Second Chances: The Past Never Goes Away

A Simon & Simon/Six Million Dollar Man/Dark Shadows Crossover Story

When Rick and Laurie Simon go to Collinwood for the reading of her uncle's will, a deadly threat from the Collins past threatens them all.

(This is a work of fiction. No money is being made on it, and the characters are owned by Universal and Dan Curtis Productions and are only being borrowed for a little while. .)

Author's Notes:

"Second Chances" is the story arc I created when I wondered "what would have happened" to Rick and A.J. Simon following their last season on CBS. I didn't have A.J. marry Liz, and Rick didn't leave the business; I personally thought there was someone better "out there" for the two of them.

This particular story isn't set in the traditional Simon & Simon stomping grounds, but in the past of Rick's wife, Laurie who in the years she was separated from Rick worked for the OSI. One of those fateful assignments brought her to Collinwood, Maine, and to her lost family. Now that family needs her and Rick's help in an unexpected way. As always, constructive comments and reviews are welcome. Enjoy!

Prologue

Collinwood, silhouetted against an icy moon. Shadows on the lawn hide a figure staring into the windows of the great house. Suddenly fire and smoke pour out of the library windows, and a face is seen trying to get out. As a woman laughs maniacally, a man rushes in the front door, then disappears. A voice taunts her, "Your family's all gone, you're the last of the Collins and you are next!"

"No, I won't let you destroy them, Angelique!" Laurie woke up, gasping.

"Sweetheart, it's all right, it's just a nightmare." Rick sat up, then pulled his dazed wife into his arms. Laurie slumped against him. "I'm sorry, darling, that was such a bad dream. It was almost as bad as one of my premonitions."

Worried, he comforted her until she caught her breath. "Better, darlin'?" he asked after a moment.

Laurie gazed at him, then cuddled next to him. "All better. You take such good care of me, Rick." she smiled, then kissed his cheek.

Relieved, he wrapped his arms around her then laid a kiss on her hair. "That's because you're my sweetheart, I love you."

"Rick, I love you too. Thank you for believing in me." she relaxed against his chest. Staring into the semi-darkness, Laurie was bothered by the images she had seen.

"Darling, I can't get over how vivid that dream was. I know it sounds crazy, but I'd feel better if I called Barnabas, just in case." she said after a moment.

"Laurie, it's after 3 in the morning there, are you sure?" Rick wasn't certain it was a good idea, but after seeing her face, maybe....

"Yes, Rick, what I saw, I mean, I know there's no way Angelique could come back, but she was a witch, and she could, oh I'd better call." Laurie decided.

Rick reached over and handed his wife the extension, then watched as she dialed her Cousin Barnabas. Seeing her wince, he deduced that she had woken the older man up. "Barnabas, I'm so sorry, but I had such a bad dream, it was like a premonition. I saw a figure on the great lawn, peering into the windows, then suddenly fire and smoke were coming out of the library. I watched you rushing into the house as Carolyn's face appeared at the window, then.." Abruptly her expression changed, then she said, "Call me later, Barnabas, please. Let me know if everything's all right!"

Hanging up, she turned with a troubled look. "Rick, I woke poor Barnabas, and as I told him what happened, he said he saw smoke coming from Collinwood. He was going over there, he'll call when he has any news."

"I'm glad you called, darlin'. Everything will be all right, he'll call if anything happened to your cousins."Rick yawned, then drew Laurie into his arms again. "Come here, my angel. No more nightmares."

"No more nightmares with you holding me, love." Laurie gave him a kiss, then closed her eyes.

As sleep came to him, Rick thought about his wife's vision; if this witch was back, there was no way he wanted Laurie to go back east for Thanksgiving like they'd planned. Maybe wait until Christmas.

Just then he felt a kiss on his ear. "It's all right, we won't go until it's safe." Laurie whispered.

"That's my girl." Rick grinned, nuzzling her neck. Stroking her arm, he listened to her drop off then closed his eyes.