The Past Returns

Disclaimer: I don't own High Mountain Rangers, not making any money, just cheap thrills.

Warnings: Angst, Violence, Disturbing themes, Language

Rating: FRT

The Past Returns
Chapter 12


Jesse watched his oldest as he came down the stairs, "Did you find him?"

"Yeah, he's laying on the roof."

"Cabin fever?"

Matt nodded, “I sure hope they find Roy soon. It's only been a day and Cody's already more antsy than I've ever seen him. I just don't know how he's gonna handle it if it takes them too long to find him.” Rubbing his hand over the back of his neck, he prayed for an end to this nightmare, “Do you think there's any chance Roy left town?”

Jesse frowned, thinking it over carefully. "I doubt it," he finally replied. "I know your mom is denying it, but she had to have told him about Cody's memory coming back. There's no other logical reason for him to be here and now with Cody pressing charges, the only way he can stay out of jail is to convince your brother to change his mind."

Matt glanced towards the stairs, making sure that Cody hadn't decided to come down while his back was turned. "You don't really think that's all he wants, do you?"

Jesse sighed, he wanted to tell Matt that Roy wouldn't try anything else. He couldn't though, not if he were honest with himself. "I think he'd try that first," Jesse carefully began. "If that doesn't work, I think he'd do whatever he had to do, if it'd keep him out of prison."

"I was afraid you'd say that,” Matt whispered. “I'm going outside,” he announced, feeling a sudden need to check the area.

“Be careful son,” Jesse cautioned. Moving to the window, he kept an eye on Matt as he moved around the yard. A sound from behind, had him turning, reaching for his rifle as he did. “Cody,” he breathed, his soft voice sounding overly loud in the quiet cabin. Setting his gun aside, he moved to Cody's side. The boy's stillness and pale face had him worried as he lowered him to the couch. “You okay son?” he quietly asked.

Cody froze when his father turned. His father's wariness and obvious alertness, bringing home to him like nothing else could have the real possibility that his uncle would show up. Since they'd given him the news about Roy yesterday, he'd been trying to tell himself that his uncle wouldn't come here. He'd leave Tahoe and go back to Frisco, outside the reach of the local sheriff. He couldn't tell himself that any longer, his father's reaction had shown him the truth. Roy might very well come up here, into their mountains, and if he did, it wouldn't be to talk. “Yeah,” he finally answered his dad. “Sorry, didn't mean to startle ya.”

“You don't need to apologize Cody,” Jesse assured him. “Maybe next time you could cough or something before you come into the room,” he suggested in a teasing tone.

Cody smiled sheepishly, “Yeah, good idea.”

Matt had finished checking the perimeter, relieved to see no sign of his uncle. As he moved into the barn, he was unaware of the eyes that watched him from the tree line. Walking inside the old structure, he checked on the horses, pausing to give each a little attention. “I know boy, you don't like being confined any more than Cody does,” he soothed Apache as the restless horse nudged his shoulder.

Roy frowned, Matt wasn't supposed to be up here. As he watched his older nephew, he wondered how he was going to accomplish his goals without killing Matt. The answer came to him as the younger man moved into the barn. Carefully moving from the tree line, he made his way to the back of the building, being sure to stay out of sight of the house. With great caution, he eased open the door of the shelter, easing inside. Quickly he crouched down, giving his eyes a moment to adjust to the darker interior. He could hear Matt speaking to one of the horses, the calm way he spoke telling Roy that the boy had no idea he was here. Quietly he moved toward the blond, his gun raised, the butt pointed at Matt's head. Hesitating for only a second, he slammed the stock into his nephew's head, knocking him out. “Sorry Matt, but you shouldn't have been here,” he explained to the unconscious man. Grabbing some rope from a hook, he tied Matt's hands behind him, followed by tying his ankles together. Dragging the boy to an empty stall, he tossed him inside and headed for the house. Brazenly, he stepped up to the porch and pushed open the door.

Jesse heard the door opening, he couldn't help being relieved that his oldest was back inside with them. “In here Matt,” he called.

“Isn't this cozy,” Roy smirked as he stepped into the room, his rifle leveled at Jesse and Cody.

Jesse glared at Roy, his eyes darting to the rifle he'd foolishly left leaning next to the window. Calculating the distance, he reluctantly came to the conclusion that he couldn't possibly reach it before Roy shot him. It wasn't the idea of being shot, or even killed that scared him, it was the knowledge that he would be helpless to protect Cody if that happened. It was that, and only that, which stopped him from making the attempt. Shifting his position, he did the only thing he could at this point, placing himself between Roy and his youngest. “What have you done to Matt?” he growled.

“Don't worry about Matt, he's just taking a little nap in the barn,” Roy replied with a smile. Glancing past Jesse, he enjoyed the look of fear on Cody's face as he stood behind his father. “Come here Cody,” he softly ordered.

“Stay where you are Cody,” Jesse countered.

“Cody,” Roy calmly began, “if you don't come here I'm going to shoot your dad.”

He knew it was probably not the best idea to obey him, but he couldn't risk his father being shot. Reluctantly, he moved from behind his dad, taking a step towards his uncle. A hand on his arm stopped him.

“Don't,” Jesse quietly ordered, pulling his son to a stop.

“Have it your way,” Roy said with an indifferent shrug. Aiming at Jesse's leg, he pulled the trigger, dropping the man to the floor. “Now come here boy or the next one goes through his head.”

“Dad!” Cody cried out. Dropping to the floor beside his dad, his blood ran cold at the sight of the growing stain on his father's thigh. Roy's order sounded before he had the chance to do anything for his dad. The last thing he wanted to do was get anywhere near his uncle, but he couldn't stay here and let him kill his dad. Doing his best to hide the terror he felt, he pushed himself to his feet and walked to his uncle's side. The unexpected backhand snapped his head to the side. He could taste blood from his busted lip. Turning back to Roy, he shot a glare at him.

Roy raked the boy with his eyes, licking his lips in anticipation of what was to come. “Ya got some fire in you, that'll be fun to put out. Tie him up,” he ordered, handing Cody a coil of rope he'd brought from the barn.

“If I don't?”

“I kill him,” Roy coldly replied.

“No!” Cody yelled. “I'll do it,” he quickly assured his uncle. Taking the rope, he walked to where his dad lay. “I'm sorry,” he apologized brokenly as he tied the rope around his father's wrists.

“You don't have anything to be sorry for Cody,” Jesse whispered. “We're going to find away out of this,” he promised.

“His ankles too,” Roy waited until Cody had complied, before issuing his next order. “Come here,” Roy snapped. “Crawl,” he ordered as Cody began to push himself to his feet.

Hanging his head, Cody shamefully obeyed.

Roy smiled triumphantly as the boy obeyed without offering any argument. As Cody reached him, he automatically looked up at the man who held his future in his hands. “Did I tell you to look at me?” Roy growled. He smirked as the dark head dropped, his eyes fixed on the floor. “I asked you a question boy.”

“No,” Cody replied, keeping his eyes on the floor.

“No what?” Roy snapped, slapping the boy on the side of the head.

“No sir,” Cody quietly answered.

“That's better,” Roy nodded approvingly. Giving Jesse a hard stare, he was satisfied to see a look of pure hatred aimed his way. “Don't like seeing him this way do you Jesse?”

“You're going to pay for what you did to him Roy. If it's the last thing I do, I'll make sure you suffer every bit of the pain you caused Cody,” Jesse vowed.

“I'm sure you would, but I don't plan to give you the chance.” Glancing around the room, he considered what would be the best way to do this. “Stand up boy,” he ordered. He grinned when Cody immediately did as he was told. “Strip.”

Cody shook his head, involuntarily taking a step back. His eyes widened with fear as the rifle suddenly swung around to point at his father. “No, don't...I'll do it,” he stuttered. Reaching for the button on his shirt, he began to strip. He couldn't look at either of them. He didn't want to see the shame he knew he'd see in his father's eyes, or the enjoyment he'd see in Roy's.

“Very nice,” Roy murmured. “I want you to go lean over the back of the couch and put your hands behind you.”

Cody blinked back the tears that threatened to fall as he shakily walked to the couch. Leaning over it, he placed his hands behind his back as he stared at the cushions.

“Leave him alone you son of a bitch,” Jesse growled, struggling to free himself of the ropes that held him. He didn't know how, but he was going to find a way to get loose and when he did he was going to kill Roy with his bare hands.

“You're not in any position to be giving orders,” Roy smirked. Moving up behind the boy, he smiled at the unconscious flinch his proximity brought. The smile grew as he loosened his belt, drawing it from the loops of his pants as the body in front of him began to shake. Leaning forward, he draped himself over Cody's back, “Nervous boy?” He didn't expect a response, didn't need one, the shaking providing all the answer necessary. Without another word, he looped his belt around the boy's wrists, drawing it tight and secure. “Did you know I never technically raped him Jesse? Don't believe me? Well it's true, I never put anything inside him except my fingers oh and once the neck of a coke bottle. Gonna change that today,” he promised, leaning down to lick Cody's shoulder. “I love to feel you shuddering beneath me,” he whispered. “Before I claim him in every way, I want to share my plans with you,” he again addressed Jesse. A thrill swept through him at the look of impotent rage Jesse aimed his way. “When I told Jackie I wanted to talk to Cody, wanted to convince him to drop the charges, she was only too happy to provide me with a map to your cabin. Hell,” he laughed at the look of surprise on Jesse's face. “You didn't think I found this place on my own, did you? She was so desperate to make amends with you, I think mostly because of Matt, that she didn't hesitate to help me. I lied to her of course,” he continued as he ran his hands over Cody's back. He brought one hand down to cup him, squeezing cruelly, just to remind him who was in charge. “At first I was just planning to rape him in front of you, then I was going to kill you both. After all, dead men tell no tales, right? I changed my mind though, you want to know what I'm going to do now?” Roy sighed, feigning disappointment at the lack of an answer. “That's okay, I'll tell you anyway,” he offered. “First I'm going to take him, right here with you watching. I want you to carry the sound of his screams with you to the grave, knowing it's only the beginning of his new life.”

“No, please, don't, please,” Cody begged, shaking with terror.

“He begs so pretty, doesn't he?” Roy smirked. “He'll be doing a lot of that from now on,” he added. “After I kill you, I'm taking Cody with me to a place I know in the Cascades. He's going to become my slave,” he grinned, the gasp of fear and surprise from the boy beneath him sending a thrill of pleasure through him. “You like that idea boy? No? You will, by the time I'm done with you you'll be begging for the chance to pleasure me,” he promised. “I'm tired of talking, it's time to take what I came here for.” Opening the snap on his pants, he pushed them over his hips. Spitting into his hand, he rubbed the saliva over his length as he prepared to take what was his.

“Get away from him you son of a bitch!” Jim Cutler called from the doorway, his rifle aimed at Roy's chest. “Get on your knees and lock your hands behind your head,” he ordered after Roy stepped away from Cody. Coming up behind him, he planted his foot in the man's back, shoving him to the floor. Kneeling, he kept one knee in the center of Roy's back as he carefully set his rifle to the side. Quickly and efficiently he pulled a pair of handcuffs from his belt, something they rarely used but they all carried, securing Roy's hands behind him. “Don't move,” he ordered as he stood up. Grabbing a blanket from the back of the couch, he draped it over Cody's trembling body. Reaching under the cover, he quickly remove the belt from Cody's wrists. “Come on Cody, sit down here on the couch,” he spoke calmly as he led the boy around to the front of the sofa.

“Matt?” Jesse asked from the floor.

“He's fine, gonna have a headache, but he'll be okay,” Jim assured the older man. “He shot you?” he asked as he loosened the ropes holding Jesse prisoner.

“I'll be fine,” Jesse brushed off his concern. “Help me up,” he ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

Jim didn't argue, he'd learned a long time ago when to argue and when not to. This was definitely a not to time. Helping the older man to the couch, he eased him down to sit beside Cody. “Hart's with Matt, it was the only way to keep him from charging in here and getting himself killed. You gonna be okay while I call the station? I want to have Frank fly up here to take all of you to the hospital,” he explained.

“Go, we'll be fine,” Jesse assured him. Turning to Cody, he cautiously wrapped his arms around his son. With effort, he suppressed the growl that he wanted to let go at the flinch from his son. “Shhh, it's okay Cody, you're safe now,” he soothed.

Jim looked back at them as he left the room, tears shimmering in his eyes as he imagined the hell they'd been put through. Glaring at Roy, he questioned his own decision in detaining the man. After what he'd done to his friends, what he'd been about to do to Cody, Jim wondered if maybe he should've done the world a favor and just killed him outright. Shaking his head at his own thoughts, he continued into the other room and to the radio. Quickly he radioed the station, ordering Frank to fly up to Mr. Hawkes' cabin and telling Izzy to ask the sheriff to drive up to take custody of Roy. Laying down the mic, he walked back to the front door. Pulling open the door, planning to call Tim and Matt inside, he stepped back in surprise when he nearly ran into them.

“Sorry man, he wouldn't wait any longer,” Tim sheepishly apologized.

“It's alright,” Jim assured Hart, as Matt brushed past him.

“Cody, Dad!” Matt called as he entered the cabin. Staring at them, he felt his heart breaking at the sight of his younger brother, a blanket wrapped around him, as he huddled in their father's strong arms. Hurrying to them, he stopped as Cody's leg moved from beneath the blanket, his naked leg. “Oh god,” he moaned, realization hitting him like a runaway freight train. Shakily he stepped closer, he was surprised that his legs were holding him up, as badly as they shook he should be on the floor. Finally he reached the couch, sinking down beside his brother, he softly stroked his hair as he looked across him into his father's eyes. “I'm so sorry, I should've been paying more attention.”

“This isn't your fault Matt,” Jesse assured him.

“If I'd been paying attention he wouldn't have been able to get the drop on me.”

“And if I hadn't set my rifle down against the wall, he wouldn't have been able to shoot me,” Jesse pointed out. “Son we can spend the rest of our lives second guessing ourselves, but that isn't going to help your brother.”

Matt nodded, recognizing the truth of his father's words. “Did Roy...” he trailed off, unable to say the word.

“No, Cutler stopped him before he could, but it was close.”

“This isn't over,” Roy growled from behind the couch.

“Shhhh,” Jesse soothed his youngest as his shaking increased. “He can't hurt you now, he'll never hurt you again,” he vowed.

Cody huddled in his father's arms, wanting to answer but unable to form the words. He was vaguely aware of Jim Cutler's presence as he sank to his knees in front of his father, carefully dressing the wound in the older man's leg. Shuddering, he turned his head away, refusing to look Cutler in the eye.

Cutler shared a concerned look with Hart as the other ranger stood behind the couch, guarding Roy. As he finished dressing Jesse's wound, he heard the chopper flying overhead as Frank prepared to land. Giving Matt and Jesse a nod, he stood up and went to open the door. Once Frank came in, Robin on his heels, things moved fast. Soon they had the three Hawkes' men loaded into the chopper, after taking the time to help Cody back into his clothes. Jim stepped back as Frank fired up the aircraft. Watching from the ground as the chopper rose into the air, he silently vowed that Roy would never again hurt the boy he thought of as a younger brother.

TBC

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