Chapter 3

The Game

Sydney and Gage's

After speaking with their mother Chris called Angela Walker while Piper stood guard in the doorway. Anna B had gone into the kitchen to put some dinner together for her and the kids plus there would be something when Syd and Sumner arrived there.

"Angela just keep your ears open and if you hear anything call me no matter what time day or night," Chris was instructing her.

"All right Chris but I don't know how that is going to help anything," Angela replied.

"It just will Angela you know that grown ups just don't think us kids can be of any help… Piper and I just need to know okay," he stressed again.

"Okay Chris I get it," she came back not wanting Chris to get the last word in.

"Thanks Angela," Chris replied hanging up the phone.

"Mom and Sumner are here," Piper hissed at her brother taking off to the kitchen to hug Sydney.

"Mommy," Pipe cried rushing to Syd's arms.

Chris was more reserved he stood in the doorway saying nothing until his mother looked up at him. "Nothing Mom?" he asked trying hard to be brave.

Syd held her hand out to her son and he easily slipped into her arm as she shook her head no softly saying, "Not yet. Sumner and I are just going to grab a quick bite and then we are going out to check out two more leads." She held them tight for a minute more then walked with them into the family room to sit on the couch with them.

"What do you think she is telling them?" Sumner asked Anna B watching Sydney with her children.

"That there Dad is tough and he is looking after Cat and that they will find them and bring them home," Anna B replied as she looked up from where she was putting the finishing touches on her dinner to where Syd sat with Piper and Chris.

"Man I don't know how she does it," Sumner came back. "She has been at it all day and now she is here being strong for her children."

"She won't waver until Gage is back here to look after them and she can hold Cat again," Anna B smiled knowing her friend well. "I hope I can be that strong if I have to be," she confided in Matt.

Letting his arm go around her shoulder Matt knew that yes she probably would be.

~~~~~

"Guys I know that this isn't easy it never is…" Syd had begun to say. She pulled them closer clearing her throat looking for strength before she continued. "I'm sure where ever Dad and Cat are Dad is trying hard to get them home to us. We have to stay strong on this end too no matter how long it takes right?"

Both children nodded their heads in agreement.

"I'm going to try and spend as much time as I can with you but I have to be out looking for Dad and Cat too…" her voice faltered and she swallowed hard keeping back the tears.

"Mom I'll look after Piper," Chris spoke up trying hard to act as his father would if he was in this situation. "You just do what you have to do to find them."

Piper looked into her mother's face shaking her head yes. Sydney grasped both of them to her holding them tight unable to stop the tears escaping her this time.

The Perron Estate

Hearing Cat's cries Gage fought the throbbing that had taken him to his knees. "Cat Honey I'm fine," he called out to her his eyes watering from the pain.

"Let me go. I want Daddy," Cat cried again.

"Crystal let me have her," Gage demanded looking right at the woman. Reluctantly she set Cat on the ground and she ran to her father's arms.

Once the child had Gage's arms around her again she turned to face Crystal crying out, "You aren't my mommy and I hate you."

"All right Cat that will be enough," Gage intervened feeling her sentiments but not wanting to antagonize Crystal.

"I think I've had enough of the playground," Crystal announced. "I will see you at dinner," she told them turning on her heel and heading for the house. Gage and Cat staring after her.

"Lets go Ranger," one of their captors prodded him and they headed back towards the house and the nursery.

Miss Calder the nanny was in the nursery when they returned. "I'm here to give Cat her bath and get her ready for dinner," she announced reaching for Cat.

"Cat had a bit of an upset outside," Gage told the woman, "I'll look after the bath tonight if you could just lay out what she is expected to wear."

Miss Calder's eyes narrowed, "That's my job not yours."

"If anyone asks I'll say you are doing a wonderful job at it too but for now I'll look after my daughter," Gage told her in no uncertain terms.

"All right for now," the old woman complied. "I'll be taking the matter up with Mrs. Perron in the morning," she told him turning and walking from the room.

The door slammed behind her and Gage shook his head slightly before turning his attention to Cat. "All right Puss lets get you cleaned up," he said looking at her tear stained face.

Sydney and Gage's

As soon as they had finished eating Sydney and Sumner had left to check out the last two leads on the van.

Both Chris and Piper had wandered into the family room while Anna B set about tidying up the kitchen. Chris flicked on the television and began flipping through the stations Piper watching having no real interest in what her brother was doing. She absently thought about Marcus Trivette Chris had called him earlier too to keep his ears open and report to them if he heard anything said about their Dad and Cat. He had promised that he would but so far they had heard nothing only what their Mom had told them. Picking up the phone she began to dial her father's cell phone number listening to it ring not that she expected an answer.

"Yeah," came a voice at the other end of the phone.

"Hello," Piper chirped sitting up straight. "Hello Dad are you there?" she asked Chris looking over to see what she was doing.

"I ain't your Dad kid," the voice told her the line going dead.

"What are you doing Piper?" Chris asked.

"I called Dad's cell phone and somebody answered it," she excitedly exclaimed.

"Are you sure you got the number right?" Chris asked coming over to where she sat.

"I'm sure I hit number two on the phone that's Dad's number right?"

Chris knew that it was his mother's number was the first one coded into the phone and his father's the second one.

Quickly he pushed the button again listening as the numbers dialed in. "Yeah," came the voice a second time over the line.

"Who is this?" Chris questioned.

"Listen kid stop calling this number," came the reply. Chris could hear mumbling from someone in the back ground and then the voice answer, "Just some kids Joey… all right I'm coming…" and then what sounded like a door closing followed by silence.

"Hello," Chris called getting no answer only the soft muted sounds of something playing in the background.

"What are you two up to?" Anna B asked coming into the room.

Piper jumped guiltily replying, "Nothing."

"Anna B can you do something for me?" Chris asked.

"Sure what Chris?"

"A couple of my friends are playing with their parents cell phone and I'm trying to figure out whose house they are at… the phone is on and connected to us do you think you could use the computer to trace the call?"

Anna B eyed the children suspiciously finally agreeing deciding it was better then the two of them dwelling on their father and little sister. "Just this once but don't you tell your mother I did this for you," she warned sitting down at the computer and hitting the keys.

It took Anna B very little time to have the location up on a map and the address on the screen. "Wow that's one of the fancier parts of town," Anna B observed looking over the map.

"Must be at Andrew's grandma's," Piper commented as Chris carefully printed the address out on a piece of paper.

"Andrew's grandma is rich?" Anna B asked.

"Very," Chris emphasized.

"Okay you guys it's time you got ready for bed," Anna B told them turning from the computer. "You get started and I'll be right there."

Half way down the hall Piper stopped her brother, "Aren't you going to call Mom and tell her what we found out?"

"What if we are wrong Pipe and Dad and Cat aren't there? That will be all that time everyone wasted when they really could be looking for them," Chris retorted. "I'm going to check it out tomorrow and if I find out anything I'll let Mom know. Now don't say a word."

Piper thought about what Chris said for a minute deciding what he said made sense and shook her head yes.

Dinner At The Perrons

Gage had just finished brushing Cat's hair when the door opened and Joey Falconer appeared with Miss Calder. "The old lady wants you down stairs for dinner," he informed Gage.

Taking hold of his daughter's hand he proceeded out of the nursery with her following Miss Calder downstairs to the dinning room where Lillian May and Crystal all ready were seated waiting for them.

The table was set so that Lillian May sat at the head of the table with three places on one side, the side Crystal sat on and two on the other side.

"Cat you may sit between your mother and your father," Lillian May addressed the child. Cat clung tightly to Gage in response.

Squatting down beside her Gage softly spoke to her, "Since Mommy really isn't here why don't you sit between Crystal and me then maybe we can get some dinner okay?"

Eyeing Crystal then Lillian May Cat finally agreed adding loudly enough for everyone to hear, "I'm not very happy about this."

Gage lifted her into her seat and quickly sat beside her reaching over taking her hand.

Lillian May smiled at Cat's little comment thinking to herself strong willed like me she will be an asset to this family in time.

Before anything could be said a young boy, some where between Chris and Piper's ages Gage guessed, entered the room going right to his place beside his grandmother. There was no mistaking who this child was he was the spitting image of his father Rick Perron.

"Grandmother my mother wished me to tell you that she won't be joining us this evening she has a bad headache," the boy addressed Lillian May.

"Yes well you are here and that is what really matters," his grandmother beamed back. "David I'd like you to meet your cousin Cat and her father Gage."

"Pleased to meet you," David replied. "I guess that would make you my uncle would it not?" he directed the question at Gage.

"That is still up for debate," Gage answered.

"There is nothing to debate here," Lillian May cut in her eyes narrowing at Gage.

"Then prove me wrong lets have blood tests and we'll just see who is or isn't Cat's mother or father," Gage tossed back his feel for dealing with the Perrons coming back to him.

"This is not the time or the place for this discussion," Lillian May cut him off again.

"As long as you insist on keeping up this charade I think that this is the perfect time and place for this discussion don't you Crystal? He asked turning to face her.

"Gage please," Crystal began.

"Crystal aren't we close enough to be on a first name bases?" Gage put to her, "After all you claim we have a child together and according to you we were madly in love if that's the case don't you know my first name?"

"Stop it, just stop it," Crystal cried, "Make him stop Grandma, make him stop." Napkin to her face Crystal went tearing out of the room.

"Is dinner always going to be this eventful?" Lillian May quizzed him nodding to her guards to remove him.

"Sure you want to do that Lillian? You don't want to upset Cat again do you?" he asked drawing her into his lap.

"I think that it would be a good idea if you and Cat retired to the nursery and dinner will be brought to you," Lillian glared at Gage.

"All right but this discussion isn't over," Gage smiled at the old woman before standing with Cat in his arms.

Later That Evening

One small light glowed softly beside the princess bed in the nursery at the Perron estate. Cat Gage lay beneath the covers quietly sleeping her father lying beside her watching her sleep. He brushed a golden strand of hair from her face much like he would brush the raven strands of her mother's from her face. "God Syd I wish we were home," he wistfully thought wondering if the Perrons were going to haunt him and his family to his grave.

Gently he pulled his arm from beneath Cat she turned slightly but didn't wake, he let his lips brush her cheek before standing and walking to the window.

Gazing out he could see the sentries standing guard below knowing that with Cat to consider escape was going to be very hard. He decided that his best chance was to try and get a message out to Sydney. Just how he was going to do that he hadn't figured out yet.

Once again the familiar sound of the key rattling in the door caught his ears and he quickly took a position of attack. The door opened quietly to admit a small slender figure to the room. Gage quickly moved to clamp his hand over the figure's mouth grabbing them rendering them helpless as he pushed the door closed. Just as quickly Gage felt the teeth of the figure sink into his hand.

"Yeow," he hissed as the figure spun around out of his grasp to face him.

"Ranger Francis Gage it's been a long time," the words were smirked out at him.

"Rita Mason I wondered if you would show up after seeing your son tonight," Gage replied trying to decide if she was friend or foe.

Without another word she walked over to stand in front of Gage and slapped him hard across the face. "You took Rick from me and as horrible as life could be with that cruel bastard it was a walk in the park compared to living with the wick witch that rules this house."

She moved her hand to slap him again but Gage grabbed her wrist preventing it. "I see life with Lillian hasn't changed you much Rita," he baited her.

Yanking her wrist out of Gage's hold she stood defiantly in front of him. "Gage Rick gave his life to save yours you owe him one last favour when you escape from her you have to make sure that David and I get away from her too."

Gage stood silently in front of Rita looking into her face trying to decide how trustworthy she really was. Finally letting his instinct guide him he nodded his head in agreement. "If I can't take you with me I will be back for you. I've got to get a message out to my wife do you think you can help me?"

"I'll try to get a cell phone to you but I'm not promising you anything she keeps really close tabs on me. I have to ask permission to use the phone, you just don't know what it has been like for me here," she cried.

"I'm beginning to get the idea what it's been like," Gage murmured.

"I've got to get back in case someone is looking for me," Rita nervously said moving towards the door reaching for the doorknob. Stopping a minute she turned back to face him saying, "Thanks Gage."

"Thank me when this is behind us," he replied as she slipped out the door.

Headquarters

"I'm telling you I don't know nothing about a Ranger Gage or his kid," Billy Wells argued with Sumner and Trivette as Sydney and Walker looked in from the observation room.

"Then why were you running even before Ranger Cooke and I told you who we were?" Sumner came back.

"I just thought it may have to do with some of my other businesses," Billy began to hedge.

"For all you knew we may have been coming to make a legitimate business deal with you," Sumner persisted. "How do you make any money running away from potential clients?"

Wells said nothing he just sat there staring blankly at the table not looking at either Trivette or Sumner.

"Matt I think the problem is that Billy here was parked outside of the Gage's home this morning in fact he almost backed into Ranger Cooke when she was on the way to school. Then he went back and parked in front of their house and waited until Ranger Gage came out with his daughter. Then he followed them forcing them off the road before forcing them into the van and making off with them," Trivette recited.

"You're crazy," Billy insisted jumping up from the chair lunging at Trivette.

Sumner was quick to yank Wells back into his chair saying at the same time, "Are you going to add assault of a law officer to the kidnapping charges?"

"You haven't got anything to charge me with," Billy cried.

"I beg to differ Billy," Trivette continued. "We have an eye witness that put us on to your van to start with and all we have to do is put you in a line up cause our witness is sure he can identify you with no problem at all."

Wells nervously licked his lips before speaking, "I wasn't there. A buddy of mine just wanted to borrow my van but then something happened he got picked up on some drug related charge. I got this phone call to meet this guy and this was the type of person that you just don't tell no to. Anyway they told me to get out they had business to look after and I did what I was told. Later I got a call where I could pick up my van," Wells finished his story.

"That doesn't explain whey you took off on the run when you saw us pull up," Sumner retorted.

"That's cause I recognized the lady ranger, her and her partner Ranger Gage picked up my buddy at the Double Barrel Roadhouse, and I was there," Wells explained further.

"Your buddy got a name?" Trivette questioned.

"Jake Ames," Wells replied.

Syd closed her eyes a minute knowing that what Wells said was true and they were no closer to finding Gage and Cat after all this then before.

Walker could see the exasperated look on Syd's face accompanied by the worry as they headed out into the hall to confer with Trivette and Sumner.

TBC