Chapter Three

"Gage…"

"I know Syd, I know what I said, I know it's impossible but that woman looked exactly like her," Gage rambled on to his partner.

"Did you see anything else? Anything?" Syd questioned wanting desperately to help him.

"Part of the plate," he began to recite the first numbers of the license.

"Let's go inside and call it in," Syd urged her arm going around his waist leading him back towards the townhouse. As they started up the driveway Walker and Alex pulled in beside them Trivette and Erica not far behind.

"Walker you and Trivette are just who I need to see," Gage told them before they could get out of their vehicles.

"Getting cold feet Gage?" Trivette teased.

"She was here," Gage went on ignoring Trivette's teasing comment.

"What did she want?" Walker asked.

"That's just it when she realized I saw her she took off like lightning. I didn't get a chance to speak to her," Gage related what had happened.

"Let's go inside," Syd urged once again leading the way with Gage beside her, Alex and Walker following suit, Jimmy and Erica behind them. Trivette all ready had his phone out calling in the partial plate that Gage had seen.

"Everything all right?" Sydney's dad questioned holding the door open for them. Amanda who stood with her husband fell in step with Sydney and Gage as they trooped into the living room.

"Francis?" it was Julie who stood in the living room questioning her brother as they came in.

"Thanks for your concern everyone but I'm fine," Gage tried to reassure them. "I just need to get to the bottom of this." Turning to Walker he asked, "Get anything from those two from this afternoon?"

"They both clammed up and then lawyered up with Malcolm Foster," Walker answered.

"Malcolm Foster why does that name sound familiar?" Sydney asked trying to place it.

"He was in the news about six months ago," Alex commented joining the conversation. "He got three white supremacists off a murder charge."

"I remember that story," Julie cut in, "But what's the connection with us?"

"I bet Mattie Winslow had the answer to that," Gage mournfully replied.

"That plate was registered to a rental company," Trivette announced to the group as he hung up his phone. "To one Colleen Gage and she used a credit card to pay for it. One Ralph Montgomery's card to be exact."

"Ralph Montgomery," Gage repeated trying to rack his brain but the name meaning nothing to him. He shrugged his shoulders no further ahead then he had been a few minutes ago.

"This makes no sense at all," Syd's dad commented, he wasn't used to being left on the sidelines of things.

"It makes sense to someone," Walker spoke thinking aloud, "And we had better figure out to who."

Everyone stood silent looking uncomfortably from one to the other until Alex finally cut the tension. "All right I know this is serious but so is getting you two married." Putting her arm around Syd's shoulder she continued, "Ladies lets go into the kitchen and take care of those last minute details."

Syd's eyes went to Gage her heart aching for him. Putting on his best smile he took her hand and kissed it. "Go ahead Syd," he told her, "I want everything to be perfect for you cause then it will be perfect for me."

"It will be Gage," she told him bringing his hand to her lips in the same gesture.

The girls headed into the kitchen all but Julie she stood immobile her eyes on her brother. Gage caught sight of her and going to her he put his arm around her. "Go ahead Jules you want to see me married don't you? Then you won't have to worry about me any more. You'll be free finally to find someone to marry you."

She half grinned, "All right Francis if that's what you want."

"For now yes I want the wedding to go off just like planned. I don't know who these people are but I'm not letting them ruin the day for us," he enforced giving her a hug.

Quickly hugging him back she let go and followed the rest into the kitchen.

Colonel Quentin Meagher's Headquarters At The Supreme Brotherhood Compound

"Am I surrounded but incompetent idiots?" Meagher thundered pounding his fist on his desk looking around at his underlings.

"Colonel we didn't expect her son to be a Texas Ranger…" one began to say only to be cut off.

"That's the trouble you people are never looking for the unexpected. That's why these mistakes happen," he barked out. "All you people had to do was to rid us of two women that could blow this operation apart. What do you do you send them into the arms of the Texas Rangers."

"How were we suppose to know Mathew Gage's son became a Ranger," another bawled out.

"It's your job to know," the Colonel shouted out on his feet glaring at each and everyone of them as they tried to sink from his sight. With lightning speed Meagher's hand came out grabbing a handful of his right hand man's shirt. "Understand me now Dale?" he snarled.

"Yes Colonel it'll be taken care of," Dale Ross sputtered out.

"You take care of it personally Dale, you got that?"

"Yes Colonel."

"Good I want this mess cleaned up the sooner the better. Now get out of here," he shouted again shoving Dale back into the rest of the group.

All the men made a speedy retreat none wanting to feel any more of the wrath of Colonel Quentin Meagher. Turning his back to them he stood staring down at some old newspaper clippings. Picking up one of old papers he glanced over the headlines reading aloud, "Tragedy Strikes Small Town Family." He tossed the paper back on the desk cursing out loud as he stared at the pictures of Colleen and Mathew Gage, "Why in hell didn't you both stay dead."

Late Night At Sydney and Gage's

They had long ago said good night to the Walkers and Trivettes, Syd's parents and Julie had retired for the night as well. Gage lay silently beside Syd neither sleeping the days events playing across both their minds. Once the girls had gone into the kitchen Walker had explained that the partial plate they had gotten off the vehicle that had hit Mattie Winslow was registered to Thomas Martin, one of the two that had been caught rummaging through the alleged Colleen Gage's room. It just didn't make sense the name meant nothing to him, Julie or Syd for that matter. The other suspect Billy Boyle meant nothing either, but then why should it this woman calling herself Colleen Gage was an impostor too.

"Gage," Syd had turned on her side to face him. "Are you asleep?"

"No Hon," he replied turning to face her as well his hand coming up to caress her cheek.

"I was just going to go downstairs for something to drink and wondered if you'd like something too," she told him enjoying his touch. Gage had been unusually quiet all evening, after everyone had left or gone to bed he had headed for the shower staying there a very long time. When he had finally come to bed he had slipped in beside her kissing her softly he had whispered goodnight to lay on his back staring at the ceiling.

"I'll go what do you want?" he volunteered.

"Are you sure you don't mind?"

"Syd of course not," his hand held her face and he kissed her.

"Just some apple juice then," she answered not really wanting him to move.

"One glass of apple juice coming right up," he answered throwing back the covers and grabbing for his sweat pants. "Be right back," he told her slipping out the door.

"Thanks Gage," she softly called after him.

A few moments later Gage came softly padding down to the main level to find the kitchen light was on. Someone else that can't sleep he thought to himself going in to find Julie sitting at the small breakfast nook a beer in her hand.

"Drinking alone Jules" he asked as she looked up to see him standing there.

"I couldn't sleep, I just can't get this off my mind, I…" the words died away replaced with tears.

Sitting down beside her he put his arm around her. "I know Jules, I know," he softly consoled her.

Pulling herself together as if still taking care of her little brother she addressed him, "Francis I know we'll get to the bottom of this but first off we need to get you married right?"

Laughing slightly Gage replied, "There might not be a wedding if I don't get Sydney's juice upstairs for her."

"Are you kidding me she loves you as much as Mom… loved… Dad," the words poured slowly out.

Both sat silent for a moment Gage breaking the silence, "Jules…"

"Go get that juice," Julie interrupted, "I want to sit down here a few minutes more."

Gage looked at his sister unwilling to leave her alone right then. "Go on I have two mouthfuls left," she told him lifting her bottle to show him, "Then I'm going to bed too."

"If you're sure."

"Positive Frankie," she told him forcing a smile to her face.

With no other choice he got up to retrieve the juice then turning back to her simply said, "Night Jules don't stay up too long."

"Night Frankie I won't," she returned watching him leave the kitchen adding, "Sleep well."

"You too," he called over his shoulder as he began to mount the stairs two at a time.

"Okay Gage?" Syd asked as he came back into the bedroom.

"Yeah Julie was up and we talked for a minute," he told her.

"She okay?"

"She will be when we find out what is going on."

"Come here," Syd coaxed patting the bed beside her.

Sitting on the edge of the bed he handed the glass of juice to her. "Thanks," Syd half-heartedly smile even though Gage couldn't see it in the darkened room. Swallowing hard Sydney reached for his hand, "Gage Honey do you want to postpone the wedding…"

"No Syd no I want to marry you we aren't changing anything…"

"I mean just until we find out what's going on."

"No matter what's going Syd I want us to be married, I want you to be my wife. Your father once told me I'd know when the time was right and you know with all this going on me marrying you is the only thing that seems right," Gage pleaded.

"I love you Gage and what ever you want is what I want too," she told him resting her hand on his cheek.

"Then you be at that church on time."

"Hey you don't have to worry about me being on time I'm the one in this team that isn't late," she teased.

"Funny Syd," he retorted taking the glass from her hand to set on the night table. "You're going to pay for that you know," he said at the same time as he put his arms around leaning her back against the pillows in a kiss. "And pay dearly," he murmured, "And pay dearly."

"Give it your best shot Gage," Syd still teased glad that he was able to relax a little. She let her arms move round his neck her hands threading through his hair passionately returning his kiss.

"Now you're really asking for it," it was his turn to tease the tip of his tongue licking down her neck to her shoulder his teeth biting at the strap of her pyjama top. Syd responded with a soft moan.

Swinging his leg over her he rested on his knees straddling her thighs reaching for the bottom of her pyjama top at the same time pulling it up and over her head. Holding her hands above her head he leaned forward catching the hard nub of her breast in his teeth to nip it lightly.

The action on her tender nipple caused her to involuntarily cry out Gage responding by washing his tongue over the sensitive button until once again he was able to illicit a soft moan.

Taking his turn with the other breast he let his hands slide down her body catching the top of her pyjama bottoms and hoisting them down. Again another soft moan as Syd lay back enjoying the sensations Gage was causing in her body.

Slipping out of his jogging pants Gage yet again let his tongue go to work. Starting between her breasts he began to move down her body stopping to tease her belly button that was beginning to protrude slightly as the baby grew.

Syd giggled calling out, "Gage you're tickling me," of course causing him to tease her all the more.

"Francis," she finally whimpered out feeling him move further down her body his tongue still dishing out the delicious torture.

"Um hum," he murmured out to her as her began kissing and nipping the inside of her thigh.

"I… you… Gage," she gasped his fingers opening her folds his tongue lapping across her center. He began sucking on her, gently at first a little harder as her body demanded it until finally his tongue was inside her and she was lost to him.

Smiling to himself he once again rested on his knees and lifting her legs to his shoulders he held her waist entering her not letting her come back down to earth. She grabbed his forearms her body still going wild feeling him slide in and out until everything was nothing more then a blur of wild furious sensation ending with one hard thrust of total gratification.

"Oh Syd," Gage moaned lifting her legs down and falling to the side taking her with him. She was still panting to hard to reply instead she responded by curling in close to his chest. Reaching down Gage yanked the covers around them both of them almost instantly asleep.

It wasn't until the dawn was beginning to let the sun rise in the sky that they woke. The shrill ringing of the phone beside the bed had caused Syd to stir. "The phone Gage get the phone," she drowsily prodded him.

Reaching out his arm he grappled with the receiver finally getting it to his ear. "Hello," he hoarsely replied trying to wake up at the same time.

"I'm sorry Francis, I shouldn't have run away like that its just well you have to understand its been so long… I'm just so frightened you won't love me anymore," the woman calling herself Colleen Gage distraughtly spoke into the phone.

"Mom there is nothing to be afraid of Julie and I both want very much to meet you. There's just so much we've missed please Mom when can we meet," Gage tried to make things sound like they were coming from the heart hoping the woman would take the bait.

Syd had sat up alert hearing Gage call the caller Mom, she took her partner's hand feeling his fingers tighten on hers.

"Oh Francis its not just that its those men that are after me. They want to kill me," she cried out breaking into sobs.

"What men Mom? Why do they want to kill you?" Gage furiously answered afraid that she may hang up again at any moment.

"I don't know who they are. I just know that they are following me no matter where I go they are following me, they killed Mattie you know…" her voice trailed away.

"Mom I can help you that's what I do I'm a Texas Ranger I can protect you and we can find out who it is that is following you and trying to kill you," Gage pleaded with her.

"Francis you're getting married," the woman changed the subject as if only a moment before they had been discussing the weather not somebody trying to kill her.

"Yes Mom and I'd really like it if you were there," Gage tried again. "Why don't you tell me where you are and I'll come get you."

"They're here, they're here," she excitedly cried into the phone, "I see them in the office."

"Where are you Mom," Gage was desperately shouting into the phone.

"I have to escape before they find me," she cried.

"Mom please."

"I'll come to you," she cried the line going dead.

"Mom, Mom…" Gage was shouting louder. Getting no answer he slammed the phone down.

TBC.