In God's Hands is the seventeenth episode of the 6th Season of Walker, Texas Ranger. It aired February 28, 1998.
While Walker and Trivette are pursuing armed robbers following a hockey game, six-year-old Danny McGee finds himself caught in the crosshairs when Trivette engages their leader in a shootout. Danny is mortally wounded in the shootout and Trivette believes he is responsible. As a result, Trivette ends up being suspended without pay as the entire incident is under investigation. As Trivette feels sorry for himself, contending with an overzealous officer who wants him removed from the Rangers (that officer was passed over in favor of Trivette when they were both up for being named Ranger), an annoying television reporter continually twisting his words, and the victim's vengeful older brother, Ted, along the way, Walker tries to prove that the leader of the robbers was responsible for shooting Danny.
Tropes seen in this episode:
- Artistic Licenses – Gun Safety and Law: Ted has revenge on his mind after Trivette supposedly shot his brother, but in the end, didn't, since Walker proved that the bullet belonged to Kroeger and Trivette's bullet was lodged in a tree, that he tries to buy a gun from a gun shop. The seller refuses, obviously noticing that he's not old enough. State and Federal law requires that one has to be at least 21 years old to buy a gun in Texas. Ted's best bet after the fact was to buy a gun from a seller who did not have a permit.
- Big Bad: Kroeger.
- Big Brother Instinct: Ted cares deeply for his little brother that he will go out of his way to avenge him if he dies, even if it means killing Trivette.
- Clear Their Name: Walker is determined to prove Trivette didn't shoot Danny and that the bullet that hit him belonged to Kroeger. He succeeds when he, Trivette, and Ted revisit the scene of the crime.
- Convicted by Public Opinion / Easily Condemned: Trivette suffers this all through the episode when he is suspected of shooting Danny while trying to shoot Kroeger, from his old rival, Lt. Moffett, an annoying television reporter continually twisting his words, and the victim's vengeful older brother who now seeks to kill him. Luckily, Walker is able to prove that he didn't do it.
- Evil Brit: Kroeger appears to speak in a heavy British or Irish accent.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Trivette's old nemesis, Lt. Moffett, is in charge of the investigation against him following the shooting of Danny. Moffett holds a strong grudge against Trivette, as he was passed over in favor of the latter when they were both up for being named Ranger, and seeks to have him removed if he is convicted.
- Heroic BSoD: When he believes he was responsible for Danny's injury, Trivette goes through this all through the episode, until Walker snaps him out of it and later proves he didn't shoot Danny after all, having found his bullet lodged in a tree.
- If You Kill Him, You Will Be Just Like Him!: Ted buys a gun from a seller that didn't have a permit to kill Trivette, since he can't buy one from a real gun shop. When Walker and Trivette revisit the scene of the crime, Ted plans to kill Trivette, to which the latter responds he will make one of the biggest mistakes of his life. This causes Ted to relent, especially when Trivette tells him they operated on him and removed the bullet, and he is expected to recover. In addition, Walker proves to Trivette and Ted that the bullet that hit Danny really did belong to Kroeger, having found Trivette's bullet lodged in a tree.
- It's Personal: For both Ted and Trivette.
- Ted cares about his little brother and is willing to kill Trivette if his brother does not pull through. Luckily, Walker proves to Ted that Trivette didn't shoot Danny after all (having found his bullet lodged in a tree) and the offending bullet really did belong to Kroeger.
- After Walker exonerates Trivette, the two decide to finish the job by arresting Kroeger and his men; his accomplice finally gave him up shortly after the exoneration. Needless to say, Trivette is more than happy to give Kroeger the beating of his life for his Heroic BSoD.
- No Sympathy for Grudgeholders: After Walker proves that Trivette was innocent and the bullet fired at Danny really did belong to Kroeger and Trivette is put back on duty, Lt. Moffett was forced to issue a public apology.
- Turn in Your Badge: Trivette is placed on administrative leave after the boy is found wounded and questions arise as to where the bullet came from. (This is a normal procedure for law enforcement officers involved in a shooting). Luckily, Walker proves Kroeger really did shoot the boy, at which point, Trivette is placed back on duty and the two Rangers finish the job by arresting Kroeger and his men.
- Worst News Judgement Ever: The ratings-driven TV journalist doesn't wait for the facts and continually implicates Trivette as having fired the shot that wounded the boy. In the end, he never is made to retract his statements or otherwise eat crow.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Trivette gets it not once, but twice:
- Walker is able to snap Trivette out of his Heroic BSoD and he agrees to revisit the scene of the crime.
- While Trivette goes out for a run to clear his head before revisiting the crime scene, Ted is about to shoot and kill him for Danny's injury, but quickly relents at the last minute when Trivette runs into a mounted police officer on horseback, namely Sergeant Ben Rodgers. Rodgers and all the members of his department also believe Trivette is innocent, stating this sort of thing has likely happened before and is considered the worst nightmare of every law enforcement officer. Hence, Rodgers and everyone in his department are in his corner.
