Again I re did a few lines to make it make sence. More truth in writing. Please read and review. Thank you
Gage watched the sleeping boy from the door way. He tossed and turned. Crying fitfully in his sleep. Sydney placed a concerned hand on her husbands shoulder knowing he barely slept last night. He turned his head to look into her chocolate eyes. "Hey Syd," She handed him a cup of coffee, "Hey how long has he been tossing and turning?"
"All night. He had two nightmares. " he sipped his coffee.
"I made breakfast if you wanna wake him up" Sydney said.
Gage handed her his coffee and walked into the room. "Charlie, get up kiddo breakfast is ready." He placed a hand on the boys shoulder and the child cried out in pain and his eyes shot open. Gage withdrew his hand and apoligized. "Sorry Kiddo." Gage saw the fear in his eyes, " breakfast is ready. Come on get up." Gage walked to the bedroom door and in to the kitchen. Sydney laid two plates on the table then walked back for the third.
She saw the look on her Gage's face. The lack of sleep was apparent. He had since showered but he still looked like Hell. "Gage we need to talk about where he is gonna stay." she knew this was a touchy situation. " Alex knows a lady with CPS that can take him..." Gage jumped up and stopped her "NO! No foster homes, SYD. You know how I feel about them." His voices was louder then usual. "He can stay here. "
Unaware of the little ears listening to the heated argument they continued.
"Gage you know as well as I do most foster homes are decent." Sydney stated
"Most Syd. That's my point, what if he gets a bad one. No kid should go through that." his voice was louder.
They were mad. It was because of him. It was always about him. His palms got sweaty, his eyes swelled with tears and fear rose in his heart, as Gage's voice got louder he backed against the wall.
Sydney noticed the movement out of the corner of her eyes. "Gage!.. "she interupted him. And motioned toward the frightened child. "Damn," Gage silently cussed himself. He walked toward the boy who started whimpering and sinking to the floor. Sydney stopped Gage's procession and in turn walked to the boy. She knelt down in front of him and said in a calming voice. "It's okay Charlie, nobody here is gonna hurt you." He raised his gaze to Gage as tears flowed down his cheek. " He was yelling at you." Charlie's little voice said
Sydney exhaled slowly. "No. We were haveing a loud discussion. I'm sorry if that scared you."
Gage walked slowly to the cowaring boy he crouched down beside his partner, He had to fix this. He didn't want this child scared of him. "I'm sorry I raised my voice. I was angry ...but not at Syd, or you." He watched Charlie's face
"I got scared. "He looked at Sydney, "I thought he was gonna hit you." barely a whisper. Gage's heart sank. Sydney's eyes filled with tears.
She tried to talk around the lump in her throat. "No matter how mad, Gage is, he would never, EVER hit me. I know that with all my heart." Gage got up and had to leave the room. His emotions were getting the better of him.
Sydney grabbed the boys shaking hand and led him to the table. "Here sit and eat your breakfast before it gets too cold,." She watched as the boy picked up his fork and stirred his eggs around. She walked down the hallway and found Gage looking out the bedroom window.
"You okay, Gage?" She asked placing a caring hand on his shoulder.
Gage reigned in his emotions and took a staggered breath. "Do you know the statistics about abused children growing into abusers themselves? 4 outta 5 Syd. I prayed everyday growing up that I would never hurt another person the way I was hurt. " He turned and looked her in the eyes."Thank you for trusting me."
Gage spoke with Walker on the phone and explained the situation. He hung up the phone and recapped to Sydney. "Walker said to take Charlie in to HQ . Walker wants to do a missing person search on him. "
At Rangers headquarters, Charlie filled with fear as he entered the room full of strange men. Sydney guided him to Walkers desk. "Walker this is Charlie. Charlie this is Ranger Walker and Ranger Trivette" Sydney introduced her bosses.
Walker stuck his hand out to the boy and Charlie hid behind Sydney. Walker walked around his desk and leaned down to Charlies level. "I know your scared. But we are here to help you." The boy looked up at Sydney.
Alex walked in. Sydney introduced her to Charlie. "how would you like to go get a soda." He looked again at Sydney then quietly said "OK" and walked out the door with Alex.
Minutes after Trivette punched in the boys description in the NCMEC data base. He shook his head. "Walker, There isn't a missing persons report that matchies his description.I have looked in all 50 states in the last 2 years. Nothing"
Sydney was standing at Walker's desk Asked " So what does that mean, He hasn't been abducted or a runaway,.."
Gage ran a hand threw his hair and threw his pencil on his desk." That means..." he got their attention all their eyes were on him. "He's a throw away." Gage stared into the distance. "I don't know what's worse, Loseing parents that love you..." he stood up and grabbed his coat "or knowing your parents hate you." He slid his coat on and walked out the door.
Sydney's heart hurt for her husband. Knowing he needed a minute to calm down she questioned his comment. "Throwaway? "
Walked exhaled a deep breath and sat down hard in his seat. "It means he was abandonded. Thrown out like somebodys garbage. It happens more then you think. " He shook his head and stared at a picture of his most precious gift, His daughter Angela. Running his fingers over her chubby baby cheeks he continued " I don't know how anybody can abandon a child. "
Trivette seemed to be soaking in everything. "so do we call find him foster placement?"
"Gage is against that because of the abuse he suffered in foster care." They knew his childhood and understood. She explained about that mornings incident and asked for ideas on how to help the boy.
"The HOPE center has a child therapist that comes in once a month to coucil the abused children. I can talk to Alex about getting him an apointment." Walker announced
Gage walked toward the vending machines and saw Alex and Charlie. He stood back and watched the boy interact with the ADA. Alex smiled at the boy and was talking to him about Baseball. Gage smiled. "What 10 year old doesn't like baseball." He thought to himself. He had an idea on hopefully how to make the boy trust him. Alex saw him standing there and she walked toward him. "he is a very scared little boy. But he is very inquisitive. He asked me a few questions. I think he will come around. I have a friend who is an excellent child therapist she comes to the HOPE Center. She could help."
Gage nodded. He looked at Alex "I-I need to run an errand" his voice cracked with emotion. Alex touched his shoulder and nodded "He'll be fine, He just needs time, patience and love. That's all any kid needs."