Chapter 1
"Sweetheart, are you sure you don't mind a beach wedding?", Rick paused in the doorway and gazed back at his fiancée, surrounded by a stack of RSVP's.
"I'm positive, you know I love the beach as much as you do, and since neither of us has a regular church, I think Wayfarers Cove is just as special. Besides, you hate ties, and I want us to be comfortable, it's our wedding." Laurie insisted. He came over to the table and planted a kiss on her cheek. "I knew there was a reason I love you," he grinned. She smiled back, and then put a hand to her head. "Oh boy, I think I'd better stop for now".
Rick frowned. "You got a headache? Let me get you an aspirin."
"No, it's funny, but it's like it's coming from something else," Suddenly, she looked down at her watch, and then at him.
"Rick, what if it's Steve, maybe I'd better call Oscar". She went to the phone and punched in a number, as Rick watched in puzzlement. "Why would it be Steve, hon, unless." It dawned on him that the mental link Laurie shared with Steve Austin could also be registering as a physical link. Abruptly, she sat down and Rick took the receiver from her. "Oscar, it's Rick, Laurie's having a lot of pain, I think Steve's in trouble".
"Rick, I just got a signal from Steve, he's on an assignment and apparently he's been attacked, Jaime's on her way to him and as soon as she has some word, I'll call you. Is Laurie any worse?" Rick knelt next to her as she leaned back in her chair and said, "Honey, Oscar wants to know if the pain is still bad?" She straightened up and shook her head. "No, it seems to be easing up, I just feel woozy." He relayed this information to Oscar, who sighed, "Thank God". He told Rick to keep an eye on her and he would have Rudy Wells call back in a while.
Rick picked Laurie up from her chair and carried her to the sofa, where she stretched out while he got her an aspirin and a blanket. When he came back he found her sitting up, with a frightened look on her face. "Rick, both Jaime and Steve are under attack, I need to tell Oscar". He got her the phone and watched her give Oscar a blow by blow account of what was going on. Within minutes Goldman had gotten backup to their location, and Laurie was able to catch her breath. "Thank God, Laurie, that you heard Steve, now I've got Rudy here, he wants to ask you what you felt." She told the doctor her symptoms, then handed the phone to Rick, saying, "Rudy wants to ask you something."
"Rick, I'm glad you were there, did Laurie pass out or just have pain?" Rick felt cold fear. "She was dizzy, Doc, she had to sit and I had her lay down after that. She says the pain is easing up, but, what's causing this, has this happened to her before?"
"It's happened to a lesser degree before, but not for several years and not this severe, Rick. I want to check Laurie, could you bring her up to Ojai, just to make sure she's not suffering some kind of rejection syndrome."
"Sure, let me call my mom to stay with the kids and I'll bring her up as soon as I can". Rick passed the phone to Laurie so Rudy could talk to her, then when she ended the call, contacted Cecilia so she could pick up Robin and Robert from school.
As he walked her to his truck, Rick started joking with Laurie that she would do anything to get out of counting the responses to their wedding. She looked up at him as he slid in next to her and smiling, said "Only one response counts, darling, well, ok, five responses. As long as you and A.J. and Aunt Ceci and the kids are there, it will be special."
Rick started the truck, then leaning over, took her in his arms and kissed her in reply, afraid he'd show how worried he was if he said anything.
Making the nearly four-hour trip through afternoon traffic in less then three, Rick found Laurie trying to keep him from worrying by telling him about the first time she had to discipline Robin. "And when I asked Robin if her friends jumped off a roof, would she jump, too, she said "Yeah, if there was a pillow to land on".
Rick shook his head, laughing. "And what did you do, smarty?" "Well, she almost made me laugh," she replied, ruefully. "Then I told her that there were only two reasons I would ever spank her or Rob, if they hurt someone or if they did something that could get them hurt. I swatted her twice, made her go to her room without TV, and when I heard her sobbing, I went to my room and cried myself. Rob saw how it hurt me to punish her, and he told me he would never do anything to make me that sad. He must have told Robin how bad I felt, because when I went in to say good night, she hugged me and told me she would never again let someone dare her into doing something bad."
Rick put an arm around her. "No wonder they're so well behaved, you set a good example for them. I thought Mom had done a decent job with us, but.."
She grinned up at him, "But nothing, I remember how you and A.J. would get into trouble after your Dad died, and she would explain to you why what you did was wrong. I always felt worse for Aunt Ceci then you when she was done. Maybe I did learn parenting skills because of you guys."
Pulling up to the guard gate at the OSI complex, Rick found they were expected and ushered in to the hospital area. Getting out of the truck, Laurie gasped and took Rick's arm.
"There's Jaime, Rick, I hope that means Steve's all right. The former tennis champ stood in the doorway of Rudy's lab, her left arm in a sling, and as they approached, came forward to greet them.
"Rick, it's nice to finally meet you, Steve has told me so much about you." She turned to Laurie and embraced her, "Thank you, Laurie, if you hadn't called Oscar, neither Steve or I would have made it". "Are you ok, Steve was so concerned." Jaime made a face, "I slipped and sprained my arm, it distracted our attackers enough that Steve was able to crawl to safety and pull me along with him. He's in with Rudy now." As they entered the lab, Laurie said "That's not all you were worried about, how many months are you?" Jaime was surprised, "Five, but how did you know?"
Laurie smiled. "Sometimes I can still read you through Steve, and when you fell, I sensed your fear about hurting the baby. When it got harder to hear Steve, I still could get some things from you."
Jaime looked at Rick. "Is it true you can hear Laurie sometimes?" "Yeah, It's happened a couple of times, just like a cold feeling, her voice, ." He slipped an arm around Laurie as they sat down and felt her relax against him. Jaime put her hand on his and said "I know it's a shock, the first time I knew Laurie and Steve could read each other, it felt weird, then I was knocked out during a mission, and when I came to, I found I could hear Steve, too."
Just then Rudy Wells walked in, and all three jumped up to greet him. "All right, one at a time", he announced, smiling, then turned to Jaime. "Steve's in recovery, he has a closed skull fracture, but there's no bleeding and the swelling's going down, so he should be able to go home in a few days or so. Now, I want you to keep that sling on and don't use your left arm, it won't get better if you keep moving it." Laughing, she hugged the doctor and went into Steve's room.
Rudy turned to Rick and Laurie, and after exchanging hugs, led the way to an examining room. After running several tests on her, he called Rick into his office.
"Doc, is she all right, I was so worried because she's never been the type to have headaches or get sick". Rudy put a hand on his shoulder and urged him to a seat. "She's fine, Rick, she had a reaction to Steve's being knocked out, that's all. Several years ago her mental link to Steve and, to some extent, Jaime was lessened by the seliseum used to repair their injuries being absorbed by natural bone growth.
It looks like because of his injury, the damage to the artificial bone caused an upsurge in the strength of that link. I would like you two to stay the night, just to make sure her symptoms have subsided, but I don't think she will have any reoccurrence."
Rick let out a deep breath and grinned. "No arguments with me, Doc, I've been imagining the worst, and with us getting married in two weeks." The doctor laughed. "You're just as bad as Laurie, she said the same thing. She was worried she might be a burden to you, and I reminded her that you are getting married for better, for worse."
Relieved, Rick said "The only burden I would have is if I didn't have her, Doc."
When Rick went in to the examination room, he found Laurie waiting anxiously for him, so he took her in his arms and said, "Make that nine." "Nine?, oh, you", she whispered, kissing him. Only the clearing of throats behind them interrupted their embrace, and they turned to see Oscar and Rudy smiling behind them.
"Anybody hungry?", Oscar teased, coming forward to hug Laurie and shake Rick's hand.
After a boisterous dinner with Oscar, Rudy and Jaime, Rick and Laurie went in to see Steve, already sitting up and asking for something to eat. Rick joked with him about trying to get out of wearing a tux. "But I've got news for you, pal, we're wearing suits but no ties, we're keeping it simple. So you've got two weeks to get better."
Steve grinned. "Just try and have me stay away, bub, I've got to make sure somebody keeps her out of trouble".
"Sweetheart, are you sure you don't mind a beach wedding?", Rick paused in the doorway and gazed back at his fiancée, surrounded by a stack of RSVP's.
"I'm positive, you know I love the beach as much as you do, and since neither of us has a regular church, I think Wayfarers Cove is just as special. Besides, you hate ties, and I want us to be comfortable, it's our wedding." Laurie insisted. He came over to the table and planted a kiss on her cheek. "I knew there was a reason I love you," he grinned. She smiled back, and then put a hand to her head. "Oh boy, I think I'd better stop for now".
Rick frowned. "You got a headache? Let me get you an aspirin."
"No, it's funny, but it's like it's coming from something else," Suddenly, she looked down at her watch, and then at him.
"Rick, what if it's Steve, maybe I'd better call Oscar". She went to the phone and punched in a number, as Rick watched in puzzlement. "Why would it be Steve, hon, unless." It dawned on him that the mental link Laurie shared with Steve Austin could also be registering as a physical link. Abruptly, she sat down and Rick took the receiver from her. "Oscar, it's Rick, Laurie's having a lot of pain, I think Steve's in trouble".
"Rick, I just got a signal from Steve, he's on an assignment and apparently he's been attacked, Jaime's on her way to him and as soon as she has some word, I'll call you. Is Laurie any worse?" Rick knelt next to her as she leaned back in her chair and said, "Honey, Oscar wants to know if the pain is still bad?" She straightened up and shook her head. "No, it seems to be easing up, I just feel woozy." He relayed this information to Oscar, who sighed, "Thank God". He told Rick to keep an eye on her and he would have Rudy Wells call back in a while.
Rick picked Laurie up from her chair and carried her to the sofa, where she stretched out while he got her an aspirin and a blanket. When he came back he found her sitting up, with a frightened look on her face. "Rick, both Jaime and Steve are under attack, I need to tell Oscar". He got her the phone and watched her give Oscar a blow by blow account of what was going on. Within minutes Goldman had gotten backup to their location, and Laurie was able to catch her breath. "Thank God, Laurie, that you heard Steve, now I've got Rudy here, he wants to ask you what you felt." She told the doctor her symptoms, then handed the phone to Rick, saying, "Rudy wants to ask you something."
"Rick, I'm glad you were there, did Laurie pass out or just have pain?" Rick felt cold fear. "She was dizzy, Doc, she had to sit and I had her lay down after that. She says the pain is easing up, but, what's causing this, has this happened to her before?"
"It's happened to a lesser degree before, but not for several years and not this severe, Rick. I want to check Laurie, could you bring her up to Ojai, just to make sure she's not suffering some kind of rejection syndrome."
"Sure, let me call my mom to stay with the kids and I'll bring her up as soon as I can". Rick passed the phone to Laurie so Rudy could talk to her, then when she ended the call, contacted Cecilia so she could pick up Robin and Robert from school.
As he walked her to his truck, Rick started joking with Laurie that she would do anything to get out of counting the responses to their wedding. She looked up at him as he slid in next to her and smiling, said "Only one response counts, darling, well, ok, five responses. As long as you and A.J. and Aunt Ceci and the kids are there, it will be special."
Rick started the truck, then leaning over, took her in his arms and kissed her in reply, afraid he'd show how worried he was if he said anything.
Making the nearly four-hour trip through afternoon traffic in less then three, Rick found Laurie trying to keep him from worrying by telling him about the first time she had to discipline Robin. "And when I asked Robin if her friends jumped off a roof, would she jump, too, she said "Yeah, if there was a pillow to land on".
Rick shook his head, laughing. "And what did you do, smarty?" "Well, she almost made me laugh," she replied, ruefully. "Then I told her that there were only two reasons I would ever spank her or Rob, if they hurt someone or if they did something that could get them hurt. I swatted her twice, made her go to her room without TV, and when I heard her sobbing, I went to my room and cried myself. Rob saw how it hurt me to punish her, and he told me he would never do anything to make me that sad. He must have told Robin how bad I felt, because when I went in to say good night, she hugged me and told me she would never again let someone dare her into doing something bad."
Rick put an arm around her. "No wonder they're so well behaved, you set a good example for them. I thought Mom had done a decent job with us, but.."
She grinned up at him, "But nothing, I remember how you and A.J. would get into trouble after your Dad died, and she would explain to you why what you did was wrong. I always felt worse for Aunt Ceci then you when she was done. Maybe I did learn parenting skills because of you guys."
Pulling up to the guard gate at the OSI complex, Rick found they were expected and ushered in to the hospital area. Getting out of the truck, Laurie gasped and took Rick's arm.
"There's Jaime, Rick, I hope that means Steve's all right. The former tennis champ stood in the doorway of Rudy's lab, her left arm in a sling, and as they approached, came forward to greet them.
"Rick, it's nice to finally meet you, Steve has told me so much about you." She turned to Laurie and embraced her, "Thank you, Laurie, if you hadn't called Oscar, neither Steve or I would have made it". "Are you ok, Steve was so concerned." Jaime made a face, "I slipped and sprained my arm, it distracted our attackers enough that Steve was able to crawl to safety and pull me along with him. He's in with Rudy now." As they entered the lab, Laurie said "That's not all you were worried about, how many months are you?" Jaime was surprised, "Five, but how did you know?"
Laurie smiled. "Sometimes I can still read you through Steve, and when you fell, I sensed your fear about hurting the baby. When it got harder to hear Steve, I still could get some things from you."
Jaime looked at Rick. "Is it true you can hear Laurie sometimes?" "Yeah, It's happened a couple of times, just like a cold feeling, her voice, ." He slipped an arm around Laurie as they sat down and felt her relax against him. Jaime put her hand on his and said "I know it's a shock, the first time I knew Laurie and Steve could read each other, it felt weird, then I was knocked out during a mission, and when I came to, I found I could hear Steve, too."
Just then Rudy Wells walked in, and all three jumped up to greet him. "All right, one at a time", he announced, smiling, then turned to Jaime. "Steve's in recovery, he has a closed skull fracture, but there's no bleeding and the swelling's going down, so he should be able to go home in a few days or so. Now, I want you to keep that sling on and don't use your left arm, it won't get better if you keep moving it." Laughing, she hugged the doctor and went into Steve's room.
Rudy turned to Rick and Laurie, and after exchanging hugs, led the way to an examining room. After running several tests on her, he called Rick into his office.
"Doc, is she all right, I was so worried because she's never been the type to have headaches or get sick". Rudy put a hand on his shoulder and urged him to a seat. "She's fine, Rick, she had a reaction to Steve's being knocked out, that's all. Several years ago her mental link to Steve and, to some extent, Jaime was lessened by the seliseum used to repair their injuries being absorbed by natural bone growth.
It looks like because of his injury, the damage to the artificial bone caused an upsurge in the strength of that link. I would like you two to stay the night, just to make sure her symptoms have subsided, but I don't think she will have any reoccurrence."
Rick let out a deep breath and grinned. "No arguments with me, Doc, I've been imagining the worst, and with us getting married in two weeks." The doctor laughed. "You're just as bad as Laurie, she said the same thing. She was worried she might be a burden to you, and I reminded her that you are getting married for better, for worse."
Relieved, Rick said "The only burden I would have is if I didn't have her, Doc."
When Rick went in to the examination room, he found Laurie waiting anxiously for him, so he took her in his arms and said, "Make that nine." "Nine?, oh, you", she whispered, kissing him. Only the clearing of throats behind them interrupted their embrace, and they turned to see Oscar and Rudy smiling behind them.
"Anybody hungry?", Oscar teased, coming forward to hug Laurie and shake Rick's hand.
After a boisterous dinner with Oscar, Rudy and Jaime, Rick and Laurie went in to see Steve, already sitting up and asking for something to eat. Rick joked with him about trying to get out of wearing a tux. "But I've got news for you, pal, we're wearing suits but no ties, we're keeping it simple. So you've got two weeks to get better."
Steve grinned. "Just try and have me stay away, bub, I've got to make sure somebody keeps her out of trouble".