Justice

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

Warnings: Angst, Violence, Mention/Description of Torture, Reference to Jesse Hawkes Bank Robbery episode.

Rating: FRT

Justice
Chapter 6


It was the fifth time he'd looked at the clock in the last hour, Matt didn't know how much longer his father would wait before he charged into the exam area. After two hours of agonizing waiting, he knew he'd be right there beside his dad if he decided to go looking for Cody. Just as he was sure the older man had reached the limit of his patience, the double doors swung open and Matt heard their name being called. Matt, already standing, moved towards the doctor, not really surprised that his father got there first.

"How is he?" Jesse abruptly greeted the middle-aged doctor.

Brown eyes blinked in surprise and the doctor took a step back, "You're Cody's father?" Dr. Zimmerman cautiously asked. He remembered the paramedics mentioning that the boy's father was here and he could easily see the resemblance between boy and man, yet he couldn't just assume. An impatient nod was the only response, it was enough. "I'm Dr. Zimmerman, I've been treating Cody. Why don't we step into the family room," he quietly suggested; the things he needed to discuss with this man shouldn't be talked about in the open.

"Damn," Matt mumbled, whatever the doctor had to tell them had to be pretty bad if he wanted privacy. Of course it's bad Hawkes, he silently berated himself. He didn't know why it had surprised him, he'd seen his brother's condition for himself and that was just the surface. Exchanging a worried glance with his father, he followed the two older men into the small, thankfully empty, room.

"All right Dr. Zimmerman, what did you find that you couldn't tell us out there?" Jesse demanded almost before the door had closed.

Paul Zimmerman sighed, running his hand through his silvered black hair, this wasn't going to be easy. "Mr. Hawkes the first thing I want to assure you of, is that Cody will physically make a full recovery."

"But not mentally?" Matt asked.

"That's harder to say...about all I can tell you is that if he recovers, it will take time. I'd suggest finding a counselor who specializes in victims of torture," Zimmerman offered. "Physically he's suffering from malnutrition, bruises, numerous small cuts and burns..."

"He was naked when we found him doctor," Jesse interrupted him. A part of him never wanted to know, but if he was going to help his son he had to know. "Was he sexually abused?" he finally managed.

"Let's sit down Mr. Hawkes," Paul suggested.

"I don't want to sit down, just answer the question," Jesse growled, his patience worn to its end.

"We don't know," the doctor admitted.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Jesse demanded. He'd spent enough time in law enforcement to know it wasn't that hard to tell if somebody had been assaulted.

Paul sighed, "During my examination of your son, I found a plug inserted into his anus. On further examination I was unable to find any tears or other evidence of sexual abuse, and due to the stretching from the plug I can't say with any certanity that your son was or was not molested. However, if I had to make an educated guess, I would say he probably was," he reluctantly added.

Jesse felt sick, he'd seen a lot in his years in law enforcement; the worst of it paled in comparison to hearing something like this about his own son. He never should have brought Cody to the city, Rassy never could have gotten to them up on the mountain. "He wanted to go home," Jesse whispered, finally taking the seat the doctor had offered, his head resting in his hands.

Matt frowned, "Dad?" he asked, sitting beside the older man. His concern deepened when he received no answer, "What do you mean?" he tried again.

"After the bank robbery, Cody wanted to go home," Jesse reminded his oldest.

"Yeah and we did." Matt was confused, his father wasn't making any sense and he was beginning to worry that the stress of the last six weeks had finally overwhelmed the older man.

"No, I knew he meant the mountains, I deliberately misunderstood him and he never complained," Jesse sighed. "He just went with the flow and me, selfish bastard that I am, accepted his willingness to ignore what he wanted in favor of what I wanted."

Matt laid his hand on Jesse's back, "Dad, you had no way of knowing this would happen."

Jesse shot him an incredulous look, "Doesn't matter, I knew your brother wanted to go back to the mountains but I felt alive and like I was really contributing for the first time in years. Damn it, the boy had just been through a terrible experience in that bank, why couldn't I have just given him what he asked for?"

"Dad you have a right to be happy too, and I promise you Cody feels the same way," Matt assured him. Turning back to the doctor, he hoped to get his father away from the if only game, he knew from experience it wouldn't do anything but drive a man insane. "Doctor, what else can you tell us about my brother's condition?"

"About his physical condition, there really isn't anymore, his mental state is another story. He hasn't spoken, but I can't find any physical reason to prevent him."

"Rassy," Jesse spat the name. "He ordered Cody not to say anything," he added, clearing up the doctor's confusion.

Zimmerman nodded, "This is the man who tortured him?"

"Yes sir," Matt replied. "It took us six weeks to find him, when we did he wasn't wearing anything except a dog collar and was chained up outside of the cabin Rassy was in."

"That could explain a lot," Zimmerman mused. "Mr. Hawkes I know you're not going to want to hear this, but I think you should admit Cody to a facility where he can get the help he needs."

"Not going to happen," Jesse immediately refused. There was no way he would lock Cody up in some hospital, away from the people who loved him and the mountains he loved. "I'm taking him home, back to the mountains," he firmly added, the set of his jaw making it clear he was ready to fight if he had to.

"I expected you to say something like that," Paul smiled sadly.

Jesse deflated, the man's calm acceptance taking the fight out of him. "You're not going to argue with me?"

"No sir," Paul replied. "He's your son, but I would have been remiss had I not mentioned what would be best for him from a purely medical standpoint. However, I have seen enough in my life to know that medicine doesn't always hold the answers. You do need to know what to expect before you take him home, though, and I strongly suggest that he receive some counseling. Just as medicine can't cure everything, neither can the love and care of family, but when they work together, miracles really can occur."

"He makes sense Dad," Matt nodded. "I don't think I would be walking today if you and Cody hadn't been there for me, but you couldn't have healed me without the help of the doctors and hospital."

Jesse nodded, "All right, tell me..."

"Us," Matt interjected.

"Us," Jesse corrected with a smile. "What do we need to know?"

"I don't know everything that was done to Cody, you'll probably find out a lot in the weeks and months to come. I can tell you that he was most likely sexually abused, beyond the plug he was forced to wear. He won't speak and the most likely explanation for that would be the order given him by his kidnapper." Paul paused, giving them time to digest what he'd told them, before he went on.

"What else?" Jesse asked after several minutes.

"He wouldn't remain in the bed until I ordered him to and he seemed frightened to be there," Paul replied. "At first I thought it was being in a room with so many strangers, but after a bit I realized it was being in the bed that scared him, I could guess why, but that's all it would be. Cody's recovery is going to be very difficult Mr. Hawkes, are you sure you can handle it?"

"I'll handle it," Jesse firmly responded, without a hint of hesitation. "When can I take him home?"

"I'd like to keep him overnight at least. With all of the cuts and burns he has, a round of antibiotics is needed and I'd prefer to begin with an i.v. push to get them in him faster. Frankly I'm surprised his body isn't ravaged by infection at this point."

"How long will he need to be on antibiotics?"

"Since he's only showing signs of a slight infection, I'm going to prescribe them for the standard ten days, just to be safe. He'll only need the first day to be through an i.v., though, after that he can take them orally with no problem. Did you have any other questions?"

Jesse shook his head, he knew he would probably think of something else later, but for now he was drawing a blank.

Paul stood up, "Cody's being moved to room 317, the nurse can direct you."

"Thank you doctor," Jesse said, acknowledging the information.

Jesse took a deep breath and pushed the door to Cody's room open. The look of fear on his son's face broke his heart, but he didn't let it show. He knew, if he was going to help Cody find his way back to them, he would have to be strong for him. In three quick strides he was across the room, looking down at his youngest; he gave him a small smile. "How are you feeling son?" he quietly asked. Jesse wasn't really surprised when no answer was forthcoming, he had known guys in Nam who had been POWs; he knew how much work it would take for Cody to recover and that he'd never be completely the same.

Cody looked up at his father in disbelief. This couldn't be real. It was a dream and any minute he'd wake up back in the yard, chained and waiting for master to let him back inside. Or worse, master had found somebody to impersonate his father and was hiding somewhere, watching, waiting for him to make a mistake. He didn't know what to believe, the only thing he was sure of was that this couldn't be real. Master had promised him that if his father ever found him, he would be killed before master let him return to his family. So, since he was obviously alive, this couldn't really be his father. Whether a dream or a trick master was playing on him, Cody decided that the best thing to do was to obey the last order he'd been given, until he woke up or master put an end to this newest torment. Turning his head to the side, he refused to look any longer at this dream/impersonator; it hurt too much to see him and know that it was all a lie.

Jesse glanced at his oldest, seeing his own pain reflected back at him, he vowed that he wouldn't give up until Cody was back with them. He refused to let Rassy win. He would bring his son back home where he belonged and then he would find a way to reach Cody, to really bring him home. For now, though, getting him physically home had to be enough. "The doctor says you can go home tomorrow," he went on, doing his best to behave as if everything were normal. "I'm tired of city living though, so I thought we'd go back to the mountains, back to our cabin. Bet you'll be glad to get back on Cooper won't you son?"

Matt watched his father and brother, his anger growing as he watched his father trying and failing to reach Cody. He wanted nothing more, as he saw Cody's lack of reaction and the pain it caused his dad, than to find Rassy and choke the life out of him. If he closed his eyes, he could almost imagine how it would feel to crush the man's windpipe with his bare hands. The only thing stopping him was the knowledge that Rassy was locked up tight where he couldn't reach him, but if he ever got the chance, he silently promised himself that he would kill him...slowly.


TBC

I know it's short and I apologize for that, as well as the long delay in posting. Finals are over though, so hopefully I can get caught up some. Please feed the muse with reviews.