"So you had this panic attack after Robin's premonition?" Rudy listened to Laurie's heart, as she sat propped up in bed. After 5 days of being confined to bed, the swelling in her eye had finally receded, and with Christmas less then a week away, she was chaffing at not being able to get around.
"Yes, it was so awful….I couldn't stop crying, it was like I was out of control ….the only thing that stopped it was Rick holding me, it calmed me down and I was able to breathe." She explained, a shudder running through her.
"Hmmm….that might explain what I found with those tests I ran, Missy." The old doctor replied, then smiled as a tentative knock sounded at the door.
"Rudy, can I come in now?" Rick's worried voice made Laurie smile and Rudy called back, "Yes, son."
"My poor darling….he's had so much on his plate…there's my love…" she held out her free hand, as Rudy unwound a blood pressure cuff from her arm.
Rick slid next to her on the bed as he took her hand and kissed it. "Rudy, how is she?"
"The swelling around Missy's orbital socket is almost gone, and I don't think she'll have any problems with her sight. But no driving, honey…." He shook his finger at Laurie, and she sighed.
"That's okay, I'm not comfortable with driving in this icy weather anyway….besides, I have a great chauffeur." She grinned, then blushed as Rick hugged her to him and added "among other things" with a wink.
"Never mind, son.." Rudy laughed, then told them, "I want Missy to stay put for the rest of the week, because if I'm right there's still a threat out there….."
"Oh?" Rick frowned, stroking her hair when he felt her shiver. Their friend nodded.
"In all the confusion, Ramona's doctor got away, and Oscar told me Ron has an APB out on him. But I think he victimized Missy here too….Honey, Ramona said Dr. Adams gave her some vitamins for her to get her strength back, and he gave you some too?"
"Oh..I forgot about that…." Laurie replied, wincing. Unconsciously she touched her stomach, and Rick became furious.
"I remember…you took them for 3 days, then the day of Chelsea's baptism you said they made you nervous and sick to your stomach…Rudy, that bastard poisoned her!"
"I don't think he meant to poison her, just make Missy sick…when his assistant Jennifer was caught, she told Ron that Dr. Adams hoped to get "the mother-in-law" out of the way so they could snatch Chelsea." Rudy tried to calm him down as Rick's face reddened.
"Sweetheart…that's what made you so upset….no wonder you were terrified…" Rick took a deep breath and held her tighter as she leaned her face against him.
"Rudy…it's out of my system, isn't it?"
"Yes, honey…..your last blood sample was clear, but when the guys first brought you to the clinic…the chloride compound was still showing…. That's how I knew something bad was in your system." He assured her.
"That's it! I'm never taking anything again that you don't prescribe!" Laurie announced, reaching over and hugging Rudy. He smiled and kissed her cheek
"I know you won't…but just in case, you are on bed rest until tomorrow. I know, you feel better, but this last week has been very stressful for you and Ramona…I'm giving Robbie the same orders."
"Yes, Rudy…" she sighed, then grinned as Rick added, "don't worry, Rudy….I'll make sure we're all on the same page… And I know Robbie won't mind taking off until after Christmas…."
"He's off until Christmas? That's wonderful…I can't remember the last vacation time he took other then when the children were born." Laurie said, pleased.
"Yes, I'm proud of him for realizing Andy and Ruben can handle things…besides Rob told me the Council is planning to hire two more part-time deputies…" Rick explained, happy at the relieved expression on the old doctor's face.
"That's right, Oscar told me Rob gave them a good argument….but, something still feels wrong here…." Rudy frowned, then Rick suddenly got what he was thinking.
"Why was he so fixated on taking Chelsea, could he have been the real power behind the kidnappings and illegal adoptions?"
"He could have had an "order" that was worth big bucks for a baby like Chelsea." Laurie said, fear coursing through her. "That's why they tracked us the way they did…"
"And what if he's still following us…." Rick suddenly grabbed the extension and called his son.
"Hey, Pop…how's Mom?" the younger Simon responded.
"She's better, Son, but I just wanted to check on something….are you with Ramona now?"
"Sure, we just got home, the kids will be here in a few hours…so we decided to have dinner with Jaime and Steve. Ramona is just putting Chelsea down for a nap…..let me…Hey!…" Suddenly there was a crashing noise, and Rick made a mad dash for his truck, calling back to Laurie, "Call the station and Rob….tell them to head to Robbie's house!"
Climbing into his vehicle, he immediately signaled his brother, thanking God when A.J. answered almost instantly.
"Rick, what's up?"
"Hurry…..meet me one block from Robbie's house….something's wrong!"
As Rick tore out onto the highway, Laurie told Rudy, "stay on the line with Robbie and see what's happening…I'm going to try reaching Steve and Jaime…."
"Got it, honey." Rudy answered, then blanched at the sounds of fighting going on through the receiver.
"Steve! Can you hear me?" Laurie sat in her chair, then closed her eyes as she reached out to her friends. After a few moments, she heard Steve faintly, responding in bits and pieces.
"Laurie…..what is it?….Is there .." Hurriedly she pictured to him that Robbie, Ramona and Chelsea were being attacked, then panic over took her as Rudy turned and gasped, "They're threatening to shoot Ramona if she doesn't hand over Chelsea!"
"Steve! Hurry…someone's threatening to kill Ramona if she doesn't give them Chelsea!" Laurie was shaking as she relayed the information, then very strongly she felt both Steve and Jaime "call" back.
"We're on our way….just hang on…."
Just then Laurie and Rudy froze as they heard a cruel voice over the receiver.
"Whoever's there….if you call the police, we'll kill everyone here….including the baby!"
