Second Chances: Unforgiving Past
As summer vacation starts, the Simons are victims of a string of "accidents", slashed tires, cut brake lines, then a stolen car. Someone from Rick and A.J.'s past is after them, so reluctantly, Rick and A.J. let the junior Simons help figure out who their attacker is. When A.J. is hurt in a hit and run, it takes the whole family to stop a tragedy from happening. Inspired by the episode "Emeralds Are Not A Girl's Best Friend", written by Bob Shayne and Richard Chapman, story by Michael Sloan and Glen A. Larson and Philip DeGuere
(This is a work of fiction. No money is being made on it, and the characters are owned by Universal Studios and are only being borrowed for a little while. .)
A/N: For any new readers, "Second Chances" is my "what if?" for Rick and A.J. Simon...What if they didn't end the partnership or A.J. didn't marry Janet or Liz... What if Rick had a long-lost sweetheart who needed protection from a crazed stalker? And...what if Rick and his girl fell in love, adopted her niece and nephew, and made a home first in San Diego, then in Arizona? These "what if''s" are the basis for my continuing "Simon & Simon" as if they never went off the air. This series also includes crossovers from Six Million Dollar Man/Bionic Woman and Dark Shadows...so feel free to read my other stories for the whys and wherefores of these three worlds meeting
"Okay, Andy….you got all these math questions right!" Laurie Simon high-fived her oldest grandson, then got a hug in return.
"Thanks to you, Grandma….you and Chrissy are the only ones to make it interesting to study!" the dark-haired teenager declared, then he caught sight of the kitchen clock and hurriedly picked up his backpack.
"Sorry to run out on you before feeding time….but Alex and Jenny want to catch the 5:00 show up at the Hastings…" he began, only to have Laurie laughingly shoo him out the door.
"Go on, Andy…keeping girls waiting is not the way to start summer vacation…just drive careful, okay?"
"Okay, grandma…" He grinned, then gave her a kiss on her cheek before vaulting out the back door. A minute later the sound of his old pickup truck, a hand-me-down from his grandfather, rumbled down the driveway and out onto the highway.
Scarcely had Laurie shut the door when a small black streak came tearing into the room.
"Oh, Jacky..sorry..Andy had to go, but I'll play with you." She laughed. At once Jack stopped in front of her, then barked and jumped into the sofa.
"Oh, no you don't, Jacky…Daddy doesn't want you there…" Laurie told him, then sat down and pulled the wagging dog into her lap.
"Now, little guy, we need to wait until someone comes home before we go outside, but how about a treat?" she asked, getting a faceful of wet tongue for an answer.
"Guess that's a yes!" she sputtered, then brightened as a familiar horn sounded at the gate.
"Coming, Rick!" Laurie called into the intercom, hitting the gate release, then putting Jack down, she got up and went to the front door. She watched as Rick wheeled into the driveway, pulling up next to the walkway. As soon as he shut the motor off and climbed out of the truck, Laurie opened the door and let Jack greet Rick.
"There you are, buddy-keeping your Mom company?" he chuckled, then laughed as the terrier jumped into his arms.
"He had lots of fun with Andy, darling…" she answered, coming out onto the porch. At once Rick put Jack down, then coming up the steps, wrapped his arms around his wife.
"How's my sweetheart today?" he asked, with a kiss. Laurie returned his embrace, saying, "I had fun quizzing Andy, love….but I missed you…it gets too quiet without you or one of the kids here."
"I know…I'm just glad Andy waited until he knew I was coming home….where was he off to so fast?" Rick wondered, putting an arm around her and walking into the house.
"Andy has two girls waiting to go to the movies with him….it's too funny how he's such a popular guy after only one year at PHS." Laurie explained. "I think someone takes after his grandfather!"
"Who, me? That would be a first!" Rick grinned, then sat in his chair and pulled her into his lap.
"Now, that's more like it." Laurie sighed, laying her head against his chest. As the daylight faded, Rick relaxed, grateful his wife hadn't been alone all day. After the last invasion of their home several months before, he and A.J. had purposely taken assignments that could be done from one of their offices.
However, Ron had desperately needed their help on a strange pattern of jewelry being fenced at local pawn shops. Before leaving with A.J., Rick had made Laurie promise not to go outside without someone there, so first Robbie, then Andy had come over.
"Rick, what happened to your hand?"
Rick had to think a moment, then glanced at his left hand and noticed dried blood on his knuckles.
"Oh…I forgot all about it…I had to change a tire after we met with Ron at PD…somehow it was punctured on something. I hit my hand on the jack….it's okay."
"No it's not…love, let me take care of that…" Laurie kissed his hand, then taking it in hers, got up and insisted he follow her to the kitchen so she could clean the torn skin and put bandages on it.
"Yes, nurse…" Rick teased, then hissed as she put first aid foam on it.
"I'm sorry, darling…." Laurie winced at the swelling then hurriedly finished covering the damage.
"I'm all right, angel..but I do need another kiss…." Rick cupped her face in his good hand, then groaned as she met his lips with hers.
"Hmmmm, much better."
Just then the phone rang, and Rick made a rude sound.
"I'll get it, Rick, then Nurse Laurie can finish kissing and making better…" Laurie soothed. Picking up the phone, she found A.J. on the other end.
"Hey, little brother…."
"Hi, sis….I need to talk to Rick…." A.J. asked. Laurie handed the phone to her husband.
"A.J. for you, let me get you a cold drink…" she offered.
As soon as she turned toward the refrigerator, Rick said, "Hey, A.J…what's up?"
"Something is…Ron says your tire didn't rip on its own…someone slashed it!"