Disclaimer: The characters of, "Sons of Thunder" and "Walker Texas Ranger", are owned by Chuck Norris, Aaron Norris, CBS and whoever else was involved with the creation and production of these two shows. Any new characters and story lines that come into play are of my own creation. No copyright infringement is intended. This is a fanfiction intended for entertainment purposes only and no money is being made off of it.

Chapter 11: Awake

Lyle walked beside Hunter, holding onto his nephew's hand, as the EMTs wheeled him into the emergency room. None of the words that the EMTs and the nurses said to one another reached his ears. He couldn't hear the talking or the moans of pain that were abundant as they rushed down the hallway. All he could focus on was his nephew, whose eyes had remained closed the entire ride to the hospital.

Lyle felt someone grab onto his right arm and he turned his head to see who had a hold of him. It was a red-haired nurse with kind grey eyes. He saw her lips move, but he didn't hear a sound. He shook his head and focused on the young woman.

She spoke again in a louder yet gentle voice, "Sir, are you family?"

"He's my nephew," Lyle answered his voice sounded raw and distant.

"I'm sorry sir, I must ask you to wait here. We will take good care of your nephew," the nurse said indicating that he should realize Hunter's hand. When he let go, she went into the other room and watched him to make sure that he didn't follow.

Lyle stood there for several hours staring through the window watching the doctors and nurses who were fighting to save his nephew's life.

"Nothing? We have absolutely nothing?" Carlos said exasperated as he slammed his fist onto Gage's desk. Trent and Carlos had arrived at Ranger Headquarters about fifteen minutes before. The Rangers had been sitting around, bouncing ideas off each other, but with the few clues they had, there wasn't much to go on.

"We know that Kim getting attacked, the bomb in your car and the fire in Kendra's apartment are somehow connected. All we have to do now is find out what the connection is between the three cases," Gage said sounding defeated.

"What about the bomb? Was there anything unique about it?" Trent asked. He wondered whether they would discover whoever was doing this before someone else got hurt.

"The bomb was fairly simple. It had been set to go off about ten seconds after Carlos unlocked his car. The setup was interesting though, it was old school," Trivette said.

"How old school are we talking about?" Sydney asked.

"About twenty years, give or take," Trivette answered.

"That's not much to go on," Gage replied with a sigh.

"It is something that may be useful later, we just have to continue to work on it," Walker replied.

"Yeah, but where exactly do we start? I mean, if we don't have anything now, do we wait until someone else is hurt or killed before we find something?" Carlos asked.

"Your case files. The only connection that I see is Thunder Investigations," Sydney replied.

"Yeah, but Kendra doesn't work for us," Carlos pointed out.

"Yes, that is true, but she is a friend and someone may have decided to hurt you and those you care about," Walker said.

Trent sighed as he looked down at Gage's desk and noticed the newspaper. Something clicked in Trent's brain. "The newspaper!"

"What about it?" Carlos asked dryly.

"Remember the article about the anniversary of Uppercuts' opening, there was also a photograph. Kim, Kendra and you were all in the picture together."

"Okay, that's true. It's a possibility, but Trent, we still don't have any idea on who could be trying to harm us or why," Carlos said with frustration.

Before anyone could answer, Alex walked into the room. Her face was pale and her eyes were filled with tears.

"What is it, Alex?" Walker asked, worried that Kendra had taken or turn for the worse or Kim had been hurt again.

"It's Hunter, he's been shot," Alex replied as she held back a sob.

"We had better get back to the hospital," Trent said as he stood up from a chair and grabbed his coat.

"We are going with you," Gage replied. Sydney and Trivette nodded their heads in agreement.

The Rangers, Alex, Trent and Carlos arrived at the hospital in record time. Trent and Carlos went to tell Kim, Butch and Cassie about what happened to Hunter, while the Rangers and Alex went to find out how Hunter was doing.

"Lyle, how is Hunter?" Alex asked when she saw him pacing around in front of the surgery room.

"He has been shot. He is in surgery right now, to get the bullet removed from his chest," Lyle said his voice beginning to crack. He stopped his pacing and looked at them. "This is my fault."

"How can it be your fault, Lyle?" Alex asked as she placed her hand on the older man's shoulder.

"It's my fault," Lyle repeated. "He came for me and he hurt Hunter instead"

"Do you know who shot Hunter?" Walker asked.

Lyle's eyes filled with guilt and remorse. "Yes, a man named Peter Winters. I was his lawyer fifteen years ago in a case that got him sent to jail. He was released on a technicality and now he is out for revenge."

"Why didn't you tell us this before?" Gage asked.

Lyle hung his head and let out a shallow breath. "As I said, I was the man's lawyer and it was a difficult case. I was ashamed of the outcome."

"Hey, guys, how is Hunter doing?" Kim asked as she stepped toward them. "I'm sorry to interrupt," Kim said as she saw the intense looks on their faces.

Trent and Carlos came right up behind Kim, both were wondering what Lyle, Alex and the Rangers had been talking about. They both had a feeling that the connection was about to be found.

"Kim, what are you doing out of bed?" Alex asked.

"I heard about Hunter and I had to come here. Besides, I've been released. Have you heard anything about him yet?"

Gage shook his head. "He's still in surgery."

"What's going on? Does what happened to Hunter have something to do with what happened to everyone else who has been hurt?" Trent asked.

Before Lyle could answer Trent's question, a male doctor with sandy blonde hair and glasses, came through the door that led to the surgery room that held Hunter. "Hello, I'm Dr. Parker. Are you all here for Hunter Prescott?"

"Yes, I'm his uncle," Lyle said as he anxiously stepped toward the doctor.

Dr. Parker nodded his head. "Well, we were able to remove the bullet that had been lodged into his left lung. He also lost a lot of blood so he has been given a blood transfusion. He is young and healthy, so I know he will pull through this. I will keep him in ICU for a little while."

"When can I see him?" Lyle asked.

"You will be able to see him in a few minutes. We will be moving him to a more comfortable room." Dr. Parker replied.

"Thank you, Doctor," Alex said politely. Dr. Parker nodded his head and left the group so he could get cleaned up.

"Wait, where is Butch?" Sydney asked as she looked around.

"I told him to go get something to eat and he hadn't come back yet. That was several hours ago. Then Trent came in and told me what had happened to Hunter," Kim explained, now wondering where Butch had gone to.

"Maybe he's with Kendra," Alex suggested.

"No, we left Cassie with Kendra. I was just there and told Cassie about what happened to Hunter. Butch would have returned to Kim after he had eaten," Carlos replied starting to wonder if the one who had been hurting his friends, had gone after Butch.

"He's decided to handle this one himself, but he can't. You all have to help him," Lyle said worriedly. Everyone turned to look at Lyle, wondering what was going on.

"What are you talking about Lyle? We missed something, didn't we?" Gage said.

"Butch had a case that connected with mine," Lyle explained. "Peter Winters' wife Lily had hired Butch to prove an affair that she suspected her husband was having. Butch had discovered that Winters was indeed having an affair with a woman named Colleen McBride. A few days later, she was murdered. Butch discovered Winters with her body. Winters was arrested and tried for her murder. He has been released on a technicality."

"Now we know how all of these events are connected. It's Butch," Carlos said.

"We should get to Ranger Headquarters and try to find Peter Winters," Walker said knowing that if they find him, they would find Butch.

"I'm coming too. Don't try to protest guys. I want to help nab this guy for Kendra and Hunter," Kim said, giving them all a fiercely determined look.

"Walker, you should send someone to protect Lily Winters. Peter may have decided to go after her," Lyle suggested.

Walker nodded. He had already thought of that.

"I'm going to stay here with Lyle and Hunter," Alex said to Walker, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Good luck."

"Thanks, Alex. Let us know if there is any change," Walker said.

The Rangers and the PIs left Alex and Lyle to watch over Hunter. Alex and Lyle both hoped that they would find Butch before he did something he would regret.

Darkness not only surrounded her but she was a part of the darkness. There was nothing for a long, long time, until there was a glimmer of something far away. She could hear a sound that was a memory, not a part of what was happening now. She strained to hear it, remember it, so perhaps she could find a way out of the darkness. Or it might lead her into an eternity of darkness. All she could do was try and see what the outcome would be.

She could smell smoke and feel an intense heat that seared her skin. She could feel the smoke enter in her nostrils and mouth and feel it coat her lungs. She coughed, struggling to breath. She suddenly knew this to be a memory, which had occurred just before she had entered the darkness.

Color appeared in the distance. The color became a shape, a face that she knew she ought to know, a memory of someone deep within herself. Now, she could feel a warning within her. Something terrible had happened and she could feel that may lose someone but she was still lost in the darkness. She had to break free. She had to wake up.

Cassie thumbed mindlessly through her magazine. Her mind was focused on Kendra, worried that she may never wake up. Then she felt guilty whenever that thought entered her mind. She even thought that she had heard Kendra moan.

Cassie heard another moan coming from in front of her. Cassie dropped the magazine and let it drop to the floor as she stood up. She leaned over Kendra and watched as Kendra opened her eyes.

Kendra pointed to her throat, telling Cassie that she wanted the tube that helped her to breathe to be removed.

"I'll go get Dr. O'Connell and let her know. I'm not making any promises that she is going to remove it," Cassie said.

Kendra nodded, feeling rather uncomfortable with having the tube down her throat so she could breath. She hoped Cassie wouldn't take too long, because she didn't know how long she could stand it.

Cassie returned with Dr. O'Connell as well as a couple of nurses.

Kendra pointed to the tube in her throat again.

"I'm not certain we should remove it, Kendra. You breathed in a lot of smoke," Dr. O'Connell said gently.

Kendra gave Dr. O'Connell a look that told the older woman that if the doctor didn't remove it, she would do it herself.

Dr. O'Connell sighed softly and decided that it was best not to argue.

Dr. O'Connell indicated to the nurses that they were going to remove the tube. One of the nurses held in her hands the nose tube that would give oxygen to Kendra.

Dr. O'Connell leaned over Kendra and grabbed onto the hose. "I must ask you to remain completely still, Kendra, I don't want to damage your throat." Dr. O'Connell waited a moment for Kendra to relax before she counted down from three. When she removed the tube, the nurse gave Kendra the nostril breathing tubes.

Dr. O'Connell watched as Kendra took a few deep breaths as she adjusted to using the nostril tubes, instead of the throat one. Once Dr. O'Connell had decided that Kendra would be all right, she nodded to the nurses. The nurses got the message and left the room.

"Now, Kendra, I must give you strict orders not to leave your hospital bed. Your body is still healing and you are weak. If you dare try to remove yourself from your bed, before I give the okay, I will have the nurses restrain you. Do you understand?" Dr. O'Connell said her hazel eyes unyielding.

Kendra nodded, knowing it was best not to argue with the doctor, this time.

"I'll give you some time to talk," Dr. O'Connell said softly as she turned and left the room.

Cassie stepped toward Kendra, leaned down and hugged her gently. "I'm so glad that you're okay." Cassie sniffed and released Kendra, wiping away her tears as she stood up.

Kendra smiled reassuringly at Cassie. "Cassie, where's Hunter?" Kendra asked her voice raspy.

"He, uh, is around somewhere," Cassie replied nervously.

"Cassie, has something happened to Hunter?" Kendra asked as she sat up with a groan vaguely remembering sensing that someone she cared about was in trouble.

Cassie looked alarmed. "Be careful, I don't want you to strain yourself. I don't know if I should tell you or not."

"Cassie," Kendra said warningly.

Cassie looked up and looked into Kendra's eyes that were filled with worry.

"Hunter's been shot. The last I knew he was in surgery. I haven't heard anything yet."

The fire in Kendra's eyes faded becoming filled with concern and pain. "Can you check now, please?" Kendra asked her voice barely above a whisper as she tried to breath.

Cassie was about to protest, but once she saw the pleading look in Kendra's eyes she rose from her chair and headed to the door. She turned to look at Kendra. "I'll be back."

Kendra nodded as Cassie left the room. Her mind was still placing down the puzzle pieces of her memory, but they were scattered around and some were hidden. All she could think about was Hunter and she prayed that he would be all right.

guardianM3: Please review. I know this chapter was heavy with dialogue, but there was a lot to be said.