"Rick….it's okay, if you don't want to talk, you don't have to…."
A.J. stared at his big brother across the living room, then sighed as Rick lowered his head and let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry, A.J….seems I'm not very nice to be around right now." For the umpteenth time in a week the younger Simon cursed the criminals who had turned their world upside down. Seemingly recovered from his ordeal, Rick had been short with A.J. since he had come by to talk him into going fishing.
"No…you're fine…just…you can't hold in what happened to you when you were kidnapped, Rick. I know….I wasn't much help before it happened…I felt so useless when we retired." At A.J.'s admission, Rick's head shot up. "Andrew Jackson Simon, who told you that you were useless? Are you useless helping kids learn a sport when their parents are too busy for them? Are you useless spending time with the kids …and helping Linda run your house?"
Hearing the vehemence of Rick's words, A.J. looked at him, then also hung his head.
"No…I'm not. But…I hate being retired. And something tells me that you don't like it either. That's why you went fishing without me….to get back to when you were footloose…could work a case then take off on your boat. Only thing is…Laurie let you do that without fussing…but I was jealous and made you feel old."
There was a moment when both Simons sat and thought. Slowly Rick started to talk, then it was like a river broke.
"I did…I felt old and like I needed answers…what was I going to do with myself…and Laurie…I felt so very guilty about leaving her behind without a thought. She never ever complains, but I stopped to call her…to tell her I was going to come home. You know what…being with her I don't mind retirement too much… Then that Price..he took me like I was an amateur. I was so helpless….." As he spoke, tears began to run down his cheeks, and A.J. ached for him.
"But the worst…when that Price had his goon shock me with a Taser…I wanted to die..it hurt so bad…I felt like I had lost control of my body…" At that A.J. moved to his brother's side and sitting on the sofa next to him, put an arm around him.
"Then…just when they stopped, Price almost got me to agree to do it..I would have done just about anything not to have that pain again." Rick stopped as Rudy Wells appeared in the dining room doorway.
"I'm sorry, guys…..Laurie told me you were in here….and I did knock."
Relieved to see the old doctor, Rick wiped his eyes as A.J. said. "It's okay, Rudy… "
Rudy sat down across from the brothers, then quietly said. "Go on, son…what stopped you from agreeing to cooperate with Price and his men."
"Laurie…she called out to me, Rudy…she felt my pain…told me to hang on. At once I realized she would suffer so much if I gave in, and it made me angry. So I spat in the bastards face, then he left me to "think about it." And…that's when he went after Laurie…" Suddenly Rick thought about the moment his wife reached out to him.
"Rudy…I was over an hour away from her….but Laurie felt my being shocked! How could that happen when to hear her thoughts, I have to be just a mile or so away?"
Rudy smiled reassuredly at the brothers. "I still can't figure it out…but somehow…when you are in distress, Missy can feel it from some distance away. She …..son, she was in so much pain Steve had trouble handling it, and Linda had to have her let go of you. When she did, the pain stopped. But Missy was upset, she still was able to reach out…and try to comfort you. No, Rick…. Your quick thinking and handling of the "deal" with Price was not the actions of a amateur…but of a brave man who saved his wife and father-in-law."
Rick let out a shuddering breath as A.J. spoke up. "And I've been thinking, Rick. Who said we have to retire? We could still take a case or two that Phoenix PD doesn't have time for!"
For a moment Rick thought about his brother's words, as well as the old doctor's. Then self-consciously , he cleared his throat.
"That's a good idea, A.J…..except…what if I freeze up the next time someone points a gun at me? I'm not as fast as I used to be.." he began. At that A.J. interrupted him.
"Neither am I…but I do think we have some value still…and I'm sure Ron can use the help! And…you were patient with me a time or two when I….got shaky."
Rick grinned at his brother's obvious subterfuge. "All right, I get it, little brother. Tell you what, why don't we talk about it with the final authorities?"
Incredulous, Rudy looked from brother to brother, then chuckled. "Final authorities? That's a good one, let me get them for you. Missy, Linny? You can come in now."
Two heads popped around the corner of the dining room door, then Laurie asked timidly, "We didn't want to interrupt you, guys…but…"
"But, I think you need to hear from us, now." Linda finished, her calm words belied by her worried face. At that Rick got up from the sofa, then held out his hand to his wife.
"Come on, sweetheart, let's go for a walk. A.J….you and Linny can, ah, discuss things here. Rudy, there's some sandwiches in the fridge."
"Don't mind if I and Jack help ourselves!" Rudy grinned, then right on cue Jack ran into the room and leaped into the older man's lap.
Giggling, Laurie took Rick's hand as he told Rudy, "Leave a sandwich or two for us, don't let that scalawag eat the whole plate!"
Hearing their friend's laughter as they left the house, Rick felt the beginning of a lightening of his spirit. As if to confirm his feelings, Laurie put her arm around his waist and leaned her head against his shoulder. As they walked along the meadow in back of their house, she started to speak.
"I know you've been wrestling with what happened, darling. I've been so angry at what those men did to you…" At that, Rick turned, then faced his wife.
"No, sweetheart…you need to let it go…I love my fierce girl….but we're safe now..and I need to deal with what happened and how we, you and I made it."
Suddenly Laurie began to cry, and startled, Rick put his arms around her and held her.
"What is it, darlin'….what's wrong?"
"I'm sorry , love…it's my fault…I made you stay with me, made you feel bad I wanted you at home with me. I don't like being alone….you wouldn't have been kidnapped if I hadn't made you want to go fishing by yourself." She wept.
At that Rick wanted to laugh….but he knew Laurie wouldn't understand. Gently he rocked her in his arms, then whispered, "Laurie, look at me."
She raised her eyes to his face, then saw the smile on his lips as he wiped her eyes with a Kleenex and said, "We're a pair, sweetheart. I felt useless for retiring and guilty because I enjoyed the part of retirement when I spent time with you. And you, my funny girl.." he kissed her neck, making her giggle. "You felt bad because your crazy husband liked being with you, watching over his angel and his family. Well…" he guided them to sit under a tree near the edge of the property. "I think I like this part of retirement, but what would you say if A.J. and I only helped out Ron and Phoenix PD on cases that they don't have time for?"
Laurie gazed at her husband, then smiled. "I think I'd say it was a great idea, by a very smart …" she kissed his lips, "and loving man. And…I think.."
"Shh…no more thinking…that's what gets us in trouble…" he said, kissing her deeply until they were both breathless. At last Rick released her lips, then simply held her as he added, "One thing, darlin'….I think I need to talk to Rudy…deal with some of what I feel about …being tortured. Do you think he'd mind?"
"I think he'd be upset if you didn't." she whispered, then tilted her head to look at him.
"I am so proud of you, proud of my brave husband…what ever you want to do, I'm beside you."
"You'd better…." Rick found himself choking up. At a loss for words, he instead engaged in another long kiss.
From the patio of the ranch house, A.J. and Linda could see the pair, and the younger Simon felt a swell of pride in his brother. Watching Rick and Laurie finally break their embrace, and start back toward the house, A.J. put an arm around his wife.
"Linny, I think he. .we're going to be all right."
"As your "final authority"", she said, kissing his cheek, then leaning contentedly against his chest, "I know we're going to be all right."
Fin
