Disclaimer: The original characters, stories, and concepts of High Mountain Rangers and Jesse Hawkes are the property of A. Shane Co with Sibling Rivalries and any other production company that has the rights to it. My only purpose is for entertainment and no profit is being made.

Part 1: A Ranger's Destiny

Chapter 1: The Aftermath

Cody has always known what he wanted to be, a High Mountain Ranger like his dad and brother. He grew up in the Sierra Mountains outside of South Lake Tahoe, that is until his brother Matt was injured in a drug raid. It took months for Matt to recover and get the full use of his legs. While Matt was recovering in San Francisco, Jesse hunted down the drug dealers that hurt Matt and the Rangers. While Jesse chased down the drug dealers, Cody saw his dad light up in a way he had not seen before. Cody, with the help of Matt encouraged his dad to do bounty hunting to earn money. Jesse finally agreed and once Matt healed, he helped his dad. Cody joined in as well or at least as much as his dad would let him, he was constantly told he was inexperienced or too young to help.

After a while, Jesse decided that he and his boys needed a break and they needed to get away. They went on a fishing trip to a remote area that Jesse had been to before. They stopped to have breakfast, Cody went to the ATM to get some cash and walked into a bank robbery. He was taken hostage in the bank and used as a shield when the robbers were given the ransom. Matt and Jesse were able to rescue Cody. In the process Cody was able to overpower one of the robbers and got hold of his gun. This was the second time Cody had pointed a gun at someone and he could not shoot them. At that point, Cody decided his future would not be working with his dad and brother as a bounty hunter. He would get his high school diploma and go to college before trying out for the Rangers. That is what he wanted to do with his future. Regardless of what his dad and brother were doing.

After Matt was injured, Cody kept the three remaining rangers in formed on Matt's progress. Robin was especially interested in how he was doing. Robin and Matt were always very close, but they kept it professional. Robin tried to talk to Matt, and he would not take her calls or return them. He could not deal with the loss of two of his men under his command, Jim Cutler, and Tim Hart. Even worse, they were some of his closest friends. He could not bring himself to face the three surviving rangers, Robin Kelly, Frank Avila, and Izzy Flowers. Cody could see that his big brother was also struggling being a bounty hunter he was no longer his own man. It was the right thing for Jesse, but not for his two boys. Matt had changed and Cody wanted his big brother back. Matt had not yet quit the rangers but kept extending his leave and the decision to go back or not. But 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.

When Cody got his high school diploma, he asked his dad if he could have a party and invite some friends. Jesse was surprised as he did not think Cody had made any friends in San Francisco, but he kept insisting. Cody invited his mom and new husband, but they could not attend the party. Cody was disappointed, but not surprised. His mom did not even congratulate him, Cody just brushed it off and went on. He insisted that he still had a special friend that was joining. Matt would tease Cody that he had a girlfriend and questioned if Cody was sure he wanted her to meet his family. She might get turned off. Cody insisted that he did not have a girlfriend and the friend would not be turned off. Cody had invited Robin to dinner. Then Matt would have to face Robin and could no longer ignore her. Robin was like a sister to Cody. He could see that Robin and Matt had feelings for each other, and he did not want his brother to mess it up.

Matt, Cody, and Jesse were at the restaurant and were seated right away.

"Cody, so where is this guest of yours? Oh… I got it. It's your invisible friend. What was his name? Matt teased.

"Ha, ha, ha," Cody said. Cody looked up and Robin walked into the restaurant. As soon as Cody saw her, he got a big smile on his face. Matt followed Cody's eyes.

"What is Robin doing here?" Matt asked.

"She is my special guest," Cody said.

"Cody, what do you think you are doing? I don't want to see or talk to her," Matt said angerly.

"Cody, this is your brother's business, and you should stay out of it," Jesse scolded. Cody looked at his dad and was not going to back down.

"Matt, you need to face her and the other rangers if you ever hope to move on with your life, instead of running away like you have been doing. Talk to Robin." Matt started to leave; Cody grabbed his arm. "Matt I am serious; you have not been yourself for a while. Stop being so blind. You have feelings for her, and I am pretty sure she has feelings for you. She is not here for me, but for you."

"This is a mistake," Matt said.

"No running is a mistake," Cody said. Robin was escorted to the table. "Robin so good to see you." Cody gave her a big hug. Cody was so happy to see her. He missed Robin and the other rangers.

"Congratulations Ace," Robin said.

"Robin, good to see you," Jesse gave her a hug.

"Good to see you Jesse," Robin turned to Matt. "Matt you look well."

"Robin, you look beautiful," Matt said. Robin was all dressed up in a nice cocktail dress; It was very different than how she normally dresses at the ranger station. "Come sit by me and we can catch up."

Matt pulled out the chair across from him. Robin and the Hawkes men had a nice dinner celebrating Cody's graduation.

Robin pulled a bag out. "This is from Frank, Izzy, and me." Robin handed Cody the bag and Cody immediately opened the card. The card read, "Dear Cody, For the future High Mountain Ranger. Remember to always follow your dreams. Your sister and brothers in arm: Robin, Frank, and Izzy." Cody then opened the gift, it was a painting of the High Mountain Ranger crest and a sweat shirt with the High Mountain Ranger emblem and Cody's call sign, 'Ace' stitched on it.

"Wow, cool. Thanks Robin. Thank you for coming all this way for my party," Cody was so excited by his gifts and Robin coming.

"Cody, anytime. Frank, Izzy and I are all rooting for you. We thought when you get discouraged and need some motivation. You could look at the crest and remember what you have been dreaming about," Robin said. Jesse looked displeased. It was obvious that Cody was talking to Robin and the other rangers more than about Matt's progress and about things he was not sharing with Matt or himself.

As they finished dinner Matt asked, "Robin, how long are you in town?"

"Just for the night, we are still bit short handed at the station," Robin said.

"Are you okay with walking with me?" Matt asked.

"I would like that very much," Robn responded, giving Matt a sweet and enduring smile.

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.

"Matt, be honest with me. How are you really doing?" Robin asked.

"I am okay," Matt said.

"Just, okay? Matt, you know what happened was not your fault. No one blames you," Robin said.

"Robin, it is my fault. I planned it and we were caught off guard," Matt said, tears started welling up.

"It was not your fault. They were tipped off. There was nothing you could have done differently that would have changed anything. You guys were doomed before you ever left," Robin said. "Matt it was not your fault."

Matt started to cry and Robin just held him. Matt stopped crying and placed his hands on each side of Robin's face. "Robin, I am so sorry for ignoring you. I could not face you after what happened."

"Matt come back," Robin said. "You deserve to be there, and we all want you there."

"Do you just want me back as Commander or…" Matt asked, fading on the last part.

"Both," Robin said. She started leaning into Matt and he bent down and started to kiss Robin and she kissed him back. "Come back."

When they came back Matt and Robin were holding hands. 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. If there were no issues of the two of them dating, he would go back as the Commander of the Rangers. Otherwise, he would go back as a ranger. Some provisions were made regarding Robin's reporting structure, but other than that, there were no issues. Matt and Robin were engaged within the year.