Blind Faith (Part 3)
By: Lorrie
The following story is based on the characters of the TV Series "Walker, Texas Ranger". The characters belong to CBS Productions, Top Kick Productions, etc., but the story is mine. ALL DISCLAIMERS APPLY. (No copyright infringement is intended.)
(Many thanks again to Emily for proof reading.)
Walker and Sydney were making their way back to the truck with Gage between them, when suddenly; Gage dropped to the ground and held his head.
"Gage, what is it?" Sydney sank to the ground with him.
"My head is killing me!" Gage screamed. "There's a sharp pain all through my head." Gage laid down on the ground and blinked his eyes. "Syd, it's gone again."
"What's gone?"
"My sight."
"Don't move, Gage. I'm going to get help. Sydney, stay with him." Walker headed through the woods in a full run towards the truck.
Trivette and Julie were waiting at Trivette's car when Walker emerged from the woods.
Julie saw Walker approaching. "Where are Frankie and Sydney?" she asked.
"About a half of a mile back." Walker said, half out of breath as he reached for the radio.
"I've already called for back up," Trivette said, "The Sheriff's Department should be here any minute."
"Good, Anderson and his men are hugging a tree about two miles into the woods. They'll need transportation." Walker said as he tried the radio again.
Trivette walked over to the truck, leaving Julie beside of his car. "What's really going on, Walker? Who are you trying to reach?"
"I need to get a MediVac chopper in here right away. Gage took another blow to the head and he's in a lot of pain. He regained his eyesight for about 5 minutes, now it's gone again."
"Sydney's with him?" Trivette asked.
"Yea, I didn't want to risk him moving any further, so I had her stay with him while I called for help."
Walker completed his radio call. "The chopper should be here within 10 minutes."
"Walker, why haven't my brother and Sydney come out yet? What are you not telling me?" Julie asked.
"Gage took another blow to the head. He regained his sight for about 5 minutes then lost it again. He's in a lot of pain, so Sydney stayed with him about 1/2 of a mile back. There's a MediVac chopper on the way." Walker tried to explain to Julie.
"I want to see him." Julie started into the woods alone.
"I thought you might. Trivette, you wait for the chopper, Julie and I are going to check on Gage."
"OK. They should be here any minute now. How will I find you?" Trivette asked.
"It's straight back, you can't miss us." Walker replied as he and Julie disappeared into the woods.
"Gage, don't go to sleep." Sydney pleaded as she tried to keep Gage talking.
"I can't fight it much more, Syd. It hurts too much."
"It's going to be OK. Hey, remember back at the hospital, you said you needed to tell me something. What was it?" Sydney was grasping at straws, anything to keep him awake.
"I can't think straight right now, Syd. I can tell you that I hate for you to see me like this. I'm not in control."
"It's OK. I just hate to see someone I care about hurting so much." Sydney cradled Gage's head in her lap.
Walker and Julie overheard their conversation. Walker started to approach them, but Julie put her hand on his arm and put her finger to her lips, motioning him to be quiet.
"You care about me, really?" Gage asked almost unconscious.
"You know I care about you. I honestly don't know what I'd do without you." Sydney replied.
"Gage, are you still with me?" Gage slumped in her lap. There was no reply.
Walker and Julie approached Sydney and the motionless Gage. Julie immediately picked up her brother's hand. "Frank, please don't leave us," she said as she looked up at Sydney. "We need you."
The paramedics loaded Gage into the helicopter. "We'll meet you at the hospital." Walker said to the EMT's.
Once at the hospital, the waiting game took place again. "Walker, I'm going to try to find out how he is." Sydney said.
"Sydney, sit down. The doctor will be out in awhile and let us know what's going on." Walker instructed Sydney, who had been pacing the floor since they arrived.
"He shouldn't have been there. After the head trauma he'd just suffered and everything else he'd been through, he needed to be here at the hospital, not out in the woods chasing after the man who put him here in the first place." Sydney directed her words at Walker, not sure if she were really blaming him for Gage's condition or herself.
"Sydney, I know how you feel. I know you're upset with me because I suggested including Gage to locate Julie, but we really didn't have much of a choice and if you'll calm down and think about this rationally and not emotionally, I believe you'll understand." Walker replied.
"I know why he was there, but that doesn't change the fact that he shouldn't have been there. What if his condition is worse because we involved him in a case when he wasn't up to it physically?" Sydney was beginning to really get angry, again not quite knowing if she were angrier with herself or with Walker.
Walker walked out of the waiting area. Sydney's words had really hit him hard. Had he pushed Gage too far? Should he and Trivette have just searched the woods until they found the cabin themselves?
"Walker, she didn't mean it. Sydney's upset." Trivette had followed his friend out into the hallway.
"I know, but there is some truth to what she said. I probably did push Gage a little too hard. His knowing where the cabin was made it easier to find Julie, but it wouldn't have been impossible for you and I to have found it on our own. Anderson was after Gage, not Julie. I didn't really think about it until now, but Anderson had Julie first, to get to Gage. When his bomb didn't take Gage out, he went after Julie again to lure Gage to him and this time I helped."
"Walker, your concern was for Julie, so was Gage's."
"That doesn't change the fact that I asked him to do something that he wasn't physically up to doing. He shouldn't have been there." Walker stared at the wall with a blank expression.
Sydney looked up as Dr. Martin came into the waiting area. "Dr. Martin how is he?"
"Let's all go to my office and talk." Dr. Martin said as he looked at Julie, Sydney and Trivette.
"Walker, are you coming?" Sydney asked as she spotted Walker in the hallway.
Walker followed them into Dr. Martin's office.
"Please, sit down. First of all, Ranger Gage has another concussion; it's not quite as bad as the first one. I understand that he regained his sight for a few minutes, is that correct?" Walker nodded his head. "That's a good sign that the pressure may be relieving itself from the optic nerve." Dr. Martin sat on the edge of his desk, noting the expressions of each face as he explained Gage's condition.
"Dr. Martin, you're not telling us everything, are you?" Sydney was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"No, I'm not. He's still unconscious. The longer he's out, the better the chance of brain damage or coma." The doctor noted the clock hanging on his wall, "I need to get to the OR for surgery, you can stay in here as long as you like. I'm sorry, I know you were hoping for better news." Dr. Martin left the office.
Sydney sat there, stunned. ". . . chance of brain damage or coma . . ." the words hung over her like a cloud. Gage was talking to her before he lost consciousness. He was weak but coherent. She told him she cared about him, but why hadn't she just said that she loved him? Now she may never get the chance. Dr. Martin had to be wrong.
Julie rocked back and forth, tears streaming down her face. " . . . he's still unconscious . . . " I should have ran to him when Walker and I came upon he and Sydney in the woods. What if that was my last chance to tell him how much I love him and how proud I am of him?
Trivette walked out with Julie. "Would you like to see him?" Julie nodded.
Walker stood up and put him hand on Sydney's shoulder. "Why don't we take a walk, Sydney?"
Walker and Sydney walked down the hallway. "I'm sorry. I know how you feel about Gage. He's your partner and that makes him a big part of your life."
"Walker, I'm sorry for the things I said to you back there in the waiting room. I know Gage was out there because he wanted to be there. I feel like I should have been able to, I don't know, maybe keep Anderson away from him somehow." Sydney wasn't sure what she was saying anymore.
"We have to keep the faith that Gage is going to be OK. The doctor didn't say that he does have brain damage or that he is in a coma, only that if he doesn't wake up soon, the chances are greater for those conditions. I'm going to call Alex and let her know what's going on. I've tried to call her each night and update her, she wanted to come down here yesterday and I told her that we should be home by tonight."
"I'm going in here for a moment." Sydney pushed open the doors of the chapel. It was small, like most hospital chapels, but beautiful. Soft candlelight lent their glow to the kneeling bench at the front alter. She made her way down the short aisle to the front and lit a candle for Gage and dropped to her knees and began crying as she prayed. "Lord, he needs you so much right now, so do I. Please let him come out of this without any permanent damage. I need to be able to tell him how I really feel about him, please give me that chance I won't waste it again. I just can't lose him." Sydney stayed in the chapel for almost an hour. She had a feeling of peace when she emerged into the hospital corridor and headed for ICU to see Gage.
Julie, Trivette and Walker were in the waiting area outside of ICU when they saw Sydney walk past and go in to see Gage.
Gage lay silently on the bed. IV's and monitors attached to his muscular frame. Sydney approached the bed and took his hand in hers and held it against her face. She closed her eyes. "Gage, I need you. I need you to be able to listen to me, cry with me, laugh with me, and just be with me. God, Gage. I don't want to lose you. I love you too much." Gage's breathing pattern changed a little, Sydney jumped, startled by the slight movement.
"Nurse! Something's different." Sydney called to the nurse, not quite knowing what had changed.
"His breathing changed a little. It's nothing to get too excited about. I'll let Dr. Martin know." The nurse said and then walked backed to her station.
Sydney took Gage's hand again. "Come back to me, Gage. You and I are so good together as partners and I think we could be so much more to each other. Please come back to me." Sydney didn't see Walker and Alex come in.
"Sydney, why don't you come with me for awhile." Alex put her arm around Sydney's shoulders and they walked out into the hallway.
"When did you get here?" Sydney asked Alex.
"Not too long ago. Walker called and told me what was going on. Are you OK?"
Sydney nodded her head yes, but Alex could see that she wasn't. "Why don't we go down to the cafeteria and get a cup of coffee." Alex suggested.
"I don't want to go too far. His breathing changed a little while I was with him. He may be coming out of it." Sydney said hopefully.
"Sydney honey, his breathing changed while Trivette and I were in there also, that was over three hours ago." Julie said without looking up.
"Come on. I'm sure if anything changes someone will let us know." Alex coaxed her down the hallway towards the elevator and to the cafeteria.
Once in the cafeteria, Alex and Sydney got their coffee and sat down. "Sydney, he's going to be OK."
"I wish everyone would stop saying that. If he's going to be OK, then why isn't he awake yet?" She could feel the tears beginning to come again.
"I know, honey, I know." Alex patted Sydney's hand in comfort. "I can remember each time when Walker was in the hospital. There were a few times when we didn't think he was going to make it and you're right, everyone kept saying that he was going to be OK, mostly just to convince themselves. I'm sorry. I HOPE that Gage is going to be OK." Alex squeezed Sydney's hand.
"Thank you, Alex. I hope so too." Sydney started to sip her coffee and stopped just short of her lips as she saw Walker enter the cafeteria.
"Sydney, Dr. Martin wants to speak with you."
"Is Gage awake?"
"I'm not sure. Dr. Martin just came out of ICU and asked to speak with you."
Sydney hurried to the ICU and took a deep breath before entering.
"Dr. Martin, you were looking for me." Sydney said as she approached the nurse's station where Dr. Martin was standing.
"Someone's asking for you." Dr. Martin told her as he motioned to Gage's bed.
Sydney closed her eyes and quickly thanked God for answering her prayer as she approached Gage's bed.
"Hey you, how are you feeling?" Sydney reached for Gage's hand.
"A little light headed." Gage answered softly.
"Can you see?" Sydney asked.
Gage nodded. "Yes. Things are still a little blurry, but the doctor said they should come into focus pretty soon."
Sydney smiled. "Gage, I need to tell you something."
Dr. Martin walked up behind Sydney. "You need some rest Ranger Gage. I should be able to move you to a room in a few hours. Your sister would like to see you for a minute. Then you will have to rest, OK?"
Gage nodded. "Syd, I do still want to talk to you later, OK?"
"You bet." Sydney replied, "I'll let Julie know that she can come in now."
"I will see you later though, right?" Gage asked as he held Sydney's hand.
"After you've rested, I promise."
Julie entered the room, "Frankie? You scared me to death. I thought I'd lost you for sure this time."
"You can't get rid of me that easily." Gage laughed and hugged his sister.
"I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention when Anderson grabbed me, I . . ."
"Shh. It's OK, Julie. It's over. We'll see him at the trial and then he's off to the state pen for good." Julie nodded.
"I'd better go. I promised the doctor that I'd only stay a minute. I'm so glad you're feeling better." Julie leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
Three hours passed. Dr. Martin had Gage moved to a room on the fourth floor and had given Sydney the OK to go in, even though Gage had fallen asleep.
Sydney tiptoed in and sat in the chair next to the bed. She stared at Gage for a while, then rested her head on the edge of the bed, realizing that she hadn't had any sleep in the past 48 hours.
Gage woke and was pleased to find Sydney beside of him. He stroked her hair. "If you only knew how much you mean to me," he whispered and closed his eyes.
They stayed that way until morning. Sydney woke and turned to find Gage's hand still on her head where he had been stroking her hair. Had she really heard him say she meant something to him or had she been dreaming? She gently lifted his hand and placed it on the bed without waking him and got up to stretch her legs.
Gage yawned and stretched in bed and glanced around the room to find Sydney, who was by the window.
"Syd, what are you doing?"
"Just stretching my legs. I fell asleep in the chair last night," she smiled.
"So, you spent the whole night with me?" Gage smiled.
"I was exhausted. I hadn't slept any since the first time you were brought here."
"Are you up for that talk now?" Gage asked as Sydney came back to the chair beside the bed. Sydney nodded. Gage continued, "I want to apologize again for yelling at you before, when I couldn't see. I just felt so helpless and I don't like feeling that way. I shouldn't have shut you out, Syd. You're probably the only person who really understands me. You know more about me than Julie does, the things that really matter. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Sydney swallowed hard. Now was her chance to tell him how she really felt about him. She took his hand. "When the doctor told us that you were still unconscious and that there was the possibility of brain damage or coma, I felt like something had sucked the very life out of me. I can't imagine my life without you in it and I don't think I realized exactly how much you mean to me until I came so close to losing you." Sydney was almost crying.
Gage reached up and wiped a tear from her cheek and smiled. "God Syd, I love you."
"I love you too." Sydney said with a smile.
Gage spent the next few days recuperating in the hospital. Sydney arrived early Saturday morning to take him home, to Dallas.
"Ready to go?" Sydney asked as she picked up Gage's jacket.
"Yup. What were Walker and Trivette up to this morning?" Gage was finding that he missed not working.
"The usual stuff. There's not a whole lot going on right now." Sydney lied. She knew how much Gage wanted to be back at Ranger Headquarters, but right now, he was going home, actually to her home so she could take care of him until he was able to come back to work.
"You're a terrible liar." Gage laughed. "Where's Julie? I thought she would be with you."
"She went home. She asked me to give you this." Sydney handed Gage the note Julie had given her.
'Frankie, I'm sorry I didn't wait to say goodbye in person, but you know how much I hate saying goodbye. I'm so glad you're feeling better and will be coming home today. I will call you soon. Much love always, Julie.'
Gage was puzzled. "That's not like her Syd. Was she upset when you saw her last?"
"She didn't seem to be, but she did say that she needed to get back to work."
"My sister the workaholic." Gage smiled.
The ride back to Dallas was uneventful. Gage slept most of the way. Sydney was almost to her apartment when he woke. "What are we doing here?"
"I want you to stay at my place for a few days, just until you feel more like yourself."
"I feel fine."
"Please Gage. I just want to make sure you're OK before you stay at your place, besides, the bandages on your back need to be changed daily. Let me take care of you."
Gage reluctantly got out of the car and headed up the steps to Sydney's apartment.
"Would you mind if I call Julie?
"No, not at all. You can use the phone in the bedroom."
Gage picked up the phone and dialed Julie's number. Julie answered, half knowing it would be her brother.
"I'm sorry I didn't see you again before I left. It's not that I didn't want to see you. My boss called me last night and said I was really needed back here this morning to cover a story."
"It's OK. It's just that I miss you and I guess I sort of got used to you being around the last few days."
Sydney passed by the door to the bedroom, where Gage was sitting on the bed. She couldn't help but overhear what he was saying to Julie. She sat down beside of him and put her hand on his shoulder.
"I miss you too, but right now I need to get to work. I'll call you later, alright?"
"Julie?"
"I really do need to go."
"OK. I'm going to be staying at Sydney's place for a while. You can reach me here. I love you."
"I love you too."
Gage hung up the phone, lay across the bed and began rubbing his temples.
"Headache?" Sydney asked, placing the phone back on the nightstand.
Gage nodded in response.
"I'll get your medicine."
"It's not that bad. Could you just lay here with me?"
Sydney stretched out across the bed beside of Gage, propped her head up on her arm and gazed at her partner. "Is she alright?"
"She's fine, just absorbed in her work."
"Alex called me on my cell phone and said that she and Walker will probably come over tonight, if you're up to it."
"I told you, I feel fine." Gage squinted his eyes and rubbed his temples again.
"Yea, right." Sydney said as she got up and went to the kitchen for Gage's medicine and a glass of water.
"Here, you had better take this and rest." Sydney handed Gage the two small pills, which he gratefully took, then closed his eyes. He was asleep within minutes.
Two hours slowly passed, Sydney stroked Gage's hair. "Am I dreaming, or am I in heaven?" Gage asked as he sleepily opened his eyes and found Sydney so close to his side.
"Neither. You had better get up, Alex and Walker will be here in about an hour. How's your headache?" Sydney asked.
"Better." Gage got up and started to make his way to the shower.
"Whoa, where do you think you're going?" Sydney started after Gage.
"To take a shower." Gage replied.
"No, no, no. The doctor said that you couldn't get the stitches in your back wet for at least another 3 or 4 days. It's a sponge bath for you mister." Sydney smiled playfully, waiting for Gage's response.
"A sponge bath and who is going to give me this sponge bath?" Gage grinned as he looked at Sydney.
"Who do you think?" Sydney raised her eyebrows and smiled as she prepared a basin of warm water. "Come here." She patted the edge of the bed. Gage took his shirt off and sat down. Sydney carefully removed the bandages from Gage's back and cleaned the cuts and abrasions with the warm water. Gage flinched a couple of times. "Sorry."
"It's OK" Gage replied.
After she finished with his back, Sydney found her arms going across Gage's shoulders and across his chest. Then when she gently kissed his neck, she found herself wanting him so badly.
Gage closed his eyes and breathed deeply. "Syd, maybe you'd better let me finish. Alex and Walker will be here any minute."
"Sure. I'm sorry." Sydney quickly ran out of the room, embarrassed by her show of emotion. I can't believe I did that, she thought to herself as she leaned her head against the door. I kissed him, again.
Gage closed the door behind Sydney and leaned against it. If she had stayed one minute longer, I don't think I could have held back. 'Not that that would have been bad', he lamented, 'I just don't want to move too fast with Sydney. If there's anything there, I want it to be forever. Besides, what if Walker and Alex had showed up. I can only imagine trying to explain to Walker why it took so long for either of us to answer the door.'
Gage finished dressing and came into the living room. "Um, what smells so good?"
"I'm fixing lasagna, garlic bread and salad for dinner. Feel like making the salad?"
"Sure." They both reached for the handle of the refrigerator at the same time. Gage smiled as his hand gently pressed over Sydney's.
Sydney returned the smile, "I'm sorry, Gage. I was totally out of line back there."
"No you weren't. I was just, I mean, Walker and Alex will be here any minute."
"Right!" Sydney blushed slightly and continued dinner.
Walker, Alex, Trivette and Josie arrived a few minutes later. "I hope you don't mind two more." Alex whispered to Sydney as they entered the living room. Jimmy and Josie came over to our house and we sort of invited them along."
"That's fine. We have plenty," Sydney smiled.
Gage smiled at Sydney's words, 'We have plenty,' not 'I have plenty.' Was she thinking of them as a couple or was that wishful thinking on his part?
After dinner, the group sat down in the living room. "How are you feeling?" Alex asked Gage.
"A lot better than last week."
"I can imagine. How's your sister?"
"She's good. I talked to her earlier and she's on some big assignment."
"That's good. I know that you both have been through a lot in the past week."
Gage nodded in agreement, then got up and walked out of the room.
"Alex, excuse me. I had better check on him." Sydney walked out behind Gage. She entered the dark bedroom and turned on the light. Gage was setting on the edge of the bed, rubbing his temples again.
"Turn the light back off, OK?" Gage closed his eyes.
"I'll be right back, I'm going to get your medicine."
Sydney returned to the kitchen and took Gage's pills out of the cabinet and ran a glass of water.
"Headache?" Alex asked.
"Not me, Gage. It comes and goes."
"I hope we didn't add to it." Alex said as she got up from the couch.
"Sydney, Alex and I need to get going. Tell Gage we'll see him later and hope that he feels better." Walker said as he picked up his hat.
"Josie and I are taking off too. Thanks for dinner it was delicious. Take care of our boy in there, OK?" Trivette winked as he and Josie walked out.
Sydney returned to the bedroom and turned on the small lamp by the bed. "Here you go." She handed Gage the pills and the water.
"Has everyone left?" Gage asked, handing Sydney back the empty glass. She nodded.
"Alex said she hoped that she didn't add to your headache."
"No. I don't think it was the company tonight, I just feel so tired."
"You're entitled, you've been through a lot."
"Syd, could you lay with me for a while?" Gage smiled at her.
"I thought you had a headache." Sydney smiled back.
"I do. I'd just like a little company."
Sydney crawled into bed beside of Gage. He stretched his arm out and she lay down in the crook of it, he then put his other arm around her slender body, bringing her close to him. "Gage?"
"What?"
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Do what? I just want to sleep." Gage closed his eyes. "Tonight, anyway."
Sydney smiled.
The next morning Sydney woke before Gage and slipped out of bed, grabbed a quick shower and started breakfast. Gage woke to the smell of bacon and eggs and walked into the kitchen. "What's cooking?"
"Bacon and eggs."
"I could get used to this. If I were at home, I'd probably be having a bowl of corn flakes."
"I could get used to this too. If you weren't here, I'd probably be having a bowl of corn flakes." They both laughed.
"Julie called this morning. She said she'll be here around noon." Sydney said between bites.
"Why?"
"She wants to check up on her little brother." Sydney teased. "Actually, she said she wanted to talk to me about something."
"Don't you have to go in today?" Gage asked.
"It's my Saturday off." Sydney replied.
"I've sort of lost track of the schedule." Gage said as he finished his breakfast.
Julie arrived a little before noon. "You sure are looking better," she said as Gage opened the door. "I think Sydney must be good medicine for you."
"Her cooking sure is." Gage said with a grin.
"Do you want me to leave so you and Sydney can talk?"
"Gage, you can't drive yet." Sydney scolded.
"I was hoping you had forgotten." Gage replied.
"Not on your life." Sydney threw a pillow at him.
"I am going to lay down and take a nap, so if you girls want to go out, don't worry about me."
Sydney looked at Julie. "I don't know if we should leave him all alone. What do you think?"
"He'll be OK Sydney. Besides, I really would like to talk to you."
"OK." Sydney and Julie left Sydney's apartment and went to a small café' for lunch.
"What did you want to talk about?" Sydney asked as she and Julie waited for their meal.
"Frank."
"What about him?" Sydney was curious as to why Julie seemed so concerned about Gage and why would she be talking to her instead of him.
"I know you and I had a conversation in the hospital about wheather or not you loved him. Sydney the more I see the two of you together, the more I know that you're meant to be with each other. You do know that he loves you, right?"
"Our relationship is complicated. There's no way around it. We're best friends, we're partners and yes we both know there's chemistry between us, but if we act on it, it could change everything else." Sydney could hardly believe she was discussing this with Gage's sister.
"Don't be afraid to love him." Julie pleaded as she saw the look on Sydney's face.
"I'm not afraid. It's, it's complicated." Sydney was getting stumbling over her words, knowing that she was afraid to love Gage. What if she lost him?
"Sydney, I've been there. I was in love with a man a couple of years ago and I know he loved me. He would have done anything in the world for me, but a man will only wait so long." Julie gazed into the distance thinking about what could have been.
"What happened?" Sydney asked.
"He met someone else." Julie smiled. "Don't get me wrong, he gave me every opportunity in the world to be with him but I kept pushing him away and not because I didn't love him, but because I was afraid to love him. Don't make the same mistake I did. My brother is happier than I've seen him in his entire life and it's because of you."
Sydney smiled. "Thanks for the talk Julie, but I don't know. Does Gage know what you wanted to talk to me about?" Sydney wondered if Gage had put Julie up to this.
"No way! He would kill me if he knew I was butting in, but I want him to be happy."
Julie and Sydney finished their lunch and headed back to Sydney's apartment.
Gage was in the living room, watching a movie when Sydney and Julie came in laughing.
"What have you two been up to?" Gage asked, pleased that the two women he loved most in the world were getting along so well.
"Nothing at all." Julie assured him as she leaned over to kiss his cheek. "I've got to get back to the office this evening. I'll call soon, OK?"
"You just got here." Gage protested.
"I know. I'll come back over the weekend, if that OK with you?" Julie looked at Sydney.
"Sure, that's would be great." Sydney replied.
After Julie left, Gage put his arms around Sydney. "So what did you and my sister find so interesting to talk about all afternoon?"
"You."
"Me?" Gage gave Sydney a quizzical look.
"Yes, you."
"What about me?"
"Well actually, it was more about you and me, than just you."
Gage lifted an eyebrow, "You and me? You mean there is a you and me now," he said hopefully.
"Oh, Gage. I don't know. I just don't want everything to fall apart. We're great partners, we can read each others moves, you don't find that everyday in a partner."
"OK. I agree with that, but if we're great Ranger partners, imagine if we were partners in a relationship."
"I know. I've thought about that too, more than you can imagine." Sydney said with a smile.
"So, where does that leave us?" Gage sat back on the couch. These past few days with Sydney had been wonderful, between the headaches anyway, it couldn't just go back to the way it was. "I don't want to lose you Syd."
"I don't want to lose you either." Sydney looked at her partner with tears in her eyes.
"I love you." Gage pulled Sydney close to him.
Later that evening, Walker and Trivette stopped by to see how Gage was doing.
"Just thought we'd let you know that Anderson's trial is over and he's going away for life."
"Justice prevails again." Sydney said.
"Gage, you sure are quiet." Trivette sat down beside of the young ranger.
"Um? Oh, I have a slight headache. I'm glad Anderson finally got what he deserved." He sat down the glass of water he was holding and rubbed his temples. Sydney placed her hands on his shoulders.
"When do you go back to the doctor?" Trivette asked, genuinely concerned for his friend.
"Tomorrow. It's not a big deal. It's not even a bad headache, it's just annoying." Gage smiled at Trivette.
"Do you have any idea when you'll be able to come back to work?" Walker asked, as the conversation had suddenly turned to Gage and his headaches.
"I don't know yet. I hope soon."
"But you'll do what the doctor tells you, right?" Sydney still had her hands on Gage's shoulders and she tightened her grip.
"Yes ma'am." Gage laughed.
"Well, we had better be going, it's getting late and I have an early morning. Walker said as he grabbed his coat.
"Walker, don't forget I won't be in tomorrow." Sydney said as Walker was going out the door. "I'm taking Gage to his appointment."
"OK, one of you call us and let us know how things are."
"We will." Sydney closed the door behind them.
"Does your head still hurt?" Sydney asked as she came back through the living room.
"Not too bad. Man, am I tired though."
"Me too. It's been a long day. Come here and sit down. I told you I'd massage your back." Sydney motioned to a chair in the living room.
Gage took his shirt off and sat down. "Your back looks like it's healing well," she said as she started rubbing his shoulders. "Tell me if it hurts."
"No, it feels great." Gage moaned.
Sydney rubbed his shoulders and found herself drawn closer and closer to his body. She leaned over and kissed his neck and quickly pulled herself away remembering her embarrassment at having done the same thing before in the bedroom and his reaction then.
"Why did you stop?" Gage asked.
"I don't know. I wasn't sure if you wanted me to."
Gage pulled Sydney over the top of the chair and onto the floor. He pulled her close. "I'd really like that kiss now."
"What kiss?" Sydney teased.
"If you'll remember, you told me that the kiss you gave me after Walker and Alex's wedding was a celebration kiss, not a real kiss. I believe your exact words were 'If I ever gave you a real kiss, you'd know it.' I told you then and I'm telling you know, give me a real kiss and let me see if I can tell the difference." Gage teased back.
Sydney met Gage's lips with hers. The kissing grew more and more intense. "Sydney, let's go to the bedroom." Gage said between kisses.
Sydney nodded in agreement. "But I thought you had a headache."
"The only ache I have right now is for you." Gage said as he picked Sydney up and laid her on the bed and began to slowly undress her.
"Gage, in case I haven't said it before. I love you." Sydney whispered.
"I love you too, Syd."
THE END
By: Lorrie
The following story is based on the characters of the TV Series "Walker, Texas Ranger". The characters belong to CBS Productions, Top Kick Productions, etc., but the story is mine. ALL DISCLAIMERS APPLY. (No copyright infringement is intended.)
(Many thanks again to Emily for proof reading.)
Walker and Sydney were making their way back to the truck with Gage between them, when suddenly; Gage dropped to the ground and held his head.
"Gage, what is it?" Sydney sank to the ground with him.
"My head is killing me!" Gage screamed. "There's a sharp pain all through my head." Gage laid down on the ground and blinked his eyes. "Syd, it's gone again."
"What's gone?"
"My sight."
"Don't move, Gage. I'm going to get help. Sydney, stay with him." Walker headed through the woods in a full run towards the truck.
Trivette and Julie were waiting at Trivette's car when Walker emerged from the woods.
Julie saw Walker approaching. "Where are Frankie and Sydney?" she asked.
"About a half of a mile back." Walker said, half out of breath as he reached for the radio.
"I've already called for back up," Trivette said, "The Sheriff's Department should be here any minute."
"Good, Anderson and his men are hugging a tree about two miles into the woods. They'll need transportation." Walker said as he tried the radio again.
Trivette walked over to the truck, leaving Julie beside of his car. "What's really going on, Walker? Who are you trying to reach?"
"I need to get a MediVac chopper in here right away. Gage took another blow to the head and he's in a lot of pain. He regained his eyesight for about 5 minutes, now it's gone again."
"Sydney's with him?" Trivette asked.
"Yea, I didn't want to risk him moving any further, so I had her stay with him while I called for help."
Walker completed his radio call. "The chopper should be here within 10 minutes."
"Walker, why haven't my brother and Sydney come out yet? What are you not telling me?" Julie asked.
"Gage took another blow to the head. He regained his sight for about 5 minutes then lost it again. He's in a lot of pain, so Sydney stayed with him about 1/2 of a mile back. There's a MediVac chopper on the way." Walker tried to explain to Julie.
"I want to see him." Julie started into the woods alone.
"I thought you might. Trivette, you wait for the chopper, Julie and I are going to check on Gage."
"OK. They should be here any minute now. How will I find you?" Trivette asked.
"It's straight back, you can't miss us." Walker replied as he and Julie disappeared into the woods.
"Gage, don't go to sleep." Sydney pleaded as she tried to keep Gage talking.
"I can't fight it much more, Syd. It hurts too much."
"It's going to be OK. Hey, remember back at the hospital, you said you needed to tell me something. What was it?" Sydney was grasping at straws, anything to keep him awake.
"I can't think straight right now, Syd. I can tell you that I hate for you to see me like this. I'm not in control."
"It's OK. I just hate to see someone I care about hurting so much." Sydney cradled Gage's head in her lap.
Walker and Julie overheard their conversation. Walker started to approach them, but Julie put her hand on his arm and put her finger to her lips, motioning him to be quiet.
"You care about me, really?" Gage asked almost unconscious.
"You know I care about you. I honestly don't know what I'd do without you." Sydney replied.
"Gage, are you still with me?" Gage slumped in her lap. There was no reply.
Walker and Julie approached Sydney and the motionless Gage. Julie immediately picked up her brother's hand. "Frank, please don't leave us," she said as she looked up at Sydney. "We need you."
The paramedics loaded Gage into the helicopter. "We'll meet you at the hospital." Walker said to the EMT's.
Once at the hospital, the waiting game took place again. "Walker, I'm going to try to find out how he is." Sydney said.
"Sydney, sit down. The doctor will be out in awhile and let us know what's going on." Walker instructed Sydney, who had been pacing the floor since they arrived.
"He shouldn't have been there. After the head trauma he'd just suffered and everything else he'd been through, he needed to be here at the hospital, not out in the woods chasing after the man who put him here in the first place." Sydney directed her words at Walker, not sure if she were really blaming him for Gage's condition or herself.
"Sydney, I know how you feel. I know you're upset with me because I suggested including Gage to locate Julie, but we really didn't have much of a choice and if you'll calm down and think about this rationally and not emotionally, I believe you'll understand." Walker replied.
"I know why he was there, but that doesn't change the fact that he shouldn't have been there. What if his condition is worse because we involved him in a case when he wasn't up to it physically?" Sydney was beginning to really get angry, again not quite knowing if she were angrier with herself or with Walker.
Walker walked out of the waiting area. Sydney's words had really hit him hard. Had he pushed Gage too far? Should he and Trivette have just searched the woods until they found the cabin themselves?
"Walker, she didn't mean it. Sydney's upset." Trivette had followed his friend out into the hallway.
"I know, but there is some truth to what she said. I probably did push Gage a little too hard. His knowing where the cabin was made it easier to find Julie, but it wouldn't have been impossible for you and I to have found it on our own. Anderson was after Gage, not Julie. I didn't really think about it until now, but Anderson had Julie first, to get to Gage. When his bomb didn't take Gage out, he went after Julie again to lure Gage to him and this time I helped."
"Walker, your concern was for Julie, so was Gage's."
"That doesn't change the fact that I asked him to do something that he wasn't physically up to doing. He shouldn't have been there." Walker stared at the wall with a blank expression.
Sydney looked up as Dr. Martin came into the waiting area. "Dr. Martin how is he?"
"Let's all go to my office and talk." Dr. Martin said as he looked at Julie, Sydney and Trivette.
"Walker, are you coming?" Sydney asked as she spotted Walker in the hallway.
Walker followed them into Dr. Martin's office.
"Please, sit down. First of all, Ranger Gage has another concussion; it's not quite as bad as the first one. I understand that he regained his sight for a few minutes, is that correct?" Walker nodded his head. "That's a good sign that the pressure may be relieving itself from the optic nerve." Dr. Martin sat on the edge of his desk, noting the expressions of each face as he explained Gage's condition.
"Dr. Martin, you're not telling us everything, are you?" Sydney was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"No, I'm not. He's still unconscious. The longer he's out, the better the chance of brain damage or coma." The doctor noted the clock hanging on his wall, "I need to get to the OR for surgery, you can stay in here as long as you like. I'm sorry, I know you were hoping for better news." Dr. Martin left the office.
Sydney sat there, stunned. ". . . chance of brain damage or coma . . ." the words hung over her like a cloud. Gage was talking to her before he lost consciousness. He was weak but coherent. She told him she cared about him, but why hadn't she just said that she loved him? Now she may never get the chance. Dr. Martin had to be wrong.
Julie rocked back and forth, tears streaming down her face. " . . . he's still unconscious . . . " I should have ran to him when Walker and I came upon he and Sydney in the woods. What if that was my last chance to tell him how much I love him and how proud I am of him?
Trivette walked out with Julie. "Would you like to see him?" Julie nodded.
Walker stood up and put him hand on Sydney's shoulder. "Why don't we take a walk, Sydney?"
Walker and Sydney walked down the hallway. "I'm sorry. I know how you feel about Gage. He's your partner and that makes him a big part of your life."
"Walker, I'm sorry for the things I said to you back there in the waiting room. I know Gage was out there because he wanted to be there. I feel like I should have been able to, I don't know, maybe keep Anderson away from him somehow." Sydney wasn't sure what she was saying anymore.
"We have to keep the faith that Gage is going to be OK. The doctor didn't say that he does have brain damage or that he is in a coma, only that if he doesn't wake up soon, the chances are greater for those conditions. I'm going to call Alex and let her know what's going on. I've tried to call her each night and update her, she wanted to come down here yesterday and I told her that we should be home by tonight."
"I'm going in here for a moment." Sydney pushed open the doors of the chapel. It was small, like most hospital chapels, but beautiful. Soft candlelight lent their glow to the kneeling bench at the front alter. She made her way down the short aisle to the front and lit a candle for Gage and dropped to her knees and began crying as she prayed. "Lord, he needs you so much right now, so do I. Please let him come out of this without any permanent damage. I need to be able to tell him how I really feel about him, please give me that chance I won't waste it again. I just can't lose him." Sydney stayed in the chapel for almost an hour. She had a feeling of peace when she emerged into the hospital corridor and headed for ICU to see Gage.
Julie, Trivette and Walker were in the waiting area outside of ICU when they saw Sydney walk past and go in to see Gage.
Gage lay silently on the bed. IV's and monitors attached to his muscular frame. Sydney approached the bed and took his hand in hers and held it against her face. She closed her eyes. "Gage, I need you. I need you to be able to listen to me, cry with me, laugh with me, and just be with me. God, Gage. I don't want to lose you. I love you too much." Gage's breathing pattern changed a little, Sydney jumped, startled by the slight movement.
"Nurse! Something's different." Sydney called to the nurse, not quite knowing what had changed.
"His breathing changed a little. It's nothing to get too excited about. I'll let Dr. Martin know." The nurse said and then walked backed to her station.
Sydney took Gage's hand again. "Come back to me, Gage. You and I are so good together as partners and I think we could be so much more to each other. Please come back to me." Sydney didn't see Walker and Alex come in.
"Sydney, why don't you come with me for awhile." Alex put her arm around Sydney's shoulders and they walked out into the hallway.
"When did you get here?" Sydney asked Alex.
"Not too long ago. Walker called and told me what was going on. Are you OK?"
Sydney nodded her head yes, but Alex could see that she wasn't. "Why don't we go down to the cafeteria and get a cup of coffee." Alex suggested.
"I don't want to go too far. His breathing changed a little while I was with him. He may be coming out of it." Sydney said hopefully.
"Sydney honey, his breathing changed while Trivette and I were in there also, that was over three hours ago." Julie said without looking up.
"Come on. I'm sure if anything changes someone will let us know." Alex coaxed her down the hallway towards the elevator and to the cafeteria.
Once in the cafeteria, Alex and Sydney got their coffee and sat down. "Sydney, he's going to be OK."
"I wish everyone would stop saying that. If he's going to be OK, then why isn't he awake yet?" She could feel the tears beginning to come again.
"I know, honey, I know." Alex patted Sydney's hand in comfort. "I can remember each time when Walker was in the hospital. There were a few times when we didn't think he was going to make it and you're right, everyone kept saying that he was going to be OK, mostly just to convince themselves. I'm sorry. I HOPE that Gage is going to be OK." Alex squeezed Sydney's hand.
"Thank you, Alex. I hope so too." Sydney started to sip her coffee and stopped just short of her lips as she saw Walker enter the cafeteria.
"Sydney, Dr. Martin wants to speak with you."
"Is Gage awake?"
"I'm not sure. Dr. Martin just came out of ICU and asked to speak with you."
Sydney hurried to the ICU and took a deep breath before entering.
"Dr. Martin, you were looking for me." Sydney said as she approached the nurse's station where Dr. Martin was standing.
"Someone's asking for you." Dr. Martin told her as he motioned to Gage's bed.
Sydney closed her eyes and quickly thanked God for answering her prayer as she approached Gage's bed.
"Hey you, how are you feeling?" Sydney reached for Gage's hand.
"A little light headed." Gage answered softly.
"Can you see?" Sydney asked.
Gage nodded. "Yes. Things are still a little blurry, but the doctor said they should come into focus pretty soon."
Sydney smiled. "Gage, I need to tell you something."
Dr. Martin walked up behind Sydney. "You need some rest Ranger Gage. I should be able to move you to a room in a few hours. Your sister would like to see you for a minute. Then you will have to rest, OK?"
Gage nodded. "Syd, I do still want to talk to you later, OK?"
"You bet." Sydney replied, "I'll let Julie know that she can come in now."
"I will see you later though, right?" Gage asked as he held Sydney's hand.
"After you've rested, I promise."
Julie entered the room, "Frankie? You scared me to death. I thought I'd lost you for sure this time."
"You can't get rid of me that easily." Gage laughed and hugged his sister.
"I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention when Anderson grabbed me, I . . ."
"Shh. It's OK, Julie. It's over. We'll see him at the trial and then he's off to the state pen for good." Julie nodded.
"I'd better go. I promised the doctor that I'd only stay a minute. I'm so glad you're feeling better." Julie leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
Three hours passed. Dr. Martin had Gage moved to a room on the fourth floor and had given Sydney the OK to go in, even though Gage had fallen asleep.
Sydney tiptoed in and sat in the chair next to the bed. She stared at Gage for a while, then rested her head on the edge of the bed, realizing that she hadn't had any sleep in the past 48 hours.
Gage woke and was pleased to find Sydney beside of him. He stroked her hair. "If you only knew how much you mean to me," he whispered and closed his eyes.
They stayed that way until morning. Sydney woke and turned to find Gage's hand still on her head where he had been stroking her hair. Had she really heard him say she meant something to him or had she been dreaming? She gently lifted his hand and placed it on the bed without waking him and got up to stretch her legs.
Gage yawned and stretched in bed and glanced around the room to find Sydney, who was by the window.
"Syd, what are you doing?"
"Just stretching my legs. I fell asleep in the chair last night," she smiled.
"So, you spent the whole night with me?" Gage smiled.
"I was exhausted. I hadn't slept any since the first time you were brought here."
"Are you up for that talk now?" Gage asked as Sydney came back to the chair beside the bed. Sydney nodded. Gage continued, "I want to apologize again for yelling at you before, when I couldn't see. I just felt so helpless and I don't like feeling that way. I shouldn't have shut you out, Syd. You're probably the only person who really understands me. You know more about me than Julie does, the things that really matter. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Sydney swallowed hard. Now was her chance to tell him how she really felt about him. She took his hand. "When the doctor told us that you were still unconscious and that there was the possibility of brain damage or coma, I felt like something had sucked the very life out of me. I can't imagine my life without you in it and I don't think I realized exactly how much you mean to me until I came so close to losing you." Sydney was almost crying.
Gage reached up and wiped a tear from her cheek and smiled. "God Syd, I love you."
"I love you too." Sydney said with a smile.
Gage spent the next few days recuperating in the hospital. Sydney arrived early Saturday morning to take him home, to Dallas.
"Ready to go?" Sydney asked as she picked up Gage's jacket.
"Yup. What were Walker and Trivette up to this morning?" Gage was finding that he missed not working.
"The usual stuff. There's not a whole lot going on right now." Sydney lied. She knew how much Gage wanted to be back at Ranger Headquarters, but right now, he was going home, actually to her home so she could take care of him until he was able to come back to work.
"You're a terrible liar." Gage laughed. "Where's Julie? I thought she would be with you."
"She went home. She asked me to give you this." Sydney handed Gage the note Julie had given her.
'Frankie, I'm sorry I didn't wait to say goodbye in person, but you know how much I hate saying goodbye. I'm so glad you're feeling better and will be coming home today. I will call you soon. Much love always, Julie.'
Gage was puzzled. "That's not like her Syd. Was she upset when you saw her last?"
"She didn't seem to be, but she did say that she needed to get back to work."
"My sister the workaholic." Gage smiled.
The ride back to Dallas was uneventful. Gage slept most of the way. Sydney was almost to her apartment when he woke. "What are we doing here?"
"I want you to stay at my place for a few days, just until you feel more like yourself."
"I feel fine."
"Please Gage. I just want to make sure you're OK before you stay at your place, besides, the bandages on your back need to be changed daily. Let me take care of you."
Gage reluctantly got out of the car and headed up the steps to Sydney's apartment.
"Would you mind if I call Julie?
"No, not at all. You can use the phone in the bedroom."
Gage picked up the phone and dialed Julie's number. Julie answered, half knowing it would be her brother.
"I'm sorry I didn't see you again before I left. It's not that I didn't want to see you. My boss called me last night and said I was really needed back here this morning to cover a story."
"It's OK. It's just that I miss you and I guess I sort of got used to you being around the last few days."
Sydney passed by the door to the bedroom, where Gage was sitting on the bed. She couldn't help but overhear what he was saying to Julie. She sat down beside of him and put her hand on his shoulder.
"I miss you too, but right now I need to get to work. I'll call you later, alright?"
"Julie?"
"I really do need to go."
"OK. I'm going to be staying at Sydney's place for a while. You can reach me here. I love you."
"I love you too."
Gage hung up the phone, lay across the bed and began rubbing his temples.
"Headache?" Sydney asked, placing the phone back on the nightstand.
Gage nodded in response.
"I'll get your medicine."
"It's not that bad. Could you just lay here with me?"
Sydney stretched out across the bed beside of Gage, propped her head up on her arm and gazed at her partner. "Is she alright?"
"She's fine, just absorbed in her work."
"Alex called me on my cell phone and said that she and Walker will probably come over tonight, if you're up to it."
"I told you, I feel fine." Gage squinted his eyes and rubbed his temples again.
"Yea, right." Sydney said as she got up and went to the kitchen for Gage's medicine and a glass of water.
"Here, you had better take this and rest." Sydney handed Gage the two small pills, which he gratefully took, then closed his eyes. He was asleep within minutes.
Two hours slowly passed, Sydney stroked Gage's hair. "Am I dreaming, or am I in heaven?" Gage asked as he sleepily opened his eyes and found Sydney so close to his side.
"Neither. You had better get up, Alex and Walker will be here in about an hour. How's your headache?" Sydney asked.
"Better." Gage got up and started to make his way to the shower.
"Whoa, where do you think you're going?" Sydney started after Gage.
"To take a shower." Gage replied.
"No, no, no. The doctor said that you couldn't get the stitches in your back wet for at least another 3 or 4 days. It's a sponge bath for you mister." Sydney smiled playfully, waiting for Gage's response.
"A sponge bath and who is going to give me this sponge bath?" Gage grinned as he looked at Sydney.
"Who do you think?" Sydney raised her eyebrows and smiled as she prepared a basin of warm water. "Come here." She patted the edge of the bed. Gage took his shirt off and sat down. Sydney carefully removed the bandages from Gage's back and cleaned the cuts and abrasions with the warm water. Gage flinched a couple of times. "Sorry."
"It's OK" Gage replied.
After she finished with his back, Sydney found her arms going across Gage's shoulders and across his chest. Then when she gently kissed his neck, she found herself wanting him so badly.
Gage closed his eyes and breathed deeply. "Syd, maybe you'd better let me finish. Alex and Walker will be here any minute."
"Sure. I'm sorry." Sydney quickly ran out of the room, embarrassed by her show of emotion. I can't believe I did that, she thought to herself as she leaned her head against the door. I kissed him, again.
Gage closed the door behind Sydney and leaned against it. If she had stayed one minute longer, I don't think I could have held back. 'Not that that would have been bad', he lamented, 'I just don't want to move too fast with Sydney. If there's anything there, I want it to be forever. Besides, what if Walker and Alex had showed up. I can only imagine trying to explain to Walker why it took so long for either of us to answer the door.'
Gage finished dressing and came into the living room. "Um, what smells so good?"
"I'm fixing lasagna, garlic bread and salad for dinner. Feel like making the salad?"
"Sure." They both reached for the handle of the refrigerator at the same time. Gage smiled as his hand gently pressed over Sydney's.
Sydney returned the smile, "I'm sorry, Gage. I was totally out of line back there."
"No you weren't. I was just, I mean, Walker and Alex will be here any minute."
"Right!" Sydney blushed slightly and continued dinner.
Walker, Alex, Trivette and Josie arrived a few minutes later. "I hope you don't mind two more." Alex whispered to Sydney as they entered the living room. Jimmy and Josie came over to our house and we sort of invited them along."
"That's fine. We have plenty," Sydney smiled.
Gage smiled at Sydney's words, 'We have plenty,' not 'I have plenty.' Was she thinking of them as a couple or was that wishful thinking on his part?
After dinner, the group sat down in the living room. "How are you feeling?" Alex asked Gage.
"A lot better than last week."
"I can imagine. How's your sister?"
"She's good. I talked to her earlier and she's on some big assignment."
"That's good. I know that you both have been through a lot in the past week."
Gage nodded in agreement, then got up and walked out of the room.
"Alex, excuse me. I had better check on him." Sydney walked out behind Gage. She entered the dark bedroom and turned on the light. Gage was setting on the edge of the bed, rubbing his temples again.
"Turn the light back off, OK?" Gage closed his eyes.
"I'll be right back, I'm going to get your medicine."
Sydney returned to the kitchen and took Gage's pills out of the cabinet and ran a glass of water.
"Headache?" Alex asked.
"Not me, Gage. It comes and goes."
"I hope we didn't add to it." Alex said as she got up from the couch.
"Sydney, Alex and I need to get going. Tell Gage we'll see him later and hope that he feels better." Walker said as he picked up his hat.
"Josie and I are taking off too. Thanks for dinner it was delicious. Take care of our boy in there, OK?" Trivette winked as he and Josie walked out.
Sydney returned to the bedroom and turned on the small lamp by the bed. "Here you go." She handed Gage the pills and the water.
"Has everyone left?" Gage asked, handing Sydney back the empty glass. She nodded.
"Alex said she hoped that she didn't add to your headache."
"No. I don't think it was the company tonight, I just feel so tired."
"You're entitled, you've been through a lot."
"Syd, could you lay with me for a while?" Gage smiled at her.
"I thought you had a headache." Sydney smiled back.
"I do. I'd just like a little company."
Sydney crawled into bed beside of Gage. He stretched his arm out and she lay down in the crook of it, he then put his other arm around her slender body, bringing her close to him. "Gage?"
"What?"
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Do what? I just want to sleep." Gage closed his eyes. "Tonight, anyway."
Sydney smiled.
The next morning Sydney woke before Gage and slipped out of bed, grabbed a quick shower and started breakfast. Gage woke to the smell of bacon and eggs and walked into the kitchen. "What's cooking?"
"Bacon and eggs."
"I could get used to this. If I were at home, I'd probably be having a bowl of corn flakes."
"I could get used to this too. If you weren't here, I'd probably be having a bowl of corn flakes." They both laughed.
"Julie called this morning. She said she'll be here around noon." Sydney said between bites.
"Why?"
"She wants to check up on her little brother." Sydney teased. "Actually, she said she wanted to talk to me about something."
"Don't you have to go in today?" Gage asked.
"It's my Saturday off." Sydney replied.
"I've sort of lost track of the schedule." Gage said as he finished his breakfast.
Julie arrived a little before noon. "You sure are looking better," she said as Gage opened the door. "I think Sydney must be good medicine for you."
"Her cooking sure is." Gage said with a grin.
"Do you want me to leave so you and Sydney can talk?"
"Gage, you can't drive yet." Sydney scolded.
"I was hoping you had forgotten." Gage replied.
"Not on your life." Sydney threw a pillow at him.
"I am going to lay down and take a nap, so if you girls want to go out, don't worry about me."
Sydney looked at Julie. "I don't know if we should leave him all alone. What do you think?"
"He'll be OK Sydney. Besides, I really would like to talk to you."
"OK." Sydney and Julie left Sydney's apartment and went to a small café' for lunch.
"What did you want to talk about?" Sydney asked as she and Julie waited for their meal.
"Frank."
"What about him?" Sydney was curious as to why Julie seemed so concerned about Gage and why would she be talking to her instead of him.
"I know you and I had a conversation in the hospital about wheather or not you loved him. Sydney the more I see the two of you together, the more I know that you're meant to be with each other. You do know that he loves you, right?"
"Our relationship is complicated. There's no way around it. We're best friends, we're partners and yes we both know there's chemistry between us, but if we act on it, it could change everything else." Sydney could hardly believe she was discussing this with Gage's sister.
"Don't be afraid to love him." Julie pleaded as she saw the look on Sydney's face.
"I'm not afraid. It's, it's complicated." Sydney was getting stumbling over her words, knowing that she was afraid to love Gage. What if she lost him?
"Sydney, I've been there. I was in love with a man a couple of years ago and I know he loved me. He would have done anything in the world for me, but a man will only wait so long." Julie gazed into the distance thinking about what could have been.
"What happened?" Sydney asked.
"He met someone else." Julie smiled. "Don't get me wrong, he gave me every opportunity in the world to be with him but I kept pushing him away and not because I didn't love him, but because I was afraid to love him. Don't make the same mistake I did. My brother is happier than I've seen him in his entire life and it's because of you."
Sydney smiled. "Thanks for the talk Julie, but I don't know. Does Gage know what you wanted to talk to me about?" Sydney wondered if Gage had put Julie up to this.
"No way! He would kill me if he knew I was butting in, but I want him to be happy."
Julie and Sydney finished their lunch and headed back to Sydney's apartment.
Gage was in the living room, watching a movie when Sydney and Julie came in laughing.
"What have you two been up to?" Gage asked, pleased that the two women he loved most in the world were getting along so well.
"Nothing at all." Julie assured him as she leaned over to kiss his cheek. "I've got to get back to the office this evening. I'll call soon, OK?"
"You just got here." Gage protested.
"I know. I'll come back over the weekend, if that OK with you?" Julie looked at Sydney.
"Sure, that's would be great." Sydney replied.
After Julie left, Gage put his arms around Sydney. "So what did you and my sister find so interesting to talk about all afternoon?"
"You."
"Me?" Gage gave Sydney a quizzical look.
"Yes, you."
"What about me?"
"Well actually, it was more about you and me, than just you."
Gage lifted an eyebrow, "You and me? You mean there is a you and me now," he said hopefully.
"Oh, Gage. I don't know. I just don't want everything to fall apart. We're great partners, we can read each others moves, you don't find that everyday in a partner."
"OK. I agree with that, but if we're great Ranger partners, imagine if we were partners in a relationship."
"I know. I've thought about that too, more than you can imagine." Sydney said with a smile.
"So, where does that leave us?" Gage sat back on the couch. These past few days with Sydney had been wonderful, between the headaches anyway, it couldn't just go back to the way it was. "I don't want to lose you Syd."
"I don't want to lose you either." Sydney looked at her partner with tears in her eyes.
"I love you." Gage pulled Sydney close to him.
Later that evening, Walker and Trivette stopped by to see how Gage was doing.
"Just thought we'd let you know that Anderson's trial is over and he's going away for life."
"Justice prevails again." Sydney said.
"Gage, you sure are quiet." Trivette sat down beside of the young ranger.
"Um? Oh, I have a slight headache. I'm glad Anderson finally got what he deserved." He sat down the glass of water he was holding and rubbed his temples. Sydney placed her hands on his shoulders.
"When do you go back to the doctor?" Trivette asked, genuinely concerned for his friend.
"Tomorrow. It's not a big deal. It's not even a bad headache, it's just annoying." Gage smiled at Trivette.
"Do you have any idea when you'll be able to come back to work?" Walker asked, as the conversation had suddenly turned to Gage and his headaches.
"I don't know yet. I hope soon."
"But you'll do what the doctor tells you, right?" Sydney still had her hands on Gage's shoulders and she tightened her grip.
"Yes ma'am." Gage laughed.
"Well, we had better be going, it's getting late and I have an early morning. Walker said as he grabbed his coat.
"Walker, don't forget I won't be in tomorrow." Sydney said as Walker was going out the door. "I'm taking Gage to his appointment."
"OK, one of you call us and let us know how things are."
"We will." Sydney closed the door behind them.
"Does your head still hurt?" Sydney asked as she came back through the living room.
"Not too bad. Man, am I tired though."
"Me too. It's been a long day. Come here and sit down. I told you I'd massage your back." Sydney motioned to a chair in the living room.
Gage took his shirt off and sat down. "Your back looks like it's healing well," she said as she started rubbing his shoulders. "Tell me if it hurts."
"No, it feels great." Gage moaned.
Sydney rubbed his shoulders and found herself drawn closer and closer to his body. She leaned over and kissed his neck and quickly pulled herself away remembering her embarrassment at having done the same thing before in the bedroom and his reaction then.
"Why did you stop?" Gage asked.
"I don't know. I wasn't sure if you wanted me to."
Gage pulled Sydney over the top of the chair and onto the floor. He pulled her close. "I'd really like that kiss now."
"What kiss?" Sydney teased.
"If you'll remember, you told me that the kiss you gave me after Walker and Alex's wedding was a celebration kiss, not a real kiss. I believe your exact words were 'If I ever gave you a real kiss, you'd know it.' I told you then and I'm telling you know, give me a real kiss and let me see if I can tell the difference." Gage teased back.
Sydney met Gage's lips with hers. The kissing grew more and more intense. "Sydney, let's go to the bedroom." Gage said between kisses.
Sydney nodded in agreement. "But I thought you had a headache."
"The only ache I have right now is for you." Gage said as he picked Sydney up and laid her on the bed and began to slowly undress her.
"Gage, in case I haven't said it before. I love you." Sydney whispered.
"I love you too, Syd."
THE END