I call this a "filler" chapter. It's slower paced and I'm not to happy with it.

One Week Later

The hospital room was chilly, but right now all Walker could think about was the upcoming brain surgery. After he had come home from the reservation Alex begged him to have an appointment with Doctor Hayden and Miller to figure out what was causing so many grand-mal seizures. Turns out, a blood clot has formed inside Walker's brain and he will now have to get it removed. Hopefully this will help and not hamper his recovery even more.

Alex took hold of Walker's hand and gave it a squeeze. "How you holding up?"

"Nervous as hell." Walker took a deep breath as his eye ventured to the clock on the wall. "Doctor Miller should be here any minute." His voice showed Alex his fear and he quickly cleared his throat. "I just hope this stops the grand-mal seizures."

Corbett appeared to Alex's right with a smile on his face. "I'm sure it will help."

"Well, Walker. You ready?" Everybody's attention went straight to Doctor Miller as he walked in with a team of nurses. "Alex, Jar…I mean Corbett. We're going to prepare Walker for surgery. You'll be able to see him again in two hours."

Walker said his good-byes to his family, including John and Michael then waited as Doctor Miller got a tray situated by the bed. He checked Walker's vitals once more then situated an IV into a vein in his right arm. Thankfully the cast on that arm had been removed three days early which made things a bit easier.

"We're going to shave your head in the operating room." Miller's voice began to get rather muffled and Walker knew one of several drugs needed for the surgery had just been put into his system. "Before you fall asleep, I just want to remind you of the risks. Anything, and I mean anything can happen during brain surgery."

"Well aware of it, doctor." Walker closed his one good eye then nodded. "Just take really good care of me."

XXXX

After he left his father's room, John went with his brother and uncle to the waiting room where all sat with a huff. He glanced over to Corbett still not use to seeing a man who looked so much like his father. In the last few months he has really grown to like Corbett who was like his father, but much more outgoing. His uncle gave him a slight wave then leaned back into his chair.

"So, Cordell will be in surgery for at least two hours. What should we do to pass the time?"

He stretched and shook his head. "Brought some playing cards and UNO."

Michael took a deck of playing cards from Corbett and flipped it open. "If you are up for it, I'll play you in a game of War." He said to John.

John cracked his knuckles. "You're on." He moved a small table between them then sat down in front of his brother. "Hopefully this is the last surgery dad has to go through for his head."

"I hear that. It's hard seeming him like this." Michael placed cards in front of John then smiled. "Maybe this will actually help him out." His voice got really low as he bit his lower lip. "I've read into brain trauma. A blood clot can do a lot to a brain." He leaned forward so nobody else can hear him. "It even can hamper with emotions and thinking." He shook his head. "We all saw the changes in him after he came back from the hospital after Marcellinio got hold of him. Dad was never really the same after that."

"You're right." John slapped a card down on the table. "Maybe that's the reason why his depression got worse." He slowly lifted his head to look at Corbett. "Thank you."

Corbett choked on the water in his mouth causing it to dribble down his chin. "For what? What did I do?"

John chuckled at his uncle. "For being there for our dad." He felt a pat on his shoulder and looked up to see Alex. "Alex, where are the kids?"

"At the HOPE center." She rubbed John's shoulder. "Going to pick them up after Cordell's surgery."

"When did you start calling him, Cordell, Alex?" Asked Corbett.

Alex shrugged. "Thought a change is in order." She gave her brother-in-law a wink. "He seems to really enjoy it now."

Corbett let out his very unique laugh, a mixture of Walker's with a slightly higher pitch. "That's good. Ain't nothing wrong with Cordell." His hand went to his stomach. "I'm going to grab a quick bite to eat. Anybody with me?"

Gage quickly stood up getting a chuckle from Sydney. "I'm in. Call us if anything happens and I mean anything."

Trivette came into the waiting room with a shake of his head. "You will not believe this." A huge grin spread across his face. "Harris got pulled over for a traffic violation."

John's mouth dropped open. "What?" He shook his head. "Wow, that was…simple."

"It can't be, John. Jimmy, are you sure it was Harris." Asked Michael.

"Positive." Jimmy sat down next to Corbett. "A routine traffic stop. An officer saw him not wearing his seat belt and pulled him over." He shook his head. "With him in custody, there is no longer a threat on Walker's life." A huge smile spread across his face. "And if this surgery helps out, things may finally be looking up."

Alex went and gave Jimmy a hug. "That is so good to hear. Walker will really like this bit of news. It might actually help his recovery knowing he doesn't have to worry."

Two Hours Later

The fog slowly lifted from Walker's mind and at first he didn't know what had happened to him. He could hear voices all around him which confused his tired mind even more. What the hell had happened to him? Very slowly he opened his good eye to only see fuzzy ceiling tiles above him. Then, a face with a blue mask appeared in his vision and judging by the crinkles at the corner of his eyes he was smiling.

"Walker, your surgery was a success." Doctor Miller took hold of Walker's hand and patted his good shoulder. "How you feeling right now?"

Walker swallowed hard to hopefully ease the scratchiness in his throat. "Not sure." He felt himself being moved and the ceiling tiles turned into a blur. "Glad it's over."

Miller patted his shoulder once again. "Well, it's a start. Going to keep you here for a week to monitor your progress. But hopefully, with the clot gone the seizures will calm down some." He took a look down the hall then back at Walker. "In just a few minutes you'll be able to see your wife and kids."

The bed moved down the hall and to a room where it was locked into place. Walker's mind once again started to blur and he knew eventually he would fall asleep. But he wanted to see his family first, to let them know he was all right.

"Cordell." It was Alex. "How you doing, cowboy?"

He gave her a weak smile. "Hopefully better." He could feel her hands run softly down his arm giving him much needed comfort. "Tell the kids I'll see them in awhile." His voice was slightly slurred. "Going to sleep now."

Alex watched her husband fall into a deep sleep and knew now everything will be all right. She gave him a kiss on the forehead then gently ran her hand across his shaved scalp. A white bandage was wrapped around his head, obscuring any view of the surgery sight. Hopefully this will be the last surgery Walker will ever have to endure for his head.

"He fell asleep, huh?" John made his way to the other side of the bed with Michael right next to him. "Was he coherent before he did so?"

"Yeah, he was." Alex turned around as Doctor Miller came into the post-op recovery room. "Did he have any seizures?"

"During surgery and after, none." Miller checked Walker's vitals than nodded his head. "I'm going to keep an eye on the seizure activity, but Alex I need you and everybody else to let me know how he is doing emotionally. That includes how he picks up on new information."

Alex nodded. "I will, thank you." She shook Miller's hand. "How will his recovery take?"

Miller gave her an innocent shrug. "Depends on Walker's attitude." He wrote something down on an electric clipboard and smiled. "Don't be afraid to holler at me if anything happens." His hand lifted up in a wave. "Hello, Corbett."

"Hey." Corbett went to Alex's side and gave her a friendly hug. "How's he doing?"

"Hopefully better." Alex shook her head as a smile crept across her face. "At least they shaved his whole head this time." She took a look at her brother-in-law's Mohawk. "It's starting to fill out now."

Corbett's hands ran through his brown hair and a smile, so similar to Walker's crossed his face. "Yeah, it's really starting to grow on me."

"Don't you think you're a little too old for a look like that?" Laughed out Michael.

"Not one bit! You are as young as you feel." The smile slowly ebbed away from his face. "Man, there is a lot of tubes." He leaned down to get a better look at where a spot of blood seeped through the bandage. "I think this will help him out though."

Michael smiled. "I think so." He patted his father's good shoulder. "You did good, dad. Just a little bit in the hospital and you'll be home with us."

Eight Hours Later

The next time Walker awoke, his mind wasn't as foggy and he was able to think much more clearly. He slowly opened his eye to see ceiling tile once again above him. He took a deep breath then turned his head to the right hoping Alex was next to him. However, when he didn't see her, he began to wonder if visiting hours were already over.

"I'm over here." Alex's voice came from his left side. "How you doing?"

He turned his head, a bit confused as to why Alex was over on his bad side. "Why are you…." He gradually shook his head to clear away the cobwebs. "How long have you been here, Alex?"

"For awhile." She patted Walker's arm then leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. "How are you feeling, Cordell?"

"Tired, but good." He tried to lift his left hand, but it felt like a large weight was pushing against it. "How bad does it look?"

Alex chuckled as she gave him a smile. "Horrible. In any pain?"

"A little bit, some sharp pain and a headache." His mind quickly went to the reason why he had surgery in the first place. "Seizures?"

"Haven't had any grand mal seizures in eight hours." Her eyes glistened as her hand traced the scar on his left cheek. "You had some hand tremors though a few hours ago, but nothing for Miller to worry about."

A huge smile spread across Walker's face. "Hopefully it will stay that way." His stomach growled very loudly causing his cheeks to flush in embarrassment. "I haven't eaten since last night."

Alex shook her head. "Unfortunately you still have the nasogastric tube in place, but hopefully it will be removed soon." Walker gave her a very confused look not really sure what she was talking about. "It's a tube they put down your nose to help if you got sick. Apparently, if you did get sick it would put pressure on your brain." She gave him a comforting smile. You also have a tube near the surgery site to reduce fluid there." She leaned in and gave him a kiss. "Nurses come and go to see how you're doing neurologically."

"I'm a guinea pig..." He slowly shook his head. "Great."

"Hey, Cordell! Glad to see you're with the living." Corbett made his way to Alex's side with Angela next to him. "Little Ray is with Gage right now in the waiting room." He moved the bed tray over Walker's lap and placed two brown bags on top of it. "Unfortunately, no food for you. Not yet anyway."

Since he was already laying slightly propped up on the bed Walker was able to get a good look at his brother. "May not be able to stomach food anyway."

Corbett handed a small Styrofoam container to Angela. "Understandable. How you feeling, Cordell?"

"Tired and slightly foggy." He slowly shifted his weight till there was enough space for his daughter to sit next to him. "Come up, Angie."

Angela quickly did so and gave him a gentle hug. "Dad, does it hurt?" She looked up at him with her big, blue eyes. "It looks really bad."

"Don't worry, it looks worse than it is." He kissed Angela on the top of her head. "I should be fine from now on." He took in a deep breath to smell garlic chicken. "Man, that smells really good though."

"Yeah, but Uncle Corbett said it tastes like sh…."

"Shrimp. I said it tastes like shrimp." Corbett cut Angela a glare then nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

Walker tried really hard not to laugh. "Gotta watch your mouth, Corbett. Kids will always repeat what you say."

"Yeah, I just realized that." He gave Walker a smile. "I'm starving. Hope you don't mind us eating in front of you."