After the Final Show/Down
Part 5
Syd slept until about 10:00 that night and would probably have continued to sleep if Gage had not woken her up. He sat down beside her and shook her gently, caressing her hair and face.
"Syd...Syd...wake up, it's time to wake up."
"Mmm...rrr...nnn." Syd shook her head and curled even further back into the sofa.
"That's a girl, wake up honey." Still gentle, but then more insistent. "Syd! I need you to wake up now."
Gage's more urgent tone forced Syd to come out of her stupor. "You okay Gage?"
"I am, now that you're awake." He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead.
"Is it morning?" Syd pulled back the cover and tried to look at her watch. "10:00 - oh my God Gage, I am so late for work. Why did you let me sleep so late?" She struggled to stand up as she found both the afghan and Gage resisting her efforts.
"Syd, calm down. Its 10:00 at night and its Friday, there is no work again until Monday."
"Oh..." Syd sank back down, her feeble efforts having exhausted her. "Where am I?"
"My place - you've been asleep for about 5 hours now. Here, sit up and I want you to drink some more water."
Syd nodded and thirstily drank down the glass he presented her.
"Wow, good Syd. That's much better than last time. Are you feeling any better?"
"Maybe a little – my head really hurts."
"Okay, I'll go get an ice pack for your head. Do you still feel cold? Are you hungry yet?"
"Thanks." Syd replied settling into a more comfortable position and enjoying the closeness of Gage's body next to hers. "I am a little hungry I suppose, but I'm not cold anymore – not with you so close."
Syd looked up into his eyes and it was all that Gage could do not to control his own hunger that had nothing to do with food. The colour had returned to her face, and although she still had dark circles under her eyes, she looked enticing with her sleep mussed hair and dark, intense eyes shining with desire. Desire for him, God how he had longed to see that look in her eyes. But somehow he managed to tear himself away.
"I'm going to be right back Syd. I'll get that ice pack for your head and I've made you some soup and crackers – I'm just going to bring them through.
He was away from her only a minute, having readied the meal before going through to wake her, but she felt an immediate void where he had been sitting. Gage came back through with an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel slung over his shoulder and a tray laden down with more water, a steaming bowl of soup and a plate of crackers. He set the tray down on his coffee table and secured the ice pack around Syd's head. When he finished he moved away to retrieve the tray but he stopped as he felt Syd's arms reach up and securely wrap themselves around his neck.
"Hold me please Gage." she whispered in his ear, and he was only too glad to oblige. He sat down beside her and she snuggled closely into his lap, laying her legs across his and settling herself into the hollow of his neck. He wrapped his arms around her side and back, holding her tightly, reaching up occasionally to stroke her long, black hair. Anything to make her feel safe and secure, anything to show her how much he loved her.
After a few minutes Syd pulled back and looked over the coffee table. "What did you make me?"
"Vegetable soup and soda crackers." He replied, reluctantly moving his arms from around her and reaching for the tray.
"Wow and here I thought all you knew how to do was make toast."
"Well, the soup is from a can Syd. I called Julie and told her that you were sick and that I was taking care of you. At first she laughed and said that you'd be lucky if my culinary skills didn't kill you, and then when she realized I was serious she suggested that vegetable soup and soda crackers would be just the thing to help get you back on your feet."
"Thank you Gage. It's perfect." She looked up at him gratefully as he settled the tray on her legs which were still stretched across his own. "Do you want me to move?"
"No Syd. This is perfect." He reached up with his right hand and stroked her cheek lightly with the back of his fingers, his eyes shining. Syd looked away.
"Gage... I have a confession to make. I haven't been eating very much this week."
"I didn't think so Syd. You look like you've lost weight and you don't have much energy. Not eating combined with all that exercise. Syd – you really could have caused serious damage to your body if you'd kept that up much longer."
"I guess I did over do it. But I'll be okay now; you were there to save me. You're always there to save me."
"I try to be Syd. If anything ever happened to you I just couldn't ..." he trailed off, not sure that Syd remembered their shared admissions from earlier. And now wasn't the time, he needed to get that food into her. He reached for the spoon and tried to give it to Syd. She shook her head and looked at him seriously.
"Francis...I don't want to regret this or have you holding this over me in the future, but my arms feel so tired and weak. Would you mind?"
As Gage nodded in agreement Syd settled back down against Gage's chest, and the next few minutes were spent in wordless but intimate contact as Gage brought spoonful after delicious spoonful of soup to Syd's mouth, interspersed with small bites of soda crackers. When she had finished the whole bowl, she washed it down with another glass of water.
When she was finished she looked up at him. "Thank you."
There was a small piece of cracker still stuck to her bottom lip and when Gage looked at her with her face so close to his, and feeling their bodies intertwined he could no longer help himself and, reaching behind her head, he gently pulled them together into a kiss. It was delicious and slow, each of them tentatively exploring the other one, the sensation of this new closeness between them burning itself into their memories to be relived over and over.
When they each drew back through unspoken mutual consent it was only to look deeply in each other's eyes, neither wanting to let go of the other. Each felt more complete than they had ever felt before, as if they had just found the missing puzzle piece that they had been searching for their whole lives. And what was strange and yet vaguely comforting was that they had found the piece a long time ago and were very familiar with it. They had been trying to make the piece fit but had been looking at it upside-down, backwards, sideways, every which way but right side up. And now suddenly, they had turned the piece the right way and it slid in perfectly.
Gage leaned forward to kiss Syd again when the phone rang. His lips had just touched hers when he pulled back and tried to move out from under her. Syd reached behind Gage's head and tried to pull him back.
"Don't answer it."
"Syd, I need to. It's late – it could be Walker, it could be Julie. I have to answer it."
Sighing because she knew Gage was right, and the moment was broken anyways, she lifted her legs and let Gage go. He ran to the kitchen grabbing the phone on its last ring before going to voice mail.
"Gage." He was out of breath as he spoke.
"Oh thank goodness Gage. I was so worried."
"Alex. What's wrong?"
"Sydney. Is Sydney there? I can't find her anywhere. I've called work; I've called her home and left messages."
"Yeah Alex, Syd's here. Didn't Walker tell you?"
"No, Walker's away all weekend at a Kick Drugs Out of America camp. I haven't talked to him since lunchtime."
"Syd's...well, Syd's fine Alex." Gage was struggling to come up with what he could say to Alex that was truthful, yet retained Syd's dignity. Nobody needed to know how much control she had lost, how much she had suffered this week. "Well, I mean she's fine now. She was sick earlier today so I took her home early from work and brought her here so I could look after her. She slept for 5 hours but woke up around 10 and had something to eat. It looks to me like she's on the mend." Gage smiled to himself, licking his lips and savouring the memory of their kiss. Yes, Syd was definitely on the mend.
"Gage..." Alex hesitated unsure if she was stepping her bounds as a friend. "Are you and Sydney, you know, involved?"
"Um...well...kinda of." Gage was taken aback by Alex's question but then he remembered the incidents at Angela's homecoming. "Uhh well, yeah we are. But Alex, please keep it to yourself, this is very new for us and I think we just want to take it one day at a time."
"Gage, I think it's wonderful. I can't think of two people who are better suited to one another. And of course I'll keep it private, thank you for telling me. I know I can stop worrying about Syd if she's in your capable hands."
"Thanks Alex, I'd never let anything happen to her."
"I know Gage.
"Can you also, you know, umm not tell Syd that we've have this conversation. I'd rather let her tell you in her own time."
"Sure, but just remember it's not a good idea in a relationship to keep secrets Gage."
"Not a secret Alex, just a little classified conversation between two friends."
"Okay Gage." Alex gave in laughing a little nervously, knowing that she would have to break at least one of the confidences he had extracted from her. Walker was wrong if he thought that it would be necessary to split Sydney and Gage up if they became more than partners, and she would tell him that as soon as he got home.
"Listen Alex, do you want to talk to Syd? I think she's still up."
"No, that's okay Gage. I hear Angela starting to fuss and I need to go feed her. You give Sydney my best though okay and I'll talk to her later."
"Sure."
"And Gage...I'm happy for you, both of you. Just concentrate on getting Sydney well enough so she can go back to active duty, I bet working in the archives is killing her."
"It is. And I'm not much good without at her my side." Gage replied, confirming Alex's belief that Sydney and Gage should not be separated.
"Good night Gage."
"Good night Alex." Hanging up Gage returned to the living room. Syd had gotten up at some point during his conversation with Alex, and he could hear the water running in his bathroom. He picked up the tray and returned to the kitchen and had just finished washing the dishes when Syd appeared in the doorway.
"Gage, I'm really tired again. Do you mind if I spend the night here? I won't put you out; I'll just sleep on the couch."
"Syd – I had no intention of you going home. You are still not 100% and you are going to stay here, and with me, until you are. And as for the couch – you take the bed, I'll take the couch."
"Thanks Gage. You're wonderful."
Brushing aside her comment because it was almost making him blush, Gage moved towards her and lightly touching her back directed her to his bedroom.
"I'm sure you'll want something else to sleep in, you've been in those clothes all day. How about one of my t-shirts? I'm sure that they'll be nice and big on you."
Syd nodded, sitting down on the edge of the bed, so Gage opened one of his dresser drawers and pulled out a large, comfortable blue t-shirt with Gage screened on the back, one of his favourites.
"Okay?"
"Mmm hmm. "Syd nodded again, he could see how sleepy she was.
"Just let me get my pyjamas." Gage pulled some clothes off the chair in the corner of the room. "And then it's all yours."
When Gage left Syd slowly but carefully got undressed and pulled on Gage's shirt. Even freshly washed and straight from the drawer it still smelt like him, and she hugged it close. Would she ever be able to get enough of him? Syd didn't think so. Everything made sense when Gage was there, and when he wasn't...well, lately nothing made sense.
How had it happened that she, Sydney Cooke independent and in control woman had become so reliant on another human being? Syd had always sort of believed that maybe she was meant to go it alone through the world, her choice of career limiting the romantic possibilities. But then Gage had walked into her life and nothing had been the same since. At first she had been grateful for such a remarkable partner, and then for the wonderful friend he had turned out to be. And now, they were close to becoming as close as two adults could be and instead of being scared, she wanted to run towards it and embrace it.
'Life is funny' thought Syd. 'And so are emotions. Maybe Gage and Walker were right. I should go talk to Dr. Smythe. I shouldn't be scared of dealing with them, its being scared that has kept love out of my life for so long.'
Syd settled down into Gage's bed, feeling a little bit funny about it but thankful for its soft comfort. She had barely lain down and put her head on a pillow when her eyes shut and she fell sound asleep.
Some time later Gage slipped into his bedroom to check on Syd. He had changed into his pyjamas, bottoms only, and had locked the apartment for the night. He could see that the light was still on in his room but he couldn't imagine that Syd was awake; she had looked like she would fall asleep the moment she sat down on the edge of the bed. He tapped lightly on the door of his room and receiving no response carefully opened it. Syd was curled up, her dark hair spilled majestically on the pillow, the covers lightly pulled around her.
Gage tiptoed over to the nightstand, marvelling at her beauty and his heart swelling with joy at the happiness her declaration of love earlier had given him. He had come to think in recent years that maybe he was meant to live his life as a bachelor. His relationships had never lasted long and were never serious; he just couldn't find that someone he could connect with, that he could be himself with. Then when Syd had joined the Texas Rangers he had, he now realized, slowly been giving a part of himself over to her all this time. And now, he could not exist without her. She was his support, his refuge.
He clicked the light switch off and was leaving the room softly when he heard a soft murmur. He turned back to listen.
"Gage?"
"Yeah Syd?"
"Will you sleep with me?"
"Of course." Gage didn't have to think twice, he wanted nothing more than to hold her again. He crawled into the opposite side of the bed, and awkwardly reached for her, not sure exactly what she wanted.
Syd slid backwards into Gage's waiting arms, felt his strong chest against her back and her bare legs rub against the soft fabric of his pyjamas. Nestled in his embrace Syd at last felt safe and complete again, untroubled except for the one question that had been plaguing her since she had woken up the first time.
"Gage?" she asked again.
"Yes Syd." He whispered into her hair, unable to resist the urge to kiss it.
"Did you really say that love me?"
"Yes Syd." Gage pulled her even closer to him and wrapped his arms securely around her, whispering in her ear. "I love you, I love you, I love you!"
"Did I tell you that I love you too Gage?"
"Yeah, you did Syd."
"Good, because I do - I love you Gage."
"I know, and you've made me happier than I ever thought possible."
"No, you've made me happier than I ever thought possible." Syd yawned, even as she tried to upstage him, a game they had made a fundamental part of their relationship.
"Good night Syd."
"Good night Gage."
And they closed their eyes, secure in each other's arms and both Rangers had the best night's sleep they had had since Monday.
Part 5
Syd slept until about 10:00 that night and would probably have continued to sleep if Gage had not woken her up. He sat down beside her and shook her gently, caressing her hair and face.
"Syd...Syd...wake up, it's time to wake up."
"Mmm...rrr...nnn." Syd shook her head and curled even further back into the sofa.
"That's a girl, wake up honey." Still gentle, but then more insistent. "Syd! I need you to wake up now."
Gage's more urgent tone forced Syd to come out of her stupor. "You okay Gage?"
"I am, now that you're awake." He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead.
"Is it morning?" Syd pulled back the cover and tried to look at her watch. "10:00 - oh my God Gage, I am so late for work. Why did you let me sleep so late?" She struggled to stand up as she found both the afghan and Gage resisting her efforts.
"Syd, calm down. Its 10:00 at night and its Friday, there is no work again until Monday."
"Oh..." Syd sank back down, her feeble efforts having exhausted her. "Where am I?"
"My place - you've been asleep for about 5 hours now. Here, sit up and I want you to drink some more water."
Syd nodded and thirstily drank down the glass he presented her.
"Wow, good Syd. That's much better than last time. Are you feeling any better?"
"Maybe a little – my head really hurts."
"Okay, I'll go get an ice pack for your head. Do you still feel cold? Are you hungry yet?"
"Thanks." Syd replied settling into a more comfortable position and enjoying the closeness of Gage's body next to hers. "I am a little hungry I suppose, but I'm not cold anymore – not with you so close."
Syd looked up into his eyes and it was all that Gage could do not to control his own hunger that had nothing to do with food. The colour had returned to her face, and although she still had dark circles under her eyes, she looked enticing with her sleep mussed hair and dark, intense eyes shining with desire. Desire for him, God how he had longed to see that look in her eyes. But somehow he managed to tear himself away.
"I'm going to be right back Syd. I'll get that ice pack for your head and I've made you some soup and crackers – I'm just going to bring them through.
He was away from her only a minute, having readied the meal before going through to wake her, but she felt an immediate void where he had been sitting. Gage came back through with an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel slung over his shoulder and a tray laden down with more water, a steaming bowl of soup and a plate of crackers. He set the tray down on his coffee table and secured the ice pack around Syd's head. When he finished he moved away to retrieve the tray but he stopped as he felt Syd's arms reach up and securely wrap themselves around his neck.
"Hold me please Gage." she whispered in his ear, and he was only too glad to oblige. He sat down beside her and she snuggled closely into his lap, laying her legs across his and settling herself into the hollow of his neck. He wrapped his arms around her side and back, holding her tightly, reaching up occasionally to stroke her long, black hair. Anything to make her feel safe and secure, anything to show her how much he loved her.
After a few minutes Syd pulled back and looked over the coffee table. "What did you make me?"
"Vegetable soup and soda crackers." He replied, reluctantly moving his arms from around her and reaching for the tray.
"Wow and here I thought all you knew how to do was make toast."
"Well, the soup is from a can Syd. I called Julie and told her that you were sick and that I was taking care of you. At first she laughed and said that you'd be lucky if my culinary skills didn't kill you, and then when she realized I was serious she suggested that vegetable soup and soda crackers would be just the thing to help get you back on your feet."
"Thank you Gage. It's perfect." She looked up at him gratefully as he settled the tray on her legs which were still stretched across his own. "Do you want me to move?"
"No Syd. This is perfect." He reached up with his right hand and stroked her cheek lightly with the back of his fingers, his eyes shining. Syd looked away.
"Gage... I have a confession to make. I haven't been eating very much this week."
"I didn't think so Syd. You look like you've lost weight and you don't have much energy. Not eating combined with all that exercise. Syd – you really could have caused serious damage to your body if you'd kept that up much longer."
"I guess I did over do it. But I'll be okay now; you were there to save me. You're always there to save me."
"I try to be Syd. If anything ever happened to you I just couldn't ..." he trailed off, not sure that Syd remembered their shared admissions from earlier. And now wasn't the time, he needed to get that food into her. He reached for the spoon and tried to give it to Syd. She shook her head and looked at him seriously.
"Francis...I don't want to regret this or have you holding this over me in the future, but my arms feel so tired and weak. Would you mind?"
As Gage nodded in agreement Syd settled back down against Gage's chest, and the next few minutes were spent in wordless but intimate contact as Gage brought spoonful after delicious spoonful of soup to Syd's mouth, interspersed with small bites of soda crackers. When she had finished the whole bowl, she washed it down with another glass of water.
When she was finished she looked up at him. "Thank you."
There was a small piece of cracker still stuck to her bottom lip and when Gage looked at her with her face so close to his, and feeling their bodies intertwined he could no longer help himself and, reaching behind her head, he gently pulled them together into a kiss. It was delicious and slow, each of them tentatively exploring the other one, the sensation of this new closeness between them burning itself into their memories to be relived over and over.
When they each drew back through unspoken mutual consent it was only to look deeply in each other's eyes, neither wanting to let go of the other. Each felt more complete than they had ever felt before, as if they had just found the missing puzzle piece that they had been searching for their whole lives. And what was strange and yet vaguely comforting was that they had found the piece a long time ago and were very familiar with it. They had been trying to make the piece fit but had been looking at it upside-down, backwards, sideways, every which way but right side up. And now suddenly, they had turned the piece the right way and it slid in perfectly.
Gage leaned forward to kiss Syd again when the phone rang. His lips had just touched hers when he pulled back and tried to move out from under her. Syd reached behind Gage's head and tried to pull him back.
"Don't answer it."
"Syd, I need to. It's late – it could be Walker, it could be Julie. I have to answer it."
Sighing because she knew Gage was right, and the moment was broken anyways, she lifted her legs and let Gage go. He ran to the kitchen grabbing the phone on its last ring before going to voice mail.
"Gage." He was out of breath as he spoke.
"Oh thank goodness Gage. I was so worried."
"Alex. What's wrong?"
"Sydney. Is Sydney there? I can't find her anywhere. I've called work; I've called her home and left messages."
"Yeah Alex, Syd's here. Didn't Walker tell you?"
"No, Walker's away all weekend at a Kick Drugs Out of America camp. I haven't talked to him since lunchtime."
"Syd's...well, Syd's fine Alex." Gage was struggling to come up with what he could say to Alex that was truthful, yet retained Syd's dignity. Nobody needed to know how much control she had lost, how much she had suffered this week. "Well, I mean she's fine now. She was sick earlier today so I took her home early from work and brought her here so I could look after her. She slept for 5 hours but woke up around 10 and had something to eat. It looks to me like she's on the mend." Gage smiled to himself, licking his lips and savouring the memory of their kiss. Yes, Syd was definitely on the mend.
"Gage..." Alex hesitated unsure if she was stepping her bounds as a friend. "Are you and Sydney, you know, involved?"
"Um...well...kinda of." Gage was taken aback by Alex's question but then he remembered the incidents at Angela's homecoming. "Uhh well, yeah we are. But Alex, please keep it to yourself, this is very new for us and I think we just want to take it one day at a time."
"Gage, I think it's wonderful. I can't think of two people who are better suited to one another. And of course I'll keep it private, thank you for telling me. I know I can stop worrying about Syd if she's in your capable hands."
"Thanks Alex, I'd never let anything happen to her."
"I know Gage.
"Can you also, you know, umm not tell Syd that we've have this conversation. I'd rather let her tell you in her own time."
"Sure, but just remember it's not a good idea in a relationship to keep secrets Gage."
"Not a secret Alex, just a little classified conversation between two friends."
"Okay Gage." Alex gave in laughing a little nervously, knowing that she would have to break at least one of the confidences he had extracted from her. Walker was wrong if he thought that it would be necessary to split Sydney and Gage up if they became more than partners, and she would tell him that as soon as he got home.
"Listen Alex, do you want to talk to Syd? I think she's still up."
"No, that's okay Gage. I hear Angela starting to fuss and I need to go feed her. You give Sydney my best though okay and I'll talk to her later."
"Sure."
"And Gage...I'm happy for you, both of you. Just concentrate on getting Sydney well enough so she can go back to active duty, I bet working in the archives is killing her."
"It is. And I'm not much good without at her my side." Gage replied, confirming Alex's belief that Sydney and Gage should not be separated.
"Good night Gage."
"Good night Alex." Hanging up Gage returned to the living room. Syd had gotten up at some point during his conversation with Alex, and he could hear the water running in his bathroom. He picked up the tray and returned to the kitchen and had just finished washing the dishes when Syd appeared in the doorway.
"Gage, I'm really tired again. Do you mind if I spend the night here? I won't put you out; I'll just sleep on the couch."
"Syd – I had no intention of you going home. You are still not 100% and you are going to stay here, and with me, until you are. And as for the couch – you take the bed, I'll take the couch."
"Thanks Gage. You're wonderful."
Brushing aside her comment because it was almost making him blush, Gage moved towards her and lightly touching her back directed her to his bedroom.
"I'm sure you'll want something else to sleep in, you've been in those clothes all day. How about one of my t-shirts? I'm sure that they'll be nice and big on you."
Syd nodded, sitting down on the edge of the bed, so Gage opened one of his dresser drawers and pulled out a large, comfortable blue t-shirt with Gage screened on the back, one of his favourites.
"Okay?"
"Mmm hmm. "Syd nodded again, he could see how sleepy she was.
"Just let me get my pyjamas." Gage pulled some clothes off the chair in the corner of the room. "And then it's all yours."
When Gage left Syd slowly but carefully got undressed and pulled on Gage's shirt. Even freshly washed and straight from the drawer it still smelt like him, and she hugged it close. Would she ever be able to get enough of him? Syd didn't think so. Everything made sense when Gage was there, and when he wasn't...well, lately nothing made sense.
How had it happened that she, Sydney Cooke independent and in control woman had become so reliant on another human being? Syd had always sort of believed that maybe she was meant to go it alone through the world, her choice of career limiting the romantic possibilities. But then Gage had walked into her life and nothing had been the same since. At first she had been grateful for such a remarkable partner, and then for the wonderful friend he had turned out to be. And now, they were close to becoming as close as two adults could be and instead of being scared, she wanted to run towards it and embrace it.
'Life is funny' thought Syd. 'And so are emotions. Maybe Gage and Walker were right. I should go talk to Dr. Smythe. I shouldn't be scared of dealing with them, its being scared that has kept love out of my life for so long.'
Syd settled down into Gage's bed, feeling a little bit funny about it but thankful for its soft comfort. She had barely lain down and put her head on a pillow when her eyes shut and she fell sound asleep.
Some time later Gage slipped into his bedroom to check on Syd. He had changed into his pyjamas, bottoms only, and had locked the apartment for the night. He could see that the light was still on in his room but he couldn't imagine that Syd was awake; she had looked like she would fall asleep the moment she sat down on the edge of the bed. He tapped lightly on the door of his room and receiving no response carefully opened it. Syd was curled up, her dark hair spilled majestically on the pillow, the covers lightly pulled around her.
Gage tiptoed over to the nightstand, marvelling at her beauty and his heart swelling with joy at the happiness her declaration of love earlier had given him. He had come to think in recent years that maybe he was meant to live his life as a bachelor. His relationships had never lasted long and were never serious; he just couldn't find that someone he could connect with, that he could be himself with. Then when Syd had joined the Texas Rangers he had, he now realized, slowly been giving a part of himself over to her all this time. And now, he could not exist without her. She was his support, his refuge.
He clicked the light switch off and was leaving the room softly when he heard a soft murmur. He turned back to listen.
"Gage?"
"Yeah Syd?"
"Will you sleep with me?"
"Of course." Gage didn't have to think twice, he wanted nothing more than to hold her again. He crawled into the opposite side of the bed, and awkwardly reached for her, not sure exactly what she wanted.
Syd slid backwards into Gage's waiting arms, felt his strong chest against her back and her bare legs rub against the soft fabric of his pyjamas. Nestled in his embrace Syd at last felt safe and complete again, untroubled except for the one question that had been plaguing her since she had woken up the first time.
"Gage?" she asked again.
"Yes Syd." He whispered into her hair, unable to resist the urge to kiss it.
"Did you really say that love me?"
"Yes Syd." Gage pulled her even closer to him and wrapped his arms securely around her, whispering in her ear. "I love you, I love you, I love you!"
"Did I tell you that I love you too Gage?"
"Yeah, you did Syd."
"Good, because I do - I love you Gage."
"I know, and you've made me happier than I ever thought possible."
"No, you've made me happier than I ever thought possible." Syd yawned, even as she tried to upstage him, a game they had made a fundamental part of their relationship.
"Good night Syd."
"Good night Gage."
And they closed their eyes, secure in each other's arms and both Rangers had the best night's sleep they had had since Monday.