Working a heavy patient load Rick was about to get a patient into surgery when Lesley paged Rick for something that was important and she felt like it shouldn't wait as Jessie's birthday was coming up in 2 days.

" I think we should do this Rick… Jessie may have us and Steve and other of our friends and colleagues but she doesn't have any family..."

" Lesley I think it's a good idea to do it for Jessie…. She's always been like a mother to you and like a second mother to the girls and Riley. I'll see if Steve would be interested." Rick suggested

" I think we should keep it out of the hospital so Jessie doesn't find out about it."

" So Jessie doesn't find out about what.?" Jessie commented while coming around the corner.

" Oh it's nothing… it was just something that was going on between Rick and I and I was chewing him out about something I saw that I thought was wrong." Lesley was trying to divert the topic and Rick was seeing right through it but was also trying to help so Jessie wasn't so suspicious about it.

" Lesley caught me doing something that I was about to do wrong for a patient and she was just calling me out on it and the reason your name came up was because she was pointing out that if you knew about it or had been the one to catch it you'd have a field day with me about it."

" I guess I should keep an eye on you then from now on shouldn't I Dr Webber." Jessie replied firmly

~~~

About to get out of school, Jesslyn realized she had to go back to get her study notes and had decided to go back to her locker. Nothing prepared her for the encounter she was about to get into when she was pulled into the bathroom. " So you thought that if you switched schools, we wouldn't find you."

" Your threats or comments don't scare or bother me anymore. So why don't you just back off and leave me alone."

" I guess we haven't made ourselves clear. You don't belong in these schools… We won't warn you again either you be smart and don't come back tomorrow to this school, or you do and I promise you I will make sure that you won't know what day it'll be come after tomorrow."

The group of girls left and later Jesslyn got her stuff she needed to study with before she left with Genesis to go home but after getting home she went up to lay down locking her door instead. Going into the early evening, Rick and Lesley both had gotten home to spend the rest of the night with the kids

" Genesis, how was everything with you and Jess at school?" Lesley asked

" As far as I know we were fine all day… Tomorrow I have practice after school." Genesis answered

" Where is Jess? She came home with you right?"

" Yeah I'm pretty sure… I know she went upstairs when we got home but I haven't seen her since then..."

Lesley suddenly got the feeling like something wasn't right while hearing that Genesis was sure that Jesslyn had come home but she hasn't seen her since and briefly looked at Rick before getting up to go upstairs immediately to see that Jesslyn was okay.

" Jesslyn sweetheart it's Mom, please open the door and let me come in to see that you're alright."

Not hearing anything Lesley started to get worried that Jesslyn had tried again to commit suicide " Jesslyn I just want to check on you…" Lesley tried again

" I'm fine…. I just wanted to be alone…." Jesslyn opened her door hoping she didn't look as bad as she thought

" Jesslyn, a mother knows when her baby is upset and I can see that you've been crying…." Lesley sat beside Jesslyn on her bed. " Talk to me. What has you so upset again.?"

Jesslyn opened up about the incident and told her everything that was said. " Sweetheart, nobody is gonna lay a hand on you…. I promise you… and me and your dad are gonna take care of this and make sure you're okay and you're safe."

" Sometimes I wonder how you know when I need to talk or when I'm not okay.."

" A mother knows… and one day you'll see when you become a Mom and your little one is upset… you're gonna have the same instinct that I get when you or your brother or even your sister are upset..." Lesley hugged Jesslyn and gave her a kiss.

" Thanks momma..."

" I love you very much Jesslyn and that will never change…. Try to get some sleep." Lesley tucked Jesslyn in. " Tomorrow I will take you and Genesis to school and I will say something about those kids okay.?"

" Goodnight Momma… I love you."

Lesley stepped out and went back downstairs to talk to Rick but tried not to look upset after talking to Jesslyn about her issues.

" What's wrong bug..." Rick asked

" Is it that obvious? I thought I did a good job of not looking upset or worried."

" This is how I know you so much. What's wrong Les.?" Rick asked when he tugged her to sit on the couch.

" It's those other kids again. They went to Jesslyn's school today and threatened her again. And they told her, if she returns to the school tomorrow they would do something to ensure she wouldn't be able to tell what day comes after tomorrow."

" I have had enough of all of this. Tomorrow we are gonna talk to Lee and we are gonna end this once and for all…"

" I told Jesslyn that I will talk to the school when I take the girls to school in the morning… but I do think going to see Lee would help alot too…"

Lesley and Rick spent alittle more time by the fire in the fireplace before Lesley finally was asleep for the night. Thinking about the situation with Jesslyn, Rick decided to give Lee a call even though it was late.

" Lee, I'm sorry to bother you at this time. I know you and Gail are most likely in bed but I have to talk to you about a situation with our daughter….. We thought changing her school would help and for awhile it was doing just fine until today."

" It's okay Rick… Tomorrow I will meet you at the hospital and we'll get it taken care of. There's no reason that the school should ignore this kind of problem with the kids."

" Thanks Lee and I am sorry that I woke you this late" Rick answered while getting off the phone to head to bed

~~~

" Genesis let's go, you're gonna miss the bus and I have to get your brother to preschool before your father and I meet with a friend." Lesley called from the stairs while making sure Riley's bag was together

" Why isn't Jesslyn going with me?" Genesis asked when about to head out the door for the bus.

" Your Mother and I are gonna take her ourselves but we have to meet with Lee first." Rick answered " Have a good day ladybug okay and when you get home you let us know if anybody starts bothering you." Lesley added

Waiting for Lee didn't take too long. Soon Rick and Lesley met with the principal to discuss the issue. " I will assure you that I will have this matter resolved. We have a zero tolerance for bullying and threats made in this school..."

" We appreciate this so much… her last school wasn't really doing anything about it and when she nearly killed herself we have had enough of this matter not being handled."

" Jesslyn, what I want to ask you is if you know the names of the students that have been harassing and threatening you."

" It's alright Snoopi… this will help you where they won't be bothering you again." Lesley held Jesslyn's hand.

" Rebecca Sanchez and her friends… I don't really know their names… They go to my old school and they showed up here and threatened me that if I came back today they were gonna make sure I didn't know what would come after tomorrow. They kept telling me that I don't belong in these schools."

" You did good Jesslyn. And after today those girls will not be bothering you again." Principal Sanchez expressed while about to finish talking with Rick and Lesley about the situation.

" Mrs Sanchez, we really do appreciate that you are taking the time to deal with this.." Lesley said while reaching for Rick's hand.

" It's no problem Mrs. Webber I will assure you that my daughter and her horrible influences of friends will not continue this kind of activity. And I apologize for my child's behavior towards yours."

" It's not on you… though we appreciate your help…"

Leaving the school and heading to the hospital, Rick started to see that Lesley was slightly withdrawn but he didn't want to push Lesley to talk but was hoping that she'd come to him later when she felt she was ready

" I have an hour for lunch today if you would like to join me today for lunch." Rick suggested

" It's such a real relief that Jesslyn is gonna be safe. I think I will sleep better tonight and I will work better today knowing she'll be okay."

" Everything is gonna be better from here on out… so later for lunch I am gonna take you to the floating rib and tonight we are gonna spend the night to ourselves."

" I think I will like the sound of that plan." Lesley went to give Rick a kiss before going up to the clinic when she was paged to the ICU. " so much for fun." Lesley commented when she went to work.

Rick went off and started his rounds when he was paged for an emergency surgery.

" Rick, we're gonna have to operate and alleviate the pressure… there might also be heart involvement." Monica pointed out

" Get this patient prepped, notify Cunningham and have him on standby. I am gonna scrub in just as soon as I push a patient's appointment back for at least an hour." Rick ordered and went to finish with some things and then headed to scrub in.

After 3 hours of operating, Rick finally finished in time to meet Lesley for lunch before they both had their evening rounds and later when they were gonna head home in time to spend alittle time with the kids before the kids were to go to bed.

" This weekend is gonna be crazy you know with Jessie's birthday and the girls have something I think on Friday…"

" Hey well I don't know about you but I don't think I could trade any of it in the world… especially when the kids and I have you to come home to..." Rick fired back

" No I couldn't either…. You know I thought when we lost Laura… I thought it was gonna kill me and then we found out about the twins and I was just happier than anything else… and in spite of you nearly getting yourself killed more than once… I found out that I was pregnant with Riley…"

" We won't ever have to worry about anyone trying to hurt us ever again." Rick reached for Lesley's hand.

" I almost didn't want to keep him Rick… when Dana told me I was pregnant… I didn't think I was gonna be able to do it without you… but I kept him in spite that it was risky because I thought I could do it for you…. Then you came back to me when I needed you the most… Rick, I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't found a way back to me during that time."

" Lesley even if I was really gone… I still would've been with you. I am just grateful that you still pulled through even after you suffered multiple seizures and had alot of bleeding after Riley was born."

" You wouldn't allow me to give up… so I fought no matter how hard it might have gotten. I had to keep fighting." Lesley answered

" ready to get going?" Rick asked.

Rick and Lesley headed back to the hospital to get the rest of their work done while things still had to be done and later Lesley called the house while in her office to check on Riley before she was finished.

" Riley is okay Mom… me and Jess actually just got home…. Are you and dad gonna be home soon?" Genesis asked while on the phone with Lesley.

" Yeah your dad is actually just about waiting for me in the lobby and I am just about finished. How was school for you girls?"

" Mostly boring but it was okay no one bothered us and actually we got out alittle earlier than everyone else so that way no one was gonna bother us.."

" If you have any homework make sure you get it done and I'll see you later tonight when your father and I get home."

~~~

Waiting to surprise Jessie was starting to get difficult for Lesley even though the surprise party was just a few hours away. Something though had her alittle distracted when she noticed she started to find a couple bruises but didn't think much of it when she had a party to make sure of and she was just upstairs with Riley. " Your favorite Aunt Jessie is gonna be here soon… Let's get you ready..." Lesley changed Riley's outfit and made sure he went to his little potty training potty seat before they went downstairs.

" feeling okay?" Rick asked

" I'm fine Rick… I'm just alittle under the weather…."

" Maybe we should postpone the party so that way you'll be feeling good." Rick suggested

" Absolutely not! Richard this is for Jessie… and she's suspicious enough now so we can't cancel it."

" I'm just worried about you Les…… your health is way too important to me. The last time you were in the hospital you almost died in my arms here at the house. I don't want it to happen again."

" Rick I will be fine, my heart is going just fine. Please don't worry so much."

Enjoying the time as always Lesley was focused on her time with Jessie and the kids while Rick continued to worry that something didn't seem right and he noticed that Lesley was losing weight again and she was more tired than usual

Later in the evening after everybody but Jessie had left, Rick and Jessie were talking for alittle bit while Lesley was upstairs putting Riley to bed as well as she was gonna also check on the girls before going back downstairs.

" Jessie, be serious with me for a few minutes…. Is it only me that sees that Lesley has lost weight.?"

" No I've noticed it alittle of it too… I just haven't asked or talked to her about it yet." Jessie replied

" I really hope that nothing is back… the last couple of years after Riley's 3rd birthday she's been doing alot better." Rick turned for a moment towards the stairs

" Don't do that Rick…. Expecting the worst will always come back to haunt you later… and listen to me…. If Lesley was to be sick again, she'll get through it because she's always fought for the family she loves the most."

Lesley came back to the living-room after putting the kids to bed but noticed that Rick wasn't settled like he normally does.

" Lesley today was such a wonderful day. I really appreciate that you did all of this for me today. Tomorrow when I see you at the hospital before you check in, I want to talk to you about something… but for now I think it's time that I head home so you and Rick can relax and settle for the night."

Jessie left for the night so Rick and Lesley could have some time alone but Lesley wasn't about to let it go that Rick wasn't settling like he normally would and she knew him too well to not notice that he was worried about something again.

" Rick, what are you worried about this time.?"