Rick waited until Lesley was settled into her treatment appointment before checking in with Bert about the problem with Jesslyn and the harassment where it later resulted with Jesslyn nearly losing her life.

" Bert, I want something done now about it. These kids cannot be allowed to just go around threatening other kids."

" Rick, do you see what I have here on my desk… I have until this afternoon before the D.A is on my tail and breathing down my throat to get them together."

" Bert this is my daughter's life that I'm talking about. I will not stand for someone, not even another child going around telling my daughter at 11 years old to either kill herself or that other child will and that child would be able to get away with it." Rick argued back

" I have enough to worry about with Lesley's health and her medical situation and I don't want her to have to worry about this and rather or not she'll go home and later find our daughter hanging in a closet or from something high enough."

Leaving the PCPD to get back over to the hospital, Rick decided to stop and pick up the kids early so that they could be with him when going to pick up Lesley

" Hi Momma… Daddy came to pick us up.." Jesslyn hugged Lesley but remembered she had to be careful

" I can see that… you and Genesis buckle up okay me and Daddy are gonna be right here for a couple of minutes." Lesley turned around after closing the car door

" Rick what is it… I know that look and I know when there's something that you're worrying about.."

" Lesley it's nothing that I want you to focus on, I've got things mostly taken care of already..." Rick insisted but Lesley knew better especially as she didn't pretend to point out that he pulled the girls out of school early

" Ah huh… Rick you picked up the girls earlier than usual today and you don't normally do that… Rick just please tell me what's going on. I can take it, I'm a big girl."

" Ramsey isn't handling the situation right now with the school and the situation with the other kids that have been messing with the girls so for today I pulled them out we're hoping to just spend the rest of the day at the house with you."

Seeing that Lesley was just standing there trying to process what she just heard, Rick was hoping that she wasn't about to get upset. " What do you mean Bert isn't looking into the problem that has to do with the school and our daughter… She nearly killed herself Rick; it isn't like she fell off her bed a few years ago and had to have minor stitches… She went and took prescription medication that I have to be on."

" Lesley I know all of that and that's why I went and picked the girls up and tomorrow morning you and I will go to the school and deal with it..."

" It scares me Rick… It scares me that I'm gonna have to lose and bury another child and I don't know that I can live through that again."

Rick lifted Lesley's chin when she looked down. " Lesley nothing is gonna happen to Jesslyn I will see to it that nobody is gonna hurt her or any of us in our family again. That I will promise you… come on bug let's get you home so you can take the rest of today to relax."

Later in the evening after finally getting Riley to go down for the night, Rick was finally able to spend the rest of the time with Lesley in spite of her situation and the fact with her not feeling all that well from having to go back and forth with chemo and her appointments. " Without her I don't know how I'd survive" Rick thought to himself

" I think I could say the same thing about you Rick, I would be quite lost if I had to go through all of this alone and then try to manage to be able to spend time with the kids." Lesley reached out to touch Rick on his arm

" Lucky for you my bug, you don't have to ever worry about that… l'm gonna be at your side for a very long time." Rick wrapped himself around Lesley " Pretty soon your treatment will be over and you'll be able to get back to a normal life and you'll be able to go back to your work at the hospital." Rick pulled up the blanket so Lesley wouldn't start to get cold when she fell asleep.

Over the next few weeks Rick worked on a half week schedule as Lesley's 4 month progress check up with Dr. Richards was coming up and Rick was hopeful that they were gonna have something to celebrate. " Bobbi, why is Mrs. Doris scheduled for her bypass surgery for 2:00?"

" That was the earliest that Cunningham would be available to assist." Bobbi answered while working on the desk.

" And where's Monica?" Rick replied, trying to keep his temper in check.

" She isn't here…. So you are the only other surgeon on duty." Bobbi answered back and saw how unhappy Rick was about to be " Have Noah assist Cunningham I can't do it."

" Impossible he's already in surgery and has a hysterectomy scheduled for shortly after that." Bobbi said ' " Well then her surgery will have to wait until after 3:00 because I can't do 2:00…"

" Doctor I don't think you'll have a choice…"

" Bobbi I cannot do it with that time, I have to leave after lunch to go pick up Lesley for her oncology appointment and treatment." Rick set his stuff to be filed and walked off to finish his work before having to leave for the day.

~~~

Lesley was asleep when Riley started to get up and had crawled into the bedroom when he started to make a noise and he woken her up " Riley what are you up to…" Lesley sat up and picked him up " How about we get your little butt changed and we get something to eat huh…." Lesley went to stand up but felt dizzy at first and she decided to sit back down for a moment.

" Hold on bud… Momma's okay" Lesley took a minute and tried to stand up again but had collapsed just then knocking over one of the side lamps before she could think to attend to Riley.

Getting up after hearing something, Genesis first went downstairs but didn't see anyone like usual so she then went up to check on Lesley not realizing that she had collapsed and was unresponsive when Genesis had trouble opening the door.

" Mom it's just me…. I wanted to make sure you were okay… Mom let me in.."

Not hearing a response, Genesis left the doorway to call Rick at the hospital when she started to get concerned that something must've happened

" Is your mother alright?" Rick asked immediately

" I don't know, something is partially blocking the door where I can't open it enough to go in and she didn't respond to me…. I think Riley is in the room with her I heard him slightly fussin alittle bit."

" Genesis I'm coming home right now if you manage to be able to go into the room, fine if you can't then we'll see what happens next when I get home." Rick hung up and hightailed to get home knowing that it could mean trouble for Lesley.

Genesis tried her best to get into the bedroom to help Lesley but because of where Lesley collapsed, the door wasn't gonna open enough for anyone to get through which meant Rick was gonna have to figure something else when he got home

Just getting home, Rick went right for the bedroom without pass and go. " Have you been able to get in?" Rick asked

" No, I've tried… something is really wrong."

" Around the back of the house, there's our bedroom window. Do you think you might be able to get in through?"

" I could try if we have a ladder I could use."

Genesis went and used the ladder hoping that the window was open to get in or that she could at least see if she can see where Lesley is. Seeing that the window was locked and Lesley was on the floor by the door, she went back in the house to tell Rick where Lesley was and that she was gonna have to break their window to get in so she let Rick in.

" Rather we like it or not Dad I'm gonna have to use something to break the window. I just hope she's okay."

" She will be as soon as we get in there… I don't like that you'll have to break the window, but seeing that it's the only way to get in, do it…."

Going to break the window was easy but Genesis knew it wasn't gonna be easy to slightly move Lesley so Rick could get to her.

" Hi bud… hey everything is okay… you stay right there okay." Genesis made sure Riley was okay and carefully started to move Lesley slightly and opened the door right after. " Riley is okay."

" Take your brother and wait for me downstairs please. I don't want him to be up here with this."

Genesis did as Rick asked but was trying to also stay positive rather than thinking that they may have lost Lesley

" Come on sweetheart..." Rick continued CPR hoping that Lesley would respond. " Lesley I need you to come back to me.. I need you to breathe."

Finally taking a breath, Rick was nowhere near relieved until she was to be seen and taken care of. " I'm right here darling.. I just need you to stay with me."

Rick lifted Lesley and moved her to the bed before he called Steve at the hospital and told him to have the oncologist on standby for when Lesley gets there.

" Steve I realize that he had people to see other than Lesley but this is urgent and I want her seen… her condition is not good..."

" Rick, he's not gonna be able to see her until her appointment."

" Steve Lesley nearly just died. Genesis had to break our bedroom window to get into our bedroom so I could get to her… she had no pulse when I got to her…. I only just got her back. I'm getting an ambulance have Jerry on standby and stat." Rick hung up and called for the ambulance

" Mom's gonna be okay right? She isn't gonna die is she?"

" Hey she's gonna be alright… I'm gonna make sure of that. You and Jesslyn behave for Alice and help her with your brother. I promise I will call later and let you know how your mother does."

Rick rode with Lesley in the ambulance to General as Dr Richards was waiting for her to get there and had things set up. After arriving at the hospital, Jerry Richards and Steve made Rick stay in the lobby area of the lounge while they worked to save her life, granted her condition was critical.

" Where is Lesley with her treatment Jerry?" Steve asked

" I'm gonna be sending her down for a pet scan soon… but at the moment I want to see her stabilize…. Where's Monica, she's supposed to be of consult for any cardio problems."

Just as Steve was talking to Dr Richards, Lesley started to come to thinking she was at home with Riley. " Riley..."

" Lesley, it's Doctor Richards, can you hear me?" Dr Richards asked " I'll send for Rick." Steve added and walked out to get Rick from the lounge

" Is Lesley alright? Tell me that she's okay." Rick stood up

" She has regained consciousness… Dr Richards is in with her right now.."

" I almost lost her, Steve… I finally was able to get to her and she almost died again, this time almost dying in my arms…"

" Rick you got to her in time, she's alive right now… she's stable and Dr Richards is waiting for the pet scan to come back. She'll be okay."

Rick arranged to spend the night by Lesley's side and asked Alice to stay the night at the house with the kids and later focused on helping Lesley get better again

" You're gonna be alright butterfly you just had a minor set back is all…. And soon you're gonna get to go home..." Rick sat on the side beside Lesley

" Rick…. I'm sorry… I shouldn't have tried to do everything on my own..." Lesley tried to reach for Rick's hand when she started coughing again and had slight trouble with her breathing again.

" Easy sweetheart…. Everything is okay and you will get better.. and if anybody has to be sorry it will be me. I should've been home and more careful with you when you've been so sick like this."

" Some….so..sometimes I ju-just feel so tired and like I'm ready just to sleep where this nightmare would be over."

Realizing what Lesley means Rick felt a sharp prick to the heart hearing how she had been feeling. " Baby you're gonna get through this… I won't let you give up this way not when you have alot of things to do and look forward to with the kids and I… we need you Lesley… and I need you."

" I don't want to hurt you…. I love you so much Rick..."

" You hurt me?" Rick slightly started to laugh. " Darling, you don't know what the word hurt means…. Sweetheart, what can I do.. how can I help you get better so I can get you home?"

" You're already helping me… All I need is you and the love that you always send me."

Finally getting Lesley to rest Rick went to check on the kids while he had a chance. Seeing that she was just ending her shift, Jessie volunteered to stay incase Lesley needed something or if her condition was to change which Rick was grateful but he still had alot of trouble leaving her side even with someone else offering to stay

" Tell Mom we love her and miss her… and tell her she doesn't have to worry about Riley, me and Jesslyn got it under control." Genesis stated while talking to Rick

" Course I will… you guys get to bed soon you have school tomorrow." Rick said goodnight but wasn't surprised that Jessie was waiting for him.

" Lesley is gonna be fine Rick… you need to hold on to that. That girl has survived alot of things that she shouldn't have been able to. She's a tough fighter."

" Jessie, believe me I want to believe that I'm trying to. But her vital signs are declining by the hour… at that rate I'll be lucky if she makes it through the next 24 hours."

" She is not gonna die on you Rick now I want you to see that. She has too much to live for and to do with the kids and you." Jessie tried again to knock sense into Rick's mind.

Finally getting the pet scans in Dr Richards was able to determine that Lesley was in remission completely but the side effects to her treatment was where she started to have more trouble and he needed to consult with Monica about the possible cardiovascular problems that Lesley was at risk for with her history following the transplant.

" The Chemo has compromised the pacemaker and has slightly damaged a main arterial valve. I'm gonna have to operate before she'll have to go back on the transplant list and even then she still may need to be placed back on it."

" If I would have seen that her treatment was gonna harm her like this I would have tried to come up with a different treatment plan but at the time the Cancer had spread more than I thought it had and a stronger Chemo was the right choice."

" You saved Lesley's life. You did right. And you had no way of knowing that it was gonna damage the heart… Jerry you were doing your job to save her life." Monica assured Dr Richards and went with him to take a moment to talk to Rick about Lesley's condition and about the results of her scans.

" Lesley is really cancer free? She's really gonna be okay.?"

" Her pet scans came back clean and shows no signs of cancer anywhere." Dr Richards replied

" Then I can take her home soon when she gets better, right?" Rick asked

" I'm afraid not Rick..." Monica started… " As a result of the Chemotherapy I may have to operate and even if I do it may be more likely that Lesley will need a second transplant." Monica tried to explain the situation as easy as possible.

" Monica, we have to do everything we can. I can't lose her. I can't lose my wife."

Rick stayed at Lesley's side until Monica took her into surgery hoping that she can avoid putting Lesley back on the transplant list and she could repair the damage to where she could also replace the pacemaker.

A few weeks after Monica operated Lesley started to improve and was finally able to go home where she could spend her time with the kids.

" Mom, you really scared us… I had to break the window to get in to help you and to help Dad get to you…. We are just so glad you're better and you're home."

" Me too ladybug…." Lesley hugged Genesis " I am proud of you baby.. you did nothing wrong when you had to break our bedroom window. What's important is you and your dad were able to get to me in time and I'm okay…. Did you finish your homework and pick up in your room?"

" Yeah I finished… ah later I was wondering if I could go out over to Becca's for the night?."

" Sure ladybug you've earned it..." Lesley hugged Genesis again and later just laid with Rick until everyone else was asleep but her and Rick

" Rick… I think it's time that we should go on up to bed." Lesley yawned.

" I agree, but I think it would be a good idea for me just to keep you in my arms alittle bit longer..." Rick just held Lesley close to him.

" I love you so much Rick… I don't know what I would do without you.. if I were to ask you something… could you keep it for me.?" Lesley pushed to sit up to meet Rick's eyes.

" I promised alot to you a long time ago…"

" This is how I'd like it to be… When it comes that I pass… I just want it to be with you alone… I know that I'm okay right now but if there ever comes the chance that I won't be… just being here in our home with the man I love, it's all I will need and it's all that I want."

" I….. I…. I… I don't know what to say or how to think about that…. Lesley you're everything to me and to think about you not being here alive…. I don't think I could handle that."

" If it were you I don't think I could get through it either… but this is the way it is and I have to try to accept it.. I just hope that I can be home for my last few moments to be with you if and when that time shows." Lesley leaned closer to lay at Rick's side

" Let's get you up to bed sweetheart. You need rest and come morning, I may have a surprise for you." Rick carried Lesley up to bed so she could try to sleep through the night."

6 weeks after Lesley's emergency surgery, Rick and Lesley decided to take the kids out to Aspen as Jesslyn and Genesis's birthdays were coming up and they wanted to do something else this year instead of the same barbeque they were doing before.

" Girls get your clothes together… you still have to go and get your showers and eat your dinner. We will be leaving for the airport first thing in the morning for our trip." Rick asked while he was helping Lesley with putting her medical stuff together.

" Dad my stuff is together except for a few personal stuff I can just put together in the morning." Genesis answered while watching tv with Riley.

" Jesslyn, is your stuff together for tomorrow?" Rick asked