One Week Later

The doctor's office was really quiet and for some reason this really got on Jarod's nerves. He began to fidget in his chair as he reread the policy form taped to the door. Cordell began to swing his legs as he rotated his thumbs around each other. How much longer will Hayden make them wait?

Cordell huffed loudly then leaned against the wall. "I see no point in this." He shook his head. "I really don't need to be here right now."

"True, but maybe Hayden can shine some light into your anger." The door opened causing both brothers to turn their heads towards it. "Doctor Hayden, its about time."

Hayden closed the door behind him and shook his head. "Sorry about that. How is everything, Walker?"

"Frustrating." Cordell let out a heavy sigh as he handed Hayden a notebook. "Lets just cut to the chase, I don't want to be medicated. I'm tired of everybody telling me what I should do. For once can I deal with this brain trauma on my own terms?"

Hayden shook his head. "I'm going to ask you a very personal question, Walker. How was your mental state after your parents were killed?"

The question took Jarod aback and he swiftly turned to see his brother's reaction. Anger flashed in Cordell's eye as his good right hand tightened into a fist. Why would Hayden bring up a dark moment in Cordell's life? What was he getting at?

"That was rather blunt. What are you getting at, doc? You know Cordell doesn't like to…."

Hayden raised his hand in the air to politely stop Jarod from talking. "Walker wanted a blunt answer and I'm about to give him one." Hayden sat down, placed a thick folder on the counter next to him then shook his head. "Walker, what you are probably experiencing now is emotions you somehow had locked away for many years."

A quizzical look flashed over Cordell's face. "What are you getting at, doc?"

"You might have had bi-polar disorder for quiet some time, but you were able to control it." Hayden let out a heavy sigh. "But because of the recent trauma to your brain you may not be able to control it like you use to." He stood up and took out a pen flashlight. "How is your depth perception and coordination?"

"Same as usual." Walker followed the light with his good eye not seeing why he was doing so. "Doctor Hayden, I'm fine. I'm just a little frustrated, that's all."

Hayden nodded. "Understandable." He clicked the light off and nodded his head. "Your recent MRI and EEG tests came out negative. I'm thinking it's just something you've had all along, but were able to control." He sat back down to write a few things in Walker's folder. "I heard you were starting to sculpt. How is that working for you?"

Walker gave his doctor a shrug. "Okay, I guess."

"Well, I want you to keep doing it. This might be an outlet for you and could help with your depression." He sighed heavily then smiled. "I'm not going to medicate you for the bi-polar. In fact, unless something drastic happens I hope to see you again in three months." He put the pen back in his breast pocket then stood up. "It seems the seizures are finally calming down. Keep doing what you are doing and I will get with Terry to set up monthly checkups."

"Thanks so much, doc." Walker shook Hayden's hand grateful for the little bit of freedom he was now given. "See you in three months."

Once outside, Walker folded his prescriptions in his breast pocket then turned to Jarod to see his brother fiddling around with a pair of keys. He chuckled knowing Jarod now carried much more keys than he use to all thanks to owning his own car and apartment. While his brother was finding the right vehicle key, Walker went over to the car thankful he no longer needed the handicap flyer on the mirror.

"Hey Corbett, I'm hungry." Walker heard Jarod grumble in response and had to laugh at how similar they both were in attitudes. Finally after a few minutes Jarod ran to the car, shaking his head as he did so. "Told you to get colored rings on them."

"Right, need to do that." He unlocked the doors and got in. "Let's drop the prescriptions off first. I think there's a Mexican restaurant near the pharmacy that we can get a bite to eat at." He started the car then waved at Walker. "Let me make sure the doc didn't slip in something that isn't a normal drug for ya."

Walker took the paper out of his pocket wishing he could read the writing. "Thanks."

"No problem." Jarod quickly rifled through the prescriptions then nodded his head. "All clear."

"You know, there was a time that I absolutely hated taking anything stronger than Tylenol." Walker shook his head. "Seems strange to me to be so dependent on medication."

Jarod shrugged. "Nothing to be embarrassed about. You're finally getting your life back together and I'll let Alex know to lighten up on ya." He sighed heavily as he pulled onto the main road. "Sorry about the way I've been treating you. I should have just let you cope with what was happening on your own terms."

"It's okay, really. You care about me, I'm just not use to it." Walker nodded. "But keep harassing me on the sculpting. I think it could really help me."

XXXX

In a car parked not too far away from the doctor's office, Marcellinio sat munching on sunflower seeds and reading a newspaper. He picked up a paper cup, spit out the shells then glanced up to see the brothers getting into a car. Marcellinio allowed them to leave the parking lot before he turned on the ignition to his own vehicle.

He will follow them till they reached their next destination then make his move. But first he needed to get some help, people that he could trust full heartedly to get the job down. If he pulled this off, he will go down in history as the man who killed Walker. Now, he just needed to get his men rallied at the right location.

For the next fifteen minutes he followed the silver vehicle through the city while talking on the phone with Jermain Thompson. Jermain worked for the Dallas PD and had connections inside the DPS, including the Rangers. Oh, if Walker only knew it was one of his precious little Rangers that have been leaking information out to him and his men.

"Okay, so I've talked to my contact. Walker gets his drugs at a mom and pop shop in Fort Worth. You should be nearing it now." The sound of a car door opening and shutting could be heard. "You do know that Plan C could get all of us killed, right?"

Marcellinio nodded his head. "Yes, but do you really want to be known as a dirty cop in prison?" Long silence. "Thought so. Remember if you have the shot, kill either of them."

XXXX

Once parked in front of the strip mall, Jarod got out and headed towards the pharmacy. Cordell had decided to wait out in the car so Jarod will have to make sure all the bottles matched the right prescriptions. This pharmacy was usually pretty good with working with them on getting the drugs separated into specific colored bottles. Most others they had been to were pretty stingy about it. Saying, they couldn't because the law prohibited them from doing so. Thankfully Cordell found this pharmacy through Hayden and so far they work really well with his special prescription needs.

As he opened the door a strange feeling hit his stomach making him look around. He spotted a police cruiser at a red light and another one behind it. Why did he get a bad vibe from those cars?

The car door opened and out came Cordell, a look of worry on his face. "You feel it?"

Jarod nodded his head. "I don't like this, Cord." He quickly ushered his brother through the pharmacy door then followed him inside all the while keeping an eye on the cruisers. "Something isn't right with those squad cars." He watched as both cars turned into the strip mall's large parking lot. "Maybe it's nothing…."

"Usually when I get this feeling, it's never good." Cordell glanced out the window, his right hand instinctively going to his hip. "Wish I could carry a sidearm."

The police parked on either side of Jarod's car, got out then made their way to the pharmacy. Quickly Jarod spun around, grabbed Cordell's arm and pulled him to the prescription counter. A loud jingle told Jarod the officers were now inside which caused his heart to race even faster.

"Hey, Walker bros!" A skinny black man went up to Cordell and clapped him on his bad shoulder. "What brings you two here today?"

Jarod could see Cordell's face contort in pain as the man began to squeeze his shoulder. These were the crooked cops that everybody has been looking for and him without a gun. He glanced at the pharmacist to see his hand discreetly go under the counter for a silent alarm. Wonder why? Did he see something that Jarod did not?

"Please don't shoot, Corbett." Cordell said in a weak voice. "He's not a part of this."

Curious, Jarod turned around and came face to face with a black pistol. "Whoa! Guys, seriously you don't have to do this!"

The officer's finger squeezed the trigger causing Jarod to duck his head and close his eyes. But instead of hearing gunfire all he heard was a metallic clank. Ever so slowly Jarod opened his eyes to see the officer fighting with his service pistol which had apparently jammed on him. The other officer, a small white male took out his own gun and aimed it at Cordell's shaved scalp.

"Don't move! Thompson we need to kill them now or it will turn into a hostage situation!" His voice showed Jarod he wasn't in the right frame of mind to be holding a weapon of any kind and knew he will definitely use the pistol to kill Cordell. "Marcellinio trusted us! We need to show him we can kill one of our own!"

"Did you not see me just try that!" Thompson aimed the gun at Jarod and wildly fired a shot at him.

Stabbing pain shot up Jarod's left leg as he collapsed to the ground. "Son of a…." He gritted his teeth as he writhed around on the floor. "You bastard!"

"Corbett!"

Cordell attempted to help him but was thrown to the ground by the officer guarding him. He let out a grunt of pain and Jarod watched on in horror as the officer fired a shot down at his brother.

"No! Cordell!" Jarod saw his brother move, a sign he was still alive. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, the bullet just grazed my side." Cordell cringed and shook his head. "How are you?"

"Alive." Sirens screamed outside signaling the arrival of more officers. "Looks like you two have bigger problems now."

XXXX

Outside the pharmacy Gage got out of the car and made his way over to Billings who was standing near an unmarked squad car. His hands were shoved into his pants pockets which whipped around in the cool air. He took a deep breath then turned to Gage, his eyes showing deep concern.

"Shots fired." He pointed to the two squad cars parked out front. "Cars belong to Sergeant Jermain Thompson and Officer Allen May." He shook his head. "They have Corbett and Walker as hostages right now."

"Not again." Gage let out several curses as he started to pace. "Walker and Corbett don't need this right now." He rubbed his face. "Are the snipers in position?"

Billings nodded. "They are, but the blinds are pulled down. They are unable to see inside."

"Okay, keep me updated." Gage bit his lower lip as he rested his hands on his hips. "Billings, go check around at all the cars in a two block radius. I have a feeling if this is Marcellinio's doing, then he'll be around to watch it."

An Hour Later

The pain in his side made it hard for Walker to move, but he knew by experience that the bullet didn't penetrate his body. However, it did tear a large chunk from his flesh which stung like a deep burn each time he attempted to get a look at his brother. His hand went to his side, felt the sticky blood then loudly winced as a wave of pain shot through his chest.

In front of him sat Allen May, a young officer new to the force who was right now chewing on his thumbnail. Walker couldn't believe that two officers wanted him dead. What did he do to make them so mad at him?

May glanced down at Walker then up at Thompson. "What should we do?"

"The snipers should be in place." He rested his arms on his knees. "We can't leave here alive or Marcellinio will make sure our deaths are agonizingly slow." He got up to check on the pharmacist and the one technician that was on duty. "You two are free to go, all we need are those two."

The pharmacist quickly nodded his head. "Thank you so much." As he walked by Walker he stopped and knelt down. "How are you on your medication?"

"If I get out of here on time, I wouldn't have to worry about it."

Thompson took hold of the man's hand and pulled him towards the door. "If he needs anything, we are in a pharmacy! Now move before I change my mind!"

Once the two civilians were safe, May grabbed hold of Walker's right arm and violently yanked him forward. Walker let out a scream as he was pushed into a chair in the small lobby. He cradled his arm as he watched the men manhandle Corbett to another chair across from him. Here, he could see his brother's injury for the first time. Blood had soaked through Corbett's left pant leg and had actually dripped down onto his white sneakers.

"Now, remain quiet." Thompson glanced at the window and shook his head. "It's going to be a long night."

XXXX

Outside Gage found himself leaning against an unmarked unit, his arms crossed over his chest. It has been an hour and the officers inside were still holding Walker and Corbett hostage. Thankfully the pharmacy employees were allowed to go, but what they told officers was rather worrisome. Both Walker and Corbett have been shot and were now bleeding rather badly. Let's just hope their injuries weren't too severe, but just in case they had paramedics on call.

Billings approached with a cup of warm coffee in his hands. "Here ya go, it will help you out." He took a deep breath and shook his head. "I hope Walker and Corbett are okay."

"Same here." Gage grimaced as the hot liquid scolding his mouth. "So, what's going on with the family?"

"Nothing much." Billings phone chirped inside his coat pocket. "That's the wife. Probably wondering if I'm okay."

Gage watched his friend leave and didn't think anything of it till he saw Billings quietly arguing into his phone. If it was his wife on the phone then why would he be so angry? His brain began to process this and his eyes widened in realization. No, not Billings. He can't possibly be the rat they've been after.

"Billings!" Gage ran to his friend who quickly flipped his phone closed. "Is everything okay at home? Saw you arguing…."

"Yeah, things are all right." Billings gave Gage a big smile. "She's just really worried."

Gage nodded. "Okay, well if you need anything just let me know."