This is a story that just popped in my head while taking a break from Hostages. I LOVE characterization, and thought that I would do a story centered around that. In this story, Walker's son is a criminal. I know, I know, but I thought I could dive into it and see what I come up with. Not sure if I will swim or drown on this one, so bear with me. :) This story will only be through Walker and Cooper's perspective.

Being Ranger Walker's child was no easy feat, there was just too much pressure to succeed. His oldest sister, Angela managed to do so with great success and now was attending Harvard to hopefully get her degree in business law. As for Cooper, he just wanted to make it through high school. Which at this moment looked to be a near impossible goal. Didn't help he skipped days here and there and really never bothered to do any schoolwork. This irritated his parents who valued education and wanted him to go to college.

He huffed at this thought then flicked his cigarette to the asphalt, a habit he picked up at age thirteen. His father always told him how smoking was rather unhealthy for him and that it ruined his lungs. Cooper didn't care, after all he still didn't know what he was going to do with his life. Maybe he could do something with music, which he loved or just lay around for awhile to see what comes up. So, far he managed to get by thanks to shoplifting and theft. Man, if his father knew he was involved in a large theft ring he wouldn't hear the end of it.

The wind blew against his back as he sat on the low cement wall adjacent to a hamburger joint. His friend, Brett Hagen, who was twenty years old worked part-time, not to help with living expenses, but with his expensive hobby. Brett had begun to use heroin a year ago and had tried to get Cooper hooked as well. He did try a few times, but he didn't like the way it made him feel. However he did shoot up now and then just out of boredom.

Cooper took out another cigarette, checked his watch then lit the tip. He took a long drag then slowly blew the smoke out of his nose. He flicked the ashes to the ground then glanced around him as a feeling of dread washed over him. Why did he have to inherit the "Cherokee sense" from his father? Granted it had saved his life on numerous occasions, but it was rather annoying. Couldn't he be just like any other teenager, without a care in the world.

The feeling slowly went away and he began to relax once again. His attention went to a vehicle that pulled into the parking lot. He was about to ignore it, when he saw it was a grey pickup truck. How the hell did his father find him here? He cursed, took one last drag of his cigarette then jumped off the wall.

His father pulled around, parked in front of Cooper then got out, the frustration written clearly on his face. "Aren't you suppose to be in school!"

Cooper sighed heavily. "Dad, seriously, we've been through this before." He took a drag of his cigarette which was just now a butt then blew the smoke into his dad's face. "Just let me be."

"How many times have I told you that smoking…"

"Is bad for me. I know. I know." He threw what was left of his cigarette on the ground then turned his attention to the burger joint. "Listen, I'm waiting for Brett. So, can you leave?"

"No, I'm not going to leave!" His father stepped up to him with the glare that scared most criminals, however Cooper, who has seen this look more times then he could count, just rolled his eyes. "Now, come with me! You've got a lot of explaining to do!"

Cooper shook his head then stuck his hands into his jean pockets. "What is it this time?"

His father pointed to the truck. "Get inside the truck now." The tone of his voice made Cooper chuckle. "I'm serious. Cooper, just come with me."

Brett came around the corner, his eyes getting really wide. "Hey Coop, maybe I should…"

"No, it's all right. He was just leaving." Cooper shook his head. "Dad, don't try to stop me."

Walker had enough with his son's attitude and right now was the last straw. "Cooper Ezekiel Walker, get back here right now!" He used the voice he never used on his children and it appeared to have worked. Cooper paused in mid-stride, as for his kid's friend he actually ran away. "Get in the truck, now!"

Cooper back pedaled then turned around with a look of irritation on his face. "Seriously dad, that voice is not going to work on me." He smiled at Walker then faked a salute. "See ya, when I see ya. Tell mom I love her and Angela that I hate her."

"Cooper!" Walker tried to run after his son, however his right knee didn't allow him to. He watched in utter disbelieve as his son ran away from him. "Cooper, what did I do wrong?"

He limped back to his pick-up, got in then rested his head on the steering wheel. For five years he's been battling his son's rebellion and had hoped it was just a phase. Wonder what had happened to change his son so much…? Oh no, did that incident, eight years ago damage his son more emotionally than everybody had thought? He slammed his hand on the steering wheel, mad at himself for being so gullible all these years.

That day, several years ago was the worst experience in Walker's life. His hands began to wring the wheel as his mind thought about the unthinkable acts done to his son. At age nine, Cooper had been tortured by a local gang wanting revenge on Walker. They had burned him numerous times with cigarettes and had nearly beaten him to death. Then Walker offered himself to the gang, which helped with the release of his son. Instinctively his hand went to his right knee which he began to slowly rub hoping the deep ache would go away.

Cooper had survived that day, but he had to endure numerous surgeries and hours of therapy. For a while it appeared Cooper was all right, that he had managed to cope with what had happened to him that day. In fact, he bounced back so well the doctor's even had began to call him the little miracle boy. How could he have been so gullible?

"Dang it, Walker!" He slammed his hands once again on the wheel then shook his head at his own stupidity. "How could I have not seen it! The signs were right there!" His phone rang, disturbing him from his rant. Quickly he picked it up to see it was his close friend, Trivette. He flipped the phone open and tried to calm himself down before he spoke. "Hey, Trivette."

"Hey, was wondering if the family is still up for dinner tomorrow night?"

Walker slowly nodded his head. "Yeah, but Cooper won't be with us."

"Did he run away again?" Trivette's voice already confirmed his suspicions.

"Yeah." Walker rubbed his face then leaned back into his seat. "I think he's not coming back." Walker was rather surprised to hear the emotion in his voice. "I got to let Alex know."

"Hey, man are you okay?" Trivette sounded really worried. "What happened?"

Walker smiled at his friend's kindness. "I'm okay. See ya tomorrow night."

He could hear Trivette fumbling with his keys. "Where you at right now?"

"I said, I'm fine, Trivette. Don't worry about it." Though Walker knew very well his dear friend would hunt him down if he didn't tell him. "Paco's is just around the corner from where I'm at. I can see ya there in about twenty minutes."