This story is based on the characters of the TV series Walker, Texas Rangers. They belong to CBS Productions, Kick Top Productions, etc. I have no claim to them. But the story is mine. All disclaimers apply. No copyright infringement is intended.
Outside the Dallas School for the Deaf
As Gage and Sydney walked out of the school, she had to ask. "Did you get a good luck at the guy?"
"No, Syd, I didn't…he was all the way across the room, I wasn't really paying attention, and he had some hat on, a Cowboys hat I think. It's all my fault, Syd. He called out to Billy, if he'd really known him, he wouldn't have done that."
"Aww Gage, you said yourself that Billy ran to him and hugged him. You couldn't have known that he wasn't supposed to go see his dad. You can't blame yourself."
"Yeah, but if I'd checked it out, maybe he'd still be safe right now."
"You don't know that he isn't safe Gage, he's probably just fine. You heard her; there wasn't any sign of abuse or anything."
"Then why did Billy's mom get full custody, hunh?"
"Well let's go ask her, get in, I'm still driving."
Ranger Headquarters
"Well that didn't do us much, now did it? She doesn't know where her husband is, he doesn't have a record of any kind, and the last she knew, he was staying at a friend's place, so we can't get an address. Either this guy is really smart about not being found, or he's the world's luckiest guy."
"Gage, calm down, we'll find Billy, and he'll be okay. She didn't blame you for this, she said so herself. You've gotta stop beating yourself up about this."
"I know, but I keep thinking that if only I'd looked more carefully at the guy, or asked Billy who he was or something. . . damn it, I don't know, but he trusts me, and I gotta find him, Syd, I just have to!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, what's going on in here, Gage?" Walker asked from the door. He'd walked in as Gage had slammed his fist down on his desk.
The two Gages explained the situation, and Walker said he'd look into it too, and do what he could. Then, seeing Gage's face, sent the two junior rangers home for the day.
"Sydney, hold up a second."
"All right, Gage, I'll meet you at the car. You can think of what you're gonna cook for dinner tonight. But, and I'm loving this, I'm driving, so don't even think about it. I'll be right down."
"All right, Syd, see you in a few."
"Yeah, Walker?"
"I know I probably don't have to tell you this, but keep an eye on him. Since I've known him, he's tried to protect everyone he can. He doesn't know how to fail at that, and this is going to hit him hard. It'll probably hit him harder later on, when he's had more time to think about it. Just watch out for him, and be there for him."
"I will, Walker, I will."
Warehouse district, Downtown Dallas
"Tommy, you in here? Tommy? Hello?"
"Geez, Mike what are you doing here, I told you not to come here. . . wait, who's the kid?"
"This is Billy, my son. I know you said that if I ever needed to get out of the country for a while you could arrange it. Well, Toms, I need to get out of the country, and fast. I think a ranger knows I've got Billy, and I don't wanna lose him."
"A ranger, hunh? Boy, Mike, you sure know how to pick them. I think I can manage something for you. What's this ranger look like?"
"Tall, blonde and blue, looks like he'd kick my ass if he wanted to. Name's Gage, or something like that, I guess he knows Billy."
"Ranger Gage, sounds like the guy I beat out of the warehouse earlier today. You're right; he could kick you up and down Dallas. I'm just glad I got out of here before he caught up to me. He took care of a couple. . . umm. . . friends of mine today real easily. I think I can take care of your problem for you, in fact, I'd be glad to. . . "
The Gage household
"Sydney, where's the. . . uhh. . . you know. . . that spice stuff. . . what's it called?"
"You better not be making a mess of my kitchen in there. What are you making anyway?"
"Do you really want to know? You sure you don't want to go out for dinner. . . Syd?"
"No I do not want to go out for dinner," she said as she walked into the kitchen to survey the damage.
To her surprise, there wasn't any mess, and Gage was smiling that All-American smile that she'd fallen in love with the day they'd met. Instead, there was an aroma in the air of lightly spiced chicken from the oven, peas and carrots in the microwave, and rolls warming on the stovetop.
"Gage, how. . . what. . . but. . . That smells great!"
"Aww, it's nothing, Julie taught me a while ago, and I've been waiting to try out her recipe." He looked down at the floor, and Syd had to wonder what was going through his head at that instant. She slid forward and embraced him, hoping that whatever it was, she could make the hurt go away, enough so that he'd be okay.
He hugged her back, and, after kissing her forehead, rested his chin on her head. As she felt the solitary tear that escaped his façade of strength fall into her hair, she held him tighter, accidentally making him gasp as his ribs screamed at her gesture.
"Oh, Gage, I'm sorry, I forgot. Let me see those ribs of yours."
"They're fine Syd," he said, pulling away carefully. "I swear, they're just sore, I'm all right. And we don't want the chicken burn do we?"
She looked at him skeptically, he sounded like their 4 year old, Taylor, did when he'd broken something and didn't want mom and dad to know. Taylor was off visiting her mother and brothers for the week. Sydney didn't, however, want to bruise his pride anymore, and figured that if they got really bad, he'd let her know.
"Okay, mister, but if. . . "
"I know Syd, I will."
"You'd better, now is that chicken anywhere near done?"
"Patience my love, patience. It's almost ready. Do you want to set the table, or is that part of this deal too?" Gone was that momentary glimpse of his invincibility, replaced again with his smile.
"I'll go set the table, and then I'm going to call mom to say hi to Tay."
"All right, Shorty. I'll call you when dinner's ready. Tell the little monster I said hi, and I miss him."
"I can do better than that," she said a minute later with her ear to the phone, "someone wants to talk to you." She hoped that the sound of his son could lighten Gage's mood.
After talking to Taylor, however, Gage seemed more withdrawn and perspective than he had been, and it worried Sydney. It seemed that his cherub only reminded him more of Billy.
"Gage, honey, come watch a movie with me," coaxed Syd, hoping to distract Gage.
"All right, what do you want to watch?"
"It doesn't matter. Let's just see what's on."
He came and sat down on the corner of the couch, letting her lie up against his side, in attempt to prove that his ribs really were okay. Syd, who had ulterior motives, slowly unbuttoned his shirt and lay against his hard stomach. In the light of the room, she could see the deep bruises that he had been hiding from her, obviously not wanting her to worry.
"Gage. . . " she sat up quickly to confront and comfort him, but his head was resting against the back of the couch. Sydney smiled, it was so like him to fall asleep that quickly when she was there. She lay back down carefully, and they woke up there the next morning.
Warehouse District
"So, Mike, are you sure you're ready for this? Once you start, there's no going back."
"If it gets this ranger out of my hair and Billy's life, then I'm all for it. So what's the plan?"
"Well, I'll bring you across the border after we deal with this Gage feller, and then that's it, you're on your own. Whatever you do after that is up to you, and we're even. None of this ever happened, and I'm one of Billy's uncles if he ever identifies me. Understood?"
"Yeah, sure Tommy, and you want nothing else in return, right? There isn't going to be something held over my head after right?"
"No, I'm returning you a favor, and this ranger problem is free of charge. He's messing with my business, and I want him and his partner out of it. If this works, they'll both be too preoccupied with things to bother me and my operation."
Headquarters
"Well, Gage, you look a little better today than you did. Feeling any better?"
"Yeah, Trivette, I feel fine, thanks. . . What, Syd?"
"Nothing, nothing at all," he didn't know, of course, that she'd seen his ribs, and she didn't want to bring him down any further.
"Well, Walker wants you to catch up on your paperwork today. . . I think that he wants to know if you still have a desk under there or if it's all files."
"All right, all right, I get the point already. You don't want to help, do you Shorty?"
"Not on your life, Francis. . . this is your mess, and you get to be stuck here cleaning it up."
"Aww, all right, you go have fun. . . or something like that."
"Fine then, maybe I will!" They both laughed, knowing that at one point they really did sound like that.
"Well, Sydney, you're gonna get your wish to give Gage some peace and quiet. Seems ole Tommy is up to it again. Maybe we'll get him today."
"Where's Walker today?"
"Angela had a doctor's appointment and Alex is in court. He'll be in later to keep you company Gage, don't worry." They walked out the door laughing.
Gage out on his headphones and sat down to tackle the mountain that was his desk and back reports that had to be finished. With his back to the door, he didn't hear the deliveryman come in, and only stood to intercept the tire iron aimed at his head when his danger sense kicked in. Turning, he deflected the iron, only to have it catch him in the ribs.
As he doubled over, he tried to catch his attacker by surprise, and looked up into Tommy's eyes. That was the last thing he saw as the tire iron met with its original target, and Gage slumped down in back of his desk wondering if Syd was okay as blackness engulfed him.