Chapter Eight

St. Mathews Hospital

Jimmy Trivette sat with his long time friend Cordell Walker awaiting for his wife Erica to join him so they could face the news about their son together. A shiver went up his spine and he rose from his seat to pace over to the window. Walker watched him his heart going out to his companion knowing all to well what it was like to have a child endangered or worse hurt.

Suddenly spinning around Trivette lashed out, "Walker how in hell did this happen? I'm suppose to be the one taking the chances, I'm the one suppose to be walking into unknown danger, I'm the one who is suppose to be protecting him…" his voice trailed off his eyes closing in anguish.

The elevator dinged the same time the doors sliding open, Jimmy looked up to see Erica rushing towards him Sydney, Gage and Piper close behind her. "Jimmy, Jimmy," her pleading cries went up wanting nothing more then to hear the words that Marcus was going to be fine.

"He's in surgery, he was holding his own when we brought him in here, we're just going to have to wait," Jimmy tried to comfort his distraught wife.

"What happened? What was he doing there? Damn it Jimmy, if… if…if," she couldn't finish her sentence instead her head buried against his shoulder and she sobbed. Holding Erica tight he steered her across the waiting room to the windows so they could have some time to themselves.

"Walker?" It was Gage questioning their boss.

"It doesn't look good," Walker grimly told them hoping against hope that he was wrong.

"Oh Mom," it was Piper's turn to cry out turning to sob against Syd who in turn looked to Gage.

"Ranger Trivette?" A voice from the waiting room door was asking for Jimmy.

With Erica by his side he bravely turned huskily answering, "Yes right here. Our boy?"

"Ranger, Mrs. Trivette, I'm Doctor Michael Palmer," the man extended his hand as he spoke. Knowing they were anxious about their son he lost no time getting to the point, asking them to walk with him he began.

Piper eyes fixed on Jimmy and Erica, she began to move towards them only to feel her father's hands clamp down on her shoulders stopping her. "Pipe Honey as much as you care about Marcus it isn't your place," he quietly spoke.

The tears flowed down Piper's face as she stood rigidly still, unmoving as she riveted her eyes on Marcus' parents watching as if in slow motion as Aunt Erica fell to the floor crying out an anguished, "Oh please God no!"

Walker was instantly at Trivette's side helping to lift Erica her pained pitiful cries of no echoing in the hall.

Piper's mind began to swirl images of Marcus' smiling face appearing before her. The rest of the kids were around them laughing and joking but her eyes were locked with Marcus' face who reciprocated with a grin as big as they come. All of a sudden the smile began to fade, Marcus began to fade becoming more and more transparent. "No Marcus no," Piper began to speak barely above a whisper her voice becoming louder. "Come back Marcus you can't leave me," her voice was raising. "Oh please Marcus no," she cried out feeling her legs begin to buckle beneath her.

With Sydney on one side and Gage on the other they supported their daughter moving to the closest seat Piper turning to weep against her mother.

Memorial Cemetery

The sun failed to shine down on the sombre bleak day. It was one of the worst any of the rangers or their families could remember in a long time. Walker thought back to the time when Angela was born and the turmoil that surrounded her birth yet it still wasn't as devastating as the death of young Marcus Trivette.

Jimmy Trivette sat looking straight ahead of him trying hard to be strong for his family the tears of anguish choking in his throat. His arm was around his wife Erica who sobbed silently into his chest. Her father Fred Carter, sat on the opposite side holding tightly to her hand, he too staring into the distance still trying to comprehend how this could have happened. His two remaining children sat next to him unmoving, between himself and his brother Simon, both knowing how permanent death was.

Walker sat directly behind them Alex by his side accompanied by their children. Alex gripped tightly to Walker's hand unable to grasp how either Erica or Jimmy were coping. A tear slide down her cheek the very thought of loosing either Angela or Danny tearing at her heart.

Sydney and Gage sat with Piper neither really having come to grips with real grief. Both had been too busy trying to help Piper through the ordeal. For Piper it was as if by some cruel blow of fate her sole mate had been snatched from her, her best friend in the world, the guy she had always felt she would grow up and marry…

Neither Gage or Sydney were sure if they would be able to attend the funeral with Piper taking it so hard…

Cat and Cody sat quietly with Aunt Julie and Uncle Robin, Anna B and Sumner. Cat understood to some extent but for Cody it was just another time that everyone was getting together. He didn't really know why they had to put on their good clothes or why he couldn't play with the Sumner kids, Katie and David. Uncle Robin had promised maybe later if they were real good…

Cody's eyes suddenly caught his big brother Chris standing off in the distance and he wondered why he got to stand over there and not have to sit with them. He was just about to slide off his chair and investigate but his Aunt Julie caught him telling him with her eyes he's better not leave that chair.

Cody wasn't the only one to catch sight of Chris, Gage had seen him too glad that he had decided to attend the funeral if from his self imposed ostracized position. Chris even after assurances from both his mother and father blamed himself for Marcus dying. If it hadn't been for the fact that he had tackled old John Talos to the ground there wouldn't have been that wild spray of bullets instead it would have been his father who had died. Chris wiped his hand across his eyes and turned from the proceedings sobs racking him.

Gage was about to get up when he saw Angela Walker lean over to whisper to her mother then rise to make her way to Chris. His gaze stayed on her until he saw her reach Chris, take his hand for a moment before embracing him in a hug. Gage closed his own eyes shouldering his own blame in all this if it hadn't been for his family all those years ago…

Syd looked over at him giving him a mournful half grin in a show of her love before focusing on the services and her daughter once more.

"Chris, Chris Honey," Angela softly spoke Christian Gage turning to face her. In an instant he was in her arms the tears of pain pouring out.

"Oh Angela I killed Marcus, just as sure as I'm standing here I killed him," Chris wailed.

"Chris Gage you listen to me," Angela gripped his shoulders as she spoke. "I heard Daddy tell Momma it was just a freak accident. He said if you hadn't acted when you did your Dad for one would be dead and that Talos was crazy he would have kept firing until you were all dead."

"It was a high price to pay," Chris started only to have Angela cut back in.

"You're right it was a high price that any of us had to die, but Chris you had no way of knowing what would happen you were just trying to save your Dad. I would have done it… Marcus would have done it and you know it. Lay the blame where it belongs Chris, lay the blame at John Talos doorstep," she declared looking deeply into his blue eyes.

"But he's gone Ange, Aunt Erica, Uncle Jimmy, Piper none of us will ever have him back…" the emotion swelled in him as suddenly in the not so far distance the piper began to play and the air was filled with the melody of Amazing Grace.

They held each other close watching as the last fair wells were bade before they slowly began to walk together over to where the coffin was being lowered into the ground. "I'm sorry friend," Chris murmured.

"It's not your fault Chris." Jimmy Trivette had reached his hand out to rest it on Chris' shoulder.

"Uncle Jimmy I'm so sorry…" Chris began speaking.

"Chris, Erica and I know it wasn't your fault we don't hold you responsible for this. What happened was just one of those things," Jimmy began to explain.

"Yeah but if I hadn't…"

"Never second guess yourself Chris, you had no other choice, you did what you had to do."

Biting his lip Chris gave a quick nod of his head letting Trivette pull him into a strong embrace.

A Few Weeks Later…

Walker wasn't really one to give speeches he said what had to be said and that was that, yet knowing this he didn't hesitate for a moment to put the wheels in motion for this presentation.

"… yet without regard to personal safety or loss of life Marcus Trivette trailed the men he had overheard talking about Rangers Gage and Cooke as well as their son. He was able to locate where they were being held and get a call out for help. If it had not been for his undaunted bravery we may not have found those being held against their will until it was too late. For these reasons this citation from the governor's office is being presented to Marcus Trivette, his father Ranger James Trivette accepting in his honour." Walker began to clap the minute the last words were out of his mouth as Jimmy made his way to the stage.

Taking the plaque from his partner and friend Trivette cleared his throat. Staring at it a moment he looked down where Erica sat with her father, Torrie and Simon. Erica gave him a small smile and nod of encouragement then Jimmy began. "I want to thank you for the honour our… son," the words caught in his throat and his eyes rolled up to the ceiling as he fought back tears. He looked out over the crowd, their friends, neighbours, their families, daughters and sons, his speech the words failed him as the grief overwhelmed him again.

Disengaging her hand from her father's Erica made her way onto the stage walking over to where her husband stood. Linking her arm through his she gave it a gentle squeeze. Jimmy looked down at her raising his hand to touch her cheek gleaming the strength from her to continue. "He was a great kid always thinking of others and so it was natural that he would pursue the men he believed had taken the family of the girl he thought the world of… I'm, no we're proud of him. He was always there for others and we're all going to miss him. Thank you."

Piper sat silently her mind on Marcus she knew she'd never love anyone like she loved Marcus.

Back At The Gage's

Sydney and Gage hosted a small reception after the ceremony, it was a small informal gathering that didn't last very long. Most everyone had left when Julie came into the kitchen where Sydney had begun to clean up. "Can this wait Syd?" she questioned her sister-in-law.

"What's up?" Syd absently questioned not turning from the sink.

"I've been doing a little research that I want to share with Francis and I want you to be there when I tell him," she admitted.

"Research?"

"On the Rollin's family tree and where we might fit in," she answered watching Syd's reaction.

"With everything that's happened I'd sort of forgotten about all that," Syd replied Julie having caught her attention now. "Yeah I think we all could use a little diversion right now."

"I was hoping you'd say that," Julie smiled leading the way into the family room where the rest were.

"Francis," Julie addressed her brother, "I've been doing a little investigative research."

"Jules I don't know that I'm wanting to look at any cases for awhile I've been thinking about taking some time off…"

"This isn't about a case Frankie it's… it's well about Mom, Dad and the Rollins family."

Gage sat straight up in his chair at the mention of the name Rollins. It wasn't that he had forgotten that his family name appeared to be Rollins or that his parents seemed to be the root of all that had transpired… its just he had pushed it to the back of his mind. There had been more important things that had needed his immediate attention.

"What did you find out?" he eagerly questioned his sister.

"We have a big family," she smiled back at him. "It seems Mary Jane Rollins was Mary Jane Abbott and the Abbotts are a big clan. Mom had two sisters and a brother who still live in New York not to mention her mother our grandmother still lives there. Daniel Rollins came from a family of boys, there were four of them including Dad. They are spread a little more over the country but they are still all alive too. Frankie we have Aunts, Uncles and cousins."

Gage was at a loss for words after all these years he and Julie had a family some real ties. "I just… just can't… believe this," he finally sputtered out the excitement and emotion getting to him.

"What's more I've talked to Mom's sister our Aunt Marie, she's very anxious to meet us and wants very much for us to come to New York and get acquainted with our family," Julie finished up."

"Geez Julie I don't know…" Gage hedged.

"I want to go Dad," it was Piper who spoke up, all turned to stare at the girl.

"Pipe Honey," Syd began only to be cut off by her daughter.

"Mom what's happened has been terrible," her voice cracked and she bit her lip to regain her composure. "I'm never going to care about anyone like I do Marcus but I know he wouldn't like me sitting here crying over things either. We had a lot of plans we were going to do together that now we won't be able to… I plan on doing as many of the things by myself as I can. Still I know that there are some things… well you know." A lone tear rolled down her cheek but she wiped it away quick with the palm of her hand. "I just want to be away for awhile," her voice pleaded.

Gage was up and holding her in his arms, for all her grown up ways and her mother's attitudes she was still his little girl. She was still that tiny baby he delivered when they were being held hostage at Play World, the tomboy who got suspended from school for beating up the school bully, she got a good shiner over that one.

His mind darted to some of her later escapades, how helping a friend had got her nose broke. The night she had been brought home by DPD dressed up looking like she was ready to turn tricks, he shuddered over that thought.

Kissing the top of her head and looking to Sydney for support Gage made his decision. "I think it would do us all a world of good to go to get away for awhile. As soon as we can arrange the time off we'll go."

As everyone began to talk about the prospects of the trip Piper hugged Gage closer to whisper, "Thanks Daddy."

The End