A/N After a looooong hiatus, I'm trying to pick this story up again. Ever since Walker ended, I somehow couldn't find the inspiration for the rest of this story. But right now, I'm hoping to finish my "hiatus" stories, and this is one of them. While writing this chapter, I immediately fell into the story again, and lots of ideas for oncoming chapters are being formed right now!
Well, I'll stop jammering now and let you get on with the story. Again, my sincere apologies for the delay in this story!

5

The door closed behind him, a resounding thud echoing through his fuzzy brain. Walker had dropped him off, telling him to get some sleep before coming to the get together at the ranch.

Gage sighed. Everything Walker had said made sense. Wanting to see someone so bad, you imagine them being there. But when he thought back…

It had looked so real. She had looked so real. Scared… Hopeful and tired. All those emotions had reached him the moment he laid eyes on her.

Had it really been someone else? But why did she run? And who was following her?

Sitting down on the worn couch, Gage realized that even if it hadn't been Sydney, some other woman was in trouble. And tomorrow he was going to get to the bottom of it. Right now he felt so tired he couldn't even make his way to the bedroom. And even if he could, he didn't want to be there now. Everything in there reminded him of his loss.

Laying down on the comfortable couch, he winced at pain tormenting his leg, somehow relishing it, knowing he was still able to feel.

The days events however, had left him exhausted and for the first time in three months, Francis Gage fell into a dreamless sleep.

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A door opened slowly, flooding the little room with light. Yet, the person sleeping there did not wake. The figure entering was dressed in black, gloves around large hands holding a gun.

The person lying on the couch tuned around, a weathered face coming into view.

The gun was raised…

A muffled shot penetrated the person, eliciting a slight gasp before the body became still.

Silence covered the room like a heavy blanket while the gunman made his way to the room in the back. The room where she would be…

Sticking his gun in his belt, the man produced a vile and a cloth. Drenching the cloth with the substance, Kyle Harding grinned at the prospect of his reward.

Taking out that FBI fellow was easy. Now all he had to do was get the woman and take her back to Langley.

Glancing through the slightly opened door he could see her beautifully shaped form lying on the small cot. Too bad she was pregnant. He could have had some fun with her… Shaking his head he concentrated on his job. Get the girl and take her to the shack Pete had set up.

Ignoring the small creak the door made, Kyle made his way to the cot, admiring the sleeping beauty lying before him. As he crouched his hand gently ran over her hair, making her turn towards his hand.

"Ow, Gage…" she whispered, causing Kyle to stroke her soft cheek. He knew he should act fast, but he wanted this moment to last just a while longer…

At that moment however, Sydney's mind told her where she was and why she was there. Her eyes flew open as panic filled her head.

Kyle was faster though, and he quickly put the drenched cloth over Sydney's mouth, holding her struggling body tightly against his excited body.

"Ow yes, you wriggle hot little momma, only feels better to me…" he whispered in her ear, but was followed with a moan of pain as Sydney's leg connected with his groin.

Soon Sydney's struggles became less as she gave in to the drug induced sleep, praying Gage would be alright…

Hoisting the pregnant woman over his shoulder unceremoniously, Kyle grumbled about women being bitches while carrying her off into the night.

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Darkness surrounded him, the air around him heavy with silence, yet something had woken him from his deep sleep.

Gage rubbed his eyes sleepily, stopping suddenly when the softest sound reached his ears. His every nerve felt on edge as his body tensed on the old couch.

Reaching for his gun which had been hidden underneath the couch, Gage lit the lamp next to him. His eyes scanned the room for anything unusual, not loosing their focus until he was completely sure there wasn't anybody there.

After checking the kitchen and bedroom, he was sure there wasn't anybody there. He closed the window, blocking out the small noises coming from the street and the gusts of wind which had been playing with the curtains.

The clock in the living room announced that it was 10 o'clock and all of a sudden Gage's thoughts flashed to a get together he was supposed to be.

"Oh no… Alex' dinner…" Gage groaned. He was late, and knowing Alex and Walker they were probably on their way down to check if he was alright…

Rubbing his weary eyes he put away the gun, turning to the bedroom to get changed and wash up.

Fifteen minutes later a clean and awakened Francis Gage stepped out of the shower, sorrow still radiating off of him, but the calmness which had covered him like a blanket since the talk with Walker gave him the strength to go on.

Wiping the steam from the mirror, Gage focused on the stubble on his face, knowing how Sydney always hated the rough feel of it. He was about to reach for his razor when movement behind him drew his attention.

Sighing softly he turned around, expecting Walker or Alex to be waiting for him. He quickly put on his jeans as he made his way to the living room.

"Walker…"

The words were never finished as a heavy tire iron came down from nowhere, hitting Gage on the head with blunt force.

The only thing Gage noticed before blacking out were the eyes of the person knocking him out. They portrayed so much hatred, so much coldness, the final thoughts of Gage's awareness were filled with only one person.

Pete Langley…