The Stretch Thin Man
By: M14Mouse
Summary: Cordell had a lot of time to think right now and it always circle back to his family.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
Cordell had a lot of time to think right now. He is faced with nameless men in a nameless place. His body ached from punches and kicks. Blood stained his face and clothes. Cuts burn with every twist and turn of his body.
His thoughts are cut short by punches, payback, and demands. He was a Texas Ranger. It took a lot not to laugh in their faces. He lost and almost lost so many things in the last couple of years. He lost his wife. He almost lost himself. He lost his home. He almost lost his family.
He will be damned if he will lose his pride as a Ranger.
He screamed and cried but he refused to break. He felt like that stretch guy that he and his brother played with when they were kids. They put that guy through hell. They pull it like a game of tug a war. They threw against everything to see if it would stick.
He was pretty sure that they put a pair of scissors and stabbed with pencils to it at some point. He couldn't remember what happened to that thing. Did they break it? Did they lose it?
He dug through the vault of his memories to find out what happened. The only thing that he could remember was his little brother was focusing on some book with that guy next to him. He felt a wave of fondness washed at the memory.
It was strange to have such a memory come up. He hadn't thought about that thing in years. And yet….he only brought fondness for his family.
He missed his brother. He missed his family. He missed his mom's smile and the fact that she always straightened his clothes even if he just got them out the dryer. He missed her warmth and her cooking. He missed her hugs and the way that she would cup his face.
You got this.
He missed his dad's strength. He needed that strength more than anything. He could imagine what he would do and what he would say. If his ribs didn't hurt so much, he would laugh. These guys wouldn't know what hit them if his dad was here.
I would give them hell.
His thoughts went to his children and his heart ached. He knew that his family would be there for them. Oh, god…he hoped that his kids knew that he wouldn't leave them again. Not like this. He wanted to see his kids grow up. He wanted to see his daughter pick a college and a boy. He wanted to see his son grow out of those poor awkward teenage years. He is surprised that his brother has shared his awkward years with his kids.
Probably because he has equally blackmail material on Liam.
God…he would give any of those embarrassing stories right now. Just to hear his family laugh and poke at him…to be with him.
Hell, his family can share the stories with his new partner if they wanted. She was tough and had so much spunk. She is probably raising hell trying to find him. He hoped that she wasn't feeling guilty. This…this wasn't her fault.
The burden was his and his alone.
This was his mess. His past actions led him here.
But…he knew that his partner wouldn't leave him here. And his Captain? He is going to raise some hell.
He really hoped that he was around to see it.
In his fading illusions, he could imagine his fellow Rangers burst through those doors.
He knew better that wasn't going to happen.
As hours turned into days…he felt hope disappear into acceptance. He knew the statistics of his chances. In his solstice, he would never break…not for them.
Not for anyone.
As his thoughts faded into darkness, he could swear that he heard shouts, banging and guns drawn.
Most of all, he could hear his name.
End
A/N: Read and Review if you wish.