Chapter 63

The realization that she was never going to escape the situation she was in hit Sky like a ton of bricks. She heard the judge say $100,000 each and her heart sank. No one on the scene had that kind of money on hand. Jesse was staring at her with pleading eyes looking for a sign as what to do. She had no answers for him this time. She was trapped with no means of escape. There was no one to ride in and save her from the mess she was in this time.

Together they were led from the courtroom only to be separated in the corridor. Jesse kept his eyes locked on Sky until she rounded the corner out of his sight. Fear swept over him like a crushing wave. He began to panic. His breathing became labored and his skin clammy. His knees buckled and he hit the floor with a thud. "Get up." The guard demanded pulling Jesse up by his arms. "Get the fuck up."

"Sky help me please. I can't go back in there. Please help me. Sky…" Jesse's screams bounced off the walls of the corridor.

Her maternal instinct took over and Sky bolted from the guards holding her. Thankful that the cast on her leg prevented the guards from putting shackles around her ankles she hobbled towards the sound of his screams. The guards holding Jesse were pounding him with their clubs as he lay in the fetal position on the floor screaming. "Get the hell off of him. Stop before you kill him." She flung her body over his to shield him from the blows. "Shh it's ok Jess. I'm here."

"I can't go back." He managed to mumble through his tears.

"Jess everything will work out I promise. I'm going to get you out of this."

"I'm so scared."

"I know. I'm scared too. Hector's working on a way to get you out. Just be patient." Sky gently pressed her lips to his cheek. "I'll make it better Jess just hold on for a bit longer." The guards pulled Sky to her feet and separated the pair.

Hector and Harry were unaware of the commotion in the hall outside the courtroom. Their only concern was getting to the cashier and posting the bail for both Jesse and Sky. The night before the hearing Hector had held a racing event to raise enough money to get them both released. What they didn't make from the event Harry covered. It didn't matter to either of them the money they put up. They just wanted Jess and Sky out of that place.

"It will take one hour to process the release and then you can pick up your friends in Room 105. Can I do anything else for you today?" The cashier behind the desk said with a hint of flirtation.

"Can I get your name and number?" Hector decided he might as well get a little something out of the deal.

"I'm really not supposed to do this, but here." She slipped him a note with her name and number. "Call me and we can set something up."

"Sure thing," Hector took a moment to look at the note to get the girl's name. "Rachel."

Harry grabbed Hector by the shoulder and led him away, "Come on Don Juan we've got things to do."

Jesse was dragged by his cuffed arms back to his scale. The guards left him on the bed handcuffed behind his back. They were laughing as they shut and locked the door. In a panic to get released Jesse started kicking the walls and making another commotion. "Let me out of here. Let me go." He screamed over and over for nearly an hour until his voice became hoarse and then non-existent. His eyes became heavy and try as he might he couldn't fight the sleep that took over him.

"Wake up Lykens, you're out of here. Your bail has been posted."

"What?" Jesse said wiping the sleep from his eyes.

"Your bail has been posted." The guard yelled.

"Really? Hell yeah get me out of here."

Jesse was led into a holding room where Sky was waiting for him, "Sky," he yelled as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Told you everything was going to be alright, you should never doubt me."

"What are we waiting on?"

"GPS ankle boxes, they've determined that we'd be flight risks so we have to wear tracking devices. It's not a big deal. They're just damn uncomfortable."

"You ever wore one?"

"Yeah and I hated it. We won't be able to leave Los Angeles County though. Part of the deal for our release it that we stay within the county lines or they'll haul us back to jail."

"Better than being in here."

"You got that right."

"Mr. Lykens and Miss Thomas please approach the counter," the pudgy guard waddled his way around the counter. "Please lift your right pants leg." He locked an ankle unit on Jesse and then another on Sky. "You are now free to go. Proceed out the door to the right and down the hall to the exit."

He didn't have to tell them twice. They practically ran for the door and down the hall. A member of Hector's crew was waiting for them at the exit. "Yo, sup Sky, Jess? Where do you need to go? I'm at your service today."

Sky gave the man a small peck on the cheek, "Thanks Mateo. The only place I really need to go is the hospital. You want to come with me Jess?"

"If you don't mind I'd rather head home."

"No problem Jess, Mateo can drop you off on the way." It bothered Sky that Jess didn't want to go see Leon, but she wouldn't pressure him since the kid had been through so much. She shrugged it off and focused on what else she needed to accomplish now that she was free again.

After dropping off Jesse at the house, Mateo and Sky continued to the hospital. A kiss from Leon would make her day she thought as they stepped off the elevator to his floor. A few people whispered as they walked past. Sky strained to hear their comments. It seemed that the team's recent appearances on the nightly news had made them all famous or notorious might be the better word. Whatever, she thought giving not much attention to the scrutiny of others. An officer was standing guard outside of Leon's room when they finally arrived. "No visitors, Mr. Davison is under arrest."

Sky fumed, "No there is no way you are keeping me from him. Get the fuck out of my way."

"I said no visitors. Leave and I won't have to put you under arrest."

Sky lifted her right pants leg, "Yo dumbass I just got out. Now move out of my way and let me see him before I give you a reason to arrest me."

"Look ma'am I am only doing my job. I was told that no one is to go in that room other than hospital staff."

"Please let me have just five minutes with him. You don't know how badly I need to see him."

"Do you think I give a shit what some thief wants? Leave or I'll have you escorted out."

"Alleged thief," Sky corrected him. "Nothing's been proven. You know, innocent until proven guilty."

"I'm sure that's what your dad thought when you…" The guard mumbled the rest of his statement.

"What the fuck did you say?" It took everything Mateo had to keep Sky from trouncing the guard. He pulled her by her waist out of the ICU.

After letting her rant and rave for a full 45 minutes, Mateo got Sky to calm down long enough to figure out where she needed to go next. "My aunt's house, I've got to go check on the boys and let Auntie know that Vince's alright."

The car pulled up in front of the beige stucco home. Exiting the car they could hear the boys giggling in the backyard. With Mateo's help Sky hobbled up the driveway and around to the backyard. The boys' faces lit up when they saw her. Both of them ran into her outstretched arms. "How have my boys been?"

"They've been perfect angels," Sky's aunt said through the screen door. "Nice to see you remembered how to get here."

"I'm sorry I've been so much trouble." She said kicking at the pebbles under her feet.

Auntie came down from the steps and gave her a big hug, "You are just like your mother. She was trouble too. It made me love her even more. Life's exciting with you around, never a dull moment."

"24-7 action and adventure."

"Yes you are. I'm glad you're here because I need to speak with you alone."

Sky knew something was wrong just by the tone her aunt used, "Do I want to know?"

"Probably not, but I'm going to tell you any way. Step over here by the laundry line." They walked across the yard to the line. "I called the hospital a couple of days ago to speak with Lois and she had checked herself out."

"What? Has she come here for the boys?"

"She hasn't called or came by."

"Do the boys know?"

"No I didn't want to upset them, not that I think they'd notice. Those boys have been through hell living with her and their father. They are scared of their own shadows. Every night they have nightmares and the only person they've asked for is you."

A tiny tear escaped her eye as she looked over at the two little boys playing in the sandbox. "I should've been there for them."

Auntie placed her hand on Sky's shoulder, "You can't save the world. You did what you thought was best. The important thing is you're here now."

"Do you mind if I take them home with me? I'm out on bail until the trial."

"I think that'd be a great idea. I'm not s spring chicken anymore and running after two little ones is hard work. It's been over twenty years since Vincent was that little."

"Oh I almost forgot to tell you about V. He's with Mia and they're safe."

"Now that's some of the best news I've had all day. Come inside with me and we'll get the boys' things together."

Sorry this doesn't really get to a good point to stop, but I am working on the next chapter to post.