"Miss CaHill, I am sorry, but I will have to dismiss this case due to the police brutality that Ranger Walker showed to Mr. Jack Carr during the arrest he made. Case dismissed."
Jack stood up and smiled at Alex, "You loose, Ms. CaHill, thanks to your ranger boy, Walker."
Alex glanced at Walker.
"I am so sorry, Alex, but he threated to kill that little girl, I had no choice, but to use exccesive force. You know me, Alex, I never use violence unless it is absolutly necessary to save a life." Walker said on their way down the court house steps.
Walker remembered a few nights ago when Trivette and him followed a black Ford truck to a drug house outside of town. They had arrested nine of the ten people and Walker had ran into the forrest after Carr, the drug leader. Walker found Carr standing with a knife held to a young girls neck. Walker figured that she was about 15 or younger. He had reacted on instinct, kicking and punching the guy to save the girl's life.
"Walker, I lose half of my cases because of you going around kicking some poor bad guys butt all over Dallas because you think that is the way. I am tired of losing my cases, Walker." Alex answered him.
"Alex, calm down, would you. Come on, lets go out to some romantic restaurant, have lunch, and talk this out."
"You are the last person I want to see, Walker. How dare you act like nothing has happened."
"Okay, Alex, I am sorry. How about if I meet you for dinner? That will give us some time to cool down."
"I think you are the one who needs to cool down. Maybe you need some time off before you cause me to lose another case."
"Well fine, Alex, I' ll do just that." Walker said getting into the RAM and leaving.
Alex contuined on her way to her car, heading to CD's for lunch. What was it about Walker? She loved him, but he was so darn hard-headed. She thought of all the things her and Walker have been through together. She knew that she loved him, but did he love her the same way? More than that, could he ever make a commitment to her? Alex parked the car and headed into CD's.
Walker was heading to the ranch. He loved Alex so much. Why did she have to hurt him that way today? All he wanted to do was to hold Alex in his arms. Maybe she was right, he needed time away. Picking up the phone, he dialed CD's number.
"CD's."
"Hey, CD. Can you do me a favor? Look after the ranch for a while would ya."
"Sure, but what is going on Cordell? Alex just came storming in here a few minutes ago. I asked her where you were and she told me not to mension your name."
Walker got a sad look on his face as he heart sank. He really did it this time.
"It's a long story CD. I will have to tell you later. I am heading out of town."
"Where you going?"
"Where ever the wind takes me, CD."
"Cordell, you sure this is the right thing?"
"Yes, CD. I need time away. And Alex needs her space."
"Well, alright then Cordell. Don't worry about a thing."
"CD?"
"Yeah, what is it Cordell?"
"Watch after Alex for me. I am worried about her."
"Sure will."
Parking the RAM in the driveway, Walker went to the barn to see Amigo and made sure the horses had plently of food. Amigo nickered and came over to Walker.
"Hey there boy. What's a matter?"
Walker asked rubbing the horses nose. Walker gave Amigo extra oats, then headed to the house to pack.
"Alex honey, please tell me what is going on." CD sat down next to her.
"Walker and his darn macho ego. That is what is a matter."
"Alex, Walker did what he had to in order to save the girls life."
"He also caused another crimal to go free." Alex added.
She wasn't about to let Walker get off easy this time.
CD couldn't think of what else to say to Alex, so he just left her have time to cool off.
Walker, with bags packed, got in the RAM and headed to CD's. Maybe Alex would still be there and would have cooled down by now. He sure hoped so. He really didn't want to leave town without her. If they just had time alone, maybe they could work things out. Walker parked the RAM behind Alex's car.
"Good, she's still here. Maybe we can talk it out now." he said to himself.
CD saw Walker coming toward the door and glanced over to Alex.
"Oh, brother." CD mumbled.
"Hey CD! Is Alex here?" Alex turned at the sound of his voice, as CD pointed to a corner booth.
"Not now, Cordell." CD warned.
Walker lookd confused. Surely Alex wouln't still be mad at him.
"Alex..."
"You don't even want to talk to me right now." She said cooly and pushed by Walker.
Turning to CD she said, "Bye CD, I'll see you later."
"Alex, wait." Walker chased after her.
It broke his heart to see her that mad at him.
"Walker, I don't want to see you anymore. I don't care what you do from now on. I am sorry we ever met." Alex got in her car and drove off.
Walker's shoulders dropped as he headed to CD's, tears were almost showing in his eyes.
Walker sat at the farthest booth and put his head in his hands.
"Cordell, what happened." CD sat down across from Walker.
"Alex said she didn't want to see me anymore and that she wished we had never met." Walker whispered. "CD, I love that woman so much. It just breaks my heart to know she could ever think that way." Walker contuined looking into his friends eyes for advice.
"Cordell, she's upset. She didn't mean it."
Walker got up and headed to the door. "I think she ment it alright, CD." he said as he headed out the door.
"Cordell? Where you going?"
"I don't know, CD." Walker got in the RAM and drove toward the reservation.
Maybe White Eagle could help him out. He sure hoped so, it was his only chance of getting Alex back. Walker stopped at a gas station to fill up with gas. He had just started pumping gas when he noticed a man holding a rifle on the clerk. Throwing down the pump, Walker raced toward the door.
"Texas Ranger, Freeze!"
The robber spun around pulling the trigger of the rifle andshooting at Walker.
The bullet entered his chest as Walker fell to the ground. Pain filled his body and chest. It was so hard for him to breath, then, everything went black.
Back at CD's, Alex was leaving to head home.
"Alex, honey, why don't you try calling Cordell?"
"I have nothing to say to him."
"You know he really wants to be with you, not out on his own, don't you?" CD asked.
"No, CD, I don't know that and frankly I don't care. He can stay out there all he wants. I don't care about him anymore." Alex stormed out the door.
"It looks like it hit his lung. I don't think he will last much longer, hurry, get him to surgery and let's see if we can repair the damage." The doctors rushed Walker out of life flight and into the surgery .
They saw that the bullet missed his heart by half of a inch, but it had punctured a lung.
"See if you can find any ID on him." One doctor said. "We found a wallet. His name is Cordell Walker, he's a Texas Ranger from Dallas. Here's the number."
"I'll call them and give them the news." One of the doctors said.
Trivette was sitting at his desk looking at all of Walkers awards.
"Man, Walker, I wish I could win some of these one day."
Walker was the best ranger Trivette had worked with and one of the nicest guys you could meet. Trivette looked at his watch, it was 1 p.m. Walker should have been here by now, Trivette thought. Court was over at 11 am, and Walker and Alex planned on lunch at CD's.
At this time the phone on Jimmy's desk rang.
"Ha, that must be Walker now."
"I'll bet he's tied up with Alex." Jimmy thought as he answered the phone.
"Trivette."
"Do you have a ranger by the name of Cordell Walker?" A man's voice asked. Jimmy didn't like the sound of this.
"Yes, we do, I am his partner, but he's not in right now."
"I know that Ranger. Ranger Walker has been shot in the chest during a robbery in Shannon, Oklahoma. You better notify any family and be down here as soon as possiable. We don't expect him to last long. Sorry for the bad news Ranger."
"Yeah." Trivette whispered and hung up the phone.
"Why in the heck was Walker in Oklahoma?" Trivette quickly dialed CD's number.
"CD's."
"CD, I got bad news. Walker has been shot. He's in Shannon, Oklahoma. He isn't too good, I will explain on the way. Call Alex for me would ya. I will be by her apartment and pick her up in ten minutes. Same for you."
"Yeah, Jimmy, sure." CD hated the call he would now have to make. He knew that Alex wouldn't take it well, as he dailed her number.
"Alex."
"Alex honey, I've got some bad news." CD said slowly.
"Oh, God CD, Please tell me it isn't Walker." Alex's fear was raising when CD hesitated.
"I am afraid it is honey. He has been shot in Shannon, Oklhoma. Jimmy just called, He will pick you up in ten minutes."
"Ok, thanks CD." Alex sat down on her sofa.
"It's all my fault. Why did I have to go and lose my head over some stupid case? Walker tried to talk to me, but I wouldn't listen." she said to herself.
There was a knock at the door and Alex ran to open it.
"Ready?" Trivette asked her.
"Yeah"
Alex hurried out to the car and they headed for CD's.
CD was standing out in front of the bar as Jimmy pulled up.
"Now CD, could you please tell me what is going on? Why is Walker in Shannon? He told me this morning before he left that he was going to appear in court with Alex, then go to your place for lunch with Alex?"
"It's all my fault." Alex said.
"He didn't want to go, he wanted to stay with me and talk it over."
"Talk what over, Alex?" Jimmy asked.
"I said some pretty bad things to Walker because I lost Jack Carr's case due to police burtality they called on Walker. I told Walker that he was the last person I wanted to see and not to talk to me. I told him I wished we never met. I am the one who told him to take time off. Walker later came in CD's right before he left to try and talk to me. I told him to stay away from me and that I didn't want to see him anymore."
"Man, Alex, That sure must have hurt him." Trivette said, then wished he hadn't.
"Oh, Jimmy, I feel awful" Alex said.
"Alex, You know Walker called me before he left. He said he was really hurt because of what you said. All he wanted was to hold you in his arms and make things right. He sure didn't want to leave. He did everything he could to try and get you to open up to him. His love is strong for you Alex." CD said.
"I know, I know. I am the one who blew it. If anything happens to him, I could never forgive myself." She whispered.
"Don't you worry. I am sure Cordell will be just fine when we get up there." CD said.
Trivette remembered they had said they didn't expect Walker to make it through the night, but he decided it best not to mention it to Alex or CD.
Back at the hospital, Walker was still in surgery.
"The bullet went into his right lung, we have to get it out, then try and repair the lung. How is he doing?"
"Stable for now, doctor." A nurse answered.
"Okay, I think we got the bullet." he said pulling out the bullet.
"Now lets try and sew the lung up and see what we got."
"Hold on, he's stopped breathing." A nurse yelled.
"Hurry, over here, give him oxygen." The doctor yelled.
They kept pumbing the air in, but the lungs weren't responding.
"Put him on a respirator." He ordered.
"Okay, he's stable again" One doctor said.
They went back to work, trying to repair the lung.
Alex, Trivette, and CD came running through the doors.
"We are looking for Cordell Walker." Jimmy said.
"He's in surgery. Go up to the third floor to the CCU and Surgery Waiting Room. It will be on your left."
They rushed up to the room.
"Alex, you and Jimmy go sit down. I'll find a doctor." CD said.
At that time, they saw a doctor coming out.
"Is anyone here for Cordell Walker?" He asked.
"We are."
They all said at once. "Okay, step into my office." Alex didn't like the sound of that.
"Walker has been shot in the lung by a 22 rifle at close range. It was enough to kill any man. The bullet hit his lung about a half inch from his heart. We just got done with surgery, but the chances aren't good. We have him on a respirator right now. It may be neccesry to have him on life support, we have to wait and see how he does tonight, but, we don't expect him to make it through the night. Frankly, it is a miracle that he made it through surgery."
"Can we see him?" Alex asked.
"We will only allow one person in for five minutes, every hour."
"You go first Alex." CD said.
Alex slowly walked through the door and went over to Walker, taking his hand, as tears came to her eyes.
"Walker. This is Alex. I am so sorry for what I said to you. I never ment a word of it. I love you so much, Walker. I am sorry I hur..." Alex stopped mid-sentence as she saw the heart monitor go flat and a loud beep filled the air.
Walker's heart had stopped.
The nurses and doctors ran though the door.
"Code Blue. Bring a crash cart." The doctor yelled pushing Alex out of the way.
"Someone get this woman out of here." He yelled.
One of the nurses took Alex's hand and lead her out.
"He will be just fine, don't you worry." The nurse assured Alex.
Alex stood by and watched as the doctor did CPR. Surely that monitor should start moving now, Alex thought to herself. It has been two minutes since she been taken out of the room.
"Enough of this, Walker needs me." She said to herself. CD, who was standing behind her, reached for her.
"Alex, now honey wait here."
But it was too late. Alex had already rushed it in the room
"Walker!" she yelled
"Get her out!" the doctor yelled.
At this time Walker's heart started again.
"Doc, maybe he responded to the woman's call." One nurse suggested.
"It's possiable. Well, if they have that strong of a bond, then let her stay the night." The doctor said and left the room.
One of the nurses brought a cot in for Alex to sleep on.
"Thanks." She said.
Alex pulled a chair up next to Walker's bed and sat with him for a while.
"I wished there was someway I could just turn back time and take all that stuff I said to you today back." She said rubbing his hand.
Alex remembered the first kiss they had. It was New Years Eve and they were having one of their fights. They were arguing as the New Year came in. She remembered Walker pulling her close to him and kissing her lips. How she loved that moment.
"Walker, please don't die on me." She whispered.
"I love you so much. I never meant any of that. I am truly sorry, Cordell." She said.
She thought she saw a slight movement on Walker's face. Maybe he was trying to open his eyes, she thought. But after a few minutes, she guessed she was just seeing things. CD came in.
"Hey honey. You want some coffee?"
"No thanks CD." she answered.
"Cordell, this is CD here. You better come back to us. This little lady here needs you." CD said.
"I have a big pot of my chili waiting for you too." he added.
Trivette walked though the door.
"Anyone want a sandwhich?" he asked holding up a bag.
"No thanks." CD and Alex said in unison.
"Hey partner. How you doing?" Trivette asked.
"You better get on your feet soon, I will be needing your help." The doctor came in.
"What is going on here. I said that the lady could stay in here tonight only because I thought it may help my patients recovery. I didn't give you all permission to come in here, too." he said.
"Okay we are leaving" CD said.
"But you listen here, we are family too and we are going come in here from time to time and check on Cordell, whether you like it or not." he said. CD and Trivette left the room and the doctor checked Walker's signs.
"He seems to be stable." he said and left the room.
Alex went over and laid down on the cot and drifted off to sleep.
Alex was walking through a long dark tunnel that had fog in it.
"Walker, Walker" she kept calling. She saw Walker up ahead, walking toward a light.
"Alex?" he turned around to look at her.
"Walker, come home. We need you. I love you Walker." she said, reaching for his hand.
Walker took her hand and started walking with her.
"Alex, Alex." Alex awoke from her sleep. Was someone calling her? She thought she had heard a voice calling her name.
"Alex." She did. She looked over to Walker and realized it was Walker calling her. Alex jumped off the cot and ran over to him.
"Walker! Your awake!" she said, kissing his forhead.
"Yeah, and I had the strangest dream. You told me to come back home and was leading me away from a light in this dark tunnel." he whispered, still weak.
"Oh, Walker, I love you so much." she said.
"I remember you kept telling me that before in my dream. You said you were sorry over and over again and that you didn't mean it. I could hear you, but I couldn't see you. I wanted to tell you I love you so much, but I couldn't talk. So, what were you sorry for?" he asked.
"Don't you remember?" Alex asked.
"The last thing I remember was feeling a sharp pain in my chest. I remember I was really sad over something, but I don't know what."
"We had a fight and I said some pretty awful things to you. You were hurt by my words and left town. You didn't want to, but I was too stubburn to talk to you. You were shot at a gas station during a robbery. The clerk was killed. Jimmy has been investigating it for you. There is one eye witness, Paul Swanson."
"Well, when can I get out of here." Walker asked.
"We will have to ask your doctor that." Alex said.
"Let's get everyone in here." she added headed for the door. Alex went out to the waiting room.
"CD, Trivette, come in and see Walker." she said trying to hide her smile.
"What' s wrong." CD asked as they followed her in the room.
"Hey guys!" Walker said as they entered.
"Walker?" Trivette said.
"Cordell! Good to see you awake!" CD said going over to him.
"What is all this fussing about?" the doctor asked going into the room. The doctor stopped in his tracks when he saw Walker sitting up and talking
"How did this happen? I thought you wouldn't last the night and you are sitting up and talking?" the doctor said.
"Well, love conqures all." CD said.
"Well, let me check you and make sure everything is okay. Would the rest of you step out for a minute?" the doctor said to the three some. A few minutes later the doctor returned.
"Everything looks fine. He is already asking to get out of the hospital and hunt down the guy who shot him; but, I don't think that is a good idea right now." the doctor explained.
"You can't talk Cordell out of it once he already made up his mind." CD said.
"Well, I am not going to stop him. I don't have time to mess with a hard-headed person. I got other patients to take care of. If you all can't talk him out of leaving, let him go." the doctor said.
Alex, CD, and Trivette went back to the room where Walker was already putting on his shirt.
"Hi guys! Ready to leave?" he asked. "Walker, Maybe you should rest for just a little while?" Alex suggested.
"No, I want to get out and find this guy. I am fine. Why don't you and CD go back to Dallas. You two can look after the ranch til I get back. I don't want Amigo to be lonesome." Walker said to Alex.
"Trivette, you can come and help me track that scum bag down." Walker told him turning to Jimmy.
The sun was already rising as the team walked out the door.
"Where's my truck?" Walker asked.
"I saw it over there." Trivette said pointing to the west end of the lot.
"Okay. I see it." Walker said.
"Trivette why don't you go start up the truck. I will be there in a minute." Walker said.
"I am going to start up the car." CD said leaving.
"Okay, thanks, CD." Walker said.
"At last, we're alone." Walker said turning to Alex.
"Walker I..." she started. Walker put his figure to her lips.
"Shhh. Don't say it. I know. Let me show you." he said and pulled her close to him in a long romantic kiss.
"When I get this guy we will take a long vaction, together." he said after he finally let her go. Trivettt pulled the truck up.
"I figured it would be hard to walk that far, so I brought the RAM to you." Trivette said.
"Okay, thanks." Walker said, disapointed his time with Alex was cut short.
"You remember what I said." Walker reminded her.
"I will, that sounds wonderful!" Alex said as she headed toward CD waiting in the car.
"You want me to drive?" Trivette asked.
"Not a chance, move over." Walker said getting in the driver's side.
"Gee, I was just trying to help." he mumbled.
"I am fine." Walker told Trivette.
"Do you have an address on the eye witness?"
"Sure do." Trivette said handing Walker the piece of paper.
"Great! Let's go see what he has to say."
They pulled up in front of the guys house. Walker and Trivette walked up the steps and knocked on the door. A middle aged man with brown hair and blue eyes appeared.
"Hi there. You two must be the Texas Ranger's that are tracking that bank robber down." he said with a smile.
"Yes sir. I am Cordell Walker, the ranger he shot, and this is my partner, Jimmy Trivette. We would like to ask you some questions."
"Why sure. Come on in and make your self at home. Would you like some coffee?"
"Yes sir, please." Walker said for him and Trivette.
"Well, all I remember is I was pulling up to get gas when I heard two shots fired. I looked though the doors and saw this man running out of the store carring a rifle. I floored my truck and went to the nearest phone to call for help."
"What did he look like?" Trivette asked.
"Well, he was tall, had muscles, and long blond hair. That is all I could see form the distance I was at, rangers." "That sounds like the guy I saw before he shot me. I can't remember him that well, but I am getting my memorey back." Walker said.
"Well, thank you sir." Walker said getting up.
"I sure hope you find this guy. You know, this is a peaceful little town and we'd like to keep it that way."
"I understand, sir. We'll find him." Walker said and they left.
"Where to now?" Trivette asked.
"Let's stop and get lunch in town. We can ask questions there." Walker said.
Walker stopped at a MA & PA's Restaurant. Walker went in and talked to a waitress. He showed his ID and a picture the robber.
"Have you seen him?" Walker asked.
"No, can't say that I have."she answered.
Walker turned to leave when he saw a guy going down the street.
"That's him!" Walker yelled dashing out the door.
"Texas Ranger! Freeze!" He yelled.
The robber took off running and Walker followed close behind. Walker threw him self forward, knocking the robber to the ground.
Walker took off his belt and tied the robber's hands together.
"You okay?" Trivette asked.
"Yeah, I just pulled the wound opened again. No big deal." Walker said.
Trivette noticed that the front of Walker's shirt was covered in blood.
"We've got to get you to the hospital." Trivette said.
Walker went to the hospital to get sewed back up again while Trivette booked the robber.
Walker called Alex and told her he had to rest for a few days, but as soon as he got back to Dallas, they would leave on a vacation together, going to the mountains.
THE END
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