~ Chapter Two ~

"Gage she's got to be all right," Sydney murmured her hand rubbing over her belly a pain stabbing her back.

"Sumner talked to her Honey she called us…" Gage tried to reassure her as he weaved through the traffic to get home. Stealing a sideways glance he caught Syd's face seeing the tears on her cheeks. Reaching out he took her hand pulling it to his lips.

She bit her lip the aching pain in her back plaguing her; she tried to ignore it knowing Piper needed her.

"What the…" Gage cussed under his breath their street was blocked off by two DPD cars.

Screeching to a halt Gage jumped from his car. "I'm sorry sir we have a situation here," one of the officers began to tell him walking towards him.

"Texas Rangers," Gage was all ready talking, "We're well aware of the situation our kids are involved."

"Gage," a police sergeant recognized him.

"Terry," Gage replied seeing the officer, sergeant Terry James. "What's going on?"

"I thought you lived in these parts think maybe we can use your house for a command post?"

"A command post?" Gage questioned.

"Yeah we have a hostage situation down the street," James began to explain. "Some guy came home started wailing on his wife and some neighbour kid. We got the call and when we got to the residence the guy had the wife at gunpoint, shots were fired. They're hold up in the house."

"My son called it in," Gage told him. "My daughter Piper was the neighbour kid, we need to get home."

"You're right," the sergeant agreed barking out the order to get the car out of the way and let the rangers through.

"Thanks," Gage shouted over his shoulder as he ran back to the car where Syd waited. The police cruiser backed up and he drove through stepping on it to screech to a stop in front of their house.

The EMT was in the driveway along with a police car Gage had all ready shoved the car into park and got out all but forgetting about Syd. "Francis," she cried out the car door was open and she struggled to get out.

"Syd I'm sorry," he called to her rushing back to help her.

"Just help me up," she hissed clutching to his arm another dull pain moving across her back, "Umm Gage," she moaned her free hand going to her back.

"Syd what's wrong?"

"Nothing more then usual," she told him through gritted teeth. "Let's get inside."

With his arm around his wife they hurried inside as fast as they could. "Mommy, Daddy," Cat yelled as Gage opened the door, "Piper got her nose broke."

"Oww, Oww, Oww," Piper cried out both Sydney and Gage going to where their daughter was being attended by the emergency people. Chris was beside her holding on to her hand definitely relieved to see his Mom and Dad.

"Mommy," Piper cried catching sight of Sydney.

"Oh Pipe I'm so sorry Honey," Syd cried going to sit beside Piper on the couch taking her daughter in her arms. Both her eyes were black and her nose quite swollen. Blood covered the front of her shirt from where her nose had been bleeding.

Gage had knelt down in front of her taking her shaking little hand in his. It took all his willpower to keep his anger in check so that he didn't go charging over to the Wilsons and give the man a good pounding.

"We're ready to transport her to emergency," one of the attending EMT told them.

"I want Daddy to carry me… please Daddy… I want you and Mommy to come with me," Piper's little voice pleaded.

"Of course Sweetie," Syd answered before Gage had a chance.

Looking to Chris Gage asked, "Will you be all right here with Cat?"

"Sure Dad…" Chris began to say only to be cut off by Sumner.

"Chris mind if I stay here and keep you two company?" he asked.

"Really Sumner we'll be okay," Chris told him.

"You know you will be and I know you will be but we both know your Mom and Dad will feel better if I stay," Sumner offered the in the way of an excuse picking Cat up while he spoke.

Nodding his head Chris agreed happy for Sumner's company until his mother and father returned.

"Thanks Sumner," Syd murmured letting go of Piper so Gage could lift her into his arms. He cradled her close her head resting against her father's chest.

"Hey guys on your way to the ER?" Trivette had just come into the room asking the question.

"Yeah that's where we're headed," Gage answered holding Piper a little closer. "Coming Syd?"

"Give me a sec," she answered feeling her stomach begin to turn and cramp up. Hoisting herself to her feet she suddenly was over taken by a bout of dizziness finding herself dropping back down to the couch.

"Sydney?" Gage cried out watching her fall back on the couch.

Trivette instantly went to her aid. "Syd slow down here," he told her taking hold of her arms to prevent her from trying to get up again right away.

One of the EMT had moved in front of her and was all ready taking her pulse noting how pale she was and the beads of perspiration on her forehead.

"I'm all right," she protested, "It's just all the excitement and I'm worried about my daughter."

Ignoring her the young woman attending her asked, "How far along are you Mrs. Gage?"

"I've still got a month to go," Syd snapped, "My big concern right now is Piper."

"Sydney take a few deep breaths and let them do there job," Gage commanded looking into her face catching her eyes. "Piper is all right for a minute, she's with us and she is safe from harm," he sternly told her.

Closing her eyes for a moment she let herself calm down. "Any pain at all Mrs. Gage?" the EMT was asking.

Shaking her head no she told them. "Just an upset stomach that I've had for eight months now," she explained ignoring the dull persistent pain that was still present in her lower back.

"How bout you ride in the back with us so I can keep an eye on you?" the young attendant asked.

Seeing Gage's worried face and wanting to be with Piper Syd agreed.

With Jimmy and Chris' help Syd slowly got to her feet to go with Piper and Gage. Slowly they made it to the back door the fresh air feeling good on her face. When they got to the back of the emergency unit Gage climbed inside with Piper and laid her on the stretcher before turning back to help Sydney inside.

Sumner had come out the back door with them still holding Cat. Going to Syd he held the little girl so that she could put her arms around her mother's neck. "Are you going to have the baby Mommy?" she asked.

"Not today I don't think Cat," Syd told her kissing the little girl's cheek.

Gage had gotten out of the ambulance to put his arm around Sydney and she leaned heavily against him. Looking sternly at his youngest he warned her, "You be good for Chris."

Giggling she answered, "Okay Daddy."

Lifting his wife he helped her inside the unit depositing her on the stretcher opposite Piper the doors closing behind them. "Gage I'm fine," she protested trying to swing her legs over the edge and sit up.

"Syd get your feet up," Gage ordered taking her ankles and depositing her feet on the stretcher once again.

"But…"

"I don't want to hear it. You get checked out and when they say everything is all right you can say 'I told you so' till then you have no say," he warned.

If she hadn't been so worried about Piper and if her back wasn't hurting so much Gage would have had a fight on his hands. As it was Syd laid back taking hold of his hand for a moment to squeeze tight. "Go look after Pipe," she whispered, "I'll behave."

Kissing her forehead Gage manoeuvred his way back over to where Piper was.

"Mommy okay?" Pipe asked grasping her Dad's hand.

"I'm fine Piper," Syd answered for herself.

"There you have it," Gage answered forcing a smile on his face for Piper's sake. "Our main worry right now is you. Care to tell me what happened from the time I talked to Mrs. Wilson until you called us back?"

"It was awful Dad," she murmured with the recollection of what had happened her little hand tightening even more around Gage's. "Kenzie's dad came in the back door even before her mom could hang up the phone. He just started screaming at her calling her names. He said I told you that you can't use the phone it's my phone and then he picked it up and threw it across the room. That's when he saw me and he yelled at MacKenzie's mom what the hell is that kid doing here. Kenzie was all ready gathering up my stuff saying that I had to leave now then her mom called out it was time I went home. Oh Dad he just brought his fist back and punched Kenzie's mom in the face," tears were streaming down her face as she told the story. With his free hand Gage gently caressed her cheek bringing her other hand to his lips to gently kiss.

Swallowing she continued the story, "I couldn't help myself Dad I screamed at him to leave her alone and threw my text book at him. He turned around and slugged me it hurt so much. Kenzie just started screaming at me to run while she ran to her mom. I ran all the way home I didn't even look back I was so scared Dad.

Gage had his daughter in his arms once again trying to console her. Looking over to his wife he could see the tears running from her eyes, reaching over he took her hand letting her hold on tightly too.

The Little White House Down the Street

Mackenzie Wilson had not seen her dad in this bad a rage in a very long time, not since he had broken her arm. The judge had made him go and get counselling… but he was still mad at her and her mother all the time…

"What are you snivelling about," he snapped at her. "You're just as bad as your mother just as big a disappointment," he jeered at her.

"Please Ron just let MacKenzie go to her room I'll do what ever you want…" Lorna pleaded her voice trailing away.

"You'd like that wouldn't you?" Ron Wilson asked grabbing his wife by the hair and yanking her to her feet. "You know I'm going to have to teach you a lesson about disobeying me and MacKenzie may as well learn the lesson at the same time," he said a dominating sneer coming across his face.

"Please Ron…" she cried out her husband driving his fist into her stomach watching her drop slowly to the floor.

"Daddy please no," his daughter cried out Wilson paying no attention instead he kicked her mother viciously in the side a couple more times.

"Get up you ungrateful little…" his words dropped off with the sound of pounding on the front door.

"Open up Dallas PD."

Grabbing up MacKenzie Wilson began shouting, "You get away from my door I've got my wife and kid in here and if you don't leave us alone they're going to suffer." With that Ron Wilson pulled a gun from the waist band of his pants firing wildly out the window winging one officer.

Memorial Hospital

The ambulance carrying the Gages pulled into the emergency bays at Memorial hospital. Since neither Piper or Sydney were in serious condition they were wheeled into a large curtained exam room side by side. Both were soon surrounded by a flurry of nurses and doctors while Gage was shooed outside the curtains.

Pipe hadn't wanted to let go of her father until he promised that he would be right outside so he could check on Mom. Syd on the other hand was finding it hard to let the medical people do there job all she wanted was to be with Piper.

"Gage," Dr. Marshall greeted him.

"Dr. Marshall am I glad to see you," Gage told her a certain amount of relief showing on his face.

"I just had a feeling that it might be Sydney down here," she told him.

"It wasn't all her fault Pipe got hurt and she's worried…" Gage's voice dropped off.

Resting her hand on his arm she smiled, "Let me see what's going on with her."

"Thanks," Gage murmured watching the doctor disappear inside where his wife was.

"Ranger Gage? I'm Doctor Ross that's quite the young lady you have there."

Shaking the doctor's hand Gage focused on what he had to say about his daughter. "Yes she is," Gage agreed anxiously asking, "How is she?"

"It looks a lot worse then it is that's not to say it isn't very painful but it is going to heal up as good as new," the doctor informed him.

"Thank God," Gage softly whispered under his breath. "Thanks a lot Doctor Ross."

"I have a mild script for the pain for her but you can take her home if you like I'm having the release papers drawn up for you," the doctor continued.

"Thanks again," Gage answered shaking the doctor's hand.

"Go on in," Ross urged Gage wasting no time.

"Hey Pipe the doctor says you can go home," he greeted his little girl.

"Not without Mom," she told him all ready sitting up with her legs dangling over the side of the bed.

"Mom's doctor is in with her right now and we should know in just a few minutes how she is," Gage assured their daughter.

He had no sooner spoken then Dr. Marshall pulled back the curtain to address them. "No new brother or sister today," she told Piper.

"I told you so Gage," Sydney informed him.

"Not so fast Sydney if you're going home it's bed rest for the next day or so," her doctor warned.

"If I have to hog tie," Gage smiled knowing it might come to that.

Looking right at Gage," Doctor Marshall sternly said, "I'm counting on you to make her do what she's told.

"You don't have to gang up on me," Syd insisted just as Gage's phone rang.

Half laughing Gage pulled his phone out and answered it. "Trivette… they're both fine," he smiled looking at his wife and daughter. "What? How the hell did that happen? All right we'll talk to you when we get there."

"What is it Gage?" Syd asked.

Hating to have to tell his wife anything at that moment he knew it would be ten times worse if he didn't. "Pipe can you excuse Mom and I for a second it's ranger business," he told her his eyes not leaving Syd. Pulling the curtain he quietly spoke to her his arms going round her. "It's Wilson he some how got out of the house with MacKenzie and escaped."

TBC