Company B

After he gave his eye witness account, Walker sat in what use to be his office waiting for Alex to come pick him up. He looked around wondering if he will ever return to be Captain. Gage has kept all of Walker's mementos in place, only putting a photo of Sydney on the desk. The leather sofa creaked underneath him as he shifted his weight around. He really wanted to leave, it just didn't feel right being here.

The door opened and in walked Alex looking rather flustered. "Walker, I'm so glad you're okay." She went and gave him a hug. "I heard you were shot…."

"It was just a graze." He lifted his pant leg to show Alex the deep cut on his shin. "It's tender, but nothing to worry about."

She gave him a kiss then sat down. "What did Doctor Nguyen have to say?"

"Double bacterial pneumonia." He pulled out the prescription papers and handed them to Alex. "I need to get those. One is a cough suppressant and the other is an antibiotic." He tapped another sheet of paper in her hands. "And that is for oxygen. Not sure how it works, but Nguyen told me Kelly can help us out."

"Pneumonia? That's not good, Walker." She rubbed his knee. "Well, you definitely need to follow doctor's orders this time."

Walker slowly nodded. "I know, but he wants me to carry the oxygen around. I can't do that." She gave him a look he knew all to well. "I'm fine without it, don't worry Alex. But I will carry it for emergencies."

She shook her head. "If Dr. Nguyen said to carry it, then you should."

"It's cumbersome." He gave her hand a good squeeze then kissed her on the cheek. "Where's Angela right now?"

"With Erica and Trivette." She rubbed his knee. "Let's get your medication and head on home. It's been a long day."

One Week Later

Outside the courthouse the sounds of reporters and even protestors drowned out any traffic noise from the streets. In order to get inside, Walker along with Alex, Trivette, Sydney and Gage had to go through the back door. Once inside they were led to courtroom number four, which was used primarily for internal investigations. It was small and didn't allow much room for a large audience, which Gage wanted. Unfortunately, the Gibson and Simmons family will be able to watch the trial. Which meant it could turn very emotional once Walker hit the witness stand.

Outside the courtroom door Walker sat down on the bench hoping to catch his breath. For the last week, his pneumonia has gotten much worse, but thanks to medication and the oxygen treatment he was able to keep it in check. He took a few deep breaths while Alex got his tank ready. It was embarrassing to him to use it in public but knew if he wanted to get healthier he had to swallow his pride.

"Here you go." Alex handed Walker his nasal cannula then turned on the flow of oxygen. "Just need to use it for about fifteen minutes."

He wrapped the cannula around his ears then leaned back to get a look at the crowd being held back several doors away. Let's hope he can make it through the trial. Apparently footage of the shootings will be shown and Walker will have to sit through them. Could he possibly relive the torment of that night? Just thinking about it made his heart race.

Alex took hold of his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Don't worry, everything will be all right."

"I hope so." He lifted her hand and gave it a kiss. "Thank you, for being here." He lout out a serious of chest rattling coughs. "All of you, it means a lot."

Trivette patted Walker's shoulder. "No problem, man. You know we got your back." He turned as several Rangers from across Texas approached, including Zeigler. "It appears you just got a lot more supporting you." He went up and gave Zeigler a shake and a hug. "Thanks, for coming."

Zeigler slowly nodded. "I agreed to testify. I want people to know the type of decision that Walker had to make that night."

Walker reached out and shook Zeigler's hand. "Thanks."

The courtroom doors opened and out walked Walker's attorney, Mike Kemper. "Hey, Walker." He put his hands on his hips then nodded his head. "It's time."

Alex turned the oxygen off and patted Walker on the shoulder. "Just try to relax, it'll be okay." She gave him a kiss. "Remember, there are many who are with you."

"Thanks." Walker took off the cannula and stood to his feet. "Okay, Mike. I'm ready."

Three Hours Later

The testimonies and cross examinations were brutal to sit through, but nothing prepared Walker for the next eye witness: The video tape. To help Walker's case, Mike decided it was time to show the jury exactly what happened to the officers that night. For this, the Gibson and Simmons families were asked to leave the courtroom. Unfortunately for Walker he will be forced to sit and see how the other officers were killed.

"Now, I warn you, what you are about to see is very violent." He stepped up to a television and pushed play on the DVD menu. He then turned to the jury. "After you see this, hopefully all of you will see how tough it was for Walker to make the decision he did that night. And think to yourself, would you have done it to?"

The first image to appear on screen was that of a dark figure holding a black pistol, just like the ones issued to the Texas Rangers. Walker knew this person to be Raphael Martinez, the man of his nightmares. Then the camera panned over to show Minton laying on the ground while several gang members brutally punched, kicked and spat on his body. Minton screamed in pain which brought Walker back to that horrible night. However, when Walker heard his own voice on the video he snapped back to reality.

Walker watched as Martinez broke the crowd up and held a small hand gun to Minton's head. This gun was not DPS issued, which meant it wasn't any of the officers or Walker's.

"Make sure he sees this!" Shouted Martinez as he briefly glanced to his left.

As the camera panned back, Walker didn't want to look knowing what was about to happen. However, he did and saw his reaction when Minton was killed. After the gang killed the officer they had violently beaten Walker once again. After the beating Walker had turned his head and he said something to Minton. Unfortunately, he was too quiet for the camera's microphone to pick up.

"So, Ranger how do you like the pain?" Martinez's voice broke the silence as he knelt next to Walker, obscuring any view the camera had of the his face. Walker could hear himself grimace on the tape and knew that was when Martinez had slapped his broken jaw. "You will die a slow and painful death."

Martinez quickly got to his feet, this time with a black pistol in his hands. He fired two shots into Walker's chest then tucked the weapon back into his pants. He then turned to face the camera with no expression on his face.

"Let's go! The other officers are waiting!"

Walker watched on as the gang member holding the video camera dropped it to his side then ran through the warehouse and up several flights of stairs. Once the gang member reached his destination he brought the camera back to his face to show Roy Simmons laying on the ground, bleeding heavily from a wound to the temple.

Three gang members quickly went up to him, made him kneel and without any hesitation Martinez went up to him then shot him in the forehead twice. Seeing this for the first time rattled Walker so much he actually jerked as emotions he tried to hold in for so long threatened to surface.

The gang then made their way down the hall to another room where the light of the camera illuminated Charlie Gibson laying on the ground unconscious. Martinez rotated his neck, took out another gun then stood right over the officer's body. He fired twice, right into Gibson's left temple. After this the video went black and silence filled the courtroom.

Finally it was Mike that broke the silence with one simple question. "What would you have done?" He turned to the judge. "May I call my last witness to the stand, your Honor?"

The judge nodded his head. "Yes, you may. Please allow the Gibson and Simmons family back into the courtroom."

After the families were back inside, the bailiff stepped forward. "The court calls Texas Ranger, Randall Zeigler to the stand."

Zeigler made his way to the stand, swore in then sat down. He seemed to be visibly shaking, possibly from seeing for the first time what had truly happened at the warehouse. He nervously straightened his coat as Mike stepped up to ask the first question.

"Mr. Zeigler what exactly happened to you that night?"

"I was assigned to help out with crowd control on the east perimeter. Unfortunately the crowds proved to be too much for our team to handle and we were quickly over run." He cleared his throat. "I fell down and was quickly pulled into the crowd by several gang members. I was then beaten and led to a warehouse where I was put into a room with Officers Samuel Porter and James Madison. There, we were once again beaten by the gang members."

Mike slowly nodded his head. "How was Officer Madison killed?"

Zeigler looked directly at Mike. "The gang members had Officer Madison, Officer Porter and I kneel with our backs turned to them. I heard a safety go off then a shot. Officer Madison collapsed from a shot to the head. The gang then shot him once again in the forehead."

"I see, so he didn't know the shot was even coming?"

"No sir."

Mike nodded. "What happened next?"

"I was beaten once again then forced to watch as a gang member held a gun to Officer Porter's temple." Zeigler's voice began to quiver. "The gang member was on the verge of killing Officer Porter but quickly pulled the gun back after one of his accomplices stopped him. They then let us go."

"Are you saying, if it wasn't for Walker's decision to stay then Officer Porter and yourself might be dead?"

"Yes sir."

"Thank you, I have nothing else to ask." Mike went back and sat next to Walker.

The judge nodded his head then turned to the family's attorney. "Do you have any questions to ask the witness?"

The attorney shook his head. "No your honor."

"Very well." He glanced through his paperwork then turned to the jury. "Court is in recess so the jury can make a decision."

After the judge left Walker stood up, stretched then let loose a series of chest rattling coughs. He doubled over as pain made it hard for him to stand up right. He was so focused on getting his breathing back to normal he barely heard the cacophony of voices behind him. Walker then heard Trivette's voice over the crowd as somebody tackled him to the ground.

"You killed my cousin!" It was a young man and he was now gripping onto Walker's shirt so tightly the fabric was actually ripping. "Why should I let you live!"

"Jerome! No!" Shouted Mrs. Gibson. "Enough!"

"But he killed Charlie!" Jerome cried out as he slammed Walker hard against the floor. "He deserves to die for what he did!" Walker began to violently cough which seemed to disgust Jerome even more. "Stop it!"

"I can't." Walker got out between coughs. "Pneumonia."

"Hey, get off of him!" Trivette grabbed hold of Jerome and started to yank him away from Walker. "It's not worth it!"

Walker tried to help his friend, but found it hard to breath with all of Jerome's weight on top his chest restricting any movement in his ribs. He began to violently cough as his weakened lungs threatened to collapse on him. Finally after much tugging from Trivette and two other officers Jerome was finally pulled off of Walker. With the weight finally off of his chest Walker rolled onto to his side as Alex ran up to him with the oxygen tank.

"Hang on, Walker." Alex switched the nasal cannula to a mask. "Here, put this on."

Walker did so without any hesitation. "Thanks." He glanced down to see his suit coat had a tear in it. "I don't want to press charges." He took a deep breath, coughing as he did so. "Just get him out of here."

Trivette quickly took his suit coat off and handed it to Walker. "It might be a little small, but it's better than nothing."

Walker remained on the floor till he finally caught his breath and was able to stop coughing. Unfortunately now he had a headache and his chest burned as though somebody had just lit it on fire. He shakily took a deep breath then glanced up to see several faces looking at him, all of them showing concern.

"I'm okay." His voice however showed the pain he was in and he cleared his throat. "Really, I'm fine."

Alex rubbed his shoulder then kissed him on the cheek. "Just take slow, deep breaths."

Walker did as his wife told him to do then glanced up to see Jerome being escorted out of the courtroom by several police officers. His attention then went to Mrs. Gibson to see her crying into her hands. This woman lost a son that night and Walker had watched how it happened. Charlie Gibson had no idea he would die that night. Charlie didn't see the gang coming into the room, never had a chance to wake up. Walker felt a tear run down his cheek as he realized how lucky he truly was that night to live.