CHAPTER 2
 

 Trent ran down the white hallways, nurses were running around the whole place and it was hard to try and stop one to ask for some information, once he found out where the emergency room was, he ran through the doors and saw Monica sitting alone in the hallway on a chair with her head sunk in her hands. He ran closer feeling as though it took a lifetime to get to her, she then lifted her head, hearing someone running down the hallway, and there was Trent coming towards her. She quickly stood up and started walking towards him, once together, Trent hugged her tight. He could feel how she was shaking. He held her close, and all she could do was cry, not being able to says anything. Trent then saw Walker coming out of the Waiting room, he saw Trent hugging Monica.

 "What happened?" Trent asked Walker, but Walker just looked at him and then lowered his head. Carlos and Michelle came races down the other way holding hands. They reached Trent and Monica and also didn't know what had happened. Carlos then looks at Walker coming closer, Walker sees the confusion in Monica's friends eyes. He walks up to them and takes a deep breath.

 "Race was shot." Walker tries to tell them, but couldn't get anything more out. Trent, Carlos and Michelle's eyes widened with shock and Trent hugged Monica tight, kissing her head, trying to comfort her.

 "What?" Carlos says to himself turning away from the group and staring into the white wall. Michelle then covers her face with her one hand, Carlos then turns around and wraps his arms around her and she hugs him back. Doctor Doug Ross then comes walking down the hallway towards them, they all then turn to him, including Monica trying to hold in her tears and stay calm.

 Walker is the first to talk to the doctor as he stands before them lifting his head.

 "How is he?" Walker asks the doctor praying for good news.

 "Maybe we should go and sit down in the waiting room." Doctor Ross says to them.

 "Is my dad going to be ok?" Monica asks before Ross gets a chance to turn around towards the room. He looks at her red face, tears still slowly falling down her soft face. Ross closes his eyes and lowers his eyes for a second and then looks at Monica.

 "Monica, I need you to listen very closely to me ok. What I'm about to tell you might not be easy to take. Your dad was shot in his chest four times, we tried to remove them in surgery but couldn't, it would have killed him. He's in his room waiting for you, but he wants to talk to Walker first." Ross tells them, trying to keep calm.

 "I want to go see him." Monica walks out of the arms of Trent, but Ross stops her from going past her.

 "Wait Monica, there's more......The bullets damaged your father's heart and lungs, and there's some internal bleeding. And we can't seem to stop it. There's nothing more we can do for him." Ross says and sees the look in Monica's eyes, not wanting to understand.

 "He's dying Monica,..he's dying....I'm sorry." Ross tells her finally, and Monica's legs go numb and with that Trent steps closer and catches her just as she falls into his arms. He hugs her tight, trying to comfort her, but he knows that nothing he does now will make her feel better.

 "No!!....no!!" She yells and slams her fist into Trent's chest trying to let go of all the hate and sadness.

 "He asked to see you first Walker." Ross says looking at Walker who still tries to take the hard news. Walker then glares at Trent who gives him a nod to go to Race. Walker then turns to Ross and  they both start walking down the white hallway to Race's room. Once they reach it, Walker walks inside and closes the door. Monica, Trent and Carlos and Michelle then go sit outside the room, Trent still hugging Monica tight.

Inside Walker turns around and sees the strongly built man lying on a loner bed in the room, he then walks closer, once by his side, he takes hold of Race's hand and tightly squeezes it. Race then slowly opens his eyes, with only a nose-pipe helping him breath, he glared up at his friend and smiled. Walker smiled back down at him.

 "Hey there big guy." Walker softly says to him.

 "Hi....is Monica outside?" Race asked immediately being concerned about her.

 "Yeah, she's with Trent." Walker says being able to only speak a few words.

 "Good, then she's safe." Race says and looks past Walker to the door.

 "Listen Race, there's something you need to know." Walker tries to tell his friend, but find it as being the hardest thing he had ever wanted to say.

 "I know I'm dying Walker, and I'm not afraid. I've had everything in life I could ever ask for. But I need you to do something for me Walker." Race says looking up at Walker again

 "Anything." Walker says to his friend, he was prepared to cut off his arm if it meant to save the life of his friend.

 "I want you to take care of Monica for me. She's going to need a father now, and your the closest's one to a father she has. Promise me that you'll take care of her for me." Race asks his friend trying to keep his tears inside.

 "I promise Race, I promise." Walker tells him letting a single tear fall down his cheek, and squeezes Race's hand tight.

 "Thanks buddy. Could you send her in here." Race asks him.

 "Sure thing." Walker says and wipes away the tear and turns around to walk out the door.

 "Walker." Race adds before Walker reaches the door.

 "Yeah." Walker says stopping and turning around.

 "Thanks.....for everything." Race says to him and smiles.

 "It was an honour." Walker says and smiles back at him, he then turns around again and opens the door and walks outside closing the door.

 "He'd like to see you now Mon." Walker says to her, Monica lifts her head from Trent's shoulder and wipes away her tears.  She stands up and walks past Walker and opens the door, and walking inside. She closes the door behind her. She then takes a deep breath and turns around to face the truth, and only sees her father smiling brightly at her. She smiles back and walks towards the bed, she takes a seat next to it and takes her fathers hand and holds it tightly.

 "Hey Butterfly." Race says to his daughter.

 "Hi yourself." She says smiling at him and kisses his hand.

 "Do you remember what you promised me earlier today?" He asks her trying to clear his throat.

 "Yes." She says to him letting the tear stream down her soft cheeks.

 "You keep that promise, you hear me?" Race asks her with a smile.

 "Yes daddy." She says wipes away her tears again but more follow.

 "Hey, come here." Race says and with that she leans forward and hugs her father, she didn't want to let go. Race could feel the tear stream down his cheek.

 "How..am I supposed to go on...without you?" She says crying.

 "You will, remember I'll love you forever, and I'll be looking in on you from time to time. I'm just so sorry I won't be here to walk you down the aisle on your big day." He says and more tears start to appear on Race's cheek.

 "Oh Dad! I love you so much!" Monica says with closing her eyes.

 "I love you too Butterfly." He says,  and Race takes a deep breath and clears his voice again:

 "Sweet 16 today,
 She's looking like her mama a little more everyday;
 One part woman, the other part girl,
 With perfume and make-up from ribbon's and curls,
 Trying her wings out in a great big world,
 But I remember.....
 Butterfly kisses
 After bedtime prayer,
 Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair,
 'You know how much I love you daddy,
 but if you don't mind;
 I'm only gonna kiss you on the cheek this time,
 Oh,  with all that I've done wrong, I must have done
 something right,
 Do deserve her love every morning;" Race softly sings to Monica, she joins in after the first few words and soon after she hears her fathers voice getting softer and softer, then her fathers voice finally disappears and she sings the last few words by herself:

 "And Butterfly kisses..."

  Trent rests his head on his hands, when he hears the door open and sees Monica come walking out with the saddest look on her face. Trent and everyone else stand up and he walks towards her and takes her into his arms, she hugs him back and stays silent. Ross quickly walks inside room but comes out again after a few seconds with his head hung down, once outside he looks up at Walker and only shakes his head.

 "I'm sorry." Ross says and turns away down the hallway, Walker turns around to the wall and slams his hand against it. Carlos only closes his eyes as Michelle sinks her head in Carlos's neck, allowing the tears to flow. Trent holds Monica tight and can feel her crying deep inside her heart.

 2 DAYS LATER

 Alex was sitting at Walker's desk watching a little of tv, when the main news headlines came on:

 "It's been two days since the murder of Captain Race Banon, and  the country still morns for the death of a American Army hero and the New York Police Departments Captain. Little is still known about the incident, according to Dallas police, Banon and his daughter were talking a walk in downtown Dallas when a gun was turned on them. His daughter, Detective Monica Banon of the DPD, suffered no injuries, but Captain Banon died later that night in the Dallas County General Hospital. The investigations still continue's to find the murderer who is still at large." The reporter says on the News channel, Alex switches the tv off as soon as the commercials start. She rubs her eyes and stands up, walking over to Walker who was just sitting quietly in his chair, with his head hung down. She walks over to him and bends down to his side.

 "You ok?" She quietly asks her love, who she had never seen look like this. She knew he and Race were good friends, but she had no idea that the two were like brothers. Walker then slowly swifts his head turning  it to her, he looks deeply into her eyes, trying to find some comfort.

 "Yeah, I guess. I just can't believe he's gone." Walker says trying to smile, but it soon disappears.

 "Me too. Have you talked to Monica?" Alex asks being worried how she was handelling this.

 "Trent took her home that night, I haven't heard anything from them since then." Walker says hanging his head down. Thinking of what  Monica must be going through right now, and of what he promised Race. Would Monica ever be able to see him as her father?? But at least she was with Trent, so she would be ok.

 "Don't you think you should  go see how they're doing?" Alex asks him, seeing how tired Walker looked, she wasn't sure if he had slept since it happened. Walker then looks up at her again and smiles.

 "I guess your right." He says and with that she stands up, with Alex following. But as soon as they walk around the desk to get their jackets, Trent comes walking inside the office. Trent tries to smile, but Walker could see the pain in his eyes, he also looked as if he hadn't slept since then.

 "O Trent." Alex says as she goes up to him and hugs Trent, he hugs her back and then smiles at her.

 "How you guys doing?" Walker asked, ever though he knew it was a stupid question, but what else do you say? Trent just looked at Walker then hung his head down, Walker then got his answer.

 "She hasn't spoken a word since that night,...she hasn't eaten anything,.....she doesn't go outside,....All she does is lie in bed with all the blinds shut and door closed. I don't know what to do Walker, she won't let me touch her, talk to her, nothing!" Trent says, and tries hard to keep the tears inside. Walker could see that this was eating Trent up from inside.

 "Maybe I should go talk to her." Alex says, maybe a woman would be able to get through to her.

 "No, I'll go talk to her." Walker says and with that he walks past them, putting his hand on Trent's shoulder and smiles at him. Walker takes this jacket and walks out the office, Alex then tells Trent to sit down and she fetches him some coffee.

 Walker soon arrives at the apartment, he parks his truck and walks up to the apartment on the 3rd floor. Once at the door, he knock three times...

 "Monica, it's Walker. Couldn't you let me in, please." Walker listens for response, nothing, he tries again.

 "Trent isn't here with me, I need to talk to you Mon, please." Walker listens again, then he hears a door on the other side open and someone walking closer, the door is then unlocked. Walker then turns the knob and pushes the door open slowly, then Walker sees Monica standing before him in a white night-gown, her eyes almost black and swollen up. Walker had seen those kind of faces before, usually from a drug user, but he doubted that Monica would do that, in her case, it was the face of someone who hasn't slept in two days. He walked inside, Monica just turned around and walked to the living room, she slowly sat down on the couch and Walker took a seat next to her. Monica just had her arms crossed before her and her head hung down, not showing any emotion or movement. Walker decided that he would have to say the first few words, even though it wouldn't be easy, but he would have to be strong for himself and Monica.

 "I know this is a hard time for you. But you have to try and find a way past this and go on. Your father would've wanted that. You've  got to go out there and find the person who did this." Walker tries to say, keeping a cool face, but the second her mentioned Monica's father he could see it hurt her bad, and she stared to cry again. She then looked up at Walker, her blue eyes filled with tears.

 "My father was murdered Walker, don't you get that!?! You just don't forget about this kind of thing in a few days!" Monica says to him, talking for the first time after days.

 "Your right. You might not get over it today, tomorrow or next week. This is going to take time, but do you think your dad would've wanted you to act like this, instead of catching the guy who did this?" Walker answers her.

 "I..just...miss..him..so much." She tries to say while sniffing the whole way, Walker then leans forward and wraps his arms around her, hugging her tight and tears pour from her eyes.

 "I know you do sweetheart, I know." Walker says holding her tight, and for a second he wondered if this was the feeling one gets holding your daughter. He knew he would have to tell you soon, but now wasn't the right time, all he can do know is be her Uncle and support her.

 The funeral arrangements had been made the day after the incident. People all over the country attended the funeral to be held at the Dallas graveyard. Most of the guest were either police officers from New York and other cities, and others were government officials. No one was sure exactly how many people were there, but one this was sure, Race Banon would be missed by all. Everyone was seated in the mid-afternoon waiting for the funeral to begin. Paster Roscoe was there to preach at the funeral, and other guests would also make their speeches. Monica took the front seat in a short no-sleeve dress, with Trent
 seated next to her, Carlos next to him, with Michelle by his side holding each others hands, then Kim, Walker, Alex and Trivette. The rest of the Malloy family and friends were seated in the row behind them. Just before it began, Monica saw a familiar face enter the crowd of seated people, and recognized her as her mother, Mrs. Banon. She wore a long sleeve dress and came walking down the ail and took a seat on the opposite of Monica. She didn't look at her mother, Demi. All she could do is told Trent's hand tight and try to keep her tears inside. Roscoe made his beautiful speech about the  man that Race Banon was, a Hero, a Soldier, a Captain, a friend and a father. There were a few guests that made their speeches about how they knew Race and what good friends they were, Monica didn't even know most of them. But all of them telling Monica and her mother how sorry they were and giving their deepest simpyhonies. The time then came for Monica to make her speech, she slowly stood up and walked to the front where Roscoe was, he hugged her and whispered a few words to her. He then took his seat as Monica took the microphone and started talking.

 "My father, Race Banon. What can I say? To most of you he was a friend, to others he was a partner, but to me, he was a hero. Since the day I can remember, he was always the hero in my eyes. He always made time for me, he would always talk to me. Never too busy for his little Butterfly. I made a promise to my dad that I think we all should keep, he made me promise that I would live each day to it's fullest, because you never know when it might be over. Savour each moment in time, and remember it forever. Because those are the sort of memories you are remembered by when your gone. Thank you." She stepped down and took her seat again next to Trent, he kissed her as she sat down and placed his one arm around her.

After the funeral, everyone started to make their way back to their cars, Trent picked up his coat and began walking when he saw Monica still standing infront of the grave.

 "Mon?" He asked her. She lifted her head and smiled, the first time she had in days.

 "I'll meet you at the car." She said and looked down at the gravestone again. Trent nodded and walked off, not even noticing Mrs. Banon walking past him. She walked up to Monica, and it was only then she was right beside her, that Monica looked up, but didn't look her in the face, she glared at the horizon.

 "Hello Monica." She said, her voice filled with pain and sadness.

 "Mother." Monica said greeting her back.

 "I loved your speech, your father would have been very proud of you." Demi said to her daughter, she couldn't believe how beautiful her daughter had become.

 "And you?" Monica asked her, looking at her mother for the first time. Her dark black hair was longer, but she still looked the same the day she left.

 "Of course I am darling! Since the day you were born! I've always loved you." Demi said coming closer and placing her hand on Monica's shoulder. And Monica just closes her eyes and a tear runs down her face.

 "Then why did you leave, I needed you. I still need you mom." Monica says looking her mother in her eyes.

 "O Monica, I didn't leave because I didn't love you anymore. I would never stop loving you. And I need you too. We can get through this together." Demi says as she hugs her daughter tightly.

 "I love you too Mom." Monica says hugging her mother back. It had been years since she said that to her mother and held her close, and for a second she felt like things were going to be alright.

 "What say we have a little talk when we get to Walker's. We have a lot of catching-up to do." Demi says looking at Monica and rubbing her shoulders. All the guests were headed to Walker's Ranch for a afternoon lunch, Monica nodded.

 "Could you give me just one minute?" Monica asked her mother.

 "Of course dear, I'll see you later." Demi said and kissed her daughters forehead. She then turned and walked towards the car. Monica stood infront of the grave and watched her mother walk off.

 "I forgive you mom." She said quietly to herself then looked down at the gravestone and she took a deep breath.

 "Hi dad, its me. I just wanted to let you know dad that I'll keep my promise, and I'll find the person who did this to you, and I will make him pay.......I think, um, me and mom are going to get along, was this your way of getting us back together?...." She said trying hard to smile and keep her tears inside.

 "Dad I...I love you SO much, and I'll think of you everyday of my life. And one day I'll spread my wings and fly to you......Butterfly kisses dad......butterfly kisses." She said trying to smile, she kissed her hand and placed it softly in the gravestone. She then turned and started walking towards Trent who was waiting for her, but after a few feet she stopped and turned around one last time and looked back at the grave, smiled and the walked further. Once she got up to Trent she hugged him tightly and kissed him.

 "What was that for." Trent says taken by surprise.

 "Just for being here, for always being there for me." She says smiling and kisses him again. They both then get in the Corvette and drive to Walker's Ranch to join the rest of the quests.

 THE NEXT MORNING: DPD

 The doors open and Monica walks inside the room filled with officers still working on the serial killer case. She found Michelle in her way who was just looking at her sadly, Michelle then gave her friend a hug and said a few words to her. Monica then smiles at her and once she walks to the stand, everyone quiets down and take their seats, ready to listen to her. They had to admit she looked kind of run through, but who could blame her. The man they had been searching for may have killed her father, and Monica was filled with a anger that surpassed them all.

 "I need a swat team, we're going in to get Matt Andrew's on charges of murder." She says and everyone is stunned with a second of shock. Once outside the office everyone gets ready and a few people walk up to her. Kate is the first.

 "Monica, I am SO sorry. I lost my father so I know what your going through, I just want you to know I'm here for you ok?" Kate says and smiles and Monica for the first time smiles back at her, maybe Kate wasn't so bad after all, sometimes.

 "Thanks Kate. I really need al the help I can get right now." Monica says and the two shake hands, Kate then walks off to help the swat team get ready. Then Jack comes  walking closer, but not smiling.

 "Look Banon, I know you just lost your father. But going after a innocent man isn't going to make the pain go away." Jack says to her sounding seriously.

 "You think he's innocent Jack? Even if you showed me the evidence, I still wouldn't believe you. So get out of my way, or I kick your worthless butt out of my way." Monica says back at him, Jack glares at her for a second then steps out of the way, Monica then storms past him down the hall, with Michelle following her friend glaring at Jack, and he watches Monica for a second.

 "Bitch." He says and turns the other way back to his office.

 Matt takes a sip from his beer and watches the NFL scores, and grins as he sees how far his team lost. He then hears a noise outside, and stands up. Then the door is suddenly kicked down with force and he sees Monica walking inside, wearing a long coat leather jacket and small red top underneath and a Jean, with officers following, guns drawn at him. She walks straight up to him, not saying a word. But before Matt gets to deliver a smart comment, Monica punches him hard in the face, sending his head jerking backwards and slamming against the wall. She then grabs the back of his head and slams it down on her knee, Matt then falls to the ground, holding her bleeding nose.

 "You Bitch!! You broke my nose!" Matt says swearing at her, his hands full of blood. Monica then bends down, grabs his jacket and pulls him up, she then throws him into the arms of the officers. They then start to read him his rights.

 Back at DPD headquarters, Matt was waiting in the interrogation room once again holding a piece of bandage on his bleeding nose. Before Monica walks inside the room, Walker, Trent, Carlos and Michelle catches up to her.

 "Wait Monica, let me and Carlos do this." Walker says stopping her from going inside the room. Monica thinks for a second and knows Walker is right, she needs to cool down first, and she trusted Walker and Carlos. Somehow they had their own method of doing this. She then smiles to them and agrees.

 "Ok, you guys can do it. We'll watch next door." She says to them and Carlos gets a huge smile on his face and he rubs his hands. He and Walker then walk inside the room, just as Monica, Trent and Michelle turn around to head inside the room next door, Mike comes walking towards them.

 "Yo Mon, you got a call. Sounds serious." Mike says to her.

 "O thanks Mike. Why don't you guys go wait inside, I'll be back soon." Monica thanks Mike and tells Trent and Michelle. They both then  nod in agreement, Monica then  follows Mike down the hallway. Mike hands her the head piece of the phone on the desk, she brings it up to her ear.

 "This is Detective Banon." She says then hears faint woman's voice sounding terrified.

 "Detective, I...I think I may know who's been responsible for those women's deaths, and your fathers...." The soft voice on the other line says, and Monica's eyes widen, she didn't quite recognize the voice, but she didn't worry about that now. This lady knew who the killer was, and was the only lead to him.

 "Well, if you have any information, please tell me." Monica says trying to stay calm, it really sounded like the lady was terrified.

 "Not over the phone. Meet me at 34 West Street in Fort Worth. I'll talk to you then, please hurry, I don't know how much longer I can wait........." And the line does dead as the voice disappears. Monica then puts the head piece down, she then looks over at Mike who was looking at her the whole time, and could see the look on Monica's face.

 "What is it?" Mike asks her standing up from the desk and walking over to her.

 "Come on. I'll explain on the way." Monica says and with that Mike quickly grabs his coat and follows her out the building, they get into Monica's Jeep and speed off. They drive for about 10 minutes and Monica explains what the woman had told her.

 "You know this may be a trap." Mike says, knowing out of experience that it could be possible.

 "I don't care Mike, I want this guy. He's going to pay for what he's done." Monica says spotting the old building on the next left turn. She turn off into the parking lot and they both get out. Monica and Mike take out their pistols and load them, they signal each other and start their way towards the building. They see an open door and slowly walk inside keeping their eyes open for anything. They get into the buildings main office, with old table's,chairs and empty boxes.  There were huge windows that were so badly dirty that only streams of light came through. They didn't see anyone and slowly lowered their gun, but then the second door on their left opened and they lifted their guns again, and Kate entered the room, with a slow pace.

 "Kate? What are you....." But before Monica can finish she sees Kate with a gun pointed in her back and the hand belonging to Jack. He walks inside keeping the gun tightly pointed into Kate's back and she slowly walks a few steps then stops.

 "Hello Detective." Jack says smiling at Monica, her heart fills with hate. It was him, Jack Barr.

 "Jack, you son of a.."

 "Ah-ha, don't even!! Or I blow your little friend here away." Jack says to Monica just as she lifts her gun. He puts his arm around Kate's neck, then revealing a huge knife and places it carefully on her throat, and a tear runs down her cheek.

 "Nice isn't it, I'm going to enjoy using it again! On both of you! You women think you so smart. Acting like you a goddess of something. Well I got news for you, all of you turned me down, even those hookers at the bars. And nobody turns me down!" Jack says sliding the knife over Kate's throat. Monica and Mike try to keep calm, they still keep their guns pointed at Jack, but they couldn't take the chance of taking him out, Kate was in the cross fire.

 "Jack, you are one sick asshole man!" Mike says getting angry, he couldn't believe it. His own partner! A murderer.

 "Oh Good one man! Acting all innocent! Don't worry, we'll kill these two before they get the chance to do anything. Just don't forget it was you who pulled the trigger..... partner!" Jack says to Mike smiling and getting a crazy look on his face. Monica then looks at Mike, he looks back at her.

 "What?" Monica says, she couldn't believe it, her own friend. Why?

 "Who do you think was in the car with me that night? I was driving the thing, and he was firing the pistol!" Jack says to Monica, her eyes watching him closely. Could he be lying? And if he wasn't, the man who murdered her father was standing right beside her.

 "Don't you listen to him Mon! I would never kill your father! You know me!" Mike says to her, but Monica then slowly backs away from Mike bringing gun around to him, her eyes filled with tears.

 "Would you cut it out Mike! She knows man!" Jack yells at Mike, still holding the knife close to Kate's throat. Monica kept her gun pointed at Mike, she didn't what who to believe, this was too much for her.

 "Put down your gun Mike." Monica tells him, she knew if Mike was innocent, he would do so.

 "Mon come on." Mike says lowering his gun from Jack.

 "Put down your gun if your telling the truth!" Monica yells at him.

 "Ok, fine. I'm putting it down, ok Mon." Mike says and slowly rises his one hand and lowers the other hand with the gun to the ground. Once he put it down, he slowly stood up straight again, keeping his arms raised.

 "Monica, its me, Mike. You know deep inside that I would never do anything to hurt you, your my friend." Mike says, Monica taking a deep breath  trying to calm down, then she looks at Jack. For some reason she knew Jack was lying to her. Jack sees the look in her eyes and then quickly brings up his gun and squeezes the trigger, the bullet hits Mike in his stomach and he falls to the ground, not moving.

 "Mike!" Monica yells but before she can go to him, Mike steps forward pushing Kate in the way.

 "A-Ah! Not so fast! Put down your gun! Now! Or I kill Kate too." Jack says seriously. Monica sees the fear in Kate's eyes, and slowly lowers her gun to the ground.