Sorry about the short chapter, I promise the next one will be a little longer. : )

Four Months Later

The ranch was alive with conversation and music as people lounged around having a great time on fourth of July. Walker sat in a chair on his back porch drinking tea and laughing it up with Michael and John. In the last few months they have grown very close, especially John and Walker. Thanks to John, Walker was getting much needed strength back to his legs and arms. Though he still had problems with hand eye coordination, he now could do many of the martial art moves he once was able to do before the attack.

Michael took a sip of his beer then patted his brother on the back. "I'm going to see how the food is coming along."

As Michael left John turned to Walker to see the man staring off towards the fields. In the last few months there has been a significant improvement in Walker's attitude and health. Walker had gained considerable amount of weight back, but was still remained rather skinny. His muscle tone may take awhile to get back. But according to Alex and several of Walker's close friends he began to look like his old self again.

His dad slowly rocked back then took a long drink of his tea. "Wish I could see the fireworks this year." He took a deep breath, his fingers tracing the rim of the glass. "Unfortunately I'm not certain if my seizures could be triggered by strobe lights."

The reality of his life now hit Walker once again, but he had slowly learned to cope with the depression that hit him suddenly and usually without warning. He sighed heavily then took a drink of his tea as he watched his daughter run around with a sparkler in hand. She has grown so much in the last few months and soon she'll be three years old.

His watch began to beep, an alarm to remind him to take his medication. "Be back in a bit."

Inside the house he went to the downstairs bathroom where his pills sat high up in the medicine cabinet. He got himself a glass of water then studied himself in the mirror. His hair was finally growing back out, however it was still rather short and he could easily see the thick scars tracing his scalp. There was also the scar tracing his left cheek, which reminded him daily of the attack. Then there was the deep scar in the middle of his throat from the trachea tube which stared back at him from the mirror. At least he got most of his weight back, which filled out his face. He now didn't look like a walking a skeleton.

He took his medication then splashed some water on his face. Who would ever thought he would have to take pills on a daily basis? Mostly, just to help with his seizures and depression. He hadn't had a full blown seizure in over three weeks, which was really good news indeed. However he did have small ones which was just rapid eye blinking or fingers twitching.

"Hey, Walker!" Michael came stumbling into the bathroom, startling him from his thoughts. "I think I should start calling you dad." He gave Walker a hug, his breath reeking of alcohol. "Food is ready."

"How many drinks have you had, Mike?" Walker gave his son a hug as they walked out of the bathroom. "Here on out, no more beers for you? Got it?"

Michael sheepishly nodded. "Yeah, sorry. There's no real beer in Iraq."

Walker laughed. "Well, it's good to have you home, Mike. Let's get some food before Trivette and Gage eats it all."

Somewhere in Dallas

It has been way too long, the Ranger was now healthy and getting better each day. Clyde Brookdale pounded the steering wheel of his car, knowing all too well he had ruined the only chance he had at finishing Walker off. He had four months to think on his mistakes and how he could fix them. During that time, he studied up on Walker, his family and friends. He followed them and began to know their daily routines. Soon, he had it figured out, a plan formulated in his head on how to take the Ranger down. Now to actually pull it off.

Marcellinio quickly got into Clyde's car then slammed the door shut. "It's been too long. If you don't kill him by the end of the next month, I will have you killed."

Clyde shook his head. "That's cutting it close."

"It's taking too long!" Marcellinio cursed then rubbed his face. "You were just a petty thief till I took you in and this is how you repay me?" He turned to Clyde and shook his head. "I need to know if you can pull it off or not. If you can't, I'll hire somebody else for the job."

"I can do it." Clyde exhaled deeply then nodded. "Give me two weeks."

Marcellinio beamed and patted the hitman on the shoulder. "That's my man! Prove this to me and you will surely move up." He suddenly turned serious as he stared out the door's window. "What Walker found out that day, cannot be said in court."

Clyde chuckled. "I scrambled his brain so much, he has no recollection of that day. From what I hear, the last memory of his was from the day before I tried to kill him."

"However there is still that chance he could remember." Marcellinio took a deep breath. "Just kill him. That way we don't have to worry."