The Past Returns

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

Warnings: Angst, Disturbing Themes

Rating: FRT

A/N: Italics and/or // indicates a flashback

The Past Returns
Chapter 14


"You boys ready to get out of here?" Jesse greeted his sons as he was wheeled into their room. Before they could answer they were interrupted by a knock on the door. "It's alright son," he quickly assured Cody. His anger rising again at the sight of his youngest nearly cowering in the corner, his older brother's arms wrapped protectively around him. "Come in," he called.

Looking grim, Mike McBride stepped into the room. A feeling of relief washed over him when he saw Jesse. "Jesse, I'm glad you're here."

The sheriff's words had Jesse instantly on alert, "What's wrong Mike?"

Damn, he hadn't meant to worry them. "Nothing's wrong Jesse," he quickly assured his old friend. "I do have some news though, I imagine it may be upsetting."

"Shhh, it's okay Cody," Matt whispered as his brother began to tremble in his embrace.

"What if he escaped?" Cody softly asked.

"He didn't escape Cody, I promise," Mike, having heard the question, replied before Matt could.

"What's this news then Mike?" Jesse asked.

Turning back to his friend, Mike sighed heavily. He couldn't help wishing that he knew how Jesse was going to react to his news, would he be angry at what Mike had done, or would he be grateful? Only one way to find out, "Jackie's in jail."

Jesse looked at his boys, his face grim as he tried to judge the effect the sheriff's announcement was having on them, especially Cody. Personally, he; happy wasn't quite the right word; but he wasn't unhappy to hear that she was locked up. His boys didn't need to be worrying about where she was or what she might be doing. "What are the charges?" he asked, turning back to Mike.

"Accessory before the fact to attempted murder, attempted kidnapping, and attempted rape," the last word spoken so softly that it was barely heard.

Matt was keeping a careful eye on Cody as the sheriff spoke. Though they couldn't hear what the last charge was, he only needed one look at his brother to know the younger boy knew exactly what the charge was. He only hoped Cody wouldn't heap more guilt on himself over this. There was no reason for him to blame himself for anything that happened to Jackie. Whatever she suffered could be laid at her own doorstep, he only hoped that the system would work this time and she would be punished.

“You think the charges will stick?” Jesse asked.

“Oh yeah, though I think the prosecutor may offer her a deal.”

“A deal?” Matt questioned.

“A reduced sentence in exchange for her testimony against her brother.”

“She won't go for it,” Cody immediately predicted.

“I wouldn't be too sure of that son.”

“No dad, I think Cody's right. She's already shown us she's willing to sacrifice anything to protect her brother,” Matt argued.

“I hate to say it son, but she hasn't been asked to sacrifice herself yet.”

Glancing at his brother in concern, Matt hesitantly asked, “You think when it's her neck on the line she'll turn on him?”

Jesse nodded. “Has her father arrived yet?” he asked the sheriff.

“No,” Mike replied, his tone disgusted.

Recognizing the tone, Jesse knew his friend had not enjoyed whatever contact he'd had with Mr. Kern.

“He called, demanded that we release both of his children and drop these unfounded charges.” Mike shook his head, still amazed as he recalled the conversation.

//“Tahoe Sheriff's office, how may I help you?”

“I'd like to speak to the sheriff,” a cold voice demanded through the phone.

“This is Sheriff McBride.”

“Sheriff McBride this is Charles Kern, I understand you have my son and daughter in your jail.”

“Yes sir, that's correct.”

“I want them released and these unfounded, malicious charges dropped immediately or I will sue you and your department for false arrest.”

“Mr. Kern the charges are not unfounded or malicious,” Mike quickly informed him. “As a matter of fact, your son is guilty of some of the worst crimes a man can commit. I would think that you would be concerned with learning the truth before you...”

“I know the truth,” Kern interrupted him. “It's that man my daughter made the mistake of marrying. He's behind all of this, him and that boy that's so much like him.”

“You mean your grandson Cody?” Mike asked, disgusted by the man's attitude.

“He's no grandson of mine, too much like his father that one. You notice which boy it is that's claiming Roy did those horrible things to him. Matt loves his mother too much to hurt her like that. I'm sure Hawkes didn't dare try to convince Matt to lie about his uncle and mother, he knew that young man would never agree to such a thing.”

“Mr. Kern,” Mike snapped into the phone, cutting off the man's diatribe. “Cody isn't lying about what your son did. There are witnesses and I don't mean only his father. Let me tell you a thing or two about your children Mr. Kern. Your son Roy, using a map given to him by Jackie, hiked to Jesse Hawkes' cabin with the intention of murdering Jesse and kidnapping Cody. When he arrived, he knocked Matt unconscious, and entered the cabin. When the Rangers arrived, they found Matt in the barn, bleeding from a wound to the back of his head and reeling from the slight concussion your son had given him.


“I have a hard time...”

“I'm not finished Mr. Kern,” Mike coldly interrupted him. “Entering the cabin, they found Jesse on the floor, tied up and bleeding from a gunshot wound. That wasn't the most upsetting thing they found, not by a long shot. The most upsetting thing they saw would be your grandson Cody, naked and about to be raped by Roy Kern, your son. Fortunately they were able to prevent the rape and arrest Roy. Your daughter knew that her brother was a wanted fugitive, she knew he was wanted in connection with an earlier crime committed against Cody. Rather than turn him in, or at least try to convince him to turn himself in, she drew him a map and told him where to find his victim, the main witness against him. I'm sorry if you believe your children are innocent but let me tell you Mr. Kern neither of them are in any way innocent. Now if you'd like to hire an attorney to represent them, by all means do so. However, I can promise you that the charges against them will not be dropped. Good-bye.” Slamming down the phone, Mike struggled to get himself under control. At least now he had some idea of how Jackie could have done the things she had. Apparently that family was filled with people who preferred to stick their heads in the sand while living in a state of denial.//

“That sounds like him,” Jesse mumbled. “Good luck dealing with him, you'll need it.”

“Thanks a lot Jesse,” Mike grumbled, though they could all tell he was only joking.

“I appreciate you coming by and letting us know what's happening Mike.”

“It's not a problem Jess, I sure didn't want any of you to hear it on the news. I need to get back to work now.” Turning to leave, he stopped and turned back, “I almost forgot, the prosecutor wants you to come by his office before you head home.”

Jesse frowned, “It's not that pipsqueak that's trying to make a name for himself is it?”

“No,” Mike quickly answered. He didn't blame Jesse a bit for wanting to keep that man out of this case. The last thing Cody needed was for some politically ambitious prosecutor to turn his case into a three-ring circus. The whole thing was going to be hard enough for the boy as it was, no point in making it worse. “Larry Williams is handling both cases, much to the pipsqueak's annoyance.”

Jesse grinned for the first time since Mike had entered the room. “Good. We'll go see him after we get discharged.”

“I'll let him know you'll be by in a little while.” Turning back to the door, the middle-aged sheriff quickly left the room.

Jesse wheeled himself over to his boys, watching his youngest through worry filled eyes. “You okay son?” he gently asked.

Cody nodded, unable to speak past the lump in his throat. His mother was going to be sent to prison, probably, and it was because of him. Shouldn't he feel bad about that? What kind of person was he that it didn't really bother him? No more than it would've affected him to read of some stranger in the newspaper being sent to prison. He hadn't considered the possibility of her ending up in jail and he should have. Not for her sake, but for his brother's. He might not care one way or the other about her fate, after all she hadn't been a mother to him for years, if ever, but for Matt it was different. She had loved Matt, taken care of him and he loved her in return. Would he ever be able to forgive Cody if he sent their mother to prison? Would Matt begin to hate him too, the same way she did? No! Matt had never been cold towards him, and he'd been angry too when he found out what had happened. He wouldn't hate him, not for seeking justice.

“It's okay if you're not Cody,” Matt whispered. “I'm not alright and I haven't been through the things you have.” He wasn't really surprised when his little brother twisted around, pressing his face against his chest. “That's it little brother, let it out.” Speaking softly, he kept his voice soothing as he encouraged the younger boy to release the emotions that he had tried to hide. Emotions that Matt knew needed to be gotten out before they poisoned his brother's soul worse than it already was. Damn them both for what they'd done to him! How could a mother let somebody hurt her child? Then she adds insult to injury by expecting that same child to feel sorry for her. God, his mother was a real piece of work, he thought with disgust.

Jesse waited patiently, giving Cody the time he needed to calm down. “Do you want to go get something to eat before we go see Mr. Williams?”

Cody quickly shook his head. He didn't think he could keep food down right now and if he did, he was sure it would come back up when he started talking about what had happened. “I just want to get it over with and go...” he trailed off.

Jesse didn't like the way the color faded from Cody's face, or the way he had suddenly stopped talking. “What's wrong son?” he gently asked.

“Where are we gonna go?” Cody asked in a small voice. He hadn't realized it until that moment, but he knew he couldn't go home, not now.

“Where do you want to go?”

“I don't know, but I can't go back there yet,” he shamefully admitted.

“Home you mean?”

“It's not home anymore, it's contaminated now,” came the mumbled reply.

Damn, he should've realized how Cody would feel. A sudden inspiration struck him, “How would you feel about going to visit Aaron Bass?” he asked. “We can stay as long as you need to?”

“You think he'll be okay with that?”

“Why wouldn't he be?” Jesse was puzzled, they'd visited with Aaron several times, even staying as long as two weeks a couple of times.

Cody looked at his feet, unable to meet his father's eyes as he mumbled his reply.

“Look at me son,” Jesse quietly ordered. “Want to try that again?”

Cody swallowed past the lump that was again trying to grow in his throat. “Might not want me around Jen now,” he softly, nearly inaudibly, replied.

Hearing a sound of protest coming from his oldest, Jesse shot him a silencing look. “Why not?” he asked, though he had a pretty good idea of the answer.

“He might think I'm not the type he wants around his granddaughter.”

“The type? You mean he'll think there's something wrong with you because of what that bastard did to you?”

“Yes sir,” Cody mumbled as his head dropped again, his chin nearly touching his chest.

It took all of his willpower for Jesse to bite back the angry words his son's defeated attitude had him wanting to utter. He knew, however, that Cody would misunderstand his anger, thinking it was directed at him rather than his uncle and mother. He thought carefully, praying for the right words to help his boy. “Cody, you remember when I told you that Aaron is like a father to me?”

“I remember.”

“Do you think I blame you for what happened to you?”

“No sir,” came the lightening quick reply. That was the one thing Cody was sure of, it was everybody else that he doubted.

“Then do you believe I could feel that close to a man who would blame the victim instead of the criminal?”

Cody looked up, surprised by the question. When he put it like that, the answer was easy. “No you wouldn't.”

“Then I'll ask you again, would you like to go spend some time with Aaron and Jen?”

Cody smiled shyly, “I'd like that.”

“Then that's where we'll go, after we talk to Mr. Williams,” Jesse firmly decided. “Have they brought your discharge papers yet?”

“Right before you got here,” Matt replied.

Cody squared his shoulders, bracing himself for the coming conversation. “Let's go then.” He was proud, and surprised, that he was able to keep his voice steady. Not trusting that it would remain so, he grabbed the handles on his father's wheelchair. Giving it a firm push, he led the way out of the room.

“How are we going to get where we need to go?” Jesse asked.

“Why with Robin's taxi service of course,” a bright voice replied.

Matt smiled at the blonde ranger as she joined them, “Thanks for coming to pick us up Robin.”

“It's no problem Matt,” she promptly assured him. “That's what friends are for,” she added before any protests could be made. “So, where to first?” It was a struggle to keep her voice light, but Robin had made the decision, while she waited, that the best way she could help her friends was to behave as though nothing terribly unusual had occurred.

Matt smiled gratefully, recognizing what she was doing. “We need to go see the prosecutor.”

“Right this way fellas, your chariot awaits,” Robin smiled invitingly. Leading the way outside, she stood back as Cody and Matt helped Jesse into the truck, before climbing in themselves.


The trip across town hadn't taken long and all too soon Cody found himself in the office of the prosecuting attorney.

“Jesse, Matt, Cody,” Larry Williams greeted them as they took their seats. “How are you all doing?”

“About as well as can be expected Larry,” Jesse answered for them all.

“I have to say I was shocked to hear of what happened at your cabin Jesse.”

“It's true! I'm not making it up,” Cody immediately defended himself.

“Whoa son, calm down,” Larry soothed. “You don't have to convince me Cody, I don't doubt that your uncle did the things he's accused of, but it is shocking.”

“Sorry,” the teenager mumbled, reddening with embarrassment.

“It's alright Cody, I should've been more clear. I asked to see you, all of you, because I need to talk to you about what happened.”

“What do you need to know Larry?”

“Well Jesse for now, I just need to hear, in your own words what happened up there?” Sitting back in his chair, Larry waited for them to begin, having found that this was often the best way to get to the details. Hesitantly Matt began with the attack in the barn, soon Jesse and Cody joined in, telling, as Larry listened with growing horror, of what had transpired in the cabin. “Thank you, I know that must have been very difficult ,” he said when they had finished. “Now, has anybody told you exactly what the charges against Roy and Jackie are?”

“Mike told us what the charges are against Jackie, it's pretty easy to figure out what the charges on Roy are,” Jesse replied.

“I'll have to testify in court, won't I?” Cody timidly asked.

“I'm afraid you will son,” Larry confirmed. “I am going to do my best to gain permission for you to testify in chambers rather than open court. If I'm not able to accomplish that, I'll petition for a closed courtroom.”

“That shouldn't be difficult since the victim is a minor,” Matt commented.

“No it won't be. Frankly I'm hoping to avoid a trial all together.”

“A plea deal?” Jesse asked.

“Not much of one actually,” he answered. He knew Jesse wasn't happy about the idea, not that he blamed him, if it had been his son he wouldn't like the idea of a plea deal either. “The evidence against Roy is overwhelming, as is the evidence against Jackie. The deals I'm going to offer are, for her, if she pleads guilty to accessory to attempted kidnapping, I'll drop all other charges and recommend that she serve 15 years in a minimum security prison. If she takes the deal, she'll be eligible for parole in 2 years. An addition to her deal is, that if Roy refuses a deal, she has to testify against him.”

Cody paled, 15 years? Glancing at Matt, he was surprised to see his brother watching him, offering his silent support. Gratefully, he reached for Matt's hand, letting the older boy ground him as the prosecutor outlined his plan.

Jesse could see the effect this was having on Cody, and he wished he could spare him, but they needed to know what to expect. Focusing on the prosecutor, he let Matt take care of his brother for the time being. “What about Roy?”

“He pleads guilty to all charges and I will recommend that he be eligible for parole in 25 years. If he refuses, then I'll do my best to convince the judge, after he's found guilty of course, that Roy should be given life without the possibility of parole. I can tell you now Jesse, and I'll make sure Kern understands it too, that the judge does not like men who hurt children, so he'll likely see things my way. Given the evidence against him, I honestly expect him to take the deal. He'd be a fool not to, of course I've prosecuted my share of fools. Is there anything else you'd like to know?”

“Not right now, thank you.”

“Will you be at your cabin?”

“No, we're going to be staying somewhere else for a bit. If you need to speak to either of us call Matt at the Ranger station, he'll know how to reach us.”

Larry gave him a puzzled look, “Is there some reason you don't want to tell me where you're staying?”

“To be honest, I was going to tell you but then I remembered that Jackie and Roy's father will likely show up. Frankly I don't want him to know where to find Cody, the fewer people who know where we are, the less chance there is of him being able to harass my son.”

Larry nodded, he could certainly understand that. “Well then, if I need you or Cody, I'll let Matt know. Thank you all for coming in so quickly,” he said as they all stood up. Shaking each of their hands in turn, he paused when he came to Cody. “I promise you, young man, I will do my utmost to obtain justice for you.”

“Thank you,” Cody whispered, the promise catching him off-guard and bringing a flush to his cheeks.

Larry watched them go, silently repeating the vow as he turned back to his desk to begin the preparations for the case.


TBC

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