Disclaimer: This was written for the soul purpose of my entertainment. I lay no claim on Walker Texas Ranger or any of its characters.

"On Campus Business"

Janis Boisclair

jboisclair@rogers.com

Chapter 1

The College Campus

Another flash of lightning accompanied by a deafening clap of thunder brought the young woman to a complete stop heart pounding in her chest. She stood just inside the deserted school doors hoping that the rain that was beating down in torrents would let up enough that she could get to her car and be on her way home.

She thought about her boyfriend as she stood waiting wishing she hadn't had the disagreement that afternoon with him trying to figure out how she could make amends without looking like she was wrong.

Again the lightning flashed and the thunder sounded out in a tremendous bang followed by low rumblings. "This is never going to let up," she thought to herself her eyes wandering to the student residence across the street. The rains kept up their vigil pouring down out of the sky the young teacher shivered involuntarily at the ominous weather.

Her eyes went back to the windows of the student housing watching the occupants as they went about their business. It looked as if most were studying for the finals that were almost upon them. Suddenly her eyes hit on two figures, they had become quite animated in what looked like the heat of an argument. She watched for a moment in silent fascination until one hauled off hitting the other not just once but repeatedly. Reaching in her pocket she grabbed for her phone only to find she had left it in her car. Looking up to the window again it looked as if the one doing the hitting had wrapped their hands around the other's throat and was choking them.

Without giving any more thought to the thunderstorm and rain the young woman made a mad dash to her car fumbling with the keys as she ran. Just as she was able to get the door unlocked and slide into the seat there was the sound of shattering glass followed by a loud sickening thud that rocked her little yellow car. As her eyes moved to the windshield she was met with the sight of a young woman her eyes wide open in death looking back at her through the now web like cracks of the window where she had hit.

In shear terror the woman in the car began to shriek non-stop the shock of what had just happened staring her in the face.

Sydney and Gage's

Gage had just finished checking on the kids all were tucked snugly in their beds no one had been awakened by the horrific thunderstorm going on outside. The only one that he would need to calm down was his wife and he knew that could well work to his advantage. He smiled to himself as he made his way back to the family room where he had left her sitting clutching tightly to a blanket that she had pulled up tightly to her chin.

"Everyone's fine…" he began to say as he entered the room to find that she had disappeared. "Syd?" he softly called turning to make his way back down the hall towards the bedrooms.

"In here Gage," he heard her voice softly beckon him. He reached out pushing the door open to find her standing there waiting for him. She had definitely slipped into something more comfortable and she held her hand out to her husband. Taking hold of her Gage held her at arms length admiring her petite body thinking to himself, "she looks as sexy and seductive today as the day I married her."

"I just thought I needed something to do to get my mind off this thunderstorm," she told him as another clap of thunder rumbled sending her into his waiting arms.

"Syd it's only a little thunder," he laughed feeling her heart pounding wildly against his chest as he held her close.

"To you maybe but to me it sounds as if the whole world is exploding," she retorted as she moved her hands inside his shirt and up his back. "Come over here and let me take advantage of you," she whispered pulling him towards their bed.

"I'd love to Mrs. Gage," he whispered back. He let his lips caress her temples, down to her cheek, to finally tease her neck all the while backing her towards the bed.

"You aren't playing fair Francis," she moaned moving back as far as she could her legs against the bed.

"And why not?" Gage asked letting her pull his shirt over his head and drop it to the floor.

"You know why," she replied feeling his hands on her body. "Because I'm just as hot for you now as the first time we were together making love."

Smiling his lips went to hers and they fell back on the bed in an exceptionally passionate kiss his hand going to her face to caress her cheek.

"I love you too Syd," he murmured in her ear just as the phone rang.

"Don't answer it Gage," Syd cried holding on tight to him.

"That's my line Syd," he laughed kissing her again the phone ringing three times, four times, five, six. "All right," Gage groaned picking up the receiver. "Yeah," he answered. "Sumner this had better be good…" he paused to listen, "is she all right… yeah I'm on my way."

"Gage," Syd groaned as he hung up the phone.

"I'm sorry Honey but it's Anna B, she witnessed somebody getting knocked around and ran out to her car to get her phone to call for help. Before she could get the call out one of them went out the window and ended up dead on top of her car," he finished the story.

"My God Gage is she all right?" Syd asked sitting up with him as he reached for the shirt she had just pulled over his head.

"I think she's all right Matt is with her," he told her as he stood up. "I'll make it up to you," he smiled placing his finger under her chin lifting her face to his for a kiss.

"It's all right Gage go look after Anna B," she told him her arms going around his neck, her lips to his for another passionate kiss.

"You don't make things easy," he told her smiling before reluctantly pulling away.

~~~~~

The windshield wipers slapped back and forth almost in time with the CD Gage had playing. He was tapping his fingers on the steering wheel keeping beat with the music yet hardly noticing that he was doing so. His mind had been on Anna B; the past year had been a rough one for her. First there had been Hunter Blake, it had taken her quite a while to recover from her ordeal with him.

Through everything she had kept her studies up and was just on the verge of graduating third in her class when her grandmother Kathleen McMurtrie had passed away. Anna B had lived with her grandmother for a little over ten years and it had been devastating for her when she had died.

The only really good thing that had happened to her was meeting Matt Sumner. She and Matt had hit it off instantly and what's more he was really someone that Gage approved of. Anna B could be a handful he knew thinking back to how she had gotten his and Sydney's house blown up, almost with her and the kids in it. Gage knew that Matt was up to the challenge he also knew Matt cared deeply for her too.

The flashing lights ahead of him brought Gage out of his remembrances as he pulled the car over to get out.

Matt stood at the back of the EMT unit holding Anna B's hand as she was checked out. He normally would have just called his partner Trivette if it had been any other call then Anna B. Matt was well aware how close to Sydney and Gage Anna B was especially Gage. He was like father, big brother and friend all rolled into one and all though she drove him to distraction he was always there for her no matter what.

"Hey Honey you okay?" Gage greeted her holding out his arm for her to rest against him.

"Much better then I was," she smiled glad that he had come to rescue her again. "It just brought back such horrible memories, he was hitting her and hitting her…"

"Shh it's okay," Gage comforted her before asking, "Did you get a look at all at the killer?"

"It was just shadows I didn't see her face until she dropped on my car," she replied.

"Let me check a few things then we'll get you out of here all right?" he asked again and she nodded her head all right.

Leaving Sumner with Anna B Gage went over to where the lead detective was to speak to him. "Mike," Gage greeted the man.

"Gage," the detective greeted him back, "What interest do the Rangers have in this case?"

"It was a friend of ours whose car the victim fell on," Gage replied lifting the tarp to look at the girl. "Annabelle says she was fighting with someone any evidence to confirm that?"

The detective nodded his head saying, "She was definitely pushed right through the window but nobody heard a thing until the glass shattered and your friend started screaming."

"Got a name?"

"Diana Banks, sophomore, solid B student, boyfriend that is at his parents home in Houston, not a thing that jumps up and points to what lead up to this," Mike Schneider recited what he knew.

"Can you send a copy of the report over to Company B I'd like to take a look at it," Gage told him.

"Will do Gage," Schneider agreed.

Thanking the detective Gage began to walk back over to where Sumner was with Anna B. "How bout you come home and spend the night with us," Gage asked looking to Anna B who in turn looked almost guiltily at Sumner who cleared his throat and shuffled his feet.

"I was going to go home and spend the night with Matt," Anna B said averting her gaze from Gage to the ground.

"Home with Matt?" Gage questioned quickly regaining his composure to say, "That's… fine. I just didn't want you to have to go home alone." Quickly leaning forward he let his lips press a kiss on her forehead.

Anna B caught hold of his hand and standing on tiptoes whispered to him, "Thanks Gage."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow goodnight Honey, night Sumner."

"Yeah night Gage," Sumner added wondering if his boss was all right with their decision.

~~~~~

Hearing the car pull in Sydney quickly went into the kitchen to begin retrieving coffee cups from the cupboard. "Everyone want a coffee," she called not turning around as the side door opened.

"Yeah I'll have a coffee," her husband replied, "and I'm everyone."

"What did you do with Anna B and Matt?" Syd questioned facing her husband surprised they weren't with him.

"Anna B went home with Sumner," he simply stated.

"Went home with Sumner?" Syd simply questioned.

"So it's not just me?" Gage asked.

Smiling at her husband Sydney walked over in front of him taking him in her arms as she looked up in his face. "Francis she is old enough to be in a serious relationship."

"I know that," he retorted.

"And she couldn't find a better guy then Matt…"

"I know Syd."

"Then what is the problem?"

Gage's mouth opened to speak and then snapped shut followed with a loud sigh before he said, "There isn't a problem."

"Glad to hear it I wouldn't want you to give Matt a hard time at work over it," she replied giving him a quick peck before letting him go to pour them some coffee.

He watched his wife as she added the cream and sugar to his cup and flicked off the coffee machine. She picked up both cups and asked him to turn off the lights as she started down the hall.

He stood there a minute more before he followed her to their bedroom where she had sat down the coffee and stood waiting for him. "I believe you have some making up to do," she teased.

Gage stood unmoving until she was in front of him again bringing him against her in her arms. "Francis I have only one thing to say," she told him as she grinned from ear to ear.

"Hmm what's that Honey?" he asked trying to divert all his attention back to her.

Laughing she said, "I'm just glad I'm not in Piper or Cat's shoes."

Making a small face at her and with a mock laugh he scooped into his arms kissing her soundly as once again they fell to the bed.

Ranger Headquarters

Sydney Cooke was all ready at her desk when Matt Sumner came into the office the next morning. "Morning Matt," she greeted him. Well at least she isn't mad at me he had thought to himself until she added, "Gage is in a meeting with Walker and Trivette but I think he wants a word with us when he finishes."

Sumner had stood staring lost in thought until Syd's prodding had brought him back to reality. "What's up with you today?" She had asked. "Anna B all right?"

"Yeah she was pretty shook up last night but she's fine today she went to school like usual," he replied smiling as he thought about her.

"That's Anna B you can't keep her down," Syd commented having no time to say anything else before the office door opened. Gage was nodding his head as he spoke to the senior rangers.

Sydney smiled to herself it was almost like there had been no promotions since Walker had moved his office back down to Company B headquarters. Alex had confided in her that she didn't know how he was going to manage being that far away from the action and the cases. The solution for him had been to just bring the captain's office down stairs that way he could be in on what was going on even if he wasn't in on as much action.

"Syd Sumner," Gage spoke walking over to his desk. Syd got up to join him as Sumner's phone rang. He spoke for a few minutes a foolish smile coming across his face before he hung up not moving lost in thought. Gage looked at his partner, she looked at him and they both looked at Matt. Clearing his throat Gage asked, "Ranger could you join us?"

"Yeah, sorry I'm just a little preoccupied today," Sumner apologized.

"You think that you could get your mind back on things here?" Gage questioned. "This concerns what happened last night."

Sumner's face had become quite red as he walked over where Syd and Gage waited for him. "Sorry," he murmured again.

"It seems that Diana Banks isn't the only girl on campus that has gone out a window," Gage began just as Sumner's phone rang again. Sumner moved to get it and Gage called after him, "Tell her we are working here and you'll call back later." Then as an after thought added, "Tell her I said."

Sumner's red face was brighter then his red hair as he grabbed the phone up. "Sumner," he said into the receiver.

Gage had turned back to his partner, "Trivette is setting up our covers for us right now," he had just got out before Sumner cried into the phone. "Don't touch anything we'll be right there.

Both Sydney and Gage were looking at him again as he exclaimed, "Anna B some one is threatening her."

"What are we waiting for?" Trivette who had just come out of his office asked everyone rushing out of the office.

TBC