Second Chances: Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Right Thing to Do
A Simon & Simon/Six Million Dollar Man Crossover Story
After witnessing a murder, A.J. is targeted by the main suspect. Rick and their family must fight to protect him before he becomes a victim.
(This is a fictional story and all characters from Simon & Simon and Six Million Dollar Man are owned by Universal Studios and are only being borrowed for a short time. I promise to put them back when done!)
"Uncle Rick, I found the magic egg!" the little voice made the older Simon grin, "Good work, buddy, bring it over!"
Racing to the patio, Ricky Simon stopped in front of his namesake then proudly showed him the gold-colored object.
"Well, let's see what's so magic about it." Rick popped open the egg then spilled its contents of candy and coins into Ricky's basket.
"Jackpot!" the boy crowed, as his father and mother laughed.
"Don't look at me, little brother, I didn't teach him that." Rick grinned at A.J. and Linda as they pretended to scowl at him.
"Yeah, right, Rick. You and your fake slot machine!" Rudy Wells smirked as he led Ceci over to her parents, a full basket of candy eggs in hand. "Papa, look!", she reached out chocolate-covered fingers to her father, who shook his head at their doting friend. "Rudy, you don't have to give her candy every time she asks....." "Oh, no, can't pin that on me." The doctor chuckled, then motioned his head at the woman following after him.
"Well, actually you can blame me for both." Laurie giggled as she set her nephew Robin, sound asleep, in his car seat then poured some iced tea in the glasses Rick had set out. "I can't help it, I was playing with her and she asked. As for the slot machine, I showed it to Ricky and I told him what you say when the money comes out."
"See, I have a bad influence for a wife!" Rick bragged, then pulled her into his lap.
The little boy shook his head gravely at him, "Uncle Rick, Auntie Laurie isn't bad, she even made you a surprise." At once Laurie squealed, "Ricky, don't tell him, it won't be a surprise!"
"Oh I won't, cross my heart and hope to spit!" Ricky said proudly, and his aunt blushed as the family laughed.
"Sis, now I know where he got that from!" Linda hugged her oldest son, then went into the kitchen to help Cecilia bring out lunch.
"All right, darlin', what's my surprise?" Rick teased his wife, and she shook her head, even with him tempting her with a cookie.
"You'll get it on your birthday, I promise." she replied archly, then took a bite of the homemade treat.
"Mmmm, that's what I call a cookie! Linda, you make the best chocolate chip bars." Laurie told her sister-in-law as she came back out of the house with a platter, only to be interrupted by the telephone.
"I'll get it." Laurie brushed cookie from her mouth then landed a kiss on her husband's lips as she got up to go to the kitchen.
Catching the receiver to her ear before the fourth ring, she answered "Simon Residence".
"Laurie, its Ron."
It didn't sound like their friend; the voice was troubled, ragged.
"Ron, are you all right, you don't sound good." She asked, then felt her heart catch as he replied, "Can you and Rick come to Phoenix General, it's Abby."
"Sure, I'll get him and we'll be on our way, what happened, is it.....:?" Suddenly it hit her, even before the words came out."
"We lost the baby."
Ten minutes later the Easter party was forgotten, as Rick drove the two of them to Phoenix.
A million thoughts went through his mind.
How could it happen? Why did it happen? Why to his friends, the most careful when it came to Abby and taking care of herself.
Suddenly he felt Laurie's hand on his arm, and he immediately slipped it around her shoulders."It's going to be all right, sweetheart." He told her, glancing at her profile and seeing the worry on her face.
"I know, I'm not going to cry in front of Abby, but it's not fair, darling. Not to them, they've waited so long for some kind of happiness like this-then..." her voice trailed off.
"I don't understand either, I wish Father Nick was home, maybe he'll be in by the time we get there." Rick mused.
Arriving at the visitors entrance, Rick let Laurie out to find where the Johnsons were, then he joined her as they went to the emergency room.
A disheveled Ron was there, looking lost, as Laurie went and embraced him, then made way for Rick to pat his shoulder then gently have him take a seat in the waiting room.
"Thanks, Rick, honey, I'm sorry I spoiled your Easter party." His voice was thick with unshed tears.
"It wasn't spoiled, Ron, there was no way we wouldn't have come." Laurie took his hand in hers as she sat next to him.
"Do you want some coffee." Rick made as to get up but his friend shook his head.
"No, I'd only get sick. I wish I was in there, only Dr. Lindstrom scares the crap out of me and he said for me to wait outside." Another time Rick would have smiled, the fierce doctor had invoked the same feeling in him.
"His bark is worse then his bite, pal. Do you want to tell us what happened?" Rick knew it was the right thing to say when Ron let out a sigh.
"It was so ordinary, Abby had a stomachache and I was teasing her about her cravings, then she had pain, really bad. I told her we were coming here and when she was getting her coat on she passed out. I called the medics, they were there in two minutes but she'd started bleeding and by the time we got here..." his voice trailed off.
Just then Dr. Allan and Dr. Lindstrom both appeared, then a relieved look crossed the chief of staff's face. "Rick, Laurie, I'm glad you're here. Ron, sit down" this to the chief detective who had popped up from his seat nervously.
"You did a good job in getting your wife here as fast as you did. She had severe bleeding but we were able to stop it and she's out of danger now. Alex?" Allan turned to his colleague, who looked Ron in the eye and quietly said. "I'm sorry, but Mrs. Johnson wasn't far enough along to save the baby. We did everything we could do. We were able to repair the damage done by the bleeding and she should be able to go home in a couple of days."
"Thank you, Doctor." Rick spoke for Ron, whose expression was one of shock. Slowly he looked up at the two physicians. "Can I see her, can I see Abby?" he spoke at last.
"Yes, she's fighting the sedative we gave her, so if you could sit with her, I think she'll rest better." Dr. Allan replied, putting a hand on Johnson's shoulder.
Laurie glanced over at Rick, then asked, "Do we know what caused her to become sick, Allan?" The doctor frowned at her, then recognized by the body language of his patient's husband that she was merely voicing his thoughts.
"It looks like she had an infection of some kind, and unfortunately in early pregnancy that can trigger a spontaneous ...illness of this kind. I'd like to see Abby get some more vitamins in her and have a stronger immune system, Ron, if you two would like to try again in a few months."
Dr. Lindstrom spoke again, reinforcing his colleagues opinion. "I think Mrs. Johnson will need some extra care for the next few weeks, but she will recover, especially with your presence."
Ron got up and then shook both doctor's hands, fumbling with his words as he said, "Thank you, thank you both for taking care of my, of Abby. I'd like Laurie and Rick to be able to see her too, If that's all right. They're, well, they're her family too."
Both doctors nodded, then Rick spoke to Ron, "You go see our buddy first, just to make sure, then we'll come in."
"All right." He took a deep breath, then went down the hall.
"Allan, thank you and you too, Dr Lindstrom, for helping him. I think he's in shock, they both have been so happy." Laurie told the two men, fighting back tears.
"I know, and I should have warned them both about the risks, especially at both their ages." Allan admitted. "I'm sorry about the dirty look, honey. I should have known you were asking for Ron's sake."
"That's okay, you were being protective." Laurie hugged him, then heard both her and Rick's names from down the hall.
"We'll check with you later, guys." Rick said, then took his wife's hand and led her down the corridor.
As they entered the hospital room, Ron put an extra chair for Rick to sit next to Abby, who dazedly looked at her friends, then smiled. "Hi, buddies, Happy Easter."
"Hi yourself, Abby. How do you feel?" Rick asked, taking her hand.
"Fuzzy. At least the pain's gone." she answered, then the smile left her face as she caught sight of Ron's woebegone expression.
"Honey, I'm not going to leave you, I'm going to be okay." Abby told her husband, who immediately sat on the bed and put his arms around her.
"I love you, Abs, don't scare me like that again." He told her emotionally, and Rick felt a sympathy pang. He had been in this situation more then once, and the fear never ceased until he had his wife in his arms.
Abby kissed Ron, then softly whispered, "I love you too, mister. Now why don't you and Rick get some coffee while Laurie tells me about the Easter party, okay?"
Taking the hint, Rick stood up, "Sure, pal. Come on, big guy, let the ladies gossip a minute, I'm sure you can use a belt of caffeine."
Johnson hesitated, then managed a smile when his wife said, "go on, you won't be good for anything without some java."
"All right, Abs, but you and Laurie take it easy, I don't want Lindstrom after me." He groused, his anxiety eased.
As the door closed behind them, Laurie took Rick's chair, then without a word put her arms around Abby as she burst into tears.
"I know, I know." Laurie soothed as Abby sobbed out her grief. "I wanted a baby so bad, honey, and so did my sweetie. We were so careful."
"You did everything right, Abby, I, I asked Allan so Ron wouldn't have to. You have an infection, sometimes that's all it takes. I'm so sorry, buddy." Laurie refrained from telling her friend about the possibilities of trying again.
Abby's sobs quieted after a while, then Laurie gave her a tissue and helped make her more comfortable. "Thank you, Laurie. I'm just sorry you had to leave your own party."
"I would have felt worse if you and Ron didn't feel you could call us." She replied, squeezing her friends' hand.
After a few moments, Abby looked at Laurie, then wondered, "Honey, is there any kind of a service for a, well, to help Ron and I remember our baby."
"I'm sure there is, Abby. I'll call Father Nick, I'm sure he'd like to at least say a prayer with you and Ron.", Laurie added.
"Would you, that would be so helpful. I'm worried about Ron, honey. He was so looking forward to the baby, and he was my life-saver today. I don't want him carrying this around." Abby sighed, then a smile crossed her face as they heard their husband's voices.
"They are the best, aren't they, Laurie?"
"And we'll never let them forget it, buddy." Laurie promised.