There was silence, and Laurie started to shake, fearing that Rick had been
hit. Then she heard his
words, "Laurie, sweetheart, it's all right." His arms were around her,
turning her over and
she opened her eyes and saw his face. "Rick, oh my love,"she said, her
voice shaking with the
rest of her. Laurie raised her arms and clasped them around his neck, as
he lifted her up.
Clinging to him, she kissed him and said his name over and over.
"Darlin', you're safe, I've got you." he comforted her, kissing her bruised cheek and neck. Stroking her hair, he felt her calm down, then she kissed him again, saying, "I missed you so, I don't ever want to leave you again."
"I won't let you go, not ever, my angel!" Rick promised, then cuddled her against his chest as he started to carry her out of the hall. Just then Oscar and Steve came running in, then stopped in their tracks, staring at the dead assailant.
"Are you two all right, we heard the shots when we caught up with Maxwell." Oscar asked, embracing his niece. "Yeah, he'll never lay a hand on my wife or children again. That monster threatened to kill her then dropped her on the floor when he saw me. Thank God for my new pistol!" Rick grinned, showing off his Rough Rider revolver.
Relieved, Steve hugged both his friends, then led the way out of the old building as Oscar called on his transmitter to have the state troopers pick up the body of Laurie's assailant. "Oscar, I should asked if you would grab that tape Maxwell was making of me, I don't ever want that around for someone to use!" she worried. "Honey, I have it, he was picking himself up off the floor when I got in there and he tried to take it, saying it was worth big bucks!" her uncle assured her.
Shivering in the cold, Laurie looked around, "Where is this place, darling, it looks like an old school of some kind!" "It was once a resort; Willowby bought it for the oil rights years ago. We were able to locate it through your transmitter." he explained.
"Oh Rick, they took it from me when they grabbed me, I think Maxwell had it!" she replied, starting to get upset. "No, darlin', Captain Martin of the Denver police had it, he was Jayson Maxwell's secret partner in all this. I caught him in a slip about you being taken away in a van; since there were supposedly no witnesses to your abduction, how would he have known that!" Rick answered, stroking her neck gently.
"Bless you, my darling, I love it and I was afraid I wouldn't see it again, like you", she put her face in his shoulder. Startled by her words, her husband lifted her face to his. "Sweetheart, what did Maxwell do to you, did he...?"
"No.", she gulped, "but he said I would never see any of my family again if my book came out, then when I saw what he had done to Robbie and Robin, oh I was so angry, darling."
"I know, you scared the crap out of him, he had the bruises to prove it!", he assured her. Reaching the helicopter, Laurie smiled when she saw her children already attended to by Rudy. "Mama!", Robin called, then hugged her carefully as their father placed her onto a portable gurney. Seeing the grins on Rudy and A.J., she kissed both of them, then saw the bandage on the brother-in-law's forehead.
"Oh, A.J., that Luther hurt you, are you all right", she asked, concerned.
"Yes, thanks to my big brother!", he beamed, then put a blanket over her as
Steve lifted off. Robbie held a bottle of water for her for her to sip from, then kissed her cheek. "I love you Mom, you saved us both!" She put her hand to his face. "No one hurts my children, I'll never let anyone do that!"
During their short flight, Rudy looked at Laurie's neck, swearing at the painful swelling. "Honey, Robin said you felt numbness and pain this morning when you came to, are any of your arms or legs numb?"
"No, no numbness, just pain like a sprain. It was awful this morning though, I felt like I was paralyzed.", she remembered with a shudder. Rudy groaned when he saw her right hand. "Laurie, you hit Maxwell with your right again, didn't you?"
She looked guilty. "Yes, Rudy, I forgot not to use my bad hand. I was so upset, I just hit him with my fist." "No more, baby, you have Rick do your punching for you, ok!", Oscar insisted. "Ok," she laughed.
Once they landed at Phoenix Hospital, Rudy got Laurie admitted and ran a series of tests on her neck and back. Rick refused to leave her side even for the x-rays, and Dr. Clarke left instructions someone was to be with her at all times. Once she was in a private room, Rick helped her out of the grimy clothes and into a clean gown, making her more comfortable.
"Hmm, you're better than a private nurse," she teased, as he kissed her neck while fixing her pillow. Thankful she was feeling more secure, Rick stroked her hair while he told her how Robbie had helped his sister across the pockmarked land behind the hotel to a safe place behind some trees. "Thank God you listened to Steve, that Luther tried to get in the room to kill them while you were making that tape. Once we spotted them, it was easy to land then go in after you. By the way, Robbie told me you showed him how to pick the handcuffs lock, and told him how to avoid being drugged. Robin said it was better then watching James Bond! I think you gave her some ideas!"
"No way, my love, our baby is not going to be an agent, for one thing she won't have Oscar to watch her back!", she smiled, then snuggled against Rick's shoulder.
"Rick, I just wish that Ian hadn't been such a jerk to Robin, she really does love him, and I'm afraid he's just too immature for her!" Laurie told her husband. "Sweetheart, I'm just so thankful that we'll all be home for Christmas, he can just whistle for all I care!", he declared, then kissed her. "No more worrying right now, dearest, I just want you to rest up for all the fun we're going to have this holiday!"
"Oh, darling, when you say such pretty things, it just makes me feel very special and loved!" she told him, stroking his cheek "Always, Laurie, you are my love, I'm not going to let you travel anywhere without me ever again. I need you too much!", he said, opening his heart to her.
Touched by his words, Laurie nestled against him, "What would I do without the one who believes in me!", she kissed him back.
Rudy and Dr. Clarke chose that moment to come in with the test results. "Honey, it's not as bad as we thought, you have a badly sprained neck, as well as an inflamed disk. If it had been ruptured, I would have had to go in and replace it. As it is, I can give you a cortisone shot which should stop the swelling. Also your hand is sprained, we just need to keep you from hitting anyone for awhile!" Rudy grinned as Laurie yawned. "Ok, missy, time for you to get some rest, Rick, see if you can get some more water into her and I 'll check in a little later and give you your shot."
Laurie gazed at her husband as the door closed behind their friend. "Oh, Rick, I was so afraid that Rudy would have to operate, it hurt so bad, I'm thankful that he doesn't"
"I'm thankful, too, my angel.", he replied, giving her a couple of sips of water. "Now you just close your eyes, I'll wake you when Rudy comes back."
"I will, darling, it's better then Christmas waking up with you next to me!", she told him.
"Speaking of Christmas...", Rick pulled something out of his pocket then mindful of her neck, poured the chain and locket into her hand.
"Oh, Rick, you found it, I love you!", she smiled, then closed her eyes, as Rick kissed her. He decided to put his head down for just a moment.
Coming by 20 minutes later, Rudy found Laurie wide awake next to a snoring Rick. Putting a finger to her lips, she whispered, "Rudy, he's just worn out. You can give me the cortisone now, then I'll sack out."
"Did you see Robin and Robbie, I know they were going to come say good night.", he asked as he gave her the injection.
"Yes, poor things, they were so tired, Allan was kind enough to give them the room next door to stay overnight in." she yawned, then smiled as Rudy kissed her cheek.
Watching over her until the medication took effect, Rudy left Laurie's side and found Oscar waiting by the door. He took a peek in and saw his niece finally resting, then closed the door.
"Thank God she's finally sleeping, Oscar, it's been such a nightmare for her. I'm just glad it's over and they're all safe!" he told the big man.
Giving him a weary smile, the OSI chief nodded. "I'm just glad I'm going to be around more after the first of the year. When Laurie's book breaks, there's bound to be a lot of publicity, I want to make sure she's protected. I know of one thing we can look forward to, though!"
Rudy gave him a quizzical look, "What?"
"A very Joyful Christmas!"
"Darlin', you're safe, I've got you." he comforted her, kissing her bruised cheek and neck. Stroking her hair, he felt her calm down, then she kissed him again, saying, "I missed you so, I don't ever want to leave you again."
"I won't let you go, not ever, my angel!" Rick promised, then cuddled her against his chest as he started to carry her out of the hall. Just then Oscar and Steve came running in, then stopped in their tracks, staring at the dead assailant.
"Are you two all right, we heard the shots when we caught up with Maxwell." Oscar asked, embracing his niece. "Yeah, he'll never lay a hand on my wife or children again. That monster threatened to kill her then dropped her on the floor when he saw me. Thank God for my new pistol!" Rick grinned, showing off his Rough Rider revolver.
Relieved, Steve hugged both his friends, then led the way out of the old building as Oscar called on his transmitter to have the state troopers pick up the body of Laurie's assailant. "Oscar, I should asked if you would grab that tape Maxwell was making of me, I don't ever want that around for someone to use!" she worried. "Honey, I have it, he was picking himself up off the floor when I got in there and he tried to take it, saying it was worth big bucks!" her uncle assured her.
Shivering in the cold, Laurie looked around, "Where is this place, darling, it looks like an old school of some kind!" "It was once a resort; Willowby bought it for the oil rights years ago. We were able to locate it through your transmitter." he explained.
"Oh Rick, they took it from me when they grabbed me, I think Maxwell had it!" she replied, starting to get upset. "No, darlin', Captain Martin of the Denver police had it, he was Jayson Maxwell's secret partner in all this. I caught him in a slip about you being taken away in a van; since there were supposedly no witnesses to your abduction, how would he have known that!" Rick answered, stroking her neck gently.
"Bless you, my darling, I love it and I was afraid I wouldn't see it again, like you", she put her face in his shoulder. Startled by her words, her husband lifted her face to his. "Sweetheart, what did Maxwell do to you, did he...?"
"No.", she gulped, "but he said I would never see any of my family again if my book came out, then when I saw what he had done to Robbie and Robin, oh I was so angry, darling."
"I know, you scared the crap out of him, he had the bruises to prove it!", he assured her. Reaching the helicopter, Laurie smiled when she saw her children already attended to by Rudy. "Mama!", Robin called, then hugged her carefully as their father placed her onto a portable gurney. Seeing the grins on Rudy and A.J., she kissed both of them, then saw the bandage on the brother-in-law's forehead.
"Oh, A.J., that Luther hurt you, are you all right", she asked, concerned.
"Yes, thanks to my big brother!", he beamed, then put a blanket over her as
Steve lifted off. Robbie held a bottle of water for her for her to sip from, then kissed her cheek. "I love you Mom, you saved us both!" She put her hand to his face. "No one hurts my children, I'll never let anyone do that!"
During their short flight, Rudy looked at Laurie's neck, swearing at the painful swelling. "Honey, Robin said you felt numbness and pain this morning when you came to, are any of your arms or legs numb?"
"No, no numbness, just pain like a sprain. It was awful this morning though, I felt like I was paralyzed.", she remembered with a shudder. Rudy groaned when he saw her right hand. "Laurie, you hit Maxwell with your right again, didn't you?"
She looked guilty. "Yes, Rudy, I forgot not to use my bad hand. I was so upset, I just hit him with my fist." "No more, baby, you have Rick do your punching for you, ok!", Oscar insisted. "Ok," she laughed.
Once they landed at Phoenix Hospital, Rudy got Laurie admitted and ran a series of tests on her neck and back. Rick refused to leave her side even for the x-rays, and Dr. Clarke left instructions someone was to be with her at all times. Once she was in a private room, Rick helped her out of the grimy clothes and into a clean gown, making her more comfortable.
"Hmm, you're better than a private nurse," she teased, as he kissed her neck while fixing her pillow. Thankful she was feeling more secure, Rick stroked her hair while he told her how Robbie had helped his sister across the pockmarked land behind the hotel to a safe place behind some trees. "Thank God you listened to Steve, that Luther tried to get in the room to kill them while you were making that tape. Once we spotted them, it was easy to land then go in after you. By the way, Robbie told me you showed him how to pick the handcuffs lock, and told him how to avoid being drugged. Robin said it was better then watching James Bond! I think you gave her some ideas!"
"No way, my love, our baby is not going to be an agent, for one thing she won't have Oscar to watch her back!", she smiled, then snuggled against Rick's shoulder.
"Rick, I just wish that Ian hadn't been such a jerk to Robin, she really does love him, and I'm afraid he's just too immature for her!" Laurie told her husband. "Sweetheart, I'm just so thankful that we'll all be home for Christmas, he can just whistle for all I care!", he declared, then kissed her. "No more worrying right now, dearest, I just want you to rest up for all the fun we're going to have this holiday!"
"Oh, darling, when you say such pretty things, it just makes me feel very special and loved!" she told him, stroking his cheek "Always, Laurie, you are my love, I'm not going to let you travel anywhere without me ever again. I need you too much!", he said, opening his heart to her.
Touched by his words, Laurie nestled against him, "What would I do without the one who believes in me!", she kissed him back.
Rudy and Dr. Clarke chose that moment to come in with the test results. "Honey, it's not as bad as we thought, you have a badly sprained neck, as well as an inflamed disk. If it had been ruptured, I would have had to go in and replace it. As it is, I can give you a cortisone shot which should stop the swelling. Also your hand is sprained, we just need to keep you from hitting anyone for awhile!" Rudy grinned as Laurie yawned. "Ok, missy, time for you to get some rest, Rick, see if you can get some more water into her and I 'll check in a little later and give you your shot."
Laurie gazed at her husband as the door closed behind their friend. "Oh, Rick, I was so afraid that Rudy would have to operate, it hurt so bad, I'm thankful that he doesn't"
"I'm thankful, too, my angel.", he replied, giving her a couple of sips of water. "Now you just close your eyes, I'll wake you when Rudy comes back."
"I will, darling, it's better then Christmas waking up with you next to me!", she told him.
"Speaking of Christmas...", Rick pulled something out of his pocket then mindful of her neck, poured the chain and locket into her hand.
"Oh, Rick, you found it, I love you!", she smiled, then closed her eyes, as Rick kissed her. He decided to put his head down for just a moment.
Coming by 20 minutes later, Rudy found Laurie wide awake next to a snoring Rick. Putting a finger to her lips, she whispered, "Rudy, he's just worn out. You can give me the cortisone now, then I'll sack out."
"Did you see Robin and Robbie, I know they were going to come say good night.", he asked as he gave her the injection.
"Yes, poor things, they were so tired, Allan was kind enough to give them the room next door to stay overnight in." she yawned, then smiled as Rudy kissed her cheek.
Watching over her until the medication took effect, Rudy left Laurie's side and found Oscar waiting by the door. He took a peek in and saw his niece finally resting, then closed the door.
"Thank God she's finally sleeping, Oscar, it's been such a nightmare for her. I'm just glad it's over and they're all safe!" he told the big man.
Giving him a weary smile, the OSI chief nodded. "I'm just glad I'm going to be around more after the first of the year. When Laurie's book breaks, there's bound to be a lot of publicity, I want to make sure she's protected. I know of one thing we can look forward to, though!"
Rudy gave him a quizzical look, "What?"
"A very Joyful Christmas!"