-1Two Days Later

The night was chilly as Alex took water off the stove for the hot chocolate. Pouring it into a glass she began to mix cocoa in it when she got a strange feeling. Looking around she just pulled the blanket tighter to her as she made her way into the living room. When she did Erika stood up from the couch and went up to Alex.

"Why don't you sit down and try to relax." She said helping Alex to the couch.

Alex slowly nodded. "I'm trying, but it's been two days and he still hasn't come home." She wiped the tear from her eye. "If he was on a mission surely he would of told me." She took a sip of her hot chocolate then looked up at Erika. "Thanks for helping me out with Angela."

"No, problem." She sat down then patted Alex's shoulder. "Jimmy, is doing his best in finding where Walker is at." The phone rang beside them. "I'll get that."

Nodding Alex sipped the cocoa thinking about where Walker had to be at. He had gone to check out a lead two days ago and still hasn't come home. Angela who was just two years old couldn't understand why daddy hasn't come home yet. She tried to explain to her daughter that dad would come back, unfortunately she couldn't do it without almost bursting out in tears herself.

Erika slowly turned to Alex. "They found Walker."

Alex choked on her cocoa. "What happened? Is he alright?"

Her friend just looked down. "Jimmy, found him at Methodist. Alex, his in the coma wing."

"Can you watch Angela for me?" She said slowly standing up, her mind reeling over the news.

Erika nodded. "Sure thing." She patted Alex's shoulder. "His going to be alright. His going to be just fine." She took a deep breath. "Trivette, will be here to pick you up. You don't need to drive."

Nodding in shock Alex took the blanket off. "That's a good idea."

Later at the hospital Alex found herself walking down a huge hall surrounded by big open rooms. The doctor was telling her something, but all she could think about was what was said about her husband. It seemed that an assailant had tried to kill Walker with three pound rock causing almost every bone in his face to brake.

They stopped at a room with a strange man laying on a bed very still. Peering in she couldn't see anything that told her that the man was her husband. Was the doctor mistaken? This man couldn't possibly be her husband.

The doctor took a deep breath. "His in a very deep coma. You can decorate the room anyway that you want, this will be his room for his remaining time here."

The news hit Alex hard. "What are you saying that he won't wake up?"

"In this kind of coma, not likely. It's a miracle his made it this far." He went up to the bed and looked down. "His face is broken in over twenty-five different places, he has a very bad head wound which caused his brain to swell and his chest cavity is seriously injured as well. Now, there is a cot here and only one person can stay the night at one time."

Watching him walk off Alex went up to Walker's bed not believing the man was her husband. His face was badly swollen, bruised and covered in blood blotched bandages. Half his head was shaved revealing a very detailed area where they had cut and stapled his skull back together. His chest was covered in bruising and blood blotched bandages as well which hid his muscled torso.

She began to cry when she saw the tube coming out of his throat. "Why did they have to do that Jimmy?"

Jimmy gave Alex a hug. "His jaw was broken in more then eight places, not only that, his nose was crushed. They decided to put the tube in his throat instead of his mouth, so he can breath easier."

She pulled up a chair then wearily sat down next to her husband. "Did he loose any teeth?"

"Yeah, I think the doctor said two or three. Two are in the front and one was a molar." He rubbed his face as he to sat down. "Also they told me his right eye orbit is shattered and he may not be able to see normal again. Their waiting for him to get stronger before they do surgery."

"How could something like this happen Jimmy?" She gently took hold of Walker's cold hand . "Walker, is very quick. This shouldn't have happened."

He took a deep breath. "A couple of men told me that the rock had hit him first. Then the same rock was used to..." His voice began to crack as he tried to tell the story. "They said they were gang members, but I can't see gangs doing this."

Alex looked at Walker's swollen face. "How come it took two days to locate him?"

"He had no identification on him and his face was so badly swollen and damaged the doctors thought he was dead. But two men told him to keep him alive."

"Who are these men?" Alex said her voice shaking.

Trivette dug into his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. "John Norris and Michael Garrison both are active Marines. Norris is a medic and Garrison is a sniper."

She began to cry. "Did Norris keep Walker alive?"

"Yeah, he did."

She turned to Trivette with tears streaming down her face. "I want to meet these men."

The hotel was quite as John laid on his bed still thinking about the man. It has been two days since the attack and yet he has heard very little. Today they finally talked to a Texas Ranger who was the partner of the man who was brutally attacked. The Ranger had told John and Michael that the man's name was Ranger Cordell Walker, a highly respected man in Dallas.

Taking a deep breath he rolled over to his side to look at Michael who was reading a newspaper. After a few minutes John had to ask what was so important to entrance his brother so much.

Michael turned the paper around. "It's the man." He pointed to a picture of a middle-aged Texas Ranger. "He has a wife and a two year old daughter." He smiled slightly. "The dude was a Marine Reconnaissance Officer in Vietnam."

John took the paper from Michael and began to read the article. "They talk about him like he was a legend." He smiled when he remembered a story that their drill sergeant told them. "I think this is Nighthawk or Captain Walker that Drill Sergeant Williams was talking about." He rubbed his face thinking about the story. "I believe he told us that Captain Walker was a POW, shot more times then most men and still fought for his country."

"Your right I think that this is the man. What are the odds that we saved a legend?" Michael shook his head then looked down at his stomach. "Don't know about you, but I'm starting to get really hungry."

"There's this grill and bar not too far from here in the stockyards." John smiled then stood up stretching. "I'll buy."

Michael beamed and perked up just slightly. "Well, in that case I can't pass that up."

At the bar John found a booth along a wall and as he waited for the waitress he began to look at all the pictures on the wall as his brother looked through the menu. He couldn't believe all the pictures of Texas Rangers that were posted. Suddenly a photo made him grab Michael's hand, startling his brother. Michael began to question why but soon spotted the photo too.

"The dude is everywhere in here." Michael leaned over the table to get a better look at the photo. "He looks really young." He smirked. "He almost looks like us."

"Yeah." John looked up as a waitress came over to their table. "Excuse me ma'am, but who is this man in this photo right here?" He tapped the photo in question.

The waitress smiled weakly. "That's Ranger Walker. He was like a son to the man who owned this restaurant." She took a deep breath. "That was when he first made it into the Texas Rangers."

Michael looked around the restaurant. "His photos are everywhere."

She smiled. "Yeah, his a living legend down here in Texas. I heard that he is going to receive the Medal of Valor for saving the girl." She took a deep breath then took out a pen. "What can I get for you guys today?"

"We'll, both have the specials with tea." Michael handed the waitress the menu then turned to John. "So, John what are you thinking?"

His brother got a quizzical look on his face. "Why do you say that?"

"You got that look on your face. Is it about Ranger Walker?" John slowly nodded. "Listen, John we don't even know this man. This man is dieing right now in a hospital room and..." He took a deep breath. "We just prolonged it for him."

John's anger quickly rose. "We did not prolong it!" He shook his head, frustrated at his brother's words. "I can't believe that you even said that!"

"Well, if you look at it the man had severe facial trauma that most times kills a man..."

"And that is why we saved him!" John said interrupting Michael.

Michael ran his fingers through his hair. "Listen, the man had..." He quickly stopped when he spotted Texas Ranger Trivette. "It's Ranger Trivette."

John turned to the door. "I'm going to go talk to him." He gradually stood up then made his way to the black Ranger. When he got to him he took a deep breath then stuck out his hand. "Hello, we've met before."

Ranger Trivette nodded. "Yes, I would like to thank you and your friend." He looked at the table then smiled. "Sorry, your brother."

"Oh, we get it all the time. We were separated when we were just babies, but we found each other in the Marine Corp and soon found our mom." He shook his head. "Enough about me how is Ranger Walker doing?"

The older man took a deep breath. "He's the same. He had a seizure last night that is worrying the doctors. And he has infection in his lungs." He wiped his face with his hand. "Sorry." He took a deep, shaky breath. "Uhm...But he's alive and I have you two to thank." He took another deep long breath. "Alex, his wife would like to see you two."

John turned back to Michael then back to the Ranger. "When?"

"Soon will be good. Did you guys order lunch?"

"Yeah, it should be coming out now. Would you like something to eat?"

Ranger Trivette shook his head. "Nah, I'm not hungry." He turned to who appeared to be the manager. "Maria, the two gentleman in booth twelve make theirs on the house." When the woman nodded in agreement Ranger Trivette turned back to John. "I'll meet you guys in the waiting room in the coma ward at Methodist."

Nodding John went back to the table and sat down wearily. "He wants us to meet Ranger Walker's wife tonight."

"Where at?" Michael questioned while he took a plate of food from the waitress.

"The coma ward." John laced his fingers then rested them under his chin. "I just hope we don't see Ranger Walker. I don't know how I'll be able to handle it."