Chapter 3

Evil Surrounds Evil Takes Hold

The doorbell sounded with around of I'll get its coming from the children as Gage called out, "Everyone sit down I'll get it." Giving Syd another hug he left her standing there to see who was at the door.

Sydney stood a moment looking at her reflection in the mirror. She could see the bruises and abrasions on her face that Shaw had inflected so many years ago. She could hear his cruel voice, "I'll teach you to disobey me, no man will ever look at you except for me." She flinched feeling his fist pummelled into her face once again. She could feel her stomach turning, the room spinning as the horrors came back to be relived.

"Mommy."

Piper's voice brought Syd back to the present.

"Mommy are you okay?" she asked walking into the room where her mother was standing.

"I'm fine Pipe," Syd lied trying to hide her feelings.

Going to her Mom Piper threw her arms around her waist and held tight. "Derek really wasn't your friend was he?" she asked.

Syd closed her eyes holding her daughter tightly to her before she spoke. "No Honey he's not my friend. I knew him a very long time ago even before I knew Daddy. He wasn't very nice to me then and I don't think he is here to be nice to me now."

She squatted down in front of her daughter so she could look into her face, "Derek was my boyfriend once and he was mean like Hunter was to Anna B. I got away from him and got him out of my life and he stayed away for a long time. For some reason he thinks he can come back into my life but I'm not going to let him. Daddy is going to help me and we are going to let him know we don't want to see him and we don't want him going near you guys. If he comes to the HOPE Center or to school I want you to go and get somebody right away. Can you promise me?"

Piper shook her head yes throwing her arms around Sydney's neck in a hug. Softly she whispered to her mother, "I love you Mommy."

"Mommy Anna B is here," Cat yelled as she burst into the room where Piper and Syd were. Seeing her mom and sister in a hug Cat ran to them joining in.

"Hi Puss," Syd smiled at her youngest taking her in her arms as well. It never ceased to amaze her how the children could lift her spirits. "Anna B is here?" she asked as Cat giggled.

"Yeah she's talking to Daddy and Chris," the child got out still giggling.

"We had better get out there before she thinks we don't like her," Syd exclaimed taking both girls' hands and leading them down the hall towards the family room.

"Hey Sydney," Anna B smiled catching sight of her friend with the kids. "Gage was saying that you guys looked after Hunter, thank you so much." She had gotten up throwing both arms around Syd's neck as she had Gage's when she got there.

The doorbell rang for a second time that evening and excusing himself Gage went to answer it. Cat followed him out so she could be the first to come back and report who it was.

"Anna B," Syd addressed her, "The phone calls should stop but if there is any thing out of the ordinary Gage and I want to know.

She shook her head in agreement just as Cat rushed back in yelling, "Its Summer."

"Sumner Honey," Syd corrected as Matt and Gage appeared in the doorway. To which Cat laughed as she stood in front of Matt reaching up to be picked up. He obliged her swinging her up to his shoulder.

Anna B who had been staring at Sumner let her eyes travel to Gage as she cleared her throat rather loudly.

"Something I can help you with?" he teased.

"Gage," she exclaimed through clenched teeth.

"Oh," he exaggerated, "Anna B this is Ranger Matt Sumner, Sumner this is a good friend of ours Annabelle McMurtrie but we call her Anna B."

"Nice to meet you," Matt smiled reaching out his hand.

"Me too," she smiled back taking his hand in hers.

"Gage can I see you for a minute?" Sumner asked turning to his boss and nodding towards the other room.

"Yeah sure," Gage replied giving Syd a quick look before turning to go into the study with Sumner

As the door clicked shut Anna B turned to Syd grasping her hands. "Sydney he's gorgeous, tell me all about him, is he married? Does he have a girlfriend? Does he work with you and Gage?"

Syd hardly heard anything her eyes were fixed on the study door wondering what Sumner had to tell Gage.

"Syd!" she exclaimed grabbing hold of Sydney's hands bring her attention back to herself.

"Yeah what?" Syd asked turning back to the young girl.

"Sydney what's the matter?" Anna B asked.

Syd didn't have time to answer the door to the study opened and Gage motioned her over. "What is it?" she asked closing the door behind her.

"Sumner found Derek," Gage told her.

"Let's go then," Syd retorted all ready standing.

"Syd I want you to stay here Sumner and I'll go talk to him."

"No way Gage," Syd started.

"Sumner can you give us a minute?" Gage asked and Sumner nodded letting himself out.

"Don't pull this on me Gage," Syd started as soon as the door closed.

"I'm not pulling anything Syd I want you here with the kids. We know that there is a connection between Shaw and Blake and that it is probably a lot deeper rooted. Syd they have all ready contacted the kids," he finished putting his arms around her.

After thinking a moment Syd looked into his eyes, "Why is it you always make such a good case?"

"We won't be long Hon," he smiled kissing her forehead then headed to join Sumner.

Sydney sat staring after Gage until Chris peeked his head in. "Are we going to have dessert Mom?" he asked.

"Sure ask Anna B if she would like some ice cream too," Syd replied trying hard to focus her attention on the kids. "Give me a couple of minutes to clear off the table," she told them as she headed towards the kitchen.

"Okay Mom," Chris called back and Anna B got up to follow.

"Sydney is something the matter?" Anna B asked hoping she hadn't inadvertently done something to upset her friend.

"No… no everything is fine," she replied going about the task of clearing away the dishes.

"It doesn't seem fine," Anna B persisted thinking Sydney was more together when the house blew up.

"It's just a case that has come up," Syd tried to brush it off. "Let it go Anna B really I'm fine just a little preoccupied by it that's all."

"All right if you say so," Anna B agreed not completely convinced. "Ice cream guys," she shouted for the kids.

Wrangler's Watering Hole

Sumner's informant had lead them to a dive bar downtown called the Wrangler's Watering Hole. The place was about half full, loud and noisy when the two rangers entered. Scanning the room Gage caught sight of Shaw coming on to some girl he was sitting beside at the bar. He nodded slightly to Sumner and they proceeded over to where Shaw sat. Gage came up behind him letting Sumner get in his face.

"Excuse us Miss," Matt addressed the girl, "but we have ranger business with your boyfriend here."

"Hey I just met the guy," she retorted picking up her drink and vacating the seat which Sumner conveniently took.

"Hey who the hell do you think you are?" Shaw yelled out at Sumner as he stood up ready for a fight only to have Gage's hand clamp down on his shoulder.

"Take it easy Derek we only came to give you some friendly advice," Sumner told him.

Catching sight of Gage a nasty grin came across his face. "Well Ranger Gage is this a last ditch effort for you to keep your family away from me? I know that Sydney claims she wants nothing to do with me we both know once I get her beneath me in our bed that will all change. And those sweet little girls I wonder if they taste as sweet as their mother…"

That was all he got out before Gage's fist ploughed repeatedly into his face. It took all Sumner had to pull Gage off Shaw and keep him from killing the man.

"Gage come on you're going to kill him!" Sumner exclaimed holding Gage back as Shaw sank to the floor half conscious.

Gage was breathing hard as he crouched down in front of Shaw. "You go near any of my girls Sydney included and I'll finish what I started here."

"I'm not afraid of you Ranger Gage," Shaw loudly lamented emphasizing the Ranger part as Gage got up and headed to the door.

Sumner crouched down in front of him now for a moment to add, "Well you should be." Getting up he followed Gage out.

Sydney and Gage's Home

Gage went right inside and without stopping went right down the hall to where the kids were all ready in bed.

"What happened?" Sydney asked Sumner. "Did you find Derek?"

"Yeah I'll let Gage explain to you," he replied. Turning to Anna B he asked, "I was wondering if I might interest you in getting a cup of coffee with me?"

"I'd love to," Anna B was quick to reply hardly believing he had asked her.

"I'll tell Gage good-bye for you," Syd cut in wanting to go to her husband.

"Thanks Syd thanks for everything today," Anna B chirped giving Syd a quick hug.

After waving good night Sydney followed down the hall where Gage stood looking at their young daughters.

"Gage what happened?" she softly asked letting her hand rest on his shoulder.

"Let's just say Shaw knows what it feels like to have his face beat in," he sighed bringing his arm around her.

"Tell me about it Gage. What happened?"

He let her lead him to their bedroom and bring her arms around him. They stood together that way for a long time Syd waiting quietly for Gage to tell her what went down…

"As soon as he saw it was me he started Syd. He knew exactly what buttons to push, he told me you were his and then he started with Piper and Cat inferred that he would have them the same way he was going to have you. I lost it, Sumner had to pull me off him, I might have killed him if Matt hadn't been there."

"Gage I'm so sorry," tears were forming in Syd's eyes as she spoke. Looking up in his face she noticed blood. "Are you hurt?" she cried standing back to look at him seeing the blood on his shirt.

Looking over her head and away from her he answered, "It's not mine."

"Oh Gage," she cried out taking his hands seeing his knuckles skinned open. "Come on Honey lets hit the shower and then bed."

He nodded his head and let her help him out of his clothes. "You're going to join me aren't you?" he asked pulling her close.

She nodded her head yes whispering, "I think we need a little of each other Gage." With that she took his hand and headed towards the bathroom.

Early Morning

Sydney reached over to draw herself closer to Gage, his side of the bed was empty. She turned to look at the clock seeing that it was six twenty-two. Getting up she slipped her robe on and went in search of him. Buddy the family dog was lying on the mat in front of the side door instead of in Chris' room like usual.

"Gage go outside?" Syd asked the little Border collie who returned her question by wagging his tail furiously. Frowning slightly Syd opened the door and stepped outside in search of her husband. It was then she noticed the garage door to be open a crack and after further investigation found that his bike was missing. Smiling she realized that he had gone for a bike ride something he did to help clear his head. Turing around she went back in the house to put the coffee on.

It was a few minutes later that she heard the familiar sound of the bike's motor. She poured his coffee and handed it to him as he came into the kitchen meeting her with a kiss. "That help?" she asked.

"Yeah it did. I sure hated leaving you here with the kids though," he told her kissing her again.

"Yeah well I didn't care much for waking up and finding your side of the bed empty," she countered.

"Promise it won't happen again," he told setting down his coffee and taking her in his arms.

"Maybe you should have just woke me up and stayed in bed," she softly purred a he tugged on the belt of her robe.

"We have a few minutes now," he persisted lifting her onto the counter in front of him just as the phone rang.

"Morning," Syd spoke into the phone as Gage continued to pull her robe from her shoulder so his kisses could caress her soft skin. "Yeah he's right here Walker," she answered smiling and handing her husband the phone.

"Walker," he answered picking up his coffee and taking a small gulp. "Sure we could do that. All right we'll see you shortly." Gage handed the phone back to Sydney saying, "that's odd."

"What's up?" Sydney asked placing the phone back on the receiver.

"Walker he wants you to take the kids to school and the HOPE Center and they'll meet us here," Gage answered.

"Did he say why?"

"Only that they'd explain when they got here."

Neither had time to speculate further as the sound of Piper shouting for Sydney went up along with Cat's loud scream.

"You go advert the crisis and I'll start breakfast," Gage told her giving her a quick peck and lifting her from the counter.

~~~~~

An hour later Gage had loaded the kids into the car and headed out with them leaving Syd to tidy up the kitchen and family room. By the time he returned it looked as is half the Dallas police force were pulled up at their place. Walker's truck was in the driveway as well as Trivette's car, pulling up he parked and headed inside.

Going inside he caught sight of Walker and headed towards him. "What's going on Walker? he asked.

"Gage what happened last night?" Walker asked point blank.

"In regards to what?" he questioned back knowing this must be leading to his assaulting Derek Shaw.

"Gage Derek Shaw was murdered last night and they are looking at you as the prime suspect," Trivette informed him.

TBC....