A paramedic team quickly made their way through the crowd and knelt next to Walker's body. All the men's eyes went wide in shock to discover the Ranger still had a pulse. Quickly they went to work, putting a tube in Walker's mouth and hooking him up to an IV. As they loaded Walker onto a stretcher he began to crash. Gage just watched on, as though in a dream as a man began to do chest compressions on his friend. How could this have happened? Did he do this to Walker? By shooting Martinez, did he bring on the fatal wound to his friend's head?

"Let's get him into the ER, stat!" Shouted one paramedic as he climbed onto the stretcher to continue chest compressions. "Let's move!"

When his friend was through the hospital doors, Gage finally decided to look around. Kneeling on the ground before him, now cradling her crying daughter was Alex. Oh God, Angela saw her father get shot. This revelation made his knees weak and Gage crashed to the asphalt, his pistol clattering away from his hand.

"Gage!" Trivette knelt next to him, his face stained with tears. "Are you shot?"

Gage shook his head. "No, I'm not shot." He swallowed down the bile that had come up from his stomach. "Martinez?"

"Unfortunately, alive. But in a lot of pain." Trivette helped Gage to a more comfortable sitting position. "You did good…."

"I might have killed Walker." Tears began to drop from Gage's eyes. "Why did I shoot Martinez? I knew he might pull the trigger…."

Trivette quickly shook his head. "Don't think that. Right now, Sydney and Miles needs you." He glanced over his shoulder at Alex and Angela who was being escorted away by a Texas Ranger. "Officer, are you all right?" Trivette asked of the man who was with Walker when he was shot.

The officer's face was pale and covered with Walker's blood. "I don't….Am I…."

A paramedic quickly knelt next to him. "He's in shock! Let's get him inside!"

Gage shakily wiped his brow then picked up his pistol. "I think I'm going to be sick." And the bile came causing him to throw up his breakfast.

It seemed to take several minutes for Gage to collect himself enough to stand up. With Trivette's help he made his way past a pool of blood and into the hospital. Once inside Gage numbly went towards the ER, his mind in such a haze he couldn't make out any faces. He vaguely felt Trivette guide him to a room offset from the main hallway and it was here he meant up with Erica and Montgomery.

He slowly swiveled his head back and forth, trying to figure out who was missing. Then it hit him and he turned to Trivette as the tears started to fall once again.

"Where's Alex and Angela? Is Walker…."

Trivette gently patted his shoulder. "Angela slipped into shock." He bowed and shook his head. "It doesn't look…." His voice cracked as tears began to stain his suit coat. "I'm going to check on Alex."

Gage slumped into a chair then buried his head into his hands. "Oh God. Please save Walker. Oh please, just let him be all right."

Two Hours Later

The news was not good, Walker had suffered a traumatic injury to the brain that could not be repaired. After several scans and tests, doctors finally confirmed to family and friends what all feared. Walker will never wake up again and even if he did, he will forever remain in a vegetative state. Which in turn put Alex in a horrible position. She sat by her husband's beside contemplating on what could be the most difficult decision in her life. Several years back, Walker gave Alex the right to discontinue life support. She just never thought it would actually come to that.

She took hold of Walker's cold hand, brought it up to her face then kissed his thumb. "What should I do Cordell?" Tears fell from her eyes as she stared at her husband's swollen face. "I know your spirit wants to fight, but…." Her voice began to quiver. "Oh Cordell, I just wish you could let me know what decision I need to make."

Instead of an answer from her husband all Alex heard was the sound of the machines keeping him alive. The bullet had done extensive damage to Walker's brain and skull which in turn caused several neurological problems. Tremors constantly vibrated through Walker's hands as his body tried desperately to send out signals that couldn't be connected. This worried Alex since it showed Walker had irreversible brain damage.

"Alex, any improvement?" Trivette sat down next to her, his voice showing he already knew the answer to his question.

"None." She ran her hand up and down Walker's arm. "Oh Jimmy, what should I do?"

He wrapped his arm around Alex's shoulder. "Think what Walker…." His voice cracked and he had to clear his throat. "How's Angela?"

Just the near mention of her daughter's namebrought Alex to tears once again. When Walker was shot, Alex was to his side so she didn't see what really happened. Unfortunately, Angela did see everything and now sat in pediatrics ICU in shock. Will Angela ever recover from this horrible event in her life?

"I'm so sorry." Trivette quickly shook his head. "I didn't mean…."

Alex patted her friend's arm. "No, it's okay…." She wiped the tears from her face. "Jimmy, what do you think Angela would say….I can't see Walker like this…." The emotions were too much for Alex and she buried her face into Trivette's shoulder. "Oh God, what do I do?"

Trivette couldn't even began to understand what Alex felt right now and only hugged her back. Next to them laid his dear friend who will never wake up or be the same again. Why did this have to happen to Walker? How did Martinez manage to pull something like this off? Fortunately, Trivette will be able to find the answers he was looking for since Walker's shooter was alive and doing rather well in a room not too far from here.

The sound of alarms caused him to snap his head towards Walker's bedside and he knew what was happening. Doctors and nurses ran into the room and instantly began working on saving Walker's life. A young nurse escorted Trivette and Alex out of the room and into the hallway where they met up with Gage, Montgomery and Erica.

Erica quickly went up and gave Alex a hug. "Oh, Alex."

"Erica….I know now….."

Alex pulled away from Erica to turn back to the room. She straightened her shoulders, took a deep breath then gently knocked on the doorframe. This got the attention of Doctor Boyd who seemed to know exactly what Alex was about to do.

They talked in hush whispers for several seconds then Boyd went back into the room where he patted a nurse on the back. The latter nodded his head and began to turn off the life support. As for Alex she slumped into a chair by the door and was crying so hard, Trivette knew everybody in the hallway could hear.

He watched as the doctor and nurses filed out of the room to give Alex time to be alone with Walker. It didn't seem real to Trivette, his friend couldn't possibly be dead. However, one look into the room made his worse fears come to life. Walker laid on a hospital bed and unlike numerous times before, he will not be coming home. This realization made Trivette's knees shake and he leaned against the doorframe for support.

A hand fell against Trivette's shoulder as an arm wrapped around his waist. "Oh Jimmy." Erica gave his shoulder a kiss. "I'm so sorry…."

Trivette took hold of his wife's hand, not knowing what else to do. After several seconds of silence he took a deep breath then made his way towards Walker's bedside. Here, he took hold of Walker's cold hand and gave it a finalsqueeze.

"Hey, Walker." His voice quivered with emotion and he choked back the tears that threatened to surface. He took a look at Walker's head to see black stitches tracing his forehead and shaved scalp. Injuries that he won't ever recover from. "At least you're with your family now. Tell Uncle Ray and Big Dog hello for me." He quickly wiped a tear from his eye. "We'll see each other again."

XXXX

In a room two floors up Angela sat in a hospital bed, her mind completely lost in the void of emotions. It was as though she was sleeping, even though she knew she wasn't. She was about to lay down when she suddenly got very cold. Why was she cold?

"Angela…."

"Dad…." Angela's fog began to lift and before her stood her father. But what she saw before her was her father before he was shot in the riot. "You look different."

"This is me from ten years back." He stepped up to her bed, a huge smile on his face. "I'm no longer with us, sweetie. But I am always right here." His finger pointed to her chest. "I love you and your mother so much…."

Her father began to fade causing her to reach out for him. "Dad, don't go! Please!"

"Remember me like this. Keep this image with you…." Her father bent down, gave her a kiss then slowly faded away.

"Dad…." Angela wiped her face with her hands. "Don't go…."

"Angela?" It was Uncle Gage and he appeared rather shocked when he came up to Angela. "Who were you talking to just now?"

Angela hiccupped then jumped into her uncle's arms. "Uncle Gage, I miss daddy!"

"Same here, sweetie." He sat down on the bed and cradled her close to his chest. "You're mom will be here shortly." His hand ran down her blonde hair. "Angie, who were you talking to just now?"

Angela snuggled into his shoulder, her whole body relaxing. "Dad. He came to say good-bye." Her voice quivered as she spoke. "He told me to remember him like he was when I was born." She glanced up at her uncle to see tears forming in his eyes. "Dad, isn't feeling pain anymore. He's happy now."

Such innocent words, but they were delivered with such conviction. Gage hugged his niece even tighter as his tears dropped among her blonde curls. Walker will never see his daughter's first date, prom or even graduation. He began to sniffle realizing his friend will never walk his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day. How was it that Walker passed on and yet the man who shot him still lives?

"Uncle Gage, I know it's all right." Angela peered up at him with those piercing blue eyes of hers. "Dad, is happy now." Her eyes wavered from his. "I know he's with grandma and grandpa right now…."

"Yes, he is." Gage's head turned as Alex slowly made her way into the room. "Your mom is here."

Angela quickly jumped down from Gage's lap then ran into Alex's open arms. Seeing the two reunite tore at Gage's heart and he knew then he had to go see his own family. After he gave Alex a hug he went down the hall and to the elevator. Here, he pushed the button for the maternity ward. Wonder what Sydney had to say? He took a deep breath as the doors opened to a cheery little foyer.

He went up to an intercom, gave his code and made his way inside the maternity ward. Here, he went past several rooms till he found the one he was looking for.

Sydney quickly tried to get up from her bed, but Gage waved her down. "No, you still need to rest."

"What about Walker? I heard he was shot…." Gage went and gave his wife a hug, hoping to never forget how she felt in his arms. "Gage….how's Walker?"

"I'm so sorry, Sydney." He shook his head and tried to hold back his own emotions. "It was Martinez….Walker didn't even….."

"Oh God." Sydney's shoulders slumped and she began to cry into Gage's shoulder. "What about Angela and Alex?"

Gage nodded. "Trivette is with them right now." He pulled back to wipe the tears from his wife's face. "Sydney, is it okay to change Miles middle name to Walker?" This caused Sydney to cry out. "No, I'm sorry…I didn't mean…"

Sydney patted Gage's chest. "Miles Walker is a great name." She sniffled. "I need to say my good-byes…."

Gage helped his wife to stand, knowing he couldn't stop her. "He's in ICU." He got a wheelchair and led her to it. "They're giving family and friends an hour…."

Gage choked on the final words he wanted to say. What could he say? And in silence, he led his wife to the elevator where she could say her final good-byes to a dear friend.

XXXX

In another room in ICU, Raphael Martinez sat in his bed watching the news reports on television. He had done the unthinkable and had actually lived to see the outcome. The bullet to his chest only nicked one of his ribs and cut his left lung. How did he survive? He came to the hospital knowing it was a suicide mission, knowing there was no way in hell Texas Rangers or police would let him live after brutally killing one of their own. But fate apparently had other plans.

When he got to the hospital, there were already reporters camped outside the hospital. He easily was able to blend in by acting as one of the techs. Then, the time came for him to act. By using his disguise he was able to sneak up behind the family and by calling out Walker's name it helped distract everybody's attention from his hand.

He had hid the black pistol inside the waistband of his pants, knowing if any officer saw it, they would see it was state issued. How poetic it was to kill a man with his own gun. A smile crept across his face as he vividly remembered putting the weapon flush against Walker's head and how he had sensed the Ranger's tension. Then, the smile faded from him when he remembered seeing Walker's daughter and wife.

It was at that moment he decided on not killing Walker. He didn't want to bring family into this, that would be a horrible mess to clean up. He was in the process of slowly easing his finger off the trigger when that Ranger Gage shot him. It was pure reaction, nothing more when Martinez's finger squeezed the trigger, killing Walker.

He stared at the television, barely comprehending what reporters were saying. Apparently Walker was a fallen hero, a man who will forever remain a legend in Texas. Martinez huffed knowing he will be tagged along side the Ranger as the man that brought him down.

"Wipe that smile off your face!" A detective ordered as he came into Martinez's room. "So, I take it you feel no remorse for what you did?"

Martinez shook his head. "If it wasn't for that stupid Ranger Gage, Walker would still be alive!" Even though in a lot of pain, Martinez still tried to lash out at the detective. "I swear on my mother's grave that I wasn't going to pull the trigger! Give me a test or something, and I'll prove it!"

"You know, no matter what you say, the video tape you made that night, will give you death by lethal injection." The detective sat down next to Martinez's bed and shook his head. "Why in front of his family? Why not at the warehouse?"

"I didn't want to kill him in front of his family! I saw the wife and kid and got cold feet!"

The detective wiped his hand down his face then stood back up. "Turn the damn television off. He doesn't need another ego boost."