"Freeze! Texas Rangers!" The secretary let out a squeal and ducked underneath her desk. Gage's heart began to beat much faster as the man kept walking forward. "I said, freeze!" Gage flipped the safety off his weapon. "Now!"

The man glanced at Gage then raised his hands into the air. "They told me it was going to be a simple job."

"Nothing is ever simple!" Gage slowly inched his way towards the suspect. "Who sent you here?" The man didn't respond, instead he began to lower his hands. "Keep them up now!"

"What is going on in here!" Doctor Nguyen burst out of his office with Walker right behind him. "What the hell!"

"Walker, get back! It's a hitman!" Gage saw the man's right hand reach for his concealed weapon and fired off a warning shot. "Don't move!"

The man slowly placed his hands on his head. "They told me it was going to be simple." He went to his knees allowing Gage to move forward to start patting him down. "I don't understand why they would send me here, if it was going to fail this horribly."

Walker stepped up to Gage's side and shook his head. "He doesn't look familiar." He began to cough which in turn brought Doctor Nguyen forward.

"Let's head back and get your lungs x-rayed." He turned to the door as three officers came running in. "I want an officer guarding my office."

Gage pointed to the youngest officer. "You heard the man, stay here and keep your eye on anybody that comes into this room. I'm going to take the suspect to Company B." He pulled at the man's hoody. "Come with me."

As his friend left with the suspect, Walker slowly made his way back to the examine room with Doctor Nguyen. Here, he sat back down on the table then watched as Nguyen wrote something on his clipboard. Both were silent till the door was closed and Walker let out a few more chest rattling coughs.

"Doesn't sound good, Walker." He placed the clipboard down on the counter, put his stethoscope to his ears then stepped up Walker. "Unbutton your shirt then take in deep breaths when I tell you to."

Walker unbuttoned his shirt revealing the scar which ran all the way down his chest. It was still quite visible and will be for some time. Nguyen placed the pad on Walker's chest then asked for him to breath. Walker did so, but once again it caught in his throat and he had to cough. Nguyen shook his head as he pulled away to write something on Walker's file. He then returned to check the trach site on Walker's neck.

"Have you been putting a bandage on it?" Walker shook his head no. "The skin is still pretty thin." He put on some gloves then got some gauze and tape. "Just while you're out and about. If anything hits that site, it could puncture it." Once he was done he took off his gloves then motioned for Walker to stand up. "I'm going to ask you to take off your clothes and put on a gown. Knock on the door when your finished."

As he got changed, Walker's mind went back to what had just happened in the waiting room. Why did that man want to kill him? Who had hired a hitman? Whoever did so, didn't do a very good job unless the kid was a decoy. And if that was the case what was the gangs up to?

He put on a hospital gown then knocked on the door two times. Doctor Nguyen came in and ordered Walker to lay down on the table. Here he swung the x-ray machine over Walker's chest then turned it on.

"Okay, going to take a series of x-rays. So I need for you to stay perfectly still. If you're patient, I'll be able to get them developed and tell you what level of pneumonia you have." He nodded his head. "Just relax. This will only take about thirty minutes."

Company B

Inside the interrogation room, Gage threw the man into the chair then cuffed the suspect's right arm to the table. He then went around and rested his hands on the steel surface. The man flinched as he tore his attention away from Gage. This showed that the man was actually terrified about the situation.

"Listen, I was told it would be a simple mission!" He raised his free hand up in defense. "Please don't hurt me."

Gage shook his head. "I'm not going to hurt you." He leaned back to look at Montgomery who was standing by the door. "Who hired you?"

"Some Italian guy! I swear!" The man's lip began to quiver. "I use to work for Paco, but this man paid me very well to distract you and Walker!"

"Distract?" Gage's eyes got really wide. "Walker! Jim, we need to head back to Parkland." He quickly ran out of the room and to Thompson who was waiting by the two-way mirror. "Try to get information from him. Call me as soon as you do." Thompson gave a quick nod then headed into the room with his partner, Brady Baxter in tow.

Montgomery shook his head as he walked by Gage's side. "Do you really think the gangs would try to do something to Walker in such a public place?"

"Not sure, but I don't want to take the risk." He burst through the Company's front door, barely missing a reporter as he did so. "Sorry." He called out as he headed for his car. "Listen, if the gangs are planning something they may attempt a drive-by."

"But how could anybody accomplish that?" Montgomery got into the passenger side and shook his head. "Why send a decoy? It makes no sense?"

Gage pulled into traffic with a shake of his own head. "It doesn't. Walker isn't currently driving and with the police help we have, he's constantly being watched." He flipped on his siren and started to weave in and out of traffic. "Let's just hope we won't get there too late."

Parkland Hospital

Inside the examine room, Walker waited while Nguyen went to get the x-rays developed. Hopefully his pneumonia wasn't bad enough for him to need oxygen treatment. He buttoned his shirt back up then looked at his left hand remembering when he had to have splints on his pinky and ring finger. Thankfully, those bones healed rather quickly and never really got in his way.

The door opened and in walked Nguyen with several x-rays in his hands. He went to a light box then slid the film into some clips. Once he turned the box on he instantly shook his head and pointed to a light colored mass in both of Walker's lungs.

"Looks to be bacterial pneumonia." He shook his head. "Are you experiencing any other symptoms, Walker? And I want the honest truth."

Walker shook his head. "Not yet. Should I be?"

Doctor Nguyen started to write information down in Walker's folder. "You might experience a fever, chills and severe chest pain. Worse case scenario, your lips or fingernails might turn a bluish color from lack of oxygen." He nodded his head. "Okay, I'm going to put you on an antibiotic and a cough suppressant. If you start getting severe chest pains, let me know and I will give you something to help you out."

"How did this come on so quickly? I know my lungs are weak, but…."

"Unfortunately most of the patients with the trach tube do get pneumonia. But with some medication and oxygen treatment you should be well within a month."

Walker shook his head. "A month? I can't wait that long." Anger swelled inside Walker. "If you didn't put me on that dang tube…."

"Then you would be dead." Doctor Nguyen snapped back. "Listen, knowing you, you'll pull through this quickly and with no side effects." He handed Walker several slips of paper then turned off the light box. "I'm calling Kelly to let him know your on oxygen therapy till further notice." He shook his head. "You'll get a portable oxygen tank to carry…."

"Nope, won't do it. I'll take the oxygen at home, but not in public." Doctor Nguyen tried to protest, but Walker raised his hand to stop him. "Thanks, doc. I'll see you in a few weeks."

Walker went out of the room and then headed to the receptionist where she gave him a business card with his next appointment date written on it. He said his thanks, put it in his chest pocket then headed out through the waiting room. Here, the police officer got up from his seat to follow close behind Walker. This irritated Walker, but he knew the young man was just doing his job.

Once out in the hall he slowly made his way to the elevator by using a handrail for support. The officer behind him was patient enough and had actually offered to help, which Walker quickly declined.

By the time he was in the elevator, Walker was completely winded and started to cough. Boy is he ever going to hate having pneumonia. It's going to slow him down and he didn't want that. Let's just hope he can recover from this quickly.

After he recovered, Walker leaned back against the wall to get a better look at the young officer before him. "How long have you been on the force?"

The officer gave him a big smile. "About three years." He gave Walker a shrug. "I grew up watching you on the news and wanted to be a Texas Ranger just like you."

Walker was taken aback by the man's words. "Really? And what about right now?"

"You mean with the family's wanting to press charges against you?" The elevator dinged open and he shook his head. "You had a tough decision to make that night. If people just saw that, then maybe they might just understand." He stepped out before Walker to check out the hallway. "Okay, all clear. Let's go."

They made their way out of the hospital and into the parking lot where Walker took in a much needed breath of fresh air. He rested his hands on his hips then took out his cell phone to see Gage and Trivette had called him. He brought the phone to his ear and began to listen to the messages they have left him. There was only two, both telling Walker to stay inside and to not venture outside. Why would they warn him of that?

His attention quickly went to a blue car speeding into the parking lot and he knew it to be Gage's. Curious he took one step forward just as five men popped up from behind cars. The officer quickly moved in front of Walker as gunfire rang through the air. He flew to the ground as bullets ricocheted all around him. A sharp pain in his leg made him wince and to cover his head with his hands.

"Walker!" It was Gage and he sounded rather far away. "Hang on! Officer Hernandez, you okay?"

"I think so! I got a bullet to my vest!" He winced as more gunfire came their way. "What the hell is going on?!"

Walker cringed as a bullet barely missed his head. "Gage! Do something!"

"I'm trying!" Shouted his friend. "Freeze! Texas Rangers!"

The gunfire finally subsided and Walker gradually lifted his head to see the suspects all had their arms raised. He waited for the police to secure their weapons before he got to his knees. As he did this, the pain in his right leg become apparent once more and he shifted his weight so his legs were now in front of him. He could see blood on his shin and once he lifted his pant leg he saw it was just a graze wound.

"Walker!" Gage ran up to Walker and knelt down to get a look at the wound. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's…." He let out a series of coughs then shook his head. "It's just a graze, I'll be fine." He turned to the officer. "Hernandez, you okay?"

Hernandez nodded. "Yeah, my vest thankfully stopped the bullet." His attention went to Walker who had started to cough violently. "You okay, sir?"

"Hang on, Walker. Like it or not, I'm getting you oxygen." With that Gage left before Walker could protest.

Walker desperately fought to get air back into his lungs and wondered what had triggered the reaction. Within minutes Gage returned with Doctor Nguyen who had a small bottle of oxygen in his hands.

Nguyen put the mask on Walker's face and told him to take deep breaths. "I was actually on my way to give you this when Ranger Gage stopped me." He tapped the oxygen bottle. "Need to carry this with you till your lungs are clear of pneumonia."

"I'll carry it for emergencies." Walker's breathing began to return to normal thanks to the oxygen blowing across his face. He turned his attention to the parking lot as three news vans pulled in. "Gage, help me up. I want to get out of here before the media can coral me."

"Sure thing, boss." Gage took hold of Walker's right arm and pulled him to his feet. "Listen, I need to take you back to the Company so I can write down your eye witness report."

Walker tried to put weight on his right leg, but found it was still tender. "I understand." He took a few more deep breaths then took off the oxygen mask. "Just make sure Angela and Alex are safe."

XXXX

The news that Walker once again escaped with his life infuriated Raphael Martinez. How does that man get so lucky? He couldn't let the Ranger testify next week since what he saw that night in the warehouse could put away Raphael for life, possibly even give him the death sentence. Now was the time to take matters into his own hands.

He went to his living room and saw Joseph Consentinos sitting on the couch. "Joey! What the hell are you doing here!"

"You really messed up, Paco." Joey shook his head. "Why did you send men to kill Petalli and his goons?"

"What! I'm trying to kill Walker, not your guys!" Raphael shook his head. "I sent men to kill Walker at the hospital, but once again they failed. I'm going to kill the Ranger myself."

Joey shook his head. "I told your men to back off for today." This infuriated Raphael, but Joey held his hand up to stop him from arguing back. "You must know who started the war between us."

Raphael's mouth fell open. "War? I thought we were working together?"

"We were, till you finally crossed the line…."

"Me!" Raphael slapped his chest. "I did nothing!"

"Well, I wish I could believe that." Joey stood then put his hands inside his coat pockets. "Get rid of Walker and I promise you, my men will not come after the Latino Kings."

"You got yourself a deal." Raphael shook Joey's hand. "I will make sure Walker is dead before he is able to testify."