker said.

"Doing what?"

"You're going to be working with Walker and me," Trivette said.

"You're going to need a new partner. How about Phil Jefferson out of Amarillo?" Walker asked.

"Don't get me wrong, Phil's a good ranger but if you're giving me the choice, I'd really like my last partner, Sydney," Gage said.

"Sydney Cooke?" Trivette questioned.

"I know she's still a little green but she has great instincts. I've never worked with anyone who had better ones. I think she could be a real asset to the team," Gage replied.

"Okay, it's your call," Walker said.

"Thanks Walker," Gage called after him as Walker and Trivette left the bar. Gage collected his perp and headed back to Headquarters to book him.

After booking Ricky, Gage was walking down the hall and saw Sydney standing outside the main door to Company C. He called out to her.

"Cooke!"

She turned and smiled. "Hey Gage."

He reached her and smiled back. "We just go picked as part of a task force to work with Walker and Trivette in Dallas."

"We did?"

"Yeah. We get to be partners again. Walker has already sent over the transfer papers. Let's get going."

Sydney thought for a minute. She couldn't believe she was going to be working with Gage again. Ever since El Leon ended, she had done nothing but thought about Gage and how she missed him. Just seeing him now had her heart beating a little faster and her hands clammy. So she just smiled and followed him out the door.

After saving Dallas from the Anthrax and bringing in Woodson and his crew, everyone gathered around CDs for a bite to eat. Since Gage and Sydney had done such a great job on the task force, Walker decided to keep them both in Company B and leave them as partners. It was amazing how quickly the new rangers had been accepted by Alex and CD as well.

"So they're talking about us? Seriously?" Trivette said.

"Yeah we heard all about it at the FBI academy at Quantico," Sydney answered.

"Do you hear that Walker? Talking about us at the FBI academy," Trivette said, feeling almost giddy. "Okay, tell me what they're saying about us, long version."

Sydney cleared her throat and smiled. "Everyone talked about Walker's arrest record and his martial arts and…."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Jimmy said, cutting her off. "What about me? My arrest record, my computer skills?"

"Well, um," Sydney started before casting a glance at Gage.

"Come on Gage, don't leave me hanging buddy," Trivette said, taking another bite of his dinner.

"Well Trivette, all anyone really talked about was that time you went undercover as a male stripper in Lubbock."

Jimmy's face shot up, a blank expression. Everyone looked at him, waiting to see what he would say.

"Uh-oh," Walker commented.

"Let's not go there," Jimmy said, looking down.

"They say the little old ladies in Lubbock are still talking about your, um," Sydney stated before looking at Gage.

Together they said, "Backfield in motion." Everyone at the table began to laugh, except Jimmy. He just stared at his friends while they tried to contain themselves.

"Not hungry anymore?" Alex asked.

"Um, I think it's time to go home. I will see you all at work tomorrow," Jimmy said as he stood, a blush creeping up his cheeks. He flew out of the door so fast; it was just like a blur passing by.

About 15 minutes later, Walker and Alex said goodnight to the young rangers and headed out the door. All the four of them could talk about after Trivette left was how embarrassed he had been. Once they were left alone, Gage turned to Sydney.

"Can I give you a lift?"

"Sure, thanks Gage."

He stood and offered her her coat as she stood. She smiled at him and again, her heart began to beat a little fast. He slipped an arm around her back and led her to the front door. Sydney thought her heart was going to burst out of her chest.

Since working with Gage on this case and now that they were staying in Dallas, Sydney couldn't help but wonder about the future. Sure, she and Gage had made a convincing couple during the El Leon bust, but could they be an actual couple? She wasn't even sure if Gage felt anything for her other than friendship.

As Gage steered her towards the door, he felt so at ease. It was almost as if they were together and ne noticed how his hand fit perfectly in the small of her back. He let his mind drift back to some of the other times they had touched and a small shudder went through him as he smiled. To touch her sent electricity through him and he longed to touch her in a different way. But did she feel the same about him?

Once outside the building, Gage just had to know. He took her hand and led her down the sidewalk, away from his car. Her face was an expression of confusion as he dipped into an alleyway. Her back against the brick wall, he stared down at her getting lost in her warm chocolate brown eyes. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips and he couldn't help himself. He lowered his head down to hers.

As Sydney watched his face get closer and closer, she wondered if she should stop him. He was going to kiss her, she knew that much. But was he doing it for any other reason beside he wanted to? Knowing how good it would feel to kiss him again, as Sydney and not Maria, she titled her head back and met his lips.

It was sweet and gentle. As he brought his hand to her head, she tilted her head back further and sighed a happy sigh against him. He took the invitation to deepen the kiss and his tongue boldly sought out hers. She reached her arms up to wrap around his neck, her nails scratching along his broad shoulders.

When it became necessary to breathe, they separated but foreheads still touching. Gage ran his tongue over his lips, committing to memory what it was like to kiss her for real. Sydney looked into his blue-gray eyes and saw, what she hoped, were his true feelings for her.

"So Gage," Sydney started.

"Yeah Syd?"

"Why did you kiss me?"

"Because I wanted to. Why did you kiss me back?"

"Because I wanted to," she said, a sly smile crossing her face.

"Well, I'd like to kiss you again."

"Then what's stopping you?" she asked, pulling his head back down for another kiss, this one far more passionate than the previous.

Neither partner knew how long they stayed up against the brick wall, each teasing the other with kisses, but when they finally broke apart, Gage put an arm around Sydney as they walked towards the car. She leaned in close, smelling that scent that was only unique to him and sighed contently. They would worry about how to tell Walker about this later, right now all Sydney wanted was to get home and get yet another goodnight kiss from this man.

Oh boy, did he kiss her goodnight!