Second Chances: More Lives Then A Cat…..
Inspired by the episode "Psyched Out" by Paul A. Magistretti
An old case comes back to haunt the brothers when a murderer decides to retaliate against Rick and A.J. To save them from a nightmarish fate, a loved one risks everything, but will it be enough?
(The characters from Simon and Simon and Six Million Dollar Man are owned by Universal Studios. No money will be made on them and they will be returned in their original condition when I'm done.)
"Hold on, hold on, Robbie!"
"Don't let him get away, son, I've got a net!"
"Dad, you've got him!"
Laughing at the chorus of voices rooting him on, Robbie Simon gave one last grunt, then expertly flipped a large rainbow trout into the boat. As he tossed the fish into an ice chest, his son and daughter cheered. "Way to go!" Lala told him, waiting until he put his rod and reel down to give him a hug.
"Thanks, honey. You too, Andy!" Robbie hugged his children, then put an arm around his father as Rick ragged, "And you used, what kind of lure, son?"
"One of yours, Pop, I know." The younger Simon grinned as Oscar Goldman shook his head and teased "You should have told him it was some of my cheese, Robbie."
"Nah, I know a Simon blue when I see it, Dad." Rick snickered, then Chief Joseph held up the fish and expertly removed the hook, its blue and silver feather still intact.
"Nice and clean, Robbie. Your sister will make a fine meal with this catch." The elder said, a twinkle in his eye.
"Thanks, chief. I learned from the best, between you and Pop….." Robbie answered, then Andy looked at Chief Joseph in awe.
"You taught my dad? How old was he when you took him fishing?"
Lala chimed in importantly. "When can I learn? Did you teach Mama too?"
"Yes, I taught both your parents, in fact, son, he was only eight and your mother six when I took them out the first time." Rick and Oscar both listened, surprised as Chief Joseph painted a picture of summertime fishing lessons held out on the creek behind the old ranch house and evening cookouts under the stars.
"Don't forget you and Rob teaching Robin how to cook the fish, since she wouldn't catch them." Robbie added, drawing a chuckle from Oscar.
"No wonder Laurie got along with you two so fast, she won't even look at a hook, let alone touch one!"
"Speaking of which, who's that on the shore, waiting for us?" Rick shaded his eyes, then let out a snort.
"There's my "yuck" girl, she's right on time, Chief, and…."
"There's Ricky, and Uncle A.J. and Auntie Robin, too!" Andy yelled, and immediately his father helped pull everyone's lines in and turned the fishing skiff toward the lakeside pier.
As they landed, Rick turned to lash the boat to the pier, not noticing the impatient Lala attempt to leap out of the boat. Only the sound of a thump, then Laurie's yell "Lala!" alerted him that something had happened. He whirled around to see Lala clinging to the side of the boat, and immediately Robbie leaned over and pushed against the piling so she wouldn't be crushed against the pier.
"Daddy, I'm stuck!" Lala called, panicking. At once Rick dove into the water, then saw how his granddaughter's foot had caught between the boat and the pilings. As the others on shore started toward the edge of the float to help, a warning creak let them know the pier was buckling under the added weight.
"Stay still, everyone!" Oscar called out. Rick knew he had to hurry, so he took a deep breath, then went under water. Once his eyes became accustomed to the faint light, he swam to Lala's leg, then eased her foot free. Pushing her up by the legs, Rick felt Lala's body leave his grasp, then he swam around the boat and came up on the other side.
Instantly the Chief and Oscar reached out and pulled him over the side of the skiff. Rick shook water out of his eyes then saw that Robbie was holding Lala in his lap while Rudy examined her leg.
"Here, Rick. Let's get you dry." Oscar pulled a blanket around his shoulders, then gave him a heartfelt embrace.
"Nice work, son. You got to her just in time." Robbie looked up at him, a grateful smile on his face.
"Yeah, thanks, Pop…."
Rick managed to catch his breath, then reached out and squeezed his son's shoulder as he watched their friend's ministrations. "Is she all right, Rudy?"
"She's fine, Rick. Just a bruise. See?" The older man moved so Rick could see his granddaughter's foot, scraped and turning blue, but in one piece. Just then Laurie held out her arms, and Robbie reluctantly handed his shivering daughter to her, then stepped carefully onto the pier. As the others climbed out of the boat, Rick gratefully accepted their kudos, his eyes not leaving his wife and Lala, now also wrapped in a blanket. He grasped onto his son's hand, then swung his legs onto the wooden slip.
"Grandpa…." Lala called, and Rick pulled her into his embrace, then looped an arm around Laurie.
"That's my granddaughter, now will you listen to your daddy about jumping around?" he said sternly, then softened as she nodded. "Yes, Grandpa. I promise. I'm sorry." Rick hugged her, then gave her to Robbie. As he carried her toward their cars, Rick felt a kiss on his cheek.
"Rick….you were so fast at reaching her… our hero." Laurie told him, snuggling against his shoulder.
Relieved, Rick gave her a lopsided grin. "Sweetheart, I couldn't have been a hero without your warning. Now", he said, taking her arm in his. "Are you ready for some fish?"
Laughing in relief, Laurie nodded. "After that, I'm ready for anything!"
Within minutes the fishing party had loaded their catch and fishing stuff in Rick's camper, then turned toward the Simon's ranch. In spite of the heater being on full blast, Rick was freezing, so he was grateful that A.J. had volunteered to drive.
"Move over, Rick, you'll get us both wet." His brother teased as he squeezed in and closed the truck door.
As they drove toward home, Rick filled them in on how Lala and Andy had caught five fish between them.
"Just like their dad, I think Robbie did the same thing the first time we took him out to Mission Bay." A.J. said proudly, then laughed at the faces his brother started making.
"You'd better not do it, Rick….." he started, as Rick went "Ahhhh, Ahhhh, Ahhhh…choo!"
Letting out a congested sneeze, Rick accepted a handful of Kleenex from his wife. "Thanks, darlin'.
"You're welcome, love. I'll make you some hot soup when we get home, I don't want you getting sick, not with the kids coming this week."
A.J. groaned. "No, sis. Please don't even think that-Linny will never go if she thinks Rick's sick…."
"Nonsense, I'm just cold, little brother. All I need is to get out of these wet clothes and into a warm bed." Rick cleared his throat, then stole a wicked look at Laurie.
"Riiiiick." She winked at A.J., then shook her finger at her husband. Instantly he captured it in his hand, then kissed it.
"Nice one, Laurie. You've got him so spoiled." The younger Simon smirked, then broke into a smile as they neared the ranch gate.
"Speaking of spoiled, there's Linny." Rick said, mopping his nose. As they pulled up the driveway, Rick watched his brother light up at the sight of his wife and children waiting on the porch.
"Please God, let him always be this happy." Rick thought, seeing the clamor of Ceci and Robin and Melly as they hung all over A.J.. He'd often thought about the way fate had brought them all together, he and Laurie after eighteen years apart, then A.J. and her friend Linda meeting and falling in love.
Now as they unloaded their fish and tackle, he couldn't help but be a little afraid at how perfect things were for them now.
"Why the long face, son?"
Chief Joseph had come up behind him as he stacked their fishing chairs together. Startled, Rick turned, letting out another sneeze. He grinned sheepishly at the older man.
"Just counting our blessings, and hoping they continue. I just, heck, I get afraid sometimes that I won't be around to see my grandkids and nephews and nieces grow up." He replied, blowing his nose.
The elder shook his head, a bemused smile on his weathered face.
"To every season there is a storm as well as a rainbow, Rick. You are thinking of what you could lose, not what you already have."
Rick sighed. "I know Chief. It's just …..with A.J. and Linda finally taking their second honeymoon, kinda made me a little nostalgic."
"You and your brother have shared most of your life together, and I think you have much more to see before this journey is over." Chief Joseph's smile grew wider as he added, "Besides, you have yet to make the perfect fry bread. I think I need to see that you have mastered it before you get any ideas, son."
"The only ideas my husband is going to have is getting into bed before he catches pneumonia!" Laurie came up behind them, worry on her face. Rick started to laugh, only for it to turn into a coughing spell.
"Oh, love…." Laurie rubbed his back until he stopped hacking. The Chief pulled out a package of leaves, and handed them to Laurie.
"Light, steep these in water. It's a natural tea that will help relieve his cold."
Gratefully Rick nodded at the older man. "Thanks, Chief. Anything to get over this…ahh, ahhh, .."
Immediately Laurie pinched his nose, and the sneeze dissipated.
"Bless you, sweetheart." He managed, then followed her into the house. A.J. watched with painful amusement from where he was putting his stuff away.
"Oh well," he turned and saw the same realization on his wife's face. "I'm sorry, Linny, if he's sick we'll have to take our second honeymoon another time."
Linda smiled and put an arm around him. "A.J., we can "honeymoon" anywhere." she purred.
Instantly A.J. pulled her into an embrace. "How about starting in the guest room, right now?" he replied archly.
Laughing, the twosome headed inside.