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.)
"Lumberjack" Chapter 3
by Lorrie
"Gage, don't you dare leave me!" Sydney said softly as she held Gage's hand gently and ran her fingers through his hair.
"Syd?" Gage whispered painfully.
"Shh. I'm right here."
"I'm s-sor-ry."
"For what baby?"
"Honeymoon, have . . . to . . . wait."
"Don't you worry about that. We can take our honeymoon anytime. You just concentrate on getting better, OK?" Gage nodded slightly in response as he closed his eyes.
"Mrs. Gage, we're three minutes out from Methodist." The EMT put his hand on Sydney's shoulder, then began taking Gage's vitals for the fourth time since their 30 minute flight began.
*****
Trivette's cell phone rang. "Jimmy, its Alex. Can I speak with Walker?" Trivette passed the phone to Walker.
"Walker." He answered.
"Oh, it is so good to hear your voice. Are you OK?"
"I'm fine Alex. How is Angela?"
"She's fine. She misses you and so do I. Jimmy told me about Gage earlier. How is he?"
"I don't know yet. They've taken him to Methodist and I'll stop by there as soon as we wrap things up. Did you get the warrants?"
"Yes and Hobbs has taken a squad to seal off the logging camp and begin the sweep for the cocaine."
"Good. Let Hobbs know that Trivette and I will meet him there as soon as we bring in Adams and Anderson."
*****
"Anderson!" Adams shouted as Anderson sawed off the end of the last log. "Where is my cocaine?"
"I don't know Mr. Adams. It must still be in the camp."
Adams backhanded Anderson as he climbed down from the back of the truck. "I suggest that you get yourself back up that mountain and find that log. The buyer will be here in two hours and you had better be back here by then with the stuff."
Walker stopped the RAM at the entrance to the docks and pulled his weapon as he and Trivette got out. "There's Anderson." He said to Trivette.
As Anderson started to get into his rig, Walker jumped him. As a fight ensued between Walker and Anderson, Trivette went after Adams who had ran when he caught sight of Walker. Soon both suspects were subdued.
"Cooper, what are you doing here? Out for revenge for your brothers death?" Adams asked.
Walker pulled his badge. "The name's not Cooper, It's Walker, Ranger Walker and you're both under arrest." Walker handcuffed Anderson as Trivette cuffed Adams.
"Alright Adams, who's your buyer and when are they picking up?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Buyer for what?"
"For the cocaine." Trivette replied.
"I don't see any cocaine, do you?"
"Not here, but it was at the logging site and I have the pictures to prove it." Walker replied.
Anderson stared at Walker. "Jessup, was he a Ranger too?"
Walker nodded. "And you had better hope that he's OK, if not, I'm going to make your life a living hell for leaving the way you did knowing that he was injured."
Dallas PD arrived shortly and took Adams and Anderson into custody. Walker and Trivette returned to the logging camp to assist in the search for the drugs.
"Walker, what about the buyer?"
"I've got two unmarked cars staking out the docks. They may not show if they've got wind of any of this."
*****
After a lengthy examination in the Emergency Room, Dr. Yen approached Sydney in the waiting room. "Mrs. Gage?"
"Yes."
"I'm Dr. Yen. I've just finished examining your husband. He's bleeding pretty heavily internally. My guess is a ruptured spleen. We're prepping him for surgery now and if my speculation is correct, we'll be removing his spleen."
Sydney was trying to take all of Dr. Yen's words in. "Ahm, the spleen. It's a blood purifier right?"
"Yes. It assists the immune system."
"He'll be OK without it though, won't he?"
"He won't even miss it. Without it, he'll need a pneumonia inoculation each year and will need to see a doctor for things people with a spleen might consider mild.
Many people have had spleenectomies. If it is ruptured, it's the only choice we have. If we don't remove it, he'll bleed to death."
Sydney nodded. "What about his leg?"
"I have an orthopedic surgeon looking at him now. The break is about 2" about his knee. There seems to be a lot of muscle and tendon damage."
Sydney was having a difficult time hiding her emotions. "Dr. Yen, just take care of him, OK?"
Dr. Yen smiled. "Mrs. Gage, I'll do everything I can. Now, I need you to review and sign these papers so we can get him into surgery." Sydney began plowing through the forms.
*****
Trivette's cell phone rang again. "Hello." He answered. "Just a minute Alex." He handed the phone to Walker. "It's Alex."
"Walker. Adams and Anderson have been booked. I've got the pictures back from the mini camera you sent. This is definitely enough for a conviction, especially the pictures of the lab."
"That was Gage's idea."
"Well, it was a good one. We can now charge them with drug manufacturing as well as trafficking."
"Good. Trivette and I are almost at the logging camp. Alex, are you almost finished there?"
"Yes, why?"
"I though maybe you could go over to the hospital and check on Gage. Sydney's there by herself and, well." Walker paused.
"He's that bad?" Alex asked. "Walker, what happened?"
"A tree fell on him. I know that his leg is broken and by the time the firefighters got there, he was coughing up blood and running a fever." Walker paused again.
"Walker, what is it?"
"Nothing, I'll talk to you about it later. I love you Alex."
"I love you too." Walker handed the phone back to Trivette.
"Why didn't you tell her?" Trivette asked.
"Tell her what?"
"That Gage pushed you out of the way of the tree."
"I know Alex and I know she'll go over the entire scene in her mind and put herself in Sydney's place or worse. I would rather be there with her when she does that instead of miles away from her." Trivette nodded.
*****
Alex found Sydney sitting on the edge of the windowsill in the waiting room, staring out into the night. "Sydney." She said quietly
Sydney jumped. "Alex." Sydney stood and embraced her friend.
"Are you OK?" Sydney nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. "How's Gage?"
Sydney pursed her lips and tried to hold back the flood of tears welling up in her eyes. She swallowed hard and looked at Alex. "He's in surgery. The doctor thinks he has a ruptured spleen and if he does, they're going to remove it. He's lost so much blood already." Sydney stopped to try to recompose herself. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. "His left leg is broken pretty badly. The doctor said that the break is about 2" above his knee and has caused some muscle and tendon damage.
Alex hugged Sydney again. "Oh honey. I'm so sorry."
"Alex, it just seems so unfair. Gage and I should be leaving for our honeymoon in a few days, not laid up in a hospital watching him fight for his life." Sydney cried again.
Alex held her hand for awhile, then Sydney got up and started pacing again. "Sydney, pacing isn't going to make it go any faster."
"I have to do something. I can't stand just sitting here not knowing."
Alex nodded knowingly. "I've been in your shoes, remember? Maybe not with Walker as my husband, but I've been there. I know the worry and the dread that you're feeling."
Before Alex could say anything else, Dr. Yen appeared in the doorway. "Mrs. Gage?"
"Yes, Dr. Yen." Dr. Yen sat down with Sydney and Alex and explained everything that had gone on in the operating room.
"He's doing quite well considering." Dr. Yen explained. "We gave him three units of blood during the surgery. It was his spleen, so we removed it. He has four broken ribs all on the left side and a bruised sternum. His leg had a jagged break. Dr. Thomas was able to piece the bone back together and repair the tendon and muscle damage. Mr. Gage will be in a cast for 6-8 weeks."
"Can I see him?" Sydney asked.
"In a little while. He's in recovery now and we'll move him to a room on the fifth floor when he wakes up. We have him on a mild dose of morphine to ease his pain and discomfort so he will probably be a little out of it for a few days."
"Thank you doctor." Sydney smiled a little as the doctor left the waiting room.
*****
Walker searched the area where he and Gage had been just before the tree fell. "Gage was over by the tree, my guess is he sealed the hollow log and covered it." Walker moved some burnt debris from the side of a fallen log and checked the log carefully. "Trivette, bring me an axe." Trivette handed Walker a small axe and watched as he trimmed away the end of the log to reveal the bags of cocaine.
"There it is." Walker motioned for Hobbs and his crew to come over to his location. "Guys, shoot pictures of it in the log before you remove it. Then bag it all as evidence." Walker started towards the RAM.
"Walker? Aren't you going to stay until the scene is covered?" Trivette asked.
"No, Hobbs has it under control. I want to go check on Gage and see my wife."
"Do you mind if I tag along?" Walker shook his head.
*****
Walker and Trivette arrived at Methodist Hospital and found Sydney and Alex in the waiting room. Walker immediately took Alex in his arms and held her close. Sydney had to turn away so they wouldn't see the tears in her eyes.
"Sydney, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." Alex responded feeling a little guilty to be holding her husband in her arms. She noticed the tears streaming down Sydney's cheeks.
"It's OK. I just, I want so badly to be able to hold Gage and I still haven't been able to see him since he came out of surgery."
Walker sat down beside of Sydney. "How is he?"
Sydney wiped her eyes and told Walker and Trivette everything the Dr. Yen had told her. After she had finished, Walker closed his eyes for a moment. "How long has he been out of surgery?"
"A little over an hour." Sydney said as she glanced at her watch. "Walker, I know you said a tree fell on him, what happened?"
Walker got up and sat across from Sydney and Alex. "We went into the camp undercover as brothers. Gage came across with a bit of a smart mouth with an attitude, which was probably what got us in with Anderson in the first place. What we didn't count on was the fire. When it broke out, the camp was ordered to be evacuated.
Anderson had stashed about 100 kilos of cocaine in a hollow log and wanted Gage and I to stay behind and load it. Just as we finished loading, I noticed that the fire had jumped the line. Gage had just came back from putting the labels on the logs on the rig. He saw the tree behind me beginning to fall and before I knew what had hit me, I was on the ground and heard the tree fall. As soon as I regained my senses I turned to find Gage, that's when I found him under the tree.
Anderson seized the opportunity to take off in the rig, which was our only transportation down the mountain. I was able to cut the tree into small, moveable pieces and get it off of Gage, then got him up and headed towards the cabin. We didn't realize until we got there that that's where Anderson's lab was.
The fire eventually got too close to the cabin and we had to move. I set an explosion so the cabin would blow and increase the odds of someone finding us before it was too late." Walker looked at Sydney.
"Sydney, I am so sorry. I should have been paying closer attention. Maybe Gage shouldn't have gone with me undercover. Maybe . . ."
Sydney put her hand on Walker's knee. "Walker, it's OK. That sounds like something Gage would do and I'm sure if the tables had been turned, you would have done the same for him. You have nothing to feel guilty about."
A nurse came into the waiting room to find Sydney. "Mrs. Gage. Your husband is awake and asking for you." Sydney ran to the door and walked down the hall with the nurse.
Alex hugged Walker close. "Why didn't you tell me what happened."
"I needed to be with you when I told you."
"I'm so glad you're OK. I'm sorry Gage is hurt, but it could have just as easily been you."
*****
Sydney sat down beside of Gage's bed and gently took his right hand. He slowly opened his eyes and glared at her through a drug-induced haze. "Hey Syd."
"Hey yourself. How are feeling?"
Gage tried to keep his eyes opened, but the felt like two weights were on them. "I feel drunk."
Sydney smiled. "That's the pain medication."
"Why? I'm not in any pain." He slurred.
"You're not in any pain because you're on morphine."
"Oh. That makes sense, I think." Gage closed his eyes and was asleep in no time.
Sydney stayed by his bedside, holding his hand until Alex stepped inside and tapped her on the shoulder. "How is he?"
Sydney smiled. "He's OK. He's definitely not feeling any pain. Actually, he's not feeling much of anything. They've got him on morphine."
"Morphine?" Alex looked shocked.
"The doctor said he'll keep him on it for a couple of days to lessen the pain of his broken leg, then gradually bring him off of the pain killers and see what he can deal with." Sydney looked back at Gage who, at the moment, was sleeping peacefully.
"I'm afraid he has a long road ahead of him Alex."
"He'll have you by his side, Sydney. He'll be fine with a little time."
"I know."
*****
Six weeks later:
Sydney and Gage entered Ranger HQ. Gage was moving quite nicely on his crutches.
"Hey Gage, when do you get your cast off?"
"Probably another couple of weeks. Then I've got a lot of physical therapy ahead of me to get back to 100%."
Walker put his hand on Gage's shoulder. "You take all of the time that you need."
"Thanks Walker." Gage smiled.
"By the way, as soon as you're able, you and Sydney have a couple of weeks vacation coming to you."
"We do?" Gage asked.
"For your honeymoon."
"Walker, I've already been out of work for four weeks and I'll be out of the field for who knows how long, are you sure about vacation time?"
"I'm sure." Walker went back to his office for a moment, then stuck his head out again. "Gage, when you have a minute, could you hobble in here?"
Gage got up slowly and made his way to Walker's office.
"Close the door." Walker stated. Gage closed the door. "Gage, I just wanted to take a minute to thank you again for saving my life. I know that the past six weeks have been hell for you."
"Well, it hasn't been a walk in the park."
"I just wanted to thank you and let you know how much I admire you."
Gage sat in the chair with a stunned expression on his face. "You, admire me?"
"Yes. There aren't many men I know who would have done what you did. And fewer still who could go through the recovery you've been through and not try to place blame."
Gage smiled. "You forget, I still have physical therapy to go through."
"I haven't forgotten and any time you want help, you just ask me. When you're ready I'll be there to spar with you and get you back in top condition." Walker smiled. "I meant what I said about the vacation time too. You and Sydney need some time together. She's suffered through all of this with you, I know, I've seen her day in and day out. She needs a break and as soon as you're ready, just let me know and I'll arrange time off for both of you."
Gage got up to leave. "Thanks Walker. I'll let you know about the time off thing." Walker nodded and went back to his desk as Gage went back to his.
Sydney caught sight of Walker through the window of his office as Gage sat down at his desk and mouthed "Thank you." Walker nodded.
THE END
"Lumberjack" Chapter 3
by Lorrie
"Gage, don't you dare leave me!" Sydney said softly as she held Gage's hand gently and ran her fingers through his hair.
"Syd?" Gage whispered painfully.
"Shh. I'm right here."
"I'm s-sor-ry."
"For what baby?"
"Honeymoon, have . . . to . . . wait."
"Don't you worry about that. We can take our honeymoon anytime. You just concentrate on getting better, OK?" Gage nodded slightly in response as he closed his eyes.
"Mrs. Gage, we're three minutes out from Methodist." The EMT put his hand on Sydney's shoulder, then began taking Gage's vitals for the fourth time since their 30 minute flight began.
*****
Trivette's cell phone rang. "Jimmy, its Alex. Can I speak with Walker?" Trivette passed the phone to Walker.
"Walker." He answered.
"Oh, it is so good to hear your voice. Are you OK?"
"I'm fine Alex. How is Angela?"
"She's fine. She misses you and so do I. Jimmy told me about Gage earlier. How is he?"
"I don't know yet. They've taken him to Methodist and I'll stop by there as soon as we wrap things up. Did you get the warrants?"
"Yes and Hobbs has taken a squad to seal off the logging camp and begin the sweep for the cocaine."
"Good. Let Hobbs know that Trivette and I will meet him there as soon as we bring in Adams and Anderson."
*****
"Anderson!" Adams shouted as Anderson sawed off the end of the last log. "Where is my cocaine?"
"I don't know Mr. Adams. It must still be in the camp."
Adams backhanded Anderson as he climbed down from the back of the truck. "I suggest that you get yourself back up that mountain and find that log. The buyer will be here in two hours and you had better be back here by then with the stuff."
Walker stopped the RAM at the entrance to the docks and pulled his weapon as he and Trivette got out. "There's Anderson." He said to Trivette.
As Anderson started to get into his rig, Walker jumped him. As a fight ensued between Walker and Anderson, Trivette went after Adams who had ran when he caught sight of Walker. Soon both suspects were subdued.
"Cooper, what are you doing here? Out for revenge for your brothers death?" Adams asked.
Walker pulled his badge. "The name's not Cooper, It's Walker, Ranger Walker and you're both under arrest." Walker handcuffed Anderson as Trivette cuffed Adams.
"Alright Adams, who's your buyer and when are they picking up?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Buyer for what?"
"For the cocaine." Trivette replied.
"I don't see any cocaine, do you?"
"Not here, but it was at the logging site and I have the pictures to prove it." Walker replied.
Anderson stared at Walker. "Jessup, was he a Ranger too?"
Walker nodded. "And you had better hope that he's OK, if not, I'm going to make your life a living hell for leaving the way you did knowing that he was injured."
Dallas PD arrived shortly and took Adams and Anderson into custody. Walker and Trivette returned to the logging camp to assist in the search for the drugs.
"Walker, what about the buyer?"
"I've got two unmarked cars staking out the docks. They may not show if they've got wind of any of this."
*****
After a lengthy examination in the Emergency Room, Dr. Yen approached Sydney in the waiting room. "Mrs. Gage?"
"Yes."
"I'm Dr. Yen. I've just finished examining your husband. He's bleeding pretty heavily internally. My guess is a ruptured spleen. We're prepping him for surgery now and if my speculation is correct, we'll be removing his spleen."
Sydney was trying to take all of Dr. Yen's words in. "Ahm, the spleen. It's a blood purifier right?"
"Yes. It assists the immune system."
"He'll be OK without it though, won't he?"
"He won't even miss it. Without it, he'll need a pneumonia inoculation each year and will need to see a doctor for things people with a spleen might consider mild.
Many people have had spleenectomies. If it is ruptured, it's the only choice we have. If we don't remove it, he'll bleed to death."
Sydney nodded. "What about his leg?"
"I have an orthopedic surgeon looking at him now. The break is about 2" about his knee. There seems to be a lot of muscle and tendon damage."
Sydney was having a difficult time hiding her emotions. "Dr. Yen, just take care of him, OK?"
Dr. Yen smiled. "Mrs. Gage, I'll do everything I can. Now, I need you to review and sign these papers so we can get him into surgery." Sydney began plowing through the forms.
*****
Trivette's cell phone rang again. "Hello." He answered. "Just a minute Alex." He handed the phone to Walker. "It's Alex."
"Walker. Adams and Anderson have been booked. I've got the pictures back from the mini camera you sent. This is definitely enough for a conviction, especially the pictures of the lab."
"That was Gage's idea."
"Well, it was a good one. We can now charge them with drug manufacturing as well as trafficking."
"Good. Trivette and I are almost at the logging camp. Alex, are you almost finished there?"
"Yes, why?"
"I though maybe you could go over to the hospital and check on Gage. Sydney's there by herself and, well." Walker paused.
"He's that bad?" Alex asked. "Walker, what happened?"
"A tree fell on him. I know that his leg is broken and by the time the firefighters got there, he was coughing up blood and running a fever." Walker paused again.
"Walker, what is it?"
"Nothing, I'll talk to you about it later. I love you Alex."
"I love you too." Walker handed the phone back to Trivette.
"Why didn't you tell her?" Trivette asked.
"Tell her what?"
"That Gage pushed you out of the way of the tree."
"I know Alex and I know she'll go over the entire scene in her mind and put herself in Sydney's place or worse. I would rather be there with her when she does that instead of miles away from her." Trivette nodded.
*****
Alex found Sydney sitting on the edge of the windowsill in the waiting room, staring out into the night. "Sydney." She said quietly
Sydney jumped. "Alex." Sydney stood and embraced her friend.
"Are you OK?" Sydney nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. "How's Gage?"
Sydney pursed her lips and tried to hold back the flood of tears welling up in her eyes. She swallowed hard and looked at Alex. "He's in surgery. The doctor thinks he has a ruptured spleen and if he does, they're going to remove it. He's lost so much blood already." Sydney stopped to try to recompose herself. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. "His left leg is broken pretty badly. The doctor said that the break is about 2" above his knee and has caused some muscle and tendon damage.
Alex hugged Sydney again. "Oh honey. I'm so sorry."
"Alex, it just seems so unfair. Gage and I should be leaving for our honeymoon in a few days, not laid up in a hospital watching him fight for his life." Sydney cried again.
Alex held her hand for awhile, then Sydney got up and started pacing again. "Sydney, pacing isn't going to make it go any faster."
"I have to do something. I can't stand just sitting here not knowing."
Alex nodded knowingly. "I've been in your shoes, remember? Maybe not with Walker as my husband, but I've been there. I know the worry and the dread that you're feeling."
Before Alex could say anything else, Dr. Yen appeared in the doorway. "Mrs. Gage?"
"Yes, Dr. Yen." Dr. Yen sat down with Sydney and Alex and explained everything that had gone on in the operating room.
"He's doing quite well considering." Dr. Yen explained. "We gave him three units of blood during the surgery. It was his spleen, so we removed it. He has four broken ribs all on the left side and a bruised sternum. His leg had a jagged break. Dr. Thomas was able to piece the bone back together and repair the tendon and muscle damage. Mr. Gage will be in a cast for 6-8 weeks."
"Can I see him?" Sydney asked.
"In a little while. He's in recovery now and we'll move him to a room on the fifth floor when he wakes up. We have him on a mild dose of morphine to ease his pain and discomfort so he will probably be a little out of it for a few days."
"Thank you doctor." Sydney smiled a little as the doctor left the waiting room.
*****
Walker searched the area where he and Gage had been just before the tree fell. "Gage was over by the tree, my guess is he sealed the hollow log and covered it." Walker moved some burnt debris from the side of a fallen log and checked the log carefully. "Trivette, bring me an axe." Trivette handed Walker a small axe and watched as he trimmed away the end of the log to reveal the bags of cocaine.
"There it is." Walker motioned for Hobbs and his crew to come over to his location. "Guys, shoot pictures of it in the log before you remove it. Then bag it all as evidence." Walker started towards the RAM.
"Walker? Aren't you going to stay until the scene is covered?" Trivette asked.
"No, Hobbs has it under control. I want to go check on Gage and see my wife."
"Do you mind if I tag along?" Walker shook his head.
*****
Walker and Trivette arrived at Methodist Hospital and found Sydney and Alex in the waiting room. Walker immediately took Alex in his arms and held her close. Sydney had to turn away so they wouldn't see the tears in her eyes.
"Sydney, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." Alex responded feeling a little guilty to be holding her husband in her arms. She noticed the tears streaming down Sydney's cheeks.
"It's OK. I just, I want so badly to be able to hold Gage and I still haven't been able to see him since he came out of surgery."
Walker sat down beside of Sydney. "How is he?"
Sydney wiped her eyes and told Walker and Trivette everything the Dr. Yen had told her. After she had finished, Walker closed his eyes for a moment. "How long has he been out of surgery?"
"A little over an hour." Sydney said as she glanced at her watch. "Walker, I know you said a tree fell on him, what happened?"
Walker got up and sat across from Sydney and Alex. "We went into the camp undercover as brothers. Gage came across with a bit of a smart mouth with an attitude, which was probably what got us in with Anderson in the first place. What we didn't count on was the fire. When it broke out, the camp was ordered to be evacuated.
Anderson had stashed about 100 kilos of cocaine in a hollow log and wanted Gage and I to stay behind and load it. Just as we finished loading, I noticed that the fire had jumped the line. Gage had just came back from putting the labels on the logs on the rig. He saw the tree behind me beginning to fall and before I knew what had hit me, I was on the ground and heard the tree fall. As soon as I regained my senses I turned to find Gage, that's when I found him under the tree.
Anderson seized the opportunity to take off in the rig, which was our only transportation down the mountain. I was able to cut the tree into small, moveable pieces and get it off of Gage, then got him up and headed towards the cabin. We didn't realize until we got there that that's where Anderson's lab was.
The fire eventually got too close to the cabin and we had to move. I set an explosion so the cabin would blow and increase the odds of someone finding us before it was too late." Walker looked at Sydney.
"Sydney, I am so sorry. I should have been paying closer attention. Maybe Gage shouldn't have gone with me undercover. Maybe . . ."
Sydney put her hand on Walker's knee. "Walker, it's OK. That sounds like something Gage would do and I'm sure if the tables had been turned, you would have done the same for him. You have nothing to feel guilty about."
A nurse came into the waiting room to find Sydney. "Mrs. Gage. Your husband is awake and asking for you." Sydney ran to the door and walked down the hall with the nurse.
Alex hugged Walker close. "Why didn't you tell me what happened."
"I needed to be with you when I told you."
"I'm so glad you're OK. I'm sorry Gage is hurt, but it could have just as easily been you."
*****
Sydney sat down beside of Gage's bed and gently took his right hand. He slowly opened his eyes and glared at her through a drug-induced haze. "Hey Syd."
"Hey yourself. How are feeling?"
Gage tried to keep his eyes opened, but the felt like two weights were on them. "I feel drunk."
Sydney smiled. "That's the pain medication."
"Why? I'm not in any pain." He slurred.
"You're not in any pain because you're on morphine."
"Oh. That makes sense, I think." Gage closed his eyes and was asleep in no time.
Sydney stayed by his bedside, holding his hand until Alex stepped inside and tapped her on the shoulder. "How is he?"
Sydney smiled. "He's OK. He's definitely not feeling any pain. Actually, he's not feeling much of anything. They've got him on morphine."
"Morphine?" Alex looked shocked.
"The doctor said he'll keep him on it for a couple of days to lessen the pain of his broken leg, then gradually bring him off of the pain killers and see what he can deal with." Sydney looked back at Gage who, at the moment, was sleeping peacefully.
"I'm afraid he has a long road ahead of him Alex."
"He'll have you by his side, Sydney. He'll be fine with a little time."
"I know."
*****
Six weeks later:
Sydney and Gage entered Ranger HQ. Gage was moving quite nicely on his crutches.
"Hey Gage, when do you get your cast off?"
"Probably another couple of weeks. Then I've got a lot of physical therapy ahead of me to get back to 100%."
Walker put his hand on Gage's shoulder. "You take all of the time that you need."
"Thanks Walker." Gage smiled.
"By the way, as soon as you're able, you and Sydney have a couple of weeks vacation coming to you."
"We do?" Gage asked.
"For your honeymoon."
"Walker, I've already been out of work for four weeks and I'll be out of the field for who knows how long, are you sure about vacation time?"
"I'm sure." Walker went back to his office for a moment, then stuck his head out again. "Gage, when you have a minute, could you hobble in here?"
Gage got up slowly and made his way to Walker's office.
"Close the door." Walker stated. Gage closed the door. "Gage, I just wanted to take a minute to thank you again for saving my life. I know that the past six weeks have been hell for you."
"Well, it hasn't been a walk in the park."
"I just wanted to thank you and let you know how much I admire you."
Gage sat in the chair with a stunned expression on his face. "You, admire me?"
"Yes. There aren't many men I know who would have done what you did. And fewer still who could go through the recovery you've been through and not try to place blame."
Gage smiled. "You forget, I still have physical therapy to go through."
"I haven't forgotten and any time you want help, you just ask me. When you're ready I'll be there to spar with you and get you back in top condition." Walker smiled. "I meant what I said about the vacation time too. You and Sydney need some time together. She's suffered through all of this with you, I know, I've seen her day in and day out. She needs a break and as soon as you're ready, just let me know and I'll arrange time off for both of you."
Gage got up to leave. "Thanks Walker. I'll let you know about the time off thing." Walker nodded and went back to his desk as Gage went back to his.
Sydney caught sight of Walker through the window of his office as Gage sat down at his desk and mouthed "Thank you." Walker nodded.
THE END