Walkers office

"You don't have to do this Gage," Walker said, trying to convince the young ranger not to take this assignment.

"Yes I do," Gage sighed, "look Walker, obviously Syd needs some time, and by doing this, I'm giving it to her."

"But you know it could be dangerous?"

"I can handle it."

And with that said Gage left for the undercoverassignment of his life. Walker still wasn't sure this was the best way to solve this one, but decided to keep an eye on Gage. Alex had told him about Sydney's condition, so he knew the two needed to talk before Gage left. So Walker decided to intervene and talked Gage into dinner at the ranch. Only what he hadn't told him was that Sydney would be there too. It was going to be an interesting evening...

Walkers Ranch

"I would really like you to think this through Gage", Alex said, while putting plates on the table.

"It's allright Alex, I know something is going on with Syd, but if she needs some time, the best way to give it to her, is by taking this assignment." Gage sighed. He didn't like it either, but for Syd, he would walk through fire.

Alex was trying as hard as she could, but she knew if he put his mind to something, you couldn't even beat it out of him. So she tried the subtle approach.

"But Gage, if you know there is something wrong, why not just talk to her?"

"Don't you think I haven't tried that already? She won't talk to me, or anyone else for that matter", he replied with a gruff voice. Immediately after, with a softer voice, " I'm sorry Alex, I shouldn't take this out on you, I just keep trying to figure out how this all happened, one minute we were happy and dating, and the next she closes of from me and all of her friends", looking up at Alex and Walker, something dawned on him, "she didn't happen to have said anything to you, would she?"

Alex looked at Walker, who was conveniently looking the other way. But Gage wasn't, he saw the way Alex's face changed at the mention of what Syd told her.

"You know something!" he almost yelled, feeling angry and hurt that they knew all along, but didn't want to tell him.

Alex felt bad, she was supposed to keep her friends' situation a secret, but wasn't very good at hiding it. She knew Sydney was about to arrive soon, so she decided to keep her mouth shut, before Gage would find out more about Syds pregnancy.

Gage was about to interrogate her, when the bell rang and both Walker and Alex made a run for it, glad to have an escape.

Sydney knew she had made a mistake, when both Walker and Alex opened the door, looking relieved to see her. She was nervous, almost 3 months along and she didn't even have the nerve to tell Gage. And now he was probably here, angry with er for not calling or talking to him. She had known Alex would set something like this up, but still, she had come. Knowing fully well she would see him again. And to be honest with herself, she wanted to see him, smell him, feel him...

"Ehh, Syd?" Alex asked, with a smile on her face. She had seen Syd was miles away, and was happy about it. 'Things could work out for them', she thought.

"So", Syd said, deciding to play along, "I see I'm not the only guest tonight?"

Seeing Walker looking that uncomfortable, and Alex blushing bright red, was worth it.

"Well... You see, yes we have another guest."

"Great, who is it?" Syd asked, a smile forming on her face, after looking at her friends.

This time Walker decided to take the leed, and just get it over with, " Well you see, Gage is here too. And we thought it would be a good idea to invite you too, because it will be the last time we could see him, before he goes undercover."

After this flow of words, Syd felt like being punched in the gut. 'He is going undercover, he is leaving, what if something happens to him?'

Thoughts were running through her head a mile a minute. But one thought was louder than all the other thoughts: 'I have to see him, he has to know!'

Deciding not to waiste anymore time, she barged in the house, calling his name.

"Gage?"

After hearing her voice, he knew he was set up. But instead of being mad, he felt absolutely relieved. He would see her again, and he could ask her what the hell was going on with her.

Deciding to follow her voice, he walked through the hallway almost bumping into someone. Wait a minute, not someone, it was Syd.

And there they stood, staring at eachother. The silence was broken by a slight cough from Walker.

"We'll be in the kitchen, take your time..."