Chapter Two

Ranger Headquarters

Walker and Trivette had arrived only moments before Gage walked in with Sumner and Chafe.

"Robin," Walker greeted Chafe offering his hand.

"You don't just pick any old drug lord to try and kill you, you go all the way to the top," Trivette added offering his hand as well.

"Yeah well I'd just as soon put a stop to Darius period so I don't have to be looking over my shoulder," Robin confessed.

"Amen to that," Walker spoke up. "What have you got to go on?"

"If I can use your computer Trivette I'll bring up everything on the case," Chafe told him as Jimmy moved out of the way. Within moments Chafe had all the old files pulled up for everyone to look over.

"I only ever met Darius once at the time we were more interested in bringing down the Aziza leg of the organization. It was felt that once Tommy Aziza and his people went down the rest would fall like dominos," Chafe was explaining.

"So what happened that they didn't?" Sumner questioned.

"Tommy Aziza was found dead, suicide was the official report," Chafe began to explain.

"But you don't think so?" Walker questioned.

"Not by a long shot," Chafe expressed his opinion. "All of the books anything that could connect Aziza with Darius either disappeared or was destroyed."

"We need something that will draw Darius out and connect him with the drugs," Trivette commented as he skimmed the files on the computer screen.

"Darius might be a shrewd business man who can stay one step ahead of the law but if we can just find the right hook… Darius is crazy enough to come after me himself," Chafe absently told them.

All remained silent for a moment Walker finally speaking an idea formulating in his mind. "Trivette you and Gage put word out on the street that you're looking some good grade PCP," Walker began to explain. "Make contact with Darius' people each of you set up a deal only to back out when CZ Williams makes you a better offer."

"That should just do it," Chafe agreed, "He all ready thinks I stole from him this should just about put him over the edge."

"What do you want me to do?" Sumner asked.

"Sumner you get to sit back and watch," Trivette smiled at the young ranger.

"Yeah Sumner," Gage chimed in, "You're having a baby."

"Well you were still in the thick of things when you were having a baby," Sumner protested.

"Well that's only because my wife was in the thick of things too," Gage informed him. "When Anna B… wait I take that back," he began to back pedal Anna B's stunts running through his mind.

"You and I'll run backup," Walker smiled at Matt intervening on Trivette and Gage's teasing. Looking at the rest of them he said, "Lets get on it I want this set up for tomorrow night."

"You got it Walker," Gage replied everyone getting up to get things started.

Sydney And Gage's

"All right Gage we won't wait supper for you," Sydney was saying into the phone. "I love you too," she said into the receiver before hanging up.

"They are working late and will be here as soon as they can be," Anna B recited before Syd had a chance to say anything.

"You got it Anna B," Syd laughed.

"Mom we have to go shopping," Piper suddenly burst into the room making her announcement.

"Piper we aren't going right now," Syd answered her daughter who had flopped into Gage's lazy-boy chair flipping the foot rest out at the same time. "And please lets not break Dad's chair."

"Mom it's real important I have an important Christmas present to buy," she pleaded sitting up in the chair.

"She's got to buy…"

"Shut up Cat," Piper cut off her little sister before she could reveal who the important Christmas present was for.

"Piper that's no way to speak to your sister," Sydney cut in giving both girls the same look she would have given Gage.

"But Mom Cat is always spoiling things," Piper cried back.

"Piper Lynn," was all Sydney got out before Cody gave out a loud shriek. "We'll talk later young lady," Syd added getting up to tend to her son.

Without a word Piper stomped out of the room down the hall to her room slamming the door behind her. "Piper," Syd called again.

"Sydney can I talk to her ?" Julie asked getting up as well.

With Cody's wails getting louder Syd shouted back, "Sure Julie," leaving Cat with Anna B.

"Who cares anyway if Piper wants to buy a present for her boyfriend," Cat pouted.

"Evidently Piper does," Anna B supplied the answer. "And if I was you I wouldn't be teasing her about it either or Santa may think you are being naughty not nice."

A frown crossed Cat's brow not wanting to offend the great man she slowly shook her head in agreement.

~~~~~

"Piper it's Aunt Julie," Julie called through Piper's door as she lightly rapped on it. "Can I come in?" she asked.

A moment later the door swung open Piper turning on her heal and stomping back into the room.

"Cat being a little pesky tonight?" Julie questioned her niece.

"Not just tonight and Mom always takes her side cause she's younger then me," Piper burst out.

"Hmm that can sometimes happen. You know it wasn't that long ago that your Dad told me a very similar story," Julie began the tale. "It seems that Chris' baby sister was always getting away with something and Chris never did because he was older and should have known better. In fact things got so bad that Chris decided he should run away from home cause he thought your Mom and Dad didn't love him enough after all they were never fair," Julie paused a moment watching Piper's face drop towards the floor.

"As I recall Chris ran away from home only to find out your Mom and Dad did love him as much as his pesky little sister," Julie continued.

"I get you Aunt Julie its just that she is always butting in and messing things up for me. If she hadn't been sitting here listening to my private conversation then none of this would have happened," Piper mournfully told Julie. "I know Mom and Dad love me as much as the rest its just… I wish I had my own room," she blurted out.

"Your own room that's a pretty tall order," Julie replied. "I think the first place to start is talking it over with your Mom and Dad. They after all make all the decisions in this house," she pointed out.

"Then maybe we can get to that shopping tomorrow after school," Julie soothed.

"Just you and me?" Piper looked pleadingly at her Aunt.

"It sounds like we may have a date," Julie smiled back at Piper.

Much Later That Evening

Julie had fallen asleep on one end of the couch with Anna B sleeping on the other end when the men returned. As Sumner and Chafe went to wake up their sleeping partners Gage went down the hallway to the room he shared with Sydney.

Quietly opening the door he found her sitting up in bed feeding Cody. "Hey Syd," he whispered softly to her. "You don't know how beautiful you look with Cody at your breast like that," he murmured. Sitting on the bed beside her he put his arm around his wife and son.

"Gage you're making me blush," Syd retorted letting her head rest against his shoulder.

Gage pulled her a little closer before letting his fingers caress his son's face. "The risk is worth it," he told her his lips pressing against the top of her head.

"Get things settled?" she asked waiting for her husband to reply.

"Think so," he answered relaying Walker's plan to her.

"Sounds simple enough," she told him before changing the subject. "Had another one of Piper and Cat's fights tonight," she revealed.

"I'll have a talk with them at breakfast," Gage sighed.

"Julie had a talk with Piper it seems our daughter needs a little more space. Sharing a room with Cat who tells all she knows might be what is at the root of all this fighting," Syd informed him.

"There isn't much we can do about that," Gage answered taking Cody from Syd to burp him.

"Actually Gage I've been giving that a little thought. What do you think about developing the attic space?" Syd quizzed.

"The attic space Syd do you have any idea how much work it would be to tackle that job?" Gage moaned at the suggestion.

"Hear me out," she told him leaning her head back so she could see his face.

"Okay Syd lets have it," Gage sighed all ready knowing he was beat.

"If we open up the attic there should be enough room to put in two bedrooms and a bathroom in the center that way we can have our guest room back," she began explaining her idea.

"Whoa Syd we do all that I'll have to take your Christmas present back so I can afford it," Gage teased. "Think maybe we can start with just getting a room up their for Piper?"

Smiling Syd nodded her head yes. "I know I tend to get a little carried away when an idea strikes me," she admitted looking at her son who yawned as he nestled into his father's chest.

There was a slight knock on the door followed by Sumner's voice. "We're about to head out here," he called to the Gages.

"Just a sec," Sydney quietly called back getting up Gage with Cody following. Opening the door they quietly moved down the hall where Sumner stood with Anna B leaning against him, Julie doing like wise with Chafe.

"I think we're going over to the house for tonight too," Chafe announced.

"I thought you were staying here Jules?" Gage questioned unable to hide his concern for his sister.

"I'll be back first thing in the morning Frankie then you're stuck with me until you catch this guy," she retorted still not that happy with the way things had developed but becoming resigned to them.

Gage said nothing more his apprehension creeping in. Smiling he turned to Anna B to tease, "So is it going to be tonight?"

"The only thing I have planned for tonight is a lot of sleep," Anna B yawned as she spoke.

"Babies don't always follow the plan," Gage laughed, "Just ask Syd not one of ours followed the plan."

"Yeah but look who their father is," Julie piped up.

"I think it is time we said goodnight," Chafe cut in.

A few minutes later the Gages were watching as Sumner's car and Chafe's car disappeared out of the driveway and down the street.

"Okay Gage?" Syd asked seeing his face as the cars disappeared down the road.

"Fine," he replied. "I think it is time to tuck this little guy in though," he said smiling down at his son.

"Want me to take him?" his wife asked.

"You go warm up the bed Syd I think Cody and I can manage just fine," Gage replied.

Leaning forward Syd kissed Cody's little cheek then standing on tiptoes kissed Gage's cheek as well. "I'm just going to check on the rest of the kids first," she told him going down the hall ahead of him stopping at the girls' door.

"See you between the sheets," Gage told her as she opened the door to let herself in.

"Okay Honey," she whispered as he passed by her. Going inside Syd pulled the covers up around Cat bending to push a wisp of hair from her forehead bestowing a kiss on her. She looked down at the little girl for a moment seeing so much of Gage and Julie in her little daughter.

Turning she took hold of Piper's covers to pull them up around her too when suddenly Piper's eyes popped open. "Mom I'm sorry about the fight tonight, it's just that I want to get Marcus a really nice present and Cat keeps butting in," Piper tried to apologize to her mother.

Sitting on the edge of the bed Sydney put her arms around Piper. "Really Honey Dad and I do understand. We are trying to work on a solution for things hopefully we'll be able to get things settled for you very shortly," Syd explained to her daughter.

"I know you will Mom," Piper agreed with Syd hugging her back.

"So Marcus is the lucky recipient of the Christmas present," Syd stated.

"Yes but you can't tell Dad cause you know what he's like and he'll tell Uncle Jimmy and he's as bad as Dad…"

"I get the picture Honey," Syd laughed knowing exactly what she meant. "You get under the covers it's our secret."

"I told Aunt Julie," Piper revealed scrunching under the blankets. "She said she would take me shopping tomorrow."

"She did, did she?" Syd questioned. "We'll have to see what tomorrow brings forth," Syd told her leaning forward to kiss her daughter as she had Cat.

"Okay Mom," Piper answered letting her eyes close.

A moment later Sydney had knocked and opened Chris' door. "Night Honey," she told him. "Don't stay up too late."

"I won't Mom I just want to get a little more down on this term paper," he told her looking up from his computer.

Resting her hands on his shoulders Syd kissed the top of his blonde head and gave him a hug. Chris in turn taking his mother's hands had gently squeezed.

"Night Chris," Gage who had stuck his head in the door spoke to his son.

"Night Dad," Chris answered his mother letting go to join his dad.

Letting his arm drape around his wife they headed towards their bed. Reaching for the door Gage began to push it open just as the phone started to ring. Letting go of Syd Gage hurried to get it so it wouldn't wake Cody.

"Hello," he said into the receiver. "Julie, Julie what is it?"

"Francis someone is in the house," Julie rasped out the line going dead.

TBC...