Not sure if this should be the last chapter or not.

Two Weeks Later

It has been many days since Gage really had a good night's rest and it began to show. His son, Miles was now home with them and so far the stress was driving Gage near to the breaking point. Because of this there was unneeded tension between him and Syd causing Miles to cry more than usual. Gage didn't know how much more he could handle before he did something he would regret.

This morning he found himself in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in one hand and a piece of toast in the other. He could hear Sydney talking to Miles in the living room, her voice very soft and motherly. After he finished his toast and coffee, he put the cup in the sink and decided to head out the back door. He knew Sydney would get furious with him for leaving, but right now he needed some personal space.

He made it down the stairs when the back door opened behind him. "Francis Gage, are you just going to sneak out like that!"

"Sydney, I just need time alone…."

"You have a wife and newborn baby at home…."

Gage spun around to face Sydney. "I can't handle this anymore! I'm hounded by news crews day and night, I can't sleep and now this." He shook his head. "I gotta go."

"Francis Gage! You get back here right now! Gage!"

He ignored his wife and continued to his car, his heart so full of anger at the moment he knew he had to leave before he lashed out. Gage didn't know where he was going he just had to get away. Once he started his car he headed towards downtown unsure of why he was doing so. There was nothing that way for him except for the occasional bar he could probably duck into.

As he drove his hands continuously wrung the steering wheel underneath them. Why did he fire that shot at Martinez? His decision that day changed everybody's life, including his. If it wasn't for him, Walker will still be alive today, to be with his family. After only a few miles of driving he had to pull over into a newly built strip mall, his mind too foggy to go on anymore.

He could feel the tears fall from his face and he buried his head in his hands. For the last week he has been very cruel to his family, brushing them aside for his own guilt. Oh God, Sydney and Miles they need him so much right now and instead of being there for them he was out wallowing in his own pity.

A gentle knock on his window made him quickly look up and wipe his face. He reached down and pushed the window button. "I'm sorry, I just needed to pull…." He stopped in mid-sentence when he saw it was Trivette. "How did you know I was here?"

"Sydney called me." Trivette went around and got into the passenger seat. "She's really worried about you." He shook his head. "A lot of us are."

Gage took a deep breath then leaned back into his seat. "I just don't know how to handle it all. I'm suppose to be Captain now. How can I carry the badge knowing I killed my best friend?" His hand ran through his hair. "Will anybody respect me now?"

Trivette slowly nodded his head. "All of the Rangers still do."

"But, why? I killed Walker."

"You did what they would have done." Trivette gave him a gentle smile. "You're a good man, Gage. I know this is really tough to go through, but remember you have all the Rangers behind you." Trivette laid a hand on Gage's shoulder. "Don't forget, we're all here for you."

Gage nodded. "Thanks." He took a deep breath then started his car. "If you don't mind, I need to visit a friend. Tell Sydney I'll be home in a few hours."

Walker Ranch

Since Walker's death, Alex has been in a fog and only made it through the days thanks to Angela. Her daughter has been amazingly strong since the funeral which encouraged Alex to do the same. Unfortunately, it proved difficult to do especially knowing Walker will never give her a hug or his smile again.

With a shaking hand she wiped away the tears from her eyes and started to set the table for lunch. After she finished putting the plates down she realized she had set the table for three. She threw the napkins on the table then fell into one of the chairs. Her hands flew to her face as the tears came out along with loud sobs.

"Oh Walker!" She let all the emotions boil out of her in one long wail. "I wish I could have helped you, wish I could have done something!"

"Mom, why are you crying?"

Alex quickly pulled her hands away from her face to see Angela standing right next to her with one of Walker's cowboy hats in her hands. "Sweetie, where did you get that?"

"I got it from the closet." She gave the hat a hug. "Hope you don't mind, but I wanted something of dad's in my room." She then smiled. "I want to be a Ranger like him."

"Oh, Angela." Alex motioned for her daughter to come nearer which she did. "Why do you want to be a Texas Ranger?"

Angela shrugged. "I want to honor dad."

Alex brought her daughter in for a tight hug. "How do you do it?"

Angela pulled back and gave Alex a curious look. "Do what?" Her eyes got slightly bigger as a frown crossed her face. "I know we miss dad. But why should we cry? He wouldn't want us to cry, mom."

The innocent words made Alex realize that her daughter was so much more like Walker than she had ever thought. How difficult will it be for her to live with someone who will act just like Walker? Just thinking about it made the tears come once again to Alex's eyes. Will the pain ever go away? Will she ever be able to live a normal life without her husband?

"Mom, don't cry." Angela gave Alex a hug. "Dad is right here. He is always with us."

Fort Worth, Texas

The cemetery was quiet as Gage made his way through the pathways to visit Walker. Birds chirped as the wind rustled the leaves above him which helped settle Gage's nerves. As he walked he glanced at the tombstones, always amazed at how young some people were when they passed on. At least Walker lived a long life, leaving a legacy that many will always remember. Maybe Walker's story will be told through the generations just like Hayes Cooper's. Gage knew he will be telling his own son the many stories of Walker's life.

After a ten minute walk he came upon Walker's grave to see the freshly planted grass seeds were finally growing. He took off his cowboy hat, said a silent prayer then squatted down to get a look at all the mementos left by people who knew Walker. There was a small white teddy bear, several yellow roses and a rodeo belt buckle. Wonder what will happen to all these trinkets? Will they be archived or given to Alex?

He cleaned off the dirt that had collected on the tombstone then sat down next to the grave. This is the first time he has been alone and right now he didn't know what to do. What could he do?

"Just wish you were with us, Walker." Gage took a deep breath then shook his head. "Martinez will most likely get the chair, but…." He cleared his throat as emotions took over. "They want me to come back, to take over for you…" He glanced down at the hat in his hands not sure what to say next. "Just wish I knew what to do."

"Hey, want some company?"

Gage turned to see Randy Zeigler standing behind him with a yellow rose in his hand. "I don't mind."

Randy placed the rose on the headstone then sat down next to Gage. "I haven't been here since the funeral…." He let out a few coughs then rested his arms on his knees. "Glad to see Martinez is going to get the chair."

"Just wish I didn't shoot him, Walker would still be alive…."

"You don't know that Gage, nobody does." Randy gave Gage's shoulder a friendly pat. "Have you thought about the Captain position?"

Gage quickly shook his head. "I can't, not after what happened."

Randy let out a heavy sigh then picked up the little teddy bear. "Me and the other Rangers want you as Captain. We wouldn't have it any other way." He turned to Gage with a smile across his face. "Everybody still trusts you, Gage and we won't let you bury yourself with guilt. What you did that day is what all of us would have done." He dug into his pocket and pulled out a Captain's badge. "Saw Sydney, she gave me this."

"Can't, it's Walker's old badge…."

"Then where it with pride." He put the badge into Gage's hand with a tear in his eye. "I wish I could wear it, but it's not my time yet. But it is yours. Someday people will tell stories about you to their kids. I know I will." He slowly stood and pulled out another item from his pocket. "Hey Walker, Porter never got time to give this to you." He rested the envelope on the tombstone under his rose then took off his own hat to say a prayer.

It was at this time Gage thought he saw somebody standing near some tombstones a few rows away. The man appeared to be in a fog which seemed rather strange. But before Gage could bring it up with Randy, the man disappeared. Strange, was it a ghost? He was in a graveyard after all and he did believe in spirits. After several seconds he shook his head, pinned the badge to his shirt then glanced at Randy to see a tear running down the man's face. That was when it hit him that Randy survived a night that eventually killed five men.

Randy cleared his throat, wiped his eyes then nodded his head. "Time to move on, Gage." He patted Gage on the shoulder. "Glad to see you're Captain again. Walker would be proud."