Author's Note - When Walker talks from now on it will either be by a notebook or sign.

Later That Night

The ranch was actually located not on open land but cleverly hidden among trees and if it wasn't for his current situation Walker would actually find it beautiful. What was strange, the small cabin actually had a few rocking chairs just outside the back door as though this was some resort. However, one look around ruined that image right away.

All around him Walker could see video cameras cleverly hidden in the foliage of trees and in the middle of bushes. And if he stared long enough into the woods he could make out a fence which most likely was electrified. That meant escaping this hell won't be easy and could actually cost him his life or his family's. Just thinking about them made his heart yearn to hear their voices again, to give him comfort in this trying situation.

"Man, Nathaniel you'll catch yourself a cold out here." Conner sat down in the other rocker and handed Walker a steaming mug. "There's some hot tea for ya." Walker took the mug actually surprised he was allowed this little bit of luxury. "Yeah, most of us in Lodge Two have been here for awhile. We managed to get a kitchenette a few years ago and are allowed to keep simple food and snacks."

Walker breathed in the green tea then slowly sipped at the welcoming taste. He closed his eyes envisioning himself on the porch of his ranch, the golden field of grass swaying before him. He could almost smell the familiar winter scent of firewood and frost, but when he opened his eyes that vision quickly disappeared.

"Personally I think allowing us these small luxuries actually plays with our minds more." Conner took a sip of his own mug then shook his head. "You know, at one time I wasn't all bad. Would you believe it, I use to be a very outstanding citizen."

Walker put the mug down on the ground so he can attempt to sign with his hands. "What happened?"

"Well, my wife was born deaf, thus the reason why I know sign." He took a deep breath then shook his head. "Let's just say I killed the man that raped her and everything spiraled downhill from there."

"I'm real sorry." Walker actually felt pity for the man next to him and knew the information just shared was very personal. "And the drugs?" He winced knowing he might have goofed up on the last word.

Conner rocked his chair back then looked over at Walker. "Not sure why I like you, but this is what I'll do. I'll teach you sign and I'm not talking about all that textbook crap, real world sign." He smiled. "With all the time we have, you should be fluent in just a few months."

Walker gave the man a nod. "Thank you."

The back door opened and out walked Hound without his pistol. "Come on you two, it's now eight o'clock. Time to stay inside."

Being use to obeying right away, Walker grabbed his mug and quickly went inside not knowing what Hound would do if he was to disobey. He heard a chuckle from behind and when he turned he saw Conner shaking his head and sitting down at the small breakfast table.

"Sit down, Nathaniel." Walker did just that unsure what the man was about to tell him. "Man, what did they do to you at the other joint? Around here, you get a twenty second count any time a guard tells you do something. It's all part of the free roam experience." He sipped at his tea then nodded his head. "All right, since I like you, I'll help you out. If I don't, you may not survive for very long."

Walker nodded. "Thanks again."

Conner took a deep breath before turning his chair to face Walker. "Okay, show me what sign you do know and we will go from there."

Walker Ranch

The flight back home was emotionally draining for Alex and all she wanted to do when she got home was to relax on the back porch. Walker still wasn't back and Gage had changed, leaving Sydney more of an emotional wreck than Alex. Will either of them make it through this trying time? Alex knew, no matter how tough it may get she had to remain strong for her daughter and friend.

Once inside the ranch she placed her small carry on near the stairs then headed into the kitchen. The house was eerily quiet, especially with having five kids currently living in it. She was about to check it out when she heard the clatter of nails on the floorboards.

"Hey Murphy." Alex turned around and scratched the Husky mix between the ears. "You poor thing, sorry we've been ignoring you." She reached into a jar on the counter and pulled out a treat for him. "It looks like somebody has been taking care of you though."

"That would be me, mom." Angela came into the kitchen, her attitude much more subdued than normal. "It helps keep my mind from thinking about dad." She gave Alex a hug then went to the refrigerator. "How is Uncle Gage? Is he all right?"

Alex held back the tears to smile at Angela. "Yeah, he's staying at a ranch right now in Kansas." She bit her lower lip as Sydney came into the kitchen, her face drawn into sadness. "Where are the kids?"

"Jaxon and Tavon are having a talk with Erica in the office upstairs, Meaghan is taking a shower and Josh fell asleep in the living room." Angela took a deep breath then glanced at Sydney. "Mom, what is really going on? I can tell you're lying to me."

"Gage isn't himself." Sydney blurted out causing both Walker woman to turn and look in her direction. "I just don't know what to do anymore, Alex." She held up her cell phone then put it down on the table. "While on our way here I got a call from Jimmy. Gage saw a psychologist today and the initial report is saying that he definitely has some form of depression, but thankfully he isn't showing any signs of post-traumatic stress disorder."

"What are they doing for his depression?"

Sydney shrugged. "Monitor him for a few days but they want to start him on Celexa." She began to play with her phone, her eyes not really focusing on anything before her. "Jimmy also told me he suffers from some form of anger disorder, but we both agree it could just be frustration."

Angela sat down next to Sydney with a heavy sigh. "When is he coming home?"

"Hopefully in five days…."

"Mommy!" Joshua sprinted into the room and jumped into Sydney's lap. "I've missed you!"

Sydney gave her son a huge smile. "What have you been up to, Joshua?"

"I've been making pictures for daddy!" He jumped down, went to a plastic drawing table and picked up several pieces of paper. "It's of Raptor and Freckles! You think he'll like them!"

"I know he will." She glanced back as Meaghan came into the room. "Sweetie, come here. I have some good news to tell you two."

Alex took this as the cue for her and Angela to leave the kitchen. "Let's go grab an ice coffee."

Kansas

The night brought on many memories for Gage that he wished to tune out. For some reason he found it to be his loneliest time and he could feel his depression kick in. He hated feeling this way, unfortunately he knew it may never go away till he found out what happened to Walker. And now, he was suppose to start medication to help him feel better. That thought did not settle right with him, it seemed to be a way of controlling him.

He stared at the blister pack in his hand then back up at the psychologist. "I thought you were going to monitor me first, to see if I really have depression."

"This is actually Ambien CR, to help you sleep. It's not addictive, well it can be after prolong use, but I don't expect you to be on it for very long."

"Why sleep drugs?"

"Most of the men here have nightmares. This will help you get a good night's rest…."

Gage threw the blister pack on the ground and was about to stomp on it when an agent cleared his throat. "What! Why do you guys want to medicate me for?" He stepped on the pills, instantly crushing them. "I'm not a lab rat."

He quickly left and headed back to the cabin wishing he was back in Texas with his family. Instead, he was stuck at a ranch in Kansas with a pill happy psychologist and agents with an itchy trigger finger. Why can't he ever get time alone?

He just made it to the door when it opened to reveal Aiden. "Hey Gage, you okay?" Gage blew past him and went into the small sitting room. "I take that as a no."

Nathaniel quickly ran up to Gage obviously worried about him. "Hey, you okay?"

Gage stared the man straight in the eyes then shook his head. "I need time alone. Can I get that?"

"Yeah, sure no problem." Nathaniel held his hand up to stop Aiden from coming into the room. "Take all the time you need. We'll be here if you need us."

Thanks to Nathaniel Gage finally had some alone time and he curled into a worn rocker as the tears threatened to surface. For the last two days he had ignored his wife and friend which he knew must have torn at their already emotionally drained hearts. Unfortunately Gage's mind was primarily on Walker and what had happened during their fight. He had nearly killed his dear friend which ate at his heart daily. When Alex tried to hug him in the hospital he couldn't let it happen. It might be his fault that her husband had never come home.

A soft knock sounded on the door frame as Eric came in with a mug in his hand. "An Agent Carter brought us some hot cocoa." He put the mug down on the side table next to the rocker. "You okay?"

Gage gave the man a nod then picked up the cocoa. "It's been awhile since I've had anything hot to drink." He took a careful sip and smiled. "Man, as good as I remember it."

Eric leaned against the window sill with a smile on his face. "And to think I actually hated you at one time." He let out a light chuckle while pushing himself off the window. "Well, I'll let you have your space. You should take the Ambien. It's helped me to sleep and it feels good to wake up in the morning refreshed and clear headed."

"Thanks." Gage watched the man leave then took a deep breath. "Syd, wish you were here right now." He brought his knees tighter to his chest as his mind began to race. "Wish I was home with you."

Fort Worth

The small coffee shop had only one person inside it when Angela and her mother made their way to the counter. Angela made her way to the register where her eyes fell upon today's newspaper. There, on the front page was a large picture of her father with the caption: "Retired Texas Ranger Among the Missing Six." Her hand traced the picture of her father as a smile slowly crept across her face.

Alex patted her shoulder as she ordered the drinks. "He looks so young in that picture." She gave the cashier fifty cents and picked up the paper. "This picture was taken during his last year as a Texas Ranger. He didn't want to retire, but he saw how much time he had missed with you, Angela and was worried he wouldn't see his little girl grow up."

Angela took a deep breath knowing how much she really meant to her father. "How was he like before I came along?"

"Completely different from what he is now." Her mother handed Angela her fruit smoothie and went to a small table near the back of the coffee house. "He was mostly worried about his job and you think he's stubborn now, you should have seen him when we first met." A smile spread across her mother's face. "Him and I had a tendency to butt heads on numerous cases, especially the big ones."

Angela sat down with a laugh. "And who always won?"

This got Alex to laugh as well. "Depends on who you talk to." She took a sip of her tea and started to play with the straw. "Your father, he was a good Texas Ranger possibly one of the best that had ever lived." Her face turned serious. "Angela, he put all that behind him after you turned nine." She took a deep breath then reached out to take hold of Angela's hand. "He loves you dearly."

"You know mom, I always hated how he smelled after doing farm chores, but I find myself missing it." Angela wiped some moisture off her cup then bit her lower lip. "Do you think he'll come home?"

"Hopefully." Alex gave Angela a reassuring smile. "Just keep strong and never give up on him."

Angela nodded. "I know mom. In fact I plan on working harder at school and start training in Taekwondo." She slowly leaned back into the chair to look her mother right in the eyes. "I want to make him proud of me…."

Alex quickly swiped a tear away from her eye. "Angie, he's already proud of you."

"I know, but I need to start growing up…."

"Don't…." Her mother quickly raised her hand in an apology. "You're almost fifteen, just have fun and be a teenager. Your father wouldn't want you growing up so quickly…." Her voice faded off as her eyes dropped to the table. "He had to."

Angela suddenly remembered her father's past and quickly looked down. "Sorry, I forgot."

"Don't be sorry, just remember have fun while you can."

"I will try." Angela took a look at the paper then back up at her mom. "Just wish he was here." She turned to the door as a man with a microphone and a cameraman came into the shop. "Great."

Her mother quickly got up, her attention on the cashier. "Do you have a back door?"

The cashier nodded. "Sure, right this way."

Ever since her father's disappearance Angela and her mother had been hounded by reporters making it difficult to live normal lives. The perfect night with her mother now ruined because of some news station's inconsideration. Will it ever end? Will they ever get peace?

Montana - The Next Morning

After breakfast Walker went to the bulletin board posted in the mess hall to find his name on the massive chore list. He found his lodge number then ran his finger down the list till he finally found 0535. It said he was to work on dusting his entire cabin, sweep and mop the floors. Seemed simple enough, but now where to start?

Conner came up behind him and clapped Walker's shoulder. "You go to Hound for the needed items." He explained. "You start off slow for the first few weeks you are here then they crank it up a notch." He then stabbed his name on the sheet. "I have to clean the bathroom, the communal shower and check/fix the doors on all the cabins."

Walker took out the small notebook he made a habit of carrying and wrote down: "What's it really like living here?"

Conner nodded. "Simple enough. Do the chores, get rewarded. Fight a good fight, get rewarded. Keep your mouth shut, get rewarded." He let out a bark of a laugh. "See the pattern, Nate?" He then shrugged. "I've lived here for five years and so far it's the best thing that has happened to me."

"Five years?" Signed Walker. "How if it's illegal?"

"Mr. Thompson has cleverly disguised this as a religious organization, a clan I guess you can say. Nobody can step foot on this land without the proper papers." He squeezed Walker's shoulder. "As long as the felons are under control then nobody on the outside would ever know what is going on here."

For some reason this got Walker's heart to sink, possibly knowing he may never be found here. He put the notepad back into his hoody pocket then made his way out of the mess hall. So, this was his life now. Will he be able to handle having a structured living? All of his life he had lived the way he wanted to and now that was taken away from him, possibly the cruelest torture of all.

Hound stopped him on the path and handed Walker a large backpack. "Everything you need will be in there. Dust first, makes the sweeping and mopping much easier. When you're finished, I will check your work. If I'm not satisfied, you will clean till I am." Walker opened the bag to see several cleaning supplies and his brain began to process on how he can use them to his advantage. "Don't think about it." Said Hound, reading Walker's thoughts. "Most men try and have failed. Just clean and your life will be much simpler. Don't forget, lunch is at one."

Walker swung the bag on his right shoulder then made the trek back to his cabin. As he walked he always swiveled his head knowing here he will always have to be on the alert. Unfortunately with the freedom also came the risk of being killed by one of the fellow fighters, especially if word got out that he was a lawman.

"Hey, Nathaniel!" Z's voice shouted from behind. A dark shadow appeared on Walker's left side and he moved his head so he can see out of his good eye. "What is in the bag?"

Walker took the notepad out and wrote down: "Cleaning supplies. Got chores to do now."

Z shook his head. "Amazing. So different from where we were last time." His hand ran across his shaved scalp. "Do you think they will allow me to grow out my hair?"

"Probably not. Most men have their heads shaved here."

Z gave Walker a quick nod. "Guess you are right. Well, I will let you be on your way. Hope to talk to you soon."

After he ran off Walker made his way through the low wire fence which bordered his cabin. Once inside he put the bag down on the couch then stretched his back. It has been a long time since he's cleaned anything and the normalcy of it actually made him grin. He will have to heed Conner's words and if he did then maybe he will get out of this place alive.