~Chapter Seven~

Race Day

Sydney and Gage were back at the track early the next day. They had gone by the hospital after they had spoken with Trivette. Sydney's mother was doing much better; Syd hid her emotions well in her parent's presence. That was not the case when she was alone with Gage she had just clamed up saying nothing almost to the point of ignoring him.

Stomping into the hotel room she hadn't stopped until she was in the bathroom with the door shut securely behind her. Gage had followed her halting outside the door hand poised ready to knock until hearing her quiet sobs. "Sydney," he called through the door his hand going to the doorknob.

"Gage let me be I need this time to myself," she called back to him.

"Did you want me to go out for an hour or so?" he asked trying hard to be accommodating.

The door flew open Sydney standing there facing him. "Are you trying to make this complicated too?" she steamed at him tears pooling in her eyes.

"Not intentionally," he answered standing like a wounded puppy in front of her.

"Damn it Gage if anything happens to you…" words failed her and she broke into tears.

"Shorty…"

"Don't you dare say it Gage," she snapped at him. "You are driving a racing car at high speeds that could very easily have been tampered with, not to mention just plain mechanical failure…" she cried out.

"Syd, Syd I know I'm taking a risk here more so then most days on the job, but you know as well as I do that if we hope to catch these guys," Gage was trying to reason with her. "They have all ready made an attempt on your life and your Mom could have died because of it, we have to get them, I need to be in that race tomorrow."

Biting her lip she quietly murmured, "I know, I know… it's just this bad feeling I have Gage… it's…"

"Come here Syd," he told her pulling her into a bear hug and holding her tight. "It's going to be all right," he whispered his lips pressing the top of her head.

She had seemly relaxed until later that night when they had gone to bed. Lying with her back up against Gage's chest Syd fell into a restless slumber. The same dream that had been plaguing her of late had once again emerged from her subconscious to replay itself.

Alvarez had just climbed into Taurus' car as she watched on. He took the first two laps of the track as she stood cheering on the sidelines. All of a sudden the car her partner Alvarez was driving began to spin out of control doing a flip into the center field. It rolled twice more Syd running as fast as she could towards it. Nearing the wreck she dove to her knees taking her partner in her arms. Turning him over she began to scream Gage's face materializing where Alvarez's face should have been.

Her arms began to flail out her screams for her partner waking him and he grasped on tighter to her.

"Syd Honey wake up, wake up Syd," he called holding fiercely to her caressing her cheek with his hand.

"Gage, Gage," she repeated finally realizing it was just a dream. Slowly she began to tell her dream to him, "It was so real the whole thing happening just like when it actually happened except when I turned Alvarez over… Gage it wasn't him… when I turned him over it was you," she finished still very shaken by the whole thing her body quaking against Gage.

"It was just a dream, it wasn't real," Gage tried to coax her into believing. They had lay down again Gage still holding her close hating to admit that her dream had actually rattled him too.

By the time they had gotten to the speedway the next morning though Gage had let the excitement of the race push his fears of anything happening behind him.

Seeing them come in Tinker came right over to them. "Jeff you all ready for this?" he questioned.

"Oh yeah I'm ready," Gage answered trying hard to hide his building excitement.

"The car's all right?" Syd questioned her fears beginning to surface.

"Running in tip top shape," Reese Dawson cut in to answer Syd's question.

Suddenly Bobby Hollander came into the pit area, the smile on Dawson's face suddenly disappearing. "Excuse me," he mumbled his eyes fixed on Hollander as he walked towards the man.

"Come on Jeff get into your gear we got a race to win here," Tinker was urging him.

"Yeah be right with you," he answered his hand on Sydney's arm steering her to a corner for a whispered word with her.

"Jeff did you see that?" she hissed out.

"Keep an eye on him Syd," Gage whispered nervously to her his arms enfolding around her to hold her to him.

"Gage don't…" his lips were covering hers his hand moving up her back her hands grasping tightly to Gage's arms.

"Are you coming Jeff?" Tinker was calling to him again.

"Okay?" Gage murmured to Syd.

Swallowing hard she shook her head yes, "Please don't take any chances…"

His lips were on hers again kissing her deeply before pulling away to get ready to get in the car.

Biting her lip she watched him walk away. Quickly she adverted her eyes to where Hollander had been conversing with Dawson, both men had disappeared. Pulling herself back together she walked over to where the car stood waiting for Gage. She circled it staring at it as if it would speak to her and tell her if it had been tampered with.

A moment later Gage reappeared ready for the race. Standing beside the driver's door she waited until Gage was beside her and reaching up put both arms around his neck to ceremoniously plant a kiss on his lips for luck the rest of the crew whistling and cheering. Letting go Syd moved back and Gage climbed into the car. A minute later he had fired her up and was moving her onto the track.

Syd stared after him for a moment until her eyes once again caught Hollander and Dawson but now Lindy Tameron had joined the pair. Circling around them Syd was able to get close enough to hear what the trio were discussing.

"You're sure that there aren't going to be any slip ups this time," Lindy hissed out.

"Not a chance," Dawson replied with the same smooth voice that had told Syd earlier that the car was running in tip top shape.

"Hey Bobby they're just about to drop the flag," one of the crew had shouted over to where they stood. With his arm around Lindy he guided her over so they could get a good view of things while Dawson ducked out of the pit area and headed to the garage.

Trailing behind him Syd gave a quick look around before slipping into the garage. Dawson was busy gathering up his tools and his belongings ready to make a hasty get away if need be. "Going some where Dawson?" Syd questioned.

Spinning around Dawson caught sight of her standing there. "Callie what are you doing in here with Jeff on the track?" he asked trying to recover from his surprise.

"I just came to find out what Hollander had you do to the car," she replied.

"He had me get her in tip top shape," Dawson professed gripping tighter to the tire iron in his hand.

"Cut the crap Dawson unless you want to go down for another murder," she told him her eyes fixed on him.

"I didn't murder anyone Callie," he smugly replied beginning to walk towards her.

"Donnie Maples might have something different to say about that," she shot back. "What did you do to Jeff's car?"

"It ain't going to matter now," he shouted rushing at her poised to strike with the tire iron.

Easily ducking it Syd grabbed hold of his wrist bending it both back and downward cracking it hard against her knee snapping it. Dawson yelled out in pain Syd not letting up. Twisting it harder she shouted out again, "What did you do to the car?"

"The tie rod," he gasped, "I filed the threads on the tie rod. It may last him the first fifty laps before it breaks loose."

Tightening her grip on his wrist Syd yanked him over to the workbench. Snapping a cuff on his good wrist she tethered him to the leg of the bench taking off for the pit to get Gage off the track. Nearing the door it suddenly swung open Syd coming face to face with Lindy and Hollander.

"Going some where Callie?" Lindy asked Hollander levelling his gun at her.

"They're on to you two," Syd charged, "You won't be getting away with this."

"And who do you think is going to stop us?" Hollander asked stepping a little closer to Syd.

"Texas Rangers," Syd boldly answered watching Walker come in sight behind the pair.

"Texas Rangers," Hollander laughed just as Walker went sailing into him the gun being propelled from his hand.

Lindy made a dive for the gun but she wasn't quick enough, Syd's foot had come flying up to catch the woman in the face sending her backwards. Trying to sprint by her Lindy's hand pushed out catching Syd's ankle pulling her off balance.

Yanking hard Sydney wrenched her foot free pouncing on Lindy her fist shooting out to catch the woman's jaw.

Lindy reached up grabbing a handful of Syd's hair yanking hard as Sydney pummelled her fist into Lindy's face twice more before she finally gave up.

"You're under arrest," Syd cried out leaving Lindy to Walker once again heading for the pit and the track. She cried over her shoulder to her boss as she ran, "I've got to get Gage off the track the tie rod is going to give."

Racing into the pit area Syd caught sight of Tinker his eyes were glued to the track and Gage. "Tinker, Tinker," Syd called.

"Not now Callie," he shouted back his hand over the mic of the radio headset.

"Tinker you have to get him off the track now," Syd insisted stopping beside the man.

"Callie Jeff has the lead…"

"Tinker the tie rod is going to give," Syd cut in. "Dawson confessed he filed the threads on the tie rod we have to get him off the track."

Tinker stood motionless for a moment unable to believe what she was saying until Gage's voice crackled over the radio, "Tinker talk to me here Reade is trying hard to knock me off the track."

Both Sydney and Tinker focused on the Hollander car seeing Tye Reade in the Carson car hot on his tail coming up along side of him bumping the back end of the car. "Jeff bring her into the pit," Tinker shouted into the headset.

"I can out drive him," Gage shouted back. "Just keep your eyes on him for me."

"Jeff bring her in now, I need you in the pit now," Tinker was shouting as the cars whizzed past in front of them.

"I can't I need to move out ahead…"

Syd had grabbed the headset from Tinker and was shouting into it, "Gage the tie rod is going to give way get off the track."

"The car is shaking I'm loosing control," Gage was shouting back Reade in the Carson car ramming the side of him again. All at once Gage's car hit the wall on the last turn careening across the track to hit Reade's car taking them both into the center field. Both cars rolling over Reade's landing on it's roof while Gage's came to a stop on the driver's side.

The fire trucks were rolling as well as the EMT. Tinker and Syd were running as fast as their legs would take them to where the cars had finally come to rest. Running past Reade's car Syd climbed up on the side of the car Gage was in calling frantically to him.

"Syd," she could hear his voice he was alive. "Gage, Gage we're going to get you out just hang on," she cried out the smell of fuel burning her eyes and throat.

"Callie get down from there and let the emergency people do their job," Tinker was shouting to her.

"Sydney," it was Walker beside her on the side of the car.

"We have to get him out," she cried out struggling with Walker, trying to climb in the car with Gage. Walker was finally able to pull her clear of the car she fighting him all the way.

Within moments the emergency team had the car up righted and were working to get Gage free of the wreck. Sydney stood silently by watching as the rescue people pulled him from what was left of the car. Quietly she stood fighting the tears that threatened to wash down her cheeks as she fought the fear that was consuming her.

Once they had him on the stretcher Walker finally released Syd letting her run to him. Grasping his hand she looked down in his face. "Francis," she muttered out moving along side of him.

"We get them Syd," he whispered to her his eyes closing his hold on her fingers tightening.

"Yeah Gage we got them," she murmured climbing in beside him.

St. Mathew's Hospital

"Sydney," she looked up when she heard her name called to see her father standing before her. She had been sitting for the last couple of hours in the waiting room at St. Mathew's waiting for word on Gage's condition.

"Oh Daddy," she cried letting her dad slip his arms around her and hold her close.

"I'm sure that Francis will be fine Honey he's a strong person," her father comforted.

"He just has to be Daddy, he has to be," she softly whispered against his chest.

"Sydney any word?" It was Walker asking he and Alex had just come in with Trivette.

"Nothing yet," Syd answered still holding tight to her father.

"When you do see him you can let him know that Hollander laid out the whole scheme to us. We picked up Mancuso and his people. Seems it was Mancuso's idea to get rid of Donnie Maples when Lindy let it slip the deal they had. Donnie threatened to go to the authorities and that was his undoing.

Lucky thing I was there investigating David Carson's death, Lindy is claiming that Tye Reade is the one who beat Carson to death. She claims Carson was going to keep Reade out of the race and that Reade lost his temper coming at Carson with a wrench. Since Reade died in the crash I guess we will never know for sure if that is what happened," Walker explained.

"Ranger Sydney Cooke?" a young doctor had come to the waiting room door and was asking for her.

With her father's arm around her supporting her Syd stepped forward asking, "How is he?''

"Ranger Gage has a mild concussion, a broken ankle and he did get banged up pretty good. He is all ready asking for you Sydney and complaining he wants to go home," he told them.

"Sounds like you're going have your hands full Syd," Trivette teased as she hurried down the hall with the doctor.

Pushing the door open Sydney let herself into Gage's dimly lit room making her way to the bed where he lay. "Syd?" he murmured his eyes opening.

Taking his hand she leaned over to kiss him. "Right here they finally let me in," she softly answered.

"I'm ready to go home you know I'll sleep so much better in your arms," he tried to persuade her.

"That might be so but the doctor is keeping you over night just to be on the safe side," she told him resting her hand on his cheek.

His lip came out in a small pout at the prospect of a night at the hospital. "Reade win the race?" he absently asked letting his eyes drift closed again.

"Gage," Syd began pausing a moment watching as Gage's eyes opened to gaze into her face once more. "Reade's car went off the track the same time as yours did… he wasn't as lucky as you Honey… his car flipped over and he broke his neck."

Gage lay mutely quiet holding her hand both realizing that it could have just as easily have been him.

There was a light rap on the door with Walker pushing it open to peek inside. "Up to some more company?" he asked.

"Yeah come in," Syd replied her eyes still on her partner.

"Hey Gage, man you came close to winning that race," Trivette greeted him.

"Guess maybe I did," he answered turning his attention to his friends yet still holding tight to Syd's hand.

Six Weeks Later… The Texas Motor Speedway

Syd zoomed past her partner taking the turn high. "Ha told you I should have been the one driving," she shouted into the headset.

"I'm just holding her back a little Syd just giving you the edge," Gage laughed back coming up on the inside of her car.

"We'll see about that," Syd challenged back pressing on the gas once again shooting ahead of Gage.

"Now you've done it Syd," Gage hooted he too stepping on the accelerator coming long side with her as the pair of them headed for the finish line.

The flag came down as both cars screamed over the finish line neck and neck. Bringing the cars to a stop Syd quickly wiggled out of hers to go running over to where Gage sliding from his.

"What a rush," she exclaimed throwing her arms around his neck he easily lifting her from the ground.

"You two children finished playing?" Joseph Cooke asked smiling watching his daughter and almost son-in-law. "Your mother is waiting at home for us."

"Joe they're just cut out of the same cloth," Tinker laughed slapping him on the shoulder. "Motor oil running through their veins," he laughed more.

"Well I do know that if anyone can take care of her it is Francis," his smile widened as he spoke.

With his arm slung over her shoulder the two young rangers made their way over where Joseph stood with Tinker. "So what do you think of your baby girl now?" Gage asked teasing Syd with a kiss to her nose.

"What I've always thought," Joseph answered. "That she is her own person, smart, pretty and she is going to keep you on your toes," he said looking right at Gage.

"And I wouldn't have it any other way," Gage laughed leaning down to kiss Syd repeating to her, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The End