Jessie was just about to get ready to see if Lesley was awake or if she needed help to get ready for her appointment when a sudden knock on the door came and when Jessie answered, it was a shock of her life
" Is this some kind of joke; What is going on here?!" Jessie bit out
" It's hard to explain... But I think I have to make it right now that you and especially Lesley are in a safer place... Starting with making it right with you and Lesley..." Rick replied
" Lesley is still asleep and I think it's time you give me a good reason for how you could put that girl through the torment she went through by thinking you had been killed and right in front of her.." Jessie said firmly
" Jessie I didn't want to put her through hell it was not my intention to do that all I wanted was to keep her safe to protect her and the girls and of course you came with that... At first I thought that the plan was crazy and I couldn't agree to it at least not without explaining it to Lesley and you but I started thinking more and I agreed to it because all I had to do was think about Lesley... And what it could take to keep her safe believe me I weighed in the possible risks involved to losing her Jessie but I promise you keeping her alive and her safe was all I was after... I wasn't trying to hurt her." Rick explained
" I believe you weren't trying to hurt Lesley... But Rick she hasn't slept, she hasn't coped to anything that's happened since then. The guilt, the PTSD from the trauma and the nightmares from that event it really took a toll Steve and I had to give her a sedative to relax because she was so shaken up and beside herself that you were just gone and that's not counting that all of that happened in front of her. We were lucky that the sedative didn't affect..." Jessie stood up when she stopped talking for that moment.
" I pray to God Jessie that she forgives me... Wait a second... What did you mean by that... 'you were lucky that a sedative didn't affect'... That it didn't affect what?" Rick got out
" I do too... You better figure out how you're gonna manage this and I would suggest you do it before that baby is born because while I'm always gonna be there, in the end you are her husband not I." Jessie replied
" I never meant this to go this way... What a second... Did you say something about a baby?" Rick looked at Jessie shocked
" She's 22 weeks along we found out after everything went down. Look I need to get Lesley up and ready and you need to get to wherever but you need to think of what I said because I may understand now Rick, but she just might have more problems with understanding this" Jessie got out.
Rick left just before Jessie went to see if Lesley was awake and ready to get ready for Dana and her appointment.
" Lesley? Are you awake? How are you feeling?" Jessie asked.
" I'm alright, just alittle tired... I was just thinking about when Rick and I found out about the twins... He was so happy but paranoid at times that something would sneak up and if I were to have maybe just the slightest discomfort he would think that something was maybe going on... We always kept the idea of one more baby but we didn't really know if we should or not with the complications from delivery with the girls and then because of the history of high blood pressure and then with the possible complications with my heart... I never thought I'd be welcoming another little one but without him... Jessie how can I do it without Rick.." Lesley sat up alittle bit
" Hey you won't have to do it alone... You have me to help you Lesley... And Rick is here you know that.. he's never gonna leave you..." Jessie gave Lesley a hug and helped her get ready for her appointment with Dana
" Jessie it's not that I don't think you wouldn't be there or someone wouldn't…. I'm still without my husband. And the thought that he won't be here when this baby comes, it kills me inside."
~~~
Rick sat down to think to himself about what Jessie told him and how he was gonna figure out a way to return for Lesley while he knew she was gonna need him the most... Still though he kept thinking back to the moment Jessie told him about the baby and how it was gonna be for them with what was to lie ahead.
" No one followed you to where we put your wife and daughters?" Agent Peters asked
" No no one has followed to and from... And Lesley was asleep I didn't see her but I saw our good friend Jessie and let's just say she was alittle tad upset with me." Rick replied
" I can relate... Although what's a good thing is after another couple of days we will be able to send Lesley and the kids back home where they can be comfortable and you will go as well." Agent Peters said
" I hope when I see Lesley later, she won't be too upset or angry with me... I know she'll have trouble understanding this..." Rick stood up at the window.
~~~
" Everything is normal Lesley the baby is healthy and developing normally there are no signs of any kind of complications... Would you like to know the gender or is that something you would rather not know?" Dana asked gently
" Sure that would be something nice to know I guess.." Lesley replied but was alittle withdrawn
" You see that right there?.. It's a boy..." Dana pointed out
" What... It's really a boy?... Rick always wanted to have... But he won't get to.." Lesley tried not to lose herself.
" Lesley... Rick is always with you, and he will live within your son... Just as he is with your 2 little girls... He never really left you" Dana tried to comfort Lesley and later reminded Lesley of the dangers and that she needed to avoid stress at that point in with her pregnancy.
" Dana, should I be concerned about the Braxton Hicks… I don't want to look like I'm over concerned but I'm worried about possibly having this baby too early."
" So far everything looks normal. The fetal heartbeat is strong as it should be and your blood pressure is stable… Lesley you have not started to dilate yet so that's a good thing. We will keep an eye out for that and if you start bleeding, then I want Jessie to get you to the hospital to see me right away." Dana went over everything to assure Lesley everything was fine.
Dana finished up with the appointment and told Lesley to call if needed before leaving and Jessie helped Lesley to go lay down for alittle while before Rick was to show up again to explain everything he chose to do in spite of what it could cost him.
" How is she Jessie?" Rick asked
" Struggling but she's holding up the best she can. I know you want to make things right but you have to think of the way you went about this whole situation... It's not what I feel that matters because truth be told Rick, I would've done the same for her, but she's gonna have a different way of reacting to seeing you again after all this time that and Dana has made it clear that Lesley has to avoid any kind of stress." Jessie pointed out
" I know... How's the baby?" Rick asked
" Your son is doing well, he's healthy and will be here in 18 weeks..." Jessie said with a smile
" It's a boy?... Wow..." Rick sat down.
Jessie heard Lesley starting to wake up again and needed to go to the bathroom so Jessie got up and told Rick to stay in the other room and she walked upstairs to help Lesley
" I'm right here Lesley..." Jessie got out
" Jessie I can't tell you how much you mean to me with everything you've done for me... Especially after Rick was murdered... it means so much that you've been here for me." Lesley got out
" Hey I'll always be there for you just as you've always done for me. But there is something for you I need to tell you about... Before I help you downstairs" Jessie sat beside Lesley in the bed.
" Sounds ominous... Is something wrong?" Lesley spoke up
" No I wouldn't say it's something wrong but it is something you should be prepared for..." Jessie replied
" Jessie I don't like the way you say that... What is it...?" Lesley pulled back alittle bit
" Someone is here to see you...?" Jessie replied
" Who is it... Someone from the FBI?" Lesley asked
" Sort of..." Jessie said
Rick started to head upstairs and knocked on the door slightly... " Are you sure you want to see this visitor?... You don't have to." Jessie asked
" You said this person came here to see me, so let them in... I think I should be able to handle this" Lesley replied
" Just remember that you have to try not to get upset even if and when it will shock you." Jessie replied when she went to the door to answer it.
The moment Lesley saw who it was that walked in when Jessie let the person in Lesley couldn't hide the betrayed feeling she started to feel seeing that Rick was really alive all that time...
" Richard?... Is this real?" Lesley tried not to sound upset right away.
" Yes Lesley sweetheart, it's really me. I am really here." Rick answered
" How is this possible... I cremated you. I buried part of you beside Laura..." Lesley spoke up
" Lesley I never meant to hurt you like this I swear to you I didn't..." Rick replied
" I have spent the last few months Rick... Months I spent grieving for you... Rick I cried every day thinking how can I explain to the girls when they would be older why you weren't around... Rick, I needed you... They needed you... How could you lead us to this…. How could you put me in this kind of place.?" Lesley shouted..
" Lesley... All I ever wanted to do not as a man or a doctor... but as your man your husband all I was trying to do for you and our family was to keep you all safe... Lesley if I didn't at least try and something were to happen to you and or the kids it would kill me inside... I don't expect you to forgive me if you can't. I understand that... I only wanted to keep my promise I made a long time ago to you that I was gonna keep you safe and I was gonna protect you... You mean everything to me." Rick replied and took ahold of Lesley's hands
Lesley pulled away " Rick it tore me apart when Monica came out of that O.R and told me you were gone I couldn't breath nevermind try to wrap my mind around it I lashed out at her I accused her that she didn't help you how could you put me through this... I watched your ashes go into your urn. I held that urn every single night I could... You could've told me what you wanted to do, you could've told me what the feds had in store for us... but you didn't, you chose
to keep me in the dark and just let me to think I lost you... Do you have any idea Richard what that did to me..." Lesley stated while trying not to cry more
" Of course I thought of this Lesley. I thought of all of this and what it could cost me but it didn't matter to me... All that mattered to me was you and the kids and your safety... You were destroyed when Laura was killed in that accident... I was not about to ever let that happen ever again I had to do what I had to Lesley l had to keep you safe..."
" I believe you Rick... You know that but I don't know if I can handle this right now... Between here and the girls and thinking what's to lie ahead with this baby... It's alot for me to deal with..." Lesley replied
" Whatever you need Lesley you know I'd give you if it's space you need I can wait... Because all that matters to me is you and the girls." Rick insisted
" Rick... I think maybe it's better if you give me alittle time... I just... I can't do this right now" Lesley got out and turned away hoping the small cramp would ease.
" Lesley are you okay?" Jessie asked
" Yeah... I'm alittle shaken up but I'm okay and the baby is fine." Lesley nodded
" I hope that you can see past this Les... I won't expect anything but I hope you know I... All I wanted was to make sure you were gonna be okay... and I'm sorry that I hurt you. I promise that was not my intention" Rick replied and stepped out to head downstairs of the safe house.
" I love him Jessie but I just... I need time" Lesley tried not to cry.
Jessie moved to Lesley's side " Hey everything is okay... Just focus on yourself and the baby.. right now that's more important... On a good note, the one thing that Rick did accomplish is your safety. I know it's difficult to try to make sense now but you'll get there eventually." Jessie replied
" What I can't understand Jessie... Is why didn't he just tell me what was going on and why keep me in the dark this way?"
" I wish I could make it make sense for you what I can tell you Lesley is it took alot of courage for him to risk his life this way for you... If I were in his shoes truth be told I would do that same thing if it meant to keep the family i love safe... Now you need to rest and relax. This kind of pressure or stress is not gonna be good for you or the baby." Jessie replied
~~~
After about another couple of weeks and Lesley was finally back home with the girls, Lesley started thinking about what was to come. Lesley thought more about what was best for her but
moreso what was best for the baby and she decided to call Rick who stayed at Bobbi's to give Lesley the space she needed.
" Lesley... I'm happy you called... How are you?" Rick asked
" I'm okay... Jessie has the girls with her for alittle bit so I thought maybe we could talk for alittle bit and so I thought to call..." Lesley replied
" Lesley I've been thinking about what's been going on lately and..." Rick started and paused when Lesley spoke up
" Please come home... I miss you and I need you... and I think it's time that you come home to where you are supposed to be... Please Rick come home... I want you to come home before the babys born. I don't want to do this alone..." Lesley Pleaded
" I'll be right there Lesley... I love you." Rick replied unsure if Lesley heard when she just hung up the phone.
" Rick is on his way... We're gonna talk... Jessie I think it's time that he comes home... Especially before the baby comes..." Lesley said
" I'm proud of you Lesley because I know how hard it's been for you just as it's been hard for him to risk everything for you... That was the hardest thing he ever chose to do Lesley."
" It's the biggest reason I love him so much... And I know that he only wants to keep me safe... He blames himself because of what happened with Laura and I in the accident…. I wish he would stop because it wasn't his fault... If anything else it was on me." Lesley got out
" Lesley neither you nor Rick were responsible for that night.. sure she was in that accident with you and Rick but neither of you caused it... That other person was drunk beyond anything else and that man was punished for what he did." Jessie tried to comfort Lesley
Lesley tried to hide it but Jessie started to pick up that Lesley wasn't feeling right. But didn't want to push it too much
" Lesley, are you feeling alright? What's the matter?" Jessie asked
" It's nothing, I'm just alittle bothered... I think the split moment that I almost got worked up I think it just might have upset the baby.." Lesley replied
" Are you sure?" Jessie insisted
" Yeah I think so I'm okay… If anything it's just a false alarm and they are just Braxton Hicks. I certainly remember what those feel like. As long as I don't dilate then I think I'll be okay. " Lesley said
Lesley let her smile go when Jessie went to put the girls down to bed because she knew it was possible that she had started to feel like she was going into premature labor but what Lesley didn't want to get Jessie worried about anything
~~~
Genesis and Jesslyn were with Jessie while Lesley and Rick were talking upstairs for alittle while about things and what was to come up ahead.
" Is there something I can do for you... Lesley, how can I make you feel better about things?" Rick asked
" I'm alright... Rick, I don't want to lose you again... Please come back and stay home... I don't think I can live without you." Lesley clung to Rick
" Sweetheart I'm right here... And I'm never gonna go anywhere ever again I promise you. I already spoke to Steve... I'm gonna be here this time right by your side especially for when this baby comes. You and the kids are all that matters to me, don't ever forget about that." Rick started to stand up
" Rick, wait a minute..." Lesley looked up at Rick
" What's wrong.." Rick shifted slightly
" Feel about right here" Lesley put Rick's hand on her side when the baby started kicking more
" That's our son..." Rick said... " Hey was that what I think it was?" He added
" That I think is him saying I'll see you soon... It's alright it's just a false alarm nothing to really worry about it doesn't even hurt as much..." Lesley insisted while taking a second.
" Lesley you've said this before and then after 6 hours I nearly lost you while having to make a choice to risk your life and or Genesis's life... I don't wanna ever do that to you again." Rick insisted
" Rick, I'm not due for another 16 and a half weeks. of course I am keeping a close watch as always incase of anything changes or if my blood pressure spikes too high or of anything else but I don't think we should assume or jump every time I have a contraction we both need to keep calm and not get hysterical and the night the girls were born that was a very different situation that I have told you before to stop blaming yourself for... You did what you had to do
and I made it through. I survived and so did our daughter... Please Rick don't worry so much" Lesley shot back
" I know you are right but it's easier said than done on my end Les... I worry about you" Rick admitted
" Alittle too much sometimes" Lesley smiled
" Here... I found something to get you. I thought maybe it would be perfect for the woman I fell in love with..."
" I love you more than anything and thinking that I was gonna have to raise our kids alone. I hope I will never have to think about that again... I mean that Rick.. Please don't do that ever again." Lesley replied
" You will never have to ever again sweetheart I promise you... With Smith and all of those guys gone you will never have to worry about that again and I will sleep better at night knowing that you and the kids are safe..." Rick replied and pulled Lesley close to him
" I love you Rick... I don't think I could ever stop." Lesley said just as she fell asleep beside Rick.
~~~
After Rick had settled back to his normal routine after the last 3 weeks, he and Lesley took an easy period while they had a chance as Lesley's due date was gonna eventually start to approach though after her last appointment Lesley's fears occasionally came back about the possibility of a real premature birth
" Rick I mean it I think it's just better that I take a leave now instead of the week before I don't want this baby coming now before he's ready."
" Lesley honey listen to me. You and our son will be fine and I'm gonna see to it that nothing happens to either one of you… but I also think that you should keep busy so you don't get yourself worked up about thinking of what could go the wrong way…" Rick insisted
" Rick, you heard Dana, any kind of stress or problem that could lead to an emotional upset it could be dangerous for both myself and the baby. I can't risk it, I won't. Especially because this pregnancy is dangerous for me as it is because of my heart. Please Rick, I'll be alright with the girls." Lesley barked
" I love you Lesley… you take an easy and try to relax"
" Rick…. Please don't be upset… I just want what's safest for our son."
" I know you do sweetheart… because I do too….. I want you to relax and try to rest today." Rick gave Lesley a kiss before he went to get ready for work.
Rick got ready to head out but hated that he was the only one heading in when it meant leaving Lesley home alone without any help until he was to get home later.
" Checking in Jessie." Rick said
" Bad morning?" Jessie asked
Rick looked up with a reaction as close to as amazed that Jessie knew something was wrong. " Everything seems to be fine. I don't think I've done a good job about reassuring Lesley that she would be fine with working a light schedule up until she had to take time for when the baby's born. She's afraid to do much of anything." Rick explained
" Well it's understandable with the baby due in alittle over 3 months…" Jessie replied
Rick headed on to get his morning started as he hoped to get finished early so he could later be home with Lesley to make sure he had everything taken care of before anything was to start. At about 2:00, Rick called to check in on Lesley and later set reservations at Dino's so he could give Jessie, Steve and Audrey some time to get the house together for alittle surprise he had in mind to show Lesley just what she meant to him.
" You look absolutely stunning" Rick snickered as he was able to hide his grin
" Jessie helped me with getting changed and ready…." Lesley answered
Rick and Lesley spent the evening out for dinner while Jessie, Audrey and Steve had gotten the house together to surprise Lesley while he saw the window before the baby was to come which in Lesley's mind, she felt that it was only a question of days that she was expecting her labor to start
" I think it's time that I should get you home. We both have a long day tomorrow" Rick said simply.
" You mean you have a long and heavy day tomorrow. I have an easy day that I'm going to spend with Alice preparing for when our son decides that he's ready to come… Wait a second, why are you so anxious about heading home Richard… What did you do?" Lesley cocked an eyelash up
" Nothing, I just thought that maybe it was time that I could get you home so you could get off those feet and maybe we could relax." Rick tried but couldn't fully hide his grin.
" Rick you've got something up your sleeve now what is it!" Lesley insisted
" Now I can't really tell you…. It's a surprise and I'm not gonna tell you!" Rick grinned while helping Lesley back into the car
Rick and Lesley had kept a light conversation though Lesley didn't miss the timing to attempt to pick the bone with Rick as she still didn't figure out what he was hiding from her. Rick continued to keep things light just as to make sure that tensions and anything that would upset Lesley wouldn't sneak or come to threaten neither her or the baby's life
" Lesley my motive is simple… All I plan to do is take you home, get you off your feet, start a nice pot of light tea and that's that for the rest of the evening and night." Rick insisted again
" Rick I am only asking because sometimes you like to catch me off guard when you go surprising me.. and I'm not complaining about that because I love you for it but it hasn't been easy lately and you know I am gonna worry about this baby… I don't want Dana to have to deliver this baby earlier."
" Lesley sweetheart, I promise you I will not let anything happen to you or the baby.. you're gonna be fine."
Walking into the house and hanging up both his and Lesley's coats, Lesley had just gotten the surprise of her life that Rick had waited to give her but not before he walked in about 10 minutes to see her speechless again and completely dumbfounded that Rick went through the trouble to surprise her with a vow renewal gathering to show her just what she was to him.
" Rick… I don't know what to say nevermind what to think.."
" Thinking about how I almost really hurt you again, it really got to me so I thought of the only thing I love to do when hoping to see my favorite little bug smile."
" We will talk about this later Rick…. I think right now I should be off of my feet for the rest of the afternoon and evening."
Rick and Steve spent alittle time talking while Jessie and Audrey sat with Lesley while they spent some time before she was ready to head up to go to bed for the night. Thinking about relaxing to get some sleep was easier said than done in Lesley's mind especially when she felt slightly bothered but wasn't gonna say anything unless she had to because it only to her felt like it was a false alarm rather than anything else at that moment.
" Jessie, thank you for this. I know Rick put you up to it but I want to thank you anyway."
" It was no problem on my part… Are you feelin alright?... Why do you look like you have alot of pain." Jessie asked
" Yeah I'm alright…. I think with the excitement and Rick conning you into this it got the baby excited so he's trying to stay very active." Lesley replied hoping she sounded convincing enough while she was afraid that it was just the beginning of her labor.
" Sweetheart, are you alright?!" Rick rushed to Lesley's side.
" I'm fine…. I just need to take an easy with everything… it will go away when I settle down." Lesley looked towards Rick and added later " We will talk about this when everyone leaves..."
" I think it's time that you take it easy and sit down…." Rick helped Lesley sit down.
" Rick, it's only another Braxton Hicks… I'm gonna be fine if anything the baby is mad at you because he can't be here yet to join in for the fun."
Rick later brought Lesley upstairs so she could get some sleep and later pulled up the blanket slightly when he noticed Lesley was starting to shiver and so she could get some sleep while she had a chance before she was to go for her next appointment with Dana the following morning or that was the plan until the baby started to make other plans and Lesley was up off and on with a few cramps that began to feel like they were starting to become stronger contractions...
" Come on little guy... You know you have to wait just alittle bit longer... Now we both need to rest and take an easy." Lesley whispered to not wake Rick up at least not unless she was to feel like she had to
