A/N Another chapter... I want you to know, I absolutely love writing this story. That's probably why I keep expanding it. So, prepare for a little more drama ( or a lot. I'm a sucker for drama...), but also for lots of love...

By the way, the song used in chapter 9 was 'Holdin on' by Martina McBride and Clint Black (See A/N of that chapter...) On to the story:

St. Matthews hospital

The slamming of the door from hospital room 285 got the attention of several people in the hallway. Dr. Evans, who had been standing at the nurses post, turned to see the dark haired female ranger turning frightened eyes towards him. While hurriedly walking to him, she already began to speak:

"Dr. Evans! Something's wrong. He can't feel his legs, please help us…"

"Calm down, Ranger Cooke. We will start with the examination of his spine immediately."

Sydney turned to follow him, but he stopped her, "You will have to wait here, I'm sorry…"

And with those words the doctor immediately went to check on Gage to start the tests.

Three hours later…

Sydney was pacing, well you couldn't call it pacing, it was more like limping. Walker and Alex, who had shown up about an hour ago after they got the disturbing call from Sydney, were sitting in the waiting room-chairs.

"Syd, please sit down, this isn't good for your leg, and not to mention the baby," Alex pleaded with the stubborn ranger.

Surprisingly, Sydney listened this time and plopped down on one of the vacant chairs. She let out an exasperated sigh.

"How come they are taking so long? What if something went wrong with the bullet and…"

Burying her face in her hands she choked back another one of the endless sobs.

"It's my fault, everything that's happened… It's my fault. I should have told him about the baby sooner. If he had known, he wouldn't have taken the assignment, and he wouldn't be paralysed now. It's my fault. It should have been me…"

Walker could tell she had been beating herself up about all of this, but he hadn't known it went this deep.

"Sydney Cooke," he said with a low voice, "I know you feel bad about what happened, but it is not your fault," he said, using a tone they didn't hear him use often.

Sydney's eyes widened, she had expected him to blame her, she blamed herself… Opening her mouth, Walker interrupted her:

"Did you shoot him? Did you pull the trigger?"

"No but…"

Walker went on, "Did you try to prevent all of this from happening?"

"Yes, but…"

"Did you almost get yourself killed, trying to rescue him?"

After that last question, Sydney crumbled and turned into the waiting arms of Alex.

"I know, but I can't change what I feel. And I feel so bad…"

She turned her teary face to Walker, a questioning look in her large brown eyes.

"What if I had come sooner, if I had just kept an eye on Anderson, he wouldn't have been able to shoot me, and I would have been there before…"

"But you weren't."

Both Walker and Sydney turned to the woman who had spoken. Alex looked at them with an apologizing look in her eyes before continuing.

"Sydney, there are so many 'what if's', you can't think about that. It happened, and it wasn't your fault. If you want to blame someone, blame Anderson and his gang. But all you have to think about now, is how you will support him through this. And we know you can do it. You did it when he went deaf, and you can do it again. With a little luck everything will be fine before this little one comes into this world," Alex finished, while putting her hand on Sydney's slightly swollen belly.

Sydney smiled at Alex' positive outlook on things and felt a little better. That is, until dr. Evans turned around the corner, with a grim look on his face.

All three stiffened a little before standing up and facing the doctor. Sydney braced herself, facing the doctor, no, facing her future…