Chapter 5

"I really appreciate this." She said as they pulled into her parking space, Gage didn't reply as he put the jeep in park and made to get out.

"Wait … what are you doing?!" Sydney said, starting to panic.

"I'm … gonna walk you to your apartment." He said, giving her a puzzled look, Sydney let out a puff of air; of course he was, she mentally chastised herself for thinking his intentions were anything other than honorable. Gage was a bit of a playboy, but he did have strong values of honor and was a very chivalrous man.

He had walked her to the door and insisted on helping her search the apartment to make sure it was safe.

"I really appreciate everything you do for me." Sydney said as they stood facing one another, an awkward pause ensued as Gage cleared his throat nervously.

"Syd I …" Gage trailed off as she cupped his face with her small, dainty hands, in her eyes he could see desire without inhibition, a result of a tad too much alcohol. It dawned on Gage that she might not be of sound mind and he stepped away from her.

"Syd, we can't do this." He said.

"Oh." She replied as she tried, and failed to keep the hurt and disappointment out of her voice.

"It's not that I don't want to, you're half ass drunk and it wouldn't be right for me to …" He trailed off.

"Then we won't go past second base." She said as she drew close to him again, slipped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his.

Gage couldn't help it, his body just responded to her; he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her slender waist as he deepened the kiss, his tongue boldly entering her mouth to entangle with her own.

When the need for air finally became impossible to ignore they finally parted, both breathless, their foreheads touching.

"That … that is why we can't do this, right now, Syd. You're half ass drunk and not of sound mind, it wouldn't be right." Gage said.

Sydney inwardly cursed his presently annoying sense of chivalry.

Gage, seemingly sensing her confusion, reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "It's not that I am not attracted to you; its because I AM … and if you kiss me like that again I don't know if I can control myself." He said with a sheepish grin.

Knowing that she wouldn't change his mind, Sydney conceded defeat, knowing she wouldn't change his mind.

"Well … thank you for bringing me home." She said as they walked to her door, he made to open it when she suddenly grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into another passionate kiss.

A growl escaped Gage's throat as he pushed her against the wall, his hands took on a mind of their own as they roved over her body, leaving a trail of fire behind them.

Things threatened to get out of hand again as he wrenched himself away from her.

"Please … just let me go, you're killing me here." He said as he flashed her a goofy grin.

"Okay, Gage, you win." She said as she opened the door for him and he exited before he lost the one shred of resolve he was hanging on to.

Gage sat in Sydney's jeep, taking a moment to compose himself. He could still smell her on him, he had to get home and take a cold shower, STAT!


A growl escaped Gage's throat as he pushed her against the wall and ravaged her mouth again, his hands took on a mind of their own and somehow found their way to the waistband of her jeans and unbuttoned them. Then, a strange buzzing reached her ears …'

Sydney's eyes snapped open and she sat bolt upright in bed, she immediately wished she hadn't as her head throbbed, a result of last night's festivities. She trudged to the mirror and as she gazed upon her appearance, which looked like death warmed over and she was almost glad that Gage didn't end up spending the night.

She turned the shower on and didn't even use the hot water, she wanted the shower as cold as possible, she inhaled sharply as she stepped into the icy water, it felt like heaven on her flushed skin.

She reached for the shampoo and took her time lathering her hair, she washed the shampoo out and put conditioner in while she drizzled some of her favorite body wash into her sponge. As she washed herself, she thought of Gage and the steamy session they had shared last night, her skin grew flush at the mere thought of it and she could still feel his hands roaming over her body.

Panic suddenly set in as the realization of what she had done washed over her, what in the hell had she been thinking?!

' It was the alcohol, that's all … you just had a little bit too much to drink last night and it was messing with your resolve.' She thought to herself, she was going to have to apologize to Gage for her behavior last night, and for possibly ruining their friendship.


Gage couldn't help the wide grin that crossed his face when he saw his partner walk through the door.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" He asked as she sat down in her place across from him.

"Foolish." She said as she grinned sheepishly, Gage noticed that she wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Syd, are you sure you're okay?" He asked, when she finally looked at him, his face harbored a genuine look of compassionate concern that she had a sudden almost overwhelming urge to plant a kiss on him right then and there.

' Stop it! your relationship is supposed to be a PROFESSIONAL friendship, nothing more, nothing less!' The little voice in her head chastised her.

"Gage, Sydney, I just got word from one of my informants that another shipment is going to be on the move into Dallas from Mexico. It's supposed to arrive tonight, here is the address of the warehouse, I want you two to stake it out.

"Ugh … I hate this, I hate the waiting." Gage said as he rubbed his eyes.

"You want to catch some Z's I can take the first shift, I drank a bit too much coffee at headquarters today." She said as she offered him a kind smile. Gage graciously accepted her offer and settled into his seat for a bit of shut eye.


"Gage! Wake up! Something's happening!" Sydney said as she nudged him awake.

"Huh? What time is it?" Gage slurred as he rubbed his face.

"Just after 2AM." Sydney replied as she handed him a pair of binoculars.

They watched as a semi-truck and trailer pulled on to one of the loading docks. Sydney picked up the radio and called for backup.

"Let's go get em'." Gage said as they drew their weapons and advanced on the warehouse.

Once inside they looked at each other in shock, this shipment was HUGE, and it would be a lot of drugs off the streets, even if they didn't get the boss.

"Gage counted to three with his fingers and they made their move.

"Texas Rangers! You're all under arrest!" Sydney shouted as a small gun battle ensued between them and the smugglers, but they soon had them secured.

"Someone tipped the boss off, because he didn't show up." Gage said as he lifted one of the smugglers into a sitting position.

"How'd your boss get wise? I can't imagine you telling him." He said.

"I ain't saying nothing, I know my rights." The man said, the others nodded and no one would say anything else.

Suddenly, Sydney saw something, it was a glint, a reflection, her blood ran cold as she realized what it was.

"Gage! She shouted as she jumped in front of him and fired the rest of her clip, they heart a shout and an impact of a body falling, Gage rushed to the source of the sound to find a man lying dead next to what looked to be a Remington 700.

"Syd, how did you know …" Gage trailed off as he watch his partner collapsed in front of him, blood staining her shirt.