Good Will Towards Men

by hearthandhomeauthor

It's Katheryn's first Christmas in Dallas with her new family the Malloys, the Rangers & Carlos Sandoval as the latter have just recently returned from their harrowing ordeal in Utah. But not all is merry as mysterious notes appear at Rev. Jones' church and the Malloy's home that remind Carlos of his former days with the Deuce Street Rollers. / Legacy of Thunder series (no. 3)

1. Part 1

This third installment takes place shortly after the season 7 episode "Survival" and features the same cast of wonderful characters.

"Good Will Towards Men" PART ONE

The H.O.P.E. center was buzzing with activity that December evening. Dozens of volunteers moved here and there, entering and exiting the little place with boxes filled to the brim and armloads of wrapped gifts with their shiny bows and green and red clad wrapping paper. It was Christmastime. The first Christmas in fact for Miss Cahill's H.O.P.E. center. And she was determined to do it right. Beginning with a large toy drive for prisoner's children and the local shelters. It wasn't much, but it was a start. And the community had responded wonderfully this day, crowding the building to form lines and workstations where volunteers could wrap gifts and distribute what donations had come in into their individual boxes.

Among the volunteers was Katheryn. Her joyful eyes and soft smile were apparent as she playfully struggled with the adhesive cover of a bow, removed it, and gently pressing it onto her seventh gift she had wrapped that afternoon.

Carlos continued to struggle with the adhesive strip on the back of his bow and sighed, nearly succumbing to the urge to toss the small object across the room. He set it down gently instead and turned towards Katheryn, stifling a smile. He noticed her apparent Christmas cheer as she worked. "Having fun?" He stated limply with a note of sarcasm.

Katheryn grinned her delight as she looked towards him, temporarily making eye contact before quickly returning her gaze to the work before her. "Now, get to work." She teased, another smile playing at her lips.

"You know," Carlos returned to his stubborn bow. "You'd think I could handle wrapping one measly gift after what I had to go through last week."

Katheryn sighed, her arms sagging as she rolled her eyes towards Carlos. "Don't remind me about that."

"About what?" He acted innocently as if he did nothing wrong. He occupied himself as he pushed up the falling sleeve of his sweater, turning away as if to ignore her.

"About what? About the fact that I didn't get to go with you all to Utah. It's so beautiful there. And you didn't think to invite me?"

Carlos smiled a smile of regret as if to say he was sorry. "Well…" He sighed. "I hear you did a great job of looking after the H.O.P.E. center for Alex."

"Yeah," Katheryn sighed. "But Josie could have done just as well as me if not better."

"If it's any consolation," Carlos paused, "I'm kinda glad you didn't come."

"Oh?" Katheryn glared at him.

Carlos nodded. "Those were some pretty bad guys who kidnapped Alex. I—I don't know what I would have done if they had taken you too."

Katheryn could not move a muscle as she took in his words. Did he say….?

Her thoughts were interrupted as a burst of cool air rushed inside the building as the entrance door swung open. Someone was holding it wide open and letting the heat escape. But it was only for a brief moment.

"Incoming!" a voice from behind a rather large load of toys warned as it waddled inside.

Carlos looked away from Katheryn only then as he caught a glimpse of the large, moving structure who didn't have a face. He moved from behind the table, glancing briefly towards Katheryn before rushing to the young man's aid. He took ahold of the largest item on top and set it down on the floor. He grinned a welcome to the young man. "Tommy Malloy. I thought that was you."

Tandy was right behind him with a large box of little trinkets and such while Mrs. Malloy followed. Yet a particular homey scent filled the air upon her arrival. Was it gingerbread or was it sugar cookies, she couldn't tell right away. But the smell received her hearty approval!

Katheryn snapped out of her reverie as soon as this smell had reached her. She too moved away from the table and aided her friends with their load. "Is that it?" She chuckled as Trent brought in his load.

Trent's breathy laugh was followed with a sigh as he set the heavy box on a nearby table. "Nope. Still a few in the trunk."

"I'll help." Katheryn smiled as she hurried forward, following Tommy and Tandy back outside.

Trent looked around the room at the volunteers hard at work, wrapping gifts and carrying on in the Christmas spirit. A faint note of "Joy to The World" struck his ears as he took in the sight. "This a wonderful thing Alex is doing."

"Yep." Carlos stood next to Trent, surveying the same scene before them with a smile.

"Have you thought about what you're getting me for Christmas?" Trent teased.

Carlos looked his way sarcastically. "Maybe. Maybe not."

"Now…" Trent cleared his throat. "What I'd really like to know is if you've thought about what you're getting Katheryn."

"Who?" Carlos blurted out.

Trent chuckled.

"Never mind." Carlos shook his head. "And yes…I—I've thought about it."

"And?" Trent urged.

"To be honest…" Carlos neared Trent in a whisper. "I may need your help to pull it off."

Trent raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Oh?"

Carlos nodded. "Well…It's not so much a gift as it is…a—a…" He sighed. "You know what, never mind." He returned to his post behind the table and picked up that same stubborn bow. He tugged on the strip with aggravation as Trent looked onward in disbelief.

Trent walked over to the table. "You like her don't you?"

Carlos was unmoved as he continued to struggle with the Christmas bow. He acted as if Trent had not said anything. And he did so on purpose as if to say yes to Trent's question by default.

Trent looked toward his friend in earnest. "C'mon. You can tell me. I promise I won't tell a single soul."

"Good." Carlos didn't look away from the bow. "Got it," he muttered under his breath before looking up to Trent. "Because I'm not telling you a thing."

"That means you do like her." Trent followed Carlos into the next room as Carlos deposited his fourth wrapped gift with the others in the large, growing pile.

"I didn't say that." Carlos shook his head as he walked back to the other room.

Trent followed. "It's plain as day, buddy."

"What's plain as day?" Katheryn announced her presence as she set a box of toys on the floor in front of the table that she and Carlos shared.

"Nothing!" Carlos blurted out as Trent was opening his mouth to speak.

Trent slowly closed his mouth back and sighed, willing away the smile that crept onto his face. He bowed his head for fear that it would show.

Katheryn's apprehension was obvious as she raised an eyebrow toward Carlos and chuckled lightly, rocking on her heel as she took a step back. She pointed behind herself with her thumb. "I'm gonna go make sure Tandy doesn't need any help." She couldn't wipe the confused smile off of her face as she walked away from the scene.

Carlos shook his head in aggravation once she was gone. "How could I have been so stupid?"

"Every guy is a little stupid when he's in love." Trent teased.

Carlos raised his eyes towards his childhood friend with an expression that told Trent he was less than displeased with his words. Carlos shook his head and mumbled something under his breath as he began wrapping another gift. In his confused state, he managed to tape the paper to the table instead of the box.

Trent chuckled aloud.

"Don't say a word." Carlos pointed straight at Trent with a very serious stare.

Trent raised his hands in a surrender. "I'm not. I promise."

Carlos ripped up the tape off the table before the others returned, saving himself the embarrassing moment.

This time, the Rangers accompanied Tandy and Katheryn, bringing with them boxes of toys also.

Ranger Trivette's broad smile greeted them warmly. He set the box on the table before them. "Here's some donations courtesy of the Texas Ranger Company B."

Trent grinned and looked them over. "That's wonderful."

Ranger Walker caught a glimpse of Carlos' struggle with the gift before him. "Everything going alright here?"

"Yeah. Peachy." Carlos slapped a piece of tape down onto the box.

"What's up with him?" Trivette whispered as he stopped by Trent on the way to the kitchen.

"Don't ask." Trent sighed.

Trivette shook it off and continued onward following his nose to the Christmas goodies he knew where around there someplace.

"Walker!" Trent neared his friend. "I'm glad you came. I was going to come by Ranger Headquarters later to ask if you might have a moment to come over to the church with me. Roscoe said he needs to speak with you. He didn't say why."

"Absolutely, Trent." Walker nodded. "We can even go now if it's no problem."

"Not at all. Thanks. I'll let mom know." Trent hurried away and was back a few moments later.

"Where you off to?" Carlos creased his forehead, his gift-wrapping exhibition going a bit smoother as time progressed.

"To talk with Roscoe." Trent moved towards the door as Carlos nodded. He turned back and winked at Carlos. "Have fun."

"Have fun." Carlos mimicked under his breath sarcastically as he put the last piece of tape on the present, securing it completely in the Santa-clad paper with a satisfied sigh of relief.

Katheryn found her way back to Carlos, munching on one of Mrs. Malloy's Christmas cookies. "Want one?"

Carlos looked upward and smiled. "Sure." And he quickly maneuvered away from his work station and accepted Katheryn's offer.

"So," Katheryn spoke up, swallowing before she continued. "What are your Christmas plans?"

"Plans?" Carlos was taken aback but thought through the question with ease. "Well, I usually spend it with family one way or another. Last year I spent it with my sister Teresa. And of course there's the Christmas Eve service that Reverend Jones holds every year. I never miss that." He paused. "As far as this year, I haven't made any solid plans. But it'll probably go something like that." He smiled on the last note.

"That sounds great." Katheryn smiled her approval before taking another bite of her cookie. "I must say, I do enjoy attending church with you all. Although I wish I saw more of you all there regularly. I guess the bad guys don't honor the Sabbath?"

The twosome chuckled.

"Nope. I guess not." Carlos grinned and finished off the rather delicious Christmas snack.

Katheryn drew in a deep breath as if she was about to say something rather important but stopped short, closing her gaping mouth.

"What?" Carlos stifled a soft laugh.

Katheryn rolled her eyes and told herself to spit it out. "I've decided to try out for the Texas Rangers."

"What?" Carlos' eyes grew wide with surprise as he grinned. "That—that's awesome. I, uh, I never expected that." His breathy laugh followed his statement and filled in the gap where his words trailed off.

"That is…" Katheryn's snarky smile rose to the surface. "If you wrap more presents than I do before the end of the hour." She nearly chuckled but kept it at bay.

Carlos glared at her and was slightly overwhelmed by her quick comeback. "That was not fair."

"Yeah, I know that." The young woman's delight shone from the grin on her face as she moved forward to wrap the gifts before them. By her rough calculation, there were nineteen gifts to wrap in their little allotment.

Carlos sighed at the sight and limply returned to his post. "Here goes nothing."

The clock struck three o'clock thirty-eight minutes later. Katheryn had wrapped two more presents than Carlos had before proceeding to announce her victory in the form of a broad smile and a playfully icy stare. She had won. And Carlos had a hard time keeping up with her for the rest of the day in more ways than one.

##

"Sally Andrews, this a Christmas pageant not a ballet practice. Now, be still with your hands at your side, young lady. And…" the tall older gentleman hurried over to another little boy in the little choir. "…Keep your hands to yourself. Don't be punching others in the arm." Reverend Jones stood to his full height and sighed. "God help us."

The church doors squeaked ever so quietly allowing a small stream of light onto the stained wood floors of the First Christian Church of Dallas. The holy silence of the place echoed the distant voices of the Reverend and the children to the ears of the two men who entered the building.

Trent shivered under the cold slightly as he and Ranger Walker eased up the center aisle to the altar where Reverend Roscoe Jones and his little sheep were apparently deep in discourse.

"Roscoe." Trent smiled as he surveyed the little lambs.

Reverend Jones spun round slowly to face the two men before him. "Oh, Trent." He sighed. "Thank God you're here. I need a break. Children, you can go get a cookie or something. Just take five." He grunted as he let his weight settle into the front pew lethargically.

Trent and Ranger Walker sat down just behind Roscoe on the next pew behind him.

"Lord." Roscoe laughed softly. "Of all the darn times for our choir and pageant director to be sick. I'm filling in for Angela while she's a bit under the weather. I got a feeling it has more to do with testing their old reverend."

Trent grinned. "I'm sure you'll survive."

"I'm not so sure." Roscoe laughed. "Now…On to more pressing business."

Walker leaned in with his dark Stetson between both of his hands. "You needed to speak with me, Roscoe?"

Reverend Jones nodded once and firmly. "Yes, sir. That I do." He was now serious with no ounce of humor in his voice.

"What's up, Roscoe?" Trent inquired of his friend.

"Well," the man sighed in earnest, stifling some feelings of anger he tried his best not to show. "It's the gangs, Walker. About…two weeks ago just after Thanksgiving, I arrived to find that week's offerings were gone. Vanished. Right out of my office. That kind of thing has never happened. So, I brushed it off and asked God to bring justice to the situation. Nothing happened the next week except Adam said two guys tried to rough him up coming home."

"I remember that." Trent broke in. "Tommy said he stuck up for Adam and they left."

Roscoe nodded with a heavy heart. "But they came back this week." He reached inside his coat pocket and drew out a small piece of paper, handing it to Trent.

Trent read aloud… "'You aren't gonna have Christmas if we have anything to say about it.'" Trent sighed and handed it to Walker.

Walker looked the note over before raising his eyes back to the Reverend. "What makes you think it's a gang?"

"You see that little mark in the corner of the paper?"

Walker nodded. Trent looked over at the paper to get a look.

Trent's sigh was low and debased. "That's the mark of the Falcons." His concern edged his voice.

"Yep. It is." Walker's concerned showed also. "Any other instances of them bother you or the church?"

Roscoe shook his head. "Not yet."

"I'll look into it right away." Walker promised as he stood to his feet.

Trent followed and then Reverend Jones as the children began to file back into the sanctuary with crummy faces and loudening voices.

Roscoe rolled his eyes upward. "Heaven help us."

Trent smiled and reached out a hand. "Keep in touch, Roscoe. Let us know if anything else happens."

"That I will do." Roscoe shook Trent's hand twice and firmly before bidding them good day and turning to the kids in their now crumb-covered pageant attire. "Oh, my Lord." He shook his head and set to work with the children, cleaning their faces and asking the Lord for strength.

"What do you think, Walker?" Trent spoke as the church door shut behind them as they directed their steps towards Walker's truck.

"I don't know." Walker sighed. "There's not much to go on." Walker and Trent each got into the truck and shut the doors. With the engine fired up, Walker put it into drive and dialed Trivette's number.

Ranger Trivette had just returned to Ranger Headquarters and hurried forward to answer his desk phone. "Yeah. Trivette."

"Trivette, see if you can locate any information on recent crimes committed by the Falcon gang."

"Alright." Trivette tucked the phone between his ear and shoulder and sat down at his desk, pecked a few keys on the keyboard, and turned back to the conversation. "I've got four crimes reported this month. All of them in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Four different gang members were charged with each of the crimes and were listed as being a member of the Falcons."

Walker nodded. "See what else you can find on the Falcons and their records. Also, check to see if they have had any activity reported near Roscoe Jones' church."

"Got it." Trivette hung up soon after and began to do as bid, munching on the Christmas cookies he had brought with him.

"Get in there." A female voice drew Trivette's attention. He stopped chewing as the entrance swung open.

Tommy Malloy was being gently pushed from behind by Katheryn. "Alright! Alright! Stop shoving." He tried not to laugh.

"Hey," Trivette leaned back. "What are you guys doing here?"

Tommy laughed softly. "Trent's gonna be mad if he finds out you drove his Stingray here."

Katheryn tried not to let that thought bother her. "No, he won't. Now just tell Trivette what you told me."

Tommy's laugh would not subside.

"What's so funny?" Trivette couldn't help but smile.

"Absolutely nothing." Katheryn was as serious as she could be as she stood there arms crossed, staring at Tommy completely unimpressed at his carrying on. "Tommy." She tapped him on the shoulder. "Speak."

"Trivette!" The door burst open as Carlos rushed forward. He was out of breath as he ceased running. "Someone stole Trent's Sting…" He turned his head towards Katheryn and Tommy, stopping short as he realized what had happened. "—ray. It's…outside. What—what are you guys doing here? And…" He smiled. "Who drove the Corvette here?" His smiled faded. "Tommy? Did you?"

"No." Tommy glared at Carlos. "I'd never touch Trent's prized possession. You know that."

"Then…" Carlos wrinkled his forehead. He smiled then frowned in confusion. He smiled again. "You drove?" He directed towards Katheryn with a confused, sideways smile.

She nodded and rolled her eyes as if the knowledge thereof should have been apparent. "But that's not the important thing." Katheryn glared back at Tommy.

Tommy cleared his throat, forcing himself not to laugh. Out of his jeans pocket he drew a slip of paper and placed it on Ranger Trivette's desk. "I found this on our porch this morning."

Carlos picked it up before the Ranger had the chance. "No. It couldn't be." He shook his head and tossed it back onto the Ranger's desk.

Trivette picked it up and read the note to himself. "What it is, Carlos?"

"The mark in the corner," Carlos began. "It reminds me of a prank the Trey-Sevens would put over on the gang I was a part of."

Katheryn looked towards Carlos. Her eyes were free of aggravation and were now filled with intrigue. "You were a part of a gang?"

Carlos met with her gaze and nodded. "When I was kid. Yeah."

Katheryn remember what Carlos had told her that night they were holed up together on their undercover mission three months ago. He had told her about his falling in with the wrong crowd. She had never known about this though. Katheryn wondered silently what had happened to change his life for the good.

"What kind of prank?" Tommy questioned.

"Well, Tommy, to the gangs, Christmas was just another excuse to party, get drunk, and carry on with no regard for others. So the Trey-Sevens had decided one year to do something fun in addition to their gangbanging they normally did to sort of…celebrate." Carlos inhaled as he continued. "About a week before Christmas, the Trey-Sevens came on to the Deuce Street Roller's turf and decided to rob a small convenience store there during the night. They left a note at the scene of the crime with the Roller's symbol in the corner. So when the authorities got there the next day, the assumed that several of the Rollers were guilty and caught them off guard and took them down. The cops then didn't even investigate. They called it open and shut and the Trey-Sevens got off scot-free."

"That's terrible." Katheryn inserted.

"What's worse is they killed somebody a week later on Christmas Eve. They left a similar note. I guess the investigators didn't stop to think about what was happening between the two cases. The other gang leader went down for the murder and the Trey-Sevens are still on the streets as we speak."

Trivette nodded. "But how do you know for sure this is the same kind of instance."

"I don't." Carlos confessed, exhaling as memories of his former life flashed through his mind. "I don't," he repeated, turning away as he recalled those bitter days.

Katheryn stood helpless by Tommy's side and wanted with all her might to near Carlos and offer some sort of encouragement. She held firm to her place by Trivette's desk, convincing herself that it would do no good. Katheryn soon began to regret that decision. Yet she did gather up the courage enough to speak up. "Carlos, are you alright?"

He forced a smile. "Yeah. I'm alright."

"Can we go now?" Tommy broke into the discourse.

"Yeah." Katheryn smiled broadly.

"Who's driving the Corvette?" Trivette teased as he lifted the note and crossed to Walker's desk and rested it there.

Carlos nodded. "I'm right behind you two. I've got to see this."

Carlos stood by the curb in front of Ranger Headquarters and grimaced at the sight before him. His leather jacket wrinkled at his waist as he slipped his hands into his jeans' pockets. He shook his head softly, exchanging a wary glance towards an apprehensive Tommy who slowly got into the passenger seat.

Meanwhile, Katheryn rounded the front of the blue beauty with a grin on her face, popped open the door, and settled into the driver's seat. Her smile never faded as she rested her left hand atop the wheel and reached the other hand to crank the sports car up. It fired away and roared smoothly. Katheryn was one happy camper as she looked back towards a cringing Carlos.

"Yep." Carlos sighed. "Trent's not gonna be very happy."

"Why not?" Katheryn teased.

Carlos leaned forward with both hands on the passenger door. "If I have to explain that to you, then you're toast."

Katheryn winked at Carlos through her smile which set him on edge. She seemed to be more confident than him in the matter which made him feel slightly overwhelmed. She put the car in drive and waited for Carlos to lift away off of the vehicle before she took her foot off of the brake pedal. He did as bid, succumbing to the persuasive twinkle in her eyes as she sped away and into the street.

He watched with caution as she actually drove the machine quite well. He raised his eyebrows in surprise as she round the corner smoothly and with pretty good precision. He was impressed to say the least.

Just then, Ranger Walker pulled up next to the curb to park. He got out and neared Carlos. "What are you doing here, Carlos?"

"Long story." Carlos shook his head as he stifled an oncoming shiver. He looked up at the sky. "You think we could get snow this Christmas, Walker?"

Walker chuckled. "In Texas? That'll never happen." He proceeded forward towards the broad Headquarters steps a few paces away.

Carlos followed alongside. "Tommy and Katheryn were just here. Tommy found a note with the mark of the Falcons on it."

"He did?" Walker stated with surprise edging his voice. "That's funny. That's what Roscoe was showing us. He found one with the Falcon's mark at his church."

Carlos' breathy laugh was not without some sarcasm. "Then it has to be them."

"Who?" Walker opened the door of Ranger Headquarters and entered, letting Carlos in before it closed on them.

"The Trey-Sevens."

"Why would it be them?"

"I just have this feeling, you know. Reminds of something they did awhile back."

"With the murder of that little boy?" Walker finished his thought.

Carlos nodded. "Yeah." Sadness laced his low tone as they hurried up the flights of stairs and back into the Company B office.

"Okay, thanks." Trivette hung up the phone. He stood, a large freshly-printed poster in hand as Walker and Detective Sandoval entered the large office space. "Walker. Take a look at this." He handed Walker the handbill.

The Sergeant accepted the piece of paper and looked it over.

"What is it?" Carlos queried.

Trivette crossed his arms. "Those three men were just released from prison last month. They are also wanted in connection with several robberies near Reverend Jones' church and the surrounding neighborhoods. They have a record of gangbanging."

Carlos caught a glimpse of the paper that Ranger Walker held and shook his head. He sighed as the memory of the three young men who appeared to be about the same age as himself rushed back into his memory. In one sweeping second, the memory of it all had returned. Those three men had no doubt belonged to the same gang that Carlos had been a part of those many years ago.