Chapter 13

"We're touching down now!" his partner yelled back to him as he got onto his radio to let the hospital know they had a code blue coming in.

The next sequence of events happened so fast that Sydney barely had time to process them; a team of surgeons meeting the chopper, they wheeled Gage into the hospital and through the surgery room doors, where she had been barred from entering and told where the waiting room was.

Sydney heard her name being called to see Walker, Trivette, Barker, Trent and Alex running to meet her.

He was unresponsive when they brought him in … I don't know if …" Sydney trailed off as she sank into one of the chairs, in too much shock to even cry.

Alex sat beside the young ranger and pulled her into a hug, Sydney was so emotionally numb that she barely felt her embrace. Alex wished she could tell her that everything would be okay, that he would pull through, but she couldn't. She gave a pained, worried look to Walker as he sat down next to her.

"Alex, I said some horrible things to him, I've been a terrible friend and partner, and now he's here because of me." Sydney said emotionlessly as she hugged herself, Alex squeezed her shoulders comfortingly.

"Sydney, don't do this to yourself, that isn't true." Walker said.

"Yes it is, he was hell bent on getting this jerk because of what he did to me, he was trying to make amends with me through collaring Antunez, if we had never had a disagreement I would have been with him and …"

"And … you might have been captured too, or worse. Look, this kind of thinking is not going to help you … or Gage. The best we can do is hope … and pray." Walker said as he put his hand over hers.


It seemed like an eternity before the surgeon came out to talk to them, he looked positively exhausted.

"How is he?" Alex asked as they all stood.

"Well, he needed two blood transfusions upon arrival, he was so critical that all we could do was remove the bullet and repair the immediate damage for now, if he pulls through, he will need another surgery."

"What do you mean … if?" Trivette said.

"Like I said, Rangers, he was in very bad shape when he came in." The doctor said.

"Can we see him?" Sydney asked abruptly.

"Better say yes, Doc, she's just going to anyway." Walker said with a smile, the Doctor chuckled as he motioned for a nurse to show them to Gage's room.

"Hey, you." She said as she sat in the chair the nurse had provided at the side of the bed.

"Don't expect much in way of response, he could be out for quite some time." The Doctor said as he and the nurse left them.

"Gage, I'm so sorry, if I hadn't been such a giant jerk to you, this might have never happened. I miss you, I miss being your partner and your friend, but … I know I really cut you deeply with how I acted, and if you never want to see me again, I'll understand." She said as she gently ran her hands through his hair.

"Are you kidding? I was the jerk." He replied, his voice barely audible as he turned to grin at her.

"Gage?! Oh, thank god! If you ever do something like this without me again, I am going to kick your ass, and you know I can." She said a she put her fists up in a defensive fighting stance.

Gage chuckled painfully. "Is this you saying that you want to be my partner again?"

"Yes, unless you have decided you like Trent better, I did see that the two of you getting along pretty well." She replied.

"No way, Trent is cool and all … but … he … doesn't look as good in a cocktail dress as you do." Gage said as he winked suggestively at her.

"You're lucky you're so injured, or else I would sock you." She said as she brandished her fist at him.

Gage chuckled painfully. "You will kill me if you keep making me laugh." He said as Walker and the others walked in.

"Hey, boss." Gage said as he shook Walker's hand.

"Glad to see you back again, Gage, just don't ever disobey an order like that again, okay?" Walker said, his tone was firm, but he smiled benevolently at the junior ranger.

"Sure thing, boss." Gage said with a chuckle.


"Ranger Gage, I have to say that in all my years of practicing medicine, I have not seen anyone who has healed as fast and as completely as you have, and I am pleased to inform you that you no longer need a second surgery. In fact, you are doing so well that by the end of the week you will be able to go home, provided that you take it easy for at least a month, then we will see where you are then and if you can return to active duty." The doctor said.

"Thanks for everything, Doc, but I would rather go home today if that's okay. I know I will rest better there." Gage said

"Well, I do advice against it, but there is nothing I can do to stop you. I will leave you to get dressed, the nurse will be in shortly with the forms you will need to sign." The doctor said.

Five minutes later, Gage heard a soft knock at the door. "Come in." He said.

"Here is everything you need to sign, Ranger Gage." The nurse said, Gage couldn't help but catch a twinge of disappointment to her voice.

"I'm going to miss you, we all are." She said as she smiled shyly at him.

"Is that right? I had no idea that I could make such a lasting impression, given the fact that I was unconscious for half my time here." He said as he flashed her a charming smile.

"Oh, you did, but I know you're hung up on someone else." The nurse replied.

"What makes you say that?" Gage said, he tried to remain nonchalant, but he wasn't sure if he accomplished it or not.

"Oh, yes, that pretty lady ranger. She came to see you every day, and she stayed until visiting hours were over and we had to chase her out. She really cares about you, and I can tell that you really care about her, especially since it was her name you called out in your sleep." She said with a wry smile.

Gage shrugged wordlessly at her as he grinned sheepishly, he was busted, what could he say? She was right.

"Ranger Gage, I know this isn't of my business and forgive me, but take it from another woman, when I say that women like her don't come along every day." She said as she took the forms from him and excused herself.


Gage put down his things and collapsed on his couch with a satisfied sigh as he reached for the remote.

"Ah … finally something besides basic cable!" He said to himself as he turned on ESPN and was pleasantly surprised to find they were showing MMA. He made his way to the kitchen to make some popcorn when he heard a knock at the door.

"Syd … !" He trailed off as they stood there, staring awkwardly at each other for what seemed like a fortnight.

"Um … I went to the hospital to see you and they said you had left, so I … came to see how you were doing, and I brought you something." She said as she handed him a large Tupperware container.

Gage opened it and inhaled deeply. "Beef stew, one of my favorites." He said as he smiled at her.

"Oh it's the Mendez / McGregor fight!" Sydney said as she glanced at the television.

"I saw that on pay per view, it was a good fight." She said.

"Care to watch it with me? I have popcorn." He said as he gestured to the couch.

She smiled at him. "I'd love to."

AN: Wow … sorry … I would have had these uploaded last night, but the website was giving me a database error. Hope this ending makes up for it, of course, this is NOT the end ^_^