Chapter Eight: Prologue

A Year Later

It had started to turn cooler outside, as they stood in the graveyard. It had been a year since they're tryst with Steven Jacobs, and they still missed they're fallen colleagues just as badly as they had then.

Although they lost two very good friends that day, Steven Jacobs had given each of them something that they would hold close to they're hearts forever. He showed them that life is shorter than anyone of them cared to realize. He showed them that you have to embrace the one's you love while you have them, because you won't have them forever.

Each of them dealt with they're grief in different ways, but no matter how upsetting it seemed to be, they were there for each other. As they were now bound together for life, from one horrible nightmarish incident. While they hated Steven Jacobs with a passion, for taking away Lia and Duff. They also thanked him for making they're already strong friendship, much stronger.

Over the last year, Cheryl found herself healed up nicely. Although she would be forever scarred physically and mentally from her attack. She was now engaged to Jeffery Simmons, a local District Attorney. That day would never leave Cheryl's mind, but with Jeffery by her side, it was sure to become a distant memory.

While Matt and Emily had practically moved in with each other while Steven was still on the loose. They made it official the morning after they're showdown with him in the Federal Building. That though is long since old news, as the couple is scheduled to exchange vows in the coming months, with all of they're family and friends in attendance.

Frank had felt the most guilt and grief over Lia and Duff's deaths. Seeing it as his fault, he had sunk into a slightly deep depression for a few months. Alcohol became his new best friend, and most nights he wasn't even able to stand on his own. After fearing that he was going to drink himself to death, Cheryl coincided with Matt and Emily, and got him into rehab. There he meet and feel in love with his fiancée Rebeka Kasey. The pair are set to wed next month, with only close family and friends in attendance.

Now a year later, they stood side by side, paying respects to they're two fallen friends. Emily clinging to Matt's arm, as they stood in front of Lia's gravestone, tears fresh in her eyes. It had been hard for her to acknowledge that Lia was gone. Matt put a comforting arm around her shoulder, and pulled her closer, kissing the side of her head. Cheryl placed a comforting hand on Emily's other shoulder, as her other hand swiped at the tears that had formed in her eyes. Frank stood, statue like, unable to move, as his mind flashed back a year earlier.

When he found a bloody, and half dead Cheryl laying lifeless on the ground. Holding her in his arms, while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Then onto seeing Duff, after his upper torso was wrapped in thick white gauze. Lia falling to the ground, blood pouring from her body, as unbeknowst to them, she was slowly bleeding out from the severe internal injuries. Then Duff coding after hearing the news of Lia.

He shook his head of the thoughts, as he tried his best to comfort a now fully crying Cheryl. They moved, in group form, toward the other gravestone. This time, it was Frank's turn to have tears in his eyes. Out of everything that happened, Duff's death was the one that pained him the most. He figured it was because it was him that delivered the news of Lia's death, and it was that news that killed him.

Matt was the first to notice the tears in Frank's eyes. Seeing Frank so broken, for so long. It wore on Matt, who was used to seeing Frank as the tough, hard-shelled man that he was. It was Matt that first found Frank drowning his sorrow, grief, and anguish in a bottle of hard whiskey. It was Matt, that watched Frank cry himself to sleep on many occasions. It was Matt that got late night phone calls, to hear the sounds of a broken shell of a man, cry about the nightmares that plagued him. Now Matt stood next to Frank, who had a few tears in his eyes, and put a kind and comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I know it hurts," Matt whispered to Frank.

Frank's head whipped around to look at Matt's face.

"It really does," Frank said, as he sniffed back the new tears that threatened to fall.

They bowed they're heads, gave a moment of silence for they're two friends, and then made they're way for the guests that were awaiting them at they're vehicles.

At the Vehicles

Matt and Emily walked side by side, arms locked firmly around each other. As Frank and Cheryl walked side by side, hands dug deep into they're pockets, tears still fresh in they're eyes.

All of them looked up, when they heard a baby scream for his parents. Matt and Emily shared the same loving grin.

Shortly after the nightmare had ended, Emily found out that she was about four weeks pregnant. Eight months later, she gave birth to a healthy little boy, lovingly named Matthew Franklin Duff Flannery, after his two Uncles, and his daddy.

Emily took the small baby in her arms, and held him close as he stopped crying. Cheryl and Frank both gave little Matt a kiss on the cheek, before joining they're loved ones. Cheryl put her arm around Jeffery, as he pulled her close, allowing her head to rest comfortably on his chest. Frank pulled Rebeka into his chest and kissed her head lovingly.

They all stood together, the look of a family. That's what they were, one big loving family.