Chapter 1

As Rick drove toward the ranch that evening, he started to have second thoughts about their new "assignment". It was great to be able to help catch these heartless animals, but putting his brother at risk in a situation neither of them had attempted for years,....

He sighed inwardly, "Great, I must be getting old to start worrying like this."

Abruptly he heard the sound of a high performance engine and he saw a truck racing toward him, going the opposite direction on the reservation road. Suddenly he had a cold feeling, then saw the truck swerve into his lane.

His heart in his throat, he swerved to avoid impact, then saw the truck veering toward him still. At once he felt Laurie's thoughts with him, her voice calling for him to turn the wheel to the left.

Obeying his instincts, he wrenched the wheel to the left, then to the right, missing the speeding truck by inches. Managing to keep on the soft shoulder rather then go into the rocks that made the natural road break, he slowed, then stopped his vehicle, finally able to breathe.

At once his transmitter went off, and Sheriff Gomez was calling his name.

"I'm okay, Rob, did Laurie call you?" Rick answered, knowing the response.

"Yeah, Rick, I saw that truck roar past just as I got Laurie's call, I've got an APB out on it now. How far are you from home?" the sheriff asked, relieved.

"About half a mile, I don't think I did anything to the truck. Let me call you when I get in, oh, guess who's coming." Rick added, seeing his wife running towards him around the corner of the road.

"I knew it, I told her to stay put. Make her get in the truck and head for home, I'll be there in a few minutes." Rob replied, chuckling.

"Thanks, pal. See you in a few." Rick signed off then got out of his truck and started toward Laurie. Just then he saw her trip then fall and he rushed to her as she got up, then threw her arms around him.

"Rick, darling, oh, Rick." She gasped, then kissed and clung to him.

"Shh. sweetheart, I'm alright, did you hurt yourself?" He asked her, then when she shook her head, he kissed her then stroked her hair.

"I saw the truck, I saw it hit you 'cause you went right. I had to stop him from killing you." she told him trembling, then calmed down as he put his arm around her and walked her back to the truck.

"You did, Laurie. I always listen to you, you know that." he opened the door for her, then gave her a stern look. "But you should have stayed put like Rob told you to, you know better."

Laurie bit her lip, then nodded in agreement. "I'm sorry, Rick, I was frantic to make sure you were okay. I just couldn't stay put after what I saw...."

Rick was silent for a moment as he buckled his wife in, then he climbed in the driver's side. Abruptly it hit him how frightened she must have been; and he immediately put an arm around her and kissed her.

"I know, darlin'. You were scared, so was I when I heard your voice. I don't like you being alone when you have a premonition. Just promise me you'll listen to us, please?"

"I promise." she smiled and put his hand to her lips. As Rick started the engine, he held her against his shoulder and started telling her about his and A.J.'s new assignment.

As they drove into their driveway, Rick saw Sheriff Rob in his rear view mirror, and teased his wife. "Don't look now, sweetheart, Rob's here to yell at you."

"Oh, boy." she sighed, then turned a penitent face to their friend as he came to the passenger door, then opened it for her.

"Thank you, Rob, I'm glad you came." she told him. At once he hugged her, saying, "Light, don't you ever disobey me when I tell you to stay, understand?"

"Yes, Rob." she hugged him back. "Don't worry, Rick just made me promise too. "

Rob grinned. "He did, huh. I always knew you could keep her in line." Rick groaned. "You wish!"

"Humph, you guys can just go inside if you're going to talk about me like I'm not here." Laurie tossed her head, pretending to be mad, then giggled as her husband took her hand and kissed it. "Okay, that's better."

She looked at the sheriff then, the smile leaving her eyes as she asked, "Do you have any idea who that was who tried to kill Rick?"

"No, the truck was stolen off a new car lot two hours ago, I just got a call that it was abandoned in Window Rock. We should get some prints off of it though, whoever had it left it running and hopped on a bus, a witness thinks it was a youngish man with dark hair." Rob told them, following them inside the house.

As Laurie limped into the kitchen to get them some ice tea, Rick filled the sheriff in on the weird call that came into the office. As the two men puzzled over it, Laurie noticed the message machine flashing and pressed the play button.

Suddenly another strange message came on, sending Rick and Rob over to listen to it.

"I told you it was my turn, Mr. Simon. Don't worry, Mrs. Simon. I'll be there for you after he and Robbie are gone, just watch for me."

Laurie stared at the machine, then angrily faced her husband.

"I don't believe it, Rick, it's Andrew Bear. He's after you and Robbie this time, how did he get out?" she said, exasperated.

"I don't know, darlin', but you're recognizing his voice is a big help. I don't want you going anywhere by yourself, okay?" Rick asked, taking her in his arms.

Seeing the worry in his eyes, Laurie felt the anger melt away. "Yes my love, I won't let him hurt you or Robbie through me. Rob, can you find out how that creep got out of prison?"

"Sure can, Light. In the meantime I'll let you two get some rest, I'll call as soon as I've got something." the sheriff explained.

After they saw him out to his car, Rick heard the phone ringing, and the two of them rushed back into the house. As Rick grabbed the receiver, Laurie heard Mike whimpering out back, and went to let him in.

"Simon Residence."

"Rick, it's Oscar, are you guys all right?"

Relieved, Rick let out a deep breath. "Oscar, am I glad you called. That Andrew Bear is out of prison somehow, he keeps leaving weird messages and tried to run me off the road just now."

There was silence, then Goldman's stern reply. "You and Laurie don't leave the ranch, I'll be there in 30 minutes." "Don't worry, I'm not letting her out of my sight, dad." Rick tried to alleviate his worry.

A slight chuckle sounded over the phone. "All right son, I'll see you in a while."

"Rick!

Hearing his wife's frantic call, Rick dropped the phone and raced to the back door, only to find Laurie carrying their dog, who was bleeding from his right leg.

"Call the vet, someone left a trap over by the steps and his leg was in it!" Laurie was shaking with fury. Stunned, Rick picked up the phone and found Oscar was still on it, yelling both their names.

"She's okay, just furious, Oscar. Mike's hurt, someone left a trap and he stepped in it." Rick told him. "Call the vet, son, Rudy and I are on our way." the older man replied, then rang off.

As he called first their vet then Sheriff Rob, Laurie gave Mike first aid, then just held him. When Rick got off the phone, he heard only sniffing, then saw her cuddling the now calm dog, tears running down her cheeks.

"Come here, sweetheart." He sat next to her as Mike climbed into his lap. Laurie buried her face in his shoulder. "Why would he do something as horrible as that, Mike could have lost his leg, Rick!"

"I don't know, angel." Rick took out his handkerchief and wiped her eyes, then kissed her gently. "He'll be all right. I'll make sure that psycho doesn't come near here again. You didn't hear anything outside before your premonition, did you?"

"No, love. The only reason I put Mike outside was, oh I forgot the roast in the oven!" Laurie started to get up, then Rick pulled her back down as he reassured her. "Laurie, I turned off the oven when I came in. I knew once Rob left we could finish fixing dinner."

"What would I do without my brave husband", she managed a smile at him. Just then Mike put his paw on her and she laughed. "All right, Mike, you too."

Suddenly Mike raised up and started barking, just as the gate buzzer went off. "It's okay, boy, it's Oscar." Rick patted the alert dog, then opened the gate for the old sedan to enter.

As Oscar and Rudy Wells came in, Sheriff Rob pulled into the drive behind them, and soon Mike was the center of attention sitting on his mistress's lap. Unable to reach the local veterinarian, Rudy examined the dog's leg and found it wasn't broken, just bruised.

"There you go, Mike, that's a good dog." He put the excited dog in Rick's arms, then sat down next to Laurie and took her hand. "Now it's your turn." He smiled at her.

"I'm all right, Rudy, I'm just scared for Rick and Robbie." She told him, giving him a hug. The doctor raised an eyebrow at her husband, who cleared his throat. "Oh, all right, I did have a premonition about the truck trying to hit Rick, but I remembered what you taught me. Only thing wrong with me is I skinned my knee and I'm hungry." "All right, missy, let's get you fed." Rudy chuckled.

After dinner, Rick and Oscar finally got a hold of Chief Ron, who reluctantly told them that Andrew Bear had been released from a facility in Tucson as now being sane. "Who in hell decided he was no longer a threat to us?" Rick demanded furiously, as Oscar paced back and forth.

"I'm sorry, Rick. The doctor in charge thought he had worked through his issues. I just spoke with the head of that unit, they were to have notified us he was being released, only the ball was dropped. I have an APB out on him now. Other than your assignment with him, Robbie's going to be desk-bound until we locate this creep." The chief informed him. "As a matter of fact, I want you on assignment tomorrow as I've got another two guys out with the flu. Can Oscar or Rudy stay with Laurie?"

"I'm sure they can, let me call A.J. and let him know I'll be at roll call also." Rick answered, looking over at his friends. Ending the call, he found them being entertained by Mike's newest trick, putting a blanket over a doll. "See, he's supposed to be putting Ceci to bed, Ricky taught him that, darling, isn't he cute?" Laurie beamed at the little dog, who promptly covered his eyes with his bandaged paw.

"That's my girl." Rick laughed and put his arms around her, then looked at Rudy and Oscar.

"My assignment with A.J. and Robbie got moved up, can one of you stay with Laurie tomorrow?"

"I can, Doc's on until 12 pm, then Laurie can go with me to teach her class at 1." Rudy replied, petting Mike, who had finally wound down and was asleep on the floor. "I don't have to be at the Center board meeting until 6pm." Oscar added, reaching over and touching Laurie's cheek. She smiled at him. "Thanks Dad, you too Rudy. I wish you guys could stay the night, Robin will be back late from work but she promised to make breakfast."

The doctor chuckled at the automatic smile on Oscar's face. "He's dreaming of her pancakes already; I'll stay if you let me close up the barn for you."

"Count me in, honey, I'd rather be here just in case Bear tries a repeat performance." Oscar added, glancing at Rick.

"I appreciate it guys, I don't think Bear's crazy enough to try anything tonight, but I'll be glad for the extra eyes." the older Simon nodded.

To everyone's relief, the only excitement during the night was a spectacular thunderstorm that drove Mike under Rick and Laurie's bed, and Robin to hide under their comforter.

As everyone yawned around the breakfast table, Robin flipped hotcakes and put up with her brother's teasing, as he stopped by early to ride with his dad to their assignment.

"I just don't like the one's that rattle, it sounds too much like an earthquake." she defended herself in vain to Robbie's laughter.

"I bet you ended up under the bed with Mike." he ragged, starting on his fifth pancake.

"No, on top of it, and just until it stopped, thank you!" she pouted, tempted to jerk his plate from under his fork as payback.

"Just when I think they're growing up!" Laurie giggled at her children, then squealed as Rick pulled her into his lap and fed her a bite of pancake.

"Mmm, now that's what I call breakfast." she sighed. "Ahem." Oscar cleared his throat as Rudy chuckled. "Now who's talking of growing up."

As father and son got ready to leave, Laurie suddenly felt like giving them an extra hug, but settled for a quick embrace before she let on her sudden jitters.

"Call me when you're on your way home, I'll start the fish." she smiled, then waved at her son as he climbed into Rick's truck.

As he walked out to the porch, Rick suddenly had the same unnerving feeling, and turned around to embrace his wife.

"I love you." she whispered, then met his eyes and saw the worry in them. "You and Robbie be careful, darling. Come home safe." she added with a kiss. "I will, sweetheart, I'll see you later, gator." he said with a grin.

As she laughed, Rick went to his truck and climbed in, then waved as Rudy and Oscar came out to watch him drive off.

As they arrived at Phoenix P.D., Rick saw his brother just parking his car, and he and Robbie waited for him to join them. Receiving the location of the first stakeout, A.J. took off with his partner to a different location while Rick accompanied the chief detective and drove to a market known to be a frequent stop for senior citizens.

Scarcely had they taken up positions, when a shabby van pulled behind the market, and two men got out. One went inside the store, the other scrumptiously snuck in the back loading dock.

Ron immediately coordinated a careful evacuation of the market, then had two of his men dressed as seniors push carts inside, then come back out. The dark haired man who had gone into the store followed him out, then attempted to grab the "customers" cart. Instantly he was taken down, handcuffed and whisked into a patrol car. Just then the armored truck arrived, and a single guard went into the store. Suddenly gunshots rang out, and Rick instantly saw that the second robber had taken the store's receipts and was racing around the back of the store. As Robbie's team got into position, shots sounded and everyone dove for cover. Rick watched in horror as a bullet whizzed over his son's head.