No less than 3 dozen pictures of Sydney, Gage and both of them together were in the box, all of which had Gage's head crossed out and Sydney's head circled.. There was no return address and the pictures dated back to at least 5 months ago. The most recent pictures were taken no more than one week ago and were taken everywhere form headquarters to recent busts that they had done.

"Who could have done this?" Gage asked with anger and worry in his voice.

"No idea…" Sydney said as she trailed off and immediately thought of the phone call that Gage had answered on her phone only moments ago. "You don't think this could have anything to do with that phone call do you?"

"Maybe, but, do you have any idea who would want revenge on either of us at this point in time? Any of our recent cases come to mind?"

"Not really. Everything seems to be fine now. As far as I know, everyone who would have it in for us is behind bars." Sydney said.

Just then Sydney's desk phone rang again as Sydney and Gage exchanged a glance.

"Ranger Cooke." Sydney said and waited for a reply.

"… hope you liked my gift…" said a voice on the other end of the line of which Sydney did not recognize. Just as she was about to reply, the line went dead. She didn't know what was happening, or who was doing this, but, it was all taking its toll on her and she raced off towards the restroom as all the color drained form her face.

"Syd!" Gage shouted as she passed by him. He was clearly worried about her and couldn't help himself as he followed her down the hallway to the restroom, even though he knew he was not supposed to go in there.

As he entered the restroom, he immediately saw Sydney leaning against the sink with her head bowed down. He had never seen her look so pale and didn't know what to do. So he did the only thing he thought might help. He approached her from behind and gently placed his hand on her shoulder and in turn, she turned around to face him with tears in her eyes.

"Syd…don't worry. Everything is going to be OK." Said Gage with the same softness he gave her at the hospital.

"I'm sorry Gage, I feel like I'm falling apart here. Someone is obviously after us, or at least one of us, and I have no idea who it could be. I can't help feeling responsible for this seeing as how the package was addressed to me and the phone calls and I just… can't…" she said as she took a deep breath trying to force back the tears.

"Listen to me, we'll catch whoever is behind this. I promise you. And don't feel like this is your fault. Just because the package was addressed to you, doesn't necessarily mean anything. For all we know, it could be a diversion to get to me. I'd actually prefer if it WAS for me, you've got enough going on with Tony already, you don't need any of this."

"Gage, don't say that you wish it was for you. Whether Tony is in the hospital or not, it wouldn't change this. Either way we have to deal with this."

"And we'll do it together." Gage said and watched as Sydney finally relaxed and calmed down.

"Thanks." Sydney said, realizing that Gage truly meant when he said that he would always be here for her.

Gage, noticing that Sydney was finally calm and ready to go back out there, gave her a small hug and a kiss on the temple before they proceeded back into the office as a sign that he would in fact be there for her. He decided right then and there that he would do anything in the world to protect her if this new case put her in danger. He was not about to lose her to this, and was going to make sure that whoever was behind this would pay. He didn't know why, but there was something about this new situation with the pictures that made him feel like he needed to protect Sydney more than usual.

Later that day, after discovering that there had not been any recent prison breaks and getting no leads on the pictures, Sydney and Gage were just about to head out for the night when Gage asked Sydney if she was going to the hospital.

"I'll go with you if you'd like. I can drive you home as well" said Gage.

"No, I think I'll just go to the hospital tomorrow morning. But since you offered, you can drive me home." Sydney said with a smile.

"Sure thing, Shorty." Gage said as he playfully elbowed her.

When they reached her apartment, Gage was just about to volunteer to walk her up to her apartment when she offered him a cup of coffee for the ride. Gage, being a coffee lover, gladly accepted as he parked the car and they made there way upstairs. Upon reaching her suite, they noticed that the door was slightly ajar. Drawing their weapons, they slowly entered the dark apartment only to find the place in ruins. Gage immediately scanned the rest of the apartment as Sydney took in the site of her home.

"Oh my God." she said, barely above a whisper as the image before her settled in. All her pictures and albums had been destroyed and any pictures of Gage were crossed out just like the package pictures. Dishes were broken and the furniture was turned all over the place.

"Syd…I'm so sorry. You're bedroom isn't any better than this. Clothes are everywhere and you're bed has been turned over. I don't know who would have done this or what they were looking for."

"Gage…" said Sydney as she pointed to the glass coffee table which was turned on its side. The glass was cracked, but not completely shattered, and on it was the word 'SOON' written in a red marker which appeared to be the same one marking all the pictures.

"That's it. Whoever this person is knows your work number, work address and, now, where you live. You are staying with me until this whole thing is over." Gage said with anger in his voice as the situation was starting to sink in. He felt sick to his stomach at the thought of someone wanting to hurt Sydney and was going to make sure it didn't get to that point. "I want to make sure you are safe, and the only way to do that, is to personally protect you until this whole thing blows over. I'm going to call walker and tell him what's happening while you get some things together. I'm not leaving you alone."

Sydney didn't say anything. All she did was go into her apartment, gather some clothes and other necessities, and join Gage again in her once clean living room. Gage grabbed her bags in one hand, and protectively put his free arm around her as they walked out of her building to his car.

The ride was silent as they proceeded to Gage's apartment. When they were about 2 miles away, they suddenly heard gunshots as one punctured the front tire and the car spun out of control and they crashed into a nearby tree where they were both knocked unconscious. Neither had noticed that they picked up a tale almost immediately upon leaving Sydney's apartment.

Two men approached the car and grabbed Sydney out of the passesnger side while leaving Gage for dead.

"Shouldn't we get rid of him?" one man asked.

"No. We don't have time. We wouldn't want to keep the boss waiting." replied the second man.

With that being said, the two men tossed Sydney into the back of the van they were driving and sped off into the night, leaving Gage to die. It wasn't long after the men left, that Gage began to regain consciousness.

"Syd…..S-S-Syd." Gage coughed as darkness overtook him and he slipped back into the blackness.