Chapter 3
"All right, lady, you and the kid run, now!." Mack yelled. Suddenly Rick saw him turn to Laurie and shout. "Don't move, let me make sure there's nothing wrong with these sandwiches. Leo, you watch her."
"Rick, listen, I've got a gun in the bag I just gave Bill, if I can get him to give it to you, let Ron know so he can distract this guy." Laurie "explained" to him.
Grateful that Ron had a plan, Rick listened intently as his wife quietly reasoned with his former student, then he saw Mack look up at her and grin.
"You tell that cop I want that car and I want it now or this Simon guy gets it!"
"I'll tell him." Laurie replied, then slowly walked away from the front of the bank.
Relieved, Rick "told" her "Good girl, now stay way back with Ron, darlin', here comes Bill now." Rick saw the young guy approach him, but instead of handing him the sack, he produced the sandwich and a bottle of water.
"Sorry, Mr. Simon, but I won't give you the gun, I've gotten in too deep. He won't kill you, we just want out of here in one piece." he said, almost guiltily.
"You know that's not what's going to happen. Well, "Rick sighed, "At least you let my wife leave, thank you for that Bill."
Martin stared at him, then flinched as a audibly drunk Mack abruptly appeared.
"I say we use him as a shield, then we'll dump him outside of town and head for Yuma." Mack told his accomplice. Jerking Rick up by his arm, the criminal smirked in his face as he sneered, "All right, Simon, you get to stay in one piece while we take a ride.
Suddenly he was startled by a vehement "No!" from the young Martin, as he blocked his accomplices' way.
"You're not going to hurt him, I don't care what you say, I won't let you kill Mr. Simon." Bill told Mack angrily.
"You know something, kid, I thought you had guts, but you're nothing but a loser." the vicious robber angrily said, then pulled his gun from his waistband only for Rick to knock his arm, causing him fire harmlessly into a cabinet.
Unfortunately Martin mis-timed a leap at his partner, and landed on the floor. Mack aimed again and this time grazed him in the arm, then he threw Rick to the ground, shouting, "I'll kill you !"
Rick rose up and dove at the robber, sending him into a desk. Before Rick could get a hold of him, Mack punched him, sending him reeling.
"You're dead, Simon, but first I'll take care of this loser before your eyes!" Mack threatened, then leveled his weapon at Martin. Desperate, Rick shoved a chair at the killer, knocking him down and sending his gun flying.
Just then Rick heard Martin shout "Mr. Simon!" and saw him toss a gun at him.
Catching it in his hand, Rick turned and saw Mack on his feet with his weapon raised. Furiously, Rick emptied the gun at him, sending him crashing to the floor.
"Ron! Get the medics in here now!" he called on his transmitter as he crawled to Bill's side.
"Rick, darling, are you all right?", he heard Laurie call, then he saw her come running in, followed by Johnson and his men.
"Laurie, darlin', why didn't you listen to me." he sighed, then felt her arms around him,as she kissed and clung to him.
"Forgive me, Rick. I love you, I had to get in here. They were going to kill Fran and Matty, I convinced Ron to let me bring the sandwiches. It was the only way to get you out of here." she whispered.
"Besides," she squeezed his hand, "I remember everything now. If you think I loved you before...."
All the anger left him as he turned his head and kissed his wife. "I love you too, sweetheart. I was so scared you'd not remember our life together. I'm still going to get mad at you later"
Abruptly he felt something thick under her blouse, and he forgot about waiting to get angry.
"Laurie Light Simon, do you have a bulletproof vest on?" he asked, then saw panic in her expression.
"Yes, Ron made me put it on outside, he was supposed to tell you, oh, no, darling, I'm so sorry, oh." Laurie started to shake. "Rick, Ron wouldn't let me trade myself for Mrs. Branson and her son, but he did want me to have this on just in case."
She put her face against his shoulder as Ron Johnson came to the back of the bank, followed by officers who removed the wounded Martin then covered the body of Mack. Rick shook his head, "Darlin', what am I going to do with you?"
Her sobs subsiding, Laurie murmured, "I love you, Rick. I didn't mean to upset you." She sniffed. "I remembered what I saw in my premonition. I saw you shot in the head, darling. That Mack shot you as he dragged you out of here. I couldn't let it happen."
His anger gone, Rick cuddled Laurie against him, trying to sooth her. "It's okay, sweetheart, you scared me, that's all. It's all right, my brave girl. "
Johnson just looked at the two Simons on the floor. "I'm not even going to ask." he sighed wearily then waived two paramedics over to help Rick onto a gurney.
"Seems to me you forgot to tell me Laurie had a Kelvar on." Rick groused, squeezing her hand as the detective helped her up.
"Oh, that's why, sorry Rick, I just got busy." Ron fumbled, then shook his head, "But Rick, you know me better, I told her no when she asked to stay and help you escape." As the medics wheeled him out of the building, Rick looked up at his friend.
"I know you wouldn't, thanks for keeping an eye on her and for sending that gun in; it did make the difference." he admitted, shaking hands.
As they came out into the late afternoon sun, Rudy, A.J. and Robin appeared at their side.
A.J. leaned over and kissed his sister-in-law as Rudy took one look at Laurie, then gently scolded her. "I'm going to tell your father on you, you're going to make me old before my time!"
"I'm sorry, Rudy, I had to get to him." She hugged him, then let him help her into the ambulance. "Pop, are you all right!" Robin got upset when she saw her father's bloody leg.
"I'm fine, Bird, I'm going to get checked up at the hospital. A.J., can you take Robin with you?" Rick smiled when he saw his little brother's face brighten.
"Sure, Rick. I'm, well, I'm proud of you. You saved a few lives today." A.J. added, his eyes suddenly full of tears.
"Just those of the ones I love." he returned, reaching up and clasping his brother's hand.
Turning to look at his wife as he was loaded into the ambulance, Rick gazed at her then waited until she was sitting by his side before lifting his hand and caressing her cheek.
"Thank God Ron made you wear that vest." he said quietly.
"It was the only way he would let me go to you, my love." she murmured, getting as close to him as possible so she could put her arm around him. "I couldn't have borne it if something happened to you and I wasn't there."
"I want you to promise me though, you'll never trade yourself or put your life in danger like that instead of having Ron or one of us handle it. I love you, Laurie. I don't want my life ever to cost me you. Promise me, my angel, please." Rick quietly insisted.
Moved, she put her head on his chest, then whispered, "I promise, my love. I know I could have caused you harm today when I went in....
Yet, " she paused, "I had to go in Rick, the premonition was what could have happened and you stopped it!" Rick kissed her then said, "I know, but I never want to be frightened like that again, princess. Besides, I'm still going to get mad at you when we get home." he teased, then kissing her hand, he chuckled as she answered impishly "I can hardly wait, so then we can kiss and make up!"
