The chopper carrying Jessica, Jasper, and the injured climber flies over a secluded cabin up in the mountains. A young man looks up in the sky at the chopper and follows it. Then the young man spots an older man walking up a small hill.
"Dad! Dad! Uncle Matt is here!" Alex Hawkes shouts to his dad Cody Hawkes. Cody walks out of the cabin.
Alex runs up to his uncle, "Hi Uncle Matt."
"Hey, kiddo. Here some treats from your Aunt Robin," Matt pulled out a plate of cookies.
"Cool thanks," Alex took the cookies and brought them into the cabin.
"Matt, what brings you up here?" Cody asked his older brother.
"Hi Cody, can we talk?" Matt asked.
Cody responded, "Sure, what is up?"
"Commander Williams has informed me that he will be retiring in six months. So, we will be looking for his replacement. I would love it if you would put your name in the mix," said Matt.
Matt Hawkes is currently the Director of the Western Region of the Search and Rescue. Matt is a former Commander of the High Mountain Rangers. Matt moved up in the ranks and is currently married to fellow former ranger and paramedic Robin Kelly Hawkes. Robin conducts Paramedic training at a local college and will help the rangers from time to time.
When Matt got injured in the drug bust, that went bad in 1989. He took an extended leave from the High Mountain Rangers. He did not want to return. He could not deal with the loss of two of his men under his command, Jim Cutler, and Tim Hart. Even worst, they were some of his closest friends. He could not bring himself to face the three surviving members of the Rangers, Robin Kelly, Frank Avila, and Izzy Flowers.
Cody had kept the three rangers in formed on Matt's progress. Robin was especially interested in how he was doing. Robin and Matt were close, but they kept it professional. Robin tried to talk to Matt, and he would not take her calls or return them.
Cody had convinced Matt and their dad to become bounty hunters. Things went well in the beginning, Jesse kept saying that Cody was to young and inexperienced to help. Jesse insisted that Cody needed to go to college. It was the best route for Cody to take if he wanted to get into any type of law enforcement.
Matt's extended period off from the High Mountain Rangers was ending. Cody thought he should go back to the rangers. Once Cody was done with college, they could be rangers together. Matt still felt shame and could not go back.
When Cody graduated High School, Matt and Jesse were going to celebrate with a small party. Cody invited Robin to come but did not tell Matt or his dad. Then Matt would have to face Robin. Robin was like a sister to Cody. He could see that Robin and Matt had feelings for each other, and he did not want is brother to mess it up.
Robin joined the graduation party. Matt could no longer ignore Robin. Matt was mad at Cody for this trick. Cody convinced Matt that he had to face his demons, instead of running away like he was, he needed to talk to Robin. If he did not go back to the rangers, then he and Robin could start a relationship. Cody told his brother to stop being so blind, he had feelings for Robin, and she had feelings for him. Matt finally agreed to meet and talk with Robin. Matt and Robin spent several hours on a long walk together. Robin knew if she did not tell Matt she loved him, she would lose him forever. When they came back Matt and Robin were holding hands and Matt told Cody and Jesse that he was going back to the Rangers. He and Robin were going to see how things go between them. Matt was going back as the Commander of the Rangers if there was no issue with him and Robin dating. They were engaged within the year. They were married in 1992, the ceremony was held in the meadow outside the ranger station. Cody and Jesse were there to celebrate. Cody coming from college and was the best man. It was the first time Jesse had come back to the mountains since Matt was injured. Cody and Matt's mom, Jackie and her new husband were in attendance. This bothered Jesse, so he left and went back to San Francisco as soon as the reception was over.
A few years later Matt and Robin welcomed a baby girl, Kelly Jacklyn Hawkes. Two more years down the road they welcomed a baby boy, Jasper Mathew Hawkes.
Matt and Cody's father, Jesse Hawkes, founded the High Mountain Rangers many years earlier. He spent a couple of years doing bounty on his own, before deciding to hang it up and come back to the mountains. He passed away on the mountains he loved in 2003. He did get to know Matt's children and see his sons' dreams come true.
Cody met his wife to be, Lizzie, while they both worked at the Forestry Department at North Cascades National Park in Washington State. The two dated for a few years and got married in 2000. While working at North Cascades National Park, Cody was able to get his helicopter license.
There was finally an opening at the High Mountain Rangers back in Tahoe. The rangers got the budget for a second pilot and tracker. A job that was perfect for Cody. Cody and Lizzie moved to South Lake Tahoe. Lizzie worked at the local Forestry Department and Cody with the Rangers. Matt was still the Commander of the rangers, so Cody finally got his dream of working with his brother.
In 2007, Cody and Lizzie had a baby boy, Alex Jesse Hawkes. They were incredibly happy. In 2012 after a struggle to get pregnant, Lizzie and Cody were expecting their second child, a daughter. Lizzie was running some errands and had stopped at a local bank. When she walked into the bank, she did not know it was being held up. The robber was surprised about someone walking in and turned and shot her on the spot. Lizzie died instantly at the scene. Luckily, Alex was with his aunt Robin at the time. Cody was in the mountains rescuing some lost skiers. The rangers tried to get ahold of Cody, but he was out of radio contact. They sent a crew out to find him without any luck. It was three days after his wife's death, before he found out. He was devastated by the loss of his wife and baby girl. Cody felt guilty he was not there for Lizzie or Alex. Cody was determined never to be away from his son again.
Cody quit the rangers right after Lizzie's death. Matt always feared that Cody would lose it. But Cody focused all his energy into his son. Cody and Alex moved to Jesse's Cabin full time. Cody and Lizzie had been modernizing it since Jesse's death in 2003. The Cabin now had electricity, due to solar panels that they had installed, limited Internet and cell phone reception. A road was built closer to the cabin so there was only a fourth of a mile walk there. Cody still preferred to travel via horse, but there are times a truck made more sense.
Alex had the same love of the mountains that his father did. He knew the mountains as good as his father. But he was a shy kid, more of a calm personality like his Uncle Matt. The only playmates he had as a child was his older cousins whenever they were around. He missed having a mother and always wanted to know what it would be like to have a little sister, like the one he lost.
Matt and Cody made sure their family stayed close, despite the age differences of the kids. Jasper and Kelly spent many summers up in the cabin with Cody and Alex. In return they spent time with Matt's family down in South Lake Tahoe whenever they had to go into town for something.
Now that Alex is getting older, Matt is having the same concerns with Alex being so isolated from the world, just like he did when Cody was with their father. He had been vocal about it to Cody, who was sick of hearing about it.
"Matt, we don't need to have this same old argument again," Cody said. Then Alex came out of the Cabin. "Alex, why don't you go down to the lake and catch some fish for dinner," He did not want his son to hear the argument between him and Matt again.
"Okay Dad," Alex said grabbing his fishing pole. "Uncle Matt are you staying for dinner?"
"No, I need to get back into town tonight. I will come down for a bit when I am done talking to your dad," Matt said.
"You promise, Uncle Matt," Alex waved his hand as he ran down to the lake. Alex knew the conversation between his dad and uncle probably won't end well. So, he was happy that his uncle would spend some time with him before he left.
"I will see you in a bit," Matt yelled.
Cody asked, "Want some coffee?"
"Sure Toad," Matt said.
"That is Ace to you," Cody said with a smile as he went in the cabin for the coffee.
Matt sat on the porch looking out at the barn with the horses and at the lake where his nephew was fishing.
Cody came out of the house carrying two cups of coffee, "How are Robin and the kids doing?"
"Robin is enjoying doing paramedic training at the university. She really liking the change of pace from working at the ranger station. But the rangers are missing her. I know the kids miss seeing her all the time," Matt continued. "The Ranger's just pulled a climber off Dead Drop Wall today."
"So, which of your kids got to do it?" Cody asked.
"Jasper, Kelly is going to be so jealous of her younger brother," Matt said with a smile.
"Hopefully, he will not be as bruised as I was," Cody said knowing that was something he had done that his brother had not. Cody was sixteen when he climbed down Dead Drop Wall. Cody had no choice as a family was trying to kill him and his dad after Cody witnessed a murder. Jesse sent is son to try to reach the rangers, they were hiking to Jack Knife Pass before being picked up by Avila. Cody had to climb down dead drop wall to reach them.
"I have not seen him yet, but I imagine he was in better shape than you and dad. Jasper was little more prepared," Matt said.
"Jasper is a bit of dare devil, afraid of nothing," Cody stated.
"Yeah, makes his mom a bit nervous," said Matt.
"I think his dad too," Cody said a with little smirk.
"Yeah, his dad too," Matt said a bit shyly. He was a little on edge as the conversation he was going to have with his brother, was not going to end well. They both had been stalling a bit.
"So, Commander Williams is going to retire?" Cody asked and then said. "It is about time."
Matt said, "I know you are not his biggest fan. I know you do not want to hear it, but I think it would be good for Alex to be around kids his own age. You remember what it is like to be fifteen. Starting to like girls, sports, and adjusting to the real world out there. As you know, he will be living in that world before you know it."
Cody tried to interrupt his brother, but Matt will not let him this time. "Cody just hear me out. I lived in these mountains until I was fourteen and then I moved to the city. It took me a bit to adjust to people again. I made friends, went out with girls, got a football scholarship to college. Outside of leaving you and dad, I have no regrets for the time I was in the city. I am glad I had the opportunity to go to school with kids my own age, before going off to college. I know you did not have that opportunity until you went to college. I tried to convince dad that you needed to be around kids your age, go out with girls, that you needed to go to school, live in society."
"Do you think I turn out so bad?" Cody asked his brother.
"No Code, you turned out fine. But didn't you want to go out with girls, go to dances, be around kids your own age? The only kid you were around was Jen and she was four years younger than you," Matt said and Cody did not respond, instead he stared out at the lake where his son was fishing. A part of him knew Matt was right. "If I am not mistaken, you were bit girl crazy in San Francisco. Wasn't there a candy striper named Wendy. Your relationship was a bit more platonic than you wanted. Dad felt the justice system failed him, when TJ Cousins received a reduced sentence. He quit the rangers and moved to the mountains with you. You are just like him. When Lizzie died you did the same thing. Do you remember when we were in San Francisco, and you were trying to convince me, that dad should become a bounty hunter. That when he was hunting down the drug dealers, dad was more alive than you had seen in years. And you were right. He was alive again. Not that he was unhappy in the mountains. It just brought a spark back to him that had burned out. I do not want you to miss out on the same feeling."
"Matt, I am not dad," Cody said.
"You're the spitting image of dad, Code," Matt said as he got up. "Just think about it. It's getting late and I need to spend some time with my nephew."
Matt started walking toward the lake where Alex was fishing. Cody shouting to his brother, "Josh Cutler should be the next Commander. " Matt just waved his hand as he walked away. Josh Cutler was the nephew of Jim Cutler, one of the ranger's that died in the drug raid and Matt's best friend. Josh started at the rangers the same time as Cody. At first, they were rivals and then became the best of friends. Cody had a lot of respect for Josh. He did not always appear to take things seriously, but that was his personality he showed to people. Cody had worked closely with him, so Cody knew that Josh was very serious and a leader. Matt did not feel the same, so Matt would never consider Josh a leader.