DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the Walker, Texas Ranger characters within this story, nor is any ownership implied.

The door to the Rangers' Company B office opened and Sydney Cooke jumped. Realizing it wasn't her partner, she let out an audible, frustrated sigh and blew her hair out of her eyes. She tried to refocus on the paperwork on her desk, but it was useless.

From two desks over, her co-worker noticed her frustration. "No word yet from Gage, huh?" Trivette asked.

"Nothing," Sydney huffed. Grabbing her jacket, she stood and pushed back her chair. "I'm starving. I'm going to get lunch."

"It's only eleven o'clock," Trivette reminded her.

"So? I'm hungry."

"We had bagels this morning."

"And you all ate all the good bagels. There were only cinnamon raisin bagels left when I got here," Sydney complained.

"Nothing wrong with cinnamon raisin," Trivette replied.

"Stupid little rabbit turds," Sydney muttered over her very strong dislike of raisins. "If they're so great, why didn't you eat the raisin bagels and save me something good like strawberry or blueberry? It's your fault I'm starving," Sydney retorted. "I'm getting lunch. Tell Walker I'll be back," Sydney called over her shoulder as she headed for the door. Just as she reached the door, it opened, and assistant DA Alex Cahill-Walker walked in.

"Hey, Alex," Sydney greeted her friend, trying to sound cheerful. "I'm just on my way for lunch, want to go with me?"

"Actually, I'm going to CD's to help Marta get ready for the children's Christmas party, why don't you come along?" Alex responded.

"Oh. I forgot that was tonight. I was kind of thinking about skipping that," Sydney tried without much success to hide her disappointment.

"Come on, Syd. You've never skipped the Christmas party before. What's wrong?"

"I'm just not feeling very Christmassy this year, Alex."

"I know it's not the same without Gage around, but you really should go. And besides, I know Marta can use our help getting things together for tonight. At least come with me and help us get everything together. If you don't feel much like staying after that, I promise you can go home and I won't say a word," Alex's words were both soothing and convincing and Sydney agreed.

"Just let me drop these files off for Walker and I'll meet you downstairs in a couple minutes." Alex's blond curls bounced as she turned and walked toward her husband's office.


Sydney headed downstairs to wait for Alex. Taking a seat on a bench just inside the entrance to their building, she took out her cell phone and checked her voicemail and text messages.

"Damn," she hissed under her breath. No messages from Gage. It had been three weeks since she had last heard from him and she was genuinely worried. She had no way of getting in touch with him, either. When he first left, he had called her every night. Then the calls went to text messages at odd times of day, and then nothing. For three weeks now, not a word. This wasn't the first time Gage had gone undercover, but it was the first time he'd been gone this long, and without Sydney with him. Syd knew her partner could take care of himself and she shouldn't worry, but she couldn't help it. Her feelings for Gage went far deeper than just co-worker to co-worker. What made it worse was that Christmas was just days away and she couldn't stand the thought of spending the holiday without him.

"Hey, sweetheart," Walker stood to greet his wife with a kiss when she walked in. "How is your day going?"

"Nice and quiet. Things are finally slowing down for the holidays. I'm headed to CD's to help Marta get ready for the Christmas party. I hope you don't mind, I'm taking Sydney with me," Alex replied.

"Stealing my staff away from me, I see," Walker laughed. "Go ahead. It's pretty quiet around here, too, and I think Trivette and I have everything under control. And Sydney could use some time away from the office."

"Has anyone heard anything from Gage?" Alex asked, cautiously hopeful.

"Well, Captain Briscoe called me this morning. He said it looked like things were pretty well wrapped up. They just need to collect depositions and finish paperwork and he figures that Gage could be on his way back here in a day or so."

"Oh, honey! That is wonderful news! Sydney will be so happy!"

"Well, don't say anything to Sydney just yet, just in case things don't work out. Besides, I have a feeling Gage will want to surprise her," Walker said knowingly.

"My lips are sealed," Alex promised with a smile.

"I just know I'll be happy to have him back. I had a lot of reservations about this assignment," Walker said, flipping through the files that Alex had brought him. "Going undercover to try to break up a drug smuggling ring at the Mexican border was dangerous enough. Finding out it involved the Salazar cartel didn't make me feel any more comfortable about it."

"I know, honey. We'll all be glad when Gage is home safe. Especially Sydney. See you at the Christmas party after work?"

"I'll see you then," Walker gave his wife a kiss as she walked out the door.


At CD's, Marta welcomed Alex and Sydney warmly. "I am so happy to see you ladies! We have so much work to do this afternoon!" Then she noticed Sydney's glum expression. Putting an arm around Sydney's slim shoulders, she gave her a hug. "What's wrong, honey? It's Christmas! The most wonderful time of the year!"

"I'm sorry, Marta. I'm just not really feeling it this Christmas," Sydney answered as tears began to sting her eyes.

"Well, Marta can fix that. Let me get you something to eat. Good food fixes everything!" Marta headed for the kitchen while Sydney and Alex took a seat at one of the booths.

"Oh, Syd," Alex began sympathetically, "I have been where you are so many times. I know it's rough. But you have to have faith that everything is okay. Gage is very good at his job. That's why Walker sent him. He's got a good head on his shoulders and he's been very well trained," Alex reached across the table and took Sydney's hands in hers. "He's okay, and he's going to be okay," she reassured her friend with a smile.

"I know, Alex. It's just that this is the first time he's gone on an undercover assignment for this long without me, and I just can't help but worry. That, and it's Christmas. You know, we've spent every Christmas together since we've met. We always get a tree and decorate it and make popcorn and watch Christmas movies. It's just not going to be Christmas unless Gage and I end up in a popcorn fight somewhere between 'It's a Wonderful Life' and 'A Christmas Story.'" Sydney tried to laugh at the memory, but the laugh got stuck somewhere in her throat.

Alex raised a mental eyebrow. For two people who insisted they were only work partners and good friends, that sounded like a lot more to her. She resisted the urge to press Sydney about what was really going on between her and Gage. Besides, Alex knew she wouldn't get anywhere. When it came to whatever relationship Sydney and Gage had, they were both very tight-lipped about it even though they had the complete support of their friends – Trivette and Erika, Walker and herself. Even CD had hoped the pair would get together and Walker was willing to overlook the department's fraternization rules if it meant the two – who were obviously perfect for each other – could bring their relationship into the open.

"That sounds like a fun way to spend Christmas. You know, you are always welcome to spend the day with Walker and me, and I am sure Angela would love to see her favorite aunt on Christmas, too. You may have to watch Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman on repeat instead, but you are always, always welcome. You are family to us."

"Thank you, Alex," Sydney replied gratefully. She hated to be in such a miserable mood at Christmas, especially when she had such wonderful friends. She just wished Gage was home to share the holiday with her.

"Here you go, ladies," Marta brought out a tray with drinks and sandwiches, setting them down on the table and, after checking around the room to be sure nobody else needed anything at the moment, scooting into the booth next to Sydney.

"I came up with the best idea for the kids! A cookie decorating table! Isn't that fun?" Marta clapped her hands gleefully.

"Cookie decorating? With icing?" Sydney asked "I think that sounds crazy messy!"

"Not to mention the sugar high those kids will be on," Alex added.

"So what! It's Christmas! Let the kids have a little fun! Besides, they're not my kids!" Marta laughed.

Sydney and Alex looked at each other and shook their heads. Marta loved Christmas and she loved planning and preparing for the children's Christmas party. Whatever she planned to do for it, she was going to do and there was no talking her out of it.

"Marta," Alex began, "Who is playing Santa this year since Gage is off on an assignment?"

Sydney set her sandwich down and looked out the window. Alex had hit a raw nerve with that question. Gage had an especially soft spot for the kids that came to the children's Christmas party because most of them were in circumstances similar to the ones in which he grew up– in and out of foster care. As a result, Gage's favorite thing to do at the holidays was to play Santa Claus at the Christmas party. He really got into it, spending a lot of time with every child and doing everything he could to make sure each one felt very special. Sydney loved watching him interact with the kids. It was one of the things she looked forward to most every Christmas.

Marta grinned. "Your Captain Briscoe is going to be Santa Claus this year."

"Captain Briscoe!" Alex's jaw dropped and she stared at Marta incredulously.

Sydney had been in the middle of taking a drink of her iced tea. The idea of the usually serious, no-nonsense Captain dressed up as Santa struck her so funny that she snorted a laugh – with a mouthful of tea that ended up across the table.

"And you were worried about the little kids being messy," Marta chastised jokingly, pulling a handful of napkins out of her apron pocket and wiping up the table.

"How did you talk him into that?" Sydney asked once she recovered from the shock.

"He's been divorced for too long and I make some mighty fine tamales," Marta replied sassily, before sashaying away to tend to a customer.


When Walker got to the party around six o'clock, CD's was as merry as the North Pole, with Christmas music playing on the jukebox, Christmas lights strung from one side of the room to the other, and a Christmas tree that looked about ready to fall over from the weight of all the ornaments adorning it. Children were everywhere in the room; laughing, playing games, decorating gingerbread cookies, and all awaiting a visit from Santa himself.

Alex greeted her husband with a kiss, "Any word on Syd's Christmas surprise?"

"Nothing yet," Walker answered.

"I hope he makes it home, Walker. You have no idea what it would mean to her."

"Oh, believe me, I know," Walker replied.

Sydney had been sitting at the cookie decorating table with a little girl in a red jumper and pigtails named Anya. Anya had lost her parents and most of her six brothers and sisters in a house fire earlier in the year, and Sydney couldn't help but feel inspired by the little girl's resilience and faith. For being only five years old, Anya was quite wise and very smart, and she could sense something was wrong with Sydney.

"Ranger Sydney, why are you sad?" the little girl asked.

"Oh, I'm just missing somebody I had hoped to spend Christmas with, that's all. Let's not worry about me. Do you want to put sugar or sprinkles on your cookie?"

"Sugar. And sprinkles. Did somebody you want to spend Christmas with die?" Anya continued.

"Oh, no, Anya. They're just far away. Sometimes grown-ups have to do that, go far away from their friends and family for a little while," Sydney answered, hoping with all her heart that she was right and that nothing had happened to Gage.

"Oh." Anya looked thoughtful for a moment. "Like Emery's daddy. He's in Afgabisan."

"Afghanistan," Sydney corrected. "Yes, like that. He had to go far away."

"I miss my mommy and daddy and Ava and Aliyah and Andre and Aron," Anya said. "They're in heaven. I talk to Jesus every day and tell him to tell them I miss them a lot. Maybe you can tell Jesus to tell your friend how much you miss them. And maybe Jesus will tell them 'Ranger Sydney misses you and you have to go home right now.'" Anya emphasized each of the last few words by tapping her sticky, icing-covered finger on the table.

Sydney smiled. 'Oh, to have the faith of a little child,' she thought. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of jingle bells and a loud 'ho ho ho,' as the door to CD's opened and Santa Claus walked in to the squeals of delight from the children. Captain Briscoe certainly pulled off a convincing Kris Kringle. Anya stood and ran to greet him, leaving Sydney with her thoughts and a table full of cookies and icing. Sydney chose a gingerbread man, slathered on a generous amount of icing, and bit his head off.


Sydney was sitting with Alex and Walker when Anya came running up to her.

"Ranger Sydney! Look what Santa brought me!" Anya showed her a doll with pigtails much like Anya wore. "And she talks, too! Listen!" Anya held the doll up to Sydney's ear so Syd could hear the doll babble something.

"She's so pretty, Anya, and she looks just like you! What are you going to name her?"

Anya thought for a minute, "Umm, Sydney!"

"Well, I think that's a perfect name," Alex chimed.

"Ranger Sydney, I told Santa that you were missing somebody and that you wanted them to come home for Christmas and he said that you needed to go sit on his lap and tell him yourself so he could put your Christmas wish on his list," Anya sounded very pleased with herself for remembering to ask Santa to fulfill Sydney's Christmas wish.

Sydney looked at Alex and Walker over Anya's head and grimaced. No way was she willing to sit on Captain Briscoe's lap and admit to him just who she was really missing!

"Come on, Ranger Sydney! Santa has to go soon and you have to tell him!" Anya grabbed Sydney's hand and tugged, trying to pull her out of her chair.

"Oh, Anya, I think Santa has his hands full with all the kids here, don't you think?"

"But you have to tell him or you won't get your wish! Santa can do this for you, I know he can!" Anya pleaded.

"You really can't argue with logic like that. You may as well give in and pay the Big Man a visit," Walker smiled. Sydney shot him an icy glare as she relented and let Anya lead her to Santa.

"Santa! Santa! This is my friend Ranger Sydney. She's the one who is missing somebody and wants them to come home for Christmas. Can you please bring her friend home for her, please?" Anya tugged on Santa's sleeve as she begged him to help.

"Well, Anya," Santa spoke softly, "I don't know if I can bring Ranger Sydney's friend home, but I will do my very best." Turning to Sydney, Santa spoke again as he pulled her down on his lap, "Now, tell me about this friend, Ranger Cooke."

Sydney was shocked. Certainly Captain Briscoe wouldn't be so bold – but wait! There was Captain Briscoe standing with Marta at the kitchen door! Syd turned her head to find herself eye to ocean-blue eyes with….

"Merry Christmas, Syd!" Gage whispered, smiling broadly and hugging his arm tight around her waist. Sydney's eyes and mouth went wide with surprise. When did Gage get home, and how did she not realize that he was Santa?

"Merry Christmas, Santa," Sydney whispered in reply, fighting joyful tears. "I wasn't expecting this at all!"

"That's why it's called a surprise," Gage teased. "Let me go get Santa back to the North Pole and I'll be right back," he stood and called out a goodbye to the kids as he walked out of CD's.


A little while later, after he'd changed out of the Santa costume and into his usual jeans and button-down shirt, Gage walked back in to CD's to a chorus of welcome backs and hugs from his friends. He gathered Sydney into a big hug.

"Welcome home," Sydney said, closing her eyes and snuggling into Gage's arms, relishing the feeling of his arms around her. "When did you get back?

"Late this afternoon." Gage reluctantly released Sydney from his grasp before their hug drew any attention from their co-workers.

"Why didn't you call me? I was so worried about you!"

"I wanted to surprise you! And I was in a hurry to get here so I could play Santa. You know how much that means to me," Gage reminded his petite partner.

"I know. I'm so glad you didn't have to miss it."

Anya ran up to them "Ranger Sydney, is this the friend you wanted to come home?"

"Yes, it is. Anya, this is my partner, Ranger Gage."

Anya looked up at Gage and shyly said hello to him. Then she looked back at Sydney. "I told you Santa would bring your friend home for Christmas! I knew he could do it!" the little girl chortled gleefully. Then looking from Sydney to Gage and back, Anya tugged at Sydney's hand, pulling Syd down to her level. Anya whispered to her loudly, "Ranger Sydney, is Ranger Gage your boyfriend?"

Sydney blushed. "Well, Anya, he's a boy and he's my friend, so does that answer your question?

"Nooooo, that's not what I mean," Anya giggled and then turned and ran to join a few of the other children gathering around Walker as he was getting ready to read them the story of the first Christmas. Sydney heard Gage chuckle.

"Smart kid, isn't she?" he said, as they took seats at the bar.

"Too smart," Sydney replied. "I could not believe she told Santa I was missing somebody."

"It was very sweet of her, and it made me feel good to know I was missed," Gage said, moving slightly closer to Sydney.

"Was I missed?" Sydney asked, looking into Gage's ice-blue eyes.

Gage ran his hand up and down Syd's arm. The simple gesture gave her goosebumps. "Do I even have to answer that? The hardest part of that whole assignment was being away from you and not knowing if I could get home to spend Christmas with you. I hated the idea of you decorating a Christmas tree and watching movies all by yourself."

Sydney felt her heart flip-flop inside her chest. "I wasn't even going to get a tree if you weren't here. I wasn't looking forward to Christmas at all. But that all changed in a hurry. I think this might be the best Christmas ever," Sydney said happily, contentedly settling herself next to Gage to listen to Walker tell the Christmas story.

Marta approached the couple from the other side of the bar and cleared her throat to get their attention. Gage and Sydney both turned to find her holding a sprig of mistletoe over their heads.

"Merry Christmas, you two," Marta said with a smile as she looked up at the mistletoe and then nodded at the pair.

Gage looked up at the mistletoe and then back at Sydney. "I always wondered if that stuff actually works," he teased.

Gage placed his hand on the back of Sydney's neck and drew her close, leaning in to kiss her softly. For a moment, Sydney forgot where she was. All she had really wanted for Christmas was for Gage to come home safe. A kiss was definitely a bonus, and something their co-workers and Captain Briscoe should not be seeing. Remembering where she was, Sydney broke off the kiss, a bright-red blush coloring her cheeks.

"I'd say it works pretty well," Sydney said, smiling up at her handsome blond partner. "Maybe we should get some of that when we get the Christmas tree?" she added teasingly, hoping that by joking around, she could hide how flustered she suddenly felt.

"Nah, I think I can handle things just fine on my own," Gage replied with a wink and a grin. "And you're right," he continued, "This just might be the best Christmas ever."