Summary: Lies, deception, everything has a price ... what is the price of shame?
Disclaimer: I do not own them
A/N: Any reviews will be welcomed, any flames will be shared with friends for laughs.
A/N/N: Well here are some answers you wish! now awaits your reactions
Chapter 23
Walker woke the morning of Labor Day. CD and Trivette had talked him into cooking out, it would be the first time since the day Alex had been taken. He wasn't really in the mood to cook out, but CD and Trivette had told him it would do him a world of good.
Walker laid out the hot dogs and hamburgers and started getting everything ready. A few of the other rangers were going to be there too, and he wanted to make sure he had enough food. It was when he pulled the apron out of the drawer to tie it around him that his heart twisted. On the front of it was a picture of Alex with the words Kiss the Cook, underneath it. Walker had given it to her as a gag gift their first Christmas together. Memories now flooded through him, but he swiped at the tears threatening to fall, and went outside to wait for CD.
Walker didn't have to wait long, before CD and Trivette pulled up. "Cordell, Jimmy here said he is hungrier than a bear."
Walker had to smile at that. "Trivette is always hungry."
"I resent that!" Both Walker and Trivette laughed then. Maybe the day would be okay. Walker knew if he sat there alone he would just dwell on Alex. This way he would have CD and Trivette there to help ease the pain of losing her.
Alex woke up and stared at the calendar. Today was Labor Day and before she could wipe the sleep from her eyes Mr. Sakara was standing in the doorway of her room. "Mrs. Walker you have ten minutes to get ready. Today is what you call Labor Day and that is what I intend you to do."
Alex dragged herself from the bed, wobbling a bit on her feet when she did. Her clothes had long since turned to rags and when she put on the clothes given to her by Sakara she cringed. She looked horrible, she felt horrible. All night long her back hurt, her head hurt, but it wasn't as if she could complain, because quite frankly he wasn't going to care. Taking her hair and putting it up she walked into the den.
"So nice of you to join us Mrs. Walker. Today I have special plans for you, but that won't be for a couple of hours. In the meantime why don't you go and see about fixing some breakfast." Alex trudged out of the room wondering just what the bastard had planned.
Walker felt more and more like his chest was constricting. Every time CD laughed and even the smell of the fire going on the grill sent him tumbling back to five months ago. They had been so happy that day, surrounded by their friends, smiling and laughing. Now Walker stared as CD and Trivette fought over how long to cook the burgers. He didn't want any part of it. It was the that the cordless phone rang.
"If that is work tell them I am not coming!" Trivette yelled over.
"Jimmy that is not work. That is probably one of those damn telemarketers. Leave it to me I will get rid of them. No sense in them ruining lunch."
Walker handed CD the phone and went over to see if he could help Trivette. He wasn't hungry but he would do anything to keep his mind free.
Trivette handed Walker the spatula, passing it to him as if it were a special honor. "You act as if it will burn you," Walker commented.
"I am not going to be responsible when CD comes back and tells you that the burgers are overdone." Walker flipped the patties and poured a bit of CD's special sauce across the top of them till the fire below was crackling. He didn't notice CD walking out, and it wasn't until he looked up and saw his face that he dropped the spatula. "What is it CD?" he said sitting the man down as he looked like he was about to pass out.
"The phone is for you Cordell."
Walker took the phone hoping it wasn't more bad news, such as Gordon and someone else in trouble. "Hello, this is Ranger Walker can I help you?" The voice on the other end almost made Walker drop the phone.
"No Ranger Walker but perhaps I can help you." Walker nearly dropped the phone again, the shock of hearing that voice bringing up every hated memory he had tried to hard to suppress. "What do you want Sakara?" he growled. Trivette was now at his side at hearing the name on the other end of the phone.
"It is quite simple Ranger Walker. I recently found out I was dying and I feel I must atone for my sins as it were. I have called to tell you that your wife is still alive, and here with me."
"Liar!" Walker shouted.
"I can assure you that I am not lying. If you would like to come and get her I will give let my man give you the directions here. Know that I will not be here Ranger Walker when you get here as I do not wish to spend my last days on earth in prison."
Walker was now shaking, his fingers finding it hard to grip the phone. "Why should I believe you? You have done nothing but tear my family apart. Why should I believe you now?"
Walker was furious. He had just put Alex's death behind him. He could finally walk past the nursery without breaking down, and now this.
"The decision is up to you Ranger Walker. Your wife will be here, and I will be gone. It is your choice to come or not, I have done my part for atonement." The phone then went dead in Walker's hands.
Walker threw the phone on the ground, smashing it into pieces. "Why!" he screamed. "Why would he call me now five months after he killed her? Does he like making my life a living hell?"
CD had regained a bit of his color now, and came over placing his hand on Walker's shoulder. "Can you live with yourself if you don't go and make sure?"
Walker asked himself if he could, but he made up his mind that he didn't believe a word that Sakara said. "It can't be true CD, it just can't." Walker's face showed the pain he felt, every line in his face from worry, every dark circle under his eyes from nights spent crying while clutching Alex's picture.
"Walker I know you don't believe him but we have to make sure. I couldn't live with myself, if I didn't go and for the first time in his life he was telling the truth."
Walker stood up and walked into the house, coming back out with his gun. "Let's go then, I want to get this over with."
All three of them jumped in Walker's truck. The directions Sakara had given Walker would only take them about an hour to get to.
Alex finished making lunch and then went to sit down in the den. She felt awful, but that could have something to do with Sakara barely feeding her, even though he did seem to be a lot nicer as of late.
"Mrs. Walker today is a day of redemption." Mr. Sakara said as he entered the room. Alex didn't know what the man was rambling on about but she had learned not to ask any questions. "You see Mrs. Walker I am not a well man. My life is being cut short, and I must atone for my sins, or I shall not walk along the path of my forefathers. Today I will atone for you. Come Mrs. Walker, we have much to prepare."
Alex followed behind Sakara. He walked down the hall and to the last door on the left. Inside the room was Mr. Suling. The man still sent shivers down Alex's back every time he looked at her. Alex was about to ask what they were doing in the room used for storing things when she was roughly grabbed by Mr. Suling. Her hands were tied together and she was gagged, and then both men turned to leave.
"I wish you well Mrs. Walker, but now it is time for me to depart." With that they left, and Alex heard the door clicking locked behind them. There were no windows in the room, and being tied gave Alex no chance at getting out of there. Tears stung at the corners of her eyes, and soon she was crying. After everything she had gone through, everything she had put Walker through she was going to die alone in this room. Tears rolled from her eyes until Alex couldn't cry anymore. She felt sick to her stomach, as it cramped up. When the feeling wouldn't go away Alex laid down on the floor to keep the room from spinning, and even though she fought it her eyes soon closed in an exhausted sleep.
Walker was not paying attention to how fast he was going. He didn't hear CD or Trivette talking to him, for in his mind all he could picture was Alex's face. He hoped that they found her unharmed but knowing Mr. Sakara and his love of violence he doubted it. Shaking his head Walker mentally chastised himself for even daring to think about Alex. He had gotten past the fact that she was dead. This was just another mind trick of Sakara's wasn't it?
he sat thinking so much he drove right past the house, and had to turn around and head back. "Cordell, no matter what we find inside or don't find we will get through this I promise you." Walker nodded that he was all right and knocked on the door.
The door wasn't locked, in fact it wasn't even shut good like someone had left in a hurry. This put all three of them on alert and Walker kicked the door in the rest of the way. The front room was furnished with very elaborate things, not something you would see in a house such as this one. There was china still in the cabinets, and a half drunk cup of coffee sitting on the table by the fireplace.
"Should we split up?" Trivette asked.
"No!" Walker said quickly. "Sakara is know for setting traps. We search together."
They tore the den apart but found nothing to even say Alex had ever been anywhere near the house much less in it, the same with the kitchen. The first bedroom had much the same result, but the second door opened into a almost barren room. Inside was only a small bed, and a chair. "Nothing in here Walker. let's move on to the next room."
Walker waved Trivette away and stepped inside, walking over to the bed. The sheets on it were drab, thread worn even but there was something laying underneath the pillow. Pulling it out Walker saw that it was a picture of Alex, one that had been taken just before she was taken. Walker's anger boiled within him, his eyes burned with tears. "Walker," Trivette called to him. Walker turned to see Trivette holding a shirt, a torn and bloody shirt that had been stuffed in the closet. It was the shirt Alex had on the day she disappeared. Seeing it made Walker's battle with the tears futile and a few slipped down his cheeks.
Walker stormed past both of them opening the next door and tearing the room apart, knocking over the lamps and tables, and even the shelves. "Walker stop it!" Trivette yelled at him but Walker acted as if he didn't hear him. He tore out of the hallway and opened the last door. Again he looked around and saw nothing, but he was beyond clear thinking. Walker was angry because he had fallen for another lie, this one about Alex, about her being alive. With a guttural scream he kicked the shelf over that stood to his left, sending it crashing to the floor.
"Cordell, that is enough! Stop it! Do you hear me I said stop it! None of this will bring Alex back to you!" CD was grabbing at Walker's hand, staring at the destruction that was in the room. Walker stared at it too. He had searched the house and found nothing. Sakara had lied to him again, and now Walker seethed with anger. Just as he was about to storm out of the room Trivette screamed.
"Walker! Over here!"
Walker and CD both turned as Trivette didn't stop yelling for them. "Over here she is over here!" Walker heard the words but it was as if time stood still for that moment. He couldn't bring himself to move. He didn't want to find Alex only to see her dead. CD grabbed his arm and led him across the room the where Trivette was standing.
"Help me, this shelf is on top of her." Trivette was trying to push the shelf off but it was cast iron and way too heavy. Walker and CD both grabbed part of it and heaved the shelf to the other side of them room, freeing Alex from underneath.
Walker still stood there staring at the back of Alex. Her hair was matted with blood, whether it was old or new Walker didn't know, and now that he had seen her he was afraid. His heart was racing. He wanted to gather her up in his arms and make everything that had happened go away, but he couldn't. Would Alex think he had left her here to suffer? Would their lives ever be the same after what they had went through?
Walker searched way down deep within him and he knew the answer. He would go to Alex, and he would hold her. He would try to ease any and all pain from her because she was his life, his whole life. Trivette and CD backed out of the way and Walker kneeled down on the floor behind Alex. Gently he ran his fingers through her hair, feeling the soft curls between his fingers. Her hair was longer now by at least a few inches, and a bit straighter too. Taking a deep breath and wiping away the tears in his eyes Walker checked for a pulse.
"She is still alive, but her pulse is weak."
"Gather her up Cordell and we will get her to a hospital."
Walker placed his hands on her back and rolled her towards him and that is when a scream echoed from his lips, sending both Trivette and CD reeling from what they saw.
"She is pregnant ..." Walker said, and then fainted to the floor beside her.
One chapter left! See you next Thursday!