Epilogue
"Are you sure you're ready to do this?" A.J. looked at Rick.
His brother's face was pale, but firm. "Yes, I refuse to be driven out of our office by fear." The younger Simon swallowed hard, then entered the staircase to the second floor, followed by Rick.
As they climbed the steps, Rick thought back to the past weeks. Good to his word, Rudy had released Rick and Laurie to go home after three days, only because Cecilia came to the ranch with them.
At first Rick was frustrated by his lack of stamina, until Doc Walker reminded him of the alternative. "Be patient, Laurie's going through the same thing, you both need to chill!' Rudy had added.
Nights were difficult at first, but so far they had managed to avoid nightmares by talking everything out, then holding each other until sleep came.
Now Cecilia had gone back to A.J. and Linda's house, and he and Laurie were able to take on more chores. This was the final step toward their returning to a normal routine.
Rick and A.J. came to the landing and for the first time he didn't feel winded. "My turn," he growled, pulling out his key.
Unlocking the suite door, he let it swing open, then peered around the darkened room. Hearing nothing, he flicked on the lights, then gaped at the flowers and balloons and plants all around the office.
"Uh, A.J., look at this." he said, then made way for his little brother to come in. The younger Simon walked in, then smiled.
"Looks like we have a few friends, Rick." he replied, picking up one of the attached cards and recognizing the name of their biggest client. "Yeah, just a few!" Rick deadpanned, then heard a beeping noise.
Seeing the light on his watch go on, Rick flicked his transmitter on. "Laurie?"
"Rick, can I come up, I really do need to." his wife told him, almost pleading.
Her husband started to shake his head, only to have A.J. stop him before he replied. "Let her, Rick, I think she's more afraid of being downstairs by herself then coming in here!"
He took a deep breath, then answered, "Ok, Laurie, take your time, sweetheart."
Looking around the office hurriedly, making sure no debris or marks from the incident were present, Rick heard Laurie walking up the steps, then she knocked on the door.
Turning around, he saw her pause, then come in and hug A.J. "O.k., little brother?" she asked, smiling. "O.k., sis!" he grinned, relieved.
Looking at his wife, his heart lifted, if she could face her fear, he could too. Taking his usual seat, he beckoned to her. "Come here, darlin'."
Laurie rushed over to him, and he put his arms around her, lifting her into his lap. Nestling against him, he kissed her, then said, "Better?"
"Mmm, much better!" she beamed.
"Can two play at this game?" came a familiar voice, and A.J. turned in surprise to see Linda laughing in the hallway.
"Linda!" he brightened, then opened his arms to her as she came in and closed the door behind her.
Settling herself in his embrace, Linda looked over to her in-laws, "I know why Laurie likes to work in the office, the benefits are awfully nice!" she teased A.J.
He laughed, seeing his brother and sister-in-law busy ignoring them, "Honey, you haven't seen how nice!" kissing her.
Suddenly the phone rang, almost causing Rick to lose his balance.
"Want the machine to pick up?" Laurie asked, sighing
"Nah, just in case it's Mom or something," Rick grumped, then snickered at his brother's pained expression.
Laurie reached over and picked up the extension, "Simon and Simon? oh, hi, Oscar, how did you know we were here?"
"Process of elimination, plus Robin told me." he laughed. "Listen, put me on speaker phone, honey. Someone has something they want to say."
Puzzled, she pressed the button, then replied, "I'm here."
"Mrs. Simon, this is the Secretary, I have an apology to make to you and your husband." came the deep voice. Laurie sat upright, then felt her husband's
arms around her waist, comforting her.
"Yes, sir, I'm listening." she said. "I know this is very inadequate in light of the injuries you and Mr. Simon suffered last month. Nevertheless, I wish to tell you how much I regret the OSI's actions that left you in such peril.
As your Uncle told me, the services you two have rendered to our country far outweigh any bottom line.
I would hereby like to rectify any further problems by formally retiring you from active duty, therefore qualifying you to full protection and benefits for the next five years. I hope you will accept this designation.", he added.
She looked at Rick; it wouldn't make up for the heartache they had experienced, but the peace of mind they would have, especially for Oscar and Rudy...
Rick saw her look to him for his advice, and immediately nodded. It would help him not worry when she wasn't with him. If the old guy wanted to make up for his stupidity, the least he could do is accept the offer.
Laurie smiled as she saw his expression, and then spoke up. "I accept your apology, Mr. Secretary and the designation as a retired agent. Rick?"
He cleared his throat, "Sir, I also accept your apology. Thank you for giving us the peace of mind. "
"I thank both of you. I'll give you back to Oscar." he answered. Her uncle came on after a moment. "Honey, thank you. I'll feel better knowing I can find you two easier. I'll be home this afternoon, Rick, can you pick me up at the terminal?"
"Sure, I'll see you at five, Oscar. Have a good flight!" "Thanks, son. I'm proud of you and A.J. and my girl, just be careful, Ok?" "Ok, Oscar, fly safe!" Laurie returned, happy he was on his way home.
Hanging up the extension, she turned to her husband, then grinned, "Now, where were we?"
Rick gave a wicked look to her, "I was explaining the benefits package, shall we continue?"
Settling back into his embrace, she whispered, "Yes, for as long as it takes!"
Abruptly a voice came over the speaker phone, "Laurie, I think you forgot to hang up the phone." her uncle said, trying not to laugh.
Crimson, she giggled, "Sorry, Oscar, see you later!", then hit the off button.
Turning to his amused boss, the former OSI chief cleared his throat. "I think things are back to normal with my family."
The Secretary nodded, "I think so too, Oscar. So you'll come back until the end of the year?" "Yes, sir, for the good of the agency." he said
And my family, Oscar silently acknowledged. Life was indeed back to normal.
"Are you sure you're ready to do this?" A.J. looked at Rick.
His brother's face was pale, but firm. "Yes, I refuse to be driven out of our office by fear." The younger Simon swallowed hard, then entered the staircase to the second floor, followed by Rick.
As they climbed the steps, Rick thought back to the past weeks. Good to his word, Rudy had released Rick and Laurie to go home after three days, only because Cecilia came to the ranch with them.
At first Rick was frustrated by his lack of stamina, until Doc Walker reminded him of the alternative. "Be patient, Laurie's going through the same thing, you both need to chill!' Rudy had added.
Nights were difficult at first, but so far they had managed to avoid nightmares by talking everything out, then holding each other until sleep came.
Now Cecilia had gone back to A.J. and Linda's house, and he and Laurie were able to take on more chores. This was the final step toward their returning to a normal routine.
Rick and A.J. came to the landing and for the first time he didn't feel winded. "My turn," he growled, pulling out his key.
Unlocking the suite door, he let it swing open, then peered around the darkened room. Hearing nothing, he flicked on the lights, then gaped at the flowers and balloons and plants all around the office.
"Uh, A.J., look at this." he said, then made way for his little brother to come in. The younger Simon walked in, then smiled.
"Looks like we have a few friends, Rick." he replied, picking up one of the attached cards and recognizing the name of their biggest client. "Yeah, just a few!" Rick deadpanned, then heard a beeping noise.
Seeing the light on his watch go on, Rick flicked his transmitter on. "Laurie?"
"Rick, can I come up, I really do need to." his wife told him, almost pleading.
Her husband started to shake his head, only to have A.J. stop him before he replied. "Let her, Rick, I think she's more afraid of being downstairs by herself then coming in here!"
He took a deep breath, then answered, "Ok, Laurie, take your time, sweetheart."
Looking around the office hurriedly, making sure no debris or marks from the incident were present, Rick heard Laurie walking up the steps, then she knocked on the door.
Turning around, he saw her pause, then come in and hug A.J. "O.k., little brother?" she asked, smiling. "O.k., sis!" he grinned, relieved.
Looking at his wife, his heart lifted, if she could face her fear, he could too. Taking his usual seat, he beckoned to her. "Come here, darlin'."
Laurie rushed over to him, and he put his arms around her, lifting her into his lap. Nestling against him, he kissed her, then said, "Better?"
"Mmm, much better!" she beamed.
"Can two play at this game?" came a familiar voice, and A.J. turned in surprise to see Linda laughing in the hallway.
"Linda!" he brightened, then opened his arms to her as she came in and closed the door behind her.
Settling herself in his embrace, Linda looked over to her in-laws, "I know why Laurie likes to work in the office, the benefits are awfully nice!" she teased A.J.
He laughed, seeing his brother and sister-in-law busy ignoring them, "Honey, you haven't seen how nice!" kissing her.
Suddenly the phone rang, almost causing Rick to lose his balance.
"Want the machine to pick up?" Laurie asked, sighing
"Nah, just in case it's Mom or something," Rick grumped, then snickered at his brother's pained expression.
Laurie reached over and picked up the extension, "Simon and Simon? oh, hi, Oscar, how did you know we were here?"
"Process of elimination, plus Robin told me." he laughed. "Listen, put me on speaker phone, honey. Someone has something they want to say."
Puzzled, she pressed the button, then replied, "I'm here."
"Mrs. Simon, this is the Secretary, I have an apology to make to you and your husband." came the deep voice. Laurie sat upright, then felt her husband's
arms around her waist, comforting her.
"Yes, sir, I'm listening." she said. "I know this is very inadequate in light of the injuries you and Mr. Simon suffered last month. Nevertheless, I wish to tell you how much I regret the OSI's actions that left you in such peril.
As your Uncle told me, the services you two have rendered to our country far outweigh any bottom line.
I would hereby like to rectify any further problems by formally retiring you from active duty, therefore qualifying you to full protection and benefits for the next five years. I hope you will accept this designation.", he added.
She looked at Rick; it wouldn't make up for the heartache they had experienced, but the peace of mind they would have, especially for Oscar and Rudy...
Rick saw her look to him for his advice, and immediately nodded. It would help him not worry when she wasn't with him. If the old guy wanted to make up for his stupidity, the least he could do is accept the offer.
Laurie smiled as she saw his expression, and then spoke up. "I accept your apology, Mr. Secretary and the designation as a retired agent. Rick?"
He cleared his throat, "Sir, I also accept your apology. Thank you for giving us the peace of mind. "
"I thank both of you. I'll give you back to Oscar." he answered. Her uncle came on after a moment. "Honey, thank you. I'll feel better knowing I can find you two easier. I'll be home this afternoon, Rick, can you pick me up at the terminal?"
"Sure, I'll see you at five, Oscar. Have a good flight!" "Thanks, son. I'm proud of you and A.J. and my girl, just be careful, Ok?" "Ok, Oscar, fly safe!" Laurie returned, happy he was on his way home.
Hanging up the extension, she turned to her husband, then grinned, "Now, where were we?"
Rick gave a wicked look to her, "I was explaining the benefits package, shall we continue?"
Settling back into his embrace, she whispered, "Yes, for as long as it takes!"
Abruptly a voice came over the speaker phone, "Laurie, I think you forgot to hang up the phone." her uncle said, trying not to laugh.
Crimson, she giggled, "Sorry, Oscar, see you later!", then hit the off button.
Turning to his amused boss, the former OSI chief cleared his throat. "I think things are back to normal with my family."
The Secretary nodded, "I think so too, Oscar. So you'll come back until the end of the year?" "Yes, sir, for the good of the agency." he said
And my family, Oscar silently acknowledged. Life was indeed back to normal.
