Chapter 2
Rick managed to get to his feet, then scanned the area. Terrified at what he might find, he went toward the ruins of the bathroom where he'd last seen his children. Suddenly he saw movement, then Rob's head popped up over the edge of the tub. Energized, his father sprinted over, then throwing a piece of roof off his son, pulled him out with his good arm. "Pop!" he panted, "Help me with Robin, she's stuck!"
Between the two men, they lifted her out, gasping for breath. "Oh Pop, thank God, I thought we were going to be buried in there!", she moaned, then holding onto her brother, started panicking, "Where's Mom, what happened to her?" Rick turned, looking around, calling her name over and over. He and Rob started pulling up pieces of rubble, then Robin said, "Pop, listen, I hear her!"
A muffled cry met Rick's ears, then he saw the spa tub upside down with the shower door against it. He raced to it, "Laurie, honey, I'm coming!" he pulled the door off the tub, then saw her hand come out from underneath. Together he and Rob pulled at it then lifting it up, found Laurie lying face up, blinking in the moonlight coming through the storm clouds. Blood was trickling from a cut on her forehead, and Rick knelt next to her, gently putting his arm under her head. "Sweetheart, can you hear me, I'm here." She focused her eyes on him, then replied in a broken voice, "Rick, I was so scared, I thought we were buried alive, then I heard you. Where are the children, God please let them be all right!" "Shh, they're right here, we're all safe. I've got you, my angel, let me check you first." he reassured her, trying to see if she had any broken bones.
"Rick, you have to lift me up, please, I'm on top of the cactus, please, darling," she begged him, arching her back in pain. Her son came to her side and helped Rick cradle her in his good arm as they lifted her up off the desert plant and brought her over to the one bench left from their patio. Laying her down, Rob made way for Robin give her a hug. "Pop, I'm going to find my radio, see if I can raise Rob or Andy." His father nodded, then warned him, "Be careful, son, there's lots of debris, see if you can find any of the flashlights." Rick turned back to Laurie, and taking a wet towel from his daughter, made a makeshift bandage for her forehead. "There, does that feel any better, darlin'?" She smiled at him, reaching up her hand to his cheek, "I'm ok, just a headache. Darling, what happened to your shoulder?" she asked, seeing him favoring his left side.
"I landed on my left side, unlike you I missed the cactus!", he forced a grin. She shook her head at him, then looking at Robin, told her, "Honey, remind me when we rebuild, we are not keeping the cactus outside our window!" Their daughter grinned at her parents attempts at humor, then pulling a scarf off her head, made a sling for her father's arm. "Thanks, birdie!" he kissed her cheek, Robin's eyes teared up, "Pop, you haven't called me that since I was 12!" She hugged him, trying not to squeeze his injured shoulder.
"Pop, someone's coming!" they heard Rob yell, then saw him carrying a light toward them. Behind him Rick spotted a pair of headlights coming down the road, then stopping at what used to be their driveway. "Robin, help me sit up," Laurie asked, wincing in pain. When Robin put out a hand to support her, she felt several cactus spines protruding from her mother's back. "Pop, we've got to get these off Mom!" Rick borrowed the flashlight from his son, then had Robin shine it as he carefully pulled each of the barbed needles out.
Pulling open the bathroom cabinet which was amazingly undamaged, he grabbed a few towels and used one of them as a pad to cover her wounds. "Thank you, Rick, " she kissed him as he cuddled her against him.
Just then they saw a figure come out of the car, then realized it was Oscar, rushing toward them. "Rick, Laurie!" he called, then embraced the younger Simons as they met him halfway.
Coming over to their parents, he put a hand on Rick's good shoulder, then seeing his niece, leaned over and hugged her as she gasped "I've been so worried, where were you?" "Hiding under the bed, literally, honey, I didn't know my transmitter wasn't on. I'm sorry I scared you." he comforted her, then gazing at Rick's worried face, added, "We need to get you guys to the hospital, at least it's still standing." Surprised, she replied, "You've heard from Rudy, is he ok?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact Silver Rock was almost completely undamaged, only a few windows and roofs got blown out. He and Doc are swamped; most of the casualties are from the outskirts of Phoenix.", Oscar looked at Rick, then quietly said, "A.J. and Linda are on their way there too, they're all right, but their condo was damaged and she's shaken up." Relieved, Rick helped Oscar pick Laurie up, then Rob lit the way as he carried her in his arms to the car, as Rick and Robin followed.
As they got to Oscar's sedan, Rob spotted his police car parked against one of the trees in their yard. Checking it out, he was astonished to see it was apparently undamaged except for a few dents. Looking all the way around, he got in and started it, then told his father, "I 'll follow you guys to town, I have to check on the Chief and Rob." "Ok, son, just be careful, that car took a hard bounce." Rick climbed in next to Laurie as Robin rode up front with Oscar. Laurie kept glancing back at her son's car as they pulled out onto the road. "Rick, I don't think it's safe for him to drive that car, we don't know if it's damaged or what", she said. "Honey, he'll be fine, you know police cars are tough, just like their drivers," he reassured her.
Half way to town, he felt Laurie go rigid next to him, "Oscar, please stop the car, something's wrong with Robbie's car, it's going to explode!" Startled, her uncle turned to look at her, then put his blinkers on and slowed down as Rick tried to calm his wife. "Honey, I told you his car is fine, we'll be in town in a few...." Just then there was a burst of flame from their son's vehicle, and immediately he pulled over to the side of the road. Oscar braked to a halt, as Rick jumped out and helped Rob douse the flames with his fire extinguisher.
"Pop, that was too close, if you guys hadn't slowed down, I'd have crashed,' he said, pulling his stuff out of the car and walking toward his father. "Too close, my foot, your mom yelled at us to pull over," Rick answered slowly, then hugged Rob as he got to Oscar's car. As he climbed in the back seat, Rick wrapped his good arm around Laurie, telling her, "I'm sorry, sweetheart, I promise to always listen to you." She kissed him, as her son asked, "How did you know something was wrong, Mom?' Ruffling his hair, she smiled at Robbie, saying, "I had a bad feeling when I saw how the car was on top of the tree roots. All of a sudden I had a picture, like a photo in my head, of the car exploding. That's when I told your uncle to stop."
"Thanks, Mom, " Rob looked at her, what could he say; then kissed her cheek.
Soon they were driving into town, and dropping Rob off at the sheriff's office, headed to the small hospital. A few lights were on, here and there a broken window at a business, and Laurie kept marveling at the minor toll the twister had taken in the town.
Stopping at the emergency room entrance, Rick and Robin got out, then the two of them helped Laurie ease out of the back seat. "I can make it, just give me a hand, " she insisted, but Oscar came around the car and lifted her in his arms. "No, honey, let Rudy look at you first.", he told her, then led the way inside. As the group came in, Doc Walker was standing at the nurses desk, with the Chief. Looking up, he saw Laurie in her uncle's arms and came over to them. "Thank God you made it; Rudy's been frantic. Bring her in here, Oscar. Rick, you and Robin come too." They followed him into the second treatment room, where the big man laid his niece down on her side. Rick told Doc, "She hit her head when the spa tub overturned, I think when she landed on the cactus it cut her back, she's bleeding."
Laurie winced when the doctor touched the bump on her head, "Yeah, that hurts, let me get you an ice pack, Light." "Doc, don't forget to look at Rick, I think he dislocated his shoulder," she replied. "I will, honey, just let me take a look at your back.", he assured her, then looked at Oscar, "Can you let Rudy know we're going to need the MRI machine for her." He nodded, then kissed Laurie on the cheek, as she grabbed his hand, saying, "thank you." Patting Rick and Robin on the back, he left the room as Doc had them sit down.
After an hour of examining all three Simons, Rudy and Doc put Laurie to bed in their lab, as all hospital beds were full. Taking Rick outside, Rudy put a hand on his good shoulder saying, "She's going to be in pain for a couple of weeks, son, she's got a mild concussion, as well as bruised ribs. I don't think she's going to need stitches for those cuts, just have to make sure they don't get infected. Robin only has some bad bruises, I think she just had the wind knocked out of her, thanks to her brother. As for you, Rick," he grinned, "Laurie hit it on the head, you dislocated your left shoulder, do you want me to give you a shot before I put it back in or after?"
Rick shuddered, then before he could answer, a familiar voice added, "after, so I can beat him up!" Turning, they saw A.J. glowering at his brother, then he came over and fiercely hugged him, "Where have you been, I was scared to death!" Rick put his arm around him, "Thank God you're all right, we got hit by the twister, A.J., I didn't have any way of calling you. Oscar's the one who came and got us, he told us you and Linda were safe," he told him. Rudy laughed at the two brothers, "Calm down, both of you, now sit down, Rick and I'll fix your shoulder."
Once the good doctor gave him his shot, A.J. took his brother to see Laurie, who was supposed to be resting. Entering the small lab room, Rick saw his wife sitting up watching the door. "Rick, darling, are you all right? A.J.!, where did you come from?", she said, anxiously looking at them. "Linda and I are in the basement, honey, we were terrified when we heard the twister hit your area.", A.J. hugged her, then helped his brother to a seat next to Laurie. "You two get some rest, I'm going to bed. Robin's with Linda, I think Doc could spare an extra cot for her to stay with you guys." "Oh would you ask him, A.J.? I'd feel better since," she bit her lip and looked down. Rick put his arm around her as his brother hastened to reassure her. "Sure, honey, I'll go talk to him right now. It'll be ok." As he left, Rick pulled her closer to him. "Sweetheart", he kissed her as she leaned her head against him. "I know, it's hard to think about, what we left behind. Laurie, when I looked up and didn't know where you and Rob and Robin were, I was terrified." his voice cracked. "Shh," she kissed him, and then put both arms around him. "You found me, darling. I know, my love, I'm all right, starting over again just takes some getting used to. as long as I have you and our children safe, I'm fine."
"Everything will be better in the morning, I promise," Rick stroked her cheek, then worn out, fell asleep.
Rick managed to get to his feet, then scanned the area. Terrified at what he might find, he went toward the ruins of the bathroom where he'd last seen his children. Suddenly he saw movement, then Rob's head popped up over the edge of the tub. Energized, his father sprinted over, then throwing a piece of roof off his son, pulled him out with his good arm. "Pop!" he panted, "Help me with Robin, she's stuck!"
Between the two men, they lifted her out, gasping for breath. "Oh Pop, thank God, I thought we were going to be buried in there!", she moaned, then holding onto her brother, started panicking, "Where's Mom, what happened to her?" Rick turned, looking around, calling her name over and over. He and Rob started pulling up pieces of rubble, then Robin said, "Pop, listen, I hear her!"
A muffled cry met Rick's ears, then he saw the spa tub upside down with the shower door against it. He raced to it, "Laurie, honey, I'm coming!" he pulled the door off the tub, then saw her hand come out from underneath. Together he and Rob pulled at it then lifting it up, found Laurie lying face up, blinking in the moonlight coming through the storm clouds. Blood was trickling from a cut on her forehead, and Rick knelt next to her, gently putting his arm under her head. "Sweetheart, can you hear me, I'm here." She focused her eyes on him, then replied in a broken voice, "Rick, I was so scared, I thought we were buried alive, then I heard you. Where are the children, God please let them be all right!" "Shh, they're right here, we're all safe. I've got you, my angel, let me check you first." he reassured her, trying to see if she had any broken bones.
"Rick, you have to lift me up, please, I'm on top of the cactus, please, darling," she begged him, arching her back in pain. Her son came to her side and helped Rick cradle her in his good arm as they lifted her up off the desert plant and brought her over to the one bench left from their patio. Laying her down, Rob made way for Robin give her a hug. "Pop, I'm going to find my radio, see if I can raise Rob or Andy." His father nodded, then warned him, "Be careful, son, there's lots of debris, see if you can find any of the flashlights." Rick turned back to Laurie, and taking a wet towel from his daughter, made a makeshift bandage for her forehead. "There, does that feel any better, darlin'?" She smiled at him, reaching up her hand to his cheek, "I'm ok, just a headache. Darling, what happened to your shoulder?" she asked, seeing him favoring his left side.
"I landed on my left side, unlike you I missed the cactus!", he forced a grin. She shook her head at him, then looking at Robin, told her, "Honey, remind me when we rebuild, we are not keeping the cactus outside our window!" Their daughter grinned at her parents attempts at humor, then pulling a scarf off her head, made a sling for her father's arm. "Thanks, birdie!" he kissed her cheek, Robin's eyes teared up, "Pop, you haven't called me that since I was 12!" She hugged him, trying not to squeeze his injured shoulder.
"Pop, someone's coming!" they heard Rob yell, then saw him carrying a light toward them. Behind him Rick spotted a pair of headlights coming down the road, then stopping at what used to be their driveway. "Robin, help me sit up," Laurie asked, wincing in pain. When Robin put out a hand to support her, she felt several cactus spines protruding from her mother's back. "Pop, we've got to get these off Mom!" Rick borrowed the flashlight from his son, then had Robin shine it as he carefully pulled each of the barbed needles out.
Pulling open the bathroom cabinet which was amazingly undamaged, he grabbed a few towels and used one of them as a pad to cover her wounds. "Thank you, Rick, " she kissed him as he cuddled her against him.
Just then they saw a figure come out of the car, then realized it was Oscar, rushing toward them. "Rick, Laurie!" he called, then embraced the younger Simons as they met him halfway.
Coming over to their parents, he put a hand on Rick's good shoulder, then seeing his niece, leaned over and hugged her as she gasped "I've been so worried, where were you?" "Hiding under the bed, literally, honey, I didn't know my transmitter wasn't on. I'm sorry I scared you." he comforted her, then gazing at Rick's worried face, added, "We need to get you guys to the hospital, at least it's still standing." Surprised, she replied, "You've heard from Rudy, is he ok?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact Silver Rock was almost completely undamaged, only a few windows and roofs got blown out. He and Doc are swamped; most of the casualties are from the outskirts of Phoenix.", Oscar looked at Rick, then quietly said, "A.J. and Linda are on their way there too, they're all right, but their condo was damaged and she's shaken up." Relieved, Rick helped Oscar pick Laurie up, then Rob lit the way as he carried her in his arms to the car, as Rick and Robin followed.
As they got to Oscar's sedan, Rob spotted his police car parked against one of the trees in their yard. Checking it out, he was astonished to see it was apparently undamaged except for a few dents. Looking all the way around, he got in and started it, then told his father, "I 'll follow you guys to town, I have to check on the Chief and Rob." "Ok, son, just be careful, that car took a hard bounce." Rick climbed in next to Laurie as Robin rode up front with Oscar. Laurie kept glancing back at her son's car as they pulled out onto the road. "Rick, I don't think it's safe for him to drive that car, we don't know if it's damaged or what", she said. "Honey, he'll be fine, you know police cars are tough, just like their drivers," he reassured her.
Half way to town, he felt Laurie go rigid next to him, "Oscar, please stop the car, something's wrong with Robbie's car, it's going to explode!" Startled, her uncle turned to look at her, then put his blinkers on and slowed down as Rick tried to calm his wife. "Honey, I told you his car is fine, we'll be in town in a few...." Just then there was a burst of flame from their son's vehicle, and immediately he pulled over to the side of the road. Oscar braked to a halt, as Rick jumped out and helped Rob douse the flames with his fire extinguisher.
"Pop, that was too close, if you guys hadn't slowed down, I'd have crashed,' he said, pulling his stuff out of the car and walking toward his father. "Too close, my foot, your mom yelled at us to pull over," Rick answered slowly, then hugged Rob as he got to Oscar's car. As he climbed in the back seat, Rick wrapped his good arm around Laurie, telling her, "I'm sorry, sweetheart, I promise to always listen to you." She kissed him, as her son asked, "How did you know something was wrong, Mom?' Ruffling his hair, she smiled at Robbie, saying, "I had a bad feeling when I saw how the car was on top of the tree roots. All of a sudden I had a picture, like a photo in my head, of the car exploding. That's when I told your uncle to stop."
"Thanks, Mom, " Rob looked at her, what could he say; then kissed her cheek.
Soon they were driving into town, and dropping Rob off at the sheriff's office, headed to the small hospital. A few lights were on, here and there a broken window at a business, and Laurie kept marveling at the minor toll the twister had taken in the town.
Stopping at the emergency room entrance, Rick and Robin got out, then the two of them helped Laurie ease out of the back seat. "I can make it, just give me a hand, " she insisted, but Oscar came around the car and lifted her in his arms. "No, honey, let Rudy look at you first.", he told her, then led the way inside. As the group came in, Doc Walker was standing at the nurses desk, with the Chief. Looking up, he saw Laurie in her uncle's arms and came over to them. "Thank God you made it; Rudy's been frantic. Bring her in here, Oscar. Rick, you and Robin come too." They followed him into the second treatment room, where the big man laid his niece down on her side. Rick told Doc, "She hit her head when the spa tub overturned, I think when she landed on the cactus it cut her back, she's bleeding."
Laurie winced when the doctor touched the bump on her head, "Yeah, that hurts, let me get you an ice pack, Light." "Doc, don't forget to look at Rick, I think he dislocated his shoulder," she replied. "I will, honey, just let me take a look at your back.", he assured her, then looked at Oscar, "Can you let Rudy know we're going to need the MRI machine for her." He nodded, then kissed Laurie on the cheek, as she grabbed his hand, saying, "thank you." Patting Rick and Robin on the back, he left the room as Doc had them sit down.
After an hour of examining all three Simons, Rudy and Doc put Laurie to bed in their lab, as all hospital beds were full. Taking Rick outside, Rudy put a hand on his good shoulder saying, "She's going to be in pain for a couple of weeks, son, she's got a mild concussion, as well as bruised ribs. I don't think she's going to need stitches for those cuts, just have to make sure they don't get infected. Robin only has some bad bruises, I think she just had the wind knocked out of her, thanks to her brother. As for you, Rick," he grinned, "Laurie hit it on the head, you dislocated your left shoulder, do you want me to give you a shot before I put it back in or after?"
Rick shuddered, then before he could answer, a familiar voice added, "after, so I can beat him up!" Turning, they saw A.J. glowering at his brother, then he came over and fiercely hugged him, "Where have you been, I was scared to death!" Rick put his arm around him, "Thank God you're all right, we got hit by the twister, A.J., I didn't have any way of calling you. Oscar's the one who came and got us, he told us you and Linda were safe," he told him. Rudy laughed at the two brothers, "Calm down, both of you, now sit down, Rick and I'll fix your shoulder."
Once the good doctor gave him his shot, A.J. took his brother to see Laurie, who was supposed to be resting. Entering the small lab room, Rick saw his wife sitting up watching the door. "Rick, darling, are you all right? A.J.!, where did you come from?", she said, anxiously looking at them. "Linda and I are in the basement, honey, we were terrified when we heard the twister hit your area.", A.J. hugged her, then helped his brother to a seat next to Laurie. "You two get some rest, I'm going to bed. Robin's with Linda, I think Doc could spare an extra cot for her to stay with you guys." "Oh would you ask him, A.J.? I'd feel better since," she bit her lip and looked down. Rick put his arm around her as his brother hastened to reassure her. "Sure, honey, I'll go talk to him right now. It'll be ok." As he left, Rick pulled her closer to him. "Sweetheart", he kissed her as she leaned her head against him. "I know, it's hard to think about, what we left behind. Laurie, when I looked up and didn't know where you and Rob and Robin were, I was terrified." his voice cracked. "Shh," she kissed him, and then put both arms around him. "You found me, darling. I know, my love, I'm all right, starting over again just takes some getting used to. as long as I have you and our children safe, I'm fine."
"Everything will be better in the morning, I promise," Rick stroked her cheek, then worn out, fell asleep.
