Chapter 14: Help Needed
The Hawkes family seemed very happy or at least on the outside. Jennifer put up a brave and happy face, which on the inside things were crashing all around her. She needed more help than a counselor she started seeing could give her. The counselor recommended a five-week program at a facility about two hours from Tahoe. Jennifer had to have a private conversation with Cody about it. She was not sure how Cody would feel about her leaving for five weeks, but something she felt she needed.
Cody came home from the ranger station, "Where are the kids?"
"They are at Matt and Robin's for the night, we need to talk."
"A romantic night with just the two of us is a good idea," Cody looked at Jennifer and he could tell that was not what she had in mind. Jennifer was crying and he could see she was hurting. "Jennifer what is it, what is wrong?" Jennifer was crying and just broke down, "Jennifer please talk to me."
Jennifer tried to collect herself, "Sorry… you know I have been seeing a counselor." Jennifer was shaking a bit and had to wipe her tears. "I need more help than what she can give me. I feel like I am dying on the inside. I keep trying and nothing is helping." Cody embraced his wife and tears came down his cheeks.
"What can I do to help you," Cody wiped the tears from Jennifer's eyes.
"I discussed it with the counselor, and she suggested I go to a facility where they have a program for women who were in relationships where they were battered and abused. It is about two hours from here," Jennifer explained.
"How long would you be gone?" Cody was afraid to ask.
"Five weeks," Jennifer said.
"Five weeks? I don't know if I can be without you that long," Cody said crying.
"Cody, it breaks my heart thinking about it, but I can't go on like this either. I am afraid at some point I won't be able to keep going."
"Jennifer, I have noticed you have been getting more and more distant. Just hoping it was just everything that happened and as time went on you would come out of it. So, if you think it is something you need, I will support you on this. When would you need to leave?"
"Thank you, Cody. They have a session starting in three days and they still have room."
"Three days. I am off that day and I can drive you there," Cody said.
"Thank you for your support, I know it won't be easy for any of us, but I am hoping when I get back I can be a better wife and mother," Jennifer just hugged her husband.
Jennifer and Cody explained to the kids that Jennifer needed help, and this was the best way she could get the help she needed. Hailey promised she be good if her mom would stay. Jennifer said it was nothing she did, that Jennifer needed extra help that she could not get in Tahoe.
Three weeks into the program Cody was able to bring Hailey and Alex to visit Jennifer. Jennifer was over whelmed at seeing her family. They were able to eat together and do some of the family activities.
"Jennifer, I can see real difference in you. You see more at peace." Cody said holding Jennifer as they watched the kids.
"The last three weeks have not been easy. I have spent a lot of time coming to terms with everything that has happened in my life. I am learning how to deal with my feelings. I know it was not my fault and nothing I could have done would have changed Roy. Still working on things but I am feeling better about myself. I miss you and the kids terribly," Jennifer said.
"Two more weeks?" Cody said. "Do you think you will be ready to come home."
"Yes, I think so," Jennifer said. "Thank you for being so supportive of my decision to come here. Are you free next weekend or are you working?"
"I am working," Cody said, and Jennifer looked disappointed. "I could see if I could switch. What is next weekend?"
"They have a weekend where our partners can come. We can spend the weekend together. You can go to some of the sessions and maybe you can get a better perspective of what I have been going through. It is also a way I can start re-entering our life together."
"Wild horses could not keep me away from you," Cody scooped Jennifer up and kissed her.
"Thank you, Cody. I have really missed us."
"I have too," Cody said.
Friday came and there were some lost hikers. Jasper and Jessica went up in the chopper and the rest of the rangers searched on horseback. Josh and Freddie and Kelly and Cody searched in separate groups. Jasper and Jessica found them first. With the chopper they were able to pick them up. The one hiker was in pretty bad shape and had some life-threatening injuries and the other hiker had some minor ones. The rest of the rangers headed back to the ranger station.
The rangers were unsaddling the horses in the barn, when Josh asked, "Cody, when do you head out tomorrow to see Jen?"
"I will head out about 8am tomorrow morning and return Sunday evening. I miss her so much and can't wait to spend some time together," Cody said. Josh and Cody walked into the ranger station and passed the empty chopper pad.
When the two got into the ranger station, Josh asked, "David, have you heard anything from Jessica and Jasper?"
"Not since they took off for the hospital," David said.
"They should be back by now, call the hospital and see if they arrived?"
David checked with the hospital, "Josh the chopper never arrived. I have been trying to reach them on the radio and no luck."
The other rangers looked up, "What was the last coordinates you had from them?" Cody asked.
"They picked up the hikers here," David pointed out on the map. "The last ping from the chopper was here. They were taking a heading to go southwest towards Tahoe. So, they could be anywhere between here and there."
"That is about one hundred square miles. And the way those winds picked up; they could have totally drifted off course." Cody said. "We are going to need all the help we can get."
"David, call the sheriff's office and see if they can get a chopper or two up to search before it gets dark and give them the designated area. I am going to call Jessica and Jasper's families," Josh said.
"Josh, I will call Matt and Robin.," Cody said.
"Okay, the rest of you. I want you to get your gear loaded up, I want you to eat before you leave and bring plenty of food and water. Be prepared to spend the night. We are not dealing with snow yet but might be cold in the overnight hours."
An hour later Matt, Robin, Frank, Priya, Alex, and Hailey showed up at the ranger station.
Josh gave an update to the families and rangers, "The sheriff office had to suspend the flights as it was too windy to keep the choppers up in the air. So far, they had no luck. Robin and Priya are going to coordinate efforts here at the station. Each group will report back every hour on their findings, unless something is found sooner. Group A: Matt and Kelly; Group B: Cody and Alex, Group C: Frank and Freddie and Group D: will be David and myself. I want to thank you all for your help in assisting us. I know you are all worried about your loved ones as much as we are."
"Daddy, I want to come too. I want to help find them." Hailey pleaded.
"Hailey, I need you to stay here and help Aunt Kelly and Priya for me. I don't want to have to worry about you out there. Will you stay here and listen to them?"
"Yes, Daddy." Hailey was disappointed.
Cody gave her a big hug. "This coming summer we can take a camping trip with the horses, and we can work on improving your riding and your outdoor skills, okay."
"Okay, daddy." Hailey was disappointed as she wanted to help find Jasper but would listen to her dad.
The Rangers and guests all took off to search for the down chopper. Cody, Kelly, Matt, and Alex made it as far as Aaron's Lodge before it was too dark to see. The four spent the night there with plans for leaving at first light.
"Dad, did you tell mom anything?" Alex asked.
"I have not said anything to her yet, I am hoping we find them early in the morning and I can still make it out there. I don't want to worry her and set her back any."
"Uncle Cody, I am sorry you might miss your weekend with Jen. I know you were looking forward to it."
"It is more important that we find Jasper and Jessica right now. Time is critical in situations like this. Jennifer will understand, she knows it is the nature of the job. If we don't find them in the morning, I will have Robin send a message. I just don't want to worry her if we don't need to. Matt, how are you holding up?"
"Honestly, scared as to what happened to them," Matt said. "I feel a bit guilty sleeping here with Jasper and Jessica in who knows what condition."
"Matt, your old. Just be glad you are not Frank, who will be sleeping on the ground tonight. Just think how sore he will be." Cody smirked trying to cheer Matt up.
Matt gave Cody a half smile, "I don't think anything would stop him from looking for his daughter. She is his world. We should get some sleep, tomorrow maybe a long day."
The morning came early as the Hawkes family was up before the sun. They said their goodbyes. Matt and Kelly went in one direction while Cody and Alex went in another. Hours went by and none of the groups had any luck. The Sherriff's department was able to get the choppers up in the air but had to call them back.
"Dad, Mom," Alex said.
"What about her?" Cody asked. "Oh no, it is getting late. Thanks son. Ace to Frostbite, come in Frostbite."
"I hear you Ace. Come back" Robin responded.
"Can you call the facility where Jennifer is at and give her a message?" Cody asked.
At the facility where Jennifer is waiting for Cody to arrive. She is watching as other women's partners arrive. The time was getting late, later than Cody said he would be. She was getting worried and disappointed at the same time. One of the counselors came up to Jennifer with a message from Cody.
"Jen, I am sorry," said the counselor as she handed Jennifer the note.
"Sorry, I could not get away. Emergency rescue situation. Will try to come if things clear up or give you a call. Love Cody," Jennifer read the note and her eyes teared up. She took a deep breath.
"Jen, why don't you take a seat in the session, you may get some stuff out of it. There are few other women here, who don't have partners here yet and some whose partners could not attend. Jennifer just shook her head yes and sat down.
Jennifer shared her feelings of excitement about spending time with her husband but was disappointed when he could not leave. She explained it something that happens with the type of work he does, there were times when he would not make important events and it is something she would have to deal with from time to time.
The weekend went on and no word from Cody. But Jennifer tried to make the best of it. She ate with some of the women whose partners could not attend. In some cases, their partner arrived, and the woman went off with them. Leaving Jennifer and few other women alone.
The search continued for Jasper and Kelly and no sign of them still. Everyone spent a second night in the mountains. In the morning, the search continued. "Dad, what are the chances we will find them, and they are still alive."
"Alex, every situation is different. My dad and I once ran into a plane crash. We found two skeletons just sitting there huddled together waiting for someone to find them. So never give up." Cody and Alex searched for some more. Alex was looking through his binoculars and saw a big patch of mud that led in to a forest of trees down a steep hill. They appeared as possible skid marks.
"Dad, look at this. I don't know if it is anything or not," Alex handed his dad the binoculars.
"Alex, that looks promising."
"Radio it in," Cody said.
"Hoops to Frostbite, come in Frostbite." Alex said.
"Hoops this is Frostbite, come back." Robin responded.
"We are near blind canyon and spotted something that looks like a mud slide leading into the nearby trees, Hoops out."
"How far are you from there?" Robin asked.
"About 2 hours maybe? Hoops out."
"I am going to send Frank and Freddie that way as well. They are a bit closer than you are. Make your way there. Excellent job Alex, best lead we have had." With that Alex and Cody took off in the direction of the trees.
Jasper and Jessica were just sitting side by side appearing not to be moving. They both had some injuries. Jasper was stabbed by a piece of debris on his side and had a broken arm. Jessica broke her leg, and both had concussions. They were cold, thirsty, and hungry. One hiker died in the crash. He already had some life-threatening injuries, before they picked him up. The woman died over night from her internal injuries. Jessica and Jasper just stayed as close as possible to each other for warmth. They had lit a fire, but it went out overnight. Neither were in shape to travel to find help or move much.
Frank and Freddie make it to the skid marks that Alex spotted. "White Eagle to Frostbite. Come back Frostbite."
"This is Frostbite, come back."
"We made it to Blind Canyon and the mud slide. We have found pieces of debris higher up. We are making our way to the tree line down the hill now."
Freddie yelled, "I see the chopper, but I don't see any movement."
"We found the chopper and we are making our way over now."
Everyone said a prayer for those on board. Frank could hardly bring himself to go over to the wreckage. Cody and Alex met up with them before Frank joined Freddie, "Frank stay here with Alex. You don't want to see it if it is bad." Cody said. Frank and Alex stayed behind. Frank had dropped to his knees; he began to give the sign of the cross and started to pray. Alex got off his horse and knelt by Frank and prayed.
Cody and Freddie made their way to the chopper and saw the two bodies of the hikers first. Before they found Jasper and Jessica sitting next to each other asleep. Cody went up to them and felt Jasper's neck. Jasper woke suddenly. "Uncle Cody is that really you? "
"Yes,"
"Jessica, wake up. We are saved," Jessica moaned as she came too.
"Took you long enough," Jessica said.
Cody chuckled a bit. "Well, we were without our ace pilot, so took a bit longer. There are some people here that want to see you," Cody shouted for Frank and Alex to come down, "They are alive."
Freddie reported back to the station, and everyone cheered. The Sheriff department was able to get their chopper back up in the air and bring Jasper and Jessica to the hospital. Josh, Freddie, and David remained at the scene until the chopper could come back and pick up the deceased hikers. Cody led Matt, Kelly, Frank, and Alex back to the ranger station. It took until midafternoon to get back, they were all exhausted.
Jennifer was sitting in the last group session. She was one of the few women whose partner had not been there at some point of the weekend. The door opened and Cody walked into the room. Jennifer did not notice at first. She finally looked up and saw Cody walking over. Jennifer got up and went over to Cody. She leaped into his arms, and he picked her up. He made it and he got to sit in the last part of the session. The partners were supposed to leave at that point, but the counselor said that Cody and Jennifer could walk the grounds for an hour if they liked before Cody had to say his goodbyes.
"I am so sorry; I could not get here any sooner and spend the weekend with you. I got here as soon as I could. I miss you so much. Are you mad at me?"
"I could not be mad at you. I was disappointed, yes, but not mad at you. I just missed you and looked forward to spending some time with you. Call me silly, but I like to spend time with my husband." Jennifer teased and smiled at Cody.
"Jennifer, I like this playful side of you," Cody smiled at Jennifer.
"Is everything okay back home?" Jennifer asked.
"It is now. The chopper went down with Jasper and Jessica. They picked up a couple of stranded hikers and a sudden down draft caught Jessica off guard and the chopper went down. It took us a day and half to find them. Both hikers died, but Jessica and Jasper were lucky. Both have broken bones and stuff, but they should heal."
"I am so glad you were able to help. It makes the disappointment even less. You were where you needed to be."
"Alex is the one who spotted where the chopper went down, or we would still be searching." Cody said.
"He is a pretty amazing kid," Jennifer said proudly.
"Chip off the old block, but we need to find a good call sign for him. He went with hoops."
Jennifer chuckled, "that is funny. We will have to work on that."
"But first things first, we need to get you home. I have to work Friday morning but can then pick you up in the afternoon. I was thinking maybe we go up to the cabin for the weekend. Just us on Friday and the kids could come up on Saturday. We could then drive back to Tahoe on Sunday. Just depending on if the weather holds out."
"That sounds wonderful."
"If for some reason I can't get away, then maybe have Robin or Alex pick you up. Get you home one way or another."
"Sounds like a good alternative plan," Jennifer said.
"Four more days."
"Four more days," Jennifer said.
Jennifer and Cody just sat and watched the sunset holding each other.
Friday arrived and Jennifer got her bags packed and was just waiting for Cody to pick her up. The counselor stopped by to let Jennifer know that Cody had arrived and said goodbye. Jennifer said her goodbyes and walked up to Cody and kissed him. He took her bags and they drove off. "Thought maybe we pick up some Chinese on the way up to the cabin and see what we feel like from there. Alex and Hailey promise to drive up as soon as the sun comes up. They can't wait to see you."
"I miss them too, but tonight I am glad it is just the two of us. I miss us and can't wait to have you all to myself."
Jennifer and Cody enjoyed dinner together and then Cody moved to the couch. Jennifer cuddled up against him. "Cody is there something wrong?"
"Jennifer, I can't believe you are here with me again. I don't want to hurt you more."
"Cody, you never hurt me. I told you I was broken, I needed help before I ever came back to the mountains. I just did not have any choice. It was just Hailey and I, I had no one I trusted to watch her while I got the help I needed. No extra money to pay for it. I was dyeing on the inside than already. When Matt and I went to sign the papers to turn over my grandfather's lodge to the rangers. I told him I could not keep living the life I had been living. I had a taste of what it was like to live a life with a kind and caring man. I told you I was thinking about leaving Hailey with you and confronting Roy. I knew he kill me, and my pain would be over."
"Oh... Jennifer." Cody said with tears going down his cheeks.
"When I woke up in the hospital, I was worried about you, Alex, and Hailey. I was so afraid someone would have gotten hurt, killed or Roy would have taken Hailey. Once I knew you were all okay, I just wanted all my pain to end. You kept caring for me and taking care of me. When you said Roy was dead, I had hope. You helped me open my heart up again, you gave me a reason to live, a reason to be happy and I was happy with you. Things started to unravel when your mom came, then Kevin Janis showed up, getting arrested, and thinking I would lose everything again. After the charges were dropped, I was happy for a bit, but my mind kept telling me I had no right to be happy, I did not deserve the life we had. You stood by me no matter what. I know now I can be happy again; and I do deserve a life with you. I love you Cody Hawkes and I want to grow old with you and our kids and grandkids."
"Jennifer, I love you too."
Next morning Jennifer woke up. She was expecting Cody to be lying in bed next to her and he was not there. Jennifer got up and saw he was not in the cabin but could smell coffee. She got dressed and went outside where Cody was sitting on the porch. "I was wondering where you disappeared to. Are we okay?"
"I was thinking about what you said last night. I know I missed all the signs. My desire to be with you all the time made me blind to seeing you were hurting. Jennifer, I don't want my desires to blind me, I want to see you and how you are feeling. When we made love last night. Did I hurt you? Are you okay?"
"Cody, I have learned that I need to be more open with you about my feelings. If I don't say anything, you won't know. Last night was wonderful. I missed our time together. I am so sorry I have not been able to be with you in that way for such a long time." Cody pulled Jennifer closer to him and they kissed.
"We are okay," Cody said. Cody kissed Jennifer some more.
There sound of a couple of doors slamming shut echoed in the trees.
They said together, "The kids are here."
"Shall we?" Cody asked.
"Yes," Cody and Jennifer met the kids half way and the four of them just hugged.