These characters are not mine (except for Jet and Blue) and I am not proffiting from this story.

Please be patient with me. I promise to have more personal moments with the main characters. I am having a hard time getting the plot to work out the way I want it. Please R & R. All suggestions are appreciated. Thanks

Chapter 5

Sitting in the waiting room Walker is watching his beautiful daughter, Angela. She is shaking a set of plastic keys over little Jet's head while he sits in his car seat. She is trying to play with him because he is starting to get fussy. He must be getting hungry. They will have to go home soon.
The sound of a cell phone interrupts this little family scene. It's Walker's. He answers it with tiredness in his voice. "Walker...Yes...Well, we are a little shorthanded right now but...I usually like to pick my own rangers...Yes sir...Alright...Yes, I understand." Walker flips the cover shut on his cell phone in disgust. "Trivette, you go on and take everyone to the ranch. I have to go back to headquarters for a few minutes."
"Is everything okay?" asked Jimmy.
"Yeah, I just need to take care of a few things. Let's go check on Gage and Sydney before we leave," Walker said flatly.

Walker and Jimmy softly walk into Sydney's hospital room. They are concerned about Sydney but they are just as concerned about Gage.
Jimmy placed a hand on Gage's shoulder and asked, "Are you doing alright, Buddy."
Gage, never taking his eyes off of Sydney, mumbled an unconvincing "Yeah."
Walker steps up and says, "It's getting late Gage, have you eaten anything, today?"
Gage just shakes his head.
"Trivette is going to take Alex and Erica and the kids back my ranch for the night, and I have to run by headquarters. I'll stop and get you something to eat on the way back." Walker explained. "If you need anything just call us, okay?"
Gage seemed to break out of his trance. He realizes that his friends are worried about him and he needs to show them that he appreciates it. "Thanks, Boss. Some food would be real nice. About work tomorrow...
Walker and Trivette look at one another and grin. Walker says, "Gage, don't worry about work. We've already taken care of that. You are officially here to protect Sydney."
Surprised Gage asked, "Why does Syd need protection?" "We didn't get the Chavez brothers this morning. So I think you should stay here with Sydney just in case they get any ideas." Relieved, Gage let out a sigh and said, "Thanks Walker."
As they made their way to the door, Jimmy turned back to Gage and said, "Hey buddy, I mean it, if you need anything, you call us."
"Thanks Jimmy."
"That's what families are for," Jimmy stated.
Gage smiled, taking comfort in knowing that he was part of that family. Other than his sister Julie, he had never really had a family. Now, he was surrounded by people he really cared about, and they really cared about him. He turned back to Sydney and gently took her hand in his.

Upon entering Ranger Headquarters, Walker noticed a stranger sitting at Trivette's desk typing on a laptop computer. The last few days had already been pretty rough and now he had a new ranger assigned to his company that he didn't know anything about and he wasn't sure he wanted. Now, he finds her sitting at his partner's desk like she owned the place. "Who are you?" Walker said with irritation in his voice.
The stranger smiled as she stood up quickly and extended a hand, "You must be Ranger Walker. It's very nice to finally meet you."
Walker ignored her attempt at a handshake and asked, "What are you doing at Trivette's desk? Do you make it a habit of taking over other people's property without permission? That might work in D.C., but it doesn't cut it my ranger company. I don't need an officer assigned to my company that has no respect for other people."
She was surprised at his rude attitude and cold tone. This wasn't the Walker she had been expecting and her defenses went up immediately, "Do you make it a habit of being rude to people right off the bat, or do you usually get to know them first? I was assigned here because I am good at what I do, you are shorthanded, and I asked to be assigned here. Now I'm not so sure that was a good idea. You might be able to bully other people, but I don't take that from anyone, not even the famous Texas Ranger Cordell Walker."
Her response made him realize how rude his remarks had been. Suddenly the events of the past days seemed to catch up with him and he let out a long sigh.
The stranger seemed to notice the change in his attitude and the tiredness in his eyes and she said, "Look, Ranger Walker, we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot. Let's try this again." She extended her hand, saying, "Hello Ranger Walker, I am Ranger Samantha Hawks and I have been assigned to your Company B. I am looking forward to working with you and your rangers, and I will do my best to help in any way necessary."
Walker stepped up and shook her hand. "I'm sorry, I have had a couple of rough days, but that is no excuse to take it out on you. Welcome to Dallas and Company B."
"Thank you Ranger Walker. I am sorry about using Jimmy's desk, but I needed to plug into a phone line and I didn't think Jimmy would mind."
"You know Trivette?" Walker asked.
The young ranger looked up in surprise. "Yes Sir, we go all the way back to the DPS Academy. We were even partners for awhile, just before he made ranger. He and I tried out for the Ranger's at the same time, but he made it first and he has never let me hear the end of it."
"That sounds like Trivette," Walker said knowingly.
"I was hoping he would come back to the office today. I would like to do some catching up before we get too far into this case,"
"He won't be back tonight. He has taken our families back to my ranch for the night," Walker explained.
The disappointed young ranger responded with, "Oh, I see. Well, I guess we can catch up tomorrow. I better get checked in at the hotel." The young ranger picked up her suitcase and turned to Walker saying, "He doesn't know I've come back to Dallas, so if you wouldn't mind, don't tell him. I would like to surprise him."
Walker grinned and nodded in agreement, then had an idea to help make up for his earlier behavior. "Why don't you come to the ranch tonight? We have plenty of room and we could all get to know each other a little bit before we start working on this case."
Stunned, the young ranger didn't know what to say at first. "No Ranger Walker, I couldn't put you out like that. You already have company."
"The Trivette's aren't company, their family. We are all pretty close around here. Besides, if I know Alex, she's cooking enough for an army," Walker said jokingly.
"Well, if she has to feed Jimmy she had better cook a lot," responded the young ranger.
"You definitely know Trivette. Come on I'll give you a ride."
"Thank you, Ranger Walker."
"Most people just call me Walker."
"Okay, Walker. It's a long story, but my friends call me Blue," responded the young ranger.
"Alright Blue, I hope you don't mind if we stop at the hospital on the way?" asked Walker.
"Not at all, sir. How is your wounded ranger?" asked Blue
"She had improved a little before I left this afternoon, but she was still critical," Walker said.

Walker and Blue compared notes on Trivette all the way to the hospital. By the time they arrived they had become fast friends. Gage was very glad to receive the food and seemed pleased to meet his new co-worker. Sydney had steadily improved as the afternoon went along and so had his mental state. Her vital signs had stabilized and she was off the respirator, but she still had not regained consciousness. As he and Blue were leaving the hospital, Walker called Alex to let her know he was bringing home a new ranger and to give her an update on Sydney. He was also making sure they had made it home safely.

Alex and Erica were in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on dinner. The children had already been fed and bathed and Jimmy was reading a story book to them before bed. Jet had already fallen asleep in his daddy's arms. Angela was trying to stay awake until her daddy got home, but as she snuggled against her "unca Dimmy's" other shoulder, she soon drifted off, too. Jimmy was trapped in the chair. His left arm was completely numb from holding Jet in one position too long and he couldn't move his right arm without waking Angela, so he just sat there and watched the two children sleep. He thought about the children a lot lately. He had never worried about getting hurt on the job until Jet was born. The trick he and Walker had played on the Chavez brothers had really gotten him thinking. What would happen to his family if he really didn't come home one night? He knew Walker and Alex would help Erica in any way they could, but would Jet know how much Jimmy loved him. Jimmy's thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the front door.
"Hey, anybody home?" shouted Walker as he came in the house.
Jimmy made a loud 'Shhhhhhh' sound and gave his partner mean look.
After motioning his guest to come in, Walker silently made his way to his trapped partner and picked up his 'little angel' and placed her on his shoulder. Without noticing Walker's guest, Jimmy gently transferred the sleeping Jet to his other arm and stretched his left one to try and get the blood flowing again. They carefully made their way upstairs and put the sleeping children to bed in Angela's room. Jimmy was still rubbing his arm as they came back downstairs. He noticed the dark haired young woman standing by the front door and a look of surprise crossed his face.
Jimmy looked at the young woman and asked, "Blue? Is that you?" When she nodded, Jimmy wrapped his strong arms around her waist and hugged her so tightly that he lifted her off the ground. She returned the hug, laughing at the shocked look on his face. Just as he set her back on the floor and started to release his embrace he heard Erica clear her throat behind him. He turned around to see that his wife was not very happy about her husband hugging another woman. He flashed his widest grin at her and said, "Erica don't be like that. This is Blue! I told you about her," insisted Jimmy. "We were partners before I made the rangers." Turning back to Blue he asked, "How long have you been back in Dallas? Why didn't you tell me you were coming in? Are you staying long?"
Alex stepped in and told Jimmy, "Why don't you introduce your friend to the rest of us, Jimmy?"
Jimmy looked a little embarrassed as he introduced Ranger Samantha Hawks to Erica and Alex. Erica was polite but she wasn't as warm and friendly as she usually was. Alex noticed, and tried to change the subject by reminding them that the food was getting cold. They made their way to the table and Blue made it a point not to sit by Jimmy. She didn't want to make any enemies on her first day back in Dallas. After they had finished their meal Blue insisted on helping to clean up the kitchen. When the dishes had been put away, the women made their way to the den to join Walker and Trivette.
Blue made sure to sit in the easy chair, so that Erica could sit next to Jimmy on the sofa. Alex decided to break the ice by saying, "So Blue, Walker tells me you have been on special assignment in Washington, DC?"
"Yes Ma'am, I have been on a special team made up of police officers from every state. We have been working to improve our homeland security on a local level. Keeping track of possible terrorist suspects and anyone they might be connected with in each state," answered Blue.
Erica jumped in by asking, "So what brings you back to Dallas?"
Blue looked at her and explained, "Erica, you know that Jimmy and Walker have been working on a case involving the Chavez brothers?" Erica timidly nodded her head as she thought of all the trouble they had been through the last few days because of the Chavez brothers. Blue continued, "Well, we have reason to believe that Miguel Chavez may have some connection with a certain group of suspected terrorists that have based themselves here in Texas."
Walker had been sitting silently, taking in everything that Blue had been saying, when he asked, "So you were sent here to investigate that connection?"
"Not exactly," responded Blue. "Miguel was very loyal to his brother Mario. However, Miguel had bigger expectations than Mario. Mario was very content to make his fortune in drugs and guns, but Miguel had friends that convinced him that he needed to help with their cause. We believe Mario had kept Miguel from acting on his ideas of joining with the terrorist organization, because Mario was afraid it would affect his bottom line. Now with Mario dead, Miguel is free to use his brother's organization and money to establish a terrorist network that could be powerful enough to create another September 11th, right here in Dallas."
"How do you know Mario is dead?" asked Jimmy.
"His body turned up this afternoon, in a local hospital morgue as a John Doe," answered Blue. "The problem is that Miguel is completely unpredictable now that he has lost Mario. I feel like he's going to try for revenge. Since Miguel knows Jimmy, that you are the one that killed his beloved brother, we have to believe that he might try to come after you or your family. If he does hook up with this terrorist group they could try to make a statement by coming after The Texas Rangers as a whole. We don't know what he might be thinking. Right now we are just shooting in the dark."
Just as Blue finished her sentence, the house went dark as the electric line was cut.

I will get back to Gage and Sydney in the next chapter. I promise. Thanks for the reviews.