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Tag scene to "Showdown at Casa Diablo"
Sydney/Gage Shipper

Sydney Cooke leaned against a wall, trying to catch her breath. She watched Walker comforting Alex and felt a brief, irrational stab of jealousy...she would have given alot to be able to lose herself in a loving embrace just then...

Gage came around the corner at a dead run, his eyes searching wildly for his partner. Relief buckled his knees when he saw her on her feet, more or less unharmed. He felt a warm flash of appreciation at the sexy dress she was wearing, followed by anger as he recalled that it wasn’t what she’d been wearing or the type of thing that she would have packed for a trip like this, followed by pure, scalding rage as he saw the split lip and noticed her rubbing at the spectacular bruise that was already forming on her back.

Sydney watched the emotions play over her partner’s open countenance and knew that, given the least encouragement, he’d sweep her right into his arms. It was a tempting thought, but she was a Ranger – she couldn’t afford the slightest show of weakness in front of her fellow officers. It was different for Alex; she didn’t work in the field with the guys. Sydney knew that none of them could do their jobs properly if they ever began to view her as someone who needed to be protected. Besides, after the events of the past couple of days, she wasn’t too sure how she would handle a man invading her personal space.

Sydney needn’t have worried on that count...this was Gage, her partner, and his presence was warm...familiar...comforting. She wished she could allow herself that comfort, but she couldn’t, so she resorted to banter.

Gage ached to hold her – just for a moment, to reassure himself that she was really all right, but he recognized the subtle stiffening of Sydney’s posture and stopped just short of touching her. They followed Alex and Walker to the chopper wrangling cheerfully until Gage stumbled slightly. As usual, Sydney was right there, grabbing his arm to steady him. He flashed her a lopsided grin that faded when she staggered a moment later.

Sydney swore under her breath as she tripped over her own tired feet. She would have fallen if not for her partner’s strong arm around her waist. "Thanks," she muttered straightening and trying to step slightly apart from Gage.

The young Ranger wasn’t having any of that and kept his arm firmly around her until they got to the chopper. "Walker," he called out after the other man had gotten his fiancée settled in the chopper.

"Yeah?"

"I think Syd needs a doctor."

"No. No really – I’m fine," she protested, glaring at her partner.

"I’m way ahead of you Gage," Walker replied with a grin, "We’re stopping off at the first hospital on the other side of the border...I want both of them to get checked out."

Sydney half-expected Alex to protest, but a glance inside the chopper told her that the attorney had given in to her emotional and physical exhaustion. She felt another flare of envy as she watched Walker tenderly stroke a blond curl back from Alex’s face before checking her seatbelt.

"Hey – you still with me?" Gage asked, nudging her out of her reverie.

"I told you – I’m fine," she responded automatically.

Gage didn’t even bother to grace that with a reply, holding his tongue as he boosted Sydney up into the helicopter and swinging himself up to sit beside her.

Now that she was safe and among friends, the lack of sleep and physical abuse of the last two days were making their presence known with a vengeance. Sydney struggled to sit upright, refusing to show weakness in front of her fellow Rangers, but then Gage slid into the seat beside her. The chopper was a tight fit for his lanky frame, and he stretched his arm along the seat back, trying to accommodate his long limbs. As her eyelids fluttered, she felt him tighten his arm around her shoulders, cradling her against his side.

"It’s OK," he whispered soothingly, "You’re safe now." He knew and respected Sydney’s skills, her bravery, and her fighting spirit, but he knew that this experience had to have been traumatic and he just wished she’d let go and lean on him for a while. He was sure there must be a rule against it somewhere, but Gage found himself wishing that he had the words to tell her that she was not only one of the best cops, but the smartest and most beautiful woman he’d ever known. Someday...maybe...

Sydney fought to keep her eyes open. Someday, she wanted someone just like Gage – someone brave, and smart, and funny, and honest - to hold her just this way, but today they were Rangers and this wasn’t a good idea. Except...it felt so good to feel a friendly arm around her and to know that she was safe and...cherished... And she was asleep.

Very cautiously, so as not to wake her, Gage slid his other arm around her and rested his chin on top of her head. For a moment, he simply reveled in the feel of holding her in his arms, warm and safe and alive. Then a silly grin crossed his face as he wondered what would happen if Sydney remembered this when she awoke. Then he decided that it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she was all right, safe in his arms...even if she slugged him for it tomorrow.

Walker glanced in the mirror and saw Sydney curled against Gage’s side. A knowing smile crept across his weathered features as his steady gaze met the young Ranger’s in the mirror. He nodded slowly, then turned his attention back to the controls. He figured there was a fraternization regulation somewhere in the Ranger handbook, but it wasn’t his business to enforce it, and besides, Walker knew that sometimes, there were things infinitely more powerful and meaningful then any rulebook. There was the truth of justice, which had led him to Alex in the first place, and then there was the truth of the heart, which bound them together, now and always.

Walker smiled again, knowing now that the two young people’s destinies were bound together as inextricably as his and Alex’s. Knowing those two, it would be very...interesting...to see what happened next.