This isn't a rewrite to a piece or a storyline that was on General Hospital, it's just something I guess you could say came to me. I always loved Rick's approach to how he set out to protect Lesley and his family so I guess it's where it came from.

Working like any other heavy day at the hospital Rick and Lesley spent half his break when they finally caught one so they could talk for about their plans to take Jesslyn and Genesis for a small family vacation while they had a chance to take time off

" Lesley, I think it's a good idea to take the girls with us... It will give me a chance to spend time with all 3 of my girls together" Rick pointed out

" Except you're forgetting that I will have alittle difficulty this time Rick... and you know Cunningham or Monica would have a field day with you if we go away when I just started to get back into the swing of things after I had to have an emergency transplant surgery after the girls were born and then the pacemaker surgery last month... Rick I want to go believe me I really want to go... But I think we also should be careful about things that I do and..." Lesley replied and reached for Rick's hand

" I know you're right sweetheart and it would be stupid of me to not clear it with either Monica or Cunningham first aside with the other hurdle to think about..." Rick replied

" And we still have to get some stuff for the barbeque for the girls birthday coming up on Thursday..." Lesley got out

" I can't believe they're almost 5 already..." Rick paused for a moment

" I know it's hard to believe sometimes that they're not babies anymore and they're starting to grow up…… Rick what is it... What's wrong?" Lesley asked

Rick stood up and stepped out of the cafeteria shortly after what he just reminded himself about that night when the twins were born because there came that one moment he wanted to forget

~~~

" Is there a plan set? I want this problem resolved by tonight!" Frank ordered

" We will see to it that they're taken care of boss!"

" Good Rick Webber and his family have been thorns in my side for the last time." Frank said and dismissed his hired hit men with his hand

Still confused, Lesley finished her rounds and then she went to see if Rick was back up in his office

" Rick?" Lesley called out after slightly knocking on his office door

" It's open..." Rick responded

" Rick... Is everything okay? It's not like you to just up and leave like that especially during a break that we get to take together... What's wrong?" Lesley asked

" I'm sorry darling I didn't mean to just up and walk off from you like that.." Rick replied

" Rick, it's alright... Talk to me tell me what upset you" Lesley replied and sat beside Rick at his desk.

" It was just the conversation we had... Make no mistake, I love bragging and talking about my 3 most special girls. No one means more to me than the 3 of my girls in the world... But I can't help that I sometimes go back to the night that the girls were born and I nearly lost you because I had to..."

" Honey I keep telling you... You have nothing to be sorry about. You have nothing to be guilty for... You did what you had to do and what I made you promise me to do and you saved Genesis's life... And I am still here. I'm still going and I've come along just as good as the girls have... You did not do anything wrong Rick... Please stop thinking that you have." Lesley stated

" Lesley... I've tried not to feel guilty, I really have but every time a month goes by it just reminds me of what I had to do and how you nearly bled to death in my arms that night.. aside from the fact that I also said no to taking you here when I knew the whole time that the possibility of bleeding and any complication could have happened... and that's not something I seem to forget either." Rick admitted

" Richard, you did what you thought you had to... You were trying to protect me when you refused to take me here with you. You could not have known that I was gonna have heavy bleeding Rick, nobody could have" Lesley shot back and continued after wrapping her arms around his neck " All you did Richard, was show me yet another one of the endless reasons why I love you more than anything in my life..."

" I truly don't know how long I would make it without you... " Rick replied and pulled Lesley close to him for a kiss.

~~~

" What exactly is the plan? How does the boss expect us to handle his current situation?" Roy asked

" He wants Lesley Webber and their 2 little brats out of the way and that's exactly what we're gonna do... Look alright, you have to keep one Webber busy because it's the only way his precious little wife is gonna be left alone and the sooner we do this the sooner I get paid."

" How do you plan to get her alone when she and Webber work in a hospital and are always near each other?" Roy asked again

" You just worry about the husband I'll work on taking care of the the intended target! Once we get that precious wife and those 2 brats they bread, we can than get rid of Rick once and for all"

" We're both checking out Georgia..." Rick got out

" Going home already?" Georgia replied

" Thankfully yes but we have to stop over at the sitters to pick up the girls..." Rick smiled

Lesley smiled while looking up at Rick " What Rick really means is we have to stop and get a few things for this weekend, and then we have to go and get the girls from Jessie and Ruby's.. any messages for me?"

Rick and Lesley were about to leave when someone walked in and alarm bells on Rick's instincts were going up where the first thing he knew to do was to protect Lesley at all costs

" Rick, what are we doing... Richard?!" Lesley shouted in the elevator

" I'm taking you to my office, and I want you to stay there until I know what's going on and I come for you" Rick answered

" Rick, what is going on..." Lesley looked up at Rick with a look.

~~~

" I am looking for Dr. Webber... It's my wife, she needs help... I spoke to him on the phone he said to meet him here in the lobby" Roy said

" I'm sorry but both Dr. Webbers have left for the afternoon." Bobbi replied

" But he told me to meet him down here in the lobby... He said he would be here"

" Dr. Lesley Webber only works half days to accommodate with her medical condition and her Husband has worked his patient load to support her schedule... If you'd like, I can page Dr Quartermaine who is on Dr. Webber's medical team." Bobbi explained and offered

" I don't think that would be necessary." Ronnie said and pulled out a gun.

Rick stayed by Lesley's side in his office unaware that Lesley was in more danger than he realized... And he remembered what Agent Derek and Peters explained

" Rick, I want to know what is going on... And why we are up here instead of going to get the girls" Lesley got out

" Lesley listen to me... You're in alot of danger maybe more than I thought which is why I have to keep you safe at all costs.." Rick replied

" Rick, you're not making any sense... What the hell is going on?" Lesley demanded

" Lesley, you remember Jennifer right?" Rick replied

" Sure she's Smith's daughter and almost married Luke but it didn't happen and Laura ran off with him that summer... But what's this have to do with me Rick I don't understand" Lesley asked confused

Rick tried to explain the situation the best he could " Laura ended up shooting the gun that shot Jennifer in the chest while trying to protect Luke when Jennifer tried to lunge and get violent with Luke... She was barely holding when she was finally brought here to General... Monica and I operated 7 and a half hours but it didn't matter. She died on the table anyway."

" I still don't understand why it would have anything to do with me" Lesley replied

" Laura was the one who shot her and Frank Smith is blaming me because according to him and his logic it's one thing if Monica or another Doctor loses a patient but when it's me, I'm not supposed to and what better way in his twisted thinking than to go after you... Smith was responsible for that guy who was drunk when we were in that accident that killed Laura… that night Martinson and Monica fought to get Laura stable but because of the accident, and the injuries it's what took Laura from us.. and now Frank Smith has put out a hit for you and the girls." Rick replied

" Rick it wasn't your fault and I know you want to protect me Rick but you can't go risking your life either, not when me and the kids need you.." Lesley pointed out

" Hey I won't be going anywhere I promise you that Lesley... But I will do whatever it takes to keep you and the girls safe even if that means it's my life" Rick replied and pulled Lesley close to him

" Rick, please don't just go risking your life... Not when I need you"

" Lesley I have to do what I can to keep you and our daughters safe. I'm not gonna lose you! Lesley I would die for you if it was to be just because I had to protect you."

" Your attention, all hospital personnel, your attention please as of right now the hospital is on a full lockdown and I want all doctors and nurses to stay where you are. No one is to leave until the word can be lifted ."

" Lesley I promise you I will find a way to get you out of here." Rick got out

" Rick, you just heard Steve, we have to stay where we are, we can't just go anywhere... I will be alright because I have you with me" Lesley replied

Now Rick smiled like a fool. "And that will never change, but I'm still gonna get you out of here."

" Rick, stop this... We have to stay where we are."

Rick made sure to see that no one was in the hallway and helped to get Lesley down to the basement so he could get her out of the hospital and to finally go get the girls to go home at least that was his plan until he heard something and knew someone was following them in the hallway.

" So you have been here the whole time..." Ronnie said with a smirk

" Whatever you want you deal with me but leave my wife out of this she's got nothing to do with anything" Rick barked

" The boss gets what he wants..." Ronnie grinned and pulled his gun

Rick lunged when the man pointed the gun in Lesley's direction and fought with the hitman where it turned into a struggle over the gun and it had gone off and the gunman ran off but not before Rick was shot an additional time

" Richard!!.." Lesley screamed

Rick took a shot to his shoulder as well as his stomach while trying to keep Lesley safe and shortly collapsed as the hitman took off.

~~~

" Steve, it sounded like it was on the second floor... Monica and my son are up there..." Alan stated

" Capt Ramsey is on it... And I'm sure Monica and your son are okay." Steve replied and turned towards Jessie. " As soon as Ramsey gives the clear, you and Alan and Noah take supplies and anything needed to attend if anyone was hurt up there."

" Of course Steve I just hope that no one was hurt" Jessie replied

" Richard!!" Lesley got down to the floor to be at Rick's side " I'm right here Rick... Stay with me, don't you dare leave me, you hear me."

Lesley did her best to keep the pressure until somebody was to get up to them after the man took off from the scene.

" Lesley what happened?" Monica ran to her aide

" I don't know... I don't know... He wanted to get me out of here course I tried to tell him that we shouldn't. I begged him next thing I knew... He was... He was fighting with the guy who was carrying this kind of gun. I don't know what and he was shot... Monica, we have to help him." Lesley got out

" Lesley... Lesley I promise you Rick is gonna be fine because I am gonna help him but what I need from you is to try to calm down... I'm gonna help you up and into a chair then I want you to call Jessie down on the lobby and tell her what's going on..." Monica suggested and moved to

help Lesley into a chair. " Lesley, I need you to trust me. I will bring Rick through this that I promise you I will not let him die go and notify Jessie and Steve on the main desk."

" Rick, you hang on for me... You hang on for the kids we need you." Lesley cried as Rick's eyes had rolled just as he had lost consciousness.

Lesley reluctantly agreed to leave to head to call the lobby to tell Jessie and Steve what was going on and that Rick was shot...

" Main desk this is Brewer... Lesley... Alright calm down tell me what happened." Jessie answered with Steve turning in her direction

" Alright Lesley I need you to try to calm down, take a deep breath and tell me what's happened." Jessie said calmly