Arranging their return to San Diego the next day was easier said then done,
as they found out. Rick couldn't believe the length of
time statements and signatures and filling out of the complaint
against Willowby and his people took, even though it seemed to
be a moot point with the millionaire presumed dead.
Rick said as much to A.J. waiting outside the D.A.'s office for Laurie to finish some paperwork. "Town's people never took this long with filing complaints, what is it with this town?"
"Easy, Rick, you forget this is capital crimes we're dealing with, kidnapping, illegal arms and explosives, 20 plus charges, this is big stuff."
He turned as the door to the offices opened and Laurie and Steve exited, giving thumbs up. Walking over to meet them, Rick couldn't help but smile at Laurie, who managed to look fresh despite only four or five hours of sleep.
She hugged first A.J. then Rick, saying, "Free at last, no more paperwork or looking at those jerks!" Steve grinned at the brothers, "Looks like you guys will be happy to leave this town, can't imagine why!" Laughing, the foursome hailed their driver and headed back to the hotel for lunch and to try to get their plane reservations confirmed. Rick went to the phone when they arrived in their suite, first trying to reach his mom. Cecilia answered on the first ring, "Honey, is everything alright, I heard on the news someone tried to kidnap Laurel Scott, and that the guy died in an explosion." "We're fine, mom, and so is Laurie. As a matter of fact, we've got kind of a surprise for you. Laurel is really our Laurie, you know, from San Diego." There was a pause on the line, then "Laurie, your friend who moved away?"
"Yes, Mom, it's a long story, but her mother, well, really her stepmother told her we moved to San Francisco. She's been looking for us there all along. She ended up running away from home about six months later after they took her away, and ended up as a writer in Los Angeles, then of course, you know the rest".
"I.I can't believe it, Rick, all these years I wondered what happened to her." "Well, believe it, Mom, as a matter of fact she's coming home with us, just to see you and well, until we make sure this guy won't ever bother her again".
Cecilia's tone changed, "Well, honey, that's nice, I'll be glad to see her, when will you be home?" Boy, that's weird, I thought she'd be happy to see Laurie, Rick thought, confused by the polite tone his mother's voice took on.
"We're trying to fly out this afternoon, I'll call you when we land, did you want to say hi to A.J.?"
"Sure, let me talk to him", his mom answered, still sounding a bit cool.
He called his brother over and handed him the phone. "Mom wants to say hi". As A.J. took the call, Rick went over to Laurie's suite, where Steve was still on the phone with the airlines. Laurie had her bags already packed and called him to come in to her room. He went in and found her struggling with the wrap on her wrist. She looked up at him with a wry smile and said, "I guess I'm not real coordinated, I just can't get it to stay". Taking the ace bandage from her, he made her sit down and re-taped her wrist. "Nothing to it, darlin, just call me Dr. Rick", he quipped, trying not to think of her reaction if she knew his Mother wasn't so keen on the idea of her visit.
She put her good arm around him, "Well, Dr., how about my taking care of your fee now", kissing him. He reciprocated, coming up for air only at A.J.'s voice, "Rick?" He groaned, "What am I going to do about my little brother, he's worse now then when he was little". She laughed. "Too late, I think you have to keep him". She stood up. "I'd better rescue the ticket agent from Steve now, sounds like it's getting nasty".
Rick left Laurie's room only to find his brother standing in the entry way. "What's up?" A.J. looked embarrassed. "Did you tell Mom Laurie was coming back with us?" "Well, yeah, and she acted kind of weird". The blond one shook his head. "Mom's still kind of ticked that we never heard from Laurie, she thinks it will be nothing but trouble if we get involved with her". Rick stared at his brother. "That's not true, Mom wouldn't .". "No, Rick, she says she'll be pleased to have her stop by, but ..".
Rick started dreading the trip home even before Steve confirmed they were flying out that afternoon. He tried to act cheerful and managed to keep things light on the trip to the airport and the bumpy flight home. Laurie was seated on one side of him and Steve on the other, with A.J. across the aisle and she kept teasing them about white knuckle flyers until the plane gave one particular lurch and she buried her head in his shoulder until the airliner settled down.
What am I going to do? If Mom doesn't welcome her, it'll hurt Laurie so much; she's so set on this!
She raised her head and smiled at him. "I'm ok, just not as brave as I used to be". Rick shook his head, "No, darlin' you're the bravest person I know, just a flying chicken like me!" "Make that chicken", A.J. added from across the way. The brothers continued their insults until touchdown. Steve was changing planes to go on to L.A., so he made his goodbyes in the terminal. Rick was sorry to see him go, and when Steve shook hands with A.J. and him, he told him "I hope we get to work together again some time, you're the real deal." Steve grinned, "Oh, we'll join forces again some time, you two are too much for anyone else to handle, but when you say you can do something, you do." He hugged Laurie and handed her bags to Rick, like a changing of the guard and vanished down the corridor to his gate.
Rick took her arm and led her out to the curb to wait for A.J., who had gone ahead to get his car. Noticing she was very quiet, he said "Are you sorry you came back here?" She looked around, then, "I'm not sure, I want to see Aunt Ceci, but what if .., oh, I don't know, I know I'm not fifteen again, but will she understand?" Rick hedged "I'm sure she wants to see you, if only to find out what happened, I mean, it was 18 years ago." His brother arrived with the car just then, and they decided that they would drop Laurie off at their Mom's door, leave
their bags at A.J.'s and return for lunch.
When they pulled up to Cecilia's, Rick helped Laurie out and walked her to the door. He knew A.J. had called her when they arrived, so she would be expecting Laurie. He hugged her and said "Tell Mom we'll be right back, it'll be ok." " Thank you, Rick", Laurie replied, nervously biting her lip.
He walked back to where A. J. was waiting and climbing in the car, watched as Laurie rang the bell, and then went in.
As they pulled away, Rick noticed a delivery truck in the next driveway, with the motor running. "I thought the neighbors were in Canada", he remarked . "Yeah, that's what Mom said", his brother acknowledged, heading toward the next street. Suddenly Rick had a cold feeling, and without hesitation said "Go around the block, A.J., something's wrong". A. J. swung the car around the corner and cut thru an alley that connected with a drive two doors from Cecilia's. Rick hopped out and told A.J. to park and go thru the front. Heading across the neighbors' back yards and climbing over the fence, he made his way to the back of his mother's house, and slipped in the back door. He immediately heard Laurie's voice, defiant. "I have nothing for you, nothing, but if you leave her alone, I'll go with you." "I thought you'd see it my way, my dear, I will leave Mrs. Simon here, not one word or cry out of her though." Willowbys voice. Rick went cold then hot. How did that monster get here; wait a minute, A.J. don't go in. Rick peered around the corner of the kitchen to see his brother silhouetted in the living room window for a second then drop out of sight. Not waiting to see what happened, he crept noiselessly down the hall and looked thru the crack of the door to the living room. He saw his mother bound to a chair, facing him, with the little man lifting Laurie from the floor, hands tied behind her back.
Before Willowby could turn around, Rick dove at him, knocking him to the ground and swiping a pistol from his reach. Laurie rolled away from him as surprised, the little man yelled, "you won't interfere again," and pulled out a knife from his pocket. Rick tried to pinion his arm against the floor, but Willowby was fighting like a madman and kept pushing the knife to Rick's throat. Suddenly, another arm slammed the knife to the ground, as Steve Austin appeared above both men and punched the little man unconscious. Rick stared in disbelief. "Steve, how did you know, I mean, damn, you showed up in the nick of time!"
Steve pulled him up by his arm. "Let's just say a little voice told me there was trouble, plus I got a call just before I got here to say Willowby had escaped the fire and was spotted in California." Rick went over and freed his mother from the chair, while Steve turned to untie Laurie, who had sank down onto the floor in sheer relief. "Thank God you guys came back", she whispered, and turning to Cecilia, "are you alright, Aunt Ceci?" She stared back at Laurie, "Laurie, oh honey, I looked for you for so long", Laurie burst into tears and flung herself into Cecilia's arms. She embraced her, as both Rick and Steve looked away. Belatedly, Rick realized he didn't see A. J., but as he started toward the front door, his brother came in with Downtown and a couple of officers.
Rick patted him on the shoulder. "Looks like the gang's all here." A.J. looked past him and grinned. "And our family".
After Willowby and the driver of the van, who A. J. had snuck up on and disarmed, were taken away, the brothers heard from their mother how Willowby had forced his way into the house and made her open the door to Laurie. Holding a gun to Cecilia, he had forced the girl to lie on the floor and beg for their mother's life. A.J. sat next to Cecilia on the sofa telling her of Rick's "feeling" that something wasn't right. Rick looked at Laurie, seated on the other side of his mother, realizing for a second time he had picked up on her mental call for help.
Cecilia smiled at her older son, "Thank you for listening to that feeling, honey, I guess it does pay to act on a hunch once in a while". He leaned over and kissed her, then putting his arm around Laurie, said "Then you won't mind my hunch that you'd like to meet Laurie's niece and nephew, she could have them fly over this weekend?". Reading a lot more into his request then he intended, she nodded and said, "Laurie tells me they've never been to California, I think it would be a lot of fun to show them where she grew up". Rick felt himself getting choked up, so he made an excuse to get a soda and escaped to the kitchen. Pulling a can out of the fridge, he turned and almost bumped into Laurie, who put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. He returned the embrace, saying, "What brought that on?" "That was I love you and thank you for loving me and saving me and." "No, darling, thank you". he whispered, kissing her. Picking up the forgotten soda, he walked back to the living room with his arm around her, and surveying his brother and mother, finished his sentence," for our second chance."
Written by JTBWRITER 9/2003
Rick said as much to A.J. waiting outside the D.A.'s office for Laurie to finish some paperwork. "Town's people never took this long with filing complaints, what is it with this town?"
"Easy, Rick, you forget this is capital crimes we're dealing with, kidnapping, illegal arms and explosives, 20 plus charges, this is big stuff."
He turned as the door to the offices opened and Laurie and Steve exited, giving thumbs up. Walking over to meet them, Rick couldn't help but smile at Laurie, who managed to look fresh despite only four or five hours of sleep.
She hugged first A.J. then Rick, saying, "Free at last, no more paperwork or looking at those jerks!" Steve grinned at the brothers, "Looks like you guys will be happy to leave this town, can't imagine why!" Laughing, the foursome hailed their driver and headed back to the hotel for lunch and to try to get their plane reservations confirmed. Rick went to the phone when they arrived in their suite, first trying to reach his mom. Cecilia answered on the first ring, "Honey, is everything alright, I heard on the news someone tried to kidnap Laurel Scott, and that the guy died in an explosion." "We're fine, mom, and so is Laurie. As a matter of fact, we've got kind of a surprise for you. Laurel is really our Laurie, you know, from San Diego." There was a pause on the line, then "Laurie, your friend who moved away?"
"Yes, Mom, it's a long story, but her mother, well, really her stepmother told her we moved to San Francisco. She's been looking for us there all along. She ended up running away from home about six months later after they took her away, and ended up as a writer in Los Angeles, then of course, you know the rest".
"I.I can't believe it, Rick, all these years I wondered what happened to her." "Well, believe it, Mom, as a matter of fact she's coming home with us, just to see you and well, until we make sure this guy won't ever bother her again".
Cecilia's tone changed, "Well, honey, that's nice, I'll be glad to see her, when will you be home?" Boy, that's weird, I thought she'd be happy to see Laurie, Rick thought, confused by the polite tone his mother's voice took on.
"We're trying to fly out this afternoon, I'll call you when we land, did you want to say hi to A.J.?"
"Sure, let me talk to him", his mom answered, still sounding a bit cool.
He called his brother over and handed him the phone. "Mom wants to say hi". As A.J. took the call, Rick went over to Laurie's suite, where Steve was still on the phone with the airlines. Laurie had her bags already packed and called him to come in to her room. He went in and found her struggling with the wrap on her wrist. She looked up at him with a wry smile and said, "I guess I'm not real coordinated, I just can't get it to stay". Taking the ace bandage from her, he made her sit down and re-taped her wrist. "Nothing to it, darlin, just call me Dr. Rick", he quipped, trying not to think of her reaction if she knew his Mother wasn't so keen on the idea of her visit.
She put her good arm around him, "Well, Dr., how about my taking care of your fee now", kissing him. He reciprocated, coming up for air only at A.J.'s voice, "Rick?" He groaned, "What am I going to do about my little brother, he's worse now then when he was little". She laughed. "Too late, I think you have to keep him". She stood up. "I'd better rescue the ticket agent from Steve now, sounds like it's getting nasty".
Rick left Laurie's room only to find his brother standing in the entry way. "What's up?" A.J. looked embarrassed. "Did you tell Mom Laurie was coming back with us?" "Well, yeah, and she acted kind of weird". The blond one shook his head. "Mom's still kind of ticked that we never heard from Laurie, she thinks it will be nothing but trouble if we get involved with her". Rick stared at his brother. "That's not true, Mom wouldn't .". "No, Rick, she says she'll be pleased to have her stop by, but ..".
Rick started dreading the trip home even before Steve confirmed they were flying out that afternoon. He tried to act cheerful and managed to keep things light on the trip to the airport and the bumpy flight home. Laurie was seated on one side of him and Steve on the other, with A.J. across the aisle and she kept teasing them about white knuckle flyers until the plane gave one particular lurch and she buried her head in his shoulder until the airliner settled down.
What am I going to do? If Mom doesn't welcome her, it'll hurt Laurie so much; she's so set on this!
She raised her head and smiled at him. "I'm ok, just not as brave as I used to be". Rick shook his head, "No, darlin' you're the bravest person I know, just a flying chicken like me!" "Make that chicken", A.J. added from across the way. The brothers continued their insults until touchdown. Steve was changing planes to go on to L.A., so he made his goodbyes in the terminal. Rick was sorry to see him go, and when Steve shook hands with A.J. and him, he told him "I hope we get to work together again some time, you're the real deal." Steve grinned, "Oh, we'll join forces again some time, you two are too much for anyone else to handle, but when you say you can do something, you do." He hugged Laurie and handed her bags to Rick, like a changing of the guard and vanished down the corridor to his gate.
Rick took her arm and led her out to the curb to wait for A.J., who had gone ahead to get his car. Noticing she was very quiet, he said "Are you sorry you came back here?" She looked around, then, "I'm not sure, I want to see Aunt Ceci, but what if .., oh, I don't know, I know I'm not fifteen again, but will she understand?" Rick hedged "I'm sure she wants to see you, if only to find out what happened, I mean, it was 18 years ago." His brother arrived with the car just then, and they decided that they would drop Laurie off at their Mom's door, leave
their bags at A.J.'s and return for lunch.
When they pulled up to Cecilia's, Rick helped Laurie out and walked her to the door. He knew A.J. had called her when they arrived, so she would be expecting Laurie. He hugged her and said "Tell Mom we'll be right back, it'll be ok." " Thank you, Rick", Laurie replied, nervously biting her lip.
He walked back to where A. J. was waiting and climbing in the car, watched as Laurie rang the bell, and then went in.
As they pulled away, Rick noticed a delivery truck in the next driveway, with the motor running. "I thought the neighbors were in Canada", he remarked . "Yeah, that's what Mom said", his brother acknowledged, heading toward the next street. Suddenly Rick had a cold feeling, and without hesitation said "Go around the block, A.J., something's wrong". A. J. swung the car around the corner and cut thru an alley that connected with a drive two doors from Cecilia's. Rick hopped out and told A.J. to park and go thru the front. Heading across the neighbors' back yards and climbing over the fence, he made his way to the back of his mother's house, and slipped in the back door. He immediately heard Laurie's voice, defiant. "I have nothing for you, nothing, but if you leave her alone, I'll go with you." "I thought you'd see it my way, my dear, I will leave Mrs. Simon here, not one word or cry out of her though." Willowbys voice. Rick went cold then hot. How did that monster get here; wait a minute, A.J. don't go in. Rick peered around the corner of the kitchen to see his brother silhouetted in the living room window for a second then drop out of sight. Not waiting to see what happened, he crept noiselessly down the hall and looked thru the crack of the door to the living room. He saw his mother bound to a chair, facing him, with the little man lifting Laurie from the floor, hands tied behind her back.
Before Willowby could turn around, Rick dove at him, knocking him to the ground and swiping a pistol from his reach. Laurie rolled away from him as surprised, the little man yelled, "you won't interfere again," and pulled out a knife from his pocket. Rick tried to pinion his arm against the floor, but Willowby was fighting like a madman and kept pushing the knife to Rick's throat. Suddenly, another arm slammed the knife to the ground, as Steve Austin appeared above both men and punched the little man unconscious. Rick stared in disbelief. "Steve, how did you know, I mean, damn, you showed up in the nick of time!"
Steve pulled him up by his arm. "Let's just say a little voice told me there was trouble, plus I got a call just before I got here to say Willowby had escaped the fire and was spotted in California." Rick went over and freed his mother from the chair, while Steve turned to untie Laurie, who had sank down onto the floor in sheer relief. "Thank God you guys came back", she whispered, and turning to Cecilia, "are you alright, Aunt Ceci?" She stared back at Laurie, "Laurie, oh honey, I looked for you for so long", Laurie burst into tears and flung herself into Cecilia's arms. She embraced her, as both Rick and Steve looked away. Belatedly, Rick realized he didn't see A. J., but as he started toward the front door, his brother came in with Downtown and a couple of officers.
Rick patted him on the shoulder. "Looks like the gang's all here." A.J. looked past him and grinned. "And our family".
After Willowby and the driver of the van, who A. J. had snuck up on and disarmed, were taken away, the brothers heard from their mother how Willowby had forced his way into the house and made her open the door to Laurie. Holding a gun to Cecilia, he had forced the girl to lie on the floor and beg for their mother's life. A.J. sat next to Cecilia on the sofa telling her of Rick's "feeling" that something wasn't right. Rick looked at Laurie, seated on the other side of his mother, realizing for a second time he had picked up on her mental call for help.
Cecilia smiled at her older son, "Thank you for listening to that feeling, honey, I guess it does pay to act on a hunch once in a while". He leaned over and kissed her, then putting his arm around Laurie, said "Then you won't mind my hunch that you'd like to meet Laurie's niece and nephew, she could have them fly over this weekend?". Reading a lot more into his request then he intended, she nodded and said, "Laurie tells me they've never been to California, I think it would be a lot of fun to show them where she grew up". Rick felt himself getting choked up, so he made an excuse to get a soda and escaped to the kitchen. Pulling a can out of the fridge, he turned and almost bumped into Laurie, who put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. He returned the embrace, saying, "What brought that on?" "That was I love you and thank you for loving me and saving me and." "No, darling, thank you". he whispered, kissing her. Picking up the forgotten soda, he walked back to the living room with his arm around her, and surveying his brother and mother, finished his sentence," for our second chance."
Written by JTBWRITER 9/2003