Waking up alittle earlier than everyone else, Rick got up and showered to go downstairs to set up something that Lesley had no idea that he had prepared for a long time ever since she was in the hospital.
After about 8:30, Rick started to make breakfast when Lesley had gotten up to start her morning and she had first taken a shower and then she attended to Riley who as on cue always woke up a quarter to 9. " Mommy's right here little man…" Lesley picked Riley up to change his diaper and later brought him down in his first Christmas outfit but sat down on the steps to the stairs to take a minute but missed when Rick came back in from the kitchen and rushed to her side.
" Lesley are you alright.." Rick asked as he started to help her get up to sit on the couch.
" Thank you Sweetheart, I'm alright… it just takes alittle out of me still when I get up with Riley in the morning….." Lesley answered and gave Rick a kiss… " Merry Christmas my love…."
" Merry Christmas my little bug… you have no idea just how much I love you darling."
" I think that would go both ways… I'm just thankful that I have you right here and right by my side."
" Lesley I couldn't find any other place in the world that I would rather be than to be right here with the love of my life, and our children..." Rick kissed Lesley again and sat Riley in his playpen.
" I think I better go and wake the girls up.." Lesley started to move to get up when Rick stopped her from getting up.
" I will go and wake the girls… I want you to relax and take it easy.." Rick insisted and went up to wake the girls who were still asleep in their rooms.
" Girls, I think it's time to get up…. It's Christmas and your brother and mother are waiting…"
Rick came back downstairs to sit at Lesley's side while she had Riley on her lap again so when the girls finally came down they could start opening stuff and Rick was ready to video Riley's first Christmas. Though everybody was excited or in the Christmas spirit, Rick didn't turn a blind eye that Lesley was having slight difficulty off and on which naturally didn't help ease his concerns about her any less than before.
" Les…. Sweetheart let me help you with that….. You have had enough trouble this morning… I want you to relax." Rick insisted
" I'm alright Rick it's just difficult when picking Riley up or putting him down… but I'm okay.. You are right I do need to take things slow but I promise you I'm okay."
" Riley this is for you…" Jesslyn held out something small for Riley to open
" Thank you Angel… how about you find one for Daddy and then for yourself..." Lesley suggested with a smile.
After about an hour after everyone finished opening up stuff, Lesley was expecting that Rick was gonna make her lay down upstairs but had no idea that he had something waiting for her and shortly after he put Riley down for a nap and he and the girls finished cleaning up in the living room, Rick asked the girls to go play with their new stuff upstairs so he and Lesley could have a few minutes to themselves.
" I love you so much Rick… you have no idea of just how much you mean to me.."
" Lesley, I want you to close your eyes… could you do that?" Rick asked gently
Lesley did what Rick suggested but was confused on what he was doing seeing that most of everything had already been given and finished for the morning. " Rick, what are we doing? I thought we were gonna relax and maybe spend the rest of the day relaxing?" Lesley stated
" And blow off the chance I have to surprise you with something special? Not on your life darling?" Rick kissed Lesley and turned her around. " You can open your eyes now, bug…"
Lesley opened her eyes and pulled in a breath when she saw what Rick built for her and Rick couldn't resist to smile " Merry Christmas Lesley… I waited all year to get this together for you." Lesley went into his arms and told him just how much she loved him and how grateful she was that she had him.
Later in the evening after the kids went to bed and Riley was fed, Rick noticed that Lesley also had fallen asleep on the couch with Riley again which didn't bother Rick, it was quite the opposite. He loved to see her and Riley asleep together. Even though Rick hated to do it, he picked Riley up to go and put him up to bed before he came back down and carried Lesley up the same to help her to head to bed granted she wasn't really feeling that great which always was a concern that Rick worried about especially, because it took alot for Lesley to bring Riley downstairs in the morning for the day.
" Hmm.." Lesley stirred alittle but was still asleep " I didn't mean to wake you sweetheart." Rick whispered slightly.
" You never could… Are you gonna come to bed?" Lesley asked as Rick made sure that her nasal respirator was working before he stepped near the bathroom to change into his robe to settle down for the night
" Of course l'm gonna come to bed… How could I not be up here to spend the rest of the night with my beautiful little bug…." Rick smiled and climbed into bed to settle for the night with Lesley right at his side.
Waking up a few hours later, Rick sat up to think for alittle while but made no effort to leave the bedroom by that point as granted things were great and their day turned for the better, he didn't forget that Lesley had alot of trouble that morning just attending to Riley and when she would bring him downstairs, " Something isn't right" Rick thought to himself over and over until he stepped out quietly from the bedroom to make a phone call and later he slid back into bed carefully so he wouldn't wake Lesley for any reason.
The following morning Rick got up to get a shower and later attended to Riley before Lesley was to get up not that he wanted to change or disrupt her morning routine with him, it was more that Rick wanted to make sure that whatever seems to be not right, he wanted to make it easier for her to do things...
" I know I'm not your Mom but it's okay… Mommy's gonna be up soon and then she'll be able to play and have alot of fun with you while I have to go to the hospital to help someone feel better.." Rick finished up with changing Riley's diaper not seeing that Lesley was watching with a smile on her face at the sight that she was watching her only important 2 men
" Come on little guy, let's surprise momma with a nice breakfast." Rick started to walk out with Riley
" oh…. I didn't see you get up… how long have you been watching?"
" Not long as a matter of fact I just woke up… I have to tell you something.." Lesley reached up for Riley's little bug blanket
" Oh should I be concerned.." Rick grinned but snuck in a kiss when he saw the window
" No I'm fine maybe alittle run down and weaker than I used to be right now but I'm okay… what I was gonna tell you is to see you getting to do this with your son is the greatest compared to what I thought it was gonna be before he was born and you weren't here."
" Hey you won't ever have to wonder about any of that ever again… Because you are safe and so are the kids.. and I promise you I will try to let you know if anything was to ever come up." Rick kissed Lesley again and led her downstairs.
" Rick…. What time does Monica or Steve have set to see me?" Lesley asked while catching him off guard
" Sometimes I question how you manage to know something before I get the chance to do with it. They set your appointment for this afternoon."
" I'm not bothered Rick, not about anything…. I love to know and feel that I'll wake up or go to sleep knowing that you're always going to be here to care for me… You're the best thing that I could ever be grateful for."
" I will always be there to take care of you Lesley… to leave you to struggle on your own I would have to be a heartless pig…. I promised you a long time ago and I will do it now again. I will always be here to protect you and to be the one who will take care of you for the rest of your life because Lesley you are my life.!"
Later in the afternoon Rick and Lesley headed to her appointment but weren't surprised when Monica's concern went up later during the stress and treadmill test.
" Monica som-something's wrong… I ca-ca-can't breathe."
Monica moved fast to get a mask on Lesley before paging Steve and having her admitted to the ICU
" respiration is shallow BP is 130/120 and tachycardic at 160..."
" Monica what happened… is Lesley alright.?!" Rick shot up
" I will figure it all out Rick. I promise you I will… Right now Rick we have to get her stable.. she collapsed before we could finish the cardiac stress test.."
" You think it's her heart don't you.?" Rick asked
" It looks to be that way… but there's no way to tell yet Rick. But I will get those answers for you, I promise you I will."
Rick sat by Lesley's side while he had the chance as Riley was in the daycare and the girls were in school. Rick knew something was wrong but he couldn't pinpoint what it could be as no one has tried in a long time to go after Rick or his family and Lesley was doing okay up until recently as she was admitted to the ICU.
" It's alright Les, I'm right here…. The kids are okay, Riley is in daycare and the girls are in school and I'm gonna pick them up later to bring them up to visit you for alittle bit."
" Could you pick up Riley and bring him up? I'd like to spend some time with him for alittle bit." Lesley asked
" Of course I could…. He's probably anxious from being away from his beautiful mother just like how I've gotten at times that I couldn't be here to help you." Rick tapped Lesley's nose before he gave her a kiss.
" Rick, I want you to stop blaming yourself or thinking that you need to be a hero… you won't be able to keep everything in your control… and I am gonna be alright. I've always gotten better and I will again."
Rick stepped out to check on Riley and to find out if the girls had gotten home yet or not so he could go and pick them up while Lesley was resting something though kept bothering him it was almost as if he was sure that something was really wrong but he still couldn't pinpoint it.
Rick was only gone for a half an hour when Monica had gotten her labs back to check on her and to get a repeat EKG.
" Lesley I have…. Lesley?!" Monica rushed out to call security and Steve right as she discovered that Lesley was missing just a short 25 minutes that Rick left to pick up the girls from the house to take them back up to see their mother for alittle bit.
" Steve she couldn't have just walked out and Rick didn't just take her home… somebody must've taken her out of here while we were with other patients." Monica stated
" Rick is not gonna handle this good. I want you and Alan to take Riley back with you to your house and keep him there so when Rick gets back here he wouldn't have to worry about their son on top of Lesley." Steve made clear when he put the hospital on lockdown and called Bert and the police.
~~~
Afraid to show how scared she is, Lesley tried the best she could to stay relaxed and calm while she didn't know who it was that kidnapped her from the hospital.
" What do you want with me… just let me go… I have children that depend on me." Lesley begged knowing already that it didn't matter
" You will be well handled here sweet cheeks… the boss will be happy to see and to get his hands on you." Jasper snickered
" Indeed I will..." Frank commented
" My husband will come looking for me… he'll find me." Lesley declared
" The only thing he'll find my dear is your lifeless body… that is once I'm finished with you." Frank shot back and looked back at his men " Go put her in the cage. When you're done, have these instructions sent out to Webber."
~~~
" Girls I want you to go right with Jessie, do you understand?… I'll find out what's going on." Rick got out of the car with the girls as he saw the police and Bert talking to Steve.
" Go inside girls now..." Rick sent the girls inside with one of the officers. " Steve, what is going on.?"
Steve and Bert tried to explain as easy and direct as they could knowing that Rick though wasn't gonna take it calmly that Lesley was kidnapped
" Where's Riley?!" Rick spoke up first
" I Ordered for Monica and Alan to take him to their home until you said otherwise and if you'd like, I'll have the girls taken over there as well." Steve answered
" I think that would be a good idea Steve… Especially because I have business I need to settle once and for all.." Rick attempted to walk off but Bert saw right through him.
" Rick I know where you're headed but all that's gonna do is put Lesley right in front of more danger than she's already in.. we have to be smart about this."
" That's my wife that's out there Bert and she's in danger. Who knows what is happening to her I have to get to her."
" Rick, I am asking you to trust me and let me do what I have to do…. I don't want to arrest you but I will if I have to." Bert tried again to reason with Rick
~~~
Scared to try to find a way to escape, Lesley tried her best to stay calm and tried to remind herself that she was gonna be okay and Rick was gonna stop at nothing to get her home.. reminding herself was easy but actually trying to remain calm was another story as Lesley knew she had trouble lately with her heart. Lesley suddenly had an idea granted the risk that she could die was moderate, she started to get an idea of a way she could get out of captivity alive.
Short time after thinking of her idea, someone started to open the door where Lesley was being held to take her somewhere except when she was found and appeared to be dead they left and reported back to the boss at hand
" She's what?! How could that be possible!" Frank shouted.
" We don't know sir…. We told her to get up and she was cold right to the skin when we grabbed her wrists." Jasper said
" Did you verify that she is dead…"
" She was ice cold right to the touch…. There didn't appear to be a sign of breathing." Jasper answered but Frank Smith had stopped him " did you bother to get a pulse?"
" Sir I told you she has no respiration, no movement. I'm almost positive that she is dead."
Frank had enough excuses and ignored his employee as he went to where Lesley was being held to check for himself that Lesley was deceased and sure enough she remained on the floor still pretending at the risk of dying.
" Call General Hospital and ask to speak to only Webber, no one else.." Frank ordered
~~~
" Do you have any idea of who could be after you or your wife?"
" No I don't think I do because Frank Smith had been dealt with long ago and everything has been good until now." Rick answered without hesitation.
Jessie came outside with a concerned look and wasted no time in going directly to Rick. " There's a phone call for you… and I think you should get it incase it has something to do with the situation."
" Thank you Jessie..." Rick said as Bert spoke up " I'm going in with you Rick."
Rick wasted no time when he walked inside to take the call waiting for him as he knew it was about Lesley and told Bert to be very discrete as it was a risk to involve the police already
" I know who you are looking for and what you want but I'm gonna make this short and sweet… An envelope is being sent to you right now as I speak and what's in it you'll find out soon enough all you are to do is wait until I know you have the envelope, and you will know next what I want. Refuse and all you'll get in return is your wife's body in pieces." the man said and hung up but Rick didn't recognize it so it wasn't Smith although Rick wasn't about to rule that out
Rick placed the phone down but was far from being calm as he was more enraged that Lesley's life is on the line again only this time he couldn't find a way to get to her and bring her home.
" Bert I want the FBI and the WSB brought into this now. I don't care how much the PCPD has done. I want my wife found today and alive! No more games!" Rick demanded
Finally able to to take a breath and to somewhat wake up, Lesley knew she was gonna find a way to escape when she woke up to see she had been moved to an outside location. " I will find my way home Rick I promise..." Lesley vowed not realizing that someone was nearby when she was struck over the head at least 3 times
Rick semi looked at the photos but couldn't bear to when it just made him feel worse that he couldn't get to her to save her life.. he got up and left to search and rescue himself but brought Jessie along with him to do what he had to do
" I have to Jessie, I don't care about me. I care about what happens to her… Jessie just please promise me if anything goes wrong and I'm not here after this then you will be there right by her side."
" Rick, you don't need to ask me to promise anything but I won't allow this when that girl needs you and you have 3 kids that depend on you too."
" Jessie it's because of the kids that I am doing what I have to do…. They need their mother and Riley is too young to even know who his mother is!" Rick spoke up
Pulling over Rick suddenly got a call he wasn't expecting but was gonna take it anyway " I'm gonna find you whomever you are…" Rick challenged
" The only thing that you will find is her lifeless body waiting for you."
Rick got out to where he saw an outside shed he never saw before and sprinted to look around only to discover what was said to him that he was gonna find what looked to be Lesley's body as she had lost more than a liter of blood from the blows to the head though the only visualization he was able to have was her hand that was covered in blood from after being struck over the head.
" I'm right here Lesley… I have you and I swear to you baby I'm not gonna leave your side…" Rick spoke out and took his sweater to use as something to hold pressure on her head " Dear God what did they do to you Darlin…."
After several hours an ambulance had finally reached the hospital after finding where Lesley was where she was immediately taken to surgery. Bert as mad as he was, he was happy to see that Lesley had been found in time given her injuries
" Rick that was a very dangerous and stupid thing to do but I will not hold it against you."
" I did what I had to do Bert… She's my wife. Nothing matters more than making sure that she's taken care of and safe."
Rick started to pace again while scared that she wasn't gonna pull through surgery.
" Rick, what's important is you got to her. Regardless of the injuries and her condition, you got to her. She'll get through this."
~~~
Not understanding where she was and what happened, Lesley found herself asking what was going on and what she was supposed to do at least until she saw a shadow in the distance in front of her
" Don't be afraid Lesley I will not hurt you here?" Joseph answered
" I don't know what happened… why would someone do something so cruel.?"
" Not all things can be explained or answered, we just go through each day no matter what would lie ahead. And right now there's a choice for you to make."
" I don't know what I'm supposed to choose… I don't even know where I am."
" You're caught between the worlds of life and death where some choose to stay or choose to live through their lives." Joseph explained
" So if I were to live.?" Lesley started " You will never walk again and your ability to communicate will be limited and your memories may never come back but if you come with me, you will have peace without any suffering."
" How am I supposed to make a choice like this… When I have my children and my husband who needs me."
~~~
" The girls continue to ask when you get to come home… I don't know what to say to them darling… and I am trying but baby I'm failing to get through the day and the next without you.. so you gotta wake up Lesley and come back to us… To me."
" Rick… why don't you take a small break, get something to eat..." Steve suggested
" I can't Steve, I can't leave her side. Not after what happened to her that put her here in the first place."
" Rick, what happened was not your fault, don't go blaming yourself because you went to pick up your kids…" Steve replied
" Steve, I'm supposed to protect her at all times. I made that promise and I made that vow when she forgave me and we remarried. And I am the one that broke that promise…" Rick stated while Jessie was standing nearby
" Steve, give us a moment, could you.?" Jessie asked
" Jessie, you're not gonna change my mind. I'm not gonna leave her alone."
" Rick.. I'm not gonna tell you what to do. But I will tell you this. With security, Steve and myself along with Robert's connection to the WSB, you better believe that Lesley is gonna be safe… You have bent over backwards for that girl time and again after she was attacked once before and now had been again. Give yourself credit where it's due."
" I know that you mean well Jessie and it's not that I'm not hearing or listening to you, I just don't think I can leave her again. Not when the chances are very low that she'll wake up this time."
" Rick Lesley is a strong fighter, she is not gonna leave you or her kids."
Missing that Lesley's hand started to move, Rick tried not to think of the worst case scenario of losing Lesley but then saw her move again and heard the slight moan as Lesley started to respond.
" Lesley I'm right here…. And Jessie is too sweetheart we're right here by your side… Can you open your eyes?... Lesley come back to us."
" I'm gonna go and get Steve and Mark." Jessie walked out
Upon evaluation, Steve and Mark were able to determine that Lesley was able to breathe on her own but Mark had concerns about her ability to be able to walk again after she suffered a blow to the head that also affected her spinal cord that was severed.
" She's very lucky Steve… had she not woken up when she did her body was on its way to shutting down."
" I see what you mean, her head injuries from what she had been through would have nearly killed her or left her with no function from her diaphragm and down."
Starting to wake up, Lesley was confused on what was going on as she didn't really remember much from the attack. " Lesley it's Dr Dante, do you know who you are? Or where you are?"
