Out Of The Past

Oh God, it's real.

"You have to go, Mike." he said.

"Eric..."

"Go." he said, softly. 

I picked up the phone and dialed the first contact number, as Eric went out of the room, to tell everyone.

"Yes."

"You have a go, hot LZ, no shutdown."

"Yes sir," was the response, before the line went dead.

I dialed the next number. 

"Yes."

"You have a go, helicopter will land nearby, we'll need help with kids and luggage, and it's a hot takeoff."

"Yes sir." was the response, before it went dead, as the one before it had.

I set the handset back in the cradle, before taking a deep breath, and turning to my wall safe.

There were always things in there, that I could use, in an emergency, I just had never thought I actually would have to use them.

The first was a silver briefcase, just like you see in the movies. Thick, and containing more than would be apparent. 

There was $500,000 US dollars inside of it, along with passports for Sam, the trinity, Eric and myself. Clean ones.

Also enclosed were credit cards, also clean and untraceable, along with driver's licenses and other documentation. I would leave Eric with his, just in case, as I put it aside.

The Sig Sauer P226 was a bonus, along with 2 extra clips, while the top half contained a digital scrambled and completely secure, untraceable Satellite Phone. 

I double checked everything, and then closed the lid, unplugging the thing before doing so of course, while also grabbing several handheld Sat Phones, to take; I was going to leave one for Eric.

I brought that back out into the office, and sat everything down in a chair, while going back inside, and grabbing a suitcase, which contained a few other goodies, which might prove useful, on site communications equipment. 

I quickly took everything, and went out to the living room with it, setting it down with the growing pile of suitcases, while being watched intently by several sets of eyes.

I quickly went back into the office, and pulled up security camera footage of Brian, Chris, Derek and Samantha, snapping close ups of their faces, and placing them into an encrypted e-mail, along with their ages, for each photo, coupled with a simple note attached.

"Newborn, Chekov, Uhura, Scotty," which told the recipient that I needed completely clean docs on them, where we were going, that we would contact them, and that I needed it yesterday, at least for anyone who knew.

I clicked send, and it was off while I quickly grabbed my laptop, and brought it out to the pile, then ran upstairs to get my stuff ready.

"I packed your bag, Dad." Sammy told me.

"Thanks baby." I said, as I ran into my room, taking off my clothes, as I went, starting with my gunbelt.

I quickly changed into civilian clothes, and shoes, then grabbed a holster, placing my gun and extra clips, back into it, before affixing it to my belt, in the back of my pants, pulling my shirt over it, before running back downstairs.

Eric had been doing some rearranging, and now had reduced the suitcases by a large magnitude, with several empty ones lying strewn about.

"I've got everything as ready as I can." Eric told me, before going over hugging his kids to him.

I could see they had been crying, and still were, as I looked at my bunch, who were trying to put up a brave front, but were having a hard time.

Samantha had Chris in her arms, holding him, with Derek right there on the other side.

I went to my three, and bent down, kissing Brian, before taking Peter and SamSam, into my arms. I would have picked Brian up, but there wasn't time, as I just murmured,

"Everything is going to be ok, little ones," I told them, desperately hoping I was correct.

I just sat there until the phone rang, and upon answering it, was told, "2 minutes," before the line went dead.

"The helicopter is two minutes out, guys." I said to the group who had been watching me intently, as I hung it up.

Eric came over and just looked at me, before taking me in his arms, and hugging me ,whispering,

"Be safe, and take care."

I just pulled back and looked at him, the love that was reflected back in his eyes, matched my own, as I pulled him to me, once again, and told him.

"You take care of yourself, and get out, if things get too bad." 

"I will." he told me before releasing me and stepping back.

The kids were crying now, and Sammy ran over and hugged Eric, and I could see that I and the children weren't the only ones crying, as tears fell down his face. 

Peter also came over shyly, and Eric scooped him up in a big hug, before going over and repeating it with Derek and Chris, surprisingly, before ending with his bunch. 

I quickly handed Eric the package, and Sat Phone, before picking up Brian, while he picked up Chris, leaving the wheelchair to Samantha.

The kids grabbed as much of the luggage as they could, and we went out the door, heading to the pasture, where we could already see the helicopter in the distance, approaching us.

When we got there, we set luggage and kids down, with Eric and I running back to get the remaining bags, arriving just as the helicopter was coming in for landing.

I glanced back, to see the horde going crazy at what they were witnessing, and saw that Eric had noticed as well. 

He picked up his radio and keyed the mic

"100 Charles."

"Go ahead, 100 Charles."

"100 Charles, I want a Tac Alert called, and the general aviation terminal at the airport closed to anyone trying to enter the complex, from the access road. Be advised that means anyone, including other agency law enforcement units."

There was silence on the radio, and you could just about see the dispatcher's mouth hanging open, before she finally came back on the air and stated, "10-4 100 Charles, block all access to facility to all parties."

"That is affirmative," was Eric's response.

I was staring at him, stunned, as the dispatcher put the broadcast out over the air, hearing multiple units responding, as Eric looked up at me.

"Go." he said, as the helicopter touched down.

"Come with us?" I asked, pleadingly again, knowing this could very well cause him trouble.

He shook his head as he turned and picked up Chris, and I just followed, yelling at everyone to keep their heads down, and started running for the bird.

The copilot had come over, and was grabbing luggage, and herding kids, as we all ran to the helicopter, and started getting them settled. Eric and the copilot had gone back for the last of the luggage, and I had just finished getting the kids strapped in, when they got back. I watched as they got everything stowed, and then climbed aboard behind Samantha, watching as Eric backed away.

The kids were crying, especially Eric's, and my heart went out to them, although I couldn't reach them, as the helicopter began a full power departure, heading towards the airport.

I watched Eric's form recede in the distance, and felt like I was losing something, I really wished he was here with us. 

The ride to the airport was silent except for sniffles and soft crying from the children and I watched as we approached the airport

I could see the units, blocking the roads surrounding the airport, and what looked like a couple of news vans, stopped at the checkpoints, as we dropped down at what appeared dangerously close to the airplane we would be boarding.

The pilot sat down fast and somewhat hard and I could already feel the engines being cut with no time being wasted in post flight checks. 

It was only moments before I heard and felt the rotor brakes being applied, and the copilot was opening the doors yelling, "Let's go! Let's go! Keep your heads down, keep em down, let's go" as he started lifting kids, and putting them on the ground, where they were met by the crew from the airplane, and taken beyond the rotors, to be escorted out to the plane.

I got a hold of Brian, and the copilot lifted Chris out, as they were the last ones aboard, and we took off for the plane, while the rest of the crew from both aircraft, and Samantha started grabbing luggage.

I could hear one of the plane's engines going, and knew that they would spool the other one up, just as soon as the doors were closed, which would be soon, as we were heading up the ramp now.

I was surprised to see the aircraft present was the Boeing 737-700 BBJ, but it would make the flight much nicer, or at least as nice as it could be, under the circumstances, as we entered the aircraft.

The luggage was brought on board, and stowed quickly, including Brian's wheelchair, as Samantha and I, along with the crew, got the kids strapped in, while the plane started rolling immediately, even as I heard the remaining engine being started.

The captain approached me, and asked,

"I need to know where we will be going." 

"I'm not completely certain, but Russia , I think, take off VFR if possible, and file later. If you need to file now, do so for Anchorage, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can." I told him.

He nodded and headed back to the cockpit, as I set about seating myself, and strapping in.

We quickly were in the run-up area, and then pulling onto the runway, as the powerful engines came to full life, vibrating the plane before the pilot released the brakes, and launched us towards the sky.

Everything went smoothly, and we were soon airborne, as the craft banked, setting us on a westerly course, and I breathed a sigh of relief, as I felt some of the tension drain out of me.

I got up and went to where they had placed the silver case, opening it up, and activating the phone, allowing it to power up fully, and lock onto a signal, before I placed the call.

"Yeah."

"We're airborne, Eric." I said to him.

"Good, state is at the airport, having a fit," he told me.

"Already?" I asked.

"Yeah, someone was watching television, and they have wonderful shots of you guys, getting into the helicopter." he said, chuckling.

"Great." I replied.

At about that time, the interplane phone rang, and I told Eric to hold on while I answered it.

"Hello." 

"ATC is requesting us to turn back per the state police."

"I'll be right there, how far from the Montana state line are we?" I asked.

"We're crossing it right now." was the reply."

"Ok," and hung up the phone.

"Eric, air traffic control is relaying a request by the state police for us to turn back." I told him.

"Well, tell em they can stick their 'request' up their ass," was his response, which caused me to chuckle.

"Ok, I'm going up front, and I'll call you back from there." I told him, as he hung up, and I got up and walked forward.

When I got into the cockpit, the Captain turned to me, "They're getting rather insistent, sir."

"We're out of state aren't we?" I asked and he nodded his head.

"Good, tell em to fuck off." I said.

"Umm ,I don't think that would be a good idea." the Captain replied, before saying, "maybe you would like to speak to them sir."

"Alright Captain, how soon until we are out of US airspace?" I asked him, taking a headset from the copilot, as I sat down. 

"Roughly 45 minutes, or if you need me to, I can duck up across into Canada , but that's going to require permission to enter their airspace." he told me.

"Ok, no problem. Are we filed or VFR?" I asked him.

"I just filed to Anchorage, via Seattle, which got them raising their eyebrows, but they approved it, told em you wanted to go up the coast, we're heading up to 280 right now." he told me.

"Ok, thanks, who am I talking to?"

"Some cop," he replied, as I keyed the mic and said,

"This is Mike Reynolds, can I help you?" 

"Sgt. Reynolds, this is Sgt. Johnson, state police, I need you to turn your aircraft around immediately and return to Missoula." he told me quite officiously. 

I wasn't in the mood.

"And why would I do that, Sgt. Johnson?"

There was silence for a few minutes, before he came back on the air, "Can you call our dispatch and have her patch you through so we can take this off the air?" he suggested.

"Sure," I told him, removing the headset and getting back up.

"Keep going and file Kamchatka, when you absolutely need to, the airport code is UHPP" I told the pilot, before exiting, and going back to the office, which was built in, mid way down the plane. It was away from the kids, and sound proofed, which was probably going to be a good thing I thought, as I entered and shut the door behind me.

I picked up the phone, and dialed the number. 

"State dispatch operator 399, can I help you?" the voice said.

"Hi state, this is Sgt Mike Reynolds, and I need you to patch me into a phone at the Missoula airport tower, with your Sgt. Johnson." I told her.

"Yes sir, we have been expecting your call, one moment." she said.

"Sgt, is that you? I heard him ask.

"Yes." I replied.

"You need to return immediately." he said again.

"Same question, why would I want to do that?" I told him.

"We have orders to take the children in question into custody immediately; that means you need to bring them back." he told me, and I could just about see him gritting his teeth.

"In case you weren't aware, Sgt. that is precisely why I am aboard a plane, at the moment." I told him.

"This situation is not funny, Mr. Reynolds." he said, coldly.

Uh oh, he dropped the Sgt. Routine, which means he was becoming less happy.

"I can assure you that I don't find anything at all amusing about someone trying to take my children away from me." I told him, just as coldly.

"I don't know where you got that idea, Mike, no one is taking your children." he said, now using my first name.

"You're right, I don't know, oh wait could it be your telling me that you have 'orders' to take them?" I said.

"Well Mike maybe that was an unfortunate choice of words to use. We have orders to make sure they are alright," he told me.

"Oh well then, that solves the whole problem doesn't it, Sgt. because I can tell you right now, that they are just fine." I said.

"Umm, well we are going to need to see that for ourselves, Mike." he replied.

"Sorry, you're going to have to take my word for it." I shot back.

"Can't do that Mike, and you know it." he said.

"Well, since I have custody of them legally, you're going to have to," I advised him.

There was silence on the phone, no doubt as he thought over just what he wanted to say, before saying it. If he was smart he wouldn't try to piss me off, but then again, it didn't seem as if he was.

"That is being resolved as we speak, and before you can land in Anchorage, the state will have custody of all five boys," he told me, then went on, "if you haven't turned that plane around by the time you arrive, you will be arrested for kidnapping, and interstate flight, in the commission of a kidnapping, and that will make it federal." 

Ah, the big guns.

"So you're telling me you are going to bring the FBI into this, for kidnapping across state lines?" I asked.

"That'll be up to you Mike, no one wants to do this, it would be the end of your career in law enforcement, and certain jail time." he told me condescendingly. 

"Well Sgt. Johnson, if you do that, then you know I will be able to keep the kids, in that jurisdiction indefinitely, which will screw all your plans, and I might be willing to take my chances there." I told him.

"I suggest you rethink that Mike, the penalties for kidnapping under those charges are significant." he said.

"Sgt. Johnson, these kids are not being abused, and the lies you have been told are just that." I tried.

"It doesn't matter Mike, I have my orders, you have to turn the plane back." he said, and I could just about see him grinning convinced he had me.

"We're out of the state now Sgt." I told him.

"Yes, I am aware of that, but it won't stop the FBI, becoming involved, you really need to think about what you are doing. One way or the other, those kids are going to be in custody, other than yours before the day is out." he said.

Like hell.

"Well, maybe you're right, I don't know, I'm just trying to protect my kids is all. Maybe I should think about this some, and perhaps call my attorney." I told him, while projecting uncertainty.

"Very wise choice Mike, Very wise, why don't you make your call, and get back to me." he told me.

"I'll do that, goodbye." I said.

"Oh and Mike, don't be too long, it would be best if I heard from you in the next half an hour or so." he added.

"Fine, then I'll call you in about 30 minutes or so, maybe less." I told him with dejection in my voice.

"That'll be fine." came from him with winning just dripping from his voice, and I heard the line go dead, as I very carefully pressed the off button.

YES!

The asshole just screwed himself big time.

We would be in international airspace, in just under that, I thought as I punched the cockpit and heard the Captain answer.

"How long until you have to amend your flight plan, and how long until we cross out of US airspace?" I asked him.

"Well the way I worded it to ATC, it'll be about the same time, maybe 23 minutes for the flight plan, and 25 for the airspace, they think you want to over-fly Seattle, and then continue out for a bit before turning northwest." he told me.

"That'll be great thanks, let me know when it happens?" I asked of him.

"Will do." and hung up the phone.

Perfect, I thought, as I picked up the phone, and activated the scramble function, before calling my attorney. It wouldn't be perfect, but it would have to do.

"Hello." I heard.

"It's Mike." I said to the voice on the other end.

I heard soft chuckling, and then, 

"You have some people slightly pissed." he told me.

"Good, cause I'm more than slightly." I told him with no humor in my voice.

"Well, are you safe?"

"Will be very shortly." I told him.

"Good, that's best. Don't come back until I let you know it's safe." 

I didn't say anything because it wouldn't be his guarantee I was waiting for.

"The state has asked for an emergency hearing, and the court granted the request for about an hour from now, I'll be there." he went on to tell me.

"Good, don't let them get away with this." I said to him.

"It's not that simple Mike. They are simply going to ask for an emergency order of custody, pending the outcome of the investigation, which they are going to conduct, right away. That is a reasonable request. The thing that may work in our favor, is that the state will have to ask the judge to override the local child protective agency, and a judge who granted permanent custody to you early this morning." he said to me.

"I was awarded permanent custody this morning?" I asked shocked.

"Yes, Millie apparently was there, first thing this morning, and the judge signed the order, granting you permanent custody, pending the adoption hearing, which he also approved."

"So if I have the custody order, and approval for adoption, they can't do anything?" I said with hope in my voice.

"I'm sorry Mike, that's not the way it works. They're going to ask the decision to be temporarily set aside, at the least, if not overturned, pending investigation of the allegations, regarding all the boys and your conduct." he told me.

"Of course it can't be that simple." I replied bitterly.

"Of course not, then I wouldn't have a job." he said, laughing, before continuing, 

"Seriously Mike, CPS's attorney is fighting this, tooth and nail, as well as the judge who is quite pissed. I don't think it's going to help, since if the state's attorney has any brains, he won't try to outright overturn everything, just demand the temporary order, while they put the allegations to rest. That will probably get granted, in all honesty, and normally it would make sense, it just doesn't help you any." he told me.

"Ok, thanks, Alan, I appreciate it, keep me advised, and you can reach me at this number." I told him, giving him a secure Sat Phone number, to reach me on, and then hanging up. 

Next I dialed another number, on full scramble, and waited.

"Hello," the rich warm voice said.

"Well hello there, this line is secure." I said.

"I can see that, you finally listened." it said laughing. 

"Yes I did, I do once in awhile, you know." laughing back.

"You have created a bit of a stir out here, you know?" 

"Yes, I've heard." I told it.

"Well, I got your letter, and everything is in place." it told me.

"Thank you, final is Petropavlovsk, eta about 6 hours." I said.

"Good spot, you remembered." the voice said, with a smile in it.

"Yes, that dascha, out by the lake, northwest of Kamchatka." I said.

"Beautiful isn't it?" was the comment.

"Very." I told it.

"How much assistance would you like?" the voice asked. 

"As much as possible," I told it.

"That will not present a problem." I was advised.

"Thank you." I told it.

"Not a problem, transport will meet you, and fly you to the dascha, security will be provided, the officials will be taken care of, and the dascha will be ready for your use, for an extended period of time, and it still has all the amenities." the voice informed me.

"Thank you so much, I don't know how I can ever repay you for this." I told it.

"Oh, you'll get the bill, have no fear of that, just take care of the little ones." the voice said, laughing, as the connection was severed. 

"I will." I said into the silence, smiling. I knew I could count on that one person to help.

Almost time I thought, as I dialed Eric. 

"Hello."

"Yeah, it's me." I said.

"Who else is it gonna be on this phone?" he said, chuckling.

"True." I said.

"Well, some people aren't real happy, but I suppose you know that." he said, still laughing.

"Yeah especially Sgt. Johnson," I told him.

"Jesus, that dick is down here, they must be in bad shape." he said.

"Friend of yours?" I asked jokingly.

"Not exactly, he's an ass." he said.

"I got that idea." I told him, laughing.

"Well, he hasn't changed much, he wants me to call him back in about 15 minutes, which is about 5 or so after we cross out of US airspace," I said to him, still laughing.

"Oh Christ, they had officers, out here, and I told them you went to Disneyland, they didn't for some reason seem to find that amusing."

"I can imagine." I told him.

"Well nothing new here, and still haven't been able to find Millie, although I hope she'll be at the hearing." he told me.

"Yeah I heard about that from Alan." 

"I'm going to be there, and give them hell, don't worry." he said.

"Ok Eric, I'll talk to you later." I said,

"Yeah, I'll call when it's over." 

"Ok, thanks." and once again the line went dead.

I had a couple of minutes, so I got up, and went back to check on the kids.

They were all fine, and all got hugs and kisses, as I noticed the time was up, and went back to the office, where the phone was ringing, as I entered.

"Yes." I said.

"I'm about to file the new flight plan, and we'll be crossing out of US Airspace in 4 minutes, sir."

"Alright, thanks." I told him.

I then placed the call and was connected with Sgt. Johnson.

"Mike, have you come to your senses yet?" he said.

Ok, that's a good start.

"Well Sgt. Johnson, I have been advised that I have been granted full legal permanent custody of the children so..." 

"Look Mike, that is being overturned in court right now, you have no right to take those kids. Anywhere, now let's cut the crap..." he said, before suddenly stopping and then, "what...where the hell is Petro...whatever? ITS WHERE. What the fuck do you think you're doing, Reynolds?" He now was screaming at me. 

"Why Sgt. Johnson, I'm simply a parent, taking my children on holiday, is all..." I said sweetly.

"You son of a bitch, you turn that plane around immediately, you can't kidnap children, and take them to a foreign country, do you hear me?"

"Sgt. Johnson, first off, the court hearing hasn't been held yet, and therefore they are in my legal custody officially, and there is nothing you can do about it, secondly, we have just left United States Airspace, which means United States Jurisdiction, and finally, last but certainly not least, FUCK OFF!!" I said, listening for a moment to his sputtering, before hanging up the phone, in satisfaction, of which I had very little of today.

I think this is the best I have felt since meeting the reporter this morning, I thought as I stood up, with a smile on my face.

We might be going to live in a strange land, for an indefinite period, but we were together, and we would stay that way, I thought, as I walked into the room with my babies, and went to get some loving; from the best possible source.

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