Part 5
DFW Airport 6:45 AM.
"Gordon," Trivette called seeing Alex's father come through the gate his flight right on time. Gordon Cahill looked up and seeing Jimmy Trivette walked right over to him.
"How is she Jimmy?" the man asked trying unsuccessfully to mask his anger and worry over his only child being harmed.
"I talked with Walker this morning he says there isn't much change from yesterday. She's resting comfortably."
"Jimmy just exactly what happened," Gordon asked laying his hand on Trivette's arm stopping him as they walked through the busy airport.
Turning to looking at the elder man he asked, "What did Walker tell you?"
"Only that she had been attacked and you had the bastard in custody," Gordon replied through gritted teeth.
"Let's get out of here then we can talk," Trivette said his eyes meeting Gordon's.
Nodding his head in agreement the two men continued out of the crowded airport to Trivette's car. As he wheeled out of the parking and into the busy traffic he began to explain the events that brought them to the attack finishing with the doctor wanting her family and friends talking to her to coax her to wake up.
Gordon had silently sat there digesting every detail staring out the car window as the traffic whizzed past. He remained silent for several minutes after Trivette finished speaking trying hard to keep his emotions out of things until he was able to turn and say to Jimmy, "It happened because she was there and she was blonde."
It was Trivette's turn to fight his emotions back, he concentrated on his driving and the traffic as he answered Alex's father, "That's about it in a nutshell."
Both men now lapsed into silence, into their own thoughts for the remainder of the trip to the hospital.
Sydney and Gage's 6:54 AM.
The door to Sydney and Gage's bedroom silently opened a small crack just enough for a pair of eyes to look in and survey the room. She could see Sydney laying curled up on her side her back towards her husband who in turn was curled around her holding her as they both slept.
The small figure tapped gently on the door and seeing neither her mother nor her father move decided what she had to say was important and moved to her mother's side.
"Mommy."
"Umm," Syd stirred slightly.
"Mommy wake up I need to talk to you," Piper's persistent little voice said.
Sydney opened her eyes trying to let them fix on her daughter. "Piper what is it?" she asked trying to move Gage's arm without waking him.
"I think you should come talk to Angela she's crying," Piper explained to her mother. The child's words quickly bringing yesterdays events back to Syd.
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes Sydney sat up not moving for a moment hoping to escape the round of morning sickness she had been having the past few days. Feeling pretty good she pulled back the covers a little further and stood up saying to Piper, "snuggle under the covers with Daddy for a minute while I go talk to Angela."
Jumping at the chance to cuddle with her father Piper dove into the bed Syd smiling and pulling the covers up around both of them. Putting her arms through the sleeves of her robe Syd started down the hall towards Piper's room tying the belt as she walked.
Opening the door to her daughter's room Syd very carefully picked her way through trying hard not to trip on some of the toys and clothes she knew Piper would have strewn on the floor. Smiling she put her hand on her tummy and thought I hope that this one doesn't inherit this trait for clutter that Gage and Piper have.
Reaching the bed Syd sat down on it softly asking, "Angela Honey are you all right?"
"Yes," the child replied without turning over.
"Are you sure?" Syd persisted laying her hand on her small shoulder.
Immediately Angela turned flinging herself in Syd's arms and crying, "Oh Aunt Sydney I just want to see my Mom, I just want everything to be all right and everything to be like it was before Danny came along."
Sydney hadn't quite been ready for the last part of this revelation. She never would have guessed that Angela would blame Danny for what had happened to her Mother. Reaching over Syd turned on the small bedside lamp and gently wiped a tear from Angela's face before she began.
"First Angela you have to believe that your Mom is going to be all right. She needs us all to believe that for her." The little girl nodded her head slightly in agreement.
"I'm going to be talking with your Dad some time today," Syd continued, "I know that he wants to see you and he will be able to let you know when you can see your Mom better then I can." Again Angela nodded.
"As far as Danny Angela we can't blame what happened to your Mom on Danny."
"But if she hadn't gone to Danny's place none of this would have happened and she wouldn't have got hurt. I hate Danny," she distraughtly cried throwing herself into Sydney's arms again.
Sydney let Angela cry out all her tears unaware that what they were saying was being heard by Danny as he stood outside Piper's door having heard Piper get up and Sydney come back to Piper's room.
"Angela I can't believe that you hate anyone," Syd started out. "What I believe is that everything happens to us for a reason. I think Danny has come into your life for a reason just as much as I believe that your Mom was hurt for a reason. Do you think your Mom and Dad blame Danny for what happened?"
Angela thought for a moment before answering, "No."
"Do you really think because Danny hasn't had as nice a life as you that this is his fault?"
"No, but Aunt Sydney everything was great before Danny came along," she again pleaded her case.
"Did you ever think that everything was horrible for Danny until you guys came along?" Sydney countered. "What I think is that everyone has to work together to get along and help your Mom get better as soon as she can."
Thinking a few minutes Angela finally shook her head in agreement. "I don't hate Danny," she finally admitted.
"I didn't think so," Sydney smiled at her, "How bout you get dressed and ready for breakfast?"
"Okay," she agreed as Syd stood to leave.
~~~~~
Danny was just pulling his T-shirt over his head as Chris opened his eyes. "What are you doing?" he asked knowing his Mom hadn't woke him up yet.
"I got to go Chris," Danny replied picking up the new knapsack Alex had bought for him.
"Go where?" Chris asked still half asleep.
"I don't know just away," Danny whispered trying hard to keep the tears from his voice.
"Okay Danny," Chris said laying his head down his eyes closing again.
Danny slipped out the bedroom door narrowly missing Syd as she emerged from Piper's room to go back to her own. Quietly he made his way to the back door and turning the lock let himself out disappearing from sight.
~~~~~
The alarm began to sound just as Sydney opened the bedroom door Piper giving a loud shriek at the same time the alarm startling her and Gage sitting straight up in bed from the commotion. Making a quick grab for the clock Gage shut it off falling back on the pillows as Piper took the opportunity to climb on her father's chest. Taking her little hands she placed one on each cheek and squeezing them together murmured, "morning Daddy." Then leaning down she kissed him.
"Morning Piper," he managed back trying to get his bearings at the same time, trying to figure out what he had missed, where his wife was and why Piper was sitting on his chest.
"Syd?" he called out hoping she was close by.
"Okay Piper go get dressed," she said sending her daughter from the room.
"Aww," Piper returned climbing down off of her father and out of the bed.
Gage turned to lean on his elbow watching her go catching sight of Sydney at the same time waiting for the explanation of what was going on. She took a step towards the bed wanting nothin more then to snuggle in his arms for a few minutes when a bout of nausea hit her and she beelined into the bathroom instead.
Throwing back the covers Gage followed Syd into the bathroom and helping her up put his arms around her to hold her close to him. "Our new daughter all ready giving you a hard time Honey?" he asked helping her back over the bed to lie down.
"What do you mean daughter?" she asked catching his words as he pulled the covers around her.
Gage didn't have a chance to answer all three children were banging on their door and shouting at once as they burst inside.
"One at a time," Gage was shouting above them as they began to quiet. Looking at his son he asked, "Chris?"
"Danny is gone," he excitedly exclaimed.
Memorial Hospital 8:16 AM.
The hospital was all ready alive with activity by the time Gordon Cahill pushed open the door to his daughter's room. A nurse was taking her vital signs as Walker stood silently by watching. He turned as Gordon entered with his partner walking towards him nodding his greeting.
"Walker how is she this morning?" Gordon all but whispered to his son-in-law.
"About the same," Walker confirmed wishing he had better news for both him and Alex's Dad.
Cahill squeezed his eyes closed as if drawing on an inner strength he had stored down deep inside of him. Walker put his hand on the man's shoulder while Gordon rested his hand on Walker's arm and they stood there for a moment this being as close to an embrace that either man could allow without breaking down.
The nurse finished up allowing Gordon to slowly walk to his daughter's bedside. Reaching down he took Alex's hand in his and with tears in his eyes exclaimed, "Oh Alex I'm so sorry this had to happen to you Honey. I'd give anything to be able to take your place… They tell me that we all have to stay strong and that you like to hear our voices." He paused for a moment bringing her fingers to his lips and gently kissed them. "I only hope you don't get tired of mine cause I'm going to talk your ear off if that's what it takes." Alex showed no sign that she new her father had even entered the room let alone spoke to her.
Trivette's phone suddenly rang excusing himself he walked into the hall to answer it. Going up behind Gordon Walker once again rested his hand on the man's shoulder. "I'll just be outside with Trivette."
"Okay," he nodded back his eyes never leaving Alex.
With the door closed behind him Walker over heard his partner as he spoke into his phone, "He's got to be there some where how far could he have gotten? I'll be there shortly Gage we'll find him all right?"
Trivette hung up the phone turning to see his partner standing there. Walker's eyes trained on him, as he asked, "Who couldn't have gotten to far?"
There was no way around it Trivette had to tell him what was going on. "Danny is missing. Angela was upset this morning and wanted Alex and you. She told Sydney she thought it was all Danny's fault and they think Danny overheard the conversation. Syd got Angela calmed down but sometime in the next few minutes Danny slipped out of the house. Angela thinks it's all her fault now."
"Give me a minute Trivette I'll go with you," Walker told him slipping back into Alex's room to tell Gordon what was going on and he was stepping out for a while to see to Angela and hopefully Danny.
"Take as long as you need Walker," Gordon responded still holding tight to his daughter's hand as a frown suddenly came across Alex's face.
Sydney and Gage's 9:21 AM.
Erica had just returned to help with the search after dropping Angela and the Gage kids at school. Gage was all ready looking on foot in one direction and Syd was about to head out the opposite way.
"Angela is pretty upset over things," she reported to Syd as she joined her on a foot search of the neighbour's yards in the block.
"This whole thing has been so hard on Angela," Sydney agreed knocking on the next door again not finding Danny and moving on to the next home.
"And poor little Danny I can't even begin to imagine… Sydney what's the matter?" Erica asked watching Syd glance over her shoulder for yet a third time since they had started.
"Does that van look at all familiar to you?" Syd questioned Erica.
"No should it?" Erica answered with a question.
"No just keep walking I think it's following us," Syd told her pulling her phone out to call Gage. She hadn't even finished dialling when the van shot ahead of them jumping the curb stopping right in front of them. Trevor Ross was out in a second making a lunge at Erica getting his arm around her neck pulling her towards the open door of the van. The driver was out of the vehicle too pointing a gun at Sydney as Ross shouted, "You get my boy back and you can have your Hope Center lady back."
"Ross you don't want to do this," Syd was shouting back catching sight of her boss' ram coming down the street.
Walker was out of the truck and flying at the gunman feet first knocking the man hard into the front of the van his gun flying. He turned quickly swinging wildly at Walker who brought his foot into the man's gut finishing him with a quick blow to the face.
Trivette had come around behind the van as Walker hit Ross' buddy it startled him enough that Jimmy was able to get his arm around Ross' throat. "I'll snap your neck if you don't let the lady go."
Ross stood his ground until Trivette began to squeeze a little tighter and thinking better of it let Erica go. Sydney went to her side putting her arm around her friend as they watched Jimmy snap the cuffs on Ross the second time in two days.
"This isn't over yet I'll be out on bail in a few hours…" Ross was screaming as Trivette dragged him to the other side of van silencing him with a punch to the side of the head.
~~~~~
Deciding that he was getting nowhere fast on foot Gage had come back to the house to get the car. He ducked inside for a moment to grab his keys from the counter, everything looked as they had left it remnants of the scant breakfast the kids had eaten still on the table as Syd had hurriedly got them ready for Erica to pick up. He absently pushed the fridge door closed and turned to leave Buddy barking at his heels. Try as he might to get past the family pet Buddy would not give up.
"Could you give me a break Buddy," Gage yelled frustrated by the barking and the dog trying to get out ahead of him. As he opened the door the Border collie shot out ahead of him. "Come back here," Gage called as the dog raced down the side of the house stopping at the side door of the garage scratching wildly on it.
Grabbing the dog's collar Gage tried to pull the dog back towards the house. Buddy was undaunted he broke loose of Gage and went right back to the door barking wildly and jumping against it.
"All right, all right what is it?" Gage finally asked the dog opening the door and peering inside the dark structure. Reaching out Gage felt the rough wall until he hit the light switch and flipped it on. Sydney was right he really had to clean this out he thought to himself looking over the sea of clutter.
The mess didn't stop Buddy he was in like a flash weaving his way through until he found who he was looking for.
"Shh Buddy," Gage heard Danny's small voice and made his way to it.
"Hey Danny," Gage smiled Buddy was sitting on top of the child licking his face. Squatting down he brushed the dog off Danny and helped him to his feet.
"Are you mad at me Ranger Gage?" Danny asked not looking up from the floor to face him.
"I'm not mad Danny but I sure was plenty worried about you just like everyone else was and still is we better go tell them you've been found," he said lifting the boy into his arms.
"Ranger Gage I didn't mean to make Mrs. Walker get hurt," Danny cried out tears in his eyes.
Gage stopped inside the garage doorway and smiling at the boy he said, "you know Danny you sound just like Ranger Cooke. She thought she should have told Mrs. Walker she couldn't go but you know what you were both wrong. I saw the guy whose fault it was he almost got me too if it hadn't been for Ranger Walker."
"But Angela said…"
"You know," Gage said thoughtfully, "there are times when we are really upset we say things we really don't mean. Heck I even have those times Piper and Chris sure know that. I had a chance to talk to Angela this morning she felt really bad that you left. She thinks she may have hurt your feelings when she was crying this morning when she was upset. I know she feels pretty bad about things."
Buddy suddenly stood staring at the open door letting his low growl turn into a friendly bark as Walker stuck his head around the door quickly reaching for the child. He hugged the boy to him Danny's little arms going around Walker's neck too.
"Are you mad?" Danny asked Walker he had Gage's assurances but he just had to know that Ranger Walker wasn't mad at him.
"No Danny I was just so worried about you that's all," he replied hugging the boy close again.
"That's what Ranger Gage said that everyone one was just worried."
"Uncle Gage would know he has worried us a time or two himself," Walker smiled not even noticing that he had addressed Gage as Uncle to Danny. It did not go unnoticed by Uncle Gage or his other three friends as they all smiled among themselves.
"Trivette you think you can get a ride back to headquarters?" Walker was asking as he walked towards his truck. "I'm going to pick up Angela and take them over to be with Alex."
"No problem Walker," Trivette said smiling a bittersweet smile.