All disclaimers apply. I don't own the characters in Walker Texas Ranger and I am not profiting from this story.

Thanks for being patient with me. I think I know where this is going now. Please read and review. ALL advice is appreciated.

Chapter 7

Walker and Trivette are making plans on where their families can stay, and be safe when Gage comes in the waiting room.

"Hey Gage, how's Sydney?" asked Trivette.

"She's just great, Trivette," snapped Gage. "Walker, can I speak with you...privately."

Jimmy and Walker exchange glances as Walker joins Gage in the hallway.

Gage seems uneasy about what he wants to say. Walker asks "What's wrong Gage?"

"I...uh...I...think I've been in this hospital too long. I'm ready to get back to work, Boss," Gage said tentatively. He expected Walker to argue with him, but instead Walker agreed.

"Okay Gage, we are already two rangers short. You can start off by taking Alex and the kids to the safe house at this address. Cody and Simms are already there getting it ready. Trivette will bring Erica when she is discharged, and I will send some DPS officers over to relieve you," explained Walker.

Slightly surprised at the fact that Walker didn't ask any questions about Sydney, Gage took the piece of paper from Walker and said, "Right Boss, Thanks."

Looking at the expression on the young ranger's face, Walker asked, "Is everything alright, Gage."

"Yes sir, I'm just fine," Gage lied.

Alex had already gathered all the children's supplies, when Gage came in to help. He picked up Angela very carefully, so as not to wake her and carried her for Alex. Jimmy kissed Jet's forehead before handing him to Alex. Walker stopped Gage so that he could kiss Angela goodbye, before turning to his wife.

"You be careful," he said before giving Alex a tender kiss.

"I will. I love you," Alex said with a grin.

"I love you, too," Walker said sincerely.

As soon as they were down the hall, Jimmy turned to Walker and asked, "So, what do you think happened between Gage and Sydney?"

"I don't know Trivette, but I'm sure they will let us in on it when they want us to know," Walker said in a condescending tone.

Trivette looked at Walker with and incredulous grin, "You're no fun," he said, grateful for a chance to lighten up a bit.

"You're as bad as Alex," said Walker jokingly. "Listen, I'm going back to Headquarters and see what's going on. Try and get some sleep. You look like you need it."

"Thanks a lot, Walker. You're not fresh as a daisy, yourself," Jimmy said grinning.

More seriously Walker said, "I'm going to talk to Blue's doctor and see if I can get her placed in the same room with Sydney. If they need protection it will be easier if they are in their together."

"That's a good idea, but once Blue comes out of the anesthesia she's going to want to get out of here pretty quick," explained Jimmy.

"She has to wait until the doctor releases her," stated Walker.

Trivette smiled at his partner and said, "Blue doesn't like hospitals at all. I'm telling you partner, when she wakes up you will have to strap her down to keep her here."

"Well then, we'll just have to strap her down, won't we," joked Walker. "I'm going to get back to the office. If you need anything, call me."

"Thanks buddy," Jimmy said.

Walker arranged for Blue to be taken to Sydney's room as soon as she was out of recovery. Jimmy had explained to Sydney the reasoning behind that move. There were two uniformed DPS officers stationed at their door 24/7. As soon as Erica was discharged Jimmy took her to the safe house with Alex and the kids. Erica was doing her best to be a good ranger's wife but the past few days had been really hard for her. Jimmy tried his best to make her feel safe but he felt that she was losing her confidence in him. Her mood improved when they got to the safe house and she was able to hold her son in her arms.

Jimmy knew he had to get back to the office and start tracking down these animals that were after his family, but he didn't want to leave Erica and the baby again. Erica told him she understood and tried to encourage him to catch the bad guys quickly so that they could get their lives back to normal, but he couldn't help but think she was having second thoughts about their life together. Could anyone call a Texas Ranger's life normal? Gage finally convinced him that the faster they got to the office the faster they could catch these guys. So, reluctantly Trivette and Gage left the safe house and headed back to Ranger Headquarters.

Sydney had been thinking about Gage since he left this morning. She had to get this sorted out in her head and work it out with Gage, soon. Her new roommate had been a curious diversion from her thoughts of Gage. Who was this ranger? Why hadn't Sydney ever heard about her before? Trivette had said that she had been a ranger almost as long as he had but that she had been on assignment in Washington, D.C. for the last three years. As Sydney was lost in her thoughts, she noticed that Ranger Hawks was beginning to wake up. She was mumbling about something and seemed to be fighting something. Fearing that Hawks might hurt herself, Sydney pressed the nurse call button. Blue's mumbling was getting louder and she was thrashing around more. She seemed to be slapping her leg, suddenly the mumbling became screams.

"We're going down! I'll hold it as long as I can. Abandon ship! Get everybody off! We're on fire!" Blue screamed.

Sydney got out of her own bed and managed to get to Blue's bed just as the nurse came in the room.

Just then, Blue grabbed Sydney by the upper arms and shouted, "Please, save Matt!"

Sydney had never seen such a desperate look in anyone's eyes before.

The nurse was trying to put the sedative in Blue's I.V. It took just a few seconds to work. Blue relaxed her grip on Sydney and slowly lay back on her pillow.

Confused, Sydney looked to the nurse for an explanation. "What was that all about?"

As the nurse helped Sydney back to her bed, she explained to Sydney that Ranger Hawks had been injured during the first Gulf War, and had received burns to her legs.

"She must have had a flashback. The anesthesia can cause that sometimes," explained the nurse.

Sydney tried to relax as she lay in her bed, but she couldn't stop thinking about Blue. When Sydney tried to close her eyes, she kept seeing the desperation in Blue's eyes.

Walker was sitting at Trivette's desk trying to make the computer do something, when Gage and Trivette came in the door.

"Hey!" shouted Trivette. "I don't drive your truck, don't drive my computer."

"I'd like to drive over it," said Walker, "With my truck."

"You just don't know how to talk to her," Trivette said with chuckle. "What are you trying to do?"

"Her?" queried Walker, "You talk like it's a woman."

"Well, she can be just as confusing and infuriating as any woman I know," Trivette said jokingly. "But she has never let me down yet."

Standing up to allow Trivette room, Walker explained, "Hawks left a website name on your desk that will let us keep up with some of the terrorists that might be involved with Miguel Chavez."

All business now, Trivette said "I'm on it."

Grinning, Walker laid his hand on Trivette's shoulder and said, "It's good to have you back, Partner.

Looking up at his partner and friend, Trivette said sincerely, "Thanks, it's good to be back." As Walker made his way back to his own desk Trivette muttered under his breath, "Just don't be so quick to shoot me next time I go undercover."

Walker grinned and said loudly, "I heard that. At least I made sure I was using blanks."

Trying to get the last word in Trivette said, "That makes me feel better."

After he saw Gage's expression Walker decided to let Jimmy win this battle. Knowing that something had happened between Gage and Sydney, Walker thought his young friend might want to talk.

"Gage, let's go see what forensics has found out at my ranch," said Walker.

Hearing his name Gage snapped out of his trance and said, "Okay, Boss."

In a shadowy warehouse somewhere in the metroplex, several men are gathered around a table. Two of the men are discussing the blueprints that are spread out on that table.

"Amyl, are you sure this is the best way to handle the situation?" asked Miguel Chavez.

"My friend, you have seen that your attempt to kidnap their children was the wrong way to handle it. Trust me," said the dark eyed man. "I have a real hatred of these Texas rangers myself. They have caused me much frustration."

Miguel still seemed uncertain and asked, "Do you really believe that we can take them all out at one time?"

"We most definitely can," the Middle Easterner said. "But, we must be patient. Let things calm down for while. Then when they least expect it, we will strike."

Miguel decided to put his trust in his friend, "I will help you in anyway I can my friend."

"And I will not disappoint you, my friend," Amyl said in a satisfied tone. "We will both get what we want. You will get your revenge for your brother and I will avenge the wrongs done to my people by the Americans."

On the way to the ranch, Walker and Gage ride in silence. Walker can tell that Gage is thinking about something, but before he can ask, Gage breaks the silence.

"I think I need to transfer to another Ranger Company," Gage said seriously.

"What!" asks a confused Walker? This was not what he had been expecting. "Are you kidding?"

"No, Walker, I'm not kidding," said Gage flatly.

"What's going on with you, Gage?" Walker asked.

"I just feel like I need a change, that's all," Gage said hoping Walker would accept that.

"Look Gage, I know this has something to do with Sydney. I don't know what happened in that hospital room, but I can't believe you would run away from your problems. If you want to talk about it I'm a good listener," said Walker.

"I'm not running away," said Gage defiantly. Than more softly, "She's pushing me away."

Walker looked at his young friend and remembered all the times he and CD had talked about Walker's love life. Most of the time, Walker hadn't wanted the advice CD had offered, but things always made more sense after he had talked about them.

"Look Gage, I know there has been something more between you and Sydney, than just police work. Even Trivette can see that. Why don't you just tell me what happened. It might help you figure out what you really want to do."

Reluctantly, Gage told Walker the whole story, from their first kiss in CD's, when Walker and Alex were on their honeymoon, to his proposal and her refusal at the hospital.

Walker listened patiently until Gage was finished. When Walker was sure that he was finished, Walker said, "Gage, you scared her. She had been through a real hard time and as soon as she came to, you asked her to marry you. Don't give up! Take your time. You two have waited for four years. What's the rush? Give her some time to sort all this out for herself. If it's right it will happen. It took Alex and me years to get together, but it was definitely worth the wait."

Gage tried to believe what Walker was saying. He knew the senior ranger was right, Walker was always right, but he still felt like he needed to put some distance between himself and Sydney. Just for a while. Just until he knew how she really felt.

By the time Walker and Gage made it back to headquarters, Trivette had been working at the computer for hours.

"Hey, it's about time you two got back. I was about to call out the National Guard to look for you," joke Trivette.

Gage mumbled something Trivette couldn't understand, and wasn't sure he wanted to know. Trivette looked to Walker in confusion. Walker gave Trivette a look to let him know now was not a good time to be giving Gage grief. Trivette decided to change the subject by saying, "I have some good news about the guys out at your ranch."

Walker interrupted with, "Let me guess, they all work for Miguel Chavez, right?"

Dejected, Trivette said, "Yeah, how did you know."

Walker explained, "It would stand to reason. Miguel hasn't had time to hook up with any big time players, yet."

"Well, he's not wasting much time. Using Blue's site, I was able to learn that Miguel has made contact with a suspected terrorist organization run by a man named Amyl. Apparently Miguel attended college with this guy," explained Trivette.

Curious, Walker asked, "Just what kind of organization are we talking about?"

"Well, they haven't done much in this country. They have claimed responsibility for the bombings of a few buildings in Europe. They have been suspected of running some drugs in this country. In fact some of their people were caught at the Mexico border with a pretty large amount of stuff in the trunk," continued Trivette. "Unfortunately, they had a bomb rigged in the car, in case they were caught they just pulled a lever and the whole thing blew up."

In deep thought, Walker rubbed his beard and said, "I remember that. Two border guards were killed, right?"

"You got it. Along with the guys in the car, and a lot of civilians were wounded," said Trivette.

"We've got to catch Chavez before he can hook up with this Amyl character," stated Walker. "If they are willing to kill themselves rather than get caught with drugs, than they are capable of anything."

"I don't know about you partner, but I'm about ready to head to the safe house," Trivette said while stifling a yawn.

"Okay, but we shouldn't take our own vehicles. They might be watching us, and I don't want to lead them to the house," cautioned Walker.

"Already thought of that, I have a car checked out of the motor pool for us to use," Trivette said with a satisfied grin.

Grinning, Walker let Trivette have his moment before saying, "I'd like to stop at the hospital on the way and see how Hawks and Sydney are doing."

"Sure thing. Hey Gage do you need a lift? We're going by the hospital," asked a concerned Trivette.

Looking up from the mountain of papers on his desk, Gage simply said, "No thanks, I have a lot of stuff to sort through first."

Trivette gave Walker another questioning look, but Walker gently pointed him toward the door and they left.