Rick absolutely refused to take anything that Mark had to tell him because the thought that Lesley was never gonna wake up again was never gonna be taken into consideration...

" I'm right here Lesley... I'm never gonna let you go so you come back to me... Little Riley is waiting for me to bring you home and the girls, they love you and they miss you very much. They continue to ask me "when's mommy coming home?" l've told them that you'd be coming home soon Les, so you've got to pull through this."

The minute Rick started talking about Riley, and their girls Rick started to light up as Lesley started to respond to his voice again and she started to slowly regain consciousness...

" I'm right here sweetheart... I'm never gonna leave your side." Rick held Lesley's hand

Unable to communicate Rick started to worry about her recovery neurolog- ically as she had alot of difficulty even just holding a grip on Rick's hand and Mark had later charted that Lesley had moderate paralysis beyond her diaphragm where she wasn't able to breathe on her own by this point.

" Lesley I promise you you're gonna be okay and I will never ever let anything happen to you again." Rick kissed Lesley on her forehead and stepped out to get Steve and Mark

Mark and Steve evaluated Lesley's condition and determined that Lesley was gonna be alright but it wasn't gonna be easy as Lesley suffered significant brain damage

" Her response is nothing else but a miracle. She had a very low chance of waking up after her last cardio episode and the length in time it took to save her life and rather she'll be able to tolerate therapy respiratory and physical that's gonna be unclear at this time." Mark explained through all of his tests with Steve

" I agree Mark her recovery is incredible but she isn't completely out of the woods yet the cardiac damage Monica has recorded in her last eval could be long lasting and it's too early to say if the brain damage is gonna be permanent or not." Steve exclaimed

Rick paced back and forth waiting for word on Lesley's condition and whether or not Lesley was gonna be alright it started to drive him crazy until Steve and Mark had came out finally from her cubicle

" Tell me Lesley is alright..." Rick barked right to the point

" Rick I would like to promise you that and tell you that she would make a full recovery but you know just as well as I do that neither of us can determine that for sure." Mark replied as gentle as possible

" You've seen for yourself Mark, she's come back to us and she's woken up... What more could there be."

" Rick it's not gonna be that simple where she wakes up and then makes a full recovery... She suffered severe brain damage that could've gone worse not counting from Dr Quartermaine's last eval that showed cardiac damage where she may require a new pacemaker set up as well and she cannot initiate breathing on her own and she is right now dependent on a respirator. Rick Lesley is very lucky to be alive right now." Mark stated

" There's got to be something Mark... We can't just do nothing." Rick exclaimed

" At this time there's no telling if the brain damage will be permanent or not but Lesley is stable and Rick that is a good start." Mark replied.

" Do you think you might be able to remove the ventilator soon?"

" Rick, I wish I had a definite answer to that... All we can do is bring in respiratory care and have them determine if we can remove the vent. We just don't know at this point." Mark answered.

Rick took a few moments to gather himself together before he went back to sit with Lesley as he knew Lesley won't like to see him as upset as he was. Thinking about it more, Rick decided to

surprise Lesley as he's always done whenever he felt like it or whenever he saw an opportunity and went to get a small thing of flowers and he hoped that it would cheer her up when Jessie had something that was waiting for Lesley that came from the twins at home.

" Lesley….. everything is gonna be okay Rick is not very far away from us and nothing is gonna get to you I promise you." Jessie tried to assure Lesley as Lesley was alittle confused as to what was going on and as to where she was.

Worried about Lesley's communication issues Jessie stepped out to try to find out what was wrong as Lesley had trouble understanding what was going on.

" Mark what is it that's going on with Lesley, why is she having so much difficulty communicating." Jessie asked

" Jessie, as I told Rick, right now it is too early to say how Lesley's condition is gonna go. She suffered severe to almost catastrophic brain damage from the moment she first went into cardiac arrest." Mark explained

Over the next few days, Rick continued to be at Lesley's side as she was able to continue to recover and was transferred back to the ICU floor and she also had more visitors as Mark was hoping that it would help her to continue to recover before she was able to go home

" You're staring at me Rick… Is there something fascinating about me that I don't know about?" Lesley smiled

" Lesley my darling there's always something fascinating about you… And I am just thankful that you are alright and I'm gonna get to take you home soon." Rick gave Lesley a kiss and just stayed by her side.

" How are the kids…. Are they safe…. Rick, please tell me they're safe?"

" Everyone is home safe and sound and the girls miss you but they always tell me to tell you they love you… Jessie just actually called alittle while ago to find out how you were doing and told me to tell you she's gonna come up later to see you."

Rick stayed at Lesley's side even while she was guarded at all times because the fears and the possibility that someone was gonna get to her again scared him to death and Lesley knew it scared him to think someone was out to get her and her whole family.

" Rick stop it, I'm alright…. Jessie is gonna be here any second I'm sure why don't you head home and get some sleep you're exhausted." Lesley started to say as Rick interrupted " And leave you here alone Lesley I can't do that… you are crazy if you thought I could otherwise, last time I left you alone, I came this close to losing everything that means to me no way will I take that chance again."

" Rick I love when you do that but you know how I feel about you not taking time to take care of yourself too. You said it yourself that Jessie was gonna be here and both Georgia and Bobbi are here I'll be fine please go and take care of you go home and get some sleep" Lesley insisted

" Oh alright fine I will go… but I'm gonna come back eventually I don't think I'll last very long home without you." Rick gave Lesley a kiss and gave her a hug before he left and met Georgia in the hallway.

" Georgia, make sure that no one unless verified hospital personnel or Jessie is to be in Lesley's room."

" Of course and Steve has already made an official order that no one unless authorized could go in unless it's you or Jessie and hospital personnel" Georgia assured Rick as he was leaving to head home.

~~~

Over the following couple of weeks Lesley continued to improve and started physical therapy after Steve and Martinson determined that she was able to go home though they were not able to determine that Lesley was able to be without the ventilator by that point in so they made sure Rick arranged for ventilation to be set up for when he was able to take her home until it was determined that she would be able to fully breathe on her own.

" Rick I'm fine would you stop being so paranoid that something is gonna change…. I told you I will be alright and I'm gonna be because Steve and Martinson both are gonna be here soon to release and discharge me from here so I can go home to be with you and the kids…"

" And I can't wait to take you home…. the girls miss you and little Riley misses his best mother in the world.. and not to discount for myself, but I do happen to miss my beautiful wife too… the house is quite silent without you" Rick smiled while beside Lesley.

" I love you Rick…. I just wish you didn't have to have so much on you like this.. or to see me like this but I'm so thankful that I have you by my side." Lesley leaned closer to Rick " You're always gonna be the love of my life Les… nothing's ever gonna change that and to respond to what you said a moment ago," Rick lifted Lesley's head to look at her. " Lesley you will never ever be a burden to me and I will spend the rest of my life to making sure I take care of the woman I love. That means I'm gonna take care of you as I promised you, even if you get mad at me."

Rick gave Lesley a kiss before stepping aside to talk to Steve while she was asleep.

" I'm releasing Lesley tomorrow Rick and I want you to take some time off to spend with her and the kids home…" Steve ordered

" You won't have to worry about that I have a few surprises left for her as well as I already planned to spend some time with her at home… any word about her portable ventilator being sent out for the house?" Rick asked

" It should be there some time today…"

" Steve, I'm gonna head to the house to get that set up. Could you let me know about any progress with setting up for a respiratory therapist?."

Rick left for the house but not before he went to look in on Lesley to make sure she was okay. " I'll be back in a little while sweetheart… you rest and get some sleep." Rick whispered and kissed Lesley on the head before leaving to head home to meet with Respiratory Care.

Over the next few hours, Lesley appeared to be fine as her vital signs were strong, her heart function was good and her condition continued to stabilize, it wasn't her condition entirely that bothered Rick of course her medical care is always at top priority for him, it was the fact that Frank Smith was proving beyond a doubt that he could still get to her and he had to do everything he could known to man to ensure that she was gonna be safe. Going to police headquarters was easy seeing Capt. Ramsay was another at times especially, when he was handling a case or 2 back to back

" Bert I need to see you now, it's important and it cannot wait much longer!." Rick hurried to say

" Rick, I have a whole lot of people to deal with today. The D.A is breathing down my back to get these cases to him." Ramsay replied and moved to leave

" Bert, my wife is the main priority to me and she's not just any friend, she's important to me and is very special to my family! Now she's in alot of danger and something needs to be done before something happens and I lose everything!" Rick demanded

" Alright I'm listening but you have 5 minutes then I have to get my work done." Capt. Ramsay said

Rick got to the point where Lesley was a concern and the fact that Frank Smith proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he had the means to go after her even from a prison cell.

" Rick, I can assure you that Lesley is gonna be safe. As soon as I got the word from Doctor Hardy that he was gonna be releasing Lesley I took measures to insure her safety. Frank has no visitor rights effective immediately."

" Bert it's not that I question your judgment or how you do your job. It's my wife's safety and her life I have to worry about" Rick replied and sat down in the chair in Ramsay's office.

" I understand Rick, believe me I do… Lesley has always been a good friend to me. Today petrol is gonna be setting up around your house and will wait first thing in the morning at the hospital for when you take Lesley home."

~~~

" Thought you could use a few visitors before you go home" Jessie said with a smile while stepping in with Riley.

Lesley's face lit up as she saw Riley with Jessie and then after a moment reached to hold him. " He's gotten so big in the last few weeks… he's starting to look alot more like Rick I think…"

" I thought so too…. But I see alot of you in him. He's got Rick's eyes but he gets his stubborn determination from you." Jessie sat down beside Lesley.. " How are you feeling…?"

Taking a short breath Lesley looked at Riley while he was asleep. " I'm hanging in there Jess…. I think now that I'm in Physical and hopefully soon Respiratory therapy too, I finally get to go home to the kids and Rick, things have started to look better… I do, though wish however that I could go home without having to need this." Lesley referred to her trach just as Riley sneezed a few times.

" Jessie I don't think I like the sound of that…" Lesley looked between Riley and Jessie

" He's alright Lesley, his pediatrician appointment went well. He passed with flying colors, but Doctor Henry put him on antibiotic cream for the little rash from his diaper." Jessie assured Lesley the best she could

Lesley continued to just watch Riley sleep while she and Jessie continued to talk while Rick was about finished with respiratory care for Lesley at the house and seeing Capt. Ramsay.

" I still can't believe how much Riley has grown since I last saw him a few weeks ago."

" Well he takes after both his parents. The girls are gonna be real excited to see you come home soon." Jessie said with a smile. " Jessie, are you sure that there's nothing more to be concerned about for Riley? l don't think l should take a chance if there was something?." Lesley asked while concerned

" Lesley l know that you're concerned and that but doctor Henry was thorough and he checked everything with him. Riley passed his usual checkup with flying colors. The only thing now that we have to focus and take care of, is you. We have to take care of you. The good news is that tomorrow Rick and l are taking you home and after that, l will be with you 12 hours a day 7 days a week once you are in both physical and respiratory therapy."

Jessie stayed with Lesley for a while until Rick returned to see how she was doing and later arranged to bring the girls with him so they could see her before he was to bring her home.

" Is there any more room for a few more visitors?" Rick slightly pushed the door open alittle more to let Genesis and Jesslyn walk in.

" Mommy!" Both girls had ran over to the side. " Girls, be careful not to trip on the long tube line there. That's what is helping mommy breathe for right now."

" It's alright girls l'm gonna be just fine…. Jesslyn I see the wheels turning, what is it Snoopi?" Lesley laid a hand on Jesslyn's shoulder. " Nothing Momma l'm okay I guess…"

"Ah Rick, would you and Jessie take Riley and Genesis for alittle bit while I talk to Jesslyn? I think she and I should take a few minutes." Lesley requested in hopes that Jesslyn would open up when she and Jesslyn are alone.

Rick and Jessie stepped out with Genesis and Riley and gave some time for Lesley and Jesslyn. Rick took the opportunity to look over a few things for the house while he had the chance and Jessie watched the kids and talked to Genesis.

" How come Mom has to have that long hose for… Can't Mommy go home without all of that stuff?" Genesis asked.

" That long hose like tube is helping your Mother breathe better…. That's why she has to go home with it rather than without it…. Once she goes to therapy and the doctor later says that she doesn't have to have it, your father and myself will take it off and the doctor will remove it but for now she has to live with it." Jessie explained the best way she could.

~~~

" Jesslyn, you want to talk about what's bothering you? I know there's something… it's alright to talk about something when it's bothering you…. Talk to me." Lesley tried to get Jesslyn to open up about what's bothering her.

" I just don't want you to go anywhere Momma…. You've been gone alittle too long… I miss you at home." Jesslyn admitted

" Oh Jesslyn baby l'm not going anywhere I am gonna be here for a very long time…. I know it's difficult for you to fully understand a situation like this but everything is gonna get better from here on out and me and your Dad we're gonna make sure that it stays that way so you and your sister and your brother will grow up to go and do whatever it is that you may want to do. I'm gonna be alright Angel l promise you." Lesley gave Jesslyn a hug and later said good night to the kids when Rick asked Jessie to take them back to the house.

Rick stayed with Lesley while Jessie took the kids home but he knew that Lesley was gonna say something about it as Lesley always hated when he tried to ignore with what he needed to do for himself. " Rick, why don't you go home yourself and get your rest. I will be fine for the night."

" And give someone a chance to have a window to try to go after you again I don't think so…. I want to stay right here until I take you home first thing tomorrow morning.."

" Rick nothing is gonna happen to me… I think you're starting to be over protective and granted that it's justified… I don't want you overworking yourself just because you are trying your hardest to keep me safe as well as the kids."

" Lesley I have to be over protective of you…. You're not just some friend that's visiting or some friend that I work with. You're my wife… if I were to lose you I would go insane."

" I know that you are scared Rick…. I am too. I don't want to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life. But as long as I Rick am with you I will always be safe..." Lesley reached out when Rick went to give her a hug and a kiss before she was finally able to convince him to go home.