One Hell of a Storm Chapter Three

Sydney woke to soft crying that was growing louder by the second. She was ready to get up from the bed but Gage managed to get out of the cot before her. He carefully picked Casey up and handed the fussing newborn to Sydney.

"Do you suppose he is hungry again?" Gage asked as Sydney offered Casey him milk. Casey's mouth latched and began sucking hungrily.

"I guess so," Sydney responded. "What time is it?"

Gage glanced at his watch on his wrist and answered, "10:20."

She rested against the pillows as Gage came to stand beside her. He brushed some stray strands of her dark hair away from her forehead and smiled. "Walker and the gang should be stopping by soon to see the new addition to our family."

"How do you think the girls will react?" Sydney worried that the girls would feel less welcomed. Casey was, after all, Gage's and hers first child and they were new parents.

"I think they will take his arrival okay," Gage responded before a soft knock came from the door. Sydney covered up as Gage went to open the door.

"Hey, buddy," Trivette's voice came from behind Gage. Trivette clapped the younger ranger on his shoulder and smiled. Erica came in behind him, holding on to Little Jimmy's hand as he walked in.

"Congratulations," Erica said to Gage as she looked towards Sydney. "Looks like we disturbed you at the wrong time."

"No," Sydney responded. "He should be done shortly."

Trivette looked from Gage to Sydney. "He? It's a boy?"

Gage nodded and Sydney smiled. She felt Casey unlatch and she pulled her hospital gown up before removing the blanket to reveal him.

"Oh," Erica sighed. She placed Jimmy Jr. on the couch and told him to stay put while she looked at the new arrival. "He looks so much like Gage."

"Yeah," Sydney agreed as she offered him to Erica for she could hold him. Erica took him carefully and held him. "He is so cute."

Trivette came to stand beside his wife and looked at the baby in her arms. "Did you guys stick with Stephen?"

"No," Gage responded. "We decided on Casey." Gage moved to sit on the bed next to his wife, taking hold of Sydney's hand as their friends swooned over Casey.

"Well, hello Casey," Erica cooed as Casey looked up at her with round eyes, revealing blue eyes.

"So, is he healthy?" Trivette asked, looking at the junior rangers.

"Yeah. According to the doctor, he would have been much larger if he waited until his due date," Sydney informed as the door opened again, revealing the Walker's with their nieces.

"Welcome," Gage said as he stood to shake hands with Walker and hug Alex.

"Where is the new one?" Alex asked and Gage pointed towards Erica.

Gage knelt down as the girls walked towards him. "Hey, sweeties," he greeted, hugging them to him. Gage knelt with them as they begin to ask questions.

Casey had been transferred to Alex, who held him so Walker could see him. "Tell me this is not a smaller version of Gage," Alex spoke to her husband and grinned. Walker nodded his head in agreement, holding Angela in his arms.

"Congratulations, Sydney," Walker walked to the side of the younger woman's bed. "Now you have to take off the time."

Sydney smiled. "Yeah, I know."

"Alex, can you hand Casey back to Sydney, please?" Gage asked as he walked towards the bed, Lillian in his right arm and Cheyana holding on to his left hand.

Alex did as Gage asked and Sydney held Casey. Gage sat the girls on the side of Sydney's bed.

"Girls, meet your cousin, Casey," Gage spoke as the girls looked at the infant in Sydney's arms.

"He is small," Cheyana noted. Lily was scrutinizing him. She was used to being the youngest in the family and since the new arrival, she wasn't sure what to think.

"When will he be allowed to come home?" Alex asked as she stood next to her husband.

"Tomorrow we will return home," Gage informed.

"I will take the girls to H.O.P.E. Center today and Walker and I will watch them until you get home tomorrow."

"Thank you," Sydney told Alex. Looking at the girls, she smiled, "I will be home tomorrow morning. Tonight you will be staying with the Walker's again. Do you promise to behave?"

Cheyana nodded as Gage relayed the message to Lily in sign language. "You will be home tomorrow? What about school?" Lily signed to Sydney and Gage.

Sydney looked at Gage and Gage looked at her. "Well, maybe you should have Walker take you to headquarters with the girls and you go sign them up."

"But I do not want to leave you," Gage responded immediately.

"Gage, I will be here all day. I won't leave. Please, they arereally looking forward to school and I've waited until last minute to sign them up as it is."

Gage thought about it and then finally agreed. He knew arguing with Sydney would prove pointless. "Alright, but I will be back to spend some time with you and Casey."

"It's not like we will be doing much," Sydney responded.

"Well, girls," Gage began, signing and speaking, "looks like we are getting registered for school." Looking at Walker, Gage asked, "do you suppose I can get a ride to headquarters?"

"Sure," Walker said.

Gage bent over Sydney and kissed her forehead lightly. "I love you," he told her. He kissed her lips lightly next and smiled.

"I love you," Sydney told him as he moved and kissed Casey on his tiny head.

Picking the girls up and off the bed, Gage took their hands with his and began to follow their friends out, each wishing Sydney a good day and another congratulations.


The following morning, Gage and Sydney welcomed their son home. Gage had signed up Lily at the Dallas School for the Deaf and Cheyana at a local elementary school. He was also granted the rest of the week off but was expected to be at work on the following Monday.

"Alex said she'll pick up the girls on her way home from work today and drop them off, so you'll have all day to rest," Gage told as he picked up Casey from his car seat in the back of the car.

"I'm fine, really," Sydney told her husband, who has been constantly worried that she will wear herself thin. "Things need to be cleaned around the house and I really rather work instead of rest."

"Listen, until we figure out a schedule, you should sleep when he is," Gage told her as they entered the house. "Please, Sydney. Just rest and don't worry about the house."

Sydney nodded and took Casey from Gage's arms. "I'll be in the bedroom."

"I'll be up to check on you a little later," He pulled her close to him and kissed her gently, then whispered softly, "love you."

"I love you too."


Sydney didn't realize how exhausting she really was until she laid down on her own bed, more comfortable than the hospital bed. Casey was in his crib in the same bedroom. She woke only to feed Casey and Gage checked on her ever so often. It wasn't until Alex brought the girls home, she got out of bed, letting Casey sleep. Alex visited for a few minutes but left to get dinner started.

The girls sat in the living room with their aunt and uncle. Gage mentioned there were things that they needed to discuss with them.

"It's going to be different around here," Gage began, "with Casey around. Aunt Sydney and I will need you help with a few chores around the house. You two promise to help?"

Lily nodded and Cheyana responded, "yep. Do I get to babysit him?"

"No," Sydney responded. "You are still too young to do that."

"Are you returning to work?" Lillian signed.

"Eventually, yes," Sydney responded. "But that will be in a few months."

From upstairs, the sound of crying could be heard and Gage went to get him.

"Is he going to cry all day and night?" Cheyana asked.

"For a little bit, yes," Sydney responded. "Hopefully, we will get on a schedule where he won't cry too much during the night."

Gage returned and sat next to Sydney on the couch holding Casey in his arms. The girls joined them and looked at Casey, who was awake, but not fussing, in his father's arms. He looked around at the faces surrounding him and waved his arms in the air and smiled.

The girls leaned forward and kissed the newborn on his cheeks, which prompted Sydney and Gage to smile. They were a family and nothing would change that.

THE END