Disclaimers: I do not own or lay claim to Walker, Texas Ranger or the characters Walker, Gage, Sydney, Trivette or Alex. This was written for entertainment purposes only.
Search Party Part 1
Chapter 1: Ranger Headquarters
It had been a slow day for the rangers of company B. On a bright, sunny, mid-April afternoon it seemed as if all of the criminals were basking in the beautiful weather and were, at the same time, staying out of trouble. Recently, Dallas had been caught up in a month full of rainstorms and it was the first time in weeks that the sun decided to shine. Walker and Trivette had been in court all morning and took the afternoon off. Sydney and Gage were the only two left in the office because while the rest of the rangers had taken the afternoon off, Walker insisted his two younger rangers stay incase something went down.
"Hey Syd, why are we sitting inside when it is so nice out?" Gage questioned her.
Sydney looked up from her desk, "Because we have paper work, Gage."
"Oh," he answered. A minute later, he let out a large sigh as if he was trying to grab Sydney's attention.
"What is it Gage?"
"I hate paper work," he answered.
"Walker said that when we finished all of our paper work, we could leave. So the sooner you finish, the sooner you can go play outside." Sydney responded as a smile came over her face.
"Play outside? Ha! I was thinking more of a stroll through that park near my house."
"How manly, a stroll through the park." Sydney said as she began to laugh.
"It's a really nice park. You should join me." At this point, Gage began to blush and looked down at the piece of paperwork that was sitting on his desk. Not that a walk in the park with Sydney would be considered a date or anything, but he imagined himself and his partner walking hand in hand across the large green pasture.
Snapping Gage back to reality, Sydney said, "If you're serious, I would love to join you. Sounds like it would be a nice way to end a relaxing day."
"Yeah, I'm serious. It will be nice."
After about an hour more of filling out paper work, the pair headed out. The two had decided that they would go in Gage's car to his house, walk to the park from there and Gage would drop her back off at headquarters to pick up her car later.
Chapter 2: Stonelake Park
"This park is really nice Gage. It's huge," Sydney said after they had entered the park gates. She had seen the park from the street, but she had never really noticed how large it was.
"Hey Syd," Gage said.
"Yea, Gage, what is it?"
"Since we are off duty now, don't you think we should take our badges off?" Gage wanted this experience to be as far away from a ranger detail as possible. Both had already removed their guns and left them in Gage's car.
"Yeah, that way people who are after revenge won't try to kill us in the middle of this huge park with about fifty witnesses because they won't notice we are rangers if we aren't wearing our badges." Sydney answered sarcastically.
"Do what you want," Gage answered, "but I am taking mine off." At that moment, he removed his badge from his shirt and slipped it into his pants pocket. Though Sydney didn't really understand Gage and his reasoning for removing his pin, she removed hers from her shirt and put it in the pocket of her shirt.
The pair walked in a comfortable silence for about a half hour. They both were enjoying the fresh air. The amount of people who were in the park was beginning to diminish. Also, the sun was beginning to set and there was a pleasant breeze. Neither ranger noticed the men hiding behind a rock wall about twenty feet in front of them.
"Ned," one of the men behind the rock wall whispered to one of his companions, "those two look like they will do."
"Yeah, Greg. A cute little couple. They will do fine."
"Why exactly are we kidnapping people?" one of the other men questioned.
"Well Carl, we are only kidnapping these two and one other specific girl. The boss needs them. He said he needs people to use to get ransom or something. I don't really know. All I know is he gave us a pretty nice amount of money to kidnap a few people and I really could care less why. Where did Bob roam off to?"
"He is bringing the car to the exit of the park." Greg answered pointing to a park exit about 10 feet away from them.
"Let's get 'em." Ned said.
At that point, the three men noticed Bob had the van in place. The men then pulled black ski masks over their heads and came out from their hiding spots. Sydney and Gage had their backs to the men.
"Gage! Look out!" Sydney screamed as she saw a man coming up behind Gage.
Gage dodged the swing his attacker had taken at him and Sydney began to fight the two other men. Gage's attacker was a good fighter and kept Gage busy. Sydney was holding her own with her attackers until one came up behind her and grabbed her in a bear hug. She used her feet to try to kick the other attacker, but he anticipated her move and grabbed her legs. The attacker that had come up behind her dropped her to the ground and she hit her head on the ground and was knocked unconscious. The man who had been holding her feet, picked her up as her other attacker pulled a gun on Gage who was still fighting the other man.
"SYDNEY!" Gage yelled as he saw one of the men running across the park with her motionless body in his arms.
"Not another word." The man with the gun said to Gage. "If you don't want me to go over there and shoot her, you'll quietly get in that van."
Gage had no other choice if he wanted to save Sydney. He stopped fighting and began to walk over to the van with the men. He had no idea how he was going to get himself and Sydney out of this mess but he hoped that Walker and Trivette would help them. Right near the gate of the park Gage subtly put his hand in his pocket, put his badge in his hand and dropped it to the ground hoping Walker would find it and know his two rangers were in trouble.
Chapter 3: Ranger Headquarters
Trivette had forgotten a file he had wanted to review on his desk so he had headed back to headquarters around seven that night. He was surprised to see Sydney's car still in the parking garage. He went upstairs to go to his desk and noticed the lights to the company B office were off. He got to the door and noticed that it was locked. He unlocked it and saw that Sydney's desk was clear.
He was a little worried because it was not like Sydney to leave her car in the parking garage over night. He decided to call her cell phone and her apartment to ask her if her car had died and if she wanted him to help her jump it or something. After receiving no answer at either place, he figured she might be with Gage, or at the very least Gage would know where she was. When he got no answer on Gage's phones either, he called Walker.
Ring! Ring!
"Hello," a feminine voice said.
"Hey Alex, is Walker around?"
"Sure, I'll get him." Alex said as she handed Walker the phone.
"Yeah Trivette, what's up?"
"Walker, I got this feeling something is wrong. Sydney's car is still here but she definitely isn't. I tried calling her and Gage and I am getting no answer on any of their phone lines."
"Is it possible that the two of them went out somewhere?" Walker asked.
"And not take their cell phones?"
"Maybe they noticed it was you calling and decided not to answer," Walker said as he laughed.
"Man, laugh all you want, but I got a bad feeling." Trivette said in a serious tone.
"Meet me at Gage's in fifteen minutes. If he is there, we will see what's up and ease your mind."
"See ya in fifteen." Trivette said as he hung up. He didn't know why, but he had a feeling something was wrong. He grabbed his hat and was on his way to Gage's place.
Chapter 4: Outside Gage's Apartment
Walker pulled up in his Ram and saw Trivette coming out of Gage's apartment building.
"He's not home Walker, but his car is here." Trivette said as he met Walker at the end of the walk way.
The two rangers walked over to Gage's car and peered inside.
"The doors are locked," Walker said, "and it looks like their guns are under the seats." Looking into the car, the rangers could see part of their gun holsters that weren't quite under the seats.
"So they removed their guns in Gage's car? Why didn't they put them in Gage's apartment?"
"Maybe they didn't go inside."
"So where did they go without their guns?"
"Hey Trivette, look across the street." Walker said pointing to the park gates across the street.
"Think they are walking?" Trivette asked. "It is a little dark," he commented noticing that the sun had almost completely set.
"Let's find out," Walker said as he jogged across the street, Trivette just paces behind him.
They entered the gates and noticed how large the park was. Walker and Trivette surveyed the park. Walker noticed a piece of metal about 5 feet in front of them. He walked over to it, picked it up and then turned back to Trivette.
"What Walker?"
"I agree, something is definitely wrong." Walker said as he held up the piece of metal he had just picked up off the ground so Trivette could see it.
"A ranger badge." Trivette said.
"I think it's Gage and Sydney's way of saying they are in trouble." Walker said. "Now all we have to do is find out what kind of trouble they are in."
"What are we going to do Walker?"
"We are going to find them."
"How?" Trivette asked as Walker stared down at the ranger star that was resting in the palm of his hand.
