Disclaimer:  I don't own 7th Heaven or its characters or settings, and I'm not making profit from this.

A/N:  This takes place toward the beginning of Season 8.  Mary and Carlos are married and pregnant, Simon and Cecilia have broken up, Simon is in college, but Martin never showed up.  I think that's basically the only change.  I just made up Panama County Prison; I have no idea if it exists or not.  Enjoy!

Prologue

Chandler turned up the radio in his car.  It was a good song, not angry rap or hard rock, the kind of music he would sometimes hear blasting from a teenager's car, and not too slow and dramatic, filled with melancholy minor chords.  The song was upbeat and happy, lifting his spirits.  He needed that today.  His counseling sessions had not gone too well, and he had had to quickly engulf a cold burrito for lunch because of a sudden, excessive workload.  Eric pestering him about his personal life did not help at all, either.  Chandler eyed a fast-food restaurant on the right, and his stomach expressed its yearning for a greasy hamburger by grumbling.  Just because he had had a skimpy lunch didn't mean he had to have a skimpy dinner.  He suddenly turned, upsetting the driver behind him and causing him to honk, but Chandler didn't care.  Noticing the long drive-thru line, Chandler parked his car and was about to turn off the engine when the song on the radio was interrupted.

"This is a special news bulletin," said the voice on the radio.  "A group of prisoners from Panama County Prison near Los Angeles have escaped at approximately 5:30 PM, or one hour ago.  We do not have any more information on the convicts, whether they are dangerous or armed, or where they are heading.  Please do not pick up any hitchhikers, and please report anyone suspicious to the police.  We will give you more information on this situation as it becomes available." 

The message began to repeat, and Chandler shut off the engine.  For a split second, Chandler wondered if he should get out of his car.  Even though the convicts might not be dangerous, armed, or anywhere near where he was, Chandler had a sinking feeling in him.  It seemed eerily quiet.  His stomach grumbled again, and Chandler pushed the thought away, telling himself he was just hungry, and it was quiet because he had turned off the engine.  He opened the door and stepped out.  Surprisingly, the drive-thru line had disappeared, and the temperature had suddenly dropped.

It's because it's getting darker, he told himself.  Nothing to worry about.  The wind rustled through a nearby tree, adding a chill.  He took a breath and was about to take a step forward when the bullet went through his chest.  He let out a cry and looked down on himself.  An expanding cloud of red stained his blue shirt.  He touched it, as if to see if it was real, and his knees collapsed.  He grabbed the car for support, but just then, a second bullet went through his head and he fell, dead.