Second Chances: Ring In the Sadness, Ring In the Joy

A Simon & Simon/Six Million Dollar Man Crossover Story

A new year brings both heartache and joy for Rick and A.J., which will win out?

(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

"Honey, are you sure you don't want to go to Tasha's party?" Rick asked his daughter, seeing her still in her chef's whites.

"No, Pop, I'm not in the mood. You and Mom go ahead if you're going someplace, I'm going to write out a recipe for Grandma." Robin answered, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.

"Robin, we're not going anywhere, too many crazies on the road. I 'm grilling some steaks and your uncles are bringing shrimp from Santa Barbara." he replied. "I was hoping you would stay home but I didn't want to ruin your plans."

"I want to spend New Year's with you guys." Robin sniffed, then hugged her father. "I love you. Thanks for being there for me. It'll be okay, it's just harder breaking up with Ian than I thought."

"I love you too, birdie. You've had to grow up too fast with all this." he told her, kissing her forehead. "You don't know how proud your Mom and I are of you."

"Thanks, Pop." Robin grinned at him, then saw her mother coming out of the barn, basket of eggs in hand.

"Here comes Mom, Looks like she wants to make party quiche for tonight, she's got so many eggs." she laughed. As his daughter went to change clothes, Rick glanced out the window to see Laurie abruptly stop, then place the basket of eggs on the patio table. "Sweetheart." he "called" to her, then a cold sensation filled him, and he immediately went outside.

As he approached the patio, he saw her turn towards him, then put her hand out.

"What is it, Laurie?" he asked, taking her hand, then pulling her into his arms.

"I don't know, Rick, something's going to happen, I just felt scared all of a sudden." she told him, clinging to him.

"It's okay, darlin', I won't let anything bad happen. I'm here." Rick kissed her, then felt his wife relax. Gratefully he realized she wasn't having one of her premonitions; much as they had saved them time and again, they were too draining for Laurie.

"Thank you, Rick. I feel better now, just don't know what came over me." she sighed, then gazing up at him, returned his tender kiss with one of her own.

"Hmmm, that's what I call better." he teased, taking the basket of eggs off the table and leading her inside, stopping just inside the door and dropping another kiss on her lips.

"I knew that mistletoe was still good!" she giggled, looking up at the wilted greenery above the doorframe.

"Only you Mom, would leave that stuff up after Christmas!" her daughter snickered, coming to her and kissing her cheek.

"Honey, I never put anything away until after the 6th anyway, besides, I'm still getting results from it!" Laurie teased, ducking a swat from Rick as he went to finish watching a game.

"You are so funny, Mom, just for that I'll make the party quiche for you!" Robin popped up from the table and took the eggs from her. As she turned away, Laurie caught her arm, then embraced her, saying, "Have I told you lately how proud I am of you, and how much I love you?"

Robin put her face against her mother's shoulder and started to cry. "Mom, I love you too, you and Pop at least understand. I really love Ian, it hurts so much and it seems to be worse everyday. How do I get over this?"

Laurie was silent for a moment, just holding her daughter and stroking her hair. Finally she said, "You don't just get over a person, he's got a piece of your heart that you'll never get back. Maybe one day you two will be able to go past this and be friends. But right now, honey, if you keep busy, and try doing things you like to do, that'll help some at least. I wish...."

Robin heard her pause, then looked up with a smile into her mother's wet eyes. "Don't, Mom. I had to handle Ian myself this time, no matter how much I would have loved to have you knock sense into him again. He's just, I don't know, just not grown up enough for me. He'll always be my brave knight, and you know something, "She went and picked up the extension. "I'm going to wish him and his grandfather a Happy New Year. I'm going to make sure he knows how important he was to me and that someday we could be friends."

"That's my girl." Laurie managed a smile at her, then waited until she left the room before putting her head down, wanting to cry. At once there was a flannel shirt against her face, and Rick held her as she sniffed and said, "I can't stand to see her in pain, Rick."

"I know, my tender heart. You are the best mother, did you know that?" he whispered, as she put her arms around him. "Only because I had the best father to help me." She replied, then lifted her face to his.

"I love you, Rick, I will always love you." She kissed him, then giggled as he nuzzled her neck and throat. "My funny girl, I love you more. You are all my favorite holidays rolled into one." He told her, then taking her arm, said "Come on, the home team needs you!"

"Yea Team!" she laughed, letting him lead her out of the kitchen