"Hey Gage." Sydney said as she walked into the office holding her coffee.

"Hey Syd." he answered from his desk.

"Good morning Sydney." Walker smiled from across the room.

"Morning Walker." Syd responded. "Where's Trivette?" she asked.

"He's showing the new ranger around." Gage answered.

"Rookie?" she guessed.

"No actually," he answered, "he just transferred here from some unit it California. His reputation is as good as Walker's!"

Walker looked at Gage and raised an eyebrow. Gage said,

"Did I say as good? I meant almost as good as Walker!"

Sydney laughed as she asked, "What's his name?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself." Trivette said as he entered through the door with a man following clossely behind.

The new ranger was about Gage's height and build, he had dark hair, almost Italian, and wore a cowboy hat.

"Hi," he said, "I'm Ranger Malone."

"Nice to meet you Ranger Malone, I'm Ranger Cooke." Sydney greeted him as she shook his hand.

He looked at her and smiled as he said, "Please, call me Chris."

"Sydney." she introduced herself.

While Walker and Gage were being introduced Sydney noticed Chris keep glancing at her. Sydney thought annoyed,

"Oh man, he better not be interested. We're the same age and he's not wearing a wedding band. He is so not my type."

But nether the less she remained pleasant as she commented,

"I see you have you official Texas head gear."

He touched his hat and asked,

"It's not too much, is it?"

"No," Sydney smiled, "it's fine. We wear them all the time."

The day was a quiet one, and as they left Walker asked them all, including Chris,

"Do you want to meet Alex and me at C.D.'s tonight?"

Everyone nodded and Chris asked,

"What's C.D.'s?"

"Not what," Trivette corrected, "who. He's a retired ranger, he owns a bar. I'll give you directions."

"Cool," Chris smiled, "I'll see you there."

Sydney, Gage, and Walker walked to their cars as Trivette got out a map.

"What do you think of the new ranger?" Gage asked Walker.

"I'm not sure," Walker said while thinking hard, "I like him so far. But there's just something about him that I can't put my finger on."

"He's okay," Gage said, "but he couldn't keep his eyes off of you Syd!!"

"Me?!" Sydney said while pointing to herself.

"No Sydney," Walker teased, "Trivette."

"So come on," Gage teased again, "are you interested?"

Sydney fake punched him and said, "No! And even if I was, I wouldn't be sharing it with my male partner and boss!"

Walker laughed as Gage pretended to be hurt,

"Aw come on Syd!" he cried, "That hurts!"

Sydney rolled her eyes as she got into her car and waved goodbye to Walker and Trivette.

"Men." she thought to herself as she drove away.