Disclaimer: Everything you recognize, the scenes, and characters, belongs to and is owned by Chuck Norris, Norris Productions, and other companies connected to the shows Walker Texas Ranger and Sons of Thunder.

Monica Malloy, Michelle Summers, and any other characters are made up by me to go along with the story.
 

A gentle breeze came whistling through the curtains.

Allowing the bright sun rays to enter the dark room. The rays shining over the large double bed located across the widows, revealing a body resting under the sheets. The body then moved and an arm swinging over, throwing the sheets to the one side of the bed. Trent tryingly sat up straight, the bright sun light bruising his eyes. He felt the cool breeze blow over the bed and finally gathered the streagh to swing his legs over to the one side of the bed. Finally getting up he started his way towards the bathroom, switching on the light he blinked a few times to get his eyes adjusted to the bright light. Quickly getting out of his boxers, he climbed into the cold shower, it fully waking him up. The cold water streamed down his body, the spraying water first piecing his face and then flowing down. He turned around and allowed the water to race down his back, he lifted his head, and almost in a trans, stared at the corner of the shower. His back was turned to him, and on the other side a dark haired women. Kissing her soft lips and then moving down to her neck, his body pressed against hers to the wall of the shower. Trent turned back to face to shower, it bringing him out of the trans. But the image was still in the back of his head, never to disappear.

Afterwards he brushed his teeth, washing out his mouth he placed his toothbrush back in the glass. It knocking against another one. Trent picked the other one up, stared at it for a second and then threw it away in the rubbishbin below him. ‘What’s the use of keeping it anyway?’ He told himself. He then took the bar of soap and quickly washed his hands, memories coming back to him again. Trent starred hard at the soap foam on his hands, remembering washing blood off his hands once. Hers. He closed his eyes and put the bar of soap away, quickly rinsing his hands off under the running water. Opening his eyes he saw blood flowing with the water down the drain in the white basin, he closed his eyes again, clearing his mind he opened his eyes again saw that the blood was gone. The memories were starting to look so real, and they just wouldn’t go away. He splashed some water over his face and dried it with a towl and starring at himself in the mirror. Trent finally got dressed and then, in his room, walked towards the mirror table to fetch his watch and ring. After putting on his watch he picked up the sliver diamond ring. With each passing day he cept asking himself if he should still be putting it on, but once again he ignored the question and carefully slipped the ring on his left hand finger. His eyes then caught sight of the large frame standing on the table. The picture of him holding her tight on their special day, in the classic black and white picture. The happiest day of their lives. Trent turned away and then made his way downstairs where he was greeted by his grey wolf dog in the kitchen. The dog’s tail wagging and then licking Trent’s hand. He smiled at the animal, something he hadn’t done in the last while. After greeting Balto, Trent went to work to fix both their breakfast’s.

The highway was busy with cars and trucks racing by his Corvette. He could have easily taken them past with his sports car, but he was in no hurry. He switched on his radio, the car a little too quiet. The DJ talked a while before going to a song. Trent listened to the words, and then realized who the band was. Her favourite. WESTLIFE.

If only you could see the tears in

the world you left behind

If only you could heal my

heart just one more time

Even when I close my eyes

There’s an image of

your face

And once again I come

to realise

You’re a loss I

can’t replace

Soledad

It’s a keeping for the lonely

Since the day that you

were gone

Why did you leave me

Soledad?

In my heart you were the

only and your memory

lives on

Why did you leave me Soledad?

Walking down the streets

of nothingville

Where our love was young

and free

Can’t believe just what an

empty place

It has come to be

I would give my life away!

If it could only be the same

Cause I can’t still the voice

inside of me

That is calling out your!

Time will never change the

things you told me

After all we’re meant to be

Love will bring us back to

You and me

If only you could see.

Why did you leave me Soledad?!

The words said a lot, and really meant something to Trent. Soledad. It was a Spanish word meaning solemate. That’s what they were, solemates. He switched off the radio, wanting it to be quiet again, it was better that way. After driving about half an hour, Trent pulled into a parking space and once outside he made his way down the sidewalk to his destination. Which wasn’t far since the side walks were filled with street shops in the Market place. People coming and going, up and about. But Trent wasn’t here to do shopping, he came for his usual buying. Once reaching the street stall he quickly picked out a bouque of wild flowers, the best bouque. An old women came walking closer with a smile on her face, the owner of the small flower shop. Trent gave her a weak smile as he handed her the right amount of money for the flowers.

"Wild flowers huh? She must be some gal." The old lady said taking the money from Trent.

"Yeah she was." Trent only said before turning back to head to his car. The women still standing there confused at what the young man had said. Once back in his car Trent moved on to his next destination. After driving a few minutes he turned off on the sand road and soon pulled over and switched off the powerful engine. He climbed out, the flowers in his one hand, and started making his way down the path leading to his final destination. He past a few large stones, all with inscriptions on them, and soon reached the one he was looking for. A few feet from it he slowed down to a slow walk, and finally infront of it he took a deep breath. He kneeled down infront of the huge stone, looking hard at it. He had read the inscription many times, but each time it touched something deep inside of him. Something that would unleash a great sadness and sorrow that Trent always tried hard to hide. He stared up at the blue sky, the wind gliding through the trees leaves and the sun rays shining through the leaves of the huge oak tree above the grave. He then finally looked down again and took another deep breath.

"Hi. It’s me. I um...brought you your favourite." He said laying the wild flowers down on the ground infront of the head stone. Something broke out inside of him and he sank his face in his one hand. Sniffing and breathing hard a few times he wiped his face with his one hand, guiding it through his hair, he then rested his hand on his knee. He gathered enough streagh to talk again, and just let it out.

"I miss you SO much. I think of you each and every day.........I keep thinking that it wasn’t your time......but mine....I’m so sorry. It’s just...I can’t go on without you....You were everything to me, and life without you just....just isn’t worth living...Everyone um keeps telling me that I should move on, its just not that easy. I know you would want me to, but I..just can’t. I will never love anyone else, like I loved you...never." He paused to control his emotions and then continued. "I love you Monica....And I always will." He couldn’t say anymore and with that got to his feet and started walking down the path. But something inside stopped him and he turned back again. Looking back at the stone for a few seconds, reading the inscription one final time.

Here lies

Monica Malloy

Wife, Friend and Hero

May she rest in peace

1975-02-09 ~ 2000-12-01

~Together Forever~
 
 

"Carlos! For the last time, get your smelly dirty feet off my table!" The red head yelled at him from behind her desk. Sitting on the couch and his feet rested on the small table, the brown hair PI immediately lifted his feet off the table out of fright from the red’s yelling. His news paper flying through the air and falling back on the ground in different pieces. He grinned up at her, lifting his one eye brow before beginning to pick up the parts of his paper. Kim smiled before turning back to her computer to continue with her typing. Both their attentions were turned when they heard the office door open. Entering Thunder Investigations was Trent giving the two a weak smile.

"Hey Trent. How about some coffee huh?" Kim first greeted him smiling brightly. After hanging up his jacket, Trent turned to her.

"No thanks Kim. Hey Carlos." He greeted his PI partner.

"Hey man." Carlos greeted him back before loosing sight of his friend as Trent made his way into his office, closing the door behind him. Carlos and Kim shared a look, a look of feeling sorry for him.

Once at his desk Trent noticed that as usual his desk was empty. He hated that Carlos and Kim didn’t want him doing any work. He could still do his job, he was just distracted at the moment. He just needed...time. He took a seat behind his desk, his eyes first caught sight of the small frame on the large wooden desk. He leaned forward and picked it up, bringing it closer to him. He couldn’t help but smile at it. Remembering that day as though is were yesterday. A day at the lake with all his friends and his whole family. The picture that of him hugging Monica, who was wearing a bikini and him wearing a pair of swim shorts. Both of them smiling brightly. He smiled once more before putting it down on the desk again. His door then opened and Trent saw the familiar face entering his office. He got up and walked around the desk to greet his friend.

"Hey Walker." Trent greeted the Texas Ranger who smiled back brightly.

"Hi Trent. How you doing?" He asked his former student, and friend. And in a special kind of way, his son.

"Fine. I’m just fine." Trent answered him. The smile disappearing from his face. He turned away and walked up to his window. Seeing the huge sky-scrapers of Dallas.

"Trent?" Walker persuade him.

"Really Walker I’m ok." Trent said to him, without looking back at him.

"Come on Trent. I’ve known you long enough to know when your lying to me." Walker persuade him again, he had to get it out of Trent. This had gone on long enough. Walker himself knew that keeping it hidden deep inside would only do him damage, talking about it was the only thing that would make things better.

"What do you want me to say!? Huh Walker? That I’m doing terrible?! Is that what you want to hear?" Trent snapped at him, turning to face the Ranger.

"That wasn’t what I meant Trent. We just want to help."

"Well your not! All your doing is getting on my nerve’s!" Trent snapped at him once more.

"You have to find a way past this! You have to go on with your life!" Walker told him.

"You think I wouldn’t if I could? Well I can’t Walker!

Not without her!..."Trent once again yelled at him. Unaware that Carlos and Kim were right outside their door hearing everything.

"You can’t bring her back Trent! She’s gone!"

"Because of me! That bullet was meant for me, not her!" Trent yelled, trying hard to keep his emotions under control.

"You can’t keep blaming yourself! You did everything you could!"

"If I did she’d still be alive today...both of them." Trent said calming down. His words struck confusion in Walker’s eyes.

"Both of them?" Walker asked him confused.

"She...she was pregnant." Trent said to him, the tears starting to build up in his eyes. He had lost both of the two most important things in his life. One of them he never even had the chance of knowing.

"What?...Why didn’t you tell us?" Walker asked him with sorrow in his voice. He never knew, just when things were starting to heal, this comes up. Another precious life they had lost.

"The night before she died, we found out. She wanted to keep it a secret till later to surprise everyone. I just...didn’t want to make it worse after loosing her, by telling everyone about it." Trent answered him, a single tear flowing down his cheek. Both Trent and Walker then saw the office door open, Carlos and Kim walking inside with sorrow in their eyes.

"Oh my God. Trent. We’re so sorry." Kim said, her eyes also filling up with tears. Walker walked up to Trent and wrapped his arm around Trent, hugging him tight. Trent hugged him back, trying to hold back the tears, but it was all too much and they flowed. First sniffing and then breaking out in a manly cry Trent let it all out, something he had never done infront of his close friends. Kim walking closer and placing her hands on Trent’s back. Carlos only stepping back, out of the office. Where no one could see him, he allowed the single tear to flow down his cheek. He couldn’t believe it. Not only had he lost one of his best friends, but also another life. Lives that he could have saved had he acted quicker. The images started running through his mind again. The dark warehouse was lit up with sparks of gun fire going off. He remembered taking cover behind a huge crate, waiting for a split second to take his shot at the drug smugglers. He had already taken out two, Monica one. And Trent was busy taking out another one with his martial arts skills. After a hard right punch he guy fell to the ground, and unaware to Trent, to all of them. One of the smugglers Carlos was firing at, the only one felt, saw a clear shot at Trent and stood up to take it. Carlos saw him and came up to take him out, but it was too late and the smuggler took the shot. Carlos only remembered seeing Monica coming out of no where, pushing Trent out of the way, the bullet piecing into her chest. Crying out in rage he immediately pulled the trigger of his pistol, the bullets flying into the smugglers chest, him dropping to the ground, dead. But Carlos knew that he was too late, if he had only seen the guy earlier, had taken him out earlier. She still would had been alive today, both of them. Carlos turned around when he heard someone coming closer, he saw Trent walking up to him, his face almost white. Carlos wiped his eyes dry and took a deep breath to face his friend.

"Trent...I’m sorry. I was too late, I could have stopped the guy. It’s all my fault. I’m so sorry." Carlos pleaded to his friend asking for forgiveness.

But like brothers they came together and hugged tight.

"It’s not your fault....It’s not...your fault." Trent said to him, trying to keep his tears inside. The two friends, PI’s and also in a special way brothers. After breaking the hug the two tried smiling at each other, but both still had the haunting deep inside of them, of what happened that night. A night they would never forget.
 
 

After lunch at Butch’s, Trent headed to Thunder Karate to help his brother who had been running it since he got back from college. Entering the Dojo Trent was greeted by many smiles, some old students and others new. He saw Tommy sitting on the upper level at his desk, walking up the stairs he came up to his brother.

"Hey man." Trent greeted his brother and former student. The young blonde lifted his head and immediately seeing his older brother, a huge smile appeared on his face.

"Hey Trent! What are you doing here?" Trent hadn’t come to the Dojo since Monica’s death. But Tommy didn’t mind, he could run the place fine by himself. But he had to admit, the place wasn’t the same without him.

"Just thought I’d drop by. How’s everything going?"

"Great. The students are coming along great. We have a tournament this weekend, so I’ve been really busy helping everyone prepare." Tommy explained to him closing his date book on the desk and standing up from behind the desk. He had just gotten back from college, and planned on going on to find a job. But after what happend, he knew that Trent needed his help at the Dojo, and offered to take over when Trent was at his worst.

"That’s good....Listen Tommy I want to thank you...I know I haven’t...been myself lately..."

"Hey Trent, it’s ok man! I understand, and it’s no problem, really." Tommy interrupted him. He knew his brother was going through hell right now, and like his mother told him. Trent needed their support through this hard time. But Trent wasn’t the only one morning over Monica’s death. She was family, a Malloy. She was Tommy’s sister-in-law, and even thought he acted strong infront of Trent, family and friends, deep inside he was still crying a river.

"Well...just thanks." Trent said to him smiling. He couldn’t believe how much his brother had grown up. Ever since the death of their father, they’d really grown close to each other and had become more like close friends than brothers. And Trent was really proud of his brother of what he had become, almost a reflection of himself.

"So Sensei. Think you can help me out with a class?"

Tommy said to him returning the smile.

"Don’t get too cocky! Just remember who started this place." Trent said wrapping his one arm around the young blonde’s neck. Both laughing and then headed downstairs to start with the classes. In the locker room Trent reached his locker and took out his Kei. After putting it on, he closed the locker and saw the name tag on the locker next to his. Monica Malloy. He stepped infront of it, opening it he saw her Kei neatfully packed inside, and other personal things. He realized that he still had to clean the locker out, something he thought he never would be doing. But now wasn’t the time, he closed the locker hard and walked out the room. Outside in the Dojo he saw student standing ready and waiting for him. All of them with a strange looks on their faces, looks of pity. He didn’t want them feeling sorry for him, there were enough people doing that at the moment. But he ignored it and went on giving them their lesson. Helping them correct their mistake’s, and improve their skills. It almost felt like the old days, back when Trent felt excitement helping these young people learning Karate. He knew what it had done for him, and knowing that he was changing these kids lives in a good way, helped him feel a little better. After the class Trent went to practise a bit on the punch bag. He tired himself out quickly, each blow harder and faster. Taking out all his hate and sorrow on it. He stopped for a second when a small blonde girl came walking up to him dressed in a small Kei. She smiled walking up to him, and Trent grabbed hold of the bag to stop it from swinging around. He picked up his towel and wiped his face. The little girl stopped infront of him and looking up at him, Trent bent down to her.

"Are you mister Malloy?" The soft little voice asked.

"Yes I am. And who are you?" Trent asked her smiling back. Wiping his sweaty face off with the towel, still out of breath.

"Sarah. I’m learning Karate." She said back to him, sounding very proud of herself. Trent almost broke out in a laugh, she was so adorable.

"That’s great Sarah. How long have you been here?"

"Not long. But I was away for a few weeks and now I can’t find my teacher." She said looking around the Dojo, looking past Tommy who was still busy with his students.

"Well my brother is right there." Trent said to her, pointing to Tommy.

"He isn’t my teacher. Monica is. Do you know where she is?" She said to him. The smile disappeared from Trent’s face, but tried to keep a weak one infront of the young soul.

"Um...Monica isn’t teaching here anymore Sarah." Trent tried to answer her.

"Where is she? She was going to help me with my kicks?" She asked him confused, obviously she hadn’t heard yet.

"She um passed away Sarah...while you were gone." Trent tried to explain to her. He wasn’t sure how else to tell her, she was so young.

"Oh. I’m sorry...Did you know her?" The little girl said, the smile now gone.

"Yes....Yes I knew her Sarah. Very well." Trent said to her, the weak smile getting stronger.

"She was very nice huh?"

"Yeah she was Sarah. She really was." Trent finally answered her. The little girl lowered her head, clearly upset by the news she never knew about.

"Tell you what. Why don’t I go and help you with your kicks huh? What do you say?" Trent said to her placing his hand on her shoulders. The little girl immediately lifted her head and a huge smile started to appear.

"Ok." She said smiling brightly.

"Alright come on." Trent said as he stood up straight and the two started walking towards the matt. Thoughts ran through his mind. He wondered if he would have made a good father. And if his child would have been anything like little Sarah. Painful thoughts he then ignored as they reached the matt, where Trent started helping the little girl.
 
 

"Are you sure about this Carlos?" The blonde PI asked his Trent switching off the powerful Vette engine infront of the Dallas Police Department.

"Of course I am. Michelle would gladly help us get the file on our client. He have to get some information on this guy right?" Carlos answered him getting out of the car. Trent doing the same.

"Yeah sure. But you know Michelle doesn’t like it when you keep asking her to run a name for her." Trent told him. Sure Michelle and Carlos were still together, but she really got annoyed then the two PI’s kept asking her for information, it was totally against regulations.

"I know. But I have my ways with her!" Carlos said taking off his sunglasses as the door entered the large building of the law.

"That’s what I’m afraid of!" Trent exclaimed at the two closed the door behind them. Officers coming and going around them, busy with what ever chase. They tried to keep out of their way and soon got to the elevator and headed to the Michelle’s office floor. Once there and walking down the long hallway they were greeted by officers who knew Monica well. Some of their faces were friendly enough, others the same pity faces Trent had so gotten used to. They finally reached Michelle’s office, knocking on the door and then entering they saw the beautiful long hair blonde sitting behind her desk filling out forms. Once she saw them she smiled bright and got to her feet to greet them.

"Hey guys!" She exclaimed and first kissed Carlos on his lips, she then turned to Trent and placed a kiss on his cheek. The guys greeted her back and then all of them took a seat.

"So...what’s the name you want me to run for you?" Michelle said to them sitting behind her desk with a grin on her face. Trent then looked at Carlos as if to say ‘I told you so’. But the dark haired PI then lifted his one eye brow and looked back at his girl.

"What? Michelle I’m shocked! For you to think the only reason we come and visit you is for you to run a name for us?!?" Carlos acted all innocent, but Trent and Michelle shared a grin before looking back at Carlos.

"Carlos!" She said to him trying to get it out of him.

"Ok Ok! We need a file on one of our clients." Carlos finally admitted. Trent breaking out in a laugh, Michelle joining him. It was good seeing him laughing again, even though Michelle herself hadn’t been laughing much in the last while. Loosing a partner is bad enough in this line of work, but loosing a close friend made it even worse. Michelle and Monica were seen as one of the Departments best two leading Detectives. And now it just wasn’t the same with the one gone, the Captain wanted to assign a new partner to Michelle. But she refused it, she wanted to work alone from now on.

"I knew it! I know you too well Carlos. I’ll call Lisa downstairs and tell her to help you guys out." Michelle said getting up from her chair, Trent and Carlos doing the same as all of them started walking towards the door.

"Thanks Michelle." Trent said to her opening the door.

"My pleasure Trent. You take care ok?" She said to him giving him a hug.

"I will." He said returning the hug and walked out the office. Carlos then turned to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, her arms around his neck.

"How’s he doing?" Michelle asked him looking at the door. Carlos looked back and then signed.

"Better." He answered her and tried to smile.

"Carlos!" She knew he was playing her again.

"Ok not so good. He um...told us yesterday that..well Monica was pregnant when she died." Carlos tried hard to tell her. Michelle’s face almost went white.

"Oh my God! Why didn’t she tell us?" She asked confused.

"Trent and Monica wanted to keep a surprise. After her death, Trent didn’t want to make things worse." Carlos explained to her.

"Oh, just when I thought I was going to get over this." Michelle said resting her head on Carlos’s chest.

"I know. This is hard on all of us. Especially on Trent. But we have to try and move on." He told her trying to comfort her.

"So, what say we have some dinner tonight huh? I’ll cook!" He said to her trying to better the mood. Michelle lifted her head and looked up to him with a smiling grin on her face.

"Carlos, no way are you going to cook!" She said to him, she knew him better than that.

"I just can’t pull anything infront of you anymore huh?" He said to her smiling brightly.

"Nope. I think after a few years I’ve gotten to know you well enough." She said returning the smile.

"Damn. But you still like me for trying to pull it off?" He said to her joking.

"Mmm,...You have your moments. That’s why I’m marrying you." She said and with that she leaned forward and kissed her fiancé’s soft lips.

"I’ll see you later, bye." Carlos said breaking the kiss and then giving her one last one before turning to walk out the door.

"Bye sweety." Michelle said watching him leave, playing with the diamond ring on her left hand finger. She still couldn’t believe he had asked her to be his wife. She thought he would never, afraid of commitment and other things. One thing she was afraid that the same thing might happen with them as with Trent and Monica. Both couple’s in the same line of work, but she knew the only way to find out, would be to give it a try. And to be Carlos’s wife, she would risk anything.

"Alright Mr Higgins, they’ll be there in a while....Thank you sir...Ok bub-bye." And with that Kim placed the head piece back on the rest of the phone. She then turned to Trent and Carlos who were both sitting on the couch reading from the file Michelle’s friend had gotten them.

"He want’s you guys over at his company right now to pick up your paycheck." She informed them.

"Well then we’d better get going." Carlos said getting up from the couch, but Trent still sat there reading from the file.

"I don’t know Carlos. I don’t trust this Mr Higgins. He’s too clean." Trent told his friend. He knew out of experience that someone this rich and without any history had something to hide.

"So? Trent the guy own’s his own fish marketing company. What’s there not to trust?" Carlos said to him.

"The fact that he has almost no history, only that he quickly started the company and has more money than we’ve ever made in the last few years. I’m telling you something is up. And it has something to do with his brother." Trent informed him reading more from the file.

"What about his brother?" Kim asked him.

"He was in prison up till a few weeks ago." Carlos informed her, not too worried about the information.

"Exactly the same time Higgins started the company. I’m telling you their up to something there." Trent said closing the file and getting to his feet. Higgins had hired them last week to find out who was stealing his money right from out the company. So they went undercover one right on a night shift and sure enough one of his worker’s was stealing money out of Higgins’s office. But the guy claimed that he hadn’t been payed and Higgins owed him the money. After that night the worker just disappeared. Funny thing was that Higgins bailed him out of jail. But they never saw the guy again.

"Are you saying that this guy stinks?" Kim said to Trent trying to make sense of what he was getting at.

"Well he works at a fish company!" Carlos snapped and broke out in a laugh.

"Get it!? Stinks?!...Fish company!?" Carlos added and soon his laugh died out seeing the looks on Trent and Kim’s faces.

"Anyway...yeah I think this guy is hiding something.

So let’s head over there and try to find out what." Trent said and fetched his jacket, he put it on when Kim came around her desk.

"Wait a minute guys. You can’t just walk in there. Don’t you need a plan or something?" She asked them, Trent and Carlos shared a smiled before turning back to her and both saying at the same time, "Cops plan, PI’s improvise!" They said and broke out in a laugh, Kim only smiling at the goofy PI’s. But her smiled disapeared when she went serious.

"Be careful ok you guys?" Kim said to them, she always worried about them when they felt the office. Never sure if either of them were going to make it back.

"We will. See you later." Trent assured her placing his one hand on her shoulder. She returned his smile and then both PI’s turned and walked out the office. Kim then took her seat behind her desk again.