I don't own "The Rockford Files" or "Emergency", I'm just borrowing the characters. I'm not making any money from this story. I do own the story and the character of Lt. Shawna Williams. Any characters not mentioned on either show are pulled from thin air and belong solely to me. I would love feedback and crave it, so I know whether to keep working on this story.

Thanks, Karen

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The year was 1979, Lt. Shawna Williams, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and private investigator James Rockford had been dating for about six months and now Jim was going to ask her to marry him. Shawna and Jim had met when she had responded to a 211 (Armed Robbery) call where Jim was one of the witnesses. She had contacted Jim when the two suspects were brought in for a line-up. They kept in contact during the trial and then began dating shortly thereafter.

Jim's dad, Joseph or Rocky as most people called him, liked Shawna the first time he met her. Jim always figured Rocky was just being nice to Shawna because she was a cop until he asked his dad about it.

"You know Rocky, I thought you'd hate the idea I was seeing a cop."

"Sonny, I didn't like the fact you were seeing a cop until I met her. I remember when you were seeing someone else and the problems the you two had because of your careers."

"So you met Shawna and you like her?"

"Actually, yes I do like her. I've seen how the two of you interact and how you give and take from one another with no hard feelings. Plus, she is a mighty fine cook."

"Yes she is a mighty fine cook."

"And she always has a smile. Kind of reminds me of your mother, God rest her soul. No matter how she felt, she always had a smile on her face and so does Shawna."

"The first time I met Shawna, it was her smile I noticed. She was helping a young lady at a robbery scene and when she looked my way, she smiled. I fell for her then and there."

"I think Katie would've liked her."

"Yeah, I think mom would've liked her too." Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Jim got up to answer it.

"Hello," Shawna spoke with a smile when Jim opened the front door.

"Hello yourself," he replied as he let her inside, "What are you doing here? I thought you had to work tonight."

"I do. Hello Rocky," she spoke as she set a casserole dish on the counter. "Jim, I have a bag sitting in the floor of my car. Can you get it for me?"

"Sure." He walked outside to her candy apple red 1964 Mustang convertible, which she built from the frame up and it was in pristine condition, and picked up the brown shopping bag sitting in the passenger side floor. Jim loved her Mustang but not as much as he loved her. "So why aren't you at work?" he asked when he walked back inside and then kissed her full on the lips before she could reply.

"I like those kinds of greetings," she replied with the smile he loved. "I'm working graveyard shift and I don't have to be at the station until 10:30, so I thought I'd bring you and Rocky dinner."

"That was very nice of you but you really should be at home getting some sleep," he told her as he took three plates out of the cabinet.

"I slept until 2 pm today. Besides, I thought you and Rocky would like some lasagna," she told them as she sliced the lasagna and he grabbed two beers and a soda from the refrigerator.

"You made lasagna?" Rocky asked.

"Yes, with garlic bread and a salad. And also a special dessert," she replied with a wink.

"Jimmy, I love this lady," Rocky replied as he kissed Shawna on the cheek.

"That makes two of us dad," Jim said as he winked at her, "that makes two of us."

"It's just lasagna," she replied as she felt her face begin to flush. "It's still nice outside, why don't we eat out there?"

"That sounds like a great idea," they both replied as they grabbed their plates and drinks. They sat down at the picnic table and Shawna said grace before they started eating.

"Shawna, this was a great idea to eat out here," Rocky told her as he finished dinner.

"I love eating outside, especially when the weather is nice." They were enjoying the peacefulness when there was an explosion at the Sandcastle restaurant across the parking lot. The blast was powerful enough to knock them out of their chairs.

"What the.." Jim remarked as they jumped up and saw flames shooting up from the back of the restaurant.

"Call 911," Shawna instructed, "tell them there's been an explosion at the Sandcastle and an officer is on the scene. Tell them to send the fire department, paramedics, ambulances, and at least three other police units. Also, tell them I want a helicopter to transport the seriously injured to Los Angeles."

"Wait, you can't.." Jim started to stop her.

"I have to. It's my job. Now go!" She shouted as she began to run toward the restaurant as people were running out. Jim ran inside and phoned 911.

"911 what's your emergency?" the operator asked.

"Yes, my name is James Rockford and there has been an explosion at the Sandcastle restaurant at Paradise Cove." He then relayed the information that Shawna had given him.

"OK, Mr. Rockford, I'm dispatching help right now." He hung up the phone running back outside just as another patrol car arrived and a second explosion rocked the place.

"SHAWNA!" he yelled as he ran toward the restaurant but was stopped by the officer.

"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to please stand back," he told Jim as the fire department, paramedics, and others began to arrive on the scene.

"You don't understand, Shawna Williams is in there."

"Shawna Williams?" the officer questioned.

"Lt. Shawna Williams of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. She ran in about two minutes before the second explosion."

"OK, I'll let the fire department know there are people still trapped inside." The officer ran over to the captain of the first truck on the scene and pointed at the restaurant.

"DeSoto, Gage, Peters, take three men and do a search of the building. We have a witness who says there are others still inside." Jim noticed five firemen with two hoses walk into the restaurant to search for Shawna and anyone else in the building. He jumped when Rocky grabbed his shoulder.

"Don't worry Jimmy, they'll find Shawna."

"I hope so dad. I hope so."

"So how do you know Lt. Williams?" the officer asked.

"She and I are friends," he didn't feel right telling the officer they were dating.

"So then if she hadn't.." and the officer stopped his train of thought. Jim looked at the officer and then completed his sentence for him.

"Yes, if she hadn't been here she would've never gotten hurt," he said as he turned and walked away from the officer. The officer saw the look of guilt on Jim's face as he watched the building hoping Shawna would miraculously walk out. There was movement at the front of the building and Jim started to run toward the building but the officer stopped him again.