Second Chances: Ladybug, Fly Away Home.
A Simon & Simon Story

When a firebug endangers the Phoenix community, the Simons are
endangered by both investigators and the arsonist.
Can they survive the heat? (This is a work of fiction. No money is being made on it, and the characters are owned by Universal
and are only being borrowed for a little while. .)

Prologue

"Fire, there's a fire downstairs!"

Laurie raced to the front of the office building, only to have Captain Ron stop her. "Honey, you can't go in there, the firemen will look for the guys." he told her, grabbing her arm. "Captain, you don't understand, A.J.'s not there but Rick is, he's trapped, I have to get him out!" she cried. "Where is he, honey, I'll get a fireman to go with me."

"He's down in the storage area, please hurry, he's in pain!" she gasped, realizing she had to let someone else go to him. "Laurie, promise me you'll wait right here, I'll make sure he's found!" he insisted. "I promise, Captain, be careful!", she pleaded.

As she watched the policeman holler at a fireman to go with him, she started to pray, please God, find Rick, please protect Captain Ron, please. Laurie paced back and forth behind the yellow tape.

Suddenly a tremendous noise sounded from the building, and a fire captain yelled, "Get out of there, the roof's collapsing!" As firemen spilled from the fully engulfed offices, Laurie heard a familiar voice, "Laurie, Laurie!" Turning, she saw A.J. break through the police lines.

"A.J., thank God you're here, Rick's still inside!" she called, frantically. He rushed up to her and hugged her, saying, "I know, I heard him on my transmitter too! Did the firemen go in to find him?" "Captain Ron went in, bless him! He took a fireman in with him and. look, A.J., they have him!" she said, running toward the captain, who was half supporting, half- dragging her husband and a dazed fireman. As the two of them ran toward Rick, paramedics joined them and helped Captain Ron and the others to the triage area.

Laurie caught sight of her husband's unconscious face, and immediately dropped to her knees next to him as the medics placed him on a gurney. Watching as the professionals ran his vitals and called into the hospital, she started talking to him, "Rick, darling, hang in there, you're going to be all right. Captain Ron's here, he and a firefighter saved you. Please stay with me, Rick, please!" One of the paramedics glanced up at her, "Mrs. Simon, keep talking, his blood pressure just leveled off and his heartbeat's near normal. He's listening to you."

Smiling at him briefly, she took his hand and stood up as they raised the gurney and prepared to take him to the hospital. Looking at the burns and scrapes on his face and arms, she swallowed the tears that threatened to choke her. "Rick, I'm coming with you, I'm not leaving you until you open your eyes and tell me to." she told him.