Author's Note: Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. I've been without a computer for three weeks, and I also had horrible writer's block. I finally got it done, though, and hopefully the next chapter will be easier. Oops, almost forgot, a quick disclaimer: "Why Don't You Kiss Her?" belongs to Jesse McCartney.
Chapter Eight: We Need Your Help
"Sydney? Sydney, wake up."
Slowly, Sydney opened her eyes. Bridget was standing over her, gently shaking her shoulder. "Bridge? What time is it?"
"Six-thirty."
As Sydney became fully awake, she was aware that she wasn't in her room. She was in the sofa bed in the living room. Then she blushed as she realized she wasn't alone. Gage was spooned against her, his arm tightly wrapped around her waist. Quickly—but gently, so that she didn't wake him—Sydney slid out from under her partner's arm and stood up. "I'm gonna jump in the shower," she told Bridget, and then glanced down at Gage. "Um, wake your uncle for me, okay?"
Bridget had to fight not to laugh at how flustered Sydney was. "No problem."
"Thanks." With a final, embarrassed look at Gage, Sydney hurried from the room.
As soon as she heard the bathroom door close, Bridget dissolved into giggles. When she managed to get a grip, she reached over and poked her uncle. "Uncle Francis?"
"Hmph." Rolling away from her, he pulled the blanket over his head.
Rolling her eyes, Bridget gave him a hard shove. "Uncle Francis!"
He didn't move.
Sighing, Bridget bent down so that her face was just inches from his ear. "UNCLE FRANCIS!"
Gage sat up like he had been shot out of a cannon. "Huh! What!"
Bridget laughed. "Finally."
Reaching up to rub the sleep from his eyes, Gage looked confused. "What?"
Shaking her head, Bridget pointed to the clock on the wall. "Six-forty. I was wondering how long it would take me to wake you up."
He looked around. "Where's Syd?"
Bridget jerked her thumb in the direction of the bathroom. "In the shower. She asked me to get you up."
"Thanks." Her uncle got to his feet, and began folding the blanket. "You'd better get ready for school."
Nodding, Bridget headed back to her bedroom.
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Thirty minutes later, they were all gathered in the kitchen. Sydney's table was only really big enough for two, so Gage's nieces were sitting side-by-side on the counter, their plates balanced in their laps.
"What do you guys wanna do after school today?" Sydney asked as she sipped her coffee.
Bridget glanced at her sister. "Actually, we were wondering if we could go to work with you."
"Come to Headquarters?" Gage said, surprised. "Really?"
Christina nodded. "We thought it might be cool."
Sydney smiled. "Well, I don't see why we couldn't work that out."
The sisters shared a triumphant smile. "All right!"
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At about three-fifteen that afternoon, Gage led his nieces into Ranger Headquarters.
"Hi, girls," Walker said with a warm smile.
"Hey, how's it goin'?" Trivette added.
"Hi, Walker. Hi, Jimmy," Bridget, Carmen, and Christina chorused.
For a few minutes Gage led them around the office, introducing them to everyone. Then he asked them what they wanted to do next.
"We have a ton of homework," Carmen admitted. "Is there somewhere where we could work on that?"
"Yeah," Bridget agreed. "That way you guys could get your work done, too."
Gage looked around the room. The big round table beside his and Sydney's desks was empty, and he pointed to it. "Why don't you guys set up there?"
The girls dumped their backpacks on the table, and soon the surface was covered with books, paper, and pens. Everyone was quiet as both the Rangers and the girls worked intently.
About an hour later, Bridget looked up at her sisters. She caught their eyes, and they all shared a smile and a discreet nod. Then Bridget got up and approached Gage and Sydney. "Uncle Francis?"
He looked up from the forms he was filling out. "What's up?"
"Just wanted to let you know we're going to the bathroom."
Sydney started to get up. "I'll show you where it is."
"No!" Bridget said, more urgently than she intended. She forced a quick laugh and smiled. "It's all right. You guys finish your work. We can find it on our own."
"If you're sure," Sydney said uncertainly, as she sat back down.
Carmen and Christina appeared at their sister's side. "We're sure."
"All right," Gage consented. "Go ahead."
His nieces nodded, and headed to the door. They went out into the hallway, pretending to look for a bathroom, until they were safely around the corner.
"Now, where do you think Alex's office is?" Carmen asked.
"I think we should go back to the first floor," her twin suggested. "I think I saw a building directory there."
Her sisters nodded, and the three of them hurried to the elevator. When they got out on the first floor, they saw a directory on the wall nearby, and ran to it.
"There she is!" Christina exclaimed softly a minute later, pointing to the directory. "Alex Cahill-Walker, 105."
"But where is 105?" Carmen wondered.
Bridget glanced around. "Let's try this way," she suggested, pointing to the right hallway. Carmen and Christina nodded, and they headed off in that direction. After a wrong turn or two, they came upon Alex's office. They told her secretary who they were, and a minute later, Alex opened the door to her inner office.
"Come on in!" she invited with a smile.
"Hi, Alex," Bridget said, and her younger sisters echoed her.
She gestured for them to sit down. "What are you guys doing here?"
"We need your help," Carmen told her.
Alex folded her hands in front of her. "What's up?"
Bridget took a deep breath, and told her what had happened between her uncle and his partner the night before. "We think they have feelings for each other, but won't admit it."
A smile crossed Alex's face. "I agree."
"We want to get them together before we leave," Christina explained. "But we have no idea how."
"Hmm." Alex leaned back in her chair, deep in thought. The girls did the same, and the room was quiet until Carmen started humming absentmindedly. A few seconds later, Bridget burst out laughing.
"What?" Alex asked, startled.
"The song she's humming," Bridget answered. "It's perfect for Uncle Francis and Sydney."
"What is it?"
"'Why Don't You Kiss Her?'. It's a Jesse McCartney song about a guy who's in love with his best friend, and he's wondering why he doesn't make a move."
Alex smiled. "You know what, that is perfect for them." Her eyes lit up. "I think I have an idea."
"What?" What?" All three girls leaned toward her, eager to hear.
She shook her head. "Not yet. I have to check a few things out first. And you'd better get back upstairs…I'm guessing your uncle doesn't know you're in my office."
Bridget shook her head sheepishly. "No. We told him and Sydney we were going to find the bathroom."
Alex stood up, and shooed them toward the door. "Hurry up and get back there before they come looking for you. I'll let you know when I have everything figured out."
"Great," Bridget said, as she opened the door leading out into the hall. "Thanks, Alex."
She smiled. "You're very welcome. Now get going!"
The three girls practically flew upstairs to Ranger Headquarters. They stopped outside the door to catch their breath, and then entered the office.
"There you are!" Gage exclaimed. "You've been gone nearly a half-hour! Where've you been?"
His nieces looked at each other.
"We got lost looking for the bathroom."
