(A/N: sorry for the delay on updating, I forgot to mention in the last chapter that this story is dedicated to all the victims of school shootings: to the dead, the wounded, the families that lost loved ones, and to all who were shocked by these senseless tragedies. My inspiration for this story comes from the books 'She said Yes" and 'Rachel's Tears' and by the movie 'Dawn Anna'.)

Ranger headquarters- 11:28 a.m.

(Trivette's POV)

I was sitting at my desk at Ranger headquarters, when my cell phone rings; looking at the screen I see that the call is from my sixteen year old son, Marcus's cell phone.

"Hello?" I answered, wondering why my son would be calling in the middle of the school day.

"Dad?" I could barely make out of the static. But I could hear the panic in my son's voice which gets me more worried that anything.

"Marcus, what's going on?" I yelled into the phone causing everyone in the office to stop what they were doing and look at me.

"There's… at school… gun. They keep shooting… at everyone." That was all I could make out of the static and the phone cutting in and out. But all I needed to hear was 'school', 'gun' and 'shooting' to get my heart pounding as if I had just run a hundred miles; as worry for my son; as well as Walker and Alex's kids, and Gage and Sydney's son; gripped my very being.

"Marcus where are you?" I asked, knowing that it might help later on, if I know where he is in the school.

"In the science lab, I'm hiding with some of the other students." I heard crystal clear.

"Ok Marcus, is there a teacher in the room?" I asked trying to get as much information as I can.

"No, it's just students."

"Ok, this is what I want you to do. Get all the students under the tables or desks, away from the windows; then I want you to find something to block the door, and then turn off the lights; can you do that?"

"Yeah, I think so." I heard as the phone started breaking up again.

"Good, do that; I will be there as soon as I can. Ok?" I said as I got up from my chair. Walker, Gage, and Sydney had already walked over to my desk.

"Ok." I heard as the line went dead. Looking at the phone, I realize that Marcus's phone lost signal. I snap the phone shut before I look up; knowing that I was going to be met by the panicked looks of Walker, Gage, and Sydney.

"Marcus said that gunshots have been fired at the school." As I finished the sentence Gage, Sydney, Walker, and I run from the office.

On the way down to the parking garage we are met by Alex who had heard about the shooting on the radio. She had also heard that parents of the students of the school were urged by the police to go to the Dallas public library; where students that have made it outside the school will be bused.

Gage tells Sydney to go to the library instead of the school with him. I can tell that Sydney is about ready to argue, when Gage quickly adds, "Parents will be asked to give information about their kids, and it will be easier if Jacob has a parent at the library to give the police the information; besides what if Jacob has already been bused to the library, Syd."

"What if he's not, Gage." Sydney argues with him as they continue to go down the stairs to the parking garage.

"Then when he does leave the school, I will personally put him on the bus to send him to you. And I will call you before the bus even leaves." Gage said as he put his arm around Sydney's shoulders and pulling her into a quick hug.

"You promise?" Sydney asked.

"Scout's honor" Gage said as he did the Boy Scout salute. When our boys were younger all of them were in the boy scouts and Gage, Walker, or I would be assistant scout leaders on all the camping trips.

With Gage's promise Sydney gives in, and after Walker promises Alex the same thing. We are able to leave Walker, Gage, and me are in Walker's truck to go to the school; and Alex and Sydney are in Sydney's car.

Once we are in the truck, I get out my cell phone and call Erica and tell her what is going on, and that about Marcus's call. I also tell her to go to the library and wait with Alex and Sydney. I make her the same promise both Gage and Walker made a few minutes ago, and thankfully she doesn't argue with me.

As we are driving to the school, I glance over at Walker; I can't imagine what he is going through. I know my heart is pounding so hard and I am sacred to death about the safety of my son, but Walker has two kids in the school and he hasn't heard from either of them. I know I would be going nuts with worry if both Marcus and my thirteen year old daughter Brittney were in the school; but if Walker is going nuts with worry he is able to hide it well.

Glancing in the back seat at Gage, I can tell he is thinking the same thing I am. But Gage, however, hasn't spoken to his son either; but like me he only has to worry about one of his kids. Twelve year old Natalie goes to the same middle school that Brittney and Kristen go to.

(Gage' POV)

As we drive to the school I can't help but think about my son Jacob. Some of the craziest memories come into my head: such as the days we spend together watching sports games on TV, our one-on-one basketball games in our driveway, or the nights when it is just the two of us as we make 'super nachos' before sitting down to watch an action movie. (A/N: think about Gage's hamburger in the last episode, and then imagine doing that with nachos for 'super nachos'.)

I also from time to time look over at Walker. I wonder how he is able keep his cool when two of his kids are in danger. Over the years of working with Walker, I experienced what Trivette calls "Cherokee". 'Is that why Walker is able to keep his cool? Does he have a psychic connection with his kids that is telling him that they as ok?'

If so than I have never been move envious of him than I am right now; looking at Trivette, I can't help but be a little envious of him as well, he knows his son was safe a few minutes ago; I know nothing about Jacob's safety.

After what seemed like hours, we finally arrive at the school. The whole chaotic scene is something out of a parent's worst nightmare: the school is roped off with crime scene tape, SWAT teams and paramedics and firefighters are everywhere. Overhead you can hear helicopters, some with reporters and news personnel, others are care flight helicopters trying to land to wait for the next group of injured students.

After showing our badges to an officer on-scene, we are allowed past the tape; where we find Dallas County and Tarrant County SWAT team commanders John Locke and Brian Hart.

After greeting them, Walker asks for a status report.

"Rangers, all we can confirm are that we have at least two unidentified gunmen in the school shooting students on site and boasting as they go." John said as he looked over the notes he had in his hands

"Any wounded?" Trivette asked.

"Three so far, one shot in the leg, the other two was mostly injured by glass from one of the windows; we have set up a triage area, where we are checking all the students, on the tennis courts behind the school, from there the wounded are transferred to area hospitals; others are transferred to the bus loading area, behind the baseball field, to be taken to the library."

"Who are the students that were wounded?" I ask, wanting to know if it was Jacob, Angela, Andrew, or Marcus.

"The one shot in the leg was a boy about 18 years old and two girls about 15-16 years old…"

Before John could finish his sentence, there was a loud boom coming from the school; followed by a long series of pops that sounded like firecrackers. But from training and years of experience, I realize that the pops were gunfire from an automatic weapon; the boom we heard almost sent my heart pounding and my stomach doing turning when I realized that it was a bomb detonating.

"Has anyone gone in yet?" I ask knowing that the SWAT teams hadn't yet and I really wanted to know why.

"Not yet, we just got here and haven't got authorization yet from the FBI and ATF, they won't allow us to go in until they get here. They are only allowing us to get snipers in place incase the right moment comes where we can get a clear shot at the shooters." Brian said as the look of frustration was evident on his face.

I can't believe what I heard, kids' lives are in danger and the FBI won't allow SWAT teams to enter the building until they arrive. As a parent of one of the kids still in the school, I want this shooting to be brought to an end, but because the orders came from the FBI, we are unable to tell SWAT to go in. All anyone can do is wait for the FBI to arrive or at least give orders allowing SWAT to do what needs to be done.

TBC