~Chapter Four~

Sydney and Gage's

The driveway was full of cars when Gage got home with Sydney and Chris. Sydney's jeep had been riddled with bullets from the attack and had to be towed, Gage was glad his wife hadn't seen it. She would have been mad all over again for the danger he had put their son in, he couldn't understand himself what had made him do it.

"Chris can you go round back and open the gate so Mom can just slip into the bedroom through the patio doors," Gage directed his son.

"Sure Dad," Chris agreed but not before putting his arms around Syd neck from the backseat and whispering, "I love you Mom."

Reaching up Syd took his hand and squeezed whispering, "Me too Chris, I love you too."

Gage swallowed hard if anything had happened to his son… he watched him disappear around the side of the house

"Let's get you inside," Gage said brushing his finger across her cheek before getting out of the car.

Syd smiled slightly but remained silent waiting for Gage to come around the car before she opened the door allowing him to place his hand under her arm helping her out. They remained silent until they were in the house and Gage was tucking the covers around his wife. "Gage what were you thinking?" she asked as he sat down beside her.

"Syd I don't know I just wasn't thinking I guess… Chafe got this call a peace offering for bringing the rangers down on them. It was suppose to be a simple pick up, Chafe was going with or without me and Syd I just don't trust him," Gage tried to explain.

"Sydney I swear if anything had happened to Chris…" she had put her fingers against his lips.

"I know that Gage I'm sorry I hit you I was just so scared…"

"That makes both of us when the bullets started flying it was all I could do to dive over top of him," Gage was rattling on taking Syd in his arms holding her both realizing they had been lucky that day.

"You better get out there you have explain to Anna B how come your lunch date got screwed up and get this dinner organized."

"And you need to sleep so you can get up and save me once again," Gage told her as she scrunched down under the covers letting his lips brush her forehead.

~~~~~

A barrage of questions from everyone met Gage as he came down the hall and into the kitchen where everyone had congregated. Before he could say anything the back door opened admitting Walker, Trivette and Mick.

"Where are these tables going?" Trivette asked above the din.

"Out back," Erica volunteered as she and Alex went with their husbands to show them where to set up.

"Mick are you all right? What happened you two?" Julie was questioning her brother and boyfriend.

"Chafe you go and explain everything to her or I will," Gage answered for both of them his eyes trained on him.

Chafe hesitated a moment before nodding his head and saying, "Gage is right Julie it's time you heard everything." Taking Julie's hand he lead her towards the study closing the door behind them.

Turning around Gage stood to face Anna B, Sumner, and Sumner's parents. "Are we too late for lunch?" he asked smiling at Anna B.

"You know Gage I'm actually enjoying myself here. Usually it is you standing there with your hands on your hips and me into it up to my neck. This is kind of refreshing," she grinned.

"Ah heh," Gage half grinned back. "I don't think I've made Sydney to happy.

"Yeah where is she any way? Sumner asked.

"Ahh she's laying down," Gage answered.

"Laying down?" Sydney?" Anna B began to interrogate. "She's not sick is she?"

"Maybe we should be having this dinner somewhere else if Sydney isn't well," Matt's mother Ilene chimed in.

"Really no everything is all right," Gage began back paddling. "She's all ready mad enough at me if we change her plans I'll never get her to forgive me."

"But Gage if she's not well…" Anna B started again.

"She's fine we've just been putting in a few extra hours at work and you know she has been working hard on this wedding planning to make it perfect in spite of me screwing things up. Besides Alex and Erica are helping out and Julie is here… it will be fine," Gage told her giving her a hug.

"If you're sure?"

"Positive," Gage smiled. "I know that I'm three hours late for lunch but if you have time how bout I take you out for some ice cream like the kids are always conning you into."

"I'd like that Gage," she smiled back.

"Hey Gage you bring her back in one piece," Sumner piped up.

"Have no fear Matt I promised Syd that I'd make sure nothing else happened until after the wedding," Gage laughed holding the door open for Anna B.

Julie and Chafe's Conversation

"Mick what is going on and what is Francis talking about?" Julie was demanding just like her brother would even before the door closed behind them.

"Julie I don't know where to begin…"

"At the beginning Mick," Julie's eyes pleaded. "Why did Frankie call you Chafe?"

"Because it's my name," he simply said as she stared at him not understanding what was going on.

"Chafe?" Julie asked.

Taking her hand Robyn Chafe began to explain to Julie what was going on. She sat quietly listening until he finished with the attempt on his and Gage's lives.

"Frankie took Chris there?" Julie stared not being able to believe what she was hearing.

"That was my fault as much as Gage's I let him believe it was nothing but a pickup when I really didn't know…" Chafe's voice trailed off.

Julie turned to look out into the yard where Walker and Trivette were setting up the tables Alex and Erica instructing them. Chris stood with his arm around Angela he leaned forward and whispered in her ear. Her nieces, Danny Walker and the Trivette kids were involved in a game of tag. Sumner along with Jack and Ilene his parents had just joined them. A tear rolled down her cheek.

"Julie please don't cry," Chafe whispered coming up behind her.

"Do you have any feelings for me at all or was it all just a ploy to get an inside track on my brother?" Julie spun around furious with Chafe.

"Julie I didn't even know who your brother was when I met you. I just never let anyone get close to me, I keep who I really am away from everyone I don't go meet family. That was until you and then I didn't know how to tell you the truth. I had no idea that your brother and his team had me under surveillance or that Gage would recognize me and get in the middle of this… Julie I'm sorry."

"Are you Mick or Chafe or what ever your name is?" Julie fired at him.

"Julie when this was all over I was going to tell you everything I'd decided that even before your brother threatened me," he told her with a half smile.

"I don't know," she answered knowing that the part of Francis threatening would at least be the truth.

"You've become very important to me Julie," Chafe continued. "I hope we can get past my misguided mistake," he whispered catching her chin with his finger lifting her face to his. "I don't want what we have begun to come to an end," saying that he leaned down catching her lips with his.

"If you make me a promise," Julie told him bringing her arms around his neck. "No more secrets between the two of us.

"I promise," he smiled.

"You had better or I'll let Frankie make good on his promise."

Anna B and Gage's Conversation

Pulling open the door Gage followed Anna B into the ice cream parlour and over to the counter.

"You sure that Sydney is all right?" Anna B quizzed again as Gage paid for the ice cream.

"I'm positive," Gage smiled pulling her chair out for her. "Now what can I do for you?"

"It's kind of silly really," she replied her eyes zoning in on her ice cream.

"If it was silly you would have emailed me," Gage retorted.

"I guess I just wanted to thank you for being such a big part of my life over the years," she stammered out.

"I hope that because you are getting married that this isn't it for us," Gage teased.

"Gage you know what I mean," she quipped.

"I guess likely I do," he was quick to come back.

"You know you're kind of like Syd and I neither of us had anyone to really give us any fatherly advise on our wedding day. What I do know for sure though is I'm glad that it was Matt that came into your life. It takes a real load off my mind cause I know that he feels the same way about you that I feel about Sydney.

Now in my opinion the key to this marriage business is being good to each other. Do that and even if you screw up totally which I've been known to do on occasion Matt is going to forgive and still love you," Gage advised.

"I wish you all the best Honey," he finished reaching over to draw her near and kiss her cheek.

"Gage Thank you for caring so much. My life would have just been so different if you hadn't been in it. You helped me survive a lot both you and Sydney," she told him hugging him close.

"Hey your ice cream is melting," Gage laughed.

"Always the big brother aren't you?" she beamed, "And I wouldn't have it any other way."

Joey Blanchard's Office

"Where's McClain?" Blanchard asked not waiting for an answer. "Get him in here before this deal blows up in our faces."

"Mad Dog went to Dallas for the weekend. Some kind of family business," someone volunteered.

"Family business or funny business?" Blanchard asked. "Get him on the phone our guy in the DA's office says that our boy Mad Dog is in tight with the Texas Rangers. And if he is then I want him, and those rangers taken care of."

Nobody moved they stared blankly until Blanchard shouted, "Now people find out now!"

Everyone headed out of the office until Blanchard called, "Paulie make this your personal assignment. Find out what Mad Dog is up to and how tight he is with this Ranger Gage. And when you do report directly back to me.

Oh and Paulie take care of this Tiller I want the message out there if there is a problem in our house we take care of it not some punks off the street."

"You got it Joey," Paulie agreed before leaving to see what he could find out about Mad Dog and the Texas Rangers.

"Ranger Francis Gage," Blanchard thought aloud. It had to be the same Gage, the same Francis Gage who shot and killed his buddy Donnie Fuller. He and Donnie were just kids they had knocked over a convenience store about to make there get away. They had run into the street to hear the words freeze Texas Rangers. They had opened fire on the rangers who both returned fire Ranger Gage's bullet hitting and killing Donnie.

He had gotten away and laid low six months later his father had brought him into the family business. It had been a long time since he had thought of that night but here it was the perfect opportunity to do what he couldn't do all those years ago make that ranger pay for Donnie's death.

The Rehearsal and Dinner

"Then Francis you and Annabel may start down the isle," Father Winston called to them as the pair came in arm and arm. "Slow down Francis I know Mathew is anxious to take her off your hands but the rest of us want to see how pretty she is," the priest teased.

Slowing the pace Gage brought Anna B to the front of the church stopping a moment to kiss her cheek then handed her over to Matt. Smiling he took his seat beside Sydney who smiled too and moved closer to her husband taking his hand.

In spite of everything that had happened in the last couple of days Gage felt as close to Sydney as the day they had married. It had been the best decision he had ever made in his life. He mouthed the words I love you to her watching her say I love you too.

Father Winston walked them through the rest of the ceremony telling them that he would see them all back there tomorrow for the real thing.

Everyone was clapping and the remarks flying as Gage helped Syd to her feet. He didn't like that she was doing anything but sitting with her feet up but he also knew she'd wrestle him to the ground if he mentioned it to her.

"If you would all like to join us at our home for dinner," Gage announced his arm around Syd.

"Daddy is it all right if I ride with Anna B and Sumner?" Cat cut in as she tugged at Gage's pant leg. "Sumner said it was all right with him if you said okay. Please Daddy, please."

"Okay, okay," Gage answered watching his daughter take off.

"Dad Angela is riding with us," Chris announced slowing down but not stopping his hand in Angela's.

"And so is Marcus," Piper added as the two of them raced by.

I'm just doing as I'm told," Gage declared looking down at his wife.

"Right Gage," Syd looked up skeptically at him.

"Syd you have my word," he emphatically assured her.

"Right partner," she grinned. "Let's get everyone loaded in the car and get home since we are the host and hostess here."

"Just waiting on you Honey," he replied escorting her to the car. He opened the car door only to have Sydney hesitate before getting in her eyes scrutinizing the parking lot.

"Got that feeling too?" Gage asked leaning down to help her in.

"Yeah and I don't like it," she retorted. "Are you armed?"

Gage nodded yes as Piper and Marcus came racing to the car. He pulled the back door open for them going back to close Syd's for her before proceeding around to the driver's side. "Come on you two," he called to his son and Angela Walker opening their door as well.

"Coming Dad," Chris answered he and Angela hurrying to get in the car.

"Sorry to rush you," Syd told them turning in her seat. "We have to get home so we can greet the guests."

"Aunt Sydney will you help organize my wedding when I get married?" Angela asked almost sending Gage into a parked car.

"Uncle Gage," she laughed, "it isn't going to be tomorrow. I have to finish high school, go to college and then law school before I even think about getting married."

"It's just weddings make me nervous one every five years is lots for me."

"Good recovery there Gage," Syd laughed.

~~~~~

"Everything is all set," Julie informed Syd as they came in the door.

"All right Syd go find a place to sit down," Gage told her with a stern look. Syd opened her mouth to speak but her husband cut her off before she could start. "Go park it Cooke now."

"Gage I feel fine," Syd tried to argue.

Gage cut her off shouting to his son, "Chris take your mother outside and find her a place to sit. Make sure she stays there too."

"Come on Gage I'm fine," Syd whined.

"Sydney you don't want to miss the wedding tomorrow do you?"

Syd opened her mouth to speak only to be cut off by her son, "Come on Mom," Chris smiled at his mother enjoying the fact his father was one up on her, "Dad is right this time."

"That's it Chris stick with your Dad," Syd mumbled as Chris took her arm and lead her out back.

"No wonder your kids are so stubborn Francis with you and Sydney as their parents," Julie laughed.

~~~~~

Dinner was a great success even with Sydney restricted to the sidelines and Trivette's bad jokes.

"Now remember Trivette it is up to you to get Sumner to the church," Gage was saying as everyone began piling into cars.

"Hey I got Walker there in time," Trivette began to protest.

"Yes Jimmy yes you did get Walker there on time," Alex agreed kissing Walker's cheek as she spoke.

"That's right I did," Jimmy continued nattering. "Now if we were counting on you Gage to get him there on time that would be a different story… I tell you what."

"So you mean since Anna B is staying here tonight I have to worry about her getting to the church on time?" Sumner asked.

"No Honey you're pretty safe Syd is here," Anna B assured him letting him pull her into a hug.

"Yeah right if we want Syd to get up in the morning we'd better put her to bed now," Gage teased getting a punch in the arm for opening his mouth.

"I think that's a great idea Gage," Syd countered. "I'm going to bed and you can clean up."

"Hey I think it's time we were going," Trivette piped up.

"Me too," Walker joined in calling for Angela and Danny.

"Hey, hey I could use a little help here," Gage tried to get out as Sumner pulled Anna B into his arms for a good night kiss.

"You can have Robyn to help," Julie spoke up, "You make such a good team."

"I'll say," Chris exclaimed.

"Gee thanks for volunteering Chris," Gage grinned putting his arm around his son's neck pulling the boy to him.

"Dad," Chris squawked out.

"Dad," Gage mocked bringing laughter to everyone as they got in their cars to leave.

Turning back to Sydney Gage gave her his little half grin, "Make you a deal I'll clean this up but you go warm up the bed."

"I'll just make sure the girls are…" she tried to say Gage cutting her off once more.

"I'll send the girls in to kiss you good night you go get into bed."

"You are a tough sell tonight," Syd told him as he kissed her.

His lips were still on her forehead when they heard Chafe's phone ring. "You go to bed I'll let you know if that's anything."

Grabbing hold of his arm she let her fingers sink in. "You make sure you do I'm in a fragile state here," she quipped as her husband broke out in laughter.

"Right Syd go lay down."

She kissed his cheek and disappeared down the hall.

Gage turned and headed for the family room calling to the girls it was bedtime.

"All ready Dad?" Piper whined out.

"Yes all ready you two have a big day tomorrow with the wedding and all," he replied. "Your mother has all ready gone to bed so stop in and give her a kiss before you go."

"Is something wrong with Mommy?" Cat asked astonished that her mother was in bed before her.

"No your mother is just tired," Gage vaguely answered.

"What ever you say Dad," Piper retorted as she passed by him.

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"Only that I've seen this before Dad," Piper answered without looking back.

Gage shook his head watching the girls walk down the hall calling after them, "Pipe keep your ideas to yourself please."

"The secret is safe with me," she returned not bothering to look back.

Gage's eyes rolled to the ceiling as he watched the two of them disappear.

"Come on Frankie there's work to be done here," Julie called from the kitchen. "You want the rest of us to do it all then you tell Sydney you did it."

"That was the plan," he countered as he headed towards the kitchen where his sister was just putting the second load of dishes in the dishwasher.

"Get out there and help Robyn put the tables down," she directed with mock anger.

"I'm going, I'm going," Gage told her stopping long enough to poke her in the ribs with his finger.

"Francis!" she shouted after him the door closing behind him.

Chafe was just putting the last of the trash in the garbage when Gage came into the backyard. "You're pretty good cleaning up this kind of garbage," he commented, "How bout the kind on the street?"

"My track record is pretty good," Chafe told him, "Just like yours is."

Gage ignored the comment knowing he had Chafe's file sitting beside the bed and Syd was probably all ready reading it. "So who was on the phone?"

"Paulie Burke top soldier in Blanchard's organization," Chafe evenly answered Gage.

"And what did he want?" Gage began prying the answers from him.

"Wanted to know what happened down here and how close I was to that ranger."

"To which you replied?"

"Told him it was a one time deal I came here with the girl I've been seeing and found out when I got here you were a ranger. When I get home it's no more girl or ranger," Chafe repeated.

"Yeah and how did he know I was a ranger," Gage asked not caring for this new development.

"Must be a leak from your end my end is air tight," Chafe came back.

"I find that very highly unlikely you sure they aren't just keeping an eye on you?" Gage defensively asked. "I mean you did let their new supplier get busted."

Chafe didn't have an answer so Gage continued, "Right now my biggest priority is keeping my family safe and away from this. What happened this afternoon is not going to happen with anyone else and at the moment that includes Ranger Cooke. So don't bring it here got me."

"You tend to that and I'll tend to bringing the bad guys down," Chafe smirked.

"I don't see much work going on here," Julie stated making hers and Chris' presence known. "Chris you just have to keep your eye on these two all the time," she laughed.

"I know Aunt Julie and it still doesn't get you anywhere," Chris agreed.

"Okay Julie we're at it," Gage returned. "I sent Syd to bed so we could have some peace and quiet do I have to do the same with you?" Gage teased just as his phone rang.

Pulling it from his belt he answered, "Gage." He listened a moment and before saying, "Billy Tiller dead… Thanks for calling Walker."

"Well?" Chafe asked.

Instead of answering Gage looked at Chris saying, "I think we can manage the rest Chris. I'll see you in the morning don't forget to say good night to your mother and Anna B."

"I'll come with you Chris," Julie volunteered putting her arm around her nephew but not before giving Gage and Chafe a stern look.

Chris gave his father a look knowing he was back to protecting him especially after what had happened that afternoon. Smiling he said, "Yeah night Dad."

After Gage was sure Chris had gone inside he told Chafe about Tiller being found dead. Chafe didn't answer just turned his head looking across the yard. "Sounds like Blanchard is putting the squeeze on you and your deal," Gage commented waiting for Chafe's reaction.

"Just protecting his interests," he spoke his confidence still in his voice. Gage's instincts were telling him Chafe was worried.

They folded the last table and put it in the garage then both men retired for the night.

Gage opened the door to his and Sydney's room to find Anna B sitting on the edge of the bed talking Syd's ear off. "Am I interrupting anything?" Gage asked with a smile noticing Syd was finding it hard to keep her eyes open.

"No I was just keeping Syd company till you got here," Anna B replied. Standing up she kissed Syd's cheek whispering, "Thanks," before saying, "Night Gage."

"Now what was that all about?" Gage grinned at his wife.

"Just some pre-wedding girl talk Gage that's all," she smiled back watching him undress for bed. Taking in every part of his hard body she smiled inwardly to herself thinking, "no wonder I'm pregnant again."

TBC